Craig T. Owens

April 2026
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The Hobbit (book review)

July 3, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

This year (2013) marks the 76th anniversary of the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterful work The Hobbit, and the 35th anniversary of my first reading of it.

I remember being carried away to the magical world of Middle Earth, of excitedly turning page after page after page, of imagining how each character and place looked and sounded. As I re-read The Hobbit, all those feelings came rushing back. As I read some passages I smiled in fond remembrance; as I read others I wondered how I missed the profundity the first time I read it. As Bilbo approached Bag-End near the end of his journey, I could strangely relate to these words—

“Coming to a rise he [Bilbo] could see his own Hill in the distance, and he stopped suddenly and said:

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on

Under cloud and under star,

Yet feet that wandering have gone

Turn at last to home afar.

Eyes that fire and sword have seen

And horror in the halls of stone

Look at last on meadows green

And trees and hills they long have known.”

I loved my return visit to Middle Earth!

Whether you have read this story before or not, I encourage you to read it again. If you are a parent, read The Hobbit with your children and enjoy the magical journey together. You won’t be disappointed at the richness of Tolkien’s writing.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien. Leave a Comment »

Keep It Closed!

July 2, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would help us reply the right way when someone questioned us about our faith in God. But Jesus showed us, that sometimes no reply is the best reply.

After Jesus was arrested, He was first sent to Pilate:

So again Pilate asked Jesus, “Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of.” But Jesus still made no reply… (Mark 15:4-5).

Then Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod:

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform a sign of some sort. He plied Him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer (Luke 23:8-9).

So Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. And what was the bottom line? Mark 15:5 adds this important phrase about the Roman governor: “…and Pilate was amazed.”

Our ability to remain silent when the Holy Spirit bids us to be silent speaks volumes to those who witness our silence. Be careful. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes keeping your mouth closed may be the best testimony for God that you can give.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Herod, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate, silence, testimony, vocabulary, witnessing. Leave a Comment »

Francis: Man Of Prayer (book review)

July 1, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Unless you’ve been locked away somewhere, you know that a new pope was recently elected. Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s life is recounted in Francis: Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar.

I have always felt that history books (including biographies and autobiographies) shouldn’t be published until a later date. When we are “in the moment,” things are so fluid and their outcome so uncertain, that it’s best to wait for awhile to see how things turn out before they are committed to a book. So I was a bit surprised to see a biography of the new pope appear in print so quickly after his election.

Clearly this is not a book that looks at Francis’ papacy, but one that chronicles his ascendency to that position. For the most part I found this biography to be very factual, and dry. The events of Bergoglio’s life are presented dispassionately and disjointedly. This book could have been written in bullet-points, and it would have maintained all of the same coolness as it has in its current form.

Perhaps a book will be published later in Francis’ papacy which will have some more sizzle to it, but this biography is a real snoozer.

I am a Thomas Nelson book reviewer.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, church history, history, Pope Francis. Leave a Comment »

The Hour Of Darkness

July 1, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Sometimes when things look bleak—when it appears evil is winning—even the most upbeat of Christians can experience discouragement. Here are some encouraging thoughts for dark times…

But this is your hour—when darkness reigns (Luke 22:53).

Darkness is limited to an hour—God’s light is unquenchable forever!

When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).

Even in the hour of darkness, Christ’s power causes the forces of darkness to drop in fear!

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given you from above” (John 19:11).

The power of darkness is limited; it is kept in check by God’s limitless authority!

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Even a supposed “victory” for darkness is ultimately an overwhelming victory for Light!

What have I to fear when I am held in God’s power? I am shielded by the Almighty, and for that I can sing out loud praise even in the hour of darkness!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: death, devil, discouragement, encouragement, evil, God's power, Jesus Christ, light, praise, victory. Leave a Comment »

Plastic Donuts (video review)

June 29, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Here is a video review Waterbrook Multnomah Press asked me to do on Plastic Donuts. This review is especially for other pastors, but I think you’ll see how much I liked this book. If you would like to read my full book review, you may do so by clicking here, you may also read some of my favorite quotes from the book by clicking here.

Calvary Assembly of God, get ready … you’re going to hear more about Plastic Donuts soon. And I’ve got a special gift for you too! Stay tuned.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, Calvary Assembly of God, missions, offering, quotes, tithe, video. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—The Right Context For Scripture

June 27, 2013 — 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 Right Context For Scripture

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. … Yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. (John 5:39-40)

These verses reveal how a knowledge of the Scriptures may distort the mind away from Jesus Christ. Unless we know the Living Word personally first, the literal words may lead us astray. The only way we can understand the Bible is by personal contact with the Living Word, then the Holy Spirit expounds the literal words to us along the line of personal experience.

… There is a context to the Bible, and Jesus Christ is that Context. The right order is personal relationship to Him first, then the interpretation of the Scriptures according to His Spirit.

