The Monday Memo from John Stanko

856: Glory

The last few weeks I have been pondering Jesus' words in John 12:42-43: "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (ESV). Notice that Jesus did not say that His followers should not seek glory; He said they should not seek it from the wrong sources. Let's examine this concept a bit further in this week's Memo titled "Glory."

CUBAN ENCOUNTER

When I was in Santiago, Cuba years ago, a man came up to me and studied my face for a few seconds before he asked, "Are you John Stanko?" When I assured him I was, he informed me that he had heard me speak in Los Angeles a few years back and still remembered what I had spoken about, which of course was purpose. He then thanked God for the message and informed me that he had indeed found and was fulfilling his purpose. I also thanked God and left that encounter even more committed to spread the purpose gospel.

Yet, I also left that chance meeting with a renewed love for being recognized when I am in public. Once I was in an African airport and a man walked up to me, opened his briefcase, pulled out one of my books he was reading, and asked if I would autograph it and pose for a picture. I agreed to both and was exhilarated by his requests. I then thanked God that He had enabled me to touch that man's life through the purpose message in one of my books. Then I was on a moving sidewalk in the Baltimore airport when a man moving in the other direction, yelled out, "Are you John Stanko? I read your book!" I smiled and waved back, wondering which book he was referring to, but thanking God once again that I had made a difference in someone's life. Those encounters are what have kept me writing, and at last count, I have published 37 books, including a few I have re-written.

In all three cases, I received a measure of glory in the form of recognition and praise. I was identified for who I was and what I had done for God that impacted others, and I was not uncomfortable with the experience. In fact, I wanted more - more recognition and more impact on people's lives. In a sense, you could say that I wanted (and still want) more glory.

PURPOSE GLORY

I have discussed this concept of attention to self in my series on self-promotion, which you can read here or watch my videos on the subject on my Urban Press Facebook page. Jesus said it was a problem to seek glory from the wrong source (people) but permissible to seek it from the correct source (God). The safest way to obtain this glory is the same way that Jesus did, as described in John 17:4: "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (ESV).

The glory I described in my three examples is what I call purpose glory. It is the recognition and impact that we receive when we function in our purpose. Today, I have a publishing company and I know I have helped people publish that otherwise would not have been able to do so. When they announce their books on social media. they thank God for their books. God is glorified through the work I do, and then they also thank me for my role. God and I formed a partnership that brought God glory as I fulfilled my purpose, and I shared in that glory. When I did, God was not offended, angered, or slighted in the least.

You will not give God glory by singing about it, saying the word "glory" in a worship setting, or reading about it in your Bible or some other source. You will not give God glory if you are afraid that some of it may spill over on to you, thus offending and angering God. God cannot get glory unless you do something that causes others to acknowledge His work in and through you that benefited and blessed their lives. Therefore, you need to "get over yourself" and your hang up about drawing attention to yourself and start drawing attention to yourself in a good way, and that is by seeking the glory that comes from God, a glory that is connected to engaging and finishing the work He gave you to do. Have a blessed week! 

810: Self-Promotion Revisited, Part 4

This week we conclude our discussion of self-promotion, attempting to define what it is and if and when it is appropriate. If you missed the previous three entries, you can read them here along with some great comments from you, the reader. Thanks for taking the time to enter into the dialogue, and now let's wrap this up and bring it home.

TWO THOUGHTS

The two thoughts are really passages we want to look at. The first is something Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus seemed to have no problem with someone letting their light shine for the glory of God. That is the rub, for you may be asking "How do I know I am glorifying God? What if I am glorifying self?" For that answer, let's go to something that Paul wrote as he reflected on people who were self-promoting in the work of the gospel:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18a, emphasis added).

There you have it: Paul did not care about the motives, only that the work of preaching the gospel was being done. Paul was looking at the bottom line or the results, and he was not going to correct someone's motives, thus hindering the good work they were doing from the wrong incentive. Others were being helped and it seems that God was using the less-than-perfect motives of the worker to get Kingdom results in people's lives. That was good enough for Paul, and it should be good enough for you and me.

THE SEEKERS  

You should self-promote not for your benefit but for the benefit of those who are seeking who you are, what you have, and what God has empowered you to do. If you can pray and people are healed, then healed people need you by the will of the Lord who gave you the gift of healing. If you can write, then you let others know you can, for someone reading your book could be helped and transformed through your story or ideas.

If you have died in Christ and belong to Him, then your gift, purpose, and role in society are not your choice or call. If God wants to make you a household name, it's none of your business. There are some members of the body who are created to be behind the scenes, but there are some who are made to be public figures. Into whichever category you may fit, your life is not your own. It belongs to God and therefore to others.

