by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 30, 2012 | regular
One of the questions that is often asked of me by pastors, church leaders, and business leaders is, “Where do you get your vision?”
My answer usually seems to frustrate them because…well…it’s simple. Leadership (and vision) is as easy as listening to God.
- Vision does not come through a committee. Good ideas may come that way. Much needed discussion may come out of a meeting like that…but not vision.
- Vision does not come through a conference. You may get INSPIRATION…but not REVELATION. I think of of the sad things in conference world today is pastors will attend a conference, go home & then try to be EVERYTHING except for what God called them to be.
- Vision does not come out of books. Once again–excellent ideas do. Wisdom comes from reading. You can seriously be challenged and stretched by reading…but vision isn’t in the pages of the next best seller.
- Vision does not come from trying to repeat what has been successful in the past…that’s not vision, that’s the leader being a victim of previous success.
I still say that passionate, white hot, hell charging, world changing & people inspiring vision comes from intentional and uninterrupted time with Jesus…in HIS Word, seeking HIS face through prayers–staying connected with HIS Holy Spirit throughout the day.
So when people ask me, “Where do you get your vision?” My answer is always the time…I meet with God & I don’t move until He tells me to move…but WHEN He tells me to move I go until He tells me to stop.
Leadership is as easy as listening to God. I always advise pastors and church leaders to get on their face and stay there until God says otherwise. I have NEVER made a bad or wrong decision when I clearly heard from God and followed–EVER!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 27, 2012 | regular
Mars Hill is the kind of church men would love to attend.
Every Sunday, church pews fill up with despondent women who are forced to worship without the men in their lives. A recent survey by Ellison Research found that 31% of men never attend church even on holidays believing that church is for women, weirdos and wimps.
This sad statistic prompts parishioners and ministers alike to ask: “Where are the men?” While it’s true that several men spend their Sundays satisfying their vices for sports, beer, and sleep, men who don’t attend church usually have more substantial reasons for not attending.
However, I’d like to share five reasons why I believe Mars Hill is a church men would love to attend.
- You won’t hear: “Be Innocent as Doves” – You’ll be encouraged to be wise as serpents: “This type of language handcuffs & robs men of power and strength. The same word for ‘wise” that Jesus used can also be translated as shrewd and cunning. Jesus commends shrewd behavior as found in the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16). We largely condemn shrewdness and think it’s synonymous with criminal behavior. Other churches want nice men. Jesus, according to his own words, wants shrewd ones.
- You won’t be encouraged to be “Avoid Anger” – You’ll be encouraged to “Manage” It: Scriptures reveals how Jesus was angry. If you read the Gospels carefully, we would say that Jesus was a bad Christian man because he got angry so much. Most men have not been shown a better way…how to properly handle this primary emotion for guys since unresolved anger can lead to depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and even impotency.
- We don’t beg – We Take One Offering – PERIOD: God doesn’t want your money – He wants YOU! If He did, He’d take it all & not ask for your permission. With rising unemployment and a higher cost of living the last thing any man wants to see when he goes to church is a pastor with his hand out asking for more than his fair share of his income.
- Our Services are not long – We worship God, hear His Word, Give & Go Home: Going to some churches interferes with your leisure time. Once the announcements, singing and long sermon is over for some it is half-time at the Bulls or Bears game that they planned to watch at home…Not so at Mars Hill!
- We won’t beat you down – You’ll be empowered: Some churches are unsympathetic to what men experience. Since many men attend church to mend their battered egos, they get upset when the minister adds insult to injury by attacking them in his sermon….NOT AT MARS HILL. We’ll encourage you through inspiring – life-giving preaching that’ll challenge & empower you to make a difference in life.
Man up & join us!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 25, 2012 | regular
My late father, Dr. Clarence E. Stowers Sr., would always tell me, “Son, find a story and tell it well.” I didn’t quite understand then, but I do today! To steal one of the ancient slogans in advertising, “your brand is the truth about you, well told.” This year many resolved to make lasting changes and become the best version of themselves. I call it Version 2.0 – The me God wants me to be.
