The Monday Memo from John Stanko

408: The Babylon Model

I hear many people bewailing the current state of the world.  They are convinced that we are close to the end and, who knows they may be correct.  Yet I happen to think that God is up to something different, something that most don't recognize.  It is what I call the Babylon model.  What is that, you may inquire?  Ah, I will be glad to answer but it will require that you read on.

BABYLON THEN   

Daniel was taken from the comforts of Judea to the discomfort of Babylon.  There was nothing about Babylon that reminded Daniel of what he knew in his youthful past.  He had to learn a new language, adapt to a new culture, learn a new currency, get accustomed to a new name and a society where everything was a god.  This young man who served one God had to learn how to live, work and prosper in a land where everything and everyone was a god. I would expect that Daniel had culture shock.

Yet God brought Daniel to Babylon. You may say that it was God's handpicked place for Daniel to learn, grow and prosper.  Daniel had no time to yearn and mourn for the "good old days" back in Jerusalem.  He had too much work to do to make it in Babylon.  And make it he did.

When you think of it, Daniel was one of God's first missionaries.  God sent Daniel to Babylon and immersed him in a place where Daniel's voice and God were only one among many competing for the allegiance of men.  Yet Daniel did it and soon was at the top of the world in his new home.

BABYLON NOW

So what does that have to do with now?  We live in a modern Babylon. Everyone is a god and consequently no one is.  Every man does what is right in his own eyes and, like Nebuchadnezzar, we build monuments to heroes who are not heroes at all.  Yet God is raising up missionaries to this new Babylon but only those who embrace it, who embrace this Babylon model, will prosper and succeed.  Those who build spiritual fortresses to preserve the past will miss the fact that this Babylon model is God's idea.  He has made His people one voice among many and promises them to succeed and prosper but only if they don't oppose what He is doing.

Daniel did not just exist in Babylon, he prospered there.  He did not oppose the soothsayers and necromancers, but rather became their supervisor as chief of the so-called wise men of Babylon. Daniel thrived in the Babylon model and you will, too.  First, however, you have to let go of the past and learn to express your purpose in this new day where God's ways have to compete with many other ways that claim to be superior.  Wherever you are in your PurposeQuest in Babylon, I pray you will have a great week!

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE:  $152 came in last week for The Sophia Fund, which is a great week of income for which I am grateful.  As you know by now, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund four weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother).

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world. If you give a gift of $35 or more up until July 31, I will send you a free copy of my latest book, Changing the Way We Do Church: 7 Steps to Purposeful Reformation, which is pictured to the left. 

2. REVELATION: I still need your help, although I had two good leads for publishing two weeks ago but no money. Every week I am ready to remove this plea and every week I feel the Lord tell me to keep it in.  I have finished a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation and I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been distorted by so many weird interpretations. I know there is someone out there who is going to help me with this project.  Maybe it is you.

407: You Are What You Eat

As promised last week, we are starting a new series that will focus on Daniel in the Old Testament. I think I have enough material for an eight or nine week series, but let's see how it goes as we move through the material. 

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

In most American high schools, graduating seniors elect one of their classmates whom they deem most likely headed to future success.  Daniel didn’t go to high school, but if he had, he would have been elected.  How do I know this?  Let’s consider the kind of young people that King Nebuchadnezzar was looking for to serve in his kingdom:  “Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace” (Daniel 1:4). 

Since Daniel was chosen, we know that he qualified based on the listed criteria—smart and good-looking.  Daniel had a bright future in his homeland of Judah, but God had other plans.  Before he knew it, this young teenager was whisked off to Babylon, selected for royal duty and given a three-year crash course in Babylonian culture.  

What was involved in this crash course?  Daniel was sent to language school.  Then he was given a new name – Beltheshezzar—which contained the name of one of the main Babylonian gods, Bel.  He was placed under the care of the chief of the eunuchs.  Now I ask you:  Why would Daniel be under this man unless they had made Daniel a eunuch himself?   Can you imagine?  Here was this bright young man, with his whole future ahead of him.  Suddenly he’s living in a foreign land, called by the name of a foreign god, learning a strange culture, and facing a future that didn’t include a wife and family!  

Yet Daniel distinguished himself throughout his Babylonian career.  He was a man of skill and efficiency and also penned a book in the Bible that carries his name.  What enabled this man to be so successful?

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. 

Daniel was a man of purpose, but he was also a man of values.  When he first arrived in Babylon to become a royal official, he was assigned royal rations to eat.  Daniel, however, refused:  “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Daniel 1:8).  If I am a teenager, having gone through all that Daniel had been through, the last thing I would have been concerned with was eating the local food.  Daniel knew the dietary laws of a Jew, however, and was determined to maintain a kosher diet even in Babylon.  As a young man, Daniel knew what was important to him and he was determined to follow those values no matter what.  

The most impressive thing to me is that Daniel had such well-defined values at an early age.  The second most impressive thing is that he was committed to follow them, even in a foreign land after his life had been turned upside down.  Have you defined your values?  If so, do you think you could follow them if you went through what Daniel went through?  I’m not sure that I could.

So your assignment this week is to do some work to define your values.  If they worked for Daniel, they will work for you.  I have an article on my website outlining how to do this entitled “How to Define Your Governing Values.” Can you spend 60 minutes this week giving thought and expression to what is important to you?  I certainly hope you can, for values are a critical part of your PurposeQuest.  As you work on yours, I will also review mine this week to see if they need adjusted and, more importantly, to determine if I’m living them!  If I can help you, let me know.  Otherwise have a great week!  I know I will.

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE:  $267 came in last week for The Sophia Fund, which is a great week of income for which I am grateful.  As you know by now, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund four weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother).

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world. If you give a gift of $35 or more up until July 31, I will send you a free copy of my latest book, Changing the Way We Do Church: 7 Steps to Purposeful Reformation, which is pictured to the left. 

2. REVELATION: I still need your help, although I had two good leads for publishing two weeks ago but no money. Every week I am ready to remove this plea and every week I feel the Lord tell me to keep it in.  I have finished a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation and I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been distorted by so many weird interpretations. I know there is someone out there who is going to help me with this project.  Maybe it is you.

406: I Hope You Dance

About eight years ago, a friend gave me a CD with a song on it when I was going through a tough transition.  I was disillusioned, scared and in turmoil.  The song was Lee Ann Womack's song, I Hope You Dance.  I have written about it before, but this week I want to use it as we wrap up my series on PurposeParents.  What does this song have to do with PurposeParenting?  Ah, for the answer you know you will have to read on.

A SIMPLE MESSAGE

The message in I Hope You Dance is basically be yourself and don't give up when life happens, as it does to everyone.  If every parent can impart that message to his or her children, along with values that stress the importance of service, integrity and love, their job as a PurposeParent will be a success.

I am not going to include the words to this song in this Memo, but I have attached Monday Memo 242 below, which included the words when I last wrote about the song.  I am doing this because I would rather you watch Lee Ann's rendition of the song, sung to her children, at this link.  It would be great to watch this with your children and discuss the implications for purpose, life, career and God's will.  It may even have some relevance not just for PurposeChldren, but PurposeParents as well.

That's it for this week. Enjoy the song and get ready as we embark on a series focusing on Daniel starting next week.  Have a great week, and Happy Fourth of July to my American readers.

Download Monday Memo 242

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: Just $75 came in last week for The Fund, which is a little under what had been coming in! I am grateful, however, for every penny that arrives and I know it is making a difference in Africa. As you know, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund four weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother).

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more up until June 30, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last (I sent out eleven so far). Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger. I will have an offer involving my latest book that I will announce next week, so be watching for that.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help, although I had two good leads for publishing last week but no money. I have finished a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation and I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been distorted by so many weird interpretations. I know there is someone out there who is going to help me with this project.  Maybe it is you.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site. If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there. I promise to have it updated every day.

