Chapter 8

This was by far the best chapter of the book so far. This is one of those chapters that you save and read throughout your life.

It was very difficult because the questions that were talked about are nuts. One of the statements I highlighted was on page 112: "Whenever our highest agenda is to make our lives work, then no matter what we do, we are fire-lighters." This whole concept of not lighting a fire is puzzling. Basically he says that we need to depend on the light God gives us rather then try to create our own and if there is no light then we need to move into the darkness. The problem in my mind with all of this is that you are creating a light for yourself when you say that you will only depend on Gods light. To me its circular thinking. If I were to say to you, the only plan I have is "to not have a plan" well that is a plan in and of itself. Those are things that confuse me from time to time.

I also loved where it said "But the outcome of the story does not determine whether my friend acted like a man." To many times we make decisions based on what the outcome will be. Its so hard though.

Page 113 "the spirit more often whispers encouragement("You can do it. I am with you") rather than directions ("Now go tell her this"). I don't really agree with Crabb on this statement. When I read the old testament I see God giving plenty of specific directions and Jesus even gave plenty of specific directions. "Go to the lake catch a fish pull the coins out and pay the man" He didn't say, "your a good guy figure out a way to get the money." Yeah that sentence sort of tripped me out.

Chapter 7 "He was there and he was silent"

I really didn't get much out of this chapter. I'm a pretty vocal guy when it comes to talking. I don't mind sharing my struggles with people that I trust. At times I've been known for talking too much and being too soft. I would say that I have issues moving into chaos with my actions as opposed to speaking into chaos. Honestly though I'm 24 and I'm growing. I don't know what it means to be a real man but I hope that I am getting there.

This chapter was blah. Moving on.

Shane

In response to your earlier question "I have heard of this argument, at the core of the universe is there chaos or order? I would like to look into the argument deeper. Steve, any recommendations on books to read?"

I don't know of any good books. One thought that crosses through my mind is that even if you were able to see the core of the universe would your mind be able to fathom whether it was chaos or order? Wouldn't it be so complex that it would seem to be chaotic? If an ant saw a human, would it be able to determine that the human was chaotic or orderly? Just an idea.

Chapter 6: "A Call to Remember"

This chapter started off slow, but I was digging on it by the end. Before I get to the quotes I am going to try and describe what Crabb was saying...

As men we are not necessarily called to lead, or to be powerful. We are in fact called to remember. You see when Adam was being silent as Eve was being tempted by the snake, he wasn't actually being silent. He was taking action, the action was to refusing to remember. If we are going to sin (insert your favorite sin... lusting, greed, whatever) then we are not at that moment close to God. In fact we are not remembering what God has done for us and we are not remembering how powerful God is. What we are doing at that moment is refusing to remember what God is and what he is all about.

Ok, not sure if that made sense. Here are some quote to clarify...

Page 79:
"Genesis 1:27 tells us explicitly that God created man and woman "in this own image,... male and female he created them." In this passage, the word male is translated from the Hebrew word Zakar, which means "the remembering one." What a curious word to describe a man. One might have expected a word meaning "the strong one," "the one who leads," or "the powerful one." But instead man is described as the one who remembers."

Page 84:
"Sinful choices require that God be forgotten. In this sense, forgetting is about more than just misplacing car keys. It is an active and willful choice -a refusal to remember."

Chapter 5: "From Chaos to Chaos"

Chapter 5 was ok, it basically described the differences in creation beliefs. I found one thing that stood out for me on page 76:

"The book of Genesis tells a very different creation story. Yes, the story end badly. But it begins beautifully. That is our Hope. Beauty exists. There is meaning and order."

I have heard of this argument, at the core of the universe is there chaos or order? I would like to look into the argument deeper. Steve, any recommendations on books to read?

Chapter 6 "A Call To Remember"

Wow, what a breath taking chapter.

The guy who I'm doing this blog with is a person that I love to remember our experiences with. All I have to say is "Step Up" or "Save It" and a slew of memories and stories arise. I think thats why I love to say those things so much.

Now, the question becomes, how do I remember when its been a long day and I'm close to forgetting? I'm not sure that is something I'm still working on.

I need to remember, that the Man. Jesus. He came for me. 2 thousand years ago, he didn't let the religious freaks get in the way of his devotion toward his father. I am in his blood line now. The same power that raised him from the dead is alive in me. I need to remember that. Perhaps if I remembered that more often I wouldn't stay so silent.

A call to remember is even more vital today. The time is coming to fight the bigger battles and quit giving people water to drink on the sidelines. The History of mankind will positively demonstrate that no group has risen of his or her idea of God. Tozer said that. A call to remember the greatness of our God.

