Kevin Adams - The Extravagant Fool: A Faith Journey That Begins Where Common Sense Ends

PRAISE FOR THE EXTRAVAGANT FOOL

With gentleness and personal vulnerability, Kevin Adams takes us on his compelling journey and challenges us to waste our life for God. His example, during horrific circumstances, of a person walking by faith and totally reliant on God is a remarkable testimony to Gods faithfulness. Kevin shows us all how we can set aside our own foolish thoughts and be all-out, radical fools for God.

Wayne Hastings, resources pastor at Grace Chapel, Leipers Fork, Tennessee, and author of The Way Back from Loss

In The Extravagant Fool, Kevin Adams brilliantly uses his gift of story-telling to put everyday life in the context of Gods plan. Youll discover how God does both the simple and the extraordinary to get our attention, shake up our faith, and align our story with His. Brimming with real life and wisdom, this book is evidence that our extravagant God is truly our greatest reward.

Tami Heim, president and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance

Kevin Adams pens the details of his journey to authentic faith with stunning beauty and brutal honesty. The Extravagant Fool brings our truest purpose in life into clearest focus love God above all else.Only in this place of childlike faith do we find peace, rest, and hope.

Dineen Miller, coauthor of Winning Him without Words and Not Alone and author of The Soul Saver

Devastatingly powerful! Can faith carry you through a season of temporary suffering? Kevins evocative writing and introspection compel you to lean in and discover that God is abundantly more than we hope, more than we believe, and always more than we can see.

Lynn Donovan, coauthor of Winning Him without Words and Not Alone

If youre having trouble striking a balance between sermons of Utopian Christian promise and the difficulty of daily life, read this book! Kevin Adams takes us on a thrill ride of hope that will give the most desperately struggling believer increasing faith for Gods best.

Bill Spencer, executive director of Narrow Gate Foundation

With nakedly honest reflection, Kevin Adams has penned a book Ive always wanted to read but hadnt found anyone vulnerable enough to write. The Extravagant Fool takes us through his perfect storm to a place of hope, healing, and authentic restoration.

Gari Meacham, popular speaker and author of Watershed Moments, Spirit Hunger, and Truly Fed

Kevins perfect storm reveals the painful reality of fear and unmitigated loss. He poignantly talks about issues much of the church will not touch like questioning God and wondering if He really does see us, know us, or is moved by our plight. Kevin refuses to candy-coat his dark night of the soul but continues to bring us back to a hope that will not let go to a Savior who still calms the sea of our heart. This is the best book Ive read in a long time. It is riveting from start to finish! Are you struggling with loss and disappointment, feel like youre swimming in the mud of disillusionment in Gods ways? This book is for you!

Tammy Maltby, speaker and author of The God Who Sees You

In a world that has turned the meaning of true wisdom and riches on its head, we need an extravagant fool to help us off the hamster wheel of do more, strive more, spend more. This disruptive book reveals how being a good Christian isnt the same as radically following Christ. Its the riveting story of a man who had it all, lost it all, had the chance to regain worldly success, walked away, and at great cost found the true gold we all long for. But be warned reading this story may be Gods invitation to rewrite your own story in the most extravagantly foolish way imaginable. Are you ready?

Allen Arnold, director of content and resources at Ransomed Heart Ministries

In The Extravagant Fool, I was reminded of Jim Elliots words, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. This is the lesson Kevin Adams learned and lived. May his journey encourage your faith.

Laurie Short, author of Finding Faith in the Dark

Kevin Adams is a modern-day hero of the faith. In The Extravagant Fool, Kevin candidly unveils his life and how uncompromising faith can be awakened amid tremendous loss, grief, and betrayal. If status quo faith isnt enough for you get this book!

Joy Scott, founder of Josephs Joy Foundation

Kevin Adams is a powerful writer whose authenticity and gritty faith will keep you riveted with every page turn. Few writers are willing to be as transparent, and you will cry and celebrate with him as if his life were your own. The Extravagant Fool is a roller-coaster ride of inspiration and challenges. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing your life in a way that touched my own. I truly love this book!

Lyn Smith, speaker and collaborative writer with Tommy Newberry of Think 4:8

Authentic, poignant, and excellently written, The Extravagant Fool is rich with wise and timely words for this generation. This book will help you write a better story with the pages of your life.

Michael Neale, national bestselling author of The River and Dove Award-winning songwriter

Kevin Adams is an unflinching guide into largely unexplored territory the up-side of upside-down kingdom living. Follow this extravagant fool to the place where faith and need collide, producing a life marked by the surprising activity of God. Read this beautiful work of grace, and come out changed.

Allison Allen, speaker, author, and actor whose credits include Broadway, Women of Faith, and Magdalene

ZONDERVAN

The Extravagant Fool

Copyright 2014 by Kevin Adams

ePub Edition March 2014: ISBN 978-0-310-33792-8

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Adams, Kevin, 1966

The extravagant fool : a faith journey that begins where common sense ends / Kevin Adams.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-310-33796-6 (hardcover)

1. Adams, Kevin, 1966-. 2. Christian biography United States. I. Title.

BR1725.A293A3 2014

277.3083092 dc23 2013044786

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The author is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, www.alivecommunications.com.

Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst