The Monday Memo from John Stanko

605: Strike the Ground

Last week I wrote about my teaching career and how God had prepared me to teach. I am taking every opportunity to teach that is offerend me, and I described it as being similar to Elisha strking the waters with the mantle of Elijah and seeing them part. When I teach, I am striking the waters and watching God move on my behelf.  Well, perhaps He is moving more on behalf of the students.  However I choose to view it, I see God helping me and I consider myself a blessed man.

But that's not all.  I have started two radio shows in the last two years - one on the Internet and one on Saturday mornings on local AM radio. I am also preparing for a television show to go into production in September. I just sent my 14th book to press (it's an ebook) with plans for two more this year. My publishing efforts remind me of the story of Elisha on his deathbed:

Then he [Elisha] said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” Elisha died and was buried (2 Kings 13:18-20).

It was symbolic in ancient times for the king to shoot an arrow into the land he was about to invade, indicating that the invasion and hostilities had begun. Elisha instructed the king to attack, but the king was a bit timid and did not want to 'overdo' the symbolic gesture.  Little did the king know that his timidity would limit his effectiveness.

I want to strike the ground where media is concerned. I am working on a third radio show to begin some time this summer and recently put many of my audio messages on my website where others can listen. I want to strike the ground aggressively, and shoot my arrows into the 'air,' as many as I can get my hands on to shoot. I don't want to be like the king and stop short of what I am capable of doing, or rather of what God has empowered and directed me to do.

Is God directing you to shoot any arrows into your enemy's territory? If so, then keep shooting until He tells you to stop!  In other words, don't stop yourself - let Him do that for you. If you are to write, then produce. If you are to compose, then do so with gusto. If you are to start a business, start the best business you can with what you have and where you are.

This is not time to be hesitant and passive where purpose and productivity are concerned. Be strong in Him and then start striking the waters and ground, and then watch God move on your behalf to bring you victory in those areas in which you have something that God wants you to do. Have a blessed week.

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KENYA UPDATES:  As usual, I have an update from Kenya.  In that update, I mention that Alice has calculated that her monthly food cost per child is $41. Can you feed a child for a month?  If so, please give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO  Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you for helping the children of Kenya!

604: Strike the Waters

This week I had a break from the classes I have been teaching lately since we were between school sessions. I have so enjoyed my role as an instructor, and hope to do more and more teaching as the years go on. I love teaching new classes I have never taught before, for they force me to go into areas of study that I would not ordinarily pursue. That causes me to grow.

Yet in a sense I have been preparing for those classes all my life. I have diligently followed an aggressive reading and listening program for decades, went back to school at age 57 to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree, and have attended many seminars and certification classes.

In a sense, I am ready to teach after years of preparation. It makes me think of Elisha, who had traveled with Elijah and served him for many years. When Elijah was taken, Elisha took up the cloak Elijah had left behind and did what he had seen Elijah do:

"Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. 'Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over" - 2 Kings 2:13-14.

When I teach I feel like I am striking the waters and, much to my ongoing surprise, they part. God is helping me, even when I don't feel like I have prepared like I should or would want to in any given week. A lifetime of preparation comes to the fore, and God does the rest - to God be the glory.

What about you? What are you preparing to do for the Lord that may take a few years or decades to complete?  More importantly, when will you be ready to strike the waters like Elisha did and see the same results you watched others produce.

Now it may be your turn to produce and do what you have been talking about and preparing to do. Why not find a good situation to test the waters and see if God will act on your behalf because you have prepared for Him to do so. Don't put it off any longer.  If you are not ready (and you may be more ready than you think you are), however, I urge you to get ready.  Today I thank God I prepared for this day by His direction and grace, and I am having a wonderful time. God wants you to have the same experience. If I can help, let me know. Have a great week!

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PURPOSE SEMINAR: Next Saturday, May 18, I am hosting a free purpose seminar on the North Side of Pittsburgh from noon to 4:30. If you would like to attend, please let me know this week.

