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

Filed under: Books, Eric Bryant, Friendship, Jesus, Love, Parties, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas, Relationships, Religion, Reviews

Look Who’s Talkin’

Thanks to Evan for the Tweet Stats find.

Earlier this week my sister asked me what Twitter was. I sent her this video, and explained it a little. I avoided the twitter for so long, but now I really enjoy it. Obviously it’s only a true joy if you have a bunch of friends following you.

So thanks to all who follow the mud puppy! If you feel like jumping on the train, follow me here. Then follow all of my homies. They’re great fun!

Filed under: Blogging, Friendship, Stats, Twitter

PFP Reviewed: Chapter Two

Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Chapter Two: Bounce Houses in the Neighborhood
Getting Off the Couch to Make Friends

One of the more convicting chapters in this book for me personally. We’ve lived in our little house on Burton Street for five years now, and I still can’t tell you the names of my immediate neighbors. I can spout off excuses such as being too busy with life, or not being an extroverted person by nature, but in all honesty it’s just because I haven’t made the effort.

I was so inspired by this chapter that Friday after work I went outside to shovel my sidewalk with the expressed intent of going over to talk to my neighbor when I was done. Even after shoveling it three times, I still hadn’t mustered up the courage to go next door. So I prayed as I went for another pass that God would make this easier for me. Then behind me I hear my neighbor walking his dog. Opportunity knocks.

We had a great talk and agreed to hook up many times during the Spring and Summer for cookouts. I am honestly giddy about the prospects of getting to know these guys in the coming months.

Do you know your neighbors?

Related:
PFP Reviewed: Introduction
PFP Reviewed: Chapter One

Filed under: Books, Eric Bryant, Friendship, God, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas, Relationships, Reviews

PFP Reviewed: Chapter One

Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Chapter One: Curry Favor
Winning People and Influencing Friends

It’s all about love…

The most effective apologetic is love.

Early christians were respected because they emanated love. They became the embodiment of the phrase ‘God is love.‘ Love requires us to be vulnerable. It requires sacrifice. It requires action. And it shouldn’t ever be confined just to those that can give you something in return.

..and relationships.

Rather than simply looking for ways to develop new strategies and programs, we must hone the skill of developing relationships. We need to go back to the beginning and capture the essence of interaction with the world around us. Our future depends on recapturing our ancient past.

Eric dives deep into the idea of building authentic relationships with those around you. Becoming all things to all people while loving them unconditionally. Too often we build up walls with the outside world because they aren’t like us. He encourages us to develop relationships without hidden agendas. To simply love.

Would people say you embody love?

Related:
PFP Reviewed: Introduction

Filed under: Books, Eric Bryant, Friendship, God, Love, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas, Relationships, Reviews, Tolerance

PFP Reviewed: Introduction

Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Introduction: The Art of Woo
Overcoming the Christian Stereotype

A negative Christian stereotype is prevalent and spreading, and we’ve helped cause this by being judgmental, irrelevant, mean, and hypocritical. Too often we just prove to the world that we have nothing more to offer than they are already experiencing. As a result, more and more people see Christianity as part of their past rather than as a guiding force for their future.

Eric wonders what we are currently doing or not doing that will cause us to feel ashamed in the future, and calls us to be part of the solution in our divided world rather than part of the problem. To live a life that embraces the people that Christians generally love to hate. To be agents of change.

This is something I have been trying to do myself for a few years now. I have re-examined my entire world view and have started building it again from the ground up. When people think of a Christian, something always pops into their head, and it’s usually not genuine love for others. My goal is to paint a new picture for our culture about what it really means to be a Christ follower.

What are some ways you’re trying to change our image?

Filed under: Books, Change Agents, Diversity, Eric Bryant, Friendship, Love, Mosaic, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas, Reviews, Sterotypes, Tolerance

Bitter Sweet

Sweet because I’ve been trading emails this week with one of my best friends from the Seventh grade (Akransas, 1987).

Bitter because Bentley was just another casualty in my long list of friends lost, due to constant moving.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming my parents for moving so often. That’s the breaks when you’re in the military and then later called into ministry. As a matter of fact, there is no man I respect and honor more than my dad. The things he did to put my family in a better position puts tears in my eyes when I think about it for more than 5 seconds.

No this is just a reflection. I’ve often wondered why I don’t dive too deep into relationships. Most people you know, when asked who their one best friend in the world was, could answer without hesitation. My wife aside, I can’t think of anyone that fits the bill. I have a gajillion friends, and a few very close friends, but not that one. You know the one I’m talking about. Usually you’ve got some history with them. I can tell you the name of my wife’s, my brother’s, and Jason’s best friend, but not mine.

This isn’t a pity party. I’m putting this out there for me more than anything. For most of my life I’ve kept myself at arms-length as a built-in insulation. I don’t allow myself to get to invested in a friendship. That’s probably why I dig blogging so much. I could drop it at any time and nothing messy would happen.

But I want to get deeper. I need to get deeper. I need to risk getting hurt.

I’m not in Arkansas any more.

Risk — Ten Shekel Shirt

Filed under: Friendship, Love, Risk

Florida or Bust

It appears that my good friend MIke Jacobs is on his way to Melbourne, Florida. (Yeah, we’ve got a Melbourne too). Another one has broken free and is headed straight out of Michigan. It’s amazing the job opportunities available south of Toledo. It’s a shame because I was just starting to get used to his smell.

I was introduced to Mike when we began NewSong a little over 2 years ago. He’s been running the sound board ever since, and I’ve spent many a Sunday ducking from his spit balls.

I’m happy that Mike was able to land a sweet gig doing what he wants to do. He is an inspiration in the fact that he went out and got it done. He wasn’t going to wallow around in mediocrity his whole life, he was going to actively pursue good things for his life! Luckily for me I booked him for the Friday Mute Math show prior to this news, so he’s going out with a bang!

Congratulations Mike! Get a place with an extra bedroom, you’ll be having company very soon!

Filed under: Florida, Friendship, Goals, Michigan, Success, Work

Accountability Group

A couple of friends of mine from our Tuesday night men’s group have started an email accountability group. Last week we discussed how easy it is to backslide in our faith, and one of the ways we came up with helping the situation was to email each other first thing each morning with how we’re doing in our walk. We’ll share a thought or scripture that hit us the previous day. We’ll share prayer requests. We’ll also share if we’ve been slacking. It’s been quite refreshing. It’s also fun to see who’s going to be the first to initiate the emails. It’s always someone different.

I encourage you to find a couple friends and do the same!

Filed under: Accoutability, Band of Brothers, Faith, Friendship

The Prodigal Son

OK, so maybe he hasn’t been wallowing in pig feces, but he has returned. It’s been over a month since he’s graced these pages with comment.

I suppose I can forgive my friend Doug, seeing that he’s been off playing Superman for his family—landing a sweet job in Pennsylvania, house selling, house hunting, etc.

Just three years ago I did a post on Doug E. Pudge called The Bachelor. Not only is he not a bachelor anymore, he doesn’t even live here anymore. However I’d say most of the other things on the list I made about him are still accurate. Especially the last one.

Glad to see you around again Doug! You’ve been sorely missed.

Filed under: Doug E. Pudge, Friendship, Pennsylvania, Superman

Community

I was mowing the lawn Saturday and thinking about community. It seems we do many things to try to create community, but in the end it always ends up feeling contrived, not real. I can think of several friends (and even myself) that when faced with difficult times and decisions, chose not to cling to their supposed community for support.

So what does it take for real community to occur? It seems to me that real community seems to find you rather than something that can be created. Something that just happens.

Your thoughts?

Filed under: Bonds, Community, Friendship