When a person comes to end of their days they will not measure the value of their life based on wins and losses or successes and failures. All of those will begin to blur together into a singular memory called life.
What will give someone solace or haunt them until their final breath is what they could have done but did not, who they could have been but never became, the life they could have lived that never came to life.
This book is a call and much needed push towards that "most courageous life." By examining the account of Elisha and the King of Israel, McManus demonstrates why it is best to follow God into battle with an empty quiver. He shows the reader why leaving everything on the battle field feels risky but yields the deepest sense of fulfillment.
My review:
There is a story in the Old Testament that is the idea behind this book. It is the story of the prophet Elisha having King Joash shoot an arrow, then beat the rest of the arrows on the ground. The king was chastised for not beating the arrows on the ground more times than he did.
The idea behind the book, and the description of the book intrigued me enough to apply to be in the launch team, and the book did not disappoint. Using his scare with cancer and some other events in his life, McManus has written a great book addressing this issue of holding nothing back as we live our lives for Christ.
The book is well written, and is very convicting. I am sure I am not the only person who tends to hold back, and this book is all about doing the complete opposite. I found the book to be a quick and easy read, though one that definitely makes you think.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review,.
About the author:
Erwin Raphael McManus is an iconoclast known as a cultural pioneer for his integration of creativity and spirituality. He is an artist, entrepreneur, and cultural thought leader who is also the founder of MOSAIC, a community of faith in Los Angeles California. Known for their innovation, creativity, and artistry, MOSAIC has been named one of the most influential and innovative churches in America.
Engaging such issues as culture, creativity, change, and leadership, Erwin is widely known as a thought-provoking communicator, poet, and wordsmith. His travels have taken him to over 50 countries and he has spoken to over a million people from a wide variety of audiences, from professional sports, Wall Street investors, universities, film studios, and conferences across the world.
McManus is the author of Soul Cravings, Chasing Daylight, and other leading books on spirituality and creativity. His newest book is The Artisan Soul: Crafting your Life into a Work of Art.
Erwin Raphael McManus sees the imagination as the principle vehicle through which we create a better self, a better world, and a better future. He argues that creativity is both uniquely human and the essence of human uniqueness. Creativity, McManus contends, is a natural expression of our spirituality. When we are most fully alive we create out of love all that is good and beautiful and true.
Erwin has a BA in psychology from UNC Chapel Hill, a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Southeastern University.
The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life is available from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for the review copy.
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