Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness

by Blair Linne, Mark Dever (Foreword by)

Overview

Blair Linne’s personal story of growing up without a father at home reflects the experiences of millions. She weaves her personal story with thoughtful theological reflection, inviting readers to learn from God what "father" really means and to trust him, even if they feel their earthly father has let them down.

This book will help readers to shift their eyes from what they do not have in their earthly fathers (who, whether present or absent, loving or the opposite, can never be perfect) to what they do have in their eternal Father, who will never disappoint, reject or abandon them.

Readers will see that the gospel promises not just forgiveness but also a place in God's family, experienced in a local church, where they can enjoy the fullness of his fatherly joy, care, wisdom, provision, protection and security.

Also includes a chapter by Blair’s husband, the Christian hip-hop artist Shai, on his own story of fatherlessness and faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784986469
Publisher:	The Good Book Company
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	287,455
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.39(d)

About the Author

Blair Linne is a Christian spoken word artist, actress, and Bible teacher.

Blair is recognized as one of the originators of the Christian spoken word genre. At 13, she was one of the youngest contributors to the Anansi Writers Workshop at L.A.’s prestigious art forum, The World Stage. Since then, she has toured globally, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through spoken word.

Blair has written poetry for Sprite, Neutrogena, NBC, and the Gospel Coalition. She has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, on ABC’s Nightline, popular Christian radio show Revive Our Hearts, and several Christian Hip Hop albums.

Blair’s debut album, When Light Meets Water, delivers her God-glorifying, Christ-centered, gospel-saturated poetry against a backdrop of Neo-Soul influenced sounds, underground hip-hop and live instrumentation.

She has appeared in numerous theater productions, commercials and television shows including Days of Our Lives, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Public, The Parkers and American Dreams, as well as her own Saturday morning show, SK8 (Skate) on NBC.

Blair lives in Philadelphia with her husband Shai Linne and their three children Sage, Maya, and Ezra; she serves in discipling women at Risen Christ Fellowship, where her husband is one of the founding pastors.

Dr Mark Dever is Senior Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and President of 9Marks Ministries. Married to Connie with two grown-up children, he is the author of books including The Deliberate Church and What is a healthy church? He has a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell, a Th.M from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge, UK.

Table of Contents

1. Partly Cloudy, Mostly Sunny
2. His Name on My Tongue
3. Fathered From Above
4. It Takes a Christian Village
5. The Missing Piece
6. #GirlDad
7. Becoming the Dad I Never Knew (by Shai Linne)
8. Jumping off the Merry-Go-Round
9. Coming Home

Editorial Reviews

On one level, I cannot relate to this book. My dad was the best man at my wedding. On a deeper level, though, I certainly can. Blair Linne and I share the same heavenly Father, so we have far more in common than earthly indicators would suggest. Even the best dads, after all, only dimly reflect the Lord of love. If you are a victim of fatherlessness—whether his absence was physical or relational—this book will be a balm for your soul. Most important, it will crystallize your view of the greatest Father, who turned your criminal trial into an adoption ceremony and has never regretted making you his.

Matt Smethurst (Gospel Coalition reviewer and Master of Divinity student at The Southern Baptist The

This exquisitely written book isn’t just for those raised fatherless. It’s for everyone—male or female, single or married, patchily parenting or poorly parented—who cares to know more about the character of God. Buy it. Give it. Savor it.

Rebecca McLaughlin (Author

This is a powerful book. Pain and a sense of wistful loss surge out of practically every page. A few times I found myself drifting back to my own chaotic childhood, lamenting my own lack of a strong father figure. It’s rare to find a book that genuinely moves the soul in the way that this one does. Beautiful. Haunting. Poetic. A book that simultaneously grieves you and heals you. I honestly wish I had the words to convey how much I love it. What a service Blair has done for the church of Jesus and the millions of fatherless (and motherless) wounded souls that surround us at every level of society. I’ve already thought of a dozen people I can give it to in my church. And my guess is that you will too.

Mez McConnell (Director of 20 schemes)

The pain of the wound of fatherlessness is hard to put words to, but Blair Linne has done just that. But there is more than just pain in the pages of this book. There is hope and wisdom and an invitation to be loved by a Father who will never disappoint, always provide, always protect, and always be present. (Bible teacher and author of the Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament series)

Blair doesn’t just tell her moving story; she tells ours. Whether in sorrow, triumph, confusion or breakthrough, the different brushstrokes of our lives paint the same incomplete picture. Every void we’ll know can be traced to one veil-tearing truth: we need our Father. This book compels us to not only acknowledge but relish in it; and if we do, nothing can ever really remain the same.

