Fathered by God: Learning What Your Dad Could Never Teach You [Paperback]

John Eldredge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2009

There is a path leading to authentic manhood, cut by men who have gone before us, sons following in the footsteps of their fathers, generation after generation. There are perils along the trail, even disasters―all the more reason to rely on the guidance of a Father who has gone before.

But in an age when true fathers are in short supply, how do you find the path to manhood? How do you steer clear of the dangers?

John Eldredge calls men back to a simple and reassuring truth: God is our Father. In life's trials and triumphs, God is initiating boys and men through the stages of manhood from Beloved Son to Cowboy to Warrior to Lover to King to Sage.

Fathered by God maps out the path of manhood―not more rules, not another list of principles, not formulas, but a sure path men have followed for centuries before us.

Find that path and become the man God sees in you.

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; First Printing edition (April 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781400280278
• ISBN-13: 978-1400280278
• ASIN: 1400280273
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Eldredge is the director of Ransomed Heart™ Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Walking with God, Fathered by God, Waking the Dead, Desire, and Love & War (with his wife Stasi).

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; First Printing edition (April 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781400280278
• ISBN-13: 978-1400280278
• ASIN: 1400280273
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Eldredge is an author (you probably figured that out), a counselor, and teacher. He is also president of Ransomed Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own heart in his love, and learn to live in his Kingdom. John grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles (which he hated), and spent his boyhood summers on his grandfather's cattle ranch in eastern Oregon (which he loved). John met his wife Stasi in high school (in drama class). But their romance did not begin until they each came to faith in Christ, after high school. John earned his undergraduate degree in Theater at Cal Poly, and directed a theater company in Los Angeles for several years before moving to Colorado with Focus on the Family, where he taught at the Focus on the Family Institute.

John earned his master's degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University, under the direction of Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. He worked as a counselor in private practice before launching Ransomed Heart in 2000. John and Stasi live in Colorado Springs with their three sons (Samuel, Blaine and Luke), their golden retriever (Oban), and two horses (Whistle and Kokolo). While all of this is factually true, it somehow misses describing an actual person. He loves the outdoors passionately, and all beauty, Shakespeare, bow hunting, a good cigar, anything having to do with adventure, poetry, March Madness, working in the shop, fly fishing, classic rock, the Tetons, fish tacos, George MacDonald, green tea, buffalo steaks, dark chocolate, wild and open places, horses running, and too much more to name. He also uses the expression "far out" way too much.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#42 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#80 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#42 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#80 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fathered by God May 6, 2009

By R. Simons

Format:Paperback

Fathered by God is indeed a re-release of part of The Way of the Wild Heart. The Way of the Wild Heart was like two books (a book on being parented by God and then how, in turn, to be a parent to children). Because of the volume of material and confusion with the title Wild at Heart, another of John E's books, it has been split. Fathered by God is a product of that split--a book solely on being parented by God. The author's website is clear about this, but Amazon makes no mention and the publishers failed to put any information on the book. So yes, the book is not meant for those who have already read The Way of the Wild Heart, but is a focused version to help the book be more palatable to new readers.

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It Would Have Been Great... April 14, 2009

By David Lerner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

...if not for the fact that it's essentially The Way of the Wild Heart in paperback, with a few chapters removed from this version. It sure would have been great to know that before I ordered it. So I'm publishing this review, as a service to my fellow Amazon.com customers. If you've read The Way of the Wild Heart, then you've pretty much read this one, too...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great message, except it's repackaged. August 24, 2009

By Andrew Kennedy

Format:Paperback

This book is simply a re-release of The Way of the Wild Heart: A Map for the Masculine Journey When I received it and was anticipating something new, that is a bit of a let down. I wish I had read the reviews first. ;)
From the website: "In 2006 John released The Way of the Wild Heart--a deep and full book with guidance for men and for those raising boys. The title proved to be confusing; many people mistook it for Wild at Heart and missed out on it's contents. Fathered by God is a slimmer version of The Way of the Wild Heart and our hope is that the nine out of ten men who loved Wild at Heart but missed out on this message will discover it now, and discover in it all that they need to carry on the journey."

What this means is, if you have never read "Way of the Wild Heart" and aren't raising young men of your own, then this book is great, and you should definitely buy it.
But for those who, either read "Way of the Wild Heart" already or are raising their own men, get "Way of the Wild Heart" instead.

As for the text itself, it is exciting and absorbing. Reading it, one continuously gets that feeling of "Yes, that's what I wanted to say but I didn't know the words." It is encouraging and comforting. But it is also challenging, the message challenges you to stand up, grow up, and be a Man.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read and Powerful Message August 8, 2009

By Schnitz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have not read Eldredge's book "Way of the Wild Heart" so the material in this book was all pretty new to me. I am a pretty big fan of Eldredge's work especially his book "Wild At Heart." "Wild At Heart" has influenced my life more than any non-religious book I have ever read and I feel Eldredge has continued to masterfully pass his wisdom and insight in this book. Like he did in "Wild At Heart," this book just really speaks to a man's soul and helps him understand the path of manhood as God desinged it. There are so many "uninitiated men" (as Eldredge refers to them in this book) in our society because they have not been fathered and taught how to actually be men. This book really helps to give the reader insight into the areas where men in our society miss out on being initiated into true manhood. Not only does the book point out where we may have been wronged by our earthly fathers, but it gives the reader direction on where he needs to head in our journey towards God ordained manhood. I would highly reccommend this book to every man.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book every man needs to read July 8, 2011

By Sheriffe J. Oliver

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautiful writing on how our Father, God, intentionally engages us in a way our earthly fathers cannot. A must read for any man, no matter the age. It serves as a great gift as well! I've bought two copies for my future father in law and my best friend. I see myself buying more for other friends as well.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Men and God in true perspective February 5, 2010

By Richard H. Reeb Jr.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

John Eldredge made clear in a previous work, "Wild at Heart," that he sees a crisis in the Christian church caused by the absence of men in many congregations. His main argument in support of the need for men to return is to show them that they are not obliged to check their manhood at the church door. Indeed, Christ himself is shown to be far from the meek, submissive soul that his mistaken followers and secret antagonists make Him out to be. Eldredge carries forward that perspective by making the case in "Fathered by God" for God's shaping men in full accord with their created nature. That is, God really wants men to be men who lead but do not oppress, who fight but do not pillage, who advise but do not hector. Alternating references to Scripture with common-sense observations (many rooted in the Bible, particularly Proverbs), the author of this heartfelt work means to show men that they need not war with their own nature to serve God but to let the Holy Spirit show them how to make that nature serves God's beneficent purposes. Those belonging to churches where men are active and participating may wonder why Elder's work is necessary, but the undeniable fact of female dominated congregations in many instances--not to mention the crisis of male behavior in many of those churches to which they belong (alcoholism, drug addiction, spousal and child abuse, philandering and adultery, divorce and violent crime), should be proof enough. Highly recommended for Christian men, but all others too.