hymn | Craig T. Owens

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O Come, All Ye Faithful

December 15, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Pastor Tom Kaastra continued our series The Carols Of Christmas by looking at the well-known Christmas hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful. The line he especially highlighted comes from the third stanza—Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

It is so vital that we keep both of those aspects of Jesus Christ in mind: He is both the Word of the Father and the Word become flesh. As Tom pointed out, this fact helps us answer the two most vital questions that humans have:

Who is God?
Who am I?

I can learn more about who I am when I know more clearly Who God is. And when I know this, I can more fully—as the song says—come and adore Christ the Lord.

Jesus is fully God:

He is the Eternal Word (John 1:1-3)
He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3)
He is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
He is the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19)
When we see Jesus, we see God (John 14:8-9)

Jesus revealed to us the Father’s love; after all, God is love (1 John 4:16). Jesus came to show us the love of God.

Jesus is fully Man:

He got tired and hungry (John 4:6)
He limited Himself to do only what the Father told Him to do (John 5:19-20)
He limited Himself to say only what the Father told Him to say (John 12:49)
He felt anguish and pain (Luke 22:44)

As C.S. Lewis said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” And as sons of God, we have access to the Heavenly Father—

Those who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, “Abba! My Father!” (Romans 8:14-15)

Word of the Father now in flesh appearing is cause for adoration because Jesus has made it possible for us to become sons and daughters of God!

O come let us adore Him!!

If you’ve missed any of the messages in this series, you may check them out by clicking here.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Advent, Bible, C.S. Lewis, Christmas, Christmas carols, God's love, God's Word, Heavenly Father, human, hymn, Jesus Christ, Scripture, Word of God. 3 Comments »

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

December 8, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

We began our series on The Carols Of Christmas by looking at the poem written by Charles Wesley in 1744: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. As far as I can find, Wesley never shared where he got his inspiration for this prose, but I have a hunch that it might be from a song in the Bible called The Benedictus.

Zechariah had been unable to speak for nearly a year because of his doubt over the message God sent him through the angel (see Luke 1:5-20). When his son was born and Zechariah named him John, his tongue was loosed and he “was filled with the Holy Spirit” and burst into song (Luke 1:67-79). The first word of his song in Latin is benedictus, from which the name is derived.

Here’s what I love about both Zechariah’s and Wesley’s songs—they both look forward to Christ’s First Advent and His Second Advent. Mary was still pregnant with Jesus when Zechariah sang his song, but his lyrics reflect the Redemption story that Jesus would fulfill as Emmanuel, God with us. Charles Wesley picks up this same theme, rejoicing over Christ’s birth and His imminent return.

In fact, that’s exactly the point! We aren’t celebrating Christmas as much as we are celebrating Advent. Jesus was born “when the time had fully come” for His First Advent (Galatians 4:4-5), and “this same Jesus, Who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven” (Acts 1:11). That’s the message that should encourage us (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Check out the remarkable parallels between the Benedictus and Wesley’s hymn—

If you’d like to download a PDF of this side-by-side comparison, here it is → Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus & Benedictus ←

If you’ve missed any of the messages in this series, you may check them out by clicking here.

Poetry Saturday—Moment By Moment

November 29, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

It was during the great World’s Fair evangelistic campaign. Dwight Moody and his workers were gathered at the close of the day, as their custom was, in the evangelist’s room, for a word of prayer together. The hymn I Need Thee Every Hour had been selected. When they finished singing, Henry Varley, the English evangelist, said: “I’m not sure that I can subscribe heartily to that sentiment. I feel that I need Christ moment by moment.” That thought impressed Major D.W. Whittle, and after the prayer meeting he went to his room, and, prompted by the Holy Spirit, he wrote and rewrote and wrote again until 2 o’clock in the morning when he completed his song Moment By Moment.

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine,

Living with Jesus a new life divine,

Looking to Jesus ‘til glory doth shine,—

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,

Moment by moment I’ve life from above;

Looking to Jesus ‘till glory doth shine.

