The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story

To be honest, when I began reading Brennan Manning's newest (and last) book to review, I was hesitant because it was written with another person. I was afraid the other writer's touch would be too strong and would take away from Manning's sensitive portrayal of humanity's pain. My fear was ungrounded. Greg Garrett is the perfect person to write alongside Manning, and keeps true to the Ragamuffin style.

The Prodigal is the story of a hugely popular pastor of a mega church who falls into temptation. Jack Chisholm loses everything and quickly. One day he's at the top of his game, and over the course of a few days, becomes an outcast.

The book covers Chisholm's journey in finding out who God really is, what He means to him---and how willing he is to turn away from everything he's thought was important. And as a true Prodigal, he returns to his childhood home and into the life of his seriously ill father. I loved how ordinary he seems, and how he accepts how messed up he is---but how forgiving both his earthly and Heavenly Father will be toward him.

This is a sweet story. Encouraging and very true to life. I'd enjoy reading more about Jack Chisholm, and believe Garrett can write one on his own now, and keep the flavor of Fr Manning.

(i received this book free to review from booksneeze/thomas nelson)

From the inspirational author of The Ragamuffin Gospel comes a powerful contemporary retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Jack Chisholm is 'the people's pastor.' He leads a devoted and growing megachurch, has several best-selling books, and a memorable slogan, 'We have got to do better.' Jack knows how to preach, and he understands how to chastise people into performing. What he doesn't know is anything about grace.

This year, when it comes time for the Christmas sermon, the congregation at Grace Cathedral will look to the pulpit, and Jack will not be there. Of course, they will have seen plenty of him already---on the news. After an evening of debauchery that leads to an affair with his beautiful assistant, Jack Chisholm finds himself deserted with chilling swiftness. The church elders remove him from his own pulpit. His publisher withholds the royalties from his books. Worst of all, his wife disappears with their eight-year-old daughter. But just as Jack is hitting bottom, hopeless and penniless, drinking his way to oblivion, who should appear but his long-estranged father, imploring his prodigal son: 'Come home.'

A true companion piece to The Ragamuffin Gospel, The Prodigal illustrates the power of grace through the story of a broken man who finally saw Jesus not because he preached his greatest sermon or wrote his most powerful book, but because he failed miserably. Jack Chisholm lost everything---his church, his family, his respect, and his old way of believing---but he found grace. It's the same grace that Brennan Manning devoted his life to sharing: profound in nature and coming from a God who loves us just as we are, and not as we should be.

'A wonderfully written story that is as entertaining as it is thought provoking.' ---Publishers Weekly, starred review '. . . the consummate final tale. What they have created is the Ragamuffin at his best, full of hope, full of love, and finally, full of belief in the goodness of God.' ---Phyllis Tickle, founding editor, Religion Department, Publishers Weekly 'Brennan Manning's last work continues the powerful message of grace and forgiveness that has transformed so many lives. The Prodigal will transform you too.' ---Mark Batterson, New York Times best-selling author of The Circle Maker.

My Review:

This book is sin and grace at it's best. When Jack has everything he could ever ask for, he throws it all away for a night that will destroy everything he's built. His life, his ambitions, and all his dreams lay waste at the feet of lasciviousness and revelry, and there is nothing he can do to take it back. When his wife leaves him, Jack is at the precipice of disaster, and he can do nothing but drink himself into oblivion.

My favorite part of this book is that moment when Jack realizes who he was and what he has become. That pivotal moment when he saw himself as he truly was, was the moment that grace could become a reality to him and not just words from the pulpit. It can be so difficult to reconcile the past and the future, especially when you feel as if there is no way to move forward. But God offers a hand of redemption to anyone who asks for it, and this novel clearly shines a light in the darkness of the human condition and offers the solution for all the ills of humanity. No matter what your past or current situation, the writing contained herein will touch your heart with the profound reality of God's love and mercy. We are all promised Immortality. Which future will you choose?

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

Brennan Manning Novel The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story , co-authored by Greg Garrett spins a present-day tale of fallen son Jack Chisholm, pastor of Grace Cathedral, a megachurch in Seattle, Washington. His private shame becomes a public scandal when a dalliance with his beautiful assistant streams on the internet and national news.

After news of the affair hit the airways, Jack’s life spirals downward; his wife disappears with their eight-year-old daughter, his book royalties cease to exist due to the publisher’s morality clause and church elders remove him from his position as pastor. With no money and nowhere to go, Jack turns to alcohol for comfort. At his lowest point Jack’s estranged father, Tom Chisholm, extends grace and mercy to his son and welcomes him home.

Jack, unfamiliar with God’s grace, sermons overflowed with shame and guilt. No loving God. No mercy. Just people trying to be free from sin in their own power. Jack returns to Mayfield, Texas, his hometown with his father. He works through the scandal his life has become, reconnects with family and old friends, and receives a second calling to serve God with a deeper, meaningful faith and life. He steps into a new life, one awash in grace. A new life where he feels free to enter the banquet God has awaiting him.
Brennan Manning Novel The Prodigal Audiobook
Narrator Daniel Butler dramatic performance of Jack Chisholm grips listeners immediately. In particular, his various inflections, lowering and raising of the voice at key moments magnifies the drama and displays the range of emotions Jack experiences. The slow-talking gravelly voice of Tom Chisholm brings to mind a tough but kind old Texan.

The performance of Mary Chisolm, a gravelly female voice, comes across as a tough, no nonsense woman that few dare to cross and fierce protector of the people she loves. Her portrayal has many laugh-out-loud moments.

