The Monday Memo from John Stanko

Monday Memo 328: Daylight on the Night Shift

I trust that you had a good Christmas with family and friends. Our family enjoyed being together in Florida and next week we will reconvene in New York City. I am not ready to proclaim that the holidays are over and plan on celebrating for a few more weeks. I am therefore drawing on the Monday Memo archives to bring you an updated holiday Memo from years past.

THE NIGHT SHIFT

This week I want to take a quick look at the shepherds of the Christmas story. They were working the night shift, doing what they and their ancestors had done for centuries. They went to work that night without any thought that anything extraordinary was about to happen. On the night Jesus was born, they were tending their flocks on the hillsides outside Bethlehem, minding their own business. Suddenly God sent them messengers, who brought great light to the night shift:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-16).

These shepherds were doing what they knew to do at that time in their life and God interrupted them with a special news report. This both scared and thrilled them. That's how it is when you find your life purpose. Often you are doing what you know to do at the time, usually a job or role that is less than fulfilling. Suddenly God, the Great Communicator, breaks into your consciousness and brings a message of purpose, of what He has always wanted you to do. That not only terrifies you but also gives you a desire to clarify it and fulfill it.

That night the shepherds went to work like any other day. God spoke to them, however, and they were never the same. They started by sitting on a hillside in cold weather; they ended by finding a great treasure in Bethlehem, a treasure that had not been revealed to anyone else but them.

YOUR PURPOSEQUEST

Maybe you have been in a desperate search for your purpose and its expression. As we end this year, I suggest that you be encouraged as you remember the shepherds. Finding your purpose doesn't depend on your diligence; it depends on God's grace. Yes, you must search for your purpose, but only God can reveal it to you. I don't know when or how He will do that. It may be one cold, dark night when you go about your business like countless other nights. At that point, God may send His messenger and change your life forever. I don't know when or how He will do it, I just know that He will.

So have faith and relax this holiday season. Keep asking God to help you see who you are and what you were born to do, and after that, trust Him. He wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do. He will show you in the fullness of time, bring you daylight even if you are working the night shift. When He does, you will join with the shepherds as laborers who found more than business as usual one night when they went to work. May the God of purpose speak to you soon and may you have the courage to believe what He says! Happy New Year!

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

Monday Memo 326: Down But Not Out!

We interrupt our series on Moses because it's almost Christmas. I have reached back into the archives to bring you one of my favorite Memos, which I like to share every year. I hope you enjoy it, and please read to the end for some current announcements.

I love London. Last year I went to see the show The Lion King with some friends. While I enjoyed it, it wasn’t as special as what I did there in 2005 right before Christmas. Then I went to see Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Music Hall. What a wonderful way to enjoy a timeless masterpiece of music and Scripture in the city where it was composed.

MESSIAH

The Messiah is considered by many to be the greatest musical feat in the history of mankind. Commissioned by a charity to produce 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 raised almost 400 pounds for charity and freed 142 other men from debtor's prison in 1742. 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.

So 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 I believe 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.

HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

God knows how to prepare His workers for their work. There is always an element of suffering, misunderstanding, success and then failure before there is the breakthrough success that God has for His servants. You are no exception to this timeless rule. The Bible and history itself contain many examples of this truth. This week, I would like to focus on one such example: Daniel.

Daniel had distinguished himself in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. His exploits are described in the first four chapters of the book that bears Daniel’s name. When Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar took the throne, we have the well-known story from which we get the oft-used phrase “the handwriting’s on the wall.” I urge you to at least read Daniel 5, for I will now quote from only part of that story:

Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled. The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale. There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father — your father the king, I say — appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means” (Daniel 5:8-12).

Now my question to you is this: if Daniel had been so successful in serving Nebuchadnezzar, why didn’t Belshazzar know who he was? Why did the queen have to remind the king that Daniel even existed? The answer is simple: after his long success, Daniel now faced a down time in his life. He was forgotten, retired and rejected by the new leadership! Daniel was famous one day and forgotten the next.

While man had forgotten Daniel, God had not. And the same is true for you. It may seem like all your doors are closed and that the success you once enjoyed has now evaporated into thin air, never to return. Or you may feel like you are at your end, not able to go on another day. But that isn’t necessarily the case. As with Daniel and Handel, your best days may yet be ahead. In fact, 2008 could be the year for your breakthrough. After Daniel gave the king the bad news of what the writing on the wall meant, Daniel was once again restored to prominence:

Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:29).

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

What should you do if you are in a season of “un-use,” disfavor or inaction? As we close out 2007, 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. So remind yourself that God can do anything, and then rest in Him. Handel went home to retire and Daniel perhaps thought it was all over for him. Yet God helped both of them and He will help you.

2. Keep preparing for your day of success. – I don’t think Handel went home and abandoned music. And I don’t think Daniel went home and stopped seeking God. 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. Daniel, having been snubbed and ignored, could have refused to render his wisdom services for Belshazzar. What can you do for someone else, even though you are down and out? If you need more encouragement concerning giving, then see Memo 231.

I’m grateful for 2007 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 the purpose breakthrough in 2008. Thank you for allowing me to come into your life every week and thank you for being a purpose seeker. As I close this Memo, I wish you not only a great week, but also a very Merry Christmas!

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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.

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.

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.

Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe

Monday Memo 325: Fear Not Failing

I am in the Nairobi airport with just a few minutes until my flight to Amsterdam. I was unable to get online in Zimbabwe the last two days, so I apologize for being a day late. Just consider this the Tuesday Monday Memo.

