The Monday Memo from John Stanko

740 - The Year Behind, A Year Ahead

Happy New Year! I always hate to see the holidays end, and this year is no exception. Mine started early with a trip to New York, America's Christmas capital, and ended with time at home finishing up three book manuscripts for my publishing company, Urban Press. In between that, we had wonderful family times in Pittsburgh and Virginia, feasted like royalty, saw Star Wars and Creed, and received many Christmas and New Year greetings from friends all over the world! All in all, I am ready to start 2016, but here are some more memories of deeds done in 2015:

1. I published five new books: Stankoisms, The Leadership Walk, Unlocking the Power of Your Creativity, Leadership Essentials, and Unlocking the Power of Your Productivity. I also edited and re-released two of my previously published books: Unlocking the Power of Your Purpose and Strictly Business.
2. I launched Urban Press Publishing and we put out six books, with four more due out in January/early February.
3. I taught my first two online graduate school classes.
4. I taught twelve undergraduate classes, four of which I had never taught before.
5. Hosted more than 100 radio shows and eight television shows
6. I revisited Guyana, where I had not been since 1989, and went to Kenya twice.
7. Became the chairman of the board for two nonprofit organizations.
8. I regained my Platinum level travel status with Delta Airlines.
9. I kept my exercise momentum, walking 10-12 hours a week since April.

Here are some things I did in 2015 that I will stop doing in 2016:

1. I will no longer host my Saturday morning radio show, Wake Up to Purpose.
2. I will discontinue my daily written devotionals and transfer my efforts to a daily video devotional.

Then I have these new goals for 2016:

1. I have ideas for three new books of my own.
2. I want to publish 12 books for others through Urban Press.
3. I will learn Ukrainian, the language of my European ancestors.
4. Establish three new libraries in Kenya.
5. Produce the video devotional I mentioned above.
6. Start some new radio ventures.

I would enjoy hearing about your accomplishments in 2015 and goals for 2016. You can post them here for others to read and learn from. I am still savoring what God helped me do in 2015, and I include them only to stimulate you to your own good deeds. If I can help you become more purposeful and productive, please do not hesitate to contact me. I wish you and yours a marvelous, Spirit-filled, purposeful 2016 as together we advance God's kingdom for His glory.

736 - Stop-to-Do List

I have had a weekly one-hour radio show on a local AM Christian station called Wake Up to Purpose since September of 2012. It has been a joy to do, even though I had to get up at 5:30, get to the station and then drive cross town to teach a class. What's more, I paid for the show, had many wonderful guests on the show who told their purpose stories, and got great feedback from listeners. Last Saturday, I announced that I will do my last show, number 172, on Saturday, December 26.

By the way, I have also decided to stop writing a daily devotional in the New Year as well.

Why would I stop doing something I love that seemed to be helping others? The decision was not financial. I am doing so because it is important not only to have a to-do list, but also a stop-to-do list. As you approach the start of 2016, perhaps you need to pay more attention to what you what you should stop doing as well as what you should do.

THE STATUS QUO

You and I have all the time in the world - 24 hours every day we are alive. You cannot get any more time, so you have to make decisions, sometimes difficult decisions, to stop doing something to create space for something new. The challenge is that often we don't know what the new things will be, so we hold on to the old out of fear - fear that we won't find the new, that the new won't be as good as the old, or that the new will not work out. So we clutch and claw to hold on to the status quo, when truth be told the status quo has become stale and outdated.

Here are some thoughts about the status quo:

1. You may think maintaining your status quo is not a decision, but it is. When you are considering several change options and don't choose any of them, it seems like you have not made a decision. You have, however, decided not to change.
2. Choosing the status quo costs you something. You may have chosen the safety of what you know, but you lost all the possibilities of what the new can bring.
3. The status quo isn't all that good; it's just safe. Ask yourself this question about the status quo: If you didn't have this status quo, would you go out of your way again to create it? Would you apply again for your current job? Would you buy your current dwelling again? Would you have pursued this career if you had known back then what you know today?

CREATE SPACE

It's time for you to create some space for the new, even if you aren't sure what all that new is. It's time to make time to write because you want to write, but currently don't have the time - or won't allow yourself to find the time (because you are afraid). It's time to give yourself time to breathe and think, and that means stopping the old so you can discover the new - or so the new can discover you.

