Above All Love

I listened to the abridged version on audible. It is interesting as it gives an insight into his times. I was pleasantly surprised that he used the body analogy that Christians often use to describe church. That each person (body part) has a role. There are definite timeless wisdoms in the book.

I have always liked the Quakers and have a few times on my journey considered becoming one. In fact I have written a few times in The Call, a Primitive/Plain Quaker Journal and once in The Friend. I have also studied a module on the Early Quakers and stood side by side with Friends at vigils and protests. This book is more for insiders and says so on the cover. However, I still found it insightful despite being someone who has hardly been to meetings and mostly read historical accounts rather than contemporary accounts on Quakerism. The book is short which I like. It openly states it is aimed at a more liberal Quakerism, but at the same time it talks of God and Jesus and refers to scripture in a positive way. I am still exploring Quakerism and am still devoutly a follower of Jesus with Anabaptist, Evangelical (Menno Simons definition) and Reformed (as in Salvation by Grace) ideals, but recognise a strong connection to the idea of being contemplative, of having silence, of being outward...

Interesting, philosophical, and generous to a broad spectrum of church movements. I do feel some of it could have been said in fewer words, but none the less I enjoyed particularly the dive into Methodist and Anabaptist history. The other movements were also interesting. What I got out of the book most is the need for us to participate in what God is doing and learn in friendship from all Christians. I also appreciated the correct explanation of the verse that says Jesus has not come to bring peace but a sword. The correct explanation being that if you do good, people may turn on you as they did and do Christ. It is not a license to violence. Our duty is to love people of other faiths and to most definitely love our brothers in Christ. This doesn't mean putting all ideas in a blender and diluting it into some weird tasting smoothie. We can hold our own Christian tradition with love and respect to all. We can invite those outside the faith to meet with Jesus. If rejected, we move o...

A graphic novel style book. This was a moving story. It is sad how cruel and persecuting humans can be. I felt challenged as a person of faith and someone with Anabaptist leanings. At the same time the legacy of the Hutterite, Moravian and Anabaptist traditions is incredible.