WHAT IS A FRIEND?

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24).


A pretender will make an occasional show of love, especially when he can benefit from the exhibit. The love of a true friend, however, is constant. The true friend (the “brother” of verse 17) is always a helper in the time of adversity. This kind of friend is “a friend indeed” to those in need.


How can a man expect to have friends unless he himself strives to be a friend to others? What does it means to be a friend? True friendship comes from deeds designed to help others in their time of need and not simply the association of a social club or public organization. The friendship that springs forth from appreciation in response to another kindness and benevolence is more likely to be a deep seated and lasting relationship than that of mere association. There are those who are so thoughtful, helpful, and kind that the relationship shared with them is a closer relationship than that of one’s physical family. Such a friend is one who is always ready to lend a listening, sympathizing ear (Proverbs 27:10) as opposed to family members who are not thus disposed (James 2:15, 16).


Please note the following from an ‘Author Unknown.’


There are friends with a little “f” and Friends with a big ‘F.” The first is a large group with sloppy admission standards, the other an elite, time-tested crew.


What’s the difference?

• Little “f” friends identify themselves when they call. Big “F” Friends do not have to.

• A little “f” friend opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on his life. A big “F” Friend says, “What’s new with you?”

• A little “f” friend thinks the problems you whine about are recent. A big “F” Friend says “You’ve been whining about the same thing for 10 years. Get off your ‘good intentions’ and do something about it.”

• A little “f” friend has never seen you cry. A big “F” Friend has soggy shoulders from your tears.

• A little “f” friend knows almost nothing about your family. A big “F” Friend knows the medical history, dietary habits, and marital troubles of everyone on your tree.

• A little “f” friend calls you at 10 P.M. just to chat. A big “F” Friend knows you do not like to be called after 9 P.M.

• A little “f” friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A big “F” Friend, when visiting, will open your refrigerator, put their feet on the sofa, talk back to your spouse, and reprimand your children.

• A little “f” friend thinks the friendship is over when you argue. A big “F” Friend knows that a friendship is not a friendship until you’ve had a argument.

Be a Friend…Have a Friend.

- Jimmie

UNDERSTANDING ANGER

The words "anger" and "angry" are found eleven times in the King James New Testament and are from the Greek orge. Originally, any natural impulse, desire, or disposition signified anger and was considered the strongest of all passions. However, in the New Testament, the Greek thumos (translated "wrath") became the stronger of the two words. It indicated a more agitated condition of feelings, usually with an outburst from inward indignation. Orge suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind, often (but not always) with a view to revenge. Orge is less sudden in its rise but more lasting in nature. Thumos expresses the inward feeling and orge the more active emotion. The Greek word kakia (translated "malice") is used in connection with both orge and thumos. The difference in the words is the degree of their intensity as will be illustrated later.

Please note that the mere fact of being angry does not constitute sin. If so, then Jesus sinned against the Pharisees for He "looked round about on them with anger" (Mark 3:5). The sin involved with "anger" is what one allows it to lead him into doing. Jesus was greatly agitated over the hardness of the Pharisees' hearts. Previously, He had explained to them the circumstances of His disciples by David eating the shewbread and the priests working on the Sabbath. When the Pharisees sought again to accuse Him after this explanation, Jesus became angry. To illustrate, let's say a brother falsely accuses you of sin but you explain to him the circumstances and facts in the situation and, in fact, no sin was involved. But later, this same brother accuses you of the same sin and this time publicly. By implication, he has called you a liar, betrayed a trust, and has misrepresented you. In this case, not only do you have every right to be angry but you should be angry "being grieved for the hardness of (his) heart." This is commonly called "righteous indignation."

Unjust anger, however, can lead one further into sin. In Colossians 3:8 Paul writes, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice." When these words are used alone they virtually have the same meaning. But when they are used in the same sentence they represent degrees of intensity of an evil temper which results in an evil feeling and intention of malice. Anger is an emotion, which when stirred up, should not be retained after sunset (Ephesians 4:26). If anger occurs, which is not a sin in and of itself, it should be worked out between the parties at that time. If the anger continues it may develop into wrath which is a more fixed and agitated state. And wrath can and often does leads to malice which is simply defined as "hateful spite." It is this state which results in bitterness (strong hatred), clamor (a disorderly demonstration against another), and evil speaking (unfavorable remarks against someone said for the purpose of injuring him). In Ephesians 4:31, these evils are to be "put away from you" or avoided by members of the body of Christ.

