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Published...

You heard it right, I'm published. I actually had an article published in the local paper yesterday. It was called, "God's offering of love." I was thinking that the article was a little too Christian originally, but they accepted it without any revisions. Anyway, that was a fun experience. If you want to read it you can keep reading, if not, that's cool too.

God's offering of Love

We've just celebrated Valentine's Day. No doubt, many of you bought cards and gifts to communicate your love to the special people in your life.
I woke up with three valentine's cards from my kids and one from my wife...which reminded me that I better get a card and some chocolates before the day was out. All ended well, and I know you won't tell.
According to what the Bible teaches, love is the highest factor in God's relationship with people, and our relationship with one another.
In a portion of scripture that you might have heard quoted at a wedding, or two. God says that true love never gives up. True love cares more for others than for self. True love doesn't want what it doesn't have. True love doesn't strut. True love doesn't have a swelled head. True love doesn't force itself on others. True love love doesn't revel when others grovel. True love takes pleasure in the truth. True love alway looks for the best. And true love never looks back, but keeps going to the end.
God thought this was such an important factor to our understanding of who he is that he sent Jesus to the world with one purpose, to be a visual aid of this kind of love. To show us this kind of love alive and in action. To do so, Jesus loved us unconditionally, sacrificially and mercifully.
You heard it right, God loves you without any conditions! It's not about you getting your life figured out and becoming good enough someday. It is about getting to know his love and accepting it on your behalf.
However, God doesn't only love unconditionally, he loves you sacrificially. For showing us what God's love was like, Jesus was crucified.
But God's love doesn't end there. God's love is also a love full of mercy. Instead of requesting payment for those areas where you or I might not measure up, and there's a bunch, God offers, anyone who will accept it, forgiveness. He makes up for us shortcomings by forgiving us in Jesus Christ.
That is God's offering of love to every individual, regardless of their past, their baggage and mistakes. A love that is unconditional, sacrificial and full of mercy.
How would your life be different, right now, if this was the kind of love you received? The kind of love you gave away?

That's it, my first publication. Framed beside the mayors comments on the budget. And above some advertising for the Portal Village Plaza.

Only in Port!