In the foreword, Randy Phillips, President of Promise Keepers, makes clear that Promise Keepers is not into short-term deals; it's not a spectator sport designed to give life a little boost before going back to the same old stuff. The purpose of this book "is to lay out life-changing goals for every Christian man and help you get started in the process."
One of the first things people need to do if they want to make real change is to think long term-What will it be like in a year . . . five years . . . ten years? Bill McCartney, writing the first chapter, tells readers why he resigned as coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. It was due to a sermon he heard in which the pastor asked a simple question: "Do you want to know about the character of a man? Then look into the face of his wife." Beginning in Genesis and ending in the New Testament, the pastor showed that God has ordered every man to bring his wife to splendor in Jesus Christ. McCartney looked at his wife and saw she appeared totally drained and unfulfilled. He knew he had to choose between obeying God or continuing to coach, and he made his decision. He has not regretted letting God begin his work in him or taking up the path of brokenness. McCartney says men must walk this path if the church is to bring healing and salvation in these last days. "Men, we must be crucified with Christ."
Each chapter is just such a rich experience; many of them tell personal stories related to one of the seven promises: A Man and His Mentors by Stu Weber, A Man and His Family by Gary Smalley, A Man and His World by Luis Palau, and A Man and His Integrity by Charles Colson are examples of the subjects and the quality of the contributors.
These guys are more than plain-spoken both about the problems and about the radical way to heal them. In chapter 10, John Perkins, publisher of The Reconciler magazine, tackles racism head on. An African American, Perkins grew up in rural Mississippi in the 1940s. He saw a black man, who had accidentally run over a white man, tied behind a car and dragged up and down Main Street until he was dead. Perkins himself was beaten and humiliated and threatened at gunpoint, but he was determined that his soul would not be destroyed. He would return love for hate.
In his 25 years of ministry since that time, he has spoken to thousands of people across the country encouraging them in the power of the Gospel. He's enthusiastic about Promise Keepers making racial reconciliation a core principle of their mission. Two statements stand out in the chapter Perkins wrote: Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness.
This book has more to it than thought-provoking writing. In chapter 3, Trent introduces "Closing the Gap," a personal change process that calls for prayer, self-evaluation, and action-in other words long-term change. Action Plan Worksheets and Discussion Questions are at the end of each of the chapters.
Discussion Questions? you ask. How can I discuss anything by myself? Well, the authors don't mean to let men play this game solo; it's a team effort. The Promise Keepers organization believes that change is best accomplished in a small group of supportive friends. In fact, a lot of the problems men have are due in part to being lonely, to not having association with other believers and being accountable to the Lord through them.
Go the Distance is also available on audio tape format read by Trent. These Promise Keepers are definitely serious about making this run. They're long-term kind of guys, and praise the Lord for them!
For the women's response to the Promise Keepers movement, please click here for the review of Promises, Promises.
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