Saturday, May 08, 2004
GRADUATES AND OTHERS
5-8-04
During the last few weeks God has put on my heart the letter that follows.
These are words of encouragement and exhortation for seminary graduates.
And like I told my small group on Sunday night, these words are for others too.
I have been enrolling prayer for this to become part of a gift book by Christmas.
Various people have been encouraging me to write a book for years.
I know that there are various books inside of my heart to be written eventually.
And in due season these will come forth.
Writing a whole book would take more time and energy than I can spare soon.
However I have dozens of essays already written.
Most of them are online.
For the next few months the central focus is to launch the ministry.
When it gets going the focus will be to invite new people to visit the web site.
A book of my essays can become an innovative form of marketing.
Most of the essays are 1 page and some run a few pages.
Today the vision is to publish it in an 8 and a half by 11 size.
Readers will be invited to make copies for others.
They can give these out, post them and/or fax them.
Thus they are given a ministry to benefit others.
Each page would have a small promo for the web site of the new ministry.
They will be granted permission to share these so long as the promo is present.
It will be comb bound or wire bound to easily open all the way.
The back will not break as it is opened on a copier many times,.
The price can be kept very close to the cost of production.
The profit comes when the reader (and those they contact) come to the web site.
It is a numbers game.
A percentage of those new people will buy something over the web.
A percentage will become donors.
A percentage will become paying members.
Higher traffic through the web site is more appealing to advertisers.
Many will pray for the ministry.
There are two letters to the graduates.
One is to the men and the other is to the women.
They are almost identical except for the difference in the gender pronouns.
You are invited to forward the following link to a graduate you know.
You are welcomed to print out a copy and share it.
I have given copies to alumni.
I have printed the Dear Brother in Christ on goldenrod paper.
I have printed the Dear Sister in Christ on lilac paper.
If you email me their addresses then I will gladly mail them a copy.
Think especially of graduates and alumni beyond Dallas Seminary.
Here are the links
Dear Brother in Christ http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_JSO_essays/Dear_Brother_in_Christ.htm
Dear Sister in Christ http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_JSO_essays/Dear_Sister_in_Christ.htm
Before I committed these five page letters to paper I asked for editorial feedback.
About eight people made very helpful corrections and comments.
I have set up a blog to solicit such editorial assistance again.
You are invited to go to this site to read and comment on the essays.
These are the ones that are candidates for the book in time for Christmas.
http://www.xanga.com/JSO_the_Essayist
Lastly I hope to put the letters to graduates into a PDF file next week.
I will have a link from the Tuesday Briefing.
John 7:39 AM
Thursday, May 06, 2004
LATEST
5-6-04
Last night there was a wonderful three hour block of productivity.
From 9 to 12 midnight it was like a wonderful break in a storm.
I work best in such concentrated units.
I had hoped and planned to get to this work for a long while.
There had been short periods of progress before that got interrupted.
The notes on the legal pages are now in the computer.
The outline is taking shape.
There are key parts in the paper files and computer files to be added to the complete outline.
Then I will use this detailed outline to pull out a simple outline of only important headings.
I will post that on the web by midnight on Monday 5-10.
From the I outline I will develop graphic diagrams and mind maps.
Those will be illustrated by clip art.
That kind of simple visual presentation will be interesting to the person face to face and over the web. And it is important for me to have the details of the outline also to guide in preparing the script.
This outline is a logical way for me to line up the ducks.
It is a way to patch together the sequences and categories.
But then on a parallel track and far more important it gives me a birds eye view
to notice the what God is saying in the Big Picture.
SUMMARY
From months various people have been asking me to provide a very short summary.
They want a brief mission statement or 30 second elevator speech.
There is a call for the one page executive summary.
When I have read books on how to write a business plan they say to write the executive summary last. Those key sentences need to both hang together elegantly and cover all the main points.
Clearly such simple summaries have been my weakness.
Yet God is at work to make this into one of my strengths.
Plus along the way I will need the inputs and assistance from various sources.
So also by midnight Monday I will post what I have been calling the threads.
These are key ideas, concepts or themes that capture much in a little container.
You will be able to read and respond on the new blog for the Launch Team.
FIVE CHILDREN
Some of my readers have been with me for several years.
They have seen the various kinds of ways that I have attempted to start the ministry before.
None of the plans were ever criticized for being unnecessary or unworkable.
It always got back to my failure to go out and raise the funds to move off the drawing board.
The problems still exist today and the proposed solutions could work today too.
