do you dream?

Do you dream?

I do.

Sometimes it's the "sleepy-time" dream I get when the voices around me are fading out as I drift into unconsciousness. Then there's the "I'm dead asleep" dream, and the faces and colors and movements and contours seem so real that it takes a startled jump to assure me it isn't so. And probably my favorite...the "if it could be" dream. When I'm wide awake, it's this dream that lures me into planning and hoping for the future. It's here that possibility overrides logic and says anything is possible. Frogs become princes, seven layer chocolate cake has zero calories and I become president for a day. In this world, reality is what I choose for it to be...what I dream it would be...what I deem it is.

But in reality...this isn't reality. It's a dream that appeases my desires and always makes me right and happy and satisfied.

And it is not true.

We live in a postmodern culture. Subconciously, we've adopted the mindset that reality is what's real to me and tolerance is accepting the sinner and the sin (note: as Christians we should accept sinners, but "okaying" sin is another story). Our logic doesn't stand on facts and actualities, but rather, it's tainted by our slanted perceptions. "If it's what I believe, then it must be right" screams from the life decisions we make, the clothes we wear and the causes we support. What we've failed to realize...

...it's a lie.

To be postmodern is to forgo freedom. Living entangled in sin doesn't free us, but binds us to the consequences of our actions. Sure, you might argue that you'd proudly claim the title, and you're not a sinner. I'm no different from the guy next door, you say.

You're probably right. You, your neighbor, the guy in the cubical at work, the coffee shop barista and that cutie you've been crushin'...and me...we're all alike. We are all tempted. We all struggle. We all screw up. Don't you see, we're all the same.

We're all the same except for this one thing.

The difference between today's postmodern and yesterday's Christian: they have different dreams, because they operate in different realities. The Christian operates in absolute Truth. The postmodern lives lost in the truth of his own creation.

When we decide to live life based on our emotions and feelings, from situation to situation, we fail to see the truth around us. Absolute Truth claims there is one God and His Word is a guidebook for right living. Don't misunderstand, dream big dreams that only God can accomplish, but live in a reality that accurately portrays Truth.

I know...I know...sometimes "my" reality is easier to stomach, easier to understand and simpler to live out. But "the" reality promises life at it's fullest and us at our best.

So tell me, what's your reality?