HOLY HOMES BY KEVIN HUGULEY, RUSH OF FOOLS “WHAT IS LOVE?” Well, one thing is for sure... Love is definitely NOT the oh-so-popular SNL “Night at the Roxbury” piece. It’s much more. But as silly as that Will Ferrel bit may be, some of our own views of love might be equally as silly. Think about it. In the US, it’s impossible to cognitively reflect on the day, February 14, without seeing the color pink, smelling roses and thinking about the taste of those little candy hearts with the lame statements on them. By the way, who really says the things those hearts say? If you’re a DUDE reading this and you talk like that, c’mon down to Alabamer and lemme take you fishin’ after we go four-wheelin’ through the woods. Don’t read me wrong. I’m not one of those who wants to virtually ignore all ‘secular’ holidays. In fact, it’s rather sad that even in our own faith, Valentine’s Day is so necessary because many of our own grown men within the Church are so pathetic at romanticizing their brides that this is the one REAL date of the year she will actually get, so God forbid my little voice robs her of that. And on that note, husbands, take this from a guy who’s not CLOSE to being the husband he wants to be, but nonetheless trying: Love. Your. Bride. Tell her she’s beautiful. Pray for her and over her. Thank God daily for her. She ought to be the most precious and valuable asset of your existence outside of Jesus. Ask God to give you the grace to live out Ephesians 5:25-33 for all your days. So, “What is love?” Love is the story of the gospel. Love, in fact, IS the gospel. But not in a philosophical or metaphorical way, so that we can all get along and feel good about ourselves... Love is the fulfillment of God’s plan to reconcile to Himself all things. He ordained and set into motion love through the hero of the story, Jesus. Jesus changed everything, and still today, is continually changing everything. He lived the life we could only dream to live, loved the way we could at best wish for, died a death we could never remotely imagine, and conquered Satan, sin and death by raising Himself from the grave three days after hanging on a tree. The CROSS is love. I’m writing this piece around the time of something very special for me, and I pray that as the years go on I will understand this love I’m writing about all the more. You see, it’s actually my little girl’s first birthday, and I haven’t even held her once, but I love her to death. I have yet to even meet her, but I cherish her like there’s no tomorrow. Confused? Well, our daughter still lives where she was born, in South Korea. Malerie and I are begging God to get us to her ASAP, but trusting that He knows best at this whole ‘being in control’ thing. And I think He’s letting us learn love in a whole new way through this journey. You can’t convince me that we’re able to have such deep love and affection for our baby outside of the love of Jesus. Adoption is God’s idea in the first place, as a vertical love that puts into motion a horizontal love, and we consider ourselves blessed to be called to answer the charge of James 1:27 in such a real and tangible way. While not all of us will be called to adopt, all of us as believers are indeed called to something ABOUT adoption. My challenge: ask God how you are to be a part of the adoption world. It will bless your life. So love this month. Love away. Love God. Love your spouse. Love your family and your friends and your neighbors. And love those little candy hearts. Just remember, you love Him because He first loved you. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR ADOPTION STORY, PLEASE VISIT MALERIEANDKEVIN.BLOGSPOT.COM CCM 15