By Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service
CLAREMORE, OK (ANS – September 6, 2015) -- “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble”—Proverbs17:17 (ISV).
What does it mean to be a friend? Recently, I heard a pastor describe it this way, “A friend is a treasure who loves you as you are, sees not only who you are but who you can become, is there to catch you when you fall, shares your everyday experiences, accepts your worst but helps you become your best, understands your past, believes in your future, accepts you today just as you are, and comes in when the whole world has gone out.”
Proverbs 17:17 puts it this way. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble.” In this case, brother doesn’t necessarily mean a blood relative. Instead, the writer of this scripture is talking about Christian brothers.
Recently, I found out how blessed I am with great friends, especially during times of trouble. On August 20, my dog, who would have been 14-years-old this December, became unexpectedly ill. Since it was after hours for my regular veterinarian, I had to rush Taco to an emergency clinic about 30 miles away.
A neighbor, also a wonderful friend, agreed to accompany me that evening. She had already prepared herself for bed but hurriedly donned her clothes and was on my front door step in less than 10 minutes.
Like me, Sonya loves all of God’s creatures. So when I was told my beloved pet had to be euthanized or he would continue to suffer, I was devastated. I burst into tears. So did my friend as we held each other and sobbed.
After sharing my loss on social media, I was amazed at the comments and feedback I received from friends, former students and people whom I have never met. Prayers and encouragement have been offered. At this writing, I have received more than 200 condolences, including phone calls to check on me.
The next day, another dear friend took me to lunch. She handed me a card, one she obviously had to stop and purchase before she met me. She listened as I poured out my heart about the pet I had owned since he was eight weeks old. We cried. We laughed. That’s what friends do.
Another friend has called several times to check on me. He always called Taco, “his little buddy.”
Two days later, another friend called to offer condolences. We spoke for over 30 minutes and he said something I didn’t think I was prepared to do. He encouraged me to adopt another dog. While I had planned to wait, he said, “Carol, you have so much love to give. You poured it out on Taco and he loved you back. He would want you to be happy. Just think, you can sit with that new puppy on your lap and tell her about Taco.” And that’s what I plan to do.
Did you know Jesus is the best friend we can ever have? He will never leave us nor forsake us. Are you that kind of friend?
I always love hearing from my readers. If you'd like to comment on this post, please email me at carol@carolaround.com or visit my blog for more inspiration at www.carolaround.comPhoto caption: Carol Round
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net )
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Carrie Kintz is a freelance writer and
communication strategist. She works with ministries and individuals
across the country, helping them figure out what to say and how to say
it in the digital space. Carrie has also spoken at conferences such as
Social Ecclessia, Think Digital and the Best of Social Media Summit.
When she's not writing (or tweeting), she enjoys hiking, time with
friends and a good cup of coffee 
Esther Laurie is a staff writer at
ChurchLeaders.com. Her background is in communication and church
ministry. She believes in the power of the written word and the beauty
of transformation and empowering others. When she’s not working, she
loves running, exploring new places and time with friends and family.
It’s her goal to work the word ‘whimsy’ into most conversations.
RALEIGH, NC – (ANS – August 23, 2015)
– Dr. Danny Lotz, the son-in-law of the Rev. Billy Graham, has died at
the age of 78, after being found unresponsive in the swimming pool of
the Raleigh home he shared with his wife, evangelist Anne Graham Lotz.
“At
the age of fifty Danny developed a severe case of Adult 1 diabetes. For
over ten years following his retirement from dentistry he fought the
ravages of the disease, earning him the beloved nickname, ‘God’s
Gladiator,” said the message.
“She
was a gorgeous 5 feet 9 inches tall, blonde with blue eyes. Her dad got
the word out that he wanted her to date one of the college guys. Anne
was 17 at the time and I was 28 so you can imagine the difference.”
Dan
told me about Anne's first-ever speaking engagement: “Anne was very shy
when we first married and never spoke in public,” he said. “I was asked
by a pastor if Anne and I would do a Valentine's Banquet. This was
months away and I didn't think of asking Anne. A couple of days before
we were due to speak, her picture was in the paper, which said that Anne
Graham Lotz would speak. Well, Anne called me at the office. She was so
upset and said she wouldn't do it. We had a bad evening that night. She
was all nervous and stayed up most of the night. We were each supposed
to share for 15 minutes that night. She spoke first, and half-an-hour
later I had to get up and tap her on the shoulder to say, ‘Anne, I'm
supposed to speak too.’
About
the writer: Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning journalist who was
born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in
Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for
more than 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six
grandchildren who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder and
international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic
Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He is also the author of some
45 books. Dan began his journalistic career in 1968 on Billy Graham’s
British newspaper, The Christian, and in later years was part of Mr.
Graham’s media team in Russia, Germany and Puerto Rico.
Dubbed
the fastest man on earth, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt set the world
record for running the 100 meter dash in under 10 seconds with a time of
9.58 in the World Athletics Championship finals in 2009. No man has
beaten his record since.
I always love hearing from my readers. If you'd like to comment on this post, please email me at 
LONDON, UK (ANS -- August 24, 2015)
-- Just as the “swinging sixties” started to gain momentum, a Jewish
teenager called Helen Shapiro from the East End of London took the pop
world by storm with a string of hits.
And for someone who associated Christians with persecutors of her people, it was quite an amazing turnaround.
These
included references to a virgin birth in Bethlehem while the
description of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 was surely a picture
of the crucifixion, despite having been written some 600 years earlier.
“There
were no lightning flashes, but somewhere inside I knew that I knew, and
that there was no turning back. The Creator and sustainer of the
universe came to live in my life. I didn’t get religion. I got Jesus,
and I love him.”
About
the writer: Charles Gardner is a veteran Cape Town-born British
journalist working on plans to launch a new UK national newspaper
reporting and interpreting the news from a biblical perspective. With
his South African forebears having had close links with the legendary
devotional writer Andrew Murray, Charles is similarly determined to make
an impact for Christ with his pen and has worked in the newspaper
industry for more than 41 years. Part-Jewish, he is married to Linda,
who takes the Christian message around many schools in the Yorkshire
town of Doncaster. Charles has four children and seven grandchildren.
Charles can be reached by phone on +44 (0) 1302 832987, or by e-mail at