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Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God
Most of us have no idea where we're going most of the time. Perfect.
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.”
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.”
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2008
249 people are currently reading
1922 people want to read
About the author
Mark Batterson
188 books1,115 followersMark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into The Capital Turnaround. This 100,000-square-foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and co-working space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of seventeen books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Play the Man, Whisper, and, most recently, Double Blessing. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
July 29, 2019
Mark Batterson DID IT AGAIN!! I have read several of Batterson's books including "Chase the Lion" and "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" ...and "Wild Goose Chase" is just as entertaining and full of wisdom! This book will have you reaching for the stars, pursuing your dreams and Chasing God in a whole new way! In this book, Batterson encourages his readers to do the unimaginable and receive the unattainable by thinking outside the box and following the Spirit's leading. I learned not to set limits on myself, to not let the past dictate my future and that sometimes the "bad moments" can be seen on a positive light. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a Wild and unpredictable journey with God !
December 24, 2021
Buna cartea asta si imi place cum scrie Mark Batterson. Chiar o recomand.
Iata cateva hinturi:
“Nu mai trai ca si cum singurul scop al vietii ar fi acela de a ajunge in siguranta la moarte.”
“Stabileste-ti obiective pe masura lui Dumnezeu.”
“Urmareste implinirea pasiunilor puse de Dumnezeu in inima ta.”
“Fii gata sa urmaresti un ideal care nu poate fi realizat decat prin interventie divina.”
“Nu juca doar pentru a nu pierde, joaca pentru a castiga.”
“Nu permite imperfectiunilor tale sa te impiedice sa te inchini inaintea perfectiunii lui Dumnezeu”.
“Cand esti in alergrea dupa Gâsca Sălbatică (termen folosit de crestinii celti pentru Duhul Sfant), cel mai bun lucru pe care il poti face tu, nu mai este cel mai bun lucru pe care tu il poti face, ci este cel mai bun lucru pe care Dumnezeu il poate face prin tine. Iar Dumnezeu poate sa faca mai mult deact cerem sau gandim noi.”
Iata cateva hinturi:
“Nu mai trai ca si cum singurul scop al vietii ar fi acela de a ajunge in siguranta la moarte.”
“Stabileste-ti obiective pe masura lui Dumnezeu.”
“Urmareste implinirea pasiunilor puse de Dumnezeu in inima ta.”
“Fii gata sa urmaresti un ideal care nu poate fi realizat decat prin interventie divina.”
“Nu juca doar pentru a nu pierde, joaca pentru a castiga.”
“Nu permite imperfectiunilor tale sa te impiedice sa te inchini inaintea perfectiunii lui Dumnezeu”.
“Cand esti in alergrea dupa Gâsca Sălbatică (termen folosit de crestinii celti pentru Duhul Sfant), cel mai bun lucru pe care il poti face tu, nu mai este cel mai bun lucru pe care tu il poti face, ci este cel mai bun lucru pe care Dumnezeu il poate face prin tine. Iar Dumnezeu poate sa faca mai mult deact cerem sau gandim noi.”
Currently reading
September 9, 2008This book, which I am still reading, is the latest in a long and fine line of Spirit-inspired writings that come along once in every Generation, calling each generation out from the doldrums of spiritual lethargy and apathy and into the wild and wonderfully dangerous world of faith-fueled adventure with the One and Only, Wild and Dangerous Living God!
As I said, I am still reading it. However, going by the parts of it that I have read, I must say that it has proven to be no less than powerful and truly, truly soul-stirring.
A.W. Tozer once wrote that the test of a good book is that, as you read it, it makes you want to put it down and go find out for yourself the validity of the truth or concept it is expounding. This is one such book.
In my opinion, this book is in excellent company with other "Tookish" writings as "The Pursuit of God" (Tozer), "God Chasers" (Tommy Tenney) and "Wild At Heart" (John Eldredge).
Having read the first three chapters have repeatedly made me want to get out of my comfortable chair and just "strap on my sword" and go off on another "wild goose chase" with God!
Or on my face in prayer.
Either way, it's really a good read.... :)
After all...it's been awhile.
As I said, I am still reading it. However, going by the parts of it that I have read, I must say that it has proven to be no less than powerful and truly, truly soul-stirring.
A.W. Tozer once wrote that the test of a good book is that, as you read it, it makes you want to put it down and go find out for yourself the validity of the truth or concept it is expounding. This is one such book.
In my opinion, this book is in excellent company with other "Tookish" writings as "The Pursuit of God" (Tozer), "God Chasers" (Tommy Tenney) and "Wild At Heart" (John Eldredge).
Having read the first three chapters have repeatedly made me want to get out of my comfortable chair and just "strap on my sword" and go off on another "wild goose chase" with God!
Or on my face in prayer.
Either way, it's really a good read.... :)
After all...it's been awhile.
January 17, 2010
Enjoyed this look at passionately following the Holy Spirit. Some of my favorite quotes include:
But in my experience, intellectual analysis usually results in spiritual paralysis…Nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God.
Instead of following the Spirit, we invite the Spirit to follow us.
I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals.
