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Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God

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When last we heard from Mark Batterson, he was chasing a lion down a pit on a snowy day. Now he's chasing a wild goose. Evidently, there's a lot of chasing going on in Mark's neck of the hood.

Most of us think a wild goose chase is, as Mark puts it, "a purposeless endeavor without a defined destination." Mark thinks otherwise. He notes that one of the Celtic Christian images of the Holy Spirit was An Geadh Glas, "the Wild Goose." Chasing that Wild Goose is anything but a purposeless endeavor, even though we don't know the defined destination at the outset of the chase.

Chasing the Wild Goose pulls you out of "inverted Christianity." "Instead of following the Spirit," Mark writes, "we invite the Spirit to follow us. Instead of serving God's purposes, we want Him to serve our purposes." Such a form of Christianity is sinful--displacing God from the center and putting our selves there instead--but it is also deadly boring. Mark deploys the image of a caged animal at the zoo to describe the life of inverted Christianity. The natural beauty, freedom, and power of biblical Christianity gets locked away behind safe, comfortable, and predictable bars. If we want to chase the Goose, we have to get out of our cages.

In Wild Goose Chase, Mark identifies six cages inverted Christians get locked inside: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. He devotes one chapter to each of the cages and uses one character from the Bible to illustrate spiritual uncaged living. Nehemiah shows us how to live a "responsibly irresponsible life," one that is infused with God's passion. Moses shows us how to break out of our spiritual routines. Abraham shows us how to overcome the antisupernatural assumptions that place limits on what God can do in our lives. Peter shows us how to let God's grace overcome our guilt and lead to a life of gratitude. Paul shows us how apparent failures are actually providential opportunities to spread the gospel. And Jonathan shows us to live on offense, rather than defense. Mark also peppers each chapter with stories from lives of contemporary people who are chasing the Goose.

One of Mark's greatest virtues as a writer is a Rick Warren-like ability to take a simple concept and give it practical legs. I have to confess that the genre of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase is not a genre I read a lot in anymore because it has tendencies toward the formulaic and simplistic. Mark's books are neither of those things. Don't be fooled by his short paragraphs, self-deprecatory humor, or obsession with medial front cortex illustrations. This book, and its predecessor, challenged me a deep, personal level. And they will do the same thing for you.

I highly recommend this book. I gave it to my associate. My family members will be reading it. And I'll be promoting it at my church. If you're tired of dull, passionless, routinized Christianity, read this book! And chase the Goose!

Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson is like one of those really good sermons that make you squirm in your pew with conviction. Batterson wants to see the end of complacent Christians who want only to live comfortably. He encourages readers to listen for the Holy Spirit and start living on the edge in accordance with God's purpose. He uses several anecdotes to make his case and Scripture to back it up. It's' hard to put into words just how powerful this book was for me. I squirmed through most of the chapters, and it has earned the rare permanent spot on my bookshelf. It's the kind of book that I will read year after year to remind myself of what I should be doing and to measure my progress. Are you ready for your faith to be stirred and shaken out of its boring routine? Read Batterson and chase the Wild Goose. You can't help but be changed.

Batterson has done it again! I read "Wild Goose Chase" from cover to cover without putting it down. Every chapter made me smile, made me think, and made me pause to reflect on God's heart.

I especially enjoyed Mark's perspective and insight on well known bible stories. Although I've read about Moses, Abraham, Jonathan, Peter, and Paul countless times, Batterson retold the old stories in a new light.

Even though Mark flawlessly kept my attention, I found myself pausing many times to pray.

Mark's language and images have a way of awakening my dormant faith and dreams. I will unquestionably revisit this book.

Recently I was given the opportunity to review the new book by Mark Batterson, "Wild Goose Chase." The book releases today, and I can't urge you enough to get get your copy!

Mark is not only an author, but he serves as the pastor of National Community Church, in Washington, DC. In observing his approach to ministry both in person (at events I have heard him speak at), and on his weekly podcast, he relates so naturally to the listener because you get the feeling that he's "on the journey" just like you are. That said, his writing style takes on a similar feel. To date, I have read both of his books, and his passionate approach to living the adventure and fulfilling the dreams God has given us is birthed out of a heart that pursues God.

