John, the disciple of Jesus, once said, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
Notice John did not say that God loves, even though he does. He did not say that God is like love. He did not say that God can be understood as love. He said God is love.
Notice John did not say that God is religion. He did not say that God is right morality or ethics. He did not even say that God is justice. He said, God is love.
We know that if God is love then there is no greater love we can hope to find. John’s words, God is love reminds us that no world power can overtake the Father’s promise. God is love reminds us that no impossibility is impossible for God. God is love, reminds us that the White House cannot replace God’s throne room, and Capitol Hill has been overcome by Calvary’s Hill. God is love reminds us that no matter how unstable society becomes the light of Christ can guide our feet to the path of peace where the joy of the Lord can be our strength, because God’s love has come to us in the newborn King and endures forever.
The story of Advent reminds us that in Christ Jesus God has entered into our suffering, embodied our sorrow, and enabled our salvation. God is love and will always be love. You are loved, my friend. Don’t forget it.
~ Fred
PRAYER
Holy God, help me to never forget your love for me, my neighbors, my enemies and the entire world. Help me to remember that you loved me before I was born and will love me long after I pass from this life into the next. Your love for me will endure forever. So help me to understand what it means live in your love, right here, right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
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