Tommy Mann

What is grace? Christians love to sing about that amazing grace that saved a wretch like me, but what does that word mean? The Greek word means  favor or graciousness , and Strong’s defines it in a spiritual sense this way: “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.”   This word is a familiar friend in Scripture, but let’s consider Romans 11:6, which says, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”   Human nature is always to make salvation the result of works, something we earn by our efforts. But the second works become necessary, grace ceases to be grace. I love the line “grace would no longer be grace.”   In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” A rose is a rose, no matter what you call it. A rose is a rose because of its inherent qualities as a rose.    In the same way, grace ...

For those of you who like to read, here are some of the best books I read in 2012: All Pro Dad by Mark Merrill This is a great book for dads and young men. By This Name by John R. Cross This book teaches the art of chronological evangelism, beginning with Moses. What You Need to KnowAbout Bible Prophecy by Max Anders The title is obvious, and this book gives a well-rounded overview of prophecy. Grace by Max Lucado Again, an obvious title, but grace is something we all need to keep in our minds. Twelve UnlikelyHeroes by John MacArthur A look at 12 people in the Bible who did great things. Voddie Baucham’s 3 books, Family Driven Faith, Family Shepherds, and The Ever-Loving Truth Three great books for parents, especially dads, that focus on instilling a Christian worldview in your children. Esther or Delilah by Angela DeSouza A great book for girls and young ladies. What are you using your beauty for? Real-Life Discipleshi...

I was excited to get to review Max Lucado’s new book Grace because he is a person that I have always admired from a writing standpoint. I have most of his books, literally dozens of them, and I credit him as one of the influences in my life toward Christian writing. The topic of his book Grace is obvious; it’s right there in the title. But here is a more specific glimpse of the topic from the author himself: “Here’s my hunch: we’ve settled for wimpy grace. It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, ‘Do you believe in grace?’ who could say no? This book asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace?” Max uses the biblical narratives of Ruth and Naomi, the woman caught in adultery, Barabbas, David and Bathsheba, the foot washing in the Upper Room, and others to illustrate grace in the Bible. In addition to biblical characters, Lucado uses his gift as a storyt...