My thoughts on “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson (Part 3)

I am reading “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson.  Here are my thoughts so far on what I have read…

Chapter One:  Yawning Angels Living a Life of Spiritual Adventure

Mark explains that there are six cages that keep us from living the spiritual adventure God destined us to live.

Cage of responsibility – Over time our important responsibilities become less important and our God given passions are tossed aside.  Our day to day responsibilities begin to consume us completely and we begin to believe that pursuing the passions God has put in our hearts is a less important responsibility.  Chasing after what God has for us and has placed in our hearts is our greatest responsibility. 

Cage of routine – Have you exchanged adventure and excitement for routine?   Having routine in your life isn’t a bad thing; it can be a good thing in most cases.  But how routine are you?  Is your life in such a routine it’s predictable?  Think about it…routine or adventure?  Which one describes your life?  Do you get up, go to work, come home, read your bible, go to church, fix diner, go to bed and repeat?  End of story?  What happens in-between all of the routine?  Any adventure?

Cage of assumptions – When assuming has been replaced with believing we are putting boundaries on what God can do.   We may assume we are too old or too young.  We may assume we are too soon or too late.  We may assume we are not eligible.  If there is anything I have learned so far, it’s to never assume.  Assuming will only hold you back from believing in God and what he can do.

Cage of guilt – The devil wants you to be just as focused on your past as he is.  He doesn’t want you to forget it and would like nothing more than to drain you completely by having you so fixated on what you’ve done wrong that it diminishes your kingdom dreams.

Cage of failure – We try it our way for a little while, but when “our way” fails God can then use that divine delay to get us where He wants us to go.

Cage of fear – we shouldn’t live our lives scared to death for “something” to happen.  We need to go for it with an attacking attitude!  If you are on a football team and you are playing defense, when it’s time to plunge into that player to stop them you aren’t thinking about the “what if’s”…you are going for it with an attacking attitude!  If he decides not to play defense because he is afraid something might happen to him and what if he gets hurt, he is missing out on the game.

Are you living in a cage?  It’s time to come on out of that cage and begin this chase of a life time!

My thoughts on “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson (Part 2)

I am reading “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson.  Here are my thoughts so far on what I have read…

Chapter One:  Yawning Angels Living a Life of Spiritual Adventure

Life full of excitement and adventure is not living your life in the “safe zone” or the “comfort zone”.  Living a safe, comfortable and predictable life is like sucking your thumb at age 30 years old; just doesn’t make sense.  Maturing spiritually is leaving your security blanket behind.  If you are living your life in the “safe zone” you are a bored Christian according to Mark Batterson, and I have to agree.  Like a animal running free out in the open wild or a bird soaring over the mountain tops doing what it was made to do, we all were made for something more….adventure! 

Compare the animals living in the wild to the ones caged in zoos.  Do you see any difference in the way they live their lives? 

Living in the wild

o   Cheetah’s and mountain lions running full speed chasing after prey

o   Elephant’s and rhinoceros’ roaming and playing out in the open wide spaces. 

Living in a zoo

o   Zebra’s and Giraffe’s sitting in the shade

o   Lion’s and Jaguar’s walking back and forth

Which ones do you think have the most excitement and adventure?

Are you that animal sitting in the shade and the only entertainment during your day is swatting the flies away with your tail and dodging flying peanuts from visitors?  Is that really what you want in life?

We long for adventure in our lives and nothing will satisfy that craving for excitement and adventure until we start chasing that wild goose and step out of that “safe zone” we have been hiding in. 

The rich young ruler that Jesus asked to give up all his possessions and follow Him wouldn’t let go of this security blanket.  His money and many possessions gave him security and he wasn’t willing to step out of that “safe zone” and live a life full of adventure.  He wanted to stay put…comfortable and cozy, holding onto his security blanky.  What he didn’t realize is that he turned down a life full of more excitement and fulfillment than he could ever imagine.  Come on, he gave up a chance to hang out with the Son of God!  Seriously? That sounds nuts to us, but we do the same thing.  When we choose to stay in our “safe zone” and not step out and chase that wild goose we are doing exactly what that rich young ruler did.  We are giving up an opportunity of a life time! 

What’s stopping you from stepping out of your “safe zone”? 

Just like the rich young ruler, Jesus is inviting us for an opportunity of a life time to follow him and live a life worth living.  We can stay cozy and choose not to venture out into the unknown or we can drop that security blanky and start chasing that wild goose!   Don’t chose to stick with safety and predictability rather than the adventure God had destined for you.  It’s not just about an exciting spiritual adventure, more importantly it’s about being a part of something that is much bigger than you and I.  It’s about being apart of changing this world by spreading the word of God.  If we choose to not jump into line to be apart of the kingdom of God, will it stop a mighty work of God?  Would someone miss out on hearting about God or receiving the help they need to be set free?  What will happen if we choose not to chase the wild goose?  What if someone is counting on YOU?

This book has really grabbed a hold of my heart!  I don’t want to miss out on what God has for me and the journey he has destined for my life, but more importantly I don’t want to miss someone who needs to know the life changing truth!  I want to jump in line to be apart of something worth living for….the kingdom of God!

Dear Lord,

Please help us to not be afraid of the unknown and let go of our comfortable lives and step out and chase after what you have destined for our lives. We like to know what’s going to happen, where were going to go and what were going to do and to not know can be scary at times. But peace comes with knowing that our lives are in your hands and the plans you have for us are greater and more fulfilling than we could ever imagine. There should be nothing scary about that!  Amen!

My Thoughts on "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson (Part 1)

I am reading “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson. Here are my thoughts so far on what I have read…


Chapter One: Yawning Angels Living a Life of Spiritual Adventure

The Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit ”An Geadh-Glas” which means “The Wild Goose”. I love how they describe the Holy Spirit by comparing it to chasing A Wild Goose or A Wild Goose Chase. Unlike A Wild Goose Chase you have heard of that leads you around in circles without any purpose, chasing the Wild Goose (The Holy Spirit) has a purpose and destination.

That is so true and I agree. You never know what you’re going to do, where you’re going to go or who you’re going to meet! What excitement! What Adventure! It’s hard for us to not be in control and not know what’s going to happen or where were going to go.

If we can break free from that human instinct to constantly be in control all of the time we can experience the adventure of a lifetime! I don’t know about you but I don’t want to settle for less than what God originally intended for me. I want to plunge right into what God has for me and chase that wild goose! Each day is a new adventure! I wouldn’t want to live any other way!

Are you longing for more in your life? Do you find yourself wanting to stay in the “safe zone” and not chase after what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do? Have you clipped the wings of the Wild Goose and settled for something less? Well let me tell you that there is NOTHING like doing what we were created to do! We weren't created to sit; we were created to move (physically and spiritually) so get to moving!!

Quote (Helen Keller) “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

So start chasing that Wild Goose, you will NEVER be bored and ALWAYS be surprised where you will go and what you will do! What excitement! What Adventure!

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advanced for us to do.”