Much like the National Baseball Hall of Fame for Major League baseball players, each participant, upon induction, receives the coveted American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring and officially becomes one of the Cooperstown Dreams Park Little Majors.  The Kodak photo of each player with his teammates is affixed to the Commemorative Induction Plaque for future enshrinement on the walls of the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.  Our family will cherish this moment for the rest of our lives!

(Congratulations to Indians for finishing 10th out of 104 teams)

While away, I had a chance to reflect on life in general and the Lord revealed several foundational shattering truths that I plan to share in subsequent blog posts.  These truths challenged me to think about life in a different way and challenged long held beliefs that have become TRADITIONS.

I use to believe that life is a series of peaks and valleys – you go through a dark time and then you go to the mountaintop – criss-crossing back and forth.  Our African-American Baptist tradition supports this view and encourages believers to praise God while you’re on the mountain and double your praise if you’re in the valley.  We often hear a familiar colloquialism of the faith: “YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS ON THE WAY.”

I NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT & HERE’S WHY…

The good that happens in life and the bad that happens run on parallel tracks. At all times you either have something good AND something bad in your life – BOTH OCCURING SIMULTANEOUSLY!

In case you haven’t figured it out, life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one.   The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; He’s more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.  We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that’s not the goal of life.  The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.  Sometimes it takes bad situations to make that happen.

What’s your take?

AM I THE ONLY ONE COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW?

According to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the chief proponent of the big bank bailout, flooding the banks with taxpayers’ money was supposed to get them to start lending freely again. And that, in turn, was supposed to stabilize the markets and prevent the downturn from being worse than it otherwise would be.

Given the way, that is, that Paulson had decided to use the first installment of the $700 Billion bailout money to recapitalize banks instead of buying up their toxic securities, which he had then sold to Congress and the American people as the best and fastest way to get the banks to start making loans again, and help prevent this recession from getting much, much worse.

(Stowers Translation: give banks back the money they lost

through greed, corruption, arrogance, & incompetence)

HERE’S THE BANKING INDUSTRY’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET:
THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF USING THE BAIL OUT MONEY TO MAKE NEW LOANS OR HELP PEOPLE IN FORECLOSURE.

The real issue is that banks continue to refuse to lend money to consumers who so desperately need it and who just bailed out their greedy rear ends.  Instead, it’s business as usual.  The level of greed, stupidity and arrogance is stunning for a bunch of people who just drove the rest of the world to the edge of financial oblivion. You can’t get 10 cents from a bank right now.

HERE’S WHY:

I personally believe the banks that had received money are holding on to most of it so they could buy out other banks that might fail down the road.

GREED…GREED…GREED

Personally, I feel sorry for President Obama because his administration is left to clean up a HOT MESS!  Please continue to pray for our President and his cabinet.

The national economy, battered by the mortgage housing crisis and sky-high fuel costs, is starting to take its toll on all houses of worship.  As wallets get thinner, people face increasingly difficult choices between paying the bills and supporting their congregation.  In short, this downturn is hurting everybody.  I crafted a short survey to get your input on this important matter. Thanks for participating!

CHECK OUT "THE HILL" IN ACTION SUNDAY…THE PRESSURE IS ON!!!

NOTICE: MYTH REGARDING FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FUNDING…1ST DAY ATTENDANCE DOES NOT AFFECT A SCHOOL'S FUNDING…CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Only 6 of 100 Black and Latino high school freshmen males will graduate from a four year college. Source: University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research
Between 2003 and 2007, white students' reading scores went up while African American, Hispanic and low-incomes student's scores went down. (Chicago Sun-Times, October 31, 2007)

Money spent in Illinois on:

• Housing an adult prisoner: $21,000
• Educating a child in Chicago: $10,000
  (Source: Illinois State Board of Education
  Office of Governor Rod Blagojevich)
• Only 9% of African American 4th graders ranked proficient or above in reading, ranking Illinois 38 out of 41 states. (Chicago Sun-Times, November 2, 2006)
• Illinois has the largest unaddressed district-to-district funding gap in the nation. (Source: Education Trust)

