Power - Vision - MMI

I was challenged today: My dreams aren't big enough. Dreaming and envisioning the future is something I really enjoy doing. I'm a builder. I love to take an idea and run with it… create something out of it… and turn it over to others to take to the next level. I like to think of myself as somewhat of an idea guy. You know, the guy who comes up with a ton of lame ideas most of the time, and some of the time actually hits on something that has some possible potential. But today, I was stretched. I was talking to a friend who is on a church team that is doing some really cool things. You are probably using some of their tools in your ministry, and you might not even know it. I was impacted by the enormity of his ideas. These ideas will not just affect the church he serves, but other churches in his community, state, the nation; and literally the world. This is big stuff. And it's not just one idea that his team is working on; but a handful of significant projects, many of which will very likely change the way you and I do ministry in the future. The potential Kingdom impact will be long term and exponential. If these ideas take hold, they have the potential to win literally thousands of new believers worldwide. I walked away thinking… snap… my dreams are too small!
That’s the problem… my dreams are Todd-sized, rather than God-sized. You’d think I’d learn my lesson by now. God can do immeasurably more than I can ever imagine. And I need to revisit some of my ideas with a whole new perspective… a perspective that allows God to broaden the horizon that Todd thought he had down cold.
What are you dreaming about? Is it a you-sized dream or a God-sized dream? If you’re hoping to impact 50 people, then why not 500? Are you dreaming of things that only God can do, or simply attempting things that you can organize and pull off with your own ability?
Maybe you should join me this morning and re-think your strategy! Let me know what your new dream is! You can email me at http://webmail.east.cox.net/do/mail/message/mailto?to=trhoades%40mondaymorninginsight.com.
Have a GREAT Monday!
Todd Rhoades -- Editor / Publisher

Partnering - Rasnet

The Spence Network

People - The Harvest

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"
Matthew 9:35-38 The Message

Purpose - JFF (Just For Fun)

Purpose - Mission Outpost

Jesus, His Church, Mission Outpost

In those forty days between his ascension and his resurrection we have very few of his (Jesus) sermons recorded. Two of them were about his followers going into the whole world with a mission. The first occurred in Galilee on one of the mountains surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Matthew recorded that scene. Jesus said to his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the world.” The second was immediately before he ascended. That is recorded in Acts 1. Jesus said, “Go down the mountain and stay in Jerusalem. Just wait. In a few days you are going to be bathed with the Spirit that I’ve been telling you about. And you are going to receive such power when that happens that you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus was ensuring his legacy. He was ensuring that his teachings and his compassion for the poor and his passion for people who are spiritually lost would be carried lived out by the church in the world.

Jesus didn’t found a retreat center. He founded a mission outpost. Retreat centers are great. But they are very different from mission outposts. I googled “retreat center” recently and the descriptions were similar. Here are a few:Surrounded by lush green fields, relaxing streams and breathtaking sunsets, your experience at the Walking on Water Retreat Center will be harmonious and unforgettable. Our retreat center is a place to escape and enjoy and let your creativity soar. A great place to escape and just have some fun with your friends.Those could be the mission statements of a lot of churches! A lot of churches have chosen to be retreat centers. But I don’t believe for a minute that Jesus intended to found retreat centers. Jesus wanted to found mission outposts! Mission outposts were and are those places where Christian missionaries go and plant themselves among people who are far from God and/or in great need. They are inconvenient and dangerous. They require an appreciation and understanding of the local culture and language. When I googled “mission outposts” I found stories of heroism and adventure. Like Frederic Baraga, “The Snowshoe Bishop” who came from Europe to establish a mission outpost in the harsh lands around Lake Superior in the early 1800’s to evangelize the Ojibway Indians. From his mission outpost he risked his life and nearly died more than once, but by the time he did breathe his last on earth he had baptized four thousand Native Americans.

See the difference between retreat centers and mission outposts?

A retreat center mentality builds walls. A mission outpost mentality builds bridges. A retreat center mentality wants guards. A mission outpost mentality wants scouts .A retreat center wants watch dogs. A mission outpost wants search dogs. A retreat center mentality says “the world out there is bad and we need to isolate ourselves.”A mission outpost mentality says “God is just as interested in ‘out there’ as He is our sub-culture in here.” A retreat center mentality fears being impacted by the culture out there. A mission outpost mentality wants to impact the culture out there. A retreat center mentality gives awards for the most congenial. A mission outpost mentality gives awards for the most courageous. A retreat center mentality’s theme song is “Kum Ba Yah.” A mission outpost mentality’s theme song is, “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go.”

Don’t get me wrong. People in a mission outpost depend on each other and help each other and, yes, love each other. When one is wounded the others help patch him or her up. The camaraderie in a mission outpost is deeper and more sincere than the shallow niceness of a retreat center. But the people of a mission outpost know that the place exists not for them, but for the people around them.

This is from Travis Collins who is pastor at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.

Power - Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.