In his latest release, "Wild Goose Chase," Mark likens the modern pursuit of God to that of a chase of a "wild goose."

The back cover boasts, "Most of us have no idea of where we're going most of the time. Perfect. Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit - An Geadh -Glas, or "the Wild Goose." The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacreligious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. Most of us have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty goes by another name: ADVENTURE."

It's that adventure that drew me through the pages of this book. Recently my wife and I made the announcement that we will be planting a church in the Millvale section of Pittsburgh (more on that later), and the process leading up to that announcement, as well as the uncertainty of the days that lie ahead were such fertile ground for the words of this book to get buried in my own spirit.

In the second chapter mark states, "There are moments in our life when our passions and the purposes of God converge in what I call supernatural synchronicities. These are the moments when we come alive. These are the moments when the sovereignty of God overshadows our incompetencies. And these are the moments when our success can be attributed to only one thing: the favor of God. God does something for us that we would never do for ourselves."

Not only was it hard not to see the current events of my own life right now as one of those "spiritual synchronicities, but it seems as if the introduction of this book in my life is one of them, as well! I reccomend this book for anyone wanting to awaken their personal pursuit of God, but even more, I reccomend it for those anticipating taking a leap of faith for God. This book will energize your journey!

If you're interested in checking out the book and even downloading a sample chapter, check out http://www.chasethegoose.com/, as well as http://www.markbatterson.com/ to read Mark's personal blog.

Information from the publisher:

Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God
Summary:
Most of us have no idea where we're going most of the time. Perfect. "Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit-An Geadh-Glas, or `the Wild Goose.' The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something....Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure." --from the introduction.

Author Bio:
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC's National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America's most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC'ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

The title of the book comes from the Celtic Christians, who referred to the Holy Spirit as "An Geadh-Glas" or "the wild goose".

In his followup book to In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, Batterson discusses six cages that keep us from chasing God's plan for our lives. I found each chapter to be incredibly insightful, encouraging, challenging and practical. Whereas his previous book inspired me to look at life and circumstances differently (a challenge to live dangerously), this book provided me with practical ways to step out and enter into the chase.

I've always been impressed with Batterson's seemingly natural ability to communicate truths in simple memorable statements (my highlighter got an extra workout on this one). Here's just a few I found after flipping back through the book:

* "Discovering something worth dying for makes life worth living."
* "One of the great mistakes we make is asking God to do for us what God wants us to do for Him."
* "And God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming."


As a youth pastor, I can't help but read this book with students in mind. I think it's perfect for Juniors and Seniors in high school who are in the process of discovering who they are and where they are going in life. The fact that the book is so accessible and relevant only makes it that much more easy to recommend.

On page 13, Batterson writes that he hopes this book serves "as a divine appointment waiting to happen." I think what I appreciate the most about this book is that it has been just that for me. I've been challenged to step out of my areas of routine and live a life of faith in pursuit of the "wild goose."

It's hard to imagine what's going to happen next. This book has increased my awareness of the Holy Spirit working and makes me anticipate God's next move. I'm ready for the adventure ahead. I know I can trust as long as the 'Wild Goose" leads. When things look bleak I know God's working out something incredible just like I know the sun is shining behind the clouds.

In Batterson's follow up to In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day, he continues to challenge readers to pursue God given callings and break free of mediocrity and the status quo. Wild Goose Chase goes into further detail on some of the "cages" that hold us back from pursuing God's call on our lives.

Be careful though, don't read this book if you just want a warm fuzzy pick me up. Batterson is not afraid to get up in your face and make you uncomfortable. This is exactly the type of challenge that many people need. Rather than sitting back and being "irresponsibly responsible" he encourages readers to pursue "responsible irresponsibility." In other words sometimes, the Holy Spirit, known to Celtic Christians as the wild goose, will prompt you to do something which seems illogical on the surface but when seeking after and pursuing Him, will take you on adventures and higher heights never imaginable from the comforts of the routine.

