Part 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.
Not 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.
Our 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?
stain [steyn] -noun: a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish: 
I 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?”
As 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”.