What Do You Want On Your Tombstone

March 12, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I’m preparing for our upcoming series called Be An Andrew.

Andrew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, but we know so little about him. Only a few of his spoken words are recorded for us, and he is only mentioned by name 13 times in the New Testament. But one thing is so clear in those few mentions: All he did was invite people to meet Jesus…

  • His brother Peter, who went on to become one of the leaders of the first Christian church.
  • A young boy, whose small lunch fed thousands.
  • Non-Jewish Greeks who wanted to meet the Messiah.

Wouldn’t you love to have that written on your tombstone? If my entire life was captured in just one sentence, I’d love for it to be:

He just brought people to Jesus.

What do you want on your tombstone?

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“Wondering Around”

March 12, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I read this on Seth Godin’s blog this morning:

I stumbled on a great typo last night. “Staff in the lobby were wondering around…”

Wandering around is an aimless waste of time.

Wondering around, though, that sounds useful.

Wondering why this product is the way it is, wondering how you can make the lobby more welcoming, wondering if your best customers are happily sharing your ideas with others… So many things worth wondering about, so few people actually taking the time to do it.

Wondering around is the act of inquiring with generous spirit.

I love wondering around:

  • Wondering about Christ’s love for me. (There’s a great Christmas carol about this. You can read the lyrics here.)
  • Wondering about what I’m doing that reflects God’s love to others.
  • Wondering how I could be so blessed with a fantastic wife, great kids, a vibrant church, health, and on and on.
  • Wondering about these blessings—and so many more!—every day as I work on my 365/720/1095 challenge.

Seth was exactly right: wandering around is a waste, but wondering around is a great way to live.

Are you wondering or wandering today?

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The Person You Love The Least

March 11, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Quick… think of the person that you love the least.

Get a good mental picture of him/her.

Got it?

What sort of emotions come to mind as you see his/her face? Are you anxious to give them a bear hug? Or maybe it’s more like a tight hug right around their neck? Do you want to hang out with them at Starbucks? If you saw them stranded on the side of the road, would you stop to help?

Now, with the image of that person still clearly in mind, slowly read this quote:

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” —Dorothy Day

Ouch!

I’m really trying to work on this. Are you willing to try too?

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The Point Of The Gospel

March 10, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

While I was preparing for our Spiritual Self-Defense class, Rick Warren tweeted this timely reminder: “If you spend more time defending the truth than actually sharing it, you will have missed the point of the Gospel.”

What is the point of the Gospel? Isn’t it simply that mankind is lost without God, and that only a relationship with Jesus can bring true life? If that’s the point, we can never argue someone into this divine relationship.

Here are some other thoughts I’m trying to keep in mind for this exciting class:

  • Jesus never shouted down those who disagreed with Him. Isaiah’s prophesy about Jesus said, “He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets.” And that’s exactly how Jesus conducted Himself.
  • Jesus said, “God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” Jesus didn’t come to win an argument, but to win lost people to a relationship with His Father.
  • There are very few exclamation points in Christ’s dialogue in the Gospels, but there are a lot of question marks. He was interested in engaging people in conversation.
  • G. K. Chesterton said, “The principle objection to a quarrel is that it interrupts an argument.” We need to discuss, not argue.

I’m really looking forward to leading this class, but I’m also excited about what I’m learning in the process.

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“Amazing Grace…

March 9, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

…how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.”

I’ve heard it reported that John Newton’s song may be the most well-known song in the world, and yet it seems we still live in a world so dominated by ungrace.

Another verse of this beloved song says, “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” How could grace bring both fear and relief? I think it is because grace is freely given. We don’t deserve grace, and yet Jesus paid a terrible price for us to recieve it.

We’re more used to earning what we recieve. Sometimes looking at our own lives of ungrace we may feel like we’ve earned punishment, which is why the thought of grace brings fear. Yet the more we learn about God’s grace, the more those fears are relieved.

I need to learn more about grace. I want to soak in all that it means—the full impact—to be a recipient of God’s grace.

I love this definition of grace from Philip Yancey:
“There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

God’s grace truly is amazing!