The delightful character of Father Frank, a recovering alcoholic priest, with perfect accent, timing of speech, brings out the numerous quirks of this interesting character. He plays a pivotal role in dragging Jack out of the mire.

The assortment of friends and neighbors—some nice, some not so nice—draws an authentic portrait of small-town Texas life, as one its sons return home to find his place in the community again. Brennan Manning Novel The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story leaves listeners with the satisfying feeling of all things working together for the good.
[...]

Mega-church pastor, Jack, falls from grace — not in the sense of losing his salvation, but he gets drunk and sleeps with his assistant when they get stranded on a church missions publicity trip. The church he founded fires him, his wife leaves and takes their daughter. Jack is devastated by what "they" are doing to him and refuses to acknowledge doing anything wrong. He retreats to a getaway where, over a 2-month period, he tries to drink away his problem. But he's rescued by his father from whom he has been estranged for 10 years.

Back "home", Jack begins the long process of facing who he really is, what God really thinks about him, and restarting his life. It's a good story that hits close to home in that we all have failed, in some way, to live up to our own expectations of our self and we struggle with how to be worthy enough to be accepted by God and others.

Some of the characters were particularly well developed — Tom, Jack's father; Frank, the Catholic priest who advocates for grace; and James Taylor, the despicable mayor.

While I recognize that I come from a different religious tradition than Manning and the characters in his book, I found the liberal use of alcohol by believers unsettling. It was not just by one or two characters, but by many (maybe most). And, with the 3 main characters, there was misuse, even abuse, of alcohol that essentially went unchallenged, even as it led to problems.

The basic message of the book — that God loves us, extends his grace to us when we don't deserve it, and is forgiving — is a great theme and one that's necessary. The problem, in my limited exposure to the US over the last many years, is that this is a theme that is taken to the extreme by some (Osteen, for example) to the point where there is no repentance necessary. Thus, Jack's focus as a mega-church pastor — we've all totally ruined our live — seems like a straw man. However, his focus on self-improvement (we have to do better) seems to be a more common thread — works-based salvation. The truth is between those two — we have sinned, we do need a Saviour, God does extend his grace and we can repent and turn to him for forgiveness and eternal life. Jack finally experiences God's grace and forgiveness as he slowly realizes that the love he receives from his earthly father is a picture of how God deals with us.

I rate the book 4 of 5 stars. If you're struggling with guilt because of real sin, this is a great book to read to help you see God's love and forgiveness at work. It's also an enjoyable story of one man's struggle.

(DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this e-book in exchange for a review of the book through Thomas Nelson's blogger review program, Booksneeze,[...] I have been free to write the review I think the book deserves.)

A preacher whose message consisted of "We've got to do better!"
A pulpit-pounder who wasn't excited about grace and truth and mercy,
but was very vocal about morality, and improving our behavior and image.
Pastor Jack intended to do right and he intended to light fires of rightness under his parishioners.
The theme of his sermons sold really well: Jack Chisholm ran a mega-church that he had built up from the ground.
And yet this hard-working preacher somehow managed to fail miserably.

One day his face is the image of Christianity, the next day his face is the image of hypocrisy and deceit. He's all over the internet thanks to a Youtube video that shows him in a bar in Mexico with his beautiful assistant.
Before Jack even knows what happened, if anything, he's been run out of his Church by his elders,
his wife and child had been spirited away into hiding from the media, and everything he tried so hard to achieve was gone like smoke dissipating.
How could something as solid as his morality have crumbled that way?
How could Pastor Chisholm be one and the same person as exile Jack the Prodigal?

This story enfleshes the message of Gospel Grace and Acceptance within a story that makes you smile and sigh and cheer for Jack as you watch his transformation.
A small town, a crew of people both understanding and unforgiving, some serious life being lived, some choices that need to be made, and a burning thirst for a fresh start all come together and sweep Jack away in the tide.
It's time for us all to stop trying to have it all together.
That's the coolest thing about this book.
We all pretend at times. We pretend things, to avoid looking like we're inefficient and insufficient and incompetent. Especially as Christians.
And it is incredible to think that, like Jack, we don't need to fear being dumped and disowned when our real, battered and broken self is discovered. God isn't going to dump us, and real friends won't either.

As one of Jack's friends says,
"Better the battered soul who lives his life on a voyage of discovery
than the timid soul who never finds out who he is."

Thank you Booksneeze for my review copy!

From the opening lines of The Ragamuffin Gospel I knew that Brennan Manning had a way of delivering the truth about the grace of God that I had never experienced before. In his last work The Prodigal co-written by Greg Garrett I was not disappointed either. From the opening pages Manning invites the reader into a story that we can all find ourselves apart of at some point in life. Following the public fallout of the “people’s pastor” Jack Chisholm, the reader is taken through a journey of brokenness, despair, grief, forgiveness, hope, restoration and grace. Brennan Manning beautifully shows the story of the prodigal son in the relationship of Jack and his own father. This book is a must read! I could write out hundreds of words to describe it to you and do it no justice. This book and its story of grace and how we are able to receive the restoration that we find in the arms of our Abba is a beautiful ending to the life of Brennan Manning.

“A true companion piece to The Ragamuffin Gospel, The Prodigal illustrates the power of grace through the story of a broken man who finally saw Jesus not because he preached his greatest sermon or wrote his most powerful book, BUT because he failed miserably.”

