SON OF GOD: Mark Burnett and Roma Downey Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJecHA_gHBc

Published on 3 Apr 2014
Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are the producers of the new movie ‘Son of God’, a film they hope will reach millions with the story of Christ. In 2013, they released the mini-series ‘The Bible’, which aired on the History Channel, and became the number one new series on cable television. Mark and Roma are both well known in the entertainment industry. Mark has produced several hit television shows, including ‘Survivor’, ‘The Voice’ and ‘Shark Tank’. Roma is best known for her role in the television program ‘Touched by An Angel’. Mark and Roma have now created ‘Son of God Tour’’and it will be available for streaming on June 3, 2014. Go to http://www.sonofgodtour.com for more information.
Bobby Schuller (BS) interviews Mark and Roma on the Hour of Power.
Mark Burnett & Roma Downey
Written By Bobby Schuller
2305 2014-04-06
Click on
http://www.hourofpower.org/interviews/detail.php?contentid=8385
Mark Burnett (MB) and Roma Downey (RD) are the producers of the new movie “Son of God,” a film they hope will reach millions with the story of Christ. In 2013, they released the miniseries “The Bible” which aired on the History Channel, and became the number one new series on cable television. Mark and Roma are both well known in the entertainment industry. Mark has produced several hit television shows, including “Survivor, “The Voice” and “Shark Tank.” Roma is best known for her role in the television program “Touched by An Angel.” Mark and Roma have now created “Son of God Tour” and it will be available for streaming on June 3, 2014. Buy
• Watch
Tools
• Print
• Send to a Friend
• Save
• Comments

Mark Burnett (MB) and Roma Downey (RD) are the producers of the new movie “Son of God,” a film they hope will reach millions with the story of Christ. In 2013, they released the miniseries “The Bible” which aired on the History Channel, and became the number one new series on cable television. Mark and Roma are both well known in the entertainment industry. Mark has produced several hit television shows, including “Survivor, “The Voice” and “Shark Tank.” Roma is best known for her role in the television program “Touched by An Angel.” Mark and Roma have now created “Son of God Tour” and it will be available for streaming on June 3, 2014. Bobby Schuller (BS) interviews Mark and Roma.
BS: If you’ve ever seen “The Voice,” “Shark Tank,” or “Touched by an Angel,” you are in luck today because we have the real privilege of interviewing Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who of course have been involved with both of these programs, and are now at the precipice of launching a new tour with their latest movie, “Son of God.”
Thank you for meeting with me today here at Saddleback Church. Mark and Roma, you both have had these incredible careers. How did you go from doing all of these television programs to doing the film “Son of God?” How did that happen?
MB: It all began with The Bible TV series, which aired in 2013. Of course many, many people in Hollywood told us we we’re completely crazy and that no one was going to watch The Bible on prime time television. Clearly, whoever said that was wrong. A hundred million Americans showed up for The Bible series, and in Canada, The Bible series beat hockey! So there you go.
BS: That’s amazing.
MB: That says everything, you need to know.
RD: It’s a miracle!
BS: Yes, that’s a true miracle.
RD: It was so amazing. You know “Son of God” began as a whisper in our hearts that became a prayer. We worked on this project together and it’s been such an epic journey; almost five years in the making.
While we were in Morocco making The Bible series and were watching the footage, and as the Jesus narrative began to unfold on the screen, I said to Mark, ‘I wish we had been making a movie. This is so beautiful.’
So we were able to cut together, adding additional footage that hadn’t appeared on the screen, and we created this beautiful stand-alone feature film which opened at the end of February and has touched millions of people’s lives. We’ve been so encouraged by the feedback of the number of people who have either fallen in love with Jesus all over again or have had an opportunity to discover him for the first time.
MB: There have been many, many stories we have heard, but a certain one comes to mind. It was maybe six weeks ago at a pre-screening of the movie we met a woman from Asia from eastern religion who watched “Son of God.” And she came to us afterwards and said, ‘you know Mark and Roma, I always thought Jesus was a western myth but having seen “Son of God,” I want to find out more about this Jesus.’ And we looked at each other and thought this is exactly why we made this movie.
BS: Wonderful.
MB: And there are thousands of other testimonials.
RD: It has been amazing. We had one mother who reached out to us and said that she couldn’t get her 17-year-old son to go to church. She said the past few months always turned into a big fight every Sunday morning.
So she said to him, ‘well maybe you’d come to the movies with me?’ He went to the movies with her on a Saturday evening, and she said somewhere around the middle of the movie he just started to cry, like his heart just blasted open and grace moved in. She said he cried the whole way through the end of the movie, he cried the whole way home, and the next morning, Sunday morning, he was waiting for her in the car.
BS: Wow, what a wonderful story. And of course there are so many people who want to communicate Jesus in a fresh way and this movie is a way to do that.

