Key Elements of Friendship #3

Creating great stories

Vince McMahon is the owner of the famous World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in America. He often appears on screen in the story lines on his TV programs. I don't know what he is like off screen but his on screen character is usually a villainous, self obsessed, deluded, power hungry & vain man. The reason I am talking about this character is that he once made a comment on TV that sums up the way some see life and live their lives as a result. The comment was:-

'Life sucks and then you die!'

Too many people live their lives accepting mediocrity, hoping something great will come to them...that some great storyline will write itself in their lives. This can be especially true in friendships, we do what we are expected too and don't go beyond that.

I have mentioned the book I read recently, 'A Million Miles In A Thousand Years' by Donald Miller, and it is all about creating great stories in our lives.

I believe to create great stories in friendships, we always have to go WAY BEYOND the call of duty. To where life is uncertain and uncomfortable but where I know, through my faith in Jesus Christ, that everything will go as He Wills. Go and visit your long distance friend, be there for people when they are down and do something crazy to cheer them up (not too crazy though! I don't want to be responsible for any injuries or deaths now!) Try to understand them even when you have no idea why they did that or didn't do that. Treat them to something unexpectedly without wanting anything in return. Go somewhere special, watch the sunset go, put the world to rights....in his book Miller mentions an ocassion when he just randomly decided to take some friends up this beautiful mountain on the way home from a trip, they were all epically tired but the sun was coming down and they ran through the fields laughing and it was something they will never forget.

Jesus lived the Greatest story ever and invited everyone to join Him. I am sure the Disciples had so many unforgettable moments with the Lord. He still invites us to join Him today. He has been the best friend ever to me and has blessed me with so many great memories. And if you don't ask....YOU DON'T GET!! :-)

Key Friendship Element #1

Accountability

One of my biggest pet dislikes in this entire world is this. When you challenge someone about something you think they ought to be challenged about, in love, and they just respond by accusing you of judging them.

'You're judging me!' is the biggest cop out from facing reality and dealing with possible issues in your life I can see.

Some people do judge others and I am guilty of making assumptions myself but I think there is a difference between judging and calling people out in truth.

Say for example, I see a friend of mine who professes faith drunk in the street. I know that the Bible clearly states this is not right for a Christian to do and this is the difference between Judging and truth in what I could say to this hypothetical friend.

Judging : I don't think you love Jesus because I saw you drunk. You are such a hypocrite.

Truth: I saw you out drinking the other day, do you realise the Bible condemns that?

Sadly people take the 'Truth' as judgement as well.

One of the best things I have in my life is friends who will call me out whenever they feel I am doing something wrong. I can trust them to always help me keep on the right path with God. Because there are two paths in this life, God's Way )which I find always brings happiness) or our own selfish way (which I find leaves me feeling soul-less). This, I believe, is a key element of a true friendship. It can also work on other things too, such as relationship decisions and life decisions which people of any faith can say that it is good to have friends looking out for you.

So don't be ashamed to speak to people if you feel something is wrong. The Bible calls us to do it, Jesus did it with His Disciples and where would David have got without Nathan calling him out? At the very least, if they don't listen to you or accuse you of judging, you can be sure you are not to blame if it all goes wrong for them.

New Series!

On one of my recent blog posts a friend asked me if I would write about some of the things that should be in a Christian relationship including friendships, romance etc. The idea interested me and I have had some inspiration so I'm going to have a go at it. I think this is worthy of more than one post so I will post on the following things the next few days:-

• Accountability
• Witnessing
• Storywriting
• Love

Perhaps you will think of something I will miss out on. If you do please suggest it to me! I don't know it all haha. To add, I think these ideas could apply to relationships between people who are not of faith as well.

So the first post is coming right up!

Picture of the Day!

To keep in with the theme of my 5th Birthday here is a picture taken when I was just one week old! I'm the one caught blinking at the back. This picture has some of my closest friends in it such as Amy (red cap),  Matthew (white hat), Sarah (glasses and blue fleece) and Adrian (at the back with a black hat).
They are also some people I really miss such as Kristin (in between Amy & Matt) & Ifiok (far right with headphones).

Praise God for the time in between where He has kept me, encouraged me and Blessed me!!

Picture of the Day!

So I asked people to 'like' my facebook status if they were reading my blog and only two people have responded thus far! So either people are very shy or I am wasting my time haha.

Anyhow, one of the people who liked it gave me an idea for my 'Picture of the day' for sunday.

This is me with one of my closest friends from school almost four years ago now! His name is Ian. We decided to turn up to our PCY Bible study 'Coffee shop' in pink one week, just for a laugh!

Due to our own busy lifestyles and circumstances we haven't seen each other very often the last few years so I thought I would use this blog to say that I still miss him a lot and hope to see him very soon!

Also, congratulations on recently setting a wedding date! I promise to keep you & Gemma & Evie in prayer! :)

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.