My father, the late Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Stowers, Sr. was a wise man. He had a lot of what’s missing today – COMMON SENSE. He was an expert at summing up life with quick pithy statements.
The best financial planning seminar I ever attended was my dad’s. It didn’t involve plane tickets, hotels, conference fees, or books. It took less than five minutes & here’s what he said:
“Son, it’s not the money you make, it’s the money you hold on to.”
Make yourself a budget.
Live BELOW your means.
Pack your lunch.
Pinch pennies.
Save as much as you can.
Get the education you need for as cheap as you can get it.
The art of holding on to money is all about saying no to stuff you don’t need. Say no to eating out, $4 fancy coffee, and that shiny new computer when the old one still works fine.
Like many, I eagerly anticipated the airing of the show Scandal. Whenever I see beautiful, African Americans who are power players in our Nation’s capital, I’m excited. So, like millions, I was glued to the TV wondering what would happen to Hollis, will Fitz divorce his wife, and would Olivia & Edison become a permanent item.
DISCLAIMER:
If you’re a fan of the show, you may be offended if you continue reading.
With all the strong television shows for women, I don’t know why a beautiful, African American women forsakes a relationship with an African American Senator (Edison) for a married man (President Fitz).
I know why…love makes you do crazy things & act out of character.
Before you go sucking your teeth, rolling your eyes and calling me self-righteous, hear me out. I think there is an opportunity here to encourage the writers of the show to be bold and courageous.
I am rooting for the show to succeed, but, the creators have to be fearless and let Olivia Pope not be another man’s mistress. She’s too beautiful, too strong, and too smart for that. I say let Olivia Pope control the interactions with her lovers. Don’t allow her to be a woman of straw that bends in whatever direction her lover needs. Additionally, I’d love to see her relationship with Edison grow into a beautiful picture of a healthy/strong relationship.
Finally, If not Edison, Olivia needs a new love interest and assert her independence from Fitz. People seem to be ignoring the fact Olivia is having an affair with a married man. In my humble opinion, that isn’t romantic…it’s actually tragic and pathetic.
Why?
At the end of the day Olivia goes home to her apartment ALONE and single…hardly an equal relationship.
There really is such a thing as too much information.
There are things that you don’t want to know, even about your spouse or significant other. Yet people seem to like to share these things online. Before you do, think about whether you’d want your parents, grandparents or even kids to see the post. It seems today that everyone is using social media.
Blogs, Facebook and Twitter are popular and powerful tools. And like most tools, they could be helpful if used correctly or dangerous if used inappropriately.
The bottom line principle is that you are responsible for what you write. The Internet is a public forum, and writing something is the same as speaking it from a stage. Even if you delete a blog post, RSS feeds will still contain your post. Once something is published, it’s impossible to take it back, so think before you update, and be responsible for your words.
Recently, I decided to rework our social media policy and send it to our ministry leaders to share with their teams. Additionally, I used Facebook to encourage our members to connect with their ministry leaders and read the policy. Surprisingly, many pastors and ministry leaders sent inbox messages and emails requesting our policy. Yep, I sent it to them…free of charge!
I want to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, I decided to post it on my blog for all to glean. Here’s what it says: (more…)
When was the last time you heard a speech that moved you, that made you sit up and brush the potato cookie crumbs off your lap and watch?
The last time you heard a speech that made your eyes well up? When was the last time anyone really got to you, really said something with substance that you will always keep with you?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about sound bites, and how we live in a sound bite society. Unfortunately, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been reduced to the “I Have a Dream” soundbite. But, if you think about it, Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream…” message was a simple, yet powerful message. And very necessary.
Do you really know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Why doesn’t anyone ever quote these words by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
On Sunday, January 13, 2013, the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago launched “Water Sunday.” It’s part of our global outreach strategy to make Christ know to the “uttermost parts of the world.” I want to personally thank Shauntai Stowers, my wife and leader of our Women of Worth Ministryfor leading this initiative. They did an outstanding job leading and organizing this initiative.
The lack of safe water and adequate sanitation worldwide is a crisis. This crisis steals the lives of 5,500 people each day – more than war, natural disasters, AIDS or hunger. This crisis rarely makes the headlines – it is today’s silent killer.
We challenged our members & guests to skip their regularly purchased beverages and have water instead. And then for four weeks, take the money that they would normally spend on soda, coffee, tea, etc. and put it in one of these water bottles labeled “Water Mission Sunday.”
We had an OVERWHELMING response!
Over a thousand adults & children decided to partner with us and provide safe drinking water to people in developing & devastated countries. I’m proud of our members & guests who provided water bottles for everyone.
If you were not able to attend Sunday’s services or want additional bottles, you can pick them up Wednesday, January 16, 2013 during Diggin’ Deeper (7PM). We’re asking that you return your bottles on Sunday, February 10th filled with your sacrificial offering of at least $10.
Thank you Mars Hill & friends…you are great people!
Last week I noticed something deeply disturbing. As long as I’ve been living, Thanksgiving was a day to relax with family, friends, football, while enjoying great food. It is the day when we express our gratitude and show appreciation. What’s disturbing is how greed & excess invaded and took over the ethos of Thanksgiving.
It is sad, but 2012 will be remembered as the year, where last semblance of a boundary between the actual day of Thanksgiving and the formal commencement of the holiday shopping season finally collapsed. It wasn’t just the decision by some of the biggest retailers to move their opening hours earlier than ever before. For many customers, the exact time when the doors were unlocked was irrelevant, because Thanksgiving had already become completely subsumed in shopping mania. What difference does it make if the doors open at 8 p.m. or midnight, if you were already in line days earlier. Something is wrong with this picture. (more…)
Unlock the power of gratitude and transform your life with our FREE gratitude journal!
This journal is designed to help you develop a daily gratitude practice scientifically proven to improve mental and physical health, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase happiness and overall well-being.
With our gratitude journal, you'll have a dedicated space to reflect on the things you're grateful for in your life. By taking just a few minutes each day to focus on the positive, you'll cultivate a more positive outlook, attract more abundance and joy into your life, and enjoy a greater sense of inner peace and contentment.
I hope you find this helpful. Let me know if you have any specific requirements or changes you'd like to make.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.
Congratulations, and welcome to our family of subscribers! You've decided to join us on this journey of discovery, excitement, and unparalleled value. We're thrilled to have you on board and can't wait to share all the fantastic benefits of being a part of our community.
You're now part of a select group of individuals who are the first to know about our latest products, special offers, and exclusive events. We promise to deliver the most engaging and entertaining content to your inbox.
So sit back, relax, and get ready for a world of endless possibilities. Thank you for subscribing, and we can't wait to connect with you soon.
Best regards,
Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.
Unlock Faith on The Fly
Just enter your details in the form below to get instant access to "Faith on The Fly: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth for Busy Professionals" eBook.
Thank You! I appreciate your interest in "Faith on the Fly: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth for Busy Professionals." I am excited to help you integrate faith into your daily routine.