KENYA:  No updates from Kenya this week, but I know the needs are urgent. I was able to pay both tuition payments for Mary and Deborah last week, but Peter's transportation remains an unmet need, and he is commuting 8 hours every Sunday for a trip that should only take one hour!  Please help me help him with his transportation needs. He is worthy of our support. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

KENYA BOOKS AND SHOES:  I have an ongoing collection going on for educational resources and shoes for men, women and children. If you have any of those resources and would like to donate, let me know and I can arrange a pick up or to have them shipped.

603: The Power in Curiosities

This past week was a busy one for me, with two college classes that had their final exams, plus two other classes that I taught. For one of the classes, I wrote a devotional in response to another devotional we were reading as part of our class material, and when I read my response to the class, I thought, "I am going to share it with my Memo readers." So here it is for your reading enjoyment and edification.

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So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—
why the bush does not burn up.”When the Lord saw that he
had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush,
“Moses! Moses!" - Exodus 3:3-4.

The author of tonight's devotional takes us to study fear today based on the verses about the burning bush. With your permission, I want to go in a different direction. I use this passage all the time when I coach and teach about purpose. Using these verses, I encourage those with whom I work to follow their curiosities.  Let me explain what I mean.

I have been to the deserts in the Middle East and they are hot, very hot places. When I landed in Dubai a few years ago, it was 127 degrees.  Then the nights cooled down to about 109. These are the conditions under which Moses tended sheep. I would imagine he saw more than one burning bush, sparked into flames by the intense desert heat. There was one major difference with this particular bush, however, and that was it burned but was not consumed. The longer Moses looked, the more curious he became, so much so that he finally exerted some energy, which he was trained to conserve in the desert heat, to go over and take a look.  He was curious.

It was when he came face to face, so to speak, with the bush that the voice of the Lord came to him. When he followed his curiosity, Moses found the Lord!  The same is true for you.  Don't try to figure out what interests you; just follow your heart!  You don't know where it will lead you, so don't try so hard to figure it all out, where it will lead you and whether or not it is the Lord.  Just follow and trust, and see what happens.

One more thing:  The bush burned but was not consumed. The same is true for your purpose.  When you are doing God's will, you will burn with intensity. You may be tired, but you will never burn out!  Burn out is always an indicator that you are doing things you were not meant to do - things that take your life and energy and don't put them back. Purpose replenishes its own supply of energy and you never run out of creativity and enthusiasm for the purposeful work at hand.

So the next time you are faced with something that captures your attention and piques your curiosity, run to it.  When you get there, you may just hear the voice of God telling you that you are on holy ground.

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KENYA:  I have two updates on my blog site from Kenya, one including a video tour of our library project there. Please take time to read them both and then do what you can to help us continue the work there. Also, Mary is off to her second term at school.  I am so grateful for your help that is helping her. You can read in one of the updates what it means to orphaned Mary and her pastor. Then please give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you.

602: Wake Up With Deborah

It's been years since I wrote about Deborah, but as I was reviewing my Memo archives, I was impressed to republish this Memo this week. You may want to read Judges 5 also before we go on from here. 

INACTIVITY

When I read Judges 5, I get the idea that Deborah's main role was to encourage and influence the people of God to act. She urged God's people to do something about a bad situation and they did it.  Without Deborah's influence, they could have remained in bondage much longer.  Here are some of the verses that give me the sense that Deborah stirred people to action:

• "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves—praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2).

• "Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7).

• "My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:9).

• "'Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, O Barak! Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam" (Judges 5:12). 

•  "Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart" (Judges 5:16).

• "Curse Meroz," said the angel of the Lord. "Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty'" (Judges 5:23).

Deborah caused the people to wake up and act. They were tolerating a bad situation and had even become accustomed to it. It was time to put a stop to it and Deborah saw that it happened.  Those who did not help or act were "cursed of the Lord." 

WAKE UP!

