Well, I'm not sure what happened. I have a really bad habit of when I'm preaching. I also happen to be leading music.

So I asked Ed if he could do the lords or the pastoral prayer this morning and I'm grateful for that.

So next week it won't be the same. It's not going to all be John in front of you but this is what this is what you have so I want to

reflect a bit today on the idea of love the term love the concept of love, the term love, the concept of love.

I'm aware that we have a celebration coming up in two days

and generally speaking, traditionally at least

in the Baptist churches that I've been in and know of.

This particular Sunday is meant

to have a semi-patriotic theme and a, for one's country.

That's what patriotism essentially is.

Yet, the last few years, it's felt a little weird

when we get to this point.

I don't know about you, but for me, we just had a whole month,

especially in New York, it was less so in Virginia,

but up here I feel it even more potently,

called Pride Month, at least now the government's even calling it that,

sanctioning it, my phone sends me a notification that it's Pride Month.

And that's supposed to be about love.

In fact, I was at the grocery store at the beginning of June and noticed their shopping bag say love is love, right?

Love is love.

And so this is also supposed to be a celebration of love. And so this is also supposed to be a celebration of love.

And it just, it troubles me that love is so polluted, so misunderstood, so corrupted, and especially for young people growing up and this is all

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