Hope In Times Of Trouble

June 5, 2013 — Leave a comment

Each day has troubles. Sometimes the troubles are so great that we think they will break us. Unimaginable troubles…we never saw coming, hit us with such force, we are knocked down. We look up, searching for help, but we feel weighted down where we are. God knows we will have troubled times such as these. He desires we place our hope in Him rather than our circumstances. In order to do that, we must have a healthy understanding of hope.

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What Is Hope?

In Scripture, hope is a confident expectation for the future, describing both the act of hoping and the object hoped for. When grounded in God, hope provides the motivation to live the Christian life even in the face of trouble. Having hope is to imagine a favorable outcome because we’re confident in hope’s source.

Continue Reading…

In Christian, Christianity, Encouragement, Motivation
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How To Get Past Your Past

May 28, 2013 — Leave a comment

Someone once said “your past can be used as a crutch or a springboard to a better tomorrow.”  Those who use their past as a crutch are hindered by it and fail to move forward.  Our past is important because it influences our future, it reminds us of God’s grace, and provides helpful lessons for today.

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Why Is It Important To Remember The Past

It is vitaly important to study and remember the past to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. History is littered with leaders & politicians who have not studied the past and have fallen into the same trap as their predecesors.

Our Past Influences Our Future

*Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, “Gather around me, and I will tell you what is going to happen to you in the days to come.”* (Genesis 49:1)

Jacob blessed each of his sons and then made a prediction about each one’s future. The way the men had lived played an important part in Jacob’s blessing and prophecy. Our past also affects our present and future. By sunrise tomorrow, our actions of today will have become part of the past. Yet they will already have begun to shape the future. What actions can you choose or avoid that will positively shape your future?

Our Past Can Be a Reminder Of God’s Grace

*Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—”the stone of help”—for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” *(1 Samuel 7:12)

The Israelites had great difficulty with the Philistines, but God rescued them. In response, the people set up a stone as a memorial of God’s great help and deliverance. During tough times, we may need to remember the crucial turning points in our past to help us through the present. Memorials can help us remember God’s past victories and gain confidence and strength for the present.

The Pain From Our Past Provide Helpful Lessons For Today

*All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close* (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Today’s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of the past. But Paul cautions us to remember the lessons the Israelites learned about God, so that we can avoid repeating their errors. The key to remembering is to study the Bible regularly so that these lessons remind us of how God wants us to live. We need not repeat their mistakes!

In Communication, Current Affairs, Decisions, Encouragement, Motivation
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When You’re Out Of Options…

May 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

What do you do when you’ve run out of options?  We all have times when we feel we have no options. However, we can learn how to face these crises by remembering the children of Israel.

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.” - Exodus 14:21 NIV

Moses knew that the way of victory was through trusting the Lord (Hebrews 11:29). Note his three commands (Exodus 13:13-31): “Fear not” for God is on your side; “stand still,” for you cannot win this battle in your own strength; “see the salvation of the Lord,” for He will fight for you. It is important that we stand still before we “go forward” (Exodus 14:15), for unless we are standing by faith, we can never walk by faith. Moses lifted his rod, and God began to work.

out of options

The children of Israel faced a stormy sea to the front and Egyptian soldiers to the rear.  Talk about having no options…they truly had no way out! But, if you’ll remember, God led them from desperation to complete victory.  The believer cannot go ahead in the strength of Christ until he has learned to stand still in his own helplessness. God can then place Himself between us and our circumstances and wonderfully deliver.

So what’s the point:

When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: You haven’t.

There is no lasting defeat for children of God; He always gives us the option of allowing Him to lead us, teach us, and build our faith. If He parted the Red Sea for the people of faith, then through faith, no situation is hopeless.

Again I ask, What do you do when you’re out of options?

 

In Decisions, Encouragement, Motivation, Teamwork
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If I Could Go Back & Change One Thing

May 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

Life has a way of rearranging your schedule without your permission.

