{{2012_06_12_t1.jpg}} {{2012_06_12_t2.jpg}} {{2012_06_12_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2012_06_12|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_iv|| Topics Collection iv ]] ======Friendly Support ...====== Tuesday, June 12, 2012. There is something you cannot reach with arguments. It is friendly support. You might have good arguments, but when there is someone who does not want to argue, there will not be a way. {{2012_06_12.jpg }} **Are you a friendly supporter? ...** There are people in the world, who have a very helpful and useful attitude. They are friendly supporters of their environment. You meet them, they listen, they are critical, but they also see the value in what you do or suggest. You can count on these people: they will be supportive with reasonable goals. They see all sides and find a way for everyone. They will not support your nonsense, but will help you to do things which make sense. Are you a friendly supporter? Are you someone like this? Or do you want to become a friendly supporter? If you really want to be like that, there will be a way for you! To be a friendly supporter is good for everyone, for the others around you, and for yourself. Friendly supporters find many friends. They find support themselves. And they find joy! It is joyful to help others to succeed. The attitude of friendly supporters has a lot to do with trust. These supporters trust others. They give their advice, in a constructive way. They do not hold knowledge back. They are there for the others. And by giving away, they receive! {{ 2012_06_12_2.jpg}} **Jesus' directions ...** Jesus tells his people to be friendly supporters. There are various ways to express this in the New Testament. Love each other is even stronger than friendly support - but it includes friendly support. Help each other, be friendly with each other, let the others go first, be a servant to the others ... again and again we find this in the biblical stories and texts. We want to build relationships which are based on friendly support. That means that we learn how to deal with mistakes and failure as well. If someone stumbles, help him or her. If someone fails, be there to support and correct. But friendly supporters will correct in friendliness (and effectivity as well). It is good to know what you aim for, and what you hope for. I am aiming and hoping for friendly support - on all levels of my life. I want to be such a supporter, but also receive such support. That will help all of us - and we become part of a community which is moving towards what is called "the kingdom of God", where all this will be fully realized. (Roland Potthast) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_iv|... more texts]]