Love is one of life’s most basic needs. However: it is also the most elusive. Love becomes complicated when we mix it with other factors such as, peer pressure, idealism, and fantasy. We should put all these things into their proper perspective to co-exist with love. Let us clear up some of the mystique behind this elusive giant.

Some people fall in love with the idea of love and exclude the person they profess to love. Others love each other with two different kinds of love. Moreover, some people use the name of love to cover up emotional, Physiological or sociological tendencies.

A romantic person can make an emotional mountain out of the faint spark of a casual relationship. Most of the relationship is played out in his or hers mind with little help or reciprocation from their mate.

There are many signs of this type of relationship. You will find that the romantic is the sole contributor to the relationship, although the partner may make a minimum contribution for conscience or appearance sake.

The romantic might buy tickets for a cruise and the partner may purchase the wine. The romantic does not understand why his or her partner does not sit back and enjoy the ride; after all, they are doing most of the work. This relationship usually ends when the partner becomes bored or finds someone that they choose as oppose to someone who chose them.

The romantic should stand back and measure the compromise and sacrifice of his or her partner. Emotions can easily smother rational thinking. The overly romantic should surround themselves with sensible people and keep them in the loop. They should ask for play-by-play advice. Their mentor will see things that he or she will miss.

Often, when a person says, “I love you,” they are requesting a contract or an agreement. The contract is made once the other person responds, “I love you to.” Like every contract, the terms should been defined. Every recipient of love should ask three questions: “What kind of love do you love me with, what are you offering to me, what do you expect from me?

There are several kinds of love recorded in the Bible. One type is agapeo love. This type of love is a commitment type of love. It takes very little emotion but a lot of commitment and discipline to function in this type of love. The first marriage was based on the agapeo type of love. Adam and Eve expressed very little emotions toward each other. Rather they shared a sense of duty and commitment to their cause to multiply.

Later in the Bible, you can read where passion played a significant part in other relationships for example, David and Beersheba, Jacob and Rachel. The next type is agapa love. This is the affectionate type love you find in fairy tales. Trouble arises when visions of an affectionate love lures a partner from a commitment type of love. Idealistically, an affectionate love develops from a commitment type of love. Sometimes an affectionate love motivates a commitment type love. A person may be attracted to someone outside of the relationship. A person may label that attraction ‘love’ to provide a socially acceptable excuse to breach their prior commitment. However, these are not all the types of love these are the most common.

Dating is most enjoyable and fulfilling when both partners are free from emotional, sociological or physiological baggage. People who love to cling to things can project that to people. We all develop an emotional history when we date. Songs, scenery and places become emotional landmarks.

Some people want to freeze time despite what the desires of their partner. That is abnormal. The person holding on will use the label of love to justify their desperation to hold on no matter what. This converts a selfish act into a valiant gesture. People who are insecure will most likely say, “I love you.” When they mean “I feel secure with you, please don’t take that away from me.”

Women have a natural ability to nurture. They may say, “I love you,” when they mean, “I want to mold you into the person I see in my head.” This type of women is can develop control through manipulation.

A successful love is based on a clear understanding of the type of love agreed on and a commitment to work at it despite outside persuasions. Leave nothing to chance. Communicate honestly and frequently. Each person is responsible to provide the other with emotional updates on their feelings about the relationship. In the mean time, each person should work on his or her own disciplines and issues before making a commitment.

A day of love. A day dedicated to that special someone who makes your body whimper, your mind rest at ease, and your heart flutter with freedom. It is a day for love.

All we need is love, and here comes February 14th, Valentine’s Day. And of course love is the last thing on people’s mind. This might sound crazy, but take a second to stop and look at the world at large. Look not only at our western society, with its’ agendas deep in the bogs of consumerism, causing wallets to become sticky with humidity and the consumer’s palms sweaty with disease, but at the whole revolving world of living. Yes, the truth behind Valentine’s Day is celebrated by few great souls while the rest live it as a day for buying-another twenty-four hours in the economic world.

