I just finished reading The Map by David Murrow, and you know what? I really enjoyed it. It was an easy read and the authors writing style is such really sucks you in from the introduction. He’s a great story teller. (probably from all his experience as a TV producer)

Because of my relation to Ed Cole and our family ministry the Christian Men’s Network, men’s ministry is very close to my heart. I try to read every new book I can on the subject, most of the time begrudgingly.To be honest, sometimes I feel like they’re usually pretty repetitive. They are either encourage men to get back to their roots and become a Christian “Man’s Man” or they shift to the complete opposite and want us all to get in touch with our “Bride of Christ” side, which most of the time means lots of time spent getting in touch with my emotional side and at least at one point forgiving my Dad for something. (which doesn’t help me because I have a great dad).

What I liked about this book without giving away anything in it, because it really is worth reading and finding this all out for yourself, is that the author explores both aspects and them helps to find a place in the middle for normal guys like me. And all this from exploring Jesus’ life from the Gospel of Matthew.

Yes the book talks about submission, emotions, sacrifice, forgiveness and being a “Man’s Man”, but it also explores some of the areas in between that very rarely get talked about. This book sucked me in. I thought about scriptures and stories from Jesus’ life that I had read hundreds of times but never in the context of His journey as a man.

Was this the greatest men’s book I’ve ever read? No, I’m still pretty partial to Maximized Manhood, but “The Map” not one I would recommend skipping. I could probably base an entire year of men’s ministry on this one book.