But what about non religious people? Are you hearing from people that say ‘I didn’t really grow up in church; I don’t really have the best thoughts about Jesus.’ Are you hearing from these types of people who saw “Son of God” and how are they responding?
MB: Well I think after being in Hollywood for so many years with, as you listed, a lot of hit shows; we’ve made thousands of hours of family prime time TV, and our shows are currently airing in 70 countries, so we understand audiences. And we knew that as Christians, making a sermon as a movie would not work; secular audiences will reject it. And clearly our main goal was to reach people who didn’t know Jesus. Therefore, we had to make a dramatic film and we made a political thriller with the gospel wrapped in it. If you never heard of Jesus or the bible, you’d go and see this movie, and you’d enjoy the movie, but ideally you’d want to find out more.
BS: So what’s it like being Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, and working together as a married couple in Hollywood?
MB: They call me Mr. Downey!
BS: And of course you are on tour now. You’re going from church to church, showcasing not just the movie, but you’ve incorporated a musical element to all of this.
MB: Yes, we have a great tour with Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Meredith Andrews, Natalie Grant and Jason Gray.
RD: It launches tonight. I mean here we are at Saddleback, which is like home from home for us. We love it here. We love Pastor Rick and Kay. They’re our dearest, dearest friends. And you know the idea for this tour really was nurtured here, so I think it’s very fitting that it would be at Saddleback that we would experience the world premier of this tour.
This tour brings together visual elements from The Bible series and from the “Son of God” movie, with live performances by these terrific actors to create this really immersive experience, a really emotional experience as you follow the life of Christ through music and live performance. It’s sold out across the country but for anybody that missed it, there’s a fantastic opportunity to stream it on June 3rd. You can go to sonofgodtour.com and get all the information of how to download that.
BS: So you’re asking churches, communities and small groups to get together and be a part of this simulcast. What’s going to happen on June 3rd? What are they going to see?
MB: On June 3rd they’re going to see an epic music and visual experience. You know, obviously we loved making The Bible series. I mean globally people are watching The Bible. It even went number one in Hong Kong. Then we made “Son of God” the movie which also went global. But we also wanted something that was an actual tangible experience for Christians. To take this multi-million dollar footage from the film and the series, and add it to incredible Christian music and make an experience for people to actually be there in community and enjoy it.
You know earlier you asked me off set, yes, we are the noisiest Christians in Hollywood. We know that. And I’m sure people are saying to me oh now he’s growing a beard, he’s in this whole disciple phase. But listen, we are proud to be Christians. We are very grateful for our faith. We are very happy to be noisy about it. And, we’re glad that we’ve made a show, a movie and a tour that are touching people nationwide. What we really hope is that what we are doing is encouraging a whole new generation of TV producers, film makers, tour producers and musicians to go out there and enrich people.
RD: This concert was inspired by an album, which was inspired by the movie, which was inspired by the series, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit. So you know we’re all connected and music is just such a great way to experience spirit. We all love worship. This is some of the coolest, greatest Christian music, and to see it in harmony with this footage, to be able to experience it in community, to be able to sing along and stand up and cheer, that’s something really special.
BS: That is special. As I listen to you, I am thinking “Son of God” is really a movement, isn’t it. I mean as I’m hearing you talk about this tour and the music and all of these things you are doing, I’m thinking how can I get behind this and help it, and I imagine that many of our viewers are thinking the same thing. If they want to support, like get behind what you’re doing, how can they follow you and tell their friends about you?
MB: We’re grateful for you to say that and where you said “Son of God” is a movement, I was thinking, yes, its 2000 years old!
BS: Yes! That’s right!
MB: It’s kind of working.
BS: Yes, it’s been working!
MB: As this spreads, our faith spreads more so through Asia, and across the Middle East and back to Jerusalem.
RD: I think that there’s such a potential for the visual arts to touch people in a way; it brings aliveness to the stories of our bible and it can bring a visual aliveness to our faith. And then countries maybe where they haven’t had an opportunity to go to church, or they haven’t had an opportunity to read a bible but somewhere, someone will be able to download a movie, or this concert, or the series, and it will awaken something in them. It will bring them to the Lord, and that’s really something that we are so encouraged by.
When we were out doing press for “Son of God” the movie, we had one interviewer ask us if we had a hidden agenda to evangelize. And I said to him, “No, it’s not hidden at all.”
BS: That’s great! Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, thank you so much for your time today. Wishing you the best of luck and many blessings as you begin this awesome tour with great music. We appreciate you both as a brother and sister of Christ, making a big difference for the world with positive Christianity. That’s a great thing and we love it. Thank you so much.
RD: Thank you.