As I write this blog entry images come to my mind of places I am being silent. I need to remember. :)

Chapter 5 From Chaos to Chaos

It was a pretty interesting chapter. What really interested me was the difference between the Babylonian and Greek Gods. Man some of that imagery was just amazing. Having a kid who ends up killing his dad adn then has his own kids who he eats alive? then the wife gives him a rock in place of his son to eat and then his son grows up to destroy him? sounds pretty mean and terrifying.

I still conclude that I am an angry man.

Today has been a lot of questions regarding darkness in my life. I feel that darkness is hovering all around me and I must be a child of the light. I need to live above reproach.

Chapter 4

Here are some of the quotes I liked from this chapter:

Page 63:
"... we will suggest that men are called to move wisely into the darkest regions of their worlds; they are to speak powerful words into the confusion of life with the same energy that flowed out of Christ when he spoke into darkness (Colossians 1:16, 29)."

Page 64:
"In the darkness of confusion, you cannot see but you can hear; at least you can hear the voice of God."

Page 66:
"Masculinity begins to grow when a man asks questions for which he knows there are no answers"

Page 66:
"Recipe theologians tell us how to make life work by simplifying things and relieving confusion. Transcendent theologians know there is a darkness of confusion that can only be entered by knowing Christ, by abiding in him, by trusting him to supply supernatural power to hover over whatever darkness we face, and then by moving into that darkness with words that bring life."

There was a time when I was in high school when my sister was having a hard time with life in general and I remember people telling me that she needed her big brother. I would always say, she hates me or she doesn't want to listen to me. Looking back on the situation I was just afraid of dealing with the situation and afraid of entering the darkness. I wish I could go back and help her out. My prayer to Jesus is that I don't fall into that habit again.

Chapter 3

This is so, so important. I need to print this out and have it with me during crunch time...

Page 55:
"I suggest that a man is most manly when he admits "I don't know what to do in this situation, but I know it's important that I get involved and do something. I will therefore envision what God may want to see happen in this person's life or in this circumstance, and I will move toward that vision with whatever wisdom and power God supplies me." A manly man moves even when there are no recipes. "

Crab talks about 2 different theological statements...
1. Transcendent Theology (The center of transcendent theology is God, his character and purpose)
2. Recipe Theology (The center of recipe theology is man, his needs and well-being)

I am really sad to say this, but I live most of my life with the "Recipe" theology. I really need to pray about this big time. I need God's grace...

Chapter 4 "Entering Darkness"

Page 61 "Men are called to move into darkness, to keep moving ahead with purpose and strength even when they caonnot clearly see the path before them."

This is a lot harder then this sentence draws out. :) It's hard to move into darkness when you are paralyzed by fear.

Page 66 "Masculinity begins to grow when a man asks questions for which he knows there are no answers."

I don't understand this. Here is a question that has no answer, does it make me more manlier? If I punched the wall 15 times, with my bear fist, would my fist bleed first or would the wall crack? What if I got angry and started beating my head against the wall? Do people at bars think they're tough?

Chapter 3

Page 53 “As a result, the theological statements coming out of modern culture look more like recipes for living than declared truths about God. Transcendent theology, which flows out of the big picture, has been replaced by recipe theology, a way of thinking that keeps its focus on the particulars of life.”

Pastor Ken does a good job of always trying to tie in the Big picture to whatever message he is preaching on. I’ve heard Chip do it a lot too. But the way Chip does it is he captivates you with the doctrine being taught so you see your heavenly fathers beauty and desire for your well being. When I say well being I don’t mean that everything will work out for you I mean his desire for a deeper relationship with us humans.

Page 55 "I suggest a man is most manly when he admits. I don't know what to do in this situation, but I know it's important that I get involved and do something."

Dallas Seminary. I don't know how it will work out each semester coming up with 5500 bones but I know I got to do it. Yee boy I feel like a man. :)

Page 56 "As image bearers, we are called to tell his story with our lives, not to tell our stroies with his resources."

I couldn't imagine how much more beautiful my story would be if I would rewrite it with that type of mindset. It really is His story and I'm a side thing.

Page 57 "And we therefore never learn the dependance and trust that only grows in the darkness."

God does his best work in the darkness. He didn't let anyone see how Jesus got resurected because that was between him and Jesus, in the darkness. I need to enter in the darkness. I am afraid of it. I need to know I'll be afraid and do what it takes to become a real man of God. This sentence reminds me of a verse Psalm 23:5 You prepare a feast in the presence of my enemies. You know we run from the darkness but the Lord wants us to eat our food that he provides in the midst of it.

Over and out. Shane get on it!

