Title: Financial Freedom Author: Terry Dean Publisher: MyMarketingCoach LLC Format: E-book and MP3s Reviewer: Lynn Fowler

If you want the typical, “name it and claim it” prosperity doctrine, don’t read this book. If you want to be told that you only have to give X number of dollars, and God will give you back a hundred times X number of dollars, don’t read this book. If you want someone to tell you that God is going to drop bucketfuls of money into your lap without you needing to lift a finger, don’t read this book.

Financial Freedom is a wonderfully refreshing look at the whole question of finance for Christians. Yes, Terry Dean believes that God intends for His people to be prosperous, and makes a very good Biblical case to back up his belief (although I don’t quite agree with his understanding of Jesus’ own financial position.) The key issue, however, is the motivation behind his belief. Speaking of those who believe they should ask God for just enough to make ends meet, he says, “Only asking God for just enough money for you and yours to get by is selfish. God has given us a mission to do and it’s not to sit in caves waiting for the end. We are called to preach the Gospel to the world and it is going to take a lot of money to do this. So you don’t need money just for yourself. You need money to finance missionary trips. You need money to feed all the poor in your city. You need money to pay your minister a good salary.” (P. 17)

Ten years before writing this book, Terry Dean was $50,000 in debt on credit cards and working as a pizza delivery driver. They did all the “right” things – they tithed, they gave believing for a 100% return on their money, they prayed and believed for miracles … and nothing happened. Then a major revelation turned life around for Terry and his wife. The Holy Spirit taught him to ask for wisdom rather than financial miracles. It was not instant, and there was a great deal of work and discipline involved, but today Terry is a highly successful internet entrepreneur and marketing coach. He gets to live what he refers to as “the internet lifestyle”, choosing when he will work and with the freedom to do whatever he feels the Lord is leading him to.

In the book he talks about the need to stop relying on financial miracles and learn to live in financial abundance. He talks about the way God blessed His people throughout the Old Testament. Along the way he tackles the problem of Job, and points out that Job started out wealthy, and ended twice as wealthy, and that his troubles probably covered no more than about 9 months out of what by today’s standards was an extraordinarily long life. He compares this with a modern day tycoon who might fall briefly on hard times, but soon bounces back to a better position than he had before.

The book covers right and wrong giving, the question of tithing under the New Covenant, and the fact that everything we receive from God – including financial blessing – comes from His grace. It talks about the “grasshopper complex” and changing our mindset; and about the centrality of praise and worship, placing financial blessing in the context of our wider Christian life. Terry insists that diligence in work is important, pointing out that “opportunities come disguised as hard work.”

Having laid a firm foundation, he then sets out a step-by-step plan for moving from poverty and debt to financial freedom.

Balanced and refreshing, this book is well worth reading.

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