Craig T. Owens

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Challenged

December 7, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

During my daily devotional time, I’m reading a book by Smith Wigglesworth called Power To Serve. And I’m really being challenged by it. Sometimes a certain book crosses my life at just the right time, and it really begins to stir something in me. Just thought I’d share a couple of quotes from the book, and how I’m trying to process/apply it to my life:

“Prayer is a time during which God wants you to be strengthened, and He wants you to remember that He is with you. …People come with their needs, they ask, and then they leave with their need because they do not faithfully wait to receive what God has promised them.”
- So true for me! I’m such a hurry-up-and-get-it guy. I’m trying to learn to wait in God’s presence, and not take my need back with me.

“Today is a day of inspiration and divine intuition, a day in which God is enrapturing your heart, breaking all shorelines, getting my heart to the place where it is responsive only to His cry, where I live and move honoring and glorifying God in the Spirit.”
- Wow, I’d love to be in the place where my heart is responsive only to His cry. Too many times I’m too responsive to other voices clamoring for my attention. Be still, my heart, listen for your Master.

“You never lose as much as when you lose your peace. …Possess patience to such an extent that you can suffer anything for the church, for your friends, for your neighbors, or for anyone. Remember this: we build character in others as our character is built.”
- I want to live my life with the same confidence that the Apostle Paul did when he wrote, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” May my life be a blessing to others.

“O God, give us such a holy, intense, divine acquaintance with You that we would rather die than grieve You! Oh, for inward character that will make us say, ‘A thousand deaths rather than sinning once.’”
- I want to be at this place. Amen!

What are you reading/listening to that’s challenging you to live differently?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: apostle Paul, challenge, education, lifelong learner, quotes, Smith Wigglesworth. Leave a Comment »

The Importance Of Purity

December 4, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Yesterday I read the Family Resource Council’s report about the devastating effects of pornography. Some highlights (or should I say “lowlights”?):

Married men who are involved in pornography feel less satisfied with their conjugal relations and less emotionally attached to their wives.
Pornography use is a pathway to infidelity and divorce and is frequently a major factor in these family disasters.
Pornography viewing leads to a loss of interest in good family relations.
Pornography is addictive.
Men who view pornography regularly have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexuality, including rape, sexual aggression, and sexual promiscuity.
Prolonged consumption of pornography by men produces stronger notions of women as commodities or as “sex objects.”
Child-sex offenders are more likely to view pornography regularly or to be involved in its distribution.

This is the reason my wife and I stress purity so highly with our children. Betsy is going through Every Young Woman’s Battle with our daughter, and I’m using Every Young Man’s Battle with our sons.

There are only two battles that Scripture consistently warns us to flee from: idolatry and sexual promiscuity. We cannot stress purity enough, and it’s never too early (or too late) to talk to your kids about this.

Hey, parents, don’t let their peers have the loudest voice in your kids’ ears about sexual standards. You help them set godly standards. And do it now.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: 1 Corinthians, divorce, education, husband, idolatry, marriage, mentoring, pornography, sexual purity, sexual sin, training, wife. Leave a Comment »

Presents Or Presence

December 3, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

We kicked off The Q Series last night with some very appropriate-for-the-season questions: what is Christmas? where did it come from? how are we supposed to celebrate Christmas?

As I was preparing to answer this question, the thought came to me that Christmas is the celebration of God’s presence among us, but we’ve turned Christmas into a focus on presents. God wants to give us Himself (His presence), but many times we’re more interested in the presents we think He should give us.

Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve exchanged a piece of fruit (a present, the devil told them) for God’s presence.

Quick: Can you think of a present someone gave you last Christmas? This probably doesn’t come easily to mind. Can you think of a time this last year when someone “being there” for you (their presence) was meaningful? This one you could probably think of more quickly.

Presence trump presents.

As you celebrate Christmas this year, focus on God’s presence in your life, and not the presents you’re asking Him for. And then remember those around you want your presence way more than they want your presents, so figure out how to give it to them.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Christmas, emotionally available, Garden of Eden, presence, presents, relationships. 2 Comments »

Forever Better

December 2, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Twenty-five years ago today, December 2, 1984:

Ghost Busters was the top-grossing movie
The A-Team was NBC’s top-rated TV series
Hall & Oates had the number one Billboard single Out Of Touch
Ronald Regan was the US President

None of these facts changed my life. But something else that took place on that day did. On December 2, 1984, I went on my first official date with Betsy Coffield. My first girlfriend—my only girlfriend—and still my best friend.

Neither movies, TV, music, nor politicians have changed my life, but I’m forever a better man because Betsy said, “Yes.” I love you, babe. Here’s to the next 25 years, which will be even better!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: anniversary, Betsy, celebration, dating, girlfriend, love. 3 Comments »

Joker One (book review)

December 1, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

At first glance, Donovan Campbell’s narrative of his time in Ramadi, Iraq, might seem like a typical war story. But, as the old cliché says, you cannot judge a book by its cover.

Joker One is the name of a United States Marine Corps platoon. But Joker One the book is really more about leadership. Lieutenant Campbell leads us through his day-by-day struggles to lead his men to success. Along the way he has to do the full 360-leadership cycle: leading up with his commanding officers; leading sideways with other commissioned officers; and lead leading down with his squad leaders. Along the way he discovers something remarkable: his Marines are great leaders themselves.

