SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #113 ---- 3/13/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #13 ---- 3/13/000
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Death" (#10 in series)
My Dear Friend and Faithful Partner in Ministry:
The scripture reference with which I sign all my letters (Rom 1:11-12)
probably spells out my feelings every time I write one of these weekly
letters of encouragement. "For I long to see you in order that I may
impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established
[encouraged]; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while
among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine."
The more I write and the more I hear from new friends in ministry, the
more excited I get about what heaven will be like. Just think ---- we'll
get to see each other for the first time, face to face, in perfection,
and in the presence of the very One who saved us both. Fantabulous! and
Glory-luia!
THREE SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. A good brother in Kiev, Ukraine, (Glen Wescott) has asked that Jo Ann
and I pray with him about a special medical need. It is not life
threatening ---- unless he ended up in an inadequately equipped and
sterile hospital, which is very easy to do in the Ukraine.
Join us in praying that God will keep Glen safe, will relieve the pain he
is suffering, and will, by His own Hand, direct Glen and Natasha to the
specific medical facilities where he needs to be for this surgery. Glen
is the Director of St. James Bible School in Kiev, for which I have been
soliciting teachers for next January (and other times of the year as
well).
2. I don't know the details, but a brother from the eastern United
States, named Ted, has apparently had a son who has run away from home
last Thursday. Ted has a national e-mail ministry that focuses on
Christian values in the public arenas of politics and school.
Jo Ann and I have been spared much of the agony and heartache that many
Christian parents go through when trying to raise teens within the sphere
of Christian vocational ministry, so, even though we've had some tough
times with one of our children since their marriage, we can't imagine the
intense battles and grief that some of you like Ted do.
However, we do know the God you know, and we can beseech Him in each
other's behalf. I hope you'll pray for Ted and his family as well.
3. One year ago next Sunday I preached my first sermon at a nearby
church where I became interim pastor, requested to lead them in my
"Interim With A Purpose" process of preparation for a new pastor. This
process helps them study their origin and history for the purpose of
identifying any major events, patterns, or trends that may have
contributed to their history of conflict and short pastorates.
Two Sundays ago the church leadership presented their findings in an
excellently prepared report. Yesterday I shared my observations as an
"outsider" and last night we gave the entire body an opportunity to share
their hearts and observations. Next Sunday there will be a corporate
repentance and "Covenant" service followed by a "love feast" and Lord's
Supper celebration, all closing the door on the past.
These are crucial days, and I'd just ask that you pray for Jo Ann and me
that we'll remain fresh and current in our leadership and in my
preaching. Finally, pray for the church as they now begin to deal with
just who they are today rather than who they used to be, and with what
God wants for them today ---- That's Phase Two. Then Phase Three will
lead them into vision building and looking to the future.
Also pray for us these next few weeks as we travel. During the next
three weeks we will travel some 3,000 miles back and forth involved in a
number of family projects. Pray for endurance, alertness, safety, and
that our new grand kids from Russia, along with our daughter and
son-in-law will arrive safely to America.
A VIRUS NOTICE:
Another reader and good friend, Bill, sent me a "virus in cheek"
rendition that I've pasted at the end of the letter. It'll make you
think about what you pass on. There are also some websites to check out
concerning these many virus warnings, false prayer requests, "freedom
threats, etc. that we get. If we'll just take time to check them, it
will cut down lots of unnecessary internet clogging. I'm listing them at
the end of the letter so you can just copy and file.
VISION QUOTES:
I hope you don't misunderstand my motives in sharing comments from other
readers, but I want you to be encouraged and blessed.
1. A friend, Nancy, a school teacher, said, "I so much appreciate all
the work that you and JoAnn do in your ministry.
Your Shoulder to Shoulder is great. I read it as soon as I get it and
reread parts later especially when you refer back to something you have
already written. I even heard another sermon on the radio today about
the vision being from God and it never really goes away."
