Uncommon Graces: Christlike Responses to a Hostile World

by John Vawter

Book Overview

BRING HOPE TO A HOSTILE WORLD. The world we live in today is hostile. From road rage to unkind words, our society suffers from a lack of grace. It doesn't have to be that way, writes John Vawter.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576830438
• ISBN13: 9781576830437
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Christlike Responses to Immature Christians (... not just "a Hostile World")

Rating: 4.25 STARS Introduction: Dr. Vawter, a Baptist pastor, writes a compelling Christian-living book (primarily for Christians) from his pastoral and conciliar experiences about the "uncommon graces" of: Gentleness, Attentiveness, Loyalty, Candor, Mercy, Kindness, and Repentance. The last part of the book talks about how a Christian can nurture these "uncommon graces" in the chapters of: building community, establishing "circuit breakers," and living the Golden Rule. The plethora of personal anecdotes makes this 191 page book a very fast read. I found "Uncommon Graces" at my local public library in San Jose. Published in 1998 by Navigator's publishing arm - NavPress. Author: "John Vawter is senior pastor at Bethany Community Church in Arizona ..." starts the backup description. In addition, the last page of the book is dedicated to informing the reader about the extensive evangelical work of the author and the backcover lists his academic credentials (M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and D.Ministry from Bethel Seminary). Reading the personal family anecdotes one learns a lot about Dr. Vawter (sometimes more than I wanted to know) - about how deeply honest, self-critical, yet impulsive and one "who always wants to win" he is. I have to say, I was surprised by Dr. Vawter "brag lists" of accomplishments at the end of the book, but looking at the content of his book I feel that he has a caring and loving heart, and candidly wants Christians to be transformed into Christ-like believers and true followers of Jesus Christ. Dr. Vawter, is also the author of 2003's "Hit by a Ton of Bricks (Family Issues)" book from Family Life Publishing. Content: While the book's subtitle is "Christlike responses to a hostile world" one learns from the early pages that while living in a society that is "in-your-face," and "where the spirit of the age always finds its way into the church" (well noted by Francis Schaeffer), Dr. Vawter's book is directed towards churchgoers than the world. As he states, too many churchgoers are obessed with a list of sins, while tolerating a list of "safe sins" and thus the church today seems to need a support group, an AA for the Arrogant and Abrasive. The following are some excerpts, my nuggets of wisdom that I took from this book on Christian living: GENTLENESS chapter * "If grace has become a rare commodity in our day, it is perhaps because we have forgotten Paul's warning in Romans 12:2: 'Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God's good, acceptable to him and perfect.'" (pg. 22). * "A more troubling attitude is also at work. It says, 'If you don't agree with me, you're my enemy.' As Christians, one way we do this is by putting our general preferences, our personal convictions, and our most important doctrinal positions on an equal level. As a result,

Great Book

A member of our congregation shared this little book with me and it was like water in a parched land. I found Vawter's book insightful and inspiring. He reminds us all that our world and our society often seek to de-humanize and separate us from one another. The call of the gospel is to be more fully human and more deeply caring for one another. In other words, Christians are called to bring healing and good news into a world that is broken and hurting. Unfortunately, Vawter notes, the Christian church is all too often devoid of such "uncommon graces." This is a reminding of who we are, and a call to live out a grace-filled life, for he sake of other believers, and for the sake of the world around us. Great book.

Excellent and fresh investigation of godly character.

Uncommon Graces is an uncommon book. It is one of those rare offerings that brings together wisdom, insight, biblical integrity, freshness, and creativity, and presents it with clarity and economy. This is no dull laundry list of Christian duties. It will both challenge and excite the reader. It was a real joy!

An excellent remedial course in living the Golden Rule.

Dr. Vawter's book is a wonderful review of the all to often forgotten social graces of gentleness, attentiveness, loyalty, candor, mercy, kindness, and repentance. It is pleasant to read and filled with personal examples taken from his own life's experiences.