I met a friend for coffee last week. He had tea, actually, and then proceeded to tell me that he's fasting from coffee until I'm reunited with my family. He's a coffee fiend, not a casual drinker by any means. I feel loved.

Four days ago a friend told me, simply, "I believe in you." He's walked through a portion of this journey with Brandi and me, and to hear him say those simple words meant so much.

I have a friend who a few weeks ago told me, through streams of tears, "Seeing you go through this, trusting God, makes me want to follow Jesus more closely." Those tears invigorated me.

I have a new friend who emailed me a few days ago and said, "[J]ust seeing another brother walk in complete freedom from past failures, it gives a tangibility to Isaiah 42:3, and that's pretty stinkin' awesome my friend :)." Those words lifted my spirit.

I have a friend who makes the world a better place. Her radiant smile, love for our children, and passion for JESUS makes her a constant river of blessing in my life. "Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters" (Song of Solomon 2:2).

I have four little friends who wait patiently for me. How long, Yahweh?

I have a friend who believes in the Gospel of Grace so much that he lives it, eats it, breathes it, writes books about it, blogs about it, and never stops talking about it. Like Paul, he says from the depths of his being, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" I'm honored that he's walked with me for 20 years.

I have a friend who lost her husband 12 years ago. She was left with four small children to raise without a father. When I think about Brandi and our four children right now, I'm happy, for their sake, that God has not chosen to take me yet. When this friend compassionately and tearfully says she constantly prays for us, I'm thankful, because she understands the pain of separation.

I have a friend who's in prison. He committed a heinous crime, and now he's paying the state-mandated consequence. By all indications he's repented and accepted Christ's forgiveness. Thinking of him makes me think of God's grace, and how we all fall short of God's glory. The gravity of karma can't keep the scandal of grace grounded on earth, for grace obeys a higher law.

I have friends at church who are older and wiser than I am. I asked them the other day, half-jokingly, to show me how to be holy. They humbly said they're still trying to figure it out. They've walked with me for three years now, through repentance, life, pain, tragedy, and joy. I know they'll be with me until the end.

I have friends who, for me, in many strange ways, truly do represent the nexus of the intellectual universe. I've always thought that if I were in a rock band, they would be my bandmates. We've been together as friends for more than 12 years, and we've spilled a lot of ink together. I pray for 40 more years with you, my brothers.

I have friends -- deeply loved friends -- who I have not spoken to in months. I'm sorry for that. I'm a horrible initiator. God change me.

I have a friend who's my uncle, but who has always seemed more like a brother. I have a brother who's my brother, who has always seemed more like a friend. I'm blessed with a wonderful family -- my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister -- and I'm so joyful knowing that my four children, no matter what, will always have each other.

What a friend I've found
Closer than a brother
It would break my heart
To ever lose each other
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
-- Delirious?, "What A Friend I've Found."