2. A missionary friend in Bulgaria wrote, "Thank you for the "Vision"
series. I forward them weekly to those I minister with as they begin to
lay the foundation for a new church here. "
3. A special brother with his own itinerant ministry commented, "I don't
know if I've told you or not but the Vision Series is really good
material. Work it up for a book."
4. Finally ---- I have four sons-in-law (actually one is a former, but
is still a great friend). All of the guys are active with their families
in church; two are in vocational ministry, one as a pastor, the other as
a missionary. This past week one of them sent me another quote from the
great Oswald Chambers from his book *My Utmost For His Highest*. The
statement is so profound, I must share it with you. It is taken from his
March 4 devotional.
"It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God
without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires;
common sense is your guide, veneered over by Christian sentiment.
"You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you
never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from
Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad;
you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis.
"What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus
Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear
unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he
might fulfill the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy
for any other thing..."
Then my son-in-law wrote, "I love what he says about the relationship
with Christ. Being captured, 'gripped' by the vision is not enough (and
later on in the same entry and certainly elsewhere in the book, Chambers
even implies that the vision may actually COMPETE for our affections.)
"Being 'gripped' by Jesus Christ is the supreme thing. The relationship
is the key. Then the working out of the vision simply becomes a natural
result of the "working out" and the deepening of my relationship to
Jesus.
"When we simply spend time 'captured' by the marvel of His Presence, His
character, and His glory, then He miraculously transforms us. And all
our work -- ALL our work -- simply becomes the natural -- no, the
supernatural -- outgrowth of the relationship.
"When HE captures us (and NOT the vision or our pride or our reputation
or our work or anything else) When HE captures us, the vision -- I think
-- becomes "second nature" (pun intended -- "If anyone is in Christ he
is a new creation")."
In light of the contrast of those comments, I want to address the subject
that has actually been the driving force from the beginning to write this
series. Today we look at . . . .
VISION ---- IT'S DEATH:
Thus far we've seen . . .
1. The Definition of Vision ---- what it is and isn't (#104).
2. The Description of Vision ---- what it is like (#105).
3. The Demand for Vision ---- why it is necessary (#106).
4. The Discovery of Vision ---- how to find it (#107).
5. The Development of Vision ----required "ground rules" for a true
vision (#108A,B,C).
6. The Decisiveness of Vision ---- a "line in the sand" "no turning
back" requirement (#109).
7. The Danger of Vision ---- dangerous to have; dangerous to not have
(#110).
8. The Distractions from Vision ---- things that interfere with your
focus on your vision (#111).
9. The Destruction of Vision ---- things that will kill a vision
(#112).
Now it's time to consider a frightening thought ---- a vision can die.
Even more ominous is to recognize that, if a vision is going to amount to
anything, it **must** die.
That's where the rub comes ---- we don't want our vision to die. It must
not die! It cannot die! I will not let it die!
And yet ---- it does. And ---- it must.
Last week I wrote about the destruction of a vision, and mentioned five
scenarios in which a vision could be destroyed. It is destroyed because
. . .
1. The enemy steals it.
2. The world's cares smother it.
3. The flesh rejects it.
4. You neglect it.
5. God destroys it.
I'll never forget the discover in May, 1985, that God could put a vision
to death. As I look back, I know that the best thing that can ever
happen to a vision is not its fulfillment, but rather, its death. I'll
explain why in a moment, but you actually already know the answer.
Let's consider two things about the divine death of a vision.
ITS SEQUENCE:
Though it may vary from one person to another, here's a typical scenario
of how a vision goes through its death throes.
1. You get the vision ---- from God, from others, or from your own
highly fueled dreams and imagination of what can be done for God. There
is a sense of awe and excitement ---- and even unbelief ---- that this is
something of a great adventure that is exciting enough that you would be
willing to let it envelope your life.
2. You get excited. You begin to live, breathe, drink, and sleep the
vision. It's on your mind constantly. The more you think about it the
less sleep you get and the more excited you get. You are almost
uncontrolable. You even become irritating to your spouse and your
colleagues because that's all you talk about.
