Over fifty years ago a girl was born into a large Christian family outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She had major health problems that left her disabled, confined to braces, while her siblings enjoyed running and playing outside.
     Her parents took her into Nashville for physical therapy, but the little girl's hope was dim. She asked her parents, "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?"
     They responded, "Honey, you only have to believe. If you believe, God will make it happen."
     She took her parent's counsel to heart and began to believe that God could make her walk without braces. With the aid of her brothers and sisters she practiced walking without braces. One her twelfth birthday she surprised her parents by walking around the doctor's office unassisted. Her doctors could not believe her progress. She never wore the braces again.
     Her next goal was to play basketball. She continued to exercise her faith and courage, as well as her underdeveloped legs, and went out for the school basketball team. The coach selected her older sister for the team, but the courageous girl was told she wasn't good enough to play. Her father, a wise, loving man, told the coach, "My daughters come in pairs. If you want one, you have to take the other also." Reluctantly, the coach added her to the team, giving her an outdated uniform and allowing her to work out with the team.
     One day she approached the coach, "If you will give me an extra 10 minutes of coaching each day, I'll give you a world-class athlete." He laughed and then realized that she was serious. He half heartedly agreed to give her some additional time playing two on two with her best friend and a couple of boys. Before long her determination started to pay off. She showed tremendous athletic skill and courage and soon was one of the team's best players.
     Her team went to the state basketball championships. One of the referees at the tournament recognized her exceptional ability and asked if she had ever run track. She had not. This referee, also the coach of the internationally famous Tiger Belles track club, encouraged her to try running. When basketball season was over she went out for track. She began winning races and earned a berth in the state track championships.
     At the age of sixteen, she was one of the best young runners in the country. She went to the Olympics in Australia and won a bronze medal for anchoring the 400 meter relay team. She worked four more years to return to the Rome Olympics in 1960. In Rome, Wilms Rudolph won the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and anchored the winning 400 meter relay team, all in record times. Before the year was over, this young lady received the prestigious Sullivan Award as the most outstanding amateur athlete in America. Wilms's faith and hard work had paid off. It seems to me that Wilms has taught us by her example, that the most restrictive braces are not those of the body, but the braces of the mind!

The braces of the mind, the apparent bad news of the crucifixion of Christ nearly crippled the Disciples and their dreams. With the Good News of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the barriers were removed so that they could dream again. Dream again, that's what we have been talking about for three months. We have briefly dealt with these means of overcoming barriers that keep us from dreaming: Let Go of Our Painful Past. Track God's Involvement in the Everyday. Make God's Dreams for Us Our Dreams as Well. Empower Our Activities with Prayer. Confront the Scandal of Our Prejudices. Become World Class Christians. Break Out of Our Comfort Zones. Major on the Good News Instead of the Bad News.

Is this spiritual adventure over? Well, the fifty days are over. I don't know about you, but I hope to continue some of the disciplines I have practiced during this adventure. I hope dreaming is not over. If this adventure is to have lasting impact you and I will continue to live out resurrection dreams with awareness, attitudes, and action.

I. Awareness

Prior to and during this adventure I have been sharing information, seeking to raise your level of consciousness regarding overcoming barriers. Perhaps you have been aware of some of them previously. Some had not thought about some of these things as barriers to dreaming until we began this adventure. The daily scripture readings, Daring to Dream Again Prayer, God hunt sightings, reading other books and interacting at adventure groups has hopefully made each of us more aware.

As important as it is for us to become more aware and learn from God's Word and other good resources, this is obviously not my only reason for motivating us to participate. To live out resurrection dreams, increased awareness is intended to shape our attitudes. We know, at least intellectually, that Christ has been raised from the dead. If we have been raised with Christ we are to seek the things that are above. We are to set our minds on things that are above. Those instructions go beyond awareness to attitude.

II. Attitude

Are you open to thinking about things that are above, different from what you might have thought before? Paul tells us to have the attitude of Jesus, a servant, who paid the penalty for our sins. Instead many, including professing Christians, seem to want to be in charge and comfortable.

Webster defines attitude as "a manner of acting, feeling, or thinking that shows one's disposition, opinion, etc." What is our attitude toward Jesus Christ, toward Jesus' call to radical discipleship, toward persons who are different from us, toward ideas different from ours, toward people who need Jesus? Think about your attitude as I ask more questions in a few moments.

If you and I are to really live out resurrection dreams awareness and attitudes are of critical importance, but so is the resulting action.

III. Action

The resurrected life to which our Lord calls us is to be lived out in the everyday world. Notice following the scripture read this morning there are some action steps for the resurrected life. In verse 5 Paul wrote, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you..." and he goes on to list some behavior that is NOT pleasing to God. Some of these may be related to some of the barriers to overcome to dream God's dreams. There could be sin involved in the past that needs to be dealt with. There may be prejudices to overcome.

In verse 12 Paul shifts to positive action, "Put on then as God's chosen ones..." and he continues with a list of action steps to demonstrate the resurrected life. Break down barriers with love, kindness, and forgiveness toward others. Become men and women who spend time in the scriptures and allow their teachings to transform our lives. Take action and express our faith in Christ with our deeds. Be people of prayer that leads us to action.

The design of our spiritual adventure included some action steps involved in the disciplines. I am committed to doing a few things as a result of this adventure that I have not been able to complete yet, but I sincerely intend to do so. I have heard a few of you tell me similar commitments on your part. We may all continue to go on God hunt sightings. Are we willing, personally, and perhaps as a congregation to take some actions steps as the Holy Spirit directs us?

Conclusion.

Idea Killers:
     We tried it before.
     It would take too much time.
     It would cost too much.
     That's not my job.
     That's not your job.
     That's not how we do it here.
     It's impossible.
     You may be right, but...
     That's a stupid idea.
     You can't do that here.
     My mind is definitely made up.
     I don't think that's important
     Those people don't count.
     It's good enough.
     If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
     Our church is too small to do that.
     That sounds crazy to me.

Idea Growers:
     Are there any questions?
     Before we make a final decision,
     let's review all the options.
     Where else can we go for additional information on that?
     In the light of the new information, I've changed my mind.
     May I ask a question?
     Excuse me, I don't think I really understood that.
     Is this what you meant?
     I'd like your help with an idea I'm working on.
     How could we improve ... ?
     What have we missed?
     Who else would be effected?
     What would happen if ... ?
     Who else has a suggestion?
     Why do we always do it like that?
     Wouldn't it be fun if ... ?
     How many ways could we ... ?
     What ideas have you come up with?

Dare to live out resurrection dreams.

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