Corey Owens

The point of this post is for Christians to become true followers of Christ; not puke to Him, but to represent Jesus.

Since the beginning of this year I’ve been going to a college gathering in Bristol, TN called SURF that meets on Sunday nights. The guy who leads it is Matt Cross and it is only about a year and a half old as of now. Anyways, there was one message that was put out there for everyone to listen to, which challenges every single college student. Whether that student is a Christian or was their first time attending a “Christian” gathering. Every message that Matt speaks is straight-up truth. Nothing but! And here is where most churches today don’t tell – TRUTH. All the truth. Even the “hard-to-talk-about” truth that everyone in the world is struggling with.

Well, what Matt talked about a few weeks ago is Are you giving your best to God?… That’s where most of us can just admit that we aren’t really giving God our best. Yet, we are just giving Him crumbs and leftovers and being what the modern language calls a lukewarm Christian. So the first question was asked: What does your best life look like? I didn’t know how to answer that after hearing that question. Some of us may think the American Dream of getting a home, a fancy sports car, a family, a high-paying job, and a good supply of groceries. That’s the life isn’t it? The American Dream…really? Is that what all of life means is to have all that you ever wanted, even though in reality you really can’t have all that you want. There is no true satisfaction in possessions. The answer to the spiritual life is this: Be all you can be in everything you do. God wants the very best in your life. But would you believe it with your whole heart if it says it in the bible?

You want the best from God, but are you giving your best to God?

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 [NIV]

• God created you for greatness. Think of the great things and dreams.

• God expects your best, but do you give Him the best?

• Why do some not give their best?

1. They’re lazy to give God the best.

2. Some people are quitters [Luke 8:13 - Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.] Too much truth? Most Christians think this way and don’t want to handle too much truth. They are just a fan of Jesus, but not true followers in which Jesus called all of us to be. Followers.

3. Some are content to be mediocre.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. – Romans 12:6-8 [NIV]

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. - Joshua 1:5 [NIV]

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - 2 Thessalonians 2:15 [NIV]

To end, God is more interested in faithfulness than success. The meaning of life is about relationships. We are all about relationships, to be honest. All around us we want to build a relationship with someone because we don’t want to have the fear to be alone. We need someone in our lives. But if you want the best relationship in your life, start by having a relationship with God before starting one with others. If your life is defined by relationships, let it be with God.

So how to do you expect your best, if it’s hard to give your best? You start by becoming real. Get passionate and real with God NOW!

CO

Wow! How long it has been since I have written anything on this page. With college being half way done and a new page turns as my life goes on trying to become a worship leader is a work in progress. Some may already know that I am currently leading a small church in Kingsport, TN in seeing a new side of worship as a style of life. Many don’t see worship as a big part of their lives, but to be honest we worship every day without even realizing. Worship, as Louie Giglio puts it in his book, The Air I Breathe as our response to what we value most. That is probably the most simplistic definition about what worship really is, but are we actually thinking about if what we are worshiping really values our life? It could be that “I worship my family”, “I worship my academic goals”, “My football team”, “My business” and the list just keeps going on and on. Worship is seen everywhere whether we realize it or not. Rock concerts or football games are very good examples of worship. People cheering like crazy left and right. Obviously, it’s what matters most to some people, but I am wanting to turn that idea around on if what you are worshiping really life changing? God has done so much for us, if thought thoroughly through. He has made a way for us to come back into His arms by becoming flesh in sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save this broken world from destruction.

Short notice, but I will be playing at Munsey Church tonight from 7-8:30 tonight. The church is off of the Market Street exit in Johnson City, TN. After getting off the exit you will go about 0.3 miles and the church will be on your right. Hope you all can make it!

Busy, busy, busy. That’s all life seems to be about. Busyness. This week I’ve been cram packed with homework and it just seems like I never have time to just sit down and meditate and God and His Word! I have a passion for Him, but all of these worldly things keep getting in my way of focus on the importance of my life with God and my daily walk of faith. How can I show God that I am still His and want to follow Him and pick up my cross daily?

Well, this week’s study for my small group at the well, it was talking about how a disciple of Christ needs to take a certain time of each day to be in God’s presence. But how do I do that when I have all this stress of homework, relationships, friendships, financial problems, and trying to keep my grades up? However, trying to keep my focus on God and have time to spend in His presence? In the times I am alone whether it be in the car on the way to work or school I worship God and experience His presence as much as I can to know that He is always with me. I actually haven’t noticed it that much, but I am driving a lot recently and have spent a lot of time alone in the car just driving singing praises to God. Actually experiencing Him knowing more about Him. That’s one way. Another way could be walking around the campus at school in between classes. Or just being in the library could be spiritual. I always find that a sacred place because you won’t have any distractions among you to interrupt your time with God.

Just got back from an amazing and spiritual night at The Well. If you have never been to The Well or never heard of it, well here is what it is about, in a nutshell. The Well is a college-led ministry for college-aged students to come together for one thing and that’s to seek God and to become closer to Him spiritually and personally. This is a really good way to grow your faith with God and to get to know Him in your personal life. God is amazing!

What the message was about tonight was about “worship”. Worship, in the most simplest terms, is our response to what we value most. And our worship needs to reflect to something worthy of our lives and something worth living for. Jesus is it! He is the prize! As James said, He isn’t third, second, not even first. He is it. The prize. We are all created to worship, that is what God has made us to do, to worship Him. God doesn’t receive more power than what He already has because He has all the power.

After everything that I have gotten from James’ message was that we can’t come to church on Sundays and worship Him only that day.  God deserves our worship everyday! That’s where the real work begins the moment we walk outside of those church doors. We have the opportunity to help those who are lost be found and to get to know Jesus Christ as their one and only Savior! When we worship, we have to live “boldly” about our worship. I’m not saying be a spotlight and be shown, but to be bold about your decisions that you make each and everyday. Your body is God’s temple, in which He has bought with a very fine hefty price that we have to be bold about our lives of worship. Our body is God’s and not ours.

You and I were created to worship God for His glory. He is the highest, He is the greatest, and He is the Lord of All!

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Come to The Well on Wednesday nights at 9pm. We meet at Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City, TN behind ETSU on South Greenwood Drive.

Oh man, I am so stoked for me and my band’s first concert “Worship Fest” along with Ralph Jeffers and the speaker Josh Brickey. My band and I have been practicing a little over a month and a half already just to get ready for you guys for Worship Fest. For some that don’t know anything about Worship Fest, it’s a place and time for college-aged students (and other folks I guess lol) to gather together for one reason and one reason only, to worship God for all that He is. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in place of our sin so we won’t have to to be able to come back in the loving arms of our Father in Heaven. Isn’t that just awesome? The God who is the creator of Heaven and Earth and of all the universe, to bring Himself through Jesus to save us from sin and eternal death so we won’t have too! This is what Worship Fest is about. It’s about giving all the we are to God for showing us what it means to love and to be the hands and feet of Christ. This year, for our first concert, we hope to inspire each and every person out there that comes to Worship Fest to be blessed and hopefully gained a stronger relationship with God. That’s our goal as a band and the rest of the people leading Worship Fest this year. Hope to see you fine people out there in Kingsport, TN and God Bless!