The Monday Memo from John Stanko

593: Omission or Commission?

I had heard it all before. I was asking a group of students to give me feedback on some material I taught and what they were going to do with it.  Almost unanimously they declared that they were going to get serious and do something with it. But I had heard that before. In essence they were saying, "We are fixing to get ready to begin to take the first steps of what will be the genesis of the start of the initial stages of what we hope to accomplish in the Lord." In other words, they were not really ready to get started; they were only talking about possibly beginning, when conditions were right and God opened whatever doors they perceived needed to be opened. Their words were tentative and consequently their actions would be, too.

I have concluded that it isn't that people don't want to get started, but rather they don't know how to get started. What's more, it's a whole lot easier to talk about starting than to actually start. And since we are people of the 'Word' and words, when we have said something sincerely, we believe we have done something.

I listened to our pastor preach a great sermon this weekend about repentance. He asked everyone at the end to do some business with the Lord and allow the Spirit to show them something from which they have been resisting the Lord and not repenting. I may be mistaken, but I would imagine most people repented of things they were doing - gossip, watching bad movies, smoking and the like.  I wonder how many of us repented of things we are not doing that God wants us to do, like missions, writing, creating, teaching and studying?

When I closed my eyes and asked God what I needed to repent of, I sensed He was showing me "fear."  That is not what I expected.  Yet if there is anything the Lord saying to me over and over again for the last few years, it's been, "Don't be afraid." So if I continue in fear when God says not to, then I need to repent of my attitude and stop walking and talking in fear. To fear when I know it is wrong is a sin of commission. The things my fear keeps me from doing are sins of omission.

In Catholic theology, there are sins of commission - things you do that are wrong.  Yet there are also sins of omission - things you should have done but did not do. I tend to consider commission worse than omission, but is that really the case? Don't the good deeds and purposeful acts I could do but don't produce negative results, just like my sins of commission?  Why do I think omission is excusable but commission is evil?  It seems like a double standard or worse yet, misplaced priorities on what sin actually is. Sin isn't always the presence of evil, but also not doing the good that could and should be done.

How about you?  Where is your emphasis these days, on commission or omission?  I urge you to consider that omission may be as bad or worse than commission and then get busy doing the things you know you should be doing. Stop getting ready to begin the start of the genesis of your purposeful work, seek out help in how to get started and then take your first steps.  After that, just keep on walking.  Have a blessed week.

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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 some urgent needs for education and food for children such as those pictured here. 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).

PURPOSECOACH: The special on my PurposeCoach Program ends this Thursday, February 28.  For $99 (Usually $199), you can have access to my online purpose coaching program and some personal attention from me.  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

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!

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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!

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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

590: Ruthless Deadlines

I am in Kenya with 15 others for two weeks.  I departed last Thursday and we arrived on Friday. I was so busy leading up to our departure that I did not have a moment to spare, since there were things I had to get done before I left the country.  By God's grace, I got them all finished but reflected on what I have often said when asked how I can write and accomplish so many other things. You will have to read on to see my answer.

TRAVEL

When asked about my productivity and how I can accomplish what I do, I used to answer, "It's because I travel."  Some would not understand, since for them travel was a confusing time that upset their routine and caused them to be less productive. For me, however, the travel created deadlines that forced me to get things done.

When I was not traveling, I would often think when confronted with something I wanted to do, "I can get that done later or next week.  That's going to take an hour and I can find an hour some time in the near future."  I would procrastinate and wait for some other opportune moment to dive into the task or project.  When I would travel, however, I did not have the luxury of waiting.  I often had to get things done using every moment at my disposal to finish the work.

That's how it was last week. I had one task, for example, that I had put off all month.  Last week I had one hour before I left for the airport. I forced myself to try and use that hour to start the project, convinced I did not have enough time.  I started and finished the task, much to my surprise.  Why?  I had a ruthless deadline before me that had to be honored.  I could not do the task in Kenya, so I was forced to sit down and do it.

RUTHLESS DEADLINES

I utilize ruthless deadlines when I publish. I will get a final, no-exceptions deadline from my publisher for my manuscript, and I have to get it done no matter what.  Without honoring that deadline, I am not sure I would have the books I have. Every day last week, my to-do list was full and I used every moment. When I got on the plane last Thursday, I said to someone, "That's all I can do. I got it all done by God's grace."

I don't think I could live like I did last week all the time. There was too much pressure, too much making the most of every minute of the day.  That's not how God would want me to live. Yet there are times when I have to live that way, or else I would continue to put things off until a more favorable moment, whatever that is.

Have you ever had experience with a ruthless deadline?  Did it help you get something done?  How aobut when you go away on vacation?  Doesn't the time before you depart prove to be a time of great accomplishment?  Can you replicate a few more of those times, even though you are not going on vacation?  Can you use a ruthless deadline to finish a project when no one is forcing you to do so?

Ephesians 5:16 urges you to "make the most of your time."  Why not experiment with the ruthless deadline concept this week and then see if you cannot incorporate this principle into your life every now and then to help you achieve the projects God has put in your heart to do.  Thanks, and have a blessed week.

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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 exercise a ruthless deadline in your giving for I leave Kenya on February 15.  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.

Do you know when I got most of my applications for PurposeCoach? Right at the deadline of January 31 when the special was to expire. Why is that?  People were facing a ruthless deadline and acted!  Set yourself a ruthless deadline and tell yourself, "I will be enrolled by week's end" and see if it doesn't help you deal with your procrastination. You know you want your purpose; why not act to be part of PurposeCoach today!

Download 1 PCoach FAQs