
A Rector's Recommendations
For August:
Parenting
1. Parenting Toward the Kingdom - Philip Mamalakis
The best book on parenting I’ve read. Mamalakis offers a unique synthesis of ‘Love and Logic’ principles and the ancient wisdom of Eastern Orthodoxy. I’d never read anything quite like it before, but greatly appreciated the winsomeness of Mamalakis’ grace-filled, virtue-driven, kingdom perspective on parenting.
2. How a Man Prays for His Family - John Yates
Having grown up in a context where I rarely saw men praying, I felt lost, inadequate, and
bewildered when my own children arrived, with almost no framework for what Christian
fatherhood should look like. In that moment of panic, I stumbled across this book as manna from heaven and found it to be truly transformational. Incidentally, Yates is one of Anglicanism’s elder statesmen, whose own children have grown up to be strong Christian leaders. The proof is in the pudding.
3. Visionary Parenting - Rob Rienow
An exceptional and challenging book, Rienow relentlessly drives home the key questions – what is the purpose of your parenting, does it align with the clear call of God’s Word, and if not, how do you begin to change? With remarkable honesty about his own failures, Rienow challenges us to get our houses in order—and then provides the tools for doing so.
4. The Intentional Father - Jon Tyson
An extraordinary book on fatherhood. I was blown away by Tyson’s creative and single-minded pursuit of exceptional fatherhood. Inspiring and deeply convicting, Tyson expanded my horizons of what is possible.
5. Habits of the Household - Justin Earley
The best book I’ve found on establishing transformational rhythms in the home. It is also an uplifting and encouraging read that not only informs but stimulates growth.
6. Disciplines of a Godly Family - Kent Hughes
A close second to Earley’s book, but from an earlier generation. Well worth reading.
7. Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions - George Barna
An excellent, data-driven book on Christian parenting, Barna takes a deep dive into what the research tells us about what actually ‘works’ in Christian parenting—especially in terms of how the faith is passed from one generation to the next. Honestly, I was surprised by how simple it is. We DON’T need to be rocket scientists or theologians to be good Christian parents!
8. The Tech-wise Family - Andy Crouch
At a time when proliferating technology threatens to overwhelm families in a barrage of
sparkling screens, Crouch helps us to see the subtle but significant implications of our daily
decisions around technology and invites us to engage technology with Godly discernment. A book filled with practical wisdom.
9. Letters from Dad - Greg Vaughn
A poignant reflection on the power of writing letters to our children. I’m grateful I stumbled across it in the early years of my parenting.
10. The Mystery of Children - Mike Mason
A beautiful series of meditations on how parenting can (almost sacramentally) open our eyes to the character of God.
11. Boundaries with Kids - Henry Cloud and John Townsend
An excellent book on how we can patiently and purposefully help our kids to embrace lifestyles marked by good boundaries and healthy responsibility.
12. Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views - Timothy Paul Jones
Not a book on parenting per se, but an exceedingly helpful conceptual map for orienting, and then navigating, the different philosophies of family ministry found in the local church.
