Free Book

Free Book by Brian Tome

The title of the book Free Book by Brian Tome has a very accurate title -- It is all about how to gain spiritual freedom in a world full of stronghold and bondage. Tome is very straight-forward throughout the whole book, not sugar-coating anything about it. He uses many scriptural references, which enhance the overall message of the book. He is also very tasteful in the presentation of his own opinions, making known that it is in fact just his opinion. Brian took a sometimes difficult to understand message about spiritual freedom, and broke it down into sections that were understandable for anyone to read, Christian or not.

While the straight-to-the-point, cold-hard-truth style of the book caught me off guard at first, I started to enjoy it the more I read. The book was challenged my way of thought, the actions I take, and the way I want to live my life. It was comforting to know that while I was reading the painful truth, the author could relate with the pain by sharing a personal story about the subject, and how he made it through. This is definitely a book that I would recommend, especially if you feel that you are in bondage and want to know the steps to freedom that God has waiting for you.

I am giving this book five out of five stars. As I thought about what to rate the book, I simply couldn't think of a reason NOT to give it five stars. Hope you enjoy it as well!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It says free book y is it not free?

Y?

You Too Can Be Free...

In the book Free Book by Brian Tome, he discusses the principles of freedom which he has found in the Bible. He does not make an effort to stroke your ego, but plainly lays out some steps you need to take in order to experience freedom in Christ. One such process is confession. Honestly confessing to someone you have wronged, and somehow making restitution if necessary. Along with confession is asking for forgiveness. It is uncomfortable and, yes, embarrassing at times, but the reward is peace. Not peace as the world thinks of it, ie: absence of bad circumstances, but the peace that Christ affords. The peace of a clear conscience.
Another topic that Brian focuses on as a reason for the lack of freedom in our lives, is the existence of strongholds in our lives, fear being a major one. Many people tend to mask their fear and give it a different label such as being practical. An example he shares is one where his mother-in -law went on a missions trip to Russia, and a 30 year old friend of Brian's had his ticket to go, but when he listened to his friends and family, about why he should not go, he ended up buying in and not going. When Brian's mother-in-law returned and shared her experiences and victories, the friend expressed his wish that he had gone.
Strongholds keep us from being a blessing and receiving a blessing. There are six marks of strongholds he enumerates: 1) You have repeated, unwanted behavior. 2) You have memory gaps about childhood. 3) You have confusion about why you do something-like defend yourself in a certain way. 4) There is something about you nobody knows. 5) You have bitterness toward a person or type of person or 6) You blindly accept your limitations.
Christ has said that He brings abundant life, but if there is something preventing you from living an abundant life, you owe it to yourself to buy this book and find out some steps you can take to get to the place where you can accept it.

Free Book by Brian Tome

I am completely in love with the premise of this book: our life in Christ is to be one of true freedom. I felt like Tome's attempts to deal with the issue of freedom from different angles simply resulted restating the same truth over and over again to the point of redundancy.

I wonder if this book was originally a sermon series that was turned into a book because even though I didn't like the book as a whole, there were a few chapters that were personally engaging, helping, and interesting to me.

I really related to the chapter on strongholds, how we build up barriers because we are fearful. The illustration in the chapter on 'evicting the squatters' was most illuminating. Spiritual abuse was touched upon, which I am sure many have experienced and then the chapter entitled 'Blahs, Break, Blues and Blessings' based on Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Brilliant! We then have chapters on living out our freedom in God, in personal relationships, in community, in submission to authority (yes, there is freedom in this).

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the author throughout the rest of the book.

Fanatacism Falls Short

On the cover of Free Book, Brian Tome claims to be a fanatic about freedom. He promises to deliver a hard hit that will change the way you view the religious system and religion, itself. Wow! Sounds like a lot. It even sounds like something new and innovative. It's not.

While he states the world does not need another book about the cross, rather, it needs a book about freedom (his philosphy is centered around 2 Corinthians 3:17), it really isn't THAT different from several other books on the market. Tome's book is about leading the life God intended you to lead without being fearful. It is about the importance of building community, charitable works, submitting to one another, and obeying God's laws.

What is different is his offense over being judged by a congregant who was upset that a church social included alcohol. Tome wrote that alcohol was not bad for everyone and to say it was was to impose law. The church is responsible for instructing and guiding the flock. We are not to cause anyone to stumble [sin, lead astray]. His assertion that truth is needed to temper grace was not evident in the alcohol story. While it had good points, the book was not as hard hitting, fanatical or innovative as promised.

Drat it all. "Free Book" has got me bugged.

