Father Kenn and Son Jeff have written a winner. Biblical truths come alive as Kenn and Jeff let you look into their souls to see how they have wrestled with "Jeff's Story" and "Kenn's Story" at the end of each section. From the Bible they discuss fifteen attributes of God that relate to fatherhood and illustrated each one. Then they put flesh on them by Kenn and Jeff each letting us see how they have wrestled with each attribute in their lives. This is no antiseptic book that leaves you wondering how the attributes are lived in real life. Kenn lets us see how having God as his Father enabled him to overcome the scars from his own absentee father. It enabled him to become a father completely opposite from the one he had experienced. Jeff lets us see that having a father who worked at the fifteen attributes as well as a heavenly father who "is" the fifteen attributes is a great blessing--but is not, however, protection from being human. Jeff wrestled too, though in ways different from his dad's wrestling.
They don't leave us with just a description of "fathering like the father." Each attribute includes sections on "Making it Work," "Questions for Discussion," and "Father/Child Dialog." These help fathers wrestle with the same things Kenn and Jeff have successfully (though not perfectly as they allow us to see) wrestled with. They allow us to look into their lives in order to see our lives better.
I highly recommend this book for its biblical content, it's transparent presentation, and its helpful application.

New fathers intimidated by the prospect of what their new responsibilities entail can find "Fathering Like the Father" a welcome addition to their reading list.

"Fathering Like the Father" is written by father and son Kenneth and Jeffrey Gangel. They bring in not only their experience together, but also their expertise in scholarship and understanding of God's Word.

Many books discussing fatherhood are based on pure psychology, even among Christian titles. "Fathering Like the Father" takes a different tack, focusing on the Scriptural basis for decisions a father must make in regard to rearing his child. This book can augment what James Dobson and Focus on the Family books teach. Likewise, PromiseKeeper men should connect solidly with the principles presented here.

Each chapter begins with a key passage and a biblical character. Chapter 11, "Find Us Faithful" highlights Elkanah and Psalm 146:5-9. It is followed by several pages discussing the related issues, using modern parables, statistical analyses, while driving home why the verses they chose are crucial. Jeffrey and Kenn then each has a subsection for their take on the passage and principle.

The chapters also include a few challenges in a section called "Making It Work," discussion questions useful in a small group or Sunday School/CCD context, and some things for father-child dialogue. It is meant to be read with a Bible open. If you find it as engaging as I did, your copy will be marked up with underlined sentences and quotes drawn from history.

Chapters include:
* Make 'Em Laugh: Humor
* An Officer or a Gentleman? Grace and Mercy
* Focus on the Father: Forgiveness
* The Ultimate Sacrifice: Love
* The Green-Eyed Monster? Jealousy
* Truth or Consequences: Truthfulness
* God's Friend: Friendship
* The Child Whisperer: Communication
* Lessons from an Old Man: Holiness
* Winning the Game: Discipline
* Find Us Faithful: Faithfulness
* A Gift from God: Wisdom

* Imitating Infinite Intimacy: Intimacy
* A Worthy Investment: Trustworthiness
* A Few Good Men: Goodness

It reads easily, and its challenges are backed by the author's own experience. I fully recommend "Fathering Like the Father" by Kenneth and Jeffrey Gangel.

Anthony Trendl

I bought this entire New Testament series commentary to help me in teaching an adult Sunday School class. I'm glad I did! All of the books include a verse-by-verse description that is very helpful. A teaching outline is included for each chapter, along with discussion questions and an area with a more deeper discussion of certain topics important to that chapter.

As a new teacher, I have found this series invaluable in preparing my lessons. I think you'll like this one.

Max Anders has done a tremendous job in editing and pulling together scholars to write this commentary set. I have found the notes to be very helpful and down to earth, while retaining a critical exegesis of the text. If you are looking for a commentary set that is easy to read and yet thoughoug enough to help in preparing sermons, then this is the commentary you have been waiting for.

