The Monday Memo from John Stanko

609: A Purposeful Reformation

Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Life, sold more than 30 million copies! I think that says something about people's interest in what I have come to call the purpose craze. Yet with all that interest, I don't think our churches have changed that much to accommodate this phenomenal movement.  When people bought the book, they 'voted' to hear about purpose, but it made little or no difference in the life of most churches that I can see.

One advantage (if you can call it that) of getting older, is that one gets more reflective, and hopefully insightful, based on the life experience one has had. Today I feel in a reflective mood (which indicates my age). While I was reading over my manuscript the other day for my book, Changing the Way We Do Church (which I see is for sale on Amazon for 88 cents!), I ran across what I call my seven steps to a purposeful church reformation in the 21st century, which were included and explained in that book. I thought I would share those seven steps with you this week, for these are my ideas of what must happen if churches are to take full advantage of this purpose craze to extend God's kingdom and equip people for meaningful work and ministry. We will discuss some of these seven steps in upcoming weeks.

Here they are:

1. Raise up an army of purpose-led men and women who have faith to do the impossible, freed from trying to be who they are not and released to be the fullest, best expression of who God created them to be.
2. Equip people to perform missions (both domestic and foreign), to launch business ventures and to carry out any other activity their purpose dictates and faith allows.
3. Help leaders be productive in their purpose as they oversee Holy Spirit chaos created by people pursuing and fulfilling their purpose.
4. Help leaders and governing bodies move from attitudes of ownership to attitudes of servant-leadership and stewardship.
5. Develop services, Sunday Schools, kids church, youth meetings and even committee meetings that people want to attend because there is a spirit of excellence and the unexpected.
6. Move from fads, copycat programs, and trite and phony rituals, traditions and doctrines to innovative initiatives in the Spirit of (but exceeding the results of) the early church.
7. Address and meet the needs of the poor, ethnic minorities, and women around the world.

There is the list.  Feel free to comment on any of these points on the site where this is posted, or feel free to suggest additions. Then be watching as I expand on these in the coming weeks.

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

KENYA HELP: Alice appealed to me last week for some food money to help feed the children at EOTO Orphanage. Please read her appeal here and then give as the Lord leads you through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

KENYA FUNDRAISERS: I am hosting two events in the next six weeks to raise awareness and funds for Kenya. The first is a breakfast meeting here in Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 29 from 10 AM to 11:30. Come out and hear from people who have been there and let them tell you firsthand what impact we are making there.  Then on Monday, July 29, I am hosting an event at PNC Park for a baseball game, just like I did last year. The tickets cost $1,000 and all proceeds go to the Sophia Fund.  Last year we raised $9,000. This year we are going to raise even more.  You can read more about the game here.  Just send me an email if you would like to attend the breakfast.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

594: 12 Years

Trumpets and drum roll, please!  This month the Monday Memo turns 12 years old! From humble beginnings in 2001, the Memo has gone on to impact thousands of lives and inspire many to purposeful living. On this special occasion, please allow me to muse and reflect on these last 12 years.

WHY?

I started the Monday Memo because I was launching a website and wanted something that would 'drive' people to the site, something that would cause people to remember that the site existed. I read the author Seth Godin, who still impacts my life and work, and he talked about permission marketing, through which you created something of value that people gave you permission to send. While speaking at a conference in Ohio, I asked how many would like to receive something like the Monday Memo and eight people signed up. The rest is history.  If anything, the Memo has become the main attraction and the website a sideshow, supporting the audience I reach through the Memo. Who would have thought?

When I first started, I didn't know what I would write or how people would respond.  I never thought that I would be writing 12 years later and it has been a faith step to sit down every Sunday night for 12 years, sometimes not knowing what I would write. Yet when I would start, something would always come and I am grateful to the Lord for His help in creating and maintaining this project.  In 12 years, I think I only missed writing the Memo about 25 times.

WHY NOT?

Every year at this time, I reflect on whether or not to continue the Memo. The readership is not as large as it once was, for when I started the Memo, there were very few other regular email offerings. Today there are a myriad and I would like to think I encouraged some of them to start. Yet 6,000 people still receive every week and I get feedback regularly that the Memo still inspires and mentors many people. Also, I have used the Memo to create awareness of my work in Kenya and many people have contributed to the needs there, which is a source of great joy for me and those we help.