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share,—

Moment by moment, I’m under His care.

Never a heartache and never a groan,

Never a teardrop and never a moan;

Never a danger, but there on the throne,

Moment by moment, He thinks of His own.

Never a weakness that He doth not feel,

Never a sickness that He cannot heal;

Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,

Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still. —Major D.W. Whittle

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: D.L. Moody, D.W. Whittle, Dwight Moody, God's protection, Henry Varley, Holy Spirit, hymn, Jesus Christ, omnipresence, poetry. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—There Is A Safe & Secret Place

November 1, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

There is a safe and secret place,

Beneath the wings Divine,

Reserved for all the heirs of grace;

O be that refuge mine!

The least and feeblest there may bide,

Uninjured and unawed;

While thousands fall on every side

He rests secure in God.

He feeds in pastures, large and fair,

Of love and truth Divine;

O child of God, O glory’s heir,

How rich a lot is thine.

A hand almighty to defend,

An ear for every call,

An honored life, a peaceful end,

And heaven to crown it all! —Henry Francis Lyte

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: blessing, God's protection, Heaven, Henry Francis Lyte, hymn, poetry, prayer, safety, saints. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Eternal Power

August 2, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Eternal power, Whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God,
Infinite lengths beyond the bounds
Where stars resolve their little rounds!

The lowest step around Thy seat,
Rises too high for Gabriel’s feet;
In vain the favored angel tries
To reach Thine height with wond’ring eyes.

There while the first archangel sings,
He hides his face behind his wings,
And ranks of shining thrones around
Fall worshiping, and spread the ground.

Lord, what shall earth and ashes do?
We would adore our Maker, too;
From sin and dust to Thee we cry,
The Great, the Holy, and the High.

Earth from afar has heard Thy fame,
And worms have learned to lisp Thy name;
But, O! the glories of Thy mind
Leave all our soaring thoughts behind.

God is in Heaven, and men below;
Be short our tunes, our words be few;
A solemn reverence checks our songs,
And praise sits silent on our tongues. —Isaac Watts

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: angels, eternity, God's glory, Heaven, hymn, Isaac Watts, poetry, worship. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Away With Our Fears

May 31, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Away with our fears!

The glad morning appears

When an heir of salvation was born!

From Jehovah I came,

For His glory I am,

And to Him I with singing return.

Thee, Jesus, alone,

The fountain I own

Of my life and felicity here;

And cheerfully sing

My Redeemer and King,

Till His sign in the heavens appear.

With thanks I rejoice

In Thy fatherly choice

Of my state and condition below;

If of parents I came

Who honored Thy name,

‘Twas Thy wisdom appointed it so.

I sing of Thy grace,

From my earliest days

Ever near to allure and defend;

Hitherto Thou hast been

My preserver from sin,

And I trust Thou wilt save to the end.

O the infinite cares,

And temptations, and snares,

Thy hand hath conducted me through!

O the blessings bestowed

By a bountiful God,

And the mercies eternally new!

What a mercy is this,

What a heaven of bliss,

How unspeakably happy am I!

Gathered into the fold,

With Thy people enrolled,

With Thy people to live and to die!

O the goodness of God,

Employing a clod

His tribute of glory to raise!

His standard to bear,

And with triumph declare

His unspeakable riches of grace.

O the fathomless love,

That has deigned to approve

And prosper the work of my hands!

With my pastoral crook

I went over the brook,

And, behold, I am spread into bands!

Who, I ask in amaze,

Hath begotten me these?

And inquire from what quarter they came?

My full heart it replies,

They are born from the skies,

And gives glory to God and the Lamb.

All honor and praise

To the Father of grace,

To the Spirit, and Son, I return!

The business pursue

He hath made me to do,

And rejoice that I ever was born.

In a rapture of joy

My life I employ,

The God of my life to proclaim;

‘Tis worth living for this,

To administer bliss

And salvation in Jesus’ name.