Excellent source of the history of education (since originally education was for the purpose of learning about God) from a Christian perspective. Well written and interesting to those who want to know about Christian Education. Well documented and good bibliography.

Gangel and Wilhoit address the theology, methods, content, philosophies present in the current arena of Christian adult education. This book is comprised of chapters by several eminent figureheads in adult education (Malcolm Knowles, for example). In a succinct exposition, this book offers incredible insight to the Christian educator. Although written from the Christian framework, this treatise rigorously engages education principles that can be applied across educational arenas.

Kenneth O. Gangel is vice president for academic affairs, academic dean, and distinguished professor of Christian Education at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has also held administrative positions at Calvary Bible College and Miami Christian College. He holds degrees in business and college administration as well as theology and Christian education. His doctorates are from the University of Missouri and Mercy College. He is the author of more than twenty books and has written over eight hundred articles for journals and periodicals.

This book was written to straighten out the confusion concerning servant leadership and organism versus organization. The book was also written as a practical manual for Christian leaders (pp. 9-10). Gangel points out in the forward of this book that the secular view of leadership has been dominant in the church. He feels we have forgotten what the Bible description of a leader is. Leaders in the church has been called to be servant leaders. It doesn't mean the person is a doormat or has no backbone, but the biblical view of leadership is leading by serving. This is the first problem Gangel deals with in his book. He also points out that 'Ministry' and 'Management' are not contradictory terms. Many people think that if it is a ministry it is not managed well. This is the second problem Gangel deals with in his book. We tend to think that the churches goals need to be either people-oriented or goal-oriented. Gangel also points out that the goal of the church is not new converts but mature believers (lay leadership development).

I think that Gangel did an excellent job and has fulfilled his stated purposes. The author did an excellent job in relating to the reader throughout the book. Gangel, in every chapter, either asks questions to help you understands what was discussed or to reevaluate what you are doing. I.e., at the end of chapter one he asks you what are the six leadership lessons learned from the life of Moses. Then he asks, "which of these lessons have you learned?" In chapter two he asks you to answer twenty-one questions for 'Spiritual Leaders.' Dr. Gangel does this for every chapter. He also tells stories throughout his book to illustrate his points. An example of this is the story about Charlie and Norma starting on page 217. Gangel gives several outcomes based on how Charlie responds to Norma giving up her teaching position. By his constantly asking questions and telling stories he keeps the readers attention.

The only weakness I noticed in the book was his charts and graphs. He reprinted other writers charts and graphs in his book. Some were good but others were not easy to understand or did not illustrate his point as well as it could have. I.e., the Annual Planning Cycle on page 106 seems confusing. Then also on page 251 the 'Toward A Trained Leadership' chart doesn't clearly communicate the point of results and evaluation which the section was about.

Other than some charts and graphs Gangel's book was an excellent book. As a former Army officer and now as pastor I would highly recommend to anyone that wants to learn to be a better leader and administrator. It is particularly beneficial to those leader in the church whether a profession or lay leader.

Kenneth Gangel takes the subject of team leadership and systematically addresses the complex matrix of issues that leadership in church organizations deal with. From the top of the organizational chart to the part-time volunteer leader, this will truly help you become a better leader and person, all while never losing the focus of the people that you and your organization serve.

This book has a wealth of information and experience that can be applied in any size organization. There is no way to touch on every issue and it's difficult to summarize the volume of information in a nut shell, but rest assured if you've run into it as a leader, it's in here.

The one thing that should be stressed is that Gangel is clear that these concepts are "team leadership" oriented, meaning that if you are in church leadership where one person does the bulk of the decision making, this book isn't really for you.

If you're a new Pastor, Youth Pastor or the head of a new ministry, this book will be of value and resource and will probably have you picking this up to read it every so often. Consider this mentorship at your fingertips!

