Random Acts of Grace

The vignettes presented in this book are so real and make clear those things in our lives we may not necessarily want to be made clear! My husband and I will often quote from some of the drama to make a point that we recognize we've gone there again, and use this humor to get through tough spots in life. "DEAR GOD, PLEASE TELL MY HUSBAND THAT HE SHOULD LIVE UP TO HIS RESPONSIBILITIES..." (knowing God is not going to answer that kind of prayer). Or, "you have not accumulated enough points to be able to go out tonight, you must do something nice for me first"... LOVE IT!

Paul and Nicole Johnson are an incredible acting team. If I know they are going to be at a conference or seminar, my chances of going improve dramatically (no pun intended). Perhaps what makes their ministry (drama and this book) so effective is that their message is not obvious as soon as you start reading the chapter. That kind of writing is okay for children, but will not engage and keep the mind of an adult. As a drama team member I have used chapters from this book to create a drama. As a small group and large group leader (or even a person responsible for putting together devotional material for a retreat) I have found this "bites of life" to get a very good response. Perhaps where I see their material to be so effective is that it is talked about weeks or months later. A funny line from a chapter or a play is repeated within a group that has shared (or seen) their material and WE ALL REMEMBER IT and understand the point the being made by repeating that line. This is also a great book for a person looking for a nighttime or morning devotional. One chapter leaves your mind in a thoughtful and pleasant place -- a nice "something" to mull over and think about as you go to sleep or drive/clean house/pause in the day. I have given this book to my female friends are too busy for a Bible study but desperately want even 15 minutes of their day to be spent with quiet and thoughtful material that turns their mind and heart towards God. I would also recommend this book to people who have long commutes or drives. It has really blessed our journeys, as my husband and I now live on the road and need some thing that will make the drive shorter. We read aloud and have much to talk about after we've finished reading a chapter. Thank you Paul and Nicole. Magan Lewis