by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 30, 2008 | Bible Journey, Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Communication, Family
I would like for you all to say hello to my guest blogger Chandra Ivy-Oliver. Along with others, she took the challenge to offer practical steps to help others struggling with revenge.
Dr. David Hawkins, author of ‘Dealing With the Crazy Makers in Your Life’ says “People come in all shapes and sizes. I have no problem with that. However, when these people are in my life, and they are bona fide, dyed in the wool, Certifiable Crazy Makers, I’m no longer as friendly or hospitable. Click here to read the how he deals with these people.
Dr. David Hawkins
The Relationship Doctor
Chandra’s Response to What if its family that keeps hurting you?
I believe in giving chances, not just a second chance, but chances. God had given us chance after chance when we hurt or do wrong, because I know he has done it for me. But I would start off by telling the person that is doing the hurt, how they act or react is hurting your relationship. The person doing the hurt will always blame it on you, not because it’s really your fault, but because you are the reasonable and considerate person trying to make thing right or easier.
Ex: It’s just like having a toddler with a tantrum, you keep giving in and he or she will keep acting out. Family can be the same way, there is that one person who keeps hurting you, but they only do it in public where they can front on you, then when your home or on the phone, they apologize and want forgiveness. And you accept the apology, because you want to be like Christ and forgive. If it keeps happening you need to talk to God, remain prayerful, calm, firm and clear. Reading your Bible while dealing with this hurt. Colossians 3: 8-25 helps you clearly understand.
Thanks Chandra, you hit the nail on the head!
by Clarence E. Stowers | May 22, 2008 | Empowerment, Family, Money and Finance
African Americans are steadily increasing their wealth, boosting their
holdings in real estate, stocks, and savings vehicles, as they seek to
fund college educations for their children and create a secure
retirement for themselves. It's a process of becoming ever more keenly
aware of the need to save, invest, and plan for the future.
Black Enterprise Magazine has created the Circle of Wealth, a black
wealth initiative that seeks economic empowerment for African Americans
by changing attitudes toward money management. The Circle is an ongoing
cycle comprised of 1.) Knowledge, 2.) Commitment, 3.) Investment, 4.)
Portfolio Management, and 5.) Wealth, all enabling Reinvestment in
Children, Businesses, and Community. As part of this powerful initiative, the magazine developed the
Declaration a Financial Empowerment, the following 10–point
wealth–building pledge (I added the 11th point 🙂
In order to attain a measure of
success, power and wealth, I shall uphold the principles of saving and
investing as well as
controlled spending and disciplined consumerism. I vow to fully
participate in the capital markets and make a solid commitment to a
program of wealth accumulation.
Determination and consistency will serve as my guides, and I shall not
allow external or internal forces to keep me from reaching my goals. By
adjusting my course and embracing a new mandate that stresses planning,
education and fortitude, I lay a strong, unbreakable foundation for the
preservation and enrichment of my family, children and children's
children.
From this day forward, I declare my lifelong commitment to financial empowerment.
DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
I pledge the following:
1. To use home ownership to build wealth
2. To save & invest 10-15% of my after-tax income
3. To commit to a program of retirement planning and investment
4. To engage in sound budget, credit, and tax management practices
5. To measure my personal worth by my net worth, not income
6. To be proactive & knowledgeable about investing, money management, & consumer issues
7. To provide access to programs that will educate my children about business & finance
8. To support the creation & growth of profitable, competitive black-owned enterprises
9. To use a portion of my wealth to strengthen my community
10. To ensure that my wealth is passed on to future generations
11. To give @ least 10% (or more) of my wealth to my church to honor God and expand His Kingdom
TODAY IS THE DAY I TAKE CONTROL OF MY FINANCIAL DESTINY!
COME JOIN US AND MAKE THE COMMITMENT!
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 | 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 4, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Family, Race, Religion, Vision, Worship
Next week I’m starting a new blog series entitled: "Ten Challenges Facing African Americans & What You Can Do." Trust me, I will hold no punches and exercise my 1st Amendment right.
Will I offend some, YES…
Will I spark debate…YES
Will you disagree…MAYBE
Will you engage…I HOPE SO
Will I cuss…STAY TUNED 😀
Will you comment…I PRAY THAT YOU DO
Stay tuned…Spread the word…Can’t wait till Monday…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 3, 2008 | Family
There are SIX IMPORTANT areas that pull on my time.
- I want to spend time with my wife.
- I want to spend quantity time with my kids at a very important time in their life.
- I want to lead our staff well and do my job with integrity.
- I want to learn from other church leaders (conferences, visit other churches)
- I want to resource other church leaders (teach).
- I want to write.
All of these areas are great.
All of them are important. And there is a dynamic tension which exists in trying to juggle all of these priorities. I’ve seen leaders mess up.
- Some sacrifice their marriage for their job.
- Some sacrifice their kids.
- Some leaders get on the teaching circuit and stop learning. They spend all their travel time teaching and no longer take time to sit at someone else’s feet and learn.
I want to avoid all these extremes and today, things change. I’ve decided to spend no more than 30 nights away from my wife in 2008. Oh, you should know I realize the 30 night rule is not in the Bible. It’s just what is right for me and my family right now. Others may draw the line at a different place. I don’t think the number is the point–the fact that you give it some thought and get some input is important.
Where do you draw the line?
