July 5, 2011
Book Review: Put Your Dream to the Test by John Maxwell
The fireworks explode, the music soars, and Cinderella Castle turns from pastel-pink to pastel-blue to pastel-green. As Tinkerbell zooms overhead, Jiminy Cricket's winsome voice intones the immortal lyrics: "When you wish upon a star, you dreams come true."
Sitting midst of this mass service dedicated to the worship of the god of good feelings, I have often wondered that Disney has not been sued by those whose dreams did not come true. At the very least, the extravaganza should include an airplane flying over the castle towing a banner with the words "results may vary".
Clearly, culture has bought into the mantra that your dream deserves to be fulfilled because...well...because it's is your dream.
Herein lies the value of John Maxwell's book Put Your Dream to the Test. In it, he offers several tests that can be applied to our dreams to see if they are worthwhile, achievable, and beneficial.
I have never read a John Maxwell book without taking away something of value. This one was no exception. Missionaries have big dreams (if they don't, they might want to consider another line of work), and it is easy for us to fall into the same pitfalls as everybody else when it comes to fulfilling those dreams.
My only concern with Put Your Dream to the Test is one I share with other Maxwell books--namely, the complete lack of the Gospel. I understand that the purpose of the book is not evangelistic, and the argument could be made that Maxwell is no more obligated to include the Gospel in a book about fulfilling one's dreams than is the Christian author of a bicycle repair manual.
Yet..it seems that the subject matter of life goals should include something about the Ultimate Goal. Surely an evangelical writer should not miss such a golden opportunity to share the "evangel". Incredibly, even when an illustration from the life of William Wilberforce provides him with the perfect setup for the gospel, that all-important, career-defining factor in Wilberforce's life is completely skipped over.
So with that caveat, I recommend to you Put Your Dreams to the Test. May your dreams be audacious, worthwhile, and achievable. And above all, may they revolve around the Gospel of Christ.
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Posted by Andrew on July 5, 2011 6:41 PM.
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