Now, this could sound like The Grinch’s Manifesto for another holiday, but it is not. I promise. Instead, it’s a detailed look at the inside and the outside of the day of lovers.

Love At The Counter

The day before Valentine’s Day I was in Whole Foods Market doing just that… shopping for my lover and me. She was on my mind-the way her body whimpers, how her mind rests within mine, the feel of her heart-skipping beat. And likewise, my own love for her. Then checkout. I had the necessary products in hand. There were strawberries, chocolates, toasted almonds, pears and cheeses (all organic). A bouquet of stargazers and a bottle of Cabernet. I was happy. I’d done well.

The cashier swung my goods across the scanner. He weighed the bulk. He checked prices. And then he put his nose into the flowers and inhaled. He didn’t look at me, instead he looked at his co-worker-the bagger. “Is today Valentine’s Day?” the man inquired.

The bagger looked up with ambivalence stretched across his brows. “Today? No man,” he replied matter-of-factly. “Tomorrow.”

“Ah,” said my cashier as he passed me the bouquet of stargazers. “Another holiday gone to waste.”

Now this was me. I was looking at an image of myself behind the black Whole Foods apron, ready and able to ring-up and checkout customers. It was an image of me before I was in love.

Chuckling, I listened to their conversation: Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays of in-between holidays. It gives people the reason to buy and spend. Chocolate, flowers, food and wine. What’s the point? Obviously you don’t have a lover do you? No, I don’t. That’s why I didn’t even know tomorrow’s Valentine’s. I’ll be saving my money and spending it where it matters. But doesn’t love matter?

It was intriguing-this conversation betwixt cashier and bagger-and I wanted to put in my two cents (Unfortunately, I had to put in more then that). But the line backed-up as I carefully stuffed the products of love within my pack. Doesn’t love matter? I wondered.

The Purchased Manifesto

Consider this the Love Manifesto, and Valentine’s Day-as is any other day-a perfect day to whimper in love, think in love and feel in love. Love is not encapsulated within one singular day. Love is everywhere and made of all things. And those that deny this enlightening truth miss a major part of being human. For example, Saudi Arabia is defying anything red. Say a man walks down the road with an arrangement of roses. And they’re red. What will happen? How can someone prevent another from loving someone or something? Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual… Doesn’t love matter?

Now, I’m not saying the Arab world celebrates Valentine’s Day. I have no idea. It’s just one day out of 365.2422 in a year. So, which is the day to celebrate one’s lover in Medina or Riyadh? And can there be red?

And again, a day before the day of love, lovers and loving; the United States government applauds the death of Hezbollah leader, Imad Mughniyeh. This is not love, my fellow citizens… Valentine’s Day has been missed. No, I correct myself: Everyday has been missed in this case.

On another scale of world politics and news, Steven Spielberg retracts his position as Advisor to the Olympic Games in Beijing due to China’s ties with the genocide in Darfur. In a New York Times article, Spielberg is quoted as saying “my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual.” That’s a businessman with love in his heart. Mine skips a beat. Does yours?

A Love Not Sold

Everyday is a day of love, and no one day should be isolated from the human experience sharing love with another. In all acts-in all thoughts, words and feelings-the presence of love not only transforms one’s life, but also benefits the world, and the world beyond this little planet we call home. From suicide bombings, to individual decisions based on immoral facts, to begging families and starving children-we have a responsibility to ourselves and to our human family to perform all banal and extraordinary acts out of a service of love. Valentine’s Day or not, embrace your loved ones and embrace your enemies. Love is the makeup of day-to-day experience, so embrace this feeling in all things.

On February 14th, 2008 many will not have the opportunity to be with their lover(s). I will be one of them. I will not be able to look into her eyes or hear her whisper in my ear. I will not have the chance to whimper, to rest at ease by her side, or feel my heart flutter with her’s. But from a connection of love unseen by the ordinary eye, I will be in love with her, as will I be in love with my co-workers and the customers receiving our service. I will be in love this Valentine’s Day as I was in love yesterday and the days before and those ahead. Valentine’s Day is not just one holiday for lovers, but simply another day to express yourself with the freedom of love.