The book is not leisurely reading and does cover a lot of ideas and materials, that are proven for that matter. They're not the dry, theoritical paradigms that seem to conjure up horrible images. This is really nuts and bolts in the best sense. However, the material isn't best applied by skimming and picking. It really is to the benefit of your ministry and yourself to treat this as study material. This as a "sit down dinner" so to speak, rather than a mad dash through the drive-thru at the fast food place. There is value by investing time in digesting the principles and giving thought to how they apply to the names and faces in your ministry.

A thorough and detailed book that's an investment in any your people, ministry, leaders and yourself.

This handbook is a collection of essay's on various issues of christian spiritual formation & discipleship. I had this as a text at Lee University for my Spiritual Formation & Discipleship class, and largely enjoyed it. There is nothing I'd consider "great" in this book, however, there are a few good articles that are informative for those who wish to gain a good understanding of many issues today, with a nice bibliography that can lead to further research.

The popularity of authors such as Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, and a renewed interest in practicing age-old traditions (spiritual disciplines) have perhaps thrust the concept of spiritual formation into the collective conscience of evangelicalism - at least as a catchphrase. A collection of twenty-five essays on " . . . the nature, responsibility, and means of spiritual formation . . . " gives this book the feel of a panel discussion. This impressive panel line-up is loaded with articulate Christian thinkers who communicate their understanding of how God shapes a human soul and the work that is entrusted the Church to affirm and promote this transformation.

A word of warning - this is neither a panacea nor an easy to read how-to-grow manual. Definition-wise, there is a wide array of thoughts and reflections; however, there is a commonality or theme that underscores the notion that the responsibility for the Christian is to respond to God's formation and transformation of one's soul. This book may prove useful for educators or anyone who is serious or even intrigued about growing spiritually. The various contributors to this book flush out the reality that believers need to engage the creator of their souls. As one of the writers summarizes, spiritual maturity is a gift of God. "The disciplines serve as catalysts, but [they] are not the cause of spiritual transformation."

I used this and read it extensively for a Master-level Christian Education/Christian formation class.

Highly recommended for thinking through the issues of discipleship and creating and implementing a church program to help with Christian Education and Christian Formation. The writers are Evangelical, although there's only one or two chapters I have minor disagreements with. As a book about practicals though, I don't doubt that they are not really dealing with the theology as much as they are trying to find some good practical applications. I don't believe this book will become a classic, as it does not have the "timeless" qualities of classics.

The book is rather contextualized for this present timeframe, and deals with a lot of current issues. Largely, it lists a lot of practicals (like goal setting), hiring and staffing, finding the right people (e.g., director of Christian education, and other volunteers), making Christian Education/Christian Formation a priority, setting times of evaluation, and so on. There are some other issues dealt with, like home-schooling, context of Christian Education (in the family, home, church, small group, etc.).

You will find this most useful if you are thinking about setting up a Christian Education or Christian formation program, or you're a seminarian studying this issue, or a lay-person thinking about the role of Christian Education and Christian formation. It's probably one of those books you'll read and put on the shelf and probably refer to once in a blue moon as needed.

There are a variety of great contributors for this book, including Dallas Willard, and the two editors of the book.

Gangel and Wilhoit address many important aspects of Christian Education. In the book, theology and family dynamics are freshly engaged. However, the theory is concretely displayed through relevant contemporary issues that are also discussed. Christian Education is a family-wide objective (no matter who actually receives the teaching), and this book is a helpful tool for that mission.

Communication and Conflict Management provides a comprehensive look at the dynamics of a unique culture-the Christian organization. While a Christian Church or Organization may be perceived as a "heavenly" place to work, the truth is, it is still earth-bound and dependent upon people with various levels of maturity.

High ideals, goals and expectations complicate the organizational trust if clear communication and team management is lacking. Pastors, administrators,and volunteer coordinators will find Biblical insight addressing workplace relationships and conflict. This book will provide wisdom beyond experience and forewarn the naive.