The following contains excerpts from the book, Visioneering (Andy Stanley).
At our music school in Midland, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. The two subjects of Leadership and relationships go hand in hand, and all leadership requires Vision.
This is a book that uses Nehemiah for an outline, highlighting leadership principles derived from the Biblical account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Stanley introduces the term ‘visioneering’ in his introduction. “Visioneering = Inspiration + Conviction + Action + Determination + Completion.”
He then outlines Vision as the following: Passion, Motivation, Direction, and Purpose. “Vision evokes emotion. There is no such thing as an emotionless vision…Vision-driven people are motivated people. Find me a man or woman who lacks motivation and I’ll show you someone with little or no vision…Maybe the most practical advantage of vision is it sets a direction for our lives. It serves as a road map. In this way, vision simplifies decision making. Anything that moves us toward the realization of our vision gets a green light. Everything else is approached with caution…Vision translates into purpose…Suddenly, you matter. You matter a lot!…A vision makes you an important link between current reality and the future.”
We help students at our music school in Midland, Texas find and develop their passion by helping them first discover their unique strengths, then adding time-tested core conditioning and discipline to refine those uniqueness and bring them to their fullest expression.
The author differentiates between secular accomplishments and a God-given vision. “You cannot wring enough life or meaning out of secular accomplishment to satisfy your soul. The hole you are trying to fill has an eternal and spiritual dimension that only matters of eternity and spirituality can satisfy. This is why it is imperative that you discover and participate in God’s multi-faceted vision for your life. It is what you were made for. Your homespun visions- as challenging and demanding as they may be- fall short. They will always leave you wondering.”
A Vision Is Born
“Vision often begins with the inability to accept things the way they are. Over time that dissatisfaction matures into a clear picture of what could be…Anyone with a vision will tell you this is not merely something that could be done. This is something that should be done.”
“A vision rarely requires immediate action. It always requires patience…Vision always precedes preparation. Initially, your vision will exceed you competency. Within the context of that tension, God will go to work on you.”
“A God-ordained vision will eventually feel like a moral imperative.”
Praying and Planning
At our music school in Midland, Texas we accept students of all creeds, and encourage them to pursue their musical growth from a wholesome and comprehensive viewpoint of life and living. We encourage, however, the reader to consider the following Biblical thoughts to find inspiration and insight.
“It is interesting that Nehemiah never prayed for God to rebuild the wall. What he prays for is an opportunity to go rebuild it himself. That is the difference between a dreamer and a visionary. Dreamers dream about thins being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference. Dreamers think about how nice it would be for something to be done. Visionaries look for an opportunity to do something.”
“Go ahead and develop a plan. Assuming you had the resources, what would you do? Assuming you had the time, what would you do first? Second? Third? Plan as if you knew someone were going to come along and give you an opportunity to pursue your vision.”
Positions Please
“There are always more questions than answers when God births a vision in our hearts. There are always obstacles. There is always a lack of resources. A man or woman with a vision usually feels alone. Even isolated. Often there is little to go on other than gut-level, unquenchable, insatiable desire. And hopefully a sense of destiny: a feeling that this is what you were made for, an assurance that God has called you out in to uncharted waters with a divine purpose in mind. If any of that rings true for you, you may be on the brink of something divine.”
“There is a tendency to confuse success with the rewards of success. If you are where God wants you, fulfilling the responsibilities he has given you, you are successful. In fact, when that is the case, you are as successful as you will ever be. Grated, you may not be seeing or experiencing the rewards of your success. But you are successful nonetheless.”
The idea we endeavor to encourage with students at our music school in Midland, Texas is that daily, incremental growth should be the focus. When daily discipline happens, over time, the student will see exponential progress.
“Retreating from the vision becomes a form of self-defense…It is hard to ignore that little voice when everything around you seconds the motions. It is next to impossible to regain perspective in an environment hostile to your dreams. But it is even more difficult to live life wondering. Wondering what God would have done. Wondering how close you were to experiencing a breakthrough. Wondering what would have happened had you not given up.”
The God of How
“You will know what God has put in your heart to do before you know how he intends to bring it about. Often, you will know what long before you understand how.”
Faith, the Essential Ingredient
“When we embrace a vision in its infancy, before anything has really ‘happened,’ we are making a statement about our confidence in the person and character of God. Pursuing a diving vision is really an act of worship. It is a declaration of our confidence in God…The difficult thing for us is that the more contrary the circumstances, the more honor God receives. That is, the more unlikely the fulfillment of our vision, the more faith that is required. And consequently, the greater the potential for God’s glory.”
We encourage students at our music school in Midland, Texas to ‘play the long game,’ taking a perspective of patience and consistency. Perhaps one of the greatest life-lessons that can be gained by studying music is the ability to maintain a goal of what can be achieved over a substantial period of time.
“Few things distort our perspective like public success. The rewards that accompany success can turn a bumble man or woman into a tyrant. Success often leads to self-sufficiency. Rare is the successful individual who has not lost sight of what he would be without God…The depth and authenticity of our faith determines in part our ability to handle success. Faith focuses us on our inadequacy and his adequacy. Mature faith is able to maintain that perspective even when faith becomes sight.”
“The bigger the vision, the more important it is that your faith be grounded in his ability, not yours. The bigger the vision, the more pressure you will fell to take credit for you success…So be encouraged. The agony you are experiencing is normal. The loneliness you feel is to be expected. The sleepless nights when you stare up at the ceiling and think, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ are part of the process. All of those experiences will ultimately lead you to the conclusion, ‘God, if you don’t come through, I’m sunk!’ And that is exactly where he wants you to be- and stay. For this reason, men and women of vision are men and women of faith. J And through their faith, God is honored.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas we have faith in each student’s potential. Every student is unique and gifted in their own way. As teachers, we try to bring out that unique talent like mining for gold. We take that journey of faith with the student to see it to completion.