To Build a House

In my first years of joining the adult work-force, I worked in the construction field.  First, as a grunt laborer on a speed framing crew and later for a remodeling company.  I have a lot of great and fun memories that came from that time.  One of my favorite projects was a million dollar remodel job that overlooked Pike's Peak and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.  Everything about this house was breathtaking.  The vision behind each intricate piece of the build was exquisite.  I wish I had taken pictures to remember the 5 months that I spent at this project.

No matter the size of the project, I came to realize very quickly that none of it would ever get accomplished without a clear vision and a workable plan.  The same thing is true when it comes to the church world.

When I look at churches, both young and old, there are two things that regularly keep a church stuck. First, is the lack of clarity.  Secondly, which is rooted in the first, is the disconnect that exists between activity and productivity.  When it comes to creating a clear and compelling vision there are three things that must be present:

1. Honest assessment of reality

2. A preferred future defined

3. A designed pathway

Without these three components...vision usually gets stuck.  To help assess your vision's clarity take some time to ask some key and yet simple questions.

Who?  What?  Where?  When?  How?  and Why?  

Never leave out answering WHY.  WHY- is the glue to the rest of the pieces coming together and staying together.  The WHY of the vision is the key motivation to the vision.

Secondly, activity often times get's in the way of productivity.  We think we are moving forward just because there are a  lot of things going on.  Just because there are a lot of things going on only means there are a lot of things going on.  Don't let activity fool you into believing that you are being productive.  Productivity is a by-product of clear vision.

Now....with some basic tools in mind...go frame the vision and build a house.