What Could Be

Right now the church is reading together “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley. This struck me (page 17):

“Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be. Anyone who is emotionally involved – frustrated, brokenhearted, maybe even angry – about the way things are in light of the way they believe things could be, is a candidate for a vision. Visions form in the hearts of those who are dissatisfied with the status quo.”

Are you satisfied with the way things are? I’m not. Yes, we have a great church. Yes, we are growing, both in depth and numbers. Yes, There is a great feeling of progress and momentum building.

But that is what is. Here is what could be:

• Husbands and wives forgiving the unforgivable and restoring relationships that only God can do
• Fathers, mothers, and teenagers surrendering control of their lives to Christ instead of to drugs and alcohal
• Households rejecting the “American way” of over-spending and instead living debt free
• Students coming to Christ in such numbers that El Capitan, Terra Del Sol, and Lakeside Middle School become top schools in our county and the students are known for their integrity, honesty and devotion to God
• People coming to Christ in such numbers that the entire county cannot ignore the fact that God is at work in Lakeside
• Men and women, just like you, sensing and responding to a God given call to serve, teach, and lead others into a continually growing relationship with Jesus Christ both here in Lakeside and abroad
• The Lakeside Rodeo grounds packed to the edges on Easter Sunday with Lakeside residents and their friends and families all discovering and experiencing God’s grace in their lives
• Men and women by the thousands being freed from their guilt and shame so they can be released to discover all they can be in Christ
• Thousands of men and women and teens and children intentionally growing in their faith, turning over every area of their lives to God: sexually, morally, financially, professionally, and personally
• Raising up a new generation of leaders to take this church into the future

We have a long way to go before that happens, and until it does I won’t be satisfied. Will you?