A New Year is upon you once again. Did you do what you said you were going to do one year ago? Has this been an exhilarating year of new tastes and smells, or has it seemed like you are eating stale bread? I invite you to join me in creating space for the new by jettisoning some of the old cargo to which you are clinging for dear life. I don't know what 2016 will bring, but I hope it's not what 2015 brought, if 2015 is just more of the same that made you unhappy or unfulfilled.

I am attaching an article below I wrote entitled Stop-to-Do List if you want to give some more thought to this concept. Don't be satisfied just to think about it, however, but be willing to create space for the new by letting for of the old. Thanks for reading, and have a great week making your stop-to-do list.

*********

KENYA UPDATE: I posted our latest update written by Mary, one of the orphans you help support. You can read it here and then please give a year-end gift to help Mary and others like her. You can give through my website using PayPal (just click on the donate button), or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING: My daily devotionals make excellent gifts that keep giving every day of the year. Check out these titles and then order yours today:

1.     What Would Jesus Ask You Today?
2.     A Daily Taste of Proverbs
3.     A Daily Dose of Proverbs
4.     String of Pearls
5.     The Leadership Walk

  Download Stop To Do

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.

***********

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.

**********

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.

*******

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!

************

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.

**********

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.

*****************

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.

695: What You See 5

The clock is ticking and I depart for Kenya on February 26. I am still short of the funds needed to go and I need your help. I am not nervous or under pressure, for I know God will provide and you will respond to my urgent call. If these Memos have helped you, then I am asking for your help in return. Remember, even the smallest gift, which you may be dismissing as insignificant, is significant in my sight - and the sight of God. Please act today! The methods for giving are described below. Now, let's continue with our series on What You See Is What You Get.

******************

It was a common occurrence in the Bible for God to open the eyes of people so they could see what was right in front of them all the time. It makes me think of Proverbs 20:12: "Ears that hear and eyes that see—the Lord has made them both." That verse is so obvious - of course God made my ears and eyes, along with my feet, hands, brain, etc. - that there must be some other meaning, otherwise there was no need for the wisdom writer to state the obvious. I think the meaning is this: Unless God helps you see and hear, you won't be able to see and hear all that you need to see and hear. Your preconceived notions and hardness of heart can and will prevent you from seeing and hearing clearly, even from the Lord.

The Bible is full of examples of people who could not see. The Pharisees saw Jesus heal a shriveled hand right before their very eyes (see Mark 3:1-6). Yet their theology did not allow them to come to the correct conclusion of what that act meant. Instead of running home to get family and friends with a similar condition, they interpreted the miracle to mean, "Jesus must die because He healed on the Sabbath!" That's remarkable, but that is the power of your thinking to cloud what you see, causing you to misinterpret its meaning. That is why you need God to open your eyes right now!

God must open your eyes and ears if you are going to pursue purpose and be fruitful. For example, you may want to take a missions trip to Haiti or some other country. You look at your checkbook, your job and your friends, and you think, "I don't have the money and have no way to get it - ever!" You sing in church that God can do anything yet you act like God can do nothing. You say today that you will not be able to go on the trip in six months because you don't have the money today. You put your trust in your own thinking and ability and come to the wrong conclusion. You are thinking, "There is no way in the next six months that God can give me what I need and want. Period. It's over." The Bible would say that you are blind.

Yet when you think of it, there are four or five trillion dollars in circulation in the United States alone. You are saying God can't direct $1,000, $2,000 or $10,000 of that amount to you to do His will? Really? That's what you believe? That's what your faith in Jesus has done for you? That's not reality or being responsible; that's unbelief! Do you see how what you see is affected by your thinking, and why God needs to open your eyes to His reality and deliver you from your own?

You can adjust the example I gave and insert another - a business, a book, a degree, a spouse, a child, a ministry. Your thinking is what is hindering you but the good news is that God is with you today, right now as you read this, to open your eyes, not to what you don't have - you already see that - but to what you do have in Christ. You are not connected to a reservoir of limited resources, but to an ocean of unlimited resources in the Lord. I ask, no I encourage, no I beg you to come to grips with that truth and act like it's true today and every day. Thank you and have a blessed week!

********************

HELP! You can read more about my upcoming trips and the financial needs that go with them on my personal site. Then please give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you for your help! I depart for Kenya on February 26.

677: Tell Your Story

I was studying and writing last week when I noticed a verse in Psalm 105:7 that caught my attention. It's a verse you are probably familiar with, but what struck me is that the verse is an exhortation for you (and I) to publish and broadcast! You may not see it like that, but let me give you a little more background. Here is the verse: "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe” (Psalm 107:2).

