Ahhh... Love!!!

(Writer's Block! -- the most dreaded "disease" that can ever afflict a writer.  And I've got it!  Aaarghhh.  It must be the Christmas and New Year events that did it.  I'll have to build up momentum once again, so for now, I'll mix and match some thoughts, notes and ideas that I've casually jotted down on my phone's notepad for the past year... wow, my phone's notepad function has its use after all.)

 
        So here it is -- it's not yet Valentine's Day but this being the start of a new year, I'll attempt to write about making this year a "Love Theme" or a "Love Episode" or "Love me Tender" or "whatever-you-wanna-call-it-love" syndrome.

        So what is love anyway?

        Here's some wacky definitions:

"Love is a heterogenous conglomeration of absurdity calculated to bamboozle the anatomy of the individual who becomes intoxicated with its abominable and irresistible power."

      - and -

"Love is a feeling you feel when you feel that you're going to get a feeling that you never felt before. "

        Huh?  Say that again???

        But seriously now... 

        One of the greatest descriptions of love is found in the Scripture: "Love is patient, love is kind; It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps ho record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, it always protects, always believes, always hopes, always perseveres." (l Cor. 13:4-7)

        After that comes the profound statement: "Love never fails." (verse 8)

        And what's the shortest, most profound statement on love?  Again it is found in the Bible -- just three words: "God is love." (1 John 4:8)

        Many people think that they are in love when in fact they are only infatuated.  Love's counterfeit is infatuation. 

        So how do we distinguish which is which? 

        Infatuation is ruled by feelings alone.

        But love's feelings are ruled by principle.  True love has feelings - Tender feelings which are put in the human heart by a caring God. In true love, all feelings are under the control of principle.

        Infatuation is in a hurry. 

        But love takes time.  We can build a shack overnight.  But if we are building a house that will stand the fury of a typhoon, that takes time.

        Infatuation is a ditch into which narrow-eyed people fall.

        While love is a ladder onto which wide-eyed people climb. In a sense, we do not "fall in love". rather, we "climb on to love".

        What's the recipe for love? 

        It's called J.O.Y.

J for Jesus - love Jesus best of all.
O for others - love your partner and other people better than sourself
Y for you - love yourself last.

        Ok ngarud!  That's my piece. 

        Let's make this year a "Love Year" for everyone!