The Furious Longing of God

I enjoyed a free copy on my Kindle of The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning.  Love those special deals!  This was a quick read.  Here are a few favorites:

"For His love is never, never, never based on our performance, never conditioned by our moods - of elation or depression."  (Location 318)
  Good for me to hear this, even though it's something I "know".  I have been struggling with anxiety lately, and with that can come thoughts that He doesn't love me, or if I was a better Christian I wouldn't feel this way.  But I need to think on what is true...

"So much of what was presented to me as real in bygone days, I now see as fictitious.  The splenetic god of alternating moods, the prejudiced god partial to Catholics, the irritated god disgusted with believers, the warrior god of the "just" war, the fickle god of casuistic morality, tut-tutting our little weaknesses, the pedantic god of the spiritually sophisticated, the myriad of gods who imprisoned me in the house of fear; I could go on." (Location 350)
Just love his use of words here!

"The invitation to union is extended not only for Christians of iron will, austere seekers of God, those who preach the gospel and get doctorates in theology. 

"It is not reserved for those who are well-known mystics or for those who do wonderful things for the poor....[It is for] those poor enough to welcome Jesus." (Jean Vanier)

(Location 667)

"What would I do if I had it to do all over again?  Heeding John's counsel, I would simply do the next thing in love." (Location 755)

"In those days, I knew I couldn't distinguish myself by my virtues, so I distinguished myself by my clothing; I always wore the collar." (Location 1090)

I especially loved this quote.  Wouldn't it be something if all Christians were known for their virtues?  Not for what we're against, or for a political party, or for outward apparel.  But for love.  All pointing to Jesus.

"The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creations.  Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and etravagant, furious love." (Location 1451)