Going Up, Please

September 13, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I’m leading a fun discussion at the En Gedi Youth Center with a bunch of excited 6th graders. Our class is called “An Elevation, A Mirror, And A Guy Called Bob” which is based on John Maxwell’s book Winning With People.

In Winning With People, Dr. Maxwell shares 25 principles for improving our interpersonal skills. In my class at the youth center, we’ve already covered the lens principle and the elevator principle.

The elevator principle basically says that we can only take people up or take them down in our interactions with them. There are no “neutral” interactions. I’m encouraging our students to always take people up.

One way we do that is by pausing to T.H.I.N.K before we speak. Before speaking, ask yourself, “Is what I’m about to say…

  • …True
  • …Helpful
  • …Inspiring
  • …Necessary
  • …Kind?”

This isn’t just good advice for 6th graders. We all would do well to remember to T.H.I.N.K. As Winston Churchill said,

“By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.”

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Are You An Encourager?

July 10, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Check out these words of the Apostle Paul—

When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. (2 Corinthians 7:5-6)

Paul wasn’t doing so well! No rest … conflicts every direction he turned … battles … fear … discouragement …

But did you see how God encouraged Paul?

By the arrival of Titus

God encouraged Paul through Titus. Not through an angel, or a sign in the heavens, or anything dramatic. But through a friend showing up.

God wants to encourage you through others…

are you allowing those encouraging friends into your life?

God wants to encourage others through you…

are you allowing Him to use you to do that?

People are almost always the means of God’s ministry to the world. May you and I always be ready, available, and obedient.

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Blocks

October 25, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

When I was a kid, I had a set of big cardboard blocks that looked like bricks. I built all sorts of cool things out of these blocks, and had hours of fun! Today my sons have the same kind of fun with Legos. They build really cool things for hours on end.

But occasionally, as I’m tip-toeing through the dark in bare feet, I step on a stray Lego. That is—to put it mildly—not so much fun. In fact, it’s almost crippling!

The Apostle Paul said, “Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”

None of my interactions with people today will be neutral. I’m either a building block, or I’m a stumbling block.

Paul says it quite simply: Make up your mind to build up, never to trip up.

What are you going to do with this thought?

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Set Up

December 6, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I absolutely love this quote from Albert Einstein:

“‎Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

This is so right on. And can be so sad.

I run into so many people that have this terrible message playing over and over and over in their minds, “I’m stupid … I’m worthless … I don’t have any talent …”

Perhaps we need to find some water for these fishes!

Get it? Instead of trying to change people’s wrong perspective of themselves, let’s get them set up for success. Help them discover where they are a genius … where they are invaluable … where they are talented.

Gotta go… I have a few fishes I need to point to water.

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Encouraging Presence

November 1, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Have you ever been down in the dumps? Ever been discouraged or blue? Have you ever felt like no one gets you? In those moments, have you asked God for encouragement?

The Apostle Paul was feeling a little down, and he asked God to send him encouragement. God answered this way…

But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.

Paul says in the next verse, Titus’ presence was a joy.

This word for encourage simply means showing up for a friend. Do you realize you could be a huge source of encouragement to someone just by showing up?

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” —Walter Winchell

Who needs you to just show up by their side today? Just by showing up, you could be the answer to someone’s desperate prayer for encouragement.

Go, be there for a friend!

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Cursing Or Shining?

October 18, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

There are two ways of dealing with any undesirable things around you: You can curse the darkness or light a candle. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say, “Tell bad people how bad they are.” Instead, He tells His followers to love … bless … serve … SHINE …

I suppose you could choose to curse…

  • There’s too much pollution
  • Respect is no longer seen
  • Politicians are crooked
  • Newspapers only report bad news
  • Too many marriages end in divorce
  • My kid’s teacher is never available
  • People hide behind Facebook and email
  • My church is boring
  • Halloween is dark and scary

Or you can SHINE…

  • Pick up one piece of trash … recycle your metal and plastic …
  • Write a thank-you note to your local police chief …
  • Run for office yourself … volunteer for a politician you believe in … be an informed voter …
  • Do something newsworthy … use social media to only highlight good news …
  • Date your mate … have dinner with another married couple …
  • Volunteer in a classroom … send an encouraging email to a teacher …
  • Take some cookies to your neighbor … send a handwritten note to a friend …
  • Start praising before you go to church … get involved in a ministry …
  • Light The Night …

Light your candle and shine brightly. Then watch and see as others light their candles from yours!

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Lifter Or Leaner

July 10, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

It’s a pretty simple question:

…but it requires some serious in-the-mirror introspection to answer.

Honestly:

…when times are tough,

…when it’s inconvenient for you,

…when it’s out of your comfort zone,

…when you’ve had a hard day yourself,

…can others count on you to come through?

It really boils down to this:

…are you a lifter or a leaner?

“There are two kinds of people on earth today;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
 
Not the sinner and saint, for it’s well understood
That the good are half-bad and the bad half-good.
 
Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man’s wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
 
Not the humble and the proud, for in life’s little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.
 
Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
 
No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
 
Wherever you go, you will find the earth’s masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.
 
And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.
 
In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner, who lets others share
Your portion of labor, and worry and care?”
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Which Are You? 
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