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 | Jul 24, 2009 | Accountability, Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Leadership
Ed Stetzer recently compiled a list of 48 questions to ask yourself for honing your personal accountability. Unfortunately, each year we hear of preachers, politicians, and athletes who compromise their integrity and make life-ruining mistakes. Sadly, many of those mistakes could have been avoided with the right accountability systems in place.
For all 48 questions, you will need to check out Ed Stetzer’s original post. Here are my top 15 personal favorites:
- Have I spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- Am I enjoying prayer?
- Have I given priority time to my family?
- How do I spend my spare time?
- Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
- Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
- Have I been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
- Have I been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed my mind to entertain inappropriate thoughts about someone who is not my spouse this week?
- Have any of my financial dealings lacked integrity?
- Have I secretly wished for another’s misfortune so that I might excel?
- Have I damaged another person by my words, either behind their back or face-to-face?
- Is there anything that has dampened my zeal for Christ?
- Is Christ real to me?
- Have I been completely honest with myself?
What are some of your accountability questions?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 22, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Decisions, Empowerment, Sunday Worship Experience
Yesterday’s worship experience was truly special! Life Development (Mars Hill’s nursery, children, & youth ministries) took time to honor our fathers by sharing their gifts, talents, and abilities with the entire congregation. One read a special tribute (Daquan); Another performed Unforgettable (Jasmine); while another played the violin (Vincent). All were truly amazing and I’m so proud of Daquan, Vincent, and Jasmine. You’re all heroes in my book!
- The Mars Hill Gladiator Drill Team (Senior and Junior Team) competed in Houston, TX at the National Missionary Baptist of America’s Annual Congress. BOTH ROCKED THE HOUSE and brought home 2 FIRST PLACE TROPHIES!
- Before the message, members of our Drill team marched their trophies down the center aisle for all to see and received a standing ovation! GO GLADIATORS!!!
- Again, the worship experience was awe-inspiring. Our Praise & Worship Teams led worship at 8AM & 10:30AM and ministered with power under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
- We saw 10 people (4 gave their lives to Christ) connect with our church family…this NEVER GETS OLD since our mission is to turn the unchurched into fully devoted followers of Christ.
- God is absolutely BLOWING my mind with thoughts and ideas about this fall – MARS HILL fasten your seat belts and prepare yourselves for an incredible ride.
The series, Can You See Him just may go down in history as one of the most thought-provoking series of all time! Yesterday’s message, Can You See Him In Your Struggles, caused people to look inwardly and see if the cause of their most recent struggle was a SELF-INFLICTED STRUGGLE.
Andy Stanley says, “there’s often a tension between where we want to end up in life and the path we choose to get there.” We fail to see that having good intentions won’t necessarily get us to the place where God wants us to be. Personally, I believe God gave us principles to follow and when we violate them we suffer the consequences.
Scriptures teaches, A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it (Proverbs 22:3). Let me say it differently: Wise people (prudent) see danger (struggles) and take precautions. On the other hand, fools (the simple) goes on blindly and suffer the consequences of their unwise choices.
In short, the simple get to the point when all their options are bad.
Evaluate the path you’re on since it’ll ultimately determine your destination. Remember, you can have every good intention on becoming healthy, ending bad relationships, or getting your finances in order. However, good intentions are not enough!
What changes do you need to make today?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 16, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Preaching, Sunday Worship Experience, Worship
When you hear the phrase “God is closer than you think,” what comes to mind? Personally, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of joy and confidence!
The Bible is filled with examples of an intimate God keenly interested in connecting with ordinary people. He promises to be with us. He says He will personally guide us. Yet somehow, intimacy with God eludes us. I believe my new series Can You See Him struck a nerve with God’s people. This series shows how you can enjoy a vibrant, moment-by-moment relationship with your heavenly Father. Not some abstract theological concept, but an intimate connection with a personal God.
Sunday’s message, Seeing is Believing (Acts 9:1-17) traced the Apostle Paul’s conversion experience. Paul was hell-bent on destroying Christians and Christianity. While on the Road to Damascus, he sees a light brighter than the sun and ultimately looses his sight for three days (Acts 9:1-4). When Jesus asks: “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul responds by asking, “Who are you, Lord?” For me it’s comforting to know, regardless of where you are in life:
GOD ALWAYS INITIATES SALVATION!
