Mercy Matters: Opening Yourself to the Life-Changing Gift Paperback – 1 April 2016

A thought-provoking and engaging book. The author's presented questions and insights into mercy illustrated by his reflections on certain events of his life will move you.The author writes in the intro, “…to understand mercy is to see it at work throughout the complexity of human life.” To foster our understanding of mercy, the author invites the reader into his life, sharing with the reader certain human experiences and reflections on the various ways mercy appeared in his life and the different ways he perceives mercy. While doing so, he also poses interesting questions. Readers are given an opportunity to put themselves in his shoes and reflect on times that the reader may have had such similar experiences and perhaps now recognize or question the role and presence/absence of mercy in such experiences.I would highly recommend this book, especially for the perspectives presented and the questions raised in the chapter "Mercy and Forgiveness" on the Boston Marathon terrorist attack.

Dr. Schmalz's eloquently written book is an intimate and personal accounting of various incidents in his life where he perceives God's merciful hand was at work. His stories resonate with his readers because our most intimate encounters with the Divine are the most universal!

The author is a friend which is why I bought the book. In spite of that, I enjoyed the book very much. It gave me a lot to think about...

This is a book that holds your attention (and your heart) from page one!