P's Picks for the Week of July 23-29

Sorry this is a late post this week, we have had a week at our household: new jobs, doctor appointments(both children yearly check-ups) and other stuff like getting ready for a 1 year olds birthday party. so here is my picks of the week:


Deal of the week: Dickie's BBQ on Sunday Kid's Eat Free

We have Dickie's BBQ in Dallas and loved it.  The one in Cool Springs is smaller than Texas Dickie's but just as good.  Kids eat Free on Sunday and Oh by the way! everyday for kids and kids at heart, they have free Ice Cream cones.

8113 Moores Lane, Ste 1900
Brentwood, TN 37027

Every Sunday at every Dickey’s Barbecue, kids eat free. One Kid’s Meal with $10 purchase per adult. Dine-in only. 12 and under.  


Video You Should Watch: Youth Sports, INC.

This video is eye opening in a lot of ways.  I love youth sports but I do think this is a video makes you reevaluate the way we do youth sports.  I can't wait for the day to be at the ball fields.  But youth sports has become more about the hope of striking it rich. Instead of enjoying the present time we have with the children we coach or parent and teaching those valuable lessons that only sports can teach us.

Youth Sports = Big Business


Person You Should Know: Eric Thomas

I listen to a podcast of him while cutting grass this week.  I finished cutting the grass and then try to run through a brick wall.  His story and his speeches are amazing.  Visit his website and search Youtube for his speeches.

Twittier handle: @Ericthomasbtc

Website: http://etinspires.com

Clip of one of his talks


Something I Love: Enneagram

What is the Enneagram? Here is what Wikipedia says Enneagram is a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types.

My favorite book on the Enneagram Road Back to You   Also, You can find a link to the Podcast is great on that website.

New book about relationships The Path Between Us

Here where you can take the test to find you number:  TEST

This is how it has blessed my life.  First of all it is help me to know my trueself in order to be the person I was fully created to be.  One of the best things you can do in your marriage is know your number and your spouse's number.  Than google "a marriage between a ___ and a ____ Enneagram. " This has help Heidi and myself out a bunch.  I am a 9 by the way and Heidi is the poster child for a 1. Look up 1's in the dictionary and you will see her picture.  I believe if you spent time with the enneagram, you will begin to love it too.  Warning it takes time!

This is a older book on enneagram but it is the next book I have on my wish list to read. The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective


Birthday of the Week: Wrigley Blaze Peters  July 27, 2017

I might be a little bias but my only son turns one on July 27th.  He has brought so many joys, smiles, laughs, clean ups and messes to our life.  He really has come in like a wrecking ball but he is a happy 100mph wrecking ball.  Happy Birthday Bubba!!!!  

This is him eating Black Beans at Blue Coast yesterday.


And, as always, please give me feedback on Twitter or Facebook. Which Pick above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Let me know! Just @mikep11 and put #P'spicks at the end so I can find it.

P's Picks of The Week For July 16-22

P's Picks of The Week For July 16-22


Deal of the Week: Nashville Burgerweek, July 16-22 in Nashville. Restaurants are offering $5 burgers. If you click on the link below you will see the places that are participating in Nashville Burger week.  Also click on the logo for address, the burger offered and hours of operations.  One of my favorite burgers in Nashville Rotier's the frenchbread burger is on there and I had my one today.  


Nashville Burger Week Places




Ted Talk You Should Watch: This Ted Talk is under 10 minutes but words I need to hear. The world needs to be a little more "Childish".  

What Adults Can Learn From Kids



Bible Verse I Am Thinking About:  1 John 4.4 
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  


Podcast I Am Listening Too: Read to Lead Podcast by Jeff Brown.   This podcast is good and bad.  Good in the sense that it will enlighten you, make you grow and become a valuable resource. Bad in the sense that I now have a book wish list a lot longer since listening to this podcast. 

Read To Lead Podcast



My Picture of the Week:

A view of the sunset from 42nd street is seen during "Manhattanhenge" on July 12, 2018, in New York City.

Atilgan Ozdil / Anadolu Agency / Getty

This Week in History:  July 20 1969  
Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin become the first men to walk on the moon.



