Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound . . . or is it? Grace set to music is one thing, but what about grace itself? What about grace as an idea, an act, a force? Grace upsets the natural balance, turning the law of cause and effect on its head. Our instinctive reaction is to pull back from grace. Rather than recognizing our unworthiness to receive this completely undeserved gift from God, we want to believe that, on balance, something in our lives merits the good that comes our way, that we deserve whatever gifts we receive. And if we find it difficult to accept grace for ourselves, how much more unwilling are we to have it handed to others? When someone gets off the hook too easily, aren't we uncomfortable? "A miscarriage of justice, " we think. "That's not fair!" But real Christian faith requires that we accept and embrace this radical thing called grace. It's not about being fair: God's grace will turn your world upside down3/4 if you let it.

"This rousing, witty guide could help make the world a nicer, more civilized, more humane place." --Publishers Weekly In a world where rudeness is the norm and acts of kindness often make people more suspicious than grateful, who hasn't yearned for a return to good old-fashioned courtesy? In this gentle, inspiring book, Donald McCullough reminds us of the power that we have to make the world a better place--simply by being polite. He helps us spot opportunities to treat others with respect--not because they have "earned it," but because they deserve it as fellow human beings. From saying please and thank you, to keeping a secret, to picking up the check at dinner, it's the little decisions in life that make the big difference--helping us to grow more gracious, and to give, and receive, life's simple but essential gifts.