As the father of several kids, three of which are sons, I am poignantly aware of the role I play as a father, as a husband, and as a man, with each of them watching my life closely. Because of that, I want to model for them what it means to be a man, and to be a godly one.
Perhaps the biggest challenge that the men of our culture face is to be a man of integrity in every area. And it takes courage to do so. In Stepping Up, Dennis Rainey challenges men to be men of courage and integrity in the face of a world that pushes them to conform to a lower standard.
Rainey has identified five stages of a man’s life: boyhood, adolescence, manhood, mentor, and patriarch. In this book, he explores the responsibilities and needs present in each of the areas… And how to move up to the next.
In part, I am reading this to provide a better and more courageous example to my sons. But also, I am reading this to make sure I continue to challenge myself to step it up in every area of my life to be the man that God has called and created me to be.
Each chapter requires a very short time to read, but the implications and applications are huge. One could almost read this devotionally, except for the continual calls to action that seem to crop up on each page. This will probably take much, much longer to digest then just a simple devotional reading would allow.
I highly recommend the works of Dennis Rainey. His books on marriage and relationships have been vastly helpful for me, and this promises to be just as impacting for my life. I suggest you pick up a copy and read it, or buy one for the man in your life. You can pick up a copy on Amazon.
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