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Fire of Grace

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Into every life enters pain, suffering and loss. Sometimes it feels like there is no hope, and in our grief and despair we become angry. But, according to Richard W. Rouse, author of Fire of Grace, there is hope and in that hope lays reconciliation and forgiveness.

Rouse talks of forgiveness as a journey. He compares the stages of forgiveness to Kubler-Ross' stages in her book, On Death and Dying. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The steps are similar but not linear. The process is different for each person.

Through the personal story of the August 9, 1992 burning of his church, discussion questions, scripture reflection and prayer, we follow Rouse through the stages of forgiveness to the four steps of reconciliation, the restoration of relationships and the acceptance of God's Grace.

Fire of Grace is a thought provoking, insightful book that is easy to read and understand because of the author's ability to transfer his ideas with the help of his story of the burning of his church. This is a must read for everyone as we all need the healing power of forgiveness.

Armchair Interviews says: Read this book and give one to someone you know who is experiencing the need to forgive.

I was reminded that forgiveness is not an act, but a process.

Forgiveness is not always simple, yet that is not supposed to be an excuse for avoiding it.

Lutheran pastor Rick Rouse had a textbook excuse for "throwing the book" (or maybe the Bible) at his offender. Completely unprovoked, a serial arsonist burned Rouse's church to the ground.

The congregation and community were understandable devastated and many called for the kind of justice that would lock the arsonist away from both society and their memories. However, Rouse and his church dug deep into the bottomless heart of God and found a vision to build a relationship with their offender and his family.

In Fire of Grace, Pastor Rouse creates a priceless picture of spiritual amnesty--the type of grace that is the foundation of the Christian faith. And although in the case of Rouse's church, grace unfolded in a series of complex stages, the results proved why forgiveness is a practice we should all engage more regularly.