Happy Independence Day

July 4, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

(John Adams, writing to his wife Abigail about the Declaration of Independence)

I hope you will take time today to celebrate the blessings of liberty that we enjoy in the United States of America. But as you celebrate, do not forget that our freedom relies solely on the grace of God Almighty. If we forget that important fact, we are doomed to lose the precious gift of liberty.

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True Vine (book review)

July 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

In my personal Bible reading time, I tend to go rather slowly. I enjoy digging into the words and phrases, the Greek or Hebrew definitions, and the deep truths that can be uncovered in each verse. If you enjoy this type of in-depth Bible study, I think you will enjoy True Vine by Andrew Murray.

True Vine is a 30-day study of John 15:1-16, where Jesus talks about His relationship with us and with the Father, and our relationship with the Father in the language of a vine, branches, and fruit. It may seem like a full month just studying 16 verses is a bit intense, but Andrew Murray’s insights are very easy to grasp.

Each day’s study is not too long, but he pulls out a few insights that are ready-made to apply to your life. And each day’s devotional ends with a prayer that pulls it all together.

It was a very enjoyable study for me. You will enjoy it too, only if you want to go deep.

If you have a Kindle, you can download True Vine for free by clicking here.

[I shared some quotes from this book here.]

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Do You Want To Be A (Better) People Pleaser?

July 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I know a lot of people who want to please others. This pursuit, however, can get you into hot water. For instance, when you need to confront a friend on their poor behavior. Or when someone doesn’t properly express their appreciation to you for appreciating them.

The Bible gives us a better way to be a people pleaser. 

Paul wrote: “So we make it our goal to please [God]…” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Instead of goal, the King James Version says, “we labor.” If it is labor, then it truly is a labor of love: work that is challenging, but rewarding. In fact, the rewards are so overwhelming, that the sweat of labor is quickly forgotten.

The Greek word for labor/goal means work that is activated by the love of honor, and so it brings forth our very best effort.

I desire to honor God and please Him, and I desire to be honored by God and find my full pleasure in Him. After all, as the Westminster Catechism says, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

So my labor of love is activated first by my love for God; and secondarily by my love for others. Isn’t this what Jesus gave us as the Great Commandment (see Luke 10:27)?

It is God Who has made us for this very purpose [to enjoy Him forever] and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come [honor and eternal pleasure]. (2 Corinthians 5:5)

The Holy Spirit helps activate and direct my labor of love. The Spirit uses my labor of love to draw others to Christ; the Spirit assures me that my labor of love is bringing honor and pleasure to the Father. And in that knowledge, I find my pleasure to continue to labor in love.

So if I want to please people, my goal must be a labor in love that pleases God. Out of the knowledge of His pleasure and honor, I am better prepared to present a labor of love to others.

God pleaser (first) → People pleaser (as an overflow) 

The better we please God, the better we’ll please people.

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Dreaming In 3D (book review)

July 2, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Everyone has a dream. Maybe you’ve forgotten yours, or maybe you are struggling with how to achieve your dream. Maybe your dream seems a bit muddled, and you’re not sure how to proceed. In any of these cases Dreaming In 3D: Finding And Following God’s Amazing Plan For Your Life by Doug Clay is an excellent resource.

The thing I appreciate most about this book is its affirming tone. I never felt like Doug was talking down to me, or belittling my dreams, or even making me feel like my dreams were unrealistic. Using both his personal life story of following the dream God had birthed in his heart, biblical examples of dreamers, and practical steps for achieving your dream, Dreaming In 3D was enjoyable at every page.

Doug’s focus is not on pursuing selfish dreams, but dreams which help others:

“People matter. Christ didn’t die for a cause; He died for people. The focus of a God-given dream is never about the size of an organization, the wealth we earn, or the fame we gain from success. It’s touching people’s lives.”

In addition to helping you find and follow your own dream, Doug also encourages us to be dream releasers for other dream chasers. In so doing, we please God.

Are you ready to find and follow your dream? Are you ready to help others pursue their dreams as well? If so, Dreaming In 3D will help you do just that.

[Check out some quotes I shared from this book here.]

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I Want To Be Fascinated

July 2, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

If we are going to stick with anything for the long haul, we have to be fascinated by it. As soon as it becomes boring, humdrum, or monotonous, the downward spiral leading to us throwing in the towel is almost inevitable.

