The Monday Memo from John Stanko

885: Put Me In, Coach!

Happy New Year! I trust you had a wonderful holiday season and you are ready for a purposeful and productive year. Over the holidays, I conducted what I labeled a "purpose revival" on Facebook, posting more than 100 short inspirational and challenging posts over a three-day period. The concept caught fire and is still getting attention from around the world. You can read my report of that revival on my blog site. (I will host two Facebook live purpose sessions next weekend; see information below.)

One of the themes that struck a chord with readers was my thread called "put me in, coach!" It is that topic that I want to examine this week as you start a new year looking at ways to become more engaged in your purpose.

HERE AM I, SEND ME!

Let's start by looking at Isaiah 6:4-9a:

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” He said, “Go and tell this people . . ."

This passage has important lessons if you are looking for God to use you. Let's examine them quickly:

1. When confronted with God's presence, Isaiah felt woefully inadequate: "woe is me."
2. God touched Isaiah and empowered and energized what Isaiah felt to be his biggest weakness: his lips.
3. God took away Isaiah's iniquity and sin with one touch of a coal from his altar.
4. Then the Lord asked who would be willing to go to speak to the people.
5. Isaiah immediately volunteered and God sent him without hesitation or reservation.

What can we learn from this story that will enable God to use us in the coming year?

PUT ME IN, COACH!

A number of years ago, I was confronted by my own fear of God using me. I didn't feel I was ready. I was waiting for someone to "discover" me so I would not seem to be self-promoting if I stepped forward to say, "I'm ready. I can do that." I was waiting on the Lord, but going nowhere, and felt like something was missing. Indeed, there was.

There was the courage for me to accept who God had made me to be and what He wanted me to do. When I saw my fear, I immediately stopped putting my faith in my preparations and also stopped surrendering the sovereignty of my life to others who had no idea what was in my heart or what God had called me to do. I had some experience, education, and a heart to serve the Lord anyplace in the world He wanted me to go. At that point, I said, "Put me in, Coach. I'm ready!" That didn't mean I didn't need for development, but it did mean I was ready to play God's game and learn not from the sideline but from being engaged and involved.

Isaiah's problem -- his lips -- was dealt with in an instant. God empowered and equipped him for the mission, but God did not send him off. Isaiah had to make himself available by volunteering to go. In essence, Isaiah said, "Put me in, Lord!" God heard him and granted his request and we are still being impacted by what took place.

Is it time that you stopped being content with being a bench player or worse yet, a spectator? What is keeping you from getting into the game of purpose? In all probability, it is fear that you aren't ready. My advice to you is that you may not be as ready as you are going to be, but you're ready now to do more than you're doing. I urge you to change your thinking from "I'm not ready; I need more time" to "put me in, coach" and see what the Lord does and how He uses you. We'll examine this again next week, but for now, have a blessed week!

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FACEBOOK LIVE: I will be on Facebook live next Saturday morning at 9 AM (EST). That is 5 PM in Kenya, 1 PM in the UK, 2 PM in Nigeria, 4 PM in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and 5 PM in Kenya. Please send me questions you would like me to address or tune in and submit them in real time. "See" you next weekend! Then I will be back on again on Sunday night at 6 PM (EST).

ISRAEL TOUR: My tour to Israel is coming up in April, 2020, and will include an optional side trip to Jordan to visit Petra. If you are interested, please check out the website and register today. Give yourself a special gift this Christmas you will never forget.

ALASKA CRUISE: Looking for a unique vacation for you and your family? Then come cruise Alaska with me in August 2019. I have been to Alaska many times and it never gets old, for there are natural wonders to behold at every stop and along the way. Check out the website and then plan on being with me as we cruise the wilderness and talk about purpose.

883: Daylight on the Night Shift

I continue with holiday Memos from the archives this week. As we close 2018 and prepare for 2019, I pray God's light will shine on you and your understanding of who you are and how important you are to God's purposeful plan. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

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I receive many requests every year asking how to find purpose. Many say they have "no idea" what their purpose is and ask me for help. While I respond as best I can, after all these years I know that I cannot help anyone see his or her purpose. I know the One who can, however, and how He does it is reminiscent of the story of the shepherds at Christmas, something I call daylight on the night shift. Read on to see what I mean.

