(2 Peter 1:3-11) Brotherly kindness comes from the Greek word “philadelphia.” It is defined as, “brotherly kindness, brotherly love or love of the brethren.” Godliness produces brotherly kindness. God is our Father, and His children are our brothers and sisters. To love them is clearly and plainly taught by Jesus Himself (John 13:34-35). Furthermore, if we love God, we will love the children of the Father (1 John 5:1). According to the inspired apostle Paul, love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10). Christians are encouraged to practice brotherly kindness. We are to be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10). Brotherly kindness is taught by God (1 Thessalonians 4:9). Christians need to continue in brotherly kindness (Hebrews 13:1). Peter writing about the same subject wrote, we must have a sincere love of the brethren (1 Peter 1:22). The apostle John explained love of the brethren in 1 John 4:4-21. How can we grow in brotherly kindness? First, we need to ask God to help us (Matthew 7:7-8). Secondly, we can read about the life of Christ and determine to imitate Him (1 Peter 2:21). In the third place, it behooves us to carefully weigh our every thought and word (Proverbs 25:11). Fourth, observing the lives of mature Christians can greatly assist us (1 Corinthians 11:1). Fifth, we can develop the habit of exhibiting brotherly kindness by doing deeds of kindness to others (Matthew 7:12; Colossians 3:12).

We must realize, of course, that our name being in a church directory does not necessarily mean that our name is in God’s “Book of Life.” Our church directory is compiled by fallible human beings who cannot always know the heart of those on the “church roll.” Also, our church directory will include some non-Christians (such as unconverted spouses or other family members). Church directories are good, but being enrolled in God’s Book of Life is far better! Background of God’s “Book of Life” Other than in the Book of Revelation, the only New Testament passage that explicitly mentions God’s Book of Life is Philippians 4:3, where Paul wrote, “I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” In the context, Paul mentioned some of his coworkers in the Lord (such as Euodias, Syntyche, Clement, and perhaps, Suzygo [the transliteration of “companion” (“yokefellow” KJV) as a proper name], but since he did not have space to mention all of them, he referred to them simply as those whose names are in the Book of Life. God’s Book of Life is seen throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, God’s book moved from what could refer literally to a list of those in Israel to a figurative list of those who have spiritual life. Following the sin of making the golden calf, Moses said to the Lord, …

We sing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” to worship God and to teach and admonish one another (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Many efforts have been made to define the three terms in ways that distinguish among them, but no definitions have found wide acceptance. It is recognized, however, that “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” as a group are distinguished from drinking songs, love ballads, war songs, comic ditties, etc. The sentiment and the words of the songs accomplish the purposes for which we are directed to sing them: praising God and teaching and admonishing one another. Tempo and harmony are important, but the words are more so. Singing can accomplish both teaching and admonishing. Organs, pianos, keyboards, guitars and drum sets accomplish neither.

Clarence Darrow (1857-1938), the great American lawyer, was a self-proclaimed Agnostic. One of his most famous cases was the 1924 murder trial of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. These two youthful men murdered a schoolboy by the name of Bobby Franks. They killed young Bobby because they wanted to kill him! Leopold and Loeb thought themselves as supermen per the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. To defend these killers, Darrow used this superman approach. Darrow said, “Nietzsche believed that sometimes superman would be born, that evolution was working toward the superman.” He wrote a book, Beyond Good and Evil, which was a criticism of all moral codes as the world understands them; a treatise holding that the intelligent man is beyond good and evil; that the laws for good and the laws for evil do not apply to those who approach the superman. This of course is the doctrine of Existentialism that holds that man exists as an individual in a purposeless universe with no accountability, no laws and no moral code! About this same time Adolph Hitler was writing his Mein Kampf (English translation: My Struggle, My Fight or My Battle). Darwinism ran throughout this book. Hitler believed that the German people were the super race, and they were racially superior. Hitler was a student of both Darwin and Nietzsche. How sad to think that men such as Nietzsche influenced Hitler and Darrow. These men and their manmade philosophies totally disregard God and God-given standards. Do we live in a better world because …

