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He Calls Me Friend: The Healing Power of Friendship in a Lonely World
How do you change the world? Dr. John M. Perkins says the answer is friendship. Find out why in He Calls Me Friend.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
Audio CD
Published September 30, 2019
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About the author
John M. Perkins
61 books207 followersDr. John M. Perkins is the founder and president emeritus of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and cofounder of Christian Community Development Association. He has served in advisory roles under five U.S. presidents, is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work he has received 14 honorary doctorates. One Blood, along with Dr. Perkins other books, provides an enduring legacy for a man who continues to leave his mark on American culture.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 15, 2019
He Calls Me Friend by John Perkins
I had never before read anything written by John Perkins and only heard him mentioned tangentially in a Switchfoot song, “The Sound” (“John Perkins said it right, Love is the final fight”). He Calls Me Friend is a retrospective of John Perkins’ life, stories relating to aspects of friendship, and quotes from songs and books. John Perkins follows the lives of Abraham, Moses, and David and uses their examples to show how being a friend of God gives us insight to being friends with others.
The 2nd part of the book concentrates on Jesus and what it means for men (and women) to have and be friends, to invite people into our lives to be friends, to have friends who fill the place of brothers and sisters, and to be friends to the end. Jesus shows us what it means to be friends with prostitutes, thieves, and the outsider, to be friends with those who are not like us. John Perkins calls us to task. Instead of seeing a group of people and keeping away from them, we are to see individuals created in the image of God and befriend them. We need to make space to get to know those who are not like us.
The 3rd section of the book involves friendship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God within us so that we can know God. “. . . [T]he Holy Spirit uses circumstances in our lives to cause us to cry out to God and to seek His will and His purposes. He makes us desperate for God’s will in our lives.” He uses our senses and affects us in a way that cannot be forgotten. He reconciles disparate people and gives us boldness.
Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit in different aspects. All of these aspects are part of our friendship with the Holy Spirit and are part of what we need to be friends with others: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
The final part of the book is Friendship with Others. Such friendship may be based on mutual need. It can cross cultural and ethnic lines as well as economic strata. But friendship can also be mentoring. A mentor friend can draw us into deeper friendship, nurture us, and speak when they see us heading in a wrong direction. They can teach us and encourage and love us. And we can be teachers, encouragers, and lovers, also.
We are challenged to make friends with others, to pursue them, to focus on being a friend rather than having friends. Forgive and don’t give up. John Perkins says that any friend can be a better friend if we don’t give up. Friendship means being with people, spending time just talking or attending events. Friendship means participating in activities together. Being a friend bears fruit.
This book is an encouraging word to anyone who wants friends or wants to take friendship deeper. It’s short and easy to read. In other words, this is a book for everyone.
I had never before read anything written by John Perkins and only heard him mentioned tangentially in a Switchfoot song, “The Sound” (“John Perkins said it right, Love is the final fight”). He Calls Me Friend is a retrospective of John Perkins’ life, stories relating to aspects of friendship, and quotes from songs and books. John Perkins follows the lives of Abraham, Moses, and David and uses their examples to show how being a friend of God gives us insight to being friends with others.
The 2nd part of the book concentrates on Jesus and what it means for men (and women) to have and be friends, to invite people into our lives to be friends, to have friends who fill the place of brothers and sisters, and to be friends to the end. Jesus shows us what it means to be friends with prostitutes, thieves, and the outsider, to be friends with those who are not like us. John Perkins calls us to task. Instead of seeing a group of people and keeping away from them, we are to see individuals created in the image of God and befriend them. We need to make space to get to know those who are not like us.
The 3rd section of the book involves friendship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God within us so that we can know God. “. . . [T]he Holy Spirit uses circumstances in our lives to cause us to cry out to God and to seek His will and His purposes. He makes us desperate for God’s will in our lives.” He uses our senses and affects us in a way that cannot be forgotten. He reconciles disparate people and gives us boldness.
Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit in different aspects. All of these aspects are part of our friendship with the Holy Spirit and are part of what we need to be friends with others: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
The final part of the book is Friendship with Others. Such friendship may be based on mutual need. It can cross cultural and ethnic lines as well as economic strata. But friendship can also be mentoring. A mentor friend can draw us into deeper friendship, nurture us, and speak when they see us heading in a wrong direction. They can teach us and encourage and love us. And we can be teachers, encouragers, and lovers, also.
We are challenged to make friends with others, to pursue them, to focus on being a friend rather than having friends. Forgive and don’t give up. John Perkins says that any friend can be a better friend if we don’t give up. Friendship means being with people, spending time just talking or attending events. Friendship means participating in activities together. Being a friend bears fruit.
This book is an encouraging word to anyone who wants friends or wants to take friendship deeper. It’s short and easy to read. In other words, this is a book for everyone.
October 25, 2019
He created mankind so that we might know Him and make Him known, serve Him and worship Him forever. So every person already has that God-given worth. It's our responsibility and privilege to affirm it in others. We affirm individuals by how we greet and respond to them; by how we look them in the eyes and acknowledge their presence. An African proverb says, "When I saw you from afar, I thought you were a monster. When you got closer, I thought you were just an animal. When you got even closer, I saw that you were a human, but when we were face to face I realized that you were my brother.
