:friend: The other day I received by e-mail a number of beautiful wise sayings on friendship. I would like to share three of these gems with you:

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."

"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd
be at the bottom to catch them."

Beautiful, not so. True friendship, the kind that these words of wisdom are about, is rare. Many friendships are superficial and selfish, and this has nothing to do with modern times. Even the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, declared that most friendships were based on “use value”. In other words, many are interested only in whether it is to their advantage to be friendly with person X, Y, or Z. Many use up a friend, merely to give him the push afterwards. Take the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. When he had lots of money to spend on wild parties he had many friends, but when he had nothing left everyone disappeared and left him quite alone.

To have a friendship like that of David and Jonathan

Not everyone you know can be your friend. True friendship requires time, loyalty, compassion and sacrifice. Take David and Jonathan. It was not for nothing that their friendship became a maxim in popular parlance. In 1 Samuel 20 we read how strong their friendship was. Once, when King Saul, JonathanÂ’s father, wanted to kill David, and David got to hear of it and told Jonathan, Jonathan was badly shocked and promised to help his friend by establishing whether his father really intended doing it.

They arranged that Jonathan would speak to his father at meal-time, and that David would go and hide in a field where he would wait to hear from his friend. Jonathan came to realise that Saul was serious about killing David, but at the same time Saul caught on to Jonathan’s plans to warn David. Saul scolded Jonathan and insisted that he brought David to him to be killed (1 Samuel 20:30-31). Jonathan refused and went against his father by wanting to know “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” (verse 32).

Saul was beside himself with rage when he realised that the friendship between Jonathan and David was so strong that his son was prepared to go against his father. He was so enraged that he hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Lucky for Jonathan he missed. Jonathan knew that DavidÂ’s life was in danger (verses 33-34). The following morning he went to the field where David was hiding and gave him a sign warning him to flee immediately. But first David came to say goodbye to his good friend. Both cried bitterly for they were dear friends and they knew that their roads were parting (verses 41-43).

Their great friendship teaches us two precious lessons:

:friend: Lesson one: True friendship is prepared to sacrifice all

To really be someoneÂ’s friend you have to stand by him through thick and thin. Take Jonathan: He was prepared to brave his fatherÂ’s rage, and possibly be killed himself, to save his friendÂ’s life. His friendship did not have as many phases as the moon. He was not one who made empty promises only to break them behind DavidÂ’s back. No, when he gave his word he kept it, even if it meant paying a high price. Jonathan never stabbed David in the back. He remained loyal to the end, even if that end meant his death. By the way, do your friendships cost you anything? Not the cost of taking your friends out for a cup of coffee or a meal. No, the cost of making sacrifices for them. Can your friends really depend on you? When lies are spread about them in their absence, do you defend their name? Do you remain loyal even though they do inexplicable things sometimes? Are you often willing to go the extra mile for them?

:friend: Lesson two: True friendship is based on honesty and openness, and is a mutual blessing

True friendship is being honest. No, not rudely outspoken, but frank. Take David. He made no bones about telling Jonathan his father was planning to murder him. Yes, Jonathan was shocked to hear that Saul wanted David dead, but he realised that his friend wanted to spare him the shock and hurt of learning about it later.

You owe your friends your honesty. If they are about to take a wrong decision because they are unaware of the implications, then it is your responsibility to point it out. If others try to do them an injustice, you are the one who should warn them in a tactful way. Be a friend your friends can count on. Always be there for them. But most importantly: always pray for all your friends. Carry them shoulder-high when you take your place at the feet of God. :friends:

:friend: Prayer

Almighty Father, I thank You for other people,

especially for dear friends.

I am thankful for everyone who makes my lifeÂ’s journey so much easier;

through their love I am able to take on many an uphill road.

I pray that I will also be their true friend;

someone they can depend on through thick and thin.

Please hear my prayers for everyone who is dear to me.

In JesusÂ’ Name,

Amen

Stephan Joubert
http://www.echurch.co.za

In medical shorthand, what does SOB stand for?

Slept late, kids made us fresh croissants. Went for a walk in the forest near our house, blue sky and warm, fed the deers, free range chickens and let the cows lick our hands. Came home threw some steaks on the weber, opened a bottle of red wine and now I am watching the sunset whle I write this post.

What more could you want from a Sunday.

Tomorrow...... :mrburns:

Well, I just had to post .. during summer the deer were more than a little scarce and now this am, there are 9 out on the fields 200m away from the house

We have had 1 in our garden before, so to see them out again in force is an added excitment

after being here 7 months now, I must say it feels all so refeshing to see them in such force again

the excitement feels the same as when we first arrived

:jive: A happy birthday to you - enjoy your day! :jive:

"Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher.

The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant."

The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked.

"Sure," said the young student confidently. "Means carrying a child."

Afternoon everyone

It seems a looooooooooong time since I posted here :p
Monteseel is wet and very miserable. The mist is thick and I cannot see into the valley.

Our fourth group leaves today and tomorrow the fifth and final group arrive. Yesterday was probably one of the most difficult I have had to work with volunteers.

On the last day of a build, we dedicate the ue: to the family and although it is always sad to say goodbye, there is also lot's of laughter as the kids sing and dance and encourage the volunteers to take up Zulu dancing!

But yesterday, we also had to complete another task.

On Monday when the volunteers had arrived on site, they saw that in front of the house we were building were 7 graves. The graves were those of the children and relatives of the Gogo we were building for. Just 7 raised mounds of earth, each mound topped with branches of thorns to keep away the goats. Some of the girls had been in tears on Monday when the realisation had set in that this is the true face of AIDS in SA.

The group requested that we buy 7 simple crosses, one for each grave. I had gone to a local undertakers and organised for the crosses to be made during the week, each cross with a simple name plate.

Friday I collected the crosses and as all 7 were carried into the van, people stopped and stared.

So, arriving on site, I was helped to off load the crosses watched by our Gogo. She had the night before, prayed to her ancestors to request permission to have the crosses placed on each grave.

Watched by Gogo and the surviving children (the orphans) one by one, the crosses were placed on each grave and the volunteers looked on silently, most in tears. It is so hard to not become emotional when cross after cross line up and bare testimony to what is happening in this country. Statistics are one thing but to see that line of crosses is heartbreaking.

Leaving site for the day, our bus stopped on top of the hill. As we looked down into the valley, seven crosses, were clearly visible........

As we approach World AIDS Day on December 1st, please remember those who are ill, those who have passed away, but most importantly, the orphans left behind and the Gogo's who are left to care for them.

So Monday we return to the valley with the last group. They come to SA with little or no knowledge of what is happening here, they return home, with a new understanding...with compassion...and some with a determination to do more for our communities in SA. And that is what makes my job, so rewarding!

:am:

It is a bit dark here today. Going to a wedding today... hope it stays dry.

Enjoy your day - and your Christmas shopping!

:daisy:

:cheer: Congratulations with your birthday! :cheer:

Enjoy your day! :jive:

The figures in brackets are the hours spent per person per week reading.

10 Hungary (6,8)

8 Sweden (6,9)
France (6,9)

7 Russia (7,1)

6 Turkey (7,4)

5 Egypt (7,5)

4 Philipines (7,6)

3 China (8,0)

2 Thailand (9,4)


1 India (10,7)

Source: NOP world

I don't think I would've guessed any of those countries