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lizard1508's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. I found this book focused on guilt instead of the gospel. I made it to chapter 7 and just couldn't keep going. I feel like the author's main premise is that we should sell all our things and follow Jesus. I agree that things shouldn't be put before God but can't get behind that we should all be nomads. I believe we can lead Christ center faith filled lives right where we are using our possessions to help us (clothe the naked for example). As a Mama of young children, it isn't feasible to sell our house and go preach nor do I believe that is my calling. Right now, my calling is here, with my children. So I'm done with this book and going to continue what I'm doing.
pacific_blue4's review against another edition
4.0
Francis Chan's Crazy Love is a call to Christians everywhere to examine their walk with God. After finishing the book, I have to ask myself the same kinds of questions he poses. How can I say I believe in God and love Him and call myself a Christian if I don't have a walk that is worthy of Him? How can I let my relationship with Christ languish as I lounge in front of the television day in and day out and continue to live for myself?
This isn't to say that there aren't supposed to be moments of relaxation in our lives and that we won't slip every now and then in certain aspects, but it's also to say that we can't really have any excuses about not seeking and living for Jesus. If I spend 95% of my time on myself and what I want and what seems fun to me, I'm not really living the way Jesus calls. Would Jesus say, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:38) if it weren't true?
John 3:19 talks of men loving darkness more than light. When we start to draw near to God, we go from being spiritually immature to moving into more mature matters, such as the deepest depths of our hearts. And as unpleasant things are exposed, it can be too easy to become uncomfortable and think that we can't go on and turn our backs on God because of what makes us squirm or make excuses and throw in a "but" about everything God wants to fix in our lives. But to do so is the biggest mistake ever.
I've begun to experience God changing my heart in massive ways as I spend more and more time with Him, and I am convinced and know that following Him daily is what He wants for everyone. I'd always point to the Bible above any book on how God wants us to live, but Crazy Love has caused me to examine my walk with the Lord more closely.
This isn't to say that there aren't supposed to be moments of relaxation in our lives and that we won't slip every now and then in certain aspects, but it's also to say that we can't really have any excuses about not seeking and living for Jesus. If I spend 95% of my time on myself and what I want and what seems fun to me, I'm not really living the way Jesus calls. Would Jesus say, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:38) if it weren't true?
John 3:19 talks of men loving darkness more than light. When we start to draw near to God, we go from being spiritually immature to moving into more mature matters, such as the deepest depths of our hearts. And as unpleasant things are exposed, it can be too easy to become uncomfortable and think that we can't go on and turn our backs on God because of what makes us squirm or make excuses and throw in a "but" about everything God wants to fix in our lives. But to do so is the biggest mistake ever.
I've begun to experience God changing my heart in massive ways as I spend more and more time with Him, and I am convinced and know that following Him daily is what He wants for everyone. I'd always point to the Bible above any book on how God wants us to live, but Crazy Love has caused me to examine my walk with the Lord more closely.
ayh2024's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
critonia's review against another edition
5.0
This book is not for Christians who are looking a comfortable read!! Or maybe, that's exactly who it's for.
From start to finish Francis Chan reminds us of what an awesome God we serve and questions are we living as He commands?
Highly recommend this book, especially to believers who want more of the Lord in their lives
*NB I've read a lot of negative reviews about this book and felt I should address them. They seem to centre around the notion that the book tears down our relationship with God rather and build them up. I can't help feeling that in this day and age, many people would prefer "comfortable Christianity". Francis Chan is trying to point out that God deserves more. The bottom line is He is awesome and all powerful and we by ourselves our totally unworthy. But the point a lot of the negative reviews are missing is that God loves us anyway!!! So much so He sent His only Son to die in our place.
Francis Chan is trying to point out God deserves our ALL. To me that's a happy and exciting prospect!
From start to finish Francis Chan reminds us of what an awesome God we serve and questions are we living as He commands?
Highly recommend this book, especially to believers who want more of the Lord in their lives
*NB I've read a lot of negative reviews about this book and felt I should address them. They seem to centre around the notion that the book tears down our relationship with God rather and build them up. I can't help feeling that in this day and age, many people would prefer "comfortable Christianity". Francis Chan is trying to point out that God deserves more. The bottom line is He is awesome and all powerful and we by ourselves our totally unworthy. But the point a lot of the negative reviews are missing is that God loves us anyway!!! So much so He sent His only Son to die in our place.
Francis Chan is trying to point out God deserves our ALL. To me that's a happy and exciting prospect!
douglasferb's review against another edition
3.0
I had trouble with this book. I gave it 3 stars kind of because I didn't know what to say about it, but I THINK it's a valuable book. The title is pretty unhelpful in determining what Chan's point actually is - this book is definitely not about the love of God, at least not primarily. Moreover, it's about radical obedience to the God who made the universe, made us, and demands our hearts, not just our religiosity.
I can only assume that Chan first entitled this book "Radical", then a time-traveling David Platt visited him from the future and threatened to sue him for intellectual property theft, resulting in a very confusing conversation as far as verb tense is concerned, and Francis Chan naming his book something that really doesn't reflect what's inside it.