BS: For more information on the streaming of “Son of God Tour,” go to http://www.sonofgodtour.com. I also encourage you to go see “Son of God” the movie. Take your family, take your friends. If you have someone that says ‘this Jesus thing is just not for me,’ take him out to dinner and go see “Son of God.” It’ll be a great thing.

“The Bible isn’t just about stories from history… it’s a guide to our future(s).”
– c

Also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ode1-sX9bWY

Son of God Interview With Diogo Morgado, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey
We Got This Covered sits down with Diogo Morgado, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey to talk about their new film, Son of God.

How To Find And Live Your Dreams (by Dr Bruce Wilkinson)

How to Find and Live your Dreams

“I’d rather attempt something great and fail…
than try nothing and succeed.”
– inspiring words from Norman Vincent Peale
(US preacher and author)

Author’s Note:
This article was largely based upon a most inspiring adress by Dr Bruce Wilkinson as aired on the TV program, The Hour of Power in New Zealand on TV3 many years ago. Though it is quite “religious” (and no matter what the concept of God, or a Higher Power/ Supreme Being means to you), I have personalised some of the information and applied the principles to my own life (with a dash of humour), as in this piece.

The Rev Robert Schuller has been a great inspiration and “mentor” to me in following my personal dream for many years and I’m sharing this piece with the hope and in the spirit of inspiring other people to follow their personal dreams. That is my ‘mission’ and dream!

craig

April 2003

What would you do with your life, if you KNEW that you COULD NOT FAIL?

What dream did you carry in your heart when you were a child?

Perhaps it was to be a fireman, a nurse, a policeman, an actor, a footballer, racing driver, a musician or perhaps even a writer (“oh no”!)… but definitely NOT an “insurance man”!

What is your soul telling you to aim for in your life TODAY?

I believe that many dreams (big or small) start in prayer – in close communion with the Source of Life, the One who knows us best, our Creator, God, the Infinite Spirit of the Universe.
HOW does this happen?

With FAITH and “possibility thinking”. And “heaps” of prayer. Prayer changes our thoughts into another, a higher (loftier) DIMENSION – the SPIRITUAL. It’s a change of CONSCIOUSNESS Another analogy may be like this: Just as we live, work and play in the “real world”, we can also operate a business or touch lives in another realm, the “world of cyberspace”, as I’m hopefully doing in sharing this article). In moments of meditation and prayer (spiritual awareness) our Higher Self connects with the divine, a Force/Being/Spirit far Greater than ourselves – our spirit connects with Infinite (Divine) Spirit; so that we draw on an Higher Power with unlimited potential… the power of God, the Essence of Life, or as Napoleon Hill termed ‘Infinite Intelligence’.

And God, Infinite Spirit, a Deity, the Ground of all Being, I believe, communicates through the conduit (medium or channel) of our subconscious minds. My “very analytical scientific” friend, Andy (a micro-biologist) calls it the ” ‘God-gate’ to Infinite Intelligence, the Great Designer”. We then just have to use our tools of BELIEF (faith) and ask the right questions. EXPECT an answer to our questions, a solution to our life problems (even many big ones, like mine!). TRUST the process, then leave to ‘Invisible Intelligence, Infinite Spirit to work things out for you – the best way possible to move forward. Just relax and allow the Universe’s Infinite Wisdom to send you the right answers: the Almighty , the Grand Designer of Life WILL.

“Let go, let God, let good.”

Article Title: How To Find And Live Your Dreams (by Dr Bruce Wilkinson)
Shared by Craig Lock

Category: Dreams,Inspiration, Dr Bruce Wilkinson, Hour of Power, Motivation, Empowerment, Words of empowerment and inspiration
Web Site: http://www.brucewilkinson.com/

Submitter’s web sites: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

http://www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

http://www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com

http://www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

http://www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com

http://www.breakdownbarriers.wordpress.com

http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

http://www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com

http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 andhttp://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:
This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published (with acknowledgment to Dr Bruce Wilkinson and Hour of Power, please)..

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

*
How to Find and Live your Dreams

“I’d rather attempt something great and fail…
than try nothing and succeed.”
– inspiring words from Norman Vincent Peale
(US preacher and author)

craig

April 2003

What would you do with your life, if you KNEW that you COULD NOT FAIL?

