Category Archives: William J Spencer

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Civil Rights Movement: Stop Violence with the gun and with the tongue

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 the Dream lives

This was my first year going to the Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast in Birmingham, Alabama to support the Civil Rights Movement.  I have no clue to the reason of why I did not attend this wonderful event.  My son William V wanted to go and was pleased to get up early.  I asked why he wanted to go and he said, “so I can be with you dad.”

 

When we walked in we heard the wonderful voices of the choir that transformed the convention center into a Baptist Church. This 27thh Annual event lived up to the high standards of the SCLC.  The first thing that was evident is that this was a celebration of the past triumphs of Dr. King and the people of the Civil Rights movement and boost towards the future of possibilities.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Charles Steele, SCLC President and CEO, his presence demanded attention.  His commitment to the organization and people of all creeds showed in the first few sentences of his speech.  He mentioned “Birmingham to Bethlehem” which is a campaign to bring nonviolence to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He said he was in a meeting where a Palestinian man thanked him for holding the banner of nonviolence because, before their encounter the man did not realize that there was an alternative to violent conflict resolution.

Mr. Steele also mentions a “Poor Peoples Campaign “in Paris, France due to the overwhelming unemployment in that country.   This interests me because I set and marched with the original leader of the Poor Peoples Campaign, Hosea Williams.  Mr. Williams was a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement and to watch him work was masterful. His network of dignitaries and homeless was immense.  I think the SCLC should involve Jay Z and Kanye West as well as the down trodden.

 

In his meeting with President Gorbachev, Mr. Steele said the President asked him, “If the Dream was realized,” I just want you to pause there and ask that question that yourself.  If Yes, then celebrate and get back to work. And if No, just get back to work.

 

He told of his fundraising prowess and how he steered the organization to receive 20 million dollars in a 3 year period which led to the erection of a new office building.  It also set a secure foundation for the SCLC’s future in the Civil Rights Movement. This is a long way from the days of Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth. I wrote a post “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” When Dr. Steele met Roland Martin, CNN analyst, Mr. Martin congratulated him and said “the building is good, but what are you doing for the people?” This question adds to the question from President Gorbachev and should make all of us who live the Dream focus on actions.

 

I have a more definitive answer to why I have not attended the Unity Breakfast.  The answer is that I was enjoying the Dream and now I need to help others fight for their Dream.

 

How will you help the Civil Rights Movement? How are you helping others achieve the dream?

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Take yourself off the Fiscal Cliff

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Have you ever wondered what is going to happen when the country goes over the fiscal cliff? The first thing that happens is the bill collectors will know that our country is serious about debt freedom. And all of us in the family called the United States of America will go over the Fiscal Cliff also and have to pay the price. We will all pay a price sooner or later for the mistakes of our elected officials and the wizards of capitalism.  As a leader I have great respect for both professions but I do not believe they are focused on the effect these problems have on the common family. Having said that, “What can we do about the coming Fiscal Cliff and the challenges it will present?”

I think we all need to take ourselves off the Fiscal Cliff.

 

These following principles apply to our personal lives and the United States of America collectively.

Tighten up now or get tightened up later

If you look at your finances and it costs you more to live than you earn, then you must tighten up your spending. Look at the things you do not need and cut all conveniences.  Remember convenience kills.  My queen says, “Convenience is for rich people.”  Every time you say, :it is easier this way”, in the arena of purchases please measure the true cost. If you are not honest with every purchase you will find your self with less capital to work with.

Anything that we can do to raise personal savings is very much in the interest of this country.
Alan Greenspan

I’m climbing up, but I’m taking the scenic route

Once you take yourself over the fiscal cliff there will be some bumps and bruises, mainly to your ego and your immediate satisfaction.  After the initial pain it is necessary to have a mind make over.  If you have truly tightened up your fiscal life then you will have to add patience to your fiscal assent.   I call this taking the scenic route.  It may take just a little more time but you are enjoying the view.  Enjoy the little things, like removing the noose of the creditors and spending quality family time. It is not happiness that you gain from going over the fiscal cliff it is peace and whole life prosperity.

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  Psalm 122:7

Are you ready to go over the Fiscal Cliff?  How will it hurt you? How will it help you?

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Christmas list for the week before Christmas

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It is the week before Christmas and you don’t know what to do. 

There is excitement in the air and plenty of things to chew.

 

Well chew on this most of you still have to work and get things accomplished.  It is better to get these things handled early and often.  You cannot procrastinate this week or there is a reward of guilt next week and you don’t want that.  Here are some tips for to make your week better.

1.       Get your house work done

You see it… and you said you would clean it up or fix it. Don’t let it sit there and call your name all during the Christmas week. Move now and peace will be in your house.

2.       Live out of the extras

 

Giving is good, Debt is bad.  Make sure those you love do not send you over the Fiscal Cliff (an upcoming post). We all have a little extra make sure that is our gift giving money. Let your joy be in the overflow.

 3.       Handle all of your business early

Make your calls at the first part of the week.  Don’t set any meetings late in the week.  Go buy your food items now. Pay your bills so you will not forget.  The early bird gets to drink eggnog first.

4.       Realize your limits

Do not promise too much.  If you are not sure you can make it please say this up front.  You are one individual and your friends understand this.   On the other hand do not misuse their kindness show up for the ones you care about.

5.       Slow walk Friday

Take it slow everyone else will.  This is the part that takes patience. You didn’t think I would leave patience out of this equation, did you? Friday, will be great if you have followed the previous suggestions.  Take it easy and add some holiday cheer to your eggnog and walk slow.

 

Your holiday will be grand because you have friends and family that love you. Your Christmas will be grand because Jesus loves.  Make the most of this week because you love yourself.

 

What are some things you can do to make this week go smooth?

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Patience has no fear

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  • Fear and faith cannot exist together
  • Children of God must act on the will of their Father

 

 

Patience has no fear because it knows the outcome will be delightful.  Fear comes to move you off of your path of great accomplishment.  Once I was afraid to commit to working out because, I thought the time would take away from my family. Then I questioned if an unhealthy lifestyle would take away years at the end of my life or cause countless days at the doctor’s office.  Fear has an unstable foundation and will crumble with careful consideration.  A person can live with fear so long, that it becomes comfortable to them.  We let fear speak to us in daily activities, so much that we think fear is our unconscious mind attempting to protect us. We must use our faith, our abilities and the Almighty to combat this enemy.  In the canvas of the mind fear and faith cannot co-exist, one will dominate.  Faith requires action, fear promotes inaction.  When decisions arise today ask for wisdom to recognize when you are bowing down to the calamitous reports of fear.

 

Strive to be a faith giant.  Faith giants move to different states to pursue dreams. Faith giants call businesses with ideas to sell and have no prior experience.  Faith giants claim debt freedom while possessing a horrid debt to income ratio.  God helps faith giants and those of little faith but the more your faith is evident the more He has to work with.  The Bible says,

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18

 

So love yourself, love people and love the Creator who continually supports you.  Repel fear and be patient for your dreams.

How have you overcome fear recently?

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Confession for protection: Psalm 91

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The following post is a prayer adaptation that I heard a long time ago.  It is a way to personalize Psalm 91.  There is a link to the original King James Version for your comparison.  I will highlight the altered portions.  You can say this in whenever you spend time with God it also good for your children use it as a prayer.

Psalm 91

I dwell in the secret place of the most High and shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

3 Surely He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover me with His feathers, and under His wings shall I trust: His truth shall be my shield and buckler.

5 I shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me

8 Only with my eyes shall I behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because I have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, my habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.

11 For He shall give His angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways.

12 They shall bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

13 I shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall I trample under my feet.

14 Because I have set my love upon God, therefore will He deliver me: He will set me on high, because I have known His name.

15 I shall call upon Him, and He will answer me: He will be with me in trouble; He will deliver me, and honor me.

16 With long life will He satisfy me, and show me His Great salvation.

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Have joy in the small things

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Do you pray for the small things? A small prayed I said recently was, “Lord I thank you that nothing is lost, therefore I thank you that I find my pocket knife.”  It seems trivial to ask the God of the universe for something as inconsequential as a pocket knife but I was thinking about it so I asked.  The knife was out of my possession for about 6 months

I was looking for my keys in the drawer that I normally keep my keys and way in the back I saw the knife.  The joy that I felt was overwhelming.  My heart was warm and the smile on my face was one of those cheek burners (the kind of smile that make your cheeks hurt because you’re smiling too hard).  What struck me as odd is that I haven’t felt this way in a while. What caused me to feel this way about this small tool?

We are thankful for the things that give us joy more than the ones that make us happy.  Sometimes we take our joy for granted. Joy normally comes from gifts that keep giving.   Do you have people or things that are in your life that you do realize are truly significant? So why did I have so much joy in finding this small part of my Life?

 

Here are some reasons I have joy over this knife hopefully you will have more meaningful things and people that give you joy

  1. My knife is useful

This particular knife is a Case brand knife that is maybe 4 ½ inches long open and thin but it is not fragile.  It is strong enough to turn screws.   It can whittle branches to nothing and perform delicate razor operations

2.   A little attention makes it perform better

The second thing I did after I put it my pocket and tapped it a couple of times, was to sharpen it.  If I take care of it, it will cut anything I ask of it.  Just like the people around you.   Don’t take anyone or anything for lightly.

3    Joy is small enough to hide in plain sight

Many things that give us joy are right in plain sight.  This knife was tucked away in a drawer that I use daily and when I have it I throw it in my pocket where it stays until I need it.  Moments are precious – look around and be thankful.

 

The Bible quote that completes this thought is:

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

God is interested in your well-being and your joy.  Look for the people and things that promote the warm feeling of joy and ask God to increase your awareness of them.

 

What gives you joy?

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False Alarm, Good Drill: Plan for the unexpected

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How prepared are you for when there is no power coming to you? The other day when our power went out, it was a few minutes before dark and we were settling in for the evening. At first we were content to wait 45 minutes for the power company to kick in to high gear and get the lights back on and then reality set in.   Now it is time to break in to action. Locate the flashlights and check for batteries.  Light candles, no locate candles then light them.  Now, I have to run outside and fire up the generator and locate the cords to power our lives.  Finally, we are ready to plug-in and have a mini-campout.  As soon as we do all of this and the evening turns completely dark, the power comes back on.

False Alarm, Good Drill

After going through all of these actions only and not using the tools I was a relieved.  Then I began to reflect on other areas of my life and I wondered did I have drills for simple things in life that more than likely will happen.  I needed to plan for the unexpected.  Could I set up some drills like the grade-school fire drills to have my family better prepared for calamity?

Could we use this as leadership lesson?  Sure.  Here are a few things leaders can do to be prepared for calamity.

  1. Make a list of likely challenges that will arise

What if you as a leader have to step away for an extended amount of time?  Is your organization or family ready for this?  If there is a flood or storm coming towards you, how long do you need to secure vital documents and essentials to start over?

2.  Be honest about your ability to overcome catastrophe

If you do not already have the tools to help during a crisis, acquire them.  Look at your situation honestly and make the necessary adjustments.  A lot of tools and plans are already in place if you assess them properly and put them in your survival plan

3.  Run the drill as if the event is actually happening

During the power outage, the only reason that we so calmly pulled out all of the things necessary to survive is that we had done this before.  There are a lot of things that have never happened in your organizations or in life but have a high possibility of occurring. Plan for the unexpected.  Identify these things and prepare a drill.  This is like having a will, having a business succession plan or writing who to call in an emergency on the inside of your wallet.

 

 

Tell me about some of your False alarms that were good drills.

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Change your thoughts and grow

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The Patience to Dominate is a state of mind that converts all of a person’s dreams, goals, setbacks and delays into positive progressions for ultimate success.  The process of procuring patience is a major key to dominating your life.

The principles of the Patience to Dominate have relevance for the wildly successful and those with limited success. You may think that you do not have anything successful to report.  If you are alive you have a slice of success.  And your decision to read this shows your interest in improvement.  Now let’s prepare to dominate.

 

I have formulated a definition for The Patience to Dominate it is:

Increasing ones capacity for calm, admirable endurance of a trying situation, circumstance or person, this comes out of understanding, mastery or control of oneself and the knowledge that the Creator has supreme determining or guiding influence over all.

