RE: my earlier post. Sarah had a beautiful baby boy. Mother and son doing fine.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Few Thoughts On March 17th
I cannot think of a place that has consistently more dramatic mornings than the Yellowstone Valley of southeastern Montana. Having traveled over most of this great and beautiful nation, and a few excursions to our beautiful neighbor to the south, Mexico, I have enjoyed many sunrises. But daily, the sunrise from our windows at Fringe Benefit Farm are the most awe inspiring that I've seen.
This morning there is a band of clouds covering much of the sky. I think the arm of a little weather system, or something like that. The rest of the sky has a slight haze. When the sun comes up and illuminates the atmosphere, it is ... well, dramatic...
I am feeling veery greatful to be alive to see the beauty of God's Earth today. Today I celebrate 27 years in recovery. Thank you God, Thank you Jimmie K., and thank you to all the addicts who have, and continue to give freely of their experience, strength, and hope.
I have to go in to town early today. Our friend Sarah C. is having a baby today. in fact, as I write this, at about 8:12am, they will have just about finished with her C section, and we will soon know whether to send pink, or blue. More will be revealed.
I got a huge dose of food poisoning. Not sure where it came from, but I sure know where it went. I spent most of the day in bed yesterday, except for going in to teach my Tuesday afternoon Bible study. I didn't really want to, but spiritual things are more important than the flesh. I did not give my usual round of hugs after the study. It might have been just a little poisoning, but in case it wasn't, I didn't want to take any chances.
As you may know, I minister in Nursing homes, and I sure didn't want to give those dear folk any diseases. You see, in our spiritual walk, we must not only give honor and praise to God, but also show love to our fellow human.
There is still frost on the deck this morning. The fields around have patches of snow left on them. Very interesting to watch nature at work.
We have a new cat. Her name is Moka. She's a Siamese, with all the endearing traits of the breed. We adopted her from Pet Smart in Billings. This morning I let her out to commune with Kathryn while was out smoking. Moka DOES NOT like walking on the frosty surface. It is, after all beneath her station. I once saw a lady wearing a tee shirt that said "Because I'm the queen of the f-----g universe, that's why!" I ought to get one for Moka. She has evidently been kept indoors all her life, and is still learning how to operate the cat door. If she has her way, she would make us open it for her whenever she wants to go out or in. I figure the first rainstorm, she goes out, and stays there until she comes in through the cat door all by herself. Cruel? maybe, but it works. See, I understand Siamese cats. They're addicts. Those of you who suffer this disease will comprehend my meaning.
Time to get showered and head in to town. I want to spend some time with Sarah before I have to go to work.
Agape
Lee
This morning there is a band of clouds covering much of the sky. I think the arm of a little weather system, or something like that. The rest of the sky has a slight haze. When the sun comes up and illuminates the atmosphere, it is ... well, dramatic...
I am feeling veery greatful to be alive to see the beauty of God's Earth today. Today I celebrate 27 years in recovery. Thank you God, Thank you Jimmie K., and thank you to all the addicts who have, and continue to give freely of their experience, strength, and hope.
I have to go in to town early today. Our friend Sarah C. is having a baby today. in fact, as I write this, at about 8:12am, they will have just about finished with her C section, and we will soon know whether to send pink, or blue. More will be revealed.
I got a huge dose of food poisoning. Not sure where it came from, but I sure know where it went. I spent most of the day in bed yesterday, except for going in to teach my Tuesday afternoon Bible study. I didn't really want to, but spiritual things are more important than the flesh. I did not give my usual round of hugs after the study. It might have been just a little poisoning, but in case it wasn't, I didn't want to take any chances.
As you may know, I minister in Nursing homes, and I sure didn't want to give those dear folk any diseases. You see, in our spiritual walk, we must not only give honor and praise to God, but also show love to our fellow human.
There is still frost on the deck this morning. The fields around have patches of snow left on them. Very interesting to watch nature at work.
We have a new cat. Her name is Moka. She's a Siamese, with all the endearing traits of the breed. We adopted her from Pet Smart in Billings. This morning I let her out to commune with Kathryn while was out smoking. Moka DOES NOT like walking on the frosty surface. It is, after all beneath her station. I once saw a lady wearing a tee shirt that said "Because I'm the queen of the f-----g universe, that's why!" I ought to get one for Moka. She has evidently been kept indoors all her life, and is still learning how to operate the cat door. If she has her way, she would make us open it for her whenever she wants to go out or in. I figure the first rainstorm, she goes out, and stays there until she comes in through the cat door all by herself. Cruel? maybe, but it works. See, I understand Siamese cats. They're addicts. Those of you who suffer this disease will comprehend my meaning.
Time to get showered and head in to town. I want to spend some time with Sarah before I have to go to work.
Agape
Lee
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Love Never Fails
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
One of the things a Christian is told to do, is love one another. Love in this case, is the Greek Agape.
- From Wikipedia - Agape (Christian theology) the love of God or Christ for mankind. (pronounced /ˈæɡə.piː/ AG-ə-pee;[1] and sometimes /əˈɡɑː.peɪ/ ə-GAH-pay after the Classical Greek agápē; Modern Greek: αγάπη [aˈɣapi]), also called parental love, is one of several Greek words translated into English as love. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Although the word does not have specific religious connotation, the word has been used by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including Biblical authors and Christian authors. Thomas Jay Oord has defined agape as "an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being."[citation needed] In his book, The Pilgrimage, author Paulo Coelho defines it as "the love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia—an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection, and eros, an affection of a sexual nature.
Here's the deal. I don't have to like you. I have to Love you. We are, in the flesh, at least, at the core, not so different one from another. Our feelings, needs, passions, lusts, and so on. If I don't love you, because you are what you are, I am disobeying Jesus' command. I don't have to like what you do, or say, or act, but I have to love you. Love you like one of my children.
Sometimes you might do something to me, that hurts my feelings. Wounds me to the core. But I still have to love you.
It has always astounded me that someone who loves you so much as to marry you, can hate you so bad. You say something, or do something that offends them, and they suddenly hate you, take your money, property, and children, then speak badly of you at every occasion.
Someone like that never did love you. They only loved themselves. Trust me, I am an expert at this, having been a donor and a recipient.
When two people can no longer live together, because they "can't stand the sight of each other," we have to remember agape. And even when we, after much prayer, meditation, and counseling, come to the conclusion that it would be better to live apart, we must not, as Christians, forget to agape one another.
But - (Don't you just love that caveat?) that doesn't mean that we have to be all buddy buddy with each other either. It does mean we have to forgive one another's trespasses. AND, go on an live your life, trying your very best to never wound another person again.
Jesus loves you, and "Love Never Fails.
That's my message today.
Agape
Lee
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