You have great plans, and the more you think about it, the bigger your
plans get.
3. You take the plunge, and begin putting plans and actions in place.
You begin to search for resources, recruit fellow pilgrims to embrace the
vision, develop strategy, set goals, and establish dates. You may even
put together a system or organization to undergird the vision and become
the vehicle through the vision will be realized. You might even
incorporate it as a tax exempt institution.
4. You begin to weary somewhat, the glamor and glitter begin to fade,
your earlier followers begin to fall by the wayside, and the enthusiasm
diminishes. It's not nearly exciting as it used to be.
5. You begin looking for ways to prop it up, convince yourself (and
others) that it is indeed from God, but fewer and fewer believe you ----
and you aren't even sure you believe, either. But, you have to save face
---- after all, you're the one who declared so convincingly that the
vision was from God. And it may have been.
6. The props don't seem to work, so you try others. You may even
relocate, or redesign the vision. But it doesn't help.
7. After awhile, you're at a fork in the road ---- either you die, or
the vision dies. You choose to let the vision die, and hope for better
days tomorrow, after you work through your anger and grief, and after
you've regained your strength and motivation. In the meantime, you
decide to take a "sabbatical" ---- and you fade into the shadows.
8. Your discouragement sometimes turns to anger ---- anger with
yourself, with others, but primarily with God. After all, you're
convinced He gave you the vision (and He probably did), and you don't
understand why the vision died. He could have prevented it.
"Why didn't He!?!?!?!"
There's one simple reason ---- it needed to die.
It wasn't worth anything else, but to die. That was the best thing for
it ---- let it die, brother!
THE REASON:
The question you really need to ask, my friend, is not "why did God let
the vision die?", but rather, "why was it necessary that the vision must
die?".
The answer is simple ---- it was contaminated.
It was contaminated perhaps with the "Midas Touch" which tends to turn
living things into gleaming, glistening, ---- but dead ---- things with
no life.
Perhaps it was contaminated with elements of the flesh.
Or, it was contaminated by underdevelopment ---- or distortion from eyes
still seeing things from the world's perspective.
Then, it could have been contaminated because it was born of a basic
carnal nature and needed to be put to death before it did too much
damage.
You see, friend, even at our best, few people respond correctly to the
original vision. There's too much excitement and thrill. There's too
much uncontrolled speculation and wild-eyed dreaming. We're too driven
by size and greatness, rather than being driven by the God of the vision.
Like Chambers said in so many words, it's not the vision from God that
must capture us, but rather the God of the vision.
Until that happens, the vision remains contaminated with all types of
garbage.
WHY DID IT DIE:
The fundamental reason for God letting the vision die, though was quite
simple ---- and astoundingly profound.
The vision had to die . . . . .
In order to be resurrected!
You see, my friend, when God gives us a vision, not only do we seldom
respond correctly to the vision in its original state, but it is likely
being filtered through elements of the flesh, creating unacceptable flaws
which will render the vision erroneous in some way, and unusable in its
current form.
Those flaws come through both our Interpretation of the vision, and our
Implementation of the vision.
So ---- God lets us try ---- and fail.
And try ---- and fail.
And try again ---- and fail again.
Until we stop trying to keep it alive through our own version of CPR.
Then, God graciously lets us experience the "Cross Principle" in bringing
first the vision to the cross . . . .
And, then bringing Us to the cross ---- where we also die.
We die to the hope of the vision ever being realized. We die to the
possibility of ever having another vision. We die to all our own
ambitions and aspirations. We die to everything that has held us captive
from being all God has intended for us.
Then . . . . .
Then . . . . . !
THEN ---- off in the distant far away, there is the faint sound of a
trumpet.
---- And the dead in Christ . . . . . shall rise!
Shall rise!
Shall RISE!
Because He's alive, I'm alive.
And the vision is alive ---- and well ----- because it's now pure in its
content, in its purpose, and in its motive.
