Vision

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March 4

Tuesday, March 4th, 2025

In a world, in a culture, filled with multiple avenues of going here or doing things, it is often hard to stay focused.   On November 11th of last year, I had knee replacement surgery. The doctor had “bought me” ten more years before surgery was an absolute essential. I was 62 at the time of the first diagnosis and he felt I was too young and too active to do the surgery back then.  His belief was that he could by me some time before having the surgery. 3 steroid injections, one hyaluronic acid shot, and 10 years gave me the time I needed. When the last shot lasted one month and I had trouble walking from the hospital doors to my vehicle at times, I went to him and said, “It is time.” He agreed. The surgery was a bit more extensive than he planned due to my bowed leg. He shaved the shin bone, moved some ligaments and tendons around and gave me a new knee all at the same time. Then came the rehab which seemed to go pretty well in some respects but his desire to have the back of my knee to be totally flat on the table is still not a reality. I am down to about 2% but not quite there. I’m still doing rehab at the Y on my own, doing the exercises they prescribed.

I won’t lie: it is sometimes discouraging when I know what I want and where I should be but can’t seem to get there. I mean, I am happy I can walk pain-free for the first time in years. The problem is that I want it all now. And when I say, “Now” I mean “NOW!!!” But what I need to keep in mind is the end goal. He told Tami after my surgery that I will feel absolutely fantastic in 6 months. Hmmm. That leaves me 2 more months of rehab and some discomfort as my “restored” knee adjusts to my lifestyle. I want to rush things along.

But I can’t. I have to take it one day, one exercise, one rehab session at the Y at a time. I have to stay focused on the immediate work with the future goal in mind. Proverbs 4:25-27 says, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (NLT) Of course, wanting to be further along is not evil (except when it plays with my mind). 🙂 

But the warning to stay on the straight path is something we all should heed.  Fix your eyes on what lies before you. Don’t look left or right. And most definitely, don’t look behind you.

November 1

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

I’ve toyed with something for the last few days because I didn’t know if this was the right venue to “put it out there.”Then I decided, “Why not?” So, here you go…

This past Sunday the church I pastor (OVCF) celebrated our 19th anniversary. You can hear the sermon here. If you prefer you can watch it here. Along the way I gave a mini-history of OVCF. I also showed our Mission and Vision and discussed how it motivates us. But here is where I want to take you and get your thoughts. First, the backstory: I gave a brief rundown of the Mission and Vision, but then shared a story. On Wednesday night- the 25th- I woke up from a sound close to 3 hour sleep and could not get back to sleep. The sermon for this past Sunday kept running through my head. Rather than toss and turn and wake Jo up, I went to my recliner in my ManCave. Since I could not get the upcoming sermon out of my mind, I turned the light on, grabbed my journal, prayed, and began writing. What came out was a softer, less technical version of the Mission and Vision. It was not intentional. I believe firmly in our Mission and Vision, but I have not felt totally comfortable with its seeming rigidness or strident approach. I’ve never been able to explain my thoughts clearly until that night. I invite you to to go our website and click on About. The menu will come down and you will see Our Mission and Our Vision in the menu. But that sleepless night, I was finally able to put pen to thoughts and sensed God’s “You got it” when I was done.  (Fun fact: I finished at 12:50. At 12:51 I felt like I had been hit by a ton of bricks. By 12:53 I was back in bed and slept like a rock until the alarm went off at 3:30). Anyway, here is what I came up with-a softer, less technical version:

WELCOME HOME

where…

The Gospel is Preached

Jesus is Lord

Grace is Offered

Lives are Changed

Obedience is Encouraged

I have received some very positive feedback on the “new” version. They love the WELCOME HOME. My desire is that OVCF be home. A home to all. A soft and safe place to land. No compromise (I will show that tomorrow), but a place for people to feel welcome. Not necessarily where everyone is spoken to (although that would be ideal), but a place where the warmth of God’s grace and God’s people is palpable. For those hurting from a bad church experience, may they find rest and healing.

It’s your turn now. What do you think? Positive and negative is welcome.

Side note: I’m considering trying to find a word that begins with “A” to put in place of Offered. The acrostic would then be P-L-A-C-E.  I have a word in mind “Afforded.” What do you think? Any other ideas?