The Furious Longing of God
I (James) received this small book from my friend one day at Starbucks. I took it home and immediately began to underline it. This book helps us to reconceptualize God’s love. It helps to plow up the hardened ground of our hearts. And once that love gets into our hearts, it results in transformation.
Brennan asks us to imagine we are at sea on a stormy day, our boat surrendered to a relentless wind, pounded by crashing waves, and subject to the staggering force of nature. A force that is fierce and magnificent. A power that is nothing short of furious. That is a picture of God's intense, consuming love for us. It’s a love that knows no limits, and no boundaries. A love that goes to any lengths, and takes any risks, to pursue us.
Brennan Manning spent forty years helping people experience the reality of God’s love and grace. He is a recovering alcoholic, a former Franciscan priest, and has spoken to packed arenas, lived in a cave, laboured with the poor in Spain, and worked with shrimpers in Alabama. He offers us a love story for the broken-hearted. For those of us who are burdened by heavy religion. For people who feel they can never measure up. For those whose lives are subtly undermined by self-hate. It is a provocative and poignant look at the radical, no-holds-barred love of our Heavenly Father. It is a message that will forever change how we view God.
