Starting

Hello All,

I have wanted to start a blog for about a year and have had this set up for about a month and here I am finally getting started. It is not because I am a procratinator, although I can be. It really came down to not being sure I had anything to say that people would want to hear. As I am writing this I think it is ironic that the only person that will see this is my wife because she is the only one that is following me on this thing.

Another reason I hesitated was because I am not confident in my writting skills. But I finally decided that it was time rather the world was ready or not. So, here we go...

It is amazing to me how life teaches us lessons. I mean, just look at what I wrote about starting a blog. It was not a decsion that was going to change my life or affect those around me and yet I still had a hard time pulling the trigger. Why? Fear! I was afraid that I would say something that would make me look stupid and so I kept putting it off even though I wanted to do it. I finally had to tell my self, "It is just a blog. Get over yourself."

One of my favorite things to do is observe people and the sad thing is I have seen this same trait in others. We have something that we want to do. Or, more importantly something God wants us to do. We have a dream and then we get stuck. Fear paralyzes us. Some begin to think about everything that can go wrong, how it will not work, or what others my think or say. There may be many reasons why a person does not step out and start but, the fact is most don't.

I once heard someone say that the problem in today's world is that no one has dreams. I do agree that we all need dreams. We need something to work toward and to fight for however, I do not agree with that particular statement. Why? Because I believe that most people have dreams. I never remember talking to a friend when I was a kid and him telling me, "I dont want to do or be anything when I grow up." I know that some will say, "that is just a kids dream." Be careful about dismissing the dreams of a kid. After all Joseph was not an adult when he had his dreams. But I digress.......

I believe that we all at one time or another have or have had a dream. The problem is not the lack of dreams. The problem is lack of action.

I have noticed that many dreams die because the dreamer never acted on it. They never got started. I know from experience that starting can be a daunting task (after all look how long it took me to start a blog). But, I fear that this lack of courage to step out and start has hindered the Kingdom of God. How many ministries have never been started not because they were not thought of but, because no one acted on their dream.

As a pastor, I have people tell me all the time that they want our church to start a new ministry or they have an idea for something we can do better. And maybe my approach is wrong but, I believe that if God gives you a dream that dream is yours and that God gave to you for you to do something with. I have told our ministry team, "If there is something you want to do or try, if it is legal, DO IT. If you are getting out of line we will talk but, DO IT."

Too many dreams are dying because of inaction and when the dream dies the person dies. The Bible Tells us that without a vision the people perish.

If you have a dream, START NOW.........

I preached a message a couple of years ago that has come back to haunt me serveral times. I wish I could say that the thought was an original Sully thought but, it was not. I heard another preacher preach it and I stole it. Anyway, my problem is sometimes I dream so big that I don't know where to start. Ever since this message my wife, the staff and even God has had to remind me of it. It has even become the joke in many staff meetings. The basis of the message was this.

You must have a dream
When you get your dream act on it
If you dont know where or how to start
START WHERE YOU ARE
USE WHAT YOU HAVE
DO WHAT YOU CAN

If you have a dream don't let it die. ACT