Dropping Your Rock: The Freedom to Choose Love Over Judgment

by Nicole Johnson

"When you son tells you he's homosexual, your best friend confesses in agony she's having an affair, or your sister tearfully describes her abortion―you have a choice to leave mere theory behind and enter the gritty reality of relationship. Love is giving you a chance to choose."

Rock-throwing is one way to settle hostilities or to exchange accusations. You can knock Goliath flat if your rock hits him in the right spot. Not bad, if your goal is to kill your enemy. You can express your moral outrage by joining the angry mob howling for a sinner to be stoned. But what if that sinner is your friend, and you would rather change their heart than shed their blood? We don't have to hurl the rocks we clutch in our judgmental hands.

With tender words and touching photos, Nicole Johnson guides us toward the "flat thud of grace" that can change our lives when we drop our rocks and choose to love instead.

This offering in the Faith/Hope/Love Trilogy by Nicole continues to be requested by audiences that saw her perform the dramatic sketch on the 2001 tour.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction

64 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2003

Reviews

[Joyce Glidden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fast read. About forgiving. Not throwing rocks. Jesus is the only one without sin. Good read!!!

[booklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

A meditation on the Gospel story about the woman caught in adultry. Ms. Johnson shows how we all cast our 'rocks' at each other every day and how Jesus would confront us. She writes, 'The two things we judge most harshly are those things we don't struggle with at all and those things we struggle with the most. If we don't struggle with an issue, it's easy to take a hard line and have no compassion. It isn't our problem, so we don't understand why it's anyone's problem. If we do struggle with an issue, we may be the harshest judge of all because we condemn most vehemently in others the things we try to deny ourselves.' Speaking only for myself, I know this to be true ... sadly.

Found this little gem of a book in our Church library and read it over lunch. It's a quick but insightful read. Lovely black and white photos fill out the pages.

[Shawn Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be read in 20-30 minutes. It is my go to resource for people struggling to forgive someone else. It is a powerful tool. I have met & heard Nichole's story. She has become a friend. What she communicates is biblical, but it flows to us through her own life experience. Absolutely, the best tool for God to use in releasing someone from an unforgiving spirit.

[Kelly Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! I was lucky enough to see her do a dramatization of this book and it was the best. I wish we all could drop our rocks and just love one another.

[Zach Waldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my excellent congregants lent me this book after discussing one of my favorite Bible passages in John 8. Short but it hits home, this would be an excellent resource for those seeking God's amazing grace.

[Valeri Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Nice photos. Went very quickly.

[Darla Bokeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspirational and thought provoking - can you drop your rock and choose love?