The reason that this process is taking so long is that I am blending those previous designs together.
They all came out of my heart and mind.
They all can work well over the web.
They will work better as they are in harmony and synergy with each other.
So in a way it is not like I am birthing one child but more like five children.
MY JOB
My job now is to create a rough sketch of what God has revealed over these many years.
I will take that sketch to the Launch Team.
We will pray, believe and act unto the 40K funding.
Then I will be able to afford the consultants that can take my sketch to a professional level.
From that will come the professional design for the web platform.
Then the public will be able to enjoy the many benefits of these concepts.
I have been remembering a man in a small town that was building a boat to sail around the world.
He kept it in an airplane hangar while he worked.
I never knew what happened.
But I feel like that now.
I am not building a boat but I am designing a ministry that is unlike any other.
When it is launched then I will know all about every part like a hand made ocean going sail boat.
The web has opened up possibilities for evangelism, discipleship and benevolence.
Each of these opportunities is wonderful.
And together they will spark off each other to move forward effectively.
NEXT
During the next few days here are the windows to FOCUS on this project.
FRI evening
SAT afternoon and evening
MON afternoon and evening
Pray for me to get into the ZONE and STAY there for a LONG time.
Then MON midnight I will post what I have by then.
When you pray believe God to do His will His way in His season.
John 9:59 PM
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
HALF WINDFALL
5-5-04
Over the years I have heard many people say the same thing.
They admire my ministry
They recognize how I have ministered to others.
They appreciate how I have minister to them.
They believe that God will use me in greater ways in the future.
BUT they but do not feel that they can afford to give now.
Over and over I have heard, “When I get extra money I will gladly give.”
Okay, if this is like you, then here is a challenge.
Are you willing to pray about the following?
Let us look to Jesus in new ways.
Let us have faith that God can cause some people to suddenly prosper.
Then they will have extra money.
God can cause a windfall of income for various ones on the email list.
I am asking you and others to commit to give half to the new ministry.
Would you privately commit that to Jesus Christ?
I do not want to know who did.
It is between you and God.
I suggested this one time before and received a sudden sizable gift.
(If you are married you may wish to first discuss this with your spouse.)
You can pray for others to accept the challenge and be faithful to give.
A windfall income is totally outside the norm.
It is not a birthday present, tax refund or graduation gift.
It is something that clearly has the finger prints of God.
The Holy Spirit will let you know.
You can choose to share with me the testimony so I can tell others.
I want you and others to witness that God can provide money supernaturally.
Missionaries are not the only ones that God can shower with funds.
You can make this commitment for one or two months.
After that I expect that I will be in the habit of presenting to business owners.
Make the check payable to Our Metroplex Vision.
Then I can give you a tax deductible receipt.
If you accept this challenge or not, please pray for those who do.
Let us believe God to overflow His children to fund this infant ministry.
John 1:21 AM
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on May 4, 2004
BLESSINGS
ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May you know when to it is best to bend and do it gracefully.
May you understand when it is best to say NO and do it gracefully.
May you remember to orient to the grace of God for you OFTEN.
Amen?
COMPLETED
· Nonprofit incorporation papers arrived back from Austin. Our Metroplex Vision became a legal entity on April 23, 2004. That was my 51st birthday. Kindly pray for the peace and prosperity of this enterprise. May God use it mightily for His glory for many years to come. May God put me into contact with the initial donors very soon. May He move on them to give generously for His kingdom.
· The virus in the Media Center was eliminated. Thanks for your prayers. Note that my DSL provider said this same worm is impacting many others. It is recommended that you not only have the latest virus updates but also the latest updates from Windows. This worm did so much damage because people were behind on their updates. You can get the updates from www.microsoft.com
· THANKS to someone for the anonymous 50 dollar gift. During these lean days such contributions go a long ways.· I found misplaced software CDs that got pushed to back of shelf out of sight. I thought I had looked there several times.
CURRENT
· Making progress with the reviewing the files and putting the pieces into outlines. Need your prayers for times of concentration and staying in the ZONE. This is a necessary phase that needs to be done well and quickly.
· It has been difficult clearing the decks to get to the work on the ministry. I know what to do. But there has been like a force field around the papers on my desk. The spiritual warfare at this time is very real. If those were ordinary notes this would not be a problem.
· Need to juggle bills. Seeking God as to how He will provide this time. Need MUCH money from unknown sources this month.