We try to remove the danger. We try to remove the struggle. And what we end up with is a caged Christian.
we are trying our best to live our lives within the guardrails of God's good, pleasing, and perfect will. But still we have a gnawing feeling that something is missing.
responsible irresponsibility means refusing to allow your human responsibilities to get in the way of pursuing the passions God puts in your heart.
There are some things you don’t need to pray about. You don’t need to pray about whether you should love your neighbor. You don’t need to pray about whether you should give generously or serve sacrificially. You don’t need to pray whether you should bless someone when it is within your power to do so. God has already spoken. What you need to do is quit praying and start acting.
Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the US Senate:
"I wonder what would happen if we all agreed to read one of the Gospels until we came to a place that told us to do something, then went out to do it, and only after we had done it, began reading again? There are aspects of the Gospel that are puzzling and difficult to understand. But our problems are not centered around the things we don't understand, but rather in the things we do understand, the things we could not possibly misunderstand. Our problem is not so much that we don't know what we should do. We know perfectly well, but we don't want to do it."
It's not the book of ideas or theories or words. It's the book of acts. If the twenty-first century church said less and did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the first century church did.
Some of us live as if we expect to hear God say, "Well thought, good and faithful servant." or "Well said, good and faithful servant." God is not going to say either of those things. There is only one commendation and it is the by-product of carrying out God-ordained passions: "Well DONE. good and faithful servant."
You know why some of us have never seen God part a river? Because our feet are still firmly planted on dry ground. We're waiting on God while God is waiting on us!
One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job at a bad job honors God.
But over the years I've come to appreciate a unique dimension of the Holy Spirit's personality. Jesus called him The Counselor. He comforts the afflicted. But like a good counselor, He also afflicts the comfortable. And I came to a place in my life where I was uncomfortable with my level of comfort.
We sit in the same padded pew, week in and week out, listening to stories about Jesus calming the wind and the waves. The disciples had a totally different experience. They were in the boat on the lake when the skies grew dark and hurricane winds started to blow. They walked beaches, climbed mountains, and trekked across the wilderness with Jesus. Their experience was four-dimensional, while ours is one-dimensional. So when we read the Bible, we tend to focus on theology, overlooking the Meteorology, the psychology, and even the geology that shaped the stories we read.
If you're in a spiritual slump, let me give you a prescription: Go on a mission trip. There is no better or sure way of coming out of the cage of routine.
I know from experience that you can do the work of God at a pace that destroys the work of God in you. And I want to do ministry at a sustainable pace.
One of my greatest challenges is keeping the fourth commandment. I have a tough time taking a Sabbath. ..I feel like I owe it to my family, and I owe it to God.
Hurry kills everything from compassion to creativity and when you are in a hurry you don't have time to get out of your routine, do you? No room for Spirit-led spontaneity. Sponteneity is an underappreciated dimension of spirituality. In fact, spiritual maturity had less to do with long range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And it is our moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that turns life into an everyday adventure.
spiritual maturity has less to do with long-range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Logic questions God. Faith questions assumptions. At the end of the day, faith is trusting God more than you trust your own assumptions.
Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone.
It is much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.
We have a core value at National Community Church, love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.
Jesus didn't do orientations. Jesus did disorientations. Doesn't it seem like His disciples were in a constant state of disorientation? We think it’s because of their spiritual immaturity, but maybe it models the way God makes disciples. Sometimes God needs to disorient us so He can reorient us.
Lord, thank You that You want us to get where You want us to go more than we want to get where You want us to go.
God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming. I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God.
We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failure.
I think Foxe's Book of Martyrs should be required reading for every twenty-first century Christian living in a first-world country because most of us fail to fully appreciate the extreme sacrifices that were made and the courageous risks that were taken by our spiritual predecessors.
“The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be, may be the painful decision you refuse to make.”—Craig Groeschel
I think vision is the cure for sin. One reason many of us get entangled in sin is because we don’t have enough God-ordained vision to keep us busy. The more vision you have, the less you will sin. It is vision from God that keeps us playing offense spiritually.
But in my experience, intellectual analysis usually results in spiritual paralysis…Nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God.
Instead of following the Spirit, we invite the Spirit to follow us.
I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals.
We try to remove the danger. We try to remove the struggle. And what we end up with is a caged Christian.
we are trying our best to live our lives within the guardrails of God's good, pleasing, and perfect will. But still we have a gnawing feeling that something is missing.
responsible irresponsibility means refusing to allow your human responsibilities to get in the way of pursuing the passions God puts in your heart.
There are some things you don’t need to pray about. You don’t need to pray about whether you should love your neighbor. You don’t need to pray about whether you should give generously or serve sacrificially. You don’t need to pray whether you should bless someone when it is within your power to do so. God has already spoken. What you need to do is quit praying and start acting.
Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the US Senate:
"I wonder what would happen if we all agreed to read one of the Gospels until we came to a place that told us to do something, then went out to do it, and only after we had done it, began reading again? There are aspects of the Gospel that are puzzling and difficult to understand. But our problems are not centered around the things we don't understand, but rather in the things we do understand, the things we could not possibly misunderstand. Our problem is not so much that we don't know what we should do. We know perfectly well, but we don't want to do it."