A little boy is sitting with his mom and dad. His parents ask him with great curiosity, “Son, what do you want to be when you grow up?” The son boldly announced, “When I grow up I want to be Batman.” Now, most people have heard a conversation like this take place, and in the place of Batman answers are given like a Superman, a fireman, a police officer, a doctor, a nurse, a  professional athlete, etc. A child does not always really know what he or she wants to be at an early age, but if you examine the types of answers that children give to this question, you will see a common theme. Children want to be something great. They want to be something that makes a difference. In the world in which we live today, we do need great nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers and so many other wonderful people and professionals. We need people who are out in the world really trying to help people and who desire to make a difference. Yet, instead of just encouraging people and especially young people to pick an amazing career, set some spiritual goals. Noble goals would include one day being an elder, a deacon, a preacher (or a wife and helper of an elder, a deacon or a preacher), a teacher or just a hard worker and a supporter in the church. As each year goes by, it gets harder and harder to find people willing to teach or …

The other afternoon, Barbara and I pulled up at the Bible Building on the campus of Faulkner University, and she noticed something scurrying right along the curb of the parking area. It was four of the cutest little birds. They had long legs, way out of proportion to their little bodies. Up on the grass above the curb were Momma and Daddy. They were chirping and hollering to beat the band. The little ones could not get up to them, and mom and dad could not figure out how to help them up. As we stood watching them, brother Cecil May pulled up. He told me that they were killdeer. These little birds are precious to watch. I started over in their direction, and all of a sudden the daddy bird dropped to the ground like he had been shot. He laid on his side and waved his wing in the most contorted way. I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to see him and come after him so I would leave those babies alone. He thought he could deal better with me, and I got the impression that he would rather die than see those little ones get hurt. I thought, God is illustrating through these tiny little birds how it ought to be with parents. When a baby is born into the world, it enters totally helpless and dependent. How dare anyone harm such a precious little being? How dare someone abuse and misuse them? What …

How often we have heard the statement from a brother in Christ, “The church isn’t doing anything”? It is true that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given to us. Yet, there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to such a broad statement. First of all, we could say that the brother who makes such an accusation has taken to himself some of the attributes that are considered belonging only to God. In Psalms 139, we learn that God is omnipresent and omniscient. Thus, for a brother to be absolutely correct in saying that “The church isn’t doing anything,” he would have to possess all the knowledge of what all the brethren may or may not be doing. Otherwise, where he could not be and what he could not know, some brethren could be doing some work for the Lord. It is humanly impossible for a mortal man to have a complete knowledge of every good deed done by Christians. One may not know of a marriage saved because an elder or a preacher counseled a husband and a wife privately. Few may be aware of activities by fellow Christians, such as, a letter of encouragement written to a friend, a family providing transportation to worship for an elderly person, a sister caring for a loved one who is an invalid, members visiting those who are shut-ins or sick, a young person carrying a gift to an aged Christian, another young …

The question comes, “If I want to be saved and follow God, what part of the Bible should be my guide?” The entire Bible is good for study and for our consideration. The Old Testament was written for our learning. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime [referring to the Old Testament] were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The apostle Paul further explained the purpose and the value of the Old Testament to us in 1 Corinthians 10:11, which reads, “Now these things happened unto them [Old Testament people] by way of example: and they were written for our admonition [learning], upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” Therefore, we can learn much about God and how He deals with His people from the Old Testament. Yet, if we want to know what God wants us to do today, we need to read the New Testament or the new will of God. Paul explained this in Romans 7:4, where it is recorded, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were dead to the law [Old Testament] through the body of Christ, that ye should be joined to another, even to Him who raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.” The New Testament, then, is our spiritual guide today.

One essential point that every serious Bible student must understand is the two main divisions of the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament. Many people with whom I have talked do not understand what the word “testament” means. A few hundred years ago, this word was used more, but today the noun “will” conveys the same meaning. Probably, you have all heard the term “last will and testament.” Well, that is what the Scripture is—God’s last will and testament. Therefore, when we talk about the Old Testament, we are talking about God’s old will, and when we talk about the New Testament, we are talking about the new will of God. To make it even clearer, if you had a will drawn up and some years later wanted to change something, you would have another will drawn up. What would that do to the first will? Of course, it would make the first will void and of no effect. This is why we do not offer animal sacrifices today. We are not under the Old Testament or the old will of God, which required the offering of animal sacrifices. Rather, we are under the new will of God, the New Testament, which does not instruct anyone today to offer animal sacrifices.

