Years ago the Queen Mary was the cruise ship for royalty, majestically sailing the high seas and fulfilling the purpose for which it's designer made it. Now it is a museum of memories, hugging the shoreline in the Long Beach Harbor.

Mystic Seaport in Connecticut has sea-worthy clippers that have traveled on many voyages. Yet they continue to capture a favorable wind venturing out for the high seas. What a sight to behold when these ships like a Yankee Clipper set sail.

For a few moments this morning compare yourself to a ship that is designed to sail on the high seas. However, perhaps instead of cutting through the waves with your sails fully extended like a Yankee Clipper, you are securely anchored in the harbor like the Queen Mary. Dare you ask some questions? What is keeping you from venturing out? Have you been battered by waves of disappointment like storms of your past? Could it be that you have retreated after feeling the sharp resistance of adverse winds? Has the ship of your life long dreams been dry docked because you have allowed clinging barnacles to encrust your hull? Do you have seaweed tangled around your rudder? Are you encountering a reef barrier that has nearly brought your voyage to a halt?

As individuals and as a congregation we have prayed, dreamed, and worked together to accomplish some very worthwhile ministry in the name of Jesus Christ in the past. However, more ministry challenges remain and I would really like to pray, dream and work with you so that we might become the Christians and the church that Christ would like us to become. This may be an opportunity for each of us who would like to experience breakthroughs in some areas of our lives that have kept us in the harbors of mediocrity to long. I hope you will pull up anchor and set sail with me and many others.

A vitally important question to deal with is, "What makes it possible for us to dream again? Our God, the Master Designer, offers us a phenomenal amount of power to break through the barriers that hold you and I back. Ephesians 3:20 reads, "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us..." I believe that this verse is saying that our ability to dream again will rise from the Holy Spirit who works within us. God can do more in and through your life and mine than we can begin to imagine. The Holy Spirit has led gifted musician Christine Wyrtzen to put this theme to music for us. Today let's listen as she sings:

     "Our God can do exceedingly more than we could ever ask, than we could ever think of, God can do exceedingly more according to His power working in us. "Dream, we can dream again, When the vision is there, nurtured in prayer, dare to dream again. Fly, with the eagles, fly. There is no limit, when God is in it. Soar, where the eagles fly.
     Our God can do exceedingly more than we could ever ask, than we could ever think of, God can do exceedingly more according to His power working in us.
     Learn from the past and let go, second chances are part of His plan. Failures equip us, scars make us wise, when we walk with our hand in His hand, in His hand.
     Our God can do exceedingly more than we could ever ask, than we could ever think of, God can do exceedingly more according to His power working in us.
     Our God can do exceedingly more than we could ever ask, than we could ever think of, God can do exceedingly more according to His power working in us."

Today I want to briefly mention eight sails for venturing out of our harbors and into the high seas of fulfilling the purpose for which our Creator made us. This may result in greater success in capturing the favorable winds of God's blessings in our lives.

I. Let Go of Our Painful Past.

Most of us have experienced some pain that could hold us back from becoming all that God wants for us to become. One Old Testament example was Moses. His painful past included murdering a man and fleeing from his homeland. But God was not through with him. Last Sunday we looked briefly at the life of Joseph and noted some of the pain that he had experienced. He let go of that and let God use him in a mighty way

I believe that most or all of us have experienced varying degrees of pain and disappointment in the past. But that is history, and I do not want bitterness to keep you and me from experiencing the best God has to offer us. He is not intimidated by our past. "God is more interested in where you are going than where you have been."

II. Be Aware of God's Involvement Everyday.

Even as Christians we can miss what God is doing in our lives day by day. Think about some of the answers to prayer that we have shared together in recent months. If we would keep a record some of these they can be real faith builders. I will speak in more detail about this later.

Several years ago, at the denominational meeting, a friend named Dennis Bailey reminded me of the time when we first got well acquainted. He, another pastor, and I were together at Simpson College when he received news that his tiny infant son was having very serious problems breathing. Before he rushed to the hospital to be with his family the three of us went into the chapel to pray. By the time Dennis arrived at the hospital the baby's doctor could not figure out how his lungs had cleared. Dennis knew. His son who had nearly died is now twenty-seven years old.

III. Make God's Dreams Our Dreams as Well.

The barrier here is selfishness. We can easily get self centered and miss the joy of being Christ centered. I want us to make God's dreams for us our dreams as well.

Perhaps like me, you have driven a car that was hard on a set of tires because the wheels were not properly aligned. When the alignment is off the tires wear thin and wear out. If you and I are not properly aligned, center on Jesus Christ, we too can wear thin.

IV. Empower Our Lives with Prayer.

I think most of us know intellectually that our real strength and wisdom comes from God, but what do we do about it? Sometimes I am tempted to think that I have so much to do and so little time to do it that I do not have much time to calmly visit with God about the pressing concerns upon my mind. How foolish of me. I am too busy, not to pray.

V. Confront the Scandal of Our Prejudices.

While I was serving in Des Moines I was blessed with the opportunity of participating in some pulpit exchanges with some African American Churches. I had a delightful time welcoming my darker skinned brothers into my pulpit and preaching from theirs. We have done some pulpit exchanges here in Adel and you have welcomed a Phillipino and a black pastor as they preached here. These are men with whom I regularly gather to pray. These things do not necessarily remove this barrier, but hopefully may be helpful steps.

Realize however, that we may have a variety of prejudices dealing with economics, politics, gender, issues, philosophy, etc. Are you willing to confront the scandal of your prejudices, whatever they might be? They may be prejudices with other persons within our own church family. Is there any personal confrontation you need to make with yourself in this area?

VI. Become World Mission Minded.

A while back I restudied the story of Jonah. Remember him? He had this idea that God only loved the Jewish people. While God does love the Jews, He also loves all people. Some American Christians seem to forget that God loves people from every part of the world.

In dreaming about what God wants for His church re realize that is not limited to Iowa or United States or just people like us. Certainly the New Testament teaches about sharing the Gospel with persons in our communities and across the globe and we must continue to be actively involved in missions.

VII. Break Out of Our Comfort Zones.

Often Christians think we ought to be comfortable, and that takes priority over doing what God calls us to do. We might call our comfort zones, RUTS. Most of us have gotten ourselves into ruts. I really don't like getting stuck in a rut, but sometimes I can comfortable in them. How about you? Staying in our comfort zones as individuals and as churches can keep us from experiencing God's dreams.

That is one of the reasons for our 40 Day and 50 Day Spiritual adventures is to help us dream together about the church God wants us to be. Perhaps some of us need to get out of our ruts to allow dreaming to take place.

VIII. Major on the Good News.

Have you ever felt like the man who, after an early supper, turned to his wife and asked, "Shall we watch the evening news and get indigestion or the late news and get insomnia?"

Do you speak well of Christ and our local church? Or do you speak badly about our church in our church and in the community? It breaks my heart when I hear negative things being said. No we are not a perfect church. I want us to improve, too, but we have some great people who love and serve the Lord with joy and gladness. Sometimes we need to be reminded that there is good news. Do you know that the word gospel actually means Good news? As followers of Jesus Christ and his gospel message we ought to be positive because we have the good news, the best news, the news of God's grace and love and power.

Conclusion

As your pastor I want to invite you to dream with me about being all that we can be. Think about each of these eight sails for venturing out the harbors and into the high seas of fulfilling the purpose God has for each of us. I believe that the wind of God's Spirit is blowing, seeking to motivate his people. Will we allow our sails to fill with God's power, leaving the comfortable harbor behind, and dare to dream of doing great things for our Great God?

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