THE NIGHT SHIFT

The shepherds in the Christmas story were working the night shift, doing what they and their ancestors had done for centuries. They went to work that night without any thought that anything extraordinary was about to happen. On the night Jesus was born, they were tending their flocks on the hillsides outside Bethlehem, minding their own business. Suddenly God sent them messengers, who brought great light to the night shift:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-16).

These shepherds were doing what they knew to do at that time in their life and God interrupted them with a special news report. This both scared and thrilled them. That's how it is when you find your life purpose. Often you are doing what you know to do at the time, usually a job or role that is less than fulfilling. Suddenly God, the Great Communicator, breaks into your conscious being and brings a message of purpose, of what He has always wanted you to do. That not only terrifies you but also gives you a desire to clarify and fulfill it.

That night the shepherds went to work like any other day. God spoke to them, however, and they were never the same. They started by sitting on a hillside in cold weather; they ended by finding a great treasure in Bethlehem, a treasure that had not been revealed to anyone else but them.

YOUR PURPOSEQUEST

Maybe you have been in a desperate search for your purpose and its expression. As we end this year, I suggest that you be encouraged as you remember the shepherds. Finding your purpose doesn't depend on your diligence; it depends on God's grace. Yes, you must search for your purpose, but only God can reveal it to you. It may be one cold, dark night when you go about your business like countless other nights. At that point, God may send His messenger and change your life forever. I don't know when or how He will do it, I just know He will.

Therefore, have faith and relax this holiday season. Keep asking God to help you understand who you are and what you were born to do and, after that, trust Him. You may even want to thank Him for your purpose whether or not you understand what it is. He wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do. He will show you in the fullness of time, bring you daylight even if you are working the night shift. When He does, you will join with the shepherds as laborers who found more than business as usual one night when they went to work. May the God of purpose speak to you soon and may you have the courage to believe what He says!  Here's wishing you and yours a happy holiday season! Merry Christmas!

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ISRAEL TOUR: My tour to Israel is coming up in April, 2020, and will include an optional side trip to Jordan to visit Petra. If you are interested, please check out the website and register today. Give yourself a special gift this Christmas you will never forget.

ALASKA CRUISE: Looking for a unique vacation for you and your family? Then come cruise Alaska with me in August 2019. I have been to Alaska many times and it never gets old, for there are natural wonders to behold at every stop and along the way. Check out the website and then plan on being with me as we cruise the wilderness and talk about purpose.

GIVE A KID A CHRISTMAS: I received more than $3,000 for the orphans in Kenya for their Christmas celebrations. Read my latest update and then give toward their holiday needs as your heart directs you to do, either through my website using PayPal (just click on the red button to go there) or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

CHRISTMAS GIFT: Here is another Christmas gift from me to you, an audio message (40 mins) of this Memo's title, Daylight on the Night Shift.

882: Down, but Not Out

As we close out the year, I trust you have had a purposeful and productive year. At the bottom of this Memo is a link that you can use to send a gift to the orphans in Kenya this holiday season as an expression of thanks to God. Also, there is a Christmas gift for you at the very end of this entry. Before you get to all that, however, please enjoy this classic Monday Memo from the archives and apply the purpose lessons to your life this holiday season.

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I love spending time in the city of London. One year while I was there, I went to see Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Music Hall. What a wonderful way to enjoy a timeless masterpiece of music and Scripture in the city where it was composed. That visit sparked one of my Christmas favorites from the Monday Memo archives, which I present to you again this year.

MESSIAH

Messiah is considered by many to be the greatest musical feat in the history of mankind. Commissioned by a charity to produce a benefit concert, Handel wrote the Messiah in only 24 days. A musician once told me that someone trying to copy the Messiah could hardly do so in 24 days—that is the level of inspiration in which Handel operated when he wrote. Handel never left his house for those three weeks. His food trays remained untouched outside his office door.

A friend who visited him as he composed found him sobbing with intense emotions. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe what he had experienced, he quoted St. Paul, saying, “whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it, I know not.”

What’s even more impressive is that Handel wrote Messiah under extreme duress. The Church of England strongly criticized and opposed Handel and his previous Scriptural works put to music. At the age of 56, he had no money, often going out only at night so as to avoid his creditors. Handel performed what he considered his farewell concert and went home, fully expecting to end up in debtor’s prison. Yet the first performance of Messiah in Ireland in 1742 raised almost 400 British pounds for charity and freed 142 other men from debtor's prison. Of course, the rest is history as countless millions have enjoyed and marveled at his work for more than 250 years. Handel also went on from there to enjoy tremendous success and popularity in his latter years.

