Speaking about love as "conditional" won't win you a lot of fans.  Seeing as you and I are the only ones that read this blog, I'm not too concerned.  I realize that if a third person reads this blog, I'll be psycho-analyzed to the hilt as people ponder why I would write something like this...it must be a "Daddy Wounds" or, at the very least, a  jacked up view of Jesus from a pastor who, three years ago, taught English to high schoolers. Growing up, my parents always told me that they would, "love me no matter what."  I believed them, still do.  In retrospect, however, I remember that they "loved" me with that damn wooden spoon a lot (My Dad just used his hand because it was about as thick as a 2X4).  I don't remember feeling the "love" when mom gave me THE LOOK from across the table [...]

The problem with Christians and Helicopters: Exhibit A Favorite quote: “If you're going to catch a fish, you have to have bait,” he explained. “If it takes a helicopter dropping 5,000 eggs to get people to come to church, it's worth it. There are souls to save.” Exhibit B Favorite quote: "Which, really, was the aim of the event, he said -- to show the community what the church stands for. "We wanted to show the community that we're about the love of Jesus," Gagnon said, "we wanted to give back to the community." Exhibit C Favorite quote: "Children who registered for the Egg Drop could win a Leapfrog Leapster, Nintendo DSi or iPod Touch in drawings. A Blu-Ray player was given away to an adult at the end of both Easter services."

The last week of Jesus' life prior to his death is known as week is known as the Passion or Holy Week.  This week is described in Matthew chapters 21-27 ; Mark chapters 11-15; Luke chapters 19-23; and John chapters 12-19.  Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.  The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another just he had exemplified in washing their feet (John 13.3-17). As Jesus served, Luke records in chapter 22, verse 24 of his gospel, that the disciples were busy arguing who the greatest in the kingdom is going to be.  Walking in on King Jesus' coattails, they assumed, had its [...]