We have all failed miserably and we all need God’s grace to find us and let us know we can “come home.” This updated version of the prodigal son is one that needs to be read so that a new generation of ragamuffins can understand the grace and tenderness that Brennan Manning devoted his life to. He will forever be remembered sharing a message that speaks to the prodigal in all of us, “God loves us just as we are, and not as we should be”.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jack Chisholm was lead pastor for a megachurch with three campuses and thousands of members. He was a best-selling author and a public figure known by some as "America's pastor." Then some poor decisions he made one night off the coast of Cancun lead him into sin he would not have thought himself capable of. When his actions come to light he is disgraced, and he loses his job and his family. Jack's life is in a tailspin, until his estranged father seeks him out and brings him home. It's in the small town in Texas where he grew up that Jack reconnects with friends and family, learns some important lessons about grace and forgiveness, and discovers that God may not be through with him after all.

I know a lot of people, both Christian and non-Christian, who have misconceptions about what it means to be Christian. I wish those people would read this book. It's that good. Seriously. The story is character driven, based on believable three dimensional "people," primarily Jack, his father, and the local priest called Father Frank. While the take home message of the story will not surprise anyone familiar with Manning's work, it was skillfully woven into the story, seeming to arise naturally from the characters and situations, not tacked on as an afterthought, so it didn't feel intrusive or overbearing.

I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid and out of the box descriptions found in this book. I'm reminded of the way Charles Dickens could paint a memorable secondary character in just a few brush strokes. Here's a particularly vivid example from <em>The Prodigal</em>:

"Carlene Petsch was the city secretary. Carlene had been called 'Petshop' in their youth, if only rarely to her face. It made her cry, got people sent to the office. She had grown into a hard, hefty woman, the kind of <em>hausfrau</em> who could bake an apple pie and then beat you to death with her rolling pin."

The ending of <em>The Prodigal </em> felt a little abrupt to me. I would have liked to see a little more resolution following Jack's moment of epiphany, in a few specific areas that I probably shouldn't mention for fear of spoiling the ending. That said, if you're going to err one way or the other, better to leave us wanting more than to make us beg for it to end. And, much as I wanted more closure, I do think this approach left things hopeful without downplaying the consequences of Jack's actions by tying everything up in a neat little bow. It also left room for speculation on where the story might have gone next had it continued. Which would be great fodder for a book discussion group. All in all, an excellent read, and I would highly recommend it.

I would like to thank the publisher, Zondervan, for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my review.

Having heard how wonderful Brennan Manning's writing was, I wanted to check out his newest book, The Prodigal. It was a great take on the biblical story of the Prodigal son. The main character, Jack, could be found in our modern day American culture. When he has a one-night stand with his assistant, Jack's world comes crashing around him. I like how even though Jack alienated his father after the death of his mother ten years earlier, Dad still went after his son, helping him get through this difficult by providing shelter, a job and a friendly face when everyone else had left. Father Frank is a refreshing character. I love how he is very vulnerable and, even though everyone in town knows of his alcoholic background, they still love him and try to support and encourage him as much as Father Frank supports and encourages those around him. Jack's hometown, while curious about everything that has happened, comes along side of him and tries to help him when they can.

There were a few things I had difficulties with in this story. One was how quickly Jack "recovered" and was offered a position preaching in a pulpit. While I understand his character had made some major favorable changes in his view of grace, I still think it is a little soon (about two months since his night out on the town with his assistant). One other problem I had (and it was a small one) was how Kathy, the small town newspaper reporter/owner, kept popping up, like she has a crush on Jack. I guess it bothered me because he was still married (his divorce had not be finalized) and because of how Jack fell from grace (having an one-night stand).

All in all, I really liked this book. This one really made me think about a lot of things and hope I can make any changes I need to make and hope my world doesn't come crashing in around me.

This book was provided by Booksneeze and Zondervan for review without compensation.

Jack Chisholm had a seemingly wonderful life as a big church pastor. He had a well paid position, a huge church body with much financial support, a beautiful wife and daughter, and frequent TV appearances. Then, in one fell swoop it was gone. On a sponsored visit to Mexico he had one night of indiscretion with his pretty assistant, and within days his dream life was stripped away. In the midst of his solitude and despair, the estranged father he had rejected a decade ago returned to take him home.

The Prodigal is a story of redemption. It isn't a story about regaining what was lost, but about God’s redemptive grace. This is a story that all can learn something from, because regardless of our situation, we have all sinned and fallen short. Yet we have a loving Father, waiting for us to cry out for forgiveness so He can take us home.

Years ago, I read another book by Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel. This book works as a companion piece to it, teaching through a story. People learn truths better when presented in story form, whether because those truths are presented in context or simply because stories hold our attention better. I truly enjoyed The Prodigal, and appreciate how realistically human the main character is. He doesn't suddenly turn his life around, but works at it, fails, screws up, and is encouraged by those close to him to try again. It is also clear through the story that God is able to use whatever situation we are in to His glory. He brings joy through pain, and good through evil. I highly recommend this book!

I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

This is one of those books that leaves you pondering long after the last page has been read. The story of the prodigal son is the basis for this novel. A story of redemption, forgiveness and deep love. A father and his son. Reunited. Leaving the past behind. Beginning new with covered grace.

The prodigal son is a favorite. Mostly because I too am a prodigal. Ran to my Father, with His arms wide open, ready to accept me and love me unconditionally. This is a retelling of that story. Jack Chisholm is a pastor of a mega church. He has it all. In fact, he thinks he has built it all. He is the people's pastor. But Jack is a sinner. An imperfect being, called by the Father. People have placed him on a pedestal. What we forget about pastors is that they too are people. They too are sinners. Preaching is their calling. But when our eyes are taken off the Father things go wrong. Terribly wrong and we find ourselves in the bottom of a pit looking up. It's from there that we finally see Jesus is all we need.

