Synopsis

A review of Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around A Shared Vision Of The Future by Canadian businessman, author, and speaker Cameron Herold

Paul: Steal 📚
Matthew:

A review of and quotes from The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How To Be Calm and Mindful In A Fast-Paced World by Korean Zen Buddhist teacher and author Haemin Sunim (born December 12, 1973)

Paul: Burn 🔥
Matthew:

A review of and quotes from A Confederacy Of Dunces by American novelist John Kennedy Toole (December 17, 1937 – March 26, 1969)

Paul: Steal 📚
Matthew:

A Bible Study on Vision

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

In May, I finally decided to get new glasses after 17 years. It wasn't that I couldn't see with the old pair, but rather that one of the hinges had broke, one of the nose pads had fallen off, and the plastic had fallen off both of the temples (the two long, skinny arms of your eyeglasses that attach via the hinge and sit over your ears). So, the metal frames were digging into my skin.

Being that one of my best virtues is frugality, it is always hard to throw anything away and buy something new. However, I think I got the most value I could out of these frames.

photo by Paul Anderson, 7/27/24

Since improving my vision was on my mind this month, I was hoping to see something vision-related in my son's library. I saw a title called Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around A Shared Vision Of The Future that looked to be a perfect fit. This book would fit into the self-help category but with more of a business slant. However, I thought it might benefit my goal of writing a chess book. Perhaps, a vision is just what I need to finally finish my book... 🤔

‭When I saw that Isaiah 22:5 was chosen as the verse of the day‬ on the same day as starting this book, I took it as sign from the LORD. Like 'Joliet' Jake Blues when he slides on down to the Triple Rock Baptist Church, I had seen the light!

Well, not really. But it was a nice coincidence

I did like this book. It is one of the better self-help books I have seen. Steal 📚. The main point about having a vision is that it needs to be detailed and should focus on small steps. The material is concise, with detailed examples, and even ends with a section on having a personal vision for a successful life using the 5 Fs.

Fitness
Faith
Finance
Family
Friends

I saw another vision-related title in my son's library. So, I decided to continue the theme with the book The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How To Be Calm and Mindful In A Fast-Paced World. This book would also fit in the self-help category but with more of a spiritual slant.

The spiritual perspective is Buddhist, and while I haven't looked into the religion very much, I can see that I am DEFINITELY not a Buddhist. Burn 🔥. The emphasis appears to be exclusively about how to get along with other people in this world, rather than how to get right with God before the next world. They use the 2nd greatest commandment to nullify the greatest commandment. For the Buddhist, it is better to love your neighbor than to understand truth.

"If Jesus, Buddha, and Confucius were all alive and gathered in the same place, would they argue over who is right? Or would they respect and admire one another’s teachings? Religious conflict can often be blamed not on the founders of religions but on their fanatical followers."

While his rhetorical question is designed to get you to agree with the author, I immediately think of how Jesus actually treated the religious leaders of his time by winning augments, criticizing their teachings, and calling them, "Blind guides!"

Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 15:12-14 KJV

It is hard to believe that the author never saw that verse. Perhaps, he didn't want to see it. As, clearly his favorite book in the Bible is Matthew.

"Three Bible verses I cherish:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

—MATTHEW 7:12

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

—MATTHEW 7:21

“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

—MATTHEW 25:40"

Although, I imagine he looks at Mt 7:21 in a different light than I do. He would probably take comfort in the fact that some people who confess Jesus as Lord will fail to enter the kingdom of heaven, and therefore, use this verse to nullify his need to confess Jesus as Lord, as only doing the will is necessary. Whereas, I would see the verse as a warning to those whose works don't match up with their confession. They may claim to be a Christian but their actions do not conform to the will of the Father. So, both faith and works are required (James 2:24).

Buddhists are like a heart-lead person trying to be mind-lead. They like to think they follow wisdom, but they actually are following the heart. What they feel is more important. And when that feeling changes, they have to change. It is the never-ending pursuit of happiness.

"A long time ago,

there was only one mind,

which became bored by being alone for so long.

So it decided to split into two.

But since the two knew they were originally one,

playing together was not much fun—

as if playing both sides of a chess game.

So the two minds agreed to forget where they came from;

they pretended not to know each other.

As time passed, they also forgot about their agreement.

They forgot they were actually one and the same.

This is the condition of our existence.

We forget that we are originally from one mind."

While I like the chess reference, all I get from this parable is that the goal of Buddhism is to return to a state of eternal boredom.

Well, maybe I got one more thing: if a Buddhist were to order a pizza, they would say, "Make me one with everything!" This is another reason that I am not a Buddhist. I love pepperoni pizza! It is far more exciting; the Works is just too boring for me.

I didn't see another vision-related title in LM Brian Wall's library. So, I decided to start at the bottom of his list with the novel, A Confederacy Of Dunces.

My Father's Best Literature list by Life Master Brian Wall

My father, Lucius John Wall, the second, was a genius who loved to read.

This is his best Novels list.

