by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 6, 2010 | Communication, Leadership, Preaching
Quick: Explain Sunday’s message in three sentences to your eight-year-old niece or nephew (scroll down to the end if want to see my explanation).
Why: The point here is to test your ability to communicate complex ideas in simple language.
In my opinion, the problem with preaching is that most preachers try to be deep instead of being effective. I know many preachers who are thrilled to spend precious time explaining the syntax and morphology of a word while people are one decision away from moral, financial, relational, & marital ruin.
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 5, 2010 | Accountability, Empowerment, Goals, Leadership, Success
The week between Christmas and the New Year has been officially declared as the most “unproductive” times of the year. While surfing the web, I ran across Michael Hyatt’s excellent blog, which inspired me to think long and hard about what I want to accomplish in 2010.
In order to make my resolutions stick, I decided to employ Michael Hyatt’s four strategies found here. Therefore, let it be resolved:
- That I will read through the entire Bible by December 31, 2010 using YouVersion’s Chronological plan as my guide (started Day 1 yesterday).
- That I will lose fifteen pounds (current weight: 217) by exercising a minimum of 3 days per week with a minimum of 20 minutes of cardio during each exercise session. I will accomplish this by July 30, 2010
- That I will continue to resist the lure, draw, and undeniable seductiveness of late night unhealthy snacks like candy, soda, cookies, & other fattening foods and replace them with fruit.
- That I will finish the first draft of my new book by June 30, 2010.
- That I will write at least three posts per week on my personal blog, where I share my thoughts/ideas on leadership from an urban perspective and some general life musings.
So let it be noted. So let it be done. And please give me a swift kick in the rear end if you see me getting off track.
What are your goals & have you gone public with them?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 4, 2010 | Book Reviews, Books, Success
As I mentioned in my previous post, I absolutely love reading books! Consequently, I’ve read a lot of books in the last 10 years. There are many books that I consider to have greatly been a part of literally transforming my life. There were many great books that didn’t make my list that are classics and didn’t meet the criteria that I considered.
Additionally, since I have so many recommendations, I’ve decided to break them down into the following categories: Church Growth, Theology, Christian Living, Leadership, Self-Improvement, Business, Sociology, and African-American Studies. I will devote blog space to cover each category in subsequent posts.
Here we go:
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 30, 2009 | Book Reviews, Books, Christian, Christianity, Empowerment
I love reading books, and like many of you, I read a lot of books in the last 10 years. Half of the decade I spent in graduate school (finishing up my Doctor of Ministry degree) so there were a lot of books to be read and I just really enjoy reading anyways. I read about 500 books this last decade and there were a lot of great ones….some good ones….and some not so good ones. But there were definitely some books that stood out and really changed my life.
There are many books that I consider to have greatly been a part of spiritually transforming my life. When I chose my books there were some basic criteria that I considered:
- I didn’t list the bible, because I’m hoping you assume that that is the book that has spiritually transformed me the most.
- They were memorable (some books are just forgettable, and these were not)
- They didn’t have to be written this decade
- They are ones that I recommend to everyone
- They are leading works in their field
- They are ones that I have read multiple times, or are back on the reading rotation to read again
- They needed to have fundamentally shifted some area of my thinking–paradigm shifting influence
- They transformed me spiritually (my theology, my ministry, my prayer life, my leadership, my preaching, my counseling, my pastoring, my understanding of humanity, my relationship with God, etc.)
Additionally, since I have so many recommendations, I’ve decided to break them down into the following categories: Church Growth, Theology, Christian Living, Leadership, Self-Improvement, Business, Sociology, and African-American Studies. I will devote blog space to cover each category in subsequent posts.
Here we go:
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 4, 2009 | College Life, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Success, Vision
Fraternity is commonly defined by Webster as the state of being Brothers, a brotherly relationship within a student organization formed chiefly to promote friendship and welfare among the members.
The opening of the school year, 1905-1906, found at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, a group of students distributed in the various colleges of the University, who were desirous of maintaining more intimate contacts with one another than their classroom study permitted. They often met in groups during the Autumn of 1905 and talked of the possibilities of closer contacts among themselves. Different ones among them took the lead in calling these meetings, which were informal in ever detail.
After several meetings, on December 4, 1906 those in attendance decided to become a fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha was born. It came as an evolution through trial and struggle. It was not spontaneous, but gradual in its growth. Alpha Phi Alpha has not always been the great fraternity that it is today. Its founders, however, were always great men with keen vision, undaunted courage, indomitable fortitude, and unparalleled tenacity.
There were seven men who founded Alpha Phi Alpha in 1906. Each of these men were destined to play a highly significant role in the formative years of our great fraternity. The members of Alpha Phi Alpha have decreed that the Founders be designated as JEWELS of the Fraternity. The Founders (Jewels) of Alpha Phi Alpha are as follows:
Jewel Henry Arthur Callis
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones
Jewel George Biddle Kelley
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy
The original seven who remained steadfast to the idea of a Greek-letter Fraternity, during the months of uncertainty, did not waiver in their effforts to bring about the realization of their vision. Therefore, I salute all the men who’ve crossed the burning sands and proudly call themselves “Alphas.” Happy Birthday dear brothers & always remember:
Manly deeds, scholarship, & love for all mankind…
Onward & Upward – ’06
Brother Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.
Jackson State University
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Phi Chapter – Spring 1987
“The Naughty 9”