So what does this have to do with you? Perhaps you are a person of purpose but you feel frustrated, even defeated in your PurposeQuest. Maybe you find yourself down and out, discouraged and criticized, forgotten and a failure. Perhaps your finances are in poor shape. If any of those descriptions fit you, read on, for this Memo can restore your hope and faith. If that’s not where you are right now, read on anyway, for that will probably describe you one day as you pursue your purpose.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DOWN AND OUT

What should you do if you are in a season of “un-use,” disfavor, or inaction? As we close out 2018, I urge you to do three things if you are discouraged, disillusioned, or dismayed. And if you’re not, I urge you to find someone who is—you shouldn’t have to look too hard—and encourage them in their dark time.

1. Renew your faith in God. Your success and purpose expression don’t depend on your faithfulness; they depends on God’s. Remind yourself that God can do anything, and then rest in Him. Handel went home to retire and perhaps thought it was all over for him. Yet God helped him when a group found and commissioned him, and God can do the same for you.
2. Keep preparing for your day of success. I don’t think Handel went home to retire and abandon music. Don't you abandon your love either. Keep writing, reading, learning, and practicing. When the phone rings or the mail comes with your opportunity, you will be fresh and prepared, having worked in faith for the day of success.
3. Be generous. Handel wrote Messiah for charity, even though he was destitute. What can you do for someone else even though you are down and out? It is a good thing to do the unexpected in hard times, and giving something away definitely fits the bill when you are in need yourself. What better way to express your trust in God?

I had some financially hard times in 2019 and had to resort to my own advice, following the three steps I outlined above. I am glad to report that I did not waver in carrying them out, and they brought me through. I’m grateful for God's help as 2019 comes to an end, and I hope you can find reasons to be thankful as well. If it's been a tough year for you, thank God for His faithfulness that kept it from being worse. At least you’re still alive and purpose eligible! Then take this Memo to heart or share it with someone who needs it. I pray that as you do what I recommend above, you will see a purpose breakthrough in 2020. Thank you for allowing me to come into your life every week and thank you for being a fellow PurposeQuest-er. As I close this Memo, I wish you not only a great week, but a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

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CHRISTMAS GIFT: Here is an link to my audio message (40 mins) titled "Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas."

As we close out the year, I trust you have had a purposeful and productive year. At the bottom of this Memo is a link that you can use to send a gift to the orphans in Kenya this holiday season as an expression of thanks to God. Also, there is a Christmas gift for you at the very end of this entry. Before you get to all that, however, please enjoy this classic Monday Memo from the archives and apply the purpose lessons to your life this holiday season.

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

I love spending time in the city of London. One year while I was there, I went to see Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Music Hall. What a wonderful way to enjoy a timeless masterpiece of music and Scripture in the city where it was composed. That visit sparked one of my Christmas favorites from the Monday Memo archives, which I present to you again this year.

MESSIAH

Messiah is considered by many to be the greatest musical feat in the history of mankind. Commissioned by a charity to produce a benefit concert, Handel wrote the Messiah in only 24 days. A musician once told me that someone trying to copy the Messiah could hardly do so in 24 days—that is the level of inspiration in which Handel operated when he wrote. Handel never left his house for those three weeks. His food trays remained untouched outside his office door.

A friend who visited him as he composed found him sobbing with intense emotions. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe what he had experienced, he quoted St. Paul, saying, “whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it, I know not.”

What’s even more impressive is that Handel wrote Messiah under extreme duress. The Church of England strongly criticized and opposed Handel and his previous Scriptural works put to music. At the age of 56, he had no money, often going out only at night so as to avoid his creditors. Handel performed what he considered his farewell concert and went home, fully expecting to end up in debtor’s prison. Yet the first performance of Messiah in Ireland in 1742 raised almost 400 British pounds for charity and freed 142 other men from debtor's prison. Of course, the rest is history as countless millions have enjoyed and marveled at his work for more than 250 years. Handel also went on from there to enjoy tremendous success and popularity in his latter years.