So why not continue the Memo for another year?

In honor of this special event, I am attaching a gift - a document containing the 12 best Memos from the last 12 years. These Memos got the most feedback and actually a few of them appeared more than once as reprints. I hope you enjoy them again as much as I did writing and now compiling and editing them.

And of course, I want to challenge you to do what's in your heart to do. The Memo was in my heart, I wrote and God blessed.  If He did it for me, He can do it for you. But He can't work with what you don't produce. So go for it and, as you do, celebrate with me God's goodness in your life over the last 12 years. Have a great week and Happy Anniversary, Monday Memo!

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

THE PACIFIC INSTITUTE:  I am going to host my annual seminar TPI here in PIttsburgh on March 14 and 15 and then again on April 25 and 26.  What is TPI? The training offered is the best I have ever encountered and has made me better and more effective at everything I do. The cost is $400, so it represents an investment in yourself, but it will pay dividends for the rest of your life!  If you are interested, write and I will send you more information.

KENYA: You can read my latest updates from Kenya that include a thank you from some widows (pictured right) and a list of needs from a children's' ministry. Please read and then give as the Lord leads, either through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you (and the children thank you, too).

Download Best 12 Memos

592: Economic Terrorism

I have noticed that when you set out to fulfill your purpose, something interesting happens. If you make it to purpose, you will be tested as to whether or not you can maintain purpose.  Very often this test is financial and what is what I call financial terrorism.  If the enemy can't keep you from purpose, he will try to surround your 'city' and starve you out, hoping you will give up and go back. God allows this to happen, for those tough times will empower you for your future success and keep you humble. This economic terrorism is what I like to call a million dollar experience that I would not give ten cents to go through again.

But you may ask if there is any biblical precedent for this 'terrorism'. I believe there is. To see if you agree with me, you will have to read on.

THE LAND

God brought Abraham out of his homeland and promised to give him the land to which God was sending Him. He also promised that Abraham's descendants would be more numerous than the sands on the seashore. I wonder how Abraham knew about seashore sand, unless he had visited the beach during his lifetime?  Anyway, I digress.

Abraham pursued his purpose and entered the land that God had promised. A funny thing happened, however, for he had to leave the very land God had given him. Why did he leave? Let's look at what the Bible says: ^"Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe" (Genesis 12:10).

God gave Abraham the land but then Abraham had to leave it because there was a famine. Abraham had to leave or he would have starved! Why would God allow this to happen? During his departure, Abraham decided to misrepresent his wife Sarah, portraying her as his cousin and not his wife.  Part of the reason is so that God could reveal the work that still needed done in Abraham's' life and faith.  The other was to teach Abraham to hold on to God's promise and not the circumstances surrounding the promise.

Your own lack during your economic terrorism season will also reveal the real you.

MY OWN JOURNEY

I went through my own economic terrorism in 2001. There were days when I didn't think we were going to make it and survive. I thought about turning aside to a job or some other means of support, but I decided to endure and press on. Today, I am glad I did. What's more, my only regret is that I didn't engage my purpose full time earlier than 2001! 

Today I am stronger and have more faith in God than before. I am not intimidated by lack before I set my goals. Famine, survival and economic terrorism taught me a lot about myself and God. I am a better day today not only because of purpose, but because of my lack when I started to move forward.

Are you experiencing economic terrorism of some sort?  This isn't an indication you have done something wrong, but something right! Don't panic and trust God. You will live, although there will be times when are you are convinced you will die! When it's over, you will be able to see what God was doing and has done, and you will rejoice. During the famine, it's hard to do that.

Use this time to strengthen your faith and keep your eyes on God. He is in control and won't allow your terrorism to last one day longer than it must. It must take place, however, and its end will bring not only a sigh of relief but a great blessing that God had in mind all along.  Have a blessed week!

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

KENYA: You can read the latest thank you from my most recent visit to Kenya here.  When you have read it, you can give using my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  You can also read my travel blog while I was here to see that we put your contributions to good use. Pictured here are the students at Karen Academy to receive their lunch the day we went there to host a festival for 340 of them.