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Amazing Book!

March 8, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I was reviewing some of my notes for our Spiritual Self-Defense class, and I’m always amazed at the unity and accuracy of the Bible. The Bible tells one unified story from beginning to end. For any other book, this is no big deal; in fact, we expect our books to tell the same story all the way through.

But what’s so mind-boggling for me is the fact that the Bible tells its unified story considering:

  • It was written by 45 different authors
  • Writing over a span of 1500 years
  • In three different languages
  • On three different continents

Not only does the Bible tell the same story, but it does so without error or contradiction! What an amazing book!

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Contending For The Faith

March 8, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

This Wednesday we’re starting an important series in our Impact youth group called “Spiritual Self-Defense.” Training our students how to defend what they believe. Jude wrote that we need to learn how to earnestly contend for the faith.

I’m also mindful of Peter’s instruction: But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

As I’m preparing for this, here are a few things I’m trying to keep in mind. Perhaps you will have some additional things to share with me:

  • Earnestly means wholeheartedly. So I want to convey passion for biblical truths.
  •  Faith means an added dimension beyond scientific proof. Not in place of science, but beyond it. Albert Einstein observed, “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.”
  • Focusing on the lordship of Christ is the primary focus of Christian apologetics.
  • I need to prepare to answer.
  • My answers need to be logical and well thought out.
  • My answers need to lead people to the hope that is only found in a personal relationship with Jesus.
  • My defense of biblical truths need to be courteous and respectful.

In addition to our training times on Wednesday, we’ll also offer “sparing lessons” in our weekly men’s and women’s Bible studies. If you’re interested to learn more, come and join us at 7PM over the next few Wednesdays.

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BOGOF

March 7, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Sometimes to get a point across, the only thing you can do is create a new word. Does anyone remember Rich Hall’s list of sniglets on Saturday Night Live? A list of 20 sniglets is here.

This morning we talked about the Parable of the Talents, where the servants were expected to do something with the talents God had given them. Then Jesus talks about the end of time judgment where we are divided into those who did something for God by addressing human needs, and those who ignored the human needs around them.

How do we remember this? How do we apply it to everyday life?

Then it hit me: we all eat; in fact, most of us eat every day. In order to eat, many of us go to the grocery store. And to help stretch the food budget, we often use coupons. When we get one of those buy-one-get-one-free coupons (a BOGOF), what do we do with the free one? Do we consume it ourselves, or could we give it away? Wouldn’t giving away the free one honor God by helping feed the hungry?

So we created a word—BOGOF—and turned it into a refrigerator magnet. We’re going to do our best to build into our daily lives the habit of loving others by addressing their practical needs.

Why don’t you try it yourself? Maybe you can create your own word too! If you do, please be sure to share it in the comments below.

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Stepping Up To The Challenge

March 5, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I shared with you earlier how my faith was challenged and stretched when my leadership team believed we could hit a much larger missions-giving goal than I had thought. (You can read about my little faith here.)

On Wednesday night we challenged our Impact students to believe God to do big things through them, and we asked them to make a faith promise. To say, “God, if You will help me give this amount to Speed The Light, I will do it.” Last night I was able to sit down with my leaders to tally up the cards that were turned in. Just in their faith promises alone our youth group has already committed one-third of our total goal!

I’m so proud of our students! I’ll keep you posted on how we’re doing. Please pray for us that we’ll be creative in finding new ways to raise money for missions, and that we’ll continue to have our faith stretched.

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Rockin’ for Haiti

March 4, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

We are hosting another benefit show at Calvary Assembly of God. Our first show was a fundraiser for Latin America Child Care, and it was very well received.

This rock show is a fundraiser for Convoy of Hope. COH is a wonderful humanitarian organization that is bringing food, water purification systems, and other vital personnel and supplies into two areas that have been ravaged by earthquakes: Haiti and Chile.

It’s just a $2 cover charge to get in. Currently we have three local bands scheduled to perform. All our proceeds will go directly to COH.

Join us on Friday, March 19, doors open at 7 PM.

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