NIV Bible for Men

Men are not born.

I can imagine what thought may have entered your mind: all men are born because all people are born. It is true that people are born and some are born male. However, being born male and growing up does not automatically bestow the right of manhood on someone.

Becoming a man takes perseverance, love, community, and God. It is this last part where I want to focus. How does God enter the life of a boy who desires to become a man; a godly man.

In the NIV Bible for Men, many men weigh in on matters that may affect the life of a male. From relationships, to work, to developing character, to living for God, all of these qualities take time and effort.

The men who were asked to right on various topics for this Bible, understand the importance of doing things God's way; the wise way.

This Bible places the Word of God and helpful thoughts by men who practice and make God's Word the guiding force in their lives. I found articles to be well written and relevant.

The Bible itself if a bit heavy but the articles are worth the weight. I will say that having the articles interspersed within the books of the Bible did get annoying. I would have preferred that the articles be at the end of a book or the end of the Bible. That said, this is not a bad Bible for males in your life and could be useful to spur them onto manhood.

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

The Dude's Guide to Marriage by Darrin and Amie Patrick

"Husbands love your wives."

That snippet from the Bible is not a suggestion. Sadly, many men consider it an impossibility because their wives are so hard to understand. While men and women do communicate differently it does not give license to give up on each other.

In his book, The Dude's Guide to Marriage, Darrin Patrick and his wife Amie, list 10 skills that a man must develop in order to love his wife. While the list is not exhaustive it is a great foundation for any man to build. I found myself nodding in agreement several times while reading this book as I viewed each chapter.

New husbands, seasoned husbands, or those wanting to be husbands would do well to reach this book more than once for the betterment of their marriage and life. I give this book five stars all the way.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Finishing Well, Finishing Strong by Jim Grassi

*I received this complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

I am an advocate for mentoring, particularly older men mentoring younger men (think men in their 50's mentoring men in their 30's). So much has been lost with the idea that a man needs to stand alone.

Enter several guides by Jim Grassi of which this title is one. In Finishing Well, Finishing Strong, Grassi challenges the mentor and mentee to live their lives with the endgame in mind.

Using Biblical and non-Biblical examples, Grassi shows how men living wisely and living with God's principles in mind, finish well and strong.

This guide starts with an example, presents a summary, and then has an action item at the end of each section that a mentor and mentee should go through together.

I would suggest that those who use this book also consider other guides by Jim Grassi for further growth.

Uncommon Manhood by Tony Dungy

This little book is filled with some great wisdom and advice from Tony Dungy to men. It highlights matters such as: character, courage, how to treat women, faith, money, career, and more.

Each section is not long but packed with insight and a mentor-like feel that makes this book an easy read but dynamite impression.

Don't wait until Father's Day to get this book. Get it now and give it to the men in your life. You'll be glad you did.

Dear Son by David Bruskas

Dave Bruskas had a son whom he had for what seemed like a brief moment. His son died due to a congenital heart defect shorty after birth. In remembrance of the short time he had with his son, he wrote letters about lessons he would have taught, character traits he hoped to see developed, and a foundation upon which to build his legacy.

Each letter in the book is accompanied by a challenge as to why the letter was written. In these challenges, Bruskas points out potential areas of concern for young men but also goals that should be pursued as a man, husband, father, and Christian.

Areas such as providing, being a good citizen, leading, and others are all brought together in an effort to show just how power and amazing a man can be. Yet, this does not mean that responsibility is to be ignored.

On the contrary, Bruskas points out that responsibility is what separates the boys from the men. As such, he continuously edifies the male audience reading his book to embrace the responsibility given to him at whatever time in life he is. It is be embracing this responsibility that God blesses and uses because God knows this man can be trusted.

I LOVED this book. As a father of a five month old son I saw many traits I want to pass to my son but realizing that it must be done by example. I was so challenged by this book that I lent it to my father so that he can use it when mentoring men whom he exhorts.

Click on the image to see a video of Dear Son. It will be worth your time.

The Masculine Mandate by Richard D. Phillips

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for my honest review.*

I desire to be man. A man that follows the principles set forth in Scripture for being both a Christian and a man. It is a responsibility that I can very seriously realizing the implications that can occur should I shirk this responsibility. Enter The Masculines Mandate by Richard D. Phillips.

Upon reading the first few pages I could tell that this book will get at the heart of the responsibilities God has placed on men. God desiring the best for this world has equipped men with the tool necessary to spread His love and show His glory. It first begins with understanding our mandate.

Phillips did a masterful job explaining from the Garden of Eden why God placed man on the earth. It was for two reasons: to cultivate and to protect. All responsibilities of man find their foundation in those two responsibilities. This is God given. It is our sacred work. As image bearers of God we are to demonstrate His love for us as He nurtures us and protect us. From this foundational knowledge, Phillips lays out how this mandate finds its way into our lives. 

 There is marriage. Man is made for marriage, "it is not good that man should be alone." Men do better when women are in their lives. A man succeeds far more when he loves and cherishes his wife. By cultivate her and protecting her, a man is fulfilling what God has created him to do. Phillips makes this very plain: to release this responsibility is to go against God.

