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Tribes: A Group Blogging Project – #Tribes

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tribes_godin_coverPart of the Tribes: A Group Blogging Project by Church Crunch based on the book Tribes by Seth Godin.

The Posture of a Leader

This is the bottom line of a leader of a tribe. If the leader doesn’t get the message across, then it’s the leader’s fault, not the fault of the listener. If the leader’s call to action doesn’t occur, then it’s the leader’s fault. In more of a ministry application: if your sermon is putting people to sleep, it’s your fault. If people feel unwelcomed in your church, then it’s your fault. If the community around you isn’t impacted by your church and feels as though your church is just taking up space, then it’s your fault. Let’s quit blaming our people for not making the best decision and train them instead. Let’s quit wondering why people are unmotivated and lead them by example. Let’s quit trying to figure out why you don’t have much influence and instead listen to your people.

Switching Trbes

Where are the people going to come from to join your tribe? It’s our normal inclination to attract people like us. It’s easy to do and it’s comfortable. But it’s the people on the fringe that will add to your tribe. It’s the marginalized people. It’s people on the outside. We need to interact with people not like us, not the popular ones, not the ones who already have an agenda. Often we have misunderstood who our neighbor is when God commands to love him and love our neighbor. Our neighbor is one who is on the fringe. You reach the marginalized and you will reach the masses. That’s what Jesus did.

Innovation CurveNot Now, Not Yet

Do you have an idea that would take your organization to the next level? Do you have a vision that would completely change the way you do things for the better? Then your biggest enemy to making it happen isn’t the opposition or the road blocks you may face, but you telling yourself “not yet.” As John Maxwell says, “there are those leaders who have a great idea and they get ready, they aim, aim, aim aim…” At some point you have to pull the trigger before the target it long gone.

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You Are Here

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You Are Here from ItLooksGood on Vimeo.

www.catalystconference.com

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Orphan Summit – Session 3

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  • 11:10 AM Jason - Elizabeth Styffe, Executive Director of the Saddleback Orphan Initiative is going to speak.
  • 11:07 AM Jason - Meredith Andrews was a blessing to listen to…she led worship this morning.

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Orphan Summit – Session 1

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  • 10:47 AM Jason Jeong - From the Christian Alliance for Orphans – Summit V
    Opening video, “Why are you here?…You are here because in me they will find compassion, hope, and a future.” – “for in you the fatherless find compassion” ~Hosea 14:3

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This Changed Everything

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change-we-can-believe-in-800pxOur past election was a monumental moment in history. What struck me the most was not the fact that the first African-American was elected into office, but the message that was sent by Obama and his campaign. Obama was about change. He said statements like “Obama for change,” “change we can believe in,” and “the change we need.” There were news articles saying that the inauguration of Obama was a sign of hope and change. People wanted change. Change from their current situations. Change from their current struggles. People wanted hope in their future. Don’t we all want change that gives us hope for the future?

Here we all are together on this Easter Sunday, where we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Millions of people around the world are coming together to celebrate a God who so loved us that He sent His one and only Son to die for us on the cross so that we may come to know the one, true, living God. And not only did Jesus die for us so that our sins may be forgiven, He was risen from the dead to defeat death so that we may have eternal life with God the Father. I just unpacked the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, and many of you just heard it and it didn’t do anything for you. I really want you to wrap your head around this! God wanted you so bad that He took on the form of a human being as Jesus, lived a sinless and perfect life, died on a cross, was buried, and then on the third day was resurrected! THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING! This was the change that gave us hope for all eternity! This is the truth that I bring you today.

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” ~Mark 4:3-9

Do you really want the truth? Truth is a funny thing. Especially when it comes to spam. I enjoy eating spam. Spam in fried rice, spam in soups, spam in lo mein, spam in just about anything, but please, don’t tell me what spam actually is! What animal really comes in the shape of this can?!?! The can I hold here is spam lite. It’s actually healthy for me! You know I can keep justifying why I can keep eating this stuff, but just don’t tell me what it actually is!

