For the last two years I’ve been spending time with a group a of Indianapolis pastors, facilitated by Loving Accurately Ministries. They have a weekly prayer meeting for pastors and meet monthly at the Broadripple Brewpub. I’ve learned so much from these guys, especially the guys that lead it – Geoff Wybrow, Jim Falk, and Steve Freeman – about what it means to love people well.
One of the principles I’ve learned from them is things work better when relationships lead the way. There are people at that table that I wouldn’t agree with about a lot of things, theologically or organizationally, but because we started with prayer and relationship it’s different, because there is something powerful that happens when you see someone’s heart and his (or her) passion and his love for Jesus.
The interesting thing is that a lot of times at cross-denominational gatherings like that, there’s a shallowness and a sense of compromising issues we’re passionate about in order not to offend. What I’ve seen, though, is that if you start with a relationship, there’s actually room to have those discussions and disagree heartily and healthily – there’s room for “iron sharpens iron,” for stretching each other. The effect that I’ve sensed is that there is actually a sense of going higher and farther together instead of watering down.
Paul also refers to Jesus’s whole body (i.e. the Church) being held together by “every joint and supporting ligament,” which I’m coming to think means the relationships that connect us. I think that’s how it was made to function. If you don’t have ligaments, you either have disconnection or a LOT of pain (I’m told bone-on-bone in joints is excruciating). The spirit of religion, then, is the “arthritis” of the church – going after the joints to keep the whole body from functioning.
This is also one of the key values we are taking with us to N.Ireland. We want to everything we do to stem from loving others well – as Paul says: “deeply, from the heart.” It’s the only way for us to be “known by our love.”
Angela Miriam Swartzendruber Guinn– how could you be planning to do these awesome works in Northern Ireland and not see fit to share with me!?? Me, of all people — the lover of all things Northern Irish! Why do I have to track you down via Facebook/Nathan Swartzendruber? ? ? Don’t you love me anymore? I realize that we don’t share a living space anymore, but didn’t our relationship mean anything to you (cue Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand singing “You don’t bring me flowers anymore”). Okay, okay, in all seriousness — I am TOTALLY pumped to find you and to find you well and moving in God’s will for your life. And a little jealous that it’s your time in Northern Ireland. How I long to be there again. We are tied to the States (US Military and all) right now, but I can dream for the future . . . Please write and share with me all that’s going on with you! Biggest and latest news in my life — Ben and Zach born December 18, 2007 — yeah, twins. Can you believe it!? Okay, write me. Geesh, I miss laughing with you (and the rare occasion when I would beat you in Speed).
I love reading your thoughts…this one sounds so much like what we heard and shared at the conference in NM…Rohr is very thoughtful regarding our Western tendancy to stay on what he calls a linear plain where any thing that isn’t the same as us is wrong/different…as compared to being able to accept “the moment with out having to maniuplate/change it” which is what our ego does when we confront anything is different or stretches us…his phrase is “if we can’t fix it/explain it/control it/change it…it can’t be ok” I know out of context of the whole experience that probably sounds like psycho jargon…but the love that comes out of this mans words and presence are so wise and loving…it was such a blessing and made me hopeful again.
I didn’t mean to submit that yet!
I wanted to let you know I love you and am so happy for your happiness/life possibilities right now. My project next week is to get the guest room ready so that if there’s any way you can come down we’ll be ready!
We’re NOT celebrating the 4th in an attempt to protest the military action of the US around the world!
MOM