The Monday Memo from John Stanko

532: Down But Not Out

Last week on my long trip from Munich to Atlanta, I had a chance to listen to Handel's Messiah in its entirety.  That reminded me of this post in the Monday Memo archives, and I thought I would revise and share this classic with you again this year.  Have a happy holiday season and remember to set some goals for the new year during this festive season - JS.

*************************************

I have seen and listened to the Messiah many times but it never gets old.  Let's take a look at the circumstances that surrounded Handel as he composed his work and see if there are any purpose lessons there for you (you know there are).

MESSIAH

The Messiah is considered by many to be the greatest musical accomplishment in the history of mankind. Commissioned by a charity for a benefit concert, Handel wrote the Messiah in only 24 days. A musician once told me that someone trying to copy the Messiah could not do so in 24 days—that is the level of inspiration in which Handel operated when he wrote. Handel never left his house for those three weeks. His food trays remained untouched outside his office door. A friend who visited him as he composed found him sobbing with intense emotions. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe what he had experienced, he quoted St. Paul, saying, “Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it, I know not.”

What’s even more impressive is that Handel wrote Messiah under extreme duress. The Church of England strongly criticized and opposed Handel and his previous Scriptural works put to music. At the age of 56, he had no money, often going out only at night so as to avoid his creditors. Handel performed what he considered his farewell concert and went home, fully expecting to end up in debtor’s prison.

Yet the first performance of Messiah in Ireland in 1742 raised almost £400 for charity and freed 142 men from debtor's prison. Of course the rest is history as countless millions have enjoyed and marveled at this work for more than 250 years. Handel also went on from there to enjoy tremendous success and popularity in his latter years.

What does this have to do with you? Perhaps you are a person of purpose but you feel frustrated, even defeated in your PurposeQuest. Maybe you find yourself down and out, discouraged and criticized, forgotten and a failure. Perhaps your finances are in poor shape. If that description fits you, read on, for this Memo can restore your hope and faith. If that’s not you, read on anyway, for you will probably enter that phase one day as you pursue your purpose.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DOWN AND OUT.

What should you do if you are in a season of “un-use,” disfavor or inaction? As we close out 2011, I would urge you to do three things if you are discouraged, disillusioned or dismayed. And if you’re not, I urge you to find someone who is—you shouldn’t have to look too hard—and encourage them in their dark time.

1. Renew your faith in God. Your success and purpose expression doesn’t depend on your faithfulness; it depends on God’s. Remind yourself that God can do anything, and then rest in Him. Handel went home to retire and perhaps thought it was all over for him. Yet God helped him, a group found and commissioned him and God can and do the same for you.
2. Keep preparing for your day of success. I don’t think Handel went home to retire and abandoned music. Don't you abandon your love either. Keep writing, reading, learning and practicing. When the phone rings or the mail comes with your opportunity, you will be fresh and prepared, having worked in faith for the day of success.
3. Be generous. Handel wrote the Messiah for charity, even though he was destitute. What can you do for someone else, even though you are down and out?  It is a good thing to do the unexpected in hard times, and giving something away definitely fits the bill when you are in need yourself. What better way to express your trust in God?

I’m grateful for 2011 and I hope you can find reasons to be as well. If not, then just thank God for His faithfulness. At least you’re still alive! Then take this Memo to heart or share it with someone who needs it. I pray that as you do what I recommended above, you will see a purpose breakthrough in 2012. Thank you for allowing me to come into your life every week and thank you for being a PurposeQuest-er. As I close this Memo, I wish you not only a great week, but also a very Merry Christmas!

************

KENYA UPDATES:  I posted two updates from Kenya.  One is on the library project and the need for power tools here.  The other is from Pastor Francis and Upako Centre here.  Please read them and then give generously to help feed a child like the one pictured left, either through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

KINDLE BOOKS:  Three of my books are now available via Amazon in kindle format.   Those three are The Revelation Project, A Daily Dose of Proverbs and Faith Files, Volume Two. Download a copy today and then carry me with you wherever you and your e-reader go! 

498: Making Easter Personal

I interrupt the series on Moses to bring you an annual message I send to honor our Lord's resurrection, which we will celebrate this week.  We will resume our look at Moses' excuses next week.

A PACKED HOUSE

My church has six weekend services 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, which will make for a packed house. They 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 truths of Easter.  But is that all the truth?

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

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 assent to a historical fact, go celebrating the truth that God is alive in You  Then find how you can 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!  Happy Resurrection Day!

*********************

MY NEW BOOK:  I have information on my next book coming out in July on the home page of my website, along with my updated travel schedule and resources.  Check all my updates and then pre-order your autographed copy of Faith Files, Volume Two today.

