… Seems that is the newest technical way to reach out and befriend somebody or re-establish friendships with buddies from yesteryear! It is absolutely amazing how fast this craze catches on and how in our society, where we’ve become far less social creatures than we were decades ago … we still crave that human interaction; that friendship; that connection.
God wired us up that way, you know. He created us to be ‘social’ creatures. Life functions best when you have friends; when you share in relationships; when you enjoy the company of others and have trustworthy friends to bounce ideas and dreams off of.
The need to “keep in touch” in our pull-up-into-our-garage-society-and-shut-the-door … is evidenced in our efforts to reach out with new technology and computer connections; view pictures and chat with each other from the safety of our lap-top or from in front of our computer screen.
For so long (it seems) one of the characteristics that Hollywood tried to teach us was to be “macho”. We had those macho types, like John Wayne. You never saw him looking for a friend. You never witnessed him pouring himself out to a confidant or friend about some of the tough issues he was dealing with. He was the American Hero who had True Grits in his jeans! He didn’t need friends – he had a horse!
But in real life … that macho image wears thin pretty quick. WE NEED FRIENDS! We need close relationships of honest authenticity. We need people who love us enough to tell us the truth, and who care for us enough that we can be vulnerable and honest with them and know they will still be our dearest friends.
So … beginning this week (April 19, 2009) … we are going to spend some time at Calvary Church talking about friendships/relationships. We are going to study the example of Jesus and the various levels of relationships He shared. All the way from an acquaintance (Zacchaeus) to a closer level (Peter) to the friend he loved the most (John).
I hope you will join us … and … bring a friend!
