Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18, KJV) Over the last week, Michael Davis and I have had some fascinating and illuminating discussions about dreams, visions and passion. I’d like to (briefly!) summarize what I have learned from those discussions.
There is a fundamental difference between a dream and a vision. Quoting from the iconic movie Cinderella “A dream is a wish your heart makes”. Dreams are wonderful, but they may last only through the evening, or for a few days, or even for a lifetime. As long as we don’t commit resources to our dreams, they will remain forever within our hopes and desires . . . and our heads. However, when a dream becomes fueled by the passion that moves us from an internal focus to an external focus, that dream will become a vision, a vision where we are eager to sacrifice time, talent and treasure in order to make that vision a reality.
What is the source of the passion that allows us to sacrificially work on a vision? More specifically, what is the source of the passion that allows us to work on a vision that will give glory to God? That passion comes from God, and is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our churches. When our individual passions and our community’s passions align with the passion and mission of God (look to Matt. 22:37-40 and Matt. 28:18-20 for succinct descriptions of that mission), the Holy Spirit will empower us to be carried out into the world with a power far beyond anything that we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).
It is helping others discover the vision and passion that God has placed into the lives of individual Christians and Church communities that has me excited to be working with Evans/Davis. How do we align those visions with the vision that God has for our church? How do we discover the passion that God gives us so that we will eagerly sacrifice time, talent and treasure in order to make that vision a reality? How do we set hearts on fire for Christ? That is what Evans/Davis is committed to, and it is clearly my commitment as well.
David Bailey+
Where There is No Vision the People Perish…
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18, KJV)
Over the last week, Michael Davis and I have had some fascinating and illuminating discussions about dreams, visions and passion. I’d like to (briefly!) summarize what I have learned from those discussions.
There is a fundamental difference between a dream and a vision. Quoting from the iconic movie Cinderella “A dream is a wish your heart makes”. Dreams are wonderful, but they may last only through the evening, or for a few days, or even for a lifetime. As long as we don’t commit resources to our dreams, they will remain forever within our hopes and desires . . . and our heads. However, when a dream becomes fueled by the passion that moves us from an internal focus to an external focus, that dream will become a vision, a vision where we are eager to sacrifice time, talent and treasure in order to make that vision a reality.
What is the source of the passion that allows us to sacrificially work on a vision? More specifically, what is the source of the passion that allows us to work on a vision that will give glory to God? That passion comes from God, and is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our churches. When our individual passions and our community’s passions align with the passion and mission of God (look to Matt. 22:37-40 and Matt. 28:18-20 for succinct descriptions of that mission), the Holy Spirit will empower us to be carried out into the world with a power far beyond anything that we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).
It is helping others discover the vision and passion that God has placed into the lives of individual Christians and Church communities that has me excited to be working with Evans/Davis. How do we align those visions with the vision that God has for our church? How do we discover the passion that God gives us so that we will eagerly sacrifice time, talent and treasure in order to make that vision a reality? How do we set hearts on fire for Christ? That is what Evans/Davis is committed to, and it is clearly my commitment as well.
David Bailey+