Comments on: Practicing Hospitality: Chapter 2

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:18:39 +0000

I’ve posted my thoughts on this chapter on my blog: http://reflectionsofaprincess.blogspot.com/2009/02/practicing-hospitality-chapter-2.html

It’s been good and thought-provoking.

By: Ashley Wells

Ashley Wells — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:56:03 +0000

Again, I posted about this chapter on my blog, http://puttinggodfirstplace.blogspot.com/. This book has been so amazing so far!

-Ashley

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:13:31 +0000

I loved the focus of this chapter – strangers! I’ve always wanted my home to be a place of ministry with open doors for others but too often I have my doors closed! I also appreciated the reminder of the difference between entertaining and hospitality. I want to be prepared to welcome people into my home at any time. I think there is a practical side of this – preparedness!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:11:57 +0000

My favorite quotes from this chapter are, “Food and other elements are merely tools used to express our love for people” and “biblical hospitality is simply ‘love in action’.”

I began to think about other tools used to express our love for people, specifically strangers. Although most of us rarely have strangers in our homes, we do meet strangers every day. The mom and her kids at the park, the checker at the grocery store, the new face on your pew at church. The tools we use to show hospitality to these strangers includes a smile, kind words, appreciation… anything that shows “love in action.”

What’s amazing is how easy these acts of hospitality are! Don’t have to clean house, don’t have to cook, don’t have to clean up after! Just show love!

By: Hannah

Hannah — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:36:46 +0000

This chapter made me realize one way that I’m blessed – because of my upbringing, I don’t confuse entertainment with hospitality. Sure I go out of my way to clean my house and plan a nice meal when company is expected, but I am happy to have people over anytime under almost any circumstances, and don’t stress too terribly much about externals. On the other hand, I only really extend this to people I feel comfortable with – family and close friends mostly. I’m constantly bemoaning everyone’s busy schedules, because I crave company, but have a very narrow focus. I’m coming to realize that I need to step out of my comfort zone and extend my definition of hospitality to people I’m not that familiar with or that comfortable around. Also, I need to realize that hospitality isn’t just something I’m doing for me, but that I should put the focus on other people. And I shouldn’t just think about socializing but on using every opportunity to be a witness for Christ. I’m not sure how to go about doing this, beyond trying to introduce myself to more people at church and other places, and trying to be more friendly instead of shutting down because I’m shy. I also need to be more generous with my resources, although I struggle with this because my husband is not on the same page as I’m trying to be with regards to hospitality or generosity, and I feel like I need to respect his wishes. More to pray about

By: Aja

Aja — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:30:41 +0000

Thanks again for hosting this book study! I would have never have read this book otherwise and it’s been great food for thought. I blogged out it here: http://www.ajaabney.com/blog/2009/02/practicing-hospitality.

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:18:20 +0000

http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2009/02/practicing-hospitality-chp-2.html

By: Cindee Pate

Cindee Pate — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:56:45 +0000

I especially liked Fred Wight’s comment that “guests were viewed as sent by God” and “hospitality therefore became a sacred duty.” Where before hospitality was something I would do mainly for enjoyment of fellowship, I now want to “pursue it” for those of more need. Balance is always important!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:29:39 +0000

Along with Traci, I feel like I don’t have any close friends. I also long for the same kind of community. It is just one excuse after another for me – we live too far away – no will want to drive so far, my kids are sick, I’m too busy, when things settle down, when the weather gets nicer and on and on it goes. Not only is reading the chapter encouraging to me, but I also love the little bit of accountability I have with returning to this book study discussion.
Hospitality re-defined for me = it is not about the food, the presentation, or actually having people come to my house, it is my motive behind the action. How do I know if I am making people feel welcome or not? How do I know if they felt the love of Christ through me? I suppose I need to pray and allow the Lord to show me.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:44:38 +0000

You won an award on my blog.