The Monday Memo from John Stanko

632: Poor Gift

It was probably 10 years ago, maybe more. I was praying and the Lord impressed on me that I was not using my administrative gift, the gift He had given me, for anything but to make money. I would rent my gift out to whomever wanted to pay, and the term 'hired gun' kept running through my mind. The conclusion was clear: I was not using my gift to help the poor. I was going in and out of Africa at that time, and I thought doing good work - when I got paid, I made sure my my clients got their money's worth. But I was not giving my gift away in a manner that was pleasing to God, so some changes were in order.

That encounter with the Lord was instrumental in taking my position at the church where I am now, for it is an urban congregation that is devoted to making a difference among the urban residents and poor of the North Side of my home town. I saw that as a good place for my gift to be 'used.'

But the main impact was in Africa, specifically Kenya, where I began to create and administrate projects that would impact the poor there, without being condescending or paternal. I wanted to use my gift to help, but also to equip the poor to help themselves. The result has been a host of new programs that I trust will make a difference now and when I am gone from the scene (you can see those programs listed here).

There is a verse in Proverbs that urges you to share your food with the poor: "The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor" (22:9). I take a broader view of the food mentioned there than just physical sustenance. It is whatever you have that can feed and nourish others in body, soul or spirit.

Are you hoarding your gift? Are you using it at your place of employment and maybe even your church, but not allowing it, whatever the IT is, to impact those who have little or nothing? I urge you this holiday season (it is Thanksgiving in the United States) as the year closes to search your heart and take stock of your life, and then do what you must to make changes that will alter the time and effort you devote to the cause of the poor, whether in your country or another.

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MATCHING GRANT: Last week I was pleased to announced that my ministry had received a $2,500 matching grant to be used as I saw fit. The deadline for this grant is this coming Saturday, November 30. That means that the donor will match all other contributions that come in by Saturday, up to $2,500. So far $710 has come in, so we have a ways to go and five days in which to do it. Please give today using this special Paypal link or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

FACEBOOK: When you get a chance, please go to FaceBook and 'like' my PurposeQuest International ministry page @PurposeQuestInternational.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING:  Here's wishing a happy holiday to all my American and wanna-be American friends. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and don't forget to be thankful.

601: Birthday Thoughts

Since I turned 63 last Friday, it's time to produce some birthday thoughts on this special occasion. Here they are:

1. My father retired from his work at 62. I have never even thought of retiring now or at any time in the future.
2. My father lived to be 79, my mother 92.  If I follow in either of their steps, I have 16 or 29 years left on earth.
3. For all I know, I may only have one day left. I want to make the most of it, or of the next 29 years, or anything in between - whichever it is.
4. I have never felt better than I do today.
5. I will be walking 40 years with the Lord next month.
6. In case you didn't notice, this is the 601st Monday Memo since I started in March, 2001.  I have never, not once, ever sat down and not had something to write. Writer's block is an unknown phenomenon to me.
7. I miss traveling as much as I once did, but I love being home and doing what I am doing. Am I schizophrenic?  Don't answer that.
8. When you are old, people buy you food for your birthday, which you eat, which causes you to gain weight, which could cause you to have health problems and die early.
9. I used to hear people respond "I got up this morning" when asked, "How are you doing?". I thought that was silly.  Not any longer.
10. When my grandparents were my age, I thought they were ancient. Now when someone dies at 70, I think, "She died young."
11. I am now eligible for all kinds of discounts, when I finally have money to pay full price.
12. I understand why some people go to the mall wearing stripes and plaids, with nothing matching.  When you get older, you care less about things that you were passionate about when younger.
13. This year I have had a growth removed from my eye, may have two wisdom teeth pulled, and will have some minor growths taken off my cheek. Some stuff just stops working, malfunctions, or breaks when you get older.
14. People tell me I don't look my age. I don't want to act my age either.
15. I play games on my smartphone to help keep my mind active - that's really my reason.
    
16. I had a great birthday thanks to my family and so many friends and readers.
17. I am not satisfied with what I have acccomplished to this point in my life. I want more, but that is in God's hands.

I could probably go on and on, but I'll stop there. I had a nice birthday, but didn't get nearly enough underwear for the children in Kenya, so I will accept belated gifts whenever you get around to it (this year I have received about 500 pair and $300 to date; in 2010 I got 2500 pair and $4,000). If you can give, do so through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

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KENYA UPDATE: I heard from Pastor Francis concerning our little Mary, whose boarding school tuition we paid to help her move on with her education. (Mary is pictured at right reciting a poem with a friend on one of my visits.) Please read and then act to provide her tuition for next term and undergarments for young girls like her. You can give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you. I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.

600: Underwear for My Birthday

This week I turn 63 years old. I have a busy week ahead of me this week, so there won't be much time for celebrating, but I have decided what I want for my birthday.  I want and desperately need underwear, but it's not for me. If you want to know who it's for, you will have to read on.

HOLY UNDERWEAR

A few years ago, I was in Zimbabwe and had a pair of 'holy' pair of underwear that had reached the end of the line, or so I thought. I threw it out only to have Sophie, our maid, approach me the next day.

"Would you please sign this release, Dr. Stanko?" she asked.

"Sure, Sophie, what is it?" I replied.

"It is a permission slip," she responded, "so that I can take the pair of underwear you threw away home with me to my grandson. The slip will let the guard know I did not steal it from you so I can take it home."

Needless to say, I was deeply moved. Something I take for granted and threw away was something of value to someone else. I wondered at that point what else I had that I did not value that someone else would, or what else I could provide for my friends in Africa that would serve a practical need.

ONE MORE TIME

No, the underwear I want for my birthday is not for me. It's for children in Kenya, who sometimes can't go to school because they don't have it. To date, I have collected some, but I want and need more. I did this a few years ago and called it the Petticoat Project. At that time I was able to gather 2,500 pair (and $4,000) to send over to Kenya. (We used the money to buy feminine products.) My sister-in-law wrote a blog entry three years ago entitled, "Why I am buying my brother-in-law underwear for his birthday" and then sent me $50.  That gave me the idea to ask for more then, and I thought I would do so again this week and year.

So how about it?  Are you up for buying an old man some underwear for his birthday?  While you are at it, how about adding $5 to your contribution for the Sophia Fund to help feed widows and orphans?  Next week we will resume our discussion of time, but for this week, it's time to celebrate my 63rd birthday by buying some underwear.  Instructions on how to give are below.  Have a great week!

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PETTICOAT PROJECT:  If you send money, I will purchase the underwear to send over on your behalf to Kenya. If you want to buy some and get it to me, please buy all cotton up to size 7 for young ladies. If you want to give some for boys, that's fine too. You can give through Paypal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. If you have any questions or need a shipping address, please don't hesitate to contact me.

KENYA UPDATES: I have posted from great updates this week from the distribution of resources (including blue jeans) in our container. Please check them out and then give as the your heart moves you through my website or by sending a check to my Pittsburgh address.

A NEW PAGE: I have added a new page to my website that contains many of my spoken messages from the past along with my archived Saturday morning radio shows. This is my gift to you, made possible in large part by my son's untiring efforts to convert many of my old messages from cassette to MP3 files. Thank you J3!  I hope you find things on this page that are helpful to you.  I will update it from time to time as we convert other messages and as the radio show continues to gain momentum here locally.