I’m sharing this as a public service announcement because some people really need help in this important social area. You know who you are…
An Extra Hour Of Sleep
February 24, 2010 — Craig T. Owens
I’m a morning person. I absolutely love getting up early and spending some quiet time alone with my Bible. This is the time of day I most absorb all that God is saying to me. It’s my most creative time too. In fact, I so love getting up early that most mornings I’m awake before my alarm clock goes off.
But not this morning.
Today my alarm clock began playing Way-FM and I felt like I was in a fog. It took me a minute or so to even open my eyes and sit up.
I was about to press ahead with my morning, when I thought, “I should sleep some more.”
You see, I’ve learned a few things about myself. When I’m tired…
- I have a shorter attention span.
- I’m not as creative.
- I’m not as patient.
- I am more prone to give in to temptation.
- I make decisions that are too short-sighted.
- I’m more susceptible to colds and flu.
So I re-set the alarm and slept another hour.
Sometimes a little extra sleep is one of the most important things you can do to improve your physical health, your emotional stamina, and your spiritual maturity.
UPDATE: In my book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter I have five chapters about a leader’s health—mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health is vital to a leader’s effectiveness and longevity.
What A Dream!
January 18, 2010 — Craig T. OwensI have just been listening to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s incredible I Have A Dream speech. If ever there was a man who could cast a compelling vision, it was Dr. King. Look at his pattern—
- He had a noble cause.
- He stated the problem first: “One hundred years later” there is still racial injustice.
- He articulated the righteousness of the pursuit of justice and equality.
- He set the criteria: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters.”
- He encouraged his audience to press on.
- He brought his vision to a dramatic conclusion with the portable and memorable rally cry: “I HAVE A DREAM!“
Powerful! Watch it again for yourself…
“And Then He Died…”
January 15, 2010 — Craig T. OwensListen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
That’s the end of his life. All those years living and that’s all his obituary says: “and then he died.”
Genesis 5 is the lineage of Adam. A mind-numbing list of names and years scroll by:
- Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
- His son Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.
- His son Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.
- His son Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.
- His son Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.
- His son Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.
- And on and on and on….
For each man we hear the name of one of his sons and how long he lived, but nothing more. Like a modern-day tombstone:
Birth Date─Death Date
The dash between the dates covers childhood, schooling, marriage, inventions, parenthood, and so many other things. But years later, more and more of the details are forgotten and only the dash remains to represent the sum total of the deceased’s life.
And then comes Enoch.
All of the same details are there. Well, except for the “and then he died” epitaph. But actually, there’s so much more. Instead of a death, there’s a phrase that appears only for him: “Enoch walked with God.” The phrase literally means “to be continually conversant.”
Because Enoch lived this way, he didn’t really die. Instead, “He was no more.” He wasn’t here any longer because he is still walking with God. What an incredible blessing to his future generations! He was a blessing while he was alive, and he continues to be a blessing after he is no more.
Enoch’s tombstone reads differently from everyone else. The birth date is there, the dash is there, but instead of “and then he died” we read “he was no more.”
It’s the way I would want my tombstone to read:
Craig T. Owens
1966─He walked with God─He was no more (because he is still walking with God)
In The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey suggests living my life today consistent with what I would like said at my own funeral. It starts with a decision: “Today I will be continually conversant with God.” Then at my funeral, they can say of me, like the Bible says of Enoch: “He didn’t die. He’s just not here any longer. He is walking with God in heaven, just like he walked with Him here on earth.”
What do you want said about your dash?
Do you want your life to simply end with “and then he died”? Do you want something more?
Make your dash a continual conversation, a daily walk with God, and all of your future generations won’t see just a dash, they’ll remember “He is no more. He walked with God, and he is still walking with God!”
Start walking today!
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Joker One (book review)
December 1, 2009 — Craig T. Owens
At first glance, Donovan Campbell’s narrative of his time in Ramadi, Iraq, might seem like a typical war story. But, as the old cliché says, you cannot judge a book by its cover.
Joker One is the name of a United States Marine Corps platoon. But Joker One the book is really more about leadership. Lieutenant Campbell leads us through his day-by-day struggles to lead his men to success. Along the way he has to do the full 360-leadership cycle: leading up with his commanding officers; leading sideways with other commissioned officers; and lead leading down with his squad leaders. Along the way he discovers something remarkable: his Marines are great leaders themselves.
