The Monday Memo from John Stanko

710: A Look at Rest

The summer months are beginning and I have lots of exciting projects and plans in place that involve writing, travel, editing, coaching and Kenya. I need your financial help to get through these months so that I can make them all I believe God wants them to be. Please consider a summer gift to my ministry toward my support. You can give through using PayPal through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and now let's talk a little about rest.

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Last year I wrote a daily devotional called The Leadership Walk. Every day I wrote about a topic relevant to leaders - decisions, change, integrity, goals and the like. Every seventh day I wrote about Rest, so while all the other topics got eight entries, rest got 52 and it was quite an eye-opening experience. The concept of rest and the Sabbath (or a sabbath) has been a divisive and controversial subject, so I approach it with some trepidation. Yet the subject has relevance for what we talk about in the Monday Memo - purpose, goals, and productivity - so I thought I would give it a go and see how much trouble I can get myself into.

First, the concept of a mandatory rest has always intrigued me. Teachers have said, and claim that the Bible directs us, to work six days and rest the seventh. That always begged the question for me: What if someone doesn't work? I mean what if someone is disabled and can't work; should they still rest? What about someone on vacation or retired? If they rest six, should they still "rest" the seventh day since they didn't work?

Second, the modern world has obliterated the concept of a Sunday rest day as we had when I was growing up. Should Christians become more like Seventh Day Adventists, who legalistically maintain a Saturday sabbath with no work and worship services? Should Sunday be observed so that we are known as First Day Adventists?

Third, does rest mean restrictions on certain activities, similar to what the Jews did? If it does, I wondered why that directive did not apply to church workers. If the pastor, song leader, ushers, children's workers were exempt from rest-day work restrictions, were there other exemptions? What about people who work as police, doctors and nurses, emergency workers, and military? Should Christians withdraw and avoid those occupations to keep a specific rest day?

I don't have time or space to address those issues this week, but I will share one insight I had last year. The kind of rest some people crave and need is because they are working in situations that take life and energy from them. They are not involved in purpose, so their work activities take more than they give. When you are involved in purpose, you may get tired but you will never get worn out.

I also concluded that rest is not a cessation of activities. If you are working in a Pharaoh-like job or for Pharaoh-like taskmaster, or if you are a worrier, you won't rest even when you aren't working. You won't find the refreshment you need because your mind can't rest and you can take a week or a month off, only to be right back where you were the first day back on the job.

I invite you to join with me as we look at the concept of rest over the next couple of weeks. I invite your input to the discussion, which you can post on the site where this entry is posted. Let's study together and see what the Lord will show us about this important but misunderstood concept of rest.

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LIVING IN A RACIALIZED SOCIETY: This was the title of a forum for which I served as moderator last February. In light of current events in the U.S., I thought it was important to post the two-hour session for you to hear. I did part one last week and will do part two this week. You can listen to it on my blog radio channel.

LATEST BOOK: I released my latest book this past Tuesday at my creativity workshop entitledUnlocking the Power of Your Creativity. You can purchase it now in paper or ebook format.

#STANKOISMS: My latest book, #stankoisms: Wisdom for the Twitter Age is now available in paper or ebook format.

ANOTHER BOOK: I released another book this past week for which I served as the editor as well as being a contributing author. Leadership Essentials is now available in Kindle or paper format.

 

 

709: Monday Morsels

It's been a while since I sent you some morsels of what's going on in my life. Since this is a holiday weekend with a bank holiday today, let's keep this short and to the point. Here goes:

