Love, Part Three

Building on the previous two posts, today I want to highlight one aspect of love: its object.

Jesus says to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39). In one passage (Luke 10:25-37), an audience member* immediately asks 'who is my neighbor?', intending to bound God's commands to only a portion of the population. Jesus responds with the parable of the good Samaritan, who cared for a stranger in need encountered on the road after two others (a priest and a Levite) passed him by. Samaritans were enemies of the Jews; by using that example, Jesus was making a few points:

- Your neighbor is everyone. Friend and stranger, those nearby and those afar.

- The priest and Levite were set aside to serve God, yet they failed in their most basic responsibilities. 

- The enemy (a Samaritan) did the right thing, which shows both common grace and that our enemies can teach/humble us.

- The Samaritan's love showed mercy, compassion, had no desire for compensation, and was personally costly. Key attributes of love.

A friend posted the below on facebook the other day,  and I think it summarizes Jesus' point in this passage nicely:

Loving others is hard. Loving enemies, even harder. Yes as God is kind to the ungrateful and evil (Luke 6:35), so are we to be.

The bar is high. How can we do this? Only through Jesus, for 'with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26). In Jesus we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). We can thus love others, be they neighbors, family, fellow church members, or even enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). And it is that last category that shows we both walk with God and understand God's love for us—for he who loves much recognizes that they have been forgiven much (see Luke 7:47). 

* a lawyer, perhaps unsurprisingly 

Love, Part Two

Yesterday, I looked at love and what the Bible says about it. Today, I look at what AI says.

From AI, 7/20/2025

The Bible defines love, particularly in the New Testament, as a selfless, sacrificial, and enduring commitment that seeks the well-being of others, often referred to as agape love. It's not simply an emotion but a choice to act in ways that benefit others, even when it's not reciprocated or convenient. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Agape Love:

The Bible often uses the Greek word "agape" to describe God's love, which is unconditional, sacrificial, and extends even to enemies. 

• Not Just Feelings:

While feelings can be a part of love, biblical love goes beyond emotions. It's a deliberate choice to act with kindness, compassion, and generosity, prioritizing the needs of others. 

• 1 Corinthians 13:

This famous passage describes love as patient, kind, not envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, irritable, resentful, rejoicing in wrongdoing, but rejoicing in truth, enduring all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and bearing all things. 

• Sacrificial:

God's love, as demonstrated through Jesus, is sacrificial, giving even when it costs dearly. 

• Love for God and Others:

The Bible emphasizes loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself, highlighting the importance of both a vertical and horizontal expression of love. 

• Love is an Action:

Love is not passive; it is an active force that motivates actions of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion. 

• Love is a reflection of God's nature:

Because God is love, love is a core aspect of His character and a defining trait of those who follow Him. 

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I must say, I'm impressed with AI's summary here.

Love, Part One

One [odd] hobby I enjoy is contemplating the definition of words. My favorites are common ones that we all use and yet struggle to concisely define when asked. Today I look at the biggest one of all: love.

Of course, the word 'love' has different meanings. You can love a person romantically, as a friend, or as a neighbor. You can love a hobby or a sports team or a food. Today, I'll focus on the general love the Bible calls us to show to every person (some call this 'agape' love). And I will focus on how the Scriptures define it.

First, love is inextricably tied to commandment. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus makes it clear that the great commandment is to love God and others; he says "on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" [by which he means the Old Testament]. We see it elsewhere, too, that the Law is summarized by love (see Romans 13:9-10). Further, we're told in several places (including John 14:15) that if we love God we will keep his commandments (which include the summary of the law, the Ten Commandments). And people will know we are his disciples if we love (John 13:34-35); it is one fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).

So the command to love is paramount . . . but what does that mean? What does love look like? What is love?* The Bible talks a lot about it, and focuses on a few themes. In no particular order:

- Love involves actions, and provides the world's goods to those in need (1 John 3:16-18)

- Love is selfless; it involves giving and sacrifice. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son (John 3:16). Walking in love means giving ourselves up as Christ did (Ephesians 5:2). Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

- Love is not based on merit or reciprocation; God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We are to love our enemies, as God does (Matthew 5:43-48). We are to expect nothing in return; as God is kind to the ungrateful and evil, so should we be (Luke 6:35).

- There is an affectative component. We are to love one another with brotherly affection (Romans 12:10). In this sense, we are called to actually like others. The Lord rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17); He doesn't care for us begrudgingly. 

- Love builds up; it encourages (1 Corinthians 8:1)

- Part of love is doing the above things in a certain way: Love is patient, kind, doesn't envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

- Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). That means it bears and endures the wrongs done by others and it believes/hopes the best.

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The above are just a sample of the Scriptures, and it covers a lot. So can we summarize? 

Love is the self-sacrificial and self-forgetful care for and building up of others demonstrated by action, affection, attitude, endurance, and optimism. Does that cover it? Do we do this? Such a high bar. Humbling. Lord, teach us to love.

Next time, I will look at what AI says. 

*anyone else get that 1993 song by Haddaway in your head? Me too. I'm sorry.

