Love Does

“I heard a rumor that love will make you crazy…look at the crazy things that love made Jesus do.” These lines from the Chris Rice song “Love Like Crazy,” could summarize Bob Goff’s life as written in the book Love Does. Instead of the “traditional” Christian life of church on Sundays, youth group on Wednesdays, and summer ministry, this book contains many stories of a man led by God to make choices that most people would consider odd at best and ridiculous at worst. The forward is written by Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz as someone who was influential in Goff’s life.


In some ways, I see this book as a compliment to the last book I reviewed, Miraculous Movements. While that book focuses on overseas ministry that could be employed domestically, both books encourage a different approach to the Christian life. It’s a shame the word “radical” has been so overused in modern culture, because it leaves it with so little meaning for the things that truly are. This book does show a radical willingness to listen to God’s call and voice, without so much concern for outside concerns. If more Christians were willing to listen in this way, we would have a totally different perception by outsiders.

My only quibble with this book is that someone might take it as a prescription rather than what this looked like for one person. We need people in all walks of life, both ‘boring’ and excitement-filled, to fulfill God’s purposes and plans. But there are people today who live too timidly and need to be jolted out of their comfort zone—myself included.

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Four Stars