 

You have the patience to dominate by mastering yourself. To master and control yourself, you must dominate your thoughts and dominate your actions. Your thoughts should line up with your goals. If you want something to change and you are continuosly thinking thoughts of “it is always going to be like this”, then you will not have change.  Focus your thoughts on the change you desire.

After your thought world is functioning proper, put actions to your thoughts.  Actions small and great are required to dominate your world.  Move forward at every opportunity. Even when you catch yourself falling into bad habits don’t give up, make a positive action in your mess.

 

Know that The Creator “has supreme determining or guiding influence over all.” He is there helping you dominate, you are not alone.  When you exhaust all of your options, positive thoughts and positive actions, He is already there with the help.  You have to settle this in your mind and heart and move without fear.

 

You will have the Patience to Dominate if you change your thoughts, change your mind and trust God.

 

What will use your abilities to dominate today?

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What is Consistency?

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What’s the most consistent thing that you experience?

 

Consistency:  steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.:

I know I need work in this area, so I decided to do a bit of research. The first word of the definition is steadfast? If I use steadfast I think of never letting go.  Imagine a baby kangaroo holding on to its mother or a stream that flows forever constantly providing life. To be steadfast is to be strong and mortally committed to achieving your goals.

What do we admire about the character of Consistency?  Who is consistent and how did they get that way.  Consistent people do not allow outside influences to disrupt their thought pattern. If you are committed to an idea, that causes you to have a short sided view of the world, this is powerful.  Those that think short sided, ignite innovation.  Rebel against the trend, if it causes destruction.

Consistency, madam, is the first of Christian duties.
Charlotte Bronte

Three Actions that will increase your consistency

Forgiveness

You have to forgive your inconsistencies. Forgiveness allows for patience to stick, it acts as the glue on the tape of life.  Forgiving yourself opens your heart to explore the world.

 

Reflect on your core values

What legacy do you want to leave? Make your feelings a reality.  If you are true to what keeps you centered then you will not go astray.  Copy your goals and say them more often than you think you is necessary.

Change your routine to enhance your dreams

Let go and develop a consistent routine that includes the pursuit for your dreams and goals.  If your routine is not working alter your approach, but keep the same dream.  Expect greatness and use wisdom to consistently achieve your dream life.

 

Tina Turner’s song “Let’s Stay Together” strikes a tone for steadfastness.  If you can keep your commitments to relationships and values; you are counted among the consistent. Hang on to those things that are dear to you. As long as your hands don’t move you are consistent. Patience will support your consistent nature.

What traits do you possess that show your consistency?

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Do not get tired of dreaming.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubyblossom/

Dream like a baby

 

The other day I was thinking this dreaming thing gets old, especially if you have high expectations.  The problem comes when dreams do not see any results.  Every dreamer needs encouragement so I am here to help those of you that still want to be on the dream team.  Below are a few things that can be used in low moments to you back on track.

1.       Be encouraged

Be happy that you still have the opportunity to envision a more peaceful existence.

2.       You have to keep hope alive

No hope, no life.  This is simple but direct because once you give up the hope of achieving your dreams; your ability to dream will diminish.

3.       Think positive and shine the light on your dream

Norman Vincent Peale had it right; there is Power in Positive Thinking.  Think big and think positive often.  Also, shine a light on your dreams.  Let some others know about what you are dreaming about.  Do not feel ashamed for delayed dreams.

4.       Stay with your dream, persistence pays dividends

You will see victory if you continue to the end.  The privilege of persistence is that you are now familiar with the enemy.  Now you know what do to and you are equipped to overcome.

5.       Loose the attitude

Just because you are not living in a dream state, does not give you the right to throw sour grapes at everyone else.  If you have an bad attitude, you are blocking your dreams. 

10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  James 3:10-11

 

Here is an easy way to get back to on the Dream Team.  Pick two things that you know you can do and complete them.  After that pick three hard things and finish them quickly.  Now you can do this over and over again until your Dreams are Dreams no more.  All you have now is a Dream life.

 

What 2 things are you going to do today to help your Dreams?