Dreamers Dream Big Because Big Flames Never Die

Tonight was one of the most amazing worship experiences I ever had at Church of the Highlands – Hillsong United traveled here to praise, worship, and play. Pastor Chris said that Hillsong even inspired him to “untuck his shirt.” I had to personally untuck my shirt because I was jumping up and down so much worshipping the God who created me. Perhaps that is why Chris also needed to untuck his shirt because like the rest of the congregation he was jumping for joy in an audience of celebration for the death and resurrection of the freedom we find in Christ.

I recently met an individual who at first really impressed me. In order to respect this individual’s privacy, I will not use him or her to identify the gender of this individual. In other words, you will get my point without giving hints of the identity of who this person might be with the relevance of what gender this person is. I was awed by this person’s motivation and passion to live….more so in this person’s drive to live in serving others. As I got to know this person and analyze self- behaviors more personally, I kept wondering if the behaviors were socially normal or more of a performance to steal the show. I am not trying to offer judgment here, but studying Communication for two years in a Masters program at Auburn University makes me analyze such things. The conversation was predominantly three-fourths focused on this individual, many things that focused inwardly.

I shared some of my testimony with this person including some of my dreams. I went to breakfast with another close friend this morning. He mentioned that he was careful not to question people’s dreams. He did not want to squelch my big ideas and my inner drive to become more in Christ’s name. The previously mentioned person openly criticized me, questioning whether my dreams and visions were Christ-driven. Now I was one of close to four thousand people tonight with my hands reached out to the sky praising God for what He has done for me. This individual privately discouraged me but publically makes a spectacle of being so positive. I found the paradox to be annoying and somewhat devious. For instance, it is like I am this person in private, but I am another person in public with an act for who I really am. A performance is occurring. That drives me crazy! In fact, what really drives me crazy is when people judge other people’s hearts, questioning their dreams in Christ. I am not sure that would necessarily qualify as a sin, but the feeling kind of makes me sick.

We are meant to push limits in Christ. We are meant to become more. I live with what many people claim has limited my personality in the form of a disability. I would argue that God powerfully uses the disabled because no one is truly disabled to do anything. We are enabled in Christ’s name to break limited possibilities and to forever proclaim His name.

This week Billy Hornsby, one of the Association of Related Church founders and a prominent pioneer in a new Christian revolution of church planting, has been quoting the following verse from Isaiah 42:3 as close to three hundred people have met with him what may soon be the end of his life:

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;” NIV.

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” KJV.

“He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right. He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth.” The Message.

As Hillsong sings, the “fire will fall down.” We will not tire. We will not quit. Our flames will not be squelched. God will ignite a forest fire that brightens the sky like a good Fourth of July fireworks show. Dreams are not meant to be criticized by secretly pessimistic, public optimists. I would say I am feeling more like myself these days, and I will not stand still for anyone to water down the fires within my heart that can change a nation. Billy Hornsby started a revolutionary movement across the country with his system of loving other people, of welcoming those who may in some ways have been rejected elsewhere. I prefer to be like Billy, genuine, positively charged, and in possible tragedy still on fire for what he knows to be true. Tonight we sung praises to the God of the Universe. Do not put limits on His power. Dream big and know together we can and together we will fight the good fight and pursue that which is most holy, His Glory. Naysayers will always ridicule, but visionaries become empowered by what individuals say cannot be done because in that moment we still believe we as disciples can. Live. Give. Serve. Love. And sing praises to the number one Dream Maker, Jesus Christ.