Yesterday I received a copy of Mike Foster’s newest book, “Gracenomics”. This morning in my attempt to do something different than my Tuesday-normal, I read it – the whole thing in one sitting. (It’s only 130 pages, and has VERY large print, so don’t pat me on the back just yet.)

I’m teaching this weekend about Grace and didn’t think that I came across this book by accident this week, so I wanted to ingest it as quickly as possible.

I read some fantastic stuff. Some of which will make its way into this weekend’s message at First Wesleyan. Mike has done some great research about how grace plays out in the real-world. There are tons of stories of grace-givers in the book that are all positive examples of grace in real life.

For example: the story of the Rancalli vs. Marshall high school softball teams. (Read about the story here – “For love of the game” at ESPN.com) This story highlights real-life grace being offered and accepted in a wonderful display of sportsmanship and mercy. I loved the story when I read about it months ago.

My only critique of Foster’s book is that as a Christ-follower, I thought it stopped-short.

In a book that seeks to teach the importance of grace being offered, my traditional background couldn’t help but surface with a hopeful expectancy that the Gospel of Grace as lived out in real-life would be described as the baseline. Sadly, it was missing.

I agree with what I believe to be Foster’s point: we need to experience and give grace MORE in everyday life. And I don’t think that every act of grace we enact on our world needs to be followed with handing out a tract outlining the Romans’ Road method of evangelism. I DO, however, think that grace for grace’s sake can become popular but will always be hollow without the baseline being Jesus.

I want to be a grace-giver. I love the idea of being a part of the community of “People of the Second Chance” (POTSC) – I want the grace that I give, however, to point to the Grace that I have received through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Anything less seems hollow.

Colossians 3:14-17
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The hardback version of Foster’s Gracenomics releases on October 6th and will be available at http://potsc.storenvy.com/

I thoroughly enjoyed the “Transformational Small Churches” webinar that Ed Stetzer‘s team at LifeWay put on today.

Very thankful for web-streaming technology and the ability to tune into the broadcast with hundreds of others to be encouraged and challenged.

I took some notes during the 7-hour event and posted them here.