{"id":302857,"date":"2013-10-31T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-31T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/will-you-be-my-neighbor\/"},"modified":"2013-10-31T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-31T15:00:00","slug":"will-you-be-my-neighbor","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/will-you-be-my-neighbor\/","title":{"rendered":"Will You Be My Neighbor?"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amy shares how anyone can easily reach out with the love of Christ to their neighbors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2013-10-31.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"25.96M","filesize_raw":"27222604","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2821],"tags":[2639],"podcast_series":[7980],"cwp_profile":[3137],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-302857","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reaching-out","tag-sharing-your-faith","podcast_series-the-neighborhood-cafe","cwp_profile-amy-lively","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/302857\/will-you-be-my-neighbor","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/302857\/will-you-be-my-neighbor","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"nmBRA8E03s\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/will-you-be-my-neighbor\/\">Will You Be My Neighbor?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/will-you-be-my-neighbor\/embed\/#?secret=nmBRA8E03s\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Will You Be My Neighbor?&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"nmBRA8E03s\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Amy shares how anyone can easily reach out with the love of Christ to their neighbors.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2013-10-31.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>When Amy Lively decided to invite women in the neighborhood over to her house for an open house, she realized she was going to need to employ the \u201cKISS\u201d principle: Keep It Stupendously Simple. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> If it\u2019s not easy for me, it\u2019s not going to be fun for my guests. I use paper plates and store-bought food to keep it simple. There are so many things out there to make this easy. The point is not about having the perfect house. The point is not entertaining and being extravagant. The point is to enjoy the people that you\u2019re with.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Thursday, October 31<sup>st<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. Amy Lively joins us today to explain how her house became the neighborhood caf\u00e9 and how God has used that in the lives of many of her neighbors. Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. As you look back on your marriage\u2014I\u2019m going to ask you to give a score here; alright? On a scale of one to ten\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Ten!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> I\u2019m not asking about your marriage. [Laughter] I have a particular subject I\u2019m going to ask you about.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> How would you rate yours, Bob?! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Mine depends on which day you\u2019re asking; but what I\u2019m asking about, in particular, today is the whole issue of hospitality\u2014getting to know your neighbors and evangelism in the neighborhood. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Did you get a call from one of our neighbors? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> On a scale of one to ten\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Are you going to humiliate me again, here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014ten means you feel like you\u2019ve done an exemplary job in that area. One means nobody should follow your example. Where would you be?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> That\u2019s a good question. This is not a strength.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> We\u2019re a zero at our house.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You\u2019re a zero?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> We\u2019re a zero! This has been\u2014not a strength. I mean, this has been an area\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> We\u2019re on the south side of five.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes? Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> We\u2019ve done some things; okay? But this is not a strength. Now, some of it has to do with where we live. We live in the country. So, we don\u2019t quite have the same kind of neighbors that you\u2019d have in a \u201cneighborhood\u201d.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> You\u2019re not talking about the quality of the people? You\u2019re talking about the distance between houses?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> That\u2019s what I would be talking about. In case they\u2019re listening to this broadcast! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Here\u2019s what I remember from growing up. My mom and our neighbors were very good friends. I mean, there were the usual skirmishes between neighbors that you would have, you know. Something would happen\u2014like I would be climbing one of their trees and break a limb or something\u2014that wouldn\u2019t go down really well.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> But she would go borrow butter, sugar\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014flour, bread, eggs; and vice versa.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes. In our neighborhood, the Levotneys, and the Larsons, and the Crosbys, and the Lepines used to get together\u2014probably once a month, for bridge club\u2014I think. The neighbors got together. I don\u2019t know that they had anything in common other than property lines that were right next to one another.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes. Today, there have been surveys done. About a third of us don\u2019t know anything about our neighbors. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> We don\u2019t know them personally. Frankly, almost a third of us say, \u201cWe\u2019d like to get to know our neighbors better.