So what does this have to do with you? Perhaps you are a person of purpose but you feel frustrated, even defeated in your PurposeQuest. Maybe you find yourself down and out, discouraged and criticized, forgotten and a failure. Perhaps your finances are in poor shape. If any of those descriptions fit you, read on, for this Memo can restore your hope and faith. If that’s not where you are right now, read on anyway, for that will probably describe you one day as you pursue your purpose.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DOWN AND OUT

What should you do if you are in a season of “un-use,” disfavor, or inaction? As we close out 2018, I urge you to do three things if you are discouraged, disillusioned, or dismayed. And if you’re not, I urge you to find someone who is—you shouldn’t have to look too hard—and encourage them in their dark time.

1. Renew your faith in God. Your success and purpose expression don’t depend on your faithfulness; they depends on God’s. Remind yourself that God can do anything, and then rest in Him. Handel went home to retire and perhaps thought it was all over for him. Yet God helped him when a group found and commissioned him, and God can do the same for you.
2. Keep preparing for your day of success. I don’t think Handel went home to retire and abandon music. Don't you abandon your love either. Keep writing, reading, learning, and practicing. When the phone rings or the mail comes with your opportunity, you will be fresh and prepared, having worked in faith for the day of success.
3. Be generous. Handel wrote Messiah for charity, even though he was destitute. What can you do for someone else even though you are down and out? It is a good thing to do the unexpected in hard times, and giving something away definitely fits the bill when you are in need yourself. What better way to express your trust in God?

I had some financially hard times in 2019 and had to resort to my own advice, following the three steps I outlined above. I am glad to report that I did not waver in carrying them out, and they brought me through. I’m grateful for God's help as 2019 comes to an end, and I hope you can find reasons to be thankful as well. If it's been a tough year for you, thank God for His faithfulness that kept it from being worse. At least you’re still alive and purpose eligible! Then take this Memo to heart or share it with someone who needs it. I pray that as you do what I recommend above, you will see a purpose breakthrough in 2020. Thank you for allowing me to come into your life every week and thank you for being a fellow PurposeQuest-er. As I close this Memo, I wish you not only a great week, but a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

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CHRISTMAS GIFT: Here is an link to my audio message (40 mins) titled "Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas."

881: The Word Made Flesh

For the next few weeks, I will draw some of my Christmas classic Memos out of the archives, but this week, I want to make a few observations about the significance of John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." In a sense, God endorsed humanity as the crown of His creation when He willingly took on human form so we could behold His essence in a manner we could comprehend. This indicates that God is more comfortable with our humanity than we often are, wishing to change less about us than we are eager to change about ourselves.

The message of Christmas is that God is with us, as Matthew explained in his gospel when he quoted from Isaiah 7: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:23). Let's consider some other implications of what this concept of the Incarnation (which means the Word made flesh) represents for us as we pursue purpose and productivity.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

When God endorsed humanity by gracing it with His presence, He re-emphasized what He had said in the beginning: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). That meant all the activities of His humanity were also good, and that included sleep, work, eating, recreation, procreation, teamwork, communication, purpose, and creativity. When Adam and Eve fell, those activities remained intact and were still good, but would constantly be fouled by sin. I liken it to a computer that has a virus. The computer can still function, but all its files and operating system are corrupted. Seldom is the computer discarded, but the virus must be found and eliminated. That is similar to the process of salvation and sanctification (the process of holiness). God did not discard mankind, but sent a remedy for the sin virus that has affected our operating system and files.

When Jesus was born, He came with the purpose of restoring things as they were meant to be in the Garden. Paul explained it this way: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:19-20, emphasis added). Jesus did not come primarily to get you into a church; He came to restore to their original working order your purpose, creativity, and all the other human traits He put into all people. This will not be completed in this lifetime, but the process has begun, and as God said in Genesis, "it is very good."

IMPLICATIONS

Often we believe that we need a complete overhaul before God can use us. That is not the case. Yes, you need all your computer system upgraded and your files cleansed, but the essence of who you are is still God's idea. Your personality, gifts, thought process, likes, preferences, dislikes, and limitations are consistent with who God made you to be. God created you with your love for organization or your hatred for details. He made You an introvert or extrovert. He gave you your impatience for injustice or patience for the elderly. You were created not to be an end unto yourself, but were made to function best in a team where you can contribute who you are and rely on others for who you are not—with God in the midst of us all.