My remnant of days

I spend in His praise,

Who died the whole world to redeem:

Be they many or few,

My days are His due,

And they all are devoted to Him. —Charles Wesley (supposedly this poem was written on the occasion of his birthday)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: birthday, Charles Wesley, fear, grace, gratitude, hymn, poem, poetry, salvation, singing, thankfulness. Leave a Comment »

Keep Your Eye On The Ball

May 1, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

My son is playing baseball for his high school this season. Whether I’m at a game or a practice, whether the Red Hawks are up to bat or out in the field, I hear the phrase over and over again: Keep your eye on the ball!

Pretty good advice.

It’s awfully hard to field the ball when you are distracted by something else. It’s next to impossible to hit the ball when you don’t watch it all the way from the pitcher’s hand.

As a pastor, people tell me frequently about a stumble into sin, a failure in their marriage, a relapse into their addiction, a slip of the tongue. And I want to repeat the phrase over and over again: Keep your eyes on Jesus!

It’s awfully hard to say no to sin that seems so attractive when you aren’t looking at the surpassing beauty of Christ.

It’s really hard to stay committed in your marriage when you don’t look at the perfect Bridegroom.

It’s almost impossible to stay morally clean unless your eyes are fixed on the perfect Savior.

Charles Spurgeon gave this warning—

“Some creature steals away your heart, and you are unmindful of Christ upon whom your affection ought to be set. Some earthly business engrosses your attention when you should fix your eye steadily upon the Cross. It is the incessant turmoil of the world, the constant attraction of earthly things which takes away the soul from Christ.”

I love the chorus of the old hymn:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Keep your eye on your Savior!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: baseball, Charles Spurgeon, focus, hymn, Jesus Christ, priority, quote, victory. Leave a Comment »

Reach Out

September 28, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Lepers were the most shunned of all Israelites in the Bible. It didn’t matter how much you used to love them, once they were diagnosed with leprosy, they were the untouchable. The unapproachable. The unlovable.

So here is an absolutely remarkable verse: Jesus reached out His hand and TOUCHED the leper.

There is such a power in the human touch! This unclean, despised, outcast, friendless leper simply asked Jesus to heal him. But Jesus went farther.

Jesus replied, “I am willing,” and then He touched him.

The Greek word for reached out implies that the leper remained a good distance away. Even though he longed for the restoration that the touch of Jesus could bring him, he kept a barrier between them. Jesus transcended his barrier.

Then the Greek word for touched is an intense word. It means to cling to someone. Jesus didn’t just lightly touch this hurting man, He threw His arms around him and CLUNG to him!!

He didn’t just heal this man physically, but restored him emotionally as well.

Who are the outcasts around you?

Who seems to be unlovable, untouchable, or even unapproachable?

Friend, you just might be the touch of Jesus for them that brings healing, wholeness, and restoration. Will you let Jesus CLING to them—and heal them—through you? Will you reach out like Jesus reached out?

Oh to be His hand extended

Reaching out to the oppressed

Let me touch Him

Let me touch Jesus

So that others may know

And be blessed

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Gospel of Matthew, healing, hymn, Jesus Christ, touch. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—Thinking Or Doing

August 4, 2011 — 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.

Thinking Or Doing

We perceive Truth by doing the right thing, not by thinking it out.

From Baffled To Fight Better

Oswald Chambers was not anti-thinking; neither am I. But there is a problem when I insist on something making sense to me before I act on it. If God says, “This way,” my first response shouldn’t be, “I’ll think about it.” But it should be, “Yes, I will obey.”

The words of the old hymn ring true:

Trust and obey

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: faith, hymn, obedience, Oswald Chambers, trust. Leave a Comment »

Wider Longer Higher Deeper

June 6, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

When was the last time you experienced a dimension of God’s love for the first time?

The Apostle Paul suggested that God’s love went beyond our 3-dimensional world—

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God’s love is WIDER than we can cross in a lifetime…

…LONGER than we can see with natural eyes…

…HIGHER than we can scale on our own…

…DEEPER than we can comprehend.

I love the last verse of Frederick M. Lehman’s hymn The Love Of God—

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.