Monday, August 18, 2008

Charting the Course: Action

By Charles Scott
We love action. Action movies, action shows, action novels… we are wired for action. Some of us have stayed up in the late hours of the night to catch the action of the Summer Olympics. What exciting action to watch Phelps garner eight gold medals – go USA!

A paraphrase of James 2:17 says, “Faith without action serves no useful purpose.” How often do we hear this answer when inquiring about a problem in a local church, “We are trusting God.”? Or, when financial concerns are expressed, “Brother, we are praying about it.” Ever ask a pastor to provide you his strategy for the local church and get this answer, “Well, we are believing God to fill the church.”? I must be the only who missed this verse; I thought we were assigned to “compel them to come in.” Why do we love action except when it comes to growth strategies for the local church?

I know I have a tendency to oversimplify, but how you can make progress without taking action?

Together we must take action toward three major areas:
  1. The revitalization of every local church;
  2. The birthing/planting and starting of new churches; and
  3. Reaching the unreached ethnic groups of America.
These three focal points will be our key strategic considerations during the upcoming General Council and General Board meetings. Please let me hear from you on these areas. Your ideas and thoughts are important! Together – we will fulfill our God given potential and obtain our destiny in the Kingdom of God.

Vision Vitamins

By Charles Scott
Vision is the desire to make the world a better place one day at a time.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
- Ambrose Redmoon

Hold on to trust; it is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content.
Hold on to love; it is God’s greatest gift of all, for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.
Hold on to all that you are and all that you have learned, for these things are what make you unique.
Hold on to what you know and what believe is right and important; the heart speaks louder than words.