Conditionally Unconditional

20Jan10

Back in November of ’09, a friend posted the following as their Facebook status:

I’ve heard it said that you should only make other people as important as they make you, love them as much as they love you and treat them as they treat you. I’m guilty of doing that sometimes. But thats not agape love. God loves all of us equally, even those who don’t know/love him. So I’ll do the same, and hopefully not get walked all over.

As a quick reminder: “agape” is an ancient Greek word that many scholars agree to mean literally “unconditional love”, much like that of a parent; can’t be earned / can’t be lost.

Upon reading my friends thoughts, I felt compelled to suggest that the expression of agape is NOT unconditional (even from God) and for us as humans, healthy boundaries between giver and recipient are a great way to safeguard yourself from being taken advantage of.  Loving someone conditionally unconditional seems like an oxymoron and feels like the complete opposite of love entirely, I know.  But it’s not!  Take the following for example:

Filed under: Love, Observations, Short and Sweet   |  Leave a Comment

Love and Let Love

30Nov08

It’s no secret we have similar and dissimilar cultural associations with each other and sometimes, when the elements of our individual experiences don’t align with one another, we tend to find a communication or language barrier. However, I cannot help but realize  love is the one unifying cultural language. Everyone can understand it; the one intrinsic interpersonal need we all have. The one thing we all desire and the one thing we find so hard to give away.

Filed under: Biblical Teaching, Life, Love   |  2 Comments

What Makes a Man a “Man” (according to women)

12Oct08

About a year ago we began a group that you now know as BadFish.  Its primary function was to revolve around whatever we wanted to discuss.  One of our first multi-week research projects was to discover what it truly means to be a man … according to women (ages 9 to 90).  I have since consolidated our findings into a brief report.  Here is what we found.

Filed under: Life, Observations   |  1 Comment
Tags: bible, job, manly men, what is a man

Brandon Moore

22Jul08

I was talking with Brandon Moore last night and discovered within our conversation that I am so thankful for this group of guys we call BadFish. Specifically Brandon’s friendship. He’s a quite, unassuming guy who’s wisdom, strength, and masculinity far surpass my own. If you ever get a chance to hit him up for a conversation or just want someone to relate to, Brandon’s your man. He is a safe place for anyone willing to be vulnerable and honest.

If you’re perfect, don’t waste your time. He has more important things to do. But if you, like the rest of us, leave a bit to be desired … you would be hard pressed to find a more trustworthy person.

Filed under: Short and Sweet   |  Leave a Comment

Pantry Appreciation

06Jul08

Just the other day I was driving to a friends when I passed a man washing an old ’80 something white Honda Civic with a paint-pocked body, faded bumpers, and sweet pimp’n rims. Seriously, the rims were probably worth way more than the car they supported. Even so the owner washed the entire thing as if each square-inch was more important than the last. I had to chuckle as I passed him, finding his labor to be a complete waste of time. And of course, that’s when God decided to hit me upside the head with my first lesson of the weekend.

Filed under: Life, Observations, Short and Sweet   |  1 Comment
Tags: appreciation, god

God of Little Faith

02Jun08

Special thanks to Joby for helping me simplify the post.
Special thanks to Matt for the amendment.

Here’s an interesting comic a friend shared with me the other day:

I took multiple critical reasoning courses in college so things like this REALLY intrigue me! A few people with whom I’ve shared this comic strip have gotten offended. But to the conscious and critical mind, there is nothing inherently offensive here. In fact being offended oftentimes is simply a result of one’s world view being challenged. And that was the author’s point: to challenge previously held beliefs and preconceived notions.

Personally, I’ve been persuaded that such challenges– provided they’re sincerely contemplated and not categorically rejected– either strengthen my perspective or ultimately improve it. We can’t get any closer to a more complete knowledge of God without questioning and challenging what we already believe. So allow yourself to be challenged…

Filed under: Observations   |  6 Comments
Tags: atheism, atheist, christianity, faith, god, too much coffee man

i repent… lead me on the path…

31May08

wow…

some serious repenting action hit me in the last 24 hrs…

i just wanna say sorry Father above…

guys in Badfish… pray for me… please. Love you dudes… No Homo! haha

call if me if u wanna talk

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  1 Comment

To Nolan…

14May08

Man

All I gotta say is Nolan is one cool fella…

For those who dont know him, I can officially say I love this dude (no-homo). We dont hang all the time but when our group of men meet weekly I am always stoked he is there.

He has grown like crazy and its great to see how close/personal we are all getting with eachother.
Just wanted to share some thought

Filed under: Observations   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: group, nolan

Sunday Morning.

14Apr08

by joby martin.

Todd was late for church.

“Goddammit!” Todd said, circling the parking lot for the third time.

“You know what?” Todd thought to himself, “Screw it.” He pulled his Range Rover into a handicap parking spot and killed the engine. “Jesus could heal the crippled. Maybe he can help them find parking.”

He studied himself in the rearview mirror, making sure that his tie was straight and then giving himself a sly smirk upon realizing how sharp he thought he looked. “I’m looking sharp,” he thought.

Hurrying towards the sanctuary, Todd glanced at his watch. He was almost half hour late. Surely his wife would be none too pleased. “Tiffany’s gonna bitch,” he thought, “I’m never gonna hear the end of this one.”

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  1 Comment

Sexual Impurity (a.k.a the good stuff)

14Apr08

Special thanks to Joby for helping me write this bad boy.

This article by no means was intended to condemn, judge, or dispute the morality of what I’m about to talk about. Rather, it was intended to encourage you to be open with others about the struggles you have. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m going to be talking about sex, or rather “sexual impurity.” And this subject is really fascinating because it’s something EVERY Christian struggles with yet it’s the shame that keeps us from seeking the support we need. I’m sure some of you by now are like “Oh, I can already tell this won’t apply to me.” HA. Think you’re immune? You are so wrong.

Filed under: Life, Observations   |  1 Comment
Tags: badfish, christian, impurity, sex