[Editor’s Note: The first segment of this brief series appeared in the July 2017 edition of Gospel Gazette Online at the following link: https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2017/jul/page1.html. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor] With just a little help, anyone with average intelligence can be a good Bible student. A few guidelines will help. The Lord said through Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” Although Scripture is written by men, the first thing to remember is that it is inspired of God. Therefore, it is without mistake.  Also from this Scripture, we learn that we are furnished completely unto all good works. Essentially the same thing appears in 2 Peter 1:3, which reads, “Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all this that pertain unto life and godliness, through knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue.” Since we have all things that pertain to life and godliness in the Scripture, we need to realize this and use the Bible as our sole source to guide us in the Christian way of life.

The last chapter of the book of Joshua states, “And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel” (Joshua24:31). About thirty pages farther in my Bible I read, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). As one ponders these two passages, he is made to wonder what brought about such a difference in the people of Joshua’s day and those in the latter part of the period of the Judges. At least two things are obvious. The attitude of the people toward God’s Word had changed. In the days of Joshua, the people respected the Word that God gave. Notice this attitude expressed. And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage. (Joshua 1:16-18) How different this attitude was to the one where “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” …

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. (Job 39:26-30) As part of the lesson for Job, on how things came into being, God chose to include this passage on the “eagle.” This teaching includes a little about the nesting capability with which God designed this bird. When we look at the birds, we can witness many things that should lead to a renewed awe and reverence for God the Creator. Let’s look at just a few examples of what God has designed for these creatures and learn to glorify God as our Creator as well. The nest building ability of birds has marveled mankind for thousands of years. The methods, materials and locations that they use to construct their nests is just about as varied as the birds themselves. The nest has one basic purpose, that of giving a place for the young to be raised. These structures can be huge and reused or rebuilt year after year as in the case of Eagles, Hawks and most other raptors. Or, they can be small, inconspicuous and just barely able to hold a single egg as …

Every Christian has been a new convert at one time. Yes, each member of the body of Christ should understand the process that new converts experience and also appreciate the challenges associated with being a new convert. Simply put, new converts are truly a challenge and a blessing. They challenge us to (1) take the Gospel to our community (Mark 16:15-16), (2) employ our abilities (Matthew 25:14ff) and to acquire and apply biblical knowledge (John 5:39) to be able to take the Gospel to them, and (3) formulate a spiritual growth plan that will assist them in their quest of spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18). As a blessing, they (1) are a living example of the power of God’s Word to actively and effectively work in the lives of misguided people (1 Timothy 4:12), (2) motivate brethren to renew one’s spiritual fervor (Romans 12:11), and (3) remind each of us of the past joy of personal salvation and thereby re-energize our spiritual hope (2 Peter 1:3). Yes, new converts are a vital force in local congregations. We thank the Lord for our new converts and trust that we will all work cooperatively as we endeavor to bring more new converts into the church of our Lord.

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and on his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort …

Long before the days of the vacuum cleaner, rug beaters were commonly used as a cleaning tool to rid a home from dust, dust mites and other little nasty bugs that could infest a person’s house and cause discomfort or make for an unsightly home. To clean the rugs, one would drag them outside (well away from the house), hang them on a line and then use what looked like a giant metal flyswatter to beat out the dust. It was hard, time-consuming, dirty work that seemed almost counterproductive at times, since you would drag half the dust back in the house after it clung to your sweat-covered body. When I was growing up, we had a vacuum and did not need to beat the rugs. Yet, one day while rummaging through an attic, we found one of these rug beaters. Mom explained what it was, and we set about the task of beating the dust out of every rug in the house, just for fun. Of course, the fun ended rather abruptly when we were covered with dust and started coughing. It was, however, amazing to see the amount of dust that came out of the rugs. We normally never got to see it, since it was usually sucked up into a bag and eliminated pretty much without us having to witness it. We were stunned at just how much dust came out, filled the air and choked us. As children of God, purity must be our constant pursuit. …