What dream did you carry in your heart when you were a child?

Perhaps it was to be a fireman, a nurse, a policeman, an actor, a footballer, racing driver, a musician or perhaps even a writer (“oh no”!)… but definitely NOT an “insurance man”!

What is your soul telling you to aim for in your life TODAY?

“Let go, let God, let good.”

*
Here are some good points made by Dr Wilkinson…

* I truly believe that God, the Great Dream Giver, the Ultimate Source, the Ground of our very Being also has a dream for every life and especially YOUR life.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…
Before you were born, I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

and the big dreamers are the ones who’ll change the world…
so making it a better place for ALL.

* The secret of the dream: you never know how you’re going to do it before you COMMIT to doing it.

* When God gives you a dream in your heart, it is always too big for you to do…ALONE. So you need a “Partner”. A “Co-creator”. It seems overwhelming at first – impossible, way out of your reach; yet somehow it gets achieved. No, not achieved…but surpassed.

“The dreams of great dreamers are never achieved; but with God’s help are always transcended – into true miracles…beyond one’s wildest dreams.”

* Your dream is at the centre of who you really are: It’s the ‘essence’ of who you are as a person – the core of your very BEING. The dream of God is the reason for the way you are – it drives you and gives a sense of meaning and purpose to your life: to follow your unique destiny.

* The dream is always outside your comfort zone. (I thought mine was impossible (and “crazy”), from where I was (“never in a million years”). However, even our “big-little” dreams fit perfectly into God’s bigger plan, His Grand Dream for the Universe. So make your dreams big enough for God to fit in.

“Lord, Reveal Your power and somehow fit my “little” dream, my ‘little’ life into Your grand plan for this world.”

* When you start out tentatively, don’t focus on the fear – focus on the dream. Then the dream becomes more important than the fear.

* Dreams happen when you accept the fact that the dream is your calling, something YOU simply HAVE to do to fulfil you. COMMIT fully to it. Say: “I don’t know HOW I’ll do it, but God will give me the way, if I just proceed and follow the dream. Just DEPEND on God, the Essence of Life to accomplish the “seemingly impossible”! Take that first step in FAITH; then watch what happens.

I have absolutely “zilch” idea where my journey is leading, but in “partnership with the Ultimate Source” guiding me each step of the way, it’s tremendously exciting, sliding down “the rapids”, er sorry, “waterfalls of life”.

It’s the will of God, our Creator, that we follow our personal dreams – fulfilling God’s dream is what we have been made to do, based on our skills, talents, gifts and aspirations. In short, our unique personas, who we are as ‘human beans’. It’s our unique calling in life: to do what we are DESTINED to do and it usually involves helping (serving) others, ie. meeting a human need to help others or make their lives easier or better in some way. I believe the key is making some contribution, however small we may think it is, to the betterment of humanity.

“All of us can become great, because we can all SERVE.”
– Martin Luther King (or was it Mother Teresa…or both??)

CHOOSE to follow your dream; because, if you don’t, do you realise how many people will be affected? Because a dream often lies in helping someone else’s dream, or helping them towards achieving it. It is God’s dream and consequently can never be selfish.

All dreams start in FAITH, but ones faith gets strengthened as you take one step after the next (one gets “led”). Faith really works and it get’s stronger by the day, when you look back and see how far you’ve come along the path.

Never give up on your unique calling, YOUR dream, Say, “I will UNTIL.” Finally , when you feel stuck in moving ahead with your dream…once you’ve done all you can, SURRENDER your dream to God, the “Ground of All Being, Truth, Goodness and Joy”.

“Let go, let God, let good.”

My dream in sharing this piece is hopefully helping others to fulfil their potentials, their individual dreams through encouragement (and perhaps upliftment). You can’t imagine the more you pursue the dream, the more God, the Grand Designer of Life, is going to use you in ways you never imagined possible. I am continually amazed at what we’re doing each day…from what started out as the seed of a vision twelve long years ago (when I had no idea how to turn on a computer!). Though many times facing innumerable obstacles and often feeling stuck, I simply surrendered my dream to God, the Universe. Then I’d get some insight or somehow the Universe, Essence of Life, Infinite Spirit would just move me ahead and open up a path for the vision. “Co-incidences?” This journey is a true ‘miracle’ in action, I believe, that so many people around the globe are involved and helping me greatly, as one person can’t do it alone. (Thanks so much, all of you for your many skills and gifts that I don’t have – you know who you are and also that I’m a total “non-techno wally”!). Once you embark on God’s dream for your life, watch the way the Universe brings people into your life to help you and to expand the vision (because you can’t do it alone). Also my faith is considerably strengthened each day, as I see the process DOES work…and one can see how far you’ve come from those tentative first steps. I’m greatly enjoying this most enjoyable and exciting journey, as I follow my personal dream(s).

craig April 2003

After that little personal interlude… to continue with Dr Wilkinson’s message in a few final words…

You’re never too old and you’re never too young to dream big dreams!

