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Links & Quotes

March 10, 2014 — Craig T. Owens

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

I love C.S. Lewis’ interaction with children: “As to Aslan’s other name, well I want you to guess. Has there never been anyone in this world who (1.) Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas. (2.) Said he was the son of the Great Emperor. (3.) Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people. (4.) Came to life again. (5.) Is sometimes spoken of as a Lamb (see the end of the Dawn Treader). Don’t you really know His name in this world? Think it over and let me know your answer! Reepicheep in your coloured picture has just the right perky, cheeky expression. I love real mice. There are lots in my rooms in College but I have never set a trap. When I sit up late working they poke their heads out from behind the curtains just as if they were saying, ‘Hi! Time for you to go to bed. We want to come out and play.’”

[VIDEO] Sarah Palin has a wonderful Dr. Seuss-like poem for Washington, D.C. insiders.

Frank Viola gets it right in Christianeze Revisited.

I love this reminder from Max Lucado’s book Grace: “Muhammad does not indwell Muslims. Buddha does not inhabit Buddhists. Influence? Instruct? Yes. But occupy? No!” You can read my review of Grace by clicking here.

Did you hear about the pastor who died from a rattlesnake bite while handling one during a church service? Check out What’s With The Snakes?

“Oh! my brethren, it were well if this commendation, so forced from the lips of enemies, could also be compelled by our own example. If we could live like Peter and John; if our lives were ‘living epistles of God, known and read of all men;’ if, whenever we were seen, men would take knowledge of us, that we had been with Jesus, it would be a happy thing for this world, and a blessed thing for us.” —Charles Spurgeon

Helpful post for parents, coaches, and teachers from Dr. Tim Elmore: What’s Trending In Kids Today

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Aslan, Bible, book review, Buddha, Buddhism, C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, Christianese, Christianity, Dr. Seuss, Dr. Tim Elmore, Frank Viola, Generation Y, grace, Islam, Jesus Christ, Max Lucado, Muhammad, Muslim, Narnia, parenting, poem, quotes, Sarah Palin, teaching, testimony, video, youth. Leave a Comment »

No Hearsay Testimony

December 2, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

One of my favorite old-time television shows is Perry Mason, the famous attorney who always wins for his clients. In the courtroom, sometimes Perry appears to be daydreaming or disinterested, but he is always tuned-in to the proceedings.

Sometimes he will speak up, “I object, your honor, on the grounds that this is not best evidence.” Or perhaps he will say, “Objection! Hearsay, your honor.” In other words Perry is pointing out that the witness doesn’t have personal, first-hand knowledge but is merely telling the court what they heard someone else say.

A powerful testimony is one that is a first-hand, eye-witnessed, and personally-experienced.

As the Israelites are preparing to attack the city of Jericho, two young men are having a conversation with a citizen of Jericho named Rahab. She has grown up with stories of her gods El, Baal, and Ashera, but she is listening to these Israelite men tell of their first-hand experiences with Jehovah God. They have personally walked through the parted Red Sea; they have tasted manna and have drank water that God brought out of a rock in the middle of the dessert; they have seen God defeat their enemies.

As Rahab hears this new testimony, she realizes that what she has believed about her gods has all been hearsay testimony. She has no first-hand experience, but is only living on stories others have told her. She cries out, “Objection! Hearsay!” And then reaches this startling verdict: “The Lord your God IS GOD” (Joshua 2:11)!

This is why it is so important for those of us who have personally known and experienced God’s blessings to give first-hand testimony. Those around us think they have heard convincing evidence, but when they hear testimony from you that is first-hand, eye-witnessed, and personally-experienced, it annihilates that old hearsay testimony.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:13-14, NLT)

Don’t keep quiet about God’s blessings. Don’t let others live with their paltry hearsay testimony. Be a vocal and convincing witness that the Lord your God IS GOD!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: blessing, evidence, Jericho, Perry Mason, Rahab, speak up, testimony, witness. 2 Comments »

Thursdays With Oswald—The Will Of God

July 11, 2013 — 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.

The Will Of God

Supernatural voices, dreams, ecstasies, visions and manifestations, may or may not be an indication of the will of God. The words of Scripture, the advice of the saints, strong impressions during prayer, may or may not be an indication of the will of God.

The one test given in the Bible is discernment of a personal God and a personal relationship to Him, witnessed to ever after in walk and conversation.

From Christian Disciplines

The will of God may or may not come to you in a thundering voice or even in a still, small impression in your heart. But the way you walk and talk will absolutely attest to what you believe the will of God is. The way you walk and talk witnesses to what you believe.

So when you look at you, do you see God’s will on display?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: advice, Bible, discernment, God's will, lifestyle, Oswald Chambers, supernatural, testimony. Leave a Comment »

Keep It Closed!

July 2, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would help us reply the right way when someone questioned us about our faith in God. But Jesus showed us, that sometimes no reply is the best reply.

After Jesus was arrested, He was first sent to Pilate:

So again Pilate asked Jesus, “Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of.” But Jesus still made no reply… (Mark 15:4-5).

Then Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod:

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform a sign of some sort. He plied Him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer (Luke 23:8-9).

So Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. And what was the bottom line? Mark 15:5 adds this important phrase about the Roman governor: “…and Pilate was amazed.”

Our ability to remain silent when the Holy Spirit bids us to be silent speaks volumes to those who witness our silence. Be careful. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes keeping your mouth closed may be the best testimony for God that you can give.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Herod, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate, silence, testimony, vocabulary, witnessing. Leave a Comment »

Annual Souper Bowl Celebration

January 23, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

I love to eat good food, and I love to hear good stories about God’s blessing. On February 3 I get to do both!

It’s our annual Souper Bowl Celebration. After our regular morning worship service we all sample the delicious homemade soup and chili recipes from the amazing cooks in our church. It’s a little friendly competition, where everyone who eats gets to vote. My son Harrison is the reigning champ two years in a row, so I’ve heard a lot of cooks are gunning to unseat him. The competition should be delicious!

I don’t like meetings, so in place of Calvary Assembly of God having an annual business meeting, we have our annual celebration. It’s a great time recalling what God did for us in 2012, and then looking ahead to 2013. I always get so pumped up for this day!

If you’re around Cedar Springs on February 3, join us for some great food, some friendly competition, and some even better stories of God’s great blessings!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary Assembly of God, celebration, food, testimony. Leave a Comment »

Scared Half To Death

December 24, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Have you ever had a really good scare that turned your life around? For some people, they need to be scared half to death in order for them to make changes in their lives.

I think this is what happened to the shepherds outside Bethlehem the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:8-20). The Bible says that when the glory of the Lord shone around them they were terrified (the King James Version is very picturesque when it says they were sore afraid). The Greek word for fear is phobeo, but the phrase Luke uses here for “terrified” is megas phobeo phobos. Get the picture? They were scared half to death!!

But now, what to do what that fear? The angel gave them the first step—Go find Jesus. He didn’t tell them to get themselves cleaned up, or start going to church, or even to stop acting a certain way. Simply go find Jesus.

The shepherds obeyed and went to meet Jesus, and then something amazing happens.

Their fear is turned to praise—the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.
Their silence is turned to testimony—they spread the word concerning what had been told them.

Jesus was born as a Man to experience all our fears and sorrows and pains. But He took these upon Himself as He became the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. Now there are no fears that can keep us from God’s presence. Jesus conquered all that kept us from God!

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.He was despised and rejected—a Man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins! But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. (Isaiah 53:2-5; Ephesians 1:3-4)

This Christmas I pray you will…

Find Jesus for yourself!

Let your praises to Him ring out!

Tell others what Jesus has done for you!

If you have missed any of the messages in our Fear Not! series, you can find them all by clicking here.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Advent, angels, atonement, Christmas, Ephesians, fear, forgiveness, Gospel of Luke, Incarnation, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, praise, sermon, shepherds, testimony. 1 Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—God’s Honor Is At Stake

December 20, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

God’s Honor Is At Stake

As long as a Christian complies with the standards of this world, the world recognizes him; but when he works from the real standard, which is God, the world cannot understand him, and consequently it either ignores or ridicules him….

