Plastic Donuts - Book Review

                I just finished reading the book: Plastic Donuts, another Christian book by Jeff Anderson and I am pleased to be able to present a very positive review for his book. Jeff Anderson holds in the academic world degrees in accounting and business management and serves on his home churches elder board. He also runs his own ministry consulting pastors, churches, non-profits and various others on financial matters as well as speaking on, mentoring on and providing educational materials for churches through his ministry. It is almost logical knowing anything about Jeff Anderson that he would naturally have published a book on giving within the church. Giving and acceptable gifts is, of course, the subject matter of his book: Plastic Donuts.

                When I fist found out the subject matter of this book and before moving to the first page, I have already developed in my mind what I perceived to be the outcome of this reading. As many would possibly jump to conclude, I was expecting a work written by some Holy Roller number cruncher pounding down on the pulpit condemning me for not giving enough and commanding me to sell everything I own and give it all to the Lord. Well, I will say two things: first off I am a Christian and as church and giving is part of my life I am in support that giving is important and second, this book is as far from that perception as it could possibly ever be.

                Mr. Anderson approaches this topic in a manner as I have never seen it handled and perhaps this manner is why he is able to sustain a ministry helping others learn this much debated and scrutinized concept within the church. The writing did not even start where you would even expect the subject matter to take off. The story begins with a plastic donut given to him by his little daughter, hence the name of the book, and from this act of father daughter giving and receiving Mr. Anderson was motivated to discover a completely common sense outlook to giving. The concept is nothing new, and after reading it is so amazing to discover how illuminated the explanations of proper giving are outlined in the Bible as they have been for its entire existence. Expecting to hear a cry for total giving you are instead greeted with this line early in the first chapter;

                “God does not need our gifts or our money. But like a father moved by a gift from his child, our gifts can really get His attention.”

                This was definitely not the tone I expected this book to take. The many Biblical references and tour of the Bible, following the questions on giving and tithing in the church where so refreshingly answered. This topic has always been a tough one to understand on one’s own let alone for pastors and church leaders to even muster up the courage to stand in front of their congregations and preach or teach about. This book is not just geared toward the individual giver but also written with the pastor and elder in mind to help educate their churches on the concepts truly taught in the Bible on giving.

Jeff writes:

                “We all want to give. We all like to give and receive gifts. We have a desire to honor God and would like to understand what God’s word says about giving. The problem is, our noisy culture had given many different “answers” to our questions.”

                Mr. Anderson does a great job of quieting this “noise.” Not only does he take you through scenarios, examples and opportunities on giving, he opens your eyes to the heart of giving. He emphasizes on the love generated between the giver and the Lord just as the simple gift of a plastic donut developed, exhibited and increased love and joy in the relationship of a father and daughter.

                Jeff does a great job of knocking down many myths, misconceptions and even false teachings on Biblical giving. He focuses on what is “acceptable” in the Lords eyes and what should be governing or motivating your heart to give. In a very fun, easy to read 78 page book he will open your heart to the teachings of the Old Testament, Christ and Paul as he shows you that size and amount does not matter, but heart, acceptability and ability are what truly make the Lord pleased and joyful when we offer up our plastic donuts to Him.

                Mr. Anderson understands through this work that not all can give as deeply as others. He understands that not all can give as often as others. He also is very aware that many have situations, crises and circumstances that limit our ability to give. You will read in this fun refreshing book, however, that it is not the amount, it is not your limitations, it is merely more simple and more joyful then many of us have grown up learning or concluded in our own minds.

                This book is available in almost all online publication stores in paperback as well as Kindle. I recommend this for all believers, pastors, leaders and teachers. If you are confused or overwhelmed or even afraid of the giving concept, this book will help you understand how joyful plastic donuts can be.

In Christ,

C. Speakman of WH