Customer Reviews

Friendships: Avoiding the Ones That Hurt, Finding the Ones That Heal

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The Bible has a lot to say about friendships. According to Jeff Wickwire, "The words friend, friends, friendly, and friendship are found 107 times in twenty different books of the Bible." God cares about our relationships, and so should we. "As your friendships go, so goes your spiritual life."

Wickwire, pastor of Turing Point Fellowship in Fort Worth, Texas, begins his book with quotes from Carol King, C.S. Lewis, and Winnie the Pooh; I knew right off that I was going to enjoy it, and I did. The Book, as he says, is not a how-to manual:

"I do not deal, per se, with how to make friends, become more popular and so on. Rather, I have attempted to take an honest look at some of the pitfalls, disappointments, and heartbreaks of friendship, as well as the anatomy of true friendship, what it looks like, what it is comprised of and what the characteristics that make it endure are."

Friendships is divided into four parts, each consisting of three chapters. The four parts are:

Part 1: The Awesome Power of Friendship
Part 2: Deceivers
Part 3: Leavers
Part 4: Cleavers (Cleaving, that is, like Ruth cleaved to Naomi. Not to be confused with "meat cleavers.")

Wickwire does an excellent job of covering his subject. Besides that, his book has two other important strengths. First, his writing style is enjoyable. I laughed out loud in a few places. It may be too casual or "cool" for some readers, but others will find it refreshing. The other strength is that the book is full of Scripture. Wickwire loves the Word of God and makes constant use of it. His translation of choice is the Message. I'm not usually a fan of paraphrases (in fact, I don't like them at all), but in the context of this book it seemed to fit well.

Wickwire's theology differs from mine in areas, some more important than others. But on some subjects he is excellent, particularly when discussing God's sovereignty and His using trials and disasters for the good of His people. Overall, I would recommend this book, particularly for those looking for valuable information on what it takes to be a friend. And with Wickwire's love of Scripture mixed with his warm and humorous style, I would read him again.

Wickwire's personal warmth comes through in this readable and helpful volume about friendships. We've all had them go wrong--sometimes we've been the unfaithful one or the unsufferably clingy one. All of us have experienced a hurt. So has this author. His openness produces insights and helpful strategies for loving friends--including friends that leave.

This book is one that has changed many of my ways of thinking in friendships. This book showed me how I did some things wrong in friendships and how I did things right, even if friendship was not given back to me. I would recommend this book highly for anyone struggling in the friendship area. But I would recommend it to others who would just like to enhance a friendship. there are so many remarkable things in this book I would not know where to begin.

Other than my Bible, this is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.If it were possible I would love for every person to be able to read this book I thank the Pastor who penned this book.