Pastor's Corner: I love you

How many times do you hear the words, "I love you"? For some, maybe those with exuberant and affectionate kiddos in their life, they hear it all the time. For others, perhaps they hear those words rarely, if ever. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, the Old Testament reading this Sunday from the Revised Common Lectionary has a gift for you: the only place in Scripture where God says the words, "I love you." To quote a little more from Isaiah 43:4: "You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you."

"I love you." This expression of love has been crafted with care. It's not sentimentali...