A man must make it a priority to be the champion of his wife. She must feel confident in him so that she can grow herself knowing that she can lean on him when she needs strength. A man must also protect his wife from not just outside influences but, should he deviate from truth, himself. By being a safe haven for his wife, a man can protect her from temptations and fears that satan would love to hurl at her. Phillips again does a wonderful job of why a man is vital in this role and how he can benefit when a man gives his all to protecting and nurturing his wife.

From a great marriage comes children and Phillips gives excellent instruction on cultivating children and protecting them. Too many fathers would have others raise their sons and daughters but Phillips challenges men to step up and change the next generation via his children. It will not be easy as discipling and disciplining take great care.

Phillips goes to some length in helping fathers understand that training children is their role. The training starts young by first being an example of masculinity and then being a teacher, mentor, guide, and leader in the home. Sometimes being a teacher requires disciplining wrong doing which is why Phillips has the two so close together.

However, Phillips gives a warning to be careful about disciplining. The goal is to raise men who are equipped to raise men themselves. This cannot be done by either being tyrannical or by being absent. Men who act without love are sinning against God and misusing their leadership status for personal means.

Yet, the father who has patience and knows that he is to correct the sin, not the errors will succeed in seeing children who not only love God, but also will be free to be as God created them.

Last, a man lives our his mandate in the areas of: friendship, church, and being a servant of God. Men need other men to hold them accountable to what God requires of them. This can be done by friendships and being an active participant at church. When this is done, the servant of the Lord will shine brightly for he seeks to serve God and rid himself of all that will stand in his way.

The Dude's Guide to Manhood by Darrin Patrick

*I received this complimentary copy from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.*

The first that hit me was the that one of the forewords was written by Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame. That in, and of, itself is a reason to get this book.

All quacking aside, this is an amazing book on manhood. I have read several books in the recent months on manhood and this by far has been the best I've read.

The book goes into twelve characteristics of what a Biblical man should be. Some of the topics deal with work, family, God, sex, contentment, and connecting. Men need to understand that we are created for a purpose. Masculinity reveals God in some facet provided that masculinity is rooted in devotion to God.

What Patrick has done is put into plain English what a man is; not what he thinks it is. There is a difference that if not

discovered will lead to an unsatisfied life and a yearning for more.

I really enjoyed the chapters on family, fatherhood, and being a wife-loving husband. Too many man see these responsibilities as secondary to work and hobbies.  Patrick puts the proper perspective in print. Do what God wants from you; not what you want for you.

Every man should read this book. I repeat: EVERY MAN SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. Take my advice and just do it. You'll be glad you did.

Mansfield's Book of Manly Men by Stephen Mansfield

I don't normally address the look of a book but the first thing I noticed about this book was its cover. One is not to judge a book by such but the look of this book gives the appearance of something from time gone past. It made me feel like I was reading a book that a refined gentleman of the later 1800's and early 1900's would entertain.

With that, the content of the book is built around four maxims and then the areas is which those maxims are exercised. The maxims are:

-Manly men do manly things

-Manly men tend their fields

-Manly men build manly men

-Manly men live to the glory of God

From these maxims, Mansfield goes into the second part of the book: how men live out these maxims. Areas such as honor, legacy, friendship, humor, and vision are some of the areas in which men need to exercise the manly maxims.

Mansfield gives examples of men in time gone past as well as the 20^th century that lived out these maxims in a particular area. Winston Churchill was used for legacy, Jabez for honor, and Rudyard Kipling for vision are but a few of the examples used. Mansfield used these great men as models to give life to each trait and challenge men to do the same. One thing that constant throughout the book is that real men act. To do otherwise is to reject the four maxims.

I particularly enjoyed the quote at each end of a chapter. Each quote summarized and solidified the preceding content and also inspired the reader to take to heart what was read. While an easy read, it was inspiring nonetheless.

In addition, Mansfield gave suggested resources via quotes, books, and movies that a manly man should use. Hopefully these, paired with the book, will cause men to be what God has created them to be: manly men. 

*I received this complimentary copy in exchange for my review from Booksneeze.com*

 

How God Makes Men by Patrick Morley

Ten stories.

Ten men.

Ten proven principles.

This is how Morley lays out his book: How God Makes Men. By using ten men from the Bible, Morley lays the groundwork for how a Biblical man is made. Morley's assertion is that men have lost sight of what it is to be a man of God. Men have been either feminized or been abandoned and thus have lost what God has called them to be. By going back to Scripture, Morley shows that God is in the active state of raising men. Men that will honor, love, serve, sacrifice, and glorify Him. Yet the question that must be asked is: how does God do that?

Morley lays out ten principles and then gives an example of each from great men of Bible. Abraham is used to show how God strengthens a man's faith. Joseph is used to show how God uses men for a higher purpose. Gideon is used to show how God uses a man's weakness and fear into strength. These are three of the ten examples that Morley uses to introduce how God makes men; His men.

I really enjoyed how a principle has an associated example from Scripture. By doing so, it gave life and practicality to the principle. It was not mere theory but reality. This drove home this fact: God desires to make men. Men have such a powerful influence and role in how God will transform the world.

Yet, many men are simply boys in adult bodies. Morley has seen this disaster and has written this excellent book to hopefully drive men to seek God and be men of His glory. This can be summed up with this challenge:

“There is a God we want, and there is a God who is. They are not the same God. The turning point of our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is.”

This is the heart of How God Makes Men. A great book for every man of God who desires to be how God wishes him to be.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review from Multnomah'sBloggingforBooks program. The words are my own.*