\u201d Well, we\u2019ve got a resource for you today\u2014a personal resource. This is a woman who has a passion for helping people be more hospitable. She\u2019s dealing with a zero and with somebody on the south side of five\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I was a negative two\u2014so we\u2019re in good company here!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Okay; good. Amy Lively joins us on <em>FamilyLife Today. <\/em>She is the creator of The Neighborhood Caf\u00e9. She and her husband David have been married for 23 years. They live in Lancaster, Ohio, along with their daughter Emma. I have to ask you about this\u2014you say you have one \u201choly dog\u201d and one \u201cunsaintly cat\u201d?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Well, if anybody has a dog-and-a-cat family, that\u2019s how it usually goes. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I\u2019m just wondering what a \u201choly dog\u201d looks like?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> The dog is a golden retriever. She is the sweetest thing. She was a \u201choly dog\u201d because when I first started reading my Bible and thinking out loud of what God was doing in my life, she was the only one who ever heard it. She was the holy dog because I was sitting there, preaching to her from the sofa. No one else was ever around.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> And the \u201cunsaintly cat\u201d lives outside\u2014she kind of runs around the neighborhood. Is that the picture?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> He makes himself at home\u2014he picks on the dog.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Alright! Well, you\u2019ve invented this concept of the neighborhood caf\u00e9. Explain what that looks like.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> The Neighborhood Caf\u00e9 started in my own living room with my own neighbors. We don\u2019t have a neighborhood caf\u00e9\u2014we don\u2019t have that gathering spot where people run into each other, and sit down, and have a conversation. We don\u2019t have a park\u2014I don\u2019t have a toddler. When my daughter was young, it was easy to meet people; but, as she got older, it just wasn\u2019t happening naturally in my neighborhood. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI had heard the words \u201cneighborhood Bible study\u201d. I thought: \u201cWell, that\u2019s great! That\u2019s what I\u2019ll do! I\u2019ll have my neighbors over for a neighborhood Bible study.\u201d But there was a problem. I didn\u2019t know them. I didn\u2019t know the people just right around me. I knew a couple of them who had kids the same age [as my daughter]. I didn\u2019t know the people whose property touched mine. I didn\u2019t know the people up and down my street. I wrestled with God for a <em>long<\/em> time over that idea.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> How long? How long?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Eight months, probably, of just saying: \u201cYou know, I think it was the pizza I ate the night before. This is really crazy. They\u2019re going to think I\u2019m nuts!\u201d I had every excuse in the book that was really just a disguise for my fears because I was very afraid to do it. I was afraid of rejection. I was afraid of taking the time. I was afraid of being humiliated\u2014being put on the spot with hard questions about life and faith. I was very afraid.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I\u2019ve got some neighbors who live, not next door, but they are about a half mile down the street. Again, it\u2019s a country neighborhood. Technically, they\u2019re in the neighborhood; but they\u2019re a long ways away. They moved in there about two-and-a-half years ago. We still\u2014we have walked by their house on numerous occasions. Now, one of the reasons is they\u2019ve got a dog that looks like it would like to bury you if you engage!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I take dog treats when I go out in my neighborhood. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Well, you know, that might not be a bad idea; but we still haven\u2019t engaged. I feel\u2014I really feel guilty. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> And embarrassed, too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> And embarrassed. Ashamed that, you know, maybe I\u2019m closer to Bob and Mary Ann\u2019s zero than I care to realize\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> [Laughing] We have brand-new next-door neighbors.\u00a0 One of these days, we\u2019re going to go introduce ourselves to them. They just\u2014I mean\u2014they are brand-new. As they were moving in, I was thinking, \u201cWe\u2019ve got to go knock on the door and take some banana bread or do something;\u201d you know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Well, we\u2019re busy! We\u2019re really busy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Quit making excuses!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You know, you\u2019re never going to have time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That\u2019s right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You\u2019re never going to have a clear day on your calendar. Your house is never going to be clean enough. You\u2019re never going to have all of the answers, but you just have to do it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s what I decided to do. I called it the Rosewood Caf\u00e9 because we lived on Rosewood Drive. I invited 89 of my neighbors over for coffee. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> So you just kind of jumped into the deep end of the pool\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Whoa, whoa, whoa!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I did; I did. And you know what I\u2019ve found? When you\u2019re starting something new like that, you have to\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Eighty-nine! Did you say 89?!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes, I made 90 invitations, and I gave one to my grandma. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Do you have a big house?