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Bold Man Of God #4
Real Valor: A Charge to Nurture and Protect Your Family
We need to take a long, hard look at Boaz. He was an average Joe—but God was at work in every circumstance of his life, not only for him, but for generations of his children yet to come. By the way, that’s exactly what the Lord is doing in your life. Boaz became a part of the greatest story in history when he made his decision to marry Ruth. In a culture that deflates masculinity and reflects the sad state of fatherhood in our world today, Boaz stands as an example of true biblical manhood. In the pages of Real Valor, Steve Farrar’s third installment in the Bold Men of God series, find the courage to rise up and shepherd your family in the way of Boaz.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
18 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Steve Farrar
45 books54 followersSteve Farrar is the founder of Men’s Leadership Ministries. He holds a Master’s degree from Western Seminary, and an earned doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary. Steve is the author of the best-selling book, Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family, God Built, Battle Ready, and True Courage. Steve Farrar resides in Texas with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 1, 2015
Stretching the scriptures make some good points
Steve Farrar already knew the masculine qualities he wanted to promote and then found those qualities in a very liberal reading of the book of Ruth. But reading past the eisegetical approach, it was possible to find so good nuggets of insight.
When I decided to read the book it was not because I was looking for another "how to be a real godly man" book, so I'm probably not the target audience. I was delivering a study on the book of Ruth.
The qualities and characteristics he ascribes to all of the characters in the book must be taken with a grain of salt, as he reads a lot into them that is not evident in the text or even in the cultural context.
Steve Farrar already knew the masculine qualities he wanted to promote and then found those qualities in a very liberal reading of the book of Ruth. But reading past the eisegetical approach, it was possible to find so good nuggets of insight.
When I decided to read the book it was not because I was looking for another "how to be a real godly man" book, so I'm probably not the target audience. I was delivering a study on the book of Ruth.
The qualities and characteristics he ascribes to all of the characters in the book must be taken with a grain of salt, as he reads a lot into them that is not evident in the text or even in the cultural context.
July 8, 2017
Farrar has a passion for leading men. He has been at it a long time. Lots of his example of men he looks at as brave and commendable are from WWII. This book starts out with a story about Jackie Cooper. Cooper did not know his father. When he was driving across the country he stopped in a gas station and the attendant was telling him how his dad lived in the apartment above the station. Cooper did not want to see him because he was worried it would confuse him since the attendant was telling him how proud his dad was and how there were newspaper clippings all over the place about him. So apparently his dad loved him but not enough to stick around and be apart of his life.
Farrar tells us to not be white bread fathers. By this, he means white bread looks good on the outside but is filled with empty calories. He talks of traditional bread and how it has nutrients and sustenance. White bread does not. So don’t be a white bread father. Don’t look good on the outside but provide nothing of sustenance for your family.
This book runs us through the book of Ruth and describes Boaz and what a great man of God he was. Before jumping in to talk about Boaz, we learn about Elimelek. He was Naomi’s husband and when the famine got bad he up and left for the area known as Moab. Farrer points ou that we need to Make your decision before things get bad because otherwise, you may make a poor decision in haste.
Borrowing from who Boaz was, Farrar points to examples of a man, father, and husband should look like.
A few quotes that stood out to me:
“America is in moral and spiritual decline – and your favorite candidate or political party isn’t going to fix it. ”
“People somehow concluded that it would give God more glory if they were preachers instead of plumbers. That’s a crock. God has given you gifts what are they? Use your gifts for his glory.””We’ve got more information that
“We’ve got more information than we know what to do with. But what we are lacking isn’t information; it’s perspective.”
Farrar tells us to not be white bread fathers. By this, he means white bread looks good on the outside but is filled with empty calories. He talks of traditional bread and how it has nutrients and sustenance. White bread does not. So don’t be a white bread father. Don’t look good on the outside but provide nothing of sustenance for your family.
This book runs us through the book of Ruth and describes Boaz and what a great man of God he was. Before jumping in to talk about Boaz, we learn about Elimelek. He was Naomi’s husband and when the famine got bad he up and left for the area known as Moab. Farrer points ou that we need to Make your decision before things get bad because otherwise, you may make a poor decision in haste.
Borrowing from who Boaz was, Farrar points to examples of a man, father, and husband should look like.
A few quotes that stood out to me:
“America is in moral and spiritual decline – and your favorite candidate or political party isn’t going to fix it. ”
“People somehow concluded that it would give God more glory if they were preachers instead of plumbers. That’s a crock. God has given you gifts what are they? Use your gifts for his glory.””We’ve got more information that
“We’ve got more information than we know what to do with. But what we are lacking isn’t information; it’s perspective.”
February 12, 2025
I've loved everything I've previously read from Steve Farrar (Pointman, Anchorman, King Me) and this book was no different.
Real Valor takes a look at the book of Ruth (or as Steve calls it the book of Boaz) and highlights how the Christ-like characteristics of the life of Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, should be emulated in our lives as believers. He also thoroughly shows the failures of Elimelech, and how we can avoid the same mistakes.
Steve keeps your attention throughout the whole book by weaving in personal and historical stories of failure and God directed moments. Steve has a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud a few times, but then also has me squirming as he hits on an area where I'm failing.
