As a 40 year old man who has been...back..in church now for 11 years, I found myself over the past 5 years wondering...is there more to this than just hugging and being friendly all the time? Chapter 20 sounds like I wrote it. I would bet that 99% of guys that read it will read Chapter 20 and feel the same way. This book has inspired me to become even more involved with the mens group at my church and to explore the scriptures even deeper than I'd thought. Let's just say, it's given me the direction I've been looking for for about 5 years! And isn't that what a map does best?

Top notch book! There is definitely a need for all men (lost or saved, young or old) to read this book. There currenlty is a "Men-assiance" going on in the culture, and there is need of one beginning in our churches as well. The "three journeys" was very informative and enlightning. I can see how my own spiritual journey falls in line with the journey/map concept!! This is a must read for both pastors and laymen.

As I read the reviews before mine, I see the perspective of each reader, and I have my own as well. I am a not a pastor, nor have I attended any formal bible training. All of my knowledge about my faith, has come through bible studies and mentors throughout the years (I accepted Christ in my life a little over 10 years ago). When you read in Genesis, when God created, man was made in the 'wilderness'. He was formed of the clay, and the Lord breathed His spirit into man. Then man was moved to the Garden of Eden. There, man named the creatures and plants of the earth, and tended the garden. Then God said, it is not good for man to be alone. He created woman, of the man. To me the differences between men are women are about how/where we were created.To discover this three phase journey, or three journeys was a real eye opener for me. Any insights into the motivations of the authors of bible books, is always a good practice. I had not heard that the book of Matthew was broken into sections, nor that they corresponded with 'journeys'.I love the way that David Murrow has put together this book, the fictional intro is an excellent way to get the story across. If the story had just been presented in a matter-of-fact way that most books on the subject are, it may not be as popular, or as effective.I am part of the Men's Ministry Ledership Team at my church, and this book will be part of the recommended reading list.

I love how Dave Murrow wrapped the first part of this book in a thriller type novel. He managed to pull me in by the eyeballs. The first time I started reading I couldn't put it down - literally. I looked up and realized that I'd been reading for about 2 hours, and it was now WAY past my bedtime. Mr. Murrow does an amazing job of painting a much clearer picture of why men in today's churches are so disengaged from the masculine heart that God placed within them. The author uses the metaphor of a map leading toward a destination at the top of a mountain - something most men relate to quite well. We are after-all visual in nature. The problem Mr. Murrow identified is that most men either don't know there is a path to authentic Biblical manhood, or they have stalled on the path in a place that has left them incomplete, ineffective, and certainly not compelling. No wonder they don't get asked, "Tell me about the hope that lies within you." I'm sharing this book with every Christian man that I know. Thank you David Murrow, well done!

The Map, by David Murrow, is a great book for men everywhere. It reveals a long-ignored life pattern found in the Gospel of Matthew. The first half of the book is a fictional journey in which the author spins a tale of intrigue concerning how he first discovered the map, that is the pattern of life. The map consists of three journeys, which occur in life, and also as seen in the life of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. The first journey is the journey of submission, as displayed in Christ's life in Matthew 1-7. The second journey is that of strength, as demonstrated in Matthew 8-25. The final journey is that of sacrifice, as displayed in Matthew 26-28. The author uses a diagram of a mountain to illustrate this: on the left side of the mountain is femininity, and on the right is masculinity. In the first journey of submission, which usually occurs in a man's life as he goes through childhood and young adulthood, he is moving toward the feminine side of the mountain. As he moves into the second journey, he moves back toward the masculine side of the mountain. Finally, in the journey of sacrifice, he moves up the mountain and more towards a balance between the masculine and feminine. While the journeys are never truly completed, i.e, one can begin before another ends, unlike a physical journey. Morrow also points out that this pattern of the three journeys can be seen in other Biblical characters, such as Moses, King David, and the Apostle Paul. They can also be seen in secular culture, such as in movies, television and literature. In this book Morrow also points out a weakness in many churches: they are more geared toward women and more feminine that masculine, so many men get bored in attending church. The Map was a response to this partly, and partly an attempt to help men on their spiritual journey, no matter what stage of their journey they are on. There is much to be found in this book, for both men and women.