tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post4012414241577155319..comments2008-07-19T23:22:51.699-05:00Rennoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-457977601947485052008-07-19T23:22:00.000-05:002008-07-19T23:22:00.000-05:002 John 1:12<BR/>"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us"<BR/><BR/>CheersMike Chanhttp://blog.deblurr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-64418378216540337692008-06-28T00:16:00.000-05:002008-06-28T00:16:00.000-05:00I don't think you're a hypocrite at all!!! I hope it didn't seem like I was suggesting that :) I enjoy our chats too! - TraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-55530042452691542892008-06-27T18:06:00.000-05:002008-06-27T18:06:00.000-05:00Haha, you just (once again) opened my eyes to my own utter hypocrisy. I definitely haven't finished thinking this one through -- at any rate, I'm glad we can talk about it this way.<BR/><BR/>I looove emails :)Renhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01021142102578332875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-29699022752567225842008-06-27T08:17:00.000-05:002008-06-27T08:17:00.000-05:00Good questions, Ren!<BR/>Thank you for your email, do not worry, you did not offend. BUT I definitely have to email you back anyhow! I think that it's absolutely natural to fear missing out on opportunities to love and be loved, so long as we are not driven to compromise ourselves to get that love (maybe that speaks to the need to be secure in yourself... and to know that you are loveable). I believe that we are hardwired to be in community with other people--we are not so different from the rest of the animal kingdom in that way.<BR/><BR/>I had a couple of other thoughts... I may just email them to you... eventually :) - TraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-20798485716306534402008-06-19T18:59:00.000-05:002008-06-19T18:59:00.000-05:00A few questions:<BR/><BR/>1) Is that all we mean when we talk about God's love? I'd assume it's not; but then<BR/><BR/>2) Do we distinguish between this and other manifestations of God's love? If we do, then how? If we don't, then does that become problematic (e.g. if I'm saved by God's love, and that love is manifest in a person who loves me because God loves him/her, then I'm technically only "being loved" indirectly by God)?<BR/><BR/>3) Can it be said of all people that "we love because God first loved us" even if many people wouldn't agree that this is their motivation to love? Alternatively, if I'm completely ignorant of God's love for me, am I loving other people "because of" God's love for me?<BR/><BR/>4) If in the "moment" of love (in an almost Kierkegaardian sense) there fails to be any recognition or experience of God, then is that God's love? If so, how and why?<BR/><BR/>I had some other questions, but I went to eat dinner and can't remember them anymore. Anyway, I hope I don't come across as confrontational -- these are real questions that I'm asking in earnest. I don't mean to attack what you wrote in any way.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment. It's good to hear from you again.Renhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13224716030752696561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12660585.post-79800561898323726412008-06-19T16:32:00.000-05:002008-06-19T16:32:00.000-05:00To put it in a different perspective, love from others including family and friends, in actuality is God's love. We love because God first loved us. Our "love" is God's love or God is love. It is normal to feel that you can't handle having love withdrawn from you - we're human - that's one of many things that makes us different from God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com