4. FACEBOOK: I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote. I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

5. UK AND KENYA: I am scheduled to be in the UK from September 18-September 27 and then in Kenya from September 29-October 4.  If you can use my services while I am there to speak, consult or conduct a purpose seminar for your company or church, please let me know as soon as possible.

405: Never Too Young

I have been writing to parents the last few weeks talking about what it takes to be a PurposeParent. Having taught thousands of people all around the world about purpose, I have come to a simple, but profound conclusion:  there are no age restrictions when it comes to clarifying and fulfilling your purpose. 

In some cases, I’ve found children, teenagers and young adults to be much more “in tune” with my purpose teaching then their adult counterparts.  In fact, this young generation wants their purpose and they want it now.  They are not willing, as their seniors were, to spend years paying their dues in a company or ministry in the hopes that eventually they will do something they enjoy that is related to their purpose.  They want to know and fulfill their purpose as quickly as possible. Anything less is unacceptable for them.

I have an article on my website entitled Never Too Young For Purpose that runs through a list of young people in the Bible who were purpose driven. You can go to my site and read this article about Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther and many others.  In each case, the Lord didn’t speak to these young people about a career; He spoke to them about fulfilling their purpose—His will for their life.  And all of them made a significant impact on the history not only of the church but also of the world.  

Below are seven conclusions I came to that will help you fulfill your role as a PurposeParent or PurposeCoach.

1. Parents may play a key role. 
2. Parents may not play a key role.
3. Purpose doesn't only apply to church work. 
4. It’s never too early to start a PurposeQuest.
5. Young people can and do hear God’s voice. 
6. Young people need to be prepared for the road ahead. 
7. Young people need to see Jesus as a man of purpose. 

I hope you find this helpful whether you are seeking purpose or helping others find theirs.  In the meantime, if you have any other insights into being a PurposeParent, please don't hesitate to add them to this entry on the site where it is posted.  Have a great week!

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: $393 came in last week for The Fund, which is just super! As you know, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund four weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother).

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more during the month of June, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last (I sent out nine so far). Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help, although I had two good leads for publishing last week but no money. I have finished a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation and I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been distorted by so many weird interpretations. I know there is someone out there who is going to help me with this project.  Maybe it is you.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site. If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there. I promise to have it updated every day.

4. FACEBOOK: I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote. I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

5. UK AND KENYA: I am scheduled to be in the UK from September 18-September 27 and then in Kenya from September 29-October 4.  If you can use my services while I am there to speak, consult or conduct a purpose seminar for your company or church, please let me know as soon as possible.

404: Prenatal Purpose

A few minutes ago, I was in the car with my wife and said, "i have given absolutely no thought to the Monday Memo this week."  She said, "Time to pull out an old one?" I responded, "Nah.  I think I'll write on prenatal purpose."  So with no planning or outline, let's read on together and see what transpires. Last week I interrupted my series on PurposeParents to write about pipe dreams. Before we move on next week to Daniel, however, let's talk a little more about that topic -- PurposeParenting that is.

ROLL CALL

There were five mothers in the Bible who had a good idea of their child's purpose before they were born.  Their roll call includes:

1. Rebekah.  She had twins who were struggling in her womb.  When she inquired of the Lord as to what this meant, He told her about her two boys in Genesis 25:21-28.
2. Samson's mother.  She was told before he was born that her son would "begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5).
3. Hannah.  Hannah agonized over having a child and finally had Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord before he was ever born.  Her son went on to do great things for God (see 1 Samuel 1 and 2).
4. Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew her son was special, due to the unique circumstances surrounding his birth. What's more, John jumped for joy in Elizabeth's womb when he heard the voice of Mary, the mother of Jesus (see Luke 1:39-45).
5. Mary.  Mary discovered quite a bit about Jesus before and right after He was born (see Luke 1:26-33 and Luke 2:21-38).