It's not the book of ideas or theories or words. It's the book of acts. If the twenty-first century church said less and did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the first century church did.
Some of us live as if we expect to hear God say, "Well thought, good and faithful servant." or "Well said, good and faithful servant." God is not going to say either of those things. There is only one commendation and it is the by-product of carrying out God-ordained passions: "Well DONE. good and faithful servant."
You know why some of us have never seen God part a river? Because our feet are still firmly planted on dry ground. We're waiting on God while God is waiting on us!
One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job at a bad job honors God.
But over the years I've come to appreciate a unique dimension of the Holy Spirit's personality. Jesus called him The Counselor. He comforts the afflicted. But like a good counselor, He also afflicts the comfortable. And I came to a place in my life where I was uncomfortable with my level of comfort.
We sit in the same padded pew, week in and week out, listening to stories about Jesus calming the wind and the waves. The disciples had a totally different experience. They were in the boat on the lake when the skies grew dark and hurricane winds started to blow. They walked beaches, climbed mountains, and trekked across the wilderness with Jesus. Their experience was four-dimensional, while ours is one-dimensional. So when we read the Bible, we tend to focus on theology, overlooking the Meteorology, the psychology, and even the geology that shaped the stories we read.
If you're in a spiritual slump, let me give you a prescription: Go on a mission trip. There is no better or sure way of coming out of the cage of routine.
I know from experience that you can do the work of God at a pace that destroys the work of God in you. And I want to do ministry at a sustainable pace.
One of my greatest challenges is keeping the fourth commandment. I have a tough time taking a Sabbath. ..I feel like I owe it to my family, and I owe it to God.
Hurry kills everything from compassion to creativity and when you are in a hurry you don't have time to get out of your routine, do you? No room for Spirit-led spontaneity. Sponteneity is an underappreciated dimension of spirituality. In fact, spiritual maturity had less to do with long range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And it is our moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that turns life into an everyday adventure.
spiritual maturity has less to do with long-range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Logic questions God. Faith questions assumptions. At the end of the day, faith is trusting God more than you trust your own assumptions.
Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone.
It is much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.
We have a core value at National Community Church, love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.
Jesus didn't do orientations. Jesus did disorientations. Doesn't it seem like His disciples were in a constant state of disorientation? We think it’s because of their spiritual immaturity, but maybe it models the way God makes disciples. Sometimes God needs to disorient us so He can reorient us.
Lord, thank You that You want us to get where You want us to go more than we want to get where You want us to go.
God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming. I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God.
We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failure.
I think Foxe's Book of Martyrs should be required reading for every twenty-first century Christian living in a first-world country because most of us fail to fully appreciate the extreme sacrifices that were made and the courageous risks that were taken by our spiritual predecessors.
“The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be, may be the painful decision you refuse to make.”—Craig Groeschel
I think vision is the cure for sin. One reason many of us get entangled in sin is because we don’t have enough God-ordained vision to keep us busy. The more vision you have, the less you will sin. It is vision from God that keeps us playing offense spiritually.
February 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this one - I was challenged by what it means to walk by faith, get out of my “cages and live dangerously” for Christ. I highly recommend!
June 4, 2015
A very timely read for me. and worth ignoring the many other books I'm trying to read right now in order to make time for it. Looking forward to continuing my own Goose chase.
August 7, 2018
I really enjoyed and was challenged by the audio version of the book. Batterson does a great job challenging us to live bigger lives outside ourselves.
March 9, 2025
So often, books like this offer a list of things we need to change in our lives, or calls to action we didn’t realize we needed. However, what separates Wild Goose Chase from other books, is the action steps it puts in place. I can’t even name all the places I was able to underline in this book, which point me to direct ways to grow my faith, and step out further into God’s plan.
I am somewhat generous with 5 star reviews, but this is not a book to be missed. It challenges our intrinsic beliefs, and calls out even the most devout of Christ followers. Comfort was never promised in a walk with God. This book was perfect for allowing a Christ follower insight into where we have become stagnant, and steps on how to leave that, and move forward towards Christ.
I am somewhat generous with 5 star reviews, but this is not a book to be missed. It challenges our intrinsic beliefs, and calls out even the most devout of Christ followers. Comfort was never promised in a walk with God. This book was perfect for allowing a Christ follower insight into where we have become stagnant, and steps on how to leave that, and move forward towards Christ.
May 11, 2023
My boy, Mark…all over the place with his one-liners 😂 main takeaway was that as believers, we’re converters! Holy Spirit transforms fear into courage. Doubt into hope. Sadness into joy. Anger into kindness and compassion. That’s what makes us different. That’s what makes following Jesus an adventure worth taking.
May 27, 2024
A lot of great one liners from this one. Not a super in-depth look into the workings/theological side of the Holy Spirit, but is true to the subtitle.
"The smartest people in the world are not the people who know the most. The smartest people are the people who know how much they don’t know." Good ol' humble sandwich got me.
