If you know me, you know I'm a big fan of Erwin McManus. Everytime I read some of his material or hear him speak it moves me deep inside. Maybe it's because he's a big booster of dreaming/creativity/imagination, and I'm guy who loves to let my imagination run free. Well, I picked up his new book Wide Awake and I can't put it down. The book is divided into segments: Dream, Discover, Adapt, Expect, Focus, Create, Enjoy & Invest. I'm halfway through so far and have 8 pages of notes. The book begins describing the scene from M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable where Bruce Willis talks about how he wakes up every morning with this cloud of sadness around him. The reason for the sadness is because he's not doing what he should be with his life. The book is about the heroic life God has called us to... A life that will change the world you live in for the better.
The book gives you a lot to chew on, and a lot to digest. At times I have to put it down and try to download what Erwin has just said. Check out this line: "I think a lot of our prayers make God wonder why we think so little of him." Did you catch that? BAM! It's heavy. God works with the impossible and makes it probable. Remember that Sunday School song? He gave sight to a blind man. When Jesus asked "What is it you want?" What if the blind dude had said: "I left my coat back at my aunt's. Think you could hook em up with a new one?" or if he had said: "Could you give me better hearing so I can compensate for my lack of sight?" Maybe we do that. Maybe we don't want to trouble God or seem greedy. Maybe God wants us to dream big.
I'm not talking about prosperity gospel, I'm talking about the dream God has placed in you. I like this line: "Is it possible that when we begin to find the dream for our lives, it always involves helping others live their dreams." It hard for me to read a book like this because it challenges me to move out of what is comfortable and familiar and step into a different life, one that is filled with uncertainty, failures and roadblocks. But a life that is also ripe with excitement, adventure and victories. I'll keep you posted.
"Spread hope like fire!" - my new motto.
Wow that is heavy. Sounds like you know what you need to do, I'll pray you gather up the strength to do it. Don't worry about what other people say or think. It's a you and God thing.
ReplyDeleteI love when you give a glimpse of who you are. You've got a gift AJ. Don't neglect it.
ReplyDeleteI never knew you were deep like that. You're like a hippie.
ReplyDeleteyou should read "The Shack"
ReplyDeleteamazing book.
have you read it?
I've heard of the Shack, but have not read it yet. Is it fiction?
ReplyDelete