Modern society and the expectations of work and family have domesticated the Man and made him a weak, docile, bored shell of what God intends him to be. Eldredge makes the case that much of the reason why men are discontent, bored, uninspired, un-alive, and lukewarm (particularly as Christians) is because they are out of touch with the wild, adventurous, and manly instincts instilled in them by the creator. Its ideas are, in a sense, very appealing to (Christian, American) male sensibilities. I have a handful of friends who are strong believers in the message delivered in this book by John Eldredge.

He also uses the expression “far out” way too much. 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.

While all of this is factually true, it somehow misses describing an actual person. 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). He worked as a counselor in private practice before launching Ransomed Heart in 2000.

John earned his master’s degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University, under the direction of Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. 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. But their romance did not begin until they each came to faith in Christ, after high school. John met his wife Stasi in high school (in drama class). 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). 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 Eldredge is an author (you probably figured that out), a counselor, and teacher.

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