Craig T. Owens

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Pastor Dad (book review)

January 9, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I recently read a free ebook from Mark Driscoll called Pastor Dad. You can read it or download it for free by clicking here.

One of the Bible verses that I claim as one of my life verses is this—I have no greater joy than knowing all of my children walk in the truth (3 John 4). I don’t want to be so busy with my church and community work that I miss out on one of the greatest joys: Being my kids’ Dad and leading them in their walk with Jesus!

Pastor Mark’s book is a very helpful reminder and resource for Dads, to make sure we are doing what God has entrusted us to do. It’s not a lengthy nor difficult read, but it is both convicting and challenging.

Dads, I encourage you to check this out.

Posted in Pastoring, Uncategorized. Tags: 3 John, book review, Dad, father, kids, pastoring. Leave a Comment »

A Symphony Of Prayer

January 9, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Here’s something amazing Jesus said about prayer:

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth AGREE about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:19-20)

The word for agree has an interesting definition. It literally means to be in harmonious agreement. If you’ve ever listened to a piece of music, I’m sure you know the difference between melody and harmony. Melody is typically the notes you sing along to; harmony is made by the accompanying notes which fill in the musical number.

So Jesus doesn’t tell us to simply pray the same words as someone else, but to be in harmony with them… fill in their prayer with complimenting notes.

But the Greek word itself is very suggestive too. The Greek word translated agree is symphōneō, from which we get our word for symphony.

Again, you probably know that one person is not a symphony, but a solo artist. But when other instruments are added, the music swells and builds and becomes a masterful piece of art!

So too with our prayers. How beautiful it is when we pray together. It is literally a symphony in God’s ears! And not only that, but He says “There I am with them.” God Himself stops to hear this beautiful sound.

I hope you have a prayer partner with whom you can harmonize and make beautiful music together.

And be sure to join me next week as we continue in our series The Danger Of Prayerlessness.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Gospel of Matthew, harmony, Jesus Christ, music, prayer. 3 Comments »

What A Friend

January 6, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. (Joseph M. Scriven, 1855)

He’s the Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

He’s the Friend that’s always there.

He’s the Friend who knows what you need.

He’s the Friend who can provide what you need.

What a Friend!

How much we miss out when we don’t talk to our Best Friend!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: art, best friend, friend, Jesus Christ, music, prayer. 1 Comment »

Helping People Win At Work (book review)

January 5, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Ken Blanchard’s books always cause me to ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” He writes in such a way that seems so practical and so applicable, that it would seem like common sense practice. But as we all know, common sense is not always that common! In Helping People Win At Work, Ken Blanchard and Garry Ridge do it again.

The sub-title of the book is based on a program Garry instituted in his company: Don’t mark my paper, help me get an A. And the idea is quite simple: Let’s tell our employees/kids/students what we’re looking for right up front, and then help them earn an A. Instead of performance reviews or tests being uncertain in their outcome, let’s make sure everyone knows what’s coming and how they can “pass” the test. This removes the uncertainty and the anxiety, and increases morale and productivity.

Simple! Common sense! And very rare.

It goes back to Ken Blanchard’s great statement, “Let’s catch people doing something right.” Most bosses/parents/teachers try to catch people doing something wrong. But this approach only reinforces the negative, and makes everyone shy away from the one in authority.

I highly recommend this easy-to-read (and even easier-to-apply) book to employers, teachers, and parents. It is well worth your time to apply these principles.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, business, Kenneth Blanchard, leadership, parenting, teaching. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—Engineered Circumstances

January 5, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.

Engineered Circumstances

The time a Christian gives to prayer and communion with God is not meant for his natural life, but meant to nourish the life of the Son of God in him. God engineers the circumstances of His saints in order that that Spirit may use them as the praying-house of the Son of God. … Prayer not so much alters things as alters the man who prays, and he alters things. … The essential meaning of prayer is that it nourishes the life of the Son of God in me and enables Him to manifest Himself in my mortal flesh.

From Biblical Ethics

In every situation, I must believe that God has directed my steps. But even though I know that, it still doesn’t mean that I will grow as a result of it. God does engineer my circumstances—and sometimes makes those circumstances seem “impossible”—so that I will pray. It’s only prayer that will make the impossible possible.

