Alex Early - The Reckless Love of God: Experiencing the Personal, Passionate Heart of the Gospel

2015 by Alex Early

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www . bakerpublishinggroup . com

Ebook edition created 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-6934-8

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations marked GW are from G OD S W ORD . 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked M ESSAGE are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are 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 NCV are from the New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NJB are from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations marked W EYMOUTH are from The New Testament in Modern Speech, by Richard Francis Weymouth, first published in 1902.

Cover design by Connie Gabbert

Author is represented by Wolgemuth and Associates.

There is not a more powerful statement to the human heart than this: You are totally loved and fully accepted. We long to hear this from our dads. We hope to hear this from our spouse. And, we want to say this to our children. Because of Jesus, God the Father says to us: You are totally loved and fully accepted. If you want to grow in this truth and experience this reality, The Reckless Love of God is for you!

Darrin Patrick, lead pastor of The Journey (St. Louis, MO), vice president of Acts 29, and author of The Dudes Guide to Manhood

I cant think of anyone better to write a book on the love of God than Alex Early. His joy-filled relationship with Jesus is contagious. Im thrilled that hes captured some of his theology and heart in this soul-filling book. I will be recommending it to both the religious and the irreligious for years to come.

Tony Merida , founding pastor of Imago Dei Church (Raleigh, NC), associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, and author of Ordinary

The reality that God is love is too easily domesticated and kept at arms length. In The Reckless Love of God , Alex relishes in the joy and adventure that takes place when the love of God takes possession of our hearts.

Justin S . Holcomb , Episcopal priest, professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and author of On the Grace of God

I lovingly dedicate this book
to my absolutely stunning bride,
Jana
(my Yellowbird).