from Dr.John Stanko's Monday Memo
For those who don't know, this is how I came to be in NYC two(!!) years ago.
During my freshman year of college I felt a bit lost. I can remember walking to and from Lottie (the dining hall) and just hearing in my head "What are you doing with your life? What are you going to do?" And not in a whining defeated way but just a small, still voice (as it were)kind of reminding me to do as Switchfoot would later say "Don't close your eyes. This is your life. Are you who you want to be?"
So after the school year was over and I was working my bum off in a sweatshop snack stand at a pool so I could pay my ludicrously large phone bill to Canada, I decided to DO something about my life and the direction it was going in. So, I picked up this book we had laying around the house entitled "I Wrote This Book on Purpose so You Could Know Yours" by Dr. John Stanko. It was revolutionary in my life, mostly and simply because it gave me the avenue to sit down and think logically about my purpose in life. THough I must say I haven't honed in EXACLTY on it in a defined statement (Dr. Stanko's is "to make order out of chaos") it allowed me to realize that I wanted to focus my efforts on performance because I'd allowed it to only be a hobby when it could certainly be much more. And for any Christian who may read this, you know how difficult it can be to feel a desire for a field that is not directly linked to the church or clergy or minisrty. BUt Dr. Stanko blows that right out of the water, taking youR misguided beliefs about your passions and directing them towards the light so you can find where GOd wants you to be. That we are to be IN the world, though not of it. That we are to be influential and can do God's work in any field we feel drawn to. That your hobby may very well be your calling. One of my fave quotes from his quote and anecdote-filled book is from Immanuel Kant "Passion is an indication of purpose"
Dr. Stanko had done workshops and spoken at my church a few times before and I had met him. He's like 6 foot 5 or something, enormous. But he's so sweet-spirited that you just want him to be your father or grandfather. (he's not that old though). And he's so personal. Anyone can write to him, and believe me I wrote him my entire life story and ended with HELP ME, and he responded in detail.
He's amazing.
He also travels extensively throughout the world.
I subscribe to his Monday Memo and Scripture studies which I must embarassingly admit I do not read often. But I felt pressed to open it this morning and here's what I found. A top five list of which I've included 3. If it sounds interesting you can check his website out: link's below.
I hope it is encouraging!
THE MONDAY MEMO
From the desk of Dr. John Stanko
Issue 200 - April 4, 2005
(Circulation 11,000+ and growing!)
http://www.purposequest.com
***********************************************************
This is it! Issue 200! Bring out the marching band! Set off the fireworks! Let the trumpets blare! Everyone send a $100 memorial gift right away. All right, so maybe I got a bit carried away. But you have to admit that this is a momentous occasion. The Monday Memo, which I started four years ago as a vehicle to sell books and remind people of my website, has instead become a valuable tool read by people the world over. So sit back and let’s reflect together on the five things that I’ve learned from writing 200 issues of The Monday Memo.
1. No one can read what I don’t write. I never thought that The Monday Memo would reach this many people. But it wouldn’t reach anyone if I didn’t take the time to write it. I’ve often referred to the verse from James’ epistle, which reads: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). To make a difference in the world, you must stop talking about what you’re going to do and start doing it. No can read what you don’t write, sing what you don’t compose, buy what you don’t produce or visit what you don’t build. The best way you can commemorate this 200th issue is to do something that others can use and benefit from.
2.God gives you what you need when you need it. Every Sunday afternoon for the last four years, I’ve gone to my computer to write The Memo. I often have no idea what I am going to write, but the ideas always come. Not every issue was brilliant and not every theme was life-changing, but every Sunday God gave me something to give to you. And every week someone would write to say, “That issue was just for me. Thank you.” Don’t worry about next month or next year when you start to do something for the Lord. Just use what you have today and trust Him for what you will need tomorrow. He is faithful and will always provide.
3.The Internet is a wonderful vehicle to build relationships.
That may sound strange, because in some ways the Internet and email are impersonal. But every week I hear from people who say, “Dr. Stanko, you are my mentor” or “I sit at your feet every week” or “I feel like you’re here speaking to me when I read.” The fact that The Memo is regular and personal has allowed me to “relate” to many people whom I may never meet. And The Memo has also enabled me to multiply my effectiveness and build relationships with many who have written or come to hear me speak or teach. My website, www.purposequest.com, has become a favorite stop for a lot of people and has given me a place to publish my articles for the whole world to access.
