Created in Gods Image Essay Example

Created in Gods Image Essay Example Created in Gods Image Essay Created in Gods Image Essay Created In The Image of God Wendy Butz, RN, BSN THEO 532, September 13, 2011 Malone University I was raised attending Baptist churches and have listened to many ministers talk about â€Å"man† being created in God’s image. I know we are created in God’s image because the Bible (Barker, 1995) tells us this in Genesis 1:26 27, (26) â€Å"Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. † (27) â€Å"God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. † Ultimately the question is what does being created in God’s image truly mean? Are we like God in many different aspects, or does it simply mean we have some physical resemblance to God? Until taking this class, I never really formed a belief of my own or had a good understanding of how we image or are like God. This paper will discuss my understanding of what it means for humans to be created in the image of God, and the implications this understanding has for me as a nurse and serving others. Created In God’s Image I believe that to be created in God’s image means that, like God, we are social beings with the ability to love. I know from scripture in the Bible that talks about the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, that God is social. I agree with Hoekema (1986, p. 75) when he states that â€Å"man† should function in three relationships. The first, and most important relationship, is our relationship with God. The stronger our relationship with God, the more we devote ourselves to Him, the stronger our other relationships grow. The second relationship is one with our fellow â€Å"man†. Luke 10:27 says, â€Å"He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and will all you mind’, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’† The third relationship is that with and over nature. God gave â€Å"man† dominion over the earth just as God rules the heavens and the earth. I also believe that â€Å"man† has went through different stages of being like God since creation, and that man images God a little differently in each stage. In the beginning, when Adam and Eve were sinless they not only imaged God in their relationship with God, with each other, and with nature, but also with characteristics they possessed such as righteousness and holiness. After the â€Å"Fall†, â€Å"man† is still made in the image of God. He still possesses the ability to love, to be a social being and have relationships with God, fellow man, and nature. However, he is corrupted by sin and is no longer righteous and holy. Instead of having a relationship with God, sinning man disobeys God and even worships idols. Instead of loving his neighbor as himself, sinning man lies to, cheats, and even murders his fellow man. Instead of caring for and nurturing nature, sinning man exploits the earth. John 3:16 says, â€Å"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. † God sent his son, Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God so that we may know Him and may be redeemed. There are many verses in the Bible that refer to Jesus Christ as being the exact representation of God (2 Corinthians 4:4, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15). Shelly Miller (2006, p. 78) point out and talk about Jesus as being a relational being. He was born into a human family and community yet scripture clearly describes his relationship with God, as the Son of God. There are many verses that show us the characteristics and virtues that Christ possessed like righteousness, holiness, and the greatest of these, love (1 Peter 1:16, John 13:34 35). We see Jesus’ love for God and his love for man. Hoekema (1986, p. 22) states, â€Å"If it is true that Christ perfectly images God, then the heart of the image of God must be love. For no man ever loved as Christ loved. † He loved us so much that he gave his life and died for us, so that we may have eternal life. Because of God’s grace, we have Jesus Christ as an example of how we are to live our lives. Jesus shows us that we should be praising and glorifying God in all things, and that our relationship with God, prayer and devotion, should come first. Jesus shows us that we should love every human being, putting them above ourselves, and humbly serving others. When we are imaging God, others should be able to see God’s love, kindness, and goodness in us (Hoekema, 1986, p. 7). While on this earth we will never perfectly image God, but we should seek to be Christ-like. God created the characteristics that make us unique. Christ-likeness is about developing our character and spiritual maturity. When the Holy Spirit lives inside us we have the power, love, faith and wisdom to transform our character and grow spiritually. I believe that it is on ly after our human body dies, and we enter heaven, that we once again image God as â€Å"man† did at creation. We are once again sinless. Serving Others I became a nurse because of my compassion for and my desire to help others. In Mark 10: 43 – 45, Jesus says, â€Å"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. † As a nurse it is my responsibility and my desire to serve other. I had never thought about it before but in doing so, in serving others as Christ did, I am imaging God. Nursing is unique, and different from medicine, in that it focuses on caring for the person as a whole: spiritual, psychological, social, and physical. Shelly Miller (2006, p. 16) are correct when they say that â€Å"the role of nursing grew out of a Christian understanding of the human person as created in the image of God and viewed the body as a living unity and the temple of the Holy Spirit. † If we only see people as isolated individuals and cannot see them in their wholeness, we as nurses cannot care for them adequately. I have always believed that each human being is created by and loved by God. We all possess the ability to love, and we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. Some call it following the â€Å"Golden Rule† or doing unto others as you would have done unto you. Therefore, no matter what situation I am in with a patient, I try to see the image of God in them and I try to be the image of God for them. I love Shelly Miller’s (2006, p. 17 18) definition of Christian nursing, â€Å"a ministry of compassionate care for the whole person, in response to God’s grace toward a sinful world, which aims to foster optimum health (shalom) and bring comfort in suffering and death for anyone in need. Because of sin, it is sometimes hard for me to see others as being created in God’s image and or allow the image of God to be seen in me. But by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, I am able to transform my character and grow spiritually. The more I grow spiritually, the stronger my relationship with God, and the easier it is for me to see others through God’s eyes. I agree with Shelly Miller (2006, p. 77) whe n they said, â€Å"To be created in the image of God means that we must look to God for our meaning, purpose and direction. It also makes us thinking, feeling, willing, relational creatures who reflect these attributes of our Creator. In order to understand ourselves in any depth, we must first look to God to know what he intended us to be. † I believe I am on this earth because God has a plan for my life. I may not know exactly what it is, but I am here to fulfill his purpose. I pray that God’s will be done in my life. I know I can do all things through God who strengthens me. Hoekema (1986) states, â€Å"Through us God works out his purposes on this earth. In us people should be able to encounter God, to hear his word, and to experience his love. I pray that by trying to be Christ-like, that not only do my patients, but my family, co-workers, and anyone I meet, sees and experiences God’s love through me. Conclusion This paper has discussed my understanding of what it means to be created in God’s image. We are like God in that we have the ability to love. Our first love should be for God. We should then love others as ourselves. Like Hoekema (1986), I believe one way man images God is as a social being and functioning as part of three relationships, one with God, one with fellow man, and one with nature. I also believe there are stages that man went through since creation and that man images God a little differently in each stage. At creation man was holy and righteous, without sin. After the â€Å"Fall† man is corrupted by sin and is no longer righteous and holy. Then, through Jesus Christ, we are redeemed and with the Holy Spirit can seek spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness. In the end, we do not image God as we did in the beginning until we enter Heaven. This paper also discussed how being created in God’s image impacts how I serve others. I see, not only my patients, but all people as children of God. I believe he created each of us and loves each of us. As a nurse, I believe I am doing God’s will and fulfilling his purpose for my life. References Barker, K. (Ed. ). (1995). The Holy Bible, New International Version (10th ed. ). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Hoekema, A. A. (1986). Created in Gods Image. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. Shelly, J. A. , Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to Care: A Christian Theology of Nursing (2nd ed. ). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Different Types of Metaphors

Different Types of Metaphors Metaphors arent merely the candy sprinkles on the doughnut of language, not just embellishments to the music of poetry and prose. Metaphors are ways of thinking- and also ways of shaping the thoughts of others. All people, every day, speak and write, and think in metaphors. In fact, its hard to imagine how people would get by without them. And because figurative comparisons lie at the heart of language and thought, they have been picked apart by scholars in a variety of disciplines. Types of Metaphors There are countless ways of looking at metaphors, thinking about them, and using them. There are countless ways of looking at metaphors, thinking about them, and using them. But in deference to the metaphorical blackbirds of Wallace Stevens (The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds./It was a small part of the pantomime), here are a few of them. Absolute: A metaphor in which one of the terms (the tenor) cant be readily distinguished from the other (the vehicle).Complex: A metaphor in which the literal meaning is expressed through more than one figurative term (a combination of primary metaphors).Conceptual: A metaphor in which one idea (or conceptual domain) is understood in terms of another.Conventional: A familiar comparison that doesnt call attention to itself as a figure of speech.Creative: An original comparison that calls attention to itself as a figure of speech.Dead: A figure of speech that has lost its force and imaginative effectiveness through frequent use.Extended: A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.Mixed: A succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons.Primary: A basic intuitively understood metaphor such as knowing is seeing or time is motion that may be combined with other primary metaphors to produce complex metaphors. Root: An image, narrative, or fact that shapes an individuals perception of the world and interpretation of reality.Submerged: A type of metaphor in which one of the terms (either the vehicle or tenor) is implied rather than stated explicitly.Therapeutic: A metaphor used by a therapist to assist a client in the process of personal transformation.Visual: The representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by way of a visual image that suggests a particular association or point of similarity. Regardless of the types of metaphors you favor, keep in mind Aristotles observation 2,500 years ago in Rhetoric: Those words are most pleasant which give us new knowledge. Strange words have no meaning for us; common terms we know already. It is metaphor which gives us most of this pleasure.

Habits and Traits of Jumping Spiders

Habits and Traits of Jumping Spiders When you look at a jumping spider, it will look right back at you with large, forward-facing eyes. They can be found throughout the world in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Salticidae is the largest family of spiders, with over 5,000 species described worldwide. While more prevalent in the tropics, jumping spiders are abundant nearly everywhere in their range. Jumping Spider Traits Jumping spiders are small and scrappy carnivores. They are often fuzzy and measure less than a half inch in body length. Salticids can run, climb, and (as the common name suggests) jump. Prior to jumping, the spider attaches a silk thread to the surface beneath it, so it can climb quickly back to its perch if needed. Salticids, like most other spiders, have eight eyes. Their unique eye arrangement makes it easy to differentiate jumping spiders from other species. A jumping spider has four eyes on its face, with an enormous pair in the center, giving it an almost alien appearance. The remaining, smaller eyes are located on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax (a structure combining the fused head and thorax). The Himalayan jumping spider (Euophrys omnisuperstes) lives at high elevations in the Himalayan mountains. They feed on insects that are  carried up the  mountain on the wind from lower elevations. The species name, omnisuperstes, means highest of all, so its not that surprising that specimens of this remarkable species have been found on Mount Everest at elevations of 22,000 feet. Fast facts: Jumping Spider Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: ArachnidaOrder: AraneaeFamily: Salticidae Diet and Life Cycle Jumping spiders hunt and feed on small insects. All are carnivorous, but a few species also eat pollen and nectar. Female jumping spiders build a silk case around their eggs and often stand guard over them until they hatch. (Youve probably seen these spiders with their eggs in corners of exterior windows or door frames.) Young jumping spiders emerge from the egg sac looking like miniature versions of their parents. They molt and grow into adulthood. Special Behaviors and Defenses As the common name suggests, a jumping spider can jump quite far, achieving distances more than 50 times its body length. If you examine their legs, however, youll notice that they are not strong or muscular in appearance. Rather than relying on muscle strength to leap, salticids are able to quickly increase the blood pressure in their legs, which causes the legs to extend and propel their bodies through the air. The size and shape of jumping spiders eyes give afford them excellent vision. Salticids use their enhanced sight to their advantage as hunters, employing their high-resolution vision to locate potential prey. Some jumping spiders mimic other insects such as ants. Others are able to camouflage themselves to blend into their surroundings, helping them sneak up on prey. Insects and spiders with heightened visual acuity often engage in elaborate courtship dances to attract mates, and jumping spiders are no exception to this rule. Sources Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects,  7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson.The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, 3rd edition, by  P. J. Gullan and P. S. Cranston.  Family Salticidae - Jumping Spiders, Bugguide.net. Accessed online February 29, 2016.Salticidae, Tree of Life Web Project, Wayne Maddison. Accessed online February 29, 2016.Tales of the Himalaya: Adventures of a Naturalist, by Lawrence W. Swan.

Gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender - Essay Example This picture is not new to us as long as female representation is concerned. This kind of image building of women has been performed by our media. In contemporary society, media plays a very crucial role in shaping public opinions. With the advent of new media such as internet smart phones, media has now been constantly around us, drilling into our head with the messages, which sometimes are very damaging. The major target of media these days is the body of woman which is worst and perverse. The representation of women in media has always been stereotypical. They are always represented as sex objects. It is an opening dialogue from the documentary film Miss Representation, â€Å"There is no appreciation for women as intellectuals. It is all about the body and never about the brain...† If we peep into the history of English literature for example, many facts of gender issues appear in front of us. There was no place for women writers in literary circle. Bronte sisters published a volume of poetry by adopting male names such as Curre, Ellis and Action Bell. The one and only reason was to conceal their feminine identity. The social, intellectual and psychological suppression of Victorian women is portrayed by Alfred Tennyson in his poem â€Å"Lady of Shallot.† The contemporary society had a very biased attitude about the female writers. The society was not ready to accept that the women have intellectuality of being writer. Twentieth century witnessed the breakage of this bondage by rebellious feminists through their literary work. Many women writers carved a niche for themselves through their outstanding writing skills. The women have proved themselves, but still the society is not ready to accept their brains, their logical, analytical and intellectual capacity. When there is a question of choosing body or brain of the woman, it is always body which is preferred object. Right from video games or children’s cartoons, women are represented as inferior, always caught by the demons and then are rescued by a brave young gallant. In short the children grow up with the upbringing that women are always inferior sex and men have to protect them and impose authority on them. Miss Representation is the documentary, which throws light on how the image of the women is always spoiled by media. A UNESCO report describes the litany of common image of women in the media. Women are always sex object for media. â€Å"the glamorous sex kitten.† (World Savvy). Dietz (1998) made four possible female stereotypes, which were based on their appearance and their behaviour. 1. Female as a sex object 2. Females as victims 3. Females as heroic or action characters Dietz in his research found that 41% of women in video games were shown as a sex object, 21% were portrayed as victims or ‘damsel in distress’ and only 15% women were portrayed as heroes or action characters. The male dominated media is not ready to accept woman as wa rrior, saviour, and protector but they like to portray her either as a victim or sex object. This report is really benumbing. In India, there are vernacular daily soaps, where the women are shown as being victimized by the members of their in-laws house. They are either physically or mentally tortured by their husbands and family members. When asked producers and directors about it, they comment carelessly that we show whatever is the demand of the public. According to them the majority of viewers of these serials are women and

Criminal law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Criminal law - Essay Example However, if the child victim is older than 13 but younger than 16 a suspect can raise the defence that the child consented to the sexual activity and he or she reasonably believed that said child was at least 16 years of age.1 Critics of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 argue that the Act goes too far by criminalizing legitimate sexual activities of children closer to age 16 and is far too strict on those who are mistaken about the child’s age. This paper examines the reality of this position by dissecting the manner in which the criminal justice system approaches cases in which offences relating to children are interpreted and disposed of. The offences contained in Section 9-12 include sexual assault, inciting children to engage in any form of sexual activity or forcing a child to watch sexual activities. Alarmingly, sexual activity with a child is defined by Section 9 as the intentional touching of ‘another person’ and that other person is under the age of 16 and the person does not reasonably believe the other person to be over the age of 16.3 The act of touching might conceivably be interpreted as sexual in nature and is a matter of fact for a jury to decide.4 In an article published in BBC’s online magazine, Giles Wilson questioned the propriety of the laws role in the age of modern sexual activity among teens. By and large, Wilson argues, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 criminalizes teen age kissing.5 Angela Phillips refers to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as ‘the child trap’ adding that it is: When the House of Commons debated the Sexual Offences Bill a number of Representatives took issue with Section 13 as it stood, fearing that it had the impact of criminalizing what could only be described as normal activities between adolescents. In fact, Member of Parliament and Liberal Democrat Women’s Issues Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley said: Although I welcome the approach to

International Joint Venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Joint Venture - Essay Example The partnership could be short term or temporary such that it ceases to exist after meeting its goal such as in case of projects. Some of IJV partnerships are long-term and last for longer periods. During the formation of joint ventures, the firms or companies combine their assets, which could be in material form or intangible such skills as well as technological knowledge. Joint ventures help in licensing, franchising as well as in export of company products. This paper focuses on why companies choose to enter into an international joint venture, reasons why international joint ventures fail and things that can be done to increase the success rate of International Joint Ventures. Types of Joint Ventures Joint ventures take different forms depending on objectives of the partnering companies. Some companies may decide to co-operate through signing of contract. This is for example viable if a small company wants to form collaboration with another larger company to enhance sale and dist ribution of certain products. A good example is the Joint venture between Tata motors and Fiat, which has been discussed under the reasons for formation of joint ventures. The joint venture helped Fiat market its diesel engines. Another type of venture entails coming up with a new joint company where each partner has a specific number of shares to enable division of expenses and profits. This option works best when the business venture involved is a long term or short-term contract. Another partnership option is complete merging of the firms involved in the partnership. When deciding the type of joint venture to get into, it is crucial for the partners to understand the responsibilities of each party as well as the risk involved in the venture. It is also important to seek legal advice in making the decision of the appropriate venture. A legal agreement should also be signed between the partners to specify on sharing of income or assets in case of failure of the venture (Gutterman, 2002, p.32-35; Yan and Luo, 2001, p.181-183). Why Companies Enter Into International Joint Ventures Companies enter into partnership for various reasons. The major reason for companies entering into International Joint ventures is for economic reasons explained by a number of theories, which include transaction cost economics, resource-based theory, transaction-value theory, real options theory, and increased returns theory (Gutterman, 2002, p.168-173; Yan and Luo, 2001, p.233-236). Transaction cost economics is a theory formulated by Williamson, which assumes that formation of IJCs helps in outsourcing since accessibility of resources such as revenue and services, becomes easier. The firms are able to exchange technological ideas and new business ideas while the market range is also expanded. An example is the Tata Motors and Fiat joint venture, which was formed to manufacture cars from both Tata and Fiat at a reduced cost. In this joint venture, Tata motors buys diesel engines fro m Fiat. On the other

Critical review the opportunities and constraints of ecotourism Thesis

Critical review the opportunities and constraints of ecotourism development in Hong Kong - Thesis Example Despite the diversified resources for ecotourism development in Hong Kong, the ecotourism industry has not germinated to become a prosperous industry. The government has already started to provide funding for the development of ecotourism in 2001 (Yeung et al., 2004). However, the ecotourism industry could not make any progress. Could it be attributed to the fact that our resources are not good enough to attract tourists? If not, what went wrong? In this context, the present chapter seeks to find the way ecotourism can capitalize the potentialities of the environmental resources including human beings for the development and growth of the economy. The researcher attempts to review the resources available in the country in detail with projection of opportunities for further development in the sector and thereby economic development. The chapter contains factual information on resources in the country supported by researcher’s assessment of how these resources are turned into means of ecotourism development. An attempt is also made by the researcher to analyze the impact of ecotourism on country’s resources. It is desirable that the study of the identification of resources for ecotourism development must precede the exploration of whether the country is really having the potentialities to make use of the resources. As understood by everyone, ecotourism is not supposed to endanger the environment and cultural heritage of a country. It must seek to find ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the country and should in no way affect the culture and lives of the local populace. One of the significant study by Cater remarked that during the 1980s, annual tourist arrivals in certain ‘ecotourism destinations’ are more than doubled and tourist receipts grew tenfold (Cater, 1994). In the early 1990s, one of the official reports of World Tourism Organization (WTO) predicted that there