Bruce Wilkinson interviewing Rick Warren:
Bruce: “Everybody has a dream inside of their heart
Rick: “Oh absolutely – I think – because we’re created in God’s image, God made us to be dreamers – God is a dreamer and we’re most like him when we’re creative.”
Bruce Wilkinson interviewing Rick Warren on You Tube
"You go through the faith-phases of Dream, Decision, Delay, Difficulty, and Dead End . . . and then comes Deliverance."
The Six Phases of Faith by Rick Warren 7/10/2009
"The first thing God does to build your faith is give you a dream. When God wants to work in your life, He’ll always gives you a dream—about yourself, about what He wants you to do, about how He’s going to use your life to impact the world."-Rick Warren
This is not the Christian faith process.
If it is, then he should demonstrate that it has some biblical backing,
prove to his listeners that such great ponderings
and wisdom, such "D" words like this,
is actually from God.
.
Jesus stated it plainly,
only one phase for
"faith" in Him
"faith" in Him
is required, for "deliverance"
and that is simply to
and that is simply to
believe!
"The first thing God does to build your faith is give you a dream. When God wants to work in your life, He’ll always gives you a dream—about yourself, about what He wants you to do, about how He’s going to use your life to impact the world."-Rick Warren
How God Builds Your Faith: Dream By Rick Warren 7/10/2009
Rick tries to make the point that
"It's not about you"
"It's not about you"
(See the book he wrote titled, Purpose Driven Life.)
Now he says, the first thing that God does...
and that God ALWAYS does this,
(when he wants you to be impact-ful)
is to give you a dream....
(a DREAM about....about.... um, what.. or who?)
about none other than little ol'YOU!
(but remember, he also says
"It's not about "YOU!")
"It's not about "YOU!")
Gee, that is confusing. Which is it?
not about you, or about you?
not about you, or about you?
"Every person, every ministry, and every church needs a dream. If you’re not dreaming, you’re dying. I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a great person. I believe there are only ordinary people committed to great dreams. When an ordinary person is committed to a great dream, it makes that person a great person. If you want to be healthy, you’ve got to have a dream to live for. ""-Rick Warren,
How to Dream Bigger, by Rick Warren, Christian Post Jan. 31 2007
And in the church,
such a thing as this
How to Dream Bigger, by Rick Warren, Christian Post Jan. 31 2007
If you are not dreaming, you are what?
(Dying)
Now, "dreams" are biblical,
but Rick is suggesting is that,
if you are not on this dreaming bandwagon, that he is
trying to create, the one he
trying to create, the one he
now presents,
then you're "dying"
then you're "dying"
(and therefore " unhealthy")
.... and you can almost garuntee, that
all those on the bandwagon with Rick will now
all those on the bandwagon with Rick will now
make the same claim as Rick
(or at least think you who are not
are "not healthy"..."dying on the vine"
in their now "dreamy" "healthy" minded heads.)
in their now "dreamy" "healthy" minded heads.)
And in the church,
such a thing as this
will be the impetus,
a lever
you might say,
for
a lever
you might say,
for
nothing but division
between those
between those
in Christ Jesus,,
who otherwise
who otherwise
"That’s what I like about Jabez in the Bible. We don’t know much about Jabez – but we know he stood out above the crowd. The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles is all genealogy. You’ll find more than 600 names in that genealogy. And Jabez is the only one God singles out for special recognition....Why?.... One reason is that Jabez had a dream."
~Rick Warren Dream Big, Pastor by Rick Warren, Pastors.com Ministry Toolbox, Issues #448, 10-20-2010
Do you conclude from reading this,
that you should want to be like that man, Jabez,
and dream and pray such a prayer as his
and get your special recognition?
"While Jabez's friends were satisfied with being average, Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his territory. He didn't want to be ordinary."
~Rick Warren
Dream Big, Pastor by Rick Warren, Pastors.com Ministry Toolbox, Issues #448, 10-20-2010
Likewise, "while your friends are"satisfied with being average"
(but you are purpose driven, and listen to Pastor Rick,)
you should want to be like this man,
dream of greatness,
pray like he did,
ask God to
"enlarge personal territory."
Jesus on the other hand,
taught us to pray, like this:
(not my kingdom a.k.a." territory" come, )
but to pray to God, "thy kingdom come."
and "thy will be done."
God does give dreams, as he did to Joseph and to Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ while he was here on earth, and while God no doubt, does great and extraordinary things through people of faith too, but the seeking of having one's own big, God-sized "dreams fulfilled" and personal enlargement of one's own territory... and of "greatness" were never the focus of the great things done by men and women of faith. Our examples in the book of Hebrews in the Bible includes men and women, like Able, Enouch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth and Samson who's faith in God and in His Word are examples for us to emulate. Yet with Rick, thought he is a master of deflecting his intentions, the focus of his preaching is to demonstrate the and validate, the smartness, value, ability and all around greatness of "you."
Scripture would teach us to be humble and content much in the way a child is.