To tell you that I loved this story wouldn't be enough. Jack moved away from home. He hasn't been back for years. To the world his life looks perfect. Perfection is expected. Nothing less. Jack not only stumbles, he falls and falls hard. A secretary. A moment of wrinkled sheets and partial memories is all that is left. He could blame it on the alcohol. But Jack doesn't want to blame anyone, especially not himself. He tries to push it off as not happening. He could never..but he did.

What I love is that the authors didn't dive into all of Jack's sins. They didn't spend a lot of time with the whats and whys, but that he just took a wrong turn and found himself facing the consequences of his actions. He loses everything. One of my favorite parts of this story is found in chapter two. Jack is face to face with a member of the church. He knows. Instead of being a friend. He asks Jack the reasons he didn't just come to him first so he could help make things right. The church wants him to leave. He has embarrassed the members. It seems there are more political reasons for Jack to leave than any other. The people of the church are worried about how they will look to the world. He is told that if he could go before the church he could somehow earn forgiveness. Forgiveness isn't earned. It's a gift that can only come from the Father.

Jack is left to walk away. He disappears for a great while. He doesn't hear from anyone. It's almost as though he never existed. The bottle becomes his best friend. But there when Jack hits bottom the last person he ever expected to see is knocking and he isn't giving up anytime soon. Jack's father appears. No questions asked. No finger pointing. He simple says, "I'm come to take you home."

From here the story continues to build. Jack returns home. Everything is the same, yet somehow different. Here is where we see the love of his father. Nothing is easy for Jack. Some are judging. Some greet him with mercy. But how this story ends brings us to know, without a doubt, that the Father never leaves His children.

Jack came home broken, but it is through this brokenness that he truly understands what is most important in life. He sees that the small things mean just as much if not more than the big things.

This is a story that will bring you to look deeper into your own life. Life lessons are found all throughout this beautiful story. You may just find yourself within these pages. Things don't always turn out how we imagine, but then again, we have a God that surprises us with extraordinary.

This book was a gift from Thomas Nelson for sharing my review with you.

"The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story" by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett is Manning's final work. A fictional companion to his previous work, "The Ragamuffin Gospel", this novel is a contemporary retelling to the story of the prodigal son featured in Luke 15. Jack Chisholm is the lead pastor of a megachurch who spectacularly and very publicly falls from grace. With his marriage in shambles, his job gone, and no money left to his name, his estranged father tracks him down and welcomes him back home with open arms. Jack heads home to the small town of Mayfield, Texas, in order to pick up the pieces of his life. What he unexpectedly finds is the love of his father, reconciliation with his family, and the love of God.

The story draws the reader right in from the beginning. The characters are realistic and engaging. Father Frank is based on Manning himself, and there are elements of Manning's teachings shining through in Frank's dialogue. It's a wonderful reminder of how we all are broken, we are all needy, and yet God's love extends to us in the midst of our brokenness. It's a beautiful story with many thought-provoking moments. It left me wanting to sit down with Father Frank myself and learning from his fountain of wisdom!

The beautiful thing about this book is that Jack still had to live with the consequences of his choices, his sin. But he did find redemption and he embraced new calling on his life, one that he wouldn't have found any other way but through his sin. "...in every faithful life, there comes a second call when the first one is no longer sufficient, a call to deeper faith, hope, joy" (p. 170).

The reader's guide at the back of the book is helpful for a small group or book club looking to dive deeper into the message of the book. Highly recommend Manning's final work!

(I’ve received this complimentary book through the Book Sneeze program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)

The Prodigal – A Ragamuffin Story by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett
Zondervan Publishers

Jack Chisholm is “the people’s pastor.” He is the founder and leader of a growing mega-church. His slogan… “We have got to do better”. He can do it all. He knows how to preach, teach, write, and he knows how to chastise people into performing. What he doesn’t know is… grace. But after one night of reckless behavior that causes him to loose everything that is precious to him…. He learns the meaning of Grace.

I LOVE this book! It grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the last page. Nothing got done around here today. I thought that perhaps it was going to be one more “formula” story about the fall and redemption of a sinner where everything ends up totally restored and smelling like roses. This book is so much better than that.

I am not a crier. I rarely get emotionally attached to a fictional character and his trials and tribulations and victories. But not this time... this time the author’s got a hold of my own story inside me… in Jack Chisholm’s story; I recognized God’s grace, forgiveness, and redemption in my own life story.

This book is a must read. It is for those of you, or around you, that may be questioning their relationship with God wondering if He can forgive and restore. A true don’t miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255[...]“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Prodigal – A Ragamuffin Story by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett
Zondervan Publishers

Jack Chisholm is “the people’s pastor.” He is the founder and leader of a growing mega-church. His slogan… “We have got to do better”. He can do it all. He knows how to preach, teach, write, and he knows how to chastise people into performing. What he doesn’t know is… grace. But after one night of reckless behavior that causes him to loose everything that is precious to him…. He learns the meaning of Grace.

I LOVE this book! It grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the last page. Nothing got done around here today. I thought that perhaps it was going to be one more “formula” story about the fall and redemption of a sinner where everything ends up totally restored and smelling like roses. This book is so much better than that.

I am not a crier. I rarely get emotionally attached to a fictional character and his trials and tribulations and victories. But not this time... this time the author’s got a hold of my own story inside me… in Jack Chisholm’s story; I recognized God’s grace, forgiveness, and redemption in my own life story.

