Excellent
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This book was my first introduction to John Eldredge's thoughts. I have read it four times since starting the first time in 2003. It is considered by some the new classic on how to be a man, and more specifically, how to be a Christian man.
Eldredge's main premise is that men and women were created differently, and that we were created with specific roles, or character traits that we need to nourish if we are to be who God wants us to be. His main 4 areas are that a man needs:
1. A Wound to Heal
2. A Battle to Fight
3. An Adventure to Live
4. A Beauty to Rescue
He unpacks each of these in a variety of ways. I have read this book, worked through the Field Manual and the DVD curriculum series by myself, with one close friend, and then facilitated it in a group setting. Most men were hesitant to embrace all the ideas yet many came around by the time we were half way through the book.
"Deep in a man's heart are some fundamental questions that simply cannot be answered at a kitchen table. Who am I? What am I made of? What am I destined for?" p. 5
"The plan from the beginning of time was that his father would lay the foundation for a young boy's heart, and pass on to him that essential knowledge and confidence in his strength." p.62
"He created Adam for adventure, battle and beauty; he created us for a unique place in his story and he is committed to bringing us back to the original design." p.103
"You are a new creation in Christ. The New Testament calls you a saint, a holy one, a son of God. In the core of your being you are a good man. Yes, there is a war within us, but it is a civil war." p.145
These are but a few samples of the writing from the book. The one draw- back of the DVD curriculum is that it does not follow the book exactly, and with 12 chapters in the book and field manual that follow each other exactly and 8 in the DVD, it doesn't seem weighted evenly.
Check it out; it will be worth it.
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Excellent
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This book was my first introduction to John Eldredge's thoughts. I have read it four times since starting the first time in 2003. It is considered by some the new classic on how to be a man, and more specifically, how to be a Christian man.
Eldredge's main premise is that men and women were created differently, and that we were created with specific roles, or character traits that we need to nourish if we are to be who God wants us to be. His main 4 areas are that a man needs:
1. A Wound to Heal
2. A Battle to Fight
3. An Adventure to Live
4. A Beauty to Rescue
He unpacks each of these in a variety of ways. I have read this book, worked through the Field Manual and the DVD curriculum series by myself, with one close friend, and then facilitated it in a group setting. Most men were hesitant to embrace all the ideas yet many came around by the time we were half way through the book.
"Deep in a man's heart are some fundamental questions that simply cannot be answered at a kitchen table. Who am I? What am I made of? What am I destined for?" p. 5
"The plan from the beginning of time was that his father would lay the foundation for a young boy's heart, and pass on to him that essential knowledge and confidence in his strength." p.62
"He created Adam for adventure, battle and beauty; he created us for a unique place in his story and he is committed to bringing us back to the original design." p.103
"You are a new creation in Christ. The New Testament calls you a saint, a holy one, a son of God. In the core of your being you are a good man. Yes, there is a war within us, but it is a civil war." p.145
These are but a few samples of the writing from the book. The one draw- back of the DVD curriculum is that it does not follow the book exactly, and with 12 chapters in the book and field manual that follow each other exactly and 8 in the DVD, it doesn't seem weighted evenly.
Check it out; it will be worth it.
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Left me thinking!
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For us Brits, this may come across as a little too American for our liking, but I just can't deny that this book has awoken a little something somewhere in my soul. I read this book quickly and keenly and appreciated it's honesty and practical nature. Now just to ponder what it means for me...
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No more Mr Nice Guy!
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I found this book very encouraging and insightful.
Men are not supposed to be the bland and benign nice guys the world and the church has insisted they be. God intended men to be dangerous and to fight for what is right, to win the heart of their wife, and together to embark on the adventure that life is.
Eldridge also does a great job in explaining where masculinity has gone wrong and how to help our sons to avoid the same mistakes.
This book was so good I read it twice.
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Be who you were made and long to be
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This book is simply awesome, in the greatest sense of the word! Its so refreshing to realise that all your feeling of inadiquecy and hate and lust and everything you know shouldnt be in you are shared by almost every other man on the planet. To begin with you dont feel so alone. Then your told that those feelings for adventure and battle and heroics are all perfect and wholly and meant to be there and you find that you are much more vital to the world than you ever imagined. It makes you feel so alive and helps to tell you how to better yourself. Its not just for men though it can easily be read by women and many parts are dedicated to explaining women. Men: read the book to understand and love yourselves, women: read the book to understand your man and to love yourselves and him also. Look out for the chapter that tells you about your name in God. Thats were my above user name came from
P.S When I read this I found I was more in love with a girl than I ever cared to admit and it gave me the knoweldge of the strength God gives so that I could do something about it/
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