"The smartest people in the world are not the people who know the most. The smartest people are the people who know how much they don’t know." Good ol' humble sandwich got me.
September 24, 2020
This book has definitely challenged me! Gave me new perspectives about what living by faith means & encouraged me to get out of cages. I loved it!
March 6, 2024
This book is really short but it took me a while to read it. I really liked it. It challenges me to dream bigger dreams and reminded that following God is an adventure and takes risks. Mark Batterson’s books always have really great analogies in them.
March 31, 2025
Time to go chase the wild goose🫡
July 21, 2020
At this point, this is my favorite Batterson book that I have read (I still have a few to go!).
To be honest, Mark has a personality that "speaks big" that doesn't always resonate with me. There is a lot of pumped up and dynamic speech. He often will overstate something without acknowledging the complexity or nuance of a concept or idea... BUT this is also why I enjoy Mark and his writing. It grabs your attention and refuses to be ignored. Love it or hate it, it is easy to read and clear what is being said.
And this book was such a pleasant surprise. I spend so much time in deeply academic writing that I love to have a break with a book that encourages me to go for it and just be fully human in my walk with Christ. Batterson talks about the wonders, mystery, and adventure of following the Holy Spirit — the great Wild Goose Chase. The rest of the book deals with the different "cages" that we find ourselves that keep us from doing the big things that God wants us to do.
It's a great book for inspiration and encouragement that confronts our excuses and calls us to be all that God invites us to be.
To be honest, Mark has a personality that "speaks big" that doesn't always resonate with me. There is a lot of pumped up and dynamic speech. He often will overstate something without acknowledging the complexity or nuance of a concept or idea... BUT this is also why I enjoy Mark and his writing. It grabs your attention and refuses to be ignored. Love it or hate it, it is easy to read and clear what is being said.
And this book was such a pleasant surprise. I spend so much time in deeply academic writing that I love to have a break with a book that encourages me to go for it and just be fully human in my walk with Christ. Batterson talks about the wonders, mystery, and adventure of following the Holy Spirit — the great Wild Goose Chase. The rest of the book deals with the different "cages" that we find ourselves that keep us from doing the big things that God wants us to do.
It's a great book for inspiration and encouragement that confronts our excuses and calls us to be all that God invites us to be.
January 3, 2021
Oh wow! I have never highlighted/wrote in a book so much in my life! There were so many good parts that to pick one highlight for me would be akin to picking out a piece of wreckage from an explosion to try and make out what had been blown up. But in a good way. Um. I remember how beautifully Batterson wrote about the cage of assumptions. Where he writes that children have no limits on their imaginations and that they haven't been told yet what is and is not possible. And how we should have that same childlike faith with our God...who can literally do the impossible. Or when he wrote about the woman caught in adultery, when Jesus says 'whoever is without sin may cast the first stone' and everyone walks away...except for the one person who met that description. And he showed mercy. I particularly loved how you could tell that Batterson wasn't just finding scripture to match what he wanted to talk about. He had lived it. Lastly, I loved how he brought his biblical character studies to life. Such thoughtful, dynamic ways of writing! So although he is a little more charismatic than I'm used to, I love his writing style. Simply excellent.
January 18, 2019
I will preface by saying that I'm not a religious person and I read this book because a leader whom I admire said this book is a guiding point in his life. So I read it for 2 different reasons: To get an understanding of where this person comes from and for the qualities that he felt were essential to add to his life. While the Christian concepts were not attractive to me, I did appreciate the message of not getting stuck in life and that we have a duty to ourselves (if not to a higher power) to take our talents, energies, and passions and make a difference in our lives or the lives of others. And sometimes these decisions are not easy, comfortable, or safe. I have taken this message to heart and plan to truly consider if the path I am on is the path on which I would like to continue
February 5, 2014
i will never look at the 8 foot ceiling again, i will look at the sky!!!
i will chase the wild goose!!!!
i will chase the wild goose!!!!
January 28, 2020
Great book on chasing God and letting God lead you in pursuit what he has in store for you. Many of us live life on defense but God wants us to play offense. To be active in our relationship with him. The books was a quick read and read more like a sermon but nevertheless I enjoyed the book. It taught me to be present and open to God's suggestions. Sometimes what we think is a bad situation is God turning you to a better situation. Success or our dreams is not a straight line. Many times it is a zig zag because God is preparing us for our ultimate destination. Be patient and enjiy the journey. Everything is not always what it seems.
1- “When Christianity turns into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb. And, more specifically, an action verb. The title of the book of Acts says it all, doesn't it? It's not the book of Ideas or Theories or Words. It's the book of Acts. If the twenty-first-century church said less and did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the first-century church did.”
2-“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. —JERRY BRIDGES”
3-“I'm not convinced that your date of death is the date carved on your tombstone. Most people die long before that. We start dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for. Ironically, discovering something worth dying for is what makes life worth living.”
4-“Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf.” Don't play defense with your life. Play offense with your kids, your wife, your life. Don't look for the path of least resistance. The hard way is the best way! And quit living as if the will of God is an insurance plan. Dare to dream great things for God.”