Birthday of The Week:   Robin Williams        Born July 19, 1952- Died August 11, 2014

Patch Adams is still one of my favorite movies,  just like everyone Robin had some demons and a sickness in his life.  It caused him to feel hopeless.  Robin took his own life way to soon. 

Patch Adams Movie Trailer



And, as always, please give me feedback on Twitter or Facebook. Which Pick above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Let me know! Just @mikep11 and put #P'spicks at the end so I can find it.

P's Picks of The Week For July 9-15

Mike P's Picks of The Week For July 9-15


1) Deal of the Week:  Every Tuesday at Toot's you can get 1/2 lbs Bacon Cheeseburger and side for $4.99.  To top this deal off every day at Toot's, Kids get a free Hot Dog basket includes a side and a ice cream treat.  YES! Free.

Locations Link: http://www.toots.com/locations5.php


2) Video of the Week:   UNREAL!!!

Video link:  Bet you can't do this!

Challenge:  You try this shot, film it and post it to my page.  


3) Someone on Twitter You Should Follow:   @inkyjohnson

Make sure you watch a couple of his videos.

@inkyjohnson


4) What I Am Reading:  Captivate: the Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards

Just started reading this book but I heard her on Donald Miller's Podcast.  I thought the subject and content was fascinating.

The books website here


5) News Article You Should Read:  Opioids are causing havoc on many families and communities all over the US.  Here is a article to help sport warning signs so they can get the help and accountability they need.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sponsor-story/blue-cross-blue-shield/2017/01/13/bluecross-how-spot-signs-opioid-abuse-loved-one/96408318/


6) Sermon You Should Listen Too:

"Even That 1 (Seeing the 1 that Every 1 Else Misses, Part 1)" Rick Atchley

To Woodbine Family With Love

I left Nashville one year ago last week to move to Dallas to be with my love Heidi, for the rest of our time here on earth.  It was hard leaving Woodbine Family Church, I love preaching at that church. Sometimes I think I can't preach anywhere else because it would never add up to Woodbine.  In the past year, marriage has been great and I would do it all over again, but I still miss Woodbine.  My next 3 blog posts counting this one is about what I have learned in a year since leaving preaching.  This post i just wanted to share my last sermon at Woodbine with you.  Before this letter, I read an overview of a proposal for funds we wrote for a church in Nashville 9 years earlier. That proposal contained a history and vision of Woodbine Family.  Then as best as I could with tears flowing out of my eyes and cracking in my voice I read this letter to Woodbine Family with LOVE!!!! 

May 2012

Dear Woodbine Family,

Nine years ago on a hot July afternoon, you were born. The AC was out that day. As I look back, a lot has changed. The name(we use to be McIver Church of Christ), some people have came and gone, I will have come, gone, come, gone, come and gone again. What a surprise! Some things have remained the same. James Eubank’s height, our close partnership with YES, and our mission to be Jesus to the people of Woodbine. From the outside looking in: Most people see this lady being crazy and trying to feed and take care of everybody. A Wednesday night church service that gives the minister gray hair and tons of character. I don’t know what most people think when they see Michael Patrick, Robert Sutton, Jovian Hudson in a V-neck with his bike, Pede and Turtle. Toby Keith’s song about a bar might be the best way to explain us: We’ve seen short skirts, high-techs, blue collar boys (Josh McKenzie) and rednecks (John Schmidt). But on the inside, you see heart, love, grace. You see people that pray every day for their own kids and their church kids to become more like Jesus. You’ll see sacrifice and you’ll see people who give and give, sometimes without return. I am amazed at my church family, proud to be a part of them. About 7 years ago, a kid (Shane Schutt) left a picture in my car of him and a volunteer. I look over and saw this girl who caught my eye. I said man! It took about 15 months to wear her down, but I finally did. Then it took her 5 ½ years to ask. Just kidding! I am kidding. I really did ask her. So I have to leave to go see about a girl and her dog. But I believe you are in more capable hands. I knew when Greg and Kim became available, we had to have them here at Woodbine Family, even if it meant firing Kevin. Just kidding! But with Greg, Kevin, and now B-nell on staff, you will be just fine. They have a heart like yours. B-nell is more than a replacement; he is a brother. I wouldn’t leave my kids to just anyone. 

