Ever Get that Feeling that some of your "Friends" are only your "Friends" based on...
 

What you do for them?

It is an empty feeling... and sad...

Some are "Friends" based only on the fact that you can do something for them...

Some are "Friends" but never call, or communicate...

Some are "Friends" only if you'll come to their church and "help" them...


There are some friends I have that have been a great blessing in my life... They call, email and care. We communicate regularly... and I appreciate it..

Friendship is a Two-Way Street.. in turn I call, email and communicate...

But Good Friends are hard to come by... There are those here on AFF who I have come to know and appreciate...

But sadly many "friends" who I have know for years just like me for what I can do for them... and if I'm not doing something for them... I don't hear from them...

Truthfully... I can't stand folks like that....

How Bout' You??

Ahhh

Friendly Friday From a Friend....

I hear you! I have seen people get all chummy with a potential new convert, only to dump them when it was apparent they were not joining up or had a different interpretation of scripture. Appalling!

Think about how many folks treat God the same way and imagine how He feels....

If they are doing that...they are not friends.

I would not keep anyone around because I was doing things for them. Sorry.

Over the last 5 years or so, I have had two people try to get to know me...and it was real apparent they were getting to know me based STRICTLY on WHO I knew. I immediately just ceased that. I want one to like me and befriend me for who I am....not for who I know and that by being friends with me they can meet and possibly befriend that person (with the meeting of the other person the "goal" of the friendship).

Excellent point....and all He wants is our friendship and he offers UNCONDITIONAL love in return!

So many people talk to Him, visit with Him, etc when they need something from Him, not just to have conversation and spend time together. And that's how you work on a relationship!

My friend was telling me how she had met a backslidden preacher on the street who looked like a hippie and he brought up how he left the church saying 'Jesus never did anything for me'!

I don't think this man ever developed a close enough friendship with Jesus to know Him otherwise he would never have made that foolish comment and used that as an excuse not to walk with God.

That's very sad. Unfortunately that was much of my experience in the UPC. We poured out our lives into it and then got a good swift kick in the hind end for it. Nice. But there are a few who still call. I appreciate those because you know that the friendship goes farther than just affiliation.

Oh, come on...it's only networking, dont take it personal. :winkgrin

Friendship in large part is static with few exceptions.

16 years ago my wife and I left an UC church for a more liberal church of the same upci faith.

Friends we had had for 20 years shunned us like the plague.

Michael Snmith had a lot of sence when he penned the words to the song, "Friends are friends forever , when the Lords the lord of them"

Only recently have some of our old friends looked us up and said they were sorry for the way they treated us.

We hold no ill towards any of them, as we know they were only being blindly obedient to the ignorant paranoid teaching of a dictatorial pastor.

It is good to know who your friends are.

Do confuse acquaintances or casual contacts with friendship.....True friends are not usually large in number.......

You might need a new antenna if your friends are staticy...............:killinme:killinme

I explained to my kids that you NEVER build a relationship in a crowd... you build a relationship in quiet alone times where you discuss your present your past your future.. your hopes and your dreams and your vision of your future together. Then you CELEBRATE that relationship in public via a wedding ceremony and respectable public displays of affection.

The same is true of our relationship with God... unfortunately many of us, both young and old, try to build our relationship with God on Sundays and Wednesdays when that is actually a time of celebration.

I have also told our young men that it is time they quit treating Jesus like a cheap date... they only get intimate on date nights and the rest of the time He never hears from him.

Wise words and great analogy.

I'll have to print this our for my son. :ty

LOL! :p

You get to know people by spending time with them. This is why so many people today don't really know God even though they've been sitting on pews for decades - they've never spent much time one on One with God.

Good thoughts Phil!

There are friends and then there are "friends". Bonds are formed with some that aren't with others. You relate with some in ways that you don't with others - but they're all "friends".

Some people stimulate and challenge you intellectually and spiritually. Some can be relied on for emotional support to laugh and cry with you. Others are great in a more "surface" kind of way.

Some people you just click with and become like Anne used to remark about her relationship with her friend Rachel ....... kindred spirits or bosom friends.

Some people you meet and click with instantly. Others, relationship is built and established over time.

I love the topic of friendship and find it really interesting how people connect and interact with one another. :)

Rev Randy,

So what can you do for me so I can like you even more???!!!!

:D

Would some See's Candies Cement our Friendship??..... :D

I feel that I am blessed with friends. I do not pick my friends how they dress or what card they hold I look for deeper things.
To have friends the writer says we must be friendly. It is sad that people become bitter enemies over doctrine. We can disagree but we do not have to try to destroy each other.
We can even part ways and still be kind.
Yes. I know there are some people for some reason we have to have a distance but that should be an exception NOT the rule.
Blessings to all...

I am a people lover and I have learned much from my friends and from people that are different. Life is full of learning lessons...

If we are talking chocolate then you would be my kids godparent!

Who has friends??????

I have had only one person I know do me that way.

I don't appreciate it at all!

Just headed to work where I haven't seen you in a long time bud.

*hint hint*

:)

I need to stop by for a couple of things maybe i'[ll see you

Go get a "Blessing", brother! :D

All I can say to this, Mother A, is a resounding amen!!

Okay. I'm here until closing this evening.

Good...think I'll stop in, too...:driving

Bring supper with you, will ya? ;) :D

Sure thing, sis...:driving

I have a friend I have been friends with for over
35 years.We still call or email each other.I have several friends that
this goes on with.We have known each other since childhood.Its
pretty neat that I work for a Sherrifs Dept and she works for a college
in the Police Academy and although we grew up in Louisiana we both
now live in Florida.I have not kicked my friends to the curb.They were
not the problem I was.I had to separate from alot of friends and aquaintances when I got saved due to temptation but after over coming I am able to
regain those ties.God is good.One year after I received the Holy Ghost
I went over to my friends and witnessed to her and her husband.They
both received it and were baptized at a revival in Kinder,La several years
ago.Thank you Jesus.

Great thread and alot of good insight from my friends.

It is good to have real and true friends. I can count mine on the fingers of both hands.

It would take forever to count those that are acquaintances. But real, true friends, are few indeed.

Define a "friend."

Not sure who you were asking Rico, but a friend is one who sticks with you regardless of your faults...at least, to me. Others will have other definitions. Really, the fact is that no matter the definition, you will only have a small amount of true friends.

My friends are only my friends for my money. HE HE HE