5-“Don't whine. Don't complain. And don't check out. Make the most of the situation. Do little things like they are big things. Keep a good attitude. And faithfully carry out your current obligations. If your job isn't exciting, then bring some excitement to the job. One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job at a bad job honors God. It will also open doors of opportunity down the road. It did for Nehemiah.”
2-
1- “When Christianity turns into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb. And, more specifically, an action verb. The title of the book of Acts says it all, doesn't it? It's not the book of Ideas or Theories or Words. It's the book of Acts. If the twenty-first-century church said less and did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the first-century church did.”
2-“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. —JERRY BRIDGES”
3-“I'm not convinced that your date of death is the date carved on your tombstone. Most people die long before that. We start dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for. Ironically, discovering something worth dying for is what makes life worth living.”
4-“Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf.” Don't play defense with your life. Play offense with your kids, your wife, your life. Don't look for the path of least resistance. The hard way is the best way! And quit living as if the will of God is an insurance plan. Dare to dream great things for God.”
5-“Don't whine. Don't complain. And don't check out. Make the most of the situation. Do little things like they are big things. Keep a good attitude. And faithfully carry out your current obligations. If your job isn't exciting, then bring some excitement to the job. One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job at a bad job honors God. It will also open doors of opportunity down the road. It did for Nehemiah.”
2-
September 27, 2024
*Wild Goose Chase* by Mark Batterson is an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly pursue the Spirit of God in one’s life. Batterson uses the imagery of the wild goose, which he explains is a symbol the Celtic Christians used for the Holy Spirit. This metaphor captures the unpredictable, untamable, and adventurous nature of following God’s leading.
The core message of the book is that many believers find themselves trapped in "cages" of routine, fear, and comfort, which prevent them from truly chasing after God. Batterson argues that a life led by the Spirit is one of adventure, risk, and purpose. He presents a compelling case for stepping out of spiritual complacency, challenging readers to abandon the safety of their predictable routines to follow God’s often wild and unpredictable plans.
What really stands out in *Wild Goose Chase* is Batterson's heart for the people of God. He understands the struggles of feeling trapped by life's circumstances, routines, or even self-imposed limitations, and he speaks directly to those longings for more in the Christian walk. His stories and insights are deeply personal and relatable, making it easy to reflect on your own spiritual journey.
Batterson provides practical steps to break free from the six "cages" he identifies: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. Each chapter is filled with scripture, real-life examples, and inspiring calls to action, encouraging readers to trust God more fully and step into the unknown with boldness.
For anyone who has ever felt that their faith journey is too predictable or lacking in adventure, *Wild Goose Chase* offers both encouragement and a wake-up call. Batterson's style is conversational and full of hope, making this book accessible for readers at any stage of their faith journey. It’s not just a book for individuals but also a great resource for small groups looking to challenge one another to live out a more dynamic faith.
In conclusion, *Wild Goose Chase* is a powerful invitation to take a leap of faith and embrace the exhilarating, unpredictable journey that God has in store for His people. It will resonate deeply with those who are ready to break out of the cages of spiritual comfort and truly chase after the God who calls them to a life of divine adventure.
December 26, 2012
In elaborating his title metaphor, drawn from Celtic Christian origins, Batterson is quick to point out the subtle yet crucial difference between a Wild Goose chase (a pointless endeavor) and the act of chasing the Wild Goose, by which he means seeking to know the Holy Spirit. Chasing the Goose, he says, allows God to work His plan for you, and is an adventuresome undertaking that can take you to new and rewarding places. He warns the reader that the adventure may be “unnerving or disorienting” – a warning which proves apt when he goes on to challenge institutionalized Christianity in a few ways, including what he calls inverted Christianity, in which the misguided wish for God to serve their purposes, instead of the other way around. He also holds a dim view of cut and paste Christianity, the practice of taking some parts of scripture and leaving others. But taking it all in is arguably, as warned, disorienting. And in the stories he tells about remarkable characters, both biblical figures and modern day people, who have taken great risks in the service of good, there too are unnerving moments - leaps of faith with potentially disastrous consequences.
Before recounting the extraordinary life choices of the individuals who are the meat of this book, Batterson takes us briefly to the Gallapagos islands, a locale he likens to Eden, where the abundance and variety of wild animals causes him to speculate about how challenging it must have been for Adam to follow God's command that he name them. Visiting a zoo after this trip, he is struck by the difference between the animals he saw in the wild and the caged animals on display. Gingerly, he brings this observation to his thinking on Christianity, proposing that maybe the church has a way of turning us into caged birds, removing the danger and challenge from our lives. To some extent, Batterson welcomes danger, even to be dangerous (to the Enemy). And the modern-day heroes he shows us do put themselves in harm's way in pursuit of ending injustice and human suffering. These are not caged birds, but wild goose-chasers!
