Tina Turner lived a life of abuse, but found success through the trauma. In her song, "What's Love Got to Do With It?", we get glimpses of her struggle and trouble, and, it seems, many people understood, even back then, as it became a world-wide hit. The lyrics distill tragedy and the dangers of 'risk' in love and sadly, while the song makes some progress in the dynamics of revealing boy/girl relationships, fails to finish pointing out why.
I have been blessed with nearly 30 years of marriage to my wonderful bride, Carrie. Honestly, there have been many times when I have asked "What's Love Got to Do With It?" Until I made the full transition, the complete understanding of love. The love of which Ms. Turner sings is the result of a twisted, contorted world's version, but what she seeks is 'true love', that which fulfills, moves and 'fits' into our lives with added value and joy, something missing from nearly all relationships. Why? Because the world's view of love is for 'taking' when in fact it is in the 'giving' we receive true love, and if we all gave, we all would receive...true, responsible and glorious love.
It took this knucklehead over a decade to learn the truth about love, and gratefully, my wife endured my blind and selfish relationship with her. Never physically or emotionally abusive, I still missed the mark of truly loving and living with my wife. Even today, honestly, I wrestle with my selfish 'need' to 'feel' loved, but the greater 'need' has been replaced, mostly with great peace and the wealth of true love.
Through my blogs, I am 'attempting' to be real, honest and transparent about the life of faith. I have many struggles but hopefully as my life progresses, this blog will stand as a testimony of faith, true faith, inspiring others to taste and see that the Lord is good. God has called me to be a giver, an encourager, His counselor, a part of His voice, to the miniscule number of readers of these words.
God is love and true love is given in sacrifice to others, not thumping them on the head with a Bible; not wrenching and prying to force fit the good news into their 'needy hands'; but rather with simple sacrifice and love, using every bit of our talent and skill to forge meaningful 'growth' into the lives of others.
This is why I feel God has called me to return to the Balkans.
God has given me unique skills and credibility as a teacher. He has given me a willing heart to do, be and go as He leads when I am 'on task'. As many of my students will tell you, I care, genuinely and appreciatively for each and every one of my students, counting it an honor to remain in touch with many of them through Facebook! My prayer is that my life make a difference for God in everything that I do, and by His grace, I have been privileged to do so.
Love, true love, has EVERYTHING to do with it! The kind of love that gives and serves others, bringing glory not to myself, but to God! For each of my other trips to Croatia and Bosnia, I could have self-financed it, but God commanded me to let others join in and provide. Every nickel appeared! This year, I have no such privilege of self-financing, and it seems as if God has prepared me to wait in faith. (Why is it so hard to wait in faith still???).
First and foremost, if you pray, I ask for your prayers that God's grace and leading would carry me through this trip, and that the teachers and those I join in ministry would be encouraged by the presence of our Lord through me. I need to purchase my plane ticket soon ($1016), and would like to purchase, have donated or funded some equipment to take with me to use and leave for teachers there in Croatia and Bosnia to use. To purchase all and provide for my living expenses there (I will not be getting paid from work), the cost will be slightly above a total of $2000 for the entire trip. I am working on a tax deductible way to donate to this amazing cause, but if you need no deduction and just feel led to join in with me, in prayer and finance, you can send an email to me (bobarii@cox.net) and I will let you know how to donate.
I will keep this blog as the primary means of communication with my friends, and hope you'll follow. Three years ago while reading, in my Bible, John 14:12, Jesus said that He is leaving and we will do even greater things than He. I asked Him,
"Where are these greater things?" with His response,
"Don't go looking around for them, I am doing them. You are to trust Me (God) and let Me do the greater things I have planned for you."
So, here I sit, once again prepared to do the greater things...praying for my friends and past students, loving my wife with all my heart, working with all my heart at Lowe's, being a first-time grandpa to an amazing baby boy, standing ready to return to Croatia and Bosnia (March 3rd- 11th) to serve others who need His love, using every skill God has given me, and every skill He will provide as I follow Him through this trip.
What's love got to do with it? Absolutely EVERYTHING!!!
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