Showing posts with label kidmin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kidmin. Show all posts

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Father Hunger

 

Father Hunger
Douglas Wilson
Thomas Nelson Publishers
2012

 
Fatherlessness is a "rot that is eating away at the modern soul," writes Douglas Wilson, and the problem goes far beyond physical absence. "Most of our families are starving for fathers, even if Dad is around, and there's a huge cost to our children and our society because of it." "Father Hunger "takes a thoughtful, timely, richly engaging excursion into our cultural chasm of absentee fatherhood. Blending leading-edge research with incisive analysis and real-life examples, Wilson traces a range of societal ills from poverty and crime to joyless feminism and paternalistic government expansion to a vacuum of mature masculinity

Explains the key differences between asserting paternal authority and reestablishing true spiritual fathering

Uncovers the corporate-fulfillment fallacy and other mistaken assumptions that undermine fatherhood

Extols the benefits of restoring fruitful fathering, from stronger marriages to greater economic liberty
Filled with practical ideas and self-evaluation tools, "Father Hunger" both encourages and challenges men to "embrace the high calling of fatherhood," becoming the dads that their families and our culture so desperately need them to be.


Wilson's research on Father Hunger is extensive and well done. However, I had such high hopes for this book and was left wanting. While appreciated all of the facts and sociological factors I found myself wanting...needing more story. It was clinical to the point of being boring at times. The topics is interesting and something I am personally passionate about but the book didn't live up to the hopes I had for it. Definitely worth a read though and something I plan to refer back to. 

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 


Friday, August 10, 2012

Raising Financially Confident Kids


Raising Financially Confident Kids
Mary Hunt
Revell Publishing
Parenting
Publication Date: 8/2012 Purchase Here

About the book:
One of the most important lessons you can teach your kids is how to handle their money. Unfortunately, for most of us, giving our kids a financial education is an afterthought. Where do you start? And what if you don't feel financially confident yourself?

In Raising Financially Confident Kids, financial expert Mary Hunt draws from solid statistics and her own hard-won knowledge and experience as a mom who made it back from the brink of financial ruin to help you teach your children how to handle money responsibly. From preschool through the teen years, every stage of your child's development is covered, including how to talk to them about money at each age, how to help them start saving money and giving it away, and how to avoid the pitfalls of easy credit and a culture built on debt.

Money can't buy your children happiness. But giving them the skills to manage their money will allow them to take control of their future and work toward successful and satisfying lives.

My thoughts: 

I was immediately hooked into this book during the introduction when Hunt wrote this:

"It seemed to me if we could teach our children not to touch a hot stove, we could train them not to get burned by the lure of credit-car debt. If we could train them to look both ways before crossing the street, we could teach them to carefully the fine print. If we could instill in them the value of delaying gratification, that could become a lifetime behavior."  

To me it just made sense. Of course we can train up kids to be smart financially and we should be. Hunt draws from personal experience throughout the book making this a very credible and easy to read book. I very much appreciated her honesty and openness throughout. While her methods may at times seem a little much you can not argue with the outcome. Her boys didn't learn without bumps along the way but they thrived on trust, information and responsibility.

I highly recommend this read for parents. Very practical information. Here are some quotes I pulled out of the book. 

"Credit-card companies are desperate for new customers, and they have their big guns pointed at your children"

"Giving proves the condition of my heart. It's a thank-you note for all that I am and all that I have."

"Debt-proof kids are guided by a set of values having to do with money, credit, and debt." 

"Financial awareness shapes responsible kids."



I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for my honest and real review. 


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Dreaming of More

Picture I am delighted to review Dreaming of More by Michelle Anthony. I have already skimmed read through most of it and I'm going back through with my highlighter and my notebook to catch all the things I don't want to miss.

In Dreaming of More for the Next Generation: Lifetime Faith Ignited by Family Ministry, Dr. Michelle Anthony, drawing from more than 25 years of family ministry experience, helps ministry leaders understand the “why” behind their ministry model and encourages them to focus on generational outcomes, reminding them that each person’s story is a part of a grand story that God is telling throughout history, providing practical examples of how to create space within a program to nurture individual faith and how to effectively partner with parents, supporting them as family spiritual leaders.

I am eating this book up because it so resonates with my heart and my passion. I also love reading books that affirm the natural God-given instincts I already have in me. I was doing family ministry long before that became a movement. Who knew, cutting-edge! :)

One of the reasons I particularly like this book is because it's not a curriculum or a program. Anthony takes very simple biblical truths and makes the reader think. She affirms what many of us are already doing but probably need to be encouraged to do more. Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, reach beyond behavior modification, equip parents, and promote life transformation. The role of the Holy Spirit in our ministries is far too often overlooked. This is not a "doing" book but a seeking and listening book.

My ministry is already beginning to shift based on some very simple truths in this book. Anthony is an accomplished writer who walks with the Spirit. I look forward to devouring this book over and over again and recommending it to my mentees in ministry. Go buy this book but do it knowing full well it's going to challenge you, make you ask questions, and mostly help you slow down and listen.

I'll be tweeting quotes throughout the next few days so follow my tweets  to see the nuggets I've pulled out.


Thanks to David C. Cook for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, May 18, 2012

88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates


88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates
Rob and Joanna Teigen
Revell Publishing
Date: 2012
Buy it here! 

I was privileged to meet Rob Teigen (co-author) at a conference last month. When he heard I did book reviews he graciously offered me a copy of his book to review. Believe me when I say, it was truly my pleasure!

I was immediately captivated by the intro as Rob talked about the importance of a daddy in a girl's life. SO important! Completely resonating with my own beliefs and my own heart's cry to have daddys be present in their little girls' lives I was ready to dive in.

Each of the 88 dates is so special. Some are simple and practical and some are more involved but each one is wonderful. The doing has little impact in comparison to the being.  Date #10 "A Walk in the Night" is as simple as taking your girl out in the yard with flashlights and hot cocoa and providing a chance to talk. There are some sample questions to ask but the authors make it clear that their is no special recipe, just spend time together. Date #81 is a "Table for Two" and involves a fancy dinner with your girl where you treat her like the princess she is.

As the daughter of a daddy who was intentional about dating me I love this book! So much of who I am today is because my daddy took time to be with me. I highly recommend this book. Very simple, practical, and special. Way to go Teigens!

A special thank you to Rob Teigen for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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