[Z-man]

Ok, while I'm on my soapbox, here's another analogy about Agape love:

In Israel, there are two lakes: the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. These two lakes are a mere 100 miles apart, connected by the Jordan river. Both seas are fed by the springs the trickle down from the moutains just north of Galilee. So, these two lakes have the same water, and are just 100 miles apart, yet they are vastly different!

The sea of Galilee is vibrant -- it is full of life. Fisherman daily cast their nets into the water and catch fish in abundance. The shores are teeming with wildlife and lush vegetation. There is life in this lake.

The Dead Sea, as the name suggests, is dead. There is no life in this lake. The shores are barren -- no animal rests its weary body alongside its shores.

How can this be? Isn't the water the same in both lakes? Well yes. But there is a significant difference: you see as much water as the Sea of Galilee takes in, it also gives out. The springs feed the sea, but the sea also releases its water into the Jordan river. Thus, the Sea of Galilee is replentished with living water again and again. Not so with the Dead Sea -- the river Jordan gives the Dead Sea the water, but it does not release any of it. You see, the Dead Sea is 1300 feet below sea level -- there is no lower place where the water can flow to. As such, all of the silt that flows down the river has no where to go -- it just piles up in the Dead Sea and suffocates all life. Eventually the water evaporates in the arid climate around the Dead Sea, leaving a salty-silty solution that supports no life.

The big difference -- the Sea of Galilee only only TAKES IN water - it also GIVES water. The Dead Sea only TAKES IN water - it 'selfishly' keeps it all to itself.

-Z.