Random Cultural Connections

On Twitter you could become a follower of Jesus.
On Facebook you could become his Friend.

If Jesus is your Friend - what would you write on his wall?

The True Friend

"Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share troubles?"
- Proverbs 17:17
"Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers."
- Proverbs 18:24
"Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shall drink it with pleasure."
- Sirach 9:10
"An honest answer is the sign of true friendship."
- Proverbs 24:26
"A friend means well, even when he hurts you. But when an enemy puts his hand round your shoulder - watch out!"
- Proverbs 27:6
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
- Bible: Ecclesiastes
"The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them."
- John 15:13
"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love and encourages you with hope."
- sent by Chris
""A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure."
- Sirach 6:14

Hello Friend of Jesus

John 15:15 5 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant(2 does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends,

Martin E. Marty asks a poignant question: "What's so special about friendship?" He remarks that we "fall into" love but we don't "fall into" friendship, although we can "fall out of" friendship. 1 We have to work at friendship; friendship has to be cultivated; it has to be a mutual and mature relationship. When we fall into love, we walk on cloud nine, while being friends may often mean walking through dark valleys together. Martin Marty cites Gabriel Marcel who views a friend "as a way of being more than doing," one who is "being at the disposal of someone else." Being a friend means "being available"-a sharing of life, knowledge, and self. Being available "involves an attitude, a posture, a signaling that draws on the deepest elements of the self." Such a person can engage and endure "creative schedule interruptions." A friend is one you can count on. In short, friendship makes demands: be there-- availability in life or death situations, in birth or grave encounters of another kind. A friend is even disposed to lay down his life for other friends. Can we be this kind of friend for others? God is such a friend and so is Jesus who calls us "friends," not servants. Thus, "Friend" can well serve as a root metaphor for "God."

What to take on the journey

I'm a book collector but how many of them have I reached for in the past 7 years.

"How To Become A Bishop Without Being Religious"
"Sex Death and Flyfishing"
"Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time"

These are no-brainers. They will be out on my desk wherever I go. But how about "The Systematic Theology of Paul Tillich" or "Christology in Context" that I haven't opened in 20 years?

In truth, the Internet is a wealth of information including the complete works of John Wesley and links to article from the Christian Century etc. from years gone by.

What would you take with you?
What books have been so influential that you would not want to leave them behind?

Make a comment - lets see what each other is reading.

Strangers in the morning

Walking the mile to church this morning at 6am I am seeing the glory of the Wind River mountains and already missing them. Then I remember the views across the lake from Inspiration Point at our camp near Rollins. God is good everywhere.

Riding up the sidewalk in front of me comes a woman and child on bicycles. I move to the side - they move to the side. Its one of those dances we have in tight hallways both moving in front of each other again. We both laugh and she is charming. God is found in everyone.