Rich Mullins: A Devotional Biography: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven

Written by Rich's friend, landlord, and professor at Friend's University in Wichita, James Bryan Smith, this book gives a feeling of what it was like to be Rich Mullins, and walk daily seeing his Creator, feeling the prairie calling out and imploring Rich to read his Bible, which he confessed to like in a way that troubled some friends, because of all the wierdo's in it, most of all the God who Rich sought to write about and share with the rest of us. The insight of Smith, and total candor about the person and personality of Rich, his friend, and brother in Christ, shine through. Stories behind the lyrics of some songs, quotes from Rich's favorite authors, anecdotes from friends in and out of the CCM world, and pictures of Rich through the years, draw you in to a read that will find you returning time and time again, for another cup of refreshment, put on that favorite CD, grab either the Word, or Chesterton, or C.S. Lewis, and feel what it must have been like to be Beaker, or one of the Raggamuffins, or This Train members who joined with Rich to tour and travel and experience life as best Rich could remember it. As a gift or personal devotion guide, you will not regret the decision to invest in this gem.

There is no book that I can think of that strikes me harder than An Arrow Pointing to Heaven. I do not read through this book; I cry through it. Granted not every chapter struck me terribly hard, but the majority did. I long to live life with the same passion and intensity as this man. I long to be free to love as he did and experience "the reckless raging fury they call the love of God" as he did. Smith accurately calls it a devotional biography. It is indeed an explanation of Rich Mullins' life, but it seems almost as if it were written not quite for that purpose primarily. Instead, Smith takes 10 aspects of Rich's life and music that were impacting and powerful and made Rich who he was and displays how those points of truth, beauty, and love played out in the man's life, calling each reader to live with the same vibrancy and desire for God and others. Don't misunderstand; you'll still find a good overview of Rich's life as well as a number of beautiful details, but that almost feels secondary to the drive to urge us to make Rich's life our own.Which is exactly what Rich would have wanted, I imagine. He wanted people to know the love of God as he had and even more. He was, by his own admission, a ragamuffin, and his desire was to point to his savior, not himself. And that just made his soul that much more beautiful.

A good friend gave me this book. I cannot think of any gift I have received (except for my salvation) that has been more meaningful. This is a wonderful book. This is a great book. I am grateful to James Bryan Smith for writing it, thankful that Rich Mullins lived it, and I stand in awe of the fact that God the Father truly authored it all long ago. This book, like the life it describes, is an arrow pointing to heaven. This is not a simple biography. This is no attempt at making a saint out of Rich Mullins. This book is a good long reflection on how God has uniquely acted and spoken through the life of one man. "An Arrow Pointing To Heaven" is divided up into ten chapters (plus a wonderful introduction by Brennan Manning and an afterword by Rich's brother David). Each chapter centers around a theme that Rich sang or talked about often. The book comes with a CD with ten songs on it. Each chapter is named for a song on the CD. The songs express the theme of the chapter. The songs and themes are: First Family (about the legacies our families provide), Creed (about the Church), The Love of God (about...the love of God), Boy Like Me/Man Like You (about trusting Jesus), Calling Out Your Name (about God and the beauty of creation), Bound To Come Some Trouble (about the growth found in struggle and pain), My One Thing (about the freedom of the simple life), Growing Young (about sin and temptation), Brother's Keeper (about showing love through our actions), and That Where I Am There You May Also Be (about death).Each of these chapters taught me some great lessons. This book is life changing. The last three chapters in particular were really moving and challenging to me. There are wonderful quotes by Rich and Rich's friends (as well as various other famous Christians) throughout the book. Some are humorous, some challenging, some emotionally moving, but they are all woven masterfully into the whole by the author. Some of my favorite quotes by Rich are:"I would rather live on the verge of falling and let my security be in the all sufficiency of the grace of God than in some kind of pietistic illusion of moral excellence-not that I don't want to be morally excellent, but my faith isn't in the idea that I'm more moral than anybody else. My faith is in the idea that God and His love are greater than whatever sins any of us commit." (Chapter 8)"I think that part of being human is being alone, and being lonely. I think one of the stresses on a lot of our friendships is that we require the people we love to take away that loneliness. and they really can't. And so, when we still feel lonely, even in the company of people we love, we become angry with them because they don't do what we think they're supposed to. Which is really something that they can't do for us." (Chapter 6)"a spiritual thing is folding your clothes at the end of the day. A spiritual thing is making your bed. A spiritual thing is taking cookies to your neighbor that is shut in or raking their fr

Brennan Manning talks about how a ragamuffin is someone who is honest about themselves and their failings, passionate about being intimate with God and does not conform to the expectations of cultural christianity for the sake of it. Rich Mullins was a ragamuffin ... someone who took the challenge of being intimate with the Father ... impacting and influencing those around him with the possibilities of living a Christ centred life. This book is great ... it is not just a biography ... nor is Rich Mullins made out to be a "saint". This book is an honest and candid look at a man ... who just wanted to love God and love those around him. It is a challenging read and the reader comes away with a hunger for a deeper walk with Christ. Reflections on each chapter are included with the intention of guiding the reader into a deeper look at themselves and their relationship with God. I read this book very quickly because i was excited to have it but I am now going back into it and reading it slowly and thoughtfully ... which is the best way to be impacted by the treasure within.Buy it!!! The bonus CD is great as well!

This is far from traditional biography or hagiography. This book does what all great literature from Christian history has done- points people to God. Brennan Manning's foreword begins "Jesus of Nazareth ruined Rich Mullin's life. And out of the ruins he recreated a ragamuffin of startling originality; no human being even remotely resembles him." Manning ends- "This book deserves to be read and reread. It is a treasure."