The best definition I have found for what "love" is, is:

1.) Kindness, Friendliness, *Affection*, The Greek word "storge"

2.)

Liking,

Admiration,

Caring,

Listening,

Honesty,

Understanding,

Encouraging,

Trusting,

Keeping Confidences Quiet Forever,

Not Judging,

Believing (Giving the Benefit of the Doubt),

Loyalty,

Not Being Envious,

Wishing the Good of Someone Else,

Supportiveness,

Respect,

Forgiving Fully from the Heart,

Patient with Another's Development,

Accepting Other People's Otherness &
Individuality,

Spending Time and Taking Time,

*Friendship*,
"philia"

3.) Sexual, *Romance*, "eros"

4.) The Ultimate:
*Selfless Self-Sacrifice*: Jesus the Christ, "agape" "charity"

On April 1st, 2007, Evel Knievel announced his faith as a saved believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I specifically remember listening to him on a radio interview while driving on the highway about a year and a half ago in Wisconsin. I was thinking how strong he was, but also how much he needed God, and specifically Jesus. I think I may have said a prayer for him. Maybe many others heard him and prayed for him as well, seeing how desperate, yet how tough, he seemed.

I had the Evel Knievel motorcycle toy when I was a kid. Well, thank God, we got Chuck Norris and Evel Knievel now! Two of my childhood media heroes. They need Jesus' forgiveness just as much as anyone. Maybe it's time for you to trust Jesus as your Savior as well. I have never heard of a celebrity announcement of conversion causing so many professions of faith as this.

How about Lee Majors, "The Six Million Dollar Man," next!

(Read about it: Evel Knievel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I know I have praised the preaching of Chuck Swindoll ("Insight for Living" radio broadcast) many times. I just can't get over how powerful his preaching has become over the last few years, since he turned 70.

I heard a sermon today that blew me away (again!) as one of the best sermons I have ever heard! Ranks maybe #3!! Now, you gotta realize I've listened to a LOT of sermons, thousands in the last 20 years or so. Sometimes two or three a day on Christian radio.

The wisdom of older people is all but extinct in this youth-obsessed idiot culture of ours. Technology belongs to the young, but wisdom belongs to the old.

Please, avail yourself of the teaching of Chuck Swindoll--written or over the radio. This man is a national treasure!

Most people probably think his years in California were his best, back in the 80s. I think his present sermons from Texas are by far his best. I think he is the best and most biblical and most powerful preacher of the gospel of Jesus and the truth of the Word of God in America today. (No, Charles Stanley isn't even a close runner-up."
Please listen to one of his current sermons and let me know what you think. In Colorado, He is on at 7pm on KBIQ or KGIFT 100.7 FM.

There IS an alternative to the *hard work* of thinking: it's called "getting controlled" by simplistic and often dangerous religious and political *propaganda*. Plenty of people want to reprogram your mind with *their* view of the world, not God's. I'm tired of Christians who never read the New Testament, who never pray to Jesus, who never think about truth, (except for 20 minutes on Sunday morning), who never walk in grace and love and security--fellowship with God, and who never forgive. Yet, these same people are invariably the ones who think they know all the answers. They want the reputation of knowing something without the work of actually learning it. They say stupid stuff like "I don't need to think about anything. The Bible says, "Have faith like a child"!" (But they refuse to see that the apostle Paul also said, "but in your *thinking* be *adults*.") God commands us to grow in knowledge and understanding and discernment. Like four-year-olds they scream, "Don't judge!" but refuse to realize that Jesus was referring to *hypocritical* judging. They conveniently forget that God *commands* us to *judge* and test *everything*, so as to not be deceived. They are like a Will Ferrell dorfus-type who shows up at the Olympics in a glorious red, white and blue uniform but never spent even one hour in the gym! Jesus often asked people the question, "What do you think?" Most Christians stare back boldly and blankly and answer: "I don't--I have Jesus." Jesus must be looking at them in amazement! ~~ I've noticed that as Chuck Swindoll moves on into his seventies, while still full of grace and good humor, his preaching has a strong tincture of blessed acid in it, more fear of God, more warnings, more consequences, more brass tacks, more elderly comprehensive wisdom. More exhortations to effort. He's in his prime! Check out today's insight. -C.S.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:35 PM

April 23, 2007

WANTED: THINKERS

by Charles R. Swindoll

2 Peter 3

Entertainment is everything today. So important, in fact, that we have television programs and magazines devoted solely to the subject. All of which makes it real difficult to be committed to substance rather than the superficial. This includes reading widely, probing deeply, seeing with discernment, rejecting the false, learning the facts. In short, thinking!

Critic Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, correctly argues that television is converting us from a word-centered culture to an image-centered culture. Even the news broadcasts are under increasing pressure to entertain more than inform.

Ted Koppel, the penetrating [former] host of Nightline, calls this Vannatizing (after Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune's celebrity hostess, whose role on the highly rated game show is a matter of looking cute and saying hello and bye-bye).. Toddler talk. Don't think, just look. Don't question, relax. There's not much room on television for complexity, says Koppel. We now communicate with everyone and say absolutely nothing.

I can handle Vannatizing a game show. But when it comes to our faith, Vannatizing is intolerable. When will we ever learn that sacred things cannot be staged and remain sacred? What will it take to finally convince us of what Muggeridge stated so well, You cannot present an authentic message by means of an inauthentic medium?

My hope rests in the remnant of believers who still believe in thinking . . . who have an insatiable hunger for learning . . . who appreciate the hard work that goes into knowing where they stand theologically and yet knowing where they need to bend practically.

