WHY? #Reimagine...
To reimagine is not to change what we believe
But to reconsider how we think about what we believe.
If we are unable to differentiate between our beliefs (theology, doctrines) and thoughts (ideas, applications, systems, best practices), then we will ultimately be unable to defend our values and discern the foundations of social change and political preferences.
To reimagine, is to rethink, review and revise, prompted by a Holy Spirit revealed fresh-for-our-times application of the unchanging truth of Scripture. We are blessed by and greatly benefit from but are not bound by tradition. Transformation requires fresh application.
To reimagine is not to rely on human imaginations; just the opposite, it is a yielding to the revelation of the Holy Spirit that infuses human thinking with the mind of Christ which allows us to know the will of our Holy God. A unique application to our times and our trials.
To reimagine, individuals – cohort groups - congregations – collaborations, must employ the gifts of the Holy Spirit (especially prayer) and the resource of scripture.
To refuse to reimagine, is actually an act of disobedience, because we are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we ( individually and corporately) demonstrate God's will is good for all. So that means our leadership and ministries, not just our personal moral life must be transformed: our disciple making, prayer, evangelism, church itself…
We should expect the renewing of our mind, a reimagination led by the Spirit, to result in great works for a great God.
CHURCH. THINK. DIFFERENT!
#ItSeemsToMe...Christians need to "repent" of behaviors AND beliefs that are not pleasing to God.
["Greek was the language of the gospels and the word “repent” was recorded as “metanoia.”
"Meta” means “after” and it bears the concept of “shift” or “change” (as in the word metamorphosis).
“Noia” translates to “mind.” “Metanoia” is a clarion call to transformational thinking. Suzette Martinez Standring]
Take faith! #Reimagine
Phil Miglioratti
Curator for The #ReimagineFORUM
NEXT STEPS ~
1. Affirm that you need to #Reimagine... if your church/ministry/team/group is going to be successful at reaching people with the Gospel and making disciples.
- >>>Praying through this Coaching Session Interview
- >>>Read how to reimagine like Romans 12:2 (scroll to also see guest commentary)
- >>>Reading Designing YOUR #Reimagine Journey...
- >>>Listening in prayer
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Jeremiah 33:3
>>>KEEP SCROLLING for RELATED CONTENT & COMMENTARY, RESOURCES & REPLIES<<<
>>>KEEP SCROLLING for RELATED CONTENT & COMMENTARY, RESOURCES & REPLIES
What’s Wrong With My Tunnel Vision?
November 11, 2024 by Beverly R. Green
tunnel vision: noun
Sometimes tunnel vision is a bad thing, like in definitions 1 and 2 above. This week, I have the definition 3 type of tunnel vision. It is performance week at school, and I am the drama teacher. To complicate matters, I suggested a mystery dinner theater this semester, which means not only a play, but a dinner, reservations, a host, servers, a big clean-up, games, prizes … I wake up at 2:00 a.m. wondering how to arrange tables so everyone can see … and hear; I spend my lunch hour running lines with students who are unsure of how to say something; I eat dinner agonizing over the price per ticket–Is it enough? Is it too much?; and I lose track of my evening trying to remember what I have forgotten. My brand of tunnel vision is the fast-track to stress!
It’s all in God’s capable hands, right? My team prays daily for the practical things, that all will go smoothly and according to plan, and also that He will use the whole event for His glory. After all, it is much easier to get an unsaved family member or friend to come to a mystery dinner theater production than to come to church. We pray that He will receive our loaves and fish and grow them into something useful for His purpose. Yes, it is all in His most capable hands.
Even knowing all that, the details of the project are all-consuming in my mind right now.
What do the scriptures say?
There are scriptures about tunnel vision.
In Psalm 27:4, King David declares, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
Matthew 6:33-34 quotes Jesus, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
The right kind of tunnel vision
I suppose there are all kinds of things in the world to cause us to have tunnel vision. That is probably the secret, right there–things in the world. Job, family, studies, plans, and the like, can consume one’s thought process. I guess my tunnel vision would be more beneficial if it were spiritually focused:
Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I would gladly trade the stress of my tunnel vision for the peace of God’s vision. I’m going to try …
God bless you and give you His vision.
Why Reimagine? Because Even the Most Brilliant Minds Are Resistant to A Different Way of Thinking!
And when we resist even considering new ideas, we thwart progress/change/improvement . . .
