I read this morning that love is a decision to act in the best interests of others. I like that! But what does it have to do with that mushy feeling in your heart or that fire in your loins? Not much, eh? And therein lies the problem.

I love chocolate. I love my friend. I made love to my wife. I love God. Two are about appetite. One is about abiding friendship. One is adoration. So how can they all be “love?”

The Greek’s had different words all translated into the English “love.” They had phileo—the love for a friend; eros—that’s the erotic sexual stuff; and agape—the “best interests of others” love. Different words meant no confusion over what you meant when you said you “loved” something.

I think we need some new words. Instead of the blanket term “love” what words would you use to distinguish between the mushy erotic stuff, your love for chocolate or football, your devotion to your children, or your dedication to God? Got any new terms we could ad to the lexicon? I’d like to hear about them. Send them to me by clicking here.

Have you had a lap dance lately? No, not that kind, but one that can wreak just as much havoc in your family if you aren’t careful with it. I lap-danced in 2010, and I’m reflecting on whether I am better for it. It’s a dance that happens in my easy chair, with my laptop, books and files on my lap.

One of the things that I bought myself in this year was a lap desk. You know, a hardwood surface on one side for writing or for your computer to sit on while you are in your easy chair, and a pillow-like back side so that it “settles” solidly on your lap fitting to the shape of your legs. In fact, I didn’t just buy myself one, I bought two: one to go beside my easy chair in front of the fireplace in the hearth room, and one beside my other easy chair in front of the fireplace in the bedroom.

Is my lap desk a blessing or a curse? I think it’s both. It’s a blessing in that I can sit comfortably in front of the fire, in an easy chair, with the family and dogs all around, and do work. It’s a curse in that at the end of my day when I should be resting, decompressing, and being all about my wife and kids, I can get caught up in work because it’s so easy to access my computer or notebooks “for just a minute” while I’m sitting with the family, and then three hours later I’m still working away.

I keep trying to find balance. I think I’m doing OK, not great, but neither am I failing. It’s no sin to work on your lap desk in the evening, but its no virtue either.

Would I buy a lap desk again? Yes. But its kinda like having narcotics in the medicine cabinet. Both the narcotic and the lap desk need to be used properly and not misused so that they make your life better instead of digging you a deeper hole.

We’ve all got cell phones, laptops, etc., that are simultaneous blessings and curses. What’s the slightly unusual thing you have—like my lapdesk—that is a tiger you have to keep in its cage? Tell me about it at clicking here.

Entrepreneurs & Non-Profit Executives: If your angels and donors can write a check bigger than you can utilize, your dream isn’t big enough.