What
is the dream you would dream for a ministry for your church that you would
participate in and be passionate about that would only be likely to happen when pigs fly?
In
other words, if time and money and resources were not limited, what is the
ministry you think God may want FirstB to do?
When you think
about big dreams in scripture who or what immediately come to mind? The first
is JOSEPH. Another is NOAH. Another is MOSES. In the NT ZECHAIAH, MARY, JOSEPH.
Another is PAUL. Another is JUDAS. Another is JESUS!
We dream what some experts
on the science of dreams call a “big dream.” Our dreams may be too big or too
dangerous. Dangerous because God’s dreams disrupt the way things are, imagining
the ‘oughtness’ of life that transcends the ‘isness’ of reality. Dangerous
because God’s dreams may threaten the status quo and envision a new way of
life. If your dream only confirms what already is; rubber stamping the norm,
blessing the political empire of the day, it’s not God’s dream because God
inverts our human way of doing things, flipping life on its head. The last
shall be first. The least, the greatest. This is why Joseph’s brothers are so
mad.
Dreaming is dangerous
because it might get you into trouble. It may land you in a pit or in a
Birmingham jail or in a grave. Dreamers put their life in danger because others
may attempt to kill the dream. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a
dreamer who put his life at risk. He dreamed a world that disrupted and
disturbed the status quo in society. In 1963, a little more than 50 years ago,
at the March on Washington D.C. for Civil Rights before the Lincoln Memorial,
Dr. King dreamed. “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,
sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down
together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even the
state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering
with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and
justice. I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of
their character…” This dream still plays on the iPod of this country’s
historical memory.
But not everyone understood
that dream. Not everyone understands that dream. Not everyone understands
dreams. Not everyone can handle dreams. Not everyone, like Joseph’s brothers,
wants our dreams to come true. Dr. King’s dream leads to his death.
Your
church has a DREAM TEAM – actually called vision team made up of your deacons:
Wes Russelle, Mark Owens, Jim Gentry, Nate Kennedy, Vicky Ferringer, and Ruth
Turner. Church moderator Paulette Ellis, Church staff myself, Donovan Norton
and Sabrina Harrison and church members at large Cheri McKay and Karen Stewart.
We have been working since Feb and are having a vision team retreat in mid Nov.
with leadership from the region. We want
your input on vision for the church but as a start we have asked for your
stories of your Unique Journey of faith and only one in the past 8 months has
done that. We need the stories of the people – the info and pictures for the
church directory. We need to know that we are moving forward as a team- a
family – a community of believers headed in the same direction. I had given up
on getting more of your stories – I figured I would only get them when pigs
fly. I believe we will only become a growing church of 400 people worshipping
on the weekends when pigs fly. I believe that we will have the greatest
facilities and ministry programs for the magic valley when pigs fly. What ministry do dream of that will only
happen when pigs fly?
SCRIPTURE = When Pigs Fly!
Mark 5:1-20They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of
him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What
do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you
won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
Then
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." (Legion 6000 men +120 horsemen) And he begged
Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A
large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. (must be 6000 pigs) The demons
begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow
us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits
came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about 2000 in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were
drowned. (This story
offends members of PETA – Pigs are part of God’s creation – which is of greater
value to Jesus One man or 2000 pigs?)
14
Those tending the pigs ran off (They had to be ticked off – the entire large herd was destroyed)
and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to
see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been
possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right
mind; and they were afraid. (What were they afraid of? – they should have been made unafraid)
Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the
demon-possessed man — and told about the pigs as well. (Now the people must be thrilled and want to
treat Jesus like the hero he is.) Then the people began to plead
with Jesus to leave their region. (So it is ok to have this deranged super strog madman – but you Jesus,
miracle worker – get out of here – we are scared of you and don’t want your
kind around us.)
As
Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to
go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go
home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how
he has had mercy on you." 20
So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done
for him. And all the people were amazed.
DETERMINATION IN USE
Jan Paderewski
was asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital on short
notice. The famous musician replied: “I am always ready. I have practiced eight hours daily for
forty years.” The other pianist said, “I wish I had been
born with such determination.” Paderewski replied, “We are all born
with it. I just use mine.”
I hope you have
a dream though dreams are not always welcomed, just like Joseph, whose name
means ‘add’ was an unwelcome addition to his family. But if you aren’t
dreaming, you’re dead. So dream on when the stormy clouds of doubt begin to
roll back into your life. Dream on when depression wants to take a summer
vacation and recline in your heart and mind. Dream on when it seems like the
only person cheering you on is you. Dream on when it’s hard to dance because it
feels like the devil is on your back. Dream on because greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world. Dream on because God is not finished with you
yet. Dream on because God will do more than we ask or even imagine. Dream on
for nothing is impossible with God. Dream on.
Matthew
19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man
this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Seeker – Dream
of knowing God personally. Christian –
Dream the dream of how God will use you and His church.
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