Is there any BETTER news than the GOOD NEWS?
No one is going to hell after we leave this plane of existence. Listen, we can create enough hell here on earth for a lifetime, who needs more in the next dimension? But seriously, God’s “agape love” simply cannot fail because God is, well, GOD! 
Without getting to deep into the Greek language where I am no expert, let me just briefly outline the FOUR Greek words for LOVE:
1-Storge (affection for something)
2-Eros (sexual attraction)
3-Phileo (friendship for someone)
4-Agape (unconditional love)
If we can say anything about God it is that GOD IS LOVE! And God is unconditional love which is far more than a FEELING: it is a COMMITMENT one makes to others, it is a STANCE one takes towards all others, and it is an ACTIVITY (actions) coming from the previous two points. It doesn’t matter what we do (in relationship to the next dimension) because however reprobate we might seem and be, God still loves us (Romans 5:8).
As Peter Kreeft wrote, “Love is God’s essence. Scripture says that God is just and merciful, but it does not say that God is JUSTICE itself or mercy itself. But, it does say that God IS LOVE, not just a LOVER.” Can you get that? Apparently the religious, Pharisical, literalists, and fundamentalists can’t. Too many want a HELL at the end of the game (JUSTICE) to satisfy their meritorious mind set.
Why? 
But, the GOOD NEWS is that the Bible doesn’t just give us some ABSTRACT philosophical picture of unconditional love; instead, we’re presented with the REALITY of agape love in the being of the historical Jesus. We KNOW LOVE (I John 3:16) and we saw how far that love would go (John 3:16) in order that we might not be confused about it. And yet religion has seemingly been BLIND to it all relentlessly threatening and advocating an eternal hell.
I simply say that the life of Jesus confirms that God’s love can’t fail!
I had a loving father. He always taught this concept to me as a child but after I got ‘doctrinated’ I was fearful that my foolish dad was going to hell and he did not believe the bible.
When we (LRC)started exploring the fact that there may not be a hell because God is Love that statement struck me to the core b/c I was taught that when i was a child… it was my foundation, so that statement changed me instantly.
I was so glad I had an earthly example of agape even though I rejected him during those years. My dad like God was there with loving arms, just happy to be Love for me.
Cynthia- Unfortunately the church-religion has not taught the reality of Jesus and therefore God. Many now will not be satisfied with the LAW, but are seeking the SPIRIT. And, as Morpheus (The Matrix) said,
“You are here because you know something!
What you know you can’t explain. But, you feel it.
You have felt it your entire life. You don’t know
what it is, but it’s there. Do you want to know what
it is”?
It is that God is LOVE and you can EXPERIENCE that love here and now in an intimate and mysterious dance, but not through dogma and doctrine!
What a wonderful post to start a new week! I see a quote or two to use to spread the real “good news”.
Shalom,
There’s a sunflower growing outside my window! I have a small bird feeder that I made out of some spare wood and attached to the fence. In the process of refilling that tray everyday somehow one of those sunflower seeds made it to the other side of the fence and has sprouted three feet out of the ground. Evidently one of those many Sparrows, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Squirrels or Racoons not only missed one of thier favorite seeds, through their travel to that feeder may have helped embed that seed far enough into the soil for it to sprout. Regardless of how it happened however, there she grows! Not only that it has already become a source of sustenance for something or other, in that a couple of the leaves have been fairly nibbled, But still healthy as can be shining bright yellow petals justa glowing in the sunlight.
Jesus had a message and despite how that seed got into the ground here she grows. Now hold the coleslaw and the frenchfries. This is not to take any sides but just some earnest, hopefully heartfelt questions that have formed. What is the great commission of LRC? Do we have a prison ministry, a nursing home ministry? How would those pan out? If one was to write a tract from LRC what would it say? What about door knocking? Does LRC’s message overcome anything or just morph with everything? If this seed got over the fence would it grow?
In all things be blessed.
Yes, the seeds are growing! I see it in the agape love that LRC has towards everyone that regularly attends and those who visit. I’ve even had some tell me, “It’s so nice to go to church and not feel judged!”
Ernie, thanks for such a great message!
Jeremy- There are so many churches and so many organizations doing those type of ministries.
LRC would be in that long line of churches trying to feed the homeless as the homeless say “Next!” to the next person or organization trying to get another star in their crown.
What about the ones who have been burnt out?
They are tired of the same ol’, so they quit church or religion. Or the ones tired of hypocrisy and hell fire and damnation sermons? Where are their seeds?
Did Jesus throw any seeds out any for them?
Will no one understand them?
Yes LRC is there for those unseen homeless, people who need to find their home in the Love of God and find peace.
I know it is hard to see when we are looking in another direction where the sun is setting but it is sure to set whether we see it or not.
Everything has a place and a reason
Silver and gold have I none, but such as I AM give I unto thee.
If this seed (LRC) got over the fence all chaos would break loose and that would be a good thing! I would venture to say that we have already been scattered across our community, workplace, shopping malls, restaurants, etc. As our true identity becomes clearer our roots dig deeper and span wider. The residue of our being is already causing affect to proportions we cannot not even fathom. Metaphorically speaking, there will come a time when one is compelled to touch the hem of your garment and cannot comprehend the impulse; yet only that they are “drawn” to do so. (If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself). Do you deny that same power resides in us? To deny that is to deny one’s self! We’ve heard it said, we dare to imagine and possibly believe…Aaaah, but when we come to truly KNOW and walk it out in boldfaced LOVE then you will hear the mighty thunder of the Sons of God and the winds of change will sweep across this Earth and resonate throughout the universes. The old things will pass away behold, all things will become new…a new Heaven and a new Earth. And I’m not talkin about the rapture baby. I’m talking about you & me and who we TRULY be. It’s that BOLD! So IN-YOUR-FACE-BOLD…do we dare to believe who we truly are?
I’ve heard it said to this affect, there are some (churches if you want to call them that) who are called be the light or to be seen. Then there’s the leaven, the unseen…the “Navy Seals” (LRC and whosoever will) who are called to infiltrate the community. We’re sent to the ones who still sleep, the ones yawning from the slumber, the ones who’ve yet to realize they’ve been “visited”. We’re that powerful because of the origin of our seed. We’ve just begun to take root and have yet to see the true manifestation of our being. So yes, serve the homeless, feed the poor, touch all of creation. Above all else simply “BE” and try to remember who you are!
Ernie praise God for His love that is not goind to fail anyone and no one can truly stop it.
I truly would love to attend LRC someday but for now I love reading about the love that is flowing LRC and threw the website.
Love Dan
Yoda. ‘There is no try, only do.’
Lahyil tov,
Aaaah, Jeremy my friend you are entirely right on! I love it! Better yet I will amend the last statement in my post above to read: “Above all else simply “BE” and KNOW who you are!”