Poetry Saturday—Saint Paul

December 6, 2014 — Craig T. Owens
F.W.H. MyersOh, could I tell, ye surely would believe it!
   Oh, could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell, or how can ye receive it,
   How, till He bringeth you where I have been?


Therefore, O Lord, I will not fail nor falter;


   Nay but I ask it, nay but I desire,


Lay on my lips thine embers of the altar,


   Seal with the ring, and furnish with the fire.




Give me a voice, a cry, and a complaining,—


   Oh, let my sound be stormy in their ears!


Throat that would shout, but cannot stay for straining,


   Eyes that would weep, but cannot wait for tears.




Quick, in a moment, infinite forever,


   Send an arousal better than I pray;


Give me a grace upon the faint endeavor,


   Souls for my hire, and Pentecost today!




Scarcely I catch the words of His revealing,


   Hardly I hear Him, dimly understand;


Only the Power that is within me pealing


   Lives on my lips, and beckons with my hand.




Whoso has felt the Spirit of the Highest,


   Cannot confound, nor doubt Him, nor deny;


Yea, with one voice, O world, though thou deniest,


   Stand thou on that side, for on this am I. —F.W.H. Myers


 






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3 Steps To Better Bible Studies

June 23, 2014 — Craig T. Owens 




Inspired WordThe Bible is God’s inspired Word—literally, that means it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If the Holy Spirit inspired the Word to the biblical writers, He can best illuminate the same Word to you as you read and study it.


This is how Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help us handle God’s Word:


Teach (John 14:26a). This word means to teach by holding a discourse with someone (or in this case, with Someone). Reading the Bible is meant to be a dialogue, not a monologue.


Remind (John 14:26b). The Holy Spirit is actively involved in us recalling and applying the Word to the situations in which we find ourselves. The Bible tells us to study to be prepared (1 Peter 3:15) and to handle God’s Word like a good worker (2 Timothy 2:15). We are also told not to pre-plan what to say if we are put on the spot, but that words would be given us (Matthew 10:19) as the Holy Spirit recalls to our memory which we have studied.


Convict (John 16:8). This word means both to refute and to confute. Confute simply means proving something is wrong. Refute means to show us we’ve reached a false or illogical conclusion, perhaps a conclusion we reached without giving it very much thought.


Guide (John 16:13). We get a good idea of the meaning of this word from the negative use of the same word—Can a blind man lead [the same word for “guide” in John 16:13] a blind man? Will they not both fall in a pit? (Luke 6:39). We can trust the Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth in the Scriptures that we can apply to our lives.


Quite simply better Bible studies come from:


    

  1. Praying for the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture to you as your read it.
    2. 

  2. Reading the Bible.
    3. 

  3. Obeying what the Holy Spirit illuminates to your heart and mind.
    4. 



Try it and see what happens. I think you’ll like the results!






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Thursdays With Oswald—The Holy Spirit In Me

May 29, 2014 — Craig T. Owens 




Oswald ChambersThis 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 Holy Spirit In Me


     When I receive the Holy Spirit He lifts my personality back into its primal relationship with God. Holy Spirit coming into my spirit never becomes my spirit; He energizes my spirit and enables me “to will and to do of His good pleasure.” 


     … When the Holy Spirit begins to unearth the works of the flesh in you, don’t temporize it, don’t whitewash them; don’t call suspicion “discernment of the spirit,” or ill-temper “righteous indignation”; bring it to the light, come face to face with it, confess it and get cleansed away.


From Conformed To His Image


Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help form the righteousness of Christ in us, but we have to obediently respond to what the Spirit is convicting us of.


Probably like you, I am more apt to make excuses or rationalize why what I’m doing is okay (even though the Holy Spirit is convicting me otherwise). It becomes a battle that won’t end well for me! The better course of action is to listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, repent of my fleshly behavior as He reveals it to me, and receive more of the life in Christ in me.


What do you think?






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Links & Quotes

March 19, 2014 — Craig T. Owens 




link quote


These are links to articles and quotes I found interesting today.


[VIDEO] Disgusting!! Planned Parenthood Manager Advises A Pimp How To Make His ‘Business’ Legit.


[INFOGRAPHIC] Everything The Bible Says God Loves.


[PHOTOS] Too cute: A boy and his dog napping.


“The fact is, feeling conviction is not an end in itself. When we are humbled by guilt and sorrow over our sin, we are not supposed to rest in those feelings. They are meant to drive us to the end of ourselves—and to the victory of the Cross.” —David Wilkerson. Read more in Wilkerson’s post The Lord Is Good And Ready To Forgive.


“The Lord may not give gold, but He will give grace: He may not give gain, but He will give grace. He will certainly send us trial, but He will give grace in proportion thereto. We may be called to labor and to suffer, but with the call there will come all the grace required.” —Charles Spurgeon


Rush Limbaugh had a retired 777 pilot call into his show to talk about the missing Malaysian aircraft. Very interesting.






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Links & Quotes

February 17, 2014 — Craig T. Owens 




link quote


These are links to articles and quotes I found interesting today.


What the what? An App To Help You While Out On A Date


“God deserves to be served with all the energy of which we are capable. If the service of God is worth anything, it is worth everything.” —Charles Spurgeon


For you Detroit Tigers fans: When Willie Horton Walked Out On The Tigers


[VIDEO] A cool interaction between a garbage collector and an autistic boy


Interesting: How Millionaires Manage Their Time


Good reminder from Jeff Bonzelaar: satan Serves God


“No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess.” —Isaac Newton


“Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power.” —Baron Justus von Liebig (1803-1873), German chemist


[VIDEO] My daughter asks Seth to Swirl: Will You Be My Date?






