I met a lovely Christian and have been communicating via email. She gave me permission to post this and wants to be anonymous. She responded to some words I wrote to her. I was very inspired, and I hope you are too. Here it is:

As far as church attendance, there are two very differing views. 1- Anyone truly filled with the spirit should want to go be with other believers, or 2- the church has to be the community itself of believers and the greater picture of life, not just service on Sunday. I tend to be in the latter camp. I find that the spirit of the “church” or the body of believers is far more important at large than just being together once a week.

Don’t be too hard on yourself with perfection of legalistic motivations if it is not your heart. However, be sensitive also to your conscience because sometimes the guilt we feel is God guiding us – Just as you said.

Finding more radical believers is a challenge, or perhaps it should be phrased believers who are not ashamed to express their love for God. Honestly, if anyone feels ashamed to sing, dance, or shout for Joy in the name of God in their home church, that is not a church I think I want to be a part of.

Compassion and Empathy – the ability to discern and use grace as kindness not a nicety. The trials of relationships between believers I am sure God sees – as I watch even the battles between my children – as bitter fruit that has not matured. An apple on the tree hidden in the darkness of the leaves will not fully color.

By the time the rest of the fruit has ripened, and falls to the ground in death, any un-exposed surface area to the sun remains green! Not sure if ALL apples do this, but few types do, and I always wonder at the bright red apple with a green leaf shaped spot on her side, wondering where my green spot is. Where should my life turn further to the light so that I may be a fully ripened believer upon my death.