I have been away for the last couple of days at a denominational conference in the mountains of east Tennessee. This is because I have learned that it is good on occasion to get away from the routine and replenish my spirit. That much has certainly been accomplished on my trip.
We have had several good speakers. One of them was John Burke. He told of a time of great transition in his life. He had for years been working for a large denominational publishing house. Then, about a decade or so ago, a major restructuring took place and a new consulting firm was brought in to take over many aspects of his position. Simply put, the material he had been producing was now to be jobbed out.
What is more, all the work he had previously produced was considered proprietary; and for this reason, he was told that it belonged not to him as the author, but to the publishing house for which he had worked for so many years.
He had the option of employment with the new consulting firm. But he felt in his heart that he could not work for this new entity as he was concerned about certain of their approaches and practices. For these reasons, he submitted his resignation.
As he wrestled with what to do next, he discussed the situation with his wife. She asked what it was that he really felt in his heart that he desired to do. He told her that he wanted to become a writer, produce his own materials, and then to use them to help others grow and mature. However, not really knowing how to get started, and given that he was an ordained Minister of the Gospel, he supposed that he would seek the Lord’s will for a church to serve.
She then asked him what he would do if he did not get a call from God to serve a church. He replied that he did not know; but that again he supposed that he would try his hand at writing anyway. His wife’s response was to change his life; for she immediately said: “Then why not go ahead and start writing anyway, and let’s see what God will do with it?!”
Today, he has many works to his credit; and is a sought after consultant and speaker at church leadership conferences all across America. All because he chose to trust God and follow his dream!
Years ago, Elvis Presley starred in a movie titled “Follow That Dream”. It is about a group of homesteaders who plant themselves firmly on their new land in Florida and courageously struggle to realize their aspirations and make their dreams come true. While it may not be the best movie ever made, its plot nonetheless has its characters embrace the challenge of its title. They follow their dream and, in the end, see it come to pass.
So too did the speaker I heard this weekend. And so too should we. Do you have a dream - a vision for the future? Is it the sort of dream that will not go away? Do you find yourself dwelling more and more on it?
If so, could it be that this is because God Himself has implanted that dream within you?! And if your dream is indeed God-given, should you not be following it? Who knows? All He may be waiting on is for you to take the initiative and get started! Once you do, you might very well “see what God will do with it”!
After all, as He tells us in His Holy Word (Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 18): “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Yet, when we do step out in faith and boldly pursue our dream, God is there all along encouraging us and whispering in our ear the very same promise He gave to the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah (chapter 29, verse 11): “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
In light of this, I know of no better way to conclude than by wishing you “Sweet Dreams”!
NOTE: I have herein summarized Dr. Burke’s story with his permission. I have not referenced the specifics for obvious reasons. The firm he founded is “Rethink Ministry” and can be found here: https://rethinkministry.net/.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/29-18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follow_That_Dream.
We have had several good speakers. One of them was John Burke. He told of a time of great transition in his life. He had for years been working for a large denominational publishing house. Then, about a decade or so ago, a major restructuring took place and a new consulting firm was brought in to take over many aspects of his position. Simply put, the material he had been producing was now to be jobbed out.
What is more, all the work he had previously produced was considered proprietary; and for this reason, he was told that it belonged not to him as the author, but to the publishing house for which he had worked for so many years.
He had the option of employment with the new consulting firm. But he felt in his heart that he could not work for this new entity as he was concerned about certain of their approaches and practices. For these reasons, he submitted his resignation.
As he wrestled with what to do next, he discussed the situation with his wife. She asked what it was that he really felt in his heart that he desired to do. He told her that he wanted to become a writer, produce his own materials, and then to use them to help others grow and mature. However, not really knowing how to get started, and given that he was an ordained Minister of the Gospel, he supposed that he would seek the Lord’s will for a church to serve.
She then asked him what he would do if he did not get a call from God to serve a church. He replied that he did not know; but that again he supposed that he would try his hand at writing anyway. His wife’s response was to change his life; for she immediately said: “Then why not go ahead and start writing anyway, and let’s see what God will do with it?!”
Today, he has many works to his credit; and is a sought after consultant and speaker at church leadership conferences all across America. All because he chose to trust God and follow his dream!
Years ago, Elvis Presley starred in a movie titled “Follow That Dream”. It is about a group of homesteaders who plant themselves firmly on their new land in Florida and courageously struggle to realize their aspirations and make their dreams come true. While it may not be the best movie ever made, its plot nonetheless has its characters embrace the challenge of its title. They follow their dream and, in the end, see it come to pass.
So too did the speaker I heard this weekend. And so too should we. Do you have a dream - a vision for the future? Is it the sort of dream that will not go away? Do you find yourself dwelling more and more on it?
If so, could it be that this is because God Himself has implanted that dream within you?! And if your dream is indeed God-given, should you not be following it? Who knows? All He may be waiting on is for you to take the initiative and get started! Once you do, you might very well “see what God will do with it”!
After all, as He tells us in His Holy Word (Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 18): “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Yet, when we do step out in faith and boldly pursue our dream, God is there all along encouraging us and whispering in our ear the very same promise He gave to the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah (chapter 29, verse 11): “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
In light of this, I know of no better way to conclude than by wishing you “Sweet Dreams”!
NOTE: I have herein summarized Dr. Burke’s story with his permission. I have not referenced the specifics for obvious reasons. The firm he founded is “Rethink Ministry” and can be found here: https://rethinkministry.net/.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/29-18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follow_That_Dream.