Lt. Campbell sees his men grow in their own leadership skills under his mentorship. He finds his strength in them. He carries a heavy leadership load until his men have to carry him. It reminded me so much of the leadership principles that others have postulated for the board room, but the Marines of Joker One make them happen on the battlefield.

This is a gripping story. Some of the battle scenes are gritty, and some of the language is a little rough (this is probably a PG-13 book). The love and respect that develops between this officer and his men is an amazing study in leadership. It’s also a book about decision-making under fire, the consequences of those decisions, pain, redemption, faith.

I cried and I cheered while reading this book. I hold the members of our military in very high esteem. This book raised my level of respect for our airmen, sailors, soldiers, and Marines even higher. You will be challenged and stirred by the exploits of Joker One.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, leadership, United States Marine Corps, US armed forces, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

Let The Christmas Spending Frenzy Begin

November 27, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

All over America today, Black Friday kicked off a month-long, mad-dash, consumer-feeding frenzy. A race to see who can spend the most money on the most toys and gadgets to give away at Christmas.

Oops, did I say Christmas?!? <Gasp!> Maybe I should have said holidays. Yes, indeed, the Consumer’s Delight Holiday Season. At least that’s what it feels more and more with every passing year. First of all, retail stores have a hard time even saying Merry Christmas, let alone promoting the meaning of Christmas. And then there’s this notion—even among those that are willing to say Christmas—that this is the season of buying.

I think I’m feeling a little rebellious today. If you’d like to join me in rocking the popular-mindset boat a little, if you’d like to take back Christmas, if you’d like to return the focus to CHRISTmas, check out a couple of these resources, and let’s talk.

Give This Christmas Away. Great book by Matthew West on some great ways to focus on Christ at CHRISTmas.

Advent Conspiracy. A great CHRISTmas gift that will literally change (or save) someone’s life.

One Day’s Wages. Use their calculator to see how far just one day of your annual earnings can go.

If you’ve got any other resources or thoughts on this CHRISTmas season, please share them.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Advent, Christmas, consumerism, rebellion, retail. Leave a Comment »

Lest We Forget

November 26, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Days set aside for giving thanks to God have been observed throughout the history of our great nation. But in 1863 in the midst of Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln designated an annual Thanksgiving Day. Lest we not forget, our first and greatest thanks should be to God from Whom all blessings flow. A portion of President Lincoln’s proclamation reads:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

You can read the full text of President Lincoln’s proclamation here, or for those of you who would rather listen to the proclamation, enjoy the video version.

Make today “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father.”

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Abraham Lincoln, American history, blessing, Civil War, God's blessing, thanksgiving. Leave a Comment »

Serious Fun

November 25, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

I believe of all people, Christ-followers should be able to do the most serious of work, but those who are in love with Jesus ought to be able to have the most fun too, as they enjoy the fullness of that relationship.

We proved this yesterday.

My loving congregation donated food for us to bless some needy people with Thanksgiving groceries. We then contacted our local elementary school to ask if they could recommend a couple of needy families to us. They did, but “needy” might be a major understatement. It was a joy to be able to deliver all of the Thanksgiving fixin’s to them, but heart-breaking to see the conditions in which they were living. I pray that this simple act of compassion will help open a door for further ministry opportunities.

Then we met with our Impact youth group for some serious fun (pictures are here). We had a carnival-like atmosphere with wild-and-messy games going on everywhere. I loved seeing our students dive into (sometimes literally) these fun events. It wasn’t just the students: Betsy challenged me to a pie-eating contest. And let’s just say, apparently I have a bigger mouth than she does!

It’s great to address the serious conditions that surround us, and we should do so with love and hope. And it’s just as wonderful to have some fun. I believe that people who get stuck on either extreme are missing out on the fullness of a Christ-centered life.

I hope you have a seriously fun Thanksgiving celebration. And not just on Thursday this week, but all year long.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary Assembly of God, Christian, compassion, fun, Impact! youth group, Jesus Christ, relationship, thanksgiving. Leave a Comment »

Thanksgiving Challenge

November 23, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Yesterday I began a two-part series at Calvary Assembly of God sandwiched around Thanksgiving Day. The series is simply called Thanks and is based on the premise that thankfulness is the soil for healthy growth.

Have you ever grown a garden? If you have, you know that even though you plant the best seeds in the best soil, if you simply leave it unattended, weeds will find their way into your well-manicured garden. If you leave your garden unattended for long enough, the weeds will eventually take over.

It’s just as true for our minds. We can cultivate the best soil in our minds and plant only the finest seeds. But if we do nothing more, the weeds will take over and eventually choke out anything good that was growing there.

A spirit of continual thankfulness will keep the soil free from the choking weeds. But pulling out weeds by our thankfulness must be a continual process. So I gave our church the 365/730/1095 challenge.

Start a thanksgiving journal. If you just write down one unique thing every day for which you are thankful, you will have recorded 365 things in a year. More challenging: write down two things every day, or even—are you brave enough to attempt this?—three things every day. If you find two things each day, you will have 730 weed busters by the end of the year, or three items will give you 1095 weed busters.

Are you ready for the challenge?

I’m going to attempt to find three unique things each day for the next year. I hope this is encouraging to you, and I hope you will accept the 365/730/1095 challenge too.