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The Pittsburgh Steelers, The Devil & Me

February 7, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV. Or did the Pittsburgh Steelers lose Super Bowl XLV? The Steelers committed three turnovers in the game, which led to 21 points for the Packers. Could the Steelers have pulled it off if they had eliminated those interceptions and a fumble?

Have you ever had a “turnover” (gave in to temptation) and said, “The devil made me do it”? Maybe he did make you do it. But I know that the devil is not omnipresent; that is, he’s not with you everywhere all the time. But you are with you everywhere all the time.

So maybe it’s more accurate to say, “I made me do it.” When it comes to “turnovers” (sin), I think I am often my own worst enemy.

Both the Steelers and the Packers got to the Super Bowl this year largely because of their defensive skills. And when you and I are trying to fight against temptation, defense is the best offense.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Submit to God (defensive) before you try to resist the devil (offensive). Don’t be your own worst enemy! God can help you live a turnover-free life!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Book of James, football, sin, submission, Super Bowl, temptation. 4 Comments »

How Do You Feel About Today?

February 4, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

A friend’s status update on Facebook this morning read:

(Me having a chat with the day): Listen here, Day, I gotta lot of stuff to get done, so don’t get any ideas. And btw it’s going to take more than missing homework and wetted beds to stop me! Muahahahaaa!

This reminded me of a conversation the old preacher Smith Wigglesworth had with an acquaintance:

“How do you feel today, Smith?” the friend asked.

“I never ask Smith how he feels,” Wigglesworth replied. “I tell Smith how he feels.”

Great advice from both my friend and Smith Wigglesworth: Don’t wait until you feel like doing something before you do it. Tell your Day how it’s going to go—and then tell yourself how you’re going to feel about it—and then just do it!

Carpe diem! Seize the day and make it a good one!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: action, carpe diem, emotions, feeling, quote, Smith Wigglesworth. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—The Test Of A Preacher

February 3, 2011 — 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.

The Test Of A Preacher

The test of an instructor in the Christian Church is that he is able to build me up in my intimacy with Jesus Christ, not that he gives me new ideas, but I come away feeling I know a bit more about Jesus Christ. Today the preacher is tested, not by the building up of saints but on the ground of his personality.

From Facing Reality

It’s natural to want to be popular. To that end, we often choose charisma over character, style over substance, entertainment over intimacy. Even those who are called to preach the Gospel can fall prey to this.

My prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to know You more; I want to become more intimate with You. As I do, may I always preach out of the overflow of that relationship. Never preaching just to please people, but merely sharing with others how much I love You. Search my heart, Holy Spirit, for any shred of envy that I’m not as popular as the-other-guy. The only applause I live for is that from the nail-scarred hands of my Savior Jesus Christ.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: envy, Oswald Chambers, pastoring, pastors, personality, popularity, prayer, preaching. Leave a Comment »

Rookie Of The Year

February 1, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I am a proud member of the Cedar Springs Ministerial Association, so I faithfully attend all of the monthly meetings and stay up-to-date on our Facebook group page. So imagine my surprise when I found out about the Annual C.S.M.A. Awards.

I didn’t know we had any awards … I didn’t know I was nominated … and I certainly didn’t know I had won!

Here’s how the announcement read:

Rookie of The Year

Nominees: Kristi Rhodes, Ryan Black, Craig Owens

Winner: Craig Owens

Recap: Despite the joy and hope that both Ryan and Kristi have brought to the community and how their churches are now moving with excitement, it was Craig Owens who ultimately walked home with the hardware. Craig dazzled the C.S.M.A. with his witty humor, provided us all with sermon material through his daring and insightful blog, and regularly posted hip Facebook statuses such as “Off to church… about to get my Praise On!” and “Donuts for breakfast!”

Then I noticed something else at the bottom of the announcement that I also didn’t know: apparently I was also a member of the awards committee.

Hmmm, it appears that all of the award winners were also members of the awards committee…

…it appears this is all a big joke!

