At our elders' meeting this week, John was talking about the mentality of church planting teams. He said they typically realize that their very existence is dependent upon the effectiveness of their outreach strategy. They grasp that if they don't grow they will die. They not only know this, but they act on the fact. His words got me thinking about the process that led my last church to plant a daughter church in Carlsbad. The team clearly lived out a simple philosophy: We are not yet what we will be! In this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy, I want to make some noise about that idea. I believe healthy churches and healthy individuals must comprehend and act on the realization that they are not yet what they will be. New Christians generally think this way. They grow up quickly at first and then grow complacent and plateau. It is said that we get what we expect. Let's expect progress! Let's not be satisfied with things as they are. We are not yet what we will be! This is a healthy mentality for both individuals and churches. Let's believe it and live it!