Customer Reviews

Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chase Falcon, megachurch pastor, has lost his faith. When a young girl falls off her bike and never wakes up, Chase's answers suddenly seem hollow. His faith comes crashing to the ground at the worst possible time: in the middle of a sermon.

"I used to have all the answers, just opened the Bible and there they were. The truth is, they aren't all there - or if they are, I can't find them. I've tried to convince you that Christianity is logical and straightforward, as if God can be codified and stuffed into files he can't jump out of. Each time uncertainty knocked on the door, I hid behind the couch until it went away. Now I'm the one who's thirsty. And the Jesus I've known for twenty years isn't making it go away."

"And what about our church? I mean, is this all there is?..."

Understandably, few at the church know how to react to Chase's crisis. When the elders ask him to take a leave of absence, Chase goes on a surprising pilgrimage, chasing and learning from Francis, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi. Through this novel, Chase's pilgrimage also becomes our pilgrimage too.

Near the end of the book, Chase says, "When I left here, I wasn't sure what a Christian looked like anymore. My idea of what it meant to follow Jesus had run out of gas. I started feeling less like a pastor and more like a salesman of a consumerized Jesus I didn't believe in. Learning about Francis helped me fall in love with Jesus again - and with the church again, too."

I didn't think I could learn so much from a novel, but then again, I've never read a novel that has a study guide before. This book expresses some of what I have experienced, minus the exotic pilgrimage. I was genuinely sad when the book ended because I wanted more.

Not everyone will appreciate this book. Some will not know what it means to go through a crisis of faith, and will not appreciate Saint Francis as an example. But for those of us who long for more, Chasing Francis may take you on a pilgrimage, from a faith with all the answers to a more robust faith and genuine love for Jesus and the church.

In Chasing Francis, author, singer/songwriter and pastor Ian Morgan Cron shares his vision for the postmodern church through an engaging story about a pastor who finds his way forward as a follower of Christ and leader in the church by looking back at the life and beliefs of St. Francis of Assisi. Chase Falson is the founding pastor of a New England church who becomes disenchanted with many aspects of modern evangelicalism. The senseless death of a young girl in Chase's congregation and his inability to help the girl's mother make sense of it devastates him to the point that he questions his own faith in a sermon before his church. No surprise, church elders then ask Chase to take time off to figure out where he stands.

Seeking to figure it all out, Chase turns to his Uncle Kenny, a Franciscan priest living in Italy. Kenny invites Chase to join him for a time in Italy, which ends up being a pilgrimage for Chase to learn about St. Francis and what he believed the church and Christians should be. As Kenny and his fellow Franciscans take Chase to the places and recount the events that shaped Francis's life and beliefs, Cron paints a literary picture of what he believes the church should become. To try to summarize here the issues that Cron raises and thoughtfully addresses throughout the story and accompanying study guide in the appendix would not do them justice.

My advice: read the book. In fact, I would encourage everyone in the leadership of spiritual communities to read this book and meet with others to dialogue about the issues raised in it. Cron creatively and intelligently addresses issues that are essential to the church's future. Like Chase Falson, most churches are trying to find their way in a postmodern world. How surprising, and wonderful, to find wisdom for today in the life of one of the spiritual giants of history who lived during the transition from the Middle Ages to Modern Times.

Two other points I would like to make about Chasing Francis. First, I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting characters and vivid descriptions of places Cron weaved into the story. After my wife and I read Chasing Francis, we decided to change our upcoming travel plans to go to Rome and Florence instead. Second, I appreciated that Cron didn't paint the characters in unrealistic terms. These are real people with real problems who become the body of Christ to one another. They celebrate the joys in life together and, by being there for one another during life's trials, they cushion the inevitable blows we all experience.

When I finished Chasing Francis it made me hope that Cron will write a sequel about Chase's experience trying to bring to life his new vision for the church. I'm also interested in what happens to the characters and relationships we learn about in Chasing Francis. Let's hope Ian Cron will keep this story going.

