Restless Faith: Holding on to a God Just Out of Reach

Can we control God? This is the question author Winn Collier addresses in his book, Restless Faith: Holding On to a God Just Out of Reach. He writes, "This is the shadowland of mystery: to embrace God even when we can't control him." Collier wrestles with the idea of controlling an uncontrollable God and how to make peace with Him. Collier addresses many issues of concern to modern-day Christians, including faith and believing; worship, both personal and corporate; doubt; challenging what we believe; the dichotomy of pain and pleasure; and hope. He asks good questions and offers answers based on the Bible and his own personal experiences. This book also comes with an excellent appendix of study questions, which would make it a good book to study with a group. Excellent and thorough endnotes are also helpful. I found this book to be an encouraging journey to a deeper understanding of who God is and how He relates to His children today. God is bigger than any box or jar we could attempt to place Him in. Armchair Interviews says: Collier does a fabulous job of asking the right questions and offering answers that make sense both Biblically and practically.

I opened up this book not knowing what to expect and was quickly rewarded. Collier opens up the window to his soul and shares what is inside. We see the questions that we all have asked ourself but never have asked others, primarily because we don't know how to. This book not only asks those type of questions, but gives the answers too. Dont expect to read the book in one sitting. It will require some time. Time to process what you are reading. But that is OK.

Restless Faith is a worthy addition to any Christian library. In Restless, Collier makes himself (and his family) vulnerable in order to create space for his readers to consider tough questions of faith in a new light. This book explores God in conversation with the prophet Malachi and asks at point blank range the tough questions which we are often too afraid to ask aloud for ourselves. Challenging both the individual and the church at large to face head-on the difficulties in knowing a mysterious God, Collier holds nothing back. Through personal story and reflection Restless Faith is written in a way that blurs the lines between Collier's personal experience and history and the experiences of any other Christian pilgrim, whether a preacher, seminarian, church leader or a church member. If you are looking for all the answers to the mysteries of God you will be gravely disappointed in this book. But, if you are one of the many seeking permission to ask difficult questions about God, permission to peer meaningfully into the deepest places of your own heart, then this book is a must read.

Make note of that name: Winn Collier. Then pick up this book, read it and make plans to get another copy--you'll want to pass this one along to a friend. As with Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller's breakthrough title, Restless Faith has all the earmarks of a grassroots success story. And this, like Miller's, will be well-deserved. Restless Faith explores the mystery of God--the space between the notes in God's unfolding symphony--with an honesty and reverence that will appeal to any Christian longing for an authentic look at the stuff we just don't understand. Collier doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but he does a wonderful job of posing the questions that you and I would ask, and of offering wisdom to lead us to what answers there are to the unanswerable. Steeped in scripture and supported by the words of great Christian thinkers (Chesterton, Lewis and others), Restless Faith is a rich, rewarding examination of the unknowable God. And it's a great read, too--Collier is an excellent writer. Okay, now order this book right away. Read it. And if you agree it's an excellent book, tell three other people about it. Or just buy them each a copy.

Honest, vulerable, and compelling. Collier is a treasure of a writer--I can't believe I didn't stumble on his work sooner.