Mark Batterson’s new book Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God releases today. I had the privilege of receiving an advanced copy to review, and I finished it last night.
After reading Mark’s first book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, my motto for 2007 became “Chasing Lions”. It was in January 2007 that I began chasing an unexpected lion that crossed my path, leading to my new ministry position at IWU.
Wild Goose Chase is a great reminder of the adventure of following the Holy Spirit.
From the introduction:
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….
Mark’s writing is filled with statements that grab my attention and make me think. Here are a few from Wild Goose Chase.
If you want to discover your God-ordained passions, then you need to identify what makes you sad, mad, or glad.
I would rather fail at something I love than succeed at something I don’t enjoy.
You can do the work of God at a pace that destroys the work of God in you.
It is so easy to get focused on what God wants to do through me that I totally neglect what God wants to do in me
Love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.
The bad things that happen to us can actually turn into the best things that happen to us.
God wants us to get where God wants us to go more than we want to get where God wants us to go, [and] He is awfully good at getting us there.
Getting where God wants me to go isn’t nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process.
Small acts of courage change the course of history.
We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failure. People who dare to dream the unthinkable and attempt the impossible.
I finished the book inspired to continue dreaming big dreams for God. I think I will answer Mark’s challenge to prayerfully develop a life- goal list.
Check out chasethegoose.com.
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