Affirming his interest and concern in his own Jewish people, the apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans that his heart’s desire and his prayer to God was that they may be saved, but then he said, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). They were not consciously rebellious to God; in fact, they manifested an apparent zeal for God in their pursuit of the righteousness that they believed would come to them by obeying the Law of Moses (Romans 9:31-32). However, they were not enlightened concerning the righteousness that God grants to all who will accept it in faith (Romans 4:16), even the righteousness that is through the faith of Christ (Philippians 3:9). It was their ignorance of the righteousness that comes from God which prompted them to continue in their vain efforts to obtain their own righteousness through their own religious, good works. They were not deliberately resisting God’s will; they just did not understand what His will truly was. While it was commendable though that they had a zeal for God, yet, zeal without knowledge is dangerous. It’s like someone wanting to fly an airplane without any knowledge of flying an aircraft. That would destroy both the airplane and the flyer if flight were attempted. There is such a thing as a blind, misguided zeal. In the religious world today there is a great deal said about the Holy Spirit, especially about the …

Job 1:21 reads, “And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’” Job was rich, righteous and religious, but he had a terrible day. Job serves the world over as the example of perseverance under pressure! How did he react to the pressures of life (James 5:11)? Job looked at the past. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb.” We, like Job, came into this world with nothing! We are completely dependent upon God! Job came into this world with nothing, so everything he had was indeed a blessing from the bounty and benevolence of God. Job looked at the future. “Naked shall I return there.” We, like Job, take nothing with us when we go! We are completely accountable to God! Job’s prosperity was not luck or mere human ingenuity; it was because of the great and powerful blessings of God upon his life. Job looked at the present. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.”All the gain between birth and death is from God, and if God chooses to take away what He has given, that is His business and right! Job lost all of his possessions, children, health and friends, and yet, he continued to trust God completely (Job 13:15). Truly, we are impressed with Jesus’ words, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). We must always …

I don’t think anyone really likes to be disciplined. It’s interesting, though, that the word “disciple,” which we all want to be, looks a lot like the word “discipline.” The two words are related. We all seek to be disciples of Jesus. In fact, our call is to go make disciples of the world, and much of discipleship involves discipline. We discipline ourselves to be under Christ’s Law. We discipline our flesh. We discipline our desires and wants. As we discipline ourselves, we become better disciples of Jesus and as we apply His Word to ourselves. Today, how can you discipline yourself to be a better disciple? Practically, how would it appear?

When Jesus was born, there was angelic praise: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14)! Seven-hundred years before Christ was born, it was prophesied that He would be called “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Paul said that Christ “Himself is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:14). Even a superficial glance at Scripture associates the name of Jesus with peace. Yet, Christ Himself said, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Even more striking is Matthew’s record of Jesus’ similar statement, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (10:34). How can He be the author of peace and a source of division at the same time? There are those people who oppose all religions, including Christianity, as ideological causes of violence. Could it be true? Please consider these thoughts. Christ Brings Peace with God Those who follow Christ faithfully can have the peace that they have overcome their sins. Nothing pounds a man’s soul more than the knowledge of doing wrong. Though many do not admit this even for years, the guilt creates problems. Societies from the beginning of time have sought some kind of God for some kind of redemption. Moral systems have been turned upside down and evil called good, and good evil, but men have still sought some kind of forgiveness. Micah pictured …

“The wise man’s eyes are in his head…” (Ecclesiastes 2:14). This is certainly one of the interesting statements made by Solomon. At first we might respond “of course they are in his head! Where else would they be?” However, Solomon was saying more than a given physiological fact. Notice some significant truths. Wise men have prepared their minds so that their eyes can see. In Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman crying out in the streets, looking for someone to listen to her (1:20-33). In Ecclesiastes, Solomon said he “set his mind to know wisdom” (1:17). Wisdom comes from study, learning, observation and experience. Wise men and women become wise because they use their lives to learn. Today’s world seems to be dominated by fools. Numbers abound of those who have not prepared their minds. Therefore, they are blind. Wise men use their eyes to prepare for coming events and problems. Solomon noted that wisdom will not keep one from death (1:16). Therefore, he needs to live in such a way that recognizes this inevitable end. Equally, a wise man “knows the proper time and procedure” (8:5). He is certainly aware of the pitfalls of not knowing the world environment around him—including the social, economic and political environment. Wisdom today enables one to see that dishonesty and deceit will not ultimately help the deceiver. Wisdom allows him to see that riches will not provide the happiness or peace that he needs, but can bring destruction (1 Timothy 6:7-10). Wise men use …