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> We do have a big house; and we do have a big neighborhood; but you have to cast a pretty wide net when you start something new like that. I do have to knock on their doors and say: \u201cHi, my name is Amy. I live right over there. I\u2019ve been here for seven, eight, or ten years now. I\u2019m very sorry I don\u2019t know you. I should know you, but I don\u2019t. I would just like to create some community in our neighborhood. I\u2019m having everyone over for coffee and dessert. I really hope you can come.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That sounds like a warm\u2014\u2014I mean, if somebody came to my door and did that\u2014I would kind of feel like, \u201cYou know, we ought to go and just meet these people.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Without fail, people have been so gracious. They say: \u201cYou know what? I don\u2019t know my neighbors either. I would love to do that!\u201d That doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019ll come. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the things that I\u2019ve developed in the kit is a place to write down all of their names, and their dog\u2019s name, and their hobby\u2014and the things that they share because you forget it when you get home. I just try to keep track of that information so that, the next time I see them, I can remember something about them and start those conversations.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That morning\u2014that first morning\u2014when everybody hadn\u2019t arrived yet, were you just going crazy?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I was panicked; yes. I had two problems: \u201cWhat if everyone came?\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right, all 90 of them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u2014and, \u201cWhat if no one came?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Was there an RSVP, though?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I don\u2019t do an RSVP because I want people to have the freedom to come at the last minute. I want it to be low pressure\u2014just, you know: \u201cPlease come.\u201d Besides, RSVP is a lost art. People just don\u2019t do it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> It\u2019s pretty much ignored.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> So you were ready for coffee for 90 and dessert for 90, if they all showed up?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I <em>knew <\/em>they were not <em>all <\/em>going to show up! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut one of the things I thought was, \u201cIf everybody comes, I\u2019m going to run out of coffee mugs.\u201d So, I put on the invitation: \u201cI\u2019ll brew the beans if you\u2019ll bring a mug.\u201d They showed up, clutching their mugs, at my door. I have used that on every invitation since then. All of the Neighborhood Caf\u00e9s, around the country, now use that because bringing a little bit of comfort from their own kitchen\u2014it gives them the courage. It\u2019s an icebreaker or an instant-conversation starter. Women love to have a purpose and some way to participate.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Barbara has done a neighborhood ornament exchange. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy: <\/strong>Beautiful.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>That\u2019s a great way to do it, as well. It is interesting how you can take a group of strangers, and they instantly gel\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014because you do share something in common.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You have, probably, more in common with your neighbors than with some of the people in your own family because you\u2019ve all chosen to come to this same area. Your homes are about the same value and, probably, in about the same condition. You probably are in about the same life stage of kids, job, and career. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s very different than a church gathering\u2014where, at church, people can examine the church, and study the doctrine and the style of worship, and decide to come there. In church, you know, everyone is kind of on the same spiritual page. In your neighborhood, though, you have all of these demographic factors in common, but you don\u2019t know where they are in faith. So, having a neighborhood faith gathering is a little different.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I think people are isolated and lonely today. I think they\u2019re waiting for someone to hang a little bag of coffee and an invitation to bring your own mug\u2014and to have somebody say, \u201cI\u2019ll brew the beans if you come.\u201d Did you find that they arrived, really wanting to talk and really glad somebody had kind of crossed the property line, so to speak?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Absolutely! We are just\u2014all of us, in every neighborhood\u2014just desperate for that friendship. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDo you know women spend 20 minutes a day on Facebook<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>? That doesn\u2019t seem like a lot when you do just 90 seconds here or there\u2014that adds up to, over three weeks, at a full-time job. I really think, though, that these social networks\u2014they are a symptom of our need for these face-to-face relationships. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere is an epidemic of loneliness. I mean, doctors and nurses call it an epidemic. Loneliness affects us, physically, in our ability to recover from sickness\u2014in our ability to heal. It affects our genetics. Do you remember the song, <em>I\u2019m So Lonesome I Could Cry<\/em>?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Don\u2019t mention songs!! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> [Singing] \u201cDid you heeeaaarrr that lonesome\u2014\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> See? This is what happens when you\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You don\u2019t realize? You don\u2019t listen to <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>often; do you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Well.