I live in an area with, I would say around a hundred or more Churches, and the number of Reformed ones I can count on one hand. One of those might be a (small) Reformed Baptist Church, but I am not certain about that. The other two are Presbyterian USA Churches, one is part of a college, and really meant for the students and faculty there, the other is in town, about 30-40 min drive. The PCUSA Church in town, while not an overly liberal one, has always been somewhat controlled by prominent people with lots of money, if not controlled, let's say highly influenced. I have always had a hard time getting up early in the morning, and it's been a problem with Church attendance. When I do go, I'm so sleepy, it's almost pointless, but there are a few however brief moments.
On the subject of friends I could go on for hours, and I can only speak from my personal experiences, others have different, and more...positive experiences. Let's just say, for the most part, I do not need or want friends. I was picked on throughout school. Just to give an example, I once had a coat in a locker get [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ed on by unknown kids. I've been down the friends road (at one time I knew many people I considered a friend), and most people fall into two groups, users and those getting used. I was always ended up as one of those getting used. I suppose that's alright but only to a point, and I finally had to say enough is enough. After I rededicated my life, or got saved, even my old friends, who were friends, deserted me, because of Christ working in and through me. I really struggled with trying to make friends, and since then, apart from my wife and family, can honestly say (since 1995) I've only had one good Christian friend, one I met in college back in 98' or 99', and he moved back to Ohio between 00-02. He used to work at keeping in contact with me, calling once every month or two, then every few months, and after many years, I rarely hear from him now. We were only what I consider "close" for a short time, he's a distant friend now.
My advice as far as friends go is, find you a good Christian woman, don't go for a super model, go for one that has inner beauty, one that can put up with your crap, and one you can tolerate hers. My wife is my best friend, we can talk to each other about anything, though she doesn't understand all that I talk about on these forums, because she's not a mature Christian, I mean she hasn't grown up in the faith, but she has other qualities that help me. Other than my wife, my parents have always been there for me, and I thank God for them, I do not know what would have become of me without them, I'd probably be dead or in jail.
What passes for "fellowship" these days is highly overrated anyway. Find a Reformed believer you can have deep and interesting conversations with, not the "hi" "bye" conversation that's passed off as fellowship these days. Overall, I've not had much fellowship, at least not fellowship like I had with my friend in college, and I've never had fellowship with a Reformed believer (I would count my wife, but she's greatly lacking in knowledge, and to be honest, I think just goes along with what I say because I'm her husband and when we do talk a little she finds herself in agreement, though I've never pushed my way of thinking on her), and not sure I ever will (apart from internet discussion), it's not looking that way. It is rare to find a person who takes God seriously enough to want to talk to Him and about Him all the time, and even if they do, quite frankly the society we live in doesn't allow for it in most cases. The moral decay of our society is one evidence of the hostility towards Christianity, and with that hostility, losses in fellowship.
