What is LOVE?

[Loveroftruth]

I think what Card and I have been speaking about is different then the "act of love".
If I choose right now to love on you, its a choice and then an act. If I choose right now to rebuke you it would be a choice and then an act - would they both be from God?

I dont think Card was saying it is exclusive, yet if you haven't experienced it, it may be hard to relate to, and not its not like some are extra special because they have experienced it, it may just be because one is used by God in a way that requires that or some other reason.

Peace AND LOVE  :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob:

I think that we are just seeing things from totally different perspectives.

And I think that is ok :LoveH1: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob:

I think so, too.  :HeartThrob:

There sure is alot of LOVE going on on this thread :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :girlheart:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Thank you LT for finishing my "sentences"  :winkgrin: :thumbsup:

[captamajora]

I think real love does good for people even if you yourself feel like you'd rather hate them.

Exactly!

Real love is loving someone while they are beating you, cursing at you, and defiling you.  I recently saw a documentary about the oppression of Tibet and they related an account of a Tibetan monk who was peacefully resisting the PLA (People's "Liberation" Army) in the eastern region of Tibet.  The Tibetan people were peacefully resisting the dictatorial Chinese occupation.  They "Liberation Army" were destroying the temples, burning their their fields of barley, beating people, etc. This monk never even lifted his arms to hit them in defense as they beat him and rubbed their feces and urine all over his face.  They later took him to prison where he was tortured for months. 

He was interveiwed in the doc and you could see the horrible scars all over his body of where he had been burned.  He said that he had completely forgiven them and had never had any animosity for them even as they beat him and rubbed their feces all over his face.

This is LOVE! 

This is the love of Christ. It is not human love. This cannot be mustered up of ourselves. It is a gift from God and some have been given this gift now.  Eventually all will be given this gift of The Spirit.

But I know :sigh:....this can't be because he was a Buddhist?  This unfathomable love and forgiveness must have come from somewhere else...

To me, this man professed Christ. 

[laren]

http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=271&PMID=1&mode=FLV

and this one too, really good

http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=270&PMID=25&mode=FLV

11minute video clips I thot was good.

[SeekerSA]

Split off two posts to a new thread:

Love Test vs. Born Again

[firstborn888]

I am sure glad that the one who shared the gospel with me did not feel like some of our members do. I am glad that they did not figure that I already knew God without the Bible and that I already was experiencing the kind of Love that they knew through Christ. My last 20+ years would have been like the Hell that I lived for my first 28 years instead of the Heaven on earth that I have known because these people knew I was not alright as I was.

John, those people were people who God used to bring you in. Why would you assume that if those people did not make the effort that you would have been left in darkness for 20 plus years? What if you had never met those folks? Do you believe God could not have reached you without them?

I assure you, He could have and would have. 

Then why preach?

Because God chose that method, but He is not limited to that method. There is enough of God seen in nature - His power is clearly shown. Flesh and blood cannot reveal who Jesus is anyway, right?

God spoke to me with no bible and no people, probably because I had cut myself off from all social interaction and never read the bible.

As far as the term 'born again', why would Jesus expect a leader in Israel (Nicodemus) to already know what it meant when we  are generally told it was impossible to be born again until after the resurrection?

Blessings,
- Byron

[Redlettervoice]

Captain and Firstborn, you are making me think of what it says in Job..............that He
maketh it "rain" where NO MAN is..........to satisfy the desolate land...........

And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the "waters" ......................yeah, Lord!

LOVE.

To HIM be all all all all all Glory!

[Casstranquility]

Well, I'm not a Christian and I know love, and can express love. To me, love is both a choice and not a choice. I have been really mad at someone, and I stopped to think: "What's the point in this?" I turned around in that moment, anger wiped away, loving that person. Love is human, and love is divine. Love doesn't judge. Love doesn't see sinners, love sees people. When I let myself open up to non-judgment, then I am open to loving-I love, and I love deeply. Being a Christian has NOTHING to do with whether you can love. Animals love. All people love. Love is a part of everything. Separating it from us and telling us it comes from outside ourselves is to separate us from ourselves. It is to say that we are dirt and I for one won't believe that. Love loves me and I love love.

[Redlettervoice]

Well, I'm not a Christian and I know love, and can express love. To me, love is both a choice and not a choice. I have been really mad at someone, and I stopped to think: "What's the point in this?" I turned around in that moment, anger wiped away, loving that person. Love is human, and love is divine. Love doesn't judge. Love doesn't see sinners, love sees people. When I let myself open up to non-judgment, then I am open to loving-I love, and I love deeply. Being a Christian has NOTHING to do with whether you can love. Animals love. All people love. Love is a part of everything. Separating it from us and telling us it comes from outside ourselves is to separate us from ourselves. It is to say that we are dirt and I for one won't believe that. Love loves me and I love love.

Cass, LOVE is LOVE ............yes!!! And, I saw this photo the other day, and it was a
picture of people holding up these "signs" that said "God HATES figs."  ha   Well, my
little granddaughter walked by about that time and said, "Nana! What is figs?" 
I just answered her and said both to she and to myself "Religion without LOVE."
Upon examination of what is written about Adam and Eve clothing themselves with "fig"
leaves, probably more truth in what I said that I orignally realized.

I've always said I would rather have LOVE w/o religion, than religion with no LOVE!

A pearl is hidden ..........

[captamajora]

I've always said I would rather have LOVE w/o religion, than religion with no LOVE!
A pearl is hidden ..........

This is such a profound and beautiful statement!  I completely agree and I personally have witnessed more love outside of religion than within.