Category: Love

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is not the same as it used to be. Nowadays it serves as a way for current pop stars to sing snippets of their latest songs. It’s good advertising, I suppose, but kind of awkward to see the artist standing on a float that has nothing to do with his or her song, obviously lip synching for 35 or 40 seconds.

This morning Debbie had the parade on, and since the football game hadn’t started, I was watching. A young singer, Rachel Platten, was singing a portion of her song, “Stand by You.” Here is a portion of the lyrics:

Even if we’re breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through Hell with you
Love, you’re not alone, cause I’m gonna stand by you
Even if we can’t find heaven, I’m gonna stand by you

Continue reading “In the News: “Stand by You”” →

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

Colossians 3:12-15 Paul describes the proper character of the elect. Three things are noteworthy: Love, Humility and Peace.

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Before His ascension, Jesus told His apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). The mark of discipleship is obedience to the teacher. If we are disciples of Christ, it is because we have embraced His teaching, and we “observe” or obey what He commands. The preeminent command of our Lord is to love. Jesus said to His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

Continue reading “3 Loves of Christ’s Disciples” →

A simple lesson of exhortation to Christian living. we are to “let brotherly love continue” (cf. Hebrews 13:1) during:

* times of joy
* times of sorrow
* struggles with sin
* moments of disagreement

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Powerpoint Slides

The apostle Paul, in his final words to the Ephesian elders, expressed his great love for them. This love was the motivation for the warnings and admonitions he gave in Acts 20:17-38.

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Contrary to the message that world proclaims, it neither loves men, nor tells men the truth. In contrast, God both loves and proclaims His truth to all men. The power of Love and Truth is to save mankind.

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Powerpoint Slides

An exegesis of Ephesians 5:1-21, discussing the exhortations of Paul to the church at Ephesus to walk in Love, Light and Wisdom.

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Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul states that we have been saved by grace. Isaiah 53 expressed what Christ suffered for us.

The love that we have for Christ should bring us to show our love by obedience to Him.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

The apostle notes that each child of God has a part and importance in the working of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:14-25. So, we should recognize the value of all, and humbly seek to encourage one another.

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Romans 5:6-8 states, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is interesting that Paul compares (in an unfavorable fashion) a “righteous” man and a “good” man to us as sinners. While we desire to be known as righteous, and can be, the reality is that we all have sinned, and as such appear as unrighteous before God.

And yet, God sent His son to die in our place. Both at the time of Christ’s sacrifice and today as well, men respond to that love and gift of grace with indifference and even a rebellious spirit.

In the very next chapter, Paul reveals the proper response to the love shown us by Christ. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certinaly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1b-2).

May all of us who have responded the Lord’s gospel remember the call of Christ, to live “soberly, righteously and godly in the present age” (cf. Titus 2:12).

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

A discussion of Colossians 3:14-25 indicating that the love we express (the bond of perfection), must be in accord with Christ’s will, and practiced zealously.

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In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul gives instructions to the Corinthians about their gift to the suffering saints in Judea. As part of the instructions, Paul teaches important lessons regarding love, integrity, devotion and service.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In 1 John 5:1-2, the apostle reveals that obedience to the commands of God are necessary for us to properly express our love both for God, and for man.

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I just came across a quote from Agnes Bojaxhiu, commonly known as Mother Teresa. Most are aware of her. She was a Catholic missionary who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work in India. While her theology as a Catholic is certainly flawed, this quote is very good:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

Examining the quote, it reminds me of Jesus’ more concise words in Luke 6:31, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Commonly called the golden rule, the principle is shared by many faiths. The reason for this is its validity as a guiding principle for righteous lives.

The basis is, of course, a love for man. One who truly loves his fellow man is constantly seeking what is best for others. He does so despite criticism, and persists in the expression of that love even when it is not returned. It is not common, it is not easy, but it is a characteristic that must be present in our lives as Christians. Our goal is to please God, not man!

Everyone is aware of the burgeoning crisis that is playing out on the southern borders of the United States. A rapid and large number of illegal immigrant children are entering the U.S. every day.

This large number of Central and South American children (many of them unaccompanied by adults) is overwhelming the resources of border authorities, leading to health concerns both for the children and the communities where they are housed, and fueling a great political debate regarding how to manage the situation.

Continue reading “In the News: Compassion and the Rule of Law” →