Ebook: Befriend: create belonging in an age of judgment, isolation, and fear

We live in a world where real friendship is hard to find. Suspicious of others and insecure about ourselves, we retreat into the safety of our small, self-made worlds. Now more than ever, it's easy to avoid people with whom we disagree or whose life experiences don't mirror our own. Safe among like-minded peers and digital "friends," we really don't have to engage with those who can challenge and enhance our limited perspectives. Jesus models a much richer vision of friendship. Scott Sauls, pastor and teacher, invites you to discover the breadth of Christ's love through twenty-one meditations that inspire actively pursuing God's love by expanding your circle of friends. Yes, it's true: Real friendship is costly, and love does make us vulnerable. But without risk, our lives will remain impoverished. Diverse friendship can enrich your life and, in the process, reveal a better version of yourself.;A case for befriending -- Befriend the one in the mirror -- Befriend the other -- Befriend prodigals and Pharisees -- Befriend the wrecked and the restless -- Befriend the shamed and ashamed -- Befriend the ones you can't control -- Befriend true friends and significant others -- Befriend sexual minorities -- Befriend dysfunctional family members -- Befriend the children -- Befriend those grieving and dying -- Befriend the poor and empty-handed -- Befriend the other race -- Befriend the rich and powerful -- Befriend the bullies and perpetrators -- Befriend vulnerable women and humans not yet born -- Befriend strangers and refugees -- Befriend those who vote against you -- Befriend people with disabilities and special needs -- Befriend the God who embraces you.