If you had a chance to go back and time redo life, would you?  Everyone has made poor choices or done something in their past that could possibly be labeled as regrettable.  But, think about it.  The fact that you are now able to look back and realize that a mistake or mis-step occurred means you have learned a valuable lesson.

Some of my choices may have landed me in unpleasant circumstances, but experiencing these things certainly built my current character.  I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those character-building situations.

no regrets

Mistakes are stepping stones to an evolving life.

If I had to live my life over again, here’s what I’d do:

I’d take more risks.  Why?
Risk taking gives us experience which, in turn, makes us wiser.

I’m not referring to death defying risks, but more willingness to take a chance without being fearful of an unknown outcome. By staying within our self-generated comfort zones, how much are we missing?

If you had to live your life over again what would you “do over?”

In Decisions, Empowerment, Goals, Motivation, Success
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How To Get You Going

May 9, 2013 — Leave a comment

Bruno Mars is not alone when he wakes up singing,

Oh, today I don’t feel like doing anything. I just want to lay in my bed.

Let’s face it – some days it’s harder than others to drag ourselves out of bed & jumpstart our day. I call it winning “World War Me.” It’s the ongoing battle of the will within us to overcome that internal naysayer that says “just forget about it and stay in bed.”

What motivates you? What makes you wake up every day, rush to work irrespective of various problems, challenges, and setbacks?

It’s MOTIVTION!

motivation

Intrinsic Motivation

People are motivated either internally (Intrinsic Motivation) or externally (Extrinsic Motivation). People who are motivitated internally have internal desire which fuels their passion. For them, play is work and work is play. Ask someone who’s motivated internally “why do you do what you do,” they’ll tell you “it’s because I love what I do.”

Extrinsic Motivation

Just as some are motivated internally, some are motivated by external factors. Every four years the world watches the very best athletes compete for a gold medal while representing their respective countries. That’s why atheltes work hard and push their bodies to the limits hoping to win a World Series, NBA Champtionship, or the Super Bowl. The idea that he or she is the best in the world, and has the endorsements – and bling in the form of rings and medals to show for it – is the reward that comes at the end of a hard-won battle.

Are you looking to get (and stay) motivated? To get you on the right track, consider Lifehack’s following tips: Continue Reading…

In Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success
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Humbling Leadership Lessons In Change & Transition – Pt. 3

April 24, 2013 — Leave a comment

Humility increases our appreciation for God. To respect God’s majesty, we must compare ourself to his greatness. When we look at creation, we often feel small by comparison. To feel small is a healthy way to get back to reality, but God does not want us to dwell on our smallness. Humility means proper respect for God, not self-depreciation.

In 2011 saw some exciting changes at the Mars Hill Baptist Church. But as exciting as that vision of building was, we know now that in the process we left some people behind. There were parts of the process where as leaders we simply dropped the ball. During this three-part series, my purpose was to share three humbling lessons learned. If you missed reading Part 1 and Part 2, you can read them HERE and HERE.

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(Sanctuary Renovation – 2011)

So, what did I learn? Continue Reading…

In Church Issues, Decisions, Leadership, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Servant Leadership
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50 Years Later…We’re Just Getting Started

April 22, 2013 — Leave a comment
I love history!  It gives you an opportunity to learn about your past and stand on the shoulders of giants.  What’s more exciting than learning history is MAKING history.  That’s exactly what we’re doing at the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago.  We’re celebrating our 50th Anniversary with events planned throughout 2013.

Celebrating Something Old – Our Past

I serve an amazing church filled with amazing people (Ok, I’m biased). The Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago is celebrating her 50th year in ministry.  On February 24, 2013, we celebrated “Something Old” by taking a trip down memory lane.  We paid tribute to our founding Pastor & 1st Lady, Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Stowers, Sr., & Margaret Stowers along with our founding members.  Together, we laughed, cried, and learned about our glorious past.

