Love of a Home

By G. P. Avants

 

“If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.”

                                                         1 Corinthians 13: 7

 

 

Momma always said treat others

The way you want to be treated.

Be a friend, a true companion

Love fully to the end,

Give generously again and again.

Oh, and don’t forget…

Always wear clean underwear

In case you are ever in an accident.

That is Mom for you. She is the embodiment of home. In her we see the fourth kind of love, brought to you in the original Greek, called storgy. When I think of that word, I wonder if that is where we get the image of the stork delivering the baby. That is how I connect the two.

Storgy is the word that most closely mirrors the highest expression of God’s unconditional love. Being in second to that is not too shabby. I think about what extents my own mom went to keeping house for six little kiddos. I often wondered how in the world we had three good meals a day when times were so tough. I found out years later, the reason Mom was so skinny was that she didn’t really eat. She made sure the growing children got fed.

If I asked you about the love your mother showed you I bet we have similar stories. I hope she made your house a home as well. I know that is why the war of love hits home. Our enemy knows how powerful home is and how it gives a foundation to build real life on. Moms and dads are the first glimpse that children have of God’s love on earth. So it’s no surprise that the family is one of the prime targets for those who loath God’s love.

Even though we have put mom up on a pedestal in this blog, she is one half of a unique team. Home needs dads too. While Mom makes a house a home, dads are the keepers of the gates and the defenders of the home. When both parents are on the same page and wear the same team uniform, by the grace of God, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Remember the body of Christ is a family too. The church is made up of families that are more that the sum of their parts. We need that storgy love to shine out in the dark times we are in. How can you guard your family in this war? What can you ask the Lord to do in order for your house to be a home where He can reside?

 

 

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Episode 16 Infinity Stones 1 & 2

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-gj78q-8f4360

The Infinity Wars is almost here. In this episode we discuss the first two Infinity Stones of the Space Stone and the Mind Stone. What are they and what Marvel movies are they connected  with. 

Episode #15 Field trip to Wonder Con!

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4uy2t-8e4391

Hey, we are on a field trip to Wonder Con! Rudy brought his daughter Hanna and we had a great time talking about the sights, sounds, and smells of this event in Anaheim. 

Brother Here Art Thou-Love of a Brother

By  G.P. Avants

“(Love) is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”

                                                     1 Corinthians 13: 6

 

“Love you, brother.”

“Love you too, man. I will talk to you later.”

“Later.”

We need this kind of love in our communities, churches, and government. It is so important that the city of Philadelphia was named after it. Phileo is the third word for love that we have been investigating. It is the foundation for any good society. How we treat our fellow man reflects a love that can turn the course of a nation. That is why America existed to give people worth and value. That is a very life-changing kind of compassion.

Now ladies, this covers both sexes. This is what a community is all about. Is shows caring about those around us, being a good neighbor, or even just a smile to a stranger. These are things that are easy to take for granted especially as life gets busier. Like a single flame in a dark place those simple acts of human kindness do shine out.

I wanted to talk about how sorely lacking this kind of brotherly love is today. However, just like the seasons change something has been stirring. There is a movement of community going on. I pray that this is the Lord at work in everyday people to see this love restored.

If I may, I wanted not just to tell you about it but personally show it to you. I have been blessed to be a part of a few outreaches designed to build community and ultimately lead people to the Lord. These three examples all come from needs that cried out to be filled.

About ten years ago four Christian brothers decided to go on a hike in Idyllwild, CA. During that afternoon along a wooded trail a dream was born. Why not get people outside among God’s glorious creation? We could plan activities for families to spend time together building memories and spending time together. Creation Tours was realized. Since that time it has changed hands and is now Creation Treks. We have now included multiple sporting activities such as biking, (road and mountain) kayaking, fishing, running, and of course hiking. Check us out on Facebook.

A few years ago I was privileged to be a part of a mentor program at my school. I am a high school teacher and work with many struggling students. One of the biggest needs they have is guidance and connecting with positive role models. We began a program called B3which stands for Building Better Brothers. We are still constructing our program but we hope to match small groups of students with mentors and help them build brotherhood with their peers.

