The Monday Memo from John Stanko

863: Go and . . . Throw Out Your Line

Greetings from Kenya! I have been here for 10 days, and return home this coming week. I am adding many new readers this week, so if you are new, we are well along in a series entitled "Go and . . ." that focuses on the times in the gospels when Jesus told people to go and do something specific. You can read all the past entries here, but for now, let's look at this week's story based on the account in Matthew 17:24-27:

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

THE BACKGROUND

In Moses’ time, each person over the age of 20 was to give an annual half-shekel offering (the equivalent of two Roman drachmas) for the support of the tabernacle (see Exodus 30:11-16). This practice was obviously still being observed in Jesus' day some 1,500 years later to maintain the temple. When the tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid the tax, he impetuously responded in the affirmative. When he next met Jesus, the Lord raised the issue with Peter, indicating that He was royalty and did not have to pay the tax, which was a veiled reference to Jesus' position as King of Israel.

Peter had made a commitment, however, and Jesus cooperated with Peter's promise to pay the tax. He then told Peter to throw out his fishing line and to examine the first fish he found, which would have the coin for the tax for both of them in its mouth. The story does not indicate that Peter did this, but the assumption certainly is that Peter found it just as Jesus had promised.

This story follows immediately after Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection, not long after His transfiguration and close to the time when Peter had his "get behind me Satan" encounter with Jesus in Matthew 16. This story is a simple but clear confirmation that Jesus knew what He was talking about! If He could predict that a fish caught on the first try would have money in its mouth and be accurate, then He was accurate in everything He said.

THE LESSONS

There is another aspect to the story and it is Jesus' cooperation with and tolerance of Peter's less-than-perfect behavior. Peter made a rash statement, and Jesus did not overrule His disciple's commitment to pay. Instead, Jesus agreed to pay on behalf of them both to cover Peter's mistake. I take great comfort from this story, for I too have made many mis-steps in my pursuit of purpose. I would like to believe that some of those mistakes were honest in that I made the best decision with the information I had while desiring to do the will of God. In response to my imperfection, Jesus did not abandon me. He did not revoke my purpose or chastise my efforts.

God is not nearly as short-tempered as we have sometimes made Him out to be. He is not as concerned about us "getting ahead of Him" or "missing Him" as we sometimes are. That reality should free us, not to be rash and cavalier about what we do, but to move forward with our ideas and creativity in an attempt to bear fruit for Him. For example, I cannot say that the Lord "told" me to write any of my books. I had ideas, I wrote, and now I am helping others write. There have been times when I threw out a line and found the provision I needed, just in the nick of time.

Can you imagine the impact it had on Peter when he went down and caught that fish? What a sense of joy and wonder He must have experienced? What a sense of relief that He had the money to do what He had promised to do. Our faith commitments, when realized, are always the most exhilarating experiences in our walk with the Lord and become our most meaningful testimonies. I urge you to trust the Lord and step out to do God's will, no longer afraid that you are overstepping your bounds, but are functioning in partnership with your Lord who is for you, not against you, despite your imperfections. Have a blessed week!

857: Weather Report

I have been reflecting on the references to weather in some of the Bible's lessons and stories. On several occasions in the gospels, the disciples encountered bad storms as they traversed the Sea of Galilee. During one of those storms, Peter followed Jesus' command to step out of his boat and walk on the water, albeit for only a short time. During another squall, Jesus was so calm that He fell asleep in His boat while the disciples went into a panic.

SAND

A few weeks ago, we were on vacation at a beach resort, playing in the sand with my granddaughter. As we dug holes and piled up sand, the waves would come and fill and undo what we had done. That made me think of Matthew 7:24-27:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

It would be foolish to build anything on a sandy foundation, but that is exactly the simile Jesus deployed to describe anyone who hears His words but does not put them into practice.

The main weather-related example I want to highlight, however, is found in Psalm 1. Let's go there now.

DEEP ROOTS

The book of Psalms begins with these words that have to do with weather:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers (1:1-3).

This simile indicates that people planted firmly in the word of God is not subject to the weather of changing seasons. What's more, they are not just established so they are comfortable and well-watered, they are placed where they are to bear fruit in season, staying green and fresh in their non-bearing days.

SO WHAT?

These aren't just nice stories to encourage us to stay grounded in the Lord. The parable of the sandy foundation and the analogy of the tree planted by water indicate that God wants us to act and bear fruit. Jesus' expects us to hear His words, and those words are found in the Word. Those actions will empower us to bear fruit in a timely manner regardless of the weather or external conditions.

