Art of Neighboring, The: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside your Door [Kindle Edition]

Jay Pathak (Author), Dave Runyon (Author), Randy Frazee (Foreword)

Book Description

Once upon a time, people knew their neighbors. They talked to them, had cook-outs with them, and went to church with them. In our time of unprecedented mobility and increasing isolationism, it's hard to make lasting connections with those who live right outside our front door. We have hundreds of "friends" through online social networking, but we often don't even know the full name of the person who lives right next door.

This unique and inspiring book asks the question: What is the most loving thing I can do for the people who live on my street or in my apartment building? Through compelling true stories of lives impacted, the authors show readers how to create genuine friendships with the people who live in closest proximity to them. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make this book perfect for small groups or individual study.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What if Jesus meant that we should love our actual neighbors?

When Jesus was asked to sum up everything into one command, he said to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Most of us have turned this simple idea of loving our neighbors into a nice saying, putting it on bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets and then going on with our lives without actually putting it into practice.

What would happen if every follower of Jesus took the Great Commandment literally? Is it possible that the solution to our society's biggest issues has been right under our noses for the past two thousand years?

"Building relationships with our neighbors leads to better communities, better cities, and ultimately . . . a better world. I encourage you to read this book and to step outside your front door and start making a difference."--Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus

"The Art of Neighboring is a tool that is helping government and faith-based leaders work together to serve their communities."--Reggie McNeal, missional leadership specialist for Leadership Network

"Jay and Dave hold readers accountable to live out the Great Commandment in literal and creative ways. The Art of Neighboring is a unique and necessary addition to any serious Christian's missional library."--Ed Stetzer, author of The Subversive Kingdom

"Thought-provoking yet practical. The truths in the book have the potential to transform not only your life but also your entire community."--Margaret Feinberg, author of Scouting the Divine and The Sacred Echo

"The Art of Neighboring has united many of the churches in Duluth and has helped us to launch a neighboring movement. I'm excited about the influence it is having in my city and its potential to impact other cities around the country."--Don Ness, mayor of Duluth, Minnesota

"The Art of Neighboring is at the forefront of a national movement to renew local communities. This book reminds us all of the value of pursuing relationships with the people who live around us."--John McKnight, co-director of the Asset Based Community Development Institute, Northwestern University

About the Author

Jay Pathak is senior pastor of the Mile High Vineyard, located in a suburb northwest of Denver, Colorado. He also serves as the regional church-planting coordinator for the Rocky Mountain region of the Vineyard.

Dave Runyon is the community development pastor at Foothills Community Church in Arvada, Colorado. In 2009 he led a neighboring movement that mobilized over 20 churches and 15,000 people.

Product Details

• File Size: 773 KB
• Print Length: 209 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 080101459X
• Publisher: Baker Books (August 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0073UN9CQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,166 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Relationships
  • #20 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism
  • #57 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Spiritual Growth

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Has a lingering effect February 1, 2013

By Mark T. Collins

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I finished this book a month ago, and I keep coming back to it. I think about the premise when I leave my house in the morning, when I return in the evening, when I am in the yard with my kids, when people are over at my house. "How am I at loving my neighbors?" Not great if I am honest.

This book has challenged me to love the people who live closest to me. The Art of Neighboring emerged out of conversations taht several pastors had with a town council. After three hours with the mayor he basically told them that they could have a profound effect on their community if they were better neighbors.

The Art of Neighboring is easy to read, practical, and convicting. Don't get this if you want to continue living life in the same way with your neighbors that you have been for years. Read this and prepare to be a better neighbor.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Please take the time to read October 4, 2012

By DM

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is enjoyable to read, but more importantly, full of great ideas. If we could get a few people in each community to read this book and implement its common sense ideas, the world would be a much better place!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars That was mighty Neighborly of You! February 13, 2013

By Robert L. Foster

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Many years ago I preached my Grandpa Foster's funeral. While it was a very difficult thing to do, I was blessed. The order of service for the funeral was unusual. It read, "Services for Robert Lee Foster ... Service performed by Robert Lee Foster."

While preaching the service, I was very nervous and in mourning. I had a very difficult time holding it together but I am called of God and my grandmother asked me to preach the service. I wanted to say "no" but I am glad that I didn't because I would have missed a huge blessing. A blessing that continues to bless me today.

As people where leaving the service, I received many kind words from my family. Many of my grandparent's neighbors and friends who were in attendance that day also shared words of sympathy with me. I started to notice a theme in their comments about my grandfather. They kept telling me about various things that my grandfather had done for them and how much they appreciated my grandfather. Many of them said, "He was a good neighbor."

My grandfather lived his more than ninety years in rural Kansas. He worked on oil rigs into his seventies. He also served the local community church as a lay minister. I am biased (and one of his namesakes) because he is my grandpa. I knew that he was great! But to stand at his funeral and hear the community express their gratitude for his "neighborliness" was a true blessing. I learned something that day: being a good neighbor matters.

A few months back one of my friends stumbled on a recent publication: Jay Pathak and David Runyon, The Art of Neighboring (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012). The title struck a cord with me and I thought that I should read that book. A few weeks went by and then it was offered as a free daily deal on Kindle so I downloaded it. I finished reading it last week and I am impressed.

The basic narrative of the book is a story about a church in Colorado that is trying to find a way to serve their community. They decided to live out the Second Greatest Commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31), not generically but specifically. Consistently though out the book, they remind us,

"The problem is...that when we aim for everything, we hit nothing. So when we insist we're neighbors with everybody, often we end up being neighbors with nobody" (page 35; Kindle, location 382).

The whole book is good, practical advice about how to build a network of people in your neighborhood to care for the needs around you. Themes of friendship, compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation are woven throughout the book. Chapter eleven, "The Art of Forgiving" is a must read for solid, practical advice on "When Neighbors are Enemies...What do you do when you have a neighbor you can't seem to get along with?" (page 156; Kindle, location 1695). [As far as I know, I am currently at peace with my neighbors.]

Many of us would say, "I am too busy to add anything else to my life." And indeed, we are a busy culture. One of the admonitions that they gave to reorient our priorities was "be interruptible."

"The idea of being interruptable is being willing to be inconvenienced. It means developing a mind-set that accepts the interruptions of others" (page 55; Kindle, location 602).

This is one area where I desperately need to improve, with my neighbors, my family, my friends, my students...you get the picture!

You should also check out their website, artofneighboring.com, but it will make more sense once you have read the book. The website includes many excellent resources for living out the teachings in the book. Including:

- a pdf copy of the block map talked about in the book
- how to start a movement guides for both civic and church leaders
- how to cast a vision for your city
- a block party kit
- and a host of other digital resources!

The book is a good book. I hope that you will read it for yourself and think about how you might become an intentional good neighbor.

"Start now, by doing the small things well, and commit to good neighboring as a lifestyle. You have been invited to begin a sacred journey, one that has the potential to change your block, your city, and possibly the world" (page 184; Kindle. location 2014).

My grandpa had that figured out and his neighbors gave witness. Will yours? Will mine?