by Clarence E. Stowers | May 16, 2008 | Money and Finance
Recession,
recession, recession. Everyone has been talking about this topic
lately. Some say a recession is almost here, others say it has
already begun. But, what is a recession exactly?
First,
lets get to the definition of a recession and then I will give you
some tips on how you could recession-proof your life.
Defining Recession
Well,
technically, a recession is when the GDP or gross domestic product is
showing two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. While
they are extremely unpleasant, recessions are a normal part of the
business cycle and typically, well, last for six to eighteen months.
What makes a recession noticeable to you and I is when it starts
affecting our wallets.
So
how can you spot a recession before it comes?
-
Watch
the Gross Domestic Product or GDP. If there’s a sudden drop in the
domestic product and production, there’s a chance a recession
might be coming.
-
You
can also watch the value of the US dollar. If the value drops while
other currencies maintain their value or rise, it can sometimes mean
an impending recession. Obviously when you see a drop in the dollar
value, it is always in relation to other currencies. What we have
seen lately is the dollar moving down, and that is obviously a
precursor to the recession we are witnessing right now. That is
also a real good forward forecasting method to see if a recession is
going to be around the corner.
Recession-Proof
Your Life
Now,
the really important part…how to recession proof your life. It’s
all about planning ahead.
- Start paying off that bad debt. By ‘bad’
I mean those high interest credit cards and late fees. Combine all of
your debt into a much better scenario for yourselves. Find the low
interest rate possible, and you’ll have more success in
balancing those books further down the line.
- Start a side business
that can help keep you afloat should the economy take a turn for the
worse and you’re laid off or have, you know, maybe your hours cut.
Obviously it is all about planning ahead.
- Make sure you continually
invest in your 401K plan as much as you can. Think about it, stocks
are low and you get more for your money right now. Take that extra
money you have and put it somewhere you know it’s going to grow no
matter what happens to the economy.
- Make sure to refinance your
mortgage and get a lower interest rate. This will help you save big
time during a recession.
So, what are you doing…
by Clarence E. Stowers | May 15, 2008 | Family
When life deals you blows and setbacks, coming home to this evens the score…this is for Daddy’s little girl…
by Clarence E. Stowers | May 13, 2008 | Bible Journey
I’m in the process of going back through the Bible viewing it through the eyes of a leader. Here are more leadership gems from Matthew 8-14
- All leaders face fear. Having faith doesn’t eliminate fear. God is
still in control, though, so we don’t need to be paralyzed by fear. (8:23-27)
- Jesus modeled building relationships with those he was trying to influence. (9:11)
- I’m supposed to pray for God to send those that will serve beside me. I wish he’d send them faster. (9:37-38)
- The team is more important than the tools. (10:9-10)
- If people don’t listen, I need to move on. (10:14)
- Good leaders find the right balance between being "shrewd" and "innocent." (10:16)
- To go with that, in parts of this book I’m called to be "meek," and
then there are times when God wants me to "forcefully advance" the
mission. (11:12)
- Organizations will will not be successful or last where division exists. (12:25)
- My words will always reflect the condition of my heart. (12:34)
- Though I find strength and encouragement and accountability in my
relationships with others, I still need to prioritize the time when I’m
alone with God. (14:13)
- Sometimes I need to risk comfort and safety to get closer to God. (14:22-36)
by Clarence E. Stowers | May 13, 2008 | Other Stuff
What up Blog Family…
I received these questions from T. Williams – very good questions I might add…
Good afternoon Pastor,
Here are just a few:
Q. What is your favorite place to vacation and why?
A. Currently, my favorite place to vacation is Aruba. We (Shauntai) love the Caribbean and have visited a good many islands, but none
compare to Aruba & for numerous good reasons. The weather in Aruba
is almost always perfect… sunny & not too hot year round. Aruba
is arid (cacti grow here) so it hardly ever rains & there is much
less humidity than other islands. Definitely no hurricanes. Island
breezes keep the temperature in the 80s. Arubans couldn’t be nicer or
more respectful wherever you go. They take a great deal of pride in
their homeland. All Arubans learn to speak 4 languages in school.
English is a must! There is virtually no unemployment…everyone works.
You do not see the signs of poverty that you sometimes encounter on
other islands. We have no fear wherever we walk in Aruba, day or night.
The govt is very strict on crime. The beaches are exquisite! Palm
Beach (where most hotels are located) has gorgeous, clean white sand and
the water is clear, warm, bright blue & extremely calm. You can
rent a foam raft & actually float on the water as you would in a
pool. If you’re looking to body surf, this isn’t the island for you. No
one disturbs you trying to sell tee-shirts & trinkets while you
sunbathe. Most hotels & time shares face the sunset, which are just
magnificent.
Q. Name one important lesson that you learned from both your mom and dad that has been crucial to succeeding in life?
A. Nothing happens in life until you wake up from dreaming, stop complaining, and decide to work hard for what you want.
Q. What do you love most about being a father?
A. That I am continuing the legacy of the Stowers family: Work hard…remain faithful…own a business…DESPISE DUMB DEBT…marry better than yourself…continue the name w/o shame.
Q. If you had an opportunity to ask God one question, what would it be?
A. Why slavery and racism – especially for African-Americans?
Thanks T.,
Recession,
Blog Family,
I received these questions from "Kitten"
Hey Pastor!
I sent a few questions the other day, but not sure if they went through. So here’s a few more.
Q. If you has one wish what would it be?
A. That God would make me as wise as Solomon
Q. What is your favorite book in the bible? Why?
A. This is a hard one because I glean from so many books. The creative/poetic side of me almost picked Song of Solomon because words have a way of framing reality – Solomon & his wife do a great job expressing their love for each other. The practical side of me almost chose Proverbs since it’s filled with tidbits that are applicable and transferrable. I almost chose Acts because it chronicles the establishment of the church and the movement of the Holy Spirt.
I chose Nehemiah because it’s VISIONARY AND STRATEGIC. Nehemiah receives word the Walls of Jerusalem are down and he gets a burden to rebuild them. BURDEN PRECEDES VISION. He devises a strategy to return to Jerusalem. Furthermore, he faces opposition, dissension, and enemies, but he perserveres, rallies the people, and rebuilds the wall – CLASSIC BOOK ON VISION AND STRATEGY!!!
Q. What is 3 things that you would like your children’s children’s children to know about you?
A. I remained faithful to God and my calling…pastor of the Greatest Church in the Universe
I remained faithful to my wife…She makes me better
I remained faithful to my mission – developing and empowering others to lead effectively…
Q. What is one word to describe each the following?:
Pastor of Mars Hill, teacher of many, husband to your queen, father of three, a black man, and Clarence Stowers Jr
A. Pastor of Mars Hill: Innovative
Teacher of many: Empowering
Husband to my queen: Fulfillment
Father to three black men: Legacy
Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.: Out-the-box (does this qualify as one word or three)
Thanks Keisha "Kitten" for your questions – you made me think!!!