This is a winsome and helpful fictional exploration of an alternative to the non-denominational, generic evangelicalism of modern America. The entire novel could be said to be an extended narrative on how, by consideration of the example of Francis of Assisi, one Protestant minister in the throes of a crisis of faith comes to a better understanding of the basic Christian mandate that faith without works is dead. This work is a useful corrective to the notion that Christianity is solely an affair of the head, an intellectual parlor game for the comfort of the initiated right-believers. It is also a reminder to those who might be "light" on church history that the church had its saints well before the advent of Martin Luther and John Calvin.

The book is not without its flaws. On a literary note, there are a few cliches too many, not the least of which is the "fallen woman with a heart of gold" whose challenge to the protagonist about the problem of evil in the world seemingly precipitates the crisis that is the focus of the book, and whose devotion to the protagonist eventually enables him to courageously embrace a neo-Franciscan model of being the church for his own ministry. The author also betrays his own cultural captivity through recurring references to haute cuisine and (perhaps especially) through his choice of a trip to Italy as a curative for his theological malaise; it would have undoubtedly been cheaper (and more realistic) to check a copy of Dorothy Day's "A Long Loneliness" out of the local public library rather than swilling espresso with traveling priests and monks in the Italian countryside.

But the most significant limitation of the book (and the author's project) is its rosy exaltation of a version of Franciscan spirituality. In my experience, the Christian faith is at its most beautiful when an active love for God and neighbor is married to a robust and hopeful faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Just as faith without works is dead, works of charity without a firm foundation of faith and hope risk becoming indistinguishable from any other secular social work program, with all the attendant limitations and weaknesses. Perhaps the author's next project will be a novelization of how our neo-Franciscan pastor subsequently rediscovers the joy of faith, restores his hope, and attains a theological balance in his life after suffering burnout working at the soup kitchen or the drug treatment center. I would be interested in seeing how he does with that!

Although somewhat dated, I recommend Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament by Thomas Howard, as an alternative autobiographical exploration of similar issues with a slightly different corrective.

Ian Morgan Cron's first book, "Chasing Francis," is a gem. "Chasing Francis" falls into genre called wisdom literature, which is a very delicate balance of fiction and non-fiction, pilgrimage and teaching. Cron, an Anglican priest, centers the story on Pastor Chase Falson, an evangelical pastor, who hits the wall with burn-out and at the urging of his mother's cousin, a Franciscan Friar, encounters an old world saint, St. Francis, in his quest to sort out his faith and Christianity's place in the world today.

"I wasn't sure what a Christian looked like anymore. My idea of what it meant to follow Jesus had run out of gas. I started to feel less like a pastor and more like a salesman of a consumerized Jesus I didn't believe in...I am fed up with all the feuding between the theological conservatives and liberals, the good guys and the bad guys...What if, now and then, we put the drums and guitars away, turned off the projectors, shut down the sound system, and waited quietly for God to emerge from the wood? Do we have enough faith to believe he'd appear to us as a community?"

When Falson reaches the climax of his spiritual crisis in front of his congregation, he is put on leave and embarks on a spiritual journey to Assisi, Italy. He needs to find out what it is to be a Christian, what it means to be the church, and to decide if he wants to stay on the path he has been on. Falson finds a mentor named Saint Francis who teaches him why the church of the future needs to listen to the church of the past and helps him to fall in love with Jesus - and the church - again...but with a different perspective and approach.

"Chasing Francis" captures the values and ideals that Francis held dear. Cron brings them to life throughout the book and narrows them to five categories:

Transcendence - There is a big difference between knowing a lot about God and knowing God. Francis believed in transcendent encounters with Jesus were the key to people's coming to faith. The church must open our eyes and ears to the experiences that can act as portals into the life of God - the Spirit's presence in the community, contemplative prayer and meditation (solitude), the liturgy, and symbol rich experiences like Communion.

Community - We need to be an organism that transmits the expression of Jesus on earth. We can disagree with others and, at times, we should - but whatever happened to gentleness and respect within our churches? Are we not a community of peacemakers - in our homes, our offices, our churches, and, most of all, in our world?

