by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 21, 2009 | Bible Journey, Christian, Christianity, Current Affairs, Religion
A few weeks ago I invited Trevor, my atheist friend to attend our worship services and share his experiences. What he shared was mind-blowing, eye opening, & enlightening. His words rocked the very core of my essence and caused me many sleepless nights.
Here’s what Trevor shared:
“Clarence, many Christians (including many of your members) are my first cousins. I’m currently an Atheist and most Christians are Practical Atheists (1st Cousin).” Trevor had my undivided attention and I ask him to explain his statement. He went on to elaborate and share how most Christians he knows, know enough about God to keep them out of hell and enough to get them into heaven. However, many are unwilling to change the way they live. “Clarence, where I come from, that’s called practical atheism.
At this point, I’m dazed, intrigued, and curious.
So, I ask Trevor, “do you mind sharing your definition of a practical atheist?” “Of course, a practical atheist is someone who believes in God but lives as if He does not exist.”
So, do you know any practical atheists?
FYI: At the Atheist Alliance International Convention, members we were asked to pick an atheist symbol from a select list. They chose this symbol – the new symbol of Atheism.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 16, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Current Affairs, Worship
Blog Family,
I’m all about plugging individuals and helping people reach their destiny! Travis Edwards serves as our Worship Leader and he’s an anointed Psalmist who I absolutely love working with! I would like for you to tell everyone you know about this even, show up & support him!
Thanks!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 13, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Current Affairs, Music, Preaching, Religion, Vision, Worship
Sunday services are over, but, my mind is STILL spinning…
- I honestly feel that this weekends services were the most amazing services we’ve ever had since I became pastor in 1999.
- Our total church attendance was over 2,500 for the first time in the history of our church!
- I preached about God’s historical bailouts & (The Full Coverage Plan, The “I AM” Plan, The Provision Plan) & closed with The Greatest Bailout that ever happened – The Resurrection Plan!
- Our NEW & IMPROVED Video Venue Service had over 220 for the first time today! I want to thank all the ushers, greeters, deacons, ministers, and security who served in our Video Venue – YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST!
- Our 100-voice choir was OFF THE CHAIN as they slammed Donald Lawrence’s “Matthew 28.”
- Honestly, I believe Mars Hill has the best Worship & Fine Arts Ministry – PERIOD! There are churches with larger ministries & celebrity musicians & personalities. However, I’ll take our anointing over any celebrity!
- Folks…what happened yesterday at our church IS NOT NORMAL…it wasn’t a “nice service”…it was a move of God! I’ve honestly never been a part of something like what happened today…and it’s only the beginning.
- Religion is all about what we do to get to God…Christianity is all about what God did to get to us!
- THAT is one of the problems with church today…we’ve became “normal” when the call of Christ on our lives is to change the world-“normal” people can’t do that!
- We will continue this series on Sunday…expecting/praying for God to do amazing things AGAIN!
AND…to My Mars Hill Family…a personal note…
Reality is this…satan got his butt kicked this weekend! Hell is going to be less crowded! People crossed over from death to life. The way a community is changed is by the church preaching AND living the Gospel…and I believe we are going to continue to see Jesus do the unexplainable and undeniable…and we, His church, will continue to become unstoppable!
He’s alive-we win…now all we need to do is continually run up the score!!!
I LOVE you guys…I LOVE our church…I LOVE serving here…there is NOTHING ELSE on the planet I would rather do! I’m bought in!!!
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 2, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Current Affairs, Leadership, President Obama, Race, Relationships
Racism still exists (even in the church)
That’s right, I said it!
Americans may be poised to elect an African-American as president, but it’s segregation as usual in U.S. churches, according to the scholars. Only about 5 percent of the nation’s churches are racially integrated, and half of them are in the process of becoming all-black or all-white, says Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-author of United by Faith, a book that examines interracial churches in the United States.
Personally, I do not believe integrated churches work.
(when they are led by Black pastors)
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Feb 9, 2009 | Christian, Current Affairs, Family, Leadership, Money and Finance, Politics, President Obama
AM I THE ONLY ONE COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW?
According to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the chief proponent of the big bank bailout, flooding the banks with taxpayers’ money was supposed to get them to start lending freely again. And that, in turn, was supposed to stabilize the markets and prevent the downturn from being worse than it otherwise would be.
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 16, 2009 | Current Affairs, Fun Stuff, Humor, Other Stuff, President-Elect Obama
First Day of School…Five Years From Now
