James McReynolds is one incredible human being. It is hard to believe that any human mind could brim so constantly with wonderful thoughts and ideas. Every book that Jim writes seems to bristle with countless brilliant observations and quotable quotes.
Each volume is a great big, gorgeous bonfire burning in the dark of night and emitting sparks in every direction, suddenly and often illuminating the landscape and revealing things the reader had never imagined.
When I learned that Jim had written this book about grace, I had trouble believing he had done it. Grace is such a hackneyed subject in most Christians' experience. Every minister I know has preached sermon after sermon on the topic, almost always without saying anything new or fresh about it. What could this author possibly say about it now that hasn't been said thousands of times before?
I should have known better. Jim has amazed me with almost every book he has written. His mind is an incredible reservoir of facts and ideas that invariably seem to shatter the night with their incredible freshness and brilliance.
Chapter after chapter, he offers pungent remarks and illustrations to illustrate an old, familiar subject, and to leave the reader shaking his or her head and saying, "Wow! That is brilliant! or, "That is something I never thought of!"
In my day, I was a preacher too, like Jim, and I'm sure that through the years I preached some sermons on the subject of God's amazing grace. But I am also sure that none of those sermons-not one of them-contained the wealth of ideas and illustrations that are the hallmark of these chapters in Jim's book. I have often thought, while reading the manuscript of this book, how great it would have been, all those years ago, to have had this book as a resource I could have turned to before attempting to write my own sermons. I know my sermons would have been better if I had.
So, preachers, be sure this volume is on your shelves now. You will turn to it often over the years and be thankful you have it. It will enrich every effort you make to share the wonderful grace of God with your needy congregation.
Dr. John R. Killinger Warrenton, Virginia
