Tis a Gift to Be Simple
by Barbara Sorensen
List Price:
Our Price: $1.99
You Save: $10.00 (83%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Barbara SorensenEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1992-01-01
ISBN: 0806625732
Number of pages: 122
Publisher: Augsburg Books
Book Reviews of Tis a Gift to Be Simple
Book Review: Christian guide to slowing down
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a guide to the simplicity lifestyle written for Christians. At the beginning of the book, the authors ask readers to reflect on the following questions:
--What are the values that guide my actions?
--What is my fair share?
--When is enough enough?
--Why don't I feel good?
--How can I live a more integrated faith?
--Who are my neighbors, and do I really care about them?
These questions form a rough outline of the topics to come: dropping out of the competitive consumption race, eating well and practicing healthy habits, environmental reasons for reducing consumption, reducing consumption to leave more of the world's resources available for others, setting appropriate priorities, and building community. What differentiates this book from other books on simplicity is its focus on Christian values and scriptures. Every chapter asks the reader to reflect how Christ would approach the topic under hand. There are numerous references to scripture in the text. At the end of the book is a collection of scripture readings and prayers designed to fill out a six-week period of reflection and study. There are also endnotes to cite sources and a bibliography. There is no index. Although the book is designed for self-study; it would also work well as a basis for church-related discussion groups.
The authors argue that following the simplicity lifestyle is exactly how Christ would have us act. "Voluntary simplicity...is a matter of obedience- -to live a faith integrated with life, to live as Christ taught, to live as Christ lived, joyously aware that we have the ability to be generous if we so choose." They discuss the reasons enumerated by Jorgen Lissner of the Peace, Justice, and Human Rights in the Luther World Federation, for Christians to review their life-styles, which include:
1. An act of faith ... as an expression of personal commitment to a more equitable distribution of the world's resources
2. An act of self-defense... against the polluting effects of over-consumption
3. An act of withdrawal ... from the achievement neurosis of materialistic societies
4. An act of solidarity with the majority of humankind
5. An act of sharing with others what has been given to us
6. An act of celebration of the riches...found in community
7. An act of provocation to arouse curiousity [about the reasons for our conspicuous under-consumption]
Although I am very much in favor of simplicity myself, I'm not altogether swayed by the arguments for it based on charitable action, trying to consume less so that less fortunate people will have more. Such an approach may work within a single household, but I can't see it really working in any group larger than that. It's vital to devote time, energy, and resources towards helping others, but I don't believe that infinitesimally small steps towards reducing consumption such as eating one less meat meal per week will really provide more food for the less fortunate. The thing to focus on here is that the person who eats one less meat meal per week will probably end up healthier and consequently be more fit to help others. For me, the main benefits of simplicity is that one feels more content, healthier, and more connected with others. But as the Sorensens point out, "Simplicity is more than slowing down." It is a life-style that makes an important statement to the world family.
Summary of Tis a Gift to Be Simple
Often we find ourselves busier than we want to be and buying more than we really need. We long for a more leisurely pace, a life less occupied with material possessions and with more time for our family, friends, and God. This book offers help for all of us who would like to make our lives less complicated but aren't sure how to begin. We are invited to look at our own lives and begin with the things that seem within our reach, knowing that the rewards will be great. As we slow down and create more breathing room for ourselves, we are better able to hear God speaking to us. Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen provide biblical and spiritual foundation for making changes that reflect God's priorities for our lives.Christian Living Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Christian Living Books
A Survey of the Old Testamentby Andrew E. Hill, John H. Walton
Zondervan; Published: 2009-02-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.01
Price in other shops:
Steps to Christby Ellen Gould Harmon White
General Books LLC; Published: 2012-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.14
The 1928 Book of Common PrayerOxford University Press, USA; Published: 1993-11-18; Leather Bound; Book
Price in other shops:
A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Storyby Diana Butler Bass
HarperOne; Published: 2010-03-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.51
Price in other shops:
Works of Loveby Soren Kierkegaard
Harper Perennial; Published: 1964-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
America by Heart : Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flagby Sarah Palin
Harper Collins Publishers; Harper; Published: 2010-11-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In Godby Dallas Willard
HarperOne; Published: 1998-03-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.00
Price in other shops:
God for Us: The Trinity and Christian Lifeby Catherine Mowry Lacugna
Harpercollins College Div; Published: 1992-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $73.97
Ruthless Trustby Brennan Manning
HarperAudio; Published: 2004-01-06; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
The Screwtape Lettersby C. S. Lewis
Macmillan; Published: 1982; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economyby Jonni McCoy
Bethany House Publishers; Published: 2009-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicityby Catherine Whitmire
Sorin Books; Published: 2001-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.66
Price in other shops:
Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism, 2nd Editionby Martha Grace Reese
Chalice Press; Published: 2008-10-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.43
Price in other shops:
Not Buying It: My Year Without Shoppingby Judith Levine
Free Press; Published: 2007-02-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.44
Price in other shops:
The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Needby Juliet B. Schor
Harper Perennial; Published: 1999-04-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.38
Price in other shops:
A Simple Christmas: A Faith-filled Guide to a Meaningful And Stress-free Christmas (Spirit of Simple Living)by Sharon Hanby-Robie
GuidepostsBooks; Published: 2006-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.94
Price in other shops:
More-With-Less Cookbookby Doris Janzen Longacre
Spring Arbor/Ingram; Herald Press; Published: 2011-07-01; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops:
Living with Less: The Upside of Downsizing Your Lifeby Mark Tabb
B&H Books; Published: 2006-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops:
Six Weeks to a Simpler Lifestyleby Barbara Degrote-Sorensen, David Allen Sorenson
AUGSBURG BOOKS; Published: 1994-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Living More With Less / Out of Printby Doris Janzen Longacre
Herald Pr; Published: 1980-06-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops: