The Monday Memo from John Stanko

Monday Memo 332: One Word

A few years ago, my purpose statement changed. My purpose didn't change, but my statement did. People often ask, "Can your purpose change?" or "Can you have more than one purpose?" I always answer, "No," to both questions. Yet now I am saying my purpose definition or description did indeed change. Am I confused? Have I changed my mind? To find out the answers to those questions, you will have to read on.

ONLY ONE WORD

For many years, I stated that my purpose was “to bring [or make] order out of chaos.” Then one day, while driving in Zimbabwe, I saw that this definition wasn't correct. It wasn't so much that the definition was incorrect, but the way I interpreted my purpose was. On that fateful day in 2003, I realized that I don’t bring order out of chaos, nor do I make order out of chaos. Rather I create order out of chaos. It dawned on me that I am a creative person and thus my statement should be [as has been since], "I create order out of chaos."

What a difference one word can make!

I had always viewed myself as an organized, administrative-type person. I saw musicians, songwriters, and poets as the creative people, while I existed to organize their creativity. Then one day, I realized that my ability to bring order is in and of itself is a creative act. I was defining my purpose according to something I could not see. When I saw and gave myself permission to be creative, permission to consider myself creative. That decision changed how I defined my purpose -- and changed my life.

PERMISSION TO BE CREATIVE

A few weeks before I saw this change, I was heading to Uganda with a team from my home city. On the plane, the team leader asked me to fill out a form outlining my goals and objectives for the trip. Then she asked me to do something that would normally bring fear to my heart: She asked me to draw four pictures on the back of the paper to describe myself before, during and after the trip.

I actually felt my body stiffen as she asked me to draw those pictures, because "I can’t draw," or so I thought. Right there on the plane I decided to face my fear of being ridiculed or of not being very good, and proceeded to draw four pretty simple but effective pictures. They were the first four pictures I had ever drawn that I could remember.

Then I took out a sheet of paper and listed all the areas in which I could be considered creative. Here is how my list read: humor, consulting, conference and event coordination, The Monday Memo, the weekly Bible studies, my books, public speaking, my daily to-do list, my website and blog, the seminars that I teach and the two businesses that I have started. These are all creative acts, so therefore I am creative! I create order out of chaos.

YOU TOO!

I write this to you because you are creative, too. The Creator made you in His image and part of that image is to create. You may not see yourself as creative, but you are. You may not have any original ideas (who does?), but you probably have ideas of how to creatively apply concepts that already exist in new ways.

Why not do what I did? Take out a piece of paper and write down all the ways that you are creative. Don’t overlook activities like cooking, baking, gardening, floral design, letter writing, teaching, cleaning, repair work, interior design, and makeup and hair styling.

I also write this to help you overcome any bias that you may have against your creativity. Stop comparing yourself to others and don’t compare what you create with what others create. This week let your creativity flow, just like I did with my four pictures I drew. Your creativity may hold a key to help you clarify your purpose.

Facing the fact that you are creative may set you free to do things that have been in you to do all along. I have enjoyed my awareness of my creativity for the last four years, and I believe the best is yet to come! Now I tell everyone and anyone that my purpose is to create, not bring, order out of chaos. I hope this week will bring you a renewed sense of who you are and what you were created to create. We will focus more on creativity in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, I trust that you will have a great week!

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

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THE SALE IS ALMOST OVER!

January 31 is the deadline to enroll for my Seven Steps of a PurposeQuest coaching program at the special price. It is a seven-step CD study program to help you be a person of purpose and productivity. Sixty people have gone through this program and they have all found it to be of great help to them.

In this program, you learn how to:

1. Clarify your purpose.
2. Identify your values and align your actions with what's important to you.
3. Set lofty goals.
4. Learn to manage the time you have.
5. Turn your joy into revenue.

In addition, you check in with me for some personal time at three points in the program.

This program is usually $699US, but for the month of January, I am offering it for the sale price of $499US. What a deal! What's more, if you order now, I will include two of my books, Beyond Purpose and Unlocking the Power of Your Purpose, for free and I'll pay the shipping (US only).

If you are interested, please drop me an email so we can get started right away. If you want others to invest something in you, you must be willing to invest something in yourself. Start the year off right by spending some time and money to be more purposeful and productive.

A BETTER ZIMBABWE

Also, make sure you check out our new site highlighting the good things happening in Zimbabwe.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES

And don't forget to register to receive my weekly Bible study from Matthew's gospel.

Monday Memo 331: Don't Put Me In, Coach!

It's frigid here in Pennsylvania, but I am keeping warm and busy. Today is a national holiday in the States -- Martin Luther King Day -- so this is a good week to finish up our series on another liberator, Moses. Before we discuss Moses, let's begin with a story from the world of sports.

DON'T PUT ME IN, COACH

Several years ago, a professional basketball game was in the final seconds. The coach called time out and called a play that he hoped would win the game. But when play resumed, only four of his players were in the game. The fifth player, who was also the star, refused to go back in because he wasn’t appointed to take the winning shot. He forced the coach to put someone else in; the good news is that his team won, but that player lost. Players, writers and fans castigated that player for his selfish behavior.

