I was recently offered the opportunity to review "One Way LOVE: Inexhaustable Grace for an Exhausted World" by Tullian Tchividjian (yes I looked at that three times to make sure I spelled it correctly!). I almost skipped this one. Life was a little busy (ha...8 kids in the home with 5 two and under will do that to you!) AND I was afraid this book on grace would not be one I would want to embrace. However, it was encouraged that if there was ANY slightly interest in reviewing this one to jump in because it was life-changing. So glad I did!
www.onewaylovebook.com
Being honest and open, I was nervous about a book on grace because I was so afraid that it would be one that would use grace as a license to "do what you want" or would cheapen the COST of grace. That thought process is PREVALENT in so much of society and even in many modern churches and I didn't want to read a book pushing that way of thinking. However, my husband had heard an interview talking about the book the very same day and he came in the door telling me about it (not knowing I had just agreed to review it!).
As I read the reviews and testimonials from many top names and the fact that Tullian is the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham, I knew that I did NEED to give the book a chance and read it with an open mind.
My take: READ IT. SOAK it in! It has a powerful message. That is saying a LOT coming from this very conservative woman!
He hands down has written the best book I've ever read on the topic of grace and what it actually means. Grace truly is ONE way love and he does a phenomenal job of explaining that. Though I didn't 100% fully agree with every last statement, there was WELL more than enough that I did agree with and was happy to hear explained. Many things were even out of my comfort zone. Most of all, what he did a GREAT job about was explaining the purpose of grace and the value of the Law. He fully explains how we must take the focus of ourselves and fully put our focus on what Christ did and His love. We do not earn His love more by aiming for perfection and living out the letter of the law, nor does He love us less because we fail miserably. There IS freedom in that. He even explains that when we truly understand grace, we actually value the law more because we understand just what an amazing gift Christ has given us!
Though I know I could write page after page of things that really stood out, I really just want to encourage you to READ it. This is one of those books that I'm going to be going back to again and again and trying to soak more and more in. It's one of those books that you need to wrestle with yourself instead of just accepting someone else's opinion. It's beautiful. It's DEEP. It causes you to THINK and it causes you above all else to be even more thankful for what Christ did on the cross. To see just how much He truly loves ONE way, without condition and what that means to you personally! It can truly be a life-changing book---even if you don't agree with every last statement! You will find freedom and healing from past failings if you read it with the intention of letting it change you. Powerful book.
From publisher:
About One Way Love
Real life is long on law and short on grace—the demands never stop, the failures pile up, and fear sets in. Life requires many things from us—a stable marriage, successful children, a certain quality of life. Anyone living inside the guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty of daily life knows that the weight of life is heavy. We are all in need of some relief.
Bestselling author Tullian Tchividjian is convinced our world needs a fresh encounter with grace.
About the Author
William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. A Florida native, Tullian is the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham. He is a visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a contributing editor to Leadership Journal. He is an ordained minister in Presbyterian Church of America. He is the author of six books; including the best seller, Jesus + Nothing = Everything that won Christianity Today’s 2011 book of the year. He travels extensively, speaking at conferences throughout the U.S.
Enter to win a copy of this book (but don't hesitate to purchase it if you aren't the winner!). One reader (US or Canada) will be chosen at random on 10/24/13. Simply comment on this post or the facebook link to enter. PLEASE be sure to include an email contact. Two recent winners of different give-a-ways were not able to be contacted because they left no contact information! Don't let that happen to you!!!!
*"Disclosure of Materials Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*
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