Therefore, let's get over this false humility that says, "If God or anyone needs me, they can come find me. I am not going to help them by self-promoting, for that is not spiritual or proper." I say, "Get over it!" and let's allow all those who need to see who you are and what you do find you more easily and without the guilt or accusation of "self-promotion" that can go with that process. It's time to stand up and say, "This is who I am!" Will you join me or continue to hide your light under a bushel, only to then complain that no one takes you seriously? Whether you can join me or not, I pray you will have a blessed week as you continue to ponder this important issue.

    Feel free to add your comments to those of the others by posting them here.

809: Self Promotion Revisited, Part 3

We continue this week with our discussion of self-promotion: what it is and is it permissible under any circumstances for a believer.

MAGNIFY THE LORD    

In the Old Testament, we are told to magnify the Lord. We have made that simply a matter of praise and worship where we exalt and describe God's attributes in clear and exuberant terms. Yet think about that word "magnify." Doesn't it also mean to take the smallest thing and make it larger so it is easier to see and examine. Could it mean that we are to take the smallest thing that God has done through us and in us and make it 'bigger' for all to see, not with the intent to see us, but in seeing us to help people see Him?

Is self-promotion, done with right intent, really any different than giving a testimony? When God does something for you – provides, heals, delivers or reveals - is it wrong to stand up and say what He has done? So if God has given you a gift or purpose, is it any different to broadcast the truth of what God has done in and through you? And when you do, is that not the same as magnifying the Lord - taking His work in you and 'blowing it up' for all the world to see.

INTENT

Self-promotion can come from two sources: the desire to promote yourself, pure and simple, or the desire to further God's work through you as you serve others.  Consider what Paul said in Romans 11:13-14 (NKJV):

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

Paul magnified his office (other translations say proud of, make as much as I can of, glorify my ministry) so he could win more Jews to the gospel. Paul promoted what he did because God appointed him and his work was critical. He was not concerned with what others thought; only what God thought. He was telling the truth with the right motives, and therefore he magnified himself so he could ultimately magnify the Lord.

Your job is not just to magnify the Lord by behaving yourself and not robbing banks or watching bad movies.  Even heathen can do those things. What they cannot do and you can is to express God's love to His creation through you, specifically through your purpose, gifts and goals.  Perhaps it is time you faced the fact that your distaste for what you call self-promotion is really a means to protect yourself from criticism and being misunderstood. Jesus and Paul 'promoted' and were criticized; can you expect any different treatment?

I think we will take one more week to look at this topic and then move on to some other topics on my mind. I hope this has been helpful and I look forward to your feedback, which you can post here.

808: Self-Promotion Revisited, Part 2

Thank you for your comments last week concerning the issue of self-promotion. If you missed the start of the series, I would encourage you to go back and read it along with the original post from November 2012. Make sure you read the comments people made and then add yours to the discussion at the end of this entry.The basic issue before us is this: What is self-promotion and is it inappropriate to engage in it?

YOUR LIGHT

My thought for this week is found in Matthew 5:14-16, where it says to do your deeds so others can see:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Later in the same sermon, Jesus gave this warning:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, . . ." (Matthew 6:1-2).

Here we have an important distinction. We are not to parade our righteous acts, such as giving alms, which will glorify self but we are to show forth our good deeds that will glorify God. Now, since God has given you your gifts and purpose that will enable you to do your good deeds, then I conclude that, in most cases, it is permissible to let people know what you are doing and  what you can do when God enables and empowers you to do so. Do you agree or not?

SERVICE

What's more, if God has given you gifts and a purpose and those are to be used to help others, then isn't letting people know what you can to serve them consistent with letting your light shine as we read above?  1 Peter 4:10 states, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." I can organize and do it quite well since God helps me do it. Am I permitted to say, "I have an organizational gift that is well developed; how can I help you?" It seems that adding the piece that my good deeds are to serve others as well as to glorify God makes self-promotion more acceptable and palatable than when it is simply to show off what I can do.

I hope you will "weigh in' this week and add to our discussion. Furthermore, I pray you will read what is being written so that you can develop your own personal philosophy that will enable you to comfortably promote what God has put into and done in your life so that others can benefit and grow. Thank you, and have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's keep the dialogue going.

***

ISRAEL 2018: Don't forget to check out my trip to Israel scheduled for April 2018. Read all about it and then register on the trip site.