Why in the world of social media, with sharing and likes, are we in the age of loneliness? This text deals with the problem and has a solution. The problem is in ourselves. Not that everyone agrees, or has the same lifestyle, the same religion, or the same color of skin. It is our hearts. We are threatened (every single of one of us) on the differences of another. So the solution would be to see others differently.
John Perkins is the right man to speak to this as he has dealt with bigotry, violence and rejection. He has overcome that with the Spirit of God. He shares his story and what it took for him to be a friend. Starting with our friendship with God, we begin to see others in the image of God. Understanding that fully brings you to a humility that overflows to walking in the spirit. Walking in the spirit is walking in the fruit of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This of course is not our nature but the nature of God.
We also must remember, friendships are lasting not in programs (not that they can begin there) but when we enter into life with those others. When we share not only joy but sorrow. When we share what hinders us and what frees us. Doing life together is a time commitment that must be thought out and valued. When I think of this, I think of the scope. How many people can you be that for and do it well? That is my struggle.
This is a great reminder of the value of friendship. First with God and then those that God puts in your life if for a season or a life time. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Why in the world of social media, with sharing and likes, are we in the age of loneliness? This text deals with the problem and has a solution. The problem is in ourselves. Not that everyone agrees, or has the same lifestyle, the same religion, or the same color of skin. It is our hearts. We are threatened (every single of one of us) on the differences of another. So the solution would be to see others differently.
John Perkins is the right man to speak to this as he has dealt with bigotry, violence and rejection. He has overcome that with the Spirit of God. He shares his story and what it took for him to be a friend. Starting with our friendship with God, we begin to see others in the image of God. Understanding that fully brings you to a humility that overflows to walking in the spirit. Walking in the spirit is walking in the fruit of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This of course is not our nature but the nature of God.
We also must remember, friendships are lasting not in programs (not that they can begin there) but when we enter into life with those others. When we share not only joy but sorrow. When we share what hinders us and what frees us. Doing life together is a time commitment that must be thought out and valued. When I think of this, I think of the scope. How many people can you be that for and do it well? That is my struggle.
This is a great reminder of the value of friendship. First with God and then those that God puts in your life if for a season or a life time. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 31, 2020
This was a delightful surprise. Friendship. Jesus calls us friends and commands us to love Him first and others like ourselves. So we should love like a friend. Be a friend, become a friend.
Perkins addresses the topic in 4 sections:
1. Friendship with God
2. Friendship with Jesus
3. Friendship with the Holy Spirit
4. Friendship with Others
He starts by walking us through the 'first' friends of God: Adam/Eve, Abraham, Moses and David to demonstrate particular characteristics of His character. Then Perkins explores how Jesus befriended the disciples and then how the Holy Spirit enables friendship with Him and with others.
He provides personal insights from his own life, including friends 'letters' sharing about their friendship with the author. Perkins has been an agitator for racial reconciliation all his life and clearly sees opportunities for much of the angst in society being healed through people becoming friends. Perhaps it's a little idealistic but we as Christians should be leading the charge as God has clearly called us to be friends and become friends.
It's inspiring and encouraging. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary early ebook version of the book from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review.
Perkins addresses the topic in 4 sections:
1. Friendship with God
2. Friendship with Jesus
3. Friendship with the Holy Spirit
4. Friendship with Others
He starts by walking us through the 'first' friends of God: Adam/Eve, Abraham, Moses and David to demonstrate particular characteristics of His character. Then Perkins explores how Jesus befriended the disciples and then how the Holy Spirit enables friendship with Him and with others.
He provides personal insights from his own life, including friends 'letters' sharing about their friendship with the author. Perkins has been an agitator for racial reconciliation all his life and clearly sees opportunities for much of the angst in society being healed through people becoming friends. Perhaps it's a little idealistic but we as Christians should be leading the charge as God has clearly called us to be friends and become friends.
It's inspiring and encouraging. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary early ebook version of the book from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review.
July 26, 2019
Wonderful words from John M. Perkins that call for love, faith, and unity in our age of negativity and discontent. Perkins points to friendship and loving your neighbor as essential element of transformation. I recall seeing this author speak years ago — and his message is just as strong and worth noting today.
September 9, 2022
Dr. Perkins beautiful describes friendship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; as well as how to be a good friend and mentor. He reminds us that we can all be friends no matter what you look like or who you vote for. Dr. Perkins has been a friend to many and the Lord has done amazing things through those friendships.
November 29, 2020
Having read a few books by John M perkins, this book is a surprise, it is more about friendship than being about racial reconciliation. The emphasis of this book is on friendship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and others. Only through friendship can we break down the walls of hate and racism.
December 13, 2020
A really good book to bring us back into what we so deeply know. It will bring your heart back to desiring a deep friendship with God, and all told, that's probably better that a whole bunch of new ideas... though I love those too!
January 2, 2021
A refreshing and wonderful read from one of the leaders I respect the most. A challenge to consider the gift of friendship, rather than take it for granted. When we cultivate our friendship with God, we can then have friendship with anyone. Be a friend!
November 19, 2019
Audiobook. Great book, lots of beautiful and simple reflections on Christ and loving Him and others. Lots of scripture!
August 30, 2022
Such a great book about how our friendship with Christ inspires us to develop strong friendships with others.
February 27, 2023
More John Perkins wisdom. This time breaking down our relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and others--the things that have sustained him to have this long life of changing our world.
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April 4, 2023What an encouragement this book is.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews