No Fast Food Prayers

January 5, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

If there is one thing the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me during our week of prayer, it’s this: I need to spend more time praying for people.

Not more time studying for Sunday morning messages. Not more time reading. Not even more time hanging out with people. But praying for them.

Not more time talking to them. Not more time thinking about them. But more time talking to God about them.

There is nothing better I can do.

And not just a “fast food” prayer, either, but deliberate, personalized prayer. Look what David wrote:

Don’t they know anything, all these impostors? Don’t they know they can’t get away with this—Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they’re too busy to pray? (Psalm 14:4, The Message)

Bull’s-eye!

Time to get back to praying…

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My New Year’s Theme

January 1, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

In my daily Bible reading time this morning, I read this psalm/prayer/song from David. It so resonated in me, that I’m making it my declaration for 2011…

I’ve thrown myself headlong into God’s arms—I’m celebrating His rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.

I’m calling my 2011 The Year Of Fully Answered Prayers. That means, of course, I’m going to be spending more time in prayer. And that’s a pretty awesome thing!

What are you going to call your 2011?

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Last-Minute Christmas Shopping

December 23, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Over the past couple of days, anytime I’m driving anywhere near a store, I’m slowed down by so many last-minute shoppers.

I understand that some shoppers procrastinate, some family members are hard to shop for, and some folks wait so long to share their wish list with you. But as I’ve engaged a few shoppers in conversation, one thing I’m routinely hearing is, “I’ve got to get just one more gift for….”

One more gift.

Just one more.

And maybe one more after that.

I’m not knocking generosity, but I would like to point out that there is something called Enough.

Maybe instead of buying one more gift for someone special, you could exchange your shopping time for conversation time.

Maybe instead of one more gadget, you could go on one more date.

Maybe instead of more presents, you could give more presence.

Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say.

“More, more.”

I have God’s more-than-enough,

More joy in one ordinary day

Than they get in all their shopping sprees. (Psalm 4:6-7).

The greatest joy comes not from giving great gifts, but in being a gift to someone else. Enjoy God’s presence, and then give a present of your presence to a special someone!

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God Moments

November 15, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Last week I was at the B2B (Business-to-Business) meeting in Cedar Springs. We were talking about events that bring people into the downtown area, like the Spook-tacular, at which we did our Light The Night carnival. The next item on the agenda was the upcoming Mingle With Kris Kringle event.

Out of the blue I was asked, “Hey, do you think you could setup a nativity scene?”

I wanted to say yes, but I was mulling over my response for a second. Someone else offered, “Yeah, just grab a couple of sheep and you’re good to go!”

<POW!> The proverbial light bulb went off, and I immediately said, “Yes! We’d be happy to do that!”

Right away I began texting a bunch of people in our church:

  • Can you sew some Middle Eastern first century costumes?
  • Can you build a manger?
  • Do you know where we can find some live animals?
  • How would you feel about playing an angel?
  • Have you ever considered playing the role of Joseph?

In a matter of just a few moments I got back a whole lot of Yeses. We’re under the gun to get everything done (we have to present this on December 3), but we’re going to make it happen.

Just imagine if I hadn’t been at that meeting … or if I hadn’t got so many yeses … or if I hadn’t wanted to take the risk … none of this may have happened.

I truly believe my steps are ordered by God. He places me in the right place at the right moment. So those moments are God moments where I get to say a wholehearted “Yes!”

When was your last God moment? How did you respond?

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Will You Make A Difference Today?

October 19, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Moses shared a great prayer with us: Teach us to use wisely all the time we have (Psalm 90:12).

How will use your time wisely today? What does that look like in your world?

Let me today do something that shall take
A little sadness from the world’s vast store,
And may I be so favored as to make
Of joy’s too scanty sum a little more.
Let me not hurt, by any selfish deed
Or thoughtless word, the heart of foe or friend;
Nor would I pass, unseeing, worthy need,
Or sin by silence when I should defend.
However meager be my worldly wealth,
Let me give something that shall aid my kind—
A word of courage, or a thought of health,
Dropped as I pass for troubled hearts to find.
Let me tonight look back across the span
‘Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say—
Because of some good act to beast or man—
“The world is better that I lived today.” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Morning Prayer)

Make your world a better place because you passed through it today.

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Harmony Of Unity

August 5, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

One of the great joys for me living in Cedar Springs has been my involvement in the Cedar Springs Ministerial Association. It is so cool to get together with pastors from backgrounds so different from mine—Christian Reformed, Wesleyan, non-denominational, Methodist, and others—and have such unity.

It reminds me of what King David wrote:

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

That word unity (or some translations say harmony) means everyone getting together at the same place, at the same time, and for the same purpose. Sort of like a choir that shows up to sing. Some may sing alto, some bass, some soprano, and some tenor. They may not sing all the same notes, but the notes they do sing brings out a full harmonious sound. So much better than everyone singing the exact same notes!

Our Association is planning a community-wide worship service on August 29 in Morely Park. And, appropriately enough, we’re calling this worship service UNITY. Calvary Assembly of God is relocating our service that morning to the park to be a part of the beautiful harmony.

I wouldn’t miss it! Because in this harmony of unity is where David says God’s blessing is:

Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting.

If you are in the Cedar Springs area on August 29, come and join us.

Pastors, if you live in another community, I would encourage you to begin to harmonize with the other God-loving, Christ-following churches in your city. That’s where God blesses!

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I Am The Judas

August 3, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

I received this email from a trusted ministry partner today and thought it was so impactful that I wanted to pass it along. The author of this story is a missionary in a heavily Muslim country.

