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."
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 18, 2008 | Preaching, Religion, Web/Tech, Worship
The"text me" project is your chance to get biblical answers to burning questions, concerns and hot issues in our culture. Over the next few months, I will preach on the 10 Hottest Topics that address spiritual, ethical or controversial issues facing Christians today. And guess what, you get to choose the topic!
All you have to do is submit your topic for selection via text message at (773-358 0356) or on our website by April 25, 2008. Your submission, along with others, will be posted on our website.
Members, guests, family and friends will cast their votes for the top 20 Hot Topics. The selected 20 Hot Topics will be posted on the website beginning April 27th. Beginning May 4th – May 10th, members, guests, family and friends will vote for the final 10 Hot Topic Sermons that I’ll preach on.
GUESS WHAT, IT GETS EVEN BETTER…
When the Top 10 Topics are confirmed, at the end each message you can (are you ready for this) text me a question relevant to the topic. For better or worse, I’ll answer the question ON THE SPOT!
That’s right, DURING WORSHIP you will be able to use your cell phone, BlackBerry, iPhone, PDA during worship and "text" me your question…TALK ABOUT INNOVATION…
I know you’re interested and would like to know more about the series and the official voting rules.
I can’t wait to hear your feedback!!!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 16, 2008 | Books, Communication, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision
Currently, I’m reading a new book entitled The Missional Leader by Alan Roxburgh, and boy is it GREAT! I’m willing to suggest this may be one of the best books I’ve read (so far) regarding leadership and change.
Thinking about initiating a wide-scale change/transition initiative
in your church or organization? Here are a couple of questions worth
asking before you dive in…
- Are we STRUCTURED for change?
Is your church or organization structured in a way that will allow the
RIGHT PEOPLE to lead and make decisions? If not – do not proceed past GO….do NOT collect $200!
First things first!!
If you’re not structured for change, it doesn’t matter how passionate or
committed you might be to it – there will always be a chance that the
wrong people could step in to infiltrate, hijack, or sabotage the transition.
- Am I COMMITTED to change?
Perhaps the question should be…. "Am I committed to change – NO MATTER WHAT THE COST?"
Am I willing to lose people? Lose money? Lose popularity? Lose friendships? Maybe even lose buildings?
Listen to me……..TRUE CHANGE is COSTLY! There will be a cost! And it will be painful. It will be felt.
There will be scars and bruises.
Are you up for it?
Consider that question! Because if you’re NOT fully, 100%
committed, you better think twice before diving in – for YOUR sake AND
for the sake of those who will believe in your vision and stand by
you.