LESSONS FOR PARENTS

What can parents learn from these five examples of parents who had prenatal purpose awareness for their children?

1. God can reveal clues and directives about your child's purpose before he or she is born.
2. You can ask to see your child's purpose and God may show you.
3. Your child can be filled with the Holy Spirit and purpose before he or she is born.
4. Notice that all these PurposeParents were mothers. Mothers help give birth not just to children, but to purpose in children.
5. Your relationship with the Lord and your ability to hear from Him play key roles in knowing your child's purpose - and consequently them knowing it as well.
6. You play a key role in directing your child into his or her purpose. 
7. Somehow, I think this same kind of information and impact is available to fathers and grandparents as well.

Finally, these five mothers did not know that their children would be doctors, lawyers or accountants.  God did not speak to them about their child's job, but rather their child's role in the plan and economy of God. As parents you have a choice: to raise your children to be good cultural citizens or good citizens in God's kingdom.  The former may get them a job; the latter will bring them into God's purpose. The choice is yours. 

Shall I add your name to the roll call above as good PurposeParents.  I hope so, for we need more PurposeParents and PurposeChildren to do the work that God has assigned for the generations ahead.  Have a great week!

Feel free to add your comments or insights to this post on PurposeParents on the site where it is posted.

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: Just $35 came in last week, but the restaurant called and said they have $113 sitting in their safe waiting for me to pick up. As you know, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund three weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more during the month of June, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last (I sent out seven so far). Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help. I still cannot find a publisher for an important book I have written, which is a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation. So I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations. I was ready to remove this appeal this week, but I sense someone is out there who is going to help. Just do whatever God is telling you to do.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site. If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there. I promise to have it updated every day.

4. FACEBOOK: I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote. I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

5. FREE PURPOSEQUEST ASSESSMENT: I updated and improved the feeback email you receive from your online assessment, so now is a great time to take or re-take the purpose assessment on my website. This is not a scientific survey, but something that is meant to stimulate your thought and direct your study concerning where you are in your PurposeQuest.

403: Pipe Dreams

When it comes to purpose, vision and goals, many people have dreams and some share them with me. I had someone tell me he wanted to own a television station, another tell me that he wanted to give $100 million away and still another that she wanted to have a chain of homes for abused children and women. While I listen politely and do all I can to encourage them, I am thinking all the while, "This is nothing but a pipe dream!" A pipe dream is an unrealistic hope or expectation, but until today, I didn't know the origin of the phrase until I did some research. Do you want to know where the phrase "pipe dream" came from? if you do, you know the rules - you will have to read on.

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?

The phrase pipe dream came from the dreams some people had when they smoked opium in the 19th century. After they imbibed, they would have strange visions and some works like the poem Kubla Khan were said to be the result in part to opium. There is another question among the young today when they hear someone make an outlandish statement. They ask, "What are you smoking?" an obvious reference to someone who isn't in full control of their faculties.

Now that you know the source, you may not think it fair on my part to refer to some people's dreams as pipe dreams, but I maintain it is fair - not because they are on drugs, but because their dream is totally and completely unrealistic.

You see, God cannot give you what you are not ready to receive. If you have not developed your potential, God cannot and will not promote you, no matter how much faith you have. Let's consider the examples I mentioned in the opening paragraph.

The man who wanted to own a television station had no experience in business or media for that matter. He worked in an unrelated job and had no concept of what television was all about, nor was he prepared to learn. The man who wanted to give $100 million away was playing the lottery, instead of being involved in jobs or training that could teach him how to manage and distribute large sums of money. The woman who wanted to earn a chain of homes was not even working with the abused or afflicted!