807: Self-Promotion Revisited

I had a few discussions this past week with people who are concerned about writing a book or stepping out into other ministry because they may be promoting themselves rather than the Lord. They are worried (yes, worried) that they will get ahead of the Lord, or somehow do something that does bring God glory, but glory only to self. Those are legitimate concerns, but all based and rooted in fear, and we know that God has not given us a spirit of fear.

About five years ago, I did a series title "Self Promotion," so I thought it would be good to revisit that topic in light of the concerns that my friends have recently raise. It's an issue I have pondered for a long time, since I have been accused of being self-promoting from time to tome. I will need your help as we examine this issue, however, and I ask you to respond with your own thoughts (whether you agree or disagree) once you have read what I have to say.

CONCEIT    

The main concern with self-promotion is best summarized in Philippians 2:3, where Paul wrote: ^"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Many conclude talking about yourself in almost any situation is wrong or at least improper, and ambition is also considered to be in bad taste or downright evil. Are these interpretations correct?

Here are some thoughts off the top of my head for this week's discussion.

1. When Paul wrote his letters, he clearly identified himself as an apostle.
2. David approached Goliath and declared what he was going to do to the giant in no uncertain terms.
3. Jesus made many claims, although sometimes veiled to hide them from unbelievers, concerning who He was and what He had come to do

Let's examine that last point a little more.

PUBLIC FIGURE

Jesus' family thought he was self-promoting and eager for to be a public figure as you can see from John 7:3-4: Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." It's comforting to know that Jesus' family thought He was self-promoting, and to some extent He was - promoting that is, but without self and with a purpose. Is that possible for you and I to do?

Weren't Jesus' miracles a means by which He could gather a crowd to announce the coming of His kingdom? Did not the Father make Jesus a household name and a celebrity in all of Israel? Did Jesus gather disciples whom He then sent out to extend His work and announce God's plan with even greater intensity that He did?

We are not going to settle this issue this week, but I wanted to start the dialogue with these thoughts. What do you think?  Is it wrong to promote yourself?  When, if ever, is it permissible? Does Philippians 2:3 prohibit any kind of ambition or marketing?  I leave you to ponder these questions until next week. Till then, have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's get the dialogue going.

****

UPCOMING SEMINARS: I have two seminars coming up in Pittsburgh next Saturday. You can read about them here and then I hope to see you at one or both.

ISRAEL 2018: Don't forget to check out my trip to Israel scheduled for next April. Read about it and then register on the trip site.

583: Self-Promotion 4

This week we will finish our discussion of self-promotion, attempting to define what it is and if and when it is appropriate.  If you missed the previous three entries, you can read them here along with some great comments from you, the reader.  Thanks for taking the time to enter into the dialogue, and now let's wrap this up and bring it home.

THE STAR

It seems to me that the star the Magi followed was a promotion of sorts.  It appeared to promote or announce the birth and location of Jesus the Messiah.  It is fascinating that the only ones who saw it were some men from the East, and even Matthew is the only gospel writer who tells us the story:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:1-2).

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11).

The star was precise and allowed the men to prepare in advance for their journey by bringing gifts. There were many other events that served to promote the birth of Jesus, but this one is special.  All the other events came to people who were passive and not involved in obtaining the promotions - the shepherds were at work when the angels appeared and God sovereignly chose Mary and Joseph (they had not been seeking any role in the Christmas story).

But the Magi were special because they were looking for the star and then travelled probably hundreds of miles at great personal expense and discomfort to find what the star was promoting.  When I realized that fact, I saw self-promotion in a whole different light, pardon the pun.

THE SEEKERS   

You see, the star came for those who had need, who were diligently searching for that star.  Somehow by someone, the Magi had been told that a King would be born and they and their ancestors had searched for centuries.  They had faith and they had need, for they came not just to honor the King but to worship Him. They were hungry for the things of God and God sent a promotional star just for them.  Perhaps other saw it, but no one else followed it but these Magi.

You should self-promote not for your benefit but for the benefit of those who are seeking who you are, what you have and what you can do.  If you can pray and people are healed, then healed people need you by the will of the Lord who gave you the gift of healing.  If you can write, then you let others know you can, for someone is out there searching for a "star," something to let them know the answer for their problem or need.

If you have died in Christ and belong to Him, then your gift, purpose and role in society are not your choice or call.  If God wants to make you a household name, it's none of your business.  There are some members of the body who are created to be behind the scenes, but there are some who are made to be seen. Into whichever category you may fit, your life is not your own. It belongs to God and others.

So let's get over this false humility that says, "If God or anyone needs me, they can come find me.  I am not going to help them by self-promoting, for that is not spiritual or proper." I say, "Get over it!" and let's allow all those who need to see your star rise do just that - see where you live and what God has enabled you to do.  Then they will do just what the Magi did - they will worship Him - and that is where your self-promoting activities should lead. Have a blessed week!

