Praise for
Unlock Your Dream
Everybody has a dream, but few know how to make it a reality. Let Philip Wagner be your guide! Hes a man who can help get you where you want to be, because he knows how to trust God for the impossible.
R ICK W ARREN, pastor of Saddleback Church and New York Times best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life
Philip Wagner has been a friend of mine for a long time. I like a lot of things about him, but right at the top of the list is that hes a dreamer. Dreams can be brain-candy that take us away from the present, but the best dreams are the ones that launch us into the future. This book is a conversation with a trusted friend about what could happen if we traded in our small-sized dreams and ambitions for some of the big ones Jesus talked about.
B OB G OFF, New York Times best-selling author of Love Does; founder of Love Does, a nonprofit human rights organization; and Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States
Everyone dreams. As we get older, realities of life adjust our dreams, usually downsizing them. In Unlock Your Dream, my friend Philip Wagner reignites the dream, helps us understand why we have rationalized our dreams away, and gives us pragmatic steps to dream once again.
S AM C HAND, leadership consultant and author of Leadership Pain
So many of my God-dreams have been realized because I have applied Philip Wagners teachings to my life. Reading his wise words in Unlock Your Dream on surviving through hurt and betrayals has been a soothing balm to my soul. I am excited for you to unleash the power of your God-dreams, the same way Philip has, with Gods hand, shown me.
S HERRI S HEPHERD, former cohost of The View and star of NBCs Trial and Error
We all have difficulties in figuring out what our purpose is on this earth. Philip Wagner has found a way for us to whittle away the parts of our dreams that are selfish and focus on the dreams that are God-centered. If you are looking for God to use your life for His glory and to have a great and fulfilling time along the way, this book is for you!
B ARRY Z ITO, Cy Young Awardwinning pitcher and three-time All-Star for the Oakland As
We all dream of a life that matters. We have a desire to make a real difference but often dont know how. In Unlock Your Dream, Philip Wagner will inspire you to push past your doubts and give you the confidence you need to reach your God-dream.
C RAIG G ROESCHEL, pastor of Life.Church and New York Times best-selling author of #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World
Unlock Your Dream breathes new life into that stirring in your heart you so desperately want to pursue. Philip identifies the challenges well face in launching our God-given dreams while also providing the encouragement we need to keep moving forward.
L YSA T ER K EURST, New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
I believe the Holy Spirit has sovereignly ordered the steps of your life to the intersection of Pastor Philip Wagner. In his book, Unlock Your Dream, Philip humbly reveals the divine purpose and destiny assigned to his life: Its part of my dream to release you so you can reach your dreams too. Through practical vignettes of dreams, dreamers, and dream-makers, every page both pushes and calls you to dream and dream big!
B ISHOP K ENNETH C . U LMER, DMin, PhD, Faithful Central Bible Church and former president of the Kings University, Los Angeles
Unlock Your Dream will not only encourage those who read it to remain faithful to their dream, but it will also provide insight about how to do it.
A L K ASHA, two-time Academy Awardwinning songwriter and composer
Not many people youll meet will be as genuinely inspiring as Philip Wagner. Hes lived an extraordinary life as a husband, dad, and pastorand now hes penned a practical but personal guidebook for us to reach our highest God-given dreams along the real and sometimes rocky roads of life. Hes a modern-day happy sage with stories to tell and wisdom to share.
J UDAH S MITH, lead pastor of the City Church and New York Times best-selling author of Jesus Is_______.
Culture has always been created and grown through dreamers who dare to dream big. In Philip Wagners book Unlock Your Dream, you will discover that setbacks and past hurts dont have to keep you from the dream God has put in your heart. Philip is honest and transparent about the challenges he has faced and gives us a glimpse into his personal journey, which will encourage and inspire you to dream again.
D ARLENE Z SCHECH
Dreams are your view of the future. Dreams are the substance of great achievement. In his new book, Philip Wagner shares the events in his life that taught him how to unlock his dreams and face the future with anticipation and excitement instead of hopelessness and apprehension. It will change your life!
A . R . B ERNARD, founder, senior pastor, and CEO of Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ( AMPC ) are taken from the Amplified Bible Classic Edition. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( CEV ) are taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV Bible (the Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( MSG ) are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc. Scripture quotations marked ( NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( NLT ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.
Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.
Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr; cover image by Paul McGee, Getty Images
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.