The bottom line, my friend is simple. Listen.
"A Vision Without the Cross is a vision of what man can do for God. A
vision beyond the cross is a vision of what God can do through man!"
Now which would you rather have ---- what you can do for God, or what God
can do with you?
Come on! Be honest.
If all you want is what you can do for God, then you've missed the entire
point of the Gospel message.
But, if your heart beats as mine does, then you will not settle for
anything less than what God can do through you.
That's why the vision must die. If it doesn't, then you working with a
contimated vision that will get minimal results at best.
And that's why you must die to the vision as well.
Until both happen, your vision is not usable, and you are pretty much
useless in God's higher purposes.
Oh, sure ---- you can go ahead and play church, create some glittering
substitute for a genuine vision, and fool lots of people in the process.
They'll all think you're great ---- maybe they'll even think you're God,
or at least His best friend.
But you'll never have the quiet satisfaction and contentment of knowing
that you (and your vision) have been crucified with Christ. Yet---- you
live. Yet it's not you that lives, but it's Christ in you (and your
vision) Who lives instead.
And the life you now live in the flesh, you live by the Faith (Not the
vision) of the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself up for you.
And when both you and your vision are impregnated with the very living
nature of a resurrected Christ, you are unstoppable, and the vision is
fully attainable. Praise His Name!
Dear friend! ---- what more would you want, for heaven's sake? Can you
think of anything more astounding than to know that now the vision is
alive by the very life and Spirit of Christ, and you are as well?
Is there anything else that could sustain you more faithfully during dark
days?
Is there anything else that could motivate you to do the impossible?
Is there anything else that could cause you to give yourself up for Him?
No! ---- There is nothing that can do that.
What is it, friend, that has caused you to struggle trying to keep a
vision alive? What is it that so drives you that you shun the cross?
What is it that makes you want to protect the vision as if it were your
own?
It's not worth the battle. Give it up!
IN CONCLUSION:
So, here we are, my friend. "To die, or not to die" ---- that IS the
question.
The options are clear ---- either work for God, or let God work through
you.
To be sure, you can build some beautiful monuments working for God. But
they'll burn like stubble when they are judged in His refiner's fire.
I shudder to think of all the times I almost settled for some vision that
was contaminated with the stench of the flesh or the glitter of the world
---- even when it came in the pomp and religiosity of Christian causes
and mechanisms.
How I praise God that, finally, after all these years, I can say I truly
believe I am driven by a vision resurrected from the grave, and motivated
by the God of resurrection who raised the vision into a newness of life.
Friend, if you think my premise is wrong, take time to read the stories
of great characters of the Gospel. What do you think kept Moses going?
Or Abraham?
Why did Samuel count for God while the man who mentored him didn't?
What about David Livingston? Or William Carey? Or Adoniram Judson? Or
maybe Lottie Moon?
Consider Watchman Nee, Billy Graham, Hudson Taylor, George Muller, and a
thousand others.
What made them so different from millions of other servants of God who
have marched across the pages of history only to be forgotten because,
though perhaps faithful in service, they had no vision that had died and
then had been resurrected.
If you ask any of these I've mentioned, or any recognized leader of
influence in contemporary Christian community today, they'll tell you
many different stories, but they will all contain one common thread ----
there was a time when death had to come to their vision. They came to
the end of themselves, and there discovered the beginning of God's
sufficiency and purpose.
Dear friend ---- God isn't impressed with what you can do for Him. But,
He's deeply interested in what He can do with you ---- and through you.
As Henry Blackaby says, "Find out where God is at work, and then go join
Him in it." That's where your resurrected vision will be found.
I hope with all my heart that you discover your resurrected vision. More
than you'll ever know, I pray that.
I love you, my friend. May God give you divine revelation into what He
wants to say to you about letting your vision die ---- so you can receive
His.
In His Bond of Mercy and Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright March, 2000. All rights reserved.
