Image of God

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

My son William and I are getting ready to go on a 3 day Father Son Retreat called "Battle Camp." It is a battle for the heart of men that the camp title speaks of. I have been rereading for the 4 time John Eldridge's book "Wild at Heart."

In it he talks about that fact the man is wild side of God's image, and woman is the lover, and nurturer side of God. He says both men and women what to be a part of a adventure with one another and with God. Together in relationship with God they find out what Jesus meant by living life "Abundantly."

John claims, and I think rightly so, that we in the church have made men to nice. That we have tamed them. It use the story of going to the zoo near where he lives and seeing the 500 male lion who sets in a cage, and has forgot who and what he is. This mighty beast won't even look John or anyone else who comes by his cage int he eye. He has become frighten and above all bored. He doesn't hunt, food is slipped to him through a metal door in his cage. He simply lays and around and does nothing all day. He has lost his identity.

That is a great deal like many men today. John asks in the book, if you and I went to any Christian church for worship and looked at the men there and asked the question, "What is a Christian man?'' We would have to say he is above all bored and dutiful. And definitely separated from his heart, his inner being!

I am looking forward to this adventure with my son, who I love and dream that he will love God and be a part of the greatest adventure ever, called faith!

In Jesus,
Richard