Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
A well-known author on personal time management, Alan Lakein, once said something very insightful about the task of planning. He said, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” On the evening of Tuesday, August 20, the people of Atonement are going to have an intentional opportunity to plan! We will have an opportunity to “bring the future into the present so that we can do something about it now.” For a couple of hours on that evening from 6pm-8:30pm, Gary Norton, the Regional Mission Facilitator for our region of the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS, will be guiding us through a vision workshop. We will have an opportunity to gaze into the future to see what kind of “Kingdom of God” impact Atonement Lutheran will be able to make in Spring Valley in the next one to three years. We will have an opportunity to envision the future of Atonement and its mission activity so that God can empower us to do something about it!
A well-known author on personal time management, Alan Lakein, once said something very insightful about the task of planning. He said, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” On the evening of Tuesday, August 20, the people of Atonement are going to have an intentional opportunity to plan! We will have an opportunity to “bring the future into the present so that we can do something about it now.” For a couple of hours on that evening from 6pm-8:30pm, Gary Norton, the Regional Mission Facilitator for our region of the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS, will be guiding us through a vision workshop. We will have an opportunity to gaze into the future to see what kind of “Kingdom of God” impact Atonement Lutheran will be able to make in Spring Valley in the next one to three years. We will have an opportunity to envision the future of Atonement and its mission activity so that God can empower us to do something about it!
A vision is a picture of the future. For the people of God, a vision is a God-given, Spirit-led picture. In the Book of Habakkuk, the prophet files two complaints against God in his short, three chapter message. After his second complaint the Lord responds to Habakkuk and says, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (2:2-3).
Now I am not talking about some immediate revelation from God. Neither am I talking about waiting around to hear the voice of God. But I am talking about our congregation prayerfully considering the mission God has given us in this place and how we can use the arsenal of resources he has given us—personnel, talents, financial gifts—to steadily advance the Gospel in our families, among our friends and neighbors, and in the community of Spring Valley. Forward, steady progress!
As we all prepare for August 20 and the opportunity to “bring the future into the present,” let us rest secure in the truth that each one of us as God’s children are already and will continue to be caught up in God’s mission to make disciples of all nations. We are wrapped up and enfolded in his vision to place witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) so that “all would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
P.S.-Look for more details on the vision workshop in the Newsletter, the bulletin, and on the “Information Board” in the Narthex.
Now I am not talking about some immediate revelation from God. Neither am I talking about waiting around to hear the voice of God. But I am talking about our congregation prayerfully considering the mission God has given us in this place and how we can use the arsenal of resources he has given us—personnel, talents, financial gifts—to steadily advance the Gospel in our families, among our friends and neighbors, and in the community of Spring Valley. Forward, steady progress!
As we all prepare for August 20 and the opportunity to “bring the future into the present,” let us rest secure in the truth that each one of us as God’s children are already and will continue to be caught up in God’s mission to make disciples of all nations. We are wrapped up and enfolded in his vision to place witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) so that “all would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
P.S.-Look for more details on the vision workshop in the Newsletter, the bulletin, and on the “Information Board” in the Narthex.
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