If you're not too tired, remember to check the "virus" info below.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
__
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(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOO---------U--------OOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.ooooO--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)
TO SUBSCRIBE, send any message to <[email protected]>.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send any message to
<[email protected]>.
"VIRUS IN CHEEK"
Quote:
E-Mail:
I was on my way to the post office to pick up my case of free M&M's sent
to me because I forwarded an e-mail to five other people, celebrating the
fact that the year 2000 is "MM" in Roman numerals), when I ran into a
friend whose neighbor, a young man, was home recovering from having been
served a rat in his bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken (which is
predictable, since as everyone knows, there's no actual chicken in
Kentucky Fried Chicken, which is why the government made them change
their name to KFC).
Anyway, one day this guy went to sleep and when he awoke he was in his
bathtub and it was full of ice and he was sore all over and when he got
out of the tub he realized that HIS KIDNEY HAD BEEN STOLEN. He saw a
note on his mirror that said "Call 911!" but he was afraid to use his
phone because it was connected to his computer, and there was a virus on
his computer that would destroy his hard drive if he opened an e-mail
entitled "Join the crew!" He knew it wasn't a hoax because he himself
was a computer programmer who was working on software to prevent a global
disaster in which all the computers get together and distribute the
$250.00 Neiman-Marcus cookie recipe under the leadership of Bill Gates.
(It's true - I read it all last week in a mass e-mail from BILL GATES
HIMSELF, who was also promising me a free Disney World vacation and
$5,000 if I would forward the e-mail to everyone I know.)
The poor man then tried to call 911 from a pay phone to report his
missing kidneys, but a voice on the line first asked him to press #90,
which unwittingly gave the bandit full access to the phone line at the
guy's expense. Then reaching into the coin-return slot he got jabbed
with an HIV-infected needle around which was wrapped a note that said,
"Welcome to the world of AIDS." Luckily he was only a few blocks from
the hospital - the one where that little boy who is dying of cancer is,
the one whose last wish is for everyone in the world to send him an
e-mail and the American
Cancer Society has agreed to pay him a nickel for every e-mail he
receives. I sent him two e-mails and one of them was a bunch of x's and
in the shape of an angel (if you get it and forward it to more than
people, you will have good luck but for 10 people only you will only have
OK luck and if you send it to fewer than 10 people you will have BAD
LUCK FOR SEVEN YEARS).
So anyway the poor guy tried to drive himself to the hospital, but on the
way he noticed another car driving without its lights on. To be helpful,
he flashed his lights at him and was promptly shot as part of a gang
initiation.
Send THIS to all the friends who send you their junk mail and you will
receive 4 green M&Ms-if you don't, the owner of Proctor and Gamble will
report you to his Satanist friends and you will have more bad luck: you
will get sick from the Sodium Laureth Sulfate in your shampoo, your
spouse/mate will develop a skin rash from using the antiperspirant which
clogs the pores under your arms, and the U.S. government will put a tax
on your e-mails forever.
I know this is all true 'cause I read it on the Internet.
End of quote:
_______________________________
Bill Talley
[email protected]
HOAX CHECK WEBSITES:
Try these:
1. http://www.snopes.com/
2. urbanlegends.tqn.com/
3. kumite.com/myths/home.htm
4. urbanlegends.miningco.com/
5. http://www.av.ibm.com/BreakingNews/VirusAlert/
6. http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
7. http://www.hoaxkill.com
8. http://www.nai.com
9. ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHome.html
10. http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/hoax.html
11. http://www.singnet.com.sg/staff/lorna/Virus (Note: the V must be
capitalized!)
12. http://www.primenet.com/%7Emwest/av.htm
13. http://www.primenet.com/%7Emwest/vir-atk.htm
14. http://www.towson.edu/%7Ejack/virus/virus.html
15. http://www.antivirus.com/
16. http://www.sasknet.com/%7Ebronm/
17. http://www.datafellows.fi/vir-desc.htm
18. http://www.usmcs.maine.edu/%7Elaferrie/humor/compvir.html