We talk about love but do not understand it. We love love, we do not live love. Love and power are opposites. They do not coexist. When I operate from power, love is not on display. A bad question: “Who’s going to rule the house?” Another bad question: “Who runs this church?”Understand the contrast, difference, …
Category Archives: Love
It’s Sunday Again: Love
We have quoted John 13 for so long that we have forgotten, or at least ignored, Jesus’ statement about the Great Commandments (Matthew 22:34-40 and parallels). We have heard John 13 say what we wanted it to say. Is it possible that Jesus is saying the mark of love is in extent, not only in …
New Year’s Resolution: Unconditional Love
For today, wisdom from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross: “The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others, but ourselves as well.” In all of our Christian talk about agape love, have we missed one of the essential elements? Have we overlooked the importance of loving ourselves with the kind …
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It’s Sunday Again: “You Are Loved”
For many years during my ministry and preaching, I kept in my Bible a small bright pink post-it that simply read, “You are loved.” This morning, I received an email expressing appreciation for the workshop, classes and sermons I presented last weekend. I also received this morning (electronically) a reminder of the seminar and activities …
A Word In Season
“…a word in season, how good it is!” (Proverbs 15:23) “The second year I was married, my husband opened an envelope and then looked over at me. His brow was furrowed and his mouth a little awry as he said, ‘Maxine, this is April. My birthday’s in July.’ ‘I know,’ I replied, ‘but I saw this …
What Will You Give Your “Valentine”?
An interesting question: what shall I give for Valentine’s Day? In the second grade, it was a simple card. Since the teacher said you had to give one to every person in the class, you went through the cards for the “mushiest” one to give to that special someone you had your eye on. You …
Love
We talk a lot about love but struggle with its practice. We do not understand the foundations of love–why we love with God’s agape love. We mistake the love described in the Bible for the human experiences of love in this world. They are not the same. They have different motives and foundations. God’s love …