During my freshman year of college I felt a bit lost. I can remember walking to and from Lottie (the dining hall) and just hearing in my head "What are you doing with your life? What are you going to do?" And not in a whining defeated way but just a small, still voice (as it were)kind of reminding me to do as Switchfoot would later say "Don't close your eyes. This is your life. Are you who you want to be?"
So after the school year was over and I was working my bum off in a sweatshop snack stand at a pool so I could pay my ludicrously large phone bill to Canada, I decided to DO something about my life and the direction it was going in. So, I picked up this book we had laying around the house entitled "I Wrote This Book on Purpose so You Could Know Yours" by Dr. John Stanko. It was revolutionary in my life, mostly and simply because it gave me the avenue to sit down and think logically about my purpose in life. THough I must say I haven't honed in EXACLTY on it in a defined statement (Dr. Stanko's is "to make order out of chaos") it allowed me to realize that I wanted to focus my efforts on performance because I'd allowed it to only be a hobby when it could certainly be much more. And for any Christian who may read this, you know how difficult it can be to feel a desire for a field that is not directly linked to the church or clergy or minisrty. BUt Dr. Stanko blows that right out of the water, taking youR misguided beliefs about your passions and directing them towards the light so you can find where GOd wants you to be. That we are to be IN the world, though not of it. That we are to be influential and can do God's work in any field we feel drawn to. That your hobby may very well be your calling. One of my fave quotes from his quote and anecdote-filled book is from Immanuel Kant "Passion is an indication of purpose"
Dr. Stanko had done workshops and spoken at my church a few times before and I had met him. He's like 6 foot 5 or something, enormous. But he's so sweet-spirited that you just want him to be your father or grandfather. (he's not that old though). And he's so personal. Anyone can write to him, and believe me I wrote him my entire life story and ended with HELP ME, and he responded in detail.
He's amazing.
He also travels extensively throughout the world.
I subscribe to his Monday Memo and Scripture studies which I must embarassingly admit I do not read often. But I felt pressed to open it this morning and here's what I found. A top five list of which I've included 3. If it sounds interesting you can check his website out: link's below.
I hope it is encouraging!
THE MONDAY MEMO
From the desk of Dr. John Stanko
Issue 200 - April 4, 2005
(Circulation 11,000+ and growing!)
http://www.purposequest.com
***********************************************************
This is it! Issue 200! Bring out the marching band! Set off the fireworks! Let the trumpets blare! Everyone send a $100 memorial gift right away. All right, so maybe I got a bit carried away. But you have to admit that this is a momentous occasion. The Monday Memo, which I started four years ago as a vehicle to sell books and remind people of my website, has instead become a valuable tool read by people the world over. So sit back and let’s reflect together on the five things that I’ve learned from writing 200 issues of The Monday Memo.
1. No one can read what I don’t write. I never thought that The Monday Memo would reach this many people. But it wouldn’t reach anyone if I didn’t take the time to write it. I’ve often referred to the verse from James’ epistle, which reads: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). To make a difference in the world, you must stop talking about what you’re going to do and start doing it. No can read what you don’t write, sing what you don’t compose, buy what you don’t produce or visit what you don’t build. The best way you can commemorate this 200th issue is to do something that others can use and benefit from.
2.God gives you what you need when you need it. Every Sunday afternoon for the last four years, I’ve gone to my computer to write The Memo. I often have no idea what I am going to write, but the ideas always come. Not every issue was brilliant and not every theme was life-changing, but every Sunday God gave me something to give to you. And every week someone would write to say, “That issue was just for me. Thank you.” Don’t worry about next month or next year when you start to do something for the Lord. Just use what you have today and trust Him for what you will need tomorrow. He is faithful and will always provide.
3.The Internet is a wonderful vehicle to build relationships.
That may sound strange, because in some ways the Internet and email are impersonal. But every week I hear from people who say, “Dr. Stanko, you are my mentor” or “I sit at your feet every week” or “I feel like you’re here speaking to me when I read.” The fact that The Memo is regular and personal has allowed me to “relate” to many people whom I may never meet. And The Memo has also enabled me to multiply my effectiveness and build relationships with many who have written or come to hear me speak or teach. My website, www.purposequest.com, has become a favorite stop for a lot of people and has given me a place to publish my articles for the whole world to access.