Tactics: a practical guide to have those difficult conversations with grace and confidence

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl is a practical guide to help Christian engage in conversations with grace and confidence. In a world that is increasingly indifferent to the Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who are misinformed or do not fully understand. Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to get in the “driver’s seat: of the conversation and keep it moving with thoughtful and artful diplomacy to maneuver comfortably and graciously through the common challenges to help people think truthfully about Jesus. Drawing from his experience defending Christianity in public forums, Koukl shows readers how to initiate conversations, present facts clearly, cleverly and persuasively with grace and to remain calm and collected when under attack. Tactics is a game plan for every Christian to communicate the truth while being calm, cool and collected. 

As a believer, I was always afraid of not being able to communicate properly to those who would aggressively debate with me. An apologist I follow on social media gave a list of books to read on apologetics and Tactics was his number one suggestion. From the very beginning, Mr. Koukl offers easy to follow methods to engage with different groups of nonbelievers including the misinformed and the aggressive atheist. He encourages all Christians to be ambassadors for Christ with basic knowledge, wisdom and good character. One does not need to be a theologian or a great debater to engage in these conversations. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through his tactics and I used the study guide in order to practice what I learned. If you have ever wondered how to have an engaging conversation with confidence, I highly recommend Tactics and its study guide. 

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions 

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tactics study guide is available in paperback and eBook

The Faith in Flowers: a second chance romance with heart and small town charm

The Faith in Flowers is the fifth book in the Poppy Creek series by Rachael Bloome. Olivia Parker returns home for her brother, Grant’s wedding. She decides to keep her divorce secret so as to not ruin the big day. Confirmed bachelor Reed Hollis has never forgotten the only woman to capture his heart and he also hasn’t forgotten that she is married. Believing Olivia is happily married, he buried himself into cultivating his beautiful blooms and keeping his distance. When the original wedding venue becomes unavailable, Olivia and Reed are brought together to help plan the wedding with a new venue. As the two work together, they are confronted with their feelings as well as their fears and painful secrets. Can their love bloom with a little faith? 

I love the Poppy Creek series and The Faith in Flowers is a great addition to it. It is a sweet, clean romance with plenty of heart and the small town charm. A second chance for Olivia and Reed find themselves face to face after so many years and discovering their past feelings are alive and well. I love the themes of love, grace and forgiveness and that even the most beautiful flowers bloom from the dirt. We are not bound to our past mistakes as we build for a brighter future. Reed and Olivia are so sweet as they banter as friends and confide in each other before ultimately confessing their love. I look forward to continuing the series. I highly recommend The Faith in Flowers and the Poppy Creek series. 

The Faith in Flowers is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Grace: simply defined and yet sometimes hard to grasp and accept

What is grace? Simply put, it is unmerited favor or getting what you don’t deserve. Grace is central to the Christian faith. It is the basis for our standing before God, our salvation, and forgiveness. It is something that many people have a hard time grasping. As our sense of justice cannot fathom someone not getting what they deserve. How can I be forgiven for a horrible act? Why should I show grace to someone else? The word grace is used roughly 131 times in the Bible with 124 in the New Testament. Paul, being called the apostle of grace, used the term 86 times. How can we define grace? What example do we have of grace? What is grace so hard to accept? 

First, grace is unconditional. Just as God’s love for us is unconditional, He extends grace and forgiveness freely to those who seek it. While in our sinful nature, we deserve judgment, God’s grace gives us salvation  and transforms our desires, motivations and behavior (Titus 2:11). There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve God’s love and forgiveness. It is not a one-time gift either. It is a continuous flow as we are imperfect and prone to marketing mistakes. It is “not a reward for good behavior, but a gift for repentant sinners,” (In The Grip of Grace). Second, grace is power for living. Paul was a powerful and influential apostle. However, he did not take credit but saw the power of God’s grace in his life (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is the power in our lives to help through difficult and challenging times. God tells us that his grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and through our weakness, He makes us strong. Third, grace transforms lives and allows us to extend grace to others. 

It is an influence of God on our lives that works in us to change (2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus is the embodiment of grace itself. First, in his incarnation. John 1:17 says “ For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Law and grace are important parts of God’s nature. Moses gave the people God’s law and justice while Jesus would display God’s mercy, love and forgiveness. Second, in his actions. Jesus’s interactions with others gives us examples of graciousness. From his miraculous healings to the parables, Jesus taught grace, His forgiveness of the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11), forgiving Peter after his betrayal (John 21:15-17) and the conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1-19) are examples of grace’s unmerited favor, redemptive power and transformative influence. Third, with his sacrifice on the cross. Lastly, in his teachings. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a prime example of Jesus teaching grace. In John 15:11-32, the story of the son who turned his back on his father to live a life that squandered his wealth. The son would return, expecting to beg for scraps, and found himself being welcomed with open arms. It is a beautiful image of what happens when a sinner turns to God and asks for forgiveness. 

