I receive the e-mails from Tyler Perry's website, which I like because they are interesting and seem to be  personal and authentic.  I wanted to comment, however, on the one I just received and since they are posted online, I am sharing it here, along with my response:

Hi there,

We're getting close to the THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. Are you ready? September 12th can't get here fast enough.  Not to mention on that weekend I'll be 39 (smile). I still don't know what I'm going to do for my birthday...besides going to see THE FAMILY THAT PREYS, that is...LOL.

I got to thinking about something that I wanted to share with you. My new studio is going to be opening soon and I haven't really told this story, I don't think. If you've heard this then stop me, or just jump past it (smile). This is a long one, so hear me. If you're reading this at work, don't get in no trouble, read this later....

About two years ago, I bought a 75 thousand square foot building in
Atlanta. The building was in pretty bad shape, so I was in the middle of renovating it when everything went crazy! I had major contractor issues, permit issues, and even though the building had been a studio for 15 years, when I moved into it the regentrified neighbors went crazy. They did not want me there. Not to mention, even before we had finished the renovations we had outgrown the place. It was pretty ugly at the time. Nonetheless, it was my intention to finish this building.

Around this same time Bishop Paul Morton was trying to start a church in Atlanta after losing his in Hurricane Katrina. He was my childhood pastor, so of course, I helped out.  Anyway, I was met with so many roadblocks.  I was angry.  Then it hit me. Could this be God trying to tell me something?  At that moment I called one of my lawyers and told him to stop fighting the neighborhood, and let me just pray about it. He agreed. The next day he called me and told me to take a drive to this place. So, I drove out toa building that was once Delta Airlines' world headquarters, nearGreenbriar Mall in Atlanta.  If you're from Atlanta you know that this area ain't been regentrified...LOL.

I drove up to the gate looked at it and drove away. The place was run down. It had been vacant for 38 years (my age).I said,"No way, no way. I'm going to finish the building I'm in...no matter what!" I wasn't about to take on another project. I went to sleep that night but I couldn't sleep then, or even the next few nights for that matter. I said,"What is it God, what is it?" So, I got out of bed and drove back to the building and stood in front of the gates and said a simple prayer, "God am I supposed to leave where I am and come here?"

Sometimes we get so comfortable with where we are that we don't want to move. I said,"God make it plain." I started looking at the gates and there taped to the gates were hundreds of scriptures. I kid you not.  I got a chill up my spine and my eyes filled with water.  It could not have been more clear to me. The next day I called the realtor to buy the place and they said I was too late.  A pastor wanted to buy the entire 60 acres. I got off the phone and called Bishop Morton. I told him that I had looked at the place. He said, "I just looked at it yesterday, this has GOT to be God."  He then went on to tell me that they didn't want the entire 60 acres. They only wanted 30 and that they had planned to sell the 30 acres that I was interested in.   We had a good laugh, said a prayer and went on
from there.  Needless to say, we split the property. By me buying my
portion it was a huge blessing to them buying their portion.  When I tell you that I have not had one issue trying to get this new building
finished. The neighbors have not complained once. They have encouraged me all the way. They welcomed me with open arms. It's across the street from two senior citizens homes that I have adopted (I love me some seniors). I built 5 new soundstages, a 400-seat theater and a ballroom. I said all of that to say this, all of my life I have had things happen to me that I know it could not have been anything but God that did it. I know it.

I am a dreamer and sometimes when you have dreams you are met with obstacles, and your dreams will start to fade. But what I've found is that when God has given you a dream, no matter what it is, when you want to give up and believing becomes hard, and when you can't go any further, the dream itself will start to believe for you. The dream itself will start to carry you through with visions and hope and encouragement.

So, the new mantra for Tyler Perry Studios is "A Place Where Even Dreams Believe." Don't worry if you're met with opposition on your path to your goals. When you've done all you can, stand and surrender.  God will allow your dream to motivate you.

If you don't take away anything else from this LONG email take this,
PLEASE TAKE THIS. Protect your dreams, get away from negative thinking dark seekers. Keep your mind and spirit clean of the naysayers. Just believe. Only believe and it will come to pass.

Be Blessed,

Yo Boy
Tyler P.

I felt compelled to respond, in part because I have family and close friends who take this concept seriously, yet they use it to justify doing what they've always done without achieving different results.  Anyway, here are my thoughts:

I am a firm believer in Proverbs 3:5-6.  With all due respect, I do get concerned when those who are as successful as you are, make powerful statements that are true, but one size does not fit all.  And many people listen to you.  There has to be some reality checks included.  Because sometimes God says NO to what we want and we discover later that His NO a blessing.   My dreams are huge.  Some think that I ought to downsize my dreams. I will believe in my dreams as long as I know and remember that God is in charge of what they become.  How do I know when I'm on the wrong path?  When the obstacles become more than difficulties; they become huge STOP signs letting me know that I need to stop and find out if God is trying to tell me something.  Because if what I want is not God's will, it's just me trying to make something work that shouldn't -- AND God's not in it.  
Example: If you decide to marry someone, when all the signs tell you that s/he is controlling, abusive, in trouble financially, etc. -- and family and friends are trying to tell you that there's something wrong -- but it's your dream to have a wedding and you think God's gonna fix him/her, look at the fruits and ask yourself where God is in all this.  Anything God is not in will come to nothing,  at least that's my experience.  And this isn't negativity; this is about balancing faith with reality.  I stand in awe of Godly intercession and intervention.  But everything we want is not always for us and we need to realize that sometimes God is blessing us when He's saying that this is not the path