As I mentioned at the beginning, God is less interested in changing some things in me than I am. He has used my love of sports, my competitiveness, my writing gift, my lack of mercy, my love of travel, and my humor for His purpose and when I express them all, I am glorifying Him. When I try to change the essence of who I am, I am saying, "God, You made a mistake. You should have made me more like this or that." God knows best.

The message of Christmas is that God is truly with us. He is not intimidated or offended by our mess or our humanity in its less attractive aspects. He is content to dwell with us, in fact in us, not when we get cleaned up but so He can facilitate the process. As you celebrate the birth of Christ and rejoice in who He is, spend time rejoicing in who you are as well, for He came not because He tolerates you but because He celebrates you. If God is happy to live with you, shouldn't you be happy to live with yourself? Have a blessed week and Advent season.

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GIVE A KID A CHRISTMAS: This week, I will launch a campaign to raise money for Kenyan orphans. I will be asking for $25, which will give the child a new pair of shoes, a new outfit, and some Christmas treats. Be watching and then give in time for me to get the money to Kenya so it can be used in time for December 25.

867: Go and . . . Tell

As we continue our "Go and . . ." series, this week we look at Jesus' words to the man whom Jesus delivered from the torment of a Legion of demons. After the man was clothed and in his right mind, we read about what happened when Jesus got in the boat to depart:

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed (Mark 5:18-20).

Jesus did not allow the man to go with him, but instead told him to go home and tell his family, friends, and neighbors what Jesus had done for him. Let's examine this strategy that sent this man back home.

THE MAN HAD A STORY

We learn that this man was from a region that is today known as Jordan, but then was a collection of 10 cities or regions on the far eastern side of the Roman Empire that were hubs for Greek and Roman culture. This man was a spiritually-oppressed Gentile and Jesus went out of His way to come find the man to set him free. The man was so grateful and impacted by what Jesus did that He wanted to begged Jesus to accompany Him wherever He was going. Instead, Jesus sent him home to tell his fellow Gentiles what God had done for Him.

I can understand why the man wanted to be with Jesus. Hours earlier, he was tormented by a pack of devils that, when released from him, entered into 2,000 swine that immediately went stampeding down a hill and drowned in the lake. Can you imagine the stench and mess from 2,000 pig carcasses floating in the Sea of Galilee? The man had a story, however, and Jesus wanted him to spread the word about his miracle, perhaps as a harbinger of the good news that would infect the world after Jesus' departure. The man had a story and Jesus told him to go home and make a spectacle of himself, to draw a crowd and declare what he knew about God's mercy.

YOU HAVE A STORY TOO

You have a story too and you probably have the same desire as the man had. You want to stay close to Jesus and perhaps have even said, "I just want to be where you are, Lord." That often means being close to Jesus in your devotional life or in church. Jesus basically told the man, "I don't want you to be where I am; I want you to go where I am not." The man obeyed, but all we know is that the people were amazed. There are no reports of any from his audience coming the Lord for themselves.

When I say that God wants you to go where He isn't, what comes to mind? Do you think of missions or door-to-door visitation? That may be what God has in mind for you, but that may not be practical or feasible. But I know what is, and that is to use the technology available to you to tell how much Jesus has done for you. You can write a book, record a testimony, compose a poem, pen and put on a one-person play. Instead of using Facebook to tell people that you went to mall or washed your hair, tell them about God's goodness.

Since I have started my publishing company, I encounter many people who tell me that God told them to write. Many say they will call me and follow through, but most don't. They talk themselves out of it and instead just "stay close to Jesus" in prayer and devotions. That's good but that's not writing a book.

It's interesting that Jesus sent the man home perhaps because it was how the man could maintain his deliverance. You wonder, "How could the man stay free by being apart from Jesus?" Perhaps Jesus had Revelation 12:11 in mind before It was ever written: "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

Perhaps some of your freedom and deliverance isn't in staying close to Jesus, but in sharing your testimony? if it is, then no amount of wishful thinking or spiritually sounding "I want to be close to the Lord" will do the job. You are going to have to do what the man did, and that was obey Jesus, go home, and tell everyone how once he lived with a bunch of devils but God set him free. Who knows who is desperately waiting to hear your report. Have a blessed week.

866: Go and . . . Learn

I thought I would be finished with this "God and . . ." series, but I found a few more examples of Jesus telling people to go and do something specific, so that means the series will continue at least another month. Who knows, I may find some additional examples after that. This week, we look at what Jesus said in response to criticism that He was spending way too much time with sinners and tax gatherers:

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:11-12, emphasis added).