Although there seems to be an increasing need for teaching on the subject of the kind of music God authorizes and with which He is pleased, this article is not primarily for the purpose of emphasizing why we should not use mechanical instruments in worship of God. It is to emphasize how, what and why we should sing unto the Lord. It was suggested by the reading of Psalm 95:1-3, “Oh come, let us sing unto Jehovah; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For Jehovah is a great God, And a great king above all gods.” This does not suggest that David is our authority for singing, or for how, what and why we sing. However, the principles he stated are still valid for us. Let us notice how we should sing unto the Lord. First, it should be joyful. This does not mean it should have a handclapping or foot stamping accompaniment. We may need an extended study of the words “joy” and “rejoice” to see how far they are from the general concept that most of us seem to have. Without dwelling on it, let us just mention Hebrews 12:2, where it reads, “Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” We need to make a clear distinction between rejoicing …

Sin is always with us. Since the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve violated God’s commandment, sin has been dominant on the earth. It will always be dominant because Satan tempts people with sin in such a way that makes it much more attractive to people than righteousness. He tempts with the attitude of “feel good” actions. When people sin and it causes them to feel good, they want more and more of it. Remember, Satan doesn’t tempt people softly and gently. He comes “as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He presents temptations with enough vim, vigor and vitality that he makes sin hard to resist. So much of our attraction to sin comes from being “in a rut,” and Satan is aware of that. He knows just how to get to those who are looking for something more to make them feel good. Everyone wants to “feel good.” However, the physical “feel good” is what separated man from God in the Garden. When Satan tempted Eve in Eden, she succumbed because she “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). Eve was sure that it would make her life much better. How wrong our desire to sin can be! Remember that Satan is “more subtle” (Genesis 3:1) than any other being. He knows how to get to you, and he’s crafty …

Here is an old fable that has been passed down for generations. An elderly man was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind them. The town folk said the old man was foolish for not riding. So, to please them, he climbed on the animal’s back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk, while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal’s back, continuing on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk. They suggested that both the old man and child ride. So, the man climbed on the donkey with the boy and they set off again. In the fourth village, the town folk were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey. After all, he was being made to carry two people! The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road. The story is amusing, but its point is important. We can’t please everyone, and if we try, we end up carrying a heavy burden. Others may offer us well-meaning advice, and some of it is valuable. However, if we try to do everything others suggest, we can easily become frustrated and confused. Jesus Himself said, “Woe to you when all men speak well …

Jesus is the greatest leader ever to walk the earth. He demonstrated the characteristics that will help each of us lead others to a heavenly home. First, the Lord seeks the lost. The shepherds of Israel had failed to seek the Lord’s sheep (Ezekiel 34:6-10). The Lord said, “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:11-12). Second, the Lord feeds His sheep. It does no good to find sheep and then let them starve to death. The Lord, unlike the shepherds of Israel, planned to feed the sheep in a good pasture (Ezekiel 34:2-3, 13-14). Third, the Lord gives His sheep rest (Ezekiel 34:15). He breaks the captor’s bands (Ezekiel 34:27). Fourth, the Lord helps the injured and sick, unlike the shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24). We need to strive to aid brethren who are spiritually hurting (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20). Fifth, the Lord keeps His sheep safe. “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods” (Ezekiel 34:25). Finally, the Lord lovingly leads His sheep (Ezekiel 34:28-31). David wrote of him, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He …

To have friends a person must give of themselves. Compliments will not get and retain friends. The wise man said, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” When hard times come, we find our true friends. Emerson defined a friend as “a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud.” Someone else has said: A friend is one who needs us and one whom we need. Around us may be many whose companionship we enjoy, but were they suddenly to drop out of their places, there would be no soreness, no sense of deprivation, no lack of comfort. We do not need them; neither do they need us. A friend is one to whom we cling, though many leagues of space separate us. Though days pass with no sight of their face or word from their pen, we know our friend loves us and that when we meet again we will be on the same old terms: we shall begin where we left off. A friend is one in whom we can confide. The secret chambers of our soul open to their touch on the latch. To have and hold friends we must (1) Be friendly (Proverbs 18:24), (2) Be helpful in times of trouble (Proverbs 17:17), (3) Learn to associate with all classes of people (Philippians 2:3), (4) Be unselfish (Philippians 2:4), (5) Be tolerant (Colossians 3:13), (6) Be honest, sincere, truthful (Romans 13:13) and (7) Be stable (James …