I would like to pick up where I left off on my previous blog. Dr Henry Cloud, writing in 'Changes that Heal' makes the statement: "The body of Christ (our local church) is the only place in which we change and grow". I have thought about this quite a lot and I agree with him. It wasn't until I began to understand and experience the grace of God through the ministry of Terry Virgo that I gave up on the idea that the "best" Christians were those who could fulfil all of Rudyard Kipling's aspirations for his son expressed in his poem "IF". Up until then I was forever putting myself under the microscope and despairing of all the wrong things I discovered. Worse than that, I was giving everyone else the same treatment. I was driven by the lie "only what is perfect is acceptable". I can still go there if I'm not careful.

For three years at Bible School, and then during our one year's mission's preparation before going to Guinea-Bissau, the emphasis seemed to be on being able to stand alone for Jesus, no matter how hard the circumstances; that only weak believers needed the support and input of others. At our final interviews we were asked: "Would you be able to sustain your own spiritual life in prolonged isolation?" At the time I thought it was a fair question, and I can still see its value, but only if it is made clear that exceptional circumstances are in mind. The New Testament makes it clear that we desperately need each other and have a part to play in each other's transformation into the image of Christ.

Sue suggested we remind ourselves of the main "one-anotherings" and commit ourselves to carrying them out.

SPECIFICALLY COMMANDED

• LOVE one another DEEPLY FROM THE HEART as Christ loves you

• CARRY each other's BURDENS (and in this way fulfil the law of Christ to love one another)

• ACCEPT & BE DEVOTED to one another

• BE KIND & COMPASSIONATE TO one another

• BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH one another

• CARE FOR, COMFORT & HONOUR one another

• CONFESS YOUR SINS TO & PRAY FOR one another

• STRENGTHEN & ENCOURAGE one another

• FORGIVE & LIVE IN HARMONY (PEACE) WITH one another

• MEET WITH & MOTIVATE one another (to acts of love & good deeds)

SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN:

• To bite and devour one another (in partisan strife)

• To pass judgement on one another

• To take one another to court

• To grumble against each other

• To slander one another

• To lie to one another

• To provoke one another (through conceit and envy)