Common Bond

We abide safely in the D.A.R.C., the acrostic we use meaning, D-discipline, A-accountability, R-relationship, and C-community.

God’s love fosters discipline.  Above all, we do what we do because He first loved us. When committed to seeking and finding Him, He graces us with enough discipline to show up. If we miss a day or two, He still loves us.  If we miss a month, a year, or a decade, He still loves us.  His loving us is never the problem; our lack of experiencing His love creates a lot of problems for us. However, His love contains enough grace to bring us back.  Our common bond is the desire to make a comeback.

Showing up is due not only to discipline but to our willingness to be accountable to others sharing the experience with us.  “Come unto Me,” Jesus said, “and I will give you rest.”  Obedience to these words is our compliance.  Bringing ourselves into fellowship with others is an act of faith and courage, for openness and honesty are required—they are factors for healing ‘off kilter’ perceptions.  In the presence of God and others we receive paradigm shifts that shake our world until crooked lines are straight and what was upside down is right side up again.

As we practice His love for us we find discipline and accountability leading us into deeper relationships.  Out of an ever deepening relationship with God comes deeper relationship with other people.  The quality of our relationship with God is central to everything and everyone around us.  It should be intimate, up close, and personal.  When we are ready to explore ourselves the way God knows us, we will be able to drop human judgment and receive others as they are.  Then we can truly encourage them towards the recognition of all God knows them to be.

Relationships form communities—groups of people who can afford to get close to one another because the truth God teaches makes them confident enough to be themselves.  They are accepting enough of themselves to be accepting and honoring of the differences in others.  We believe that whether online or in person we can enjoy the D.A.R.C. until communities are formed; then the possibilities are endless.  Yes, the synergy of Christ in us; this is our common bond.