PURPOSECOACH:  I had such a good response to my revived  PurposeCoach program that I am extending the special price of $99 for the program through February 28.  The program includes some listening, some reading and some connecting time with me and can now be done from anywhere in the world, since everything is digitized and online. You can pay for your PurposeCoach Program via Paypal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. Make the investment in your life today. I am attaching a FAQ sheet concerning PurposeCoach, along with an enrollment application, below. Because I have digitized everything, you can enroll no matter where your geographic righteousness is - in other words, no matter where you live.

591: Geographically Righteous

When you pursue purpose, it is not only what you do, but who you do it with and where it is done. The latter is what one pastor called 'geographic righteousness.' He said it's impossible to be righteous in one city when God wants you in another, no matter how many good things you are doing in that first city. If God wants you in Africa, you can't stay in the UK and claim to be in God's will.

Many people say something like this: "Lord, I will do whatever You want me to do, as long as it is in this country, in this region, in this city, in this territory, in this neighborhood, on this street, in this house, and during these times.  But Lord, You know I am completely Yours!" 

I knew a woman one time who came to Africa and sang a song. The people gave her a standing ovation. When she came home, her church did not even want her to sing and she was offended. When she asked me what I thought, I responded, "When you got that standing ovation in Africa, God was trying to show you where He wanted you to sing. I am not saying you have to move there, but I do think you need to find ways to sing there more often."  I suppose that is another example of what I am calling geographic righteousness.

Paul desperately wanted to minister to his people the Jews, but God sent him away to the Gentiles. Jonah wanted to get away from Nineveh, but God had a whale redirect him to God's appointed destination. Even Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and it was only later that His disciples took His message to the Gentiles.

This concept of proper placement in order to fulfill purpose does not mean you have to leave your country. Most will not. It may mean, however, that you have to venture outside your comfort zone to visit people in places where you would not ordinarily go. God may send you to work with folks who don't look or talk like you of a different race or culture, right in your own home town! You can't pick and choose where you will fulfill your purpose. God not only assigns purpose, but also the spheres and places where you will be most effective.

As I write this, I am in Kenya with 15 others. I am in Kenya because God opened a door for purpose here and I want to share it with others. My placement for these two weeks is here, and the time has been so fruitful and rewarding - both for the others and me. Where does God want you to function best? Do you know? If not, then perhaps it's time that you asked Him or paid attention to the places where your purpose flows best and where you are happiest and most effective. For me, this week again is in Kenya and for that, I thank God. I would not miss this for the world. Have a blessed week!

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

KENYA: Even though I am in Kenya, there is still time to give and the needs are great. I can draw the money out via ATM here, so please follow your heart and give before I leave Kenya on February 17.  You can give using my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  You can also follow my travel blog while I am here to see that we are putting your contributions to good use.

PURPOSECOACH:  I had such a good response to my revived  PurposeCoach program that I am extending the special price of $99 for the program through February 28.  The program includes some listening, some reading and some connecting time with me and can now be done from anywhere in the world, since everything is digitized and online. You can pay for your PurposeCoach Program via Paypal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. Make the investment in your life today. I am attaching a FAQ sheet concerning PurposeCoach, along with an enrollment application, below. Because I have digitized everything, you can enroll no matter where your geographic righteousness is - in other words, no matter where you live.

Download 1 PCoach FAQs

588: Look for It

I meet with people almost every week to talk about purpose and creativity. In most cases if not all, I find that fear is holding them back in some way. What's more, most don't recognize the fear because it disguises itself so well. I have found this true in my own life, so let's talk about fear and what it is costing you.

WHERE IS IT?

Any more, I don't need to see the affects of fear to go looking for it in my own life. I assume it's there, so I begin to turn over the rocks, so to speak, in my heart and mind looking for the scorpions of fear that live below. I am no longer in denial but living in reality that fear is my constant companion.  I must recognize it, bring it to the light of day, and confront it or else fear will continue to rob me of my opportunities.

So I go on a fear hunt, saying to myself, "Where is it?  I know it's here somewhere?  Aha there it is!"

What am I afraid of?  You name it.  I am afraid of what others think.  I am afraid that I don't have enough time to do something.  I am afraid I don't have time to do something well. I am afraid I may miss the Lord by doing something. I am afraid I will miss the Lord by not doing something. I am afraid I won't have the finances to do something before me to do.

You get the idea by now.  You may think I am weird or unusual, but don't you have the same struggle? 

WHERE DO WE GET IT?