Chapter 2

I can tell why this book isn't on the best sellers list and books like "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential" are on the list. People DO NOT want to hear these things about themselves. They just don't, they want to receive tolerance from everyone and just say "hey how are you... I'm fine, the kids are great, blah blah blah. No one wants to address deep issues, they have a fear inside them. Just like on page 47 "Enjoying God is harder work. Terrified men want relief now." Well that was my rant for the day.

I am really looking forward to the next chapter. Chapter 2 felt like a big time setup for chapter 3.

Chapter 2

Page 43 "Look inside an unmanly man and you will find a powerless, angry, terrified man trying to keep his life together through control, intimidation, and selfishness."

This sentence really hit me because I can see my self exibiting some of these behaviors. A lot of people see me as STRONG and VALIANT because I'm so involved with life changing small groups and I like to ask people the hard questions but believe it or not that is easy for me. I get a kick out of it. But sometimes I think I do it because I am terrified of what would happen if I didn't or it feeds some sort of selfish desire I have. Not sure what else to say about that but it popped into my head.

Page 46 "Unmanly men feel strangely good when they sense a power within themselves capable of destroying. They feel even more better when they release it."

Everyday I have a decision to make. Am I going to destroy my brain, my heart and goals in life by diving into lustful thoughts or pursuing unhealthy relationships and I sometimes find myself in them thinking "I shouldn't be doing this but I can't help it." Perhaps its because some of that power is being released.

Page 46 "They are full of vengeful judgment toward everyone but themselves."

I had a girl break up with me because of this. Well I dumped her but she claimed this as her reason for not wanting to get back with me.

Page 47 "The goal is RELIEF: quick, reliable, and easily arranged. Enjoying God is harder work. Terrried men want relief now!"

I am seeing more and more that I am a terrified man.

Chapter 1

I felt that it was an awesome Chapter and I especially appreciated the dreams he had. I love how he said "a few short minutes with an elder will mean more then all the secrets of an effective seminar." When I go to talk to Roy, its as if I am talking to someone who has the keys of life. I love this mans dreams. You know one sentence keeps ringing in my mind from this first chapter "nothing replaces obediance." Being a Godly man means obeying. I have justified my sins so many times because of "hurt" and "past" but honestly the bottom line is I need to be a man and not give into the evil paths carved in my brain.

Shane I don't think you are doing anything wrong with listening to Chip once a day, sometimes even two three times a day. I think that is a part of his dream. We are attracted to Chip because he is a REAL MAN. He teaches us how to be real men in this difficult culture. I don't think Chip really has a group of followers or anything like that and I wouldn't even put you or I in that category. We look up to Chip because of his Godliness and we seek his councel through sermons. Chip is the man and I aspire to love the way he does.

Also, the point about the moral problem I think is very true. Two years ago when I began to experience my parents break up and the loss of a loved one, it was the first time I realized that I had a moral problem and that problem was rooted in the fact that I didn't trust Gods word. Gods word wasn't my master. I was making it my slave. When we as men start living by the word of God even when it doesn't feel good, then the moral problem will diminish more and more.

I also loved how Crabb mentioned pain over and over and how difficult this christian life is. Dude, I need to suck it up and be man, instead of hoping I stop sinning and being angry that I fall prey to the same sin over and over, I need to suck it up and accept Gods grace through his cross and let him change me from the inside out.

Chapter 1

Wow, what a great book. I am so happy that I found it. Larry Crab always throws down. Here is my analysis.

1. "Finding Christ is a long, pride-crushing battle that leads through despair to the unmanagable joy of Spirit-fulness and then back again through darker despair to an even brighter joy. Men who avoid that battle will experience only surface repentance. Their real commitment will be to things that don't really matter. They will never develop a passion capable of touching the center of anyone else with life-giving love."

Roy taught this thing called self-protection in spiritual formation and I think that Larry Crab is talking about the same thing here. Although it is the hardest thing we will ever do, finding Christ is the most fulfilling. Also, today I almost bought a 42" plasma TV. Talk about having passion for things that don't matter... urg!!

2. On page 34, Larry Crab's dream... "I see them returning books to the shelf of the Christian bookstore: the books with jackets that falsely promise now what only heaven will later provide. I see them picking up a flyer promoting the seminar everyone is talking about, looking at it, then putting it down."

This hit me pretty hard. As I was reading it I kept on thinking about Chip Ingram. Am I in the crowd listening to him? Do I need to stop listening to him and find more deep relationships with older men?

3. On page 35: "We have entirely lost sight of the fact that every nonphysical problem is, at its core, a moral problem, with its root in a person's relationship with God.

That is quite a bold statement. I am not sure what to think of it. I will have to bounce it off some of my buddies. Steve what do you think?