PFP Reviewed: Chapter Three
Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Chapter Three: Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Partying to Expand Our Influence
This is one of my favorite chapters in the book. I mean who doesn’t enjoy a call to party more? Eric challenges us to throw more parties, as well as to accept invitations to more parties. It actually reminds me a lot of what my buddy Brandon talked about in this post. He hosts events at his house at least twice a month where he invites a broad spectrum of friends—college students, photographers, theology majors, working professionals, elders, and preachers all come together in an informal setting. In his words, “…its been our experience that when we do that, really good things happen.”
The world too often sees the invitation to connect to the church as irrelevant or at best as involving a cumbersome process. People have to learn our religious language, sing our songs, and discuss our topics. For those who make the effort to connect with us, we reward them with rules, traditions, and conditional acceptance, yet Jesus offered grace, forgiveness, and love. Rather than religion, Jesus offers relationship. As part of the body called the church, we need to strive to eliminate barriers that keep others from connecting with our community and connecting with Jesus.
The story at the end of this chapter will change your perspective about accepting invitations to things you really don’t want to do. As a matter of fact, just tonight my wife Tonia was considering backing out of an invitation to hang out with some friends and their friends this weekend because we’re getting a little backed up in house work. I would have nothing of it because this application is still fresh in my mind. I am now actively pursuing opportunities to hang with people I don’t know. To build and strengthen relationships.
Ultimately, we need to reorient our lives so that we begin to invest in the people we already know and start investing in people who need a friend.
Related:
PFP Reviewed: Introduction
PFP Reviewed: Chapter One
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Two
