Rating: 
Summary: Dream On!
Review: From the time I was in Junior High I have wondered what God has wanted me to do with my life. If only I had this book during those years. Maybe then I wouldn't have sought the answer in high-sounding Theology but by looking deep into my own dreams and desires.
Starting with a strong metaphorical narrative, this book brings the reader face-to-face with their deepest dreams and allows them to know that is where God has given them their direction for their lives. How many times have we heard that God directs us where we want to go the least? With this book Bruce Wilkinson gives us permission to do what we always knew was right; to follow our dreams because that is where God is leading us.
One warning thought. Do not mistake your dream as something that will only serve your own ends for as Bruce Wilkinson points out all too clearly, the dream that God gives us is one that serves God and others above ourselves. As the children's song so wisely teaches:
Jesus and others and you
What a wonder way
To spell JOY
Dream on!
Rating: 
Summary: God help His people!
Review: God help His people not to be taken in by yet another "Christian" fad. It is nothing short of idolatry to go from one new teaching after another searching for fulfillment in htis life.
Wasn't wilkinson's "The Prayer of Jabez" enough? Didn't that book have the answer to procuring the blessed life? It said so on the back cover. What happened? Do we now need another fad teaching to really break throught to the blessed life where our dreams are fulfilled? Or are we being taken down yet another merchandising road by Wilkinson and Multnomah? Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that go thereat... but narrow the road that leads to life... and few there be that find it.
For a good look at what Wilkinson and Multnomah are doing to western Christianity see the book "The Cult of Jabez... and the falling away of the church in America". It has awakened many sleeping Christians. Find it here on amazon.com
Rating:
Summary: This book could save your life
Review: I am always crushed to hear people talk about the dreams they USED to have. Today they just plod along living day by day doing whatever they've fallen into. Is that the existance God created any of us for? Living without a passion and/or a dream is equal to not living at all. This book will respark that dream and respark your life.All the unique struggles we all face are addressed in this incredibly compact, easy reading book. I've even had to fight with my 11 year old daughter for time in it's pages. She wants her own copy so she can bring it to school. Now, that's a powerful thing to have your daughter ask. That's how incredibly inspiring this book is. I can't wait for the study guides to come out. (...).com (...) Before you're half way through it, you'll have at least one other person come to mind who just MUST read it. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read and exciting
Review: I bought this book and found it to be exciting and easy to read. It is so easy that I am going to read it to my daughter as well. Following the story of Ordinary as he follows his dream is very inspiring and fun to read. This is my first Wilkerson book, and I am enjoying it. Also, people should check out Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life book, as it is similar in message and effect.
Ken Clifton - author of 777 Things You Can Do In Heaven
Rating:
Summary: Fresh Wind Beneath Their Wings
Review: I gave this book to a Pastor Friend and his wife. They had resigned from their latest church assignment where they served the local church as associate pastors and were waiting to see where their next steps would lead them. During their waiting period they became discouraged as people doubted their decision to step down. Then, they encountered being blocked by co-pastors from pursuing starting their own church in the same area. As a result they began experiencing depression and had settled under a dark cloud. As I read out loud the first half of the book -- the modern day parable -- they wept together, smiled together and seemed to settle into a new peace. It was like watching a spiritual washing. I left the book for them to finish by studying the second half. During the following days, they embraced the marvelous truths and became strong once again -- refreshed, renewed and focused on the steps God has for them. They are soaring today with a fresh wind beneath their wings!
Rating:
Summary: Perfect! Wonderful!
Review: I have been working HARD for my dream for the last 10 months and it has been quite a journey. I happened to see this book, buy it, read it, and was ASTOUNDED to hear my journey decribed PERFECTLY - each step I have taken was outlined, in exactly the same order. WOW. It was truly a blessing to know that the same steps were taken by some great men and women of God and they made it! It encouraged me and has given me strength to press forward. I am now ready to "battle the Giants" and I'm ready because I know what's in front of me. For those that don't understand this book, they can't be on the same path - they aren't going for THE DREAM. So, dear reader, if you have something precious tucked away in your heart that you want more than anything, read this book and GO FOR IT! God Bless you.
Rating: 
Summary: Can be a great help, read in the right spirit.