We get our fears from our parents going all the way back to Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve fell, what did they do?  They hid. And why did they hide?  They hid because they were afraid! 

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid" (Genesis 3:8-10).

WHAT TO DO?

I want you to do this week what I am doing.  I want you to assume that fear is present in your life and go looking for it.  Know that it is cleverly disguised as being rational or spiritual and it can and does make a convincing case that it really isn't fear.  Don't buy into it!  Confront it for what it is, for until you know and accept the truth, the truth cannot set you free. Knowing it's fear is the first step to courage.

Once you find the fear, consider what it has cost you and then take action to counteract the effects of the fear. If you are like me, you will like the results of that exercise so much that you will no longer wait for fear to knock you on the side of the head before you deal with it.  Instead you will go looking for it, knowing that is the great enemy of purpose and creativity that has cost you much in the way of productivity and joy.  Have a great week!

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

KENYA: Every day that passes brings me closer to my departure on January 31 and I still need about $17,000 to reach my goal to be able to bless the children and widows in Kenya.  If you can help, please give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL:  My new daily devotional is getting a lot of attention. You can find it here and, once you check it out, you can subscribe to receive it there, too.

FACEBOOK: Please go to my PurposeQuest International ministry page on Facebook and give me a "Like." I will be transitioning a lot of my ministry stuff I currently place on my personal FB page to that ministry page soon.

ISRAEL: The time to register for my September pilgrimage is now! Attached is the brochure.  Let me know if you are going for space for the trip will disappear soon. The brochures is attached below.

PURPOSECOACH:  I have resurrected my PurposeCoach program, but this time put it all online to make it easier and more streamlined for you. And for the month of January only, I am offering a special price of $99 for the program, which includes some listening, some reading and some connecting time with me.  I am attaching a FAQ sheet concerning PurposeCoach, along with an enrollment application, below.

Download 1 PCoach FAQs

Download 1 Israel Brochure

587: Heavenly Vision

I hope your New Year is off to a good start and that you are still on track to accomplish your resolutions and goals you set for the year. I am delighted with the response to my daily Purpose Pearls, which I write every day to help you focus on the Gold MIne Principles of purpose, goals, time management, faith and organization. My daily readership has doubled since I started the Pearls, so if you want to take advantage of this daily service, go here, check them out and then subscribe.

As I mentioned last week, I have started teaching a class on Paul's theology, so he has been the focus of my attention these days. I counted 40 books in my library about Paul, not counting the commentaries for his letters!  I have also visited 12 of the cities where Paul ministered, so you might say I Paul has been my study hobby over the years. It is now a great privilege to teach about him after all those years of study.  What's more, Paul is a great study in purpose, so let's turn our attention there now.

In Acts 26:19-20, Paul described his purpose as heavenly vision.

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds."

Another translation calls that heavenly vision 'light from heaven."  Either way, Paul had an experience that clearly identified God's will for his life. How clear and bright was this light or vision?  Paul told Agrippa that he saw the light around noon. I have been to the Holy Land many times and let me tell you, the noonday sun is bright and hot!  Yet when the Lord revealed Himself to Paul, the revelation was brighter than that Middle Eastern sun.  That's how much light God can shed on your purpose.

If God wants you to do His will, and of course, He does, He must reveal to you what that will is.  He can do this in no uncertain terms, with no room left for doubt. While on the ground, Paul asked the Lord, “‘What shall I do, Lord?'" The Lord responded, ‘Get up,and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do'" (Acts 22:10). Paul got up from his Damascus Road knockdown and immediately got about his purpose. He embraced God's will and the rest is history; no one except Jesus had such a dramatic affect on the early church.  

Your purpose may not be that dramatic or public. That doesn't make it any less urgent or critical. What is the heavenly vision for your life, do you know? If you don't, what price are you willing to pay to find out? If you know, are you fulfilling it to the max?  Heavenly vision brings with it heavenly direction, energy and help. I urge you to take advantage of this full package and then get busy with the work God has for you, for with the vision, direction, energy and help also comes heavenly results, not just now but in the Age to come. Have a blessed, purposeful week!