Jesus was telling men who had made the study of God's word the work of their adult lives to go and meditate on a verse from Hosea because they did not really know what it meant. That should provide a warning to us as well who believe we are adherents to God's word and who have more resources available to study and understand God's word than any generation in history. Let's look more closely at our need to go and learn more.

THE MORE YOU KNOW

When I teach classes on preaching, I give my students this advice: "Whenever you approach a passage of Scripture, no matter how much you have studied it, no matter how much you think you know, you must approach it as if you know nothing at all."' Why do I teach this? I do so because when we are confident we see everything there is to see about a truth or a passage, we stop looking for more. We are confident, sometimes even smug, that we know all there is to know about it.

Jesus was talking to men who had memorized the verse He referenced. That had discussed and debated it, and had added much to their collective commentary about its implications for their lives as they served the Lord. They were so sure of their knowledge that they could not see how what Jesus was doing with sinners was in any way related to that verse from Hosea 6:6: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

Jesus told the Pharisees that they had not "arrived," but were still students in need of study and enlightenment. They knew the Bible but they were missing out on what God was doing through Jesus public ministry. He is saying the same thing to us today.

GO AND LEARN

• If you think you know it all about who you are or what God wants you to do, you need to go and learn more.
• If you think you know all there is to know about another person and their capabilities, you need to go and learn more.
• If you think you know all there is to know about a Bible story or passage you have studied regularly and taught on repeatedly, you need to go and learn more.
• If you think there is no need for you to learn new skills or gain new knowledge, that you can rely on what you have done in the past, you need to go and learn more.
• If you think you know the mind of God on politics, justice, mercy, theology, religion, or any other topic, you need to go and learn more.
• If you think you can comment on social media with absolute certainty about any matter in order to correct or lecture someone else to turn them from the error of their ways, you need to go and learn more.

Learning is not something we do for a certain period of life; it is a lifelong pursuit. We are always in need of more wisdom and knowledge so we can be more effective for Him and less dependent on our past, our position, our title, or even our insight. This is why I went back to school when I was 57 years of age. This is why I listen to and read as many books as possible. This is why I listen when people give me feedback. I want to "go and learn," and that is my motto until I die or run out of strength.

Jesus told those who thought they "owned" God that they needed to go and meditate on one verse to find out what it meant. I know I need to do that when I write, preach, or teach. I invite you to join me so that together we can continue to grow and develop to be the masters of our purpose, effective for Him while always striving for more and better. Have a blessed week.

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AUTHOR'S RECEPTION: As you know, I have started a publishing company called Urban Press. I am hosting a reception for all our Urban Press authors on Saturday, September 8, from 3 to 5 PM in Pittsburgh where I live. I am inviting anyone who wants to publish and be an author to come and meet the UP authors. If you are interested in coming to learn more about publishing your creative work, write me at [email protected] and I will forward you the necessary information.

KENYA TRIP: I am sponsoring a tour to Kenya from February 14-24, 2019. The flier, FAQ sheet, and application are below. Study it and then take the step to go! This trip is shorter, less expensive, and more focused than any of my trips in the past. Come benefit from my experience that will provide a trip you will never forget.

Download KenyaFAQ2019

Download KenyaFlierNew

Download 2019KenyaApp

 

864: Go and . . . Make Preparations

This is the seventh in my series titled "God and . . .", which focuses on the times when Jesus told someone to go and do something (you can catch up on the others on my Memo site). This week, let's focus on the account of how the disciples prepared for what we know to be the Last Supper, but for them was the traditional Passover feast. This was to be celebrated as a family, but most of the disciples' families were up north in Galilee and they were with Jesus in Jerusalem. I wonder how their absence affected their families? Were they upset? Angry? Understanding? Resentful? That, however, is not our concern, for we want to look at how they made preparations for what they thought was a traditional meal, but in reality turned out to be so much more.

THE PREPARATIONS

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover (Luke 22:7-13).

The disciples had prepared many Passover meals in the past, so this one was no different, except that they had to find a venue to eat it, for they were all away from home. Jesus gave them some rather unusual instructions that would enable them to find a place. First, they were to look for a man carrying a water jar, which was highly unusual, for carrying water was women's work. Then they were to follow the man and ask the owner of the home where he entered for permission to hold their celebration there.

