Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus

This is actually the third copy of Beautiful Outlaw I have ordered over the years because each time, I end up lending it out and not getting it back! Once you've read this book, you will want to keep it forever - it reflects the gentle, humorous and playful nature of our heavenly Father. We often see a somber Jesus through the eyes of an artist, but in this book we are in on a little secret - Jesus has a beautiful personality which includes a great sense of humor! He is not a meek or passive person, but an outlaw who single-handedly changed the world. READ THIS BOOK!! You'll love it!

Have not finished but what I have read is very good

I smile because I feel I see Jesus smiling to me in my room. Though, he is my Lord but he prefers I see him more of a friend because in that the intimacy is more expressed. Like this book a lot because John Eldredge has shown me more sides of Jesus that I was never conscious of.

Eldredge describes Jesus in a way that brings to life the personhood of Jesus. He becomes more than just words on a page, but rather a real flesh-and-bones person. The way he describes the personality of Jesus is story-like yet convicting. Though I do not personally agree with some of Eldredge's interpretations of Jesus character. One example is from Chapter 11 on Trueness. Eldredge presents Jesus as being "true to Himself" and then goes on to imply that we be true as well, but he is very vague in describing what it means to be true as Jesus was. If we are indeed to be our true selves, we would be constantly sinning. I don't think Eldredge means this, but this is just one issue. This chapter is, in my opinion, his weakest. Also, the way Eldredge presents those who hold to any traditions, even if they practice them for noble reasons, fit into the "religious" mold. The way he presents traditions is that they are inherently bad and that anyone who carries on these traditions over time are modern day Pharisees. But I would venture that the traditions practiced by a large percentage of Christians do it for godly reasons. Eldredge defaults to the conclusion that if a person does not like what he has to say about traditions, then they are "religious" in the radically conservative and legalistic sense of the word. The way he comes across some of the time is, "If you get offended, you are legalistic and need to lighten up." But other than this, the book is very insightful and it would be a dis-service to pass it off as not beneficial.

Beautiful Outlaw is a wonderful book for opening your eyes of faith to see more of who Jesus really is. The author has a thriving, intimate relationship with his Savior and shares his thoughts on how to achieve the same in your life. This is a must-read for those who long to deepen their faith and have moment-by-moment communication with the living Lord.