Saturday, June 05, 2004
COMING ATTRACTIONS
6-5-04
EACH day and EACH week this month is critical during this phase.
Today I took a wrong turn in the car.
While getting back on track I prayed.
It became a mirror for the ways tiny choices can have a large consequence.
THERAPY
It is like I am moving out to ICU into intense therapy.
I recall those weeks when I was in Parkland.
Both ankles had been fractured when I was struck from behind on my bicycle.
I had been bedfast for a month.
I was WEAK and I could barely walk for a while.
When I did my exercises regularly there was marked improvement.
My range of motion improved slightly with each visit to the physical therapist.
I could go further and further on the walker.
Then I graduated to the cane.
Then I left the cane behind.
TRACK
My MAIN concern is to clearly inform the intercessors.
I have gotten this far MOSTLY due to those who have prayed and believed.
THANKS again intercessors.
I have been reminded by the Holy Spirit that I receive not because I ask not.
The Bible admonishes me to ask so that I will receive.
God has shown me that most I asked prayers for have been granted.
For example I am in the ZONE much more often then when I first asked.
There is no longer a force field over key pages.
I am getting MORE than 15 hours on tasks related to the presentation.
Bear in mind that I stay busy on many other projects too.
That is all that I have counted in order to keep me headed in the right direction.
SEGMENT
I will be segmenting the distribution list.
Some kinds of intercessors want ALL the details.
They want to know when the meetings are happening and a debriefing.
They want to know how many dollars are needed.
They want to know the important decisions to be made.
I will develop a way to fuel them so they can take that to the Throne of Grace.
Others just want a general outline.
Some are very concerned about my spiritual condition, health and feelings.
Then there are lots of friends that just want the simple summary.
Plus there are those that mostly want the essays.
During the coming week I will begin with a new web host.
I will be able to segments on the Launch Team web site and with blogs.
Pray for wisdom and guidance about this matter.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables is a term that they use with those that telecommute.
My brother and two other men I know have done this.
The company wants certain tangible units turned in to them.
This could be a whole project completed or a key part.
Previously I called this SLICES but I am going to use the more widely used term.
This will give the intercessors a target to pray for.
Then we will thank God for His answers.
I will commit to turn in certain units by certain dates.
The Board of Directors and accountability partner can measure if I am on track.
I will get into the HABIT of subdividing the massive workload.
Later this will help me to better delegate to volunteers and staff.
I am quickly becoming the Executive Director of this nonprofit.
I MUST wear many hats.
A time log will help future advisors to recommend ways to use time better.
EXAMPLES
Here are some examples of the deliverables.
This is just a list of possibilities.
There are many more in my files.
SOON I need to gather them in a central document and assign priorities.
One of the directors wants me to begin to estimate how long each will take.
This too will improve with practice.
Here is the list
15 minute core story with diagrams and clip art
Request, receive and post endorsements
Site map for the Launch Team web site
Mind Maps of the many parts for the web and face-to-face
One-page summaries of the key threads
Three-minute online audio messages of key points
Videotape key parts of the presentation for the web, DVD and VHS
Get into the habit of making face-to-face presentations
Modify the face-to-face presentation for small groups and share it
15-page business plan
Consult with those who have raised funds from the wealthy to modify accordingly
BOTTOM LINE
Many of the wealthy donors have a business background.
They want the information in a concise bottom line manner.
That means that God is teaching me new ways to think and write.
They want the Big Picture in SUMMARY form.
Diagrams and Mind maps will help with that.
Even those need to get right to the point.
This also will help this sound bite generation to understand.
May God renew my mind in these ways.
THANKS again and again intercessors.
Your comments, suggestions and questions are ALWAYS welcomed.
John 8:38 AM
Friday, June 04, 2004
GOOD REPORT
6-3-04
God is FAITHFUL.
He is answering our prayers.
Hope is being restored to my soul.
SHIFT
There has been a large internal shift.
It is refreshing having confessed the fears of failure and success
That was perhaps partly due to the confession and greatly due to your prayers.
Several people have told me that they identify with much that I wrote.
After God has taken me through the difficult times I can then better minister.
I can comfort others with the comfort that God has ministered to me.
MISSIONS
I went to a missions lunch today at Irving Bible Church.
I heard David Wilkerson speak about Africa.
His father Bruce Wilkerson has move over there.
They are promoting Never Ending Gardens http://www.neverendinggardens.com/
It is always inspiring to hear first hand what God is doing all over the globe.
God used me to pass along some key resources to him.
DIAGRAM
THANKS again for your prayers about diagrams.
Last night the storm knocked out the power for a while.
I sat in the dark and prayed.
God helped me to visualize the central diagram for the face-to-face presentation.
Tonight I worked that into the Power Point slide show.
PRACTICE
I asked for prayer in the Tuesday briefing to get back on the road.
BAM God opened doors for me to make for informal presentations.
I told the story to two people today and yesterday.
It was great practice.
I learned what worked and did not work by their reactions and feedback.
ALREADY
Already more than 15 hours and still not the end of the week.
Friend helped me by designing an Excel spreadsheet.
Now I log my time by quarter hour units.
And it automatically keeps the running total for the day and week.
John 6:03 AM
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on June 1, 2004
BLESSINGS
ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May you have peace from God.
May you trust Jesus.
May you pray with child-like faith.
Amen?
COMPLETED
· Only 9 of the 15 hours last week. So more determined this week to exceed 15 hours. And already logged more than 11 hours.
· Taken new supplement that does wonders with combating depression. And surprised that it greatly reduces troubles with sexual fantasies. It is Flax Oil by Spectrum Essentials. I have taken two tablespoons a day. Bought it at Whole Foods. It is high in Omega 3.
