Why Vision Is So Important

One of the best examples of the power of a vision can be found in Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. In it he described a vision of a preferred future where "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." That's a powerful mental picture that we can see. We are not completely there yet, so our task is to figure out how to get there.

The purpose of a vision is to answer the question, "Where are we going?" Only then can we answer the question of what we need to do in order to get somewhere.  That is why we are spending time and energy thinking about vision in the Northwest District. The Connectional Ministries Council had the idea of creating a video as a way to help congregations see the need to develop their vision. Many churches in the district showed that video during worship on the weekend of September 27. If you would like to see it, click here.

That is also why we are offering a special event for church leaders to learn how to discern a vision. It will be on November 17 and 18 at Morningside College. For more information and to register you can click here.

We know that the mission of the United Methodist church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Making disciples looks like relationships where people are helping each other to be more like Jesus. I have a coach who has helped me see that discipleship is not so much a program as it is a name. By that he means a person with whom I have a relationship that includes some way of intentionally helping me to be more like Jesus.

This is because the first transformation that must take place is a change of heart from living for ourselves to living for others. This is what Jesus prayed to God in the garden of Gethsemane, "not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). We all need encouragement to take up our cross to follow Jesus.

So during our annual interviews, I ask each of my pastors: "Who is discipling you?" and "Who are you discipling?" These are questions that could actually be asked of every follower of Jesus. So part of a vision for all churches is people intentionally helping each other to become more like Jesus.

But then, what does a transformed world look like? What would it look like in your community if people in the church were loving their neighbors and helping to care for their needs? The Bible puts it this way: "If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?" (James 2:15-16).  

For example, can you see a community where all the children can read and no one goes to bed at night hungry? The needs in each community are unique so that's why each congregation needs a specific vision for their setting. Then once we can see where we are going, we can work on "How do we get there?" That is why vision is so important. How will you seek God's vision?

Why Moonshadow Preacher?

Like millions of people around the world, I recently enjoyed watching the super moon lunar eclipse on September 27. It reminded me of why I think a moon shadow is a great illustration to understand God as a Trinity. The Trinity is the belief in one God known in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here's how I see it:

The Bible says that "God is light" (I John 1:15). The first words of God in Genesis were, "let there be light" (1:3). And the last book of the Bible says that God will be light for people(Revelations 22:5). A basic analogy is to see a connection between God and light.

When you see your moon shadow, you are looking at something created by light. Light energy that originated on the Sun traveled almost 93 million miles and bounced off a solid piece of rock called the Moon and then traveled another 240,000 miles to touch you. The shadow created conforms to your personal shape and is uniquely personal.

In this analogy, the sun is similar to God the creator.  The moon represents Jesus Christ as the Son of God who reflects God's light to a world in darkness.  The light that touches us is like the Holy Spirit which is a direct connection to the source of light and life. So God is like the one light that has three elements required to experience it.  We couldn't see a moon shadow without all three of those elements being present: the source of the light, reflected off the moon and touching us.

The next super moon lunar eclipse won't happen again until 2033, but you can be reminded how God is with you as Father, Son and Holy Spirit any time you see your moon shadow.

Shooting Stars and a Vision from God

Have you ever seen a shooting star? This summer I saw about 20 of them in one night. I’ve also been thinking quite a bit recently about seeking a vision from God of a preferred future for our church.  I’ve discovered that there are some similarities between looking for shooting stars and seeking a vision for the church. Here is what I came up with:

1. You have to believe it’s possible and seek it.

I had seen in the news that the annual Perseid meteor shower would happen on August 13. Being an astronomy fan, I wanted to see it and decided to try. Leaders in the church have to believe that it’s possible to receive a vision from God of a preferred future and decide to seek it.

2. Minimize the distractions.

One of the important factors in star gazing is to be away from other lights on the ground that can wash out the lights in the sky.  Fortunately, Linda and I were visiting my mother-in-law at her house on the outskirts of Davenport. Jesus gave us the example of occasionally getting away from it all and going out to deserted places to pray and connect with God.

3. Look toward the heavens.

To see the shooting stars I laid down on a tarp in the back yard and gazed up at the sky. In order to look toward God, I read the Bible to see God’s activity in the past and God’s ongoing character revealed in Jesus.

4. Wait for the connection.

You can’t control when a shooting star will appear. You just have to wait for it. We also can’t manipulate God’s revelation. We can only wait to discern it. Waiting requires giving up control in order to seek God’s will over our own.

As I lay there that night eventually there were several times when I saw a clear point of light shoot across the sky. About 4 or 5 of those times the streaking light left a bright line in the sky that sparkled for a moment and then quickly faded. It was cool to see.

United Methodist congregations in the Northwest District of Iowa are invited to designate September 27 as a “Vision Day” when we consider seeking God’s vision of a preferred future for our lives, our churches and our communities. When seeking God’s vision of a preferred future is done as a community, it lessens the tendency for us to mistake our personal desires for God’s intention. The responsibility of leaders is then to articulate that vision which gives everyone in the church a sense of direction and something to work toward. That is how I see that we will be on the path to God’s preferred future.

While seeing shooting stars was cool, working toward a vision of God’s preferred future for our lives gives us meaning, purpose and hope. Let’s seek it together.