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 | Jul 20, 2009 | Current Affairs, Leadership, Politics, President Obama
Mr. President,
Congratulations on making history as the first African-American President of the United States of America! I admire you for your courage, passion, and tenacity. Additionally, you have proven that you are an effective leader because you assumed leadership when our country was on the brink of collapse. However, with these achievements, there is also some not so good news.
(more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jul 1, 2009 | Decisions, Empowerment, Leadership, Success
Golf is an EXPENSIVE sport! Honestly, I’m not the greatest fan of golf. I only like a few aspects of the game and lugging a heavy bag of clubs around a lawn looking for a tiny ball and hole to put it in all day isn’t one of them. Honestly, the best parts of the game are driving the ball, putting and driving around in the golf cart.
All three of these skills can better be implemented in any reputable driving range/putt-putt/go-cart facility without having to walk around aimlessly all afternoon (Here’s a million-dollar idea – anyone want to partner with me on this). If you want to master golf, there’s a steep price you must pay mentally, physically, and financially. The same could be said for those who aspire to be great leaders.
Can you drink of the cup that I drink of… (Mark 10:38)
No one should aspire to lead God’s work if they are not prepared to pay a price greater than his contemporaries and colleagues are willing to pay. True leadership always exacts a heavy toll on the leader and the more effective their leadership is, the higher the price to be paid. The cost of every great achievement is not paid in a lump. It is bought on a payment plan, with installments paid daily.
1st Installment: Loneliness
From its very nature, the lot of the leader must be a lonely one. They must always be ahead of their followers. Human nature craves company, and it is only natural to wish to share with others the heavy burdens of responsibility and care. It’s often heartbreaking to have to make important decisions, which affect the lives of others alone. This is one of the heaviest prices to pay, but it must be paid.
Moses paid this price for his leadership – alone on the mountain…alone in the plain…alone when criticized. The socially conscious Apostle Paul (He would’ve loved Facebook & Twitter) was a lonely man who experienced the bitterness of being misunderstood by his contemporaries, misrepresentation by his enemies, and desertion by his friends.
“Most of the world’s great souls have been lonely,” wrote A.W. Tozer. Leaders must be people who, while welcoming the friendship and support of all who can offer it, has sufficient inner resources to stand alone, even in the face of fierce opposition.
As a leader, how do you deal with loneliness?
Coming Soon…2nd Installment: Self-Sacrifice
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 29, 2009 | Decisions, Empowerment, Leadership, Preaching, Success, Vision
The BlackBerry Bold (my preferred device), Apple iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre, and a host of other smartphones all promise to help us accomplish more. Unfortunately, we live in an age where we’re encouraged to purchase gadgets that allow us to do many things at the same time. It’s called multitasking and, in my opinion, it’s overrated and may be the greatest leadership lie ever told! That’s right, I said it!
Multitasking is the ability of a person to perform more than one task at the same time. When you’re going back and forth between complicated projects, it is impossible to focus properly on each one. “Researches call this task switching, an action, that, itself, requires time and energy. Depending on how many tasks you’re juggling, you could be losing 20 to 40 percent of your time, because you have to reengage your focus and thoughts.” (“Executive Control of Cognitive Processes in Task Switching,” Joshua S. Rubinstein, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City, NJ; Journal of Experimental Psychology – Human Perception and Performance, Vol. 27, No. 4).
I’ve discovered both life and ministry require a certain amount of juggling. Few days play out in an orderly, linear sequence. Speaking on the phone to a member, client, or colleague while you’re reading a report or typing an e-mail might not cost you that much. But, doing so while you’re preparing a report or message might. At the very least, it will slow you down and result in sub par work. To increase your focus and performance when concentration is critical, cut down on multitasking.
A few suggestions:
- Turn off your e-mail alarm (who needs to be alerted to spam or useless facebook updates). Check it regularly when it’s convenient for you – not when it interrupts you.
- Block out time for projects that require intense focus such as sermon preparation, budget forecasting, vision/planning, writing, drafting a presentation, or conducting analysis.
- Forward your calls to voice mail and close your door if necessary. Let people know that you’re working on a project. If you don’t have a door, put up a sign.
- When possible, schedule important phone conversations when you know you’ll have no distractions.
- Never work on something else while you’re on the phone. The person on the other end knows when you’re writing an email while you talk, and it’s probably irritating him or her.
