Good Sunday Morning,
Love, exciting and new . . . and before you jump right into singing the rest of the theme song . . . this morning I want to talk about love. Since it has been, at times, recently, hard to find good examples of exactly what love is, I thought I would provide a PSA (that’s what those in the business refer to as “public service announcement”) to educate and inform so we all know what love is and thus we can embrace it when we see it.
Now, the Eli Young Band admittedly may not know what love is, but they know what love ain’t; and J Geils thinks “love stinks” and Def Leppard thinks “love bites.” So, that narrows it down a bit, but personally, I think they must be doing it wrong. So then what is love?
For those of you that have been around long enough, you already know the answer. For that matter, the answer has been clear since about 54 AD or so when Paul wrote an epistle (which is just a $4 word for a “letter” . . . no extra charge for that additional bit of education) to the good folks of Corinth. In his letter (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) he tells us that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
So, what I want to ask you is – have you ever lost patience with someone? Have you been envious or boastful toward someone? Have you held a grudge toward someone? Have you ever not trusted someone? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then yeah, you were probably doing it wrong too. And, if that describes you (and yes, it describes all of us at one time or another) we can do better. Since, like I said, this is a PSA, I’ll give you the secret . . . but don’t give me any credit, just follow the two greatest commandments that Jesus taught us, which both include love: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-40.
Now, I’ve met your neighbor, so I can appreciate the challenge in store for you. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that all people want to live with more love in their lives, so help them out and choose to love. As you set out to love, keep in mind that some folks are hard to love, hard to love, and don't make it easy . . . however, there are others that are easy like Sunday morning. I don’t know, just thinking out loud, but . . . if you have a choice, I’d start with the later type.
. . . and since you should never love on an empty stomach, first pour yourself a cup of coffee (and maybe try to find a donut to go with it). When you’re finished, sit back and relax, and take solace in knowing that this is the day that the Lord has made; may you rejoice and be glad in it.
Jeff Bergstrom
P.S. Don’t forget your support for CLC, the community and the world by clicking here - https://clchr.ccbchurch.com/goto/giving. And don't be afraid to give twice, as CLC's treasurer, I'll know, but I promise not to tell anyone else.
P.P.S. And in the famous words of Stephen Stills - if you can’t be with the one you love (e.g., this Thanksgiving), love the one you’re with . . . which should be easy, since God is with you.
