May 12, 2009
David C. Cook; 138 pages., hardcover, $16.99
"Real and alive or stale and predictable?"
This is the simple question Brennan Manning asks when reevaluating one's spiritual journey with the Father. Manning, of The Ragamuffin Gospel fame, embarks on his journey with the beautiful passage in The Song of Solomon (7:10, NASB), "I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me," then ends by making the distinction between religion never starting with what we do for God, rather, religion always beginning with what God has done for us.
Sandwiched in between is a raw yet wonderfully written series of vignettes that capture Manning's experiences with the ugliness of humanity and the realization of his own foibles, the context in which God's furious longing emerges. From his years as a priest to his drunken escapades in Florida, Manning shares the details of his life openly, showing just how far God is willing to go to rescue even "the least of these."
Pastors would find this book beneficial as a basis for a sermon series tackling the issue of the brokenhearted and God's captivating love story for the wretched man, especially in our current economic and social distress. Small groups would also benefit by using each chapter as the center for weekly discussions. In addition, at the end of each chapter, Manning concludes with a couple of questions and thoughts worth considering that may help pastors and small group leaders formulate direction in their teachings.
The Furious Longing of God is a powerful portrait of God's love worth investing in.
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Reviewed by Derrick Engoy, associate pastor, Harbor City Foursquare Church in Harbor City, Calif.
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