Halel

October 29, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

HalelThe last five psalms all start and end on the same note: “Praise the Lord!” This is actually the Hebrew word halel. In the English language it’s usually translated praise, but it can also mean boast about—our God has a lot about which I can boast!

In fact, there is so much to boast about concerning God, that the first halel psalm opens with, “I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 146:2).

Here are some of the other boast-worthy things these halel psalms list:

  • God upholds the cause of the oppressed
  • God gives food to the hungry
  • God sets prisoners free
  • God gives sight to the blind
  • God lifts up those bowed down
  • God loves the righteous
  • God watches over the alien
  • God sustains the orphan and widow
  • God gathers exiles
  • God heals the brokenhearted
  • God binds up our wounds
  • God knows all the stars by name
  • God sustains the humble
  • God cares for His creation
  • God delights in those who fear Him
  • God strengthens and blesses His people
  • God gives peace
  • God satisfies
  • God displays His splendor for all to see
  • God takes delight in His people
  • God crowns the humble with salvation
  • God gives us His Word

Halel! Just like the psalmist, I will boast about my Lord all my life; I will continually sing my boasts about Him all of my days!

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5 Quotes From Habakkuk

October 28, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

HabakkukNestled among the so-called minor prophets of the Old Testament, Habakkuk has some of my favorite verses. It’s only three chapters long, but it is packed with amazing promises!

“The uncompromisingly righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness” (2:4, AMP)

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (2:14, NIV)

“I have heard all about You, Lord. I am filled with awe by Your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as You did in years gone by.” (3:2, NLT)

“Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.” (2:3, GNB)

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation!” (3:18, AMP)

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The Moral Foundations Of Life (book review)

October 28, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

The Moral Foundations Of LifeI have written extensively on how much Oswald Chambers’ writings have impacted my life and thinking. In his book The Moral Foundations Of Life, Chambers himself discusses how much a Christian’s thought life impacts the way that he lives. This book is a collection of lectures (or as Chambers called them “talks”) on the thought life of Christians.

Two quotes from David Lambert, a friend of Chambers and a man who helped get his books published, sets the stage for this outstanding book—

“One of Chambers’ primary goals as a teacher was to challenge Christians to think. An equally important objective was to encourage believers to act. In Chambers’ mind, the brain and the body were not enemies but allies in the effort to live a life that glorified God. …

“I see sometimes in London the preparations being made for the sure foundations of one of the great modern buildings to be erected there. Far below the surface-level men and machines toil patiently on work which soon will be hidden, but which alone will make the towering building secure. These Talks on Moral Foundations take us to that depth below the surface of our everyday life where the foundations are laid for enduring sainthood. They deal profoundly with such matters as Habit, Thinking, the Will, Behavior. The subject of Christian ethical obligation is of paramount importance in the thought life of today. The very basis of our religion, our moral and spiritual standing, is being challenged. Here will be found a valiant answer to the secular, skeptical and lawless questionings of our time.”

I could not have said it better myself! This is another outstanding book which all Christians should endeavor to read.

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Links & Quotes

October 27, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

link quote

Some good reading from today…

“The book of Romans in a sentence: Because you were condemned (1:1 – 3:20) and God justified you (3:21-5:21), empowered you to be distinct (6-8), and explained His plan to keep His promises to Abraham (9-11), it is right for you to submit your life for Divine inspection (12:1-2), and live the life of a real believer (12:2-16:27).” —Dr. Randall D. Smith

[INFOGRAPHIC] I love the Bible study tools from The Overview Bible Project! Check out this one on the main characters in Genesis.

A great story about a marathon runner who intentionally loses the race.

The co-founder of The Weather Channel blasts the “global warming” crowd.

“It is too bad that anything so obvious should need to be said at this late date, but from all appearances, we Christians have about forgotten the lesson so carefully taught by Paul: God’s servants are not to be competitors, but co-workers.” —A.W. Tozer

“The truth is that evil is not a real thing at all, like God. It is simply good spoiled. That is why I say there can be good without evil, but no evil without good. You know what the biologists mean by a parasite—an animal that lives on another animal. Evil is a parasite. It is there only because good is there for it to spoil and confuse.” —C.S. Lewis

“Love, in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about other people.” —C.S. Lewis

“In our time we have all kinds of status symbols in the Christian church—membership, attendance, pastoral staff, missionary offerings. But there is only one status symbol that should make a Christian congregation genuinely glad. That is to know that our Lord is present, walking in our midst!” —A.W. Tozer

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A Murderer’s Checklist

October 27, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Murderer's checklistYou shall not murder (Exodus 20:13) sounds pretty straightforward. This verse is actually just one word in the Hebrew language: ratsach. The idea is a human killing another human in an animalistic way.

Think of a predatory animal like a lion. The lion attacks as an angry response when it is provoked. There is no thought about consequences or possible alternatives, but it simply lashes out in anger. A lion will also lie in wait to ambush its prey. Humans who kill in this animalistic way are regarded in the Bible as murderers (see Exodus 21:14; Numbers 35:20-21, and Deuteronomy 19:11, 13).