This book is a must read. It is for those of you, or around you, that may be questioning their relationship with God wondering if He can forgive and restore. A true don’t miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255[...]“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Powerful Story of Grace

I never read Brennan Manning's most popular book, "The Ragamuffin Gospel." Now, after reading this book, I think I'll have to go back and read his earlier work. Manning died in April of this year, so this is his last work.

The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story centers on a pastor named Jack Chisholm. Jack was the pastor of a mega church. He was called the "the people's pastor" and brought in 4,000 people to worship and even more watching him on television. He was famous and popular. He had written several books and was known for his saying, "We have got to do better!"

Now, he's lost. Everything he worked for is gone. He was feeling completely lost, he had lost his wife, his daughter, and his church. Everything which was important to Jack is gone. He was drinking and ended up committing adultery with his personal assistant, Sally.

Jack is lost and alone, and now he comes in contact with his estranged father. His father was dead to Jack. However, his father, Tom Chisholm, is terminally ill, and wants to have a relationship with Jack. He calls his son home. Thinking about his father causes Jack to become angrier and angrier. He had not spoken to his father in over 10 years. His memories are mixed. There are great and terrible memories.

So that I don't ruin the story, and you can picture how the story unfolds, I would encourage you to read it, and see the grace and forgiveness that is available and accepted.

This is an excellent book, with the only caveat being the fact that drinking while being one aspect of Jack's sin is used on a fairly regular basis in the book.

I received this book free of charge, in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW

Jack Chisholm, "the people's pastor" was the pastor of a very large church. It wasn't anything for Jack to have a congregation of 4000+, not counting his TV worshipers. Jack knows how to preach, how to chastise people into doing right. What he doesn't understand is grace. But, he had failed all of them, the congregation, his wife and his daughter. Everything that was important to him is lost. He is homeless, penniless and drinking to the extreme. He is lost. His personal assistant, Sally had been his downfall. He had committed adultery.

Jack hadn't talked to his father in years. Whenever he thought of his father he got angry. His childhood had been full of misery, because of his father. Tom Chisholm, is terminally ill. He gets in touch with his son and asks him to come home. He wants desperately to have a relationship with him before it's too late..

The message is that no matter how bad we've sinned, God forgives. You just have to receive it. The author tells the very important message of forgiveness, love and grace. The Prodigal can change the ways and thinking of a person that is willing to change. Jack didn't find God because he preached good but because he had failed miserably. He had lost everything but he found the important thing, and that is grace. I would recommend this book to anyone that is troubled. The book is full of love, forgiveness,warmth and grace. Sometimes we have to fall to stand tall.

I would give this book 4 HEARTS.

I was given a complimentary copy of THE PRODIGAL by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett from Booksneeze for my uncompensated view.

I opened the covers of "Prodigal" a little bit worried that I was going to be reading a novel that would be all-too-predictable in its story line, that of the parable of the prodigal son and his path to being reunited with his father. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that Manning and Garrett have taken an age-old story line, infused it with interesting plot elements, and given new voice to the tale of the prodigal son. I found that the story did start off a little on the slow side, but soon I found myself utterly absorbed by the characters I was meeting. Jack Chisholm is a flawed human being in a manner that readers will be able to relate to, often well-meaning but struggling to live through past hurts or selfish desires. He is so completely off-mark in what he teaches as America's pastor, that it is hard to believe that churches such as his actually exist out there. Sadly, it's all too true that the gospel of grace and freedom can be twisted to become all about striving to just "do better", forgetting the grace and redemption Jesus offers. Jack's path to healing and reconciliation is a fascinating one to watch, and some of the scenes brought tears to my eyes! The novel is well-written and will leave you thinking about your own relationship with Jesus, as well as reflecting on how you treat others in the world around you. I closed the pages of this story feeling moved by the power of God's love to find us even in our darkest moments, and bring us hope when all seems lost.

I award this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend that readers who enjoy entertaining and moving contemporary fiction books pick up a copy for themselves.

A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Brennan Manning spent the majority of his life teaching and living out the love and grace of God. Being a man who had experienced much pain and failure in life, Manning understood life as a ragamuffin and knew he was but a beggar at the door of God's mercy. He was a man that was overwhelmed by the grace of God. He wrote many books about this grace with his most famous being The Ragamuffin Gospel, a book that has impacted millions including myself.

Manning chose to write a novel for his final book before his death, and he chose to do a retelling of the parable of the prodigal son, a parable that was the parable of his own life and experience coming home to God his father. The novel is called simply The Prodigal and is coauthored by Greg Garrett.

The Prodigal tells the story of Jack Chisholm, a mega-church pastor and author known for his slogan, "We have got to do better." After a night of drinking in Mexico which leads to an affair with his assistant, Jack's world crumbles in on him. He loses his family and is dismissed from his pastoral position and goes back to Mexico to drink his pain away and consider what few options he has left. His father that he hasn't spoken to in years comes to Mexico to take him home, the small town in Texas where he grew up. While at home, Jack reconnects with his family, with himself, and ultimately with the God who loves him.

The Prodigal, like the parable, is a story of grace. It is a story of failure and disappointment and how God's love and grace toward his children is much greater than any failure and disappointment. Life is full of pain and trouble but God's love never changes and his grace is never ending.

This is a good book for those wanting to read a story of how grace extended and received can impact an individual life, a family, and a community. It was Brennan Manning's story and it is our story if we return to the father.

The Prodigal is the last written work of Brennan Manning and as such it becomes an important legacy to his life work. I personally think it does him justice. Greg Garrett has done a masterful job of putting to paper the words that we have come to know and love from Brennan Manning.