Will you go through life one day regretting that you DARED TO DREAM?
Will you too surrender to your personal (“impossible”) dream?
Absolutely NOTHING is impossible* (I can certainly vouch for that!).

“It’s kinda fun to do the impossible.”
-anon

“It always seems impossible…

until it get’s done.”

– Nelson Mandela

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

– Walt Disney

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and
receives the impossible.”
– Corrie Ten Boom

Always remember,
God’s dreams are far bigger than you could have imagined yourself.

Just TRUST God, the Essence of Life, the Ground of Our Being, Ultimate Source and enjoy the journey towards your dreams. Absolutely NOTHING is impossible. Just BELIEVE in your dream.
You CAN do ANYTHING with God’s help (just live in an attitude of dependence) and your individual journeys can be used to honour the infinite love of our Creator.

So how about doing something about following your passion and pursuing your dream TODAY?

Shared by Craig Lock (“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder”)

LIVE the dream

“Life is about finding, then following the dream… and
one’s dream/vision comes to reality through believing in
yourself, making the commitment and then creating it.”

– craig 2003

“A man (OOPS, or woman) without a dream is destined never to fulfil his or her full potential in life. Never give up on your dream…

but take time to smell the flowers on your very individual journey.’ Be yourself and daily count your blessings;

then try to make a difference in the world – however small.

Try to shine your own little ray of sunshine to make the lives of others easier in some small way.
You can derive the greatest pleasure from treading the wildest uncertain path down the ‘river of life…

and just being you.”

“Our talents are our gifts from God…
but what we do with them are our gifts TO God.”

PPS: Thank you sincerely, Drs Wilkinson and Schuller for sharing your insights and wisdom in encouraging me down my ‘untrodden path’, as I follow my dreams; but most of all, for serving as a vessel to illuminate God’s unlimited love for all of us, His children.

LOVE is the greatest and most powerful force in the world;
so shine your own unique bright light on an often darkened world …in a spirit of living at the highest level of humanity.

“When the world is filled with love, people’s hearts are overflowing with hope.”

– craig

About the submitter:
In his life mission Craig hopes to help, encourage, motivate, uplift and perhaps even inspire people to be their best through realising their full potentials. His dream is seeing people finding, striving for the “seemingly impossible” and one day perhaps even realising their personal goals and dreams having great FUN along the magical journey of life

http://members.tripod.com/~lock77/ http://www.craiglockbooks.com and http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.html

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at

http://www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

http://www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

http://www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com

http://www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

http://www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com

http://www.breakdownbarriers.wordpress.com

http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

http://www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com

http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

“We have it all within, but we get from without, the Ultimate Source.”
– craig

THIS PIECE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED (with acknowledgment to Dr Schuller and Dr Bruce Wilkinson, please)

“What we learn in the darkness…
we are to share in the eternal light.”

How To Find And Live Your Dreams By Dr Bruce Wilkinson

Article Title: How To Find And Live Your Dreams By Dr Bruce Wilkinson

Shared by Craig Lock

Category: Dreams,Inspiration, Dr Bruce Wilkinson, Hour of Power, Motivation, Empowerment, Words of empowerment and inspiration
Web Site: http://www.brucewilkinson.com/

Submitter’s web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid

http://goo.gl/vTpjk and http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.comhttp://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

Publishing Guidelines:
This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published (with acknowledgment to Dr Bruce Wilkinson and Hour of Power, please)..

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

*
How to Find and Live your Dreams

“I’d rather attempt something great and fail…
than try nothing and succeed.”
– inspiring words from Norman Vincent Peale
(US preacher and author)

Author’s Note:
This article was largely based upon a most inspiring adress by Dr Bruce Wilkinson as aired on the TV program, The Hour of Power in New Zealand on TV3 many years ago. Though it is quite “religious” (and no matter what the concept of God, or a Higher Power/ Supreme Being means to you), I have personalised some of the information and applied the principles to my own life (with a dash of humour), as in this piece.

craig

April 2003

What would you do with your life, if you KNEW that you COULD NOT FAIL?

What dream did you carry in your heart when you were a child?

