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Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

With 3 and 5-year-old children, the most common television shows in my home are cartoons. While my wife and I limit screentime, there are a few favorites: Paw Patrol (which features talking dogs that come to the rescue of anyone that needs help), Curious George (who doesn't really say much (but gets himself in boatloads of trouble), and Miles from Tomorrowland (featuring a family who lives on a spaceship somewhere far beyond the Milky Way).

Now, those are the kids favorites. But my favorite of their cartoons is Busytown Mysteries. It's pretty cheesy, but that only adds to its charm. 

As you might guess, each episode involves a problem that needs to be solved. This is done when Huckle Cat, his sister Sally Cat, and friend Lowly the Worm examine the evidence of a given mystery. And right before they break into action, they break into song, asking the 6 questions of problem solving (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?). Click the video below, if you dare (but consider yourself warned: this song will not leave your head for at least four days):

As we discussed at our Annual Congregational Meeting (and engaged in this excerpt from the report), our Staff and Session are developing answering these questions as well. 

Our mission answers the question "What are we doing?" We are inviting all people into a Christ-centered life in God's family.

This mission is inspired by our values, which answers the question, "Why are we doing it?" As author Simon Sinek writes, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe." Our values are Intergenerational family, Biblical discipleship, and Authentic evangelism.

Next is the question, "How are we doing it?" We have a four-fold strategy, which includes

  • planting the gospel in our networks and neighborhoods,
  • deepening our faith in weekly worship,
  • flourishing in communal study, and
  • nurturing others in their journeys of life.

Planting Deepening Flourishing Nurturing

As we engaged last week, Staff and Session are currently developing an answer to the question "When are we successful?" Read more here.

But one last question remains: "Where are we going?" If the answers to the previous four questions comprise four sides of a frame, this final question is the picture in the middle. And after discerning God's picture for Good Shepherd, His dream will translate into our plans (exemplified by the image on the far right).

God Dreams

From the top down:

  • Beyond the Horizon vision (a vivid narrative for inspiring people that envisions where we’re going in the next 5-20 years)
  • Background vision (qualitative andstrategic ideas that clarify 4 strategic emphases over the next 3 years)
  • Midground vision (1 qualitative and quantitative, both inspiring and measurable goal for the whole church over the next year)
  • Foreground vision (4 specific initiatives that support the midground vision in the next 90 days)

Benjamin Zander, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra conductor once said,

Goals can be energizing - when you win. But a vision is more powerful than a goal. A vision is enlivening, it’s spirit giving, it’s the guiding force behind all great human endeavors. Vision is about a shared energy, a sense of awe, a sense of possibility.

Would you join me in praying for that kind of vision here at Good Shepherd? That it would be God’s picture which inspires our plans for His glory!?

Pastor Curtis

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