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.

Recently, I have become very interested in the concept of the Enneagram. This is a method for understanding your personality. When you look at it from two different directions you can gain some solid insights. First, you can see how God has created you. This explains much of why you do what you do. It explains how you handle different situations and circumstances because of your personality type.

But it also can help you see what God has created you to be. Each personality type has avenues of growth and avenues that are less healthy. But as you seek to understand yourself in light of God’s design, you can look forward to what you are intended to be.

The Enneagram describes nine different personality types, and as I discover more and study this in greater detail, I’m sure I will share much of it here. In the meantime, I have discovered that I am Type 1, the Moral Perfectionist. While that might sound a bit negative, it is not. And as I learn more about my core motivations and fears, my core longings and weaknesses, I am beginning to see that my personality type is a gift, and it is to be used for the glory of God.

I’m fascinated by the concept of the Enneagram. If you are intrigued, and would like to read more, I suggest you start with Your Enneagram Coach, a resource designed by the same author. If you would like to purchase this book, you can find it on Amazon, along with the other eight books in this series.