by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 5, 2010 | Decisions, Other Stuff, Technology, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Welcome to my redesigned blog – The Urban Pastor!
First, I want to thank my web/blog designers Chris and Erin for designing an incredible site. My web designers, Chris and Erin of Arcane Palette Creative Design, spent the last few months redesigning my Facebook Fan Page (I really don’t like using that term) and my blog, The Urban Pastor. Thank you Arcane Palette Creative Design for all you have done!
YOU’LL NOTICE SEVERAL CHANGES
- The design is much different. Not everyone will like it, but I’m pleased. I think it feels modern, urban-chic professional, but also personal. That was my goal.
- The photos of Shauntai & I rotate. Every time you refresh the page or move to a new page, you get a new photo of Shauntai and I. “Big deal,” I know. But I couldn’t just settle on one photo. My life is too multi-faceted. Plus I thought you might enjoy peering into the visual aspects of my life.
- The search engine is easy to find. People often email me, asking for links to articles they remember seeing but can’t find. The WordPress search engine is very robust, and I think it’s placement and functionality will make it easier for you to find the stuff you are interested in.
- The design is clean. I’ve cleaned up the site to make it visually appealing and easy to navigate.
- I added a YouTube Channel. In the very near future I will add video clips of my messages, workshops and seminars, teaching moments, special family moments, and any other special interests I may have. Please consider subscribing to my channel. I’m extremely excited about my channel – The Urban Pastor Live! Check it out HERE.
- I will add additional pages. I get asked to speak a lot and in the very near future I will accept advertising. However, I will only run ads for products or services that I personally use and can recommend.
QUESTION
What do you like about the new blog? What don’t you like? Tell it to me straight. I can take it. (I think.)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Oct 8, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Goals, Money and Finance, Prayer, Vision
This past Sunday, I shared with our congregation how I selected 20 people to pray for who were generous, faithful, and cared about the poor, oppressed, and marginalized.
I’m praying that God would make them wealthy (multi-millionaires) so they could reach back and help the poor & permanent underclass.
Why? Jesus was/is ALWAYS on the side of the poor, oppressed, and marginalized AND someone has to speak for the voiceless. Also, it’s time for a shift of wealth into the hands of Kingdom-minded people with integrity to do the right thing!
I prayed before selecting people because they had to meet the following criteria:
- Compassionate
- Unselfish
- Have extraordinary faith
- Have a genuine concern for the poor
- A heart for empowering those who are less fortunate
This Sunday, I extended an invitation for others to join my list & WHAT A RESPONSE! If you meet the aforementioned criteria, you may want to consider getting in on this prayer. If you are selfish, lack integrity, & want to be wealthy for the sake of being wealthy, please reconsider your priorities before deciding to join.
In the meantime, the Lord wants you to get your financial house in order before the harvest comes & the hardest step is getting started!
Here’s what you can start doing NOW:
- Stop signing up for more debt!
- Save $2,500 and save in your emergency fund – pay minimum payments on all debt until you have $2,500!
- Find out which debts you owe and how much you owe
- Seek to reduce or eliminate the interest you are paying
- Calculate your debt freedom date – using the free tool @ HERE
- Pay minimum payments on all debts except the smallest one
- Attack the smallest debt with as much money as possible
- As each debt is paid off, use the freed up payment money to add to the payment of the next smallest debt.
- Repeat steps 6 thru 8 until you become debt free!!!
You CAN do this!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Oct 2, 2010 | Apple/Mac, Computers, Technology, Web/Tech
How would I describe OfficeDrop?
OfficeDrop is a “simple” online digital filing system makes your paper and digital files text searchable, so you can quickly find a word, number, or phrase among all of your documents. What I like most about OfficeDrop is how it automatically converts your paper and digital files into PDF’s.
Document Scanning Service
As a busy pastor, OfficeDrop is a vital part of my staff. I absolutely love the Document Scanning Service. This service allows you to mail your documents in prepaid USPS Envelopes or UPS boxes. OfficeDrop scans your documents into text searchable PDFs that can be downloaded anytime from your secure web account. No software to be installed, no expensive scanning equipment, no gruntwork, and no more paper-cuts or LOST DOCUMENTS!
My “Personal” Digital Assistant”
I decided to use the free trial offered by OfficeDrop and wound up becoming a happy subscriber. I thought I’d give the scanning service a real test and send a stack of envelopes, index cards, and slips of paper containing handwritten messages I’d collected over the years.
They are a good resource for me but are tedious to thumb through when I am looking for a particular message, Scripture, or illustration. The envelope arrived quickly after I registered. I placed the information inside and sent them off. I was notified when they arrived and that they had been digitized and were online. Imagine my pleasure at being able to find the index cards clearly scanned and easily scrolled through when I logged on!
My originals arrived back home safe and sound. They are sealed in an envelope that will be easy for me to file away. I’ve got a lot more material to send to OfficeDrop. I’m already seeing how this service will cut hours from sermon preparation. Try out OfficeDrop’s storage and digitization plans for free for 60 days – no credit card required! Believe me, you WILL NOT regret it.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Sep 20, 2010 | Apple/Mac, Computers, Technology
How would I describe Evernote?
Evernote is my personal digital executive assistant!
Evernote is a free tool I use to capture ideas and take notes. I use it with my iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad, & Droid 2. It is like a digital file cabinet. I can enter a random note, take snapshot of something I want to remember (e.g., a business card or a book), and even record a voice memo. It is my augmented brain. It also syncs with my all my computers via the Web.
With a keyboard shortcut, I drop in articles and blog posts, sermon notes, images, and pictures. I have several notebooks for book ideas, one for meeting recaps, and one for sermon ideas, and it’s completely searchable. One of the coolest things about Evernote is that the search feature recognizes text inside of images. This means I can take a picture of a brainstorming session and Evernote will find a word from the whiteboard image. Again, there’s a web app, an application, and an iPhone/iPad app that keeps notes and ideas synced all of the time.
Check out this video to learn more about Evernote!
Do you use Evernote?
If so, how do you use it OR how do you plan to use it?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Sep 16, 2010 | Mind Dump, Personal
Tonight, I’m having great difficulty focusing my attention on what I must complete. My mind’s racing with so many thoughts, so I decided to stop working and free my mind.
Here’s some thoughts that have been running around my head this week:
- I love my wife – she’s the glue that holds it all together!
- Today my 2nd mom lost her mom & I had to hold it together & serve the family. I confess: I cried in the car.
- More and more, I realized that I need to be around visionaries and dreamers. People that only think here and now drain me.
- Im beginning to sense, “We Cant Stay Here.”
- I need to get away to pray, think, plan, & prepare for what God has in store for Mars Hill.
- Here’s what’s coming soon @ Mars Hill: Website redesign integrating our social media strategy, an Internet Campus where you can view our services via On Demand style, Podcasting via iTunes, & Renovation of our facilities to reflect our unique way of doing ministry.
- I’m starting a Men’s mentoring group. I will disciple 8-12 men for one year. I will coach them in ALL areas of their lives to become men of influence! I’m TOTALLY excited about this!!!
- Our choir held an anniversary concert for my wife & I (11th year pastoring) and they did an OUTSTANDING job. They can really sing…I mean really sing.
- I love my church & believe I have the best job in the world!
- God is shifting our church & I’m sensing that some won’t be able to handle the shift because of denominational loyalty.
- Spiritual warfare is increasing. The enemy is not happy about life change!
- Sometimes I feel we’re too Full Gospel to be Baptist…Too Baptist to be Full Gospel.
- Here’s a thought: Drop ALL the labels & be BIBLICAL. Yea, I like that!
- Ministry can be frustrating – but it’s a good frustration!
- I’m considering getting an MBA. Why? I believe it’ll help our church as we expand the reach of our ministry though multiple campuses.
- Over the past couple of years, I’ve come to understand more and more that the local church really matters. Social work and missions that isn’t connected to a local church isn’t going to accomplish anything long-term.
Whew, it’s out & maybe I can get back to work!
