"Relentless Pursuit" (Ken Gire)

TITLE: Relentless Pursuit: God's Love of Outsiders Including the Outsider in All of Us
AUTHOR: Ken Gire
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2012, (176 pages).

This book is a marvellous exposition of how much God desires us, that He will do everything possible to pursue us. Relentlessly. Beginning and ending with references to the classic poem, The Hound of Heaven, by Francis Thompson, Gire explains that the pursuit does not stop at the moment we become the children of God. The pursuit continues on and on. The author goes into some detail about the background of Francis Thompson, of how he as a drug-addict experiences grace. Even when he tries to pursue the things of this world, God continues to faithfully pursue him, like how He leaves the other 99 sheep in the pen, in order to seek out one lost sheep. That one lost sheep is us.

Gire draws images of the Pursuer through Jeremiah 3:19-24, where the chosen one finally relents to recognize that the only One left for him is God. Jeremiah's and Anne Lamott's experience of being pursued by God resonates with Gire. It is the same with the popular children's storybook by Margaret Wise Brown, The Runaway Bunny.  He shares about the conversion experience of CS Lewis who eventually gives in reluctantly to become a believer, and subsequently from "believing in God to definitely believing in God."

The good news of God pursuing us gets even better as Gire shows us how the pursuit moves from "search and rescue" to "search and restore." The beauty of this pursuit is that it restores one to wholeness. It flips us from lost to being found. It creates in us a zest for life so much that we will want to share the good news with others. The pursued soon becomes so much a part of God's mission that one gladly pursues the Great Commission.

My Thoughts

Story after story, Gire weaves in a beautiful image of God the pursuer, loving the pursued so much that the ones loved, will end up becoming part of the hound-force of heaven. One becomes whole. One gets excited about the kingdom of God. One sees the love of God that is beyond simply a microscopic view of personal salvation, to a macroscopic perspective of the world at large. What makes this book truly encouraging is the way Gire helps readers to recognize that all the good news, all the wonderful hounding by God, and all the benefits, promises, and gifts offered are not for someone out there, but for the person reading it.

Each chapter are filled with biblical images and teachings, supported by stories of characters both old and new. The discussion questions are extremely helpful for group discussions. Most of all, the book reminds us all over again that God is not done with us yet. He is still pursuing us to make us who He has intended us to be. And He is going to walk with us all the way.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5

conrade

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".