Sunday, April 01, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Man Alive
Man Alive by Patrick Morley
I have been reading Patrick Morley's books for well over ten years now. The first one I read was The Man in the Mirror. When I read that book it changed my life. I had not been a part of any type of men's ministry at church before. What I knew about men's ministry was what most men know: barbeques, construction, softball, and ushering. The book helped teach me things about myself and becoming a man.
Well, Man Alive has been a book that was able to repeat this for me. Morley took years of ministering to men and combined them into a very easy, yet convicting, book to read. I would recommend this book to all men, men's ministry leaders, pastors, sons, uncles, fathers, and the list goes on and on.
Morley talks about seven primal needs each man has within their soul. He mentions needs like "to feel like you don't have to do life alone" and "to break free from the destructive behaviors that keep dragging you down." The one that struck a major chord in my life (this time around), was the need "to understand how your life has a purpose, that your life is not random." Could it be because I am in my early 30s and have two kids with one on the way? Maybe. I don't really know. But, I do know that Morley's discussion of purpose and discipleship has resonated with my soul. Each year at my church we have a pastoral vision designed to direct the year. This year's vision is Excellence. One of the sub-points focuses on discipleship. Call this random chance or call this predestined and God ordained. It doesn't matter to me. This book has ministered to me (and my Facebook & Twitter friends who have been getting the free "snippets") in such a way that I will forever be transformed into a man like I was not before. A man with purpose, loved, and in communion with God like never before. An old man transformed into a new man. Paul says it well in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Did the book do it alone? Not at all, but I would have to say it assisted in the transformation. Truly transformed into a new man...a Man Alive!
Well, Man Alive has been a book that was able to repeat this for me. Morley took years of ministering to men and combined them into a very easy, yet convicting, book to read. I would recommend this book to all men, men's ministry leaders, pastors, sons, uncles, fathers, and the list goes on and on.
Morley talks about seven primal needs each man has within their soul. He mentions needs like "to feel like you don't have to do life alone" and "to break free from the destructive behaviors that keep dragging you down." The one that struck a major chord in my life (this time around), was the need "to understand how your life has a purpose, that your life is not random." Could it be because I am in my early 30s and have two kids with one on the way? Maybe. I don't really know. But, I do know that Morley's discussion of purpose and discipleship has resonated with my soul. Each year at my church we have a pastoral vision designed to direct the year. This year's vision is Excellence. One of the sub-points focuses on discipleship. Call this random chance or call this predestined and God ordained. It doesn't matter to me. This book has ministered to me (and my Facebook & Twitter friends who have been getting the free "snippets") in such a way that I will forever be transformed into a man like I was not before. A man with purpose, loved, and in communion with God like never before. An old man transformed into a new man. Paul says it well in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Did the book do it alone? Not at all, but I would have to say it assisted in the transformation. Truly transformed into a new man...a Man Alive!
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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