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Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath
Each week thousands of Christians will sing "Amazing Grace" at church, paying lip service to one of the most phenomenal aspects of Christianity, yet walking away untouched by its magnitude. They pay mental assent to the concept, but their hearts are untouched.In the author's words, "God's grace is amazing, abundant, free, and available. So why is spiritual famine an epidemic both inside and outside the church? Because although we've come to Christ by recognizing grace, few of us have carried it along as essential equipment on the Christian path. . . . God never promised a pain-free life, but he did promise that his grace is all we need in our search for peace and fulfillment."Breathing Grace is a unique look at a topic that stands at the very core of the Christian faith. Dr. Harry Kraus, best-selling author and practicing surgeon, reveals the gospel of grace through a series of medical metaphors, predominantly the physiology of our need for and utilization of oxygen. The clinical flavor of the book brings to life a subject that many Christians have failed to grasp and incorporate into their daily lives, illustrating our need, God's provision, and the moment-by-moment inflow and exhalation of grace to a starving world.Breathing Grace includes study questions for group and individual use.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2007
29 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Harry Kraus
20 books111 followersHarry Kraus, M.D. is a board-certified surgeon, medical missionary to East Africa, and accomplished writer of both non-fiction and fiction. Medical realism and gripping plotlines distinguish his writing, as he gets most of his ideas with a scalpel in hand. Dr. Kraus resides in Virginia with his wife Kris and the youngest of his three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 27, 2012
Grace is a Christian concept most Christians need to know more about. I enjoy Harry Kraus
writing style. Christians are given the gift of God's grace. We need to be sure we are
rejoicing in God's great gift of grace. This book just might help you do that.
writing style. Christians are given the gift of God's grace. We need to be sure we are
rejoicing in God's great gift of grace. This book just might help you do that.
March 4, 2015
The author, a surgeon, used a medical metaphor to discuss our need for grace. The metaphor applied to grace sometimes seemed contrived, but he made some excellent points about our constant need for God's grace.
September 4, 2012
Loving this book! Would recommend to all my friends and family!!
October 22, 2017
Really good book, best to read a bit at a time for me. I likened the slower reading to breathing itself, just taking it in over time and not all at once. Underrated book, I would think, I'd recommend the book for sure.
October 10, 2017
I was very interested in this topic, but found it to be a slow and sometimes round-about read.
February 23, 2013
‘Breathing Grace’ is subtitled “What You Need More Than Your Next Breath“, taking as its theme the idea that most Christians go through life in ‘grace deficit’, which might not threaten our physical lives as much as oxygen deficit, but certainly affects us spiritually.
Each chapter begins with the dramatic telling of a medical incident, most of them involving the author in some way. He tells us some relevant terminology, and explains what emergency doctors and paramedics do in life-threatening situations. We learn about the essential ‘ABC’ - Airways, Breathing, Circulation - and this is then translated into metaphors for our Christian lives.
It’s a clever idea, and the medical anecdotes are clearly written, providing a modern parable that stays in the memory. However, I found the latter parts of each chapter a bit repetitive, once the initial point had been made. It didn’t feel to me as if there was enough real content in the book to follow the different medical dramas.
I didn’t find anything to disagree with in this book. But I didn’t find anything particularly inspirational either. I downloaded it for my Kindle when it was offered free; even at regular price the e-book is inexpensive, so I can’t really complain. For some, it may be a good way to think about the subject a little differently. But if I want a book about grace, I would prefer to re-read Philip Yancey’s classic ‘What’s so Amazing about Grace’.
Each chapter begins with the dramatic telling of a medical incident, most of them involving the author in some way. He tells us some relevant terminology, and explains what emergency doctors and paramedics do in life-threatening situations. We learn about the essential ‘ABC’ - Airways, Breathing, Circulation - and this is then translated into metaphors for our Christian lives.
It’s a clever idea, and the medical anecdotes are clearly written, providing a modern parable that stays in the memory. However, I found the latter parts of each chapter a bit repetitive, once the initial point had been made. It didn’t feel to me as if there was enough real content in the book to follow the different medical dramas.
I didn’t find anything to disagree with in this book. But I didn’t find anything particularly inspirational either. I downloaded it for my Kindle when it was offered free; even at regular price the e-book is inexpensive, so I can’t really complain. For some, it may be a good way to think about the subject a little differently. But if I want a book about grace, I would prefer to re-read Philip Yancey’s classic ‘What’s so Amazing about Grace’.
September 23, 2012
The author's medical stories were interesting and informative. I did not think they were always as effective when they were turned into analogies to explain grace.
I think the book was good at describing the necessity of grace. I don't think it was quite so good when it delved into the theologies of grace. Some chapters/subtopics were better than others.
Ch 11 on fake breathing and fake gospel - falling into a works or partial works Christianity - is one of the better chapters. It is a very necessary counter to the win focus of some of the earlier chapters.
Ch 13 - "When I choose bitterness, I’m deciding, in effect, to sit on the throne. I’m in control. I get to judge. And I’ve decided not to forgive."
Ch 14 - Author is spot on with the observation that an answer to the "why" question (even when available) of pain and suffering doesn't answer suffering.
I think the book was good at describing the necessity of grace. I don't think it was quite so good when it delved into the theologies of grace. Some chapters/subtopics were better than others.
Ch 11 on fake breathing and fake gospel - falling into a works or partial works Christianity - is one of the better chapters. It is a very necessary counter to the win focus of some of the earlier chapters.
Ch 13 - "When I choose bitterness, I’m deciding, in effect, to sit on the throne. I’m in control. I get to judge. And I’ve decided not to forgive."
Ch 14 - Author is spot on with the observation that an answer to the "why" question (even when available) of pain and suffering doesn't answer suffering.
July 23, 2019
Spiritual survival tips from a Christian MD
As a physician, the author uses his medical training and experience to demonstrate how a "Gospel/Grace deficit" can be as dangerous to vital spirituality as oxygen debt can be to our bodies. An interesting perspective and well worth a read!
As a physician, the author uses his medical training and experience to demonstrate how a "Gospel/Grace deficit" can be as dangerous to vital spirituality as oxygen debt can be to our bodies. An interesting perspective and well worth a read!
August 15, 2013
I liked the points he made, but he failed to capture my attention and imagination. I had to work at keeping the metaphor fixed in my mind as he expanded his application. Perhaps reading from a bound version instead of my phone would have made a difference as I could have flipped pages.
November 30, 2022
Great book. I read this several years back so I don’t remember all the details, but I know I thought about if for a long time. Also have recommended to many people.
January 5, 2016
We need to fully understand and embrace grace before we can offer it to others. Very practical guide for beginning the journey of grace.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews