Happy Valentine’s Day!

Like many of you, prompted by Valentine’s Day on Sunday, I have been thinking about love. A chance to think of the many people in life who love or who have loved us. No better symbolized than by a big red heart.

A number of years ago, I was leading a group which was discussing God. I asked everyone to draw a picture of God. One of the women drew a picture of a great big heart and said, “God is love.” How true. The German theologian Karl Barth, who was known for his very long-winded writings (he wrote 14 huge volumes on the nature of God), was asked to sum up the Christian faith in one sentence. He replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know, and the Bible tells me so.” I think that this is the sum of what we are attempting through the ministry of the church – to let people know that there is a God who loves them. The word “love” is mentioned 538 times in the Bible.

This Valentines, I pray that each of us will feel the love of God in a fresh new way.

Blessings,

Michael.

Wendy Wessen, a member of Kamloops United Church, had a piece published in the Globe and Mail this past week entitled, Looking for Love in fair Verona, Where Romeo wooed his Juliette. Click on the link to read it. (You may need to create a free Globe and Mail account.) Congratulations Wendy for being published!