We relish the friendship of people who see us through hard times. My wife, Judy, and I have found that when we face trials we always fall back on a few precious friendships forged through mutual hardship that started back in our earliest days in the Church and the ministry. Sometimes such relationships develop because you find yourself in the foxhole with someone and live to tell about it. A bond is built that can last a lifetime. Such friendships include a high level of trust based on proven fruits. They are described in Proverbs 18:24, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Many of us have closer relationships with spiritual brethren than we have with siblings who do not know and live by the truth. The saying goes that "blood is thicker than water," but we recognize that by analogy "spirit is thicker than blood." Christ set us a perfect example, calling us His friends and offering to share our burdens even though we are the weak of the world. All around us are people who need a friend with whom they can share their troubles and deepest concerns—someone with whom they can talk freely, knowing they will be heard with an open mind and heart. Do you have a friend like that? Are you that kind of friend to anyone? Right now we may take our brethren for granted. We may even get a little too judgmental at times. But as society around us turns up the heat of persecution on anyone who lives a godly lifestyle (2 Timothy 3:12), we will no doubt be thankful for the friendship and support of our fellow Christians. We ought to be building deeper friendships among the brethren day by day. To do that we need to recognize the value of loyal friends who will stick by us when the going gets tough. The time is coming when all the great and influential of the world will turn their backs on us. In that time of need, we will no doubt appreciate "friends in low places." Forward to the foxholes! UN