In dealing with clients, I have come across this question often. If you are not going to see to it that your life is filled with more meaningful activities than slogging away at a job – and also allowing your self sufficient mental recuperation – then Spirit will see to it that you get to rest the hard way; stick your bum in bed with a stuffy nose and a body that feels flabbier than a punctured wine skin.

Honestly, though, it is of vital benefit to notably include in our busy lives actual activities that have nothing to do with our work life – and by activities I mean things like Yoga, meditation/meditation groups, cycling groups, book clubs, creative writing, getting holistic treatments, etc..; that is why hobbies are so beneficial. Something meaningful that occupies your mind with creative thoughts. And then – get enough rest! Meaning those things that require you to do nothing. Everyone needs time to do absolutely nothing, but sleep late, watch movies and snack in bed.

And one really needs to do this. Avoid learning it the hard way. Also don’t try and do everything all the time -

The question is thus: Do you own your own life? If the meaning of life lies in the meaning you give it – then how do we realise this? The answer is to be an altruist.

- I have decided to approach this particular question and subject of how to attain mental stability in living life within the next several Lilac Master e-mails, and will discuss topics such as: Altruism, Spiritual Mastery, The Essence of Love, Inner Peace, Truth and Complete… or Complacent Wisdom: -

Altruism

According to the Wikipedia website: “Altruism is selfless concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and central to many religious traditions. In English, this idea was often described as the Golden rule of ethics. Some newer philosophies such as egoism have criticized the concept, with writers such as Nietzsche arguing that there is no moral obligation to help others.

Altruism can be distinguished from a feeling of loyalty and duty. Altruism focuses on a motivation to help others or a want to do good without reward, while duty focuses on a moral obligation towards a specific individual (for example, God, a king), a specific organization (for example, a government), or an abstract concept (for example, patriotism etc). Some individuals may feel both altruism and duty, while others may not. Pure altruism is giving without regard to reward or the benefits of recognition.

The concept has a long history in philosophical and ethical thought, and has more recently become a topic for psychologists, sociologists, evolutionary biologists, and ethologists. While ideas about altruism from one field can have an impact on the other fields, the different methods and focuses of these fields lead to different perspectives on altruism.”
To be the master of your own thought…
… is to be a spiritual master.
A spiritual master’s life purpose is to guide evolution through outstanding leadership qualities as human life continues to evolve through the progressive stages of enlightenment. This is to liken it to the leadership of a director of a movie, to guide from behind the scenes where the decisions leading to the overall design are made.

Spiritual masters do not function well under dominant direction for long and also realise that to achieve their potential, they will need a first-rate education; continuously seeking to better themselves and to quench their immense thirst for knowledge. Their fast rate of learning is little short of amazing and they are regularly called upon for advice and/or guidance.

A prominent trait of a spiritual master is their apparent lack of emotion as they regard emotional control as fundamental to their purpose. In truth they are highly sensitive and intuitive people in combination with a powerful spiritual awareness. They are concerned with human welfare and have a huge capacity for responsibility.

Those who do not recognise their own strengths are drawn to a singularly materialistic environment in an obsessive way, thus becoming unhappy, lonely and aloof. When negative, incredible depression is the result.

It is highly recommended that a spiritual master ensure a life of balance between work and pleasure as their considerable aptitude for work can lead to becoming an overachiever. Artistic hobbies in modules such as singing, dancing, writing, painting, and the like will enhance expression and lead to emotional relaxation. To a spiritual master, learning is a life-long pursuit.

Someone who has truly achieved spiritual mastery will, generally, excel at whatever they attempt, be it in any business or cultural organisation. They also have the most responsibility to humanity.

This world of ours is in yearning for a whole lot of love – and unconditional love is the only thing that a spiritual master teaches. Thus, be open to knowing everything, but believe nothing.