THANK YOU'S FROM KENYA:  You can read the thank you notes I received from my most recent visit to Kenya here along with some pictures.  Thank you so much for making these donations possible through your generous giving. I am going back to Kenya in August and it's not too soon to make a contribution toward my work there.  You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  Thank you in advance!  You can view the blog entries from my last trip here to help you understand how important your contributions are.

466: Report from Israel

As you may know, I have been in Israel since last Wednesday with 24 people from my church in Pittsburgh.   If you haven't checked out the entries and pictures on my travel blog, you may want to do so here.  There is some pretty cool stuff there, and you subscribe to receive my daily updates.  Later in the week, we are going into Egypt to see the pyramids, and you won't want to miss those updates either.

SIXTEEN YEARS  

I first came to Israel in 1994 and was so moved by the trip that I determined I would one day lead teams to the Holy Land so others could experience what I have experienced.  There are so many surprises, for at times things you thought would move you do not and things that you didn't think anything of before will move you to tears! 

The point I want to make is that I set a goal 16 years ago and now I am ready to carry it out.  I hope by God's grace to lead a trip every 18 months and teach about purpose, the supremacy of Christ and the nature of Jesus' earthly ministry.  I will return in May of 2012.  Would you like to be part of that tour?

WHY NOT JOIN ME?

If you would like to be a part, then why not set a goal . . . and then go for it?  Why not say, "I will be there" and then begin to watch for ways you can prepare spiritually and financially. You will not get to Israel by wishing it to happen; you will have to help make it happen!  Don't tell me what you may do one day. Tell me what you will do.

We are working on goals at this time as part of the PurposeChallenge I issued last month.  If you haven't taken the Challenge yet, read about it here and then get with the program.  And if you want to be in Israel in 2012, send me an email and I will keep you posted as plans come together.  What a great goal that would be!  And what a great way to improve your assessment score during this time of the PurposeChallenge.  I have to run, but in the meantime, all I have to say is "Shalom!" and "Next year in Jerusalem!"

446: Underwear for My Birthday

Today I turn 60 years old - the big six-oh. I am off for two days of celebration out West with my family, but thought I would write some thoughts before I get away.  I will spend the next two days doing some cool stuff, but I will also spend some time thinking about the future, and planning what I would like to do for the next ten years, with God's help of course. 

MY FUTURE VISION

I have come to the conclusion, which isn't particularly brilliant or original, that it is what you do for others that will provide a legacy once you are gone.  Stephen Covey's second habit for successful people is beginning with the end in mind.  He recommends that you write your funeral eulogy today, outlining what you hope people will say about you when you are gone. Then you must get busy doing those things if that is how you want to be remembered.

I want to be remembered as someone who helped set people free to purpose, to know the joy of doing what they were created to do, where they were meant to do it.  I want to be a person whom others sought out for wisdom and help in time of personal need.  I want people to smile when I walk in a room or preach a message; if I can make them laugh, all the better. And I want to meet practical needs, wherever I may find them.

I crave writing a best-selling book, where smiling people line up outside a bookstore to get an autographed copy.  I could go on and on about the future, but let me focus for now on something I want today for my birthday and that is underwear.

MY PRESENT PROJECT

No, it's 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 600 pair, but I want and need more.  My sister-in-law wrote a blog entry the other day 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.

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 creativity, but for this week, it's time to celebrate my 60th by buying some underwear.  Instructions on how to give are below.  Have a great week!

************************************************

OPERATION PETTICOAT: You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.  Recently I heard from a fascinating recycling organization called Bra Recyclers!  They are making a large donation to the cause. I am going back to Kenya in May, so I have set April 30 as my deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there (which will cost me money for excess luggage).

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. $1000 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and $800 for The Sophia Fund! Thank you for your help. 

KENYA TRAINING:  Last week I provided the specifics for The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Attached below is the brochure for the event. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. I invite you to join me in Nairobi for what I know will be a life-changing experience. 

Download Kenya TPI

443: Easter Implications

Next Sunday is Easter Sunday the world over.  I thought I would go into my archives and copy a past Memo that focused on Easter and resurrection, and I was surprised to find that I did not have anything in the archives!  I write every year about purpose lessons from Christmas, but had nothing on Easter.  Well, I am going to correct that this week, so let's get Holy Week started with this Memo.

A PACKED HOUSE

My church has six weekend services 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, which will make for a packed house. They 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.  Yes, 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. 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 truths of Easter.  But is that all the truth?

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

IMPLICATIONS

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 of that Spirit, it is not 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 assent to a historical fact, go celebrating the truth that God is alive in You  Then find how you can 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!  Happy Resurrection Day!