The book is obviously based on the infamous prodigal son from the Bible. The story of Jack Chisholm could belong to any of us. Jack is at the pinnacle of a successful ministry and yet a seemingly momentary decision leads to the destruction of his life and those around him.

Through a very humbling and gritty tale we watch the love of a father rescue his son. This is a father that was always there just waiting for Jack to turn to him. We get to see redemption and restoration but we also see consequences to the sin that destroyed so much.

The story ends but the reader is left contemplating the truths that are contained within the work. You just can't help but do some self reflection and evaluation when you turn the last page. The reader is not only left knowing that we are all in need of salvation but the Source of that salvation is clearly pointed to.

I would be remiss if I didn't point you to the beginning of the book and the 'Note From The Author'. Greg Garrett's very moving tribute to Brennan Manning is not to be skipped. In fact I found it to be as uplifting as the book itself.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

I recently journeyed
through Brennan Manning's last literary offering, The Prodigal. He had wanted to write a novel on grace. His desire was to place God's mercy center stage in story form. Though ailing at the end of his life, with the help of Greg Garrett, he was able to accomplish this.

I'm generally skeptical of most Christian novels because they seem to detach from reality and head straight into a processed cheese that is hard to digest. I went into this partially expecting something great from Brennan and perhaps a little bit of this over the top Christian fiction.

In this story about a mega church pastor who fell from grace, we witness the depths of depravity. Jack got drunk and had an affair. The one person who he would have never expected to receive grace from is the only one offering. This act of kindness catapults Jack into the throes of God's radical healing mercy.

All in all, I truly enjoyed the book. When I turned the last page, I cared about the characters in it. That's the mark of a good story. There were deep spiritual truths tucked inside the story that speak into the soul. There are beautiful, life-changing sentences to call the heart toward what matters most. The prodigal son come home. Read more about the book and the authors on the store.

Written by: Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett
Published by: Zondervan

I enjoy reading contemporary fiction, and I am really into focusing on - reading about and further understanding - grace right now, so I was excited to dig into The Prodigal.

This is the story of Jack Chisholm, a pastor who loses everything when he has an affair with his assistant. He must find a way to put his life back together, and learn the power of grace and forgiveness.

Who the book is for:

Christians. Men and women. Those who need to better understand grace.

What I liked:

The fact that this book focuses on grace.

Good read.

Interesting and unique.

An emotional story at times.

What I didn’t like:

Casual mentions of drinking and driving after drinking.

Something just seemed to be lacking, like it could have been better.

My conclusion:

Overall, this was a pretty good read, and you should check it out.

I give The Prodigal 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I've just finished the last book Brennan Manning wrote before passing away. It's an engaging novel called The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story, co-written by Greg Garrett.

This is a modern day account of the prodigal son parable with a twist.

Jack Chisholm, celebrity senior pastor of Grace Cathedral, a thriving mega-church with global impact, is widely known as "the people's pastor", and frequently uses the mantra, "we've got to do better."

Poor judgment in a compromising situation leads to Jack's immediate (and very public) fall from grace, landing him on the pages of national newspapers. In one fell swoop, he loses his position, wife, friends, self-respect, and money. He winds up in a Mexican resort town-- alone and penniless, wishing he would have done better himself.

Jack's estranged father, Tom, travels to Mexico, uninvited, to bring his wandering son home to the small Texas village he left years ago.

The prodigal pastor returns reluctantly, but then begins to see the beauty of the people he had left behind, and discovers truth that sets him free.

Manning shows up, himself, in a cameo appearance as Father Frank, with ragamuffin quotes and insights.

Loved this book.

This is a beautifully written story about God’s grace, about the Father who loves us even before we ask for forgiveness. It’s about coming home.

Jack is frustrating, he so doesn’t get a lot of stuff at the beginning of the book. He is very arrogant but if you push through that you will come to care for him and probably even see yourself reflected in him in some way.

I love that Jack goes back home to the people he has left behind and in them (most of them) he finds grace and forgiveness.

This book drew me in and I read it pretty quickly because it was so good. What makes it so good is the deeper, underlying message you will find for yourself as you read.

There was only one area I wasn’t too happy about but I can’t share that with you because you don’t discover it until the end, so you will just have to read it to figure it out.

This is definitely a Genesis 5020 book. What the enemy wanted to use to ruin Jack, God turned around and used it for the good for many.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through the Book Sneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

THE PRODIGAL by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett is a novel that exemplifies Brennan's message of grace, mercy and forgiveness. It is Brennan's first foray into fiction but he didn't live long enough to see it published.
I had heard of Brennan Manning and I chose The Prodigal, curious about him writing a work of fiction. I was a little reluctant to read it, after reading the synopsis, concerned it would be a little too predictable and sanctimonious. However, I was totally captivated by the story.
In this narrative, the church responds predictably when Jack let's his guard down and succumbs to temptation. Many times in today's world when this does happen the church culture does not extend the grace and forgiveness needed for restoration.
The ones to reach out are the ones Jack least expected and they give him a new perspective of God's grace and forgiveness. This is a account not only of forgiveness and redemption, but of second chances.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it refreshingly believable. I would recommend it to anyone.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Zondervan for an honest review.

I read The Ragamuffin Gospel years ago and was impressed with Manning's presentation of God's grace. Now, many years later, The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story is the perfect follow-up book. The Prodigal presents the ideas shared in The Ragamuffin Gospel in story form. Garrett and Manning come together in what would be Manning's final book to give us a gritty and genuine picture of the failure of man along with the consequences of sin paired alongside the beautiful picture of God's grace that reaches far and wide to redeem.
There's nothing candy coated in this story. Jack's story is all of our stories...we miss the mark and God chases after us with His scandalous love and mercy. The cameo appearance of Brennan as Father Frank in the novel is brilliant! Brennan ran a good race and fought the good fight. We are blessed that he left us with one more picture of God's amazing grace.
One of the questions in the reading group guide, which is included in the book, is:
Would you like to read more stories about Jack?
My answer? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending the book as part of the Booksneeze Blogging for Books program!