Perhaps it was to be a fireman, a nurse, a policeman, an actor, a footballer, racing driver, a musician or perhaps even a writer (“oh no”!)… but definitely NOT an “insurance man”!

What is your soul telling you to aim for in your life TODAY?

I believe that many dreams (big or small) start in prayer – in close communion with the Source of Life, the One who knows us best, our Creator, God, the Infinite Spirit of the Universe.
HOW does this happen?

With FAITH and “possibility thinking”. And “heaps” of prayer. Prayer changes our thoughts into another, a higher (loftier) DIMENSION – the SPIRITUAL. It’s a change of CONSCIOUSNESS Another analogy may be like this: Just as we live, work and play in the “real world”, we can also operate a business or touch lives in another realm, the “world of cyberspace”, as I’m hopefully doing in sharing this article). In moments of meditation and prayer (spiritual awareness) our Higher Self connects with the divine, a Force/Being/Spirit far Greater than ourselves – our spirit connects with Infinite (Divine) Spirit; so that we draw on an Higher Power with unlimited potential… the power of God, the Essence of Life, or as Napoleon Hill termed ‘Infinite Intelligence’.

And God, Infinite Spirit, a Deity, the Ground of all Being, I believe, communicates through the conduit (medium or channel) of our subconscious minds. My “very analytical scientific” friend, Andy (a micro-biologist) calls it the ” ‘God-gate’ to Infinite Intelligence, the Great Designer”. We then just have to use our tools of BELIEF (faith) and ask the right questions. EXPECT an answer to our questions, a solution to our life problems (even many big ones, like mine!). TRUST the process, then leave to ‘Invisible Intelligence, Infinite Spirit to work things out for you – the best way possible to move forward. Just relax and allow the Universe’s Infinite Wisdom to send you the right answers: the Almighty , the Grand Designer of Life WILL.

“Let go, let God, let good.”

*
Here are some good points made by Dr Wilkinson…

* I truly believe that God, the Great Dream Giver, the Ultimate Source, the Ground of our very Being also has a dream for every life and especially YOUR life.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…
Before you were born, I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

and the big dreamers are the ones who’ll change the world…
so making it a better place for ALL.

* The secret of the dream: you never know how you’re going to do it before you COMMIT to doing it.

* When God gives you a dream in your heart, it is always too big for you to do…ALONE. So you need a “Partner”. A “Co-creator”. It seems overwhelming at first – impossible, way out of your reach; yet somehow it gets achieved. No, not achieved…but surpassed.

“The dreams of great dreamers are never achieved; but with God’s help are always transcended – into true miracles…beyond one’s wildest dreams.”

* Your dream is at the centre of who you really are: It’s the ‘essence’ of who you are as a person – the core of your very BEING. The dream of God is the reason for the way you are – it drives you and gives a sense of meaning and purpose to your life: to follow your unique destiny.

* The dream is always outside your comfort zone. (I thought mine was impossible (and “crazy”), from where I was (“never in a million years”). However, even our “big-little” dreams fit perfectly into God’s bigger plan, His Grand Dream for the Universe. So make your dreams big enough for God to fit in.

“Lord, Reveal Your power and somehow fit my “little” dream, my ‘little’ life into Your grand plan for this world.”

* When you start out tentatively, don’t focus on the fear – focus on the dream. Then the dream becomes more important than the fear.

* Dreams happen when you accept the fact that the dream is your calling, something YOU simply HAVE to do to fulfil you. COMMIT fully to it. Say: “I don’t know HOW I’ll do it, but God will give me the way, if I just proceed and follow the dream. Just DEPEND on God, the Essence of Life to accomplish the “seemingly impossible”! Take that first step in FAITH; then watch what happens.

“All of us can become great, because we can all SERVE.”
– Martin Luther King (or was it Mother Teresa…or both??)

CHOOSE to follow your dream; because, if you don’t, do you realise how many people will be affected? Because a dream often lies in helping someone else’s dream, or helping them towards achieving it. It is God’s dream and consequently can never be selfish.

“Let go, let God, let good.”

My dream in sharing this piece is hopefully helping others to fulfil their potentials, their individual dreams through encouragement (and perhaps upliftment). You can’t imagine the more you pursue the dream, the more God, the Grand Designer of Life, is going to use you in ways you never imagined possible. I am continually amazed at what we’re doing each day…from what started out as the seed of a vision twelve long years ago (when I had no idea how to turn on a computer!). Though many times facing innumerable obstacles and often feeling stuck, I simply surrendered my dream to God, the Universe. Then I’d get some insight or somehow the Universe, Essence of Life, Infinite Spirit would just move me ahead and open up a path for the vision. “Co-incidences?” This journey is a true ‘miracle’ in action, I believe, that so many people around the globe are involved and helping me greatly, as one person can’t do it alone. (Thanks so much, all of you for your many skills and gifts that I don’t have – you know who you are and also that I’m a total “non-techno wally”!). Once you embark on God’s dream for your life, watch the way the Universe brings people into your life to help you and to expand the vision (because you can’t do it alone). Also my faithis considerably strengthened each day, as I see the process DOES work…and one can see how far you’ve come from those tentative first steps. I’m greatly enjoying this most enjoyable and exciting journey, as I follow my personal dream(s).

craig April 2003

After that little personal interlude… to continue with Dr Wilkinson’s message in a few final words…

You’re never too old and you’re never too young to dream big dreams!

“It’s kinda fun to do the impossible.”
-anon

“It always seems impossible…

until it get’s done.”

– Nelson Mandela

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

– Walt Disney

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and
receives the impossible.”
– Corrie Ten Boom

Always remember,
God’s dreams are far bigger than you could have imagined yourself.

Just TRUST God, the Essence of Life, the Ground of Our Being, Ultimate Source and enjoy the journey towards your dreams. Absolutely NOTHING is impossible. Just BELIEVE in your dream.
You CAN do ANYTHING with God’s help (just live in an attitude of dependence) and your individual journeys can be used to honour the infinite love of our Creator.

So how about doing something about following your passion and pursuing your dream TODAY?

Shared by Craig Lock (“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder”)

LIVE the dream

“Life is about finding, then following the dream… and
one’s dream/vision comes to reality through believing in
yourself, making the commitment and then creating it.”

– craig 2003

“A man (OOPS, or woman) without a dream is destined never to fulfil his or her full potential in life. Never give up on your dream…

but take time to smell the flowers on your very individual journey.’ Be yourself and daily count your blessings;

then try to make a difference in the world – however small.

and just being you.”

“Our talents are our gifts from God…
but what we do with them are our gifts TO God.”

LOVE is the greatest and most powerful force in the world;
so shine your own unique bright light on an often darkened world …in a spirit of living at the highest level of humanity.

“When the world is filled with love, people’s hearts are overflowing with hope.”

– craig

http://members.tripod.com/~lock77/www.craiglockbooks.comand www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.html

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid

http://goo.gl/vTpjk and http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.comhttp://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

“We have it all within, but we get from without, the Ultimate Source.”
– craig

THIS PIECE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED (with acknowledgment to Dr Schuller and Dr Bruce Wilkinson, please)

“What we learn in the darkness…
we are to share in the eternal light.”

How To Find And Live Your Dreams By Dr Bruce Wilkinson

Article Title: How To Find And Live Your Dreams By Dr Bruce Wilkinson

Shared by Craig Lock

Category: Dreams,Inspiration, Dr Bruce Wilkinson, Hour of Power, Motivation, Empowerment, Words of empowerment and inspiration
Web Site: http://www.brucewilkinson.com/

Submitter’s web sites:http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 and http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.comhttp://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:
This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published (with acknowledgment to Dr Bruce Wilkinson and Hour of Power, please)..

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

*
How to Find and Live your Dreams

“I’d rather attempt something great and fail…
than try nothing and succeed.”
– inspiring words from Norman Vincent Peale
(US preacher and author)

Author’s Note:
This article was largely based upon a most inspiring address by Dr Bruce Wilkinson as aired on the TV program, The Hour of Power in New Zealand on TV3 many years ago. Though it is quite “religious” (and no matter what the concept of God, or a Higher Power/ Supreme Being means to you), I have personalised some of the information and applied the principles to my own life (with a dash of humour), as in this piece.

craig

April 2003

What would you do with your life, if you KNEW that you COULD NOT FAIL?

What dream did you carry in your heart when you were a child?

Perhaps it was to be a fireman, a nurse, a policeman, an actor, a footballer, racing driver, a musician or perhaps even a writer (“oh no”!)… but definitely NOT an “insurance man”!

What is your soul telling you to aim for in your life TODAY?

“Let go, let God, let good.”

*
Here are some good points made by Dr Wilkinson…

* I truly believe that God, the Great Dream Giver, the Ultimate Source, the Ground of our very Being also has a dream for every life and especially YOUR life.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…
Before you were born, I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

and the big dreamers are the ones who’ll change the world…
so making it a better place for ALL.

* The secret of the dream: you never know how you’re going to do it before you COMMIT to doing it.

