Unconditional Love?

Last night while I was at bible study (bible study seems like such a generic word to use for this particular group...i havent figured out what to call it) we got into a semi debate about whether or not unconditional love is something that is attainable by humans. One particular person argued strongly that it most certainly does not, while pretty much everyone else opposed. He argued that someone can claim unconditional love, for instance a couple married for 60 years, but then if the dad kills the daughter, or something major like that, then thats where the unconditional love would end. He argued that as imperfect human beings we are completely incapable of loving unconditionally even though some people can get close. I'll admit that his argument angered me and I thought long and hard about it. I have to believe that unconditional love exists and I know it does. And this is why...the Bible says (i cant remember where) "there is no greater love then for someone to lay down their life for another". Christ walked around among us talking about this unconditional, agape love, but it wasnt until he died for us that we saw he really meant it. Dying for someone, becoming a sacrifice, shows a unconditional love b/c it shows that even the loss of your life isnt a condition with which to choose love...it shows that love goes beyond this life. Wih that said, there are many stories we hear about in everyday life in which someone deicides to give there life for another. Just recently a father left his family to hike across the Oregon wilderness in order to seek help. This decision for his family cost him his life. We also hear about soldiers in the battle field, willing to give their lives for the men next to them and for their country...this type of love I believe is unconditional as well. I believe that love becomes unconditional when a person is willing to or does choose that the life of the person he/she loves becomes more important than their own. And that is how this agape love manifests itself in our imperfect human lives and we are all capable of showing it the way Christ showed it to us.

the subway in the bernhard center is the most efficiently run fast food place I have ever been to...the taco bell/pizza hut across from it is the worst...

God Bless

I'm not gonna lie...

Ok, I don't know how many of you have noticed this trend that has been sweeping the college student population. I can tell its a trend b/c in this single year I have lived in 4 different places (Youngstown, OH, Avon, OH, Brookings, SD, and Kalamazoo, MI) and still i hear it. By the title of this post you may know what it is. Its the trend of people saying "I'm not gonna lie" followed by some type of declaration. It was funny at first, but now it has spread beyond control. People of all walks of life feel the need to prepare you for the truthfulness of the earth shattering statement they are about to make. In the beginning I appreciated this kind of politeness. I enjoy listening to truthful statements and I used to like the fact that I didnt even have to question if something was true or not. Everything is placed right out in the open where it could be taken for what its worth. But now? Its getting annoying. The statments are no longer earth shattering....or even earth tremoring for that matter.

It is b/c of this that I wish to make a proposal. I propose that instead of preparing the listener for a statement of truth, we start preparing the listener for a lie. We should just all assume from the beginning that whoever is speaking is telling the truth oherwise the said person should just begin the statment with "hey, I'm gonna lie" followed by a false statement. This will be a lot more helpful and a lot less annoying. Im just sick of the whole "im not gonna lie" thing" so anything to get that out of the picture is fine with me...even if the new statement people use is something absurd like "hey, I like tomato juice".

As a cleveland browns fan I was excited to be home this weekend to actually see a game on TV. Now? I cant wait to leave so I dont have to watch them anymore...they are perpetually horrid.

What's on my iPod?
nothing too new this time around
Weezer -The green album
an oldie but a goodie...I love the buggy holly song

ok its back to the K-zoo...God Bless

Some thoughts on thoughts

Deep Thoughts...I don't allow my mind to think deeply very often. It takes too much effort and there are just so many hours in a day... and I'm not particulary fond of people who always try to have "the deep thought" of the conversation. Those kind of people arent thinking deeply for anything more than attention. But anyways, I only say this because the other night when I was at home I found myself lying in bed with my chest hurting and my mind sinking to the depths I dont usually like to visit. I was thinking about grad school and how burnt out I feel. Before I left for YSU my dad told me one thing....to be the best...and in my respective department I did well enough to have my name included among the best. I was happy with my accomplishment, I worked for 4 years to reach that point. I felt it meant something. Now 6 months laterI find myself among a bunch of other people who were considered "the best" also and among profs who have no idea who I am or what I did. The worst part is that for some reason I can't find the motivation to reignite whatever it was that pushed me the last time. Simply put...I'm just not hitting on all cylinders right now. And I need to be...quickly. I know everything I do is a reflection of not only me, but also of the people who put time into me and most of all God. I need a lifestyle change. I've grown too comfortable. at least these are thoughts that came to me now and not at the end of November.

Today I saw a squirrel run across Howard. I haven't kept much of a mental diary, but I think everytime I have seen a squirrel run across a busy road it seems as though they all stop immediately on the other side and just kind chill there in this kind of "Holy Sh** I almost died" sorta stance as they try to catch their breath. I have no thoughs to accompany this, I just thought it was kinda funny and I will always wonder what was on the other side of the road that causes a squirrel to risk so much.

I went home to Cleveland this weekend. It was only like my 11th day at home in the past 5 months. I got to spend some good time hanging out with my parents as they celebrated my bday a little early with me. We went to dinner and saw "Flags of our Fathers", which wasn't the best war movie I have ever scene, but it was still well done with some very realistic war scenes. I recommend it. I also came back to K-zoo with a new iPod. Its freakin sweet. My parents helped me get it for my b-day since my old mp3 player was stolen in "the great car heist '06". So I think that now each time I make a blog I will include a "what's on my iPod section"

What's on my iPod?
Sam's Town by The Killers
See the Morning by Chris Tomlin
-I recommend both

My new blog...

Sooooooo I've attempted to make some blogs before (www.xanga.com/jayd5)...and after a long hiatus I have decided to return. Having entered the life of a grad student I have found my mind flooded with new thoughts and rants that I wish I could just get out of me sometimes. So perhaps this will provided a place for me to release or to pass on bits of wisdom...or none of the above. Perhaps I will go strong for a week or a month before I get bored and just stop. I really dont know. I hope it goes on for a while. I hope it helps me sort some things out in my head. Anyways...thats all.