What I'm pushing for is more who know what they believe, and why. Folks who can spot phony baloney before it hits the headlines . . . who know some guru is spouting heresy even though his promises sound inviting. Folks who don't wait to be told every move to make, who are challenged within to grow, to study, to learn.

Such discernment never comes automatically. Thinking is hard work, but, oh, so rewarding. And so essential for survival.

Furthermore, you won't feel quite so intimidated the next time some guy who just heard you're a Christian leans over and asks why. Your defense will make better sense.

If you have the opportunity, take a course at a nearby Bible school, Christian college, or seminary. Or perhaps your church offers some in-depth study electives. You will gain a broader base of knowledge, a wider scope of awareness, and a deeper commitment to truth.

Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2000). Copyright 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I've never heard or read a sermon that laid it out like this, so I felt strongly compelled by Someone to do it.

These "House-Building Instructions" are to be *obeyed* by those who don't want the storms of trouble to smash down the house of their life. The blueprints for a durable and strong life are found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7.

Believe it or not, Jesus' advice is even better than that of Anthony Robbins or any other success guru on the face of the earth, and it's already in your Bible for free! :)

1. BE HUMBLE BEFORE GOD AND AND BELIEVE IN JESUS: The "poor in spirit" are blessed. Those who, by God's grace, are humble, come to God. Only believers can be "poor in spirit." All of us are proud and sinful by nature. If you are humble, it is only because God has enabled you to be humble, to realize your sin, to believe on Jesus, and to immediately (now!) receive total forgiveness and guaranteed everlasting life.

The "beatitudes" can be summarized as: mourn over your sin,
be self-controlled and disciplined,
believe that the righteousness of Jesus is yours by faith,
be merciful to others (and yourself!),
let God purify your heart through obeying Him,
be a peacemaker, and
endure persecution for Jesus and for doing the right things.

Do all of these things through your connection to God through Jesus Christ, as a branch is connected to the Tree Trunk.

2. BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH BECAUSE JESUS SAYS THAT YOU ARE. Believers keep this rotten world of sinful humans from rotting completely by standing up for truth and morality.

3. BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD BECAUSE JESUS SAYS THAT YOU ARE. Believers are the spiritual light of the world because we have Jesus inside our hearts. All spiritual things other than Jesus are darkness!

4. DON'T BE ANGRY WITH ANYONE WITHOUT REASON. Sometimes, being angry is legitimate. Just don't lay your head down to sleep without getting rid of your anger.

5. BEFORE YOU PRAY, BE RECONCILED WITH ANYONE WHO HAS SOMETHING AGAINST YOU.

6. DO NOT LUST AND THINK THAT IT IS A SMALL THING. LUST DESTROYS YOUR SOUL. I think we have forgotten this in the advertising/tv/movies/internet porn age.

7. DO NOT DIVORCE EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS.

8. DO NOT SWEAR OATHS IN CASUAL CONVERSATION TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU.. Say, "yes" or "no." Jesus says that to add any more comes from the evil one, the devil.

9. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. This does not mean that you should not shoot to kill if you are in the Army, but that you should treat captives rightly as to their needs. Do not torture the enemy.

On a personal level, we should bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us. Only Jesus can give us the power to do these things.

10. DO CHARITABLE GIVING COMPLETELY IN SECRET. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

11. PRAY COMPLETELY IN SECRET, AND DO NOT JUST REPEAT MEMORIZED WORDS WHEN YOU PRAY. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

12. FORGIVE EVERYONE OF EVERYTHING--FROM YOUR HEART!

13. DO YOUR SPIRITUAL FASTING FROM FOOD COMPLETELY IN SECRET. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

14. DO NOT AMASS GREAT FINANCIAL FORTUNES ON EARTH, BUT USE YOUR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS TO BENEFIT OTHERS, AND YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA, REAL, EVERLASTING, FORTUNE IN HEAVEN.

15. DO NOT PUT MONEY-MAKING TOP ON YOUR LIST: PUT DOING GOD'S WILL TOP ON YOUR PRIORITIES.

16. BELIEVERS: DO NOT EVER WORRY ABOUT MONEY OR PHYSICAL NEEDS LIKE FOOD OR CLOTHING: GOD ABSOLUTELY PROMISES TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEEDS. (MIRACULOUSLY IF NECESSARY!)

17. DO NOT JUDGE HYPOCRITICALLY. JUDGE FAIRLY--THE SAME WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE JUDGED.

18. DON'T TELL SACRED THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MOCKING GOD.

19. ASK AND IT *WILL* BE GIVEN TO YOU, SEEK AND YOU *WILL* FIND,
KNOCK AND THE DOOR *WILL* BE OPENED TO YOU.

20. ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE THAT LEADS TO LIFE. JESUS ALONE IS THE NARROW GATE. THE WIDE GATE, WHICH MOST PEOPLE GO THROUGH, LEADS TO
HELL, EVERLASTING TORMENT AWAY FROM THE COMFORTING PRESENCE OF THE LOVING GOD.

21. BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, PREACHERS AND TEACHERS WHO DISTORT THE WORD OF GOD. YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THE EVIL DEEDS THEY DO.

22. ONLY THOSE WHO TRUST IN JESUS TO FORGIVE THEIR SINS WILL BE SAVED AND GO TO HEAVEN.

Those who do these things have built the "house" of their life on an unshakable Rock, the only Solid Foundation there is: Jesus the Christ. They will not be destroyed when the storms of life come. Thank God. Amen. Hallelujah! :)