Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Not Crazy Love, Doesn't Matter

Just finished Frank Viola's new book, From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God.

I was actually contacted by the publisher, I think because we are currently going through Francis Chan's Crazy Love in our Encounter Discussions and Viola's new book was billed as the "followup" to Crazy Love.

While I didn't quite get the connection, I was happy to review Viola's book — after all, he has recently written two other interesting books, Reimaging Church and Pagan Christianity.

IT'S NOT CRAZY LOVE
Let me just say first that I still don't get how From Eternity to Here is the followup. Perhaps it's because it is from the same publisher. Perhaps there are some similar themes in both books. But I would say when you're writing about faith in the same Jesus, you are bound to overlap some themes — or at least you should. So that's about the best connection I could make.

Viola's book focuses primarily on "God's purpose" in three areas: 1) the Bride of Christ, 2) the House of God, and 3) the Family of God and Body of Christ — whereas Chan's Crazy Love focuses on how crazy it is that God loves us, realizing that He does love us anyway, and how we're called to love others with that same kind of crazy love.

Additionally, Viola's writing style is completely different. I have to admit that beginning the book, I found myself wondering if I would make it through. Voila has more of an academic approach, where Chan's style is more conversational.

I guess I am just saying that From Eternity to Here is not Crazy Love. I think it is weird to market it that way.

YOU MUST READ IT ANYWAY
With all that said, Viola's book is definitely worth a read. Contained within the pages of From Eternity to Here, are deep forgotten truths, penetrating rebukes of the status quo, heart-touching Biblical stories and insights, and a long-needed focus on the person of Jesus Christ as the simplicity and centrality of our faith.

More than anything, I found myself weeping more than once as Viola described the character of God and His eternal plan revealed in three different aspects of faith. The message of last chapter alone would be worth the purchase of the entire book. In that chapter, Viola shares his own life experience and journey of faith. And through the process, reveals the epidemic stumbling block that I have observed first-hand in American churches – that Jesus Himself is missing.

He writes, "I strongly believe that the underlying reality of the church is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Not as a doctrine. Not as a system of belief. Nor as a set of moral teachings. Not as a philosopher or a social activist ... A living person who dwells within our spirits and who can be known."

See the post previous post below for some of the many insights that spoke to me.

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The following bloggers are posting a review or Q&A with Frank Viola on his bestselling book From Eternity to Here today, Tuesday, July 21.

You may order the book at a discount at www.frometernitytohere.org – it’s also on audio book. Free discussion guide, sample chapters, interviews, and a free audio of the first chapter are available on that site also.

Here are the bloggers who are participating:
Jay Becker - www.jaybecker.org
Mark D - deadmanstravelog.blogspot.com
Igniting Hearts | Kimber Britner - www.ignitinghearts.blogspot.com
Karyn - tiger-kar.blogspot.com
Barefoot Preacher - thebarefootpreacher.blogspot.com
Every Day Angels - www.weareeverydayangels.com
FaithEngineer - www.faithengineer.com
Kristen Schiffman - dancinginthemargins.typepad.com
CrossPointe: The Church at Bevo - churchatbevo.blogspot.com
Crazy Love for God - crazyloveforgod.blogspot.com
Amazima Ministries - oatsvallteam.blogspot.com
Down to Write Honest - downwritehonest.com
A Beautiful Mess - blnorth1105.blogspot.com
The Blakes on a Mission - www.theblakesthailand.blogspot.com
Words by Jud Kossum - judkossum.blogspot.com
Eric Jaffe - www.ericjaffe.org
Reconnect with God – www.reconnectwithgod.org
2nd Cup of Coffee - 2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com
Nolan Bobbitt - www.nolanbobbitt.com
Klappyanne - www.xanga.com/klappyanne
Daveingland | Dave Ingland - www.daveingland.com
Randi Jo Rooks - seedsinmyheart.blogspot.com
Ephesians Five - ephesiansonefive.blogspot.com
Michael Bayne - www.michaelbayne.net
Encounter Church Helena Blog | Eric Powell - encounterchurchhelena.blogspot.com
Thoughts B4 Conviction N2 Action - tsharrison.blogspot.com
Edevotion - e-devotion.blogspot.com
Seeking After - seekingafter.blogspot.com
Borrowed Light - fbcnewlondon.blogspot.com