The Romans Were Resistant to Zero
The Roman numeral system, though effective for basic counting and trade, became cumbersome as calculations grew more complex. Without a zero symbol, Roman mathematicians and merchants struggled with place values, making arithmetic operations such as multiplication or division challenging. This absence of zero also meant the system was unsuited to large-scale mathematics or scientific calculation, though that didn’t seem to significantly impact the Romans’ impressive engineering designs.
When the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which included zero, arrived in Europe through Islamic scholars in the Middle Ages, the Romans initially resisted using it. Zero was not just a foreign concept but was also seen as a potential philosophical threat, symbolizing “nothingness” in a way that seemed unsettling to those accustomed to tangible numbers and symbols. Aristotle believed that “nature abhors a vacuum” and asserted there was no such thing as nothing. The Catholic Church also rejected the numerical concept of zero due to its association with the infinite, an idea that conflicted with religious teachings at the time.
Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images
An Italian Mathematician Helped Bring the Zero to Europe
Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano, better known as Fibonacci, introduced the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to Europe through his groundbreaking book Liber Abaci (The Book of Numbers) in 1202. He referred to zero as zephirum, a term derived from the Arabic word ṣifr, meaning "empty" or "nothing." This Arabic term, in turn, originated from the Sanskrit word śūnya, which also means "empty." Over time, zephirum evolved linguistically, becoming zefiro in Italian and "zero" in modern English.
By the late Middle Ages, zero and the Hindu-Arabic numeral system were being used throughout Europe, especially in fields such as commerce, astronomy, and engineering. Accountants and merchants had discovered the usefulness of zero in bookkeeping and calculations, while scholars used it to advance mathematical theories. Though Roman numerals retained ceremonial use, the acceptance of zero signaled an important mathematical and philosophical shift, making it possible to conceive of innovations in science and technology that required a more comprehensive numerical framework.
Trust the Process
Written by Dynamis Ministries
The name Sam Hinkie may not mean much to you, but you may be familiar with an expression he helped contribute to pop culture, one that you may even use today. Hired as the General Manager (GM) of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team in 2013, Hinkie quickly caught a lot of flak among the league and the team’s fanbase for some of his questionable business decisions. The year prior to hiring Hinkie, the 76ers just missed making the playoffs by only one spot, yet in the first three years under his leadership, the team finished as one of the worst in the league.
GM Hinkie was criticized for trading away some of the team’s core talent for draft picks or to free up cap space, which caused the team’s short-term success to plummet. But through it all, Hinkie had a plan. He was reorchestrating the team’s roster with young talent, which needed time to develop. In the midst of all the criticism and frustration during the early years, Hinkie was constantly reminding the team and the fanbase to be patient and to TRUST THE PROCESS. This manta became a battle cry of sorts for the franchise as, eventually, the 76ers began winning and became one of the top teams in the league.
While this manta didn’t originate with Sam Hinkie, the “trust the process” saying was certainly popularized during his tenure as a GM. In fact, the team’s star player, Joel Embiid, was even given the nickname “The Process” because of his vocal defense of Hinkie’s strategy. We still hear this expression today, whether it’s on a sports team, in the classroom or at work. It’s a reminder for us to persevere when we’re in the midst of challenges, to not give up when things go bad and to focus on long-term success over short-term gains. There’s certainly a lot of merit to this credo. It’s something we can all benefit from to keep us going. But there’s a flip side to this as well.
What if the process is flawed?
If that’s the case, when a process stops working, it’s time to find a new process.
As humans, we all share a desire to live a satisfying life. However, there are many different processes we follow to achieve it. In today’s world, some may think that significance comes from status, wealth, power, security or life experiences. We think that steps to gaining a bigger net worth, a greater social media presence, a better work title, a bigger home, a better body or a unique lifestyle is the process for “a wonderful life.” While these processes can deliver short-term gratification, they will leave you wanting in the long run.
The Bible teaches us a different process to a meaningful life. It’s one of selflessness, humility, modesty, compassion and generosity. These lifestyle processes seem backward or upside down, but those who have followed them can testify that they bring more fulfillment than any other one that’s out there.
We cannot live to our greatest satisfaction and potential if we don’t trust the RIGHT process. Take a moment today to reflect on what process you’ve been following and whether it’s yielding the results best for you and the people around you. Maybe it’s time to change your process. Maybe, right now, during this holiday season—the most generous time of the year—it’s time to try a new process, one of more selflessness, compassion and generosity!
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Our Contact Information
Dynamis Ministries
2700 Duncan Lane
Batavia, IL 60510
630.643.0009
http://www.dynamisministries.org
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