Making Choices

November 30, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

The unusual or out-of-the-ordinary always seems to grab my attention. So when I was reading through a long, long (long!) list of names in 1 Chronicles, I stopped when I read, “Their sister was named Hazzelelponi.”

My first thought: What parent names their little girl Hazzelelponi?!?

My second thought: Why does the biblical writer mention her? First off, there are scarcely any other women mentioned in these genealogies. And then to mention such an unusual name without any other commentary seems weird.

Her name is a compound of two words: to turn toward + shadows.

The Hebrew word for shadows can have two meanings: (1) The cool, protected place; or (2) Something which is transitory or short-lived. One positive definition, and one negative definition. Since all the other times this word is used in the Bible the second definition is used, we can assume that the negative usage is meant here too.

Since I doubt that anyone makes a decision to turn to the shadowy “dark side” all at once, Hazzelelponi made small choices day after day after day.

Small choices every day to rely in things that would not last. And now her history is nothing but a single line: “Their sister was named Hazzelelponi.” No descendants, no heritage, no legacy; just a footnote because of the small choices she made.

“There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” – John Wooden

What choices are you making today?

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Guard These Bones

March 29, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Here’s an odd one. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for a long, long time. God does these miraculous things, culminating in the death of every firstborn child in Egypt who’s not in a house covered by lamb’s blood. Pharaoh has finally had enough, “Quick!” he shouts, “Get out of here now. Leave this country.”

So the Israelites pack up as quick as they can to leave before Pharaoh changes his mind. And then this odd statement appears, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.”

Seriously? Bones? We’re kinda in a rush here!

Well, they’re not just any bones. It’s not like they’re just loose bones lying around. They’re in a mummy case.

Yeah, and…?

They were the bones of Joseph. The one who foresaw the coming famine. The one whom Pharaoh put as second-in-command to make preparations for the famine. The one who saved the Israelites from starvation. That Joseph. Just before he died he made his family take an oath than when they left Egypt, they would take his bones with them.

They took the oath. And for the next 430 years someone had to watch over the bones. Through about twelve generations, from father to son, from son to grandson, from grandson to great-grandson, the oath was passed: “Guard these bones. When we leave, the bones go with us.”

So when they left Egypt, Moses took the bones with him. But then the Israelites sinned and had to wander in the wilderness for another 40 years. Another whole generation died, and still the oath was passed: “Guard these bones.”

The Israelites finally re-entered their home land, but had to defeat their enemies that had taken possession of their land while they were in Egypt. For about 30 years the Israelites fought. And still the oath was passed: “Guard these bones.”

Finally as a postscript to Joshua’s account we finally see Joseph’s bones being buried in Shechem… nearly 500 years after Joseph died!

For 500 years they kept the oath; they guarded the bones.

Do you realize that the way you are living today could be the answer to a 500-year-old prayer? Just like the Israelites who kept their eyes on God, you and I must live today with a purpose and with a mission. When we live godly lives, we are guarding the bones of prayers that were prayed, the bones of petitions that were made, the bones of oaths that were requested.

What are you doing today to guard the bones of your ancestor’s prayers?

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History Maker

March 3, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I was reading this morning the history of the Pentecostal movement. I love being a part of that heritage. Then my thoughts began to retrace my own family’s heritage. I’m blessed to have parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents that are full-Gospel, sold-out-to-God Pentecostals.

But now I’m thinking about my own place in this lineage. I’m not content to just ride coattails. I don’t want to just ride the wave of the past. I don’t want to rehearse history. I don’t want to tell stories.

I want to perpetuate the momentum.

I want to write my own story.

I want to be a history maker.

Is it true today that when people pray
Cloudless skies will break; kings and queens will shake
Yes it’s true and I believe it,
I’m living for You

Is it true today, that when people pray
We’ll see dead men rise and the blind set free
Yes, it’s true and I believe it
I’m living for You

I’m gonna be a history maker in this land
I’m gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I’m gonna stand, I’m gonna run
Into Your arms, into Your arms again
Into Your arms, into Your arms again

Is it true today that when people stand
With the fire of God and the truth in hand
We’ll see miracles, we’ll see angels sing
We’ll see broken hearts making history
Yes it’s true and I believe it
I’m living for You

What about you? What history are you making today?

