Dream Session – April 2010
When was the last time you daydreamed? Have you dreamed about life goals, ambitions and the full life?
Let's dream dreams that are destined to fail without divine intervention.
Some of us have dreams that we never talk about or pursue. Some of us share the same dream and would go for it, if only there was somebody to go with us.
The Guidance/Input
- Guiding Deck:Â Dream Session 2010-04-24
- Book Highlights: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
- Men for Marriage (for men only)
- Living a Good Story, an Alternative to New Years Resolutions
- Let Story Guide You [MP3 Excerpt (2MB)]
- Facing the Giants [YouTube, MP4 (13MB)]
- The Best Motivation Video [YouTube, MP4 (3MB)]
- Lecrae - Go Hard [YouTube, MP4 (9MB)]
- Disney Pixar Up! - Married Life, Carl & Ellie [YouTube, MP4 (66MB)]
- Randy Pausch - Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams [YouTube, FLV (229MB)]
In Action
Results
We each leave the time with a list of goals, dreams, ambitions and new friends. We realize that wanting to have lived a good life requires intention throughout. We have looked at each other's goals and have figured out ways to take the next step for each other. We are connecting our friends with other friends and colleagues; we are affirming dreams; we are coming alongside our new friends to pursue the same dreams - together!
Next next step is accountability. We'll need to make sure that we all take the time to move on the next step:
- Develop the plan
- Call the friend, relative or connection
- Do the research and move in the direction we know to be right
There seems to be some demand for another one of these sessions from some friends who weren't able to attend. We'll see what happens - who wants to spearhead the next one? Follow your dreams and make simple things like this happen!
I trust you (audioblog)
Control - why do I want to be in control? It makes no sense really, because there is nothing in which I have control except for my own actions in and reactions to the situations of life.
What does it look like to let go of the stresses of my life? For me, I am left to wonder about life when circumstances, pain, and uncertainty hit close to home. When this happens, how do I react? First, I am frustrated at first that things are out of my control. I then question God about what is going on - I want to understand; I want to feel like life (a.k.a. God) is fair. Finally, my God reminds me who He is, His nature, and where I need to be. It's then up to me to make the decision as to how I will react.
This is my second audio-blog which was recorded on my drive home from the hospital after my mom's surgery. Enjoy the background music and the noise of the car ride for the 9:32 of this audio-blog.
Ethiopia: WOW, God loves me dispite of my future
One of my teammates, Anne, shared a profound truth with our team one morning over breakfast in Ethiopia. She opened with the idea that God is not stuck in the present like we are; he knows our past, but even our future. Of course, he is God, no big deal. But, then she put that together with another truth of God, He loves us. These two separate are easy to digest, but put them together and the purity of God's love for me begins to reveal itself.
How amazing is this - God loves me despite of my future. He loves me right now even though he knows I will reject him, I will backstab, I will lie to his face, I will live an adulterous lifestyle worshiping the things of this world (His creation and not the Creator), I will abandon Him, I will...
This idea isn't too hard for me to grasp until I begin to personalize it. For, this is intensely personal to God and I need to empathize a little to grasp God's profound love. So, would I love anybody with such fervor, devotion, and unrestrained selflessness if I know that the object of supreme affection and dedication would betray me in a few short days, months, or years? How can I love somebody when I know (s)he is going to betray that love? How can I love when I know that love will be taken for granted, forgotten, rejected, and even scorned? Would I marry somebody if I absolutely knew all of her flaws, when she would reject me, that she would live adulterously, that she would abandon me, divorce me and marry another, that she would backstab, that she wasn't completely committed, that she would not love in return? How could I? I do not know; but, I know it's not possible for me to do that (without the divine intervention of my God).
Here we are, each of us, with the truth that God loves us despite of our future. He remains completely committed, continuously pouring out himself selflessly. His love is so deep; it's incomprehensible (like really, give it a try). He chooses to love when he already knows the future pain, rejection, and heartache he must endure. What am amazing God we have. May we glorify His name throughout the world and at all times.
Frustrations, Change, Radical
So, I just finished reading a chapter in "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell. And, well, I got excited, inspired, angry, upset, frustrated, confused, concerned, hurt, and thrilled. So, in case you don't know, I'm not invincible, some super-person, or any sort of person that is really good at anything. I make mistakes; I try to do right; sometimes I don't think about what is right. I fail with some things repeatedly because I am weak. I don't have a clue what the future holds. I don't care too much about what is in the future actually. I care about who I am now. As you may know, I'm not good at being who I say I am or who I want to be. I hate it. So, I take some "drastic" actions at times. Drastic change is what is needed in my life, right? I mean, I don't want to keep going on as things are. It's frustrating, pointless, painful, tiresome, and unfulfilling. I am looking for something more in life, something worth living, something with meaning and purpose – something that excites me to get up each day to live, not something to endure. I'm sick of working, and trying, and pushing, and learning, and everything. It's time to exist, to be, to live.
Fully Trusting (aka faith)
So how do you fully trust God with your life? How can you truely give up your own hopes, dreams, plans, and fears?
I was asked this question by a friend of mine. I'm not sure how to best address this, but here goes.