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

KENYA: Every day that passes brings me closer to my departure on January 31 and I still need resources to bless the children and widows in Kenya.  If you can help, please give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

BEAVER COUNTY:  If you live in Western Pennsylvania, I will be teaching my Five Competencies for Global Leaders seminar starting this Thursday morning and for the third Thursday of every month through May at the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver, PA. This is sponsored by a group called Leaders Serving Beaver County.  You can check out their website for registration information.

FACEBOOK: Please go to my PurposeQuest International ministry page on Facebook and give me a "Like." I will be transitioning a lot of my ministry stuff I currently place on my personal FB page to that ministry page soon.

ISRAEL: The time to register for my September pilgrimage is now! Attached is the brochure.  Let me know if you are going for space for the trip will disappear soon. The brochures is attached below.

PURPOSECOACH:  I have resurrected my PurposeCoach program, but this time put it all online to make it easier and more streamlined for you. And for the month of January only, I am offering a special price of $99 for the program, which includes some listening, some reading and some connecting time with me.  I am attaching a FAQ sheet concerning PurposeCoach, along with an enrollment application, below.

Download 1 PCoach FAQs

Download 1 Israel Brochure

585: Purpose Progress

I trust you are having a blessed and happy holiday season.  We certainly are as a family and I am writing this from California, where we are visiting my wife's brother's family and having a great time. Last week I received an email update from a woman in South Africa whom I met in 2007. She felt compelled to update me on her purpose progress and I was so elated by what I read that I asked her if I can share her report with you. She agreed, so here goes.

ERNA'S UPDATE

Dear John,
 
You may not remember me and yet I have a picture of the 2 of us! We met at a workshop in Pretoria that Glen McQuirck arranged with you. The outstanding memory of that day was the way that I could refine and confirm my purpose statement. Since then (2007) I was able to set focus on several things that I knew had to happen in my life in order to live my purpose.
 
A summary of these are:

1. I completed a honours degree in 2007.
2. I completed a Masters degree in social work early in 2012 – cum laude.
3. I was able to shed to whole lot of stuff from my life not in line with my purpose
4. I was able to stop commuting between Pretoria and Johannesburg for my work, and set up a home office, which simplifies my life tremendously (while I still do stimulating traveling to other parts of South Africa)
5. I was able to implement the findings of my Master’s research into a project in my work which I now find suits me like a glove – all my strengths, skills and values are wonderfully at work, energising me in a way that is astounding to myself and everybody around me
6. I am busy setting goals within my purpose for the ‘last part’ of my career – I will be 60 in May 2013 and humanly speaking I will retire from my official job at age 65 in May 2018 – after that I hope to carry on with consultancy work

John, I simply want you to know that your input was/is of real significance in my life. I thank God for opening my mind to listen to people who could stimulate me on the way. One example was your Monday memo in May 2011 concerning your graduation. I could identify closely with a lot you said, and I knew it was a matter of keep on keeping on . . .  no doubt my graduation day in September 2012 was a glorious occasion.
 
May you also continue in your purpose and experience much joy as you’re doing so – to the glory of God.
 
Yours in living on purpose.
Erna Möller
Pretoria – South Africa

PURPOSECOACH

Thank you, Erna, for sharing your story and progress, which I know will inspire many.  But what about you? As you approach the New Year, what are you prepared to do about your purpose progress?  To help you, I am reviving my PurposeCoach program of a few years ago, which was quite cumbersome to ship and manage.  Now I have digitized everything so that we can work together via email and Internet.

The PurposeCoach program involves six months of reading and study to help you find and fulfill your purpose, just like Erna did on her own. The cost is $199 but I am offering a half-price sale during January of just $99.  Once you pay, you will receive once a month for six months audio and reading purpose resources. You will also be able to communicate with me via email to get the help you need and, who knows, perhaps some face-to-face coaching, depending on where you live.

You can pay for your PurposeCoach Program via Paypal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. Make the investment in your life today and who knows, maybe I will be including your purpose progress in a future Monday Memo just like I did Erna's.  Happy New Year to you and may it be the most purposeful ever!

584: Little Drummer Boy

I have to confess: the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy is not my favorite song.  In fact, I usually change the station when it plays. Yet today when I heard it, I discovered a purpose message in it that is relevant for both you and me. Let's see what the little drummer boy has to say about purpose, shall we?

