Love Actually...

I've never actually seen this movie, but based on the the IMDB synopsis, I'm sure people, at least secular couples may be able to relate.

First let's re-look at God's definition of love, for added emphasis I'm going to use the Amplified Bible:

1 Corinthians 13
1IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

3Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

9For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

10But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

12For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [e]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [f]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [g]fully and clearly known and understood [[h]by God].

13And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I found the title of that movie more appropriate to quote, but as for the contents, like I said, I haven't actually seen that movie, but I will quote from another movie instead:

Jack: "We have a house in Jersey. We have two kids, Annie and Josh. Annie's not much of a violin player, but she tries real hard. She's a little precocious, but that's only because she says what's on her mind. And when she smiles... And Josh, he has your eyes. He doesn't say much, but we know he's smart. He's always got his eyes open... you know, he's always watching us. Sometimes you can look at him and you just know he's learning something new. It's like witnessing a miracle. The house is a mess but it's ours. After 122 more payments, it's going to be ours. And you, you're a non-profit lawyer. That's right, you're completely non-profit, but that doesn't seem to bother you. And we're in love. After 13 years of marriage we're still unbelievably in love. You won't even let me touch you until I've said it. I sing to you. Not all the time, but definitely on special occasions. We've dealt with our share of surprises and made a lot of sacrifices but we've stayed together. You see, you're a better person than I am. And it made me a better person to be around you. I don't know, maybe it was all just a dream. Maybe I went to bed one lonely night in December and I imagined it all. But I swear, nothing has ever felt more real. And if you get on that plane right now, it'll disappear forever. I know we could both go on with our lives and we'd both be fine, but I've seen what we could be like together. And I choose us. Please Kate... one cup of coffee...You could always go to Paris...Please.. please... not tonight"

Kate: "Ok Jack..."

I may actually use this quote (or something very similiar too) in the near future considering the present circumstances... Not that I don't want to update, but I consider this entry a "bread crumb" which seems to "work for her" as "Alex Hitchkins" put it so I really can't reveal TOO much.

You see... I too had a dream, two actually... one where I proposed to a girl and a second one where yet a different girl proposed to me. In fact, I dunno if you can really call them dreams. Usually when I dream, it's semi-vague and you (or at least I) tend to forget it shortly after you/I wake up... But these two particular "dreams" may actually have been "visions":

[ The Day of the LORD ] "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." [Joel 2:28, also quoted in Acts 2:17]

Not only were these dreams extremely vivid and life-like to the point I thought I was actually there experiencing them as a real-life event, they also stayed in my memory. In addition, I also prayed that God would show me his will through my dreams, so I am cautious about dismissing them too easily...

Besides the point of this blog is more to express my own personal views on the situation and while your own unconditional love story may be different from mine, hopefully God will inspire something in your heart as your read this entry that you can come up with your own personal application based on what you see here...

A part of me used to wonder why, why am I suffering for... I remember how I told my cell group leader I really don't have much preference anymore in who I pursue as a potential made and he was saying it's a sign of desperation... Perhaps he was right... Well I do have a few minimum requirements, I want a girl (female, not a male for a spouse)... :P Ok ok, she has to be Christian at least and also a non-smoker. Really not too high expectations...I do have a few "preferences" on personality type, but other than that, almost anything can go... But I can't forget what I was taught and I have read, that God will provide like it says in Genesis 24. I believe Ravi Z. had a point about this, it isn't necessarily that God won't provide, it's more of whether or not we notice He is providing.

I confess, even when I first accepted Christ, I still wanted to choose my own mate, the one "I" wanted, God didn't need to be part of the equation. Afterall, there are those who believe it's completely up to free will. But I feel as with any other aspect of our Christian life, there's free will, but then there's also God's will...Sometimes our will coincides with God's will, but as inperfect human beings, it doesn't always.

Anyhow, this story short of starts as far back as 8 or more years ago, closer to when I first became a Christian. I was still young (and perhaps also stupid :P) then... Not quite in my 20s yet... Life just seems easier when you're younger, especially when it comes to stuff like marriage.

I started becoming interested in girls even before I became a Christian. I guess the way our society is exposed to certain things at a young age, we are lead to believe we should just let our emotions control us the moment we have time. So I remember my first crush was like way back in grade 3 to grade 5. I was interested in her, but her primary love interest was somebody else. But it's funny, because she once told her friends a list of people she was interested in, that guy being #1 and I was like on the very bottom as #6 LOL... Well at least I was on the list, I dunno if maybe she was just "being nice" because she knew/thought I was interested in her. I still remember the expression and shock on her friends' faces as if they would not believe she could possibly be interested in me too! I wonder if I used to be some sort of ugly duckling or something...Perhaps I still am, or rather we would need to define it as something else since I'm NOT young anymore...

