Vacating the Vision

A good friend asked me this week,

"Where do you see yourself in three years?"

I must admit. At that moment the vision was not clear in my mind. Then came last night ... After being in downtown Austin all day, I came home to find Dede watching "The Rookie".

"The Rookie" is a great movie for many reasons; it was filmed in Hutto, Texas; Kitty, my niece, is in the movie; it's about small towns and baseball, and it is about family and funny teenagers. My appreciation for the movie and the story behind it grew even more last night. Most of you know that I'm an emotional kind of guy. Last night I noticed that my emotions where going up and down with this movie more so than any other time watching it. "Lord, what is going on here?", I asked within.

Dennis Quaid plays Johnny Morris, who has given up on his dream, but the vision of playing Major League Baseball is recaptured when a motivational speech backfires on Coach Morris. Johnny's dad, and his wife, Lorri, give him the reality check of family obligations as he is re-engaging the dream through an unexpected opportunity. Lorri quickly realizes the duplicity of her words to her husband compared with the values she wants to instill to her eight year-old boy. Within hours Lorri reverses course and encourages her husband to pursue the dream even though she must sacrifice greatly.

My answer also came quickly. The Lord has given me a vision. That vision is much bigger than I am. It is a vision that I cannot accomplish. It is a vision that requires you; a vision that requires God. A vision that some call lofty, though it is not beyond the realm of history.

I dream of the day when America returns to God. I dream of the day that salvation crashes on these shores again. I dream of the day when parents value Godly children more than Western culture. I dream of the day that true liberty defeats the oppression of Secular Humanism. I dream of an America that blesses the name of the Lord God Almighty. God is honoring that vision. God is calling His people unto Himself.

I am but one soldier in a raging war. I must confess, "I get discouraged". I lose my focus and drift off course. I allow the circumstances of the day to defeat the vision for a moment. But just when I need Him most, God is there. God is faithful, when I am not. God is holy and just, when I am sinful and filled with spite. God knows where He is leading, when I get off the narrow road. Praise Him for the call. Praise Him who directs our steps!

This is the blessing of knowing Christ our Risen Lord and Savior! This is the blessing that surpasses all understanding. This is the hope that endures. Know the Blessing!

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thess 5:24 (ESV)

God Save the U.S.A.