In case you don't know, I review books for Thomas Nelson Publishers. No, I don't get paid - it's something I do because I love to read, love differing points of view, love to experience my precious Savior from a different point of view. I prayerfully select the books I'm going to read - not that I believe my reviews are that important, but because I want to know I'm reading the right book for me. Some selections have come easily and some have been a struggle. Some reads have been fast - leaving me wanting even more - and some have been slow yet satisfying. But so far, I've been able to find beauty in everything I've read.

Until now.

Drat it all. I was so looking forward to reading "Free Book" by Brian Tome. Being a renegade, the title intrigued me and the short description captured me. We all want to feel that amazing sense of liberty in Christ, and I've had it brush against my skin enough to know it's real. But something's wrong - and try as I might, I'm not sure what it is. The book is very methodical - one of the most "step-by-step" experiences in Christianity I've had in a long time. I could recommend the book based on that alone. And the book speaks of grace - not a grace to sin, but a rich and abiding grace in pressing in to God and His amazing liberty rather than strictly obeying rules and regulations.

Brian talks about living an unbalanced life. It resonates with me, given my diverse palette of passions which are all summed up in Jesus. He even talks about tattoos. Having one (which I received to commemorate a milestone birthday), there should be a built-in kinship.

So what is it about "Free Book" that's bugging me? As much as I hate to admit it, it's a style thing. A few weeks ago, I reviewed a book by an author named Chris Tomlinson. I likened him to a pesky little brother whose words pierce to the core. Brian Tome might be the one on the other end of that spectrum - the big brother who has the answer to everything. There is a "loudness" to his tone that goes beyond the 120-point type on the cover. The conversational style to his writing feels strongly one-way. Rather than inspired (as Craig Groeschel states in his recommendation of the book), I simply feel tired.

Drat it all.

Book Review: Free Book

I just recently had the opportunity to read the Free Book by Brian Tome. This book is all about your freedom and the fact that you might not be as free as you think you are. A portion of the cover of the book states, "I'm sick of seeing people live safe, predictable lives while their God-given passions die." Is this you? Is this the way you see your life? Imagine living a life free from the troubles and burdens of this world.


I would give this book a 6 out of 10. It was a very easy read, contains alot of scripture but somewhat failed to keep my attention. I felt that I connected with what he said through a few chapters, but was almost bored through alot of it. I had a hard time keeping attention as I read. As alot of the other reviews have said, this book is probably better for new, younger Christians. It is very simple and straightforward. Seems to be just a rambling of the authors view points on the Christians in this world today. He has a lot of good points and good scripture to back up his points, but it just really failed to keep my attention. It is a small book, only 230 pages, so it's definately a quick read.


I think I would recommend this book to new Christians to just give them that extra boost of inspiration for following Christ, but other than that, it's just very average.

This book is about you having a life void of fear and rife with freedom. It's about casting off whatever hinders you and going after the grand adventure of experiencing God while you experience all of life

I honestly loved this book. I can probably say that this book is the best I've read lately.
It is challenging, I mean it was impossible for me to read it without wanting to change my life. I think that this book is written for everyone, everyone has some bondages that keeps them from experiencing the freedom that this books talks about, the freedom that Jesus strives to give us.

I also loved the honest and straight approach that the author has here. He doesn't step aside from the truth, he doesn't care about criticism, he is transparent with his life and his mistakes, he really doesn't want to impress, he is just taking his calling seriously - he wants to give others freedom.

This kind of freedom is only found in Christ because Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3.17)

"There is no freedom this world can give like God gives to us his children this beautiful"

Freedom!! Was the last word Mel Gibson shouted before he died in his movie "Braveheart" That was for that era, where freedom can only be afforded by blood. The sad thing is we are still in search of freedom or should we say we are self-proclaimed free. There is no freedom this world can give like God gives to us, his children, this beautiful. If there is fear, guilt or something that holds us from doing God's will, like bondages or strongholds this book pin-pointed, well, there is no Freedom.
With a coffee-break conversational tone that complements the content or juice of this book. With a dash of healthy humor for the readers to enjoy this great read. One thing that this book puts the reader into is the challenge of breaking through the bondages and strongholds we have, for us to be free in tone to God's will. With all of the directions, enlightenments and the nuts-and-bolts about freedom, "it's up to you now whether you will grab the freedom God gave to us"

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Quick Paced "Free Book" by Brian Tome

Honestly, this book grabbed my attention with the cover. And, admittedly, I am one who judges a book by its cover....every time. I am glad I chose this book, though, at times it seemed like it chose me.
Tome speaks about how to live a more free and full life, in accordance to the scripture and in harmony with God. He gives a very simple, yet credible, manner in which any person can rid themselves of things in their lives that are holding them back, down, or away from the fullness of life that God wants for us.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While Tome's opinions (some more controversial than others) are interwoven throughout the book, I was still able to read and grasp the content that I wanted to retain and leave the rest. Tome does an excellent job of referencing the Bible and using biblical references throughout his text. I would recommend this to a friend, yet I would preface the recommendation with a note that his opinions can be a little abrasive at times.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Practical Freedom

"How in the world can you say that?"