God’s honor is at stake in my eyes, in my hands and feet; His honor is at stake wherever I take my body. My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, therefore I have to see that it is the obedient slave of the disposition Jesus Christ has put in to stand for Him.

From Biblical Psychology

God’s honor is at stake in how I live, so I must constantly allow the Holy Spirit to help me answer the questions, “How am I living?” and “How am I representing God?”

Here’s a passage of Scripture I try to keep in mind to help me answer those questions:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:15-17)

In light of that passage from Peter and the wise words from Oswald Chambers, these are some good questions to ask ourselves:

Is Jesus truly the Lord of my life?
Do I live with a visible hope in Him?
Am I prepared to answer others’ questions?
Am I speaking gently and respectfully to others when I do answer their questions?
Is my conscience clear in the way I have lived toward others, or do I need to ask their forgiveness?
If others slander me, is it because I am living according to God’s standard?

Remember, “God’s honor is at stake in my eyes, in my hands and feet; His honor is at stake wherever I take my body.”

May God always be honored in the way that we all live!

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Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: 1 Peter, Holy Spirit, honor, introspection, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, slander, testimony. Leave a Comment »

Heaven Is Rejoicing!

July 1, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

One of my all-time favorite things to do as a pastor is water baptism. I love hearing the stories of lives that have been completely transformed by Jesus Christ! This morning the Calvary Assembly of God family celebrated with Crystal as she made her public declaration that she is totally sold-out for God!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: baptism, Calvary Assembly of God, pastoring, testimony. 1 Comment »

Engaging Culture

June 29, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

There has been a debate in religious circles for a long, long time about how involved Christians should be in culture.

Get close to outsiders. But how close is too close?
Be friendly with your neighbors. But how friendly is too friendly?

The debate usually has two extremes: Either get immersed in your world, or don’t even touch a thing of this world. I hate either-or’s!

Instead I think there is a both-and balance that is very biblical. We need to ENGAGE our culture. Engaging culture means that we understand it and can relate to it, but we don’t give in to it nor compromise with it.

We Must Be In It But Not Of It

I’ll be addressing this topic in a new series at Calvary Assembly of God. I hope you’ll be able to join me to learn about the biblical ways we should be engaging our culture.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Both-And, Calvary Assembly of God, culture, Either-Or, sermon, testimony, witness. 2 Comments »

If Anyone Ought To Be Happy

May 27, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I remember once going to play golf with two other friends. When we got to the course, the starter added another guy—someone we didn’t know—to our group to round-out our foursome. We began to “play” our round of golf (I use the term play loosely), and joke, and laugh, and enjoy ourselves.

About 4 or 5 holes into our round, our new friend asked what we all did. I responded, “He’s a pastor, I’m a pastor, and that guy over there is a missionary.”

Our new friend looked shocked. “You mean you’re all Christians?!”

“Yes, we are,” I said. “Does that surprise you?”

“Yes,” he replied, and then quickly added, “But I’ve never had so much fun playing golf before!”

It’s funny, and yet sad. Why would Christians be thought of as boring? dull? killjoys? Shouldn’t we be the most happy and joy-filled of all?

Here’s what Charles Spurgeon said—

We ought to be glad and rejoice forever in that which God creates. Ours is a heritage of joy and peace. My dear brothers and sisters, if anybody in the world ought to be happy, we are the people.

How large our obligations! How boundless our privileges! How brilliant our hopes!

What should make us miserable? Sin? That is forgiven. Affliction? That is working our good. Inward corruptions? They are doomed to die. satanic temptations? We wear an armor which they cannot penetrate. We have every reason for delight, and we have moreover this command for it: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). May God bring us into that blessed condition and keep us there!

God intends not only that we should have joy but also that we should spread it among others. He intends that wherever we go we should be light bearers and set other lamps shining.

Can people tell you have the joy of the Lord? Are you bringing light and laughter to dark and somber places? If you are filled up with God, how happy you should be!