The last several weeks we have considered the fact that Moses was less than enthusiastic when the Lord ordered him to Egypt from their encounter at the burning bush. In fact, I entitled a message one time, Moses Produces the Best Excuses, because that is exactly what he did. His first was that he wasn't capable; the second was that he didn't have enough information to respond to the people's questions (you can read the two entries about those excuses by clicking here). I hope you are ready to learn about excuse number three; if you are, then please read on.

FEAR FAILING

Moses' third excuse was, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you?'" (Exodus 4:1). Moses was asking, "What if I fail? What if I'm obedient but the people don't respond?" From my own experience as a purpose coach, I have found that fear of failure is the primary stumbling block for people trying to be more purposeful and productive. You can be so afraid to do the wrong thing that you do no thing, missing opportunities that could be significant.

Are you afraid of failure? Is that what stands between you and any attempt to fulfill your purpose or achieve your goal? In 2004, I began advocating that one week be set aside as Celebrate A Failure Week. I urged readers to talk about what they learned from failure and then to celebrate that failure as a great learning experience. We celebrated again in 2006. Maybe it's time for another celebration. (You can read Memos 111-117 to discover more about the role that failure plays in your success.) This week, let me quote former American president, Theodore Roosevelt, and what he had to say about failure:

It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly. Who errs, and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. But who does actually strive to do the deeds. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions. Who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worse, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

FEAR NOT FAILING

If what Roosevelt said is true, then we should fear not failing. It is better to fail trying to do something great than succeed at doing nothing, for the latter isn't really success at all. I have often been more concerned with what other people were thinking and that kept me from trying. I have also been too concerned with trying not to fail than trying to succeed.

Are you ready to face your fear of failure this week? Are you ready to replace it with a fear of not failing? When you fear failing, you won't even try and when you don't try, you won't ever do much of anything. When you fear not failing, you will make every effort to do something, concerned less about what people think and more about the consequences of lost opportunities. Are you offering God and others the same excuse that Moses offered? Are you asking, "But what if things don't work out?" The way to avoid the answer to that is to never take action. I urge you, even beg you, to stop allowing fear to paralyze you and to take action this week. Be more concerned with the consequences of being purposeless than the consequences of trying and failing. As you do that, I know that you will have a great week!

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As we end the year, I ask that you consider a contribution to my purpose work around the world. I offer much of what I write at no cost and will continue to do so. It would be most helpful if you would consider a 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. Thank you for helping me do the work that I was created to do.

Monday Memo 324: What Shall I Tell Them?

There is no one greater than Moses in the Old Testament, but we have seen the last few weeks that Moses was just like you and me. He was willing to do God's will to a point, but then he began to produce excuses that he hoped would exempt him from going back to Egypt, a job he clearly didn't want to do. Last week we looked at Moses' first excuse, which was, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:11). That was an expression of his poor self-esteem and low estimation of his ability to carry out the task.

Next Moses tried a different ploy -- that he wasn't ready to go. I know you have never offered that excuse, but just in case you are ever tempted to do so, perhaps you should read on and see how to handle this thinking.

WHAT SHALL I TELL THEM?

What did Moses say exactly? I'm glad you asked. He said, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13). Moses was trying to talk God out of His decision to send Moses, and Moses was saying in so many words, "I don't have all the information I need. I need to know more about God and be better equipped to handle people's objections and questions."

I have encountered people who do the same thing. They have a clear mandate and burden to do something. Yet they tell me things like, "I'm praying about it," but they really aren't. Sometimes they tell me, "I don't have the education or training," or "I am not spiritual enough; I have to get this or that fixed in my life before I go and do." Have you ever offered those excuses? Are you employing them now in some aspect of your life, ministry or work?

You may need more training or eduction, and you may need to address a lack or problem in your life. Yet those issues don't disqualify you from doing something today to see God's will furthered in your life. Usually, you can address your issues while you are fulfilling your purpose instead of before even trying to fulfill it. Don't try to figure out all the implications of God's will before you start doing it; start doing it and make your changes and improvements as you go.

MIGHTY IN BATTLE

Hebrews 11:34-35 states, "Whose weakness was turned to strength, and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." I thought it interesting that the heroes of the faith didn't wait until they had strength, rather they received strength after they entered the battle. You may be saying to yourself, "If God gives me strength, I'll go and do." Instead God may say, "If you go and do, I'll give you the strength, wisdom, power or ability -- whatever it is that you need." If you are waiting to be ready to go before you are ready to go, you may never be ready to go.

Are you procrastinating, delaying the first steps you need to take where your purpose or goals are concerned? What excuses have you come up with that sound logical, which have almost become second nature to you? Are you ready this week to face the truth of why you are delaying? I hope you are, for God knew of your lack and weakness before He gave you the idea or directive. In spite of your lack, He is offering you a chance to fulfill your purpose. Are you ready to stop delaying and to take action? This week could be the week when you finally stop asking questions and offering excuses. I hope it is and that you have a great week!

Feel free to add your comments to this entry on the site where it is posted.

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Greetings from Zimbabwe! As we end the year, I ask that you consider a contribution to my purpose work around the world. I offer much of what I write at no cost and will continue to do so. It would be most helpful if you would consider a 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. Thank you for helping me do the work that I was created to do.

Soon I will finish my study in Second Timothy and will move on to Matthew's gospel. If you would like to subscribe to those studies, you can subscribe on the site where they are posted. The same goes for my regular weblog or blog updates. You can receive them automatically by signing up on that site as well. You may want to consider a gift subscription to either or both for a friend or family member.