{"product_id":"if-grace-is-so-amazing-why-dont-we-like-it-isbn-9780470491607","title":"If Grace Is So Amazing, Why Don't We Like It?","description":"Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound . . . or is it? Grace set to music is one thing, but what about grace itself? What about grace as an idea, an act, a force? Grace upsets the natural balance, turning the law of cause and effect on its head. Our instinctive reaction is to pull back from grace. Rather than recognizing our unworthiness to receive this completely undeserved gift from God, we want to believe that, on balance, something in our lives merits the good that comes our way, that we deserve whatever gifts we receive. And if we find it difficult to accept grace for ourselves, how much more unwilling are we to have it handed to others? When someone gets off the hook too easily, aren't we uncomfortable? \u003ci\u003eA miscarriage of justice,\u003c\/i\u003e we think. \u003ci\u003eThat's not fair!\u003c\/i\u003e But real Christian faith requires that we accept and embrace this radical thing called grace. It’s not about being fair: God’s grace will turn your world upside down¾ if you let it. \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments ix\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePART 1: Upside Down 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 How Sweet the Sound? 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 Hanging on a Hair 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePART 2: Upside-Down God 21\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Surprising, Not Predictable 23\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 For Us, Not Against Us 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Near, Not Distant 39\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Revealed in Weakness, Not in Strength 49\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Rule Breaker, Not Rule Maker 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 Passionate, Not Unmoved 68\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 Therefore Risk Trust 76\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePART 3: Upside-Down Self 89\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 Set Free, Not Condemned 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Life, Not Death 101\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 Death, Not Life 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 Truth, Not Evasion 117\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 Delight, Not Manipulation 124\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 Giving, Not Getting 133\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 Therefore Be Human 141\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePART 4: Upside-Down World 149\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 Love, Not Self-Centeredness 151\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 Affirmation, Not Condemnation 160\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 Forgiving, Not Keeping Score 171\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 Serving, Not Using 181\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e21 Creating Community, Not Competing 189\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 Peace, Not Violence 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 Stewardship, Not Ownership 206\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 Hope, Not Despair 215\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 Therefore Bear Witness 228\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes 235\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Author 245\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eDonald McCullough\u003c\/b\u003e is president of Salt Lake Theological Seminary and a former president and professor of theology and preaching at San Francisco Theological Seminary. The author of seven books, his writing has appeared in \u003ci\u003eChristianity Today\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eChristian Century\u003c\/i\u003e, and many other magazines and journals.  \"Donald McCullough understands that God's generosity gets up our nose and that, if we are honest, we find the teachings of Jesus offensive. It's an old spiritual maxim that the most privileged access to grace is through our greatest weakness. Who needs it? The author looks the issue in the eye with clarity and humor, showing us that our freedom and joy depend on a truth-telling that exposes not only our weakness and fragility but also the breathtaking grace of God, which rescues us from despair and makes us radiant with God's delight.\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eAlan Jones\u003c\/b\u003e, dean, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and author, \u003ci\u003eReimagining Christianity\u003c\/i\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrace Will Turn Your World Upside Down—If You Let It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Donald McCullough's wonderful book offers a fresh perspective on grace as God's wild pursuit of our lives. This is not a book to comfort you. It's a book to help you become fully alive.\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eM. Craig Barnes\u003c\/b\u003e, Robert Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"I have always thought that most of our adult Christian life is spent relearning who God is. It's like we are looking in one direction and Don's words call loudly to us, 'No, over here!' And as we snap our head to look, we see a God who makes our jaw drop, our eyes well, and floods us with joy.\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eNancy Ortberg\u003c\/b\u003e, church consultant and former teaching pastor, Willow Creek Community Church\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47989399945445,"sku":"NP9780470491607","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780470491607.jpg?v=1761783962","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/if-grace-is-so-amazing-why-dont-we-like-it-isbn-9780470491607","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}