The truth is, many Christians are like this. They take God and make Him into what ever they want Him to be. Some Christians seek God for their self serving motives. They live a life of faith not under the who God truly is, but what we make God out to be. They keep going on that way thinking that as long as I can avoid the truth of who God really is. Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear. Do you really think that God needs you? Do you really think that by your works you can be right with God? Do you really think that God needs your help to accomplish His will? Do you really think that the church that God created through Christ exists for your own pleasure?

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ~Acts 17:24-25

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ~Colossians 1:16

The truth is, Jesus died on the Cross and was resurrected so that God would receive the credit for saving man. Jesus died on the Cross and was resurrected so that God would be worshiped for all eternity. Jesus died on the Cross and was resurrected because God wanted you.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. Our hope for the future does not lay with man, any government, or any worldy things, but our hope for the future lies with God only through believing in Jesus Christ.

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My Character Stains

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stain2stain [steyn] -noun: a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish: a stain on one’s reputation.

Those in leadership will know that the role of being a leader can bring out the best in you and sometimes bring out those character traits that aren’t so good. Here are some of my character stains:

  1. Over Analytical – yea, so I went to Georgia Tech and pretty much everyone is over analytical there (but they make great engineers, but not so good leaders). You give me a riddle and I tell you how that riddle isn’t possible because you said the word “this” instead of “that”. This is my first reaction to things. It leaves people bitter about talking to you. It pushes people away. You become unapproachable.
  2. Know-It-All Questions – too often I find myself asking a question I already know the answer to. Why do I do that? Insecurities as a leader always trying to stay in control. Trying to ask questions to get people to think the way I think. This one leaves people demoralized. It pushes people down.
  3. Mr. Handyman – when people come to me with problems my first reaction is to think of a fix. Come to me with relationship problems? I’ll give you 5 ways to improve your relationship…right. I blame this one on testosterone and the lack of empathy. Thanks to my wife (who is awesomely compassionate and empathetic) I’ve been able to improve in this area, but it’s still a thorn in my side. People don’t share their problems with you so that you can come up with a solution. They want you to feel their pain. Carry their burdens and you will life people up. Giving people a fix will leave them feeling stranded.
  4. Insensitive Multitasking – I am such a do’er and a poor listener that I’ll sit there often times trying to get stuff done while someone is talking to me. Why can’t I just stop what I’m doing the moment people talk to me? Is what I’m doing really more important than the person talking to me? This is one of the fastest ways to shut someone out.
  5. Interrupting Arrogance – it is what it is. When you interrupt someone, what you’re basically saying is that what I have to say is more important what you have to say. That is arrogant and prideful. Boy, I’ve become pretty good at this over the years. At least now it makes me mad when I catch myself doing it. This is one of the best ways to make someone angry or in turn not listen to you.

Why am I putting all these things in the open? First, I’m sorry about these things I do that is not a reflection of God’s character. Second, because I desperately need the help of the people around me to keep me accountable. It’s not like I’m saying anything new to the people who already know me (especially those I have the privilege of leading).

Let me tell you about the grace of God…His blood washes your stains and makes you white as snow…