“The dreams of great dreamers are never achieved; but with God’s help are always transcended – into true miracles…beyond one’s wildest dreams.”

“Lord, Reveal Your power and somehow fit my “little” dream, my ‘little’ life into Your grand plan for this world.”

* When you start out tentatively, don’t focus on the fear – focus on the dream. Then the dream becomes more important than the fear.

I have absolutely “zilch” idea where my journey is leading, but in “partnership (as a “co-worker”) with (and totally depending upon) the Ultimate Source” guiding me each step of the way, it’s tremendously exciting, sliding down “the rapids”, er sorry, “waterfalls of life”.

“Lord, I can’t…but You can!”

“All of us can become great, because we can all SERVE.”
– Martin Luther King (or was it Mother Teresa…or both??)

“Let go, let God, let good.”

My dream in sharing this piece is hopefully helping others to fulfil their potentials, their individual dreams through encouragement (and perhaps upliftment). You can’t imagine the more you pursue the dream, the more God, the Grand Designer of Life, is going to use you in ways you never imagined possible. I am continually amazed at what we’re doing each day…from what started out as the seed of a vision twelve long years ago (when I had no idea how to turn on a computer!). Though many times facing innumerable obstacles and often feeling stuck, I simply surrendered my dream to God, the Universe. Then I’d get some insight or somehow the Universe, Essence of Life, Infinite Spirit would just move me ahead and open up a path for the vision. “Co-incidences?” This journey is a true ‘miracle’ in action, I believe, that so many people around the globe are involved and helping me greatly, as one person can’t do it alone. (Thanks so much, all of you for your many skills and gifts that I don’t have – you know who you are and also that I’m a total “non-techno wally”!). Once you embark on God’s dream for your life, watch the way the Universe brings people into your life to help you and to expand the vision (because you can’t do it alone). Also my faithis considerably strengthened each day, as I see the process DOES work…and one can see how far you’ve come from those tentative first steps. I’m greatly enjoying this most enjoyable and exciting journey, as I follow my personal dream(s).

craig April 2003

After that little personal interlude… to continue with Dr Wilkinson’s message in a few final words…

You’re never too old and you’re never too young to dream big dreams!

“It’s kinda fun to do the impossible.”
-anon

“It always seems impossible…

until it get’s done.”

– Nelson Mandela

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

– Walt Disney

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and
receives the impossible.”
– Corrie Ten Boom

Always remember,
God’s dreams are far bigger than you could have imagined yourself.

Just TRUST God, the Essence of Life, the Ground of Our Being, Ultimate Source and enjoy the journey towards your dreams. Absolutely NOTHING is impossible. Just BELIEVE in your dream.
You CAN do ANYTHING with God’s help (just live in an attitude of dependence) and your individual journeys can be used to honour the infinite love of our Creator.

So how about doing something about following your passion and pursuing your dream TODAY?

Shared by Craig Lock (“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder”)

LIVE the dream

“Life is about finding, then following the dream… and
one’s dream/vision comes to reality through believing in
yourself, making the commitment and then creating it.”

– craig 2003

“A man (OOPS, or woman) without a dream is destined never to fulfil his or her full potential in life. Never give up on your dream…

but take time to smell the flowers on your very individual journey.’ Be yourself and daily count your blessings;

then try to make a difference in the world – however small.

and just being you.”

“Our talents are our gifts from God…
but what we do with them are our gifts TO God.”

LOVE is the greatest and most powerful force in the world;
so shine your own unique bright light on an often darkened world …in a spirit of living at the highest level of humanity.

“When the world is filled with love, people’s hearts are overflowing with hope.”

– craig

http://members.tripod.com/~lock77/www.craiglockbooks.com and www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.html

The various books that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Z6BFX0

http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.comhttp://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

“We have it all within, but we get from without, the Ultimate Source.”
– craig

THIS PIECE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED (with acknowledgment to Dr Schuller and Dr Bruce Wilkinson, please)

“What we learn in the darkness…
we are to share in the eternal light.”

How To Find And Live Your Dreams (by Dr Bruce Wilkinson)

Article Title: How To Find And Live Your Dreams (by Dr Bruce Wilkinson)

Shared by Craig Lock

Category: Dreams,Inspiration, Dr Bruce Wilkinson, Hour of Power, Motivation, Empowerment, Words of empowerment and inspiration
Web Site: http://www.brucewilkinson.com/

Submitter’s web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 andhttp://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.anewdawnbook.wordpress.com

www.newbooksbycraig.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com http://religiousunity.wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)