Join me for my first message in a new series "Love: is too small a word." In our common English language, the word "love" covers a multitude of types, intensities, passions and situations. It really is a difficult word to ponder and use because of the diversity of situations to which it is applied. I happen to love a good filet mignon. I also love my new computer and my friend Dale. However, these are all different from the love I have for Rebecca, my wife of 46 years.

The Greek philosophical world made a pretty good stab at resolving the issue with as many as five words that we would translate "love" with each descriptive of a specific kind of love. However, the Old Testament Hebrew word "chesed" covers all the bases in a single word that is most often used for the love of God; a steadfast, uncompromising, committed love that is best defined within the context of God's covenant agreement with Abraham and his descendants.

Over the next several weeks we will together explore the deep and abiding love of God and hopefully discover how that love for us is transmuted to a higher form of love in all of our other relationships.