Beauty - Most churches today are designed without any sense of the iconic because moderns like straightforward, unambiguous communication. We want `worship centers' where hominess is more important than holiness. But what about the arts - music, dancing, acting, painting, etc? For God, beauty is its own apologetic. The church should care about the arts. They inspire all of us to think about the eternal.

Dignity - We're all broken people who've lost our dignity, in one way or another. Francis' life was all about giving people their dignity back - poor people, lepers, people who were despised and rejected by society - the very people Jesus sought out to minister to. This means more than hospitality. The church means fighting against anything that robs people of their dignity - racism, sexism, addictions, injustice, and poverty.

Meaning - People are meaning-seekers and want to be part of something larger than ourselves. Our world is filled with people who have no big story that makes sense of their lives and they're hungry for it. Does our earthly ministry create and foster meaning?

People in Francis' time felt the same anxiety that come from living in a rapidly changing society that we do today. "Chasing Francis" offers no new theory but, rather an old practice - the practice of Jesus Christ.

"Chasing Francis" is a book that I will recommend to those who have hit the wall and are searching for meaning in life, to those who are confused in their Christian beliefs, to those who want to deepen their journey within, and, most importantly, to those who have become trapped in today's self-centered and materialistic culture. Along with the author, I urge you to look more closely at the spirituality and ministry of this wild-eyed saint.

(Note: "Chasing Francis" provides a study guide for those who who would like to use this book for group discussion and/or for personal meditation.)

Ian's book is a refreshment to those who perhaps have found their faith more cultural and academic than anything else. Ian's book is simply a wonderous tale of one man's conversion from a cultural religion of social politics and people pleasing to true Christianity. I don't generally have time to read, but I took a chance and made a shot at this book because generally Ian is very affluent and eloquent and always manages to gracefully communicate a point which touches the human soul, as well as the mind. For anyone who has found deep frustration in a church/religion which panders towards the traditional legalist and academic part of life, this book will bring your soul a fresh pale of water.

Don't let the book mislead you.
This is a MUST READ for all who call themselves followers of Jesus. It is a timely book for the North American Church providing a most refreshing third way to engage in ministry. Truly a gift. I can hardly wait to see what else Cron gifts us with in the future. Bring it on. Inspiring. Insightful. Life-changing ...truly, if acted upon.

Chasing Francis By Ian Morgan Cron is an interesting and engaging book. The book is written in novel format, but seeks to serve as an introduction to the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was called by God to "rebuild the church" and set about living a lifestyle and organizing a monastic order that set about to live out the Sermon on the Mount. According to the author and those who endorse the book, St. Francis has a lot to offer the Western church today. I was impressed with how well the modern-day fictional story of a pastor in the midst of spiritual crisis "chasing" the footsteps of Francis on a pilgrimage really did lend itself to being a catchy introduction to the life of St Francis.

My fear with the book is philosophical in that while the church is being called to action, little is being said about the truth of who God is. A subtle "kingdom now" utopia of good works theme plays throughout the background of the book. At one instance there is a suggestion for a church to send part of its missions budget to agencies that are formed around protecting the environment. The question of the hour then becomes... "What makes Mission, Christian?" In other words, while we are preaching the gospel with our actions and using words (only) if necessary, what distinctively shows our actions to be gospel oriented? Doesn't Oprah give generously to just causes and Bill Gates? Are they ushering in the kingdom or are they just giving money to a good cause? What does saving the planet really demonstrate about the gospel? I need words to tell me.

I know by fan's of this movement it will seem like I just don't get it, but the truth is I do. I get it. I get it all too well. We will teach social justice and miss the gospel all together. I know that's not being said, but I see it being done. Nothing wrong with what has come to be known as social justice (feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc...) except when it dominates the platform it eclipses the real issue. We must not forget why people are hungry, naked, and in need of a savior in the first place. Social justice is a much needed band-aide to a hurting world, but Jesus is the only solution to the sin issue, please... lets not forget that.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chase Falson has lost his faith in a big way. The founder of a mega-church, he has a breakdown in front of his congregation on a Sunday morning. The other church leaders quickly give him a leave of absence and everyone is left wondering how to put the pieces back together. For Chase, it isn't about putting his church back together, it's about putting himself back together. His journey takes him to family in Europe where he learns about Francis of Assisi. As Chase learns of Assisi's faith, he rediscovers his own. He's not alone on his journey, but is surrounded by friends who help him.

Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron sounds appealing on many levels from the whole idea of mega church development (the good, the bad, the ugly) to life long friendships to Francis. I enjoyed most of Chase's journey, the sites he saw and the thought process he went through. His excitement is almost tangible as are his low points. Over all, it was an enjoyable read. I do wonder if the author took liberties with some of Francis' beliefs, stretching what the man said to meet a more modern perspective. I can't say for sure either way as I have never studied Assisi. I make my claim based on study of the time in which he lived. I also have some questions about some of the actions the Franciscan monks make. I think over all, they are interesting characters, I just don't find some of their actions believable.

Over all, I think this book will make most readers think about their lives and their journey. I think many people will be curious as to St. Francis and want to learn more. Those two things were the main goals of the book, according to author's words included in the book. Having met those goals, the book would be a success. Personally, I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Chasing Francis is written by Ian Morgan Cron and published by NavPress. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Many Christians today have some difficulty understanding how to really follow Christ with passion and love for their fellow man. `Chasing Francis' by Ian Morgan Cron, is a novel that is part travelogue and part history lesson; its main focus is on one of the greatest Jesus followers who ever lived, Francis of Assisi.

Here is the synopsis of `Chasing Francis' from the back cover:

Chase Falson has lost his faith - and he did it right in front of the congregation at his megachurch. Now the elders want him to take some time away: far away. So Chase crosses the Atlantic to visit his uncle, a Franciscan priest, where he encounters the teachings of Francis of Assisi [...] and rediscovers his ancient faith.
In this engaging, history-rich novel, you will journey with Chase in the footsteps of Francis, a journey in the footsteps of Francis, and then begin one of your own through the pilgrim's guide included in this book. Come discover Francis, the first postmodern Christian.

In the opening scene, Chase is on a jet headed to Florence, Italy. He describes himself as he saw himself two years prior to that time:

Two years earlier I'd been Chase Falson, founding pastor of the largest contemporary evangelical church in New England. My fourteen years in the ministry were a church-growth success story. I'd considered myself one of the privileged few the heavens had endowed with a perfectly true compass. I'd known who I was and where I was going, and I'd been certain that one day I would see the boxes checked neatly checked off next to each of my life goals. I'd liked myself. A lot. (p. 13)

He goes on to explain what had just happened to him:

That world had detonated ten days ago. Gazing down on the terracotta roofs dotting the approaching Tuscan hills, I found myself on a forced leave of absence, and chances were good that when I returned home I would be out of a job.
I had discovered that reaching the climax of a spiritual crisis in front of a thousand people is less than political. In retrospect, I should have realized that I was standing on the edge of a yawning existential abyss. Underground streams of doubt has been leeching into the well of my most deeply held beliefs for two years. The scaffolding that supported my whole system of belief was shaking as if some unseen force were trying to pull me down. (p. 15)

Chase explains his mindset of late with regard to his Christian belief system:

I'd been shocked a few years ago when a friend from seminary converted to Catholicism because he felt evangelicals had "McDonaldized" Jesus. I was starting to see his point. (p. 17)

After the church leadership decided he needed to take some time off, Chase decided, on a whim, to go visit his Uncle Kenny, who divided his time between friaries in Assisi and Rome. Kenny had decided that Chase needed to `meet' Francis; he described Francis this way:

"Francis was crazy enough to live more like Jesus than anyone else in history, and it changed the world. People still call him `the last Christian.'" (p. 41)

Kenny explains to Chase that he needs to go on a pilgrimage:

"Think of it this way," he continued, "a pilgrimage is a way of praying with your feet. You go on a pilgrimage because you know there's something missing inside your soul, and the only way you can find it is to go to sacred places, places where God made himself known to others. In sacred places, something gets done to you that you're unable to do for yourself." (p. 42)

Ultimately, Kenny was persuasive, and they were on their way.

