Vision 2011!

You might look at this image and say..."aren't you a bit late for 2011 Vision? The answer to that is "Yes" and "No!" Our Ministry year begins in July and ends in June so we are now just coming to the end of our Ministry year and are celebrating "What God has Done!" while at the same time setting the vision for the next step of our journey.
Vision can be referred to as "something seen in the imagination or in the supernatural". I like the thought of imagination because I think that it's one of God's greatest gifts to mankind. Even the word "Imagine" brings to mind things that currently "are not"....so there is a sense that it's out in front of us yet to be realized or grasped. Vision to me says that there is a direction or a place where we are intentionally headed and when we vision cast...we are shining light on the next part of a journey. I recently attended and participated in a Seminary Convocation....and let me tell you it was much better than that face you are making right now thinking of sitting through a Seminary Convocation! One of the speakers...a student whom I'll call Sarah....because that is her name....spoke about the journey that the class has been on. The statement that caught my attention was about the car headlights...she was using a family vacation road trip illustration....the light up the night just far enough in front of the car so that they would arrive safely a their destination. The car lights don't have to shine all the way to "gramma's house" they just need to shine right in front of the car, and as they keep doing that .....the journey is travelled.
As a church, sometimes we are trying to get God's headlights for our church to shine all the way to the finish line...or heaven...or at least the end of the next calendar year...and yet we only need light for what's in front of us. I have found by looking right in front of me that usually there are people in need who need someone to assist or serve them, opportunities to demonstrate God's incredible Love, and time to connect with God. All I need for the journey is right in front of me.....power, provisions, people and possibilities...or should I say "imagine the possibilities?" I like how Eugene Peterson puts it in plain English with the Message paraphrase...God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 The Message
Why not come this Sunday and catch a new Vision....Imagine!
Blessings,
Pastor Brian