.
loading
Loading...

What is Your Dream?

7/19/2017
What is Your Dream?
 

Ah, summertime. A time to swing in the hammock, enjoy some lemonade on the porch, or relax at the beach. It’s also a time to dream. I’m away to Boulder, Colorado this week (and yes, I am swearing off orange-colored popcorn). Here’s an old post that celebrates the dream.
 
A couple of weeks ago during his sermon my pastor, Dan, recited part of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dan is white, tall, and lanky and doesn’t have the dramatic cadence or even the slight southern accent of Rev. King. But, I still found myself in tears as I heard the speech again – even in someone else’s voice. King’s words alone are that powerful. Click here or on the photo below to hear it again.

 
 
The 50-year [now 54th] anniversary of the March on Washington and the “I Have a Dream” speech is a good time for you to reflect on your own dreams – not your personal ones, though they may be important.  But what’s really important are your bigger dreams – the shared dreams of your church and of your community.
 
More importantly, does your congregation know and share your vision? A recent article about King’s famous speech made it clear that its most powerful portion almost didn’t happen. King was using his written remarks but about two-thirds way through the speech, the gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson who was on the platform with King, began saying, “Tell them about the dream, Martin. Tell them about the dream.” 
 
And then King did just that – he moved away from his printed text and spoke directly from his heart about the vision he had for a very broken country. He moved people not only because he was an amazing orator but also because he had such a clear vision about the people we could become.
 
No doubt King was familiar with the prophet Joel saying Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” People in your congregation want to be inspired to become the people God is calling them to be. They long to hear the prophetic word. And they need to hear it from you.
 
Tell them about the dream, preacher. Tell them about the dream.
 
[If you want to hear an updated dream from Rev. Dr. William Barber – some have called him a modern-day Martin Luther King, Jr. – check it out right here or click on the photo.]
 
Originally posted August 28, 2013.
Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past fifteen years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise over three million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She often dreams of eating lots of ice cream in harmony with the world. She was the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Lay Leader from 2008-2012. Her position with the Conference is funded through a generous grant from the Collins Foundation. She is available to consult with churches. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/inspiringgenerosity.
 
If someone has forwarded this to you and you would like to subscribe to "Inspiring Generosity," click here.  Miss an issue?  Click here.

Cesie Delve Scheuermann
Cesie Delve Scheuermann is consultant in grant writing and stewardship/development working with the Conference. From 2008-12 she was the Conference Lay Leader for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
Top