Flight Plan (a book review)

Summer vacation has started and that means that, for many people, the reading list gets beefed up as people anticipate some leisure time either home or away. For those in ministry, it can also include having some time to look ahead to fall ministries in a variety of age ranges.

Flight Plan: Your Mission to Become A Man would fit either situation. For a dad that wants to be intentional about leading his boys to manhood, or for a ministry worker that wants a solid program for the young men in their care, Flight Plan offers a solid "field guide" for covering topics relevant to growing boys today.

As a mom, I like the information they present, the "boy-centric approach" and the level of integrity they encourage in both men and men-to-be. Covering issues from making smart choices to understanding risky ones, physical growth to spiritual growth, Flight Plan uses practical illustrations to explain concepts that could, if not handled in a setting of interaction, fly right over the head of some boys. For example, in talking about drugs and alcohol, authors Burns and Brady use the idea of a high-power engine. In a BMW, with an experienced driver, the risk is much lower than if that same engine was put in a go cart and given to a new driver. They compare boys' growing bodies to the vehicle, pointing out how there is a difference in the ways a teen body and an adult body will react to drugs or alcohol. (And they aren't encouraging using drugs or alcohol, by the way.) They also offer very practical recommendations for responsible behavior, like not having internet access in a bedroom to minimize the risk of getting involved in pornography.

This book is designed to be used in a group setting - offering discussion questions and different application scenarios at the end of each chapter. For younger groups (middle school), it would probably be best to offer excerpts in a group setting as the book itself is rather text-heavy according to many teen resources today, although photos and bullet points to help lighten it slightly. For high school or college ages, it would work very well as a complete participation study. It would also be a fantastic resource for a parent and child study at home.

With a mix of Scripture, familiar examples and peer input from well-known public figures, Flight Plan provides a wealth of material to guide boys to manhood.


Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.