Poetry Saturday—Come, My Soul, With Every Care

January 10, 2015 — Craig T. Owens
John NewtonCome, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay;
Therefore will not say thee nay.


Thou art coming to a King,


Large petitions with thee bring;


For His grace and power are such,


None can ever ask too much;


None can ever ask too much.




With my burden I begin:


Lord, remove this load of sin;


Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,


Set my conscience free from guilt;


Set my conscience free from guilt.




Lord, I come to Thee for rest,


Take possession of my breast;


There Thy blood bought right maintain,


And without a rival reign;


And without a rival reign.




As the image in the glass


Answers the beholder’s face;


Thus unto my heart appear,


Print Thine own resemblance there;


Print Thine own resemblance there.




While I am a pilgrim here,


Let Thy love my spirit cheer;


As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,


Lead me to my journey’s end;


Lead me to my journey’s end.




Show me what I have to do,


Every hour my strength renew:


Let me live a life of faith,


Let me die Thy people’s death;


Let me die Thy people’s death. —John Newton








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Links & Quotes

November 29, 2014 — Craig T. Owens 




link quote


Some good reading from today…


This is tough reading, but very vital: How the normalization of pornography fuels the rape culture.


“What a gracious thing for us that Jesus Christ never thinks about what we have been! He always thinks about what we are going to be.” —A.W. Tozer


“So seldom does God find a Christian whose only goal in life is to know and to do His will—as Jesus did—and who never says, ‘God, where are You?’ but instead prays, ‘God, where am I in this matter of obedience and dependence?’” —David Wilkerson


“Remember Luther, Knox, Calvin, Wycliffe, Bradford, Latimer, and many others! Under God these men owed their liberty of speech and liberty of conscience to the fact that the world thrust them out from all hope of its favor, and so loosed their bonds.” —Charles Spurgeon


“Lay not fast hold upon the things of earth. He who is but a lodger in an inn must not live as though he were at home.” —Charles Spurgeon


Desiring God has released an updated version of The Pilgrim’s Progress with some cool features. If you download the ebook version, it’s free!






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6 Quotes From “The Purpose Of Christmas”

December 4, 2013 — Craig T. Owens 




The Purpose Of ChristmasI mentioned in my book review of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Of Christmas that this might be a good book to help families recalibrate the meaning of Christmas each year. As you can see from the quotes I highlighted, this book doesn’t talk directly about Christmas trees, or gifts, or mistletoe, or carols. Rather it goes to the heart of the matter: Why did Jesus need to be born in a stable in Bethlehem? He was born for our salvation, and our reconciliation with God and our fellowman.


“Your capacity for enjoyment is evidence of God’s love for you.”


“No one wants what’s best for you more than God. No one knows better what will make you truly happy!”


“Our natural inclination is to want our own way instead of God’s way. This tendency to make wrong choices instead of right ones is called sin. The middle letter of sin is I, and whenever I place myself at the center of my life, I sin. It is any attitude or action that denies God His rightful place as first in my life.”


“Guilt is the mental price we pay for violating our God-given consciences.”


“I asked Peter Drucker, ‘How did you come to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?’ He thought about it for a few seconds, then replied, ‘The day that I finally understood grace, I realized I was never going to get a better deal than that!’”


“Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. Always focus on reconciliation first.”






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Inside Out

December 18, 2012 — Craig T. Owens 




Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.



Relationships can only grow from the inside out. Consider this passage from the book of Hebrews—


The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13-14)


Religion is concerned about the outside—how does it look?


Relationship with Jesus is concerned about the inside—how does it work?


Religion seeks to work outside in.


Relationship works inside out.


Religion is the starting point.


Relationship is the goal.


When I first met my wife Betsy, I was attracted initially by the outward things—her physical beauty, her actions, her words. But if I only stayed at the outward level, everything would be focused on keeping up appearances. I would be worshiping the idol of physical beauty. Then as soon as I saw someone whom I perceived to have more physical beauty, I would abandon Betsy for the next attractive thing.