Lt. Campbell sees his men grow in their own leadership skills under his mentorship. He finds his strength in them. He carries a heavy leadership load until his men have to carry him. It reminded me so much of the leadership principles that others have postulated for the board room, but the Marines of Joker One make them happen on the battlefield.
This is a gripping story. Some of the battle scenes are gritty, and some of the language is a little rough (this is probably a PG-13 book). The love and respect that develops between this officer and his men is an amazing study in leadership. It’s also a book about decision-making under fire, the consequences of those decisions, pain, redemption, faith.
I cried and I cheered while reading this book. I hold the members of our military in very high esteem. This book raised my level of respect for our airmen, sailors, soldiers, and Marines even higher. You will be challenged and stirred by the exploits of Joker One.
My New Club
October 21, 2009 — Craig T. Owens
The newest member of the Junky Car Club
I like my car. It’s a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville. This is the second Bonneville I’ve owned. I bought my first one with 70,000 miles and put 130,000 miles on it. I bought my second Bonneville with 100,000 miles on it, and I’m now up to 175,000 miles.
It’s running like a top. But it’s now officially a member of the Junky Car Club.
This club was started by a pastor who was concerned about how much money Christians were spending to keep up appearances. Like somehow a good-looking, new-fangled, gadget-laden, brand-spanking-new car signaled to everyone that we were successful.
Successful, maybe, but also spending a lot of money to make sure everyone knows how successful we are (or pretend to be). So instead of spending the money on the car payments, why not keep the older car and then be able to give more money to worthwhile charities? Great concept! Here is JCC founder Mike Foster explaining the idea behind this club.
My car may rattle a bit, and the trunk leaks when it rains, and the interior dome light doesn’t come on when I open the door, and the coat hanger in the back seat is broken. But I hate having car payments, and my car is running just fine. I joined the JCC because I love what they stand for, and I want to identify with them.
If your car is older and you’re contemplating a shiny-new car, I would ask you to consider joining the JCC with me. The money you’ll be saving on car payments, that you can give away, can make a huge difference in others’ lives.
Familiar Conversations
October 13, 2009 — Craig T. Owens
I read a long time ago the statement, “Leaders are readers.” I’m a wholehearted supporter of this. Thanks to a marvelously talented carpenter in our church, I have a new home for all of my books. I was so excited to get my library out of boxes and onto the shelves.
Actually, they’re more than just books, they are familiar conversations. Rene Descartes said, “The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.” I agree.
People often ask me what I’m reading or what they should be reading. As to the second question—what should they read—I answer, “What conversation would you like to have? Is there an area of your life you would love to talk with someone who’s been-there-done-that?” That’s what reading is, having a conversation with some of the great thinkers or most articulate people in past or modern history.
As to the first question—what am I reading—I try to keep readers of the blog up-to-date. Down the right column you will see the list of books I have in progress, and the ones I’ve read this year. Let me highlight just a couple of books.
Wounded Healer. To go deeper in my relationships with others, I have to be able to relate to them at deeper levels. Henri Nouwen has captured the essence of this in Wounded Healer. We cannot minister to others out of our wounds, but out of our scars. In other words, once we’ve healed, but the scar is still there to remind us of the wound, we’re ready to help others heal from the same injury.
Love & Respect. Even though Betsy and I have known each other for nearly 25 years, I know I can still learn more about being a better husband. Emerson Eggerichs is helping me do a better job.
21 Laws of Leadership. This is a classic leadership book from John Maxwell. I can’t even count how many times I’ve read through this book. But I’m going through it again with my church Board, and watching John teach the video series on this book too. Every time I have this conversation with John Maxwell I learn something new.
To be a better leader in any area of your life, don’t shy away from having better conversations with great authors. If you’ve got a book to suggest, send it my way. I’d also be happy to help you find a book as a conversation-starter for you, just ask me.
Slowing Down Fast Food
August 13, 2009 — Craig T. Owens
It’s named “fast” food because it is supposedly prepared quicker than you could fix it yourself at home. It’s also called “fast” because so many of us order it from our cars in the drive-thru lane, and then inhale our food as we speed down the road to our next appointment.
But have you noticed how fast people eat their fast food even when they sit down in the restaurant?
Have you noticed how fast we eat the food we prepare at home? Usually, it takes less time to eat it than it took to prepare it!
Have you noticed how fast we “eat” life?
