All the things that have been done "in the name" of God have caused LOTS of problems! The early crusaders of Catholicism caused quite a raucous with the conquests, witch hunts, drownings and burnings. Granted, people have meant well, but we sure didn't and don't have it all together do we? The questions stand.... Do we care enough to fix what ails us? Do we have the courage to try? While it is so cool to be gifted and talented, it is even better to have these gifts come by assistance of the Holy Spirit. God's GIFT of Love is such a WONDERFUL being, but we have found ourselves turning Him away. Why? I will toss my hat into the ring and say... US as Man! Let’s use some SURE Truth right here. Anything else can be conjecture, or simply MY ideas; and we DON'T want that. Well, I don't! Let’s look at First Corinthians 13:1-8. In these simple verses, the reader finds a word that we have translated into being LOVE. This definition of CHARITY has been used as love. This is a good start, if we plan to keep it simple. Not here, we won't… I find it INTERESTING that the writer uses the word charity (7) seven times. Hmm? Eight (8), if you count . The Word of God tells us that "He that loves not, does not love (know intimately) God, for God is love. So what of it? How many of us/you preach on Wednesdays, Sundays and Saturdays (Shabbat-Sabbath), and proclaim God's love but don't show it after you come out from behind the stand? What about us talking BIG about unity and don't even care to assist the pastor down the road with reaching the ones you can't or WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT to reach? Shucks, you don't even know what he looks like. How many of you curse your children or even beat your spouse? Where is the Love man? What about you who have a voice given to you by God to sing so sweetly and so well, but sing for the world's acceptance (or even the people at church)? Have you forgotten Who gave you the voice to sing? What are you singing for or about? Is it about Love, or sex, money or fame? How is it possible to attempt to teach our children the "Way(s)" of the Lord God, if they don't listen, because we don't live it loud enough to be heard? We can teach them to lie and deceive ("tell them I am not home or I am busy" - when you are standing right there), but we want to tell them to speak the truth and be honest. Where is "Love" in ALL OF THAT?!!! If God is Love in you, why does it seem like He seems to be on vacation from your life? How Ya Livin? Who wants to believe in a God whose people do more to be separated at every opportunity they can find? Can we say church time? How about believing who Jesus is? What about believing who Love is? Oh, I have one.... The Bible! Why do we fuss and fight over His Word, to the point of having (46) churches in a small town of just at (11,000) people? What is that all about? I have been involved with men who have, by the help of the Lord's Spirit, overcome some heavy issues (myself included) in their lives (MORE TO COME ON THESE). You would think that we would be willing to love people out of those same sins. YES! That is true. We do. We don't stand for lots of crazy denominational stuff. Denominationalism is as effective as racism. It separates and divides. We don’t put up with that non-sense, simply because it hurts God’s Kingdom, and should always be left at the altar of prayer and sacrifice. (I forgot to mention that we are men from different churches, colors and backgrounds, who have found a common thread. God’s Truth (Jesus, the Word). When we PREACH, TEACH, LIVE and SING without God's Son, Yeshua (Jesus), the Christ, being the focus, we have missed the WHOLE ENTIRE purpose for the Holy spirit leading Paul to pen chapter 13 of first 1 Corinthians. Look for the tweaks coming up. No worries, it is all in context. "If WE speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have THE LOVE OF GOD, we have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If WE have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if WE have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not haveTHE LOVE OF GOD, WE are nothing. And if WE give all OUR possessions to feed the poor, and if WE surrender OUR bodies to be burned, but do not have THE LOVE OF GOD, it profits US nothing! THE LOVE OF GOD is patient, THE LOVE OF GOD is kind and is not jealous; THE LOVE OF GOD does not brag and is not arrogant, THE LOVE OF GOD does not act unbecomingly; THE LOVE OF GOD does not seek His own, THE LOVE OF GOD is not provoked, THE LOVE OF GOD does not take into account a wrong suffered, THE LOVE OF GOD does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but THE LOVE OF GOD rejoices with the Truth; THE LOVE OF GOD bears all things, THE LOVE OF GOD believes all things, THE LOVE OF GOD hopes all things, THE LOVE OF GOD endures all things. THE LOVE OF GOD NEVER fails. People do, but God's plan and purpose for you never will. Allow Him, His Word, (Who loves) and the Holy Spirit, (Who loves), to show you the Way to live and bear His Fruit (Galatians 5). Other people will be glad you/we did! Also, those same people would take LESS time talking (negatively, unenthusiastically, unconstructively or in disapproval) about His people (and the church building they go to). They would actually do what Yeshua (Jesus) said they would do "Let you’re their shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."--Matthew 5:16