In close, I have two things I want to remind you of: 1) Fight for your dreams. Since the beginning, you have been a part of a dream. The best dreams are those that you are a part of, even when they are way over your head. A dream like eight college students starting a church. If I could give every kid and college student something, I would give them dreams that matter. We dream at Woodbine Family of college degrees, of kids breaking cycles, but more than those things, we dream of you becoming the person God intended you to become. We dream of drug-free neighborhoods. We dream of a world where nightmares only come while people are asleep and not while they are awake. We dream that you fight for your dreams. Satan will try to rob, steal and destroy your dreams. Fight for them! When I was 15, at the Urban Ministry Conference in Dallas, we sung a song called “One More Time” and in it, you would fill in the blank with a word that you were thankful God let you do “one more time”. I chose the word “dream”. God allows dreams for a glimpse of a better world. Growing up, it is all I had sometimes, those thoughts to be someone who mattered. When you’re a 7-year-old boy, running around the projects pretending to be a football star or a basketball star, in order not to have to face the way things are, the demons are reminders of a fallen dark world. But on May 22nd, 1996, I began to understand dreams differently. Not through the lens of hoping for a way out, but hoping for the life and world God intended. That is what we at Woodbine Family fight for. If you would ask me what I’m thankful for, it would be to dream one more time for the world he intended to create. Woodbine Family continues to dream, dreams like Carpenter’s Square. Carpenter’s Square is a dream about dreams – dreams of turning our teens into productive young adults, dreams of college degrees and making the neighborhood a better place. 

The second thing I would tell you is to follow Jesus. My life changed when I met Jesus. I knew of Him. I’d been to VBSs and maybe a couple of church services. But when I met Jesus, my life changed. In following Jesus, there are a lot of perks…forgiveness, which I need every day, is my favorite perk. Another perk is that it really is the best way to live. But when you follow and try to be like Jesus, that is when you are really living. But following Jesus is like a roller coaster ride. It is messy, because sin is messy. But it is nothing to fear. You actually look forward to your days. I know I fail miserably, but I try to follow Jesus. I believe Woodbine Family tries to follow Jesus, where love and grace are the rules, not the exceptions. I was really struggling with life at 21. My grandmother just died. I was heart-broken. I met up with someone and they told me if I wanted to succeed in life, you have to make everything about Jesus and make every day about a better relationship with Jesus. And on my best days, I do that. On my worst days, I do not. If you remember anything about my three stints here, I hope that my love and grace flows out of a love for Jesus and his people. My prayer for you is that you realize Jesus is closer to you than the blood in your veins. 

To Woodbine Family with love.

Michael Peters

Noodles Aren't The Real Problem

You want to see something sad?... Go at the end of the month to your local supermarket and look on the aisle where they sell Ramen Noodles.  Chances are the shelves will be empty.  One might think, "Man, these items are popular!"  But when you look deeper into this issue, you will see that the cause is a little more worrisome.  People buy this because that is all they can afford at this time of the month. At the end of the month food stamps are low. If you get a monthly check, it is running out.  So for 39 cents you can satisfy your hunger.  The bad part is that Ramen Noodles are not healthy. Don't get me wrong! They are not like eating pure lard or anything. But in no way are they good for you.  They are high sodium and low in nutrients.  I am happy that people with low funds have a choice to eat.  Really what I am trying to say in this post is that the church and God's people need to be aware of things like this. Here are a couple of things that will help you serve your community.


1) Check the shelves in your community for one whole month to see if you can see when the greatest needs for food drives are.  Some states release food stamps all at once.  Some states issues food stamps based on the letter of your last name on a certain day of the month.  See if you are in tune with your community flow.  What if your church knew that from the 25th until the end of the month is when the hardest times for the people of the community. Won't that change things for you? Then instead of having a pantry full of processed food, you could have a food drive with fresh fruit and veggies for those days only. The rest of the month, you can give away the usual stuff.


