{"id":36989,"date":"2020-06-21T22:02:16","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T02:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36989"},"modified":"2020-06-21T22:02:16","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T02:02:16","slug":"review-of-defying-gravity-by-tom-berlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36989","title":{"rendered":"Review of Defying Gravity, by Tom Berlin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Defying Gravity<\/p>\n

Break Free from the Culture of More<\/em><\/p>\n

by Tom Berlin<\/p>\n

Abingdon Press, 2016. 108 pages.
\nReview written January 9, 2020, from my own copy<\/p>\n

This little book was given to me when I joined Floris United Methodist Church, where the author is the lead pastor. It\u2019s a book about giving generously, which might make you suspicious coming from a pastor. However, Tom Berlin tells a personal story of how giving changed his life \u2013 and he expresses that he hopes that others will find the same joy.<\/p>\n

He told the story when I went to the membership information night of how his young bride insisted that they give a tenth of their income \u2013 much to his dismay. But as the years went by, her example eventually changed his attitude, and he discovered that an attitude of generosity can set you free from the gravity of this world and this culture, that you need to hoard and you always need more.<\/p>\n

The book is short, with only four chapters. They talk about the pull of money in our lives, and how to break free of financial gravity and realize that we are stewards of God\u2019s money. <\/p>\n

So it may be short, but these are big lessons. I\u2019m still absorbing if there are some changes I can make to be more generous.<\/p>\n

All of us can defy gravity. It doesn\u2019t take lots of money. It does take time. It takes sacrifice. It takes a shift in our view of the world. We must learn to see our lives as belonging to God and trust that God will direct our lives in a generous way that will bring us joy and significance.<\/p>\n

God longs for us to experience a life in Christ that will make us generous in all ways, with our kindness, compassion, and love as evidenced in the use of our time and money. Such a life enables us to break free of the world\u2019s gravity and enjoy the pull of God\u2019s kingdom so that the Spirit of God will be evident in our own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

abingdonpress.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/defying_gravity.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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