The Monday Memo 249

I feel reflective and philosophical today.  I have spent some time thinking the last few days about my involvement in what I call the purpose revolution.  I delivered my first purpose message in November, 2001.  Since then, I estimate that I have spoken on purpose about 900 times in various settings.  I don't think there are many others who can reflect on this message the way I can.  I thought I would share some of those reflections with you in this Memo.

MY BIGGEST JOY

I think my greatest joy in purpose has been the number of people who have been impacted by the message.  Little did I know in November, 2001 that I would not only speak so often about purpose but would also write six books and 249 Monday Memos.  I hear from people all over the world who share their stories, testimonies and questions about purpose. What's more, there's no end in sight.   

The people who write or call all tend to say the same thing:  The purpose message is liberating and affirming.  Even those who struggle to clarify their purpose write to say that they are better off for having searched, even if they aren't clear yet.   What a privilege to be part of something that has touched so many lives.

MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

When I first started speaking on purpose, I thought it would be just a matter of time before churches everywhere wanted to hear this message.  I am delighted that Rick Warren's book,  The Purpose Driven Life, has touched so many and gone so far. I have never been comfortable with the fact, however, that purpose was confined to a 40-day study in Pastor Warren's approach.  And, for the most part, I have been disappointed at how unresponsive the church and especially the leaders have been to the purpose message, even after they have completed the 40-day program.  Unless pastors see how this message can help their church grow, they just aren't that interested. 

I had one pastor tell me that purpose doesn't work in the church.  People, he said, can't be free to choose what they will do; they must be assigned or told what to do.  Another pastor asked me not to speak on purpose while I was at his church.  He said that he had everything "set" the way he wanted it, and the purpose message would only stir discontent.  Perhaps he was correct--about the discontent I mean. 

In part, this has been due to my inability to adequately show how purpose can help a church grow, which it can.  Nevertheless I don't fully understand why leaders would not want to equip their people to know what they were created to do, whether or not it gains more ushers or workers for the church.

MY BIGGEST SURPRISE

My biggest surprise has been how practical the purpose message is.  I have never had anyone get weird once they have embarked on a serious PurposeQuest.  No one has ever said to me, "I think I'm supposed to be an astronaut," or have someone say, "I"m the next Billy Graham."  The purpose message delivers people from being super-spiritual.  It also causes them to do a sane assessment of who they are and who they are not. 

Purpose expands the opportunities that people have to do God's will.  No longer does anyone have to choose from a short list of acceptable purpose statements (to do God's will, to be holy, to be a pastor, to name a few).  Purpose allows people to serve God in the realm of art, music, business, education or the military, where they can do the will of God outside the church and still be spiritual.

So there you have my reflections.  Feel free to add your comments to this Memo at the site where it is posted.  In the meantime, I urge you to stay true to your PurposeQuest, as I stay true to the message that captured my heart almost 15 years ago. 

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Comments

[Juli Ann Wilhite]

I first met you when you came to Heartland Church in Irving, TX about 1 1/2 years ago. I signed up for the monday memo and my life has drastically changed. I am pursuing my call and purpose by serving in and working toward a full time ministry position. I quit my corporate job that gave me no joy and while I have a lot less money, I am so much more content and happy. Thank you for your purpose message. I encourage all of the people that I work with to do what they are made to do!

[Sheila]

Hey John! You are so correct that the purpose message is one of the best ways to help people discover and unfold who they are. I, too have found that many pastors and leaders in the private sector are "afraid" to allow their people the freedom to be empowered and "grow". They have things nice and tidy and most rule by terror, versus empowerment. I think they are afraid to look behind them to see if anyone is following... for many they would discover there is no one following so therefore, they must be taking a walk. Thanks for all that you do and for so impacting my life with your purpose message. Keep up the good work oh great Chaos Master! Sheila

[collina]

psalm148 david calls for us to praise the lord. not only us but creepy crawlys, forces of nature and things. Now we usually think of praising God as telling Him orally how wonderful we think He is but I began to ask myself ho the wind can praise God when it has no mouth. Then i was led to think, when an ant is creeping,when the sun is shining, when the snow is falling what are they doing that counts as praise? They are doing what they were created to do. So i totaly agree Dr J, we ought to know what we were created to do and do it that even if we never say a word to God He will say we praised Him indeed. God Bless you, Lts keep going

[Joseph Sirat]

Dear Dr. Stanko,
Thanks alot for your insights.God can provide even where the enviroment is at
odds.Kenya has been spared
power shortages while neighbouring countries are
suffering economicaly.God
provided the rains for hyro-
power.
On the issue of different parts of the body performing
equal but important roles,
it was amazing to learn that
the hidden parts of the body
perform even greater roles
than the vissible ones.