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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nProverbs 29: 18 \u201cWhere there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Absolute zero is minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. In theory, that is as cold as anything can possibly be. There is, however, no temperature that is considered absolute hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of us consider one-hundred degrees as being a summertime heat that is very uncomfortable, especially if living in an area that enjoys extreme humidity. Just to walk outside, without even the slightest exertion, many break out in a sweat. In my case, after a short time of yard mowing with a push mower, I\u2019m soaked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my seventy-five years of accumulated knowledge (wink, wink), one thing learned is that heat is uncomfortable but cold is painful. God gave us sweat glands to help with the heat but only toboggans, gloves and long johns can do battle with cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today is October 18th. We had our first freeze here in western Kentucky at a chilly thirty degrees. Having completed my night\u2019s sleep at four am, I\u2019m up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After turning on the coffee pot for the much needed morning transfusion, to feel the outside air was a matter of curiosity. Venturing outside in the cold, I enjoyed breathing the cold air. Cold air doesn\u2019t have any more oxygen to feed my cells but it sure does taste good and feels great in my lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While outside, seeing the night sky was breathtaking. There were so many stars I thought I must have been transferred miraculously to a mountain top. Before the temperatures dropped, only about a third (guestimate) of those stars were visible to my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the southern United States, in the warmer\/hotter months there seems to be a perpetual haze that interferes with stargazing. The most obvious place to observe this condition is from a window seat at 30,000 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also in this area of the country, it is very dry even for this time of year. There is dust in the air and that is a contributing factor is the impeding of visibility. In a former article I described a day I was sixty kilometers from Mr. Kilimanjaro and could not see it. The haze was so heavy in the sky I finally saw an outline of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the south-eastern United States, we often get blow-over dust from the Sahara Desert. When we consider those environmental factors that reduce our vision, there are many examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proverbs: 29: 18 \u201cWhere there is no vision, the people perish:\u201d Being able to see clearly is a condition that is greatly desired. When we consider any subject – politics, religion, diet\/nutrition, for example, if we cannot clearly and with discretion, consider the facts, we can be easily misled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vision in Proverbs is not referring to seeing stars; it is concerning seeing (visualizing) future actions and conditions. The necessity of planning and looking forward in our endeavors is essential for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may ask ourselves the question, \u201cWhere will I be in twenty years?\u201d At my age, I\u2019m pretty sure I know. But in the case of a church or young person, to ask this question facilitates ones plans. If one is looking at the American Dream or preaching the Gospel, the question is a legitimate one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat am I\/we going to do to make this happen?\u201d I will not tell anyone or a church what they must do, but if the church (all believers in the Lord Jesus crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected) is not working the Great Commission, they\u2019re missing a crucial point in Biblical instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the absence of vision concerning the recruiting of the unchurched into the faith will certainly result into a state of declining numbers in membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result of the declining church is detrimental to the entire nation and the world because the church\/Christianity sets the bar for human behavior. God\u2019s Holy Word, the Bible gives mankind a guide book for our actions. Without this set of standards for mankind to follow, chaos will be the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The church appears to be ignoring the mandate by Jesus to tell the world about Him. In doing so, we are establishing a future devoid of rules and structure. Winter\u2019s cold may help one to see the stars more clearly but the vision of a future world without the church is frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vision must be shifted into a mode of Christian growth if we expect to continue to live in a civilized world. In many cities around the world, we are witnessing the fall of civilization. Riots, the burning of cities, protests evolving into violence and the general degradation of society are being seen all too often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many churches are now writing \u201cvision statements.\u201d This is a beginning of a positive attitude if these statements include recruiting into the faith. A vision must include future growth and outreach into the community and world for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We worked with a church in the construction of a church building in Seville, Spain. I noticed the existing church had around 120 in attendance but the new building would seat fifteen-hundred. Of course I asked why the disparity in numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answer I was given was, \u201cIn 100 years, this church will be full.\u201d That way of thinking is \u201cvision\u201d demonstrated to the greatest. Apparently, the members were willing to work the Great Commission to fill that building with new Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The construction of the structure also was indicative of the future planning. Massive stones such as seen in Egypt were used. Extensive use of marble and granite were indications of the future vision of the people. The building will stand for a thousand years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being able to see the clear and bright night sky that morning in October was a rare blessing for me. The stars were as pinpoints of light, some being hundreds of light years from earth. The future vision for Christianity is also very bright but Jesus expects us to make things happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are the hands, feet and voices of Jesus on the earth today. The word \u201cGospel\u201d is translated to mean \u201cGood News.\u201d That news is intended by our Savior to be shared to everyone. If we ignore His last statement to us on earth, the results will be catastrophic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other choice is to obey His command and make the world a better place. John 16: 33 \u201cThese things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Written by Van Yandell Proverbs 29: 18 \u201cWhere there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.\u201d Absolute zero is minus 459.67 degrees… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":55749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55870"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55870"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55872,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55870\/revisions\/55872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}