The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)

The Hobbit is a familiar tale; Bilbo Baggins goes with dwarves and a wizard to re-take the Lonely Mountain and gold therein. Along the way, he finds a magic ring, etc. etc. Cool. I've read this multiple times and reviewed it before.

I bring it up here because:

1) I just finished reading it out loud to my son,

2) It was the pictured version, with original illustrations by the author, and

3) I think it was the first time I had read it since viewing The Hobbit trilogy of films.

So, how did these factors change my experience of the tale? Reading it out loud is nice, giving insights I lacked from prior readings. It was fun seeing the original illustrations by Tolkien—some were quite good—and how they inspired the films. Finally, what surprised me about reading this after the films is just how much the films omitted. Three films to do one book, and they left out or condensed things. That surprised and disappointed me (especially given how poorly the third film was done).

Rating: A

P.S. Two quotes near the end caught my eye and are worthy of committing to memory. Both have to do with friendship.

"This has been a bitter adventure . . . yet I am glad I have shared in your perils—that has been more than any Baggins deserves."

"The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!"

Pillars of the Earth & World Without End (Ken Follett)

I'm going to do something a little different today and review two books I read ~15 years ago* (before I started blogging). Both are historical fiction thrillers by Ken Follett.

The Pillars of the Earth takes place in "Kingsbridge," England over the span of decades (1123-1174) and centers the dramas of various characters (from all spheres) around the construction of a fictional Gothic cathedral.

World Without End is set in the same town two centuries later during the Black Plague (1327-1361) and, similarly, looks at the lives of various people in the area and their respective struggles.

Though my memory is fading, I recall both novels to be excellent—a sweeping historical survey intertwined with heart-pumping thriller. They were hard to put down, and you get a feel for what it must have been like in that time. Both have their graphic scenes, though, so let the reader beware, and there are some historical inaccuracies (think of this as thriller first, historical fiction second).

Rating (for both): A-

*Cleaning out my bookshelves; wanted to cover some things before I part with them.

Daredevil: Know Fear

Matt Murdock has only ever tried to do good as Daredevil. But when he accidentally kills a man during a routine takedown, he questions everything he is and has done. While others (like Punisher) think killing is fine . . . is that the right way?

This was a solid start to a story arc published in 2019. I've had Daredevil on my mind since enjoying the Born Again series in April. I'm most intrigued by his Catholic religion and how that is portrayed in the stories. Here, the writers get it largely accurate (it is easy to misrepresent Christianity). Matt's priest has the quote of the book: "God loves you, Matthew. Hold on to that and do the right thing . . . renounce this violence. Cast out the devil." Indeed.

Rating: A

Superman (2025)

Three centuries ago, metahumans arrive on Earth. Three years ago, Superman announced himself to the world. Three minutes ago, he lost his first battle. But it gets worse . . .

Superman unilaterally stopped a war. Not everyone is pleased. As the American government decides what to do, Lex Luthor raids the Fortress of Solitude and finds a Kryptonian recording that changes how the world will view 'Big Blue.' Is Superman a threat? He's always viewed himself as being sent to help humanity and make the world a better place, but what if his identity is something other? Does even he know? 

As the government brings him in, using Luthor's "Planet Watch" (Ultraman, the Engineer, plus 'Raptors'), Superman wrestles with who he is and what defines him. Lex is getting close to his goal of killing Superman . . . but the Justice Gang (Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific, and Hawkgirl) and the Daily Planet staff may have something to contribute in the age-old struggle of truth, identity, and authority.

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Overall, I really enjoyed this film. This is a vulnerable look at Superman, focusing more on his weaknesses and struggles than any other such film. It has great music, good action, and also good comedy sprinkled throughout. The actors all do a great job. 

The messages here vary, looking at authority (typical for superhero flicks), identity (who decides what we are?), and weakness. Lex is obsessed with taking down Supes, as "his strength illuminates how weak we really are." Superman is fixated on his identity and who shapes it—is it his parents? His adopted parents? Himself? His adopted father argues that it isn't your parents who define you, but "your choices . . . your actions . . . that is what makes you who you are." Is he right? Ultimately, this is a movie about what it means to be human. The film doesn't get all the right answers, but asks some good questions, and it inspired in places. 

Rating: A-

Monopoly: Pokemon Edition

Today's review is of the 2024 release, Monopoly: Pokemon Edition. For 2-4 players, it takes 45 minutes.

Overview

Race to catch Pokemon in this twist on a board game classic. Here, the basic rules of Monopoly (roll a die, move spaces, buy property or pay rent if it is already owned) hold true, but there are plenty of twists:

- your goal is to collect eight different colors of pokemon (represented by the eight property colors on the board)

- when you land on a property (regardless of ownership), you can 'explore' (roll a die to see if you get a pokemon of that color)

- you can battle other players for their properties

- there are adventure and challenge cards and enable direct player challenges or give benefits (like swiping another's pokemon)

game contents; image from here

First to collect all eight pokemon wins!

Review

Though I'm no fan of the classic Monopoly (it takes too long), I was cautiously optimistic about this variant, as I enjoyed the Monopoly Gamer twist from a few years ago. Alas, I was disappointed. There is just far too much luck here. Well, it's really all luck. You need to land on the right colors, but then also roll the exploration die to see if you collect a pokemon of that color. There's not much to it. Lots of dice rolling. The battles and challenge cards provide some respite, but not much.