So maybe it's time for you to "wake up"?  What situation have you accepted as normal that you have the power to change?  Where has inactivity led to complacency?  Where do you need the Spirit of Deborah to call you to action?  Then again, it may be time for you to wake someone else up, to stimulate the people around you to action through your action.  If you have ever said, "Someone needs to do something," have you considered that the someone may be you? 

Deborah called the people to arms and then she accompanied them to see that the victory was secured.  You can do the same and, when you do, you will follow in the footsteps of a "mother" in Israel who knew that the situation was unacceptable and needed to change. Why not impact your world this week the way Deborah did hers?  As you do, I know you will have a great week!

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HELP! Pastor Peter wrote a great report of the ongoing impact of the community library in Kenya, but he also wrote requesting help as you can read here. Please read his plea and then give as the Lord leads through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

601: Birthday Thoughts

Since I turned 63 last Friday, it's time to produce some birthday thoughts on this special occasion. Here they are:

1. My father retired from his work at 62. I have never even thought of retiring now or at any time in the future.
2. My father lived to be 79, my mother 92.  If I follow in either of their steps, I have 16 or 29 years left on earth.
3. For all I know, I may only have one day left. I want to make the most of it, or of the next 29 years, or anything in between - whichever it is.
4. I have never felt better than I do today.
5. I will be walking 40 years with the Lord next month.
6. In case you didn't notice, this is the 601st Monday Memo since I started in March, 2001.  I have never, not once, ever sat down and not had something to write. Writer's block is an unknown phenomenon to me.
7. I miss traveling as much as I once did, but I love being home and doing what I am doing. Am I schizophrenic?  Don't answer that.
8. When you are old, people buy you food for your birthday, which you eat, which causes you to gain weight, which could cause you to have health problems and die early.
9. I used to hear people respond "I got up this morning" when asked, "How are you doing?". I thought that was silly.  Not any longer.
10. When my grandparents were my age, I thought they were ancient. Now when someone dies at 70, I think, "She died young."
11. I am now eligible for all kinds of discounts, when I finally have money to pay full price.
12. I understand why some people go to the mall wearing stripes and plaids, with nothing matching.  When you get older, you care less about things that you were passionate about when younger.
13. This year I have had a growth removed from my eye, may have two wisdom teeth pulled, and will have some minor growths taken off my cheek. Some stuff just stops working, malfunctions, or breaks when you get older.
14. People tell me I don't look my age. I don't want to act my age either.
15. I play games on my smartphone to help keep my mind active - that's really my reason.
    
16. I had a great birthday thanks to my family and so many friends and readers.
17. I am not satisfied with what I have acccomplished to this point in my life. I want more, but that is in God's hands.

I could probably go on and on, but I'll stop there. I had a nice birthday, but didn't get nearly enough underwear for the children in Kenya, so I will accept belated gifts whenever you get around to it (this year I have received about 500 pair and $300 to date; in 2010 I got 2500 pair and $4,000). If you can give, do so through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

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KENYA UPDATE: I heard from Pastor Francis concerning our little Mary, whose boarding school tuition we paid to help her move on with her education. (Mary is pictured at right reciting a poem with a friend on one of my visits.) Please read and then act to provide her tuition for next term and undergarments for young girls like her. You can give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you. I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.

600: Underwear for My Birthday

This week I turn 63 years old. I have a busy week ahead of me this week, so there won't be much time for celebrating, but I have decided what I want for my birthday.  I want and desperately need underwear, but it's not for me. If you want to know who it's for, you will have to read on.

HOLY UNDERWEAR

A few years ago, I was in Zimbabwe and had a pair of 'holy' pair of underwear that had reached the end of the line, or so I thought. I threw it out only to have Sophie, our maid, approach me the next day.

"Would you please sign this release, Dr. Stanko?" she asked.

"Sure, Sophie, what is it?" I replied.

"It is a permission slip," she responded, "so that I can take the pair of underwear you threw away home with me to my grandson. The slip will let the guard know I did not steal it from you so I can take it home."