It looks like this:

Inattention → Fizzled passion → Lack of discipline → Quitting

This is bad enough for a diet, exercise routine, or any other healthy pursuit. But it becomes even more painful when this downward cycle occurs in our spiritual life. In that case, the “quitting” is called by another name: Sin.

In Psalm 119, the Beth section (verses 9-16) opens with two contrasting thoughts:

  • How can a young man keep his way pure? By LIVING according to Your Word.
  • I seek You with all my heart; do not let me STRAY from Your commands.

Stray is a passive word. No real attention or foresight is required to wander or meander around. On the other hand, living is an active word. In the Hebrew, this word carries the idea of keeping careful watch; protecting; carefully tending.

So the question that leads to my success is this: What fascinates me? What dominates my thoughts? What motivates me?

The answer to these questions will determine my stick-to-itiveness.

The remaining verses in this section show the upward spiral away from sin if we will keep careful watch over how closely we stick to God’s Word.

  • → Living = guarding (v. 9)
  • → Seek You with all my heart (v. 10) … Yearning (in the Amplified Bible)
  • → Hidden Your Word (v. 11) … Treasured (in the Complete Jewish Bible)
  • → Personal praise (v. 12)
  • → With my lips… (v. 13) = verbal, public praise
  • → Rejoice (v. 14) … as in more than in any kind of wealth (in the CJB)
  • → Meditate (v. 15) = constant companion
  • → Delight (v. 16)

When we delight in God’s Word, the cycle is started over again—I will not neglect Your Word—but now with a renewed and intensified PASSION!

I want God’s Word to dominate my thoughts, and its principles to captivate me. I want to be fascinated by my relationship with Jesus Christ that comes through the revelation of the Bible to my heart.

There is no other way to live!

If you have missed any of the messages in our P119 series, you can access them all by clicking here.

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Savoring It

July 1, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

For those of you who asked, here is the quote I shared this morning from John Piper—

“If you don’t read the Word and memorize the Word and meditate on the Word daily and delight in the Word and savor it and have your mind and emotions shaped by the Word, you will be a weak Christian at best. You will be fragile and easily deceived and easily paralyzed by trouble and stuck in many mediocre ruts. But if you read the Word and memorize important parts of it and meditate on it and savor it and steep your mind in it, then you will be like a strong tree planted by streams of water that brings forth fruit. Your leaf won’t wither in the drought and you will be productive in your life for Christ.”

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Heaven Is Rejoicing!

July 1, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

One of my all-time favorite things to do as a pastor is water baptism. I love hearing the stories of lives that have been completely transformed by Jesus Christ! This morning the Calvary Assembly of God family celebrated with Crystal as she made her public declaration that she is totally sold-out for God!

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Artificial Maturity—How To NOT Break Up With Your Girlfriend

June 30, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Artificial Maturity is a must-read book by Dr. Tim Elmore for parents, pastors, youth pastors, teachers, coaches, and managers—anyone who works with youth.

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Gentle Correction

June 29, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

As a parent (and a pastor), delivering correction is one of my least favorite things to do. But it must be done.

The apostle Paul seemed to feel the same way. We get some insight into his heart in his letter to the Corinthians, where he reminds them of why he had to write such a stern letter of correction.

For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. (2 Corinthians 2:4)

The loving shepherd’s heart longs for the advancement, the betterment, of all the sheep under his care. He is hurt when his sheep are wounded. His approach to discipline is always gentle; not weak, but strength lovingly applied.

The loving shepherd looks at his own life first, before correcting the sheep, to address anything he may have done or failed to do which caused the sheep to stray.

The loving shepherd knows that discipline may be painful for a moment, but it is to bring greater life. Just as a parent will allow a child to suffer the momentary pain of an immunization injection, to spare that child the unbearable pain of a disease later on.

And the loving shepherd always approaches a time of correction with “confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy” (v. 3). The shepherd doesn’t view them as “dumb sheep” that cannot improve; rather, he is confident and assured that they will receive loving correction and make the change that leads to joy for all.

UPDATE: If you want to dive deeper into the ideas of being a shepherd leader, please check out my book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter.

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Artificial Maturity—How To NOT Get A Job

June 28, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Artificial Maturity is a must-read book by Dr. Tim Elmore for parents, pastors, youth pastors, teachers, coaches, and managers—anyone who works with youth.

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