In one of Chase's journal entries, he compares the church of Francis' day with the current day:

Another similarity between the Middle Ages and today has to do with the state of Christendom. In Francis's day, the church was hemorrhaging credibility; it was seen as hypocritical, untrustworthy, and irrelevant. Some people even wondered if it would survive. Clergy was at the center of all kinds of sexual scandals. It had commercialized Jesus, selling pardons, ecclesiastical offices, and relics. Sermons were either so academic that people couldn't understand them or they were canned. Popular songs ridiculing the church and clergy could be heard all over Europe. The laity felt used by the professional clergy, as if they were there to serve the institution, not the other way around. The church had become dangerously entangled in the world of power politics and war. Some fringe groups were beginning to say you couldn't be a Catholic and a Christian at the same time. Disillusionment with the church inspired many people to turn to astrologers and other alternative spiritualities. (pp. 45-46)

Does that sound familiar?!

Chase shared what he learned about Francis from his uncle and from the many books he'd been assigned to read:

Francis was a nutcase, but there's something so genuine about him that it's hard not to like him. He wanted to become a knight and fight in the regional wars that often broke out between Assisi and the neighboring town... In a war with Perugia, Francis was taken prisoner and spent a year in prison waiting for dad to pay a ransom for his release. After he returned home, Francis was ill but refused to give up his dream of seeking glory as a knight - he signed up to go into battle again... The night before the battle, Francis had a dream that changed his life. He heard a voice say, "Who can do more good for you? The lord or the servant?" Perplexed, Francis replied, "The lord." The voice in his dream responded, "Then why are you abandoning the lord for the servant?" In a flash, Francis figured out who was speaking and said, "O Lord, what do you want me to do?" And the voice said, "Return to Assisi, and what you are to do next will be revealed to you." (p. 50)

Kenny and Chase had numerous discussions about Francis. Kenny defined him this way:

"...Francis was a Catholic, an evangelical street preacher, a radical social activist, a contemplative who devoted hours to prayer, a mystic who had direct encounters with God, and someone who worshiped with all the enthusiasm and spontaneity of a Pentecostal. He was a wonderful integration of all the theological streams we have today." (p. 55)

One of Kenny's colleagues was Brother Thomas. Thomas shared with Chase what needed to happen in order to minister to others:

"Everywhere I go, I meet people, old and young, from all over the world, and they tell me about their lives, their relationships, broken families, their addictions, shame, guilt, failures. You'll never be able to speak into their souls unless you speak the truth about your own wounds. You need to tell them what our Lord has come to mean to you in the midst of your disappointments and losses. All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain." (p. 67)

Another colleague of Kenny, Peter, shared that Francis was a strong environmentalist. Peter drew this conclusion about how Christians dealt with the earth today:

"It's sad that we've made this into just a political issue when, in fact, it's theological as well," Peter added. "If we continue allowing the earth to be destroyed, we're actually working against the purposes of Jesus, who died for us." (p. 79)

In addition to taking better care of God's creation, this book also addresses the idea that art in all its forms - music, poetry, painting, etc... - should be embraced by the church. The same goes for embracing peace instead of war. A nun by the name of Irene, who was a key player in a peace conference attended by Chase, shared this insight about how Francis looked at peace:
"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart. Nobody should ever be roused to wrath or insult by your account. Everyone should rather be moved to peace, goodwill, and mercy because of your restraint. For we have been called to the purpose of healing the wounded, binding up those who are bruised, and reclaiming the erring." (p. 133)

In his journal entry, Chase wrote to Francis and praised his interpretation - and action -when it comes to Jesus' teachings:

Francis, your genius was that you read stuff in the Bible (like the Sermon on the Mount) and you didn't spiritualize or theologize it. You heard Jesus say, "Happy are the peacemakers," so you got up every day and embarked on a new peace mission. My usual approach is to read the Bible, try to understand what he's saying, and then apply it. Your formula was the reverse. You applied the Bible and then came to a fresh understanding of what it actually meant. What a concept. (p. 137)

The time came for Chase to return stateside and meet with the elders. I will not give away the result, but suffice to say that Chase Falson would never be the same after his encounter with Francis, who knew and understood the real Jesus - as opposed to the manufactured version - so very well.