The Prodigal is a very well written, modern day version of one of the best stories told in scripture illustrating the love of God towards His children. The authors take the story of a son who is loved, who travels away from home, loses his way, and has a father who is waiting for his return. The authors tell the story in a way to make it recognizable as the parable in the Bible, but with enough liberties to bring the story to a situation that could happen easily in today’s society.

Having attended a church similar to the one pastored by the main character, there were many similarities to his personality in the beginning that I have experienced personally. Many of us have witnessed the “fall” of pastors who have been elevated to super-human status. The Prodigal tells a story of what can happen when one of these pastors is forced to face his own humanity and is forced to live out what he has been preaching. At the same time he learns things about Christ and the love of a father he has never personally experienced before.

I found The Prodigal a very enjoyable read and recommend it for anyone who may be struggling in their faith after making choices that have hurt themselves or others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What a wonderful read when a bad decision, a mistake, or sin can cause us to run from God and how we try to cover it up with lies. But how God's love and mercy covers us when we surrender and even when we don't. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing! This thought provoking book reminded me of the power of forgiveness towards others and oneself.

This book truly is unforgettable.
It is a story that really had me struggling with the main character, Jack.
At times I was so aggravated with him and at other times I found myself feeling empathy and heart-break…
always wanting him to prevail and put the broken pieces of his life back together again.
Jack is like a lot of us- proud and arrogant at times, self-sufficient and prone to failure.
It seems like all of the good things Jack had done in his life we’re suddenly erased and forgotten because of one mistake.

This book really reaches inside and evokes a lot of self-reflection…even though it is a work of fiction!
I think readers will have strong opinions about this book as it really brings out some great conversations about faith, failure, grace and forgiveness.

Absolutely one of my favorite books of 2013- don’t miss this one!!!

Manning and Garrett bring a familiar story to the contemporary world. Yes, the ending is predictable, but that's the point. What does grace look like today? Is any sin too great to be confessed or forgiven? In a society where people are judged instantly on social media and internet news, what does a prodigal child look like?

The story started slow - lots of long flashbacks and explanations. I stuck with it, however, to see the redemption - how does Jack come to develop a true relationship with God? Is he really able to move on?

Yes, of course. The authors show a modern man with modern problems trying to figure it out, first on his own, then with God. A nice read. If you liked Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron, I think you'll enjoy this story.

*I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze program. The opinions are my own.

The back cover says this book is a powerful retelling of the parable of The Prodigal Son. In my heart, it's a powerful retelling of my soul. The situations might not be the same but I can relate to mistakes along my walk of faith. There have been potholes so huge that I wasn't sure I could crawl out. Every time Jesus picked me up and helped me get back on the road. Jack Chisholm, the main character in The Prodigal, is the type of guy who can do no wrong. Until he does. And he really does fall into a pothole. You know what? He doesn't quit loving people. He doesn't stop loving Jesus. Jack is a great reminder that God can work through anything to create a beautiful masterpiece. Let God speak to you through The Prodigal.

The opinions shared here are 100% mine. I received this book to review.

Brennan Manning died last year. Writer extraordinaire and grace addict. For those who love the message of grace, his books have been a rich source of sustenance. The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story (2013) co-authored by Greg Garrett was the last book of Brennan's before he died.

The authors tell the story of Jack, a megachurch pastor, who has built a church and a huge following on a message of door more, try harder. At the beginning of the book, we discover that he has been caught in a moral failure. The rest of the book tells the story of his ailing father bringing him back home to small town Texas.

Although I suspect the text itself was largely constructed by Garrett, the story has the unmistakable fingerprints of Brennan, particularly in the character of Father Frank, the aging Catholic priest. If you have enjoyed Brennan's works, this book is for you. If you have lost hope in the church, this book is for you.

Brennan Manning’s last work before he passed away, The Prodigal is a novel of a contemporary retelling of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). It’s an excellent followup to his world-renowned book The Ragamuffin Gospel, which I highly recommend. He tells the story of one mega-church pastor, Jack Chisholm, after he has experienced a moral failure, is fired from his church and abandoned by his family. Jack returns to his humble roots in a small, Texas town and discovers what it truly means to live in the ceaseless love of our Father.

This book is a light read that I devoured in a few days. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5.

I received a complimentary copy via BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Jack Chisholm is a popular pastor fallen from Grace. His is a story that even though a person might be at his/her lowest point there's still a Father who is willing to welcome us home with open arms. I laughed, and mostly cried but I found this to be an uplifting, powerful story. I liked it so much I read it in just a few hours. The only problem I had with it was the liberal use of alcohol by the pastor and other characters but it didn't detract from me enjoying the story. Check this one out!

The Prodigal by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett is the first book I've read of either of these authors. Truth be told, it's the first I've heard of either author. Yes, I read a lot--but a lot of fiction. It's where I go and I'm happy there.
This book quickly captured my attention and drew me in, I empathized with the pastor who had a very fast downfall and soon found himself without anything. The love shown to him by people he walked out on years before was a true picture of how we should treat each other, though often don't.
I didn't like that this book ended rather abruptly, as though it was set up for a sequel. There were many unanswered questions left after the final page.
It was a good story of the way a father loves his child. Though some of the language could have been done without.
Overall, this was an okay book. Not one I'm going to remember for long though.

