Jesus Christ | Craig T. Owens

April 2026
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30

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 »

Links & Quotes

December 13, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

“The Lord has many lovers of His crown but few lovers of His Cross.” —Thomas á Kempis

Charles Spurgeon on the power of unity: No Bigotry In Unity.

David Witt asks: Is It Time To Rethink Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs?

“The degree of blessing enjoyed by any man will correspond exactly with the completeness of God’s victory over him.” —A.W. Tozer

Dr. Benjamin Mast has a lot of initials after his name (which means he’s really smart!). Check out this interview with him: Alzheimer’s, The Brain and The Soul.

Here is an amazing admission from scientists regarding stem cell formation: “No one, not even the dozen or so groups of scientists who intensively study reprogramming, knows how it happens. They understand that differentiated cells go in, and pluripotent cells come out the other end, but what happens in between is one of biology’s impenetrable black boxes.” Read more in this article about stem cells, but I am glad I can trust the Creator to reveal to us what may be in “the black box”!

I love ReverendFun cartoons! Here is one of my favorites—

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.W. Tozer, Abraham Maslow, Advent, Alzheimer's Disease, blessing, brain, cartoon, Charles Spurgeon, Christian, Christmas, Creator, disciples, eternal life, Jesus Christ, medical science, motivation, quotes, ReverendFun, sermon, soul, stem cell, surrender, Thomas a Kempis. 3 Comments »

Thomas á Kempis On Prayer

December 11, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Some great quotes from Thomas á Kempis on prayer—

“He who aims at inward and spiritual things must, with Jesus, turn aside from the crowd.”

“Grant me, oh most merciful Jesus, Your grace, that it may be with me, and labor with me, and abide with me even to the end. … Let there be between You and me but one will, so that I may love what You love, and abhor what You hate; and let me not be able to will any thing which You do not will, nor to dislike any thing which You do will.”

“Let no pride or self-seeking, no impure motive or unworthy purpose, no little ends or low imagination stain my spirit, or profane any of my words and actions.”

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: God's will, humility, Jesus Christ, prayer, pride, Thomas a Kempis. Leave a Comment »

Inspire To Be Great (book review)

December 9, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

In my dictionary if you look up the word “inspiring,” you’ll find a picture of Zig Ziglar. Zig had such a unique and memorable way of blending quotes, personal examples, motivation, and helpful next-steps, that few have ever inspired to action like him. In Inspire To Be Great you will find a collection of Zig’s inspiring, insightful quotes.

This book is a part of the “Life Wisdom” series, which is a very appropriate title for the folks featured in these books because they are people who have lived their lives successfully. They don’t just talk-the-walk, they walk-the-talk.

Zig, like others in this series, never hid the fact that his personal relationship with Jesus Christ made him a better man, a better husband, a better father, a better salesman. Tapping into the principles found in Scripture, Zig had a God-given gift to make those principles applicable to every walk of life.

Truly this book is an inspiring read for anyone!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: book review, inspiration, Jesus Christ, motivation, quotes, wisdom, Zig Ziglar. 2 Comments »

Links & Quotes

December 8, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Some good reading from today…

“As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace? … Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear. Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.” —A.W. Tozer

[PHOTOS] Some great photographs from the scientific world.

Dave Barringer has a great post about marriage and adultery: Affairs And Fruit.

[PHOTOS] Today marks the 73rd anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “day of infamy” speech. Here are some memorable photos remembering that horrific day.

“It will not bother me in the hour of death to reflect that I have been ‘had for a sucker’ by any number of impostors: but it would be a torment to know that one had refused even one person in need. After all, the parable of the sheep and goats [Matthew 25:31-46] makes our duty perfectly plain, doesn’t it? Another thing that annoys me is when people say ‘Why did you give that man money? He’ll probably go and drink it.’ My reply is ‘But if I’d kept [it] I should probably have drunk it.’” —C.S. Lewis

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.W. Tozer, adultery, C.S. Lewis, charity, Dave Barringer, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gospel of Matthew, humility, Jesus Christ, marriage, Pearl Harbor, photography, pride, quotes, science, World War II. Leave a Comment »

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.

Jesus Daily (book review)

December 4, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

In just a minute I’ll tell you how to win a FREE copy of the Jesus Daily book, and one other winner will get a free copy of the book and a really cool Jesus Daily t-shirt.

Some people have asked, “Would Jesus tweet?” The answer, I believe, is a resounding yes! Jesus used all of the methods available to Him to share the Good News. Dr. Aaron Tabor is essentially doing the same thing. What has become the Jesus Daily book began by Dr. Tabor asking, “What more can I do to share the good news about Jesus Christ?” That turned into a Facebook page, which has now become this inspirational book.

Jesus Daily is a 365-day devotional book. Each day you will find a verse from the Bible, a short 1-page devotional thought which springs from that verse, followed by a way to interact with others online in sharing the good news.

For example, on my birthday I see, “Surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). The devotional thought reminds me that God as my Heavenly Father loves spending time with me, and that in His surrounding presence I find restoration. I don’t have to “earn” time with Him, but He longs for me to come to Him. Then I’m challenged to post one of my favorite verses on-line, and ask others to do the same.

It’s a powerfully-simple concept. Just a few minutes each day, and you will not only draw closer to God, but you will share the good news about Jesus with all of your on-line connections.

Okay, here’s how you can win one of the two prizes. To be entered into the drawing, do as many of the following as you’d like. You will be entered one time for each of these things:

Post a comment below with one of your favorite Bible verses.
Click one of the share buttons to share this post on one or all of your social media outlets. Make sure that you use the hashtag #JesusDailyBook, and also tag me (@craigtowens) so I can get you entered.

Winners will be selected by a random drawing at 5pm EST on Saturday, December 6, 2014. If your name is drawn, I will contact you. Even if you don’t win a free copy, Jesus Daily will make a great devotional book for you.

I am a FaithWords book reviewer.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Aaron Tabor, Bible study, book review, devotions, giveaway, Jesus Christ, social media. Leave a Comment »

Links & Quotes

November 29, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

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!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, conscience, David Wilkerson, discipleship, Heaven, Jesus Christ, John Bunyan, John Calvin, liberty, Martin Luther, martyrs, obedience, pilgrim, Pilgrim's Progress, pornography, potential, prayer, quotes, rape. Leave a Comment »

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 »

Links & Quotes

November 28, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

Some good reading from the last couple of days …

“The blood of Jesus can cover your sins, but it does not make you dependent on Him. Miracles can deliver you from satan’s power, but they can’t make you dependent. You can be led by God and still not lean wholly upon the Lord. God has to strip us of all self-assurance and destroy all that remains of self-righteousness, spiritual pride and boasting. He must (and He does) humiliate all who are destined to inherit His great spiritual blessings.” —David Wilkerson

Fast Company shares why thankful people are happier and healthier. And Dr. Tim Elmore shares 5 ways leaders can show gratitude.

“May God grant that no doctrinal belief may ever dry up the milk of human kindness in our souls! … May we feel that no dogma can be scriptural which is not consistent with a sincere love to men.” —Charles Spurgeon

“The enemy never quite knows how to deal with a humble man; he is so used to dealing with proud, stubborn people that a meek man upsets his timetable. And furthermore, the man of true humility has God fighting on his side—who can win against God?” —A.W. Tozer

“The problem with problems is that they always keep us from focusing on opportunities.” Read more of Seth Godin’s post The Problem With Problems.