Remembering my friends

So in the preparation for my sermon last week about Christian Community i was thinking about my closest friends. It is amazing how god brought many men around me who all wanted to change and be more like Jesus. In particular some of the guys i grew closest to are Dave Wollen, Kevin dekreek, Zach Kreeger, Josh Young, Max Sternjacob, Phil Perry, Adam Green, and Caleb McGivney just to name a few. I remember moving to Biola not really knowing anyone other then my sister (which doesn't count) and needing to find friends. Across from the hall from me was Kevin Dekreek and while we had little in common, we became friends and it was the first time i became close to another guy where we talked about our struggles and our desire to follow God. We would share what we were learning, had a ton of fun together, and even went on a mission trip together to Guatemala. A few years later i was moving dorms and needed a roomate, once again in a similar situation to my freshmen year. Miraculously i picked Dave out of a list of transfer students and we grew to be incredibly close friends.
The year after i graduated i went through one of the hardest times of my life. A lot of the circumstances of life were falling apart: my car's transmission broke, i could not find a job and i was also going through a lot of stuff spiritually: i felt God was absent, i was questioning my calling as a youth pastor, i felt rejected by a lot of people, i felt like i just wasn't good enough in life! Looking back it is certain that God was at work in my life, probably more then usual, and God used my friends to embody his love to me. These guys sat with me when i was a shell of myself and weeping, and encouraged me and just continued to care for me.
God has given and used many things in my life. Parents, Courtney, situations to bring me to know him and trust Him. He has brought some tremendous friends into my life and they have been probably the largest part of my life. My hope for everyone is to find friends who will spur you to follow God, just love living life together, and will be there for you in the dark times.
In middle school we are starting the year for small groups and my prayer is that these relationships will develop into the same type of relationships that meant so much to me.