CURRENT
· FOCUSED on the 15-minute core story. I am zeroing in on the central illustrations.· Need to SOON get back out on the road making presentations. It has been more than 6 weeks.
· Request divine guidance in better segmenting the messages sent out.· It would be wonderful to receive some half windfall donations during this dry season.
UPCOMING
· One person said they could not write in the email about the endorsement. If that is your case, I can send you the form as an attachment or just write it based one the questions like he did.
RESOURCES
Amazing link shared with me by my dad who lives in Hawaii http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/specials/hokulea/
If you wish to unsubscribe then just let me know by reply email.
John 2:06 AM
Monday, May 31, 2004
FEAR OF FAILURE AND SUCCESS
5-31-04
The Bible says confess your sins one to another; pray for each other that you may be healed.
The Bible calls fear a sin and so do I.
I confess the sin of the fear of failure.
I also confess the sin of the fear of success.
I have been wondering why I am not eager to go out and make presentations.
A BIG part of the reason is the fears of failure and success.
IMAGES
It is like I have been behind the scenes for decades.
I have privately helped dozens of people one-on-one.
I have quietly prepared for a pubic ministry.
Now it the time to move from behind the curtains into the spot light.
It is like I irrationally I fear rotten tomatoes thrown at me.
This is highly unlikely but my vivid imagination can generate the fear.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that public ministry is God’s will.
I recall when I was newly called of God in the late 1970s.
I would pray earnestly for long intervals.
Repeatedly the Holy Spirit gave me images of speaking to large audiences.
It took a long while before I fully accepted that vision.
The few times I have spoken in pubic I enjoyed it.
At the core of my soul there is RELUCTANCE.
This reluctance is from the twin fears of failure and success.
It is like I am driving on the freeway with the emergency brake on.
I feel like a missionary that has prepared for a mission field.
I am about to go off into the unknown.
I will be pioneering a discipleship and evangelism work on the Internet.
I have never been there before nor has anyone else.
The fear of the unknown fuels the fears of failure and success.
Previous I have said that presenting to wealthy business owners is like slaying Goliath.
I wrestle not against flesh and blood.
My Goliath is inside of me.
But there is no body to go implement these solutions unless I blaze the trail.
Thus I must face my fears to turn the plans into reality.
FEAR OF FAILURE
Obviously I know how to plan and organize.
I have improved in these areas over the years due to much practice.
BUT previously I have STALLED at about the same place over and over.
I am quickly approaching a familiar brick wall.
The fear of failure has kept me from taking the show on the road before.
At some point I need to go to a person that I have never met before and ask for money.
This is true of every missionary and person that is starting a ministry.
I can go to my friends first but they do not have big bucks.
Like any salesman I need to learn how to find those who will be interested.
During the coming weeks those I know will give me referrals to others.
Sooner than later I will be talking with those who can afford to write large checks.
I feel afraid of making a fool of myself.
I fear that the presentation will be sloppy.
I fear that I will ramble around and not get to the point.
I fear that will have wasted the busy persons time.
I fear that they will not donate.
I fear that they will tell others not to give.
Almost the jobs I have had were in customer service.
I know how to take good care of an existing customer.
But the few times I have been in sales I fumbled it badly.
Over the years I have attended dozens of fund raising seminars.
I have kept the handouts.
I have bought various books on fund raising.
Along the way I learned that my fears are normal.
Those who have been doing this for years still have butterflies.
The FACT is that not EVERY person will give.
Some will give and most will not.
There will be between 20 to 50 percent donors depending how well qualified they are.
SO rejection comes with the territory.
I know mentally that they are not rejecting me.
I know mentally that it is unreasonable to expect every single person to give.
The fund raising Boot Camp taught that the way to combat this is to just keep going.
Track how many contact each week and report to an accountability partner.
Over the course of the weeks and months the percentages will pay off.
There will be plenty of excitement and encouragement for those who do give.
Mentally I know this and it is central to my strategy.
BUT emotionally the irrational fear of failure or rejection has been blocking me.
REPEATEDLY the Holy Spirit has assured me that there are those who will give generously.
AFTER I get into motion and walk through this wall of fire, it will get easier.
AFTER thousands dollars are raised the consultants will help me make it more professional.
AFTER the web platform is launched then there will be lots of measurable results.
FEAR OF SUCCESS
In order to honor God and His Word I MUST tell the truth.
The pure and simple gospel message is not complicated.
But Paul was persecuted for sticking to grace orientation.
Jesus promised persecution for those who follow His way.
This dark world hates the light of Christ.
Many will love what I offer but some will hate it.
They will hate me because they first hated Christ.
I will not be the only voice of the ministry.
I will endeavor to preset what the Bible says from a chorus of voices.
I will point to contemporary and historic writers.
I will link to all the web sites that are biblically orthodox.
I will open the door to seminary students and graduates to teach.
I will gladly publish the testimonies of those in the pews.
This will GREATLY encourage, edify and inspire those who love Jesus.
But I FEAR the reactions from others.
There will be unbelievers and religious church members that will attack me.
During the coming months and years I will need to minister more publicly.
It has been safe and easy to live in the shadows of the library and online.
I am not afraid of public speaking as long as I know my message.
I do not have anything to hide.
I am willing to own my checkered past.
ANTIDOTE
The Holy Spirit has reminded me about Joshua.
Both Moses and the Lord charged him to be strong and courageous.
So I ask your prayers for strength and courage.
You can pray for God to give me wisdom and insight.
Again as I FOCUS on what I can do ONE DAY AT A TIME that helps.
My daily plans are more in harmony with my overall priorities
Surely Jesus will perfect my faith as I pray and take action steps.
As I learn the lessons of this passage they will be valuable for those coming behind me.
John 2:02 PM
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