Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another… – Hebrews 10:24-25

Friday lunchtime Rebekah and I had the privilege of reconnecting with friends and it did our hearts good. The story is fascinating in the way it illustrates the principle that, Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above…

“Kindred hearts” is not to be confused with “like minded.” The former suggests sharing Jesus – while “likeminded” is more of a nod to being lockstep in whatever narrow opinions we might own.

We met Ronnie and Margaret when I was teaching at Lake Junaluska; the conference coincided with one of my book releases and must have been around 2010.

Rebekah and I were in the main auditorium one evening, jaded by a couple of things that did not ring true. We retreated to the very back. That’s where we ran into Ronnie and Margaret, who were there for the same reason. We immediately recognized we were kindred spirits and became instant friends.

Back then Rebekah and I were living in Brandon, Ronnie was serving the Saint Charles Presbyterian Church in Missouri and Margaret was a school counselor. They still live in Missouri.

It’s interesting that, other than the occasional email or text via Messenger, we have not talked in 15 years. I saw Margaret one Sunday at HMPC Raleigh when she was visiting their daughter, but that’s it.

So this week, on another North Carolina visit, our friends drove to Tarboro to join us for lunch at On the Square. We jumped right in where we left off because, well, “Kindred Hearts.”

Interim Pastors:

Ronnie recently retired and took an interim position too. It is refreshing to talk with someone who shares Rebekah’s positive outlook and Christ-centered approach to ministry. Interim work is about loving the people (church), encouraging, preaching the Good News of Jesus, and standing alongside folk in the process.

Each individual church comprises a unique body of believers. There is no transition “template,” that should be imposed by “experts” – only love and encouragement and keeping our eyes on Jesus along the way. Ronnie, like Rebekah, feels grateful for the privilege of being with his church through this particular moment in their journey.

“It’s not about anyone’s ‘read my button’ issues, or special interests, or politics,” he said (I’m paraphrasing), “Not that these concerns aren’t important but the church and our faith is first and foremost about our life in Jesus, about growing as disciples, and about sharing that light and love wherever and whenever we have the opportunity.“

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” echoed Rebekah. “It’s not about what we’re against, but what we are for – right here in Tarboro or out in Missouri, it’s about our life in Jesus.”

We could have talked for hours. We walked around our little town, we showed them our new house, and we enjoyed a quick tour of the church.

As pastors, Ronnie and Rebekah represent exactly what The Church (universal) needs: Newsflash – it is not politics, it is not special interests, it is not staking out ground in the culture wars – it is Jesus.

This is where we are, together, as a worshiping community. How God leads our paths as individuals, well that has to be directed by a solid foundation in God’s all-encompassing love, the encouragement of Jesus and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Meanwhile, in church – in Tarboro and in Missouri – we will worship God together, in the name of Jesus and the power of the Spirit – DEREK

What The Church needs: Newsflash – it is not politics, it is not special interests, it is not staking out ground in the culture wars – it is Jesus.