Founders

Our 17 Founding Members

Celebrating Something New – Our Present

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to  prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

On Saturday, April 20, 2013, we opened “The Gallery.”  Ylandus Roundy came up with the concept of “The Gallery.”  On display were various pictures, artifacts, clothing, and other items depicting my life.  The idea was to showcase the man behind the message and show that I’m more than a pastor, teacher, and leader.  Many members came and were pleasantly surprised by the many facets of my life.  I want to thank our staff, Ylandus Roundy, and Bert Parker for representing Mars Hill well.

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Snapshot from “The Gallery” Continue Reading…

In Christian, Christianity, Conference/Workshops, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Mind Dump
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Humbling Leadership Lessons In Change and Transition – Pt. 2

April 17, 2013 — 2 Comments

I am surprised and humbled by the overwhelming response to this week’s post, “Humbling Lessons In Change & Transition.”  If you missed it, you can read it HERE.

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 (Sanctuary renovation – 2011)

In 2011, I shared some new and exciting changes at Mars Hill Baptist Church.  But as exciting as that vision of building was, we know now that in the process we left some people behind. There were parts of the process where as leaders we simply dropped the ball.  I believe you can learn a lot from your failures if you’re willing to admit and learn from them.

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(Sanctuary renovation – 2011)

First, I learned  how buildings house memories.  Therefore, it is wise not to erase their significance. Parents have introduced their children to the church and sat Sunday after Sunday in the pews together. Others have said goodbye to loved ones and those last few words in that place were significant.  In addition to learning the significance of buildings, I also learned how change can happen quickly but, transition often follows more slowly.  Continue Reading…

In Church Issues, Decisions, Leadership, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Servant Leadership
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Humbling Leadership Lessons in Change and Transition

April 15, 2013 — 6 Comments

I’ll admit, as a leader it’s quite easy to get caught up with a vision. It’s natural because as leader’s we’re encouraged to look out for opportunities and then take the lead in making things happen. But sometimes we find ourselves alone out front, and wonder what happened to the people we’re leading? Why aren’t they with us?

Going Fishing – Who’s in?

Take a scenario of a group of people going fishing on a lake. Typical leaders get the vision, jump in the boat and are off to fish straight away. But the rest of the group may take a different approach. As the leaders look back they find that half the people are still on the river bank. Some are still prepping their fishing gear.

Some are just starting to launch their boats. Others are on the water but are heading in the opposite direction. Some are going in circles and still others haven’t yet even decided if they feel like fishing after all. That’s when you realise that only leading from the front doesn’t always help facilitate transition.

John Maxwell in his book Winning with People admits that patience is not one his strengths. He says:

“When I was younger I constantly cast vision for the people in my organization and then left them behind – not a good thing for a leader.”

2011 saw some exciting changes at Mars Hill Baptist. But as exciting as that vision of building was, we know now that in the process we left some people behind. There were parts of the process where as leaders we simply dropped the ball. During this three-part series, I’ll share three humbling lessons learned.

MHBC Before

Mars Hill Renovation (2011)

Continue Reading…

In Church Issues, Decisions, Mars Hill Baptist Church
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Common Sense Just Ain’t Common

April 11, 2013 — Leave a comment

My father, the late Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Stowers, Sr. was a wise man.  He had a lot of what’s missing today – COMMON SENSE.  He was an expert at summing up life with quick pithy statements.

Stay Out Of Debt

The best financial planning seminar I ever attended was my dad’s.  It didn’t involve plane tickets, hotels, conference fees, or books.  It took less than five minutes & here’s what he said:

“Son, it’s not the money you make, it’s the money you hold on to.”

  1. Make yourself a budget.
  2. Live BELOW your means.
  3. Pack your lunch.
  4. Pinch pennies.
  5. Save as much as you can.
  6. Get the education you need for as cheap as you can get it.

The art of holding on to money is all about saying no to stuff you don’t need. Say no to eating out, $4 fancy coffee, and that shiny new computer when the old one still works fine.

That’s my dad…his advice still works! LOL!

 What would you add to my dad’s list?

In Communication, Current Affairs, Decisions, Fun Stuff, Money and Finance
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