A Bounty of Books

Visioneering: Your Guide for Discovering and Maintaining Personal Vision the Revised and Updated Edition by Andy Stanley sets out a clear course for anyone who feels the burden of a vision. Using practical advice, the biblical story of Nehemiah, and experience from his life and others, Stanley walks the reader through the birth of a vision to seeing it through long term.

The story of Nehemiah is used throughout Visioneering to illustrate the principles Stanley puts forth. This ties the whole thing together and helps the reader remember key points such as distinguishing between  a good idea and a God idea, avoiding distractions, and the importance of maintaining one's moral authority. 

Much of what one reads in Visioneering could be mistaken for self help, positive thinking train of thought if taken out of context. The key difference is the ground these statements have in scripture.Stanley never wavers from the grounding a vision will have in God's plan both for an individual life and the world. 

The revised and updated edition includes questions at the end of every chapter to help the reader apply that chapter's principle to his or her vision. There is also a small group discussion guide included at the end of the book with advice for the discussion leader. Each "Building Block" is highlighted in the text, and there is a list of these blocks with page numbers included at the front of the book for easy reference. Like all of Stanley's books, Visioneering is easy to read and understand. I would recommend it to anyone who has an idea and could use some guidance as to how to best develop and pursue it.