1. I am going on a Returning to the Roots of Civil Rights bus tour from June 13-21, visiting sites in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. I am looking forward to the trip and plan on doing a lot of creative work to publish what I see along with my impressions.
2. Speaking of writing, I have published three books so far this year with plans for three more. The three are #stankoisms: Wisdom for the Twitter Age, Unlocking the Power of Your Creativity and Leadership Essentials.  I love writing so why shouldn't I do this?
3. My new publishing company, Urban Press, is going quite well, although I am putting out works that pertain to purpose under the label, PurposeQuest Ink. My son is in partnership with me in the company, which is a dream come true to be working with my son in a situation that God created and I didn't try to make happen.
4. I am teaching more than ever and enjoying it more than ever as well. I started my first online class at the Master's Level last week and, while it requires getting used to, I know it's the wave of the future that's here today. I am committed to making the students' online experience as relational and meaningful as possible, using all my writing and social media skills to make that happen.
5. I am working with a university in Oklahoma that wants to start the John Stanko School of Leadership and Global Studies. I thought that only happened after someone died! I want to help make that program a place where people can find their purpose and then go out and impact the world! Thank You, Lord, for the opportunity.
6. I started a group that meets monthly to discuss and encourage creativity in those who come. It is called the G1 Group, since God the Creator makes us creative as shown in the early chapters of Genesis. The group has been meeting for two years now and it's always special to see how God uses those meetings to help others overcome their creative fears.
7. I am doing more and more training in local urban churches and I am convinced that I have a prophetic word to all churches, but especially my brothers and sisters in urban settings, of how God wants to use purpose to transform local churches.
8. Speaking of teaching, I am teaching four classes this summer: Principles of Biblical Interpretation, How to Start and Operate a Nonprofit Ministry, Leadership and Decision Making and Leadership and Communication.
9. I am traveling 21 of 30 days in June - that makes it a great month. I love being on the road and actually am more productive when I travel because I tend to make the most of every minute and I am energized as i do. What energizes you? How can you do more of it?

That's about it for this week. You stay well and have a purposeful week as you seek to find what it is that God created you to do.

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YOUR PURPOSEQUEST TV: I have four television shows posted online. Each one features someone's purpose story. You can watch them on my Vimeo channel. I also have all my radio shows archived on my website for your listening enjoyment. That show is entitled "Wake Up to Purpose."

708: A Great Week!

What a great seven days I had this past week. Every day I found myself doing things I love. It started last weekend in New York City. Then I came home to chair a board meeting on Monday evening. Of all the boards I have served, and there have been quite a few, this is the first one for which I have served as chairman!

On Wednesday night I had my initial class in a course I am teaching for the first time, Principles of Biblical Interpretation. I have learned so much in preparing for the class that I can't wait for the rest of the sessions. On Thursday I was teaching a Master's level Ethics and Leadership course and the class took such an unexpected turn as we learned together that it was hard to end the class at 10 PM! Earlier on Thursday I had prerecorded six episodes of my new show Leadership Talk. Friday I had a great coaching session with a writer and Saturday I did my hour-long radio show Wake Up To Purpose, after which I conducted a four-hour purpose seminar. Right now I am writing from Dallas where I am helping a friend wrap up his book project.

The highlight of it all, however, was Tuesday when I premiered my latest book Unlocking the Power of Your Creativity at a Leadership Breakfast series in downtown Pittsburgh. I taught a two-hour seminar on creativity and this is the feedback I received from one person at the seminar:

I want to thank you for the edification and encouragement you provided at the Leadership Breakfast.

This was very meaningful to me because 10 years ago I was a very upbeat, motivated man who struck out on my own into the business world. Over the subsequent decade I suffered a series of failures and disappointments that were like a knife in my heart, a blow to my sense of manhood, and led to a feeling that I have let down those whom I love. I have known for some time that I fight fear of more failure, and the temptation to accept a self-image of inferiority. I came to this realization during my morning quiet time.  Of course, the last decade. has simply been a learning process, but it is hard work to internalize that and live it, every day.  

So, I have fought with poor productivity and the seeming lack of time. Despite my efforts to plan, adequate time for things like school has eluded me. I began blaming others in my heart for "stealing my time", and some of that blame began to manifest itself in my words.  YOUR MESSAGE OPENED MY EYES. I have been SETTING MYSELF UP FOR FAILURE because of FEAR. The best way to avoid failure has been to avoid activities that can potentially result in failure, so I have subconsciously frittered away time and found lower priority tasks that I misidentified as "urgent", that took me away from the larger commitments, but I now realize they were a subconscious way of avoiding risk.

I now see the fear, which we know is not of the Lord. I repudiate it and have decided to take complete responsibility for my time and live with the courage I once did, because that is indicative of my faith. I do this effective this very moment.

Thanks for obeying the Holy Spirit. This is a turning point. I will begin to pray for you and PurposeQuest, and please remember us in your prayers as well. By the way, if this email can ever be a source of encouragement to anybody with a similar struggle, feel free to share it.

What a thrill to know that God used the teaching in such a meaningful way in someone's life. This is why you must do what is in your heart to do. You don't know how God will use it, but if you don't produce it, then He can't do anything with it. That is why faith is the foundation for purpose, goal-setting or any of the other practices that can help you be productive.

I don't know if this week can match last week, but it is off to a good start. Right now I am grading "papers" for my first online class, a format I have wanted to learn to use for quite some time. I am only sharing these things with you because I am no one special. If God has opened these doors for me, He is eager and waiting to do the same for you. This week, have faith, take a step closer to your purpose dream, and God will meet you more than halfway. Thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

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LATEST BOOK: I released my latest book this past Tuesday at my creativity workshop entitledUnlocking the Power of Your Creativity. You can purchase it now in paper or ebook format.

#STANKOISMS: My latest book, #stankoisms: Wisdom for the Twitter Age is now available in paper or ebook format.

ANOTHER BOOK: I released another book this past week for which I served as the editor as well as being a contributing author. Leadership Essentials is now available in Kindle or paper format.

707: An Encounter With the Lord

I had an encounter with God one month ago that I thought I would share with you. Before I do, let me once again say that I cannot do what I am about to tell you if you don't stand with me financially to help me do what God has called me to do. The testimony this week from Kenya is another indicator that the work being done through PurposeQuest is important and making a difference. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. But now, let me tell you about my encounter.

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I recently finished teaching a Saturday morning undergraduate class on the Book of Psalms. It was the next to the last class and I opened my book bag only to realize that I had left one of my textbooks at home on my desk - or so I thought (I later found it tucked in the bottom of the bag). Then I had an idea. There is a seminary library right above me and I wondered if my missing text was in the library's collection. I looked it up in the computer book catalog and, sure enough, the book was there! I walked upstairs to find it and noticed there were four or five shelves of commentaries on the Psalms.

It was then that I think I heard the voice of God, or at least had this thought: "I want you to study the psalms and be as familiar with them as you are with Proverbs." I was deeply impacted by what I think I heard and stayed there among the book shelves taking it all in.

I walked downstairs and told my class what had just happened. After class I downloaded several commentaries about the psalms. Since that Saturday morning, I have started my day by writing my daily devotional that this year is interestingly enough focused on the psalms. After I write, I am working my way through one of the textbooks, taking careful notes of what I learn and see. Oftentimes I read through my textbooks too quickly without taking the time to read all the biblical references. This time I am taking my time.

My most interesting insight so far is that the Book of Psalms and the Book of Revelation have a similar theme, which is that the righteous must suffer but God is still on the throne. In reality, I have identified 34 thematic consistencies between those two books. Here are a few of them:

1. The righteous will suffer.
2. The righteous cry out to God in prayer for help and vindication.
3. Victory of God's people is assured.
4. Both books focus on a king and His people.
5. Evil is portrayed in both books on a grand scale.
6. The wicked are confident and seem to have the upper hand.

I could list more but that's not the point of this post. The point is that I had to accept in faith that God had spoken to me, that He had directed my thoughts. Then I had to tell others. After that I had to take steps to insure that I would follow through. I had to write down "psalms" on my daily to-do list, and do it every day. I am keeping notes of what I see and learn and now I am sharing some of that with you.

What do you think God is saying to you? Do you really believe that He can guide your thoughts or are you fearful that someone, perhaps the devil, is trying to play a trick on you? Do you diligently follow through on your impressions? All those things and more and important if you are going to be a person of purpose or simply obedient to the Lord on a daily basis.

I am not sure what I will do with what I am learning, but right now that's not the point. The point is that I believe God has directed me and I must follow through. If He directed me to those library shelves, He can lead me beyond them to the landing place for my work. Until He does, I plan on being in the book of Psalms for quite some time. Thanks for reading and have a blessed week.

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KENYA UPDATE: I just posted an exciting update and testimony from Kenya. Please take the time to read it and then donate generously to our work there. You can give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. 

LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST: I am speaking at the last Duquesne University Leadership Breakfast this Tuesday, May 12 from 7:30 to 10:00 AM. My topic is Unlocking the Power of Your Creative Edge: Staying Inspired!. You can find more information or register at the University website.

PURPOSE SEMINAR: I am hosting my next free purpose seminar on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 4:30 PM on the North Side at Allegheny Center Alliance Church. You do need to register even though it's free, so please email me to let me know you are coming.

#STANKOISMS: My latest book, #stankoisms: Wisdom for the Twitter Age is now available in paper or ebook format.

ANOTHER BOOK: I released another book this past week for which I served as the editor as well as being a contributing author. Leadership Essentials is now available in Kindle or paper format.

ONE MORE BOOK: I am releasing another book this Tuesday at my creativity workshop entitled Unlocking the Power of Your Creativity. You can purchase it now in paper or ebook format.

706: Who Are You?

First of all, thank you for your help raising this term's school support for the orphans in Kenya. Alice the orphanage caretaker wrote yesterday: "Thanks very much  for your kind heart and efficient dispatch of funds.  Will update you after picking it from the bank on Monday." Together we are saving a little piece of the world; thank you for doing your part. The interesting thing is that gifts ranged from $5 to $150 - nothing huge but, like a symphony, we all played our part and sang a song of generosity to God. Cool stuff! And now, let's take a break from talking about prayer and church and talk about what I began the Monday Memo to discuss, and that's purpose!
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I was speaking on a Sunday morning in Guyana last March and I turned to John 1 to look at John the Baptist, and had never before noticed what I saw that morning:

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (John 1:19-22, emphasis added).

The Jews repeatedly asked John, "Who are you?" If John did not know who he was, perhaps he would have fallen into the trap that others had or would fall: "Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many" (Mark 13:6). The delegation demanded to know what he had to say about himself. Without hearing from him, they would have been free to interpret him and his ministry for themselves, probably coming to a wrong conclusion. John knew his purpose, which allowed him to admit who he was not - "I am not the Messiah" - and freely proclaim who he was - a messenger from God to "prepare the way of the Lord."

If people pressed you with the same question, "What do you say about yourself?", what would you say? How would you respond to them? Would you allow them to answer their own question, or would you answer it for them? This is important, for Jesus was asked the same question by the same leaders: "Who do you think you are?” (John 8:53b). Jesus responded by saying "I am!" and the Jews tried to stone Him for blasphemy. When you are clear about who you are, people can get upset for any number of reasons.

If you are not clear about who you are and your purpose, don't expect others to be clear or to help open doors to help you fulfill your purpose. Paul and Peter knew one another's purpose and Paul was able to clearly describe them both: "On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised^, just as Peter had been to the circumcised" (Galatians 2:7).

Notice that Paul saw their purpose as an entrustment, something God had given to them in order to steward to make the most of it. You need to see your purpose in the same light, for it is an assignment that brings great joy as well as great responsibility. It all starts, however, with knowing what it is and acknowledging it to others, refusing to allow them to do that for you.

As we close this week, I leave you with the questions asked in the verses we looked at today: "Who are you?" "What do you say about yourself?" "Who do you think you are?" If you ponder and answer those questions, you will be well on your way in your personal PurposeQuest. Thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

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LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST: I am speaking at the last Duquesne University Leadership Breakfast on Tuesday, May 12 from 7:30 to 10:00 AM. My topic is Unlocking the Power of Your Creative Edge: Staying Inspired!. You can find more information or register at the University website.

PURPOSE SEMINAR: I am hosting my next free purpose seminar on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 4:30 PM on the North Side at Allegheny Center Alliance Church. You do need to register even though it's free, so please email me to let me know you are coming.

#STANKOISMS: My latest book, #stankoisms: Wisdom for the Twitter Age is now available in paper or ebook format.

ANOTHER BOOK: I released another book this past week for which I served as the editor as well as being a contributing author. Leadership Essentials is now available in Kindle or paper format.

YOUR PURPOSEQUEST TV: I have four television shows posted online. Each one features someone's purpose story. You can watch them on my Vimeo channel. I also have all my radio shows archived on my website for your listening enjoyment. That show is entitled "Wake Up to Purpose."