Nearsighted and Astigmatism

Went to get my eyes checked recently. My optometrist says I am nearsighted and have astigmatism (main symptom: blurriness)...both can be corrected.

Seems like that might describe many churches today...we cannot see in the distance and our vision for today and the future is a bit fuzzy....but both can be corrected.

God's vision is perfect....look for it!

I Can See Clearly

An indicting quote from an unknown author:
"The most pathetic person is someone who has sight, but has no vision."

Dare to dream dreams and seek God's vision for you and your church.

How's Your Vision?

A recent trip to my ophthalmologist indicated less than perfect vision. But let's talk about a different kind of vision.

Joel Barker says this:

Vision without action is a dream.
Action without vision is simply passing the time.
Action with vision is making a positive difference.

Will you and your church make a difference?

Keep Dreaming

Do you ever feel like you and your church are in a rut?

We all see it from time to time.

Keep God's dream/mandate at the forefront. Focus on the target not the circumstances.

Keep on dreaming.

We Don't Want Our Church to Die

More than once I have visited with a church body that said in desperation, "Please help us . We do not want (our church) to die."

Good news! You and your church can make a comeback!

Easy? No, probably not. Worth it? You betcha!

Maybe you need to recharge the batteries...or maybe you need an overhaul.

I would love to help you and your church redream the dream! Let me know.

(I Can Get Mo') Satisfaction

The Rolling Stones said they couldn't get it. Humanity longs for it. God provides it. Satisfaction!

True satisfaction comes in knowing God's will and passionately pursuing (and living) it for the rest of your earthly life. Then comes Heaven. Go for it!

Yearning

Have you ever wanted something so much that you could almost taste it?

May we have that same passion to know God's will! Be thankful that He will grant it! Make sure that you do something with it!

Live the Dream

It is no surprise to most people I know that I love Big XII football. Their TV promo videos are based on the theme "Live the Dream."

My short-term memory may not be exact, but the thoughts behind the promos are to passionately pursue the dream and to live it out.

So, too, must we as God's churches passioantely pursue the unique dreams that God has laid out for us....and we must live those dreams out!

Plan On It

Ed Stetzer, in his book Comeback Churches, has found in his research that churches that do not plan for growth invariably do not grow.

Are you and your church planning for growth?

It's Good for You

Much secular research has been done concerning dreaming. An article I read today concludes with this statement: Dreaming is a necessity and helps to recharge the mind and revitalize the body.

The same could be said concerning the church and dreaming. Dreaming (and re-dreaming) God's unique vision and mandate for the church is a necessity. It helps to recharge the thinking of the church concerning God's direction for the days to come. The ultimate result of obeying (following) that mandate is new life (revitalization) for the Body of Christ.

Keep dreaming. It's good for you and your church!

Dreaming Big Dreams

I like what one pastor (whose church had made a big turnaround in attendance and growth) shared as a major factor in their comeback: there was an ongoing declaration of what God could do--in the past (there was) no big dream.

How long has it been since you and your church declared what God could do? Are you dreaming big (God-sized) dreams?

Does It Count?

"That goal doesn't count! You were..." Bring back childhood memories?

I am at a point in my life that I want everything I do to count for the cause of Christ. To do this I must seek Him, know Him, grow in Him....and to literally take on His mind.

Peter Drucker said that "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." Let's seek God for the things that really count!

Revitalization

I met with some of my DOM peers today for discussion and fellowship. We talked about a lot of things: Great Commission Resurgence, assisting pastor search committees, etc. One of the major take-aways from the meeting was the need to work together to develop a coordinated plan for church revitalization.

Great posssibilities for a definite need.

Lord, We Can't Do That!

Have you ever questioned God about your ability to do something He has asked you to do? "But I am just one person!" "We're just a small church!" "We haven't ever done that before!"

You were right...to a degree. You and your church cannot accomplish God's mandate by yourself!

But let me answer in another way: (J. Hudson Taylor, first missionary to the interior of China said) "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies."

When God calls you to do something, He will provide the way to accomplish it.

What Do Others See?

I've heard it said that persons and organizations are largely explained by their dreams. What do others see when they look at your life and the life of your church?

Of course, we would hope that others would see Jesus in us. (Remember that great old hymn "Let Others See Jesus in You"?) What will we do with Jesus?

Jesus has great plans for you and your church. Seek Him and His plans! You'll be glad you did.

Keep Your Eyes on the Target

"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal." (Vince Lombardi)

Satan will do his best to distract you and your church as you seek to achieve God's unique mandate for your congregation. He will try to deceive, divert and disillusion you and your fellow believers.

Focus on the vision that God has given you. If you do not know what it is, find out and then follow. If your present dream seems dated and lethargic, if it has been awhile since you revisited it, re-dream the dream.

When you find it and you know it, keep your eyes on the target and determine that nothing or nobody will keep you from it.

Get It Together

Henry Blackaby once said, "the potential of each church is enormous, far greater still when they work together."

Are you and your church reaching your potential? Get it together!

Museum or Missional?

I have often visited the oldest church in the United States located in the heart of Santa Fe. Most spiritual activity there is a thing of the past...but they do have tours and a gift shop!

Would you describe your church as missional or museum in practice? Do you dwell on the glory days or are you proactively reaching folks in the 21st Century?

We should honor our past; but meeting needs in our present and future should take precedence over maintaining institutions.

Proactive or Reactive?

What do you and your church spend most of your time doing? Planning and implementing or reacting and problem-solving?

Healthy churches are proactive...less healthy churches are reactive.

Don't skate toward the puck...anticipate where the puck is going and skate there.

Don't Just Dream...Live It!

I saw a nice saying on a paper weight while waiting for my 8:00 appointment this morning at Cracker Barrel. I cannot remember the exact wording, but here is the essence: Don't just dream...live it!

How true for the church as well as for you and me! It is of little use for us to discover God's unique mandate for our churches if we do not live out that dream.

It is What it Is,,,Really?

I have heard the statement "it is what it is" a quadrillion times in the last few months. This may be justified in certain situations, but is it always the final word?

Can we have an effect on the future in our churches and our world? Or must we accept what it is?

Len sweet says we can "hunker in the bunker" (wait until the latest changes blow over) or we can "stick our head in the sand" (pretend our world isn't changing) ...or we can ride the surf of exponential change (proactively seek to have an effect on the future).

I say "surf's up!" Let's make a difference! Redream the dream!