Voices of Faith: Vote for Love

In this mudslinging, name calling election season, it is not hard to see something is missing from the candidates running for America’s highest public office. Alright, maybe there is a lot missing! Whatever the party, platform or position it is easy to see there is definitely a shortage of LOVE.

The dictionary defines love as “an intense feeling of deep affection.” One often uses the word “love” to even describe people or things we appreciate or hold dear. Love is more than a feeling and can be lived out accordingly in relationships and we need it in our world more than ever.

The Bible is a book about relationships. The central theme is love and in short the “big story” is about God pursuing a love relationship with the crown of His creation: humanity. God created you for relationship. This relationship is not forced, but a response to the great love that was poured out by God. God pursues a personal love relationship with His creation.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Throughout the Bible, or often called, “God’s Love Letter,” we see the call to love as an expression of God’s heart. Jesus, who was God in the flesh on earth, echoed the greatest commandment in Mark 12:30 when he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The best way to live, know and experience God will depend on your love relationship with God. If this is not right, nothing in your life will be right. God initiates this relationship and we can respond willingly.

Loving God is the foundation, but it does not stop there. Jesus then reiterated: “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)

So loving God then overflows into how we treat each other. What a concept! Our expression to respond to God’s love and love Him back has a practical side: we learn how to love others. How easy it can be to love people who love and care for us, but to love those who have hurt us or have different values is very difficult. That sounds like the type of love only God could give us to shower on others.

Our families, country and world sure do need this love badly. To live this love out, one begins with being in relationship with God and then letting Him pour out His love to others through you.

As you get ready to hit the polls this November take some time to ponder responding to God’s love and maybe, just maybe we can see this type of love lived out with each other. If you are still undecided, “Vote for Love,” because God’s love changes everything.

Pastor Frank Alioto serves as a Spiritual Care Coordinator at Central Peninsula Hospital and as a chaplain for Central Emergency Services.

More in Life

Homer’s Cosmic Creature Club performs at the 2024 Concert on the Lawn at Karen Hornaday Park. (Emilie Springer/Homer News file)
July events to provide entertainment and fun on lower Kenai Peninsula

Events include the Highland Games, Concert on the Lawn, local art camps and the Ninilchik Rodeo.

Nick Varney
Unhinged Alaska: Flashback dreams and the cold sweats

When summer arrives, every personage in the known cosmos suddenly seems to remember that they have kindred living in Alaska.

File
Minister’s Message: Freedom is not what you think

If freedom isn’t what we first think it is, what is it?

This is the Kenai Power complex. The long side of the plant faces the Frank Rowley home, seen here at the right side of the photograph. (Photo courtesy of the Rowley Family)
Let there be light: The electrifying Frank Rowley — Part 1

Frank Rowley made one of the most important steps toward modernization in the history of Kenai.

This cake stacks colored crepes for a brilliant rainbow breakfast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Crepes of a different color

This rainbow cake celebrates Pride with layers of colored crepes.

”Thread of Light” is an acrylic painting done this year by Dan Coe on display through June at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting
Fine art in invented spaces

Anchor Point artist showcases his skills with exhibit of acrylic paintings.

A variety of peony blooms grow vibrantly on Pioneer Avenue on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
6th annual Peony Celebration begins July 1

The festival will run in Homer through Aug. 17.

A band performs during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Midnight afternoon

Nikiski turns out for annual solstice festival.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: A bug in the system

Schools are in the news lately, both locally and nationally.

Most Read