Lion and Lamb/the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus

Rating:
Summary: His Love...pure and simple
Review: "Our Life in Christ. It's not an easy thing to grasp. Maybe you understand it only by living it. And maybe Augustine was right on the money when he wrote: 'Give me someone who loves and he will understand what I am trying to say. Give me someone whose heart yearns, who feels the nostalgia of loneliness in exile, who is athirst and sighs for the fatherland eternal, give me such a one and he will understand what I am trying to say. But if I must explain myself to ice-cold indifference, he will not understand.'"   

The preceding quotation is from Brennan Manning's "Lion and Lamb - the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus." Lion and Lamb is a remarkable book from a remarkable author. My copy is especially remarkable ... it was given to me as a gift by a total stranger...and I am eternally grateful for it.

I had previously read Manning's "The Ragamuffin Gospel," which is a great book in its own right. Yet "Lion and Lamb" holds a special place in my list of all-time favorite books. Few books are as packed with so much deeply freeing food for thought.

"Lion and Lamb" is all about how much Jesus loves us. Brennan uses personal illustrations from his own life and weaves them into tried and true teachings from years past to paint a picture of how much Jesus loves us. One example of how skillfully and movingly Manning extrapolates Biblical truths is found in the following excerpt:

"My brothers and sisters, Jesus is our God. He and the Father are one. He is the image of the invisible God. Our Jesus image makes all the difference. If we let the Lion of Judah run loose as Lord of our lives, He will not want us to be poor, broken, or sad. Yet He may allow it, knowing that in these conditions we are more likely to let Him make us rich, whole, and happy. If you let the real Jesus into your life, the God whose supreme desire is your happiness and fulfillment, you'll want to throw out anything that is going to stop you from reaching His Kingdom. The brutal hyperbole's about plucking out the eye, cutting off the hand or foot, become understandable in this context-and in no other. Jesus' teaching is full of wild exaggerations, for Jesus is a wild man. And He says to us, 'It has pleased My Father to give you the kingdom.'"

Amen. I give this book my absolute highest recommendation. Get a copy today and let the wild man run free in your life.

Rating:
Summary: TRUTH
Review: After a year and a half of seminary at Princeton, I still haven't read anything like this.

Manning explains the story of Jesus again: how He stood against the superficiality and emptiness of the religious establishment in the name of Love.

This book inspired my conversion from aetheist to seminary student! Give it a shot.

If you know God is Love, you'll enjoy the book.

Rating:
Summary: As Powerful and As Tender as the name suggests!
Review: Brennan Manning is at his poignantly brilliant best in this work. I keep this book by my night stand and constantly quote it's contents. This book is about a love affair. A scandalous love affair between God(Hosea's God) and his people. It is a book that will make you squirm and may even topple your theology and cause you to lose your religous balance. But like the metaphor for Jesus Christ that the Lion implies, this book will pounce upon you and tear your previous notions about who God is to shreds then cradle you tenderly in it's arms and kiss away your predisposed fears. This is a book for grown up children. As Rich and Concrete as any book I've ever read. Thank you Brennan....again for "Relentless Tenderness"

Rating:
Summary: Transformed! By the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus!
Review: I love the Word of God so much that it is pretty much the extent of my reading. However, the Title of this book caught my heart and I ordered it and devoured it cover to cover in two sittings. Never have I received such healing to my heart through another's writing.... THANK YOU LORD, for Brother Manning and his transparency and the powerful ability to communicate Your Love thru words and Your Holy Spirit! This man has such a grasp on the GRACE of GOD and is able to convey it! I will read this book again and again until the Relentless Tenderness of JESUS is my very heartbeat and breath - so that others can receive it as well. Thank you, Brennan and may the Lord bless you!

Rating:
Summary: A Fierce and Gentle Love
Review: This is an amzing book that has really made me question things. Why do we believe what we believe about Christ? I truly believe that if we are seeking to know Jesus Christ with all of our hearts that he will not let us harbor false images and thoughts of him. That's what this book showed me. The love that Jesus has for us is so much more than we can understand. He is so gentle with us, like a lamb, but, like a lion, he will chase us down to reveal himself to us.