Naturally, it all unfolded just as Jesus had instructed them. I have always said that God is a great administrator, always able to organize whatever it is He wants to do. The disciples had no idea this upper room even existed until they needed one, and then Jesus was able to direct them out of their need to the exact spot that they needed. God will do the same for you, for there are untold resources out there of which you are unaware. Your role is to listen and then obey, seeing that your need is creating a deeper need - reliance on God for the provision that will help you fulfill God's purpose for your life.

THE REAL LESSON

The more important lesson in the story is the unexpected outcome of what the disciples considered a traditional gathering. This was to be like no other Passover meal since the first one in Egypt, for at this meal, Jesus inaugurated a rite that we call communion, the Lord's table, or the Eucharist that has been performed countless times for the last 2,000 years.

The disciples' obedience to Jesus' unusual directives required faith and mindful obedience, but was not their most important role in the story. Their presence at the dinner enabled them to observe and hear what Jesus did and said, and they went forth from that room and did what He said to do: Do what they had just done in remembrance of Him and His upcoming sacrifice. They thought they were going to a Passover meal, of which they were familiar, but instead were part of a new practice that would impact the entire world.

That is the kind of expectation we must have as we follow and obey the Lord. We don't know the significance of our missions trips we take, poems we write, businesses we start, or relationships we honor. We may think we understand what we are doing, but there may be much more than what we think. Therefore, we must make the most of every opportunity, not assuming we understand the significance of what we are about to do, especially if we have done it many times before.

I have been to Kenya more than 100 times, but this last trip I just completed was special. I probably had the greatest impact I have ever had in my two weeks there, and I am planning another three trips back in the next nine months. I prepared for the trip, but something was different and unusual, and it took my breath away. That is what happens when you prepare and trust the Lord, for He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

I urge you to continue to work and prepare for the unexpected with hope that the next time you do something, even if you have done it many times before, you may be on the verge of something that will change the world - and if not the world, then at least your world. Have a blessed week!

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!

862: Go and . . . Sin No More

After a week off, we continue with our series focusing on Jesus' words "go and," highlighting the fact that Jesus always put people in motion, so to speak, because faith always requires action of some type. In John 8, there is the story of the woman who was caught in adultery whom the religious leaders brought to Jesus for sentencing. Jesus gave the woman instructions to "go and . . .," and it is that encounter that is the next installment in this series. Let's go there now.

SETTING THE SCENE    

This story raises a few questions that are impossible to answer but first, let's look at the narrative itself:

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:1-11).

 The questions this story raises are:

1. Why did they only bring the woman and not the man caught in adultery?
2. What was Jesus writing on the ground?
3. Why did the older leaders leave first and then the younger?

We will not take time to speculate on these questions, for we can only surmise and postulate the answers. instead, let's focus on Jesus' response to the woman's alleged sin.

SIN

When Jesus was left alone with the woman, He said that He would not condemn her and then He in essence told her, "Go and stop it!" He did not send her for counseling; He did not lecture her once everyone was gone. He did not remind her of what the Law said. He did not tell her He was disappointed in her. He told her to go and sin no more. What does this tell us?

It tells us that we can too often wallow in our failures, convinced that we must go through major "reconstruction" before God can use us or even have fellowship with us. This encounter reminds of Saul's encounter on the Damascus road. God did not beat Saul over the head with his sin; He simply told him to stop kicking against the goads and then gave him a purpose assignment to the Gentiles.

Perhaps you read this and think I am making light of sin, which of course is terrible and causes repercussions that often affect other people (think of the problems that David's sin caused for his family as one example). Even in David's case, however, God still used and had close fellowship with David. Of course, the best strategy to follow is not to sin. In case that strategy fails, which it usually does, then you must learn how to run to God when you fail.

Have you allowed your failures or weaknesses, even your sins, to disqualify you from fulfilling your purpose and being productive for God? Yes, get counseling if you need it. By all means make restitution and ask forgiveness where necessary. Do what you have to do to get back into the game, so to speak, even if you have to spend time on the disabled list. Jesus was not shocked or scandalized by the woman's sin and we should follow His example by not making sinners pay a higher price for restitution than Jesus would require. Have a blessed week!