We can receive free gifts all time in other forms; but accepting free grace from God is hard. Why? The world fears grace. Grace threatens those with possessions, privilege and power. Grace offers a different value system for assessing our worth than the world does. Our sinful nature fears grace and whispers to us on a daily basis that grace simply cannot be free. Because “nothing is free,” right? Through God’s grace, we are not valued based on what we have, what we do or don’t do. It is a gift. A free and clear gift. It is a generosity that the world cannot comprehend. God knows us for who we truly are, past, present and future. And yet He continuously invites us into His unending grace for healing to every hurt, empowering for daily living and transforming into who we were meant to be. All we need to do is trust and receive it. And accepting grace is a daily enterprise. It is a gift every single day. Like manna, it has to be collected fresh each day.

In conclusion, grace is so simple and yet so complex. As I began this study, I thought I knew grace. I thought I would be able to effectively convey the message of grace. And yet, with numerous Scriptures at my fingertips, I struggled with the words. I struggled with doubt that I was explaining grace adequately and accurately. And I hope my words are a beginning to understanding grace and accepting it in your lives. It is with grace that we are saved through faith as a gift that we cannot achieve through works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  In the words of Brennan Manning, “He comes to where I live and loves me as I am,” And yet, God will not leave you there. We are transformed by His grace and love.  

God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea: an inspirational devotional

God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea by Rose Chandler Johnson is a 52-day Bible devotional with insights of day-to-day topics as well as bigger theological topics. In the South, sweet iced tea is a refreshing staple. This devotional is designed to experience and recognize God in the small, everyday moments to be as refreshing as sweet iced tea. Each devotion is followed with suggested Scriptures to read, study and meditate on each topic, questions for journaling, a prayer and a sweet tea moment (or a thought for the day) and a prayer focus for the day. Topics include being thankful, kindness, and forgiveness. 

Even though I am not a fan of sweet iced tea, I do love a tall, refreshing glass of iced tea and the title of this devotional stood out to me. Each devotion is written from the personal experience of Ms. Chandler Johnson with insight and grace that helps readers recognize the divine presence of God in our every moments. With the variety of Scriptures to read, this devotional opens God’s word and reminds us that God is always here and wants us to come closer to him. I highly recommend God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea. 

God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The book of Romans: the power of grace

Romans is an illustration of how people have turned from God and God’s response and his offer of salvation through faith and grace. Pastor and author Max Lucado has a great book on the book of Romans. In the Grip of Grace (1996) begins with the Parable of the River which helps describes how people have turned from God. Briefly, the parable is about five brothers who disobey their father by getting too close to a powerful river. They are caught in the currents and swept away, fair from home. They began their long journey home and one by one, a brother stops the journey and turning away from the hope of seeing their father and home again. Leaving two, the oldest and youngest brothers, to continue the journey. I will use this book and the parable as I discuss different aspects of Romans.

The first brother is an illustration of an individual who turns from God and seeks his own pleasure in life. Hedonists are people who believe that the most important thing in life is pleasure. Their goal is to satisfy themselves, their passions with a disregard to God. They believe that no one is guilty of sin and what each person does is their own business. Paul describes this person as having no excuse for the things he does. In Romans 1:20, Paul says that men have no excuse “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what being made.” Therefore, nature itself is a testimony, evidence to the existence of God and his role as the Creator. But because they choose to ignore God and claim he doesn’t exist, Paul tells us that God gave them over to sinful desires (Romans 1:24). Hedonists believe that since they haven’t seen God, therefore there is no life beyond what we life, there’s no ultimate truth beyond this world and there’s no purpose in life beyond one’s own pleasure. He has no concern for the eternal and refuses to acknowledge a Creator (Lucado, 26). Hedonism has made its way into Christianity through the prosperity gospel. Prosperity Gospel is a belief among some Christians that financial blessings and physical well-being are always the will of God for them and that faith, positive speech and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. However, many Christians criticize this idea as contrary to Scripture as God never promised a wealthy life here on earth.