In contrast, with Rick, if you are tired of the status quo.... want to do something God-sized, like Rick, because you are discontent, or want some special recognition (like Jabez,) Rick's solution is DREAM "Big" "God-Sized dreams,"
There is also another passage of scripture where Satan tempts Christ by inviting him to think about the opportunity before him, to enlarge his territory, you might say. Satan offers Jesus too to fulfill his God-sized dream to "take possession of all the earth." But there was one stipulation: Jesus would have to bow down and worship something besides the Lord, (worship Satan to be exact.)
Jesus declined. He refused, and the rest is history..... this because Jesus stood fast and hard upon the things which God had said. He knew what God had said, and refuted satans attacks. Jesus, a man who loved God with all his heart mind and strength, and loved others too, told the devil, a truth all Christians need to stand upon, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
Jesus declined. He refused, and the rest is history..... this because Jesus stood fast and hard upon the things which God had said. He knew what God had said, and refuted satans attacks. Jesus, a man who loved God with all his heart mind and strength, and loved others too, told the devil, a truth all Christians need to stand upon, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
Meanwhile, back at Saddleback Ranch,
pastors and "leaders" are being trained to serve the world.
""Transformational leaders realize that the transformation
they pursue in is a reflection of their own spiritual quest--
that they must serve the world through their giftedness
because that is the only way they truly fulfill their life mission. "
Erik Rees, pastors.com
pastors and "leaders" are being trained to serve the world.
""Transformational leaders realize that the transformation
they pursue in is a reflection of their own spiritual quest--
that they must serve the world through their giftedness
because that is the only way they truly fulfill their life mission. "
Erik Rees, pastors.com
"Bold Vision -"Kay Warren wants to change
how we serve the world,
one church at a time""
(Pop-up add at
http://www.purposedriven.com
3-3-11)
But when tempted of Satan to worship and serve, something besides the Father, Jesus did not concede. In fact, when Satan, acting like an agent of change, suggested that Jesus make some changes to get what he really wanted at that moment of great temptation, (you know, fulfill his dreams for food while he was hungry... prove he was God's offspring, heir to the kingdom of all the earth, Satan offered his "wise" counsel to Jesus... something about how with a word, he could have what he wanted, you know, change the stones to bread. Jesus reminded him, (much as he reminds us who read the Bible, even today,) that, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Luke 4)
One gets the idea that Jesus knew where real life is.
But was it reality or just a "dream?
Rick, he says he is a big dreamer and he encourages you too, to become one too. He suggests having "God-sized" dreams. He finds fault with the church, he murmurs and complains... his mouth speaking such great and swelling words.. And he certainly has person's admiration because of advantage, as he works so hard to get you to separate yourself from believers content with being simply, "Christian" and quite "ordinary."
"Beloved, remember ye the words
which were spoken before
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"If a dreamer of dreams arises among you
and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign
or wonder that he tells you comes to pass,
and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’
which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet
or that dreamer of dreams.
For the Lord your God is testing you,
to know whether you love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul.
You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him
and keep his commandments
and obey his voice,
and you shall serve him and hold fast to him."
(ESV, Duet 13:1-5)
Jeremiah 23: 25-28 reads thus:
"I have heard what the prophets said,
that prophesy lies in my name,
saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?
yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams
which they tell every man to his neighbour,
as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
The prophet that hath a dream,
let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word,
let him speak my word faithfully. "
Meanwhile Rick tells people that he has ... and they need to have, what he calls, "God-sized" dreams.
Pastors.com ...ministrytoolbox/archive/2010/10/20...../dream-big-pastor.... here.
Interestingly, faith in Jesus, looking unto him as the author and finisher of our Christian faith is an important issue that Rick Warren purposely circumvents, but he does encourage a life of purpose and the fulfillment of their grandiose, "ministry" (God kind of) dreams...
and yes, he says the word, "sin" once in a while to gain approval of the Christian masses, but like a famine, there is hardly ever a "repent of sin and believe in Jesus' name," when he publicly speaks. HE is busy and quite content himself to tell their all the little listening Christians, that all they need to do is "change" their minds... and their beliefs... enlarge their territory like an obscure little man named Jabez.
If you are not content with being "average," or your old fashioned bible thumping pastor.... if greatness and fulfillment, and finding purpose is what you think is for you, then Rick's got the plan, the program and the book.... and study of the book as well. You can listen to him, preach his sermons, buy his books. "The last thing many believers need is another bible study, " says Rick on page 231 of The Purpose Driven Life,; instead he now says what they need is to get themselves, some really big, audacious, "God-sized" dreams.
It is the kind of wisdom that begins by proclaiming,
" Many Christians misinterpret Jesus' promise of the "abundant life" to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy.
And then in the next breath teaches,
"God made us to be dreamers – God is a dreamer." ~Rick Warren
Interview with the author of Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkerson... video here:
Learn more about
in the Bible by
clicking here.
"For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness.
Rather, fear God. I
f you see oppression of the poor
and denial of justice
and righteousness in the province,
do not be shocked at the sight;
for one official watches over another official,
and there are higher officials over them.
After all, a king who cultivates
the field is an advantage to the land. "
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