Wilderness Wanderings: Learning to Live the Zigzag Life Paperback – February 19, 2016

I give two stars just because of tackling the subjects which were a great topic but was very weak arguments because:1- The book sounds like collective sermons or speeches which author made it in different places, and I believe his audiences are young pastors or pastors or may even business leaders. So, this raises a question: If only leaders will face the wilderness, is that true? or we all will. I believe all of us, Christians or none-Christians we are either going to the wilderness, or we are in the wilderness or we are coming out of the wilderness, I will guarantee you on this fact. why? the author said it well but did not illustrate well, because of SIN and inevitability of fallen and broken nature of our corruptive beings. Blessed are those who will be prepared for this journey!2- Author missing the greatest point of the being in the wilderness( although just briefly talks about it in chapter 9 this should have been the foundation of the book, but who likes to read such boring facts!!!): in the wilderness with all of its meanings, there is no help! there is nobody! there is no hope! This is the nature of the wilderness, in fact, it is full of fear, struggles, emptiness, wrath, anger, crying, screaming, but there is no light until you be found by God in the deepest, darkest and most breaking point of your life which is about to take away from you: this is the wilderness! and Author keeps trying to find a way out for us for his readers or listeners like need to give them an air to breathe but there is no air even in the wilderness. He even cannot see Jesus was all alone in the wilderness for forty days( page 13:..with the angels supporting and encouraging...) NO! support came after forty days!! ( Matt. 4: 11)3-perhaps most confusing part of the book is the passage that author trying to convince his readers to this statement that: Remember this, even Jesus could not become Messiah without entering into the ultimate high-stakes wilderness." ( p. 23 ) and page 13-14-15 ) really? This tells me that Jesus becomes Christ after he came out of the forty days of the wilderness! What kind of theology is this? He was Messiah before the foundations of the universe and He went through the forty days not for himself but for us.4- He contradicts his own statement when He says we all will be in the wilderness because of SIN ( p. 1) then he says" everything about David's wilderness stay was unjust." ( p. 27 ) In this very wilderness where David was living, He begins his Haram before even he expands it when he becomes a King! ( 2 Sam. 3: 1- 5 ) 5- in Chapter 12 author indicates that God intentionally plans the forty years wilderness wondering for Isreal. ( page 54) this is not what text says. we read in Deuteronomy 1: 27-33, this was because of their disbelief and rebellions against God's command and his servant. Then God said, "Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers." ( v. 35)6-in chapter 12, parenting wilderness, the author teaches us 7 ways to help in our parenting wilderness, then he misses great and crucial facts ( which he missed throughout the book) that our children one day too, will enter into their own wilderness! He never mentions in this section at all!7- I took this book with great expectation but finished it with great disappointment. And that is, let teach our believers, not just the leaders, to cultivate the culture and understanding of the suffering for the sake of the gospel and His Kingdom and His name, wilderness sooner or later will find us. If we cultivate the first part, then the wilderness becomes a heaven although we will walk in the hell!

As a leader at work, church and in my family, I have experienced the loneliness of "being on top." Those times when no one seems to understand or nothing is going right. Bill Lawrence calls these "wilderness wanderings" and, in this book, shares words of biblical wisdom and encouragement based on his personal experiences. This little book can be easily read in its entirety in one seating but I have found it most helpful to read a chapter a day and process the words of wisdom slowly. There is a "tightness" to his writing style that I love because he makes every word count and challenges my thinking. He offers previously unseen insights from the struggles of biblical leaders that encouraged me as a leader. I learned that in the wilderness I am not alone. God is with me and He has a divine purpose for being there--encouraging words in hard times.

The first half of the book is amazing. Dr. Lawrence has a way of relating the principles to real life. Very encouraging. Every sentence is carefully crafted and impactful. There were so many times that I set the book down to just examine my own heart and life and commit those areas more to the Lord. The last few chapters were more on application of the principles he laid out in the beginning. These chapters were not as impactful to me, but still very relevant.

Fantistic book. It was so encouraging to see a God perspective of "wilderness. Journeying through that painful place, and not understanding where God had brought me, this book is life changing to understand that the wilderness is a place where leaders are tried tested and proved...i read this book in one sitting! It should be required reading for every leader. Wilderness will come...and it is there we learn to cling onto the Word for dear life and come to really know the Jesus we believe in.

Many of us go through periods of time when we are empty, lonely, directionless. In other words, we are wandering. And, we wonder why we are going through a desert rather than flourishing, headed toward what feels like a more purposeful outcome. Dr. Lawrence reminds us we don't travel this path by ourselves. Everyone goes through the wilderness because these wanderings are divinely appointed. They have a purpose. In fact, they are the shortest distance to destinations of the heart. Thank you, Bill, for pouring yourself into writing. It is a joy to hear your voice through your words.

Surprising insights...and true to Scripture! I'm not a "leader," just a long time fan of Bill's, but still found the perspective quite helpful!

Great insights on what it means to know God.

Powerful and practical teaching!