Ezekiel Azonwu (Poet)

Blair Linne’s story about needing, seeking, and finding her father echoes the need we all have to find our true Father and our eternal home. The words on these pages read like a poem, a prayer, a puzzle, and a promise—achingly beautiful, wise, and hope-filled. This book is not only for the fatherless; it’s for all of us who are part of the family of God.

Karen Swallow Prior (Author of Fierce Convictions—The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More: P

'Finding My Father' is profoundly substantive and masterfully written. With theological insightfulness and vivid, engaging, and endearing eloquence, Blair puts her finger on the pulse of one of the most critical issues of the day—fatherlessness. By weaving together her powerful personal story with relevant biblical principles and a tinge of strategically placed sociological data, Blair leads hearers to the Father . She presents him as one who not only produces better earthly fathers but also provides a remedy for any who may deal with some sort of ‘father wound.’ In short, I was riveted. This is a must-read!

William "Duce" Branch aka The Ambassador (Musical Artist; Assistant Pastor of Preaching

This is an extremely timely and beautifully transparent read! Blair invites us in with gospel-ward and hope-filled insight. She fearlessly follows often-severed echoes throughout creation to find the first voice, who spoke all of us into being. She shows us how in real life Christ restores and steadies and answers the deep yearning of every soul by enabling us to know God as our good Father.

Keith Getty (Hymnwriter; founder of Getty Music; author of Sing!)

Blair Linne has a message we need to hear. She has written with refreshing honesty not only about the struggle of growing up in a single-parent Black home but also of the vital role fathers play in every child’s life. More than that, Blair has given a message of hope: that there is a Father to the fatherless, and that an intimate connection to him brings the real healing we need. As an inner-city pastor for over thirty years, I have witnessed some of what she writes about, and this is a book I want every family in our church to read—especially the fathers!

Hugh Balfour (Vicar

Blair Linne’s story reflects our universal longing for a father who will protect and love us. Her aching desire for that earthly father may bring you to tears as her memoir unfolds. Blair’s burgeoning faith in her heavenly Father will bring you to worship by the end of this memorable book.

Collin Hansen (editorial director of The Gospel Coalition and author of Young

This is a powerful book. Pain and a sense of wistful loss surge out of practically every page. A few times I found myself drifting back to my own chaotic childhood, lamenting my own lack of a strong father figure. It’s rare to find a book that genuinely moves the soul in the way that this one does. Beautiful. Haunting. Poetic. A book that simultaneously grieves you and heals you. I honestly wish I had the words to convey how much I love it. What a service Blair has done for the church of Jesus and the millions of fatherless (and motherless) wounded souls that surround us at every level of society. I’ve already thought of a dozen people I can give it to in my church. And my guess is that you will too.

Mez McConnell (Author

Blair Linne’s story reflects our universal longing for a father who will protect and love us. Her aching desire for that earthly father may bring you to tears as her memoir unfolds. Blair’s burgeoning faith in her heavenly Father will bring you to worship by the end of this memorable book.

Collin Hansen (Executive Editor

Blair Linne’s story about needing, seeking, and finding her father echoes the need we all have to find our true Father and our eternal home. The words on these pages read like a poem, a prayer, a puzzle, and a promise—achingly beautiful, wise, and hope-filled. This book is not only for the fatherless; it’s for all of us who are part of the family of God.

Karen Swallow Prior (Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture

This is an extremely timely and beautifully transparent read! Blair invites us in with gospel-ward and hope-filled insight. She fearlessly follows often-severed echoes throughout creation to find the first voice, who spoke all of us into being. She shows us how in real life Christ restores and steadies and answers the deep yearning of every soul by enabling us to know God as our good Father.

Kristyn Getty (Hymnwriter; Co-Founder

On one level, I cannot relate to this book. My dad was the best man at my wedding. On a deeper level, though, I certainly can. Blair Linne and I share the same heavenly Father, so we have far more in common than earthly indicators would suggest. Even the best dads, after all, only dimly reflect the Lord of love. If you are a victim of fatherlessness—whether his absence was physical or relational—this book will be a balm for your soul. Most important, it will crystallize your view of the greatest Father, who turned your criminal trial into an adoption ceremony and has never regretted making you his.

Matt Smethurst (Managing Editor

The pain of the wound of fatherlessness is hard to put words to, but Blair Linne has done just that. But there is more than just pain in the pages of this book. There is hope and wisdom and an invitation to be loved by a Father who will never disappoint, always provide, always protect, and always be present.

Nancy Guthrie (Bible teacher; Author