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The Christian Husband's Handbook: Constantly Pursuing the Treasure You Hold
A marriage can thrive when the husband constantly pursues his wife, seeking to win—again—what he already her heart! Through his constant pursuit, a man of God emulates the consistent, gentle pursuit of the Holy Spirit in his own life. The Christian Husband’s Handbook challenges the reader to pursue full Christlike masculinity by embracing sacrificial servant leadership in his home. This book offers a fresh perspective on marriage and family living, supported by a bibliography of almost 120 recently published sources.
The Handbook features two unique sections at the end of each
1. “Listen to the Lady” offers a woman’s reflection on the topics; her thoughts enrich and illustrate the chapter’s content in a unique way.
2. “Deal with It,” a four-part application section at the end of each chapter, invites the reader to grow as a husband and father by reading additional sources, thinking-reflecting on their content, and then praying about, and acting on, the chapter’s primary message.
Both authors firmly believe that Christian homes should be places of laughter, joy, and growth as men of God constantly pursue the treasure they already hold.
The Handbook features two unique sections at the end of each
1. “Listen to the Lady” offers a woman’s reflection on the topics; her thoughts enrich and illustrate the chapter’s content in a unique way.
2. “Deal with It,” a four-part application section at the end of each chapter, invites the reader to grow as a husband and father by reading additional sources, thinking-reflecting on their content, and then praying about, and acting on, the chapter’s primary message.
Both authors firmly believe that Christian homes should be places of laughter, joy, and growth as men of God constantly pursue the treasure they already hold.
168 pages, Paperback
Published January 22, 2020
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August 2, 2020
The Christian Husband’s Handbook by Marvin Gilbert
The title of this insightful book describes the topic well, and the sub-title succinctly reveals the main theme: constantly pursuing the treasure you hold. Marvin Gilbert states clearly that the purpose of this handbook is to value the wonderful treasure that a dedicated wife bestows, and the importance of pursuing and seeking that treasure. He reinforces that husbands should constantly pursue what they already have. It is a lifetime’s pursuit, as he sagely advised his son: “Never try to win a woman’s heart unless you are willing to take care of it once you have it.” Gilbert stresses the importance of careful observation and research in understanding the moods and needs of our treasured wife, cautioning that casual ignorance is not an option.
The entire text is based firmly on Christian scriptures, with Peter’s “high impact” verse a prime example: 1 Peter 3:7. But there are many humorous treats: the writer’s focus on the application of deep thoughts is frequently interrupted with splendid flashes of humour. Gilbert reflects on the unconventional names that God told Hosea to give his children with, “Calling their children in at dinner time must have made quite an impact on the neighbours.” Even pithy gems in the footnotes can unexpectedly delight the astute reader: “Mothers call it labor; newborns would call it horrific, face-smashing contortion if they could stop crying long enough.” One more example: challenging us to describe our best friend, he asks if it would be the camouflaged, shotgun-toting guy beside us in the duck blind, or the warm, loving woman who adopted our last name and shares our bed?
Refreshing thoughts on dealing with inevitable change (in both spouses) are likened to pursuing a moving target. The quality of a marriage generally reflects the quality of a husband's pursuit. Living with her according to knowledge is superior to self-absorbed ignorance and the ensuing “painful, unexpected surprises.” The author admits that he eschews those surprises!
This handbook might well be described as a marriage operating manual, with the multiple footnotes and extensive bibliography. The reader is continually challenged by perceptive questions and activities at the end of each chapter. These are presented under the rubric, DEAL WITH IT, in sections including Read and View, Think it through, Pray it through, and Act on it. Dipping into those numerous references – many with one’s wife in a joint study program – reveals an eclectic range of insights and formats, ranging from a contemporary adaptation of the Hound of Heaven to didactic presentations on specific sub-topics and significant religious themes.
Dr. Gilbert offers frank and practical advice in a clear but discreet manner. He tackles tough topics in a nuanced way, but we know what he’s talking about! He stresses that, “A woman who knows she is deeply loved and safe within her marriage is an amazing gift to her husband,” and continues, “She is a a live-in heath benefit, at least as good as an anti-depressant and capable of extending your life by years.” As a husband who has known his wife for 62 years, I can attest to that truth!
Elsewhere, Gilbert reveals that happy wives are motivated to keep their husbands happy, and he points to research indicating that strong marriages are sources of profound, multidimensional blessings for both husbands and wives.
We are admonished to: Thank God for our wives by committing in prayer to continue our gentle-constant pursuit of this great treasure in our lives.
The author’s prose is laced with thoughtful irony. This is sometimes surprising and – at the same time – perceptibly instructive. For example, writing of Jesus’ servant-leader role, Marvin Gilbert imaginatively describes the scene: “Wrapped in a servant’s towel, he knelt to wash twenty-four dirty feet, including two that would soon carry the owner into utter darkness and betrayal.”