Needless to say, I was deeply moved. Something I take for granted and threw away was something of value to someone else. I wondered at that point what else I had that I did not value that someone else would, or what else I could provide for my friends in Africa that would serve a practical need.

ONE MORE TIME

No, the underwear I want for my birthday is not for me. It's for children in Kenya, who sometimes can't go to school because they don't have it. To date, I have collected some, but I want and need more. I did this a few years ago and called it the Petticoat Project. At that time I was able to gather 2,500 pair (and $4,000) to send over to Kenya. (We used the money to buy feminine products.) My sister-in-law wrote a blog entry three years ago entitled, "Why I am buying my brother-in-law underwear for his birthday" and then sent me $50.  That gave me the idea to ask for more then, and I thought I would do so again this week and year.

So how about it?  Are you up for buying an old man some underwear for his birthday?  While you are at it, how about adding $5 to your contribution for the Sophia Fund to help feed widows and orphans?  Next week we will resume our discussion of time, but for this week, it's time to celebrate my 63rd birthday by buying some underwear.  Instructions on how to give are below.  Have a great week!

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PETTICOAT PROJECT:  If you send money, I will purchase the underwear to send over on your behalf to Kenya. If you want to buy some and get it to me, please buy all cotton up to size 7 for young ladies. If you want to give some for boys, that's fine too. You can give through Paypal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. If you have any questions or need a shipping address, please don't hesitate to contact me.

KENYA UPDATES: I have posted from great updates this week from the distribution of resources (including blue jeans) in our container. Please check them out and then give as the your heart moves you through my website or by sending a check to my Pittsburgh address.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you.  I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.

599: Time and Events

Last week I shared with you my activities during the month of April, making it one of my busiest months ever.  I have been taking it a day at a time, and so far, things have gone well. I have sensed God's help, but I have had to make the most of almost every available minute, which reminded me of a Memo I wrote a few years ago.  It is pertinent today, so I thought I would share it with you again.

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Time management is one of the toughest disciplines in life, but critical to achieving purpose and goals, so I thought I would devote the next few weeks to that topic.  If you don't need any input on time management, then you can take a few weeks off, but should spend your time reading about how to tell the truth!  Truth be told, we all need help where time management is concerned.

A MISNOMER  

Time management is the wrong definition of what you need. You don't need help managing time, for time cannot be managed. It goes by at the same pace it always has. You cannot save it, slow it down, speed it up or recover it once it's gone. You cannot manage time; you can only manage the events that occur within the time that you have.  Rather than call it time management, we should really think of it as event management.

Let me give you an example. There is nothing special about 6 AM, until you set your alarm for 6 AM.  The wake up call is the event that takes place at 6 AM. Then you have to be at work at 7:30, so you must manage a series of events to insure you are there on time. Those events include showering, breakfast, devotions, getting the children off, and the commute to work. There is nothing you can do about the 90 minutes to get to work from the time you get out of bed; it will pass as every 90 minute segment of time has always passed. There are a lot of things you can do, however, to manage the events that occur in those 90 minutes. What you do in them will determine whether or not you are successful, defined by being on time or late for work.

The rest of your life is like that as well. You have 24 hours every day; you just don't know how many 24 hour units you have ahead of you. My mother passed away at 92 years of age; a young child of five who attended my church was killed in a house fire a few years ago. Your times are truly in His hands, and you have the duty and joy of making the most of every day that you have on earth. You will do that by managing the events therein as best you can.

EVENT MANAGEMENT  

In past Memos, I have told you that you have all the time in the world, and it's true. You have 24 hours for every day you are alive, the same as everyone else. Then why can some produce so much and others seem to struggle just to get through the day?  It's because the productive person understands the difference between time and event control.

So perhaps you should start by doing a simple time inventory to determine exactly what events are filling the time you have.  It's not so complicated to do and you can read two articles I have about it on my website (see the Organization section). You can get started this week by learning where you are investing or spending your time. After that, you can see what you need to stop doing so you can embrace new activities and goals that will bring you more joy and fulfillment and more in line with your governing values.  As you work on your inventory in the days ahead, I know you will have a great week!