Do you have a story? I know you do, for God has done great things for you just as He has for me. That is what's known as your testimony and you are to tell it. One way is to do so in church, but in today's modern church services, where is there time to testify? That means you (and I) must find other ways to tell God's story, or your story in God. That is where publishing, social media and the like come in. If you know me, you know I don't often use social media for personal things, but I use it every day to 'publish' what God is showing me and what I am learning. I do my best every day to tell my story. What about you?

After I noticed Psalm 107:2, I did a little more research and found two interesting things in Scripture that go along with that verse from Psalms. One is in Deuteronomy 31:19: “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them." God instructed Moses to write a song and teach it to Israel. I had never seen that before. The nature of the song was to remind Israel of God's faithfulness in a day when they would go astray, but I had never noticed that God commanded Moses to be creative and write music. Do you have any music in you that needs to be written? That is another way of telling your story.

The second verse I found in my study was in Joshua 18:4: Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me." I had never noticed before that God commanded the spies who were sent out to submit their report of what they saw in the Promised Land in writing. Their story was not what God had done but what God was going to do when they entered the Land He was giving them. Part of your story is your faith vision of what is yet to come.

So there you have three reasons to publish, write and create: 1) to tell your story of what God has done for you; 2) to remind you and others of God's faithfulness; 3) to report what you see pertaining to God's purpose and plan for you that is yet to be. If any of this speaks to you, I want to remind you that i am part of a Writer's and Creativity Workshop next Friday and Saturday here in Pittsburgh. If you need a spark to stimulate your creativity and help understanding what it takes to "tell your story," then this workshop is for you. It's free and would be worth traveling to Pittsburgh to be a part of it. I am attaching the flier for your information. Just let me know you are coming and we'll make or leave a place for you.

If you can't come, then I urge you to download the rest of my study that I did last week when I saw the three verses above. I have some notes attached to a few of them, but I trust you can the verses for your own study. If you add to the list, please pass your insights along to me. In other words, tell me your story of how God used my story to help you tell yours. Have a blessed week!

***************

KENYA UPDATE: As usual, there are two Kenya updates for you to review this week, one of which shows pictures of a young child who just received his hearing aids through the help of a Kenya donor! You can access his story here. Once you read and see what a difference you can make, I urge you to contribute today through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

PURPOSE SEMINAR: My last purpose seminar for this year here in Pittsburgh is Saturday, November 1 from noon to 4:30. It's free but you have to register, so please let me know if you plan to attend.

Download Writing Workshop 2

Download Why We Write

674: Shalom

In many Christian circles, I hear people talk about peace, but they use the Hebrew word 'shalom,' which is translated 'peace.' This word is a greeting or parting word commonly used in Israel, sort of like 'hello' and 'good bye.' Over the years I have not given much thought to it when anyone used the word 'shalom,' and at times thought they were simply trying to be trendy or cool when they used it.

I have been thinking more about it, however, and of course I have had a limited and sometimes cynical view on the word. My church uses the word to describe what they want to accomplish in the community in which the church is located and we have indeed contributed to the peace of the city. It has not simply been because we hold worship services in that community, however. We have brought shalom because we have been involved beyond Sunday, fostering and promoting many innovative, creative ministries that bring help and support to the residents every day of the week.

So here are my thoughts on how you can bring shalom to your community and your world.

SHALOM CARRIER

You can bring peace to your world by finding and fulfilling your purpose. You can bring peace by doing what is in your heart to do, not talking yourself out of it using a myriad of excuses why you cannot be the one to do this or that. You bring peace in purpose and productivity not because you are a nice person or because your are smart, but because when you do the works prepared beforehand for you to do, then God works with and through you. You are a shalom carrier because you are God's representative when you flow and function in purpose. And where God is and people are doing His will, there is shalom.

A good example of the power of individual shalom is found in Nehemiah. No one could rebuild the entire city, but each person could do what they could do where they could do it as described in this passage from Nehemiah 3:10-12:

Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

You can see that some worked close to their home and others worked on the wall as a family project. Each one contributed what they could and, as the old adage goes, "many hands make light work." They did not pray for the peace of their city, they worked for the peace of their city. When they were threatened, they were willing to fight for the peace of their city. Fight for peace - that has a strange sound to it but it's true. If you want to contribute to peace, then fight through the turmoil in your own life and heart that is keeping you from doing what you can do to bring peace through purpose.