Batterson identifies six types of cages to be avoided: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. He speaks out strongly against complacency in general, and he goes on to give some counsel on how to fight it. He wants us not to grow bored by allowing our daily responsibilities to supercede our obligation to follow the passion that God has given us. He states that he hopes reading his book will not be a casual experience, but will inspire us to action, to take chances, maybe even change our lives. This is an inspiring book. Yet if we all took the author's advice and followed God-ordained passions rather than pursuing a humble, responsible, routine career, I have to wonder who would keep the homefires burning, so to speak: do the simple if sometimes boring work that needs to be done. As in so many areas of life, it behooves one to seek balance. And if Batterson seems sometimes to be overbalanced on the side of adventure, perhaps he is just compensating for a day and age in which most of us are leaning fairly heavily the other way.
Within his framework of six cages, Batterson displays people whose lives stand as examples of overcoming the confining forces he warns against. The first of these practices responsible irresponsibility. The author is quite fond of such seemingly paradoxical language. He also talks about successful failures. And in addressing the second cage, routine, he says that the Holy Spirit both comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Growing accustomed to such turns of phrase, we are not surprised when, addressing his third cage, assumptions, he points out the dual nature of God, being at once Most High and Most Nigh. Personally, I find Batterson's penchant for conflating what might be considered mutually exclusive concepts to be stimulating. Meanwhile, his many stories of heroic people flesh out the narrative and keep it moving along.
A skillful writer and motivator, Batterson keeps us a little off balance. Some of his admonitions are just what we expect from a pastor, and some are not. He reminds us not to point the finger of blame or judgment at our neighbors. He tells us that we are surrounded by miracles. These are pretty standard-issue assertions. But then he uses modern and sometimes scientific terms and metaphors, and throws in a dash of self-deprecating humor, mentioning, for example, picking up his dog's poop. Through it all, his crux exhortation to chase the Wild Goose rings clearly. He says that there is a time to pray, and then there is a time to stop praying and take action. Christianity, he says, is not a noun, but a verb. And an action verb at that. He tells us not to wait for a sign from God before acting, but to act first. God, he says, will sanctify our expectations. Simultaneously, yet somehow without seeming to contradict himself, he advises against rushing things. “Hurry,” he writes, “kills everything from compassion to creativity.” Don't wait around too long but don't make too much haste. Pace is important to Batterson, and in the cadence of his writing and his variations of voice, as well as the gist of his advice, there is a certain... syncopation.
Act spontaneously! Pray imaginitvely! Wade in! Throw down your staff! Everywhere in this book, Batterson challenges us to take chances and to challenge ourselves. Peppered throughout the text and arranged neatly at sections' ends are lists of questions for the reader, which I found a welcome aid in cementing concepts in mind and bringing Batterson's arguments home to my own circumstances and life. I could imagine responding to these questions in a small group environment, and indeed I think this book is designed to lend itself well to a study group or book club.
Three cages remain: guilt, failure, and fear. In offering means of escaping the fetters these emotions bind us with, Batterson writes of learning better to forgive oneself, of recognizing the transforming power present when things don't go our way or according to our plans, and of directing our natural trepidation into proper, productive channels such as fearing missed opportunities instead of fearing failure. As he continues to illustrate his points with examples of human heroism, we come to the unlikely story of a man named Mike Foster passing out bibles at a pornography convention in Las Vegas. The daring of the man! Batterson goes on to discuss the difference between dumb courage and smart courage, and I am impressed by a sense as the book draws to a close that this author has displayed a daring of his own, has taken some calculated risks with his prose and maybe even flown by the seat of his pants a little. The Wild Goose, he writes, is eternally elusive. It will not let us down. In the same spirit, I will say that with this brave, intelligent book, Batterson does not let his readers down.
Before recounting the extraordinary life choices of the individuals who are the meat of this book, Batterson takes us briefly to the Gallapagos islands, a locale he likens to Eden, where the abundance and variety of wild animals causes him to speculate about how challenging it must have been for Adam to follow God's command that he name them. Visiting a zoo after this trip, he is struck by the difference between the animals he saw in the wild and the caged animals on display. Gingerly, he brings this observation to his thinking on Christianity, proposing that maybe the church has a way of turning us into caged birds, removing the danger and challenge from our lives. To some extent, Batterson welcomes danger, even to be dangerous (to the Enemy). And the modern-day heroes he shows us do put themselves in harm's way in pursuit of ending injustice and human suffering. These are not caged birds, but wild goose-chasers!
Batterson identifies six types of cages to be avoided: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. He speaks out strongly against complacency in general, and he goes on to give some counsel on how to fight it. He wants us not to grow bored by allowing our daily responsibilities to supercede our obligation to follow the passion that God has given us. He states that he hopes reading his book will not be a casual experience, but will inspire us to action, to take chances, maybe even change our lives. This is an inspiring book. Yet if we all took the author's advice and followed God-ordained passions rather than pursuing a humble, responsible, routine career, I have to wonder who would keep the homefires burning, so to speak: do the simple if sometimes boring work that needs to be done. As in so many areas of life, it behooves one to seek balance. And if Batterson seems sometimes to be overbalanced on the side of adventure, perhaps he is just compensating for a day and age in which most of us are leaning fairly heavily the other way.
