Having trouble viewing this email? View the *online version<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2000&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201994&trkid=ddnews> * or the *text version<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2001&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=printArticleContents&contentId=201994&KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=790&modal=true&trkid=ddnews> *. [image: Purpose Driven Life]
October 26, 2009 Healing Choices: Authentic Friendships<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2002&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201994&trkid=ddnews> by Rick Warren "But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:7-8 NCV). In Biblical fellowship, we should experience authenticity. Authentic friendships are more than superficial, surface-level chit-chat. They involve genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing. These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer. Unfortunately, this level of authenticity and intimacy is the exact opposite of what we find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, we often become involved in pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. We begin to wear masks, keep our guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in our lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship. It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other . . . If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves" (1 John 1:7–8 NCV). The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in God's light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are. Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again. Why would anyone take such a risk? Because it's the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" (James 5:16 MSG). Today on PurposeDriven.com <http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2005&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201723&trkid=ddnews> God's Handiwork<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2006&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201723&trkid=ddnews> Read seven incredible stories of salvation » MORE<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2007&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201723&trkid=ddnews> <http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2008&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201796&trkid=ddnews> We All Need Healing<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2009&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201796&trkid=ddnews> In these difficult and uncertain times, many of us are hurting. Join Pastor Rick in *Life's Healing Choices*—a NEW 8-week experience to help people find freedom from hurts, hang-ups and habits » SMALL GROUPS<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2010&&&https://www.lifeshealingchoices.com/?trkid=ddnews> » INDIVIDUALS<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2017&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=201796&trkid=ddnews> Missed out on one of the Daily Devotionals? View the online archives<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2011&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=119877&trkid=ddnews> . Did someone forward this Daily Devotional to you? Get your own free subscription<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2012&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/profilecenter/openPreferencePage.do?trkid=ddnews>to *The Purpose Driven Connection* Daily Devotional, your daily inspiration via email. You are subscribed as [email protected]. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2013&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/profilecenter/openPreferencePage.do?epid=E0984A82-CC1F-4445-B213-1B7B8D82CB03&trkid=ddnews> . Please do not reply to this email. If you have technical problems, email us<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2014&&&mailto:[email protected]> . *The Purpose Driven Connection* Daily Devotional newsletter is produced by PurposeDriven.com<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2015&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/&trkid=ddnews>. You can reach us by mail at *Purpose Driven Connection*, PO Box 8108, Red Oak, IA 51591-1108. © 2009. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Read our Privacy Policy<http://rdstrongmail1.com/track?type=click&mailingid=353000&messageid=43900&databaseid=62700&serial=1222920465&[email protected]&userid=223828&extra=keycode=&promokey=EPD00561&execution_nbr=31&&&2016&&&http://www.purposedriven.com/jsp/privacy-policy.jsp?trkid=ddnews> . -- 'Unless you change what you do, you will always have what you've got.' - Jim Rohn --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "tribewithavibe" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tribewithavibe?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
