“Too many cooks will spoil the broth”…remember that!

Dream
A few weeks ago I had an interesting dream.(December 7^th 2013) In that dream I went into a restaurant. The restaurant looked very similar to one I had owned in the early 1980’s. As I walked through the double doors I felt something change. Like there was a lift in the atmosphere.

I looked over the stainless steel shelving and instead on one or two chefs, I had five. The night was expected to be normal, perhaps 200 dinners, why the five chefs?Frankly, I was not sure where it was going or what it was saying. It has been “staring” at me on my desktop for almost a month.

When I awoke from the dream, the Lord said “not everyone is a chef but everyone has to eat. Build your life to make room for those who come. Make life as to be evidence of the importance of your belief.”

That was it!

Someone said, I would like to hear more. I thought “me too!”

(It reminded me of Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.)

Dream 1
January 3, 2014

Last night I had 2 dreams and they clicked it for me.

In the first dream, there was a concert to be played. I was asked to play drums with this band. I was excited. When I got there I found 5 sets of drums on stage. I went up to the young man and told him who I was and that I would be playing. His response bewildered me. “Good, good. Just pick a kit and the rest will be here shortly.” (I have played with another drummer, but never 5.) As others arrived, I realized that they were ALL drummers. Some of them “idols” of mine in the past. As they milled around and we were talking, two things emerged.

A-Some of the more mature realized this could be fun but was not going to really entertain. Where were the other instruments?

B-Some were excited and saw no need for anyone else. (This was endorsed by some of the viewers who were showing up. “Drums! Yah! That’s all we need!”

Few people showed up and before the concert began, I woke from the dream.

Dream 2
January 3, 2014

In this dream my wife and I had a large home. One of my friends and a friend of his showed up for help. They came in to the sitting room. (Ok-I am reminded of Firesign Theater-“Would you like to sit here in the waiting room or wait here in the sitting room?”) Grabbing one of the large couches we began to talk. He looked fried, frazzled. His friend said nothing.

At some point I went to get something. As I walked out my wife was preparing to move a number of things from the sunny dining area in to one of the living areas, including the dining room table. I stepped in to my office and picked something up. I returned to my friend. He had got up and I realized he had stolen cash. I confronted him with it. He responded with, “you let me out of jail, you knew who I was and you have to pay for it.” In the dream I struggled with the 911 call I had to make. He walked out of the house.

A friend in the dream took advantage of our friendship, stealing money from us. He took it and responded with, “you let me out of jail, you knew who I was and you have to pay for it.” In the dream I struggled with the 911 call I had to make.

Heading for the phone as he left, I saw that the dining room set had been restored to the dining room.

Side note:
I awoke and I knew he was going to make a wrong choice soon.

Too often as believers we are given the opportunity to help others. Sometimes we have to confront behavior that injures them or others. Just as confrontation is on the table, so is the need to be a loving friend.

We have come to “believe” in grace “anything goes” but that is hardly the truth. Grace is the empowerment through the person of Christ to speak and offer love.

The scriptures also tell us in Jude that “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” is a possibility of ungodly men. (That does NOT mean “grace is lasciviousness” as some misquote.)

The scriptures always hold a hand out for the hope of salvation, redemption and change.

Dilemmas will come, whether they be, ethical or otherwise and 1 Corinthians tells us there is no temptation that is common to man that a way has not been provided to escape it.

So, I had these three dreams on the table and they began to make sense almost immediately. (Somewhere between coffee and brushing snow off the car.)

Over the last few years we have witnessed a few trends or changes in the church.

• The dilemma of the one man show in the church.
• The recognition of the foundation of the apostle and prophet in the church. (1 Corinthians 12:28)
• We may have one or the other (Apostle or prophet, though not limited to them) still thinking one person vs. team.
• Recognition of the need for team

The good thing is that we have examined, experimented and experienced change and understanding.

Dream 1
As I look at the initial dream (The five chefs) I see that they appear to represent our understanding of the fivefold ministry or ascension gifts, functions or graces in Ephesians 4:11. While I believe all things are fulfilled in Jesus, the idea of a “double portion” (An old testament wording.) is represented when I walked through the “double door” and received the lift.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.
In cooking that might be true, except it is rare in a kitchen that everyone is making the same thing, performing the same way or functioning as another. My personal experience is that while one might be assembling salads, another is working on entrees while another is preparing side dishes, etc.. Each one in a properly run kitchen are doing what A) they do best and B) what is needed within their sphere of performance. (There is another key, one sees in a well-run kitchen…and that is communication.) And while one may be the head chef, they are a team and the results of working together are a good and profitable meal performance, satisfied customers and happiness throughout.

They also recognize the need for others who may be servers, host or hostess, bakers and such. Only a poorly functioning kitchen denigrates those people and their position.

Dream 2
Too often we get caught up in our gift or function. We fail to recognize that we need others to see a fullness and overall strong response that “sounds good”, offers a full representation to the majority of people. Only immaturity and inexperience (I am not saying hurt or woundedness ca not drive this as well.) keep one thinking that their gift or experience is the most important and necessary. (In a child thinking of others begins to show at 4-5 years of age.) Maturity begins to identify the “lack” in an area and the need for others.

Dream 3
In this dream I needed others to help my friend. He took advantage of me. I wanted to help him. I tried. He hurt me. Was I too benevolent? Did I really help him? Who was the silent friend? My wife started moving the dining room into living room, suggesting to me that communion or value of relationship was changing between myself and my friend.

Thoughts
I am a very fortunate, favored and blessed man. By that I mean I know I am loved by God, my family and my friends. I have lots of good people in my life. As a prophetic voice, my greatest concern was to end up like so many of the prophets I have known in my life. I have seen the hurts, the pain, the wounds, the loss of family and friends, death and destruction. (It is one of the reasons I say that the greatest gift a man or woman can have outside of salvation, is to be “planted” in the seedbed of grace and community.

I spent many years “wondering” who I was always knowing that prophecy was in my heart, on my mind and upon my lips. And watching other prophetic voices, I did not “want” to be like them. It was a burden I did not understand. My response was to be alone a lot.

I must say am thankful for the men who I consider to be true apostles in my life. A couple of them have walked in fatherly fashion with me, treating me with grace, calling out the goodness in my life and instructing me with corrections when necessary. Currently I walk with one of my true friends. He understands his role and the role of others. I am blessed to work alongside this man, this father, this apostolic grace.

It takes people to see growth. It takes understanding to recognize roles and callings. It takes honor to work together. It takes grace to accomplish it.

I believe the five chefs are those who take simple ingredients, preparing meals with wisdom and insight. Anyone can read a recipe. It takes wise chefs to prepare outstanding meals. The same is true with the scriptures. Anyone can read the Bible, but it takes preparation, revelation and understanding to serve up meals that leave people satisfied, hungry for more and ready to invite others.

Just as there are five star restaurants, there are church fellowships where the fivefold operates and functions with wisdom and grace. (I am not saying the fivefold are stars. If anything humble servants recognize that they are to be releasing others.)

We are on the crux of might moves of the Lord throughout the nations. The fivefold is being called, set in place and given “marching orders” for the coming times. Many are the ones who will see and operate in this revelation. It will be as if the curtain has opened.

Wisdom, understanding and fresh revelation is coming.

The meal that heals is coming to a dining table near you.