Letters to Our Next Generation: Life Lessons from a Father to His Sons For Their Years of Early Adulthood - Softcover

Cohee, Lane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1456539191 ISBN 13: 9781456539191

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011

Synopsis

Shortly after my oldest son Chase turned 14, he tested for his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. The motto of his school is, “Black Belt Earned, Never Given.” True to their word, they put him through several hours of challenges, testing all the skills he’d developed over the previous five years. Like me at his age, he was still fairly small which made the physical tests even more difficult. But, after he persevered, I realized he was much closer to being a young man than a boy any longer.The realization of our children passing into young adulthood comes to fathers in unique and diverse ways. But when it comes, most of us realize that no matter how many life lessons we’ve taught them and how well they’ve responded, there’s much more left to teach than there is time together to teach it. As I’ve entered mid-life, I’ve realized that no period of time shaped my life more prominently than my late teens and early 20s. The decisions I made during that period had more impact on the direction of my life than any other. Ironically, it seems that it's during that period of life that our children need the wisdom they won’t naturally acquire until later.That’s where we fathers are supposed to help, and that’s part of our calling. As I pondered this reality in my relationship with Chase, I became increasingly convicted that I needed to write him a roadmap for those transitional years. At mid-life, we often joke about how we wished we’d known then what we know now (and I’m sure we’ll say the same thing in 20 more years). But, what if, as parents, we were intentional about providing our children the breadcrumbs that could lead them past some of the minefields of our youth? What if, as parents, we wrote our children “messages in a bottle,” that they might only partially understand now, but might more fully understand as they entered the experiences of young adulthood?I published Letters to Our Next Generation in hopes that the letters might inspire other fathers to write their own philosophy of life, their own experiences, and their own wisdom for their children. Letters may be a helpful starter, guide, or even template, but they are not meant to replace any man’s unique story or style. Instead, I am hopeful that more fathers, and mothers alike, will realize the benefit of writing their own letters – letters that may follow from generation to generation—and letters your children will treasure because of the sacrifice and personal deposit you have left them. They are not meant to replace personal time, but they can be messages lasting long beyond the earthly experience you have together.CONTENTS* Introduction: To Christian Fathers* To My Sons* Rings of the Circle* The Inner Ring: Knowing Yourself* The Inner Ring: Idols* The Inner Ring: Idol Detection* The Inner Ring: The Path of Identity* The Inner Ring: Journeying the Path of Identity* The Inner Ring: Identity Killers – Fear* The Inner Ring: Identity Killers – Shame* The Inner Ring: Your Thought Life* The Inner Ring: Character* The Inner Ring: Character Traits* The Middle Ring: Relationships* The Middle Ring: Dating* The Middle Ring: Purity* The Middle Ring: God's Choice for You* The Middle Ring: The Calling of a Husband* The Middle Ring: Friendship* The Middle Ring: Discipleship* The Middle Ring: Making Disciples* The Outer Ring: Calling* The Outer Ring: Learning and Education* The Outer Ring: Skills for Any Profession* The Outer Ring: Leadership* The Outer Ring: Leadership Directions* The Outer Ring: Service and Ministry* The Outer Ring: Money* The Outer Ring: Rest and Balance* The Seasons of Life

About this title

About the Author

Lane Cohee was educated at the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Redlands, and the University of Colorado. He currently works as a program manager for defense communications systems. Lane is a teacher and ministry leader, currently serving at University Presbyterian Church in Orlando Florida. Since 1992, he has taught formal classes, retreats, and conferences on over 20 different topics ranging from theology and apologetics to Christian living, leadership, financial stewardship, marriage, and parenting. He has also led strategic planning teams for several churches in Colorado and Florida. Lane and Cheryl were married in 1987, and currently live in Indialantic, Florida with their three sons, Chase, Cale, and Chane. Prior to moving to Florida in 2004, he and his family resided in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1456539191
• ISBN 13: 9781456539191
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Nordyke Kevin
• Number of pages: 116
• Editor: Grant Jennifer