“If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they don’t require divine intervention.” —Mark Batterson

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: God's will, Mark Batterson, Oswald Chambers, prayer, quotes. Leave a Comment »

The Danger Of Prayerlessness

January 4, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I grew up with this powerful reminder: The Church moves forward on its knees. The Church is, of course, made up of individual Christians. So in order for the Church to do anything productively for the Kingdom of God, there must be Christians devoted to private and corporate prayer.

Oswald Chambers gave this warning:

“The prayer of the feeblest saint on earth who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to satan. …No wonder satan tries to keep our minds fussy in active work till we cannot think in prayer.”

This Sunday I am beginning a new series of messages called The Danger Of Prayerlessness. I like to start each new year with a reminder of the power and priority of prayer, because truly the Church does move forward on its knees as Christians move forward on their knees!

“Prayerlessness is expatriation, or worse, from God’s kingdom.” —E.M. Bounds

Expatriation can be defined as simply moving away from one’s homeland. But, even worse, it can also be defined as one who has renounced their citizenship. It is my fervent prayer that this happens to no one who calls themselves a Christian.

I hope you can join me this Sunday for this important reminder about prayer. If you have missed any of the messages in this series, check them out here:

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary Assembly of God, E.M. Bounds, Oswald Chambers, prayer, quotes, sermon. 6 Comments »

What Is He Thinking?? (book review)

January 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

So many times I overhear guys trying to figure out what the women in their lives are thinking. So it just seems natural that women would have the same questions about guys. So to help the ladies out, Rebecca St. James has interviewed several guys, and complied the results in her latest book What Is He Thinking??

Here’s how Rebecca describes part of her motivation in writing this book—

“Not too long ago I was out in the sunshine going for a long rollerblade. And I was lost in my thoughts. Thinking about a boy. Dissecting every detail of my relationship with said boy. About halfway through my ride I felt the Holy Spirit gently nudge me, “Rebecca, look up.” I realized that I had been staring at the ground as I bladed, worrying, analyzing my dating life, not looking up and around, and—most of all—not looking for God to speak to my situation. I realized that I wasn’t awake to a few necessary things.

“Awake to the fact that I could trust God to take care of me, that I didn’t have to be anxious.

“…I think it’s very easy for us girls to get so caught up in relationships that we become blind to the other things that are going on around us. The spiritual dimension of a relationship is very important. Here’s what I discovered about how guys feel about their walk with God and how it relates to the girls they pursue.”

So Rebecca chose both single and married guys, older and younger guys, friends and family. She both interviewed them with specific questions, and allowed them an “open forum” to share what’s on their minds about relationships, dating, marriage, and sex. These guys shared their turn-ons and turn-offs, their dreams, and their ideals. As a guy, I resonated with what these guys shared, and was pleasantly surprised by how many guys were so tuned-in to the biblical standards of relationships.

I would highly recommend this book for any parents with teenage daughters. Perhaps you could even do what my daughter and I are doing: Reading AND discussing the content of this book together. Relationships can be so confusing, so What Is He Thinking?? can take some of the mystery out of it.

I am a FaithWords book reviewer.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, dating, daughter, marriage, Rebecca St. James, relationships, sex. 1 Comment »

Search & Seizure

January 2, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

The beginning of a new year is a time when many people resolve to change things in their lives. They vow to stop smoking, change their diet, exercise, take a class, or do other things that will make them “a better person.”

But my question is: Why wait until January 1 to start something new?

In one of his most intimate psalms, David prayed,

Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 AMP)

Charles Spurgeon added this thought:

“Every man who is wise in the kingdom of heaven, will cry, Search me, O God, and try me; and he will frequently set apart special seasons for self-examination, to discover whether things are right between God and his soul. The God whom we worship is a great heart-searcher; and of old His servants knew Him as the Lord which searches the heart and tries the reins of the children of men. Let me stir you up in His name to make diligent search and solemn trial of your state, lest you come short of the promised rest. That which every wise man does, that which God Himself does with us all, I exhort you to do with yourself….”

This search and seizure of unhealthy thoughts or unhealthy habits should be done alone with God. There in the quietness of God’s presence we can resolve to live differently. Oswald Chambers wrote:

“Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world.”

Today is as good as any day will ever be to allow God to search you, and to seize those thoughts which are keeping you back from the fullness of life He wants for you. Allow His Spirit to help you today.