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> [Singing] \u201c\u2014found the place\u2014\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> See? This is what happens!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> It\u2019s beautiful.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Thank you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Wow. You\u2019re an ambassador. [Laughter] That\u2019s why you\u2019re good at hospitality.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You know, I had a Raggedy Ann and Andy record player when I was a kid. I had my dad\u2019s old 45s, and I had that little record. I would write down the lyrics. It just broke my heart. That song was so sad. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut, you know, at that time\u2014when that song was written\u2014less than 10 percent of homes had only one person living in them; but by 2010, that number had gone up 250 percent.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Wow!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> One in four of the homes, on your street, is one person living alone. It can be very, very lonely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> In that first gathering\u2014folks coming and bringing their mugs\u2014did you have a program planned?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> No; no.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Everybody just visited?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> It\u2019s an open house. I love those home shows, on TV, where you get to go house hunting. I love to go to open houses in my neighborhood and in my town\u2014just to see what people\u2019s lives are like. Why wait until you\u2019re moving out to have an open house?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Do it while you\u2019re still there. I just do\u2014it\u2019s an old-fashioned concept. People used to do it all the time, especially around the holidays\u2014an open house. I have it for about 90 minutes. I serve refreshments. There is no agenda. There is no Bible study. There is no Scripture reading. There may not even be a prayer because I want it to just be very open. I don\u2019t want it to be awkward for people.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI never hide the fact that I\u2019m going to invite them to come back for a devotional, but I also want to have this time. I tell people when I invite them, \u201cRegardless of your desire or your ability to be a part of this, ongoing, just come and meet the neighbors.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> So this <em>is <\/em>an entr\u00e9e for you? This first event\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> The open house is the entr\u00e9e; absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> And what you\u2019re hoping is that some of those who come will come back for something more?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> And they do.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Have you found that a certain percentage out of\u2014if you invite 100, can you expect 20-25?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Fifteen to twenty. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Fifteen to twenty?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes, if you invite 100.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> So about 20 percent, max?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes. It depends on how well you know them already. It depends on how you invite them. If you do the mailbox stuffing, like I did\u2014I should clarify\u2014you can\u2019t put anything <em>in <\/em>the mailbox\u2014that is a federal offense\u2014but you can hang it on the mailbox, or on the door, or if you do a personal invitation.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> I\u2019m just thinking that I\u2019ve violated the federal law.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I was, too!\u00a0 [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I don\u2019t want to get you in trouble!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> If the Feds want to call me, I know where Bob lives.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I was just very careful about what I admitted to, Bob.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes, but I know where you live, too! We\u2019ll put you under oath! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe women who came\u2014coming from all different backgrounds\u2014a lot of them\u2014no spiritual lights on in their lives?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Definitely. We represent, over the course of the years that I\u2019ve had this in the home, probably 20 local churches in my area. Then, many of no church background at all\u2014and no interest in that at all. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> And when you say to these women, at the open house\u2014do you kind of get everybody\u2019s attention and say, \u201cHey, I just want to let you know\u2014in two weeks, I\u2019m going to be doing this\u2026.\u201d?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Absolutely. At some point, in the open house, people will be sitting around, drinking coffee, and making connections with the other women there. That\u2019s a good time to just say: \u201cThank you all for coming. I\u2019m glad to have met you and have you in my home. We drive by each other\u2019s places all of the time.\u201d You know, women are dying to see inside your house\u2014they really are! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI\u2019m so thrilled to meet you, face to face!\u201d I have a guest list, where I try to get their information so we can stay connected. I just say: \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve had so much fun doing this that I\u2019d like to continue. I\u2019d like to invite you back every other week,\u201d\u2014in my case. Women can decide what works for them. I give them a little card\u2014a reminder card\u2014that has the dates and the times that we\u2019ll continue to meet again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOf the women who come to the open house, some will continue to come back and some will not. I usually run my gatherings from January through May. Then, I take off for the summer. Then, I do it again in the fall\u2014September, October, and November.