In my humble opinion, none of the people in those three examples was doing anything to prepare themselves for their dream. They were like people who were believing for a best-selling book but never wrote or developed their writing skills. They all had pipe dreams in the Lord and they were just as fantastic as someone who was on a hallucinatory drug.

SUCCESS IS NO ACCIDENT

While success requires heaps of faith, it also requires preparation. David learned to lead and protect sheep and that prepared him to be king. Saul was a Hebrew scholar and that enabled him, with God's help, to be Saint Paul. I recently read that experts estimate that it requires 10,000 hours invested in any one discipline or skill to be ready for success. In my own life, I have interviewed and counseled 2,500 people over the last eight years. I have written, read, talked and taught about purpose. I have debated, been debated, made friends, lost friends, traveled the world and gone to school. Now those are the things that I can do while I have trusted God for the things that only He can do. Even then, whatever I do is a result of His grace, but His grace would not open the door if I was not prepared to walk through it.

So what is your dream and purpose? If you know, then you must do all that you can do to see it happen in God's will and timing. If you are believing for an airplane, you can at least learn to fly! If you will travel, you can at least get a passport and learn some words in the language of the culture to which you are headed. Pipe dreams are just fantasy, but faith dreams are real, because faith is real, the substance of things hoped for. And we also know James wrote, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone" (James 2:24).

The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Are you ready to take the first step or, if you have already, the next step in your faith journey. Are you prepared to take a step every day, no matter how many steps you have remaining between you and your dream? I hope so. If you are, then you are a candidate for greatness. If not, then all you may have is a pipe dream, and pipe dreams may make for good poetry, but they seldom achieve the end result. Have a great week!

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: $155 came in last week for The Fund and I wired $500 to be used in Zimbabwe. As I reported last week, I am having more fun with this than any one person should be allowed to have and thank you for your faithful support. Yet the purpose of the Fund is not fun, for we are using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund two weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more during the month of June, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last (I sent out five last week). Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help. I still cannot find a publisher for an important book I have written, which is a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation. So I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations. I was ready to remove this appeal this week, but I sense someone is out there who is going to help. Just do whatever God is telling you to do.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site. If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there. I promise to have it updated every day.

4. MONDAY MEMOS ARCHIVE: Did you know that all 400 Monday Memos are archived on my website along with an index that includes the topic and Scriptural references for each Memo? This makes it possible to read past Memos or search for specific topics or cross references with ease.

5. HEAR ME PREACH: You can download and listen to last week's message I delivered at my local church, entitled Cliffhanger Faith by going here. You can download the notes from that site, too.

6. FACEBOOK: I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote. I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

7. FREE PURPOSEQUEST ASSESSMENT: I updated and improved the feeback email you receive from your online assessment, so now is a great time to take or re-take the purpose assessment on my website. This is not a scientific survey, but something that is meant to stimulate your thought and direct your study concerning where you are in your PurposeQuest.

402: Moses' Mama

Last week, I wrote about PurposeParents and received a lot of feedback asking for more stuff on purpose and parenting. So due to popular demand, I will delay my series on Daniel that I was about to begin and talk about the topic at hand.

WHAT DID SHE SEE?

When i think of a purpose parent, my mind goes to Moses' mama.  She had the mixed blessing of giving birth to a son.  It was "mixed" because she was certainly joyful at the birth but sad that Pharaoh's edict demanded every male baby be thrown into the river, to be drowned or eaten by crocodiles. That is what all the other mothers had probably done or been forced to do, but the story is a little different for Moses' mama.

So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months (Exodus 2:2).

What did Moses' mama see? When our son was born, his nose was flat against his face, his ears stood out, his hair, though wet, stood straight up and he was blue, red, pink and purple all over!  My wife looked at him and looked at me to say, "Maybe he will be intelligent!"  He certainly wasn't must to look at (we are proud to say he is today both an intelligent and good-looking 31-year-old man). 

