The Expeditionary Man: The Adventure a Man Wants, the Leader His Family Needs (Hardcover)

~ Rich Wagner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

THE ANSWER ISN'T BALANCE, IT'S AN EXPEDITION

As a Christian man, how do you prioritize between what you are driven to do at work and church with what you are responsible for at home? Rich Wagner debunks the myth of a "balanced life" and shares a biblical model of becoming a hands-on leader of his family.

In this personal and revealing book, Wagner challenges Christian men to harness their career ambitions and limit their ministries while their children are at home. He shows how the pull of business success and the call to church ministries are compelling-even seductive. But if you allow your heart to be captured by career and church, you put your kid's spiritual lives at risk. Far too many Christian children grow up with the vision of a loving Father in heaven, but live with the reality of an earthly father who seems more devoted to outside interests than he is to them. As a result, many children in Christian families today drift away from their faith as they become adults. Wagner reveals how accepting his challenge will not only result in spiritually healthy kids, but also give you the true adventure for which every Christian man yearns.

From the Publisher

"A fantastic challenge to give up the god of safety, sameness, and predictability to become the man God has created you to be. Enjoy the journey!"
- Steve Arterburn, Chairman of New Life Ministries, Bestselling author of Every Man's Battle

"Every dad needs to embrace Rich's message of discovering the adventure of being a Godly father."
- Carey Casey, CEO, National Center for Fathering

"The Expeditionary Man is an insightful and timely book. Men, especially married men with families, are in a quandary about how to achieve a life of adventure while trying to fulfill their obligations to their children and spouses. Rich Wagner, in a style that is personable and engaging, lucid and coherent, lays out a practical strategy for the greatest adventure a man could ever hope to capture in one life: through risking all for your family. From my own life's experience, his message rings true. It is a must-read book for all Christian men."
- Archibald D. Hart, PhD, FPPR
Senior Professor of Psychology and Dean Emeritus
Graduate School of Psychology

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310276608
• ISBN-13: 978-0310276609
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,257 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hard teaching which we should prayerfully consider, June 4, 2008

By	Randall S. Magruder "rmagruder" (Valrico, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" More than once this quote from the gospels crossed my mind while reading this book. In Expeditionary Man, Rich Wagner marries two seemingly opposing needs for men: the need for adventure and the desire to be a good provider and leader of a family. Part autobiography, part analogy, this book takes the reader on a journey through Rich's own struggles to define his own role as a husband and father in terms that would fulfill his need to climb his own personal mountains and make his own personal accomplishments.

I know first-hand how important Rich's family is to him. I was one of Rich's former employees when he was going the dotcom entrepreneur route. We spent many a late night perfecting software code that we hoped would be the next great product, to the detriment of our family lives. It is fascinating to learn how he has refused to accept the premise that we just need to have "balance" between two opposite ambitions, an approach that groups like Promise Keepers promote, and began to see his family life as the very adventure he was seeking.

Not everyone can go the route of working from home full time, and certainly not everyone has the means to homeschool their children. Rich made financial sacrifices and took risks, but along the way he learned some great lessons and seems to have found the path to his personal "summit".

In this book, by walking with Rich and reading entertaining movie analogies, stories from famous assaults on Everest, and his personal struggles, you can begin to see how it CAN be done. Easier said than done, of course, but if you accept the premise that a man's wife and children ARE his God-intended adventure, and are willing to commit to altering your perspective a bit, you may well be able to follow Rich to the summit.

This book is a fast-paced read, but one that you will probably want to read a second time as you digest what he's saying and decide how it may apply to your own life, and maybe ponder some course corrections in your own life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, May 28, 2008

By	Andy (Fairfax VA) - See all my reviews

Expeditionary Man is an invaluable message. It's a very Biblical message, but not one that is likely to be heard in many churches. I like the use of metaphors. Makes it easy to comprehend and yet it stays with you. Really, the book is revolutionary and yet it brings rest to a weary father's soul. This book must be read and discussed by every father who is wanting to raise children who will follow in our faith footsteps.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the "ride", May 17, 2008

By	Clinton B. Frank (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Expeditionary Man: The Adventure a Man Wants, the Leader His Family Needs
Having lived more than seven decades, upon finishing this book, I am wishing it had been there those 5 decades ago when I was attempting to learn what God expected of me as a Christian man. I had no observable men in my life to follow or imitate. I have read most all the "manly" books over the years to assist my understanding of the matter of what God expects of a man giving his life to Christ. I have been the "Man in the Mirror" and wished to be the "warrior in the mountains," but Rich Wagner has expressed the biblical basis for us to seek and live the Christian life, I believe, as God wants all men to do. Our legacy will indicate just how well we accomplish this in that there will be generational Christians in our families, and as such I believe when we then get to Glory, one deep joy will be shared -- mine to be forever with Him, and His that I am there. . . .my four children and nine grandchildren will then pursue what they see of Christ in me.

Clint Frank, retired