After seeing this author's name for the first time and reading about him, I received several emails from different sources referencing this book. By the third email in less than a week, I told God "ok, ok, I'll read the book". Although I haven't read any tale of fiction in probably more than 30 years, I was intrigued with it being based around the story of the prodigal, because I have a adult prodigal son. I took this on vacation with me, along with several other books, but I could not put this book down, at all. In two days I had it read, and was so sorry when I finished as I longed for more. It's an amazing story of grace and forgiveness, and how holding grudges affects more people than we can imagine for years to come. It's a fantastic book that I highly recommend!

A must read for pastors, public figures, and anyone who wonders what happens when someone falls from Grace. Garrett chronicles the slow climb back to the (lime?) light, a journey few of us have the courage to make. If yyou've ever fallen, this book will help you get back up. If you havn't, this book will help you understand those who have. I really want to read the next book!

The Prodigal is a message of redemption, love and forgiveness of oneself and others. Jack returns to his hometown after his father brings him home to heal for hurts to Jack's church & family. Through the town folks, Jacks learns to lean on God, asks for forgiveness and sees a stronger future. Good message, but like others have said, there's something hanging at the end of the story. I did purchase for church library.

The Prodigal is the story of a mega church preacher who was at the top of his craft and the peak of his career. And he makes one mistake that changes everything for him. While the one mistake seems devastating to him, it turns out to be the one thing he needs to find true faith and reconnect with God and his family.

I really appreciated the point of view shared in this book. It was honestly refreshing to hear a down and out story from the point of view of a mega church preacher. The story overall was pretty interesting and I am intrigued now to read Ragamuffin Gospel, based on the message of the Prodigal.

I would definitely recommend giving it a read.

An absolutely powerful retelling of the parable of the Prodigal Son. This was a book that was very difficult to put down until it was finished. I enjoyed the way the story was handled, especially for a Christian novel. Many of us can identify with people like this in our own lives. Read and be blessed.

A Wonderful look at the true meaning of being saved by grace! Brennan Manning has a way of sharing God's true character in a story that is hard to put down. You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend it.

I will be honest I read the book primarily because I knew one of the authors, Greg Garrett. My experience with Christian fiction has been hit or miss, and this was a hit. I did not want to put the book down because of the engaging characters. As the book ended, I wanted to know more about what happened to them. But ultimately it reminded me about the love God has for each one of us. It reminded me the Kingdom is not about numbers but people who are reached with the message of grace and forgiveness.

Need a spiritual "pick-me-up"? A wonderful book that will warm your heart, put a smile on your face and a few tears in your eyes as you're reminded once again of how much God loves us in spite of how broken we can be.

Awesome book, and I read it free through my local library ebook loan program. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Great book shows life reality, we screw up, we find grace and redemption. Gods plans are so much more fulfilling.

Brennan Manning died last year. Writer extraordinaire and grace addict. For those who love the message of grace, his books have been a rich source of sustenance. The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story (2013) co-authored by Greg Garrett was the last book of Brennan's before he died.

The authors tell the story of Jack, a megachurch pastor, who has built a church and a huge following on a message of door more, try harder. At the beginning of the book, we discover that he has been caught in a moral failure. The rest of the book tells the story of his ailing father bringing him back home to small town Texas.

Although I suspect the text itself was largely constructed by Garrett, the story has the unmistakable fingerprints of Brennan, particularly in the character of Father Frank, the aging Catholic priest. If you have enjoyed Brennan's works, this book is for you. If you have lost hope in the church, this book is for you.

The late Brennan Manning was a gift to our world, and yet he was self-admitted flawed human being who suffered with addiction, depression, and hopelessness at times. In his second to last book, "All is Grace," Brennan shared with candid honesty that he never truly overcame his struggle with alcoholism. This left some of us ragamuffins pursuing our own lifelong recovery reeling with despair realizing that our ragamuffin leader had been in some ways a deceptive imposter, and if he couldn't maintain his sobriety, how on earth could we?
That's why Brennan Manning's final message found in, "The Prodigal; A Ragamuffin Story," with author Greg Garrett is so vitally important to those of us who followed his ministry and looked to him as a role model, if not an imperfect one.
After all, Manning purposely knocked himself off the proverbial pedestal with, "All is Grace." Yet in the fictional work, "The Prodigal," the character, Father Frank, is vintage Brennan, the Catholic priest that he never stopped being, and the recovering alcoholic capable of maintaining not only his own sobriety, but also ministering with a mission to help others like Megachurch Pastor Greg Chisholm live free from the clutches of addiction. I think this is who Brennan Manning would have liked to have been when he was with us on this Earth.
Sadly, I do feel Pastor Chisholm's character is questionable regarding his own bent toward alcoholism. Not the kind of drinker who drinks each day, but rather the kind of drunk who goes on infrequent binges. Yet those occasional overindulgences land the pastor in life-changing chaotic circumstances which is still a type of alcoholism. Therefore, as a recovery message it would have served the narrative better for Chisholm to accept the fact that he should avoid alcohol totally, and pursue freedom in recovery.
Still, The Prodigal is well-written, a good read all in all, and a last great gift from the amazing Brennan Manning. Yet it is probably writer, Greg Garrett who deserves kudos on the literary front for the execution of this fictional work, and for his service in assisting our dear Ragamuffin leader to leave such an engaging book behind. Rest in Peace, Father Brennan. Thanks for this powerful story, which in the end is filled with hope in the midst of human brokenness.