Fifty Shapes of Grace

'Within Church settings and as articulated in Christian theological venues, grace is often understood as the unmerited love and eternal embrace of God, experienced in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Without minimizing this Christ-focused essence of love and eternal embrace, Lutheran pastor John W. Matthews shares, in fifty-plus shapes, grace as experienced in the everyday ebb and flow of relationships and responsibilities. Matthews' life. . . as a child, a student, a congregational pastor, a university teacher, a Bonhoeffer scholar, an army chaplain, a husband (twice), a father, a grandpa (of eleven), a police & fire chaplain, a neighbor, an ecumenical and interfaith aficionado, i.e. as a Renaissance Man. . . is the source of these fifty-plus rich and poignant vignettes. The author extracts deep meaning and profound theological wisdom out of his everyday 'relationships and responsibilities, ' hoping (as a pastor and theologian) that every reader will put on a similar hermeneutical (interpretive) lens to see their worlds in such a sacramental way. Veteran Christians and newborn faithful, like seasoned Jews and obedient Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Taoists, Shintoists, Jainists, atheists, agnostics and hopefully many others will see in Matthews' authenticity and transparency, the grace of G-d that fills most every nook and cranny of existence. Yes, grace in Jesus, but not only Jesus. Experience here the love and embrace of G-d in 'at least' 50 Shapes.'

Thanks so much,

John