I cannot tell you how many people have told me that they are going to "bear fruit" — however they define fruit — after certain things happen in their lives. Only after the kids are grown or their mortgage is paid off or their job is less stressful or they have a new studio or work area will they then be in a position to do "something." Today's lesson is that if we are properly grounded in the Lord, we will draw sustenance from places others cannot see to bear fruit even if there is a drought, a flood, or a tornado in our lives. We do not decide the season for fruit; that is above our pay grade and can only be decided by God, and He is interested in us bearing fruit all the time.

Are you bearing fruit or is your fruit dependent upon the weather report? Is a threat of a storm enough to shut you down to wait for more favorable conditions? Are your foundation and roots strong and deep enough to be fruitful no matter the other external circumstances in your life? I urge you to stop focusing on the weather but to focus on the Lord of the weather who has proved again and again that He is capable of being your Rock in times of trouble, not just to save you, but to help you fulfill your creative purpose. Have a blessed week.

853: Art for a Few

I am off to Israel and Rome on Tuesday with a group of 36 people, and I am going to take a break from writing a Memo until Monday, May 14. If you go through withdrawal, you can always go to the Monday Memo site and read through the archives. With 853 Memos there, I think you will find something of interest there to hold you until I return.

I will be blogging and posting my pictures and trip updates on my Facebook page and on my blog, so you can follow my trip's progress at either site.

GIFTED ARTISTS

This week, I want to talk about a gifted artist who was anointed by God to do magnificent work, but whose art was created not for the masses but for the few. His name was Bezalel and he is introduced to us in Exodus 31:1-11:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

Bezalel and his assistants were commissioned to handle all the creative designs for the tabernacle, for which God had given specific instructions for its construction, assembly and tear down, and worship activities therein. It seems that God wanted the very best artisans in Israel to work on His dwelling place, and filled the artists with His spirit to ensure quality work.

WHY?

Why was God being so particular about the tabernacle? Obviously, He was using it as a teaching lesson that He had specific requirements when it came to worship and approaching Him. Today, we realize that He was preparing hearts for the coming of His Son, who is the only way to God. The lesson for those who were working on the tabernacle decor and construction was that their gifts were given to them by God and were to be used for God.

When you think of it, those gifted, Spirit-inspired artists were creating some masterpieces that would only be seen by a few people, those being the priests who were to handle the tabernacle worship. The Holy of Holies that contained the ark of the covenant was only seen by the high priest, so in essence, those men were doing work that would seen by few living creatures.

THE LESSONS

The lesson here is that those artists were commissioned to do superb work that would only be seen by a few eyes. They had spent their entire lives preparing for that moment, and God wanted the fruit of their gifts and lifelong preparation to be for His eyes only. What's more, creativity for those men was not something they did as a hobby or when they had time. It was their full-time endeavor and they had perfected their skill, with God's help, so that they could be called on for a special project that required the best in their field.

All of us who create hope that our work will be enjoyed by many people, perhaps some even parting with their hard-earned cash to take our art home to enjoy beyond the moment they first behold it. Whether they do or not is not the point, however, for we create because God created and gifted us to create, and we produce our projects to display what God has made us to make. If those projects lead to critical acclaim and fame, so be it. If they are for the eyes of a few, so be it as well.

When you create, do you see it as a responsibility to steward the gifts God has given you? Are you paralyzed by fear that "no one" will like it or buy it or appreciate it? If you are not flowing in your creativity, I urge you to consider the example of Bezalel and company who were commissioned to do work destined to be seen by very few, but who had the satisfaction of knowing that God was pleased and would behold their handiwork in the context of worship that He had required. I am happy to produce for His eyes only, and I invite you to join me as we worship the Lord through the work of our hands. Have a blessed three weeks till I am back again!

852: Pruning and the Funnel Effect

Jesus taught this lesson in John 15:1-8:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I may not have perfect insight into my own life right now, but I think I am in a time of pruning, but you judge for yourself from the following evidence. Here is a list of things I have stopped doing in 2018:

1. I did not lead a team to Kenya in February for the first time since 2008.
2. I ended my weekly leadership radio broadcast that I had for three years on December 31.
3. I resigned from my assistant director position for a local university program.
4. This week, I will teach my last two college classes for the year. This will be the first time I have not taught since 2007.
5. When I finish editing my commentary of Revelation in May, I will no longer be adding content to my Bible study blog (I will have the entire New Testament on that blog site by then).

My birthday is this coming Thursday but I am not retiring in any way, shape, or form. I am simply doing a bit of self pruning so I can be more fruitful. What i am experiencing is what I have referred to as the funnel effect of purpose.