I write and create order out of chaos (my personal purpose) and my contributions bring peace where my writings and I are able to go. I cannot be a peace-maker or peace-bringer by myself. I can only repair my part of the wall and trust that you will repair your portion. I urge you today, if you want to bring peace to your city and your world, to find and fulfill your purpose and set plans that will enable you to achieve the dreams and goals in your heart. Shalom is not part of the heavenly Jerusalem that will descend magically on high. Shalom will 'happen' as you and many others like you take your place on God's wall and make your contribution with all the energy and creativity that God supplies. Thank you and have a blessed week!

************

KENYA UPDATES: As usual, I have posted several updates about the work in Kenya for your review and consideration. Once you have read, please give generously to my work there, either through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

DALLAS, TEXAS ON SEPTEMBER 20: I will be in Dallas next Saturday morning for a purpose seminar. The flier with information is attached below. The admission is free but you must register. Let me hear from you this week.

CREATIVITY SEMINAR ON OCTOBER 10-11: A flier describing a creativity seminar here in Pittsburgh is also attached below. It is also free but once again you must register for the event.

PITTSBURGH SEMINAR: I will be hosting a purpose seminar here in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 4 from noon to 4:30. Space is limited to 40 people but admission is free! Once again, I ask that you send me an email to let me know you will be there. My email address is [email protected]. The sessions are held in the Children's MInistry at Allegheny Center Alliance Church.

Download Writing Workshop 2

Download Purpose Seminar Flier

672: The Importance of Your Presence

I have written in the past about what I call false humility, which involves denying your ability to do something well so you don't appear to someone else as braggadocious or proud. While this appears spiritual to some, it really dishonors the Lord who created you to do certain things well and also causes you to minimize your strengths and purpose in your own mind.

The false humility usually leads to spiritual passivity, a lackadaisical attitude that says, "There should be no hurry or urgency in the things God has given me to do. I can wait." Worse yet is the attitude that your presence and purpose really doesn't contribute very much, so whether or not you act is of little consequence - God will get His will done through someone else.

That, my friend, is a dangerous and erroneous attitude that deprives God's kingdom of your presence and subsequent results that only you can produce. I am thinking of two biblical examples.

POINT ONE

One is found in 2 Kings 3:14. Jehoshaphat had forged an alliance with wicked Ahab and they went to see counsel from Elisha the prophet. This is what Elisha said when they came into his presence: “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you." Because of Jehoshaphat's presence, Elisha went on to prophesy what would happen when those kings went into battle.

The point is: the word of the Lord would not have been released had Jehoshaphat not been personally present. There is also some things that will not occur unless you are present.

POINT TWO

The second is the almost humorous story of the sons of Sceva who were trying to cast out demons in Jesus' name as reported in the book of Acts. When the took on more than they could handle, this is what the demons said to them: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15b). The demonic world was aware of Paul and, when someone tried to do what only Paul and others like him had the authority to do, the demons turned on the sons of Sceva and beat them badly.

The point is: there are some things that only you can do and your presence in certain situations is absolutely necessary for God's work and will to be done. As you can tell, point two is the same as point one.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion of all this is that you must learn to take the power and importance of the purpose you carry seriously and not dismiss it lightly or treat it with a nonchalant attitude. There are people and situations waiting for you to show up to do what only you can do. When you think that your presence isn't important, the opportunity is lost. Yes, God will raise up someone else to do His will in the long-run, but for now, today, you have work to do that only you can do and your presence is essential for that work to get done.

You may think, "I must wait on the Lord" and that's certainly true. But once you have found your purpose, once you see your divine assignment, the waiting is over. It's time to act and act you must, for you carry power and authority in purpose that cannot be replicated or replaced. I urge you to change your thinking where false humility and passivity are concerned and act today, this week, this minute to do the work that only you can do. Thanks, and have a blessed week!

*******************

KENYA UPDATE: I sent $1,500 to Pastor Peter this past week and $500 to Pastor Francis for Mary. Now I have a bill in front of me for $1,100 for school fees for five children (like those pictured right} from Alice at Each One Touch One. As usual, I know that God will provide and thank you in advance for your generous support. You can give through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. On behalf of the children you are helping, I thank you and pray God will continue to bless your generosity.

NEW TV SHOW: I am pleased to announce the first of my new television series, Your PurposeQuest. This show is recorded in a Pittsburgh independent studio and will be part of my television channel on the online service Vimeo. If you have 60 minutes, I promise it is worth the watch! After you watch it here, let me know what you think.