Thanksgiving: Waking Up from the American Dream
Mike Stone
Proverbs 15:16
Dreams are funny things.
Some dreams are scary dreams. In fact, the top two recurring dreams for all people are FALLING and BEING in public in some state of undress. These scary dreams are called ''nightmares'' and they are no fun at all.
Some dreams are silly dreams. I heard about a man who dreamed he was trapped in a marshmallow factory and had to eat his way out. He woke up and his pillow was gone.
I heard about a boring preacher who dreamed one time that he was preaching...he woke up and he was.
But then some dreams are symbolic dreams. Many of the prophets and apostles had spiritual dreams of this nature. Millions of dollars are spent every year trying to determine the meaning of these dreams.
Today, I want to talk to you about one of these spiritual and symbolic dreams. We call it ''The American Dream.'' In one sense, ''The American Dream'' refers to the ability in this country for anyone to succeed if they work hard. That's a good thing!
But in another, more dangerous sense, ''The American Dream'' speaks of the urge to accumulate wealth and possessions...to move up the ladder...to keep up with the Jones...of the insatiable desire to have a little bit MORE.
We can call it an entrepreneurial spirit. We can call it success...
Prosperity...good business practices...AND INDEED IT MAY VERY WELL BE EACH OF THOSE THINGS.
Or it may be something worse, something more akin to a nightmare than a fantasy...it may be GREED, ENVY, JEAOLOUSY, PRIDE, and COVETOUSNESS.
As the consumerism of holiday shopping goes into full swing...
As your mailbox and inbox are filled with catalogs...
As your kids bend your ears about things they MUST have...
I want to ask Solomon to provide some spiritual smelling salt to wake us from our cultural stupor and our success-induced slumber... to wake us up from the American Dream.
OUR TEXT IS SHORT AND SIMPLE - Better is a little w ...
Mike Stone
Proverbs 15:16
Dreams are funny things.
Some dreams are scary dreams. In fact, the top two recurring dreams for all people are FALLING and BEING in public in some state of undress. These scary dreams are called ''nightmares'' and they are no fun at all.
Some dreams are silly dreams. I heard about a man who dreamed he was trapped in a marshmallow factory and had to eat his way out. He woke up and his pillow was gone.
I heard about a boring preacher who dreamed one time that he was preaching...he woke up and he was.
But then some dreams are symbolic dreams. Many of the prophets and apostles had spiritual dreams of this nature. Millions of dollars are spent every year trying to determine the meaning of these dreams.
Today, I want to talk to you about one of these spiritual and symbolic dreams. We call it ''The American Dream.'' In one sense, ''The American Dream'' refers to the ability in this country for anyone to succeed if they work hard. That's a good thing!
But in another, more dangerous sense, ''The American Dream'' speaks of the urge to accumulate wealth and possessions...to move up the ladder...to keep up with the Jones...of the insatiable desire to have a little bit MORE.
We can call it an entrepreneurial spirit. We can call it success...
Prosperity...good business practices...AND INDEED IT MAY VERY WELL BE EACH OF THOSE THINGS.
Or it may be something worse, something more akin to a nightmare than a fantasy...it may be GREED, ENVY, JEAOLOUSY, PRIDE, and COVETOUSNESS.
As the consumerism of holiday shopping goes into full swing...
As your mailbox and inbox are filled with catalogs...
As your kids bend your ears about things they MUST have...
I want to ask Solomon to provide some spiritual smelling salt to wake us from our cultural stupor and our success-induced slumber... to wake us up from the American Dream.
OUR TEXT IS SHORT AND SIMPLE - Better is a little w ...
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