From Bringing Sons Until Glory

Amen! Chambers is precisely on target with this.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Bible, Bible study, doctrine, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, Scripture, theology. Leave a Comment »

Remain

June 26, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

↓

Jesus says, REMAIN in Me,

And I will REMAIN in you.

The branch must REMAIN in the vine; there’s

No fruit unless you REMAIN in Me.

If you REMAIN, you’ll bear much fruit;

If you don’t REMAIN, you’ll wither up.

So REMAIN in me, and

My words will REMAIN in you.

Stay and REMAIN in Me.

If you obey, you’ll REMAIN in My love, just as

I REMAIN in My Father’s love

And My joy will REMAIN in you. (John 15)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: fruitful, God's love, Jesus Christ, joy, maturity, obedience, spiritual growth. Leave a Comment »

A Harmony Of The Gospels (book review)

June 25, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

For anyone who wants to read the four New Testament gospels with greater insight, I highly recommend A Harmony Of The Gospels For Students Of The Life Of Christ by A.T. Robertson.

Dr. Robertson wrote: “The purpose of a harmony is not to teach theology, but to make available for men of any faith the facts in the Gospels concerning Jesus of Nazareth.” And that’s exactly what this book does.

It is one of the more interesting ways I have ever read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When I followed the outline in Robertson’s book, instead of reading each gospel straight through, I read them in chronological order. For instance, in reading about John’s message announcing the soon-arrival of Jesus, I was reading Mark 1:7-8, Matthew 3:11-12, and Luke 3:15-18.

In other words, you will be reading the four gospels in chronological order as the events unfolded in Christ’s ministry. Right alongside each section of study are Dr. Robertson’s fascinating and insightful notes. Reading the gospels this way really brought out details that you may have missed when just reading through the gospels in a more traditional manner.

You don’t have to be a scholar to use this book, you just need to be desirous to learn more about Jesus.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.T. Robertson, Bible study, book review, devotions, Gospel, Gospel of John, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ. Leave a Comment »

She Did What She Could

June 25, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

It is one of the most beautiful scenes in the Bible: Mary, a woman set free by the power of Jesus, anoints Him with her fragrant perfume. The Bible says that the people sitting around Jesus were “indignant at the waste” of perfectly good perfume. Some may have even thought, “What’s the point?”

But Jesus responds, “Leave her alone, she has done a beautiful thing to Me. She did what she could” (Mark 14:1-9).

Apparently Mary was not a woman of great wealth, but she did what she could. And Jesus said it was beautiful.

I cannot feed all the hungry people in the world, but I can feed one hungry student in Cedar Springs.

I cannot share the gospel with every unreached people group on the planet, but I can give a few dollars a month to a missionary who is reaching a tribe in northern India.

I cannot undo all of the injustice done to women, but I can support the W.A.R. Chest Boutique who is is helping rescue women from slavery.

I cannot counsel every woman contemplating an abortion, but I can volunteer at Alpha Family Centers whose counselors are lovingly counseling women to choose life.

I should never allow the largeness of the situation or the smallness of my resources to paralyze me from acting. I can be like Mary who did what she could.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Alpha Family Center, Cedar Springs, faith in action, Jesus Christ, missions, pro-life, slavery, Women At Risk International. 1 Comment »

Altared To Be Altered

June 24, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

I love this verse from Isaiah: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). This foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian is powerful.

The Voice can be an audible voice, but not always. Sometimes the Holy Spirit says, “This is the way” through different modes. Things like:

Discernment. This is the Spirit’s help when we would normally rely on our own common sense (see Acts 5:3 and Acts 16:6-7).
Prompts. These motivate us to do something productive (Acts 8:29).
Checks. The flip side of promptings, these checks are to stop us from doing something unproductive (Acts 10:9-20).

But here’s an important thing to remember: The Voice of the Holy Spirit is not perceived by those people intent on doing things their own way. The Voice may be speaking, but those people are simply not tuned-in. The individuals that hear the Voice saying, “This is the way” are those who are determined to obey what the Voice says to them.

In Romans 12, Paul says that as our act of spiritual worship we lay our lives on the altar: we give up trying to control our own lives. He goes on to say that when we do this, we will quickly discover what God’s good, perfect and pleasing will is. In other words, we will be receptive to His Voice leading us into His perfect plan for us. So the Holy Spirit can direct us only after we’ve given up trying to direct our own affairs. Or said another way—

I altar my life, and the Holy Spirit will alter my life

“Oh, this baptism of the Holy Spirit is an inward presence of the personality of God that lifts, prays, takes hold, and lives in us with a tranquility of peace and power that rests and says, ‘It is all right.’ …Oh, this God of grace! Oh, this willingness for God to let us see His face! Oh, this longing of my soul that cannot be satisfied without more of God!” —Smith Wigglesworth