The other day I took a break from my study time to eat a healthy breakfast bar. I munched on it while I continued to type notes on my computer. A couple minutes later I looked next to me and saw the empty wrapper but honestly couldn’t remember what flavor I just ate! What’s the point of flavor if I’m not even going to enjoy it?
The Psalmist said, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Taste: That implies that I slow down to actually notice the taste.
How many blessings from the Creator do I treat as fast food every day?
- I “see” yet don’t perceive the incredible pallet of colors in the flowers and trees and sunset.
- I “hear” yet don’t appreciate the robin’s early morning song.
- I “smell” yet don’t savor the newly-blossomed flowers on the bush outside my front door.
- I “taste” yet don’t marvel at the golden beauty of the nectar-turned-to-honey for my tea.
- I “touch” yet I’m unmoved by the silky black fur of my cat.
It’s time to slow down … savor … relish … bask … enjoy … marvel… appreciate … and then truly praise God for His incredible goodness.
Some ideas for us to try:
- When you talk with your spouse or children today, look deep into their eyes. What color are they? I mean, really look. Don’t settle for saying “blue” or “green” or “brown.” Look at them like an artist would. “Crystal blue: like the color of my favorite lake early in the morning.”
- When you sit down to eat, take a bite, put your fork down, chew slowly, try to identify each flavor. Take a drink before taking your next bite, so that each bite of food is like the first bite.
- If you’re eating with others, don’t rush away from the table after the meal is eaten. Talk, ask questions, listen, learn something new.
- Walk outside. Close your eyes and listen attentively. How many sounds can you hear? The birds singing, the bee buzzing, the leaves rustling, children laughing, sprinklers sprinkling, mowers mowing. Appreciate the sounds.
S-l-o-w d-o-w-n. Taste—savor and appreciate—all of the Creator’s blessings around you. If you don’t, you’ll eat without tasting. Don’t let your life become a fast food life.
More?
August 3, 2009 — Craig T. Owens
I keep getting these annoying messages on Twitter that say something like, “I got over 500 new followers on Twitter, and you can too!!” Then I get these sorts of emails, “We can increase the traffic to your blog 300% per day!”
What would make them think I want more? Maybe it’s because almost everything in our lives is about more.
- After high school, go to college to get more education.
- After college, climb the corporate ladder to get more money or more recognition.
- After you start working, take more vacations and enjoy more perks.
Lately, I’ve become focused on better. I think better is better than more.
More is about width, better is about depth.
More is an exhausting pursuit, better is a satisfying pursuit.
More is about quantity, better is about quality.
So here’s my challenge, trade more for better—
- Instead of looking for more friends, make your current friendships better.
- Instead of getting more followers on Twitter, make better followers.
- Instead of getting more education, get a better education.
- Instead of trying to read more books, read better books.
- Instead of spending more time with a lot of people, spend better time with a few people.
In what areas of your life can better be better than more?
More Today?
May 20, 2009 — Craig T. OwensI have shared before how I often wake up with a particular song on my mind. This morning it was a 1969 classic that I added to my iPod a few weeks ago: “More Today Than Yesterday” by The Spiral Starecase. (Go ahead and listen to the song while you read on.)
So as I was attempting to wake up Betsy, I sang part of the chorus to her. “I love you more today than yesterday. But not as much as tomorrow.” Which got me thinking: How do I do this?
Betsy and I have been “an item” for 8,935 days. I thought I loved her tons yesterday, so how do I love her more today than yesterday? Let me take a couple of cues from the song:
“I’ll be spending time with you”—the greater the quantity of time I spend with her the more likely I’ll have quality time with her.
“Everyday’s a new day in love with you”—love keeps no record of wrongs. If I’m holding grudges against her or beating myself up over mistakes I made, I’m keeping a record. Forgiveness is the key to wiping the slate clean so I can love her more today than yesterday.
“With each day comes a new way of loving you”—there’s a reason why the apostle Paul talks about “growing up” in the great love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. My love should be maturing and growing up every day. So today I should be able to love Betsy in a more mature way.
“I thank the Lord for love like ours that grows ever stronger”—as my relationship with Jesus becomes more intimate I will learn how to love Betsy more today than yesterday. As C.S. Lewis put it, “When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.”
What special relationships do you have? Do you love that earthly dearest more today than yesterday? With quality time, forgiveness, maturity, and a closer relationship with Jesus, you can truly love that special someone more today than yesterday. Give it a try!
Every day’s a new day, every time I love you.
Every way’s a new way, every time I love you!
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