Living on Love

» left by Michelle Mackin

3 years 11 days ago.
95 fans.

I hear you Avis!

 

Agape Love was a Bible study topic not to long ago. I also believe that if you learn Agape Love that it is like a kindergarten love class for us here on earth. Than when we get to heaven we will understand how simple our love is compared to God's perfect love.

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» left by Avis Ward 3 years 11 days ago.
132 fans.

"when we get to heaven we will understand how simple our love is compared to God's perfect love."

Amen to that, Michelle! Thank you for reading this and adding your complementing comments. They are you are appreciated.

Blessings and Happy Mother's Day,
Avis

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» left by David Pekrul

3 years 10 days ago.
70 fans.

I love the line, "Agape means not only having to say you're sorry but it means you are forgiven." It reminded me of the movie many years ago, starring Ali McGraw and Ryan ONeil, called Love Story. The line there was "Love means never having to say you're sorry". I guess I can somewhat understand what they were trying to say in that movie, but the fact of the matter is we all must say we're sorry from time to time, because none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. It is only Agape Love that can forgive anything that we do and bring us into right relationship with God and with each other.

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» left by Avis Ward 3 years 10 days ago.
132 fans.

"It is only Agape Love that can forgive anything that we do and bring us into right relationship with God and with each other."

David, thank you! I wish I had that sentence in my article. I remember Love Story, which triggered the sentence you liked. Thanks for reading and leaving your comments. I appreciate both very much. Take special care!

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» left by Yangki Christine Akiteng

3 years 10 days ago.
104 fans.

Avis, this article is well written and with passion...  :-)  But you know me, I speak my mind and this is one topic I am very much interested in.

 

I am not a Greek scholar and don’t speak any Greek, but I know this, most Greek scholars would disagree with some of the English translations of the five different types of love as you put them here.

 

I always find it helpful (for me) to study anything within the context of the original culture because most times the English translations don’t do those cultures much justice especially when ancient cultures are tailored to fit modern theories.... :-)

 

Let’s take Eros for example. To even begin to grasp Eros, one has to understand the concepts of Greek sexuality and to view it as the Greeks did. In Greek culture, eros is the Greek term for sexual love and where we get the word erotic. It shares a common root with the word erao, which means to ask, to beg, or to demand. 

 

Eros is considered a primal force of nature -- a highly creative, chaotic, excessive and often destructive power (energy). Most studies on Eros also include the ways the Greeks controlled, managed and exploited this power (sexual energy). Some books on Greek Mythology I’ve read actually put Romantic Love that dominates much of pop-culture as the dark side of Eros.  It’s the kind of love in which one selfishly fulfills oneself through Eros.

 

And one can’t talk about Eros and not have to deal with or understand Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love between men and women (and mother of Eros), who according to some ancient Greek studies used her powers to destroy those who tried to disrupt or prevent the natural workings of love and sexuality. It gets even more complicated because Aphrodite is also the Goddess of love between men, and love between women.  Go figure!

 

Of course explanations vary from scholar to scholar.  This is your article and very well written… :-)

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» left by Avis Ward 3 years 10 days ago.
132 fans.

Thank you, Chrissy for reading and the comments. Your explanation of Eros is as I understand it. I began the article with the types of love according to their Hebrew meaning, which, as you know, are more than the Greek and not as specific in their meaning. I didn't want to write a paper on it and changed my approach.

After finding a title, a kind of love to live on, Agape won and a condensed article resulted. (I am deliberately trying to keep my word count under 500/600 without compromising my purpose for writing the piece or its quality. Thank you for feeling my passion.

I couldn't agree with you more about researching a topic in its original language as the translation can be lost. I have discovered that most easiest on the Internet when corresponding with someone from Viet Nam, for example. His use of an English word may not convey what he is actually saying. I'm going through that now with someone on a tech issue.

I enjoyed reading your additions to this article. Speak your mind. Others reading this piece can possibly benefit from comments left. I hope so, anyway.