Christians (and especially elders) must be "not soon angry" (Titus 1:7). The Greek here is me orgilos. Meorgilos means "prone to anger, irascible" and therefore "not prone to anger, not irascible." Concerning this, brother L. R. Wilson said, "A man who is quick to 'fly off the handle' and make rash statements will make enemies for himself and the church." Brother Rex Turner said of this phrase, "He must not be soon angry - or not vengeful, hotheaded or impetuous." One who views a situation and, not knowing the circumstances and the facts thereof, becomes angry and makes boisterous and rash statements is one who is "soon angry." simply means "not" and

Anger is an emotion given to us by God. It can be used or abused. Let us be careful! "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Proverbs 16:32).

- Jimmie

For the past few years the women of Truth for the World - called secretaries for want of a better description - have been sending out a newsletter 4 times a year to those who support our salary fund.  I act as editor for this letter and end up filling whatever space is left after the other ladies do their thing.  I don't usually post my article here - afterall, I am rehashing the same news - but today I think I will.


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These past few months have reminded me of an old Clint Eastwood spaghetti western – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. That theme song seems to be stuck in my head.

A huge chunk of my day is spent on the computer so when I boot up:

• The Good – New computers that actually compute rather than entertaining me with little circles of spinning color every time I give it a command.

• The Bad – Converting endless files from Mac to PC . . . still not done.

• The Ugly – Creating almost all of the new databases, then learning that MS has a built-in limitation on text field size that I can’t alter. This dramatically affects some of the information transferred and creates a massive headache. Aaugh!

I’m also hearing that famous whistle when I consider our Truth for the World staff:

• The Good – Kara McAfee has been a sparkling beam of sunshine!

• The Bad – Loosing William & Katrece Howard. Both are sorely missed.

• The Ugly – Learning that our small staff is soon to be smaller still. Jimmie Hill is leaving March 31st, and Benjamin Richardson will be gone by the end of May. 

As Jimmie’s wife I will also be leaving eventually, but probably not for another year. His exciting new mission work will be more efficient if we relocate to Tennessee, but many things have to happen before we do that.


Please keep the staff of Truth for the World – past, present, and departing – in your prayers.


- Linda

March 2010 Report

Dear Christian Friend,

Good news or bad news? It’s a mixed bag this month, so the good news first:

• We got a second opinion from the post office on our Update dilemma and the stapling we do with wire is classed as saddle stitching. We can keep our current format without an envelope.

• Kara McAfee joined the staff on February 1st as our new part-time secretary. Kara has put in numerous volunteer hours with our work, plus traveled to both Malawi and Australia on Truth for the World campaigns. So she is already a seasoned missionary and just turned 19!

• Our first Missions Saturday on February 6th went very well with approximately 40 in attendance. There were discussions on future campaigns to Africa, Australia, Iceland and Malaysia.

Now the bad news – we are losing more of the most precious resource we have in this mission work, our staff.

• Benjamin Richardson has been our Director of Broadcasting since 2006, but on February 23rd he was dismissed by the Duluth eldership and given 90 days to find a new work. Benjamin is an excellent speaker. He, his wife, Elisha, and their five children – Abigail, Mary Esther, Hannah, Levi, and a new arrival due August 2010 – are a joy to know and would be an asset to any congregation. If you know of one presently seeking an evangelist please contact him at this office or directly at benjaminrichardson@yahoo.com

• Jimmie Hill, Director of Publications and Coordinator of the Bible Correspondence Course Program, resigned on March 1st. Jimmie has been an indispensable part of Truth for the World since 1998. His talents, expertise and dedication will be difficult to replace. But Jimmie will remain in worldwide missions with his new work beginning April 1st. You can read about the work he will be doing with the International Bible Teaching Ministry and the International College of the Bible at his website: http://www.hillmission.blogspot.com

Please keep the staff of Truth for the World – past, present and departing – in your prayers.

Staff of Truth of the World

March 2010 Hill Mission Report

Dear brethren,

I began work with Truth for the World in September of 1998. It has been a good work and a work that, I believe, has been very profitable for our Lord. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Bible correspondence course teachers and students from around the world and sharing with you, through the printed page, what Truth for the World has done in the past and planned to do in the future in our work together for the Lord. Our God has been very good to me in this work and I certainly give all the glory to Him.

