The Pastor’s Family
by Brian and Cara Croft 4 Stars Brian and Cara Croft write from their painful experience and lessons learnt in their own life, offering an easy to read book, with a straightforward message. The book deals with the issue of pastors own becoming so absorbed in their ministry that they neglect the need to care for their families. It lays out the problem of expectations of pastors in the church, and the demands of the church he serves. It draws the conclusion that the pastor needs to repent and honour his role as husband and father. The book continues dealing with the unique struggle that pastors’ wives face. It provides advice to pastors on how to care his wife. Finally, it repeats this part, applying it to the children of the pastor. Cara perspective on the wife’s view of the pastor’s family is invaluable. Church leadership teams would gain knowledge and understanding from jointly reading this book. The Pastor's Family challenges pastors to care first and best for their wives and children and it carefully draws upon biblical wisdom to allow them to do that very thing. While not the only book on the subject, it is one that every pastor should read, and those considering ministry should read prior to commencing ministry.
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Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love
By Marcia Naomi Burger 4 Stars Wanting to establish a firm foundation to build a marriage upon, or need help restoring the passion in your marriage? Marcia Naomi Burger’s book “Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love” may be the answer. The book encourages couples to meet together for 30 Minutes each week to develop the relationship you’ve always wanted. It encourages a depth of intimacy that spouses share. Through meeting regularly, couples are able to share appreciation for each other; discussing chores; setting priorities and guidelines; planning dates, romance, and time spent together; and discussing any problems and challenges and concerns that each spouse may have, so that issues can be resolved with kindness and respect. Common myths are explored in the book, along with techniques to improve communication skills Throughout the book, Berger offers countless practical suggestions and guidelines for marriage meetings. She also debunks some common marriage myths and offers ideas for developing healthy communication and conflict resolution skills. This is a great book for the newly married, and those further down the road, who want to see their love and intimacy grow. It is a very practical and helpful book that can strength even a weak marriage and help make a good marriage great. Passing the Baton
By Gardy Hauser. 3 Stars Subtitled principles and skills every father needs to teach his children, this is a very practical book that provides fathers with ideas and strategies to develop the relationship with his children. It is an easy to read book, and each strategy or principal is simple to implement. There are strategies for every age group. The principles are character building for both father and child, and will create memories that will last a life time. The book is divided into Spiritual Principles, General Principles, General Skills and knowledge, and Financial Principles and Skills, as well as being separated in age categories: Age 5 to 11; Early Teens – 12 to 15; and old Teens 16+. From advice on working smarter, to relationship development, friends and marriage; from doing the laundry to first aid. There is an extensive list of advice in short pieces. Valuable for every father to read and implement. 10 Conversations Kids Need to Have with Their Dad
By Jay Payleitner Publisher: Harvest House Publishers Being a Dad means having the opportunity to shape and nurture children, in a way that is different (not necessarily better, just different), than mothers. This book helps to provide conversation starters for dads so that they may influence children for a lifetime. The book includes strategies and ideas to enter children’s world that is not threatening to either child or dad. In addition it provides ideas of things to do together to bond, and create family. The book is not overly theological, or contain new concepts. It does however pull together many ideas and concepts, and present them in an easy to read format, and written in a language that most men will understand. The ten conversation revolve around: Family, Competition, Creativity, Big Picture Thinking, Work, Money, Laughter, Relationships, Decision Making and Eternity. The book will encourage fathers to build relationships with his children and have life changing conversations with them. Raising Boys
Why Boys are Different and How to Help them become happy and well balanced men By Steve Biddulph Published by:Ten Speed Press I have always been a fan of Steve Biddulph’s very practical books for parents. This one is no different. This vastly popular book has been updated into a third edition. Raising Boys considers how boys differ from girls, their three stages of boyhood, from birth to preparing for adulthood. It goes on to discuss how to navigate through risk areas for boys. It examines the relationship between mothers and sons, and fathers and sons. How they are different, and how they develop. Challenging issues of dealing with testosterone, schooling, sexuality, and sport are dealt with in practical measures. This book will give you the strategies to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted son. Highly recommended for every parent. Raising Girls
How to Help Your Daughter Grow Up Happy, Healthy, and Strong By Steve Biddulph Published by:Ten Speed Press I have always been a fan of Steve Biddulph’s very practical books for parents. This one is no different. The book examines the five stages of girlhood, from birth to preparing for adulthood. It goes on to discuss how to navigate through risk areas for girls. From bodies, weight and food, alcohol and drugs, bullying, appearance and dealing with the cyber networks. The third part of the book is addressing for girls and their mums relate, and separately how girls and their fathers relate. This book will give you the strategies to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted daughter. Highly recommended for every parent. 5 things you can do to have a stronger family
By Scott Seidler Publisher: Concordia Publishing House The book starts with the bold heading – No Perfect Families. It goes on to give examples of how families are not perfect, before providing some guidance. I found the start depressing. Digging through a fictional family’s attitudes and problems to life, followed by a lot of words that don’t offer hope. The book discusses families establishing plans, social settings, recognising the strengths and gifting in family members, forgiveness of one another, establishing how you live out the Christian faith, and taking time to rest together and apart from one another. At the end of each chapters are discussion questions and action items, making the book partly a workbook for families. The Book is part of “The You Can Do It Series”, which encourages and equips Christians to live as disciples. While the book is helpful, I felt that is could be better written, and had many of the words removed. It is not the easiest of books around, and there are many better books in the marketplace on strengthening families. Thanks to Netgalley & Concordia Publishing House for my copy. This review can also be found on my blog, Books-Reviewed. There is more
By Brian Houston 4 Stars Subtitled – When the world says you can’t, God says you can. From the senior pastor of Hillsong comes an uplifting book to encourage and focus the reader’s life. Filled with anecdotal and personal testimony, this book will renew your passion and desire to dream of a life possible. It teaches you the principles of working through dark times, into times of blessings. This will be a popular book for Christians and those who love life around the world. Today is the Day
Find and Embrace Your God-Given Dreams By Bil Cornelius Publisher: Baker Books God loves us, and has given us inspired dreams for our lives. This book helps us to recognise those dreams, and fulfil them. In a well set out book, with clear explanations, Bil Cornelius set out to help us discover the God given dreams for our lives, move beyond our insecurities, our fears, our small thinking, our self-doubt, and overcoming a lack of motivation. I found the thinking big chapter particularly helpful, as someone who struggles with pride, and is frequently told to be humble. Cornelius goes on to explain how to establish smart goal setting, including actioning them, role of prayer, risk taking, building momentum, utilising gifting’s, building a team to help achieve goals, and getting the right advice. Each chapter contains action steps to get you on the road to reaching your full potential. These are practical discussion points, and would suit the use in a small group setting. Bill uses encouragement, Biblical stories and real life examples to steer you into making Godly decisions, thus allowing you to achieve God’s design for your life. It is one of the best books in discovering your God given purpose and establishing a plan to achieving your potential. I highly recommend it. The Person called You
By Bill Hendricks 3 Stars The questions of purpose, who we are, and what makes us special has interested people for generations. The Person Called You answers the questions of discovering your identify and your purpose. Hendricks helps the reader discover their calling, their giftedness, so that people can live with purpose. The book devotes considerable time examining and learning how to foster the gifts (physical, spiritual and mental). The ultimate goal, of the book, is to allow people to have a purpose for life, and a plan to fulfil it, so that we do not get caught up in perishing due to a lack of plan. |