Within his framework of six cages, Batterson displays people whose lives stand as examples of overcoming the confining forces he warns against. The first of these practices responsible irresponsibility. The author is quite fond of such seemingly paradoxical language. He also talks about successful failures. And in addressing the second cage, routine, he says that the Holy Spirit both comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Growing accustomed to such turns of phrase, we are not surprised when, addressing his third cage, assumptions, he points out the dual nature of God, being at once Most High and Most Nigh. Personally, I find Batterson's penchant for conflating what might be considered mutually exclusive concepts to be stimulating. Meanwhile, his many stories of heroic people flesh out the narrative and keep it moving along.
A skillful writer and motivator, Batterson keeps us a little off balance. Some of his admonitions are just what we expect from a pastor, and some are not. He reminds us not to point the finger of blame or judgment at our neighbors. He tells us that we are surrounded by miracles. These are pretty standard-issue assertions. But then he uses modern and sometimes scientific terms and metaphors, and throws in a dash of self-deprecating humor, mentioning, for example, picking up his dog's poop. Through it all, his crux exhortation to chase the Wild Goose rings clearly. He says that there is a time to pray, and then there is a time to stop praying and take action. Christianity, he says, is not a noun, but a verb. And an action verb at that. He tells us not to wait for a sign from God before acting, but to act first. God, he says, will sanctify our expectations. Simultaneously, yet somehow without seeming to contradict himself, he advises against rushing things. “Hurry,” he writes, “kills everything from compassion to creativity.” Don't wait around too long but don't make too much haste. Pace is important to Batterson, and in the cadence of his writing and his variations of voice, as well as the gist of his advice, there is a certain... syncopation.
Act spontaneously! Pray imaginitvely! Wade in! Throw down your staff! Everywhere in this book, Batterson challenges us to take chances and to challenge ourselves. Peppered throughout the text and arranged neatly at sections' ends are lists of questions for the reader, which I found a welcome aid in cementing concepts in mind and bringing Batterson's arguments home to my own circumstances and life. I could imagine responding to these questions in a small group environment, and indeed I think this book is designed to lend itself well to a study group or book club.
Three cages remain: guilt, failure, and fear. In offering means of escaping the fetters these emotions bind us with, Batterson writes of learning better to forgive oneself, of recognizing the transforming power present when things don't go our way or according to our plans, and of directing our natural trepidation into proper, productive channels such as fearing missed opportunities instead of fearing failure. As he continues to illustrate his points with examples of human heroism, we come to the unlikely story of a man named Mike Foster passing out bibles at a pornography convention in Las Vegas. The daring of the man! Batterson goes on to discuss the difference between dumb courage and smart courage, and I am impressed by a sense as the book draws to a close that this author has displayed a daring of his own, has taken some calculated risks with his prose and maybe even flown by the seat of his pants a little. The Wild Goose, he writes, is eternally elusive. It will not let us down. In the same spirit, I will say that with this brave, intelligent book, Batterson does not let his readers down.
April 30, 2020
As a former evangelical (I belong to the Orthodox Church now), from time to time I’ll read current evangelical authors. I appreciate John Eldridge. The late Dallas Willard may not be considered “current” but is another I appreciate. I cannot say why I have read the Mark Batterson books I have read. Perhaps just the self-help tone, or the sense of odd fascination, but I have read a couple of his other books about seven years ago. In any case, I don’t want to rip this book to shreds because there are good aspects of it. Occasionally a turn of phrase can get you to focus on aspects of one’s prayer life. And I did find quite a few of the reflection questions at the end of each chapter helpful in this regard. But truthfully remove the 20-30% or so that’s distinctively Christian (Scripture passages and biblical or historical Christian figures) and this book would be as well placed on secular self-help shelves. As so many popular evangelical speakers and writers seem obsessed with, Batterson seeds nearly every page with attempts at this or that pithy phrase, to the point of annoyance. One is constantly exhorted to the exhausting task of novelty in every aspect of one’s Christian life. (Don’t let the routine become routine, as it were.) In the end one is left with the exhortation, to cite Charlie from “Dead Poets Society”: “Gotta do more. Gotta be more!” But don’t forget to take some time off so that you can come back and do more of being more.
January 3, 2025
The author explores living with purpose instead of randomness and how most of us don't reach our goals because we don't ever truly set any. I think I erred in listening to this book on audio instead of reading. It was difficult to follow, because the author jumps around a good bit. I tend to drift when listening to audio, and coming back to this after missing 45 seconds by being lost in my own head often meant the author had moved on and I missed the transition. I recommend not making this same mistake, as I believe it would be easier to absorb via the written version.
I appreciate the simple ideas presented that don't require a doctorate in theology to understand, and the author does a good job of weaving stories (biblical and personal) into the narrative that bolster the ideas. I do think if you don't have some knowledge of the Bible some of the stories may be difficult to follow, as the author references some biblical characters without background (or maybe I just missed the background...see my earlier comment about the audio version being hard to follow).
I appreciate the simple ideas presented that don't require a doctorate in theology to understand, and the author does a good job of weaving stories (biblical and personal) into the narrative that bolster the ideas. I do think if you don't have some knowledge of the Bible some of the stories may be difficult to follow, as the author references some biblical characters without background (or maybe I just missed the background...see my earlier comment about the audio version being hard to follow).
