2013 by Ed Tandy McGlasson
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-4230-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations labeled Message are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published in association with the literary agency of D.C. Jacobson & Associates, an Author Management Company, www.dcjacobson.com.
There are countless men and women today suffering from the painful effects of growing up without a father in their lives. I understand that pain! But in The Father Youve Always Wanted, Ed Tandy McGlasson helps readers understand the healing and hope found in God, our heavenly Father.
Jim Daly , president, Focus on the Family
The strongest form of motivation is encouragement. Everyone needs to be encouraged constantly. The Father Youve Always Wanted will motivate you to bless, encourage, and rally the people in your life. It is a healing book, full of remediesa must read.
Bill McCartney , founder and chairman emeritus, Promise Keepers
I wish I could pass this book out to every dad I know. Ed is passionate about helping men become all they were meant to be. This book is a compelling read with very practical insight. Ed is one of my most favorite authorities on fathering and men issues.
Jim Burns , PhD, president, HomeWord; author, Creating an Intimate Marriage and Confident Parenting
Thanks, Ed, for writing this book. Performance-based approval is the story of my life, and when you said, Performance-based approval is one of Satans greatest weapons, it hit home. Sadly I could look back and see that probably far too often I had unknowingly done the same things to my son as my dad did to me in how I reacted to various situations. The good news is this is a book of hope in that there is a Father who loves usunconditionally. And it is never too late. I would encourage anyone who has ever felt they had to earn the love of their parents by their performance to read this book!
Jim West , cofounder and managing partner, The Barnabas Group
Absolutely life changing! Whether you feel youve failed as a father, or youve suffered from a harsh father who did not bless you, its never too late. In the pages of this book, McGlasson maps a path to hope and healing. I pray that this book gets into the hands of every person who has never heard the words You are my beloved.
Ron Strand , founder, The Upper Room Presents
WOW! Unbelievably powerful is an understatement in how I would describe this treasure of a read. Within the first few chapters, through my tears, I said to myself, Every person on the face of the planet needs to hear this message! The Father Youve Always Wanted is a powerhouse and a must read. Its profound truth and penetrating impact has been deeply imbedded into the recesses of my heart, never to be forgotten. Outstanding, Ed, simply outstanding! May God continue to shine his face and blessings upon you, my friend.
Debbie Rasa , owner/partner, Rasa Floors, LLC
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction: We Need the Fathers Blessing
1. A Fathers Blessing, and Why We Need It
2. The Narrow Horizon of My Fathers House
3. Never Too Late to Be Blessed
4. What Did Your Father Name You?
5. The Father You Always Wanted
6. No More Orphans
7. The Trap of Making a Name for Yourself
8. Meeting My Father
9. What Does the Father Think about Me?
10. The Difference of a Present Mom and Dad
11. Building a House with Gods Smile
Epilogue: The Fathers Game Plan to Winning Back Your Family
Notes
About the Author
Back Ad
Back Cover
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my team at ETM Ministries for their prayer, support, wisdom, and love as we have together brought this message to tens of thousands of people these past years. Special thanks to Jimmy, Dac, Ron, Greg, Doug, Wayne, and their amazing wives.
To Pam and Duffy, who encouraged me to communicate this message with excellence to a bigger audience.
To all my friends who have encouraged me to never stop sharing this message, and to Michael and Debbie Rasa, who have given away hundreds of copies of my first book to their friends that helped make this book possible.
I want to thank my assistant, Mary Pero, for her tireless editing and gift of writing. Your passion, insights, and gifts have added so much to this work.
To all of the churches, events, and conferences that have given me a place to share this message, thank you.
To my community at the Stadium Vineyard, who have walked with me these past twenty years as I was learning how to be fathered by God, thank you.
I want to also thank my agent Don Jacobson and editor David Jacobson for their support and brilliant work as we sat in a room and laid out this manuscript. Your friendship and encouragement have stretched me to become a better communicator.
I want to thank my new team at Baker Publishing Group for not only getting this message but also for your commitment to bring healing to those still stuck in the wounds of their father.
Finally, I want to thank You, Jesus, for introducing me to the Father I have always wanted. No wonder You lived with a smile on Your face. J
Introduction
We Need the Fathers Blessing
Did you know that there is a castle in Southern California? The Castle, home and headquarters of Teen Challenge of Southern California, a ministry that provides faith-based solutions to teen addictions, isnt like the castles of Europe that youve seen in movies, full of knights and nobles. Instead, this castle is filled with spiritual orphans who have never known the love and blessing of a father.
I have enjoyed the privilege of speaking at many different venues these past years, but to tell you the truth, I have never witnessed the kind of hunger I saw one night in the Castle. It was clear from the first worship song that the room was filled with a gratitude that comes to those whose lives have been rescued from the gutter.
Tears were flowing soon after I began speaking that night. At the end of the message, I asked the crowd, How many of you did not have a father who knew how to love and bless you? There was a sea of hands all over the room, and before I finished the invitation to come forward, they rushed the stage. How many of these young lives had been set adrift because of not having a loving father? What they needed was a new Father, and Jesus came to give them that relationship.
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