I picked up this book because A). I had just finished whatever devotional book I was reading before it B). I wanted to learn more about the love of God and C). it was in my bookshelf and I couldn't remember reading it in the past. As it turns out, I have read it in the past - some underlines and marginal notes betray that - but I retained none of it. After finishing it this time, I walked away with a vague sense that God asks for my whole heart, a slightly less vague that I should probably be doing more, and the realization that I had skipped breakfast that morning and should probably make a bagel.
I don't mean to discount the heart Chan brings to this book - the same passion and emotion that flows in his preaching can be found in each chapter of this book. The problem is, to me, that this book isn't like a river, flowing smoothly from one place to another, but like a series of disconnected ponds. The chapters aren't connected enough to develop a point clearly, which really lessened the impact it could have had on my life and thinking, regardless of how much the author truly cared for and believed what he was writing. This made for a somewhat frustrating experience, though I admit this frustration was increased because I kept expecting this to be a book about God's love, and it just never seemed to get there, at least not in the way I was hoping.
I can't say don't read this book. What he talks about is important, and the concepts he gets across are ones that my heart beats for. But if you're looking for a book about the love God has for us, this is not that book. I was, and I was disappointed because of it. If that's not what you're looking for, or if you can let go of the frustration of a book not being what the title indicates, you might like this more than I did.
So with all that I said, I give this book 3 out of 5 Chans, would not ReChan. Love you, stay in school.
-Zam
I can only assume that Chan first entitled this book "Radical", then a time-traveling David Platt visited him from the future and threatened to sue him for intellectual property theft, resulting in a very confusing conversation as far as verb tense is concerned, and Francis Chan naming his book something that really doesn't reflect what's inside it.
I picked up this book because A). I had just finished whatever devotional book I was reading before it B). I wanted to learn more about the love of God and C). it was in my bookshelf and I couldn't remember reading it in the past. As it turns out, I have read it in the past - some underlines and marginal notes betray that - but I retained none of it. After finishing it this time, I walked away with a vague sense that God asks for my whole heart, a slightly less vague that I should probably be doing more, and the realization that I had skipped breakfast that morning and should probably make a bagel.
I don't mean to discount the heart Chan brings to this book - the same passion and emotion that flows in his preaching can be found in each chapter of this book. The problem is, to me, that this book isn't like a river, flowing smoothly from one place to another, but like a series of disconnected ponds. The chapters aren't connected enough to develop a point clearly, which really lessened the impact it could have had on my life and thinking, regardless of how much the author truly cared for and believed what he was writing. This made for a somewhat frustrating experience, though I admit this frustration was increased because I kept expecting this to be a book about God's love, and it just never seemed to get there, at least not in the way I was hoping.
I can't say don't read this book. What he talks about is important, and the concepts he gets across are ones that my heart beats for. But if you're looking for a book about the love God has for us, this is not that book. I was, and I was disappointed because of it. If that's not what you're looking for, or if you can let go of the frustration of a book not being what the title indicates, you might like this more than I did.
So with all that I said, I give this book 3 out of 5 Chans, would not ReChan. Love you, stay in school.
-Zam
hellohannahk's review against another edition
4.0
Very good. It was a lot of simple concepts, but those ones we need to hear again and again cause in reality they're not so simple. Because they're the most important things in the world. Who God is, how much he loves us, how that love is gonna cause us to live. I got convicted about not trusting God with my money and went and put all the cash I owned in the offering the next day. That was good. I hope it's just the start.
bookishrealm's review against another edition
5.0
Update! Here's my full review: https://bookishrealmreviews.blogspot.com/2020/02/crazy-love-revised-and-updated.html
I'm so shocked that I started my year by reading a non-fiction title and it was AMAZING. This year I really wanted to focus on having spiritual growth and a better relationship with God. I'm still working on the exact plans on how I'm going to achieve that but I thought that since I have a passion for reading I could definitely attempt to focus on reading more books that discuss how to build a relationship with God. This one HIT THE SPOT. Some of the most notable chapters for me were the discussions on lukewarm Christians, loving our neighbors as Jesus loves us, and just appreciating the awe of God. I definitely found that Chan addressed some of the issues that I have. Not giving enough to others, not giving God everything, living in fear, etc. It made me reevaluate a lot and even as I sit here I'm gauging how I've even treated people this morning. It was such an enlightening book and I can't believe that it took me so long to discover it. Nevertheless, I'm happy that I did. I have so many thoughts and ideas regarding this book and I definitely plan to do a full written review.
I'm so shocked that I started my year by reading a non-fiction title and it was AMAZING. This year I really wanted to focus on having spiritual growth and a better relationship with God. I'm still working on the exact plans on how I'm going to achieve that but I thought that since I have a passion for reading I could definitely attempt to focus on reading more books that discuss how to build a relationship with God. This one HIT THE SPOT. Some of the most notable chapters for me were the discussions on lukewarm Christians, loving our neighbors as Jesus loves us, and just appreciating the awe of God. I definitely found that Chan addressed some of the issues that I have. Not giving enough to others, not giving God everything, living in fear, etc. It made me reevaluate a lot and even as I sit here I'm gauging how I've even treated people this morning. It was such an enlightening book and I can't believe that it took me so long to discover it. Nevertheless, I'm happy that I did. I have so many thoughts and ideas regarding this book and I definitely plan to do a full written review.