Fathering Like the Father: Becoming the Dad God Wants You to Be /

Kenneth and Jeffrey Gangel work well together on this new book on fathering. They take 15 characterics that fathers should pursue in raising their kids and discussing 1 per chapter, elucidate on them with bible stories/scripture, illustrations, and real life memories. Each chapter then ends with questions for discussion and for the father to talk with his child(ren). Having young kids, this book was helpful in encouraging me to check myself and how I am raising them. They are too little right now to discuss something like this with, so I would need to store it away and bring it back out several years from now b4 having a good discussion with them about my fathering and their answers to the child/father discussion questions.

Father Kenn and Son Jeff have written a winner. Biblical truths come alive as Kenn and Jeff let you look into their souls to see how they have wrestled with "Jeff's Story" and "Kenn's Story" at the end of each section. From the Bible they discuss fifteen attributes of God that relate to fatherhood and illustrated each one. Then they put flesh on them by Kenn and Jeff each letting us see how they have wrestled with each attribute in their lives. This is no antiseptic book that leaves you wondering how the attributes are lived in real life. Kenn lets us see how having God as his Father enabled him to overcome the scars from his own absentee father. It enabled him to become a father completely opposite from the one he had experienced. Jeff lets us see that having a father who worked at the fifteen attributes as well as a heavenly father who "is" the fifteen attributes is a great blessing--but is not, however, protection from being human. Jeff wrestled too, though in ways different from his dad's wrestling. They don't leave us with just a description of "fathering like the father." Each attribute includes sections on "Making it Work," "Questions for Discussion," and "Father/Child Dialog." These help fathers wrestle with the same things Kenn and Jeff have successfully (though not perfectly as they allow us to see) wrestled with. They allow us to look into their lives in order to see our lives better. I highly recommend this book for its biblical content, it's transparent presentation, and its helpful application.

New fathers intimidated by the prospect of what their new responsibilities entail can find "Fathering Like the Father" a welcome addition to their reading list. "Fathering Like the Father" is written by father and son Kenneth and Jeffrey Gangel. They bring in not only their experience together, but also their expertise in scholarship and understanding of God's Word. Many books discussing fatherhood are based on pure psychology, even among Christian titles. "Fathering Like the Father" takes a different tack, focusing on the Scriptural basis for decisions a father must make in regard to rearing his child. This book can augment what James Dobson and Focus on the Family books teach. Likewise, PromiseKeeper men should connect solidly with the principles presented here. Each chapter begins with a key passage and a biblical character. Chapter 11, "Find Us Faithful" highlights Elkanah and Psalm 146:5-9. It is followed by several pages discussing the related issues, using modern parables, statistical analyses, while driving home why the verses they chose are crucial. Jeffrey and Kenn then each has a subsection for their take on the passage and principle. The chapters also include a few challenges in a section called "Making It Work," discussion questions useful in a small group or Sunday School/CCD context, and some things for father-child dialogue. It is meant to be read with a Bible open. If you find it as engaging as I did, your copy will be marked up with underlined sentences and quotes drawn from history. Chapters include: * Make 'Em Laugh: Humor * An Officer or a Gentleman? Grace and Mercy * Focus on the Father: Forgiveness * The Ultimate Sacrifice: Love * The Green-Eyed Monster? Jealousy * Truth or Consequences: Truthfulness * God's Friend: Friendship * The Child Whisperer: Communication * Lessons from an Old Man: Holiness * Winning the Game: Discipline * Find Us Faithful: Faithfulness * A Gift from God: Wisdom * Imitating Infinite Intimacy: Intimacy * A Worthy Investment: Trustworthiness * A Few Good Men: Goodness It reads easily, and its challenges are backed by the author's own experience. I fully recommend "Fathering Like the Father" by Kenneth and Jeffrey Gangel. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com