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	<title>Life Outside the Lines &#187; Connecting</title>
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		<title>9 Ways to Connect with Your Community</title>
		<link>http://www.ericsherwood.net/2009/05/12/9-ways-to-connect-with-your-community/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ericsherwood.net/2009/05/12/9-ways-to-connect-with-your-community/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 00:14:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Connecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Radical Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ericsherwood.net/?p=117</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So, you have a bunch of friends that don&#8217;t (or won&#8217;t) go to church, but you are hurting for a way to connect with them in the real world.  Been there many times, my friend.  Here are 9 simple ways to connect with anyone: Go to a concert/sporting event:  Especially in Nashville, there is always live [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So, you have a bunch of friends that don&#8217;t (or won&#8217;t) go to church, but you are hurting for a way to connect with them in the real world.  Been there many times, my friend.  Here are 9 simple ways to connect with anyone:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Go to a concert/sporting event</strong>:  Especially in Nashville, there is always live music to be heard. Several minor league sports teams, too.  Check your community calendar and go have some fun!</li>
<li><strong>Volunteer: </strong>Go help serve a meal at the homeless shelter or help out at the local animal shelter. Habitat for Humanity is always a great organization to work with and you might even learn a new skill! There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities in and around your community and I&#8217;ll bet your friends would love to get involved, too.</li>
<li><strong>Invite them over to your house for dinner/dessert</strong>: People gotta eat, right? Why not feed them on your home turf? Give them a chance to see you and hang out with you at home.</li>
<li><strong>Invite them to church/small group</strong>: They don&#8217;t go to church, huh? have you invited them? This one might seem obvious, but it might just be that your friends aren&#8217;t coming because you aren&#8217;t bringing.</li>
<li><strong>Go for a motorcycle ride</strong>: Maybe you don&#8217;t ride a motorcycle. Well, start! Or go for a scenic drive. Or go for a bicycle ride. Get out and spend some time in the world God created.</li>
<li><strong>Host a Guitar Hero/Rock Band night: </strong>Everybody needs to unwind.  Break out the PS3 or Wii and rock out!</li>
<li><strong>Go play (insert your sport here):</strong> Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Golf.  If you have the equipment, why aren&#8217;t you using it as a witnessing tool? Huh? <img src='http://www.ericsherwood.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </li>
<li><strong>Start a book club/study group</strong>: It&#8217;s not as nerdy as it sounds. Surely there is a book that has been written sometime in the history of the printed word that you might find appealing. If you are a student, you&#8217;re gonna be reading it anyway. Invite your friend/classmate to talk about it with you.</li>
<li><strong>Serve Them</strong>: Do they need help moving? What about helping them do a full-on cleaning of their house/apartment? Fixing their car? Volunteer yourself to help them get the mundane done; they will appreciate it.</li>
</ol>
<p>Looking back over this list, I see a recurring theme: <strong>these are mostly things I like to do anyway.</strong> Theoretically, my friends like to do these things, too (would we be friends if we didn&#8217;t like even few of the same things?).  Connecting is simple: find common interests and go do them!</p>
<p>9 is a weird number for a list, so I need your ideas to finish it off.  What are some ways that you (specifically) can connect with your non-believing friends?  Leave your ideas in the comments.</p>
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