Those were my first thoughts after reading the first two chapters of Free Book by Brian Tome.

He begins our trek by expressing his passion for freedom with seemingly extreme examples. Situations that for many would even appear reckless. The reader will either keep reading because he is ticked off or because they are on board with whatever he has to say next.

After creating an atmosphere of nervous curiosity, Brian lays out some very practical principles for understanding, gaining and continuing in freedom.

To help us understand, he gives a brief explanation of how knowing who we are in Christ is essential to being free. With that established, we are led through not only some steps to move toward freedom but also why those steps are crucial although not always easy. The journey winds down as the process of continued liberation is brought to light. He discusses how necessary and beneficial submission, community, grace and truth really are.

Brian's goal.that his readers close the book knowing that freedom is attainable and sustainable. Does he achieve that goal? I believe he does.

Who Wants Spiritual Freedom? Review of Free Book by Brian Tome

Free Book is about spiritual freedom. The author, Brian Tome, argues that the organized religion that most Christians follow has stolen that freedom and replaced it with a system of rules and guilt. I agree with him.

It seems like Brian is a great guy; I would enjoy drinking beer or riding Harleys with him. The best part of the book was his discussion of "the blues," the time lag between when you start sowing seeds of success (what he calls the "break") and when you reap the blessing of the harvest (pp. 136-140).

But nothing groundbreaking was added to the discussion of spiritual freedom. There was little detailed advice on how to break free. And the things that he mentions as examples of freedom - drinking beer, riding a Harley, getting a tattoo - are nothing new; they are just the "contemporary mega-church pastor" stereotype. The only thing he neglects to mention is how much he loves U2.

And I vehemently disagree with Brian's lack-based view on money. His church board demanded that all the profits from all his books go directly to the church; he submitted to this theft instead of teaching them about financial freedom. Acts 5:3-4 makes clear that we have the freedom to give money to the church or not. The profits from his books are none of the church board's business, unless he neglects his church work. What makes it worse is that prosperity (financial freedom) is one of the main areas that organized religion gets wrong.

Free Book was a disappointment.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Read more reviews at http://sowingsuccess.com

Free Book: Good News for a Beaten Down World

Life at it's best is like a rollercoaster; full of ups and downs. Too often though, fear, legalism and the opinions of others makes life an uphill climb without the exhilaration of flying down the hill full-speed, defying the law of gravity. Pastor and author, Brian Tome, seeks to reintroduce those of us who have been beaten down by the world to the freedom available to us in Jesus Christ.

In the subtitle of his book, Tome, lets his readers know that he is going to apply the maximum shock in order to revive the enslaved soul. He states:

"I am a fanatic about freedom. And I am fanatical about coming at you in this book. I am tired of seeing people beaten down by the world's. system and by religion. I am tired of seeing people live safe predictable lives while their God-given passions die. I hate the assumption that getting close to God means more rules and more instructions. No more. God is offering real freedom. Get yours."

Tome does not disappoint when you open the book. Chapters one and two set forth his manifesto of freedom. I will admit that the initial shock of this book nearly made me turn away from the rest of the book. I set the book aside for a time and sought out the website of his church. When I had listened to a couple sermons and realized that Tome did indeed live in the same world as I do, I was ready for the rest of the ride.

What I discovered in chapters three through fourteen was a man of God who knows Jesus and lives in the fullness of the grace God has given him. In these chapters, he introduces the reader to a relationship with Jesus Christ, the believer's identity in Christ, the importance of walking in the Spirit and the spiritual warfare we all experience. He does this without putting the reader into bondage of living life by yet another program.

Tome is both confessional and honest. He opens the reader to some of his struggles and the insights that he gained from them. In the final chapter he ties everything together with an account that shows that bad things do happen in this life, but so do miracles. And no matter what happens to us, it never diminishes the love that God has for us.

I commend this book to anyone who is fed up with the rut in which they are living. Tome tackles an issue that few in the body of Christ ever touch.

