Grace for the Runaways

<p>Most I came back to church stories skip the hard part-the long awkward walk from the parking lot to the pew the quiet reception that feels like nothing the shame that lingers long after forgiveness. Grace For the Runaways is a field manual for people who are trying again-tired wary and still a little allergic to churchy stagecraft.</p><p>D. Michael Gross writes with pastoral grit and clean theology: grace before performance welcome before improvement honesty before optics. You won't find spiritual shortcuts here-no toxic positivity no twelve steps to feel holy by Friday. You'll get candid guidance on re-entry: how to pray again when you've forgotten how how to worship without faking it how to tell nostalgia to sit down and how to choose (or build) a church that makes room for people in process. Along the way Scripture is handled with reverence and plain sense not weaponized as a vibe.</p><p>If you've slipped in late and hoped no one noticed if you want Jesus but flinch at church if you're done starting over yet still somehow not done with grace-this book is your permission slip. The door isn't locked. The table isn't full. You don't have to earn a chair. Take the next small step. That's how people like us come home.</p>