THE FUNNEL EFFECT

A funnel is wide at the top and very narrow at the bottom so that liquids may be poured into something with a small opening. When you begin your PurposeQuest, you are at the top of the funnel. The whole world and all its options are available to you. Then something happens and it can unnerve you and make you uncomfortable. As you progress down the funnel of purpose, you may begin to feel restricted in your activity. Things you once did have no meaning or you lose your enthusiasm for things you once had energy to do. You also may find that you evaluate everything you do differently. As you go down the funnel, you find there is no room or time to do some of those things that are no longer related to your purpose.

Some are concerned that their lives will be less meaningful if they get to the bottom of the funnel. They can’t see how God can use them when they seem to be doing so little. To the contrary, the bottom of the funnel is your point of greatest effectiveness. It is at that point where you find what you do that no one else can do. While it seems restrictive, that point allows God to send you anywhere in the world that needs who you are and what you do.  The narrow point is why the funnel exists; without it, there would be no purpose for the the larger, top portion of the funnel.

God is narrowing my activity so I can be more effective with greater impact. My pruning that is restricting my activities is actually making me more focused. This year I should finish and publish six books while helping an estimated 25 others to publish theirs by serving as their creative consultant and editor. I am doing more media, mostly video, and I am also speaking more on leadership issues, while I consult and coach for those who want to be better leaders.

What are you holding on to that is restricting the funnel effect in your own life? Is your fear that you won't have any money causing you to hold on to some activities that have lost their life and interest for you? I urge you to follow my lead and embark on a self-pruning journey. Allow God to take you to new places that will lead to new fruitfulness as you let go of things that are important and dear, but cannot make the trip down your funnel with you as seek your point of maximum potential and usefulness. Have a blessed week!

822: Where's Your Fruit?

I preached in all five services at my home church this past weekend. The title of my message was "Kingdom Fruit." In my message, I discussed the need for each citizen of God's kingdom to bear fruit as Jesus warned in Matthew 21:43: "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." You can access my message on my mobile app under the folder "Preached Messages." In this Memo, I want to make some additional comments on the issue of fruit.

THE FRUIT PROCESS

I reflected this past week on what it takes for actual, edible fruit to be produced. Here are some thoughts on the matter:

1. Fruit is fragile and conditions must be right for it to come forth - climate, soil, free from frost, not too much rain (or too little). The same is true for spiritual fruit.
   
2. Fruit starts with a blossom, which is pretty and fragrant, but is only the beginning. There are many believers who blossom and have great potential to bear fruit, but that potential must be nurtured.
   
3. If fruit is eaten before it is ripe, it can be toxic if harvested prematurely. The same is true for spiritual fruit. It requires maturity for it to taste the best.
   
4. Fruit is meant for two things: to be consumed by others or to produce seed so that more fruit can be produced. All spiritual fruit is for the benefit of other people to consume as they need it (although the farmer can certainly partake of and enjoy the fruit they help produce).
   
5. Fruit usually has a short lifespan and must be consumed quickly or it will rot and go to waste. No one knows how many days they have to bear fruit, so it must be produced and distributed with a sense of urgency.
   
6. Fruit requires an ongoing process of pruning and fertilizing its source, or bad or anemic fruit will be produced. Believers must continue to nurture themselves spiritually if they are to bear more and better fruit.
   

THE RESEARCH IS IN AND . . .

I spent some time reading what others have written about fruit and one thing is for certain: Most people have described what fruit is like (just as I did above) but they are hesitant to come out and say what we should be looking for in our lives that can be called fruit. Some do say that it is souls saved or people we lead to the Lord. Yet, if truth be told, most people do not lead many people to the Lord. Others say it is a vibrant prayer life, but is fruit defined as the number of prayers a believer says in his or her lifetime? Finally, some identify fruit as correct doctrine, but that makes fruit an intellectual pursuit. I discuss in my message what I believe fruit is not, so you can access it to hear more (it's 30-minutes long; in it, I cover the thought that fruit is what is described in Galatians 5:10, usually referred to as the fruit of the Spirit).

Therefore, below I offer my definition of Kingdom fruit, and challenge you to identify what this fruit is in your life. Once you identify it (or if you already know what it is), then I further challenge you to determine how you can be even more fruitful. But first, here is my definition:

following your joy as you combine your God-given gifts, creativity, purpose, experience, interests, and sustained effort in a way that produces something of value for the benefit of others and yourself.

My fruit is comprised of the books I have written; the libraries I have helped establish in Kenya; the classes I have taught at university; the devotionals I have written, published, and posted on social media for 16 years; and the seminars I have conducted on purpose and creativity. Oh yes, and as the Spirit has produced His fruit in my life, it has translated into tangible expressions of empathy for others in painful and difficult situations to which I formerly paid little attention.