Finally, I was asked to be a part of a family community group. It is so new it does not even have a name yet. The idea was to not just have Bible Study and fellowship for men or women but for the whole family. It will provide a chance for families to spend time with each other. They eat, pray, worship, study, and have fun together. We are only in our third week but it has already been a blessing to get together in a regular basis.

Phileo is alive and well. However, it needs a resurgence. Maybe God is showing you how to build a community group where you live or work. We were made social beings like God Himself. No man is an island, as a famous author once penned. We need each other especially on those days when no one understands you.

I challenge you to love and be loved in a brotherly or sisterly way. Find how you can start a group or plug into one where you can share life with others. It is one step closer to that agape love of God. You may be the only example of Christ that people will see. So why don’t you open that door and see what is on the other side?

Episode #14 The Star Trek Universe

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-6iv6g-8dbbd3

In this episode we discuss the past, present and future of the Star Trek francise. 

Love of a Lover

 

“(Love) It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.”

                    1 Corinthians 13:5

I debated how to title this blog. I could easily go for a word that would instantly get a fire started: Eros. Oh wait the modern term is erotic. I think of all the words that mean love this the one that is misused and misunderstood the most. Like the word sex it is a word that has been view as notorious.

L o v e is under attack. I am sure you know that too well. That is why we have been talking about the word for the past three weeks. We use this powerful little world to express a huge gamut of ideas and expressions. In the Greek language, from which we take quite a bit of the English, there are five kinds of love. Mania, eros, philos, storgy, and agapeo. Each one has a different context that defines how love is expressed.

Eros is the love of lovers. Yes, it is romance. Eros is also sexual. It is the bond between two people that can be something very hard to destroy. Life is created and the winter passes into spring because of this expression of love. Eros is as gentle as a refreshing dew yet in the wrong hands it can be as explosive as TNT.

Being romantic is a term that is being watered down in meaning. There was something to be said about pursuing a woman and seeking after her hand in marriage. People still had the same passions folks have today. However, they knew the beauty in waiting to have sex until marriage. Sex was a thing to look forward to. They knew where it lead to and that it had pleasure and purpose. What makes true love real is when it seeks the best for both lovers. Have we lost the thrill of anticipation for getting it all right now?

Being said, this is where then concept of love has been bombarded. The world has tried to kill romantics by saying self-control is weakness.  I have heard the same voices expressing their opinions:

“If you don’t have sex you really don’t love that person.”

“Why wait for marriage? Patience wastes time.”

“I have to get it now, get all I can, out of life while I can.”

To be honest it sounds more like the words of a leech or a parasite than a human being. Having sex takes no thought at all, but being romantic takes work. I realize that after a while even the passion of sex can cool. Learning the art of romance allows the heart and the mind to work in harmony. I think it adds the layer of spice that can not only reignite the wonder of sex, but add a layer that takes it to a whole other level. You may or not believe me but quality can trump quantity in this case.

I know that I am a romantic at heart. However, when you do not use it, that skill gets a bit rusty. I know this love word is one I need to practice more. How many of us  want to learn how to be romantic again and not just be sexually active? Because, that is the kind of love endurance that really will last a lifetime.

I know that debate about what marriage is a hot one. It is part of the war on love that creates battle lines between people. We do live in a pleasure-seeking society. I believe that guarding our love in his area can turn the tide of this conflict. You can yell and scream at people about their choice of who they wish to marry. However, the truth is eros has its limitations. It works best when the real lover of the soul has two committed people loving Him. Living that out, passing through the struggles, and living in victory, will speak volumes to those who are trying to create a marriage with only the stuff of this world. We have a access to a sharper arrow than Cupid when it comes to eros.

If you will please excuse me, I am going to start thinking and praying about how to romance my wife. You know, when we were first dating some fifteen years ago, she use to enjoy getting a random I love you card. (Of course as I am thinking about this what should catch my eye but a special card on my desk. Thank you Lord. You are a romantic at heart too.)

 

 

Episode #13 Well, its about time.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ntf6n-8d4472

Do you love time travel like we do? Join us for a fun look at the theories of time travel, talk abour some of our favorite time travel movies, and learn about Gary’s new novel in time travel.