Starting a new year

This year will be my third at TC. It will bring with it many new challenges, such as JH student counsel, sophomore American History, and my continuing graduate work at UD.
Answer these:
What challenges do you feel you will face this school year?
Who do you go to when times get tough?
How should you react when a challenging moment occurs?
Name a time that all felt pointless and meaningless.

Wild at Heart Chapters 6,7,8

Read Chapter 6 - The Father's Voice
Discussion Questions:

1. Over the course of your Christian life, how would you classify your knowledge of God...and of yourself?
2. If you were to write down three things that God "has been up to with you," over the past 3 years, what would they be?
3. What is your "wonder boy" (see book explanation of the movie, the Natural), that one thing other than God that you can fall back on to make everything all right? Are you being asked to let go of something that's meant the world to you?

Read Chapter 7 - Healing the Wound
Discussion Questions:

1. What "doorways" did God use to bring his light to your wound (examples include anger, anxiety, addiction, relationships)? In what way did that get your attention?
2. What is your understanding of the healing God has brought to your life as part of your Christian life? How would you explain it to others seeking God's healing in their life?

Reading Assignment - Chapter 8 - A Battle to Fight: The Enemy
Discussion Questions:

1. What have you considered your role in the "Great Battle" up to this point?
2. What does it mean to you to awaken the "fierce quality" within a man?
3. What do you think Eldredge means when he urges men to "let their strength show" or let other "feel the weight of you?" Why does he believe this is so important?

Wild at Heart Chapter 5

Read Chapter 5 - The Battle for a Man's Heart
Discussion Questions

1. What have your wounds prevented you from doing in life?
2. Where is the battle for your heart most evident in your life? Why do you think that is?
3. What role has the pursuit of women played in your sense of masculinity? What impact has that had on you?

Wild at Heart Chapter 4

Reading Assignment - Chapter 4 - The Wound
Discussion Questions

1. What are some of your favorite memories together with your dad? What makes them special to you?
2. How would you sum up your father's life lesson to you? (e.g. Work hard and you'll get ahead, look out for #1, you can't really trust anyone...)
3. Do you agree with the idea that masculinity (i.e. Who a man is and what he's got) is passed down? How would you assess your receiving of this gift?
4. This chapter comes down pretty hard on fathers, in terms of their inadequacy in "bestowing" masculinity. Do you think it is a fair portrayal? Can you identify with taking "an arrow" in your place of strength or being "wounded?" Do any of you feel like your "injury" is do to an absent father? - see Psalm 109-21-22 and consider Bly's quote "Not receiving any blessing from your father is an injury...."

Wild at Heart

Read Chapter 3 - The Question that Haunts Every Man

Discussion Questions

1. What is your response to Eldridge's premise that "If a man does not find those things for which his heart is made, if he is never even invited to live for them from his deep heart, he will look for them in some other way."
2. Be honest with yourself - what role does fear play in your life? In what way does it shape who you are as a man? Do you ever fear being "exposed?"
3. How do we move from "posers" to "real men" on Sunday mornings. What can we do to create an environment where we can be real with each other as men?

Wild at Heart

Read Intro & Chapter 1

Discussion Questions

1. What is your reaction to the author's depiction of "authentic masculinity?" - see page 12 and 13
2. How would you honestly answer the questions: What brings you alive? What stirs your heart?
3. Do you agree that the Church has a tendency to tell men "this is what you ought to be...this is what you ought to do?" If yes, do you believe this reflects what it means to be a Christ-follower?
4. If you had a million dollars coming to you and could go anywhere, where would you go, what would you do?

Read Chapter 2 - The Wild One whose Image we Bear

Discussion Questions:

1. What three words would describe your father? Which of your father's attributes do you think you inherited?
2. What is Godliness? What do you think of when someone is described as a real Godly man?
3. How do you think a man of God would act if the Spirit of God got a hold of him (e.g. Sampson)?
4. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your willingness to take risk: (a) at school, (b) your relationships, (c) in general?

What's in a name?

One can put plenty of thought into what's in a name.  Have you thought about what you want your life to look like?

Read Chapter 3 - The Question that Haunts Every Man

Discussion Questions

1. What is your response to Eldridge's premise that "If a man does not find those things for which his heart is made, if he is never even invited to live for them from his deep heart, he will look for them in some other way."
2. Be honest with yourself - what role does fear play in your life? In what way does it shape who you are as a man? Do you ever fear being "exposed?"
3. How do we move from "posers" to "real men" on Sunday mornings. What can we do to create an environment where we can be real with each other as men?