The Return

Review: The Ragamuffin Gospel Brennan Manning Multnomah Books 2015 This is a 25 th anniversary issue of this Brennan Manning book.   John Blase mentions in his preface to this edition that the book has already sold nearly a million copies over its 25 year run. (ix)   What I found interesting is that with just a few exceptions this book is as current now as it was when it was written.      This is my first time reading this book.   I had read a couple Manning’s other works and decided it was time to read this one as well.   I was not disappointed in the least with it and found it to be encouraging.   It reinforced a line from one of his other books that had stuck with me for years now---God loves you and there’s nothing you do about it.   That’s probably a paraphrase but close and I cannot remember which book it’s from.   Sorry. There’s not a lot that hasn’t already been said about this book already since its 25 yea...

Review: Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, updated Brennan Manning 2015 NavPress Originally published in 1994, this new edition reminded me why I read it years ago.   It’s as relevant today, maybe even more so, as it was then.   This updated version has a new cover, forward, preface and best of all a section for group study that is different from the usual Q&A format I’ve seen elsewhere.   Internalizing the text is the goal.   Here the idea is geared more toward application of the text than a review.   A little tougher for some, but so worth the effort.   I’d recommend the book for this additional chapter by itself. The main text comes from experience and maturity, in my opinion.   I found more depth here than in some other books I’ve read lately and to be honest that is what I’m looking for these days.   Manning encourages his reader all along the way through the book.   A look at the imposter,...

Review:   The Ragamuffin Bible: Meditations for the Bedraggled, Beat-up & Brokenhearted Zondervan 2013 Brennan Manning.   If you have not had the opportunity to read any of his works the sidebars and devotional thoughts tucked into this NIV Bible will give you a taste of what he had to say.   Sadly, he died recently.    The Ragamuffin Bible is a keeper for me.   This one I like.   The size, the type set, the feel is just right.   I will not comment on the Biblical text itself since I am no expert in that field.   I can say that I like the way it reads though.   This version in dual column, paragraph style with a few explanatory notes at the bottom of the page as needed. Of course, the chapter and verse markers are maintained. If you need to have cross references, concordances and the like, a study Bible might be more to your liking. This one is for reading and pondering. If I have done my math right, there are ab...