What did Moses' mama see that made her boy beautiful?  She saw the purpose of God on him.  She saw past the imperfections and Pharaoh's edict and saw God's hand, as Stephen said while preaching to the Sanhedrin:

"It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father's home (Acts 7:20).

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

So Moses' mama obeyed Pharaoh's edict, sort of.  She threw her son into the river, but first she built and placed him in a waterproof basket.  After all, Pharaoh didn't say that she could not do that, now did he?  She was creative to preserve her son's purpose from the ravages of culture, prejudice and fear.  This woman changed the world because she saw more than her baby boy; she saw God's purpose for him, which made him lovely in the sight of God.

So if and when you are a parent, what will you do?  Will you choose to look at all the wrinkles, faults and weaknesses of your children, or will you focus on his or her purpose? Will you do for them what Egypt says must be done, or will you do what God's purpose warrants for them?  Will you send them into the river without protection or with a handmade basket that will protect them from the dangerous elements of life so they can "float" to their divine destiny?

Moses' mama changed history by being a good PurposeParent and you can, too.  Don't waste time trying to make your children perfect, and don't just hand them over to Egypt. See in them what God sees and then do what you have to do to help bring forth God's purpose in them.  Have a great week!

    Feel free to write a comment to this entry on the site where it is posted.

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: I am so excited. I got an envelope from the local restaurant containing the "first fruits" of the container we placed there, and we got $56!  Plus another $135 came in last week.  I am having more fun with this than any one person should be allowed to have. Yet the purpose of the Fund is not fun, for we are using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund last Monday and you can read it here.  You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more.  You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more during the month of June, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last.  Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help. I still cannot find a publisher for an important book I have written, which is a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation. So I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations. I was ready to remove this appeal this week, but I sense someone is out there who is going to help.  Just do whatever God is telling you to do.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site.  If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there.  I promise to have it updated every day. 

4. MONDAY MEMOS ARCHIVE:  Did you know that all 400 Monday Memos are archived on my website along with an index that includes the topic and Scriptural references for each Memo?  This makes it possible to read past Memos or search for specific topics or cross references with ease.

5. HEAR ME PREACH: You can download and listen to yesterday's message I delivered at my local church, entitled Cliffhanger Faith by going here. You can download the notes from that site, too.

6. FACEBOOK:  I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote.  I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

7. FREE PURPOSEQUEST ASSESSMENT: I updated and improved the feeback email you receive from your online assessment, so now is a great time to take or re-take the purpose assessment on my website.  This is not a scientific survey, but something that is meant to stimulate your thought and direct your study concerning where you are in your PurposeQuest.

401: PurposeParents

I have been thinking about the role that parents play in a child's PurposeQuest, even when those children are mature and out of the house.  This week,  I want to focus on three parents in the Old Testament, make some comments on how they were as PurposeParents and then give them a grade.  See if you agree with my evaluation.

1.    Abraham – Abraham was distracted at times by his attachment to Ishmael, whom he fathered to Hagar while he was waiting for God’s promised son. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son at God’s command, which shows that he certainly put God before his son and had his priorities correct. To his credit, Abraham got involved in finding Isaac a wife, but Isaac wasn’t a purpose-driven man. 

Isaac never accomplished much of anything and we will see that he was a poor father.  That leads me to say that Abraham failed to provide adequate direction for Isaac, whose only accomplishment seems to have been unstopping some of his father’s wells that the locals had filled in.  Isaac obviously knew about the promises that God made to Abraham, but did little to carry them out.  For all that, I give Abraham a C as a PurposeParent.

2.    Isaac - Isaac was a man of many weaknesses.  His wife Rebekah regularly had to intervene in the family’s affairs when Isaac didn’t seem to pay attention.  No one will ever convince me that Isaac didn’t know it was Jacob standing before him when Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing that belonged to the eldest. “Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked (Genesis 27:22-24).  Isaac did not want to confront Jacob or to anger his wife. 