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IN KENYA: I am here for two weeks conducting some leadership training and visiting my ministry partners. We successfully raised $2,500 for bunk beds for our orphans here, but that did not include the cost of bedding ($1,800). If you would like to make a contribution toward that expense, please do so using my website or sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

861: Go and . . . Wash in the Pool

This week, we continue with our series focusing on Jesus' words "go and," highlighting the fact that Jesus always put people in motion, so to speak, because faith always requires action of some type. In John 9, there is the story of the man born blind, which is one of my favorites. Let's look at this narrative in the light of our current theme:

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man  or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing (John 9:1-7).

THE PLAYERS  

There are three main characters in the first part of this story, and later we meet his parents and the Jewish authorities who were offended by Jesus' miracle, which makes five. The first is the blind man who had never seen in his entire life, a victim of congenital blindness. The second group was made up of Jesus' followers who wanted to debate the reason for the man's condition. The third character was Jesus, who wanted to heal the man. The fourth were his parents, who were so intimidated by the Jewish officials that they could not rejoice at their son's miraculous healing. And the Jewish officials comprised the final group, those who launched a congressional hearing of sorts to get to the bottom of the dastardly deed of healing a blind man on the Sabbath.

The context of this story is Jesus' lesson that He is the light of the world who requires that His disciples do good deeds and fulfill their purpose while they have the chance to do so. Jesus' healing in this case involved the strange act of spitting on the ground, making mud, and then smearing the mud on the man's blind eyes. He them told the man to go and wash in the historic pools of Siloam, built by Hezekiah to provide water in Jerusalem in case the city was ever under siege.

THE LESSONS

Jesus required that the man play a role in his own healing. Jesus told the man to go, something that was not easy for a blind man. Perhaps someone led him or maybe he was familiar with the way to the pool. Whatever the case, the man went immediately and obediently and after he washed, he came back and was healed. The name of the pool literally means "sent" so the man was sent by the Sent One to the pool named Sent to find his healing. Jesus was the start and finish, the Alpha and Omega, of the man's recovery and the same is true for you and me.

People ask me all the time when they find their purpose how they will fulfill their purpose. I had to face the same question in 1991 when I began teaching on purpose. Today 27 years later, I write, publish, travel, speak, consult, broadcast, and coach. The One who gave me my purpose is the same One who has helped me fulfill my purpose. He has been the Alpha and Omega of my purpose - He started it and has helped me achieve it. The same will be true for you.

Now that Jesus has opened your eyes to your purpose and creativity, He will continue to open your eyes but you must "go and . . . ." You must go and write, paint, rhyme, create, learn, expand, give, or travel. You are not to be like some of the characters in John 9 who wanted to debate or judge what Jesus was doing. You must not be like the man's parents who were terrified to embrace the moment. You must be like the blind man who obeyed immediately and, even though he could not see his way forward, found his way. As he did, he found his healing. That is your model to follow and as you go, I know you will have a great week this week and in the weeks to come!

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I NEED YOUR HELP: I have a trip coming up to Kenya on July 26 and I need your help. Watch this video of the children at Upako Centre and the Dr. Stanko Academy. Aren't they cute? They are excited because they received some of the resources you helped send in our container. Well, some of those children are orphans and they are sleeping on a mat on a concrete floor every night in one of the classrooms! I need to raise money for their beds and for other needs by the time I depart. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you but please don't delay. The need is urgent and my departure is near!

TRAVELS WITH DR. JOHN: I am planning three trips in the next two years, and I invite you to join me on any or all of them:

• Kenya Trip: February 15-23, 2019
• Alaska Cruise: August 4-11, 2019
• Israel Tour: April 21 - April 30, 2020 with an optional side trip to Jordan to see Petra from May 1-4.

If you would like information on these trips as it becomes available, write me at [email protected] and let me know.

The first is My Enemies My Friends, which is a fable that teaches important lessons about the book of Psalms, specifically the there is a message in the entire book and not just the individual psalms themselves. Dr. John imparts these lessons through an entertaining story of Pastor Harold Portis who is about to be voted out of his church (or so it seems).

The second is The Power of Purple, which contains the Monday Memo series on women of purpose in Scripture. Men and women who are reading this book are finding it helpful in their own search for purpose.

Click on the cover of either book and order your signed copy today. It will make great summer reading and you will learn a lot while you read. (Kindle versions are available through Amazon.)