August 1, 2021
Another great book by Mark Batterson! The person of the Holy Spirit is a subject that is often neglected not only in our study and speech but also when it comes to our daily living. Mark Batterson shares the challenge of following the Holy Spirit; how God the Spirit leads us on an adventure not with the focus being on the destination but rather that our relationship with Him would become stronger- that our love and trust in Him would be greater. If you are a Mark Batterson fan, you will enjoy this book. A negative of this book is that if you are familiar with Mark, some stories or analogies are repeated (seen in other of his writings). Over all - Wild Goose Chase challenges readers to pursue the Holy Spirit despite the discomfort and difficulties - do not miss out on joining God and His plan for your life.
November 14, 2025
I enjoy books written by Mark Batterson. They are certainly books that ignite your faith.
In this book, Batterson sets out how the Holy Spirit is like a Wild Goose that we should be constantly chasing. I have always struggled with my understanding of the Holy Spirit. This certainly helped with that.
Six cages prevent us from chasing the Holy Spirit and what the Holy Spirit wants for us. The six cages are: 1) the cage of responsibility; 2) the cage of routine; 3) the cage of assumption; 4) the cage of guilt; 5) the cage of failure; and 6) the cage of fear. Batterson explains each cage and how to break free from that cage. I struggle with the cage of fear the most.
This is another enjoyable book that will kick-start your faith.
In this book, Batterson sets out how the Holy Spirit is like a Wild Goose that we should be constantly chasing. I have always struggled with my understanding of the Holy Spirit. This certainly helped with that.
Six cages prevent us from chasing the Holy Spirit and what the Holy Spirit wants for us. The six cages are: 1) the cage of responsibility; 2) the cage of routine; 3) the cage of assumption; 4) the cage of guilt; 5) the cage of failure; and 6) the cage of fear. Batterson explains each cage and how to break free from that cage. I struggle with the cage of fear the most.
This is another enjoyable book that will kick-start your faith.
January 19, 2019
Spiritual life adventure guide
I read this on the recommendation of a friend. He pointed to the theme of "chasing the wild goose" as a concept developed from Celtic theology. Reading it, I found many points that were personally relevant. And challenging. This is a book for Christian spiritual seekers who desire more from life than "showing up" once a week. This requires a desire to leave comfortable places of tradition and routines in order to discover where God's power is alive and working.
One criticism that I found was the heavy dependence on cliches and aphorisms. It sometimes became more noticeable. It began to draw away from the strength of the subject material.
I read this on the recommendation of a friend. He pointed to the theme of "chasing the wild goose" as a concept developed from Celtic theology. Reading it, I found many points that were personally relevant. And challenging. This is a book for Christian spiritual seekers who desire more from life than "showing up" once a week. This requires a desire to leave comfortable places of tradition and routines in order to discover where God's power is alive and working.
One criticism that I found was the heavy dependence on cliches and aphorisms. It sometimes became more noticeable. It began to draw away from the strength of the subject material.
February 17, 2021
Mark Batterson provides an excellent, biblical, and readable discussion of the great adventure of living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Serving the Creator God of the Universe should be exciting and fulfilling. Batterson demonstrates that it is worth the effort to serve God and desire to please him in all that we do. This book is particularly good for young adults who are in the process of determining life goals. What better goal could there be than to serve God in order to give life eternal value?
April 9, 2023
The Wild Goose chase or following the Holy Spirit. This is a book all Christians should read. Not only does he talk about why we need to chase the Wild Goose and what we will face if we don't (boredom), he addresses several cages that keep us from doing so. As he goes through each cage, chapter by chapter I was able to see myself, at least in part, in those cages, either currently or in the past.
To me this is one of those books that should be read every 5 years or so, just to keep vigilant about one's own Goose chase and what cages are holding me back now.
To me this is one of those books that should be read every 5 years or so, just to keep vigilant about one's own Goose chase and what cages are holding me back now.
October 9, 2023
As someone who talks or writes about spiritual adventure on a weekly basis, I bought this book on the premise—maybe even the subtitle. As with many spiritual books based on an analogy, though, it seems like Mark Batterson blurs the line every once in a while between correlation and causation. As a spiritual adventure writer, I also struggle not to make the descriptive into something prescriptive. His recommendations walk the line between biblical exhortation and syncretized self-help mantras.
March 22, 2018
This book is a perfect catalyst for those who need to get in gear to chase their dreams. I loved the examples, the Bible verses, the inspiration and the motivation! Read the book and chase the wild goose! My favorite line from this book said, "I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals." This line has been stirring in my heart every since I heard it! Mark Batterson is an amazing encourager! Read it, then do yourself a favor and live it!
January 9, 2018
Mark Batters on really says it like it is. God wants us to step up and out and not play it safe. To dream God size dreams and have the faith in God to take the leap into whatever may come. Mark's way of seeing God given dreams and our purpose in this life is amazingly eye opening. I encourage all people, Christians and those seeking to find what Christianity has to offer.
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