Here’s a popular saying: “If you take one step towards God, He’ll take two steps towards you.” NOPE, that’s not in the Scriptures. Truth is, we’re utterly lost (Romans 3:23; 5:8) and God sends The Spirit to “quicken” or awake us to SEE we’re lost and in need of a savior. I’m glad God chose to initiate Paul’s salvation and ours. Remember, no one would ever expect Paul to become a Christian and his conversion experience shows why it’s important to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
Thirsty for more…tune it tomorrow for Part 2…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 9, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Preaching, Sunday Worship Experience, Worship
We had another incredible worship experience this past Sunday! I started a new series entitled: “Can You See Him?” Life usually sets us on a path that’s almost robotic and we forget to see God in all things – the good, the tragic, or even the mundane.
As the two disciples traveled to Jerusalem, Christ came along side them and began walking and talking to them (Luke 24:13-35). In fact, He was close, but they couldn’t see Him. Additionally, He was there before they even realized they needed Him! The two travelers were sad because their Messiah was crucified and what they had hoped for (a reigning king to overthrow Rome) didn’t happen as they wished. The same could be said about us. We live our lives framed by the reality of five words: “I had hope…but instead.”
- “I had hoped I’d be married; but instead I’m still single.”
- “I had hoped for a job after college; but instead there aren’t many viable options.”
- “I had hoped we’d live together in retirement; but instead he became terminally ill.”
Although it’s comforting to know that God is with us before we need Him. It’s equally comforting to know when He reveals Himself to us it’s not to inform, but to CONFIRM. Jesus confirmed He was the resurrected Messiah when He sat at the table and broke the bread (Luke 9:13-17; 22:17-19; 24:28-31a). The two disciples may not have recognized Jesus’ face, but, they recognized his actions! How were they able to see?
INTIMACY
Intimacy with God allows you to notice the details – the small things others often miss. As Jesus opend the Scriptures to them, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Becasue they could see they know themselves that Jesus was alive!
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
I invite you to join our congregation in studying this passage together. The following questions were taken from Sunday’s outline and I invite you to “dig deeper” with us. Please feel free to post your thoughts, comments, or questions and we learn together in community.
- Sometimes it is easier to see God’s work as you reflect back over your life. Encourage others with an example of how you can see God at work through a challenge from the past.
- The two men’s eyes were opened to see Jesus in their midst. Describe a time that you’ve had a spiritual awakening. How did God give you “eyes to see” something you missed before.
- You (or someone you know) may be in the middle of a painful season where it is more difficult to see God at work. Take time to pray for each other and ask God to give you eyes to see His hand in your lives.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 3, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Communication, Politics, Prayer, Vision
The longer I serve as pastor of a thriving church, the more I realize how VITAL prayer is! Prayer is the link to a vibrant and fruitful ministry.
What if God granted you an opportunity to go back in time and speak to the wisest people who ever lived (people such as Moses, Apostle Paul, Solomon, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Fredrick Douglass)? However, once you reached your destination, you sat at their feet and proceeded to do all the talking? Would it be a worthwhile endeavor? Did the aforementioned people need to know all you had to say? Upon leaving would you wish you had talked less and listened more? Incredibly, many people enter God’s holy presence in prayer and then do all the talking!
What God has to say to us is infinitely more important that what we have to say to Him, yet we generally monopolize the conversation. God already knows everything we plan to tell Him, yet we continue talking rather than allowing Him to tell us things we don’t know. Why? Our American individualist mindset tricks us to believe that we can dominate our conversation with God. Prayer is two-way communication, but it is not communication between two equal parties.
Tonight (7PM) we’ll gather @ the Mars Hill Baptist Church for our 1st Wednesday Worship. This worship experience allows us to spend more time worshipping God and listening to the Word. During tonight’s service, I will pose 5 Questions that will revolutionize the prayer lives of those in attendance. The questions are as follows:
- What is Prayer (the definition may surprise you)?
- Why Pray (it’s not what you think)?
- To Whom Do We Pray (is it God, Jesus, or The Holy Spirit)?
- What Do God’s Answers Look Like (it’s more than, “God give me a sign”)?
- What If There Is Silence?
Please come and join us!
