Money Secrets of the Amish

I wasn't even halfway finished reading Loralee Craker's Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving before I started begging my wife to read it too. For two reasons: (1) She loves reading and learning about the Amish, not just because it is my ancestry on my father's side, but also because the Amish way of life resonates with her, and (2) This book illuminates and reflects so much about me!

I wasn't raised Amish (my grandfather left the community when he was nineteen), but so much about the way I was raised reflects the values and practices Loralee writes explains in her book (which often leaves my wife, the lovely Robin, utterly mystified). For example, her chapters are titled:

1. Upside Down
2. UWMW: Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do, or Do Without
3. Don't Eat the Marshmallow: Learning Delayed Gratification
4. Pay on Time
5. Rethinking Gifts
6. Saving
7. Operation De-spoil the Kids
8. Repurpose, Recycle, and Reuse
9. Dead Horses Smell Bad, but Debt Smells Even Worse
10. Shopping Secondhand
11. To Bulk or Not to Bulk?
12. Amish Foodies or Frugal Feinschmeckers
13. Bartering: I'll Trade You This Cow for a Bunch of Rugs
14. The Best Things in Life Are Free

While sharing the "secrets" (many of which smack of common sense and biblical reasoning), she introduces the reader to people like Bishop Eli King, Amish wife Ella Yoder (who can bake fifteen snitz pies in no time at all), and Amish farmer Amos (who saved $400,000 while raising fourteen children without depriving them in the least). Every chapter is intensely practical, applicable, and potentially life-changing.

While I generally confine my book reviews on the Desperate Pastor to books relating to church, ministry, and leadership, I wanted to recommend Craker's book here because so much in it could benefit men and women in ministry.