If I Don't Dream, I'll Die!!

I've always been a dreamer...

I remember as a little boy... reading biographies of baseball greats like Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and Mickey Mantle - they inspired me to want to be a pro baseball player. I DREAMED about it all the time...

I remember... in my mid-to late-teens... listening to classical piano giants like Vladimir Ashkenazy, Glenn Gould, and Andre Watts (y'all dont know nuthin' 'bout that, baby!!) - they inspired me to want to perform at Carnegie Hall... with my Philly-style haircut, gold chains, and gold rings (this was back in the 80's... some of my friends called me Beethoven the Thug). And I DREAMED about it night and day...

Some years back, I heard a pastor named Tony Evans preach... and I wondered if God would ever call me to preach. I began to dream about preaching and seeing lives transformed...

Shortly afterwards, I read a book by Bill and Lynne Hybels... which inspired me to believe that church could BOTH glorify God and be fun at the same time... IMAGINE THAT!! :-) I began to dream about being a part of that kind of church...

Then, I re-read The Purpose-Driven Church... which inspired me to learn as much as possible about starting a new church, in a new way, to reach a new generation. I began to dream about being an innovative church planter...

I didn't become a pro baseball player... but if I hadn't dreamed about it, I never would've had the time of my life playing the game. I didn't become a concert pianist... but if I hadn't dreamed about it, I wouldn't have pushed myself to reach at least the level of musicianship where I am today... which isn't too bad! :-)

But I did become a preacher and a church planter... and I have the privilege of living my dream with eyes wide open... marveling at the awesomeness of a God who knows all about me, yet chooses to love me and call me into His service.

NEVER STOP DREAMING! NEVER!!!!! When you stop dreaming, you lose your passion... you shrivel up... for all intents and purposes, you're dead while you're still living!

When you stop dreaming... you die... period.

WHATEVER you do... don't stop dreaming.