Review: I have mixed feelings about this work (as I did with the Jabez book). First off, I don't question Wilkinsons motives at all, it's apparent he's working to make the world a better place by following the Spirit and second I do question the motives of his detractors, it's easy to go on the radio or publish a book or write a review and bad mouth someone, it's not so easy to go and actually do something positive to change the world.
And it's world changing that Wilkinson address here in this book. If we, as people created by a loving Father, follow the dreams and visions and paths that He as created for us, then we will, but virtue of His nature and His motives, make the world a better place. If we don't follow our dreams, or ?the Dream? if you will, then we don't make the changes to the world that God intended for us to accomplish. I believe the most important and poignant point that Wilkinson made in the entire book was near the end, when we was describing a horrible scene in Africa, where a young boy was found on a street corner dead: that scene was a graphic word picture of someone's failed dream.
That's a hard pill to swallow, and he makes no bones about pointing out the fact that it is indeed a bitter pill. But, unfortunately, a true one, if you subscribe to the logic he presents here (and I for one, think he's on a better solid biblical footing).
So why the three star rating, instead of a five? Well, unfortunately, while I find the ideas and ideals and enthusiasm all five stars and great, I'm not going to compare the writing here to C.S. Lewis or Yancey and I also have some problems with the general lack of overall ?balance? (hoping I'm not overusing that word here).
For those that happen to like simple allegorical stories, like Hindsfeet on High Places, well, maybe maybe the first part of this book will be enjoyable to you. I was going nuts and about to scream. It was short, so I waded through it. I simply can't stand this kind of reading, I feel like I'm being talked to like I'm a six year old. Perhaps that's the reading level we Americans have averaged out at, I don't know, but I find it incredibly annoying.
The second part of the book, were Wilkinson simply explains what he means, and gives examples from his life, I enjoyed and found helpful. I think the man has incredible insight and has done much to advance the kingdom. I also think, perhaps incorrectly, that many people won't wrap all of scripture and logic around the teachings in this book and thus will produce the kinds of abuses that the detractors of this work are prone to point out. Maybe. People can be sort of ?dumb? and there's the rub. How do you write a simple teaching, one that people will read and understand, without going into a lengthy doctrinal dissertation of all the ?ifs ands and buts??
Maybe you can't, and that's a shame.
More people in the Christian community need to read Bonhoeffer I'd wager, but lets face it, it's hard work.
I do recommend this book, it's got inspirational teaching which I believe, balanced correctly, is Biblically based and sound. I also recommend reading works like The Divine Conspiracy, which compared to this short book looks like the Bible itself and perhaps as complicated. Maybe there's a bit of insight into why some people seem bitter and jealous with the success of Wilkinson's work, it doesn't really seem like it took years of toil and hard labor to write them. They are relatively short and quick reads and not very complicated. (While I don't necessarily agree that that fact should lessen the value, I do take it into consideration in my rating of the book.)
All in all there two ways to look at this work: one is to simply call it a materialistic capitistic ploy of dubious value to rib off unsuspecting and uncritical Christians and the second is to consider it a catalyst towards joining the Holy Spirit in working out your salvation in the areas of this world that have a special draw or attraction on you. A place you've dreamt about.
I wonder what train of thought is most productive?
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening, encouraging, and entertaining.
Review: I liked "reading" it on the CD since it is narrated by the author. At 57, I sold my family business and thought I had accomplished my "big dream", but now that I've found this book, I am eagerly looking forward to my next "big dream".
Rating: 
Summary: Overly Simplistic
Review: I liked the Prayer of Jabez but I had a hard time getting through this tiny book. The first half is a parable about "a Nobody named Ordinary" who is searching for his "Big Dream" outside "Familiar." It reminded me of "Who Moved My Cheese" and was just too cutesy for my taste. The second half explains the parable (which didn't really seem necessary - I got it the first time!) It may be a good book for a teenager but I wasn't impressed. This book did not Change My Life or provide any new inspiration. It seems to be a rehash of mostly common sense information.
Rating:
Summary: The Dream Giver
Review: If you loved the Prayer of Jabez, you're going to love The Dream Giver. Watch out best seller list! Once this book gains momentum, it will probably eclipse global sales of Jabez by a wide margin.
It's a rare book that can make each and every reader feel as if the author tailored every page for their enrichment. One day afer reading this book I encouraged my immediate circle of friends & family to make The Dream Giver a top priority read. It's that good.
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