“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.” 1 John 4:7-21

{“When Grandpa and Billy entered their vacation cabin, they kept the lights off until they were inside to keep from attracting insects. Still, a few fireflies followed them in. Noticing them before Grandpa did, Billy whispered, ‘It’s no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.’

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A tourist stopped a local in a village he was visiting and asked; “What is the quickest way to the lake? The local thought for awhile. “Are you walking or driving?” he asked the tourist. “I’m driving.” “That is the quickest way!” the local said.”

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My high-school English teacher was well known for being a fair, but hard, grader. One day I received a B minus on a theme paper. In hopes of bettering my grade and in the spirit of the valentine season, I sent her an extravagant heart-shaped box of chocolates with the pre-printed inscription: “BE MINE.” The following day, I received in return a valentine from the teacher. It read: “Thank you, but it’s still BE MINE-US.” (Contributed by Brad Wilcox)}

What is the quickest way to develop a relationship with someone? What is the quickest way to build trust – to resolve the hurts – to move past the harsh words and the broken promises? I am not an expert on all things about relationships – but I do know that if we do not begin all interactions from the realm of G-d’s love, then we are missing one of the most important components of life and relationships – the unconditional love of G-d. The love of G-d is deeper than the ocean, and, well, lets let Randy Travis say it for us:

The love of G-d is:

….deeper than the holler, stronger than the rivers
Higher than the pine trees growin’ tall upon the hill
….is purer than the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And longer than the song of the whippoorwill  (Randy Travis, Deeper Than the Holler)

I know Randy wasn’t talking about G-d’s love in his song, but the love of G-d is the Genesis of all love – at least that is what Christians believe. “For G-d so loved the world that G-d sent the only son, so that all who may believe may not perish, but may have eternal life.” It was out of love that G-d created, interacted, breathed life, and sent the Son. As such, shouldn’t we first accept the fact that G-d loves us, and then share love with others?

Pastor Dave

“Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The troops are still too many; take them down to the water and I will sift them out for you there. When I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; and when I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So he brought the troops down to the water; and the Lord said to Gideon, “All those who lap the water with their tongues, as a dog laps, you shall put to one side; all those who kneel down to drink, putting their hands to their mouths, you shall put to the other side.” The number of those that lapped was three hundred; but all the rest of the troops knelt down to drink water. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred that lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go to their homes.” So he took the jars of the troops from their hands, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of Israel back to their own tents, but retained the three hundred. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley. That same night the Lord said to him, “Get up, attack the camp; for I have given it into your hand.”  Judges 7:4-9 

{“The loaded mini-van pulled into the only remaining campsite. Four children leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up the tent. The boys rushed to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. 

A nearby camper marveled to the youngsters’ father, “That, sir, is some display of teamwork.” The father replied, “I have a system — no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up.”}

The military is known for developing troops into “well oiled machines” – knowing how to develop a system whereby goals are achieved by men and women working together as a team. I would suggest that most sports teams strive to do the same. In the Super Bowl played on February 4, we all witnessed two football teams that have worked tirelessly for months to function in this capacity – and we all were witnesses to a great football game.

My goal for the church and its members has always been the same – that we find a way to function as a “well oiled Christian team” – men and women and children working together to be the hands and feet of Christ – all functioning as the body of Christ. Of course, this is often easier said than put into practice. Whereas sports teams work together day after day to develop a unity of function, Christians within the body of Christ come and go with different goals, abilities, priorities and interests.

Paul spoke of the church as a body, saying in part: “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)

Let us all work together as the body of Christ, for, as Paul says, it must be that the members may have the same care for one another – the more respected, and the less respected — together.

Pastor Dave