    Feel free to add your comments to those of the others by posting them here.

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

LAST CALL FOR YOUR HELP:  I still need your help in two things. First, if you have not already, please take the free purpose assessment found on my website homepage, from which you will receive a score to let you know where I think you are in your PurposeQuest. Then, please send me what you believe to be your purpose statement. I need them both for my next book project that will provide a profile to help take the guesswork out of describing your purpose. You can send your purpose statement to me at [email protected].

OUR STUFF HAS SHIPPED:  You can read the latest news about our shipment of goods and resources to Kenya (pictured being loaded at right) here. Please read it and then give a gift to help feed the orphans there through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

GIVE A GIFT TO AN ORPHAN:  I have updated my website page that describes what  I am doing in Kenya and how you can help.  One of the new features is to give a gift of $35 to an orphan this holiday season, which will feed, clothe and care for an orphan like Obed (click to enlarge) for one month. Please check out the new page and then give generously to the cause through PayPal on that page or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsbugh, PA 15221-0882.

582: Self-Promotion 3

We continue this week with our discussion of self-promotion: what it is and is it permissible under any circumstances for a believer. You must read all the excellent comments from the past two weeks here to gain the full impact of our discussion, and by all means please add your comments to the list.

MAGNIFY THE LORD    

In the Old Testament, we are told to magnify the Lord. We have made that simply a matter of praise and worship where we exalt and describe God's attributes in clear and exuberant terms. Yet think about that word "magnify." Doesn't it also mean to take the smallest thing and make it larger so it is easier to see and examine. Could it mean that we are to take the smallest thing that God has done through us and in us and make it 'bigger' for all to see, not with the intent to see us, but in seeing us to help people see Him?

Is self-promotion, done with right intent, really any different than giving a testimony? When God does something for you - provides, heals, delivers or reveals - is it wrong to stand up and say what He has done?  So if God has given you a gift or purpose, is it any different to broadcast the truth of what God has done in and through you? And when you do, is that not the same as magnifying the Lord - taking His work in you and 'blowing it up' for all the world to see.

INTENT

Self-promotion can come from two sources: the desire to promote yourself, pure and simple, or the desire to further God's work through you as you serve others.  Consider what Paul said in Romans 11:13-14 (NKJV):

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

Paul magnified his office (other translations say proud of, make as much as I can of, glorify my ministry) so he could win more Jews to the gospel. Paul promoted what he did because God appointed him and his work was critical. He was not concerned with what others thought; only what God thought.  He was telling the truth with the right motives, and therefore he magnified himself so he could ultimately magnify the Lord.

Your job is not just to magnify the Lord by behaving yourself and not robbing banks or watching bad movies.  Even heathen can do those things. What they cannot do and you can is to express God's love to His creation through you, specifically through your purpose, gifts and goals.  Perhaps it is time you faced the fact that your distaste for what you call self-promotion is really a means to protect yourself from criticism and being misunderstood.  Jesus and Paul 'promoted' and were criticized; can you expect any different treatment?

I think we will take one more week to look at this topic and then wrap up 2013 with some Christmas Memos from my archives.  I hope this has been helpful and I look forward to your feedback, which you can post here.

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

STILL NEED YOUR HELP:  I still need your help in two things.  First, if you have not already, please take the free purpose assessment found on my website homepage, from which you will receive a score to let you know where I think you are in your PurposeQuest. Then, please send me what you believe to be your purpose statement. I need them both for my next book project that will provide a profile to help take the guesswork out of describing your purpose. You can send your purpose statement to me at [email protected].

LATEST FROM KENYA:  You can read the latest news from Kenya here, which is an update on our shipment of goods and resources to Kenya (pictured right). Please read it and then give a gift to help feed the orphans there through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

ORDER COFFEE:  We have enjoyed our coffee from the Greater Bean Coffee Company and plan on ordering more! Greater Bean donates a portion of its profits to The Sophia Fund and I am grateful.  As you think of the holidays, order some of their coffee to serve or give to family and friends.

GIVE A GIFT TO AN ORPHAN:  I have updated my website page that describes what  I am doing in Kenya and how you can help.  One of the new features is to give a gift of $35 to an orphan this holiday season, which will feed, clothe and care for that orphan for one month. Please check out the new page and then give generously to the cause through PayPal on that page or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsbugh, PA 15221-0882.