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Unleash 2009 – Session 2

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  • 4:01 PM Jason - Perry Noble wearing a new shirt…
  • 4:02 PM Jason - this session is talking to the leaders
  • 4:03 PM Jason - for a church to reach its potential, you have to have leaders that are on fire for Jesus
  • 4:08 PM Jason - aren’t there days you just wanna quit? didn’t people tell you church work was gonna be easy?
  • 4:09 PM Jason - people in the church can be the meanest people on the planet…”I’m a devil’s advocate”…he don’t need a freaking advocate
  • 4:10 PM Jason - about staying in the game…how to stay in the game. ask yourself four questions
  • 4:10 PM Jason - Question 1: How is with me?
  • 4:12 PM Jason - Exodus 33:12 – I wanna lead, I wanna take them, but before I do this, I gotta know who’s with me
  • 4:13 PM Jason - average stay for a pastor in the US is 22 months
  • 4:13 PM Jason - Senior Pastors, before you can have people buy into you, you have to first buy into your people
  • 4:14 PM Jason - senior pastors, do your pastors and staff know that you are there and that you love them? what kind of comittment do you have to them?
  • 4:15 PM Jason - Satan doesn’t want to split your church, he wants to split your [staff] leaders
  • 4:17 PM Jason - let me tell you something about your pastor that he doesn’t tell you…he’s got a weight on his shoulder that you cannot imagine
  • 4:20 PM Jason - sheep don’t lead the shepherd…at the end of the day, the leader will have to lead, and he will be held accountable; you sheep have to have the leader’s back
  • 4:21 PM Jason - Question 2: Am I pleasing You (God)?
  • 4:26 PM Jason - Exodus 33:13 – do you desire to please God?
  • 4:28 PM Jason - Pastors, are you a prophet or prostitute? are you getting paid for a service that made them feel good. some of you might have to get out of church work to get back into ministry. Church work is about pleasing people and ministry is about pleasing God
  • 4:29 PM Jason - The Four Questions:
    Do I understand that ministry is received not achieved?
    Am I placing limits on me that God hasn’t placed on me?
    Will we see you?
    What’s Next?
  • 4:30 PM Jason - the reason that we are in ministry is by the mercy of God; he knows every mistake you have made, but yet he has called you in ministry; we depend too much on our ability rather than anointing
  • 4:34 PM Jason - are we providing the type of atmosphere where people kissed toilets all week long and leave understanding repentance and forgiveness?
  • 4:35 PM Jason - when was the last time you were so desperate for God to show up and do something only He can do?
  • 4:36 PM Jason - do you want attendance or repentance?
  • 4:38 PM Jason - the church is the body…if you close the back door of the body…LOL
  • 4:41 PM Jason - New Spring cannot explain what happened…cannot explain the number of people that show up
  • 4:43 PM Jason - Exodus 33:18 – at the end of the day, people just need to see how awesome God is
  • 4:44 PM Jason - what does God want to do next in your church?
  • 4:45 PM Jason - Fox news talked about the decline of Christians…what if that can change? What if five years from now Fox news reports on something incredible happening in the church?
  • 4:48 PM Jason - do you want the ball? do you want to advance the ball? you might get hit, you might get injured, but do you want the ball? who want’s the ball?

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Unleash 2009 – Session 1

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  • 10:34 AM Jason - the church is on cruise control, but we have power under the hood…stomp it.
  • 10:28 AM Jason - 2 Kings 7:8-12 - God used four men with leprosy to set a city free; God wants your church to set your city free;it’s about the numbers, what’s wrong with wanting a great number of people to come to know Jesus? Acts 2:47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:1, 6:7, 9:31, 11:21, 14:1, 14:21, 16:5

    (personal question, are numbers the focus or are numbers the by product?)

  • 10:20 AM Jason - Question 3: are you serious about preaching the word?what do these mean? our church is…
    contemporary - a sweater vest wearing pastor
    blended - to keep people happy to reach nobody
    missional - duh? it’s like saying fish like water
    emergent - we’re a bunch of spoiled former church kids that have a problem with authority and the authority with scripture
  • 10:13 AM Jason - B) Ignore the Jackasstoo many pastors are not focused enough on the vision rather than focused on the jackass

    two types of jackasses:
    1. there are those people who criticize who have never been to that church or know the pastor; you are only as deep as the last person you served; if you were full of Jesus, other things wouldn’t matter
    2. people of your church

  • 10:08 AM Jason - What actions can be taken? A) Investigate the Obvious; is there anything you are manufacturing energy for?do you have programs that are manufactured?
    do you have greeters that suck at greeting?
    do you have singers that don’t belong (it doesn’t matter if they have a good heart)?

    there are people (Perry has) that can say anything that needs to be said behind closed doors