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Digging & Drinking

February 9, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

On Sunday we had our annual business meeting at Calvary Assembly of God. The actual business part was minimal. The more exciting things included hearing how God had blessed us last year, and looking forward to the greater things we can do for Him this year.

I shared a story from Genesis 26 about Isaac. This story just keeps rolling around in my mind.

Initially God blessed Isaac just because he was Abraham’s son. God said, “Abraham obeyed me. He did everything I asked him to do, so I blessed him.” Then God challenged Isaac: “I am willing to bless you with even more if you, too, will follow Me.”

It’s interesting to note what Isaac did first. He reopened all of the old wells his father had dug, and he gave them the same name Abraham had given them…

…he honored the heritage of his father.

Honoring those who have gone before us is so important. But it’s not enough.

If Isaac was going to experience more of God’s blessings, he couldn’t be satisfied with just drinking from the old wells. Don’t get me wrong: it was good of him to reopen those wells…

…but if that’s all he did, he would have just maintained the status quo.

Isaac had to dig new wells. It didn’t start so well. The first two wells he tried to dig on his own led to quarrels with his neighbors…

…the enemy doesn’t fight against those who maintain the status quo.

…the enemy only quarrels with us when we try to dig new wells.

Isaac kept at it, and his third attempt was successful. Here’s the balance…

…we can honor our heritage by reopening the old wells and drinking from them.

…AND we can continue to dig new wells so that we can minister to more people.

 

It’s not EITHER-OR. It’s BOTH-AND.

I’m trying to maintain that balance…

…re-digging the old and drinking the new.

…looking back and looking forward.

…honoring our heritage and leaving a new legacy.

…digging and drinking.

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Do Your Own Growing

February 5, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

An Irish Proverb says, “It doesn’t matter how tall your father was, you still have to do your own growing.” In other words, my genes may give me a certain predisposition, but I still have to grow on my own.

The same could be said spiritually: “It doesn’t matter how close to God your parents were, you have to approach Him yourself.”

Abraham was so close to God that he was called “friend of God.” His son Isaac had some great spiritual genes, but he still had to do his own growing.

Isaac had the perfect opportunity shortly after Abraham’s death. He and his wife Rebekah wanted to start a family, but they weren’t able to do so. Then comes this great phrase,

…Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife…

He got it! And God heard his prayer: Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

Rebekah’s parents were also close to God. But now pregnant and far, far away from home, she was having difficulty with her pregnancy. That’s when Rebekah had her chance to do her own spiritual growing,

…Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord…

She got it too!

Not only was this good for them as individuals, but undoubtedly it strengthened their marriage as well. I have found that couples who pray stay.

  • They stay close to God.
  • They stay close to each other.
  • They stay more committed to their families.

Are you doing your own growing today? If you’re still riding someone else’s coattails, it’s time to start doing your own growing. If you’re still blaming a parent for holding your back, it’s time to start doing your own growing. You can do it… start talking to God today.

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The Full Bucket

August 7, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

DSCN0731

Yesterday we celebrated the Fourth Annual Father-Son Tigers Outing. Not a very memorable name, but a wonderful tradition. We didn’t start out doing this with the idea of creating an annual event, but I’m so glad it has become so.

A group of 21 Dads and their sons spending an entire day together. Breakfast… a long car ride across the state to Detroit… great seats at the Detroit Tigers game (watching them beat up on the Orioles)… a quick stop at Kensington Park to play our own version of baseball (the sons beat the Dads 17-to-16.8 because of our creative rules!)… a dip in the lake… Jimmy John’s subs before hitting the road… and another long trip home. All total, more than 14 hours of memories.

I love it!

As Dads we want to pass on a full bucket to our sons. It’s how we translate our heritage into their legacy.

How do I fill my bucket? God gave this command, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” It’s my responsibility to learn to love God with all I am and in all I do. I pursue God as I…

  • Worship
  • Pray
  • Study
  • Read
  • Sweat
  • Laugh
  • Cry
  • Play

That pursuit of God as my everything fills my bucket. Then the very next instruction God gives is this: “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”

How do I do this? Simply add together to my personal pursuit of God. Together with my sons and these other Dads and sons we…

  • Worship together
  • Pray together
  • Study together
  • Read together
  • Sweat together
  • Laugh together
  • Cry together
  • Play together

We started the day together under the shadow of the big tiger outside Comerica Park. We ended the day under the shadow of the Jimmy John’s restaurant as we prayed for one another. Dads and sons… together pursuing God.

Yesterday we Dads passed on a full bucket to our sons. Today we’re filling our buckets again so we can pass it on again.

Are you passing on a full bucket today?

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(Re)(Un)Learning

July 27, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Alvin Toffler wrote, “The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” For me, the Sabbath Day — a day God institute as a break from our day-in-day-out routine — is the best day to do this (re)(un)learning.

I took an unusual Sabbath break this weekend. Several of my family members are missionaries, and it is rare that they are all in the United States at the same time. This summer happens to be one of those times, so we took full advantage of catching up and relearning one another.

We all met at my grandparents’ old farmhouse in southern Ohio. Grandpa died in 1984, and Grandma died just a few years ago, but their legacies are alive and well. In no particular order, here are a few things I (re)(un)learned this weekend…

  • Nehemiah was an extraordinary leader that I want to emulate.
  • My daughter is a persistent and naturally-talented horse rider.
  • Every time my extended family gets together I learning something new about their past… and my past.
  • I love my family heritage!
  • It was so cool watching all the boys play the same games in the barns that I used to play as a boy!
  • Sleeping in the same room with Betsy but in a separate bed makes for a lousy night of sleep. The closer I am to my best friend, the better I sleep.
  • Eating meals with 15 people around the table forced me to listen more intently to the one who was talking. Why don’t I do this all the time?
  • One should not play American football, rugby, ultimate Frisbee and soccer (world football) on the same day without a good supply of Motrin handy.
  • Bradford, Ohio, is just as I remembered it as a kid. So is my grandparents’ farm.
  • My puppy only had to get shocked once by the electric fence to learn her lesson. Sometimes it takes me more zaps!
  • I missed my new church family this weekend!
  • I think I’m partially addicted to my email, Facebook, blog, and Twitter. Had to run to the Bradford library on Saturday for a “fix.”
  • Fireside chats are one of the best places to really get to know someone better. And a great place to reveal my own heart more intimately.
  • I need to keep my camera close as there is so much that I want to document and preserve for my kids and grandkids.
  • These kinds of weekends should be more regular in my annual calendar.
  • Sitting on the couch snuggling with Betsy is the best wrap-up to any weekend.

Did you (re)(un)learn anything on your Sabbath? Whether or not you did any (re)(un)learning last week, today is the start of a brand new week. Let’s make it a goal to (re)(un)learn something this week, and use our next Sabbath to reflect on it.

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Heritage & Legacy

November 21, 2008 — Craig T. Owens
My heritage will be their legacy

My heritage will be their legacy

Heritage (hěr’ĭ-tĭj) — “something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth.”

I’ve been reading today about the early history of the Assemblies of God, so I’ve been thinking about my own heritage. I am blessed to be the son of A/G Pentecostal parents; and both of my parents come from Pentecostal A/G parents too, as well as two Pentecostal great-grandmothers. That makes me a fourth third-generation “holy roller”! But the definition of heritage says that just came to me by reason of my birth; in other words, I had nothing to do with making that happen.

Legacy (lěg’ə-sē) — “anything handed down from the past.”

Whereas I had nothing to do with my heritage, I have everything to do with the legacy I leave behind. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Mom & Dad, thanks for the heritage you have entrusted to me. You have helped make me into the man I am today.

Harrison, Samantha & Brandon, with God helping me I promise to do my very best to leave you a legacy that will make you proud to be fifth fourth-generation Pentecostals. May you be so equipped with my heritage to raise up the sixth fifth generation of Pentecostals in our family!

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