Raising Children Gracefully

What Parents Can Learn From Jesus

David Kostel Ed.D & Karen M. Kostel, Ph.D.

Comments

"From their unique father-daughter perspective David and Karen Kostel have grafted an equally lovely and useful book for parents. A deeply and actively spiritual man, David may be one of the most qualified men in America to offer a Christian parenting book. Anchored in the Good News of the New Testament, the Kostels utilize Jesus as a model for parenting. Most parenting books focus on isolated "techniques" that will rescue the parents from the garden variety parenting problems. Alfred Alder's conversion to Christianity in 1904 was anchored in his belief that his notion of gemeinschaftsgefuhl (fellow or community feeling) was at the heart of Good News. The Kostels use Christ's message and Alder's secular voice to speak with love and grace about the crucial role of parenting in a democracy. Raising Children Gracefully bursts with actionable hope and grace."

- Frank O. Main, Ed.D. Chair Counselor Education at Western Illinois University, author of Perfect Parenting and Other Myths.

"This book merits serious attention. The authors, Dr. David Kostel and Dr. Karen Kostel, are concerned about the need for democratic processes as they relate to the family, and they have high regard for the impact of Christianity on these processes. When problems appear on the smooth surface of family life or when parants are simply very interested in building a wholesome family system, this book is a valuable addition to a home library."

- Dean C. Jones, Ph.D., author of Face to Face with Society's Lepers, The Other Chamber, Walking Where the Sales Met the Earth, and A New Light.

"There is obviously something unsatisfied by the tons of tomes on the subject of parent-child relationships. This amazing book by the Kostels is unique in the breadth and depth of its coverage of the topic. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it draws on three of the most powerful sources in Western Civilization: the biblical tradition, human behavioral research, and democracy."

- Harold D. Renshaw, MSSW, author of Taming Your Inner Jackass, The Relationship Maintenance and Repair Manual, Fix the Kid , and Jesus, Do We Need Him?