I really enjoyed this book. Don't go into this book expecting it to be a complete commentary of the book of Ruth, but rather as looking at the characteristics of the life of Boaz and Elimilech.
Steve finished his race on this earth in 2022 as a faithful man. His inspiring funeral service can be found on Youtube.
Real Valor takes a look at the book of Ruth (or as Steve calls it the book of Boaz) and highlights how the Christ-like characteristics of the life of Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, should be emulated in our lives as believers. He also thoroughly shows the failures of Elimelech, and how we can avoid the same mistakes.
Steve keeps your attention throughout the whole book by weaving in personal and historical stories of failure and God directed moments. Steve has a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud a few times, but then also has me squirming as he hits on an area where I'm failing.
I really enjoyed this book. Don't go into this book expecting it to be a complete commentary of the book of Ruth, but rather as looking at the characteristics of the life of Boaz and Elimilech.
Steve finished his race on this earth in 2022 as a faithful man. His inspiring funeral service can be found on Youtube.
July 17, 2013
Steve Farrar in his new book, “Real Valor” published by David C. Cook gives us A Charge to Nurture and Protect Your Family.
From the Back Cover: It takes a real man to raise a family.
We need to take a long, hard look at Boaz. He was an average Joe—but God was at work in every circumstance of his life, not only for him, but for generations of his children yet to come.
By the way, that’s exactly what the Lord is doing in your life.
Boaz became a part of the greatest story in history when he made his decision to marry Ruth. In a culture that deflates masculinity and reflects the sad state of fatherhood in our world today, Boaz stands as an example of true biblical manhood. In the pages of Real Valor, Steve Farrar’s third installment in the Bold Men of God series, find the courage to rise up and shepherd your family in the way of Boaz.
There is no Bible book of Boaz. However there is the book of Ruth. Boaz doesn’t even appear in this book until chapter two, but when he does he rescues two women who are in desperate financial straits with absolutely no options to improve their lives. And then Boaz shows up to save their lives. The character of Boaz is a type of Christ. Steve Farrar does an excellent job of showing us Boaz then and how he reflects Christ and then shows us how we, as men today, can be more like Boaz. ”Real Valor” is a must have book. By doing this in-depth look at Boaz Mr. Farrar shows us what it is like to be a Boaz man. This is a book for all men. It is a tool to help us focus on what really matters to God. I recommend this book highly!
You can find “Real Valor” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/fa...
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from David C. Cook for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the Back Cover: It takes a real man to raise a family.
We need to take a long, hard look at Boaz. He was an average Joe—but God was at work in every circumstance of his life, not only for him, but for generations of his children yet to come.
By the way, that’s exactly what the Lord is doing in your life.
Boaz became a part of the greatest story in history when he made his decision to marry Ruth. In a culture that deflates masculinity and reflects the sad state of fatherhood in our world today, Boaz stands as an example of true biblical manhood. In the pages of Real Valor, Steve Farrar’s third installment in the Bold Men of God series, find the courage to rise up and shepherd your family in the way of Boaz.
There is no Bible book of Boaz. However there is the book of Ruth. Boaz doesn’t even appear in this book until chapter two, but when he does he rescues two women who are in desperate financial straits with absolutely no options to improve their lives. And then Boaz shows up to save their lives. The character of Boaz is a type of Christ. Steve Farrar does an excellent job of showing us Boaz then and how he reflects Christ and then shows us how we, as men today, can be more like Boaz. ”Real Valor” is a must have book. By doing this in-depth look at Boaz Mr. Farrar shows us what it is like to be a Boaz man. This is a book for all men. It is a tool to help us focus on what really matters to God. I recommend this book highly!
You can find “Real Valor” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/fa...
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from David C. Cook for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 4, 2016
If you want a good look at manly men profiles, this is a decent book. However, it is not because this book is based on the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. Most of what Farrar has to say is worth reading, if you can forget that he is basing it out of the book of Ruth. The book was not intended to exegete Ruth, but Farrar does claim a lot about the character of Boaz that he could not possibly know. He proves this at times when he takes extreme liberties saying what happened behind the scenes and about the character of Boaz and in turn Elimelech.
It's a book of general wisdom that is good, but if you aren't strong in hermeneutics I would not read this book because it could confuse how you read the book of Ruth.
It's a book of general wisdom that is good, but if you aren't strong in hermeneutics I would not read this book because it could confuse how you read the book of Ruth.
September 4, 2015
This book is one of a line of books by Steve that teach men to be men. This one looks at the life of Boaz and how even through time times he trusted the Lord. He goes into detail of how Boaz was a man who trusted God through thick and thin. Who always did was right and didn't take shortcuts to get there. Any guy who wants to understand more what is looks like to be a godly man should read this book. It also strengths your faith by seeing how God can take the worst of circumstances and turn them into amazing stories of his great faithfulness.
December 3, 2015
Very inspiring
It is so amazing how the act of giving your life to God and trusting him to lead you on the path that you are destined to be on has been the same throughout the ages!
It is so amazing how the act of giving your life to God and trusting him to lead you on the path that you are destined to be on has been the same throughout the ages!
April 15, 2024
Great book, even better second time through… and still a good read (and a recommended read) the third time through…
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews