PRAISE FOR CHASING A GOD YOU DONT WANT TO CATCH
Now heres a title that will challenge you to the core: Chasing a God You Dont Want to Catch. Darren Wilson has an unusual gift to get readers to own up to thoughts and feelings they may never want to admit to or say out loud. He is raw, without being crass. He is vulnerable, without needing pity from his reader. His honesty helps us to admit to things previously ignored. His humor helps us to swallow the medicine of correct biblical perspective. And his insights bring hope where weve wandered about, needing authentic faith. I believe this book will help countless people find their true north in understanding the heart of God and the purpose for their lives.
BILL JOHNSON, SENIOR LEADER, BETHEL CHURCH, REDDING, CALIFORNIA; AUTHOR OF THE WAY OF LIFE AND RAISING GIANT-KILLERS
Darren Wilson has an uncanny ability to communicate complex spiritual truths in such a tangible way. In this book, Darren shares candidly and humorously from his own life the issues he had with God, and in doing so, helps the reader get past their own. As you read this masterpiece, I encourage you to open up your heart. God is transforming the lives of a generation, who in turn will transform the culture around them. I believe God is going to use this book as a catalytic tool in His hands to awaken the hearts of multitudes around the globe.
DARREN DAVIS, SENIOR PASTOR, THE HARBOUR CHURCH, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
Darren Wilsons honesty and sense of humor is refreshing and there is no shortage of it in his new book Chasing a God You Dont Want to Catch. This is a book for all of us who have wrestled and doubted, questioned and ran. Darrens story reminds us that God meets us right where we are, even when its messy!
KIM WALKER-SMITH, JESUS CULTURE
Darren once again captures the essence of what it looks like to live with, follow, and relate to a God who is both a Father and a Judge. I have had the privilege of walking with Darren through some of his most painful and vulnerable life moments and have seen the revelations and the truths he communicates truly lived out by him. His emphasis on transformation as a developmental process that God takes us through is a real key to bringing glory to God. Darren takes the reader on a fun and encouraging encounter that ultimately leads to a greater revelation of who Jesus Christ iswhen you see Me, you see the Father.
BRYAN SCHWARTZ, PASTOR, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TEAM, CELEBRATION CHURCH, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Darren Wilson is more than a communicator. His films and books have the simple and profound ability to communicate who God is in a deep and personal way. I have found my own freedom in what he has given to the world in his films, yet through this book I have found a more active dialogue with God. This is a must-read for anybody who has grappled with the very powerful concept of who God is, if He is, why He is, and the truth that He is actually for you!
CYNTHIA GARRETT, HOST OF THE SESSIONS ON TBN, AUTHOR, TV PERSONALITY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, FOUNDER OF CGM, WWW.CYNTHIAGARRETT.ORG
Darren has put his pursuit of God on display for thousands to see through his movies and TV shows for years now, and having the privilege to participate in that journey myself, I can safely say that this book represents the reason for that journey. His dynamic writing style allows us a glimpse into the human experience as we attempt to wrestle with the mystery of God. This book will help both followers of Jesus and those still seeking to see their stories as a part of a much greater story. Darren gives beautiful, thoughtful language emphasized by biblical narrative to help us all explore the depths of Gods love and power of hope, while not negating the great disconnect between what we say we want and how God actually gets us there.
JAKE HAMILTON, WORSHIP LEADER AND SONGWRITER
I listen deeply to a person whose goal above all else is to be a friend of God. Darren Wilson doesnt just talk the talk. I have seen Darren walk the authentic faith walk, not to have a big ministry or to put on a show for man, but for the pure joy of being a friend of God. If your heart has caught this same passion, youre going to want to read this book.
JAMIE GALLOWAY, AUTHOR OF SECRETS OF THE SEER, JAMIEGALLOWAY.COM
Darren has a history of finding himself in the overall narrative of God and His people. Darren simply wants to know God, and he is a phenomenal storyteller of the greatest story of all time. Darren has blessed us for years through his films and books. In this particular book, you will follow Darrens journey as he finds his own story through the narrative of Scripture, while he also wrestles through his own doubts, struggles, and questions. Darren writes as a friend of God, and no matter where you are on your journey, you will surely be blessed as you read this book.
CHAD NORRIS, SENIOR PASTOR, BRIDGEWAY CHURCH, GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
2020 Darren Wilson
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Emanate Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Emanate Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
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. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All emphasis in Scripture belongs to the author.
Any Internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Thomas Nelson, nor does Thomas Nelson vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.
ISBN 978-0-7852-3313-8 (eBook)
ISBN 978-0-7852-3310-7 (TP)
Epub Edition March 2020 9780785233138
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020931448
Printed in the United States of America
20 21 22 23 24 LSC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
DEDICATION
To my three children: Serenity, Stryder, and River. I have been through a lot in my life, but I have fought hard for the truth about the God I always talk to you three about. You must navigate this life yourselves. Ill help you when I can, but ultimately your lives are yours to live. My prayer is that the hard-fought victories of your old man will help you in some way embrace the Fathers heart for you much sooner than I did. I pray the honesty and vulnerability of my wrestling match with God will help you in your own journeys. But more than anything, I hope this book shows you how truly wonderful the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit really are. And I pray that you will journey through this life with the desire to always walk in obedience to whatever the Father is asking of you each day.