Review of Brennen Manning's "The Furious Longing of God"

In classic Brennen Manning style, threads of stories are masterfully woven together to form a patchwork mosaic describing the furious longing of God. Reading this book gave me an even greater desire to stalk this author for a year and become a voyeur into his passionate relationship with Christ. With chapter titles such as Fury, Boldness, Healing, Fire and Giving, each is short enough for a fifteen minute devotion, and the entire text can be read in one afternoon. Within this relatively short book are the jewels Brennen has become known for. You will cry for the once beautiful leper who uses her last words to change Manning's life, and the frumpy hippie college kid who's father changes everything. Brennen uses word to describe God that sometimes make me cringe, and I would never have the chutzpah to use them myself. He calls the love of God “folly”, and calls God Himself, “Divine Madman”. Throughout the book however, you get the feeling that Brennen has such an intense and personal relationship with Abba God, that it's OK for him. It's like a mystical inside joke just between the two of them. All in all, I highly recommend the reading and re-reading of this book.

Labels: Book Review