808: Self-Promotion Revisited, Part 2

Thank you for your comments last week concerning the issue of self-promotion. If you missed the start of the series, I would encourage you to go back and read it along with the original post from November 2012. Make sure you read the comments people made and then add yours to the discussion at the end of this entry.The basic issue before us is this: What is self-promotion and is it inappropriate to engage in it?

YOUR LIGHT

My thought for this week is found in Matthew 5:14-16, where it says to do your deeds so others can see:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Later in the same sermon, Jesus gave this warning:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, . . ." (Matthew 6:1-2).

Here we have an important distinction. We are not to parade our righteous acts, such as giving alms, which will glorify self but we are to show forth our good deeds that will glorify God. Now, since God has given you your gifts and purpose that will enable you to do your good deeds, then I conclude that, in most cases, it is permissible to let people know what you are doing and  what you can do when God enables and empowers you to do so. Do you agree or not?

SERVICE

What's more, if God has given you gifts and a purpose and those are to be used to help others, then isn't letting people know what you can to serve them consistent with letting your light shine as we read above?  1 Peter 4:10 states, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." I can organize and do it quite well since God helps me do it. Am I permitted to say, "I have an organizational gift that is well developed; how can I help you?" It seems that adding the piece that my good deeds are to serve others as well as to glorify God makes self-promotion more acceptable and palatable than when it is simply to show off what I can do.

I hope you will "weigh in' this week and add to our discussion. Furthermore, I pray you will read what is being written so that you can develop your own personal philosophy that will enable you to comfortably promote what God has put into and done in your life so that others can benefit and grow. Thank you, and have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's keep the dialogue going.

***

ISRAEL 2018: Don't forget to check out my trip to Israel scheduled for April 2018. Read all about it and then register on the trip site.

 

580: Self-Promotion 1

I had a friend who was in turmoil write me this week and we chatted on Facebook. He was in turmoil because he is talented and gifted, but struggles when it comes to what he called "self promotion."  He asked that, after a lifetime of being taught that promoting yourself is wrong, how can he step forward and now talk about himself, his gifts and what God has put in his heart to do?

That's a great question to ask and one that I have pondered for a long time, so I thought I would write about it over the next few weeks. I will need your help as we examine this issue, however, and I ask you to respond with your own throughts once you have read what I have to say.

CONCEIT    

The main concern with self-promotion is best summarized in Philippians 2:3, where Paul wrote: ^"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."  So many conclude talking about yourself in almost any situation is wrong or at least improper, and ambition is also considered to be in bad taste or downright evil. Are these interpretations correct?

Here are some thoughts off the top of my head for this week's discussion.

1. When Paul wrote his letters, he clearly identified himself as an apostle.
2. David approached Goliath and declared what he was going to do to the giant in no uncertain terms.
3. Jesus made many claims, although sometimes veiled to hide from unbelievers, concerning who He was and what He had come to do

Let's examine that last point a little more.

PUBLIC FIGURE

Jesus' family thought he was self-promoting and eager for to be a public figure as you can see from John 7:3-4: Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." It's comforting to know that Jesus' family thought He was self-promoting. And to some extent He was - promoting that is, but without self and with a purpose. Is that possible for you and I to do?

Weren't Jesus miracles a means by which He could gather a crowd to announce the coming of His kingdom? Did not the Father make Jesus a household name and a celebrity in all of Israel? Did Jesus gather disciples whom He then sent out to extend His work and announce God's plan with even greater intensity that He did?

We are not going to settle this issue this week, but I wanted to start the dialogue with these thoughts. What do you think?  Is it wrong to promote yourself?  When, if ever, is it permissible? Does Philippians 2:3 prohibit any kind of ambition or marketing?  I leave you to ponder these questions until next week. Till then, have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's get the dialogue going.

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

NEED YOUR HELP:  I need your help in two things.  First, if you have not already, please take the free purpose assessment found on my website homepage, from which you will receive a score to let you know where I think you are in your PurposeQuest. Then, please send me what you believe to be your purpose statement. I need them both for my next book project that will provide a profile to help take the guesswork out of describing your purpose. You can send your purpose statement to me at [email protected].

ORDER COFFEE:  Today I ordered coffee from the Greater Bean Coffee Company.  They donate a portion of their profits to The Sophia Fund and I am grateful.  As you think of the holidays, order some of their coffee to serve or give to family and friends.

GIVE A GIFT TO AN ORPHAN:  I have updated my website page that describes what I am doing in Kenya and how you can help.  One of the new features is to give a gift of $35 to an orphan this holiday season, which will feed, clothe and care for that orphan for one month. Please check out the new page and then give generously to the cause through PayPal on that page or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsbugh, PA 15221-0882.