Are you doing more than adding to the noise

Posted on February 27, 2007 by Jim Walton

Tony Morgan shared a statement that someone said in a recent meeting:

People will follow vision, they won’t follow information.

That really struck me. We are pummeled with information, more than we can comprehend or process and what’s the benefit? Not much! At some point, you turn off and don’t even catch the good stuff.

This idea of vision was mentioned in an unrelated e-mail conversation I had today, as well. All this talk of vision, maybe the Lord’s trying to tell me something.

It seems true, that people will follow vision, instead of information. It makes me consider what I’m doing with this blog.

  • Am I sharing a vision?
  • Do the things I write about fall in line with my vision for the church and the role of technology in the church?

OR

  • Am I just passing along information? Which is essentially regurgitating the same information that’s already out there and maybe causing you to tune out all the noise.

My favorite song by Switchfoot is called Adding to the noise:

If we’re adding to the noise
Turn off this song
If we’re adding to the noise
Turn off this stereo, radio, video, blog

Ok, I ad-libbed it a little bit. By the way, I did make that part of the song into a ringtone for my phone, seemed appropriate at the time.

Things are changing in my life, they have been in the process of changing, on several fronts and it affects my blog, as well. Nothing big, just little, sometimes subtle things. I will make you aware of some things going on soon, other things will just evolve and happen over time.

This thought of people following vision reminds me to continue to become more focused on what I’m doing here. Ultimately, I hope to add value to your life and to your church, while at the same time stretching myself to be more and do more.

I don’t want to just add to the noise.

Are you casting vision or just adding to the noise?

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8 Responses to “Are you doing more than adding to the noise”

  1. Rick on February 27th, 2007 8:00 pm

    Jim…well put! I find myself constantly “filtering”…btw, that quote by tony morgan grabbed my attention as well…i’ve been processing it quite a bit

  2. Bob Brown on February 28th, 2007 6:37 pm

    Romans 10:14
    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

    Without vision, people go nowhere. But without information nobody knows about the vision.

    As an admitted information junkie I believe that good information is necessary, especially in our information rich environments. If I don’t get enough information about what is going on I will stay at home.

  3. A. Jay on March 1st, 2007 7:47 am

    Very well said, and very though provoking. It’s one of those, “the more you ponder it, the more there is to ponder” deals.

    Proverbs 29:18 says in the KJV, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”

    That verse came to mind as I thought about adding noise to the things I’m involved in…

    Grace and peace.

  4. Janet on March 1st, 2007 8:02 am

    I came across your blog becaus of your Switchfoot comment. I’m a huge fan. They have a lot to say about a lot of things.

    This was a very nicely written blog. I can’t speak for your other posts yet (I just got here!) but this particular one is most definitely not just adding to the noise.

    The comments about vision vs information…it seems such an obvious thing, yet I never thought about that before.

    I write a weblog about people who make a difference. I’m going to have to give your comments about vision a lot of consideration as I continue to write.

    Maybe I have to further define my own vision for my life.

    Thanks for making me think this morning.

  5. Jim Walton on March 1st, 2007 8:36 am

    Thank you all for your comments and thanks also for the scripture references. That makes me want to dig deeper and see what else the Bible has to say about vision.

  6. Sonnie on March 2nd, 2007 11:08 pm

    Information and vision are two different animals and used in different situation

    Information is needed for leaders and christians to make a good decision. This is something that will help them navigate around this world until our blessed hope.

    Vision on the other hand, is what leaders should use to build an empire–whether the empire is a business or ministry. Communicate the vision and people, if convinced, will join the leader with his heart and resources.

    I remember one principle in the Bible that says.. “without vision, the people perish.

    You’ve got a great blog, BTW

  7. Sonnie's Porch on March 3rd, 2007 6:43 am

    Vision In Leadership…

    The leaders vision, however, is what will capture the heart and passion of the the audience– In the corporate world, employees stay and become loyal to the organization not because of money, but because they share the vision

    ……

  8. Antonia Lim on March 8th, 2007 4:57 am

    :) My vision is to get there and I need infomation on how to get there… Vision and Infomation works together. Vision is the motivator, while at times infomation gets you no where. Sharing the same vision needs sharing of infomation. Being leader, you can’t keep all things to yourself, transparency is the best policy especially within the team.

    That was just something I would like to add… God bless.