As we look this week at Moses’ seventh comment at the burning bush, we see that Moses, having exhausted all the excuses and questions he could think of, simply refused to go to Egypt. “But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it’” (Exodus 4:13). In essence, Moses said “no” to God! Moses refused to go into the game just like that basketball player.

What was God’s response? “Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses” (Exodus 4:14). Up to this point in the story, God had been patient and gracious with Moses, responding to all his objections. At this point, however, God was angry. I hope I never make God that angry, but this story proves that it can happen. God is patient but there are limitations to His patience and we are never quite sure when we will reach those limitations.

MISSING PURPOSE?

I have people ask me all the time, “Can you refuse your purpose?” and my answer is always, “Yes!” Consider these two passages:

1. “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30); and
2. "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

You can receive the grace of God’s purpose in vain, choosing to ignore or do nothing with it. You can sit on your gifts, choosing to remain in the comfort zone of life rather than experiencing the discomfort of new faith experiences. You can also be so afraid of doing the wrong thing that you choose to do nothing.

God had answered and addressed each of Moses’ questions and concerns so that the real reason for Moses’ reluctance could be revealed: Moses just didn’t want to do it. Like that star basketball player, Moses just didn’t want to go into the game.

How about you? Are you testing God’s patience through delay and excuses? The good news is that after Moses said this, God assigned Aaron to go with Moses and then sent them both on their way to Egypt. If you confess this week that you don’t want to fulfill your purpose, that you’re scared, lazy or lack confidence, then the Lord will still help you!

You are not alone in your PurposeQuest; God is with you, even if you are hesitant. All you have to do this week is acknowledge where you are and ask God’s help. He will do the rest. Let this be the week when you face reality and still move on to do great things for God, just like Moses. Have a great week!

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

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Time is running out on the special offer to enroll for my Seven Steps of a PurposeQuest coaching program. It is a seven-step CD study program to help you be a person of purpose and productivity. Sixty people have gone through this program and they have all found it to be of great help to them.

In this program, you learn how to:

1. Clarify your purpose.
2. Identify your values and align your actions with what's important to you.
3. Set lofty goals.
4. Learn to manage the time you have.
5. Turn your joy into revenue.

In addition, you check in with me for some personal time at three points in the program.

This program is usually $699US, but for the month of January, I am offering it for the sale price of $499US. What a deal! What's more, if you order now, I will include two of my books, Beyond Purpose and Unlocking the Power of Your Purpose, for free and I'll pay the shipping (US only).

If you are interested, please drop me an email so we can get started right away. If you want others to invest something in you, you must be willing to invest something in yourself. Start the year off right by spending some time and money to be more purposeful and productive.

Also, make sure you check out our new site highlighting the good things happening in Zimbabwe.

And don't forget to register to receive my weekly Bible study from Matthew's gospel.

Monday Memo 330: The Need Is Your Call

My heart is with my friends in Kenya as they struggle to restore peace after their elections. I have written about the situation this past week on my blog. I am also concerned for Zimbabwe and the upcoming elections there. Let's all be praying for both nations.

WE'RE ALMOST DONE

We are almost finished with our study of Moses’ comments during his encounter with the burning bush. When God spoke to him from the bush, Moses’ first comment was, “Here I am!” We saw that this indicated his readiness to do what God wanted before He knew what it was, an attitude that you would do well to imitate. Then we studied how Moses asked, “Who am I?’ We related that question to our tendency to discount our ability to accomplish our purpose when we find out what it is.

We later saw that Moses’ third comment was: “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13). We saw that this comment was an example of Moses coming up with an excuse that he wasn’t ready and didn’t know enough about God. His fourth comment was: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" (Exodus 4:1). This question was an indication that Moses was concerned that he would fail and I asked you to consider what, if anything, you were afraid of.

Last week, we looked at Moses’ fifth comment: “Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he [Moses] replied” (Exodus 4:2). God was teaching Moses to use what he had and not to fret over what he didn’t have. And that brings us to Moses’ sixth comment, which was: “Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10).

THE NEED IS YOUR CALL

With this sixth comment, Moses has moved from honest questioning to procrastination. He is now working hard to come up with some excuse, any excuse so that he wouldn’t have to go to Egypt. If you look hard enough, you will always find a reason that could exempt you from fulfilling your purpose. Some of these reasons I hear on a regular basis are: “I’m too young; I’m too old; I don’t have the education; I don’t like to speak in front of people; I don’t have the money; My spouse/pastor/leader/supervisor doesn’t feel good about me doing that; I’m not sure it’s God’s will; I’m waiting on the Lord’s timing.” I’ve heard these reasons many times and God has heard them even more often.

I especially want to address the last excuse: “I’m waiting on the Lord’s timing.” I heard a leader say one time, “The need that you see is your call; you must move now to meet that need.” He meant that seeing a need that exists is often the only “call” you are going to receive. When I teach about purpose, I ask what you see that you assume everyone else sees. In most cases, everyone does not see what you see. Seeing it then requires that you then do something about it, without over-spiritualizing the process.