2005-2006 School Year Graduation Rates in Chicago

• Black males – 37%
• White males – 62%
  (Source: Schott Foundation)
• Illinois ranks 49 out of the 50 states when it comes to funding education from state funds. (Source: Education Trust)

Click Here for more FACTS about the SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS

I’ve been thinking alot about parenting lately. Maybe it is because we have three kids at home, ages 6, 11, and 13.  I think everyone would admit that there is a point in a teen’s life
when the influence of his/her parents becomes less, and the influence
of their friends becomes greater.  It seems that the age at which the parents’ influence drops dramatically happens somewhere around 13- to 15-years old.

As I reflected on my life as a child, the influence I perceive that
I have with my own kids, and my informal survey, I charted it like
this…

As a parent, the awareness of loss of influence can be alarming if
you didn’t see it coming. So be warned young parents, I have just given
you a glimpse of the future.

Here is the key learning: Environments matter.  Who
my daughter is influenced by as a 15-year old is dependent greatly on
the environments that my wife and I placed her in as a 10- and 12- and
14-year old.

It’s a little early to tell whether we will survive life with
teenagers, but here is the advice I would give parents of pre-teens…

• Get involved in a great church with strong youth leaders.
• As they start middle school, don’t give them the option to stay home from the youth program.
• Find a school that has strong values and where
  there is good chance they will be able to find solid friends. That
  might mean paying for private school or moving to a better school
  district.
• Get them in situations where they are hanging with young adults who are following God.
• Teach them the joy of serving when they are very young.
• Let them participate in events where there is a good chance they might take a step spiritually.

Oh, and one last word of advice for those with teenagers—stop
lecturing and start listening. Stop giving direction and start asking
questions.

It’s your turn now…is my chart way off?

Oh yea,  It’s on today!  Me & the boys (Myles, Josh, & a couple of their friends) are on our way to see “The Dark Knight.” Yep, it’s official: It’s guy time:  NO WOMEN).

(Joshua Stowers – Top, Myles Stowers – Bottom – They are my legacy)

Growing up, I was a huge fan of “Batman & Robin.”  However, when I became a man, I had to put away my “childish” ways   Gone is the “fake” Batman wearing tights & enter “a MAN’S BATMAN.”  I like this version of Batman because he’s not soft.  So, for the next 2:30 minutes, I will immerse myself in Gotham City.

Peace yall!

What a great time we had yesterday during worship. The Spirit of the Lord was present and the choir ministered with unusual power. God blessed me to be able to preach with power and I believe lives were changed.

Well, today I’m off and sitting @ Six Flaggs Theme Park typing this post on my iPhone. Don’t you just love technology? So, what do you do on your off day?

I would like for you all to say hello to my guest blogger Chandra Ivy-Oliver.  Along with others, she took the challenge to offer practical steps to help others struggling with revenge.

Dr. David Hawkins, author of ‘Dealing With the Crazy Makers in Your Life’ says “People come in all shapes and sizes. I have no problem with that. However, when these people are in my life, and they are bona fide, dyed in the wool, Certifiable Crazy Makers, I’m no longer as friendly or hospitable.  Click here to read the how he deals with these people.    

Chandra’s Response to What if its family that keeps hurting you?

I believe in giving chances, not just a second chance, but chances. God had given us chance after chance when we hurt or do wrong, because I know he has done it for me. But I would start off by telling the person that is doing the hurt, how they act or react is hurting your relationship. The person doing the hurt will always blame it on you, not because it’s really your fault, but because you are the reasonable and considerate person trying to make thing right or easier.

Ex: It’s just like having a toddler with a tantrum, you keep giving in and he or she will keep acting out. Family can be the same way, there is that one person who keeps hurting you, but they only do it in public where they can front on you, then when your home or on the phone, they apologize and want forgiveness. And you accept the apology, because you want to be like Christ and forgive. If it keeps happening you need to talk to God, remain prayerful, calm, firm and clear. Reading your Bible while dealing with this hurt. Colossians 3: 8-25 helps you clearly understand.

Thanks Chandra, you hit the nail on the head!