For almost the last two years I've had coffee every Tuesday morning with a couple good friends of mine - other dads who each have 2 or 3 kids about the same age as mine. These guys really have it together in my opinion, and I've learn a lot from each of them about what it takes to be a "real man".
We've talked about raising kids, being better husbands, holding it together on the career front, and about every other topic you could imagine. Meeting with these guys is one of the highlights of my week!
We go through books together too. We've read Heaven by Randy Alcorn (who I went to church with through high school and college), A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey
by Brian McLaren (a very controversial book, which was the reason we chose it), and now it's my turn to pick our next book.
I heard Tim Kimmel speak at a marriage conference that my wife and I attended a few years ago through Family Matters, and I really liked his down-to-earth perspective on raising kids. His book titled "Grace Based Parenting" really challenged many of the guilt-based legalistic parenting habits I had picked up from my own childhood, and helped me get away from the "Helicopter Parent" mentality. You can read more about his book in my Recommended Reading section.
Tim recently published a book titled Raising Kids for True Greatness: Redefine Success for You and Your Child and it's going to be my recommendation for our next men's group book study. Here's the editorial review:
Sometimes greatness is measured by possessions or power and parents become preoccupied with raising "resume" and "pedigree" children. Yet true greatness is an internal evidence of attitudes and a heart known for humility, compassion, graciousness, and enthusiasm.
Author and speaker Dr. Tim Kimmel identifies the three most critical and life-changing decisions that will make the difference. According to Kimmel, preparing your children to determine what they will do (their mission), who they will do it with (their mate), and who they will do it for (their master) is the greatest gift you could give them.
Raising Kids for True Greatness will give parents a road map to guide their children toward rich lives of eternal value and significance.
What do you think guys? Would you be willing to make this the next book we read through together? 

