Next Door Savior (The Bestseller Collection) (Hardcover)
From Publishers Weekly
If Christian publishing phenomenon Lucado has been criticized for anything, it’s for repeating the same basic themes in his books: Christ, his death on the cross and the grace and forgiveness offered to those who follow him. This latest doesn’t deviate, but somehow manages to make these themes crisp and compelling. The essays, each built around an episode in the life of Jesus, are often unabashedly poignant, at times humorous and always hopeful. Lucado’s unique retellings cast Jesus as a compassionate personal friend who isn’t put off by anyone’s past mistakes. In one essay, Jesus urges a reluctant Matthew (the tax collector) not to ditch his old acquaintances, while Matthew argues “But Jesus, these guys… half of them are on parole. Josh hasn’t worn socks since his Bar Mitzvah….” A reach-for-the-hanky story portrays Jesus as “The Trashman,” willing to take the burdens of others on himself. Throughout this book-as he has in others-Lucado explor (more…)
A Love Worth Giving (The Bestseller Collection) (Hardcover)
Loving People Isn’t Easy. The vow-breakers, truth-benders. The money-grubbers and backstabbers we meet, work with, and marry. How do you love someone who is hard to love? Our typical strategy is to try harder. Conventional wisdom says that a lack of love implies a lack of effort, so we dig deeper, straining more. Were’ going to love if it kill sis! And it may do just that. Could it be we are missing a step? Could it be that the first step of love is not toward them but toward Him? After all, you can’t give what you don’t have. In A Love Worth Giving, Max Lucado explores what he calls “the forgotten” first step for relationships.” The secret to loving, he says, is living loved. Are you low on love? Down to your last dose of forgiveness? Scraping the bottom of the barrel of patience? You may be trying to give what you’ve never received. And you may be holding just the book you need to receive it.
