Why Guys Need God: The Spiritual Side of Money, Sex, and Relationships

This is the second book I have read from Mike Erre, and was not at all disappointed. I actually enjoyed this book just as much, if not more than his original book, Jesus of Suburbia. The reason I have enjoyed and read....and re-read, many sections of this book is because it serves as a great refresher, and a great guide to what God requires from Christian men. I may be the only one, but as I go about living my life, I have a habit of justifying things, then downplaying how serious they are in my life. This book serves as a great reminder on what God has in mind for men. The book is well laid out, and the topics flow well from one to another, but also can serve as great essays on their own. This is a book I have bought for many of my friends, and suggested to many others. The reason I think the books hits so hard, is that Erre doesn't take a "greater than thou" mentality in talking about the biblical side of relationships and money...he shares stories where sometimes he messes up, and sometimes he gets it right. The content and stories are relatable, and Erre is very vulnerable in several instances in the book which allows the reader to have a more intimate experience. Definitely one of the books I always keep on my shelf and refer back to help keep me on track.

I think this is a book every guy should read once! It brings up a lot of good points to consider as men and the areas of our lives that God calls us to be responsible for but have failed and are continuing to fail in over time. Read it!

This book isn't what you probably think it is. It's not another chest-bumping, wilderness-challenge manfest. It's simply a corrective reminder that men have been told a lie: a lie about the world, a lie about themselves, and a lie about God. Growing up as a guy in 21st century America is no picnic. Even a cursory examination of statistics regarding crime, fatherless, and abused women illutrates that something is very wrong with men. Men look for their identity and purpose in all sorts of places, and most are wrong, leading men down paths of darkness, destruction, and death. From money to sex to power to popularity to gadgets to booze, men have bought the lie that culture dictates true masculenity. Mike's book unfolds the truth - that God has designed men in His image, and as image bearers, we must look to Him for our identity and purpose. The best thing about reading Mike is that his style flows from his passion, heart, and own life experiences. Mike takes us through a journey of what manhood really is, and as much as it's our story, it's his story too. And that's what sets Mike's book apart - he knows what he's talking about because he's lived it. He's not talking at men, he's on the path of discovery with men. At the end of the journey, there's just God, and Mike presciently reminds us that He's all that men really need.

I had the great opportunity to sit under his teaching for about two years, and what I love about this guy is that he is never hesitant to be transparent and vulnerable, whether it be through his writing or his sermon's. He does a great job in underscoring the characteristics of a true man, which could all be summarized in the word, "courage." And in doing this, he illustrates the mundane battles that we face, i.e. wife no longer looks like Pamela Anderson, work is no longer fun, kids no longer respect you, college seems pointless, etc. and therein true manhood is demonstrated and built. He points out that all too often, we live vicariously through an imaginative heroic context whereby we save some person from dying, or something along those lines, but that is just an indicator of how we build and demonstrate manhood in an illusory world, as opposed to in a real context. Invariably, this imaginitive world robs us of the true joy we can find in building and demonstrating our manhood in a real context. In summary, this book was great. It'll kick your [...] by drawing out of you a desire to be a real man, not an imiganitive one.

Why Guys Need God by Michael Erre is divided into 4 themes with sub headings under each. Pastor Erre discusses the role of men. Society, including the church, has produced a model image of what a man is expected to be. It is an ideal that is impossible to live up to: defender, provider, and spiritual leader; charitable, passionate, and able to coach little league. Genesis 1:26-27, states that man is made in God's image. Erre cleverly discusses equality of male and female. "For women and men to be equal does not imply that they must be identical." Men and women approach worship differently. If you look at a typical church there will be more women present than men. Perhaps we, as a church, have distorted the lines of gender too much. Perhaps we have geared our teaching toward women forgetting that men need spiritually fed too. Perhaps we have blurred the image of Biblical males. We have made them larger than life and impossible to imitate. Many men avoid the visible emotion that comes with spirituality, they fear it will lessen their masculinity and make them look weak. Why Guys Need God discusses sexuality, finances, and relationships. Erre backs of his statements with scripture. He neatly explains restoration, revitalization, and reconciliation. I have always enjoyed the book of Genesis ,especially the creation scriptures. My imagination has placed me in the Garden of Eden, walking along side God, conversing with Him. However, this book reaches into other parts of the Bible also, using scripture from both Old Testament and New. Pastor Erre skillfully clarifies the purpose of man, the fall, and how God mercifully offers redemption. Why Guys Need God is not preachy; it is simple to understand and easy to read. Why Guys Need God would make a very good small group study. While this book is written for men, I suggest women should also read it so they better understand the role of men.