In order to upgrade to Version 2.0, I encourage you to spend time pondering the following questions:
So Who Are You?
Like every organization, every person has a dozen good stories that reveal that person. Stories move people. Stories excite people. Stories change people. Your task is to write your story – the true story. Ask for input from someone who knows you well; someone who can give you perspective. Start there. Get help, if necessary, but do it TODAY!
What Do You Do?
Most banks (Pre-Mortgage Crisis Meltdown) almost always ask this question of organizations that come to them for money. It’s a simple question, but the answers often are not. You must answer simply, too. Otherwise you will confuse people. If it sounds like you do many things, or too many seemingly unrelated things, people will assume you cannot do any of them well. Here’s an assignment: Ask and answer “What do you do?” Show it to four people whose opinion you value and ask them:
- Is it clear?
- Is it simple?
What Difference You Are Making?
Can you describe what difference you are making in three sentences or less? Are you ready for this challenge? Marketers often refer to the necessity of defining one’s “point of difference.” You must not merely answer what makes you different, but how what you do makes a difference for others. Ask and answer “What difference am I making?” Show it to four people whose opinion you value and demand they be ruthlessly tough with their answers.
There are other questions, too; I doubt this list is exhaustive. But I think I have covered the major ones.
Question: What other life-changing questions do you currently ask?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 23, 2012 | regular
1. KEEPING PEOPLE PAST THEIR EXPIRATION DATE.
I’m what you call an eternal optimist. My first instinct is to see the best in people and work to bring it out in the open. I’ve sent people to conferences, personally mentored them, invested time and resources into their development only to be disappointed.
Dismissing a person is never easy, sometimes it’s inevitable. From experience, I’ve learned that the first person you fire is ALWAYS the most difficult. Before I replace someone, I ask myself: “Does the person really need to be replaced?”
A sharper focus can be gained by asking:
- Is the person’s ineffectiveness, poor leadership, or example blocking the progress of the ministry?
- How much harm is being done?
- What if the position goes vacant for a while (one of my favorite questions)?
- What standard am I using to measure job effectiveness? Sometimes we measure people against impossible standards. We must distinguish between someone who cannot do a job from someone who can but lacks the necessary skills.
The right people don’t need to be managed—they just need to be pointed in the right direction. Jim Collins said, “If the person came to tell you that he or she is leaving to pursue an exciting new opportunity, would you feel terribly disappointed or secretly relieved?” If you’d be relieved, it’s time for them to go.
Have you ever had to fire someone?
How was the experience?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 20, 2012 | regular
2. PUTTING PROJECTS BEFORE PEOPLE.
Ecclesiastes 7:18 says, “The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.”
This is one of those areas where we need to embrace the tension between relating with people and accomplishing the mission/getting the job done.
Ask specifically: “Is there anything I can do for you?”
You communicate how much you value someone by simply asking the question. Sometimes it’s nice to do something for another person without them asking or surprising them. But if you’re not a good guesser and you don’t have psychic abilities, just ask.
Often, when I get home from work, I know there are two things I can say that will encourage my wife:
1) I’d really like to hear about your day,
2) Is there anything I can do for you?
Have you made this mistake lately?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 19, 2012 | regular
3. TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN THE PROCESS.
A problem is an obstacle which makes it difficult to achieve a desired goal, objective or purpose. Furthermore, it refers to a situation, condition, or issue that is yet unresolved. In a broad sense, a problem exists when an individual becomes aware of a significant difference between what actually is and what is desired.
Although pastoring has many positives, problems run parallel on twin tracks. Trying to fix the problem rather than the process is like continuing to change diapers instead of potty-training your children.
May I offer you a piece of unsolicited advice:
You can either continue to react to the problem, or you can fix the process. Ninety percent of the time it’s a systems-problem rather than a people-problem.
What’s your problem-solving method?