When we talk of dinner it not just reminds us of good food we’ll have but the very word dinner fills us up with a romantic feeling. If you ask anybody about the things that are associated with romance he or she will definitely mention the word dinner. You want to spend a romantic time with your lover and have got bored of those candle light dinners then you do have another option of a romantic dinner, yes you’ve guessed it right- dinner by the fire.

It is really romantic to sit by the fire and have dinner with your lover. Arrange for a dinner by the fire and feel like a Hollywood couple enjoying intense love. You can get something cozy to sit on and order your favorite food. Take out your wine bottle and enjoy it with sweet talks. Enjoy your food, the wine and the company of each other in a cold warm night. It is a romantic feeling that you experience. You feel like loving each other. Kiss each other in between to express your love and talk your heart out. Say those things to your partner that you always wanted to say but somehow felt shy to speak up. Such a romantic atmosphere helps you open up and say the most romantic things in life. Going for dinner by fire is a good way to keep the passion and intimacy alive. In a relationship intimacy and passion have a significant role to play. NO relationship works out well if it lacks passion and intimacy. A relationship is lifeless and boring if it lacks in passion and intimacy. A relationship tends to become boring if you start losing the intimacy and passion. You need to enjoy being together in an intimate way. Make your intimate time together special. Surprise your mate with a dinner by fire and feel the heat of love.

A relationship does not last long if there is no emotional attachment between the partners. Emotions work like magnets that hold the partners together. And you realize your emotions when you take out time for each other and sit and have a conversation with each other. Just the two of you to listen and talk to each other will give you ample time to understand each other. When you are enjoying in such a way you are in a light and relaxed mood and understand what is being said by your lover with profundity.

If you care for your lover arrange for a dinner by fire to have a great time together and enjoy your closeness to the utmost.

Find more information visit: Dinner by the Fire [http://www.keepcondom.com/articles/relationship/dinner-fire.htm]

It seems today in our Christian “religions” we have two extreme ideas. On the one side of the spectrum, we have those who believe and teach that as Christians we are obligated to live our lives according to the Old Testament laws. They teach and preach and condemn using the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament teachings. They teach we must obey the law to be pleasing to God. On the other side, we have the “I am under grace” folks. They teach that since we are saved by grace then we are not guilty when we sin. We are always saved no matter how we live. Grace gives us liberty and freedom to life a relaxed and peaceful life…..which usually is translated to “walking according to the flesh”. Both of these extreme views are wrong and both are SIN. Both of these ideals sadden the heart of God.

First let’s see why trying to live according to the law is wrong. To begin with, the law was given in the Old Covenant. It was NEVER able to save anyone. The law was given as a “tutor” to lead people to faith and to lead to Christ. Faith has always been the only way to salvation.

He lived a perfect life and completely fulfilled the law and as result He delivered us from the law. Romans 7 tells us that through Christ we have become dead to the law. Death brings an end to a covenant. For instance, when you are married and your spouse dies you are then no longer in that covenant relationship and you are free to be married to someone else. Through Christ the old covenant. This death of the old covenant now frees us to be married to the new covenant, the covenant of grace. Jesus himself told us this at the Passover meal. He told us that He has given a new covenant, not a variation of the old, but a new. Not new wine in old wineskins, but everything new.

There are many, many verses in the New Testament (covenant) that clearly shows us to be true. Galatians 5:4 says we are estranged from Christ ( an estranged spouse is one who no longer life’s with, communicates with, relates with the other spouse)if we try to follow the law. It also says that we have fallen from His grace when we attempt to live by the law.
So now we have the other extreme. Those people who live and teach and preach that we are no longer under the law but under grace. (Which this is 100% a truthful statement, we are not under the law and we are under grace.) Jesus Fulfilled the covenant of the law to take our heavy burdens and gives us grace which frees us from the burden of being good enough to live by the law. How then can being under grace be sin??? Simple, people use this “under grace” extreme to justify what is really “living according to the flesh”. They say since they are no longer under the law but under grace, then they no longer have to worry about weather they sin or not, since God’s grace frees them from sin.

