A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

I am not writing these articles at the pace I'd like, but I am writing and publishing them as I am able. Hope they are edifying.

If you know me at all, you know I enjoy Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and as I re-read those books this past year I wrote in my journal, 'you need companions that will go to Mordor with you'. This is another way of saying 'there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother'.

The need for God-centered, Bible-believing, local church loving friends has always been a necessity. But how much more do we know that in our current cultural and political climate? I've tried to pay attention over the last several years and in case you didn't know our culture is hostile to the gospel and what the gospel demands of us.

I've become increasingly aware of my need for brothers willing to face Mordor with me with bravery, consistency, and joy. Yet, these friends can be hard to find. And you certainly won't find them outside the public worship of God on the Lord's Day.

The type of friends I'm talking about are men who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. A man who leads his wife and children in the public and private worship of God regularly. A man whose Christianity collides with the culture because he loves the culture too much to see it perish in its sin and folly and enslaving worldviews. This type of man is a man who is willing to be misunderstood, ostracized, and slandered because he fears God and loves people too much to care about those silly things.

This is the type of companion every Christian needs. I am glad to say I know a few men like this and by God's grace, I pray that I am one.