Enjoy a great week!

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» left by Yangki Christine Akiteng 3 years 10 days ago.
104 fans.

I hear you Avis. I wasn’t aware of your process.  You began the article with “The Greek have expressed love”, I assumed the definitions were in context/exclusively original Greek meanings. I apologize for “writing a paper”…LOL  I choose to expand on eros because I didn’t want to touch on the agape love which you described as Selfless Giving /Christian love… :-)  Attaching “Christian love” to Agape Love somehow implies that to have Agape/God-like-love one must have Christian love.  I have experienced and seen at work more God-like-love among/ from non-Christians (some of them never even heard of Jesus Christ) than I have among/from Christians.  Could it be that God has no religion since Agape/God-like-love transcends the boundaries of religions?  Could it be that we are born with Agape/God-like-love since we come from and are created in God's image whether we know it or not, admit it or not?  This is where I was trying not to go…:-)

 

You have a wonderfully blessed week too!

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» left by Avis 3 years 10 days ago.

Christine, I'm sorry for not being clearer. My draft started with Hebrew then I deleted that entire paragraph and began again.

I'm much like you, (I believe) relationship and fellowship are far superior and more important than religion. Those non-Christians who have never heard of Jesus Christ and display more Agape love toward others than "so called Christians" in my humble opinion, proves just how awesome God is.

Thanks, I'm expecting to have a great week!

PS I enjoy reading your "papers".

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» left by Ken McCreless

3 years 9 days ago.
84 fans. Follow Ken McCreless on twitter!

Hi Avis.

 

I understood the message of your article. Love, the kind that took Jesus to the cross, is our goal.

 

Awesome stuff!!

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» left by Avis Ward 3 years 9 days ago.
132 fans.

"Love, the kind that took Jesus to the cross is our goal."

Perfect! Thank you, Ken. You're a wonderful friend.

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» left by Steve Kovacs

3 years 9 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!

Your article was a great subject to bring up and a deep meaning to reflect upon and understand!

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» left by Avis Ward of SC 3 years 8 days ago.

Steve, thank you for reading this article. I appreciate your comments very much.

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» left by sue thom

from nj 3 years 6 days ago.

hi avis,

 

i think the love a mother has for her children is the closet one can come to unconditional love.

 

the little brats can do anything, and we still love them with all our might.

 

i have no doubt God instills this love in us for our children so we wouldn't leave them on the corner after a 2 year old's temper tantrum. our God is quite intelligent :)

 

thanks for sharing,

 

my best to you,

 

sue

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» left by Avis Ward from SC 3 years 6 days ago.

Hi Sue,

Thanks for being here and commenting. I agree, a mother's love for her children is a perfect example of unconditional love. I believe I have it and I'm not a mother. I also know I have issues to sort from time to time to make sure it is what I pursue. I find it easiest getting there as a mother innately is with her children, if I do not analyze, tear apart, take personally and obsess over a person's words or behavior. I've been considered arrogant and aloof but the reality is I don't care to be bothered by things not in my control. Other people certainly aren't in my control.

I can love easily but to like is more difficult. Some personalities are just plain undesirable and not likable. This can include family members, as you know.

Best wishes to you, always. Thanks again.
Avis

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» left by Dr Clarence Rucker, Jr

from MI 3 years 3 days ago.

Thanks so much Avis

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» left by Avis Ward 2 years 327 days ago.
132 fans.

You're welcome, Dr. Rucker. Thank you so very much. Please forgive my delayed reply. I thought I had done so.

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» left by Jane Bullard

2 years 328 days ago.

Dear Avis, this is a beautiful and true look at real love. Thank you for writing this and making it enjoyable yet testing to read. I enjoyed the Thomas Kempis quote, too.

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» left by Avis Ward 2 years 327 days ago.
132 fans.

Jane, hello and thank you. I really liked Kempis' quote, too. I agree, very testing to each of us yet we must display agape love every moment of our existence. Fortunately, Grace happens. *warm smile*

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