Love in a bottle called Bethlehem...

So I have stated previously how the “Holidays” had me feeling quite “Grinchy” in the recent past of my life. However the Christmas Eve gathering at 12 Springs focused on the Love mentioned in the Gospel of John-as in the man in the football game who holds up the “John 3:16” sign! Ryan McBride encouraged us to discover what kind of love God put on display in Bethlehem all those years ago! And yes, Jesus, was born in the midst of “the least of these”. And when considered by Kings and the Powerful ones of his time-there were unfortunate consequences. Infanticides, Magical (done by Magi) conspiracies with Angelic beings (smuggling families cross borders without government permission). Heads Rolled (John the Baptist lost his) and a family lost track of it's first born while trying to keep the law in Jerusalem. Things could have gone much more horribly wrong, I'm sure.... But back to Love and one of my most favorite Christian authors who listed at least 4 different types of the word Love in the language of Jesus' culture and times. From the book: the Joyful Christian by C.S. Lewis, Macmillan Press, 1977 the following kinds of Love are mentioned: Storge or Affection-especially found in families or for pet animals by humans. Philia or Friendship. Eros as the acts of the Sexual Nature between Human Beings. And of course, Godly Love as mentioned in John or Agape also known as Charity. The best thing I think we could all do is read all the mentionings in John of Love but failing that please read what Lewis wrote in his books about it! Give yourself a real Christmas gift this year and read about love. And know that I can send along this message from my Heart, dear reader. You are loved! And God proved it by the gift of His Son! And you are not condemned... PS, John 3:17 is even better for it says that God never meant for us to be condemned when he sent Jesus to us. Best read it for yourself: John 3:17, NIV: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."