I wrote this book out of necessity. I desperately needed to learn what love does in some of the difficult situations that I have been in and did not know of a book that taught this other than the Bible. A couple books that I have since found with similar goals are: “Loving People” by Dr. John Townsend and “The Four Loves” by C.S Lewis. “Loving People” has the same basic purpose and it is very good, though we differ on the interpretation of self-love from Matthew 22:39. However, from Townsend’s experience as a psychologist, it is broader in practical application. C.S Lewis’ amazing “The Four Loves” is related but in the beginning and the end, he specifically states, in short, that he is not going deep into the subject of the divine love and its applications, something that this book does endeavor to do. Of course, there are others that I have yet to read. I want to be always learning about the Love of God. I find that as I do, there is no end. Because of that there will always be more that could be added to this book. That is just the nature of God’s love. It passes knowledge. So, there may be sequels coming.

   I wrote the beginnings of this book in the midst of a real struggle over the issues it brings up concerning love while on the mission field in Eastern Europe over 10 years ago. I picked it up again two years ago and continued working on it because I saw the need for myself and other Christians to be taught a balanced biblical application of love that was not available in our church circles or common in the church in the West overall. I believe that this book is unique and that it fills a gap in much of our teaching that desperately needs to be filled. I did not desire to publish yet another Christian book. But I believe God has a plan for this book and I would like to get it into the hands of the people I love in my circle, and as many others that it could possibly reach. The gaps in our teaching concerning the application of the command of Christ to love have had far reaching consequences in the world and in our own lives that I would like to see in some way reversed or redeemed through the ministry of this book. May our love abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment in the name of Jesus. Amen.