Brennan Manning's books focus on the powerful, furious (in the best sense of the word) love of God for all his children. So I'm always glad to have the opportunity to read another one, and was delighted to find this on special offer, free for the Kindle. It's a short book, which enlarges again on the same theme - that Christianity without love offers nothing. That our role is to be submerged in God's love, and to reach out to others.

I didn't find it as mind-blowingly powerful as I did the first couple of books I read by this author, but it was still a good, encouraging read. Thoughts to ponder at the end of each chapter meant that I spent nearly two weeks reading just a little each day.

Recommended. ( )

I have been fortunate enough to see Brennan Manning live a few times and have enjoyed him very much, And while I was excited to pick this book up and read it, I had no idea what to expect from Manning as an author.

The Furious Longing of God

I don’t know what it was – but I just could not get excited about the book. Mr. Manning writes a little bit like a theologian and a little bit like an existential beat poet. His chapters are short and are pretty easy to get through, but each sentence is so richly crafted that if you’re not careful, you can read an entire page and then – STOP – and ask. “What did I just read?” I don’t mind big words when they are in doctrinal papers and systematic research, but when they are trying to be artsy and “deep” … my mind will just drift away.



And even after reading it, I don’t recall much what it was about. Don’t get me wrong, at times I remember enjoying the book, even thinking to myself how I could totally use that idea in a sermon or two.. it’s just… I don’t know.. it wasn’t my “type” of book.



I think Manning was trying to write about how much God loves us (his children) but that point for me kept drifting away every time the author started talking about himself.



I don’t know how much I would recommend it, I’d say pick up Raggamuffin first if you have never read him. ( )

From what I read on the "web", Manning has taken large doses of criticism throughout his ministry for his intense focus on the love and grace of God. Some accuse him of "universalism" and putting too light a focus on sin.

His writings resonate with my soul, and put me on the precipice of freedom in the grace and love of Jesus. And yet at times, I wonder if I've "sucked in" writing that isn't sound. Or maybe the wrestling just reveals my own internal struggle of truly accepting God's overwhelming grace and love for me.

I prefer to think it's the latter. For also in my searching the web and through his books, Manning is given "life-changing" credit for his impact upon the lives of other esteemed Christians such as: Rich Mullins, Michael Card, Larry Crabb. ( )

http://dragonshelf.blogspot.com/2011/01/furious-longing-of-god.html

My book club recommended this book. I pulled up the introduction to The Ragamuffin Gospel and was intrigued. Then I started The Furious Longing of God and was surprised by the choppy, disorienting prose. Manning can write with incredible, soaring prose so rich as to be almost indigestible. He chooses to alternate voices -- overexpressive, simple, brief. His sections switch enough to cause slight queasiness. I want to think that Manning is trying to shock and unbalance the reader into a a realization of the depth and breadth of God's love, but I have to fight past his excesses to grasp for the meaning. I'm listening to Patched Together with the hope that hearing Manning write the same thing in another context (most of his books seem to say the same thing) will help me appreciate his breadth, style and content. And I'll read The Ragamuffin Gospel when I get a chance.

I've stated before how big a fan of Brennan Manning's books I am. No other author has done more to shape my understanding and appreciation of the grace and love of God. His books have been key in the process of me walking away from the legalism that crippled my faith and spiritual development most of my life. So when a new Brennan Manning book hits the bookstores, I'm generally first in line.

Manning's latest, The Furious Longing of God, is a short but powerful book. He doesn't cover a lot of new ground here (in fact, it almost reads like a 'greatest hits' book) but for me that doesn't take away from the fact that this book is incredible. Reading this book was not only a great reminder of life-changing truths, but it was somewhat therapeutic, too. Have you ever gone for years and years of only taking showers and then one day decide to soak in a big ol' bubble bath? You're left wondering why did I ever give this up when it feels so great? Same feeling reading this book. I didn't want it to end as quickly as it did. ( )