NOTHING TO GIVE    

The song portrays a young lad who encounters the Holy Family and the baby Jesus.  But alas, the young boy has nothing to give that can match the size or value of the gifts that the wise men had already bestowed on Jesus.  He was intimidated and basically said, "I have nothing to give, nothing I can do, except play this drum."  Yet the boy decided that this was enough so, with Mary's permission, he played his drum for the baby Jesus.

The song ends with the baby Jesus smiling at the little drummer boy.

THE LESSON

The lesson is so clear that I don't know why I didn't see it before. The boy only had to give what he had and express the gift that God had given him to be pleasing to the Lord. And that's all you have to do, too. You don't have to dream of winning the lottery to give a big gift, or to be someone you are not.  You just have to be who God made you to be and express that real you.  When you do that, you have given God a gift in response to the gift(s) He has given you.  You honor God when you honor your purpose, when you say, "If God saw fit to make this like and give me this talent, purpose and gift, then I am going to express it to the world for the glory of God."

As you end another year and begin a new one, I trust you will make up your mind to do what the little drummer did. Don't minimize or denigrate your gift or purpose, don't compare it to anyone else's, and then express it for the world to see.

I want to thank you for another year of being a faithful Monday Memo reader. I have produced the Memo for 12 years now, and it's still as exciting and fresh for me as it was when I began - perhaps moreso.  I hope it is the same for you.  From my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

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

PURPOSECOACH:  On January 1, my program called PurposeCoach is coming back, bigger and better than ever.  This time, it will all be online and digitized, and on sale for $99, half off the normal price of $198.  If you are interested, let me know and I will send you some info and the link through which you can pay.

ISRAEL 2013: I am returning to Israel in September, 2013 and I am inviting you to come with me.  The

 brochure is attached, so read up and then let me know you are coming with me. 

GIVE A GIFT TO AN ORPHAN:  I have updated my website page that describes what  I am doing in Kenya and how you can help.  One of the new features is to give a gift of $35 to an orphan this holiday season, which will feed, clothe and care for an orphan like Obed (click to enlarge) for one month. Please check out the new page and then give generously to the cause through PayPal on that page or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsbugh, PA 15221-0882.

Download 1 Israel Brochure

 

577: Fighting Yourself

You are probably familiar with John 7:38: "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

There is a flow that is to come out of you and the water from that flow, while originating in the Spirit, should taste like you. It can't be bitter with anger or unforgiveness, and it can't be salty with lies and deception. And it should not be artificially flavored to taste like someone else's water.  Other than that, the water should taste like you.  Your flow should have your distinct characteristics as you carry out God's work and you should not apologize for this.

This is important because you may be among the many who believe that your water is 'bad.' If it isn't bad, you think it needs to have another flavor or maybe some fizzy gas added. Most people are fighting themselves, who they are, what they like, even trying to distance themselves from the dreams in their hearts. If that's you, can you recognize how counterproductive it is for you to be opposing you?

I love live sporting events. I make people laugh. I thrive when I travel and am bored with the mundane. I love teaching, and dread bureaucracy. I love to write and sign books, even shaking hands and posing for a picture or two with my 'fans.'That is who I am, what my water tastes like. Can you describe to me the flavor of your living water?

My writing, speaking and consulting has my "flavor," and it flows. Are you damming up the flow, trying not to be who you are?  Or are you filtering the water for impurities and then letting it gush from your life?  What's more, the water that flows is not for your benefit; it's for others to drink.  So in this case, it's alright for people to drink your flavored water.

Is there anything you enjoy doing or being that you are trying to curtail or even adjust?  Well, maybe it's part of your flow and you should stop interfering.  Perhaps that characteristic that you are convinced has to change is something God built into you.  When you oppose it, you are actually opposing God, telling Him He made a mistake when He put that in you.

So I will continue to smile and shake hands as I go, not worrying about why I enjoy it as much as I do.  I just want to be who God made me to be and if anyone has a problem with that, that is their problem and not mine.  I got tired of opposing myself and I hope you get tired of it too. Have a great week!

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

KENYA UPDATES: I posted two separate updates from Kenya here and here.  Please read the latest news of the work there as we prepare our next shipment of books, clothes, shoes and supplies to honor the latest requests for more libraries and community support. Then I urge you to give a generous contribution today toward the $30,000 goal I have set to ship the goods and buy some food.  You can give through my website or by writing and sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you for acting so promptly and generously.