Here is the biography of the author from his Facebook page and from the book's back cover:

Ian Morgan Cron [...] is senior pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is an ordained Anglican priest. He resides in Old Greenwich, Connecticut with his wife, Anne, and three children, Cailey, Maddie, and Aidan

According to his Facebook page [...], he and his family will be moving to Franklin, Tennessee, this summer.

I enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about Francis of Assisi. Having grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, I was somewhat familiar with him; I was familiar with his love of animals more than anything! But I am interested in learning more about him now. Pastor Cron provides a Bibliography at the back of the book - a great resource for Francis information, as well as a very in-depth Study Guide - `Further Reflections for the Pilgrim's Journey.' I would highly recommend this to believers and non-believers alike who want to have a strong role model for how to live like Jesus in a tangible and practical way.

This book was provided by NavPress for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

Chase Falson pastors an up and coming mega church near New York City. Everything seems to be going his way at this point in his career. Then, he has a crisis of faith after a parishioner's young daughter dies. Unfortunately for Falson, his crisis breaks out from the pulpit, and it is not what his congregation expects or wants from their American-dream promoting pastor.

The good news for Falson is that he has an uncle who is a Franciscan friar living in Italy. Falson takes a leap of faith across the pond to Italy and begins a journey of discovering St. Francis and perhaps the "new" old way of Christianity. The mystery of the book becomes where the journey takes Falson spiritually and where it will leave him vocationally.

Ian Morgan Cron attempts what I think is one of the most difficult endeavors, and that is creating a successful novel that also conveys a Christian teaching--in this case, the message of St. Francis' ministry. Cron navigates the above difficulties to write a book that is an enjoyable novel and gently raises important issues for Christians. Cron does this while dynamically introducing readers to St. Francis.

If there is a shortcoming in the book, it might be the cliché picture of Chase Falson as the mega church pastor who has a shallow faith that caters to American consumerism and drive-through mentality. The character seems stereotypical prior to his crisis of faith when he becomes more dynamic. However, I think he reveals what probably all American Christians struggle with or accept to some extent: the enmeshment between Christianity and the American dream.

Falson says that his church "had been built on the appeal of my belief in a God who could be managed and explained." (Cron 14) He comes to realize this type of belief is vacuous and deceptive. He finds God and life are out of his control.

Cron interestingly does not make Falson the main character of this book. That honor goes to St. Francis whose teachings and life are the central themes of the book. The Franciscan friars who tutor Falson on Francis and his way of life begin with this introduction, "Francis was crazy enough to live more like Jesus than anyone else in history, and it changed the world. People still call him `the last Christian.'" (Cron 41) The lesson for Falson continues during his few weeks stay with the friars in Italy.

With the friars as his guides, Falson visits many of the churches in Italy through which we learn of several significant events and lessons from St. Francis' life. Cron uses several means like Falson's journal entries and other characters quoting real authors to include quotes from St. Francis and from scholars about St. Francis.

One character Thomas, an older friar, quotes Simon Tugwell, a biographer of St. Francis, describing Franciscanism, "He called it a `radically unprotected life,' a life that's cruciform in shape...It's to live dangerously open, revealing all that we genuinely are, and receiving all the pain and sorrow the world will give back in return. It's to be real because we know the Real." (Cron 66)

Falson discovers a deeper way of Christianity and finds himself in the beginnings of a romantic relationship, as he steps before his congregation to make the case for his new vision for his church. He lays out his vision for the church based on St. Francis' example.

Cron completes the book with a helpful, thought-provoking discussion guide. The guide includes additional quotes by scholars about St. Francis or challenging topics. Cron follows the quotes and reflections with questions for readers.

Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays