In His Image

Living in today's society brings with it various challenges for everyone. These challenges partly result from the evolvement over the years of the way people think, live and interact together. Different ideologies are widely expressed and practiced in the world. Cultures from all over the world are easily found in many countries, as people move and settle in different parts of the globe. Political views and the decisions taken by politicians also play an important part in how society develops and transforms itself through time. Society is also heavily impacted by the different ideas, beliefs, faiths and religions practiced by different groups of people, by individuals who do not always aim to live in peace, with respect, with love.Taking a snapshot of society would produce an image revealing what people practice and believe, and especially the nature of their culture and traditions, which at times may condition their lives. Society is the result of all this. With all the good and bad intentions, the goodwill and bitterness expressed by people, society portrays an image of who the people actually are, it portrays an image of what its people are really going through, and thus, of what fabric society is made up of.For me as a Christian, today's society has a very distorted image of God; an image that is blurred; it is a society that has lost its focus of who God really is, while at the same time searches for another god to connect to. It is a society confused by the different ideologies brought forward and practiced by a number of people in different ways throughout the world. These ideologies are not based on the love of God, or the values which Christians try to live and nourish in their lives. In my personal opinion these ideologies tend to exclude the genuine interest of a person in one's neighbour, and instead encourage one to focus on oneself, where greed dominates hence minimizing the possibility of true love of neighbour from being extended throughout the nations. Today's society lacks living in the image of God, lacks unconditional love, lacks the fresh air of true life.This book will mainly focus on man as being created on the image of God. It will try to explore and share my thoughts about what it means to live 'In His image'. If people truly lived 'In His image', there is a big chance that society would be a better place to live in. Harmony and peace would be the norm, as it is meant to be according to God's plan of love for mankind. People and nations would respect each other through reciprocal love.I hope that this book will, in a modest and humble way, bring to you the joy, the fulfilment, the happiness that is lived by a person, whenever one understands more the beauty of living in the image of God. Living 'In His image' is living in His grace and peace, it is bringing and transmitting the love of God to others.Thank you for reading this book. During the years 1990 to 1996 I was a full time missionary with 'The International Catholic Programme for Evangelization - ICPE' and have evangelized in various countries, such as Russia, Ghana, Poland, Germany, and Malta amongst others. Since 1997, I am married and am an active member of the Focolare Movement in Malta.During the six years of my life as a missionary with ICPE', to share His Love in different countries, I did face the challenge of saying 'Yes' to Him. It was a difficult decision to make, as I had to leave everything behind: my family, my friends, giving up my job... But as I had a deep faith in Him, I told Him 'Yes'... I will follow You... trusting, that he would take care of me in all aspects of my life. That prayer of mine opened the doors for me to give my 'Yes' to Him... to follow Him.In the following six years as a missionary, and also after that time, Jesus has always taken care of me, has always provided me with blessings and grace, and has also taken care of me financially. Through faith, and my personal relationship with Him, He has taught me how to