Wow. I had no idea the topic of love would be such a controversial issue. Well, actually, I lie. I knew exactly what would happen and I'm sure glad it did. You see, I love to pick at the brains of today's youth. I love to challenge the way they think. I love to expose the strengths and weaknesses of their faith. I love to open their eyes and minds to see the lies the devil speaks into their lives verses the Truth God constantly offers to us through His Spirit, His Word, and through other Christians.

Understand here people, not only is this a way for me to better understand where you are in your relationship with God, but most importantly allow these times of confusion and questioning be a time for you to personally access where you are with God.

Pray. Ask questions. Pray. Read your Bible. Pray. Connect with Christian friends. Pray. Listen to God. Pray

Before being so quick to turn your back and your heart on what God has to say, take a minute to really think and really contemplate who knows best. You or God? Once you've done that. There should be no debate. It's never easy, but it's always a choice. Sadly, we often choose the wrong one.

God Loves you and so do I.Love Him back.

It's been, oh, a very long time since I've posted in here. Acually, it's the first time since I created the page. I will try my best to update, because yes, even I need to vent at times. So where do I start?

Well, most fresh in my mind is what happened at youth group this last Friday. I spoke about Love. I had very little intention of going into relationships and such, because that kind of stuff need weeks to cover, but it's hard not getting into that stuff when talking about Love. I could tell from the getgo that the issue would be really touchy for some people. It was also obvious that certain people who were in dating relationships would falsely assume that my message was geared only at them. Whatever. People sometimes have big heads where they think that the world revolves around them. The topic was LOVE. LOVE is a concept that everyone should be willing to learn about.

Okay, well, the if you felt that I was talking directly to you. Well, you're right. Everytime I stand up and speak a Word from God, I hope and pray to God that it triggers something in you. It may be happiness, sadness, joy, anger, bitterness, pain, or whatever feeling may be evoked. It'd be worse if people would leave feeling nothing. Just don't be blinded by your emotions that you can't even see that it's God provoking you. Don't be an idiot and turn your back on God. Listen to Him.

So, yeah, back to Love. What is Love? God is Love. Simple as that. So ask yourself; Do I know God? Am I connected to God in a TRUE relationship? Does my life reflect God? Does God live in me? Do I really trust God to direct my life? Am I living my life completely for God? Since God is Love, a no answer to any of these questions means that your ability and understanding of Love is incomplete. Disagree you may, but just know that you don't disagree with me, but with God. It's in the Bible. Tell God your bitterness towards what I just wrote.

So I guess the better question to be asked is this: "So, Ben, are you trying to say that I don't know what love is, and that I'm incapable of love?"

YES.

On your own strength and abilities to love, you are incapable to comprehend and give love. You ARE able to love in the way which YOU THINK is best and what others may say of love, but the most genuine and unconditional love that God speaks of, the love that only comes from God above, simply only comes from God above.

SO, we are are incapable, but God's love in us is totally capable.

Point is, if you love God with all your heart, you will then be able to take that Love that God gives and love others.

Oh yeah, Friday's talk was not only about "romantic" love. If you recall, it was about love in general, in all aspects. But most of all, it was about loving God.

-------------------------------------

I also made some reference to 50% Christian marriages that end in divorce. I was merely stating a fact that people go into relationships with every intent to commit to vows that declare, "til death do us part." My point on that was to be careful when entering into a commited relationship. We need to make sure that our relationships are completely God centered throughout the course of that relationship. Do I really care about Love? Well, heck yeah. I care so much that I refuse gamble with it in a 50/50 game. Love's not a game, nor is worth that kind of a gamble. And a crappy gamble at that. My God, I'm not against marriage or anything. I'm just not going to rush into things until God says it's time. Sometimes if people would listen to the whole story, instead of just picking at things they don't like, people wouldn't come off as so ignorant. -----just venting...

 Last thoughts... So I say....

I John 4:7-10

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^[b] into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love

I Corinthians 13:4-8

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 selfseeking, 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.

-------------------

HA! TOLD YOU SO!

Currently Reading Beyond Belief to Convictions (Beyond Belief Campaign) By Josh D. McDowell, Bob Hostetler see related

If one does everything right, yet fails to pray, nothing significant will happen

                                                                                                                      Carl Wilson

Xanga

Type your first post here, then click "Submit" to publish it to your Xanga Site