2) The goverment has spent a lot of time to determine how much each family needs. So if families are running out then there is a problem.  The problem is usually mismanagement of funds or abuse of funds.  While there is not a whole lot you can do about the latter,  you can equip people regarding the first one.  Most people in my expereince who get food stamps will go to the store when they get their food stamps and try to buy all the food they need for that month all at once.  Some do this because that is the way their parents did it.  Generational poverty has a way of passing down those little habits.  Some buy once a month due to lack of transportation.  They don't know the next time they will get a ride.  If they could be taught to budget weekly and had a means of transportation, this would go a long way.  Families who seem to shop once a month will blow the leftover thinking they surely got everything they need.  They don't take into account for a visitor at dinner time, growing kids or food going bad.


3) Open your eyes - I wrote a couple of years ago about Jesus being a noticer. (http://mikep23.blogspot.com/2009/11/noticer.html)   Many times, caring for those less fortunate is all about caring enough to open your eyes and walk in their shoes. Recently, I attended a luncheon of an organization and during the lunch I heard all of the bad things that will happen to the people they are serving, if this organization does not help. Meanwhile, there are two tables of people that they serve hearing the outcome of their future, hearing the words of hopelessness that are coming across as pity, and hearing that the people they serve are a step below them.  If someone who had the power would have opened their eyes and noticed that even if this stuff is true, it might not be best for them to hear this.  Just have them outside for this part.  That's all it would take.  Step in their shoes. Don't prostitute the people you serve and the good you do just for a buck.

SO WHAT??????? Do we do with this!

Here are a couple of things:

Have people whose only role is to be a noticer. They walk the supermarkets. They walk streets. They walk the places that people in the neighborhood walk.  Their only job is to ask the question, "What would help people achieve heaven on this earth?  What can restore the kingdom of God to these people and this place?"

Be close enough to people that need budget classes that you can actually offer budget classes.  Be close enough to people that actually need a ride to the store in your community that you can hook them up with a person who could give them a ride.  Most churches/Christians would do these things in a minute  but the sad reality is that our churches are not in touch with these people.  This isn't a field of dreams where you can just program it and they will come.  You have to be in people's lives.

Train people to love and be with people not part of the church.  The church has attempted to be the police of the world's behavior instead of the light of the world.  We try to police people by our laws.  The Bible made it clear that we are foreigners in this world. Our kingdom's greatest laws are to love God and love people.  If the people of God would live by their own laws, our lights would shine brighter.  Which light will the people of God choose to be? Police lights flashing or a light house?  One goes a long way.

Carpenter Sqaure

I have been doing research on what it takes for a first generation urban college student to succeeded as an adult in college or trade school.  Would love to hear your thoughts........

The movation behind the research is for a non-profit I am trying to help get started called Carpenter Square.  It is a big dream but it takes something big to change the world.

 Here is our promotional video:

Carpenter's Sqaure Video




Here are some quotes from my research so far:

The greatest gains in retention rates will result from focusing not only on the selection

process, but also the student-environment interaction after college entry (Thayer,

2000).

Some Student Support Services programs are implementing “learning community”

type strategies. These learning communities help students form supportive peer

groups that extend beyond the classroom (Thayer, 2000).

Effective programs affirm and help students understand that academic success is not

attained through individual achievement alone, but through an axis of support (Gullatt

and Jan, 2003).

From interviews Richardson and Skinner (1992) found that first-generation students

who attended community colleges typically attended part-time and were more likely

than their classmates to have significant work and family responsibilities (Hsiao,

1992).

In terms of enrollment, beginning students who are first-generation students are more

likely than their non-first-generation counterparts to: attend part-time (30 percent vs.

13 percent), live off-campus or with family or relatives (84 percent vs. 60 percent),

not be in a bachelor’s degree program (88 percent vs. 43 percent), delay entering after

high school graduation (46 percent vs. 19 percent), receive aid (51 percent vs. 42

percent), or work full-time while enrolled (33 percent vs. 24 percent) (Nunez and

Cuccaro-Alamin, 1998).

First-generation minority students in one study expressed a need “to find places to

study, meet friends, or seek support … spaces that provided some measure of

‘comfortability’” on campus (Hsiao, 1992).

I AM A CHAMPION!!!!!

Best part of this?  It was for a JV championship game.  I bet you the high school coach said "Man we could have least used this for a 1st round varsity playoff game."

Get ready to want to fight hell with a water pistol!!!