How Some Try To Squelch A Dream (Gen. 37:18-28)

Read Genesis 37:18-28.

Joseph's brothers tried three approaches to eliminate his dream:  kill him (assassination), confine him (pit), sell him.  These tactics are used against "dreamers" today.

1.  Kill -- not physically, but internally.  The main weapons of assassination are gossip, lies, criticism and character generalization.  A dreamer is torn down verbally (to his face and behind his back) until he becomes a walking dead man.  He is still "there" but now he is tamed and in his "proper" place.  Respect, honor and credibility have been stripped.

2.  Confine.  This is done via the "pits" of control and threats.  A leader becomes tolerated but useless.  Everything he says or attempts is sabotaged by votes at the board meeting or influential conversations in the parking lot.  To the leader it seems someone is always watching, ready to trip him up.

3.  Sell. How is a pastor or leader "sold"?  He gets fired because hostile board members were able to convince enough members (who barely attend services or participate in the welfare of the ministry) to vote for the leader's removal.  The root of such wickedness is control.  Some people would rather remain selfish than have to change.

If you are a pastor, department head or ministry leader, you must understand that the above is what can happen to you once you announce and pursue vision.  Those who do not have a vision persecute those who do.

Weekly Inspiration (07/08/17)

Photo taken in my backyard on July 7, 2017 at 5:59 P.M.

I found this "rabbit head" leaf interesting.  Or is it a fish?  (If you don't see it, look more closely at the highlighted leaves.)

Lessons:
1.  You will never "see" what you don't look at.
2.  Focus is determined by what you exclude.  You can't pay attention to everything.  What is it you need to cut out or crop off?
3.  Let the lens "see" for you.  What "lens" do you commonly use? Lenses that shrink things include bitterness, cynicism, negativity, gossip and an excuse-making mindset.  Lenses that make things bigger include curiosity, excitement, faith and a magnanimous spirit.

Fermentation of The Senses (Mt. 13:15)

Read Matthew 13:15.

• Notice three things to beware.
• Beware a hard, insensitive, small heart.  The world doesn't need any more Grinch activity.
• Beware deaf ears -- the refusal or incapacity to listen.
• Beware closed eyes -- denial, stubbornness.
• To stop the bad results, stop the fermentation process.  
• Observe two things that are needed.
• Increased awareness.
• Immediate application.  Delay promotes disobedience.

Through what means are your spiritual senses being fermented?  (By "fermented" I mean desensitized, compromised, neglected.)  What will you do about this?

Observations from Matthew 13:15

• A    dull heart
• B    ears hard of hearing
• C    eyes closed
• C1  eyes open
• B1  ears sensitive of hearing
• A1  understanding heart

Observations:

1.  This verse is part of Jesus' response to the question about why He speaks in parables (Mt. 13:10).

2.  The center, or hinge, of the above structure is seeing (C & C1).

• If the seeing is not right, the hearing won't be right.
• If the hearing is not right, the heart won't be right.

3.  Read Amos 8:1-3; Zech. 4:1-14 > Seeing came first.  

4.  Here are three questions for you to consider about any passage of Scripture.

• What do I see? (Psa. 119:18)
• What does it mean?  In other words, why is God showing this to me? (Mt. 13:9; Rev. 2:7a)
• What am I to do with what I see and when am I to do it? (Jam. 1:22-25)

Questions from Matthew 13:15

Read Matthew 13:15.

1.  Is my heart (place of decision and will) understanding and repentant or dull and rebellious?

2.  Is my hearing (of God's voice, will and Word) open and sensitive or closed and resistant?

3.  Is my seeing (spiritual sight) blind or focused?

4.  Why did I answer each question the way I did?

Twenty-Twenty Vision

I was at my church only a few weeks before I realized God's plan included more than Apollo.

Red asterisks indicate known Assemblies of God churches. The yellow area is a population center, so it makes sense to see  more churches.   What about the white area within the four boxes?  Four of the 7 churches are situated near an exterior boundary.  That means the interior is wide open.

There are many people to be reached within the territory of the four boxes.  Constantly depending on the Lord Jesus Christ, Apollo Assembly of God will have sustained ministry presence in each quadrant by the end of 2020.

Would you lay your hand on the grid and pray a prayer of faith and blessing?  Without prayer there is no chance we will accomplish any of this.  Thank you.
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We aren't pursuing this vision because other Assemblies of God churches don't care about the people in this grid.  Of course they do!  We aren't pursuing this vision because we think non-Assemblies churches are doing a poor job.  That's not the case.  This is why we are pursuing the vision:  For Apollo Assembly of God, this is our "Judea".  Within the grid are many unchurched people.  We will do our part to help reach them.

My "Vision Door"

Vision Door

Welcome to my study!  This is the side exit door.  On this door I tape primary prayer concerns -- things that have to do with vision, things that are of utmost importance, things that won't happen unless God intervenes.

Taped to the door are several missions projects, picture of my family, statement of church indebtedness (to be eliminated), goals for the remainder of 2012, church calendar, etc. 

Each time I glance to my right, I'm reminded the work is never done.  There is still so much to be done for God's Kingdom!  Each time I exit by that door, I'm reminded of what is most important.  Everything cannot be important. These items get priority #1 in prayer.  If these things don't "move," if these things don't happen, I cannot be satisfied.

What's most important to you?  What's on your "vision door"? (or wall)

We Need Another Van

We have too many people to transport to Sunday School in one van. Because our area is spread out, a second van run may not get everyone here in time.  What a wonderful problem to have!  We're asking God to grant us another van.  Another van also means more drivers.