Organize your work so that you can do ONE THING at a time and do it well. The payoff will be substantial!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 23, 2009 | Decisions, Leadership, Success
I often hear pastors and church leaders say: “Leading a church would be great if it weren’t for church people.” That may or may not be true, but, there is no such thing as leadership void of people. The challenge most church leaders face is that we’re pulled in so many directions by so many people and since we’re human, we’re bound to disappoint someone.
Here’s a truth that will keep you sane as a spiritual leader:
We have responsibility to people,
not for people.
Mark Waltz, in his book Lasting Impressions, does a nice job describing the difference:
- When I’m responsible to people, I understand they have a choice. When I’m responsible for people, I think I should decide for them.
- When I’m responsible to people, I know they must figure out their next step. When I’m responsible for people, I try to tell them what their next step is.
- When I’m responsible to people, I allow them to bear the brunt of the consequences for their own chosen actions. When I’m responsible for people, I assume the guilt, or worse the shame, for them.
- When I’m responsible to people, I engage in their journey, offering encouragement and teaching. When I’m responsible for people I try to direct their journey, never allowing them to wrestle, mess up or make a wrong turn.
- When I’m responsible to people, I talk to God on their behalf. When I’m responsible for people, I talk to people a lot on God’s behalf.
One of the most basic boundaries we can maintain is our skin. I am responsible for everything inside my skin. You are responsible for everything inside your skin. It is a fundamental demarcation between “me” and “you.” Sometimes pastors feel like they have to have all the answers, solve all the problems and make everything right…for everyone. If you fall into this category, my heart goes out to you today. It is a very frustrating thing to feel responsible for the thoughts and actions of other people. It is quite liberating to know that I only have a responsibility to other people – to love them, to be honest with them, to be a friend and support. What’s going on inside them is “all theirs.”
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jun 1, 2009 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Leadership, Preaching, Vision, Worship
Yesterday, we celebrated our 46th year anniversary & the Lord blessed it tremendously. What a day at Mars Hill Baptist Church…here are some of the highlights…
- During our 8AM Worship Experience, we were blessed to have a long-time friend of my father & our church preach the Word.
- Dr. W.H. Foster, Sr., preached with passion and power as he encourage our members to continue to build on the legacy and expand for the Glory of God. He blessed us by singing “Father, I Stretch My Hand To Thee.” And yes, he ripped it & shouted EVERYTHING in our church. What a mighty man of God!
- During our 10:30AM Worship Experience, personally, I thought the music was UNBELIEVABLE!!! WOW!
- The Praise & Worship period blended contemporary praise peppered with traditional hymns. From the response of the audience, I knew we were in for another awe-inspiring worship experience.
- I sensed many in our congregation were carrying heavy burdens and needed a breakthrough. Therefore, I preached “A Second Wind” from Isaiah 40:29-31 and saw how the words bypassed their intellect and pierced the very core of their souls!
- To catch a Second Wind is to have increased energy or strength after feeling tired or weak.
- A Second wind is a phenomenon in distance running, such as marathons (as well as other sports), whereby an athlete who is too out of breath and tired to continue suddenly finds the strength to press on at top performance with less exertion. I FEEL A SHOUT COMING ON!!!
- The phenomenon has come to be used as a metaphor for continuing on with renewed energy past the point thought to be one’s prime, whether in other sports, careers, or life in general.
A Few in Need of a Second Wind:
WIDOWS
SINGLE PARENTS
THOSE FACING HEALTH CHALLENGES
THOSE FACING LAYOFFS/DOWNSIZED
COLLEGE GRADS FACING A DIFFICULT JOB MARKET
As we wait on the Lord, we’ll find more strength (2ND WIND) to REST (while God prepares us for our next assignment), REFLECT (look around and see God’s faithfulness), and WORSHIP (to make Him the center of our affection). Worship ended with a POWERFUL altar call for those who were ready to give up. God interceded and gave them a “SECOND WIND” to go on! As I prayed & laid hands, I felt the power of God breaking yokes & strongholds and people walked away with renewed strength.
Mars Hill…I love you guys…I am so blessed to be here and serving as your pastor. I am BLOWN away by all that God is doing…and I can’t wait to see what happens next around here. Ephesians 3:20 is becoming more and more real to all of us…we serve an amazing God!
Next week I begin a new series
“Can You See Him”
Here’s An Overview:
Daily 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. Think of your day today. Did you see Him in your kids’ laughter, the homeless person on the corner, or even the papers you stapled? He was there. Join me as we discover how to see God in everything.