But Betsy’s outside was only the starting point; it drew me deeper inside into a relationship. As I got to know the real Betsy, I fell more and more in love. The inner beauty far exceeded the outward beauty. But then something amazing happened: the inner beauty enhanced her outward beauty.


The outside (religion) is only finite. The inside (relationship) is infinite.


The old religion started on the outside; Jesus Christ works from the inside. He doesn’t ask me to clean up the outside, but He cleanses my conscience so I can clean up the inside. This inner cleansing will eventually show up outside. The inner relationship beautifies and makes more meaningful the outer religion. The inner life (infinite, eternal) overwhelms the outer life (finite, temporal).


Don’t throw out religion and religious practices, but don’t use those as the only means of coming to Christ. Allow Jesus to work inside on your relationship with Him, and then the outside will become more beautiful and even more meaningful.


►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. Like this video where I explain what the Bible means when we “examine” our lives. ◀︎◀︎






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Was That Sermon Successful?

July 20, 2012 — Craig T. Owens 




Pastor, ever had one of those times when you delivered what you thought was an amazing sermon, but when it was over people looked completely unmoved?


Or maybe you sat down with someone to tell them something that would be so beneficial to their lives, and they responded by lashing out at you?


What happened? Did you miss something? Wasn’t God in your sermon or in your  counseling time?


The Apostle Paul has some great insight for us—


Now this is our boast: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God…. (2 Corinthians 1:12)


Paul didn’t rely on external observations to gauge his success in following God, but he listened for the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. Paul wasn’t living to please an audience of people, but an audience of One. He was listening for either the approval or the reproof of the Spirit.


Those you and I preach to may say, “That was wonderful! Great word, pastor!” and have no change of heart at all.


Others may scowl at us, but only because the Holy Spirit is using our words to bring about a deep heart change in them.


So we cannot use the facial expressions, or the compliments, or the complaints of others to know if we hit the mark or not. We have to let the Holy Spirit testify to our conscience whether or not we have been obedient.


I’m praying for you (and for myself): Holy Spirit, remind us of this. Help us to be tuned into You, and not into the external cues we think we may be observing. You alone can approve or reprove us.






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Thursdays With Oswald—Examination

June 28, 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.


Examination 


     Sin destroys the power of the soul to know its sin, punishment brings awakening, self-examination brings chastisement and saves the soul from sleeping sickness, and brings it into a healthy satisfaction. 


From Biblical Psychology


There’s so much to unpack in this single sentence…


    

  • We are very good at self-medicating away any pain (even spiritual pain), so that we never address the source of the pain (Ephesians 4:18).
    • 

  • I can be “sin sick” and not even know it because I’m not allowing the Holy Spirit to examine me (1 Corinthians 10:12).
    • 

  • The pain of punishment and chastisement is for my eternal benefit (Hebrews 12:5-11).
    • 



What do I need to do? Invite the examination of the Spirit:


Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24)


So let a person examine himself first, and then he may eat of the bread and drink from the cup; for a person who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. This is why many among you are weak and sick, and some have died! If we would examine ourselves, we would not come under judgment. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined, so that we will not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:28-32)






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The Hard Word

May 18, 2012 — Craig T. Owens 




As a pastor, you are going to have to deliver the hard word from time to time. You will have to address touchy subjects, both corporately and privately. It is very instructive to see how the apostle Paul approached the hard word.


In Romans 9, Paul is getting ready to address one of the most sensitive subjects of his day. The Jews felt they were “in” with God just because they were Jews, and the Gentiles were “out” with God just because they weren’t Jews. Paul is going to have to deliver the word that both Jews and Gentiles can be accepted by God because of what Jesus did on the Cross.


So notice how he begins:


I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 


1.  I speak the truth in Christ. It wasn’t his opinion, but the word from God. I must settle this matter before delivering the hard word. Far too often we can put our preferences on par with God’s Word. I cannot do this!


