Chapter 1: The Life and Death of Manhood

Initial thoughts:
It's easy to forget that Satan has it out for us.  He seeks to keep God's original design for man as messed up as possible, and it comes in many forms.  That struggle is not new, it's throughout the Bible, but it may look different today.  It's also easy to fall into the temptation of not viewing sin as seriously as God does.  The statement about how humanity grieved God to the point of Him wishing He hadn't made man. . . what choices do I make that are a part of that picture?  The three pieces of being an image bearer- responsibility, relationship, representation- holds some important keys that I have the feeling will be unlocked as the book goes on.

Key words/phrases/sentences:
- trademark (p. 5); that we have on use the stamp of being originated in God's likeness
- formed (p. 6); intentionally created, not just spoken into existence but carefully crafted
- image/likeness (p. 6-7); "Man was meant to function like a mirror- to reflect the image of God onto creation. . . to be an earthly representation of who God is)
- Representation (p. 7-8); "man represents God by virtue of being in His image.  . was to glory the god who created him
- Responsibility (p. 8); man was given the charge to bring creation under his power, to be the steward of what God has given him
- Relationship (p. 9-11); we are "designed with a unique capacity for relationship because it was His intent that this centerpiece of His creation, man and woman, would be relationally connect to Him for eternity."  Everything we do must be framed in this truth.  "The relationship is the most compelling factor driving what it means to be made in the image of God."
- sin (p. 12-16); choosing willful rebellion against God's law, and we often don't realize the full extent of the consequences.  "Man would struggle and replace what was meant to be reflected as a sign of his relationship with God with himself and creation [instead]."
- destruction of manhood (p. 17-18); Satan continually works against the restoration of manhood (Cain and Abel, the death of Hebrew boys in Exodus, the castration of men in captivity/exile)

Things to explore:
- How would I rate my stewardship of what God provides for me?

This has been a struggle for the past few months. I find that I have no problem being generous, but that sometimes goes too far the other way and I end up being looser with my finances than I ought. I am trying now to be more aware of how I spend my money on myself. I try my best to give whatever talents I have for the betterment of the church, and now I am learning to take that same approach in the individual relationships I have.

 - In the Venn circles, what pieces of either representation or responsibility do I view as connected directly to my relationship with God?  What am I withholding from Him, intentionally or not?

I definitely see my role at Grace Life as having come from these circles. The things that have happened and the way things are turning out, I know strongly that my relationship with God in this area is at the heart of it all. I think my biggest disconnect is in theater. I am wrestling with the idea that this has been a safe place full of acceptance and love. . . and that I turn to it for comfort rather than God. I am letting it have a greater influence on me than I am having a kingdom influence on it.

- What do I boast in?

Sometimes it is easy to give God glory, but too often I boast in my ability or my knowledge.

Important verses: Genesis 1:26-28; 1 Timothy 2:13; John 17:3; Romans 5:12; 1 Timothy 3