by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 30, 2008 | Politics
Does Dr. Wright hurt or help Barack Obama?
Ok, yall pulled me into this political/religious hot potato. I’ve thought long and hard about this and eventually knew I would have to deal with this situation. So, here we go…
Telisha, to answer your question, Dr. Wright does hurt Obama and it’s unfortunate. Is it fair? Nah. The media, the Clinton camp, and the republicans have been playing the "politics by association" card when it comes to this issue. Clearly, if you’re a rational, critically thinking person and have listened to Dr. Wright’s ENTIRE sermons and put into context the sound bites that have been played continuously, you will determine that what Dr. Wright says and believes is not and does not have to be synonymous with Obama’s views.
However, the problem is simply that everyone does not think critically and scrutinize the information they’re being fed and who’s serving them this media meal. No some, if not many people in this country, are sheep; content to formulate an opinion of a candidate based on a 10-20 second sound bite of "the man, standing next to the man."
I get what Dr. Wright was saying, and for the most part, he was speaking the truth. I understand what he said and where in his psyche his comments originated. But when it comes to this politics game, more often than not, whatever is said by a candidate or a perceived surrogate, is taken at face value by most, and true understanding gets lost in translation.
The problem that you have is that those that take issue with Dr. Wright’s statements – a certain percentage of our Caucasian brothers and sisters simply lack the ability to understand where Dr. Wright is coming from and the impetus for his comments. Culturally, they’re simply not in a position to "get it." And probably won’t ever "get it." In their world, African-Americans exist on TV and possibly at work. That’s it. With such limited exposure, they’re not and have not been intimately exposed to our culture, our norms, values, struggles and the unique variables at play when it comes to being black in America. So there’s gonna be a disconnect. And Obama’s adversaries have played on this disconnect to a tee.
Personally, I have no problem with Dr. Wright defending himself and his life’s work. That’s not my issue. The problem I have is HIS TIMING. I refuse to believe that Dr. Wright is in some way clueless to the fact that Obama, and to a greater extent, African-Americans have a GOLDEN, LEGITIMATE, AND REALISTIC chance to put an African-American face to the most powerful office in the world. Dr. Wright HAS to recognize this. So why is he making his "last stand" now? He HAS to know the political implications of his deeds and words. Furthermore, what really gets me is that if Dr. Wright, in all his years of knowing Obama, CARED about the man, he would stand down and table his retribution for a later date.
Finally, whenever the electorate needs a distraction, the "powers in control" "Wag the Dog." Wag the Dog is film starring Robert De Niro, about a Washington DC spin doctor who distracts the electorate from a U.S. presidential sex scandal by by hiring a Hollywood producer (played by Dustin Hoffman), to construct a fake war with Albania – GET THE DVD.
The media needs this created controversy as a diversion.
1. DIVERSION TACTIC: We’re in a RECESSION – gas prices were "quietly" raised 12 times in a row; foreclosures are @ an all time high; food prices are through the roof; utilities prices have and are going up; college tuition’s rising & they’ve reduced grants & loans; houses are more difficult to purchase; nationally, housing prices have declined 12%; credit card companies are struggling & forcing those w/good credit to pay for those who defaulted. How do you get people’s mind off the REAL ISSUES – DIVERT THEIR ATTENTION.
2. DIVERSION TACTIC: Keep people paying attention to the campaign equals more ad revenues. Without question Barack’s candidacy was so taken as joke by the pundits that they did not feel the masses would take to him at all. So now with the very large amount of especially college educated whites voting for him in high numbers this has scared the crap out of the political establishment. Furthermore, I find it funny that someone can take a speech made several years ago and make it an issue today.
There you go…care to comment…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 29, 2008 | Other Stuff
I’m
about ready to roll out an FAQ page for the blog. But, before I do
that, I’m curious to know your questions about my blog, the Bible, quagmires, conundrums, oxymorons, my ministry or
my life. For this purpose, assume nothing is off-limits. Of course, I’m
not guaranteeing I’m actually going to respond. That’s the risk you
take.
It’s your turn. What are your questions? C’mon, let me have it…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 28, 2008 | Leadership, Vision
When you talk about “hearing from God,” often people look at you with disdain or suspicion. Why? Because it’s so subjective & nebulous. I’ve discovered there are a few “tell-all” signs that signify you make have or have not heard from God.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
If you feel confident that you can accomplish what is in front of you with no problem at all…then you didn’t hear from God.
If no one is angry at you…then you didn’t hear from God.
If you don’t have to ask anyone to sacrifice to make the vision come true…then you didn’t hear from God.
If religious people are not angry with you, gossiping about you and/or leaving your church…then you didn’t hear from God.
If you have the money in the bank to do what God has asked your church to do…then you didn’t hear from God.
If every step is perfectly designed and nothing happens to totally throw you off along the way…then you didn’t hear from God.
If someone doesn’t try to talk you out of what you are about to attempt…then you didn’t hear from God.
If you don’t stay up at night thinking about the vision…then you didn’t hear from God.
If your vision is in contradiction to God’s Word…then you didn’t hear from God. (And no, you didn’t get a “special revelation” that gave you permission to trump His Word!)