Rating: C

Shouldering a Burden

A few months ago, I had shoulder surgery. Today, I 'graduated' from physical therapy (PT). This post recaps the journey.

Background

At some point, I hurt my labrum. No idea when or how. Partial tear; I could do most things. But when they evaluated it two years ago, they told me it may one day require surgery. This year, it got to the point where that was needed.

On 23 April, I had the procedure. They didn't know quite what they would find, but after the fact, I learned they:

- performed biceps tenodesis [they moved one of the two bicep anchor points near my shoulder to another location, as it was preventing the torn labrum from healing]

- removed calcification and a bone spur from the shoulder area

- reshaped my shoulder [apparently, I had a 'grade 2' shoulder from birth; they made it grade 1]

Recovery Timeline

4/23: Procedure; placed in sling with spacer for recovery, which I would wear all day long (and for sleeping)

4/29-30: days of greatest pain

5/15: first strenuous physical activity [I mowed the yard one-handed . . .]

5/19: first PT session [would go two times per week and do exercises at home three times per day]

5/20: last day of sling

5/26: first run

5/27: first time on exercise bike

6/17: first gym session with weight [light weights]

6/21: first time on road bike [short ride]

7/3: first normal-length road bike ride

7/17: last PT session

Reflections

PT works. You have to keep moving. You have to push yourself hard, but not too hard. You have to keep at it. And it was gratifying to see progress, no matter how slight, every single day. Sometimes the progress was gradual; other times, it came in 'steps.' But it happened. 

Both flexibility and strength matter. Range of motion was the first focus, but weight work was soon added, and both were needed; some of my range of motion didn't improve until I added the strengthening portions. We need to move, and we need to be strong.

The supporting muscles then needed support themselves. It's been intriguing to see which muscles (largely in my trapezius/neck area) have been sore before and during the PT journey; they were affected because they had to carry the load for the rest of the region as it recovered. There's a lesson here; in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 12 likens us to a body with many members, and we are interdependent. In the linked passage—"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." And we know from Ephesians 4 that "when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love," which implies when one part is *not* working properly, growth is stunted and the whole body is affected. So we're called in Galatians 6 to bear each other's burdens, so the whole body can be whole and grow. There is a time to support, and a time to be supported.

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As of today, my range of motion is almost back to normal. Some things at 'extreme' positions are still tight, but I'll keep at it, and I'll get there. Every day a little bit more.

Lila (Marilynne Robinson)

Lila had a rough upbringing as a drifter in the American Midwest. After her caretaker, Doll, passes away,  Lila spends a few years in St. Louis, then hitches a ride and ends up in Gilead, Iowa. There, she will become the wife of minister John Ames and experience peace, security, and more—"a need she only discovered when it was satisfied." Even so, it wasn't all roses, for she can't shake her past—both the bitterness, loneliness, and pain, but also the people she was with along the way—"people somebody couldn't bear to be without, no matter what they'd been up to in his life." So she spends a good deal of time pondering her "new existence while trying to make sense of the days that preceded her newfound security." 

Set a few years before Gilead and Home, Lila is yet another poignant portrait from Marilynne Robinson, wrestling with the nature of the world and existence. As Lila ponders her past—most of which she was in no way responsible for—she realizes that "there was no way to abandon guilt, no decent way to disown it. All the tangles and knots of bitterness and desperation and fear had to be pitied. No, better, grace had to fall over them."

I loved this book for two reasons:

- Lila's struggles with shame, pain, grace, and love, in both her former and present life

- Her husband's patient gentleness and grace, which was convicting and worthy of emulation

Highly recommended.

Rating: A

The Bruised Reed (Richard Sibbes)

First published in 1630, The Bruised Reed is by Puritan Richard Sibbes and discusses the passage in Matthew 12 that hearkens back to Isaiah 42, looking how Jesus treats certain types of people:

a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

What do these words mean? A bruised reed is one who "is sensible of sin and misery . . . and, seeing no help in himself . . [turns] to Christ." Similarly, a smoldering wick [or smoking flax] is he who sees a spark of Christ's work in him, yet also much smoke [sin] that remains. In both cases, these are those who understand they bring nothing to God; that our hearts are wicked, even our righteous deeds are filthy, and thus can only cry 'be merciful to me a sinner.' 

And how does Christ respond? He will not break those who are broken; neither will he snuff out the good work He has begun. Without God we can do nothing; he is the author and finisher of our faith. So we take hope, rejoicing not in ourselves but in God. 

Sibbes spends the bulk of his book encouraging believers who know their brokenness; who see (and revile) their sin; who are tempted to despair when gazing upon the remaining evil in us (even as we recognize hints of good). To remember that a broken heart God will not despise. And behold, He is making all things new. "A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope"; "none are fitter for comfort than those that think themselves furthest off."

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This is an encouraging read. Like other Puritan volumes I have read, this is a mixture of powerful and profound truths written in a style that can be very hard to follow in places. But overall, highly recommended.

- Rating: A