Novels

Madame Bovary - Flaubert
Lord Jim - Conrad
The Red And The Black - Stendahl
David Copperfield - Dickens
Swann's Way - Proust
Ivanhoe - Scott
The Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky
Moby Dick - Melville
Magus - Fowler
Death On The Installment Plan - Celine
Tristram Shandy - Sterns
The Way Of All Flesh - Butler
Fathers And Sons - Turgenev
Huckleberry Finn - Twain
Robinson Crusoe - Defoe
Gullivers Travels - Swift
Decline And Fall - Waugh
Of Human Bondage - Maughm
The Black Sheep - Balzac
A Confederacy Of Dunces - Toole

Novelettes

Death In Venice - Mann
Heart Of Darkness - Conrad
Notes From The Underground - Dostoevesky
The Apple Tree - Galsworthy
The Man Who Would Be King - Kipling
Portait Of The Artist As A Young Man - Joyce
Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland - Caroll
The Stranger - Camus
1984 - Orwell

The book was written in 1963 and its title comes from Jonathan Swift's essay Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting:

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.

While not specifically about vision, this humorous book seems to have been given prophetic sight about our current political climate. The protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, is an overweight and unemployed thirty-year-old with a Masters degree in Medieval History, whose favorite book is On The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, a Medieval Roman philosopher. His pride and education keep him from holding down even the simplest of jobs, as he feels that all work and all people are beneath him.

"You could tell by the way that he talked, though, that he had gone to school a long time. That was probably what was wrong with him. George had been wise enough to get out of school as soon as possible. He didn't want to end up like that guy."

As a hot dog vendor, he could be the worst employee ever, refusing to sell any product and eating them instead. His attitude of Charles Emerson Winchester (M*A*S*H), combined with the physique of Roy Biggins (Wings), and the voice of Foghorn Leghorn, do not endear him with, well, people in general. So, he ends up watching Yogi Bear cartoons and drinking Dr. Nut while sponging off his mother. What is a useless, good-for-nothing son to do?

Well, politics, of course. He decides to become a political organizer and promote the platform of peace through decadency. While this philosophy seemed like a joke in the 1960s, Ignatius J. Reilly is seen as a visionary by today's standards. And for his forward sightedness, I will give it a steal 📚 since it seems to be a humorous telling about the founding of the modern democratic party.

Here are my top 12 verses on Vision:

Jesus On Vision

Matthew 17:1-9 King James Version

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mark 4:10-12 King James Version

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 24:13-31 King James Version

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

John 9:35-41 King James Version

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Vision In The New Testament

Acts 2:17 King James Version

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 10:1-20 King James Version

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

2 Corinthians 12:1-7 King James Version

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Revelation 1:1-3 King James Version

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Vision In The Old Testament

Numbers 24:13-17 King James Version

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Proverbs 29:18 King James Version

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Isaiah 22:1-5 King James Version

1 The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

2 Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

3 All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.

4 Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

Daniel 9:20-27 King James Version

20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "vision" occurs 96 times in the Bible, but more than half of the verses are concentrated in 3 books:

Ezekiel (14)
Daniel (29)
Acts (12)

So, while "vision" does occur throughout the Bible, it does seem to be a rare occurrence. It is a special sight for specific times and for specific people to view the spiritual realm. Peter, James, and John were the only three Apostles chosen to see the vision of the transfigured Christ. It is a tool God uses to transfer his word to his prophets, similar to a dream. However, it is the version of dreaming that occurs when awake, like when Cornelius sees his vision at 3 pm and Peter see his vision at 12 pm. It is associated with parables and being allowed to sees things that are not shown to everyone. The disciples on the road to Emmaus had to have their eyes opened before they could see they were talking with Jesus. It also is associated with revelation and prophecy. The Old Testament uses visions to predict the coming Messiah and the future of Jerusalem. However, there is also a general use of the word "vision" that relates to all people and the importance of having a hope for the future.

God lets us see that our future will be bright and not eternal boredom.

Research

96 Bible results for “vision” from King James Version.

Old Testament (79)

Genesis (2)
Numbers (3)
1 Samuel (2)
2 Samuel (1)
1 Chronicles (1)
2 Chronicles (3)
Job (4)
Psalm (1)
Proverbs (1)
Isaiah (7)
Jeremiah (2)
Lamentations (1)
Ezekiel (14)
Daniel (29)
Hosea (1)
Joel (1)
Obadiah (1)
Micah (1)
Nahum (1)
Habakkuk (2)
Zechariah (1)

New Testament (17)

Matthew (1)
Luke (2)
Acts (12)
2 Corinthians (1)
Revelation (1)

116 Bible results for “seeing” from King James Version.

Old Testament (68)

Genesis (8)
Exodus (4)
Leviticus (1)
Numbers (3)
Joshua (2)
Judges (5)
Ruth (2)
1 Samuel (6)
2 Samuel (4)
1 Kings (2)
2 Kings (1)
1 Chronicles (1)
2 Chronicles (1)
Ezra (1)
Nehemiah (1)
Job (6)
Psalm (2)
Proverbs (3)
Ecclesiastes (3)
Isaiah (4)
Jeremiah (2)
Ezekiel (4)
Daniel (1)
Hosea (1)

New Testament (48)

Matthew (4)
Mark (2)
Luke (4)
John (3)
Acts (14)
Romans (1)
1 Corinthians (1)
2 Corinthians (4)
Colossians (1)
2 Thessalonians (1)
Hebrews (8)
1 Peter (1)
2 Peter (4)

Scripture contributions for May 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson

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Vision