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Dedicated Christian writer Ellerbee presents a straightforward method for receiving from God the blessings that he wishes us to have. The guidelines include love, belief, righteous living, obedience, trust, faith, patience, giving, asking, and thanking. God’s basic commandment, as conveyed in the Bible, is to “love one another.” Much of the New Testament describes what love is. Ellerbee suggests ways to apply it to one’s life. Believing and trusting have similarities: God already gives us everything we need, so we should stop envying others and be thankful for what has been bestowed. Ellerbee advises us to “live holy” by avoiding sin and the company of sinners and by obeying God’s law. Cleanse your heart; practice patience even when “waiting on God is not easy.” Have faith that God will bless your life. Use your blessing of money to tithe, giving back to your church and other charities. Ask God for what you need, and thank him through prayerful praise for what you will receive.
The author is an active church member and chairman of his church finance committee. His short but substantive book shows his commitment to his faith. Weighted with many relevant quotations from scripture, his book seeks to encapsulate the core teachings of Jesus, conveying ten simple guidelines in ten neatly organized chapters. But as well as drawing on the biblical text, the author injects his human sentiments, warning us not to trust “the mighty dollar” or feel envious because the sinners have “the big bank accounts.” He reminds his readers that God is not their problem but is the answer to their problems. His book feels at times like a well-composed sermon but, at other times, like an intimate, friend-to-friend conversation. The reader will sense Ellerbee’s zeal, and that in itself can provide the motivation to put his ideas into action.