So many times, Peter and Paul use metaphors of warfare and being soldiers for Christians. There is the armor of God, spiritual warfare, and the fight against sinful desires and our own body. However, to our modern eyes, these metaphors are troubling. If we are soldiers, then we must be on alert, fighting an invisible war. The mind shrinks at the thought. It's a troubling metaphor. The struggle against principalities sounds good, but in reality, we know our enemies seem more like flesh and blood. Wouldn't you laugh at me if I told you that my struggle with my ornery non-believing next-door neighbor was in reality a clash of opposing spirits?

Of course, this isn't the only metaphor in the New Testament to cause a bit of discomfort. Strangers in the world, slaves for Christ--when you think about it, many of the terms Peter and Paul used are a bit bothersome. How do you deal with the discomfort of these phrases while trying to accept the full meaning of God's word?

For the single or separated Christian, Valentine's Day can easily be a time of despair. It's been 45 days since the start of the New Year, and the resolutions we have made to God have been broken. Worse, we feel alone and somewhat forgotten on this day. So how can we re-invent this day to give glory to God in all things?

I believe that one way to re-invent Valentine's Day is to see it as a day to show love to everyone we know. If we lose ourselves in service to others, our own neediness and desires lessen or become more realistic. What better day to reach out to those who are alone, or family, or friends who we are no longer in touch with? It's an excellent opportunity to show love to others, perhaps even send small gifts to those expecting to get none.

A second way to re-invent Valentine's Day is to see it as a way to get back on track to the goals of January 1st. It sometimes helps to cut the year into more manageable pieces. Look forward and realize that Easter, where we celebrate our salvation and what Christ did for us, is coming. You may be stuck in snow, ice, or rain right now, feeling gloomy and home-bound. But Easter is coming, and there are also many good things to do while indoors more often. This year, why not intentionally plan to anticipate Easter?

Those are some of my thoughts on redeeming Valentine's Day. What are yours?