We cannot use the grace of our Lord to justify our own sinful desires. We cannot say because we under grace if I sin we are forgiven and then continue IN sin. Yes, when we sin, we have complete forgiveness in Christ. But if we continue in sin we are no longer under grace but a slave to the law of sin.

Galatians 5:16-22 tells us the importance of walking in God’s Spirit and not in the lust of the flesh. It shows us that our fleshly desires (and gives a small list of some) are an enemy of the Spirit of God. Then it clearly states that those who are “in Christ” (or as some might also say “under grace”) have crucified their flesh and its desires.

There are probably as many verses in the New Testament (Grace Covenant) which speaks against using “grace” to free you from following Christ. As James might have put it (well he basically did say this), grace without works is dead. What I mean is that to say you are under grace and then live your life how YOU want to means you are not truly “under grace” at all. The true grace, true liberty, true freedom that Jesus bought for us does NOT produce sin. To live under real GRACE will ALWAYS result in a Christ-like lifestyle. (Not a perfect life, but one where the heart of the person desires to please God.) True grace and liberty produce fruit worthy of Christ, for you shall know them by their fruit.

Wait, am I saying then we must obey and follow both the Old Testament and its laws, and the New Testament and its grace? NO WAY!! The old covenant died and was buried with Jesus’ death and the new covenant was made alive and established with Jesus’ resurrection. The law was fulfilled perfectly in Christ. Does that mean the law was evil? NO! The laws of God are pure. “Do not murder” could never be mistaken as an evil thing. But to try to live by the law is the same thing as denying Christ and His work. No one ever could live by the law, Jesus did and when we have Christ in us we have the perfected law in us. We don’t have to work to fulfill it; He already did it for us. We must realize that we are no longer under the burden to fulfill the law. Our burden, which is light, is to receive Jesus Christ by faith, receive the freedom and liberty from the burden of the law, and out of LOVE for HIM seek to follow His ways. We cannot truly follow Him with our own ability. We can only really follow Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our lives must be nothing of their own. We can’t be saved by being good enough. We can’t be saved by acknowledging Jesus and His death and resurrection and then trying to obey the law. We are not saved by some magical “grace” that some how makes our sins become not sin as longer as we are “under grace”. We can only be saved through faith in Jesus (this faith is not even our own but a gift from God), then everyday seek God’s strength to walk in His Spirit which is to live in really grace. All burdens to obey the law are off our shoulders, we can’t. But the responsibility to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh is ours, yet we are unable to walk in the Spirit unless we have received the grace Jesus gives. Romans 6:15-16 ” Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly Not!” You are a slave to whatever you give yourself to. If you continue in sin “because you are under grace” then you are not really under grace, but rather a slave to sin. Or through the grace which Christ gives, we can give ourselves to righteousness and become a slave to live by the Spirit of God and thereby fulfill the law!

Valentine’s Day is one of those special holidays that you let that special someone know how you feel about them. With this holiday becoming so commercialized, it can often seem as though expressing your love can be very expensive, especially when one is on a tight budget. Fortunately, expressing love to your Valentine does not mean you have to go broke. There are a number of easy ways you can express your love without looking cheap. Below are a number of tips to make your holiday special without breaking your budget.

1. Many couples will go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. When on a tight budget, this can often end up being a very expensive dining experience with the price hampering the romantic mood. One suggestion is to check the newspaper and coupon books for special Valentine Day specials. You can often find a two for one deal on special Valentine Day’s meals. If you are unable to find an affordable restaurant, you can always stay at home and make a special homemade meal. You will save a substantial amount of money if you shop for ingredients that are on sale. As well, you can be creative and romantic by having a candlelight dinner with romantic music. If you want to make a night of it, you can rent a romantic movie to watch after dinner.

