So is one to preach only the kind side of God's love and exclude the parts of His Word showing our sinful side to help us face it and seek change?...

Certainly, there is a note of reasonability struck in your argument which has many in the way of
believers.  In each religion, there is a sect or group that believes in a very strict
interpretation of scripture set against one that might accept a more liberal read of it.  This
can also apply to the notion of the benevolence and power of God.  There are those who believe
that it allows for a greater sense of worship to emphasize the powers of the divine and those
who believe that it might be better to stress its more tolerant notion.  I think that each side
has merits because each side believes in the sincerity of its convictions.  Part of where one
falls in this debate might have...