Jacob never mentioned his father and, in part due to Isaac’s poor parenting model, Jacob’s family was a mess. I give Isaac an F as a PurposeParent

3.    Jacob – What can we say about a man who played favorites, didn’t confront the obvious animosity between his sons, fathered sons to four different women and paid more attention to his business than to his offspring?  We would say that he was a bad parent, and that’s what Jacob was.  I give Jacob a D as a parent (at least he had the sense to favor Joseph over the rest, although the way he showed it caused Joseph tremendous problems).

I want to go one step further with Jacob, however.  I would give Jacob an A as a grandfather.  Read Genesis 48:1-22 and see how Jacob handled the blessing of Joseph’s sons.  He got it right!  He didn’t pay attention to the grandsons' age, but rather to God's purpose for their lives.  He refused to follow what Joseph wanted him to do and instead released each grandchild to his divine destiny. 

PurposeParent Lessons:

• It's never too late to instill purpose in your children or grandchildren.
• There are no perfect parents, only a perfect God.
• God was known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so He identifies with the weak and imperfect. There is hope for you and me!
• God has a purpose for each child. 

As a parent (or future parent), meditate on and discuss the parenting skills of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as they relate to your child’s purpose.  What can you learn about what not to do with your children?  What can you learn that will make you more effective?  Can you think of other parental models to consider from the Bible?  How about Mary, Moses’ parents, Hannah, Jesse or David?  What can you learn from them that will make your children more in tune with their purpose and destiny?  Have a great week!

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REVELATION: I need your help. I urgently want to publish my next book, this time a devotional from the book of Revelation. I wrote about this project in my blog last week and encourage you to read what I wrote there. In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Then please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations.  If you have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact me.

THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE:  Last week, $150 came in for The Fund.  As I promised, every penny you send is going to feed the poor in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Nothing goes to overhead or administration.  Won't you consider helping orphans and widows today?  You can read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more.  You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

400: More Ramblings

This is Monday Memo 400.  It's hard to believe I have been writing the Memo for more than eight years. What started simply has taken on a life of its own, with its own site and a pretty hefty following.  I have found something to write about on 400 Sunday evenings when I sat down at the computer and i have learned a lot in the process.  Here are some of my thoughts, which you may consider ramblings:

1. I have grown more confident in my writing skills since 2001 and it serves me well as I continue to write books and produce papers for my classes at Reformed Presbyterian Seminary.  The more I write, the more I want to write.  It is almost addictive.


2. When I am afraid, I procrastinate. What am I afraid of?  Mostly I am afraid I don't have time to produce something of the quality I desire, so I find all kinds of excuses to put off trying.  I have come to the conclusion that most procrastination is rooted in fear.


3. As I have become a better writer, I have been able to encourage others to take the "plunge" and write, too.  There are many today who write their own regular updates because of the Monday Memo and I consider that an honor.


4. Every year I seriously consider whether or not I should stop writing the Memo.  I am thinking about it now.  I think, however, that I would rather change the format at this point and not stop, but I am procrastinating (see number 2 above).


5. I am always amazed at the power of regular Internet communication to build relationships.  Many people write or tell me that I have mentored them through the Monday Memo, yet I have never met them face-to-face.  When people tell me the Internet is impersonal, I just shake my head, knowing that they don't fully understand what they are talking about.


6. I can look back into my childhood and see the first signs that I wanted to be a writer. Your childhood often holds significant clues as to your purpose.


7. I have written two books using Monday Memos as the content. When you can do two things with one effort, it certainly makes it more efficient and worthwhile.

While many people have been blessed by the Monday Memo, I am the one who is the most blessed. I have given them away free of charge and it is my joy to do so.  I never grow tired of someone saying, "I read your stuff."  I almost always respond, "Great!  If you keep reading, I'll keep writing."  So let me close with that thought before I ramble too long and far, and you grow weary of my words. Have a great week!

