Number 28									  

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."   James 1:22

                              SPREAD  THE  WORD

  The purpose of this newsletter is to emphasize the importance of understanding
God's Word, the Bible. We hope to convey the difference between head knowledge
and knowing God's truth in your heart. A Christian should have both in balance.
  We hope people will learn God's truths and apply them to their daily lives.
Jesus wants to be involved with us in our daily affairs. Too often God/religion
is treated as a separate category of our lives. He is a loving Father who is
interested in our well-being in every area of our life.

Feel free to copy this letter.  We send it out to about 70 homes. If you have a
topic idea, please let us know. If anyone wants to be added or dropped from the
mailing, please let us know.  Please help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!

            HOW'S YOUR LOVE LIFE ? - ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS GROWING ?

  Can you remember when you first dated the one you loved? Was your day consumed
with thoughts of your beloved? How far out of the way were you willing to go to
see your loved one? Did that love die out, or did it change? Who gives us this
love?  This letter can only begin to probe the question of "What is true Love".

A) LOVE DEFINED:  First lets define/separate the meaning of love from its many
uses or misuses in our language (eg. I love food.). Here are some Bible pictures:

 1 Cor 13:1-13  is the classic love chapter from the Bible, describing true love.
         :1-4   Deeds without love amount to nothing.
         :5-7   Love is patient, love is kind. It doesn't envy, boast, it is
                         NOT proud, rude, self-seeking, angered, etc.
                 Love rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.
         :8-13  Love never fails!  Other things will pass away, but not love.

  The New Testament was originally written in Greek and there were at least
three different words for love that were used in the original text:
  1) eros -  self seeking, seeking ones own satisfaction
  2) philo - human tender affection, brotherly kindness toward one another
  3) agape - unconditional Godly love, sacrificial self-giving, the highest love

B) FORGIVING LOVE:  Forgiveness is love in action.  Forgiveness makes no sense
to someone who does not know love.  God showed His love for us by sending His
Son to die for us and forgive us of our sins. Forgiveness and love require an
exchange between two or more people. We have to accept/receive forgiveness and
love.  There's got to be a personal relationship in order for this to occur.

 "No greater love is there than this, to lay down one's life for a friend."
 (How about putting others 1st? Can you give way to other's wishes?)  John 15:13

 "... her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been
  forgiven little loves little."                                       Luke 7:47

 Love is commitment !    " Love covers a multitude of sins."         1 Peter 4:8

                                      - 2 -

C) UNITED IN LOVE:  Marriage is the closest bond any two people can have.
Ideally, marriage is a holy image of the kind of relationship God wants to have
with us! It's commitment, covenant, agape, self-giving love. Marital union is an
aspect of love, but sex by itself is not love. God is love, but love is not God.

Part of an ancient Jewish marriage custom was that the groom went off to build a
house and furnishings for his betrothed. The bride-to-be waited for the day when
he would come back for her with the wedding party. She was ready for his return.

  "For your Maker is your Husband."             Isa 54:5   Jer 3:14   Hosea 2:19

  Jesus, the Bridegroom said He "goes to prepare a place for you (and I) ...
   and will come back and take you to be with Me ..."           John 14:2 & 3:29

 "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slept. And at midnight there was a cry
   made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."      Matt 25:5-6
 
 " ... you should be married to another, even to Him (Christ)."       Romans 7:4

 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of
   the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."           Rev 19:7-9
 "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."          Rev 21:9

D) LIFE-GIVING LOVE:  A couple in marriage has the miraculous opportunity of
cooperating with God to bring new life into this world. We can also give life
to others spiritually/emotionally as we love others with Christ's love. Only
with the Holy Spirit's help can we love others as Jesus Christ loves us.

 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
  soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the 1st
  commandment.  And the 2nd is like it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
  There is none other commandment greater than these."             Mark 12:30-31

  "Love one another; as I have loved you, ... By this shall all men know that
   you are My disciples, if you have love one to another."         John 13:34-35

  Jesus said "If a man loves Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love
   him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him."      John 14:23

  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
    that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."                     1 John 4:7

Love is hard to define, yet everyone seeks it. We all need to be loved and
accepted. If we don't follow God's guidelines, love becomes superficial and
diminished. Are you hot or cold? Jesus seeks a bride (people like you and me)
who eagerly love Him and await for His return. You can't really love yourself
or others until you have received that life-changing, agape love of Jesus.

Is it any wonder that the world is looking for love in all the wrong places?
Religion, church, and we ourselves have often chased away unbelievers with
rules, methods, and false impressions of who Christ really is. We need a close,
intimate fellowship with Jesus in order for us to let others know Who He is!

Are longing to experience that love you once knew?  Or have you never know it?
   Guess Who is just waiting for you?  He will touch you if you let Him.