Each chapter contains additional profound insights presented in the Listen to the Lady sections. Professor Amy George supplements Dr. Gilbert’s analyses with unique counterpoints and a further development of several topics from a woman’s perspective. These frequently emphasize effective communication and notable aspects of the wider family and relationships with children in Christian marriages.
This jam-packed volume deserves to be widely distributed, read, appreciated, and its sage advice followed. I highly commend this thorough and detailed work. Its numerous teachings will be of immense benefit and practical help to readers. Christian husbands are the prime target, but the wisdom is universally applicable and an appreciation of the essential truths would be of value to all men who desire deeply meaningful, longterm marriages.
Keith Brown
The title of this insightful book describes the topic well, and the sub-title succinctly reveals the main theme: constantly pursuing the treasure you hold. Marvin Gilbert states clearly that the purpose of this handbook is to value the wonderful treasure that a dedicated wife bestows, and the importance of pursuing and seeking that treasure. He reinforces that husbands should constantly pursue what they already have. It is a lifetime’s pursuit, as he sagely advised his son: “Never try to win a woman’s heart unless you are willing to take care of it once you have it.” Gilbert stresses the importance of careful observation and research in understanding the moods and needs of our treasured wife, cautioning that casual ignorance is not an option.
The entire text is based firmly on Christian scriptures, with Peter’s “high impact” verse a prime example: 1 Peter 3:7. But there are many humorous treats: the writer’s focus on the application of deep thoughts is frequently interrupted with splendid flashes of humour. Gilbert reflects on the unconventional names that God told Hosea to give his children with, “Calling their children in at dinner time must have made quite an impact on the neighbours.” Even pithy gems in the footnotes can unexpectedly delight the astute reader: “Mothers call it labor; newborns would call it horrific, face-smashing contortion if they could stop crying long enough.” One more example: challenging us to describe our best friend, he asks if it would be the camouflaged, shotgun-toting guy beside us in the duck blind, or the warm, loving woman who adopted our last name and shares our bed?
Refreshing thoughts on dealing with inevitable change (in both spouses) are likened to pursuing a moving target. The quality of a marriage generally reflects the quality of a husband's pursuit. Living with her according to knowledge is superior to self-absorbed ignorance and the ensuing “painful, unexpected surprises.” The author admits that he eschews those surprises!
This handbook might well be described as a marriage operating manual, with the multiple footnotes and extensive bibliography. The reader is continually challenged by perceptive questions and activities at the end of each chapter. These are presented under the rubric, DEAL WITH IT, in sections including Read and View, Think it through, Pray it through, and Act on it. Dipping into those numerous references – many with one’s wife in a joint study program – reveals an eclectic range of insights and formats, ranging from a contemporary adaptation of the Hound of Heaven to didactic presentations on specific sub-topics and significant religious themes.
Dr. Gilbert offers frank and practical advice in a clear but discreet manner. He tackles tough topics in a nuanced way, but we know what he’s talking about! He stresses that, “A woman who knows she is deeply loved and safe within her marriage is an amazing gift to her husband,” and continues, “She is a a live-in heath benefit, at least as good as an anti-depressant and capable of extending your life by years.” As a husband who has known his wife for 62 years, I can attest to that truth!
Elsewhere, Gilbert reveals that happy wives are motivated to keep their husbands happy, and he points to research indicating that strong marriages are sources of profound, multidimensional blessings for both husbands and wives.
We are admonished to: Thank God for our wives by committing in prayer to continue our gentle-constant pursuit of this great treasure in our lives.
The author’s prose is laced with thoughtful irony. This is sometimes surprising and – at the same time – perceptibly instructive. For example, writing of Jesus’ servant-leader role, Marvin Gilbert imaginatively describes the scene: “Wrapped in a servant’s towel, he knelt to wash twenty-four dirty feet, including two that would soon carry the owner into utter darkness and betrayal.”
Each chapter contains additional profound insights presented in the Listen to the Lady sections. Professor Amy George supplements Dr. Gilbert’s analyses with unique counterpoints and a further development of several topics from a woman’s perspective. These frequently emphasize effective communication and notable aspects of the wider family and relationships with children in Christian marriages.
This jam-packed volume deserves to be widely distributed, read, appreciated, and its sage advice followed. I highly commend this thorough and detailed work. Its numerous teachings will be of immense benefit and practical help to readers. Christian husbands are the prime target, but the wisdom is universally applicable and an appreciation of the essential truths would be of value to all men who desire deeply meaningful, longterm marriages.
Keith Brown
Displaying 1 of 1 review