HAHA. I suppose you're completely overlooking the vengeful, spiteful, racist god portrayed in the Old Testament. I love how 90% of Christians have never really read the Bible, rather they're only familiar with the peppy and inspiring verses that are so often repeated.

I couldn't agree with you more. God's love is within us when we are born. It is only as we age does it seem to decrease, that people have to search for it so mightily, and then to retain it they must listen to information that may corrupt it. It seems to increase again when we have children or grandchildren, because once again we can see it in our loveys' faces and in the wonderment of their eyes. Think about when your child first met someone different from himself. While first timid, he is curious about the person, comes to delight in their differences, and wonders at the differences in their lives. He only learns discrimination from the people that are around him. He only learns hate from the world around him.

God is love, people. God doesn't discriminate in that love, he loves everyone unconditionally and he expects you to do the same, whether the person attends your churches, mosques, or temples; is a Democrat, Republican, Independent or Green party; or lives in your homes, neighborhoods, cities, states, or countries.
As I look over the posts here and in the blogs I regularly read, I wonder at the bitterness in people's posts when they talk about religion and politics. Why can we not have hope in the future? Why can we not band together to rebuild this country? Our children deserve to see their parents and grandparents come together, united with their neighbors, to decide that we have had enough of the divisiveness that has permeated this country. There is so much to do, so many people to help in this country, that we need to come together and use our combined strengths to correct our weaknesses and help our neighbors.

Instead of proudly being a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Indian, Buddhist, or whatever your bent, how about actually acting like one? Every basic tenet, no matter what your religion is, is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Just for today, treat everyone you meet with love and respect. If someone treats you with disrespect, still treat them with love, and depart from them by telling them that you hope they have a Blessed Day. Is something you can say to anyone without fear of disrespecting their religion or nationality. Try looking them in the eye and smiling at them while you say it. Sometimes those who are acting the worse need to hear and see that someone cares about them the most, especially if they do not push their religion on them. Just love them. Let the love flow through you. It’s not your love that is flowing… it is God’s love.

What is amazing is how infectious that love can be. How it grows and expands, and flows out to affect other people. Think of when you were having a bad day, and you saw a child laugh with delight, how it lifted your day. That is God’s love; and that love warmed you. Think of when you have been selfless and helped someone else. That made you feel better, didn’t it? Think of how it affected the person that you helped, how it must have lifted their spirit. That is God’s love. What you may not realize is that the person most likely takes that love and it helps them look at their world differently. God’s love, sent by you, may help ease their bitterness, so that the next time they see someone who needs their help, whether it is helping someone who fell to get up (as the men at FCHS helped me yesterday), or putting money in the Salvation Army’s red bucket, that they can send that love on out. It spreads so easily, people… God’s love is so easily grown.

As so many songs went in the 60's and 70's... what the world needs now is love, sweet love. Maureen, your post moved my 78 year old father to pick up the phone and tell me to read your letter right now, while he was on the phone. Thank you -- from your words to receptive ears, I pray.

Have a blessed day, everyone. May God’s love lift your hearts. Happy Holidays!

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