Synopses & Reviews
In the eyes of the world, Jesus was a fool. He did not abide by the rules of his day; the people he associated with were shunned by society; his Sermon on the Mount reads likea primer on being left behind, stepped on, and ignored. In order for us to truly be the people Jesus wants us to be, we too must learn to become "foolish."
Becoming a Christian is not a magical enterprise by which we are automatically transformed into better people. We must train to become who God intends us to be. In The Importance of Being Foolish, bestselling Christian author Brennan Manning teaches us how to think like Jesus. By reorienting our lives according to the gospel we may appear to be fools in the eyes of the world, but Manning reveals that this is exactly what Jesus wants.
In a powerful exploration of the mind of Christ, Manning reveals how our obsession with security, pleasure, and power prevents us from living rich and meaningful lives. Our endless struggle to acquire money, good feelings, and prestige yields a rich harvest of worry, frustration, and resentment. Manning explores what Christ's mind was truly focused on: finding the Father, compassion for others, a heart of forgiveness, and the work of the kingdom.
Coming from the gentle yet compelling voice of Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish is a refreshing reminder of the radical call of Jesus and the transforming love of God.
Review
“This is a deeply felt and clearly expressed avowal of faith...” Library Journal
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“Being Foolish is a message of unsettling grace. It is the best kind of wisdom.” John Ortberg, Teaching Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church
Review
“[W]orth the read for all the insights--and encouragement--Manning offers on leading a Christ-centered life.” Christian Retailing
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“A rich feast of food for thought...offering both challenge and comfort.” National Catholic Reporter
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“Manning offers a fiercly provacative call to arms...” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Manning invites the reader to move from self-delusion to embracing the truth about who we are.” Christianity Today
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“Manning… writes poetically when sharing contemporary parables. His intimate knowledge of Scripture flows seamlessly throughout his narrative.” Cleveland Plain Dealer
Synopsis
Becoming a Christian is not a magical enterprise in which we automatically become better people; a Christian must train to become the person God intended them to be. In this book, Brennan Manning teaches us how to think like Jesus, guiding the reader to discover those subjects on which Jesus did not dwell - security, sensation, and power - and revealing where Jesus focused his thought life - the Father, the disciples, the reign of God, and the world. Coming from the gentle yet compelling voice of Manning, the reader will embrace this call and revel in Manning's provocative exploration of the mind of Christ.
Synopsis
In the eyes of the world, Jesus was a fool. He did not abide by the rules of his day, and the people he associated with were often shunned. In The Importance of Being Foolish, bestselling Christian author Brennan Manning shows us how we, too, can become fools - fools for Christ, who are willing to go against the grain of society and joyfully work to change the world.
Manning examines society's obsession with security, pleasure, and power and points out how it leads only to worry, frustration, and resentment. Jesus did not dwell on things like this, focusing instead on the Father, the reign of God, and the world. By learning to think like Jesus, Christians can avoid much of the tension and unhappiness of modern day life and lead more rich and meaningful lives. The Importance of Being Foolish is a refreshing reminder of the radical call of Jesus and the transforming love of God.
Brennan Manning is the author of eleven books, including the bestselling The Ragamuffin Gospel. He leads spiritual retreats in the United States and Europe for people of all ages and backgrounds.
"Manning ... writes poetically when sharing contemporary parables. His intimate knowledge of Scripture flows seamlessly throughout his narrative."
- Cleveland Plain Dealer
--Publishers Weekly
(starred review)About the Author
Brennan Manning is the bestselling author of many books, including The Ragamuffin Gospel and Ruthless Trust. He leads spiritual retreats in the United States and Europe for people of all ages and backgrounds.