Let me close with this thought: All fruit is measurable and measured. We speak of fruit as a cluster, a bunch, peck, half-bushel, bushel, pound, kilo, acre, or hectare. Therefore, I assume that your fruit, even though it's spiritual, must be measurable as well. This week, spend some time praying and thinking about the question, "What is my fruit?" and then follow the answer up with another: "How can I produce more of it?" If you persevere in seeking the answers, you will bear the fruit of the Kingdom in your life that God expects and enjoys. Have a blessed week!

811: Help Along the Way

While heading over to Kenya three weeks ago, I had a five-hour delay out of Atlanta that caused me to miss my flight to Kenya out of Amsterdam. During my delay, I began to read and reflect on the story and relationship of King Saul and David. I have begun doing research on a book, perhaps a book of fiction, that will highlight some of the significant encounters, and the lessons learned from this encounters, between the two men. Many of David's psalms were written in response to the pain and agony David experienced as he fled from Saul's murderous intentions.

THE PROMISE

Today, I was looking at the pain in David's life as he took refuge among the Philistines away from Saul's harassment. While among his enemies, David's men went on an expedition to plunder the very people among whom they were living, only to return to their base camp to find that it looted and abandoned. Their families, along with their possessions, had been taken captive!

When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:3-6).

David inquired of the Lord, and was directed to "“pursue them,” [the Lord] answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue" (1 Samuel 30:8b). David set out with 400 of his 600-man fighting force, not really knowing what was ahead or how they would succeed. He simply put his faith in the Lord and His directions. It wasn't until David set out that the provision for his success was revealed to him. He and his men just "happened" to come across a young Egyptian who had been abandoned by his master three days earlier:

They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?” He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.” David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.” He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside (1 Samuel 30:11-16a). 

THE PROVISION

The point I want to make is that David did not get the help he needed to be victorious until after he set out to pursue the raiders. Armed only with a word from the Lord, he set out and then all that he needed fell into place. The same will be true for you. You will not find the funds for the missions trip until after you determine that you are going. You will not know where you will find the time (or money) to earn your master's degree until after you enroll to take it. You won't discover the material for your speech until you tell the organizers that you will come and speak. I have made a commitment to write the book about David and Saul, and from this point on, I will discover how to do it and the material to include. This concept makes me think of a quote I use in my goal-setting seminars from the poet W. H. Murray:

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans, that the moment one definitely commits oneself, Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that otherwise would not have occurred. All stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could dream would come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute.

Whatever you do or dream you can begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Only engage and then the mind grows heated.

Begin and the work will be completed.

The lesson for you is this: Decide where you want to go and then trust that the road markers and rest stops will emerge as you go, but usually not before you go. Have a blessed week!

795: What Would You Do?

In my Leadership Communication class last Saturday, I had one of the students read this passage to look at the communications principles contained therein:

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:26-31, emphasis added).

I use this passage to encourage people to use social media to share their stories and testimonies of God's goodness to them. As you can see, Jesus warned, even commanded, His disciples not to be afraid as they made the effort to speak the words of Jesus.

That led to the question I asked the class and the question I will ask you: What would you do if you were not afraid?

When I raise the issue of fear, many people deny there is any fear in their life, and that may be true, although doubtful. Usually that indicates that the "fearless one" has shrunk his or her world down to its most predictable and manageable components. Be that as it may, my experience is that fear is our constant companion. What's more, if Jesus warned against being afraid three times in six verses, I would say that He saw fear as a great problem in the lives of His flock.

Jesus urged His listeners to have their fear properly placed, and that would be on the great enemy of our souls, the evil one. That is the one we should fear due to his power to deceive and enslave. There is no need, according to Jesus, to fear our Heavenly Father. He is with us and values us more than all of His other creation.

So let me ask again: What would you do if you were not afraid?

• What would you write?
• Where would you go?
• What commitments would you make?
• What song would you sing?
• What ministry or business would you start?
• With whom would you build a relationship? With whom would you stop building a relationship?

I will let you meditate on the answers to those questions in the coming week, but perhaps even before you ask those questions, you may want to ask the Lord one other question that will serve as a primer: Lord, am I afraid? Don't be too quick to find the answer to that questions. If you conclude that the answer is yes, only then will my question "what would you do if you were not afraid?" make sense. Have a blessed, fear-free week as you pursue the answer to my question(s).

794 - It's the Same Thing

I recently recorded four short, 20-minute videos for my church that addressed the topics of purpose, creativity, goals and time management, and faith. The church has been showing these in their small groups as part of their time, talent, and treasure emphasis. Yesterday after church, a young man came up to thank me for something I said in the third video on goals and time management. I thought that would be a good place to focus in this week's Memo. What did he say and what will we look at this week. For those answers, you will have to read on.

THE PROVERB

The young man was referring to my comments on Proverbs 18:9, which says, "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." I wrote about this in November, but it bears repeating, especially since I have picked up many new readers since then. The best way I can explain what the young man heard is to try and replicate what I said. Here goes.

What if you had a book manuscript and it was your only copy (for some reason you did not back it up or keep the file). Let's say you put that manuscript in your office and left, only to come back and find the copy missing. Then you find out someone took it and destroyed it. That person committed a criminal act, and would be subject to punishment for destroying something that did not belong to them. What's more, anyone who could have read that manuscript would be deprived of its benefit.

Now let's change the scenario. What would the result be if you had never written that manuscript? The people who could have read and received benefit from it would never have the chance. Can you see that the result is the same as if someone had stolen the original manuscript? That is the point of the proverb: If you don't do something that is within your power to do it, it is an act (or inaction) that is kin to an act of destruction.

THE IMPLICATIONS

When you have been thinking of learning another language for many years, but neglect to follow through, that is not an innocent act. There was someone assigned to hear you speak their language, but that will never happen. When you have poetry or music in you, and don't produce it, then you have willingly withheld the good you could do and that is not just a neutral act. Something is lost by that inactivity. I could go on and on to provide more examples, but I hope you get the point.

Your work, purpose, and creativity matter. The world is waiting to hear from you and about you, but you because of fear, procrastination, or laziness have held back. Proverbs 3:27 states, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." I suggest you get busy with the work the Father has given you to do without excuse, for no one else can make the difference that you were destined to make. Have a blessed week!

789 - Creative Christmas Collaboration

Many of 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. One of my favorite hymns is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, which I never tire of listening to.

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 today 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 over a period of 100 years!

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 once again. He improved something that already existed to create something fresh that has impacted the world for more than a century.

As we end 2013, I am planning my creative expressions for 2014, which include a Purpose Bible, my next book, a new daily devotional, and starting a publishing company. I am a creative person, and so are you! 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 and I can't do the same.

    Feel free to post your comment to this Memo on the site where it is located.

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ISRAEL TOUR: My proposed tour to Israel is coming together and looks like it will happen in November, 2017. If you are interested, please write me at [email protected], and I will keep you in the loop on developments. You will have to register and pay early in 2017 in order to be assured of space, so you cannot wait. Plan now and give yourself a special Christmas gift you will never forget.

COMMUNICATIONS CLASS: I will begin a Saturday morning Church Communications class here in Pittsburgh starting January 14 that will run through April. We will cover writing, social media, and other communications strategies that are appropriate and necessary for faith-based organizations. Cost for the class is $250 plus books. Write me at [email protected] if you are interested.

KENYA CHRISTMAS: The orphans in Kenya need your help this Christmas. Read my latest update and then give as your heart tells you to do, either through my website using PayPal or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

787 - Too Late

I was working on my next book this morning, and I came across something I wrote a few years ago about waiting and creativity. It struck a chord in me, so I thought I would share it with you this week.

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I ran across a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. a few years ago that impacted me deeply. Before I share that quote, however, I want to share a passage from Isaiah that people recite and even sing to me regularly (it was put to music years ago). It is their life philosophy and approach to missions, creativity, and taking action in general, and it reads like this in the NAS Version:

"He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:30-31 emphasis added).

A CLOSER LOOK

The key phrase in that passage for many is "those who wait on the Lord." The implication is that if you are going to serve the Lord, you need to wait, sort of like you wait for a bus or taxi. There is only one problem with that philosophy. Everything else in that passage speaks about taking action, not waiting. It speaks of strength, flying, running and walking. Those who are waiting aren't do any of those things, but the entire context of the passage is God giving strength to those who "wait." I would propose that those who wait don't need the strength; they need the patience.

The NIV for once is more accurate in its translation of the word "wait," for the NIV states, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Insert that phrase back into the longer quote above, and you will see there is a big difference between hoping and waiting. Most already have the waiting down pat. I want to be one who hopes as I run, fly, and walk, and I hope that we can run together toward our purpose and creativity. 

THE QUOTE

And now for the quote from Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond Vietnam," delivered on April 4, 1967 in New York City. I will offer no commentary on his closing comments. I trust you to draw your own conclusions and make the necessary adjustments in your life and work to make adjustments for what he said:

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood—it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. Omar Khayyam is right: "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on."

I urge you to engage your "moving finger" this week and write (or whatever your creative expression is). Once you have written, it's then time to move on—to your next creative project! Have a great week!