2. Create your own special home spa bath. You can light scented candles in a bathroom, play romantic music in the background, and relax in a warm bubble bath. There are a number of stores such as ‘Dollar Stores’ that sell inexpensive scented bubble bath, bath salts, massage oils, and scented soaps. A warm bubble bath for two while drinking a glass of wine is a romantic and inexpensive way to spend Valentine’s Day.

3. Flowers are a traditional Valentine’s Day gift. Many people think a bouquet of flowers are expensive. However, you can often buy cheaper flowers at a supermarket or if you have a flower garden, you can pick them yourself to make a creative bouquet. If you purchase flowers, you can create a beautiful blend of less expensive flowers.

4. Making homemade gifts can often mean more than a store bought gift. You can make a homemade mini scrapbook highlighting the special moments of your relationship. You can find inexpensive scrapbooks and accessories at discount stores or department stores. Special items to put in the scrapbook can include pictures, ticket stubs for a special concert, a menu or business card of the first restaurant where you ate, etc.

For people who love romance, Valentine’s Day is a very special time to express their love. During difficult economic times, it can be tough to come up with an inexpensive way to celebrate the holiday. If you find yourself tightening your budget because of the recent decline in the economy, you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day. With a little careful financial planning such as setting money aside a few months before the special day, and coming up with an inexpensive way to celebrate the occasion, you may find that you have the most romantic time ever.

When I was single I’d heard it 1000 times. “Make a list of the qualities you’re looking for in a man.” First of all, it will help you recognize him when you finally do meet him. Secondly, it will set in motion the law of attraction to draw him to you. A couple of times I’d made lists. However, to be frank, I made the list I thought I should make, not the list of things I really wanted.

After my last ill fated relationship, something dawned on me and I finally got it. With a bottle of wine as my assistant, and my best friend at my side, I sat down and wrote the list of things I really wanted and I’ll be honest, it was selfish. I think I listed wealthy, good in bed, and really sexy, as the top three. I of course also listed things like compassionate, spiritual, and good with my kid and dogs. When my friends read my list they would often get hung up on it. I had one question me about the validity of listing “well dressed”. I laughed and held firm to my wish to attract the perfect man. So, when I got bone crushing honest about what I wanted, making this list of qualities in my potential new mate was like waiving a magic wand. Not only did I meet him. I married him and he is still everything on my original list and more.

So, how do you go about writing your magic wand? First of all, like I said before, honesty was the key to my success. Nothing took off for me until I was willing to admit I wanted hot sex with any man I was going to share my life with. When I allowed myself to really acknowledge what I really, really, wanted, my juices got flowing and law of attraction started moving Mr. Right my way, quickly, as in within weeks. I made my list on Valentines Day and met my Mr. Right on April 7.

Secondly, let your list be a work in progress because things will come to you over a few days. I started out with fewer then ten things. However, as I began really thinking about it and started observing men and couples in the real world for the purpose of noticing what I really wanted, my list grew. In the end, it took me ten days and I had about 30 items on my list.

I have friends who have written pages and pages. For me I was able to build not just Mr. Right, but Mr. Perfect on one page. I liked it that way because it was easy to carry my list with me.

Last, but certainly not least, this probably being the most important step. Look at your list and start becoming it. If compassion is on the list be it. If humor is on the list, have it. It sexy is on the list, sex it up!!! Start the work of becoming the person you want to attract. This might make sense to you, it might sound ridiculous, however, it’s the master key to getting what you want, especially in a life partner.

On a side note, when I made my list I was working with my best friend, who also made a list. That would be Valentines Day almost two years ago. She is also happily married today. Her list was very different then mine, however, if you ask her, she’ll tell you she got exactly what she wanted. So, get busy. Start investigating what really turns you on and place your order for Mr. or Ms. Right with the Universe now.

While the seventh arrondissement is on the Seine River’s Left Bank and the eighth arrondissement is on the its Right Bank, they are more closely related to each other than to their neighbors on the same side of the river. They are major employment and tourist centers, posh residential areas, and home to the French National Assembly, the Palais Bourbon.