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Worthy Of Imitation

October 12, 2012 — Craig T. Owens 




I pray that my life is worthy of imitation. And, pastor, I pray yours is too!


Here’s how to make sure it is an imitable life: I can’t just talk a good life. Paul wrote, “Our gospel came to you not simply with words….” Words are important, but they shouldn’t be a replacement for a life that backs up those words. Paul continues his thought:


Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction…. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)


Their sermons were backed up by the help of the Holy Spirit, and the deep conviction that Paul, Silas, and Timothy lived by. This was all outwardly focused toward others. Look how Paul concludes this verse, “…you know how we lived among you for your sake.”


They never attempted to use the gospel or their calling to benefit themselves, but always for the benefit of others and for the glory of God.


The result (v. 6):


You became imitators of us and of the Lord. 


I pray that all of us can say this about our congregations!






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Thursdays With Oswald—Melt My Prejudices

September 13, 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.


Melt My Prejudices


     Until the Holy Spirit comes in we see only along the line of our prejudices. When we let the Holy Spirit come in, He will blow away the lines of our prejudices with His dynamic power, and we can begin to “go” in God’s light. 


     A darkened heart is a terrible thing, because a darkened heart may make a man peaceful. A man says—“My heart is not bad, I am not convicted of sin; all this talk about being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit is so much absurdity.” The natural heart needs the Gospel of Jesus, but it does not want it, it will fight against it, and it takes the convicting Spirit of God to make men and women know they need to experience a radical work of grace in their hearts. …


     The only way to alter the hardened heart is to melt it, and the only power that can melt it is the fire of the Holy Ghost. 


From Biblical Psychology


It’s scary to think that my darkened heart can make me numb to the convicting of the Holy Spirit. All the more reason that I need to pray the prayers of the psalmist:


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)


Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:10-11)


O, Holy Spirit, melt my prejudices! Keep my heart tender before You!






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Thursdays With Oswald—Jesus Can Satisfy

June 21, 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.


Jesus Can Satisfy 


     [There] are indications from innumerable passages in God’s Book which prove that this complex soul which we have been examining can be satisfied and placed in perfect harmony with itself and with God in its present existence. The thought that a human soul can fulfill the predestined purpose of God is a great one. The human soul, however, can also be stagnated by ignorance. In the beginning, we do not know the capabilities of our souls and are content to be ignorant; but when we come under the conviction of sin, we begin to understand the awful, unfathomable depths of our nature and the claim of Jesus Christ that He can satisfy this abyss. Every man who knows what his soul is capable of, knows its possibilities and terrors, but knows also the salvation of God, will bear equal testimony with the written Word of God that Jesus Christ can satisfy the living soul. 


From Biblical Psychology


I think Chambers explains why some people don’t read the Bible regularly. Because when we read the Word, the Holy Spirit does show us the abyss between where we are and where God wants our souls to be. Then we are convicted and restless. And, as Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in You.”


But with that realization of the separation—the abyss—also comes the recognition that Jesus paid the price for our atonement (our at one-ment). Our souls can find their full satisfaction here and now if we will just turn from the thoughts and practices that are separating us from God.


Don’t wait for the “sweet by and by” to find satisfaction with God:


    

  1. Read the Word
    2. 

  2. Let the Holy Spirit convict you of the abyss in your soul
    3. 

  3. Obey the Spirit’s prompting so you can repent
    4. 

  4. Experience the at one-ment with God that Jesus paid for!
    5. 







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God’s Truth, Not Your Comfort

June 8, 2012 — Craig T. Owens 




Some time ago I was asked to speak in a church setting outside of my church. The audience was a blend of people from all different church backgrounds, and perhaps even some without any church background. I talked about the hopelessness of trying to pay-off our sin debt on our own, and the amazing love that Jesus showed when He paid our debt in full.


After the service, a couple of pastors in the audience wanted to speak with me about my message. They were moved by what they called “the impact” of the message, and especially about the way I called sin “sin.” As I spoke with them further, I discovered that they were somewhat hesitant to speak so openly and plainly about sin, because it unsettled some people in their congregations.


But here is the sober reality—


The Word of God IS unsettling because we cannot read it or hear it and remain unchanged. 


Our job as pastors or preachers is to speak the Word. When we do, the Holy Spirit will bring the necessary conviction and pull hearts toward repentance. Here’s what Oswald Chambers wrote about this:


“When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved from Hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.


“In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out—it is the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty, but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong. The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face with God Himself.”


Pastor, just speak the truth. You’re not trying to win a popularity contest, but to share with people how to step into a deeper relationship with God Almighty!


One final thought from Chambers: “Never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it.”








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Am I A Doer?

December 1, 2011 — Craig T. Owens 




This quote from J.C. Ryle has really been working on me…


“Men and women who hear the Gospel regularly, I often fear much for you. I fear lest you become so familiar with the sounds of its doctrines, that insensibly you become dead to its power. I fear lest your religion should sink down into a little vague talk about your own weakness and corruption, and a few sentimental expressions about Christ, while real practical fighting on Christ’s side is altogether neglected. Oh, beware of this state of mind! Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.”


Holy Spirit, bring Your conviction if my amazement at the Gospel ever slackens. May I always hear the Word gladly, and do the Word quickly.






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