The legal definition of homicide today says it is “the killing of a human being by a sane person, with intent, malice aforethought (prior intention to kill the particular victim or anyone who gets in the way) and with no legal excuse or authority.”

God determines our day of conception (Psalm 139:16), the value and purpose of our life  while we are alive (Ephesians 2:10), and the day of our death (Job 14:5). Taking any of these things out of God’s hand, and putting them into our own hands, not only constitutes murder but dishonors God.

Some things are obviously homicide: Abortion is murder, suicide is murder, euthanasia is murder. Because these things put man in the place of God, they are unlawful.

But think of this: Slander is also murder. According to rabbinical scholars, publicly humiliating someone is murder, because it is character assassination. Jewish law also forbids the sharing of true but harmful information about someone else. Both of these things devalue a human being’s God-given value and purpose. Jesus echoed these teachings in Matthew 5:21-22 and Matthew 15:19.

J.I. Packer wrote, “We all have in us capacities for fury, fear, envy, greed, conceit, callousness, and hate that, given the right provocation, could make killers out of us all. … When the fathomless wells of rage and hatred in the normal human heart are tapped, the results are fearful.”

Here’s a quick checklist to make sure we aren’t getting close to becoming murderers:

  • Do I get too angry too quickly, and stay angry too long?
  • Do I harbor unforgiveness against anyone?
  • Have assassinated someone’s character?
  • Am I “lying in wait” for anyone to catch them doing wrong?

To stay clear of these murderous ways:

If you have missed any of the messages in our series The Love In The Law, you can find them all by clicking here.

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Look For What’s Right

October 26, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Cedar Springs PostI wrote a letter to the editor of The Cedar Springs Post in advance of this upcoming election.

Dear Editor:

It’s a simple fact: You find what you’re looking for. If you are looking for bad news, you will find something to criticize; if you are looking for good news, you will find something to compliment.

In this election cycle, I hear and read far too many candidates that are looking for the things that are wrong. Electing those candidates perpetuates bad news. Is everything perfect in Cedar Springs? In Michigan? In the United States? Of course not. But there is a lot that is right. I’m much more interested in focusing on those things.

The way to move our city, our state, and our country forward is to support those candidates that are focused on our strengths—on what’s right in our communities—and electing them into positions where they can help our strengths overcome our weaknesses.

Send a message this election cycle: Vote for the candidates that are looking for what’s good and right and strong.

Sincerely,

Craig T. Owens, City of Cedar Springs

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Links & Quotes

October 23, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Some good reading from today…

“The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid ‘dens of crime’ that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice.” —C.S. Lewis

Excellent post: How The Church Should Talk About Sex.

“As in our Lord’s life His teaching was always connected with healing, He would have the church also take a very deep interest in the bodily sorrows of the people as well as in their spiritual needs. It will be a very great pity if ever it should be thought that benevolence is divorced from Christianity.” —Charles Spurgeon

Eric Metaxas has a powerful call-to-action regarding the Houston government’s abuse of power in their subpoenas of pastor’s sermons. You can also sign a petition supporting free speech and freedom of religion at Houstonproblem.com.

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John Bunyan On Prayer

October 23, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

John BunyanSome good words about prayer from John Bunyan—

“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”

“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.”

“The best prayers have often more groans than words.”

“Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for satan.”

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Crescendo

October 23, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

CrescendoThis short film presents a powerful pro-life message!

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Encourage Your Pastor

October 22, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

C.H. SpurgeonOctober is designated as Pastor Appreciation Month. Although these words are nearly 150 years old, they are just as true today as they were when Charles Spurgeon spoke them. Check out what the “prince of preachers” had to say about encouraging your pastor—

“Why do you leave your own minister? If I see one come into my place from the congregation of another brother in the ministry, I would like just to give him a flea in his ear such as he may never forget. What business have you to leave your minister? If everyone were to do so, how discouraged the poor man would be. Just because somebody happens to come into this neighborhood, you leave your seats. Those who are going from place to place are of no use to anybody; but those are the truly useful men who, when the servants of God are in their places, keep to theirs, and let everybody see that whoever discourages the minister they will not, for they appreciate his ministry. Again, let me say by often being present at the prayer-meeting you can encourage the minister. You can always tell how a church is getting on by the prayer-meetings. I will almost prophesy the kind of sermon on the Sabbath from the sort of prayer-meeting on the Monday. If many come up to the house of God, and they are earnest, the pastor will get a blessing from on high; it cannot but be, for God opens the windows of heaven to believing prayer. Never fail to plead for your pastor in your closet. Dear friends, when you mention a father’s name, and a child’s name, let the minister’s name come forth too. Give him a large share in your heart, and both in private and public prayer, encourage him. Encourage him, again, by letting him know if you have received any good.” —Charles Spurgeon

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