************************************************

OPERATION PETTICOAT:  I announced plans last week to continue raising money for The Sophia Fund, the Deborah Foundation and a new program, Operation: Petticoat.  The latter is an effort to raise money for underwear for the young ladies in Kenya, who don't have any and consequently miss school because of it.  I know it may sound simple, but this is an important issue as evidenced by two emails I received this past week:

Just read about Operation: Petticoat.  It is so true about the underwear issue.  Most of the girls here don't wear bras and the panties are tattered.  It may seem strange to you but it is a big issue and the silly things are not cheap!  So little material but the price can be restrictive to kids who have little - J.M.

John, I think Operation: Petticoat is brilliant. Lack of underwear is a huge problem for girls and women in Africa and they are very grateful for any that can be sent. It doesn't matter if it is second hand as long as it is clean. Bras are particularly appreciated because they are harder to find and much more expensive. They are also necessary for older girls to be able to play sport. Women in developed countries don't know what to do with their older bras other than throw them away, and they could make such a difference. Children's clothes are also needed. Zimbabwe winter temperatures regularly go below zero at night.  Another vital necessity, which is out of reach for all but the best paid, is sanitary towels and tampons - S.F.

I am going back to Kenya in May, so we set April 30 as our deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there.  You may not be passionate about underwear, but the two emails above speak to the urgency of the matter. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. $70 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and $500 yesterday for The Sophia Fund, and I am trusting the Risen Christ for a lot more!  Thank you for your help. 

KENYA TRAINING:  Next week, I will give you the specifics of The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. Be watching next week for the specifics and then meet with me in Nairobi for a life-changing experience.

Monday Memo 327: Christmas Creative Collaboration

It's Christmas Eve 2007 and I am wondering where this year has gone. As I get older, it seems that the days just fly by, which is why I am determined to enjoy every one of them. I don't know how many I have left.

I've been Stateside for a few weeks, which has given me ample opportunity to listen to Christmas music. The men who wrote the carols of old were theologians who had a deep grasp on the significance of Jesus' birth. If you go past the first verse of some carols, you hear some magnificent truths about Jesus and the implications for mankind of His coming. Once hymn that caught my attention this year is Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

WHO WROTE IT?

All credit for Hark the Herald Angels Sing is usually attributed to Charles Wesley, the brother of Methodism's founder, John Wesley. Charles was a prolific song writer, with almost 9,000 hymns to his credit. Charles only employed sombre, slow and solemn music for his lyrics, however, so this particular carol was sung to a tune other than we know for at least 100 years after it was written in 1739.

In 1840, a man named Felix Mendelssohn wrote a commemorative cantata to honor Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. What does that have to do with this carol? Nothing except that a man named William Cummings heard the cantata and felt that one of the melodies could better serve the magnificent lyrics that Wesley had penned for Hark the Herald. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn's melody to Wesley's lyrics and the result was the version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing! that we know and sing today. So Hark the Herald is the result of a century-long creative collaboration by three men who never met.

CHRISTMAS CREATIVITY

This strikes me as a classic example of the simplicity and interconnection of the creative process. Your creativity doesn't have to involve something completely new or original. Cummings took two existing things--Mendelssohn's music and Wesley's words--to create something new again. He improved something that already existed to create something fresh that has impacted the world for more than a century.

As we end 2007, I want to begin a new discussion of the creative process to encourage you to take your own creativity more seriously in 2008. You are a creative person! The ideas you have can change the world, if you will stop discounting them as meaningless or insignificant. You don't have to invent something totally new to qualify as creative; you just have to act on your ideas and release them to the world. With God as your agent, the world will then act to endorse the very creativity that you may be dismissing or taking for granted.

Do you have any good ideas, even if they are only to improve something that already exists? If you do, take heart and remember Wesley, Mendelssohn, and Cummings. Those three men who never met collaborated to create something memorable. There is no reason why you can't do the same.

From my house to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a creative and purposeful New Year!

Feel free to post your comment to this Memo on the site where it is located.

*****************************************************************************

We have launched a new site called A Better Zimbabwe at www.abetterzim.com. Its purpose is to include only positive material about Zimbabwe, what it once was and what it can be again! I have posted several articles there and I invite you to check it out. Then read the "rules" and write your own story about that great nation. I'll give you a heads up on the rules -- no negatives and no politics! Let's tell the world about the good things happening in Zimbabwe in these turbulent times. You can subscribe to receive the posts on the site itself.

I also posted two articles on my blog about Zim entitled Buddy, Can You Spare $175,000? and Turbulence. Check them out and let me know what you think by adding your comments. You can also subscribe there to receive my regular blog updates.

As we end the year, please consider a contribution to my purpose work around the world. I offer much of what I write and do at no cost and will continue to do so. It would be most helpful if you would consider a year-end gift if you have found benefit in my work as you walk out your own PurposeQuest. You can make a donation using a credit card by going to my website and using PayPal, or you can send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 USA. Thank you for helping me do the work that I was created to do.

In January, I will begin a new Bible study from Matthew's gospel. You can subscribe to receive those weekly studies by going to the site where they are posted.