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KENYA: You can read my latest updates from Kenya concerning the container resources that are being distributed here (the child at left is modeling the jeans and shoes we sent over-click to enlarge). Of course the needs are still great, but we are making a difference.  To help continue that difference, please give a generous contribution through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you for your generosity.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you.  I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.

598: The Month Ahead

I trust you had a blessed Resurrection Day celebration and that you are ready to continue to make room for resurrection power in your life on a daily basis. I just completed a month-long study of time management principles in my daily devotional, and today I begin a month-long series on organization, the fourth of my five Gold Mine Principles. Permit me to share with you some of the highlights of what I learned and how I will apply that in the coming month.

THE MONTH AHEAD  

1. I am working on four book projects that I want to complete this month. When I think of them, I get intimidated and even overwhelmed. So I am controlling my self-talk to manage my anxiety, and I am encouraging myself that I can do all things through Christ who helps me.  I am counting on His help.
2. I teach four college classes in April on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and one on Saturday morning. I have never taught three of these classes. I am counting on God's help so I can prepare and deliver so that the students are impacted and changed.
3. I preach three times in the next five weekends in a total of 11 services. God will help me as He always has to speak through me to His people.
4. I faciliate The Pacific Institute IIE seminar two days this month. Those are all-day presentations, along with one all-day faculty meeting. God will provide me the grace to do well and help those present learn and apply the principles.

All this is in addition to my pastoral duties, my nine radio show, 30 daily devotionals, five weekly Monday Memo, and two regular online Bible studies from Romans and other projects and assignments that will undoubtedly present themselves for attention this month.

THE KEY

The key for the month of April will be to control my fear and ask God to ''stop the sun" just like Joshua did in Joshua 10. I am trusting the Lord for the time and energy to carry out the things I believe He wants me to do. As I mentioned in all four items above, I am counting on God's help. Now is the time for the truth of Philippians 4:13 to flow through my life: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Now if I can attempt all these things in April, what more can you do?  You don't have to do the same things as I or as many things, but I am certain you can do more things than you are planning right now. Don't quote Philippians 4:13 and then have an April iike every other April. Apply the resurrection life we celebrated yesterday to your schedule and write the poetry, compose the song, go back to school or visit your family in that resurrection power.

I am challenged by the April ahead, but I am confident in God, and not my own capabilities.  Yet I am prepared to do my part, which is trust Him and apply myself, and then trust Him for the rest. And I will report back to you the first Monday in May to let you know how we (God and I) did for the month.  Have a blessed week and month ahead.

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EXCITING KENYA UPDATE: You don't want to miss this exciting update on little Mary as she sets out for her new boarding school. I have read it many times already, and I helped write it!  After you have read, allow resurrection power to flow through your giving either by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882 or using my website. Thank you for your help, and of course, Mary thanks you, too.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you.  I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.

597: A Daily Easter

Easter Sunday is next week, so I thought I would represent my Memo I have written in the past concerning the Resurrection.  I hope you spend some time meditating this week on the significance of Easter and what its significance for your PurposeQuest.

A PACKED HOUSE

My church has six weekend services every week, and we are getting ready for overflow crowds next weekend.  People who don't darken the door of a church throughout the year will come to church on Easter Sunday along with some who have returned to the area to visit family, which will make for a packed house. They all sit with the regular attenders, family and friends, and pay homage to the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. It is probably the same in your church.

We will assemble next week and say by our presence, "Yes, we believe Jesus was dead.  Furthermore, we believe that He was in the tomb for three days.  Yes, we believe that God raised Jesus, who was both fully God and fully man, back to life. And yes, we further attest to the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven, and that our flesh, Mary's boy, intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father."  I hope you agree that those affirmations summarize theruths of Easter.  But is that all the truth of Easter?

It always intrigues me that many will come and attest to these truths yet all too often those truths have no meaning in or implication for their daily lives.  Stop for a minute and ask, "So what if Jesus was raised from the dead?  What difference does that make in my life?"  Those are good questions; let's try to come up with some answers so you can enjoy Easter every day of your life.