UPCOMING
· Recently published a selection of the clip art images that I may use on the OMV Launch Team web site and face-to-face presentation. I will be putting more there soon. http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/ClipArt1/
· Pray for clutch on the Ford Escort. There has been a little trouble putting it into reverse. But this does not happen every time. This clicking is gone from the car and the computer. So why not pray for the clutch too?
RESOURCES
Rapture letters www.raptureletters.com
All about pumps http://www.animatedsoftware.com/ascodesc/pumpdesc.htm
Ancient game on Mah Jongg http://www.mahjongg.com/download.htm
Information about Russia and a student’s vision to begin a seminary there
http://www.russia1.com/~alex/russia.htm
http://www.russia1.com/~alex/rusinfo.htm
http://www.russia1.com/~alex/article.htm#pt7
Do you like quotes? I have been adding to my blog called Valuable Quotes. You can use these they will serve as a handy place to keep quotes that I may use in presentations later. Send me quotes that have been meaningful to you. http://valuablequotes.blogspot.com/
If you wish to unsubscribe then just let me know by reply email.
John 11:15 PM
Monday, May 03, 2004
Super Simple Summary
I have been attempting to launch a ministry for months.
There has been some progress and many set backs.
When met with people about fund raising, it was too long and rambling.
Tried to prune but it did not flow.
Gone back to square one and reviewing all files.
Writing a complete outline of all God has revealed over the years.
Will soon post that on the web for intercessors and advisors.
From the outline will come diagrams, flow charts and clip art illustrations.
This will lead to effective presentations in person and over the web.
Later there will come video and group presentations.
Need anointed concentration during this redesign phase.
John 5:37 PM
NEXT FEW DAYS
5-3-04
SOBERING
Each Monday I go over my bills, debts and incomes.
I send a summary report to a few trusted friends.
This helps to keep me on top of my financial condition.
This is a sobering way to start the week.
The numbers for this week and this month are very challenging.
Thankfully God has provided funds in unexpected ways for years.
Again I am totally dependent on the Living God.
I trust Him to provide the manna right on time.
Jesus will direct my steps.
There are spiritual battles to be won.
REASSEMBLE
Several times this year I thought I had the presentation for fund raising.
Yet when I took it out to test drive it, there were major troubles.
It was always too long and rambling.
My love for the written word got in the way.
The Power Point slides were all text.
The aim is to have a short, sweet and simple core story for in person.
Plus I need an orderly site map for the new website.
I have not been able to go directly to these goals.
So to get to these goals I have taken apart all the pieces.
Then I can reassemble them in a new way.
So I have gone back to all my related notes.
I bought a ream of legal size paper.
I wrote the key ideas on the top right of the pages.
I put the related details on some of the pages.
I have laid out these dozens of pages all over my home office and bed.
At this stage it helped me to touch the paper and move it around.
There is still some more of this kind of dissecting to be done.
This reminds me of pictures I have seen of people to took a car engine apart.
Every piece was cleaned and ordered on the floor before the reassembly.
Thankfully I noticed some connections, patterns and summaries for the first time.
NEXT
I will continue to dice up the notes into their small units.
These are assembled into suitable groups and logical sequences.
I pray over this as I go.
Along the way I have been isolating the threads of the core story.
I have not been weaving them together yet.
During the coming months different audiences will prefer different threads.
These tiny units that are on paper will then move into the computer.
They will become outlines in Word documents.
These outlines will be posted on the web soon for your prayers and comments.
In some cases parts of the outline will have a hot link to more details on the web.
These outlines will be distilled into diagrams and mind maps.
This will be illustrated with clip art.
I have previewed thousands of clip art images.
I have set aside many for this purpose.
This will become the next generation of the face-to-face presentation.
It will be the start of the new web site for the Launch Team.
REVIEW
Seeking effective ways to cast the vision and enroll support.
Taking it all apart to put it back together differently.
Gone through notes and put key ideas on legal size pages.
Organized that in useful ways.
Still more of that process to be done.
Pages will go into outlines on Word documents.
The outlines will soon be posted on the web for intercessors and advisors.
Outlines will be summarized using diagrams and mind maps.
Clip art will illustrate.
From this comes the face-to-face presentation and new web site.
LATER
Later there will be audio over the web to tell the story.
Later a video will be made.
Later there will be group presentations.
WINDOWS
The windows of time to work on this are the next three evenings.
Pray for anointed productivity on MON, TUE and WED evening.
When you pray believe God for major break throughs.
Hope and expect for this to unfold beautifully on the web.
THANKS again and again for all your prayers!!!
John 4:24 PM
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