The Eiffel Tower is perhaps Paris’s best-known landmark, recognized all over the world. This structure, once the world’s tallest and still the most visited, attracts over six million paying visitors a year. It was erected between 1887 and 1889 for a World’s Fair honoring the French Revolution. Supposedly the French writer Guy de Maupassant ate lunch there every day, because it was the only Paris location where he couldn’t see the tower.

The Hôtel Matignon, completed in 1725 is one of Paris’s most elegant mansions.
During World War II it was a headquarters of the collaborationist government. General de Gaulle convened the government there in 1944 and once again in 1958.

The Champ de Mars was once used for military training. It was the site of both a festival and a massacre during the French Revolution. The École Militaire was founded by Louis XV to enable poor boys to become cadet officers. Napoleon Bonaparte is its best-known graduate. The Invalides complex, first built as a retirement home for war veterans, now includes a soldiers’ hospital, war monuments, and war museums. Napoleon Bonaparte and his family are buried there. For a change of pace visit the Rodin Museum displaying many of his works as well as masterpieces by Van Gogh, Claudel, and others.

The Paris Institute of Political Studies is one of France’s greatest educational institutions. Many French leaders such as Chirac and Mitterand, thirteen former prime ministers and a whole slew of world leaders are former students, teachers or both.

L’église de la Madeleine church was built to honor Napoleon’s army. Its organ is top of the line; the famous composers Camille Saint-Saëns and Gabriel Fauré were church organists. I am told that this is THE place to have your wedding and funeral.

The Élysée Palace is the President of the French Republic’s official residence and holds meetings of the Council of Ministers. The gardens host a presidential party on July 14th.

The Arc de Triomphe monument honoring French soldiers sits in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It is the second tallest such monument in the world. The nearby traffic circle serves twelve busy avenues. I have heard that there is a replica at the Paris Las Vegas resort but don’t plan a visit to confirm.

You’ll find the Art Nouveau Théâtre des Champs-Élysées a few several blocks from that avenue. In 1913 its initial performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring degenerated into a full-scale riot. The Grand Palace is a large glass Art Deco exhibition hall built for the Paris Exhibition of 1900. The Little Palace across the street is home to an art museum, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.

While in the waiting room of our doctor’s office, I picked up a magazine and started reading about ways to keep love and sex alive in your marriage. In this article several couples shared their ways of keeping their love alive in today’s environment. I kept finding this theme in different magazines. So I decided to write down ideas of how to keep one’s marriage alive and well in this century.

1. Always making the spouse feel special. Showering compliments on her looks and sexual charm is quite rewarding for her; especially when she is told how beautiful she looks.
2. Receiving flowers and other lovely gifts without any specific reason brings a smile to her face. These little things make your relationship stronger. I remember the time I opened my refrigerator to start supper and there was a bouquet of flowers in the center of the refrigerator. When I turned around to say thanks, there stood my hubby with a big smile on his face.
3. On different occasions, we plan dates. Yes, at our ages of 68 and 69, we still create dating times. We were remembering our cruising days: we went from one end of Marion, Ohio (Stewarts Root Beer Drive-in) to the other end of town (L&K Restaurant). Our dating days were back in 1961. So we revived them once again. Fun. This week (July 2, 2008) we took my husband’s mother to Stewarts Root Beer Stand for an evening meal. Mom is 95 years old and she shared how she used to come to this same root beer stand while she was dating.
4.  By planning your “dates” around a picnic, don’t forget to bring candles. Yes, lit candles on a picnic table may not seem romantic but it is. It is something your spouse will not expect but be extremely pleased that you did. It will bring joy and laughter.
5.  While walking down the trails, hold hands. That human touch means so much.
6. Taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood, walking along the riverside or strolling down a country road, reach out and take your spouse’s hand. The rewards are great.
7. Regular physical touch is necessary. On many occasions my husband comes into my office, leans down and gives me a kiss. This brings a smile to my face. There are many times when I enter his office, get behind him, reach around with my arms and hug him.
8. Try kissing your spouse on the cheek before leaving for the office. When you return home, greet your spouse with a hug and a kiss. This takes such little time but warms the heart.
9. Take a bath together. By having lit candles around the bathroom, it gives an ambience of romance. Try having glasses of wine or soda (if you don’t drink) sitting near the bathtub; give each other a toast; massage each other with aromatic oils. Pleasure is something we all enjoy.
10.  Take some time out of your busy schedule (each day) to be with each other. That quality time you spend together will make your bond stronger.
11.  When your children are young, you might not feel that you have the strength after a busy day to be romantic or you may not feel like it. That is the time, you need that extra hug, a kiss on the cheek, a swirl around the kitchen with no music playing, to climb into the bathtub together, massage your spouse’s feet will help him/her to relax, or simply putting your arm around your spouse and encouraging her to put her head on your shoulder. These little things mean so much to a mother who is wiped out and bring you so many new rewards. These little pleasures bring great rewards and are more remembered than you might think. When you are older, she may remind you of those little things that meant so much to her and most of them will only cost you time.
12. Think of the ways you want to be treated by your spouse and treat your spouse even better. Your rewards will keep growing and your benefits will improve measurably.

