This is part 2 of a 2-part article. Click here for part 1. 

Asking Good Questions

Before we move on to the next step in the BUDDI System, let’s discuss a critical part of becoming a friend–learning to ask good questions.

Much of our anxiety related to getting to know new people comes from the fact that we don’t always know what to say to a stranger. We make an introduction and then the conversation goes cold; nobody knows what to say next. The easiest way to avoid this is to learn to ask questions that will get your new friend talking. Use the questions listed above when you first meet someone and you’ll find Continue Reading »

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. 

You can say virtually anything to a real friend. They will allow you into the secret places of their hearts, seeing their fears, sharing their joys. Even their deepest disappointments and greatest sorrows are open to you if you are one of these. But if you are an outsider, you can forget it. You are kept at a different distance. You haven’t earned their trust so you can approach the compound but not get inside the gate.

To build a real disciple, you must be the former. God and faith are sacred, emotional, and personal things to most people. Some have been so hurt by religious people, some have terrible sins to hide, and others are just hard headed and stubborn (and need to be told!). But whatever the case, to go where you need to go and deal with the issues you need to deal with, you have to gain the trust that is only given to a genuine friend.

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“Wall Street Freefall” was recently the lead story on the internet. If it isn’t Wall Street, it’s home mortgages; if not mortgages, it’s the election; if it’s not the election…well, you get my point.

The bad news is not hard to come by, but are all these bad things really that bad for us?

I would say No! In fact, I believe the things that are going on now are actually very good and should encourage us as Christians. Let me explain.

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