MAKING EASTER PERSONAL

If you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, then you can believe God for anything!  If God raises the dead, which He does, then He can cure cancer. He can provide for your business or ministry.  He can transform you into the person He intended you to be, that person you want to be. If God can take a dead body and give it life, then nothing is beyond His miracle-working power. What's more, you have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in you!  It is not a replica or a portion of that Spirit.  You have the Spirit that raises the dead living in you. Here is what Paul had to say about the implications of this Spirit-resident:

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you (Romans 8:9-11).

I trust you plan on being at your local church fellowship next weekend.  Don't go as someone merely giving mental assent to the historical fact of the resurrection, go celebrating the truth that God is alive in You  Then find how to release that resurrection power into your life, relationships, work and purpose. If you can believe that God raises the dead - and you should - then you can believe God for anything.  Have a great resurrection-power-filled week filled with a daily Easter!  Happy Resurrection Day!

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EASTER GIFT FOR KENYA: I posted two emails from Kenya, one giving thanks and the other making a request. Please read them here and then consider a special gift this Holy Week for the urgent needs represented there. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  Thank you in advance.

MONDAY MEMO ANNIVERSARY: In honor of the Memo's 12th anniversary, attached is my free gift of the twelve best Memos from the archives as my way of saying thanks for your faith readership.

Download Best 12 Memos

596: A Dangerous Prayer

This past week, I had the opportunity to once again facilitate a seminar with material on cognitive learning from The Pacific Institute.  It was a great class, and those present connected with the material in a special way that I know will impact them for the rest of their lives.  During the seminar, I read a prayer I found in a book entitled Chazown:  A Different Way to See Your Life by Craig Groeschel.  I urge you to pray that prayer, if you dare.  I already did and it works, but not in the way you may think.

DISTURB ME

The prayer was first prayed by Sir Francis Drake, who sailed around the world for England in 1577.  The prayer goes like this:

    Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

    Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

     Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

Now you see why I cautioned you about this prayer.  It is dangerous!  As I travel and talk with many people, however, it is a prayer that many desperately need to pray, perhaps even you.

SHRINKING BACK

I have been looking at a passage in Hebrews 10:35-39 that address the issues raised in the prayer:

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For in just a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and not delay.  But my righteous one will live by faith.  And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.'  But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. 

Many will say they are living by faith, but perhaps that is because they are living so small. Their goals are timid, their fears overwhelming and their vision limiting.  They are not doing anything big, so of course it appears that they are living a full life.  Instead, they are living woefully below what God has for them.  They have shrunk back to their comfort zone but describe it as only a place of respite.  In actuality, it is a place of refuge from which they have little intention of venturing out.

I hope you aren't among those whom I describe in the previous paragraph.  If you are, however, and you know it, now is the time to do something about it. It's time to set some goals and live by faith once again. The beauty of doing this is that you don't need to have any idea how you will do those things; that's where the faith comes in.  If you've decided, however, that faith is just too demanding or stressful, then you may be guilty of shrinking back and incurring God's displeasure.

So the choice is clear:  have faith and please God, shrink back and displease God.  The choice is yours and I do hope you will choose wisely. If you choose faith, then go back to the beginning and pray the "Disturb Us" prayer every day this week.  As you do, I know God will hear you and will certainly disturb you with new visions and dreams before very long.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE: As I try to do every week, I have posted the latest from Kenya so you know what's going on and can have a chance to contribute. Thank you to all who did last week.  I am sending Mary's tuition to her (we raised almost $750), we have $750 for Peter's van and a few other donations came in.  Plus, I saw a whole mound of stuff at church that will go toward our next shipment.  God is good, and you are wonderful.  You can give this week through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

MONDAY MEMO ANNIVERSARY:  In honor of the Monday Memo's 12th anniversary, I am once again attaching below 12 of my best Monday Memos.  Thank you for your faithful readership and support.

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