The book is filled with examples of people who seek after the wild goose and do dangerous things. Satan is afraid of dangerous Christians. He much prefers nice timid Christians who are afraid to break out of the mold and pursue challenges laid before them by God. Like a wild animal in its natural environment, Batterson encourages us to be wild and dangerous in the environment God has called us to.

Read this book then go out and be a mighty warrior, chasing where the wild goose leads.

Wild Goose Chase is a fun read that will inspire you to think more about what it means to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. Written in much of the same style as Mark's first book, Wild Goose Chase is an easy to read book filled with personal stories, Biblical character case studies, provoking challenges and memorable one-liners.

The byline of the book says, "Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God." Batterson explains that Christians can do this by getting free of 6 cages that hold them captive. These cages are:

1. Responsibility
2. Routine
3. Assumptions
4. Guilt
5. Failure
6. Fear

Some of my favorite quotes in the book are:

- When we lack the guts to step out in faith, we rob God of the glory that is rightfully his.
- We start dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for.
- [The Holy Spirit] comforts the afflicted. Like a good counselor, He also afflicts the comfortable.
- The only way you discover a new identity is by letting go of an old one.
- We can't appreciate the full extent of God's grace until we realize the full extent of our sin.
- God often uses things that seem to be taking us off our course to keep us on His course.
- I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God.
- Start playing offense with your life.

You will enjoy this book and it will motivate you to get closer to the Holy Spirit and begin the journey of following after him!

What would Christianity look like if believers came out of their cages to passionately chase "The Wild Goose?" Do you ever feel like you are caged by responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, or fear? God did not make you to be caged. He made you to be free. And He made you for adventure. Consider that the very word "adventure" cannot even be spelled without "advent," the name given to God coming into the world through the birth of Christ Jesus. Two thousand years ago, Jesus shared amazing adventures with His disciples, and God wants to share adventures with you today. If you will listen carefully and be patient I believe that you will hear an invitation from God to join Him outside your comfort zone in a place of glorious adventure. This is the theme of Pastor Mark Batterson's new book, Wild Goose Chase (Multnomah 2008), which is being released 8/19/2008.

It is said that the early Celtic Christians, including St. Patrick, referred to the Holy Spirit as "The Wild Goose." While not all the reasons are known for this comparison, you can certainly see some of the reasons as you think about wild geese. I have observed some of the attributes of Canadian Geese as they stop off briefly in a pasture and lake by my home during their migrations. They are untamable, free, and somewhat unpredictable. A wild goose always seems to be on the move, and as Bill Tenny-Brittian observed, "on a pilgrimage ordained by the Lord Himself." Some might say that living a life of being led by the Spirit is nothing but "a wild goose chase," and to that I say "Amen." From a common-sense standpoint, many of my most memorable spiritual adventures must have seemed to outsiders to be nothing more than a "Wild Goose chase."

Pastor Mark says of his own Wild Goose chase, "I am determined to pursue God-ordained passions until the day I die. Life is too precious to settle for anything else. I'm not convinced that your date of death is the date carved on your tombstone. Most people die long before that. We are dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for. Ironically, discovering something worth dying for is what makes life worth living." Wild Goose Chase, pp. 16-17 (Multnomah 2008).

For those who say that sounds risky, consider this: "Jesus never promised safety or certainty or predictability. And He certainly didn't die on the cross to tame us. He died to make us dangerous. He died to invite us into a life of spiritual adventure. And if you will have the courage to come out of the cage and chase the Wild Goose, life will turn into another day, another adventure!" Id. at p. 171. If you chased the lion into a pit on a snowy day with Pastor Mark in his last book, you will not want to miss Wild Goose Chase which invites you to "reclaim the adventure of pursuing God." I think I used up a whole highlighter on this terrific and compelling read.

