James Hilt - How to Have a Better Relationship with Anybody

1984 by JAMES HILT

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Names and details in some stories have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

All Scripture quotations in this book, except those marked otherwise, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Interior and cover design: Erik M. Peterson
Cover illustrations of people copyright 2019 by Topconcept / Shutterstock (1446634589). All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hilt, James, 1947- author.

Title: How to have a better relationship with anybody / by James Hilt.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Do you want rich friendships, deep bonds, and healthy connection? You can have a better relationship with anybodyGod, your children, your spouse, or friends. The answers for how to do so are found in Scripture. Counselor James P. Hilt has helped hundreds of people who wanted healthier, happier relationships with his principles derived from the insights of Scripture. He will help you: Identify and get rid of problems that separate you from others; Stop feeling bitter and resentful; Listen more effectively; Celebrate others more readily. Study what the Bible has to say about relationships, apply these healing truths to your life, and discover the remarkable difference it can make. Christs love can flow unhindered through your life. Dont put up with disconnection and resentment any longer-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019055259 | ISBN 9780802419927 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802493613 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Interpersonal relations. | Conduct of life. | Christian ethics.

Classification: LCC HM132 .H526 2020 | DDC 302--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019055259

All websites and phone numbers listed herein are accurate at the time of publication but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents. Groups and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

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To Karen,

my wife and trusted friend

Friend,

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T he late Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship said it was the best artistic expression of the Christian faith in the twentieth century. He was referring to the movie Chariots of Fire about the Scottish track star Eric Liddell, who won a gold medal in the 400 meters in world-record-breaking time (47.6 seconds) in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France.

This movie was superbly crafted, winning four Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Picture. I was moved when Chariots of Fire won Best Picture, knowing its impact would greatly increase around the world.

Along with Erics track performances, the movie focused on his strong Christian faith and decision to serve Christ as a missionary in China, which he delayed until after the Olympics. What especially struck me was his ever-present humility (he was an expert at deflecting hero worship thrust on him) and kindness toward others, including competitors like Harold Abrahams.

Harold won the 100 meters in the 1924 Olympics, which Eric was favored to win but pulled out of because the qualifying heats were held on a Sunday. Because he believed the Sabbath was Gods day, he refused to compete on it. During Harolds race, Eric cheered him on and was one of the first to rush to his side to congratulate him. A moving scene in the movie.

The following year, in 1925, Eric became a missionary to Tientsin, China. His older brother Rob, also an exceptional athlete, served as a doctor in a hospital in Siaochang, China. Their parents had been respected missionaries in China.

Almost two decades later, in March, 1943, during World War 2, the occupying Japanese forced Eric, along with 1,800 other internationals including women and hundreds of children, into Weihsien internment camp.

Sally Magnusson, who authored Erics exceptional biography, The Flying Scotsman, describes the camps wretched conditions (chapter 10 about the camp is fascinating and instructive):

Imagine, then, what life was like at Weihsien. It was an over-populated camp where the only privacy anyone had was an area of 9 feet by 54 inches round his bed; a place populated by bored children and frustrated teenagers and confused old people, by the widest range of personalities, all rubbing up against each other, queuing for the toilets and the meals and the roll-call and the chores: nerves grinding and personalities clashing, and nowhere to escape to. All the familiar creature comforts were gone, all the structures by which people organize their lives had been turned upside down.

This set the stage for constant flare-ups of anger and bitter conflicts. Personal reports by internees after the war showed a number of missionaries and Christian leaders contributed to these conflicts because of being short tempered, harshly exclusive, and selfish. This seriously undermined their witness in the camp.

I was moved and, I might add, relieved that Eric was radically different. Instead of fueling the fire of strife, he labored day and night, even when stricken with an agonizing brain tumor, to encourage and strengthen others. He did this until his death five months before the camps liberation in 1945.