2. My conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit. Before I speak a hard word that people may not like to hear, I need to make sure my conscience is right before the Holy Spirit. He alone confirms His Word. The reaction of the audience, however, may or may not confirm what God says.


3. I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. It should be a major red flag if I looked forward to delivering a painful/challenging/correcting word. I need to put myself in their place, not try to put someone else in their place!


My job as a pastor is not to condemn, nor even to convict; the Holy Spirit will do that. My job is to (a) hear God’s truth, (b) get my conscience right with the Spirit, and (c) empathize with people as I lovingly speak the truth to them.






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Exhaustion Relief

October 3, 2011 — Craig T. Owens 




I was reading and meditating on Matthew 11:28-30. These are the notes just as a jotted them down in my journal. I pray they will be as helpful for you as they were for me.


Come—without delay


to Me—Jesus is my only Source


all—no one is ever excluded from Christ’s call


you who are weary—I feel like I have been working hard, but gaining little ground


and burdened—and my conscience is bugging me because I feel I’m falling short of what God requires


and I will—only Jesus can do this


give you rest—a quiet, calm, patient expectation of a better future


Take—I need to apply what Jesus says to my life right now


My yoke upon you—Christ’s power to fulfill God’s requirements


and learn from Me—I must get in the habit of doing things His way


for I am gentle—strong enough to help me, but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm me


and humble in heart—He has the perfect attitude toward our Heavenly Father, and He can show me how to live this way too


and you will find rest—an intermission from my struggles


for your souls—the real me


For My yoke is easy—virtuous and pleasant


and my burden is light—relieving my conscience from worry and guilt


Why do I wait until I am wearied and burdened before I come to Christ? Why don’t I just take His yoke upon me daily? It’s my self-imposed burdens, from trying to do things my own way, that wear me out and beat me up! O stubborn pride! that keeps me toiling away, trying to do life my way. Submit and be free, O my soul!






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Soulprint (book review)

January 14, 2011 — Craig T. Owens 




I’ve read (and re-read) all of Mark Batterson’s books, and with each one, I find such clear-cut biblical truths that I can immediately apply. Soulprint was a little different… I was hooked from the opening paragraph:




There has never been and never will be anyone else like you. That isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. You are unlike anyone who has ever lived. But that uniqueness isn’t a virtue. It’s a responsibility. Uniqueness is God’s gift to you, and uniqueness is your gift to God. You owe it to yourself to be yourself. But more important, you owe it to the One who designed and destined you. … You were created to worship God in a way that no one else can. How? By living a life no one else can—your life. [italics in original]




This book was so challenging, and so encouraging at the same time. Mark leads the reader through the different aspects that make up our unique soulprint, which is as unique and individualized as our fingerprint. Using the life of the biblical character David as a backdrop, Mark shows us how to discover our soulprint by…


    

  • Reviewing our memories through God’s eyes
    • 

  • Keeping “lifesymbols” around us which keeps our past memories current
    • 

  • Paying close attention to our conscience
    • 

  • Allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the parts of us we cannot see ourselves
    • 



To further help in discovering our unique soulprint, the questions at the end of the book will stimulate invaluable introspection and helpful discussion with others in a small group setting.


The back cover of Soulprint says, “God would like to introduce you to yourself.” And that’s exactly what this excellent book will help God do. I highly recommend Soulprint!


I am a Multnomah book reviewer.






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Everything I Need Is Right Here

June 11, 2010 — Craig T. Owens 




God wants to bless people. He wants it so much, that He puts everything we need to receive His blessing right in front of us.


It’s not elusive. It’s not obscure.


I don’t need a Master’s in Divinity to figure this out:


Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. … No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 


The New Testament amplifies this:


    

  • God’s laws are written on my heart, and my conscience tells me if I’m obeying them or not (Romans 2:15).
    • 

  • The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds me of everything I need (John 14:26; 16:8; 13).
    • 



You don’t need a spiritual pilgrimage to find God. He’s already written on your heart what you need to call out to Him. Don’t delay another day!






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