  • 10:07 AM Jason - stop asking and seeking permission and start seeking submission
  • 10:06 AM Jason - The men with leprosy got up and went…took action, and God delivered them (2 Kings 7:5-7)
  • 10:04 AM Jason - Christians have used prayer as an excuse for inactivity
  • 10:03 AM Jason - Perry had a size 50 waist. You know how he lost it? He got is running shoes on and started to run; he was willing to do the work to make the change
  • 10:02 AM Jason - Question 2: Are we willing to work?
  • 10:01 AM Jason - we as pastors need to get out of the business of competing with one another and get in the business of completing with one another
  • 9:59 AM Jason - we (New Spring) spend money on the youth…the world is spending on them…why not the church?
  • 9:57 AM Jason - the disciples were able to teach, preach, and lead because much of the other work was done by the people
  • 9:55 AM Jason - Acts 6 - disciples recognized that there were things that they shouldn’t be doing
  • 9:53 AM Jason - you gotta be willing to make financial changes…don’t ever let money drive the voice of change
  • 9:52 AM Jason - Acts 4:32 - there were financial changes that occurred; people sold fields…
  • 9:50 AM Jason - Acts 4 - went from 3000 to 5000…you think things changed?
  • 9:48 AM Jason - Acts 2:41 - do you think things changed? going from 120 to 3000? the church changed!
  • 9:46 AM Jason - if your church is manageable, then God is not there! you cannot management the movement of God
  • 9:44 AM Jason - the idea of change comes from Acts
  • 9:43 AM Jason - some churches need to die; churches have a choice of change or die
  • 9:42 AM Jason - everybody can look at another church and point out things that need to change…but can you look at your own church? are you married to your own ideas or are you married to the ideas of God?
  • 9:40 AM Jason - you will never be comfortable to hear the voice of God unless you are comfortable with embracing change
  • 9:39 AM Jason - God uses four men with leprosy to start a movement of change…God will use the least
  • 9:38 AM Jason - Question 1: Are we willing to embrace change?
  • 9:38 AM Jason - to get back to building God’s Church, three questions must be asked (from 2 Kings 7):
  • 9:34 AM Jason - it doesn’t belong to anyone except God
  • 9:33 AM Jason - instead of asking God to build His church, we are asking Him to build up our church
  • 9:32 AM Jason - Matthew 16:18 - there is a major breakdown in communication between Jesus and the Church
  • 9:32 AM Jason - shagging in the south (especially in SC) means dancing…not the north; there was major breakdown in communication when Tony Morgan came to work for New Spring
  • 9:26 AM Jason - Perry Noble (tall guy) kicking things off

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Self(less) Reflection

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hand-with-reflecting-sphere-mc-escher-1935I found myself humbled while I was browsing around the social media sites. I’ve got a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter profile, and coutless other social media accounts and profiles. You know what they all have in common? Me. When I came to that realization, I was humbled by God. You see all these profiles in a way represent my deep self-centeredness and the sin of selfishness. It was all about what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, where I’m at, what I’m reading, and what I’m interested in. So the question that God asked me was, “are you making a name for yourself or making a name for Me?”

Think about it (especially you social media addicts like me). How often do you look at how many people are following you on Twitter? How about how many friends you have on Facebook? Or the enjoyement you get when people leave you comments on your blog, your notes, and reply to your Twitter posts? It’s so easy to get self consumed in yourself. It’s not easy separating yourself and the sin of self-centeredness.

It’s so easy to sit there and work on making a name for yourself…it’s so not about me…

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

How much time are you spending making a name for yourself?

illustration by MC Escher, 1935

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Adoption Misconception

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OrphansAs well tell more and more people about our plans to adopt a child it seems that there is a common misconception people have on why we are choosing to adopt. This is just an opinion, but it seems like most people believe adoption to be the last resort to having kids. It’s the choice to make if you can’t have your own biological kids! So we get comments like “we’re praying that you’ll have kids of your own” or “we’re praying that you’ll get through this difficult time”.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with adopting because you are unable to have biological children, but this mentality has to change if Christians are to answer the call to care for orphans. So to set the record straight, my wife and I are adopting because we feel called to adopt and care for orphans in that way. We do desire to have biological children, but our greater hope is to raise up God-honoring and God-fearing kids!

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” - James 1:27

So what is your understanding of why people adopt?

photo credit: SSTEC

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