Review: Free Book

I recently finished reading Free Book by Brian Tome. As I read the first page of the book, I thought I was going to be hooked. I mean, Tome used the word "pissed" in the second paragraph. He also said he was going to "[come] at you hard". (3). So I was expecting a lot from this book. That feeling quickly disappeared when I turned the page and saw: "We don't need another book about the cross. As offensive as that statement might sound, it's true." (4) It might be offensive.because it is! I paused for a moment after reading this quote. This statement is where I think Tome misses the point. Christian freedom is entirely about and dependent on the cross. It is the death and resurrection of Christ that sets us free from the power of sin, death, and the Devil. To discount the cross is to discount the freedom that we receive in Christ.

In chapter two, Tome states, "Somewhere along the way, the message and reputation of the Bible (and therefore man's idea of God) got reversed. Instead of people recognizing it was a message about total freedom and perfect love, the Bible unjustly earned a reputation of being a book of restrictions." (15) He goes on to say, "[T]he overall theme of the Bible and Christ-following life is freedom." (16) Again, I disagree. The overall theme of the Bible is God. The Bible is about God's salvific acts that culminated in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. But this is not something we hear from Tome until chapter three!

Another thing that kind of left me scratching my head was how does Tome define freedom. In talking about freedom, specifically Christian freedom, a definition would be helpful, although Tome does say it's not about a "life without boundaries" (24) and it does "require a decision to follow someone" (26) , we never actually get a definition of Christian freedom.

There were times that I felt Tome was heavy on works. Tome writes, "Getting free relies on God's power." (127) No problem there. But then he continues, "[B]ut it also almost always requires some work or persistence on our part." (127) What happened to justification by grace through faith alone? Granted, faith without works is dead (James3:14-26) but those works stem from our faith. We do good works because we are justified. To think otherwise is, as Martin Luther put it, "the height of folly and the ignorance of Christian life and faith."

I give this book 1 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. Providing me a free copy in no way guarantees a favorable review. The opinions expresses in this review are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Free Book Review

I was given "Free Book" by Brian Tome to review through Thomas Nelson Publisher's BookSneeze. I had read about the book before hand and knew that the first few pages (think 20-25 pages) were a little hard to swallow and could be considered quite controversial so I was prepared to stick it out and read on past the beginning once I got the book. As I started the book, I have to admit I didn't agree with a lot of the stuff he tells about in the first pages of the book. The things he talks about in the beginning make me wonder if his view point couldn't allow a person to keep living a life of sin and not be fully committed to Christ IF they stopped reading after those first 20-25 pages. Now chapters 3-11 I am right on track with. I believe those chapters are extremely helpful and very insightful and can aid a Christian in their walk to experience freedom in Christ. I believe that Brian is pointing out the Biblical concepts that many Christians have failed to recognize....that Jesus alone truly is freedom! In chapters 12-15, there are some good things in these chapters. However, he talks about submitting completely to authority (even governments) but I believe that if that authority or government is pointing you away from God then I question being fully submitted to such authority. I believe that you have to take a stand for God always and he never mentions standing up for what you believe, for God/Bible at all while he is talking about submitting to authority in these chapters.

Overall, Brian Tome's book "Free Book" is a book that would be good "meat" for a mature Christian who is firmly rooted in Jesus and has a good filter. It could easily sway or confuse a new Christian. However, a mature Christian could filter out the stuff they don't need and still glean from his insightfulness in areas of the book. I am glad I was able to read and review "Free Book".

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Free Boook by Brian Tome

"Free Book" by Brian Tome is a book about the freedom that an individual can find through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Tome, in a very animated and excitable fashion, encourages his readers to live this free life to its fullest. I had an immediate interest in this book due to the subject. I wish I could say that I liked it, but I can't. "Free Book" did not deliver. Tome's book started slowly, and I was tempted to put it down. The book does get a little better as it goes along. Tome's style of writing is different. It is in-your-face and some may even find it offensive in parts. I had hoped this book would have been deeper. It just seemed "light" to me in the areas where depth was needed. If you have been a Christian for any period of time, there is not a whole here that you will find new. Freedom is about surrender and surrender is a life-long process. That process is discipleship. However, one part shone through. I found the chapter dealing with overcoming personal strongholds and evicting "squatters" from your life to be especially helpful. These chapters were well written and gave sound and practical principles that can help make a difference. I was challenged to evaluate my life and determine if anything negative had moved-in that did not belong that may prove harmful. Overall, I give this book two stars. I provide this review as a member of Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program http://brb.thomanelson.com

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.