What is a true friend??

How to know a true a true friend!

**  It is not often that in this life we get the opportunity to find a real true friend!
   =  Abou Fatma was a true friend to the end!
 
**  Read to See if you can measure up!

Date:   12/16/2010 08:46:03   ( 7 y ) ... viewed 12,971 times

From: simplytruth.com

Topic started by: Kerminator on 16, Dec 2010, 14:00 GMT

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Title: Abou Fatma a True Friend!
Post by: Kerminator on 16, Dec 2010, 14:00  GMT 

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  " In this world,  when you chance to come upon a true friend; from time to time consider it a Blessing!"   
 a True-ism  

  When you find such a friend, cherish them and learn to care!

     The Four Feathers is a 1902 adventure novel about the Nile River wars -
  by British writer A.E.W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. 
We will consider the 2002 film version:

By 1884 over a quarter of the earth's surface had been conquered by the British Army and all the oceans were controlled by the British Navy - where the sun did not set upon the British empire. 

There was no greater honor for a young man than to fight for Queen and Country.
 Those that refused the call to arms brought both shame and humiliation on their friends and families...

 Title Card: The Symbol of their disgrace was the white feather of cowardice...

 This is from a movie based upon the conflict in Sudan; by the British Army who were sent to put down a Islamic Jihad...

HISTORY
Sudan was a collection of small, independent kingdoms and principalities from the beginning of the Christian era until 1820-21, when Egypt conquered and unified the northern portion of the country. However, neither the Egyptian nor the Mahdist Islamic state (1883-1898) had any effective control of the southern region outside of a few garrisons. Southern Sudan remained an area of fragmented tribes, subject to frequent attacks by slave raiders.  Slave raids have continued by the Islamic Northern Sudan.
 
In 1881, a religious leader named Muhammad ibn Abdalla proclaimed himself the Mahdi, or the "expected one," and began a religious crusade to unify the tribes in western and central Sudan. His followers took on the name "Ansars" (the followers) which they continue to use today and are associated with the single largest political grouping, the Umma Party, led by a descendant of the Mahdi, Sadiq al Mahdi.
 
Taking advantage of dissatisfaction resulting from Ottoman-Egyptian exploitation and maladministration, the Mahdi led a nationalist revolt culminating in the fall of Khartoum in 1885 - This is where Gen Charles Gordon was killed by the Islamic army. 
 ** BTW: Gen Gordon was instrumental while in Jerusalem help locate the site of Christ crucifixion and the area of His tomb!  

The Mahdi died shortly thereafter, but his state survived until overwhelmed by an invading Anglo-Egyptian force under Lord Kitchener in 1898. While nominally administered jointly by Egypt and Britain, Britain exercised control, formulated policies, and supplied most of the top administrators.
 
Independence
In February 1953, the United Kingdom and Egypt concluded an agreement providing for Sudanese self-government and self-determination. The transitional period toward independence began with the inauguration of the first parliament in 1954. With the consent of the British and Egyptian Governments, Sudan achieved independence on January 1, 1956, under a provisional constitution. This constitution was silent on two crucial issues for southern leaders--the secular or Islamic character of the state and its federal or unitary structure. However, the Arab-led Khartoum government reneged on promises to southerners to create a federal system, which led to a mutiny by southern army officers that launched 17 years of civil war (1955-72).

This has continued with the Islamic faction in the northern section of Sudan,  attempting over run and totally dominate the Christian Southern Sudan!  Even in 2017 the conflict continues!  

This movie is based upon the latter 1800's in the Sudan   

 " The Four Fathers"   Produced - 2002...  

 Conversation after Abou Fatma {a Black African} had just rescued a British Officer Harry Faversham {deserter} found wondering alone across the desert in Sudan!

 Abou Fatma: Are you a deserter?
Harry Faversham: Something like that. I was sent to fight and I ran away.
Abou Fatma: Why?
Harry Faversham: Why? I just... There are many reasons why. Mostly I was afraid.
Abou Fatma: [laughs]  Afraid? I found you half dead crossing the Sahara alone. And you say you are afraid?
Harry Faversham: There's a different kind of fear.  Why are you protecting me?
Abou Fatma: Because God put you on my pathway. I have no choice.
Harry Faversham: God? 

 For An Englishman... and a Christian? 

  You must have done something terrible to offend Him.


 Abou Fatma goes on to help and protect Harry, even going to prison with him, as Harry finds and rescues the friends who gave him the "White Feathers"; always protecting him from the very face of death....  

Why because God placed Harry on his pathway of life!

** Then after saving all his friends  who had given the " White Feathers "; Harry goes back to England!
 Then later after the Regiment is assembled after having returned to England, one of Harry's friends,  another Officer Jack (who had given him a white feather) addresses the assembled Regiment and tells what the real meaning comradeship and the bond of friendship that exist among a band of brothers!

 Jack Durrance: Speaking of those who did not return: 

You may be lost, but you are not forgotten. For those who have traveled far, to fight in foreign lands, know that the soldier's greatest comfort is to have his friends close at hand.  In the heat of battle it ceases to be an idea for which we fight. Or a flag., or a country!   Rather we fight for the man on our left, and we fight for the man on our right.   And when armies are scattered and the empires fall away, all that remains is the memory of those precious moments that we spent sided by side, friends to the end! .

These are some examples of true friendship in life!  

If you take yourself out of the picture; just maybe you can learn to become a true friend!

Have you stopped to see who God has placed  upon your pathway of life?

One of the most important thing in this earthly life is to recognize those whom the Lord God has placed upon you pathway of life!   
Amen!