What is real?

I have found myself pondering how it is that I have become as messed up as I am. Let me rephrase that; i have pondered how it is that I have drifted so far from being the servant God created me to be and that I desire to be. I have come to the conclusion that i have not been real with myself.
Movies, books, and TV and I suppose some radio shows of the past were ways to escape reality. Some fantasy is good because it engages our creative side and we need to escape  from the fears of reality sometime and imagine what the world could be, what we could be. I think our culture places too much value on being entertained and escaping reality. We would rather engage our computer and our TV instead of our neighbors. I know, 1 in 5 relationships begin on line today and there is value to some programing on TV. Just cut me a break and listen to what I have to say in general rather than hunting down places to argue with me.
Much of what is available on line and on TV is inconsistent with who God wants us to be. What happens on CSI is not a reflection of real life; it's more of a refraction, a distorted view of reality. Even the so called reality shows are not real. What would happen to our culture if we put even half of our entertainment time into work for Christ? I bet we could change the world. We spend so much of our time seeking to be entertained we have a distorted view of reality. We think what we see on TV or in the movies is how real life should be. We spend more time with the characters on TV than we do with our friends and family. We text and e-mail rather than conversing; we don't know how to develop a relationship, we don't know how to fight fair, we don't know how to debate. We get frustrated and use the poor examples we see in the distorted reality and believe it is the fault of anyone but ourselves.
I am guilty too; there are times I hide. I know that my reality is distorted; and I know it can only be restored through God. That restoration is hard and painful, but I must to it because only God can make it right.

Dreaming

Now that Christmas is over and we are into the new year, I have to ask myself some serious questions about who I am and what defines me as being unique in God's creation. I also have to ask myself what are my gifts to ministry; what do I need to develop, carry out, complete and let go of to be who God created me to be... wow! I have much work to do.
I have always been a dreamer; I taught my children that it is alright to dream as long as your dreams don't interfere with reality. I have dreams that I have yet to fulfill, guess that makes the beginning of my "bucket list"; those things that I want to accomplish before I am done serving God in this place.
I want to lead someone to Christ; not just my own Children but someone else
I want to influence peace in a positive way
I want my wife to never doubt that I love her
I want my children to understand life better than I do
I want each message I preach to touch someone
I want to know in my heart of hearts that I am doing my best; giving all that I am every moment of everyday to glorify God.
I am human, not God. Some of my dreams are out of my control. I see myself as a vine in a vineyard; it's pruning time. Jesus is standing there looking at me with his clippers in his hand. He is stroking his beard and walking around me. He comes close to me and smiles... he begins to trim me... what will he leave? what will he take? I feel so naked and vulnerable when he is done. I'm not sure I like what he sees, but he is pleased. I offered myself to him, I told him I loved him and I know he does a better job with my life than I do. Sometimes the trimming hurts; yet when I look back I see he was right. The vineyard is cold this time of year but much work is being done. Soon the warmth of spring will be here again and new shoots will spring forth. I will bloom, fruit will appear and will grow. Next fall a harvest will take place. All too soon Christ and I will face one another again. Will he smile then?