Hassan has been a friend and confidant for ten years. He came to know the Lord as a refugee in Eritrea before moving back to the country I’m in looking for work. He started working with us as a teacher at one of our English centers, and over time rose up through the ranks to become its director. Personable, caring, charismatic, and intelligent, Hassan grew the center and it now ministers to over 500 people on a daily basis.

Different people on our team have interacted with Hassan over the years in his home, on ministry trips, and at the small Bible study that he led for other believers from a Muslim background. Many of us can point back to times of sweet fellowship, worship, praise, prayer, and ministry. I have seen Hassan cry real tears in the presence of the Lord.

Three months ago we discovered Hassan stole tens of thousands of dollars from the ministry center. Time revealed that he has taken a second wife, more time revealed he actually has three wives, is possibly a security informant (he knows everything about us), and allegedly paid other Muslims to pretend they were believers to widen the deception.

I am of two hearts on this. On one side I wonder how Hassan could live in both worlds so convincingly. I also realize that I am just as skilled an actor, I have two faces. I can move from praise and legitimate worship to carnality in a moment. I can read my Bible and my eyes mist up at some discovery of Jesus, and then rise up out of my chair to yell at my sons. I can stand in the pulpit and scan the audience for pretty ladies.

I am the “Judas” in the midst. Oh Lord, have mercy on me. O Lord, have mercy on us all.

May we take this word to heart and all take a deep look in our heart—

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

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Uncomfortably Quiet

July 26, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Yesterday we dove into part two of our series The Stranglehold Of Worry by looking at anxiety. The medical dictionary defines anxiety as “worry compound by our own self-doubts about our ability to cope with worry.” Wow, talk about a double whammy!

You’re already worrying about something, and then you worry about what you’re worrying about!

Or for many people, anxiety boils down to worrying about what others are thinking about what you’re worrying about.

There’s a story in Luke 10 where Dr. Luke notices Martha’s anxiety. She is trying to be the best hostess she can for Jesus and His disciples, but it has gone beyond that. She is worrying about what Jesus thinks about her hospitality. She’s tied up in knots. What makes it even worse for Martha is that her sister (who was helping Martha get everything ready for the meal) is sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to Him speak.

Jesus tells Martha, “You are all worked up over trying to make a good impression. You are worried and upset. Look at Mary: she’s sitting quietly and listening to Me.”

Sitting quietly…

We don’t do that very well, do we? Our lives are bombarded with noise. In fact, when Jesus tells Martha she is worried, the Greek word means overly-busy. That’s how too many of us try to cope with worry, but the noise and busyness just lead to more anxiety.

We closed our service on Sunday in a very unusual, very uncomfortable way. We were silent. No music, no singing, no closing prayer. Just sitting silently at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him. It was uncomfortable but so beneficial.

Listen to King David:

I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.

It might be uncomfortable, but it is just what the Lover of your soul ordered. Find some time to switch off the radio, leave the mp3 player and cell phone behind, and get someplace where you can just sit quietly at Jesus’ feet and hear the loving words He has to say to you.

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A-to-Z Love

July 23, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

You probably have heard that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses). The anonymous author clearly loved God’s Word—everything about it from aleph to taw (that’s Hebrew for “from A to Z”).

The psalm’s 176 verses are divided into 22 sections, with eight verses in each section (the Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters). All of the verses except three mention God’s Word in some way (law, statutes, commands, etc.). In other words, this author loved God’s Word from start to finish, and everything in-between!

How about if we continue the A-to-Z love?

I love that God’s Word is…

A—An attitude adjustor

B—Bright hope

C—Comforting

D—Direction for life

E—Educational

F—Fulfilling my deepest longings

G—Good and good for me

H—Historically accurate

I—Illuminating

J—Just what I need, when I need it

K—Keeping me from sin’s grip

L—Liberating me from anxiety

M—Making me the God-fearing man I should be

N—Never condemning, always encouraging

O—Opening my understanding

P—Purifying my motives

Q—Quality time

R—Revealing God’s love for me

S—Strength for today

T—Temptation defeater

U—Unfailing truth

V—Visionary

W—Worth more than all my other books

X—Xenografted into my heart (James 1:21)

Y—Yahweh’s love letter to me

Z—Zoe (1 John 1:1)

Go ahead and add your A-to-Z love of God’s Word in the comments…

I also shared a series of 22 messages looking at each of the sections of Psalm 119. You can find the complete list of those messages by clicking here.

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I’m Just Not Feelin’ It

July 20, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Ever been here?

My job is boring…

My finances are barely making ends meet…

My relationships seem stagnant…

I’m bored…

Church just doesn’t thrill me anymore…

My devotions are lackluster…

My prayer life is sporadic…

I just don’t feel like praising God…

What do you do? You certainly can’t listen to your feelings because they will betray you as many times as they help you. My experience has been that you cannot wait until you feel like doing something to start doing something. But if you just do the right thing, then the good feelings will usually follow.

King David was in a similar position—no job, no prospects, no income, strained relationships, no chance to even go to church. Psalm 34 has this introduction, “When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away.” In other words, David was not having a good day. He certainly wasn’t feelin’ it! How did he get out of this funk?

STEP 1: Use your will to praise God.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord.

David said, “I’m not really feelin’ it, but I’m gonna praise God anyhow!”

STEP 2: Be prepared for your emotions to engage.

My soul will boast in the LORD.

The soul is the seat of the emotions. It started off as an act of David’s will, but then it got down into his soul and he started feelin’ it.

STEP 3: Become an encouragement to others.

Let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together.

When David used his will to praise God, other helpless, hurting people began to join in. Soon it was a choir of praise!

You may not be feelin’ it, but if you’ll just use your will to praise God, you will begin to feel better, and you’ll help others to feel it as well.

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