A good book about grace

Our network at HighCallingBlogs.com is quickly approaching 200 members. L.L. Barkat of Seedlings In Stone has been with the network almost from the beginning.

More importantly, L.L. understands what we’re trying to do there. L.L. caught the vision.

And that vision is expressed beautifully in her recent book Stone Crossings. The subtitle is “Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places.” Which makes me wonder. Where has God shown you grace today?

For example, L.L. finds grace in doubt.

When Peter is faced with the reality that Jesus will die a criminal’s death, doubt assails him. The truth is too difficult, too bloody, too dirty to hold… When we see Jesus in a new unexpected way that fails to meet expectations, we are tempted to falter and say: This is hard; who can accept it?

As an example, L.L. tells the story of a former professor, “David D.” He was “an excellent customer service representative,” she explains. “The attendant who goes beyond the company script, who makes you feel you are a person with read needs and concerns.” When L.L. went to his office with doubts about God’s mere existence, David didn’t flinch.

She writes, “An unquestioned faith is questionable… Covering doubt and demanding unexamined allegiance holds its own special dangers.”

So true.

Maybe that’s why I sometimes feel compelled to post crazy doubts and reveal unorthodox allegiances. Thank you to readers here for sticking with me. If I can’t be myself here, I’m in trouble.

Because I’m not one of those people who can put up a special marketing-niche facade.

So. I’ll leave the comments here open on this one. But I wrote a longer review of L.L.’s book over at HighCallingBlogs.com, and I hope you click through to read what she has to say about daily work and sacrifice.

Tagged as: book review, grace, intervarsity press, IVP, l. l. barkat, stone crossings