Always On Your Side - Sheryl Crow

My yesterdays are all boxed up and neatly put away
But every now and then you come to mind
Cause you were always waiting to be picked to play the game
But when your name was called, you found a place to hide
When you knew that I was always on your side

Well everything was easy then, so sweet and innocent
But your demons and your angels reappeared
Leavin' all the traces of the man you thought you'd be
Leavin' me with no place left to go from here
Leavin' me so many questions all these years

But is there someplace far away, someplace where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are you left to wonder, all alone, eternally
This isn't how it's really meant to be
No it isn't how it's really meant to be

Well they say that love is in the air, but never is it clear,
How to pull it close and make it stay
Butterflies are free to fly, and so they fly away
And I'm left to carry on and wonder why
Even through it all, I'm always on your side

But is there someplace far away, someplace where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are we left to wonder, all alone, eternally
But is this how it's really meant to be
No is it how it's really meant to be

Well if they say that love is in the air, never is it clear
How to pull it close and make it stay
If butterflies are free to fly, why do they fly away
Leavin' me to carry on and wonder why
Was it you that kept me wondering through this life
When you know that I was always on your side


There were a few other girls after that, all the way up to my highschool days, but I never really had a serious relationship, if any relationship at all with any of them. According to the very first chapter/prelude of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, that may be a good thing. It's been a while since I've last read that series of books and the primary reason is I've been trying to keep my mind off marriage. At first I was concerned I was idolizing marriage and should reduce the time I spend dwelling and praying on it, but later I find I've been trying to deny it altogether. It wasn't till this one time at CCF one of my friends was telling/encouraging me how we ought not to completely deny these desires to get married because they are natural and marriage can also be a gift from God. Not that I disagree, but like Joshua Harris put it, there's also a season for everything and I don't think God has His timing for me to move onto the season of courtship just yet... Even if I am "getting older now and you're (I'm) not married..." I had a pretty casual view of dating back then, if one girl didn't work out or like me, I often moved onto the next without any hestitation. Also, I didn't really do the "courtship" as outlined by Joshua Harris. I basically was looking for someone that attracted me and tried my best to attract her in return.

As the years went by, I finally met someone more important than any girl...

Title: Artist: AVALON Song: We Are The Reason Album: JOY - ID: 72695 - Date and time (posted): 2004-09-01 18:27:04
To comment on this song's lyrics (Or read other people's comments), Please scroll down

As little children
We would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys
We knew we'd find

But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
A man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

He is my reason to live

[http://www.lyricsandsongs.com/song/72695.html]

In case it's not clear, I am talking about Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. If you don't know Jesus as your Saviour yet, you may wanna stay tuned for one of my future entries where I will be retyping a old gospel tract previously written by me I found.

I dunno if it's just age or my lack of (so called) "skills" ever since I gave up being the "player" I sort of once was in my non-Christian days, but perhaps God has some "method to the madness" that is my single-hood ever since I've accepted Christ (around 9 years ago). I would like to believe He is answering my prayers to let Him be in control of my marriage... prayers that I started praying around 8 years ago...

There are those who believe romantic love and marriage is all up to free will. I agree, to some extent I suppose...There are quite a number of Christian books/authors I read that state it may not ONLY consist of free will though. So where is my stand then? Well, somewhere in the middle I guess, what did you expect? :P It will be interesting to see in the future how a discussion at *seminary* will go on this topic. ;)

On December 21st, 2007 I had the privilege of attending the RHCBC Christmas banquet again this year. Coincidentally our church/fellowship didn't have any program that night anyhow and it was a good chance for me to be re-acquainted or catch up with people I know there. I also really liked the Pastor's way of explaining how Christianity is not about a set of rules, but God giving us the moral empowerment and freedom to want to do the right thing because it is the right thing, relationship with Christ....Hehe "Be a man! Do the right thing!" :P I also recall reading the intro/prelude of a book called "Do the right thing" when I had some free time before CCF at Ryerson this month, it was interesting:

"If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." [1 John 1:10]

Instead of the usual expected skit or singing perhaps, they just used a music video this year. It was the Christmas Shoes music video (based on a movie by the same name), the couple scene made me cry (but at least it was dark).

(POST NOT YET COMPLETED)

-> Singing of "Above all"... "Like a Rose, trampled on the ground..." brought on a few more tears

Quote from Spiderman 2:
"Intelligence is not a privilege, it's a gift and you use it for the good of mankind..." (hmm.. I better double check this quote...)
-------------------------------------------------------

NICKELBACK LYRICS

"How You Remind Me"

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

it's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you

And this is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how, you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i-ve been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"
yet, yet
are we having fun yet [3x]