The second brother is an illustration of an individual who becomes the fault finding judgmentalist. This person compares himself to others as “Well, I’m not as bad as they are!” He is the finger pointer, the “record keeper” of others’ wrongs for God. This person is often bitter and proclaims himself the watchdog for God. Paul tells this “watchdog” that he has no authority to judge (Romans 2:1) and cannot escape God’s judgment based on others’ wrongdoings. Romans 2:3 says “So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” The judgmentalist doesn’t realize that the wrath he is storing up against others will be used against himself at his own judgment (Romans 2:5). Paul tells us that God doesn’t show favoritism. Those who do evil will face trouble and distress and those who do good will receive glory, honor and peace (Romans 2:9-11). We do not need to keep tally of the wrongdoings of others, God already sees and already knows. Focus on your own wrongdoings as you alone will stand before God and your list of others’ transgressions will not help your defense. It is one thing to have an opinion about one’s actions but its entirely another thing to pass a verdict. Romans 2:1-2 is a prohibition of standing in judgement of other people and failing to condemn ourselves (Stott, 82). There are two reasons we are not in a position to judge: we aren’t good enough and we don’t know enough. 

Therefore, leave the judgment to God and focus on your own wrongdoings and rightness with God.

The third brother to leave the journey is an illustration of a legalist who believe that works will save him. This individual will write a list of accomplishments that he hopes will settle his debt with God. He acknowledges that he is bad, but he will make it up to God by doing `good works on earth. Paul tells us in Romans 4:5 that man doesn’t have to work to be saved, he only needs to trust in God who justifies him through his faith and credits him with righteousness. The legalists are the ones who usually become stuck up and think they are the only ones who will make it because he has done many works and looks down on others who haven’t. These people are the ones who criticizes other Christians who may not go to church every Sunday while they faithfully sit in the same pew every week. They go to every weekly Bible study and volunteer for every activity the church may organize. The problem is the motivation behind it. They are doing so in order to win brownie points with God rather than the heart behind the act to show God’s love to others. They may give their ten percent tithe every month and not feel the pinch and yet they will scuff at the individual who puts in a few dollars not realizing that it’s the last dollars that person has until payday. This reminds me of the story of the poor widow who gave all she had to the temple while others gave large amounts. Jesus proclaims that the woman had put in more than the wealthy did because she gave out of her poverty and others gave out of their wealth (Mark 12:41-44). The difference? The value of the gift isn’t in the amount but the spirit in which it was given. Therefore, when you give of your time or money, make sure you are doing so in the right spirit.

This leads us to the Grace-driven Christian. The brother who stayed on the journey, leaning on the strength of the older brother. This person actively seeks God, who acknowledges that he is bad but knows he is forgiven though his faith in Jesus Christ. You may ask what is grace? Simply, grace is unearned and undeserved favor from God. We receive grace through our faith (complete trust) in Jesus Christ. Through grace and faith, we can stand before God as not guilty as Jesus took our guilt upon himself on the cross. Romans 10:10 says “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Faith comes from our hearts and we are saved through grace as we confess our sins. We are made right with God through faith alone, not through obeying the law (Romans 3:28), not by the works we do or passing judgment on others. Grace gives us peace with God (Romans 5:1). Grace gives us a place with God and a share in his glory (Romans 5:2). We are saved dispute our struggles. Even after becoming a Christian, an individual still struggles with sin. Sin just doesn’t disappear from our world and our lives. However, God still claims us as His child and he still guides us through his word. “The same One who saved us first is there to save us still’ (Lucado, 148). This statement reminds me of the Avalon song Always Have, Always Will. In the song, the narrator reflects on his sinful nature as he struggles to follow Christ and follow his own selfish desires. “I always have, I always will. You saved me once you save me still.” The fact is we do not need to be perfect for God, as long as we have faith in Jesus and look to his Word for guidance, his grace and forgiveness will always be given to us.

In conclusion, as we go through life, we can sometimes find ourselves acting like the three brothers who left the journey. We become the hedonist who focuses on our own desires. We become the judgmentalist who criticizes others and ignores our own wrongs. We become the legalist who looks at our list of accomplishments and forget the heart and spirit of the service we can called to do. But we refocus on God and the gift he has given us in his son, we realize that we all have fallen short. We are not called to be perfect. We are simply called to love him, to trust in him and he will help us with our human struggles. Every other approach to God is a bartering system: If I do this…(works). If I feel this...(emotions). If I know this…(knowledge). Christianity has no negotiation. Every person is made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22-24). That’s it.

References

Lucado, Max (1996): In the Grip of Grace. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing

Stott, John (1994): Romans: God’s Good News for the World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press