Do you ever wonder why God gives us dreams? I'm not talking about the "dreams" one has while asleep – I'm referring to those "dreams" concerning the future. Dreams about your life; your goals; your life focus. Sometimes I wonder if I heard Him correctly… Other times, I'm dead certain that I'm doing exactly what Him said to do. It's a strange place to live – between two opposite poles, trying hard not to lose your balance.

We are in a new year – 2008.

2008 – wow, it has been 10.5 years since that day I pledged my allegiance to the ultimate Master. Sitting here, writing this post, my heart goes back to July 19, 1997 at 4:30 pm on the steps of the National Museum in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was at that time, on that day, that the Man from Galilee showed me how real He was and is.

I will never forget the look of that young man's face as he looked at me with tears in his eyes. His words echo through my ears day in and day out: "I feel something now". This man felt the presence of the Kingdom where a minute earlier he confessed his hollow soul.

The Kingdom. It is here today and yet It is not. We are to walk each day as it's the last.

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Did you ever wonder about Jesus story of the Pearl of Great Price? Why was it that a man went out and sold all he had to buy a single pearl? It never made sense to me. If the pearl cost the same as all his belongings, why buy it? You're not making a profit? In fact, all you're doing is tying up all your resources into one item – an item that could be stolen or lost.

If the Kingdom of Heaven is the rule and reign of the One Mighty Lord, Creator of Heaven and Earth. If the Kingdom of Heaven is all that Isaiah said it was. If it really is what Jesus demonstrate – that the lame will walk, those in bondage will be set free, the dead shall live, leapers will be cleaned and the oil of gladness will be given instead of mourning.

If THAT is the Pearl of Great Price – then "YES" – I want that. I want to walk where angels tread. I want to walk in the Kingdom, across the highways and byways of this life – searching for those in shack cloth; those in the ditches; those whose faces are stained with tears of mourning; those who have no hope, no future, no life – just a chain of guilt and emotions. To those we walk towards – like the man who discovers that there are tress outside the cave and runs back inside to bring joy to those left behind.

I do not want part of the Pearl. I want ALL of it! I want to see His Kingdom crash in upon this world. Ah – to play a part in the coming Kingdom.

Yet who am I that I might play a part on the great orchestra of life? Nothing but a serf playing out his part as directed by his Lord.

2008. A new year full of old and new dreams. Some may call it the year of the rat. I am calling it the "Year of the Goose: Part II".