FAITH
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 6, 2018
Faith
@AhwatukeeFN |
@AhwatukeeFN
www.ahwatukee.com
God invites man to enter a deep and lasting friendship ’m convinced that most people don’t have good friends. What does it mean to be a good friend? What characteristics define a good friend? Here are four marks of true friendship that I heard years ago from Timothy Keller, a pastor in New York City. First is constancy. The Bible tells us “a friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). What does this mean? It means all kinds of times. Good times and bad times. You can’t be a good friend without availability. To be a good friend is to be there when times are difficult; a friend will not let you go to ruin. Second, a true friend is careful. A friend is emotionally sensitive to the inner
topography of someone else’s life. If I can be happy when you’re sad, I’m not your friend, or at least I’m not being a friend in that moment. When you’re sad, I’m sad; when you’re happy, I’m happy. A friend gives the gift of emotional connection voluntarily. Third, a true friend exudes candor. Candor is the quality of being a truthteller. Proverbs 27:5-6 reads, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” This means there are words your friend needs to hear that are going to be painful yet they need to hear them. Using “love” as an excuse to cover the truth is the work of an enemy. You will hear people say, “I love them too much to tell them that.” In actuality, those people are loving themselves, not their friends. Fourth, a true friend is someone who gives honest counsel. They’re someone
who is transparent with you. A true friend is both encouraging, as well as challenging. They strike a balance between encouragement and confrontation. Tim Keller says when we’re confronted with these qualities of friendship, there’s a feeling of longing. Why? He states that we live in a culture where we do not have the friends our heart needs. In addition, he states, the biblical profile of friendship is crushing. One of the main reasons we do not have the friendships we long for is that we fail to exude these types of friendships. In walks Jesus. The night before Jesus Christ died, He was seeking to convey to His followers what He was about to do. In John 15 Jesus said, “I am laying down my life for my friends.” When He said that, suddenly the whole history of the world could be understood
with regards to friendship. In fact, in Genesis we find that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. Walking was a Hebrew metaphor for friendship. God made us for friendship. God created you and me to be His friends. When we come to the Father through Jesus, we who were far off or separated from Him because of our sin are brought near through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We’re no longer called an enemy of God but a friend. There’s the message of Christianity: enemy to friend; far-off to near; unforgiven to forgiven. And all of this is accomplished as we turn from our sins and trust in Jesus, specifically in what He did through the cross and His victorious resurrection.
FAITH CALENDAR
SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICE
week. Registration not needed. DETAILS>> 10-11:30 a.m., Barness Family East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. evjcc.org or 480-897-0588.
DETAILS>> 10-11:30 a.m., Living Word Ahwatukee, 14647 W. 50th St., Suite 165, Ahwatukee. Free child care.
BY DR. NATHAN MILLICAN AFN Guest Writer
I
SUNDAYS
HORIZON SEEKS YOUNG PEOPLE
High school and middle school students meet to worship and do life together. DETAILS>> 5 p.m. at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane. 480-460-1480 or email joel@horizonchurch.com.
KIDS CAN LEARN JEWISH LIFE
Children can learn and experience Jewish life. Chabad Hebrew School focuses on Jewish heritage, culture and holidays. DETAILS>> 9:30 a.m. to noon, for children ages 5-13 at Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. 480-855-4333, info@chabadcenter.com, or chabadcenter.com.
Inspirational messages and music to lift your spirit. A welcoming community committed to living from the heart. Many classes and events offered. We welcome you! DETAILS>> 10 a.m. Sundays at Unity of Tempe, 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe. Information: 480-7921800, unityoftempe.com.
MONDAYS
CLASS TARGETS THE GRIEVING
Classes for those grieving over death or divorce. DETAILS>> 6:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W. Erie St., Chandler. 480-963-4127.
TUESDAYS
SENIORS ENJOY TUESDAYS
The Terrific Tuesdays program is free and includes bagels and coffee and a different speaker or theme each
Serving AhwAtukee, MountAin PArk rAnch, LAkewood, the FoothiLLS And Surrounding AreAS
SERVING AHWATUKEE, MOUNTAIN PARK RANCH, LAKEWOOD, THE FOOTHILLS AND SURROUNDING AREAS
A welcoming community proclaiming the love of God and fostering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, Sacraments and Service.
Daily Mass | Mon-Sat • 8:15am Tuesday Mass | 6:00pm Saturday Mass | 4:00pm Sunday Mass 7:00, 8:30, 10:30am, 5:00pm
3550 E. Knox Rd., Phoenix AZ 85044
480.893.8770
www.corpuschristiphx.org
WEDNESDAYS AWANA CLUBS MEET
AWANA Children’s Clubs build lasting faith foundations for children, with games, Bible stories, learning God’s Word. DETAILS>> The clubs meet at Bridgeway Community Church, 2420 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee, starting Sept. 6. 6-7:30 p.m. for kids 3 years old through sixth grade. Register at bridgewaycc.org or 480-706-4130.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY OFFERED
Living Word Ahwatukee women’s Bible study and fellowship that offers “a short, low-key time of praise and worship in music and message.” It’s also an opportunity to meet other Christian women in Ahwatukee.
Dr. Nathan Millican is lead pastor of Foothills Baptist Church. Reach him at 480-759-2118 or foothillsbaptist.org.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Celebrate Recovery is a Biblical 12-step program that helps you find hope and healing from all of life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups. Whether it’s addiction, loss, anger, or stress, you can find the freedom you’re looking for today. DETAILS>> 6:20 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579. www.mvlutheran.org.
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