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Every other week?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Every other week. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> About what percentage\u2014if you had 20 people come to your open house, what could you expect to show up for your Bible study or your devotions?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> If you had 20 come to your open house, which would be a stunning, spectacular turn-out, you could expect four to five to continue to come back.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> I just have to ask you: \u201cDo you think there\u2019s a personality type that does what you do?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI mean, it just seems, to me, that there are people, who are listening and going,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u201cNo way, lady!!\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cI\u2019m not\u2014my last name is not Lively\u2014okay? So, I\u2019m not a person who can do this neighborhood caf\u00e9 thing\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I would say that this is probably not a method that\u2019s going to work for everybody, and that\u2019s fine; but the command to love God and love our neighbors doesn\u2019t say \u201c\u2026if you\u2019re an extrovert,\u201d or, \u201c\u2026if you have a nice house.\u201d So, we all have to find our own way. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor women who want to do something that is reaching many neighbors, at one time\u2014 which really saves a lot of our valuable time\u2014to somebody who is looking for just a very natural way to open up their home, this is a great tool for that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf this is not your personality, then I love to help people find the way that works for them. For you guys\u2014maybe, it\u2019s you work on cars. You know, you see somebody with their hood up\u2014well, my goodness! Stop and say, \u201cHey!\u2014\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u201cCan I help?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Yes; \u201cCan I help? What are you doing?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> That would not be a good way to make a friend\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Okay! If you see someone singing on their front porch, you should stop and join in the harmony.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014their car\u2019s going to be at Firestone<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, after the weekend, if I tinker with it! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Tell everybody about the box you\u2019ve put together and the resource you\u2019ve created to try to help women.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> It is called The Neighborhood Caf\u00e9 kit. It has everything needed to start a neighborhood Bible study. It has a book that explains how I did this\u2014\u201cHow did Jesus do it!? How did He relate with His neighbors?\u201d He\u2019s our ultimate example. It gives lots of Scriptures that inspire us to reach out to people and tells how other women have done it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt has a planning guide, which is just a spiral-bound book to stick in your purse. That\u2019s where you can write down the names of people that you meet and, \u201cDid they said they could come?\u201d It has recipes. It has tools to help you get your home ready. The invitation is in there\u2014the actual pre-printed invitation. You just fill out your name and contact information to pass it out\u2014a follow-up card called a \u201cThinking of you\u201d card because how many times do you think, \u201cI should really send them a card!\u201d or, \u201cThat was a great conversation,\u201d or, \u201cI\u2019ve missed seeing that person.\u201d? So, it has a card to follow-up. That reminder card, that I pass out\u2014that has the dates and times\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u2014that\u2019s in there, for you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere\u2019s also a little\u2014I call it a mini-magazine called <em>Espresso<\/em>\u2014to\u00a0 help start the conversation. When you do have women\u2014from so many different backgrounds\u2014different interests\u2014who may or may not know each other\u2014you have strangers, along with good friends in the room\u2014this just helps everyone start a natural conversation that then goes, eventually and gradually, into the spiritual realm.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You know what I really like about the kit is that it comes with a complimentary clean house by Bob Lepine. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> You don\u2019t want to see your house after I\u2019ve cleaned it! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You know, you only have to do one room! Figure out where you\u2019re going to sit and do one room\u2014maybe, the bathroom\u2014and that\u2019s it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Put everything\u2014I have a friend who puts everything in the bathtub. She puts everything in bags.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> We close doors\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> Sure! You should.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014you know; and put a sign over it that says, \u201cOff limits.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I have figured out\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> And lock the door so that there\u2019s no way that they can get in! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u2014if it\u2019s not easy for me, it\u2019s not going to be fun for my guests. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI use paper plates and store-bought food to keep it simple. There are so many things out there to make this easy. The point is not about having the perfect house. The point is not entertaining and being extravagant. The point is to enjoy the people that you\u2019re with.