This past month I celebrated, Valentine's Day. Many people view this holiday as a event created by Hallmark and other card-making-companies as a way of commercializing the need for romance, candy-hearts with cheesy one-liners on them, and a way of boosting profits.
A holiday only for those “In love”, or who have someone to love, or more importantly, be “in love” with.
Having a significant other can certainly feel like a bonus when Valentine's Day comes around (or perhaps a tragedy, depending on the circumstance). However, the development of Valentine's Day is directly linked to Christianity. Saint Valentine was a man in the early church, who (as one of the stories goes) would write encouraging messages to people he thought could use them – people who were hurting, in need of support, etc. The act became so well-liked, that it caught on, and other people started doing it too – sending “love notes” to people in need, and doing random acts of kindness for others.
Is there anybody in your life who maybe could use a love note, these days? A word of encouragement, or support?
For many people, the holiday of Valentine's can be pretty isolating, even alienating – especially for anyone who is single, or who maybe is going through a break-up, or just hasn't felt much “love” for a long time in general.
In Greek, which is the language that much of the Bible was originally written in, (and according to C.S. Lewis) there are 4 kinds of love that exist in the world – Storge (Affection), Philia (Friendship), Eros (Erotic/Romantic/Intimate), Agape (Sacrificial/Unconditional). The first 3 loves are based largely on feeling, and merit. They are sometimes difficult to find and maintain. They are also based on circumstance, and scenario – if I “feel” like being nice, if you happen to do something that I like, if I'm into that-same-certain-thing-that-you-are-into at the same time.
The 4th love however, is the one which matters most. It's the kind of love that everyone needs, everyone appreciates, and everyone can take part in. The kind of love that stops one long enough, that prompts one to go out of one's way for, to let somebody else know that “I'm thinking of you.” And this is the kind of love that Valentine's Day (and Christ), is all about.
So, who's your Valentine?
You belong here,
Ben J
Scripture(s): Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:15-20
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in needand yet refuses help? - 1 John 3:16-17
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not havelove, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.Andif I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and allknowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but donot have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, andif I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, Igain nothing.
Loveis patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogantor rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable orresentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in thetruth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,endures all things. Lovenever ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
Music/Movies to check out:
A Day To Remember – Leave All the Lights On
Angels & Airwaves – The Wolfpack
Jack's Mannequin – Drop Out (The So Unknown)
Currently reading:
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
Upcoming:
3/1 Fellowship (Line Dancing) 5:15-7:15
3/8 Fellowship (Easter CHS Scavenger Hunt) 5:15-7:30
3/15 Fellowship 5:15-7:15 pm
3/22 Fellowship (Laser Tag) 5:15-7:45 pm
3/29 Fellowship 5:15-7:15
A holiday only for those “In love”, or who have someone to love, or more importantly, be “in love” with.
Having a significant other can certainly feel like a bonus when Valentine's Day comes around (or perhaps a tragedy, depending on the circumstance). However, the development of Valentine's Day is directly linked to Christianity. Saint Valentine was a man in the early church, who (as one of the stories goes) would write encouraging messages to people he thought could use them – people who were hurting, in need of support, etc. The act became so well-liked, that it caught on, and other people started doing it too – sending “love notes” to people in need, and doing random acts of kindness for others.
Is there anybody in your life who maybe could use a love note, these days? A word of encouragement, or support?
For many people, the holiday of Valentine's can be pretty isolating, even alienating – especially for anyone who is single, or who maybe is going through a break-up, or just hasn't felt much “love” for a long time in general.
In Greek, which is the language that much of the Bible was originally written in, (and according to C.S. Lewis) there are 4 kinds of love that exist in the world – Storge (Affection), Philia (Friendship), Eros (Erotic/Romantic/Intimate), Agape (Sacrificial/Unconditional). The first 3 loves are based largely on feeling, and merit. They are sometimes difficult to find and maintain. They are also based on circumstance, and scenario – if I “feel” like being nice, if you happen to do something that I like, if I'm into that-same-certain-thing-that-you-are-into at the same time.
The 4th love however, is the one which matters most. It's the kind of love that everyone needs, everyone appreciates, and everyone can take part in. The kind of love that stops one long enough, that prompts one to go out of one's way for, to let somebody else know that “I'm thinking of you.” And this is the kind of love that Valentine's Day (and Christ), is all about.
So, who's your Valentine?
You belong here,
Ben J
Scripture(s): Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:15-20
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in needand yet refuses help? - 1 John 3:16-17
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not havelove, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.Andif I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and allknowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but donot have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, andif I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, Igain nothing.
Loveis patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogantor rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable orresentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in thetruth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,endures all things. Lovenever ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
Music/Movies to check out:
A Day To Remember – Leave All the Lights On
Angels & Airwaves – The Wolfpack
Jack's Mannequin – Drop Out (The So Unknown)
Currently reading:
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
Upcoming:
3/1 Fellowship (Line Dancing) 5:15-7:15
3/8 Fellowship (Easter CHS Scavenger Hunt) 5:15-7:30
3/15 Fellowship 5:15-7:15 pm
3/22 Fellowship (Laser Tag) 5:15-7:45 pm
3/29 Fellowship 5:15-7:15