The love song has been sung and it profound meaning is slowly penetrating the hearts and minds of his audience. The song has been about a lover and a vineyard. The people could identify with both.

The words of the song can be found in the opening verses of Isaiah chapter 5. Do read them. They are rather beautiful. Everything that could have been done to make the vineyard productive and beautiful had been done.

Isaiah moves on and explains, “I am going to let it become wild.” In verses 5 and 6 Isaiah spells it out. Isaiah had been singing about this lover as “he” – and all he got was wild grapes – then, Isaiah changes the pronoun to “I”!

The Word of God had been faithfully proclaimed to the people – but where is the fruit?

He says – “I am going to stop the rain”, and the reaction is, “Who does he think he is that he can stop the rain?” As soon as Isaiah goes too far – the people react and reject.

It is at this point Isaiah explains what his love song has been about – “You are the vineyard – and God is the owner – and all you have produced are wild grapes.”

The prophet’s voice may not be what we want to hear – but it is what we need to hear Isaiah compelled the people to pass judgment upon themselves. The people were gradually becoming uncomfortably aware that this was no ordinary song.

Isaiah says – The owner was going to take away all that HE had done. The strong winds would blow away the blossom – and it was now exposed to wild animals – trampled and overcome – no longer pruned – and weeds grow – thorns and thistles. The word ‘command’ must have stunned the crowd.

God looks for a response – His love is unconditional – His blessings are conditional. We find this today. Everyone can agree that there is a whole lot wrong in the world – a lot of sin – then God points something out in our own lives. He can show us this at times from His Holy Word – and the response – the reaction – is not always as it should be!

How we react when God shows us something from His Word is important. Isaiah is speaking about God and Israel as husband and wife. We should have been together – we should together have been producing good fruit. What more could I have done for you? He had hedged them around with priests – His Watchtower – His Temple – what more could God have done?

What more could God give to us today – Jesus – the Holy Spirit – the Bible – bread and wine – fellowship. We could mention so much more. What more do we need? Is there anything further which God could give?

Israel just allowed God to go so far and no further. We are as holy as we want to be – and choose to be – no more – no less.

Isaiah says here – God is disappointed with His People – I am finished with this vineyard. There is nothing more I could have done, and Isaiah is quite specific.

In a few terse lines in verse 7, Isaiah unveils the whole purpose of the prophetic song. When God looked – He saw what He did not want to see.

Let me stop there because there are moments when we have to pause – consider – and reflect. When Almighty God looks at me – what does He see? Does what He see please Him? Or does what He see evoke a reaction similar to what we read of here in Isaiah? These are solemn sober salutary moments. Our response can rescue and save us from months and years of heartache.

Sandy Shaw