Oh, well. Now, do you see why I so enjoy being a part of the C.S.M.A.?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Cedar Springs, Cedar Springs Ministerial Association, humor, laughter. Leave a Comment »

Hmmm

February 1, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Feats of thinking may create reputation, but habits of thinking create character. —A.W. Tozer

If this is true, then I’ve got some questions to ask myself:

How do I think?
How am I processing the world around me?
Do I see the hand of God in daily events?
Can I find His truth at work?
Am I learning from what I experience each day?
Do I think positively or negatively?
Do difficulties cause faith or fear?
Am I thinking long enough?
Do my thoughts produce a Christ-like attitude?
Do I take time to think about my thoughts?

Two more thinking quotes for today:

Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. —Philippians 4:8

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.W. Tozer, creative thinking, critical thinking, meditation, Philippians, positive thinking, quotes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, thinking. Leave a Comment »

Let It Go

January 31, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Have you ever had an “awkward” handshake with someone?

You try to grab their hand, but they’re going for the fist bump. Or you’re thinking fist bump and they’re going for a high five?

That’s sort of what’s happening in these verses…

God is extending an open hand of forgiveness to you, but your fist is tightly clenched as you hang on to a grudge.

If you want to grasp God’s hand in forgiveness, you must let go of the slights, wounds, hurts, insults, sins, and grievances you have against others. You probably have every right to hang on to those things.

Just as God has every right to hang on to your sins against Him…

…but He doesn’t.

SO LET IT GO!

It’s the only way to be able to hold onto those nail-scarred hands of Jesus that bring forgiveness.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: forgiveness, Gospel of Matthew, grudge, Jesus Christ, sin, unforgiveness, video, wounds. Leave a Comment »

New Music

January 29, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I’m so privileged to know this guy. Dilip is an amazing, Spirit-led worship leader. His first CD is coming out soon, but you can check out the first single now.

Go to iTunes, download this song, and then get ready for even more incredible music when his full CD is released in about a month. Trust me on this one…

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Dilip, music, worship. Leave a Comment »

Be Thou Exalted

January 28, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Love this prayer from A.W. Tozer (in his book The Pursuit After God):

O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth’s treasures shall seem dear to me if only Thou art glorified in my life.

Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shall be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth.

Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it may mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee.

Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream.

Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, above my health and even my life itself.

Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above.

I love it, and yet it is a true challenge to pray it.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.W. Tozer, prayer. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—The Word Of God

January 27, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

The Word Of God

The Bible nowhere says we have to believe it is the Word of God before we can be Christians. The Bible is not the Word of God to me unless I come at it through what Jesus Christ says, it is of no use to me unless I know Him. The key to my understanding of the Bible is not my intelligence, but my personal relationship to Jesus Christ. … You may believe the Bible is the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation and not be a Christian at all.

From Facing Reality

Do I just know the Word of God, or do I know the God of the Word? If I read and study the Bible just to gain knowledge, I will become a very religious person. But if I read the Bible to know Christ more, I will enter into a deeper relationship with Him.

…knowledge puffs up while love builds up… (1 Corinthians 8:1)

I want to read my Bible as a love letter, and fall more and more in love with the God who wrote it to me.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: 1 Corinthians, Bible, Bible study, Christianity, intimacy, Jesus Christ, love story, Oswald Chambers, relationship, Scripture. Leave a Comment »

5 Love Languages, 7 Days, 1 Couple

January 26, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Nothing in life stays the same. Nothing. Things are either getting better or deteriorating.

According to the law of entropy, a system will constantly move from order to disorder, unless sufficient energy is used to keep the system in order. More simply put: you and I can’t coast.

If you’re married, put energy into finding new ways to cherish your spouse.
If you’re a parent, put energy into better parenting skills.
If you’re a friend, put energy into deepening that friendship.
If you’re an employee, put energy into doing your job better.
If you’re a leader, put energy into leading better.

I love this article 5 Love Languages, 7 Days, 1 Couple in WebMD (you can read it here) about a couple skeptical of how Gary Chapman’s book on love languages could improve their marriage. But they decided to try it for one week. They put in the energy and got something better out. You can also read my thoughts about Dr. Chapman’s book by clicking here.

Are you willing to invest a week of energy into your marriage, family, job, or friendships? If you will keep applying energy, you will keep improving. And that’s a lot better than deteriorating!