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Volume 3, Issue 2
Love
February 2010
Dear Friends & Partners,
It is hard to believe we are in the last week of February. Time is definitely speeding up. The sad part about this is that most Christians are oblivious to this. Each day we come closer and closer to the Lord’s return. We need to live like that, amen?
Our ministry is finally getting back where it needs to be. You may recall all of the struggles Jeremy went through in 2009, but praise God it is over! We want to say thank you to everyone that “stuck in there” with us! Now that it is over, Jeremy looks back on it and thanks God for never leaving him.
The month of February is always special because of Valentine’s Day. If you look throughout history, you can trace every good act to love. For instance, we read in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The word "loved" in the Greek means, "to love in a social or moral sense."
God's love for us is so much deeper then we could ever imagine. In the Greek, we find 4 classifications of love. They are listed in order:
- Agápe (αγάπη agápē) means "love" in modern day Greek, such as in the term s'agapo (Σ'αγαπώ), which means "I love you". In Ancient Greek, it often refers to a general affection or deeper sense of "true love" rather than the attraction suggested by "eros". Agape is used in the biblical passage known as the "love chapter", 1 Corinthians 13, and is described there and throughout the New Testament as sacrificial love. Agape is also used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard.
- Éros (έρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) love;" however, eros does not have to be sexual in nature. Eros can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the philia, love of friendship. It can also apply to dating relationships as well as marriage. Plato refined his own definition: Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. It should be noted Plato does not talk of physical attraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, "without physical attraction." Plato also said eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth by eros. The most famous ancient work on the subject of eros is Plato's Symposium, which is a discussion among the students of Socrates on the nature of eros.
- Philia (φιλία philía) means friendship in modern Greek. It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philos denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.
- Storge (στοργή storgē) means "affection" in ancient and modern Greek. It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant.
Let us never forgot the God's love for us is deeper then we could ever fathom!
In other news, we are growing. We recently hired a ministry secretary, Mary Callow. Mary is Katie's Sister-in-law. She will be working at our office each Tuesday from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. You may e-mail her directly at
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. She will also be handling our itinerary. This is going to allow Jeremy & Katie to focus more of their time on ministry.
The ministry is in need of financial support very much. We ask that you pray about becoming a monthly partner. We can even have it automatically deducted from your checking or saving account for your convenience.
Thank you for all of your prayers and e-mails, we love you all and look forward to hearing from you very soon.
With God, All Things Are Possible,
Jeremy Empie & Katie Callow
Jesus Saves International Ministries Inc
P.O. Box 646
Cantonment, Florida 32533 USA
E-mail:
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Phone: 1 + (850) 232-0426
Fax: 1 + (850) 937-6989
Web: http://www.JesusSavesToday.com/
FaceBook: http://www.JeremyEmpie.org/
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