"Crazy Love" Review

Just finished Crazy Love by Francis Chan. This book kicked me in the gut from the outset and wouldn't stop--convicting to the core. In the same vain as Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution and the whole idea of seeing God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven--only I place Chan's on another level from any of those other guys. He's the real deal. And that's not saying anything against Claiborne or any of the other young, evangelical, Bible-believing prophetic voices out there, I just think there's something uniquely special about Chan. The anointing of God is obvious on his life. He's well-balanced in his theology as well as his methodology. The guy puts his money where his mouth is, to be sure. All the way from building an amphitheater in Simi Valley, California rather than a traditional church building so that they can give the extra untold millions they're saving to mission work, ... to his own family of 6 downsizing to a 1000-square foot home so that they could give the rest to mission work ... all of this speaks for itself. And he preaches the Word ... hardcore. I've been listening to his podcast recently, and it's rocking my world just as much as the book has. Anyway, this is a must-read for anyone, in ministry, or not. Read it.

Some takeaways:

• In response to Colossians 1:16 that says, "... all things were created by him and for him," he says, "Don't we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones?" (p. 33)
  
• "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control ... Both worry and stress reek of arrogance." (p. 42) Ouch!!
  
• "The point of your life is to point to Him." (p. 44) Good stuff!!
  
• In response to a student who once asked him, "Why does God threaten me with hell and punishment if I don't begin a relationship with Him? Why would a loving God force me to love Him?" Chan replies, "If God is truly the greatest good on the earth, would He be loving us if He didn't draw us toward what is best for us (even if that happens to be Himself)? Doesn't His courting, luring, pushing, calling, and even 'threatening' demonstrate His love? If He didn't do all of that, wouldn't we accuse Him of being unloving in the end, when all things are revealed?" (p. 62)
• "We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority." (p. 133)

There's so much more I could add, but I won't give the whole book away. Grab this one for Christmas for yourself and someone else.