WHAT ABOUT VISION?

Now I've been a minister for 39 years and I have heard a lot about "Vision". I've preached and talked even more about vision that I have heard. I have always gone with the idea that vision is all about the "church". You've probably read or at least heard the verse Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision the people perish". This was the verse that I hung so much of my belief on.

They say you are never to old to learn and I guess I'm living proof of it. Is it possible that this verse could also mean that when the individual has no vision he is doomed?

Now before you write me off as a some off the wall preacher dude read on.

As I see it, it's the church's job to give a vision to those who attend. The church is good about asking people to come "just as they are" but once they do it's then the churches responsibility to show them that God has a plan for them that goes beyond where they presently are.

The church is to see people through the eyes of God and see them not for what they "are" but for what "they can become". By doing this they will give them a vision of themselves that they have never seen.

So maybe the verse about people perishing if they have no vision is directed more to the individual than the church. I believe it's saying to the church that part of your job is to give people a vision of what God sees in them.

Of course the greatest vision that God has for any of us is that of being in His family. It's all about us coming from where we are to where God wants us to be. It's about us coming into a community (the church) and being directed into a personal relationship with Almighy God.

Todays question is: "What is your concept of "Vision" and how does it come into play with the church?

Click on "comments" below and tell me what you think?

WHAT MAKES A SAFE CHURCH?

I have been reading a book entitled "Risking Church" sub title: creating a place where your heart fels at home. I really like what I'm reading but it brings up some questions that I want to discuss. So for a couple of days I want to see what your opinion is.

Todays question is: What do you think of when you hear the term "Safe Church"?

For me it pretty much means a place where I can be me. A place where I don't need to play the game of "hide my feelings and pretend I'm doing okay". I'm a transparent kind of guy anyway, I don't mind people knowing whats going on in my life. I used to administer a 12 step program for recovering alcoholics and I always had a problem with the idea of being anonymous. My thinking was if I'm going to get help, I need as many people as possible to know about what's going on.

Anyway I would be interested in know what you think a "Safe Church" would look like. How should they respond to people? Do you think it's possible for a church to be a "safe Place"? How important is it to you? What would happen to the church as we know it if it became a "safe place"?

Click on "comments" below and talk to me.

TRY THIS ONE ON!

The other day I received an email from a friend that ended with the following statement:

"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you aren't willing to move your feet."

My friend didn't know about any issues I was dealing with so he couldn't have intended to give me any specific advice. Little did he know however that his quote drove home a point that would keep me up the next night.

Christians often make a big deal about "Standing Firm". But sometimes we stand so firm that when it "is" time for us to move we're frozen in place. God wants us to be flexible enough to be able to follow his leading. He wants us to expect to move when we ask for His guidance. He wants us to understand that "standing firm" prepares us for movement.

We need to be ready when He is.