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> And I want to encourage women to get this\u2014and not just because Bob comes with the kit, to clean your house [Laughter]\u2014but this really will, I think, move you off the couch and into action. A lot of our listeners are feeling like I\u2019m feeling right now\u2014ashamed that I\u2019ve walked by this couple\u2019s house, now, for months\u2014and they\u2019ve not been outside. That\u2019s a good excuse, too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u201cYou\u2019re off the hook!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> But we just need to stop\u2014we need to stop. Barbara and I\u2014the next time we\u2019re out and about, walking in the neighborhood\u2014need to be intentional and take a little gift or something\u2014and go by and say, \u201cHi,\u201d and introduce ourselves\u2014just do what you did, which is\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> I would love to hear how that goes for you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes; and hope that the dog doesn\u2019t bury us in the backyard.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> You know, when you do that, you will be so amazed and delighted at the people God has put around you. It says in Acts 17:26 that He has chosen the exact places that we should live and the time that we should live there. He was in our neighborhoods long before any homeowner\u2019s association or engineering study. These people are there for His purposes in our lives\u2014the needs in these homes\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Amy:<\/strong> \u2014I know what they are because I\u2019ve had them in my own home\u2014the loneliness, as we talked about; the frustration; the fears; the addictions; the pain; the sickness\u2014also, the joy; and the fellowship; and the friendship that is waiting there. That is so\u2014the risk is so small compared to the reward when you <em>finally<\/em> go out and meet those people. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, when I drive through my neighborhood, and I go by these homes\u2014that, now, I\u2019ve been into and they\u2019ve been into mine\u2014I feel safe. I feel secure\u2014not only because we\u2019re looking out for each other, in a very literal sense\u2014but because I have finally, after much debate with the Lord, found the blessing of obedience to His number two command.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> And I think there are a lot of people who feel like you feel. When they start to sit down and think about doing it, they get overwhelmed. What you\u2019ve done, as a service for all of us, is to put together the kit\u2014that you\u2019ve put together\u2014called The Neighborhood Caf\u00e9\u2014that has everything you need so that you can reach out to your neighbors in a whole new way. It\u2019s got a planning guide. It\u2019s got a checklist. There\u2019s a Facebook group for those who are doing this. There are open house invitations.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou really have taken the years of your experience and made it easy for everybody by putting this resource together. If folks are interested in finding out about how they can host their own open house\u2014have their own neighborhood caf\u00e9 \u2014go to FamilyLifeToday.com and click on the link you find there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAgain, the website is FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call, toll-free, 1-800-FL-TODAY. That\u2019s 1-800-358-6329. That\u2019s 1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then, the word, \u201cTODAY\u201d.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI got a nice email from one of our listeners, recently, who wrote and said: \u201cI\u2019ve been listening to your program, now, for close to four years. I want you to know the program has blessed me so much during my daily drive to work. I am filled with such joy that I\u2019m donating, for the first time, to your program. Keep up the fantastic work! You are advancing God\u2019s Kingdom. Many blessings to you\u2019ll and to your loved ones.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat was a nice note from a listener who has been tuned in for four years\u2014after four years, said, \u201cI\u2019m going to make a donation to help support that ministry.\u201d The cost of producing and syndicating this program is something that is covered by folks, like you, who pitch in, from time to time, and help us out. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00 <\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMaybe, you\u2019ve been listening for four years. Maybe, it\u2019s only been four months. Maybe, it\u2019s been longer than that. We would love to have you be a part of the team that makes <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>possible. Would you consider going, online, today to make a donation or calling 1-800-FL-TODAY to make a donation over the phone? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis week, when you make a donation, we\u2019d like to say, \u201cThank you,\u201d by sending you the <em>Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember<\/em> audio book\u2014Barbara Rainey\u2019s book in dramatized fashion in an audio book form\u2014something the whole family could listen to. It\u2019s our thank-you gift to you, this week, when you go to FamilyLifeToday.com and click the button that says, \u201cI CARE\u201d, to make an online donation; or you call 1-800-FL-TODAY. Make your donation over the phone. Just request the audio book when you get in touch with us; or request the audio book when you write to us and include a donation. Our mailing address is P O Box 7111, Little Rock, AR. Our zip code is 72223. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to encourage you to be back with us again tomorrow when we\u2019re going to talk more about hospitality. We\u2019re going to talk about what a pain it is\u2014because, I mean, you\u2019ve got to work hard and get the whole house all spick-and-span before you can even <em>think<\/em> about inviting the neighbors over\u2014or maybe not. Amy Lively has some thoughts about that, and we\u2019ll talk about it tomorrow. I hope you can tune in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2013 FamilyLife. 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