A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17



We live in a world, where something new today is old tomorrow, and where reality television is a part of ?real life?. Many people actually believe what they are watching on television, from ?reality television? to some weird talk show. All these shows remind me of watching puppets on the Muppet Show, but just with living actors. We also watch soup operas which takes a person into a fantasy world. Millions are influenced by the hundreds of series that run 24/7. We are trying to fulfill our contact with normal people though chat rooms on the Internet, even though there is no fulfillment in it. People are in the search for love and closeness and interaction with other people. But we can't find it when the computer is our best friend!

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair. -- Samuel Johnson

The key to achieve a good life is to find good friends. Good friends are so important in our time because we get so many impressions from all kinds of places. A good friend will tell you the truth and will support you no matter what happens in your life. A computer can't talk about feelings and it doesn't know how you are doing. A good friend knows. It is so important to find and to keep good friends. But remember that it is a hard task to find a good friend because it takes commitment from both sides. It is just like a marriage, it takes commitment and seriousness.

Do not take good friends for granted. It is easier to win in the lottery than to find a good friend!

From the age of nine to sixteen, I grew up in a ghetto district in one of the suburbs of Copenhagen. There were a lot of gangs and drug dealers. And I remember lots of young people smoking hash and using other drugs. I remember a few years after I started to play soccer, that our two coaches showed up totally drunk and intoxicated by drugs, and they never got fired! Sometimes the captain of the team had to give us the strategy for the game because our coaches were unable to do it, and we were only around twelve years old! I even remember some of the older players in the club, standing outside the club house high on drugs before their games. In this area I had to find my friends! And believe it or not I found some very good friends. Even though I did not smoke, drink or doing drugs. I refused to fall into group pressure and I did not touch alcohol and drugs, and most of my friends did not either. I found some great friends that had the same idea of not doing drugs. And at parties people respected me for not drinking. I was steadfast and stubborn and did not move from my personal conviction, and with that I won respect. They knew what I was standing for. Even though I was a small kid with big eye glasses, I was hugely respected by the others students in school. I was not mocked even though I had all the criteria's! Everybody does stupid things in school and I did as well. I got into fights, but I decided at a young age to act positive and be a good influence and be a good friend to others.

Jesus was and is a good friend. He is always here and ready to comfort you. In your most dark moment He is right next to you. In your most happy hour He is just next to you. He is our friend and we can always call on him. He is all present. What a friend! You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:14-15

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. -- Japanese Proverb

A good healthy relationship is a must. They're just as important on our jobs and schools as they are in our personal lives. So keep you relations and don't burn your bridges.

Here are a few important guidelines.

Be the best friend you can be and you will get the best friends as well

Be Yourself:

Do your best friends know who you really are, or is it just superficial and shallow? Be yourself and don't be afraid of showing your emotions. When you are yourself, you will be more relaxed, natural and believe me, people can see it in your face! If you trust your friend enough to just be yourself, and then your friend will trust you just as much. You will have an open and honest friendship where you don't have to pretend and be someone else.

Love Your Friends:

The Bible says that a friend loves at all times. We can all be disappointed with friends and family. But that doesn't justify you from expelling them from your inner circle. Give them a chance, forgive them, and love your friends at all times.

Commitment:

Work on your friendship and keep appointments. Do not arrive an hour too late for the movie or cancel one minute before you had a date. Keep in touch with your friends even though the two of you are far away from each other. This can be the hard job of a friendship. If you are suddenly far away it might just seem easier to give it up, but don't! Keep your friendship you never know what will happen. Stay in contact. Write a short email once in a while, call them and visit them.

Trust:

Keep a secret. That's a really god idea! Don't talk behind your friends? back. And don't talk behind any ones back! How can you expect to find a friend if you talk behind the back of others? When people see you talk bad about others, they don't want you to become their friend, because they are afraid that you will talk behind their backs.

Support:

Encourage your friend. We all have bad times and need a cheerful word from a friend. And if you start this very good habit and learn how to encourage people on your way in life you will get many friends. When you are positive and encouraging people will be attracted to you.

Advice:

Tell your friend the truth. If your friend keeps coming too late for an appointment, then tell him/her there is a problem here. A friend is honest and open.

Listen now!

A true friend has the time to listen. Do not be shallow and superficial. Show empathy and compassion. If you listen to your friend today, he will listen to you tomorrow! You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other

people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. -- Dale Carnegie

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17