The Tailor’s Son

Several months ago my friend Tom Klobucher told me that he was writing a book called The Tailor’s Son: A Young Man’s Journey to Find the Fatherhood of God. When he asked if I would write the Foreword, I was glad to say yes. I’m happy to say that the book has just been released. Here is my Foreword:

Who can explain what it means to be your father’s son?

Most men spend a lifetime trying to figure that out, and once we do, our father is often already gone.

Fathers give us our last name, our heritage, and they teach us things that lie so deep that we don’t even know that we know them. Many years ago when our oldest son Josh was just a little boy, a friend said he saw us walking side by side down the street. I had my right hand in my pocket and my left hand was swinging by my side. Josh walked next to me, with his right hand in his pocket and his left hand swinging by his side.

Just a few days ago my wife and I were sitting next to Josh and his 3-year-old son Knox when she pointed to Knox and then to Josh. I looked and there they were, father and son, slightly leaning forward, both of them tapping their left foot at the same time.

No one had to tell Josh to be like me.
No one had to tell Knox to be like Josh.

And so it goes, from fathers to sons in every generation.

A big part of life for any young man comes in the hard task of discovering who we really are. Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said it this way, “And now, with God’s help, I will become myself.”

We need God’s help to discover who we really are. As Tom Klobucher points out in vivid terms, his own voyage of self-discovery required God’s help in some very difficult moments. In this remarkably candid book, Tom tells us about a father whom he admired, who set a high standard of hard work, who came to this country as an immigrant, and in true American fashion, started with nothing and made something of himself.

Along the way he and Tom had a falling out.
Tom would say that was partly his fault.

It is certainly not unusual.

Most men can look back on strained moments with their fathers, even with men whom they admired and desperately wanted to please. Perhaps that admiration makes the strain inevitable.

But along the way and to his own great surprise, Tom found the Lord. He discovered a Heavenly Father who loved him completely and who made the ultimate sacrifice in the death of his Son, Jesus Christ. Tom found a God who loved him and pursued him and brought him into his Forever Family.

In the end Tom and his father became eternally connected as the Lord Jesus brought them back together again.

As you read “The Tailor’s Son,” you will meet a father and son whose story is unique and yet universal. And you will have an opportunity to get to know your Heavenly Father in a very personal way.

Every son needs to know his earthly father.
Every son needs to know his Heavenly Father.

Stay tuned. This story has the power to grab your heart. If you are ready, it could also change your life.

As you can tell, this book gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go. It would make an excellent Christmas, birthday or anniversary gift. I encourage you to buy two copies of The Tailor’s Son–one to read and one to give away.