If you know all of the answers…then you didn’t hear from God.
Those are just a few things that came to mind. 🙂
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 27, 2008 | Vision
One of the questions that is often asked of me by pastors, church leaders, and corporate leaders is, “Where do you get your vision?”
My answer usually seems to frustrate them because…well…it’s simple. Leadership (and vision) is as easy as listening to God.
- Vision does not come through a committee. Good ideas may come that way. Much needed discussion may come out of a meeting like that…but not vision.
- Vision does not come through a conference. You may get INSPIRATION…but not REVELATION. I think of of the sad things in conference world today is pastors will attend a conference, go home & then try to be EVERYTHING except for what God called them to be.
- Vision does not come out of books. Once again–excellent ideas do. Wisdom comes from reading. You can seriously be challenged and stretched by reading…but vision isn’t in the pages of the next best seller.
- Vision does not come from trying to repeat what has been successful in the past…that’s not vision, that’s the leader being a victim of previous success.
- I still say that passionate, white hot, hell charging, world changing & people inspiring vision comes from intentional and uninterrupted time with Jesus…in HIS Word, seeking HIS face through prayers–staying connected with HIS Holy Spirit throughout the day.
So when people ask me, “Where do you get your vision?” My answer is always the time…I meet with God & I don’t move until He tells me to move…but WHEN He tells me to move I go until He tells me to stop.
Leadership is as easy as listening to God. I always advise pastors and church leaders to get on their face and stay there until God says otherwise. I have NEVER made a bad or wrong decision when I clearly heard from God and followed–EVER!
So how do you know when your vision is from God? Next post…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 22, 2008 | Current Affairs, Family
LISTEN UP – THIS IS SERIOUS…WE’RE IN TROUBLE – FOR REAL!!!
I’ve read many articles, reviewed various websites, and attended a few seminars to gain an understanding of the current economic reality. Based on what I’ve discovered, I’d like to offer the following analysis:
According to various industry leaders, the current economic disaster began with unscrupulous and unwise lending to help home buyers with shaky credit and incomes (no-doc/stated income loans). Consequently, brokers and banks that made the loans made a boat load of money by putting borrowers in mortgages they couldn’t afford or sustain.
Next, those mortgages ended up being bundled, marketed, and sold as mortgage-backed securities – carrying good ratings to investors. However, as homeowners struggled and subsequently failed to meet their mortgage payments, foreclosures have mounted, devastating families, hitting banks’ bottom lines and prompting lenders to yank the reins on credit.
Meanwhile, the value of those mortgage-backed securities has plummeted along with investor interest in them, and housing-tied economic catastrophe has been created.
THE RESULT:
Seven out of 10 seriously delinquent subprime mortgage borrowers are still not getting the help they need to keep their homes.
That’s according to a report released Tuesday by the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group, a coalition formed by eleven state attorneys general and the Conference of Bank Supervisors in the summer of 2007 to work with loan servicers to prevent unnecessary foreclosures.
"Our collaborative efforts to date have failed to prevent a large number of unnecessary foreclosures," said North Carolina Deputy Commissioner of Banks Mark Pearce. "We need to find solutions that fit the size of the problem we are facing."
The report, which surveyed lender efforts and programs like Hope Now, found that the number of borrowers getting help each month has increased from about 210,000 in October to nearly 261,000 in January. But because the total number of troubled borrowers is also growing so quickly, from 820,000 seriously delinquent loans last fall to over 1 million at the start of the year, the proportion of mortgage rescues has remained essentially unchanged.
"We’re still way behind," said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who helped form the coalition.
Nearly a quarter of all subprime loans are in delinquency. About 300,000 subprime borrowers are now in some stage of foreclosure, up 8% since last October. (Thanks Rev. Paris Lewis for providing this info!)
If you or someone you know are facing foreclosure, you may want to check this out!
So you’re thinking, this doesn’t affect me – I’m not in this boat…OH YES YOU ARE…READ ON…
Today, certain people, although not directly involved in making or getting subprime loans, are being indirectly affected by it and engulfed in it through the following:
- First-time home buyers – since the pool of lending programs has shrunk, credit score requirements are 100 points higher & they have to put 20% or more as a down payment
- Lenders have stricter requirements & require credit scores of 675 or higher
- Refinancing is much more difficult
- Home-equity lines of credit are drying up
- Student loans are the NEXT BIGGEST PROBLEM since many lenders are pulling out, requiring co-signers w/higher credit scores, and some states suspending their loan programs (Michigan & Pennsylvania that I know of)
- Credit Cards – BIG PROBLEM since Americans owe more than $1 Trillion
- Small Business Lending – feeling the credit crunch & vendors not paying their bills
- Real Estate Investors – Citibank no longer offers mortgage loans for investment properties on three & four-family homes. Furthermore, most bank are only offering 75-80% financing for those properties
That’s my take – stay tuned for more information regarding my upcoming "State of the Economy Address" scheduled to take place @ The Mars Hill Baptist Church & my "Steps YOU MUST Take Now."
