A Dream.

Last night I had a dream. It was like an ambien commercial - I was out in the dessert and there was Dr. Bill Bright and Yoda. (I thought Bill was Walt Disney at first) The conversation went something like this:

FR: Dr. Bright is that you? You look 60 years younger.

BB: Yes, Rick this is my new body - I'm in heaven with the Lord right now. Call me Bill, we don't use any titles in heaven.

FR: What is heaven like?

BB: It is wonderful being in His presence and not ever wondering what your purpose is - No HR departments, no legal contracts, no phones, no email!

YODA: When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not.

FR: We are trying to do the Lord's will on earth - are we succeeding?

YODA: Do or do not...there is no try.

BB: You and many Christians are listening when God speaks - but many are following their own ways and I think they know that. It will be more and more difficult to discern authenticity.

YODA: Impossible to see the future is.

FR: How should we prepare?

BB: Do you allow your SB army to drink alcohol?

FR: No, we've got a policy like our denominational brothers where we ask people to abstain from alcohol.

BB: Why? do you think they personally struggle with alcohol?

FR: No, most people won't personally struggle with alcohol but we don't want to be put in a position that makes other people who struggle with that addiction fall into sin.

YODA: Happens to every guy sometimes this does

BB: So how are you dealing with the addiction of fame?

FR: I never set out to be famous. When PDL hit the national spotlight - I asked myself that question. I turned to the scriptures and decided that fame could be used for good as influence. I realized that the purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence. You, Billy, Hybels, Chuck - we all have had to deal with this - it's really a matter of the heart.

YODA: Blind we are, if creation of this clone army we could not see.

BB: Good point, Yoda. I wasn't talking about you, Rick. What about all those who live to drop your name and clammer to be close to you? When your name becomes more important to people than the name of the church?

YODA: Who's your Jedi master? WHO'S your Jedi Master?

FR: I don't encourage it. But... How do you lead pastors without influence? How do you bring the spotlight to AIDS without being a voice? Are you saying I should I write anonymously? Isn't it a stabilizing force to have a leader leading in the same community for 40 years?

BB: In the old days - we would tell our staff to recruit the most popular kids on campus(the athletes & beauty queens) because their influence would attract others to come to the crusade events and hear the gospel. It was the right motivation - but had the wrong effect. You are living in a culture that creates & worships living idols - even if the idols don't want want to be idolized.

YODA: You must unlearn what you have learned.

FR: What is the answer? Stay small?

BB: Don't ask me - I'm the guy who tried to reduce the mystery of God into 4 laws so it would fit in a brochure and then named my organization after the crusades. I guess just try to share the jumbotron.

YODA: Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?