However, in this twelfth year of the work, another opportunity has come to me, an opportunity that will allow me to spend more time in the mission field and make personal contact with the students which I have communicated with so often through the years. I have been invited by brother Ronald D. Gilbert, Director of International Bible Teaching Ministries to take part in this work. I will also teach in the International College of the Bible.

Ron and Carolyn Gilbert

I have worked with brother Gilbert many times since he started mission work in 1992 and truly appreciate him and his determination to advance the cause of Christ and preach the "Great Commission." Just last year, we worked together in Zambia, Central Africa. We taught classes in the Zambia School of Biblical Studies, in the International College of the Bible, held Gospel meetings in the Siamafumba and Misika regions where we preached to over three thousand people and 50 were baptized into Christ and 276 were restored to the body of Christ, purchased 30 bicycles for faithful preaching brethren, distributed over 100,000 Gospel tracts, and over 200 Tonga Bibles. International Bible Teaching Ministries is a work that does much good for the body of Christ and our preaching brethren overseas. In this work, I will take 2-4 missions trips per year and be able to encourage our faithful preaching brethren in Africa, and other nations, on a face-to-face basis and personally oversee the distribution of the materials they need to carry on the work of our Lord in their areas.

International Bible Teaching Ministries is a ministry that teaches and helps establish schools of preaching. It helps in purchasing bicycles for schools of preaching and faithful Gospel preachers so that these men can go and preach and teach the Gospel of Christ throughout their areas. It also helps in purchasing Bibles in the peoples’ native tongue for those who cannot read English. It prints and distributes Gospel tracts for teaching and study, assists preaching students by purchasing their food and supplies while they attend school, supplies books for libraries that the preaching students need for their schooling, and also supplies benevolence for those who are in need. And, of course, it teaches the Gospel of Christ. It teaches those who have never heard the Good News before and those who want to learn more.

Working with International Bible Teaching Ministries, and the International College of the Bible will allow me to help these students to go beyond the basic lessons they have learned with Truth for the World and gain a deeper understanding of the Bible. I will have opportunities to teach in schools of preaching overseas and also be able to teach our brethren abroad biblical, college level courses to take them beyond the fundamental teachings of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1,2).

Teaching in this way has long been a desire of mine. I thank the Lord for this opportunity to do so. Therefore, I have tendered my resignation with the Duluth Church of Christ and Truth for the World effective March 31, 2010. Please do not misinterpret my intention in affirming the basics of New Testament Christianity. My future actions will confirm my continuing dedication and faithfulness to our Lord and His cause (Luke 19:10) just as my past actions have done.

Truth for the World is a good work and I am thankful to have been a part of it for so long. I pray that Truth for the World and the Duluth Church of Christ will do well in their work of spreading the Gospel and that according to God’s good will. But I believe that I can do more for the Lord in International Bible Teaching Ministries and that is my first priority.

I have prayed about it many times, long, hard, and earnestly. If you wish to support me in this new endeavor please note that my new sponsoring congregation will be the New Hope Road Church of Christ. Please start sending your contributions now to:

Hill Mission Fund
New Hope Road Church of Christ
Post Office Box 1334
Dacula, Georgia 30019

I need your prayers in these tough economic times.

It is my prayer that our God continue His richest blessings on you and grant you peace, success, and happiness in all of your Gospel endeavors according to His good will. It is also my prayer that I can count on you.

In Christ Who Saves,
Jimmie B. Hill

Greetings from Georgia!

2010 has already become a year of many changes at Truth for the World. William & Katrece Howard resigned in January. Benjamin Richardson, Director of Broadcasting, was notified by the Duluth eldership on February 23rd that he is being dismissed, and now Jimmie’s announcement that he is leaving his dual-positions as Director of Publications and Coordinator of Bible Correspondence Courses. That last was a tough decision, but I believe it was the correct choice. However, since we will be remaining in this area for the present I plan to continue my job as office manager with TFTW.

Jimmie and I have both put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this mission work during the past 12 years. We want it to continue “taking souls from hearing to heaven”. We want it to bring glory to God. Sadly, the work here has been hampered in various ways the past few years. Now with the departure of so many of the staff it will be even more difficult. But this is still a worldwide mission work with materials that are leading lost souls to Christ, so I will continue to do what I can to get those materials to them.

Please pray for the staff of Truth for the World and for Jimmie’s new work with International Bible Teaching Ministries.

In Christian Love,
Linda Hill