I know it’s not Monday Morning and I know that I’ve already sent the Memo for Monday, but I need some suggestions. I have been asked to be a guest blogger for a Christian online newspaper. Most of the blogs will be repeats out of the Monday Morning Memo archives. I need a title for my online blog. It can’t be “Dr. Dan’s Monday Morning Memo” because that’s already being used. I need suggestions. Would like to keep “Dr. Dan” in the title, but not absolutely necessary. Title must be at least six characters long. Suggestions? Reply where it says, “Post a comment to this memo by clicking here.” Thanks. Dr. Dan

When it comes to God’s will, there are three types of believers: (1) those who know the will of God and try to live it; (2) those who know the will of God and don’t live it; (3) those who don’t know the will of God and therefore do not live it. There are relatively few in the first category. In fact British Revivalist Henry Varley, said to D.L. Moody, “The world has yet to see what God can do through one man totally committed to Him.” The third category is full of believers, attributed to everything from spiritual immaturity to apathy to disobedience. It is the second category to which Paul writes in Ephesians 5:17: “Therefore, do not be unwise (foolish), but understand what the will of the Lord is.” This group has an idea what God’s will is, they just do not believe that they understand it fully enough to do it, thus Paul calls them “unwise” or “foolish.” My observation of this group is that in their inability or unwillingness to fully know God’s will, they are hesitant to take a step in the direction of living it. Thus the problem, with group two, is not so much a lack of understanding or even ignorance, as it is a lack of boldness - “Boldness” which Francis Bacon called, “A child of ignorance.” So, be bold, do what you believe to be God’s will. If it turns out to be God’s will, you win. If it turns out not to be God’s will, you get up, brush yourself off, apologize, and try again. I really think God is more impressed with failed boldness than He is with inactive faith.

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Please pray that the drillers will get back to work to drill 5 more water wells while there is a break in the rain in Mzimba, Malawi.
• Pray for an Australian disciple training group that has recently become a church.
• Pray for Darrel and Kimberly as they continue Hungarian language study.
• Pray for the next Vancouver Vision Tour, Feb. 8-11.

Those of us who preach receive a variety of post-sermon responses. One of my most remembered, was a good-intentioned, yet devastating comment from a dear lady who said, “Bro. Dan, every sermon you preach is better than the next one.” Think about it. That’s a comment, not a compliment. We who preach cringe when someone comments that they enjoyed our talk. Not complementary. Speeches are talked. Sermons are preached. There is a huge difference. Fellow-preachers also know that skill in sermon preparation is crucial, yet secondary. To paraphrase a verse, “Unless the Lord builds the sermon, they labor in vain who build it” (Ps. 127:1). Delivery is yet another challenge – to a mixed-age audience where the young members do not understand the significance of a Pearl Harbor illustration and the older members do not understand the use of hi-tech terminology. And yet we preach on, fearing with Paul, that when, “I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27). A few Sundays ago, I received one of my best responses. Following a sermon, a man I did not know, came to me and said, “Dr. Dan, when you preach, God speaks.” Now that’s a compliment – a compliment that needs no comment. So preachers, preach on! And listeners, consider whether your post-sermon responses are compliments or comments.

Join me in remembering the following global concerns this week:
• Pray for a week-end Prayer-walking conference at Gethsemane Church in Donetsk, Ukraine.
• Pray for a new Home Bible Study group beginning on January 22 in Montreal.
• Pray for missionaries who will use Chinese New Year which begins on January 23, as a means of outreach and fellowship.
• Pray for Tommy and Beth as they begin an intensive study of five modules of the School of Cross-cultural Missions in January and February, in Peru.

From Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina we’ve been hearing how to make America great. Want-a-be-Presidents act as if America is no longer the greatest nation in the world and assure us, if elected, they will exalt us to new levels of greatness. Solomon, considered by his contemporizes as the wisest man of his generation, wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Prov. 14:34). According to Wikipedia, righteousness means upright, just, straight, innocent, true, and sincere. Observing few of these characteristics in today’s politicians, I’m tempted to join with those who consider America as no longer great. Tempted. Not convinced. Several years ago a news commentator observed that Americans no longer vote FOR a candidate, they vote AGAINST a candidate. When I enter the voting booth to vote for one of the final two, I may actually be voting more against one of them, rather than for the other one. But whoever wins, America is still great. I conclude that with limited knowledge. I’ve only visited fifty-six nations of the world so far. And while I love Canada with all my heart, I’m still proud to be an American.

Join me in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for Mary as she continues her Russian lessons and teaching English as a Second Language.
• Join Joe in praying for Ukraine at 10:02 (am or pm) based on Luke 10:2.
• Continue to pray for the Haitian adoption process of Craig and Ellen.
• Pray for Jay as he teaches preaching and mentors young men in India.

A recent study of a major symphony revealed how orchestra members perceived each other. Percussionists were seen as insensitive, yet fun-loving. String players were perceived as arrogant and stuffy. Brass players were judged as loud. Woodwind players were described as quiet, though a bit egotistical. With this diversity of feeling for each other, members of the orchestra arrive for the concert. Each tunes his or her own instrument, often oblivious to those around them. The combination of sounds creates discord, not harmony. So how does such a group with such diverse feelings for each other, and such individualistic sounds of preparation, play beautiful music together? The answer is simple: regardless of feelings for each other, regardless of warm-up chaos, orchestra members subordinate their biases and their uniqueness to the leadership of the conductor. When Jesus spoke of His followers agreeing in prayer under His direction (Matthew 18:19-20), He used the Greek word, “sumphoneo,” a word normally used for diverse musical instruments harmonizing together under the Maestro. So, which prayer is God most likely to hear, the discord-like prayers of our individual wants and desires or the united prayers of a group, under the direction of the Master?

Join me as we pray together for the following global concerns:
• Pray for church leadership throughout the Kharkov, Ukraine region as they gather together each week to pray and seek the Father’s leadership in reaching the lost in their communities.
• Pray for the International World Changers (IWC) conference, held this week in Spain.
• Pray for a team traveling through villages in India, sharing the good News.
• Pray for Blu and Darby as they prepare to return to Zambia this month.
• Pray for members of the Hope Urban Ministries (HUM) Team serving in Macau.