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THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE:  It would be a fantastic way to celebrate issue 400 of the Memo by making a contribution to The Sophia Fund. Last week, $335 came in for The Fund.  As I promised, every penny you send is going to feed the poor in Zimbabwe and Kenya (We wired $1000 to Kenya two weeks ago, with another $500 slated to go to Zimbabwe this week). Nothing goes to overhead or administration.  Won't you consider helping orphans and widows today?  You can read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more.  You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

REVELATION: I know there is someone or someones out there who are supposed to help me with this project. I urgently want to publish my next book, this time a devotional from the book of Revelation. I wrote about this project in my blog last week and encourage you to read what I wrote there. In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Then please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations.  If you have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact me.

399: Dorcas

I can't believe it.  I have written 398 Memos and I have never, ever written about one of my favorite stories?  I checked and rechecked and it's true. There's no way that can be true, but it is.  What an oversight.  Here is the story:

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord (Acts 9:36-42).

ANALYSIS

If you are like me, for many years, I made Peter the focus when I read that passage.  For this Memo, let's make Dorcas the focus.  If Dorcas was alive today, she would have a sewing machine, a source for material and a heart to sew for the poor. She was a "nothing" woman - she had no prestige or position - in a "nowhere" village who was helping 'nobody' people.  Dorcas had nothing going for her except that she was a woman of purpose, always doing good and helping the poor.  Therefore in reality, she had everything going for her.

In her day of trouble, when she could not cry out on her own behalf, the evidence of a life yielded to God's purpose cried out for her.  Peter, the most significant spiritual leader at the time, broke off what he was doing to come down and view her dead body. He was so moved both by how much everyone missed Dorcas and by the impact she had made while she was alive that he brought her back from the dead to continue her work.

Once that happened, a revival broke out in Dorcas' village and she never even preached a message.  She just did good deeds for poor people.  What an amazing story.

APPLICATION

Do you see any needs around you that you can meet like Dorcas did? If you do, what are you waiting for?  Go meet them!  Are you hung up on what you don't have and what you can't do?  Then start focusing on what you do have and can do. Have you convinced yourself that you can't make a difference in the world around you, or have you chosen not to make that difference?  Either way, your thinking is wrong! The only reason you can't is that you have told yourself you can't and it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Please take the lessons from Dorcas' life to heart this week and follow her example. When you do, you have all of heaven's attention, no matter how trivial or insignificant what you are doing seems to be.  It's time to stop examining what you don't have and consider what you do have, and that is a purpose that no one else can perform like you.  It's time that you answer a difficult and challenging question: When you leave, will people miss you like they missed Dorcas?  The only way you will be able to answer "yes" is to start fulfilling your purpose today, right now.  As you do, you will not only have a great week, but also a great life.

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REVELATION: I need your help. I urgently want to publish my next book, this time a devotional from the book of Revelation. I wrote about this project in my blog last week and encourage you to read what I wrote there. In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Then please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been obscured by so many weird interpretations.  If you have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact me.

THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE:  Last week, $110 came in for The Fund and I placed a container in a major restaurant to collect money for The Fund. As I promised, every penny you send is going to feed the poor in Zimbabwe and Kenya (We wired $1000 to Kenya two weeks ago, with another $500 slated to go to Zimbabwe as soon as someone can carry it over for me). Nothing goes to overhead or administration.  Won't you consider helping orphans and widows today?  You can read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more.  You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

FACEBOOK:  I continue to update my personal page on Facebook.  Check it out and let's be friends when you have a chance.  Also you can find me on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow me.

FREE PURPOSEQUEST ASSESSMENT:  Don't forget about the free PurposeQuest assessment available on my website.  This is not a scientific survey, but something that is meant to stimulate your thought and direct your study on my site concerning where you stand in your PurposeQuest.  About 800 people have taken the survey so far.  I hope that every Monday Memo reader will eventually take the assessment and heed the follow up email from me on how you can be even more purposeful than you already are.