God who has given you the ability to see the need will also equip you to address that need. The Lord responded to Moses: “The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say’” (Exodus 4:11-12 emphasis address).

God is saying the same thing to you this week. He is telling you to “go” and do. As you go, He will help you speak or do whatever it is that He wants you to do. Stop procrastinating and finding excuses to justify your delay. The good news is that it isn’t too late. The God of your purpose is extending another opportunity to do His will. Don’t disappoint Him or make Him find someone else. You can do it. What’s more, you must do it, if you are to be a person of purpose. As you do, I know that you will have a great week!

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

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Speaking of help,three people enrolled last week for my Seven Steps of a PurposeQuest coaching program. It is a seven-step CD study program to help you be a person of purpose and productivity. Sixty people have gone through this program and they have all found it to be of great help to them.

In this program, you learn how to:

1. Clarify your purpose.
2. Identify your values and align your actions with what's important to you.
3. Set lofty goals.
4. Learn to manage the time you have.
5. Turn your joy into revenue.

In addition, you check in with me for some personal time at three points in the program.

This program is usually $699US, but for the month of January, I am offering it for the sale price of $499US. What a deal! What's more, if you order now, I will include two of my books, Beyond Purpose and Unlocking the Power of Your Purpose, for free and I'll pay the shipping (US only).

If you are interested, please drop me an email so we can get started right away. If you want others to invest something in you, you must be willing to invest something in yourself. Start the year off right by spending some time and money to be more purposeful and productive.

Monday Memo 329: Whatcha Got?

Happy New Year! I trust that your holidays were a special time. They certainly were for our family and, truthfully, I am not ready for them to end! That isn't my decision, however, so as time marches on, so will I. At the end of this Memo, find out how you can employ me as your purpose coach as we start 2008.

This week we continue our study of Moses’ comments during his encounter with the burning bush that we began before Christmas. if you would like to review the first four posts, you can refer back to Memos 322-325. Here is quick review.

PAY ATTENTION CLASS!

When God spoke to him from the bush, Moses’ first comment was, “Here I am!” We saw that this indicated his readiness to do what God wanted before He knew what it was, an attitude that you would do well to imitate. Then we studied how Moses asked, “Who am I?’ We related that question to our tendency to discount our ability to accomplish our purpose when we find out what it is.

We then saw that Moses’ third comment was: “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13). This comment was an example of Moses coming up with an excuse that he wasn’t ready and didn’t know enough about God.

Finally, we looked at his fourth comment: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" (Exodus 4:1). This question was an indication that Moses was concerned that he would fail and I asked you to consider what, if anything, you were afraid of.

WHATCHA GOT?

This week we look at his fifth comment, which was an answer to a question God asked him: “Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he [Moses] replied” (Exodus 4:2). Moses was concerned he would fail because of all the things he didn’t have. In his mind, Moses didn’t have enough knowledge about God, he lacked the confidence, he was too old, and he wouldn’t be able to respond to the peoples’ questions. But God asked him a simple question. In essence, God asked him, “What do you have?” If God spoke slang or had poor annunciation, He would have asked Moses, "Whatcha got?"

When God assigned you purpose, He knew your gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. If not having some of those things didn’t matter to God, why should they be of concern to you? People regularly tell me reasons why they can’t fulfill their purpose or dreams. They tell me that they lack the education, they’re too young or too old, they don’t have the money or they aren’t gifted enough. Have you ever said any of those things? If you have, you must realize that God isn’t asking you for an inventory of things that you don’t have; He’s more concerned that you allow Him to use you and what you do have.

WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?

Moses went to Egypt with that staff in obedience to God’s command. He fulfilled his purpose with what he had in his hand. You will fulfill your purpose the same way. Moses was honest with God; he told him what he had. God went on to show him that it was enough (you may want to read Exodus 4:3-9 on your own). Will you do the same this week? Will you allow God to prove to you that you do have what it takes to do His will, as long as you submit what you have to Him?

You must move beyond the realm of excuses to the Kingdom of obedience. You must learn to face your fears and obey God. In the process, you must also learn to surrender what you do have to God’s empowering touch so that you will be equipped to fulfill your purpose. Why not make this the week that you do those things, so that you won’t delay any longer in knowing the joy of being used by God? If I can help, let me know. Have a great week and year!

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Speaking of help, I have a purpose coaching program available entitled The Seven Steps of a PurposeQuest. It is a seven-step CD study program to help you be a person of purpose and productivity. Sixty people have gone through this program and they have all found it to be of great help to them.

In this program, you learn how to:

1. Clarify your purpose.
2. Identify your values and align your actions with what's important to you.
3. Set lofty goals.
4. Learn to manage the time you have.
5. Turn your joy into revenue.

In addition, you check in with me for some personal time at three points in the program.

This program is usually $699US, but for the month of January, I am offering it for the sale price of $499US. What a deal! What's more, if you order now, I will include two of my books, Beyond Purpose and Unlocking the Power of Your Purpose, for free and I'll pay the shipping (US only).

If you are interested, please drop me an email so we can get started right away. If you want others to invest something in you, you must be willing to invest something in yourself. Start the year off right by spending some time and money to be more purposeful and productive.