I've just read my advance copy of Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase, the sequel to In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Because In a Pit . . . was the best book I've ever read, bar none, I pre-ordered my copy of Wild Goose Chase months ago and have been anxiously awaiting its release on August 19th. When I got an opportunity to read an advance copy of the book and review it, I felt like I'd won the lottery. However, I was a little scared. Given my exceedingly high expections, would I be disappointed? Well, I'm thrilled to say I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Actually, this book is a "how to" regarding my spiritual passion: growing mature followers of Christ. All too often, people see "getting saved" as the destination, not merely the first step of the journey. I see believers who came to the Lord years ago, and they are as spiritually unmature as the day they accepted Him. I also think that the church has dropped the ball. So many pastors and leaders are so focused on getting people saved (and tickling the ears with feel-good messages to keep them there) that they forget to disciple and grow their congregants. After reading Mark Batterson's books and blog entries for years, I've come to learn that while he cares a great deal about introducing unbelievers to Jesus Christ, he also is concerned with educating, growing and challenging believers to become spiritually mature kingdom changers! That's why he encouraged us to Chase the Lion and why he now encourages us to Chase the Goose.

The subtitle for Wild Goose Chase is "Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God". Pastor Mark explains, "Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit-An Geadh-Glas, or `the Wild Goose.' The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something...

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure." (from the introduction, Wild Goose Chase)

Comparing the Holy Spirit to a wild goose is appropriate: He's wild, He's unexpected and He'll take you down paths you never dreamed of. And you do need to chase Him. Although the Holy Spirit pursues us, convicts us, comforts us, loves us, nudges us, ultimately, He can do nothing but make suggestions. We need to respond to those suggestions. Where He leads, we follow. Or we should follow anyway!

And let's face it, so often, we don't know where He's leading us, what He intends. We see the "goose trail" only a step at a time. If you're really listening to God and following where He leads, it IS an adventure. He has a habit of putting us in impossible situations, completely inadequate,and incapable of doing what He's called us to do without Him. That's the point. So we have to rely on Him, and so He gets all the glory.

Mark Batterson is one of the smartest, well-read, innovative people I've ever known, but he's ACCESSIBLE -- his books are easy to read and he has an incredible way of phrasing profound thoughts so we can wrap our brains around them. Usually, when you read an author, you find they make one or two points that make you say, "Aha! I get it!" With Mark, you get at least one "eureka!" moment on every page. He is the king of one-line mantras that sum it all up perfectly.

Mark Batterson also makes himself accessible to his readers by BEING HONEST and HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR. He says the things we all think, but sometimes are afraid to say -- or even admit to ourselves -- for fear of sounding "unspiritual". But even if we can fool people and lie to ourselves, we can't "snow" God. He knows our hearts. Mark Batterson is transparent with his readers. He admits to you that he's human; he's just like you me. My favorite part of the book actually made me laugh out loud -- thank goodness I was by myself and not in public! This passage will demonstrate perfectly how accessible he is.

Mark tells the story about when he was in the eighth grade and a visitation team from his church visited his home. "[They] asked if they could `agree in prayer' with us about anything. I'd had asthma since I was three years old and had been hospitalized half a dozen times with pulmonary complications. So we held hands and prayed that God would heal my asthma.

Well, I still have asthma. But as a result of the team coming to visit, something remarkable did happen that I will never forget. When I woke up the next moring, all the warts on my feet were gone! I kid you not. My first thought was that there must have been some kind of prayer mix-up. Did God answer the wrong prayer? Maybe someone else somewhere else is breathing great but still has warts on his feet. It seemed like there was some confusion between here and heaven. I didn't get what I ordered.

And that is when I heard what I would describe as the inaudible yet unmistakable voice of God: I just wanted you to know that I am able.

I don't experience miracles like this right and left. I'm guessing my prayer batting average is no better than yours. And I don't hear the voice of God as often or as clearly as I would like. But it is difficult to doubt after an experience like this. God doesn't always answers my prayers how or when I want him to. But I do live my life with this fundamental conviction: God is able." p. 84-85.

Now, tell me that he's not funny and just as human as you or I am?! He's not afraid to admit he wondered if God goofed. And God's response is proof that God knew it, too!

Wild Goose Chase will inspire and challenge you to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, that Wild Goose, wherever He chooses to lead you, no matter how adventurous the trail gets! Wild Goose Chase is a must read book for any "Christ follower".