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Key Bible Verse: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Bonus Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16

Called to the meeting more as a moderator than anything else, I reminded the group that it's the truth that sets us free. When the truth-telling began, so did the tears—not of anger but of sorrow and love and, yes, even tears of joy. Then came those enormous bear hugs that almost take your breath away; the kind that says, "I love you and I'm going to hang in there with you, and we're going to make it together."

A man's voice behind me said, "This is the work of the Holy Spirit." More voices. Confessions of failure and doubt. Jokes shared about the hard times behind us. "What can we do to help you?" one person asked. The answer: "Just listen to me when I need to talk out my problems."

We concluded by making three promises.

First, to let the past be the past.

Second, to lower our expectations of each other so we wouldn't be surprised when the others aren't perfect.

Third, to hold each other accountable for our spiritual growth.

Then we held hands and prayed together. We finished with a sense that we'd all been part of a miracle.

—Ray Pritchard in Something New Under the Sun

• How many close friends do you have? Do they know how you feel about them?

Thought to Apply: Community is the place where God completes our lives with his joy.

—HENRI NOUWEN (late author)

Credits: Adapted from —Tuesday: Something New Under the Sun (Moody Bible Institute, 1998)

>Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. For reprint information click here.

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Prayer for the Week

Jesus, fill me with the abundant life promised in Your Word. Give me Your wisdom to live well.

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