/ The Shepherd

The Shepherd

The Shepherd is the personal blog of Rev. Bert Owen, Director of Shepherd's Rest Ministry. This Ministry is a ministry of support and encouragement for the clergy of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The ministry operates a "retreat house" available to Cumberland Presbyterian ministers. Shepherd's Rest Ministry web-site is listed below.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Milton and Anne Munoz

What a blessing and enjoyment it was this week to have a visit from Milton and Anne. They arrived at our house on Tuesday about 5:30 pm, stayed for two nights and left about 9:30 am on Thursday. It was not long enough but a great visit. Pat suggested they could not have survived my talking for any longer.

Milton, whose home was in Cali, Colombia, SA, lived with our family in Louisvile while he attended Bethel College in the late sixties - early seventies. They have lived in Salt Lake City where Milton recently retired after teaching for 31 years. Anne is an accomplished Batik and Quilt artist. Our daughters were in high school when Milton came to live with us and he quickly became one of the family and it has remained so ever since. Though none of our grand children had ever seen Milton, they have always thought of him as one of the family also. So, it was a special treat when Patrick and James came from McKenzie on Wednesday and Paul and Joshua came from Bowling Green and met us for lunch in Paducah and spent the rest of the day with us.

A very special day(s) with lots of memories and stories about all the rest of the family as well as Milton and Anne's families. Another reminder of how quickly time passes and how God blesses. "The good investments of early years produce sweet fruit in the later ones".

posted by Bert Owen @ 4:20 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 11, 2006

The times are good, The times are bad

Goodness is evident in the lives of those who truly know God and the marvelous grace of his salvation through Jesus Christ, the Lord. The times, no matter how turbulent, hold hope and victory in this life and in life to come.

Evil is also very evident in the world with wars and rumors of wars growing ever worse, as proclaimed in the bible. The battle between good and evil continues among nations and as the Apostle Paul self-revealed, in our own personal lives.

The only way I know to effectively contribute in a positive way to the side of good in the world is to win the battle that rages in our own hearts. Lives given to Jesus, the prince of Peace, and then committed to walk in obedience to him will do their part in adding to the battle for good in the world.

Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. Christian people must not be seduced by secular relativism and political correctness. Satan is the great deceiver who comes to us with subtle temptations, wrapped in good sounding lies. His interest is to rob us of the power of our witness for Christ.

The ultimate victory belongs to Christ, the side of good. Our personal victory for good in Christ will be used by him in ushering in this victory.

"Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven".

posted by Bert Owen @ 11:50 AM 0 comments

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Pictures From Patrick's Mission To Japan



Patrick sent several pictures from his first week in Japan. He was invited to preach at the Sagamino "International" Service.

Sagamino Church is pastored by Iwoa Satoh and has an International service each Sunday which is conducted by a minister from Peru whose name is Orlando. All of these pictures are from that day.


















posted by Bert Owen @ 9:12 PM 0 comments

Friday, June 30, 2006

Olivia Grace Syme


Daughter of Chris and Ellen Syme, Granddaughter of Jim and Becky Syme, Great Granddaughter of Bert and Pat Owen, was born on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 5:31 P. M. EDT in Louisville, KY. Weighing 6 pounds and 14 ounces and 19 inches tall. According to Daddy Chris, "she is perfect".

Pat and I received a call from Becky during the early morning to let us know Chris and Ellen had gone to the hospital. We were excited for them throughout the day as we thought of what a tremendous experience this is. It was also good to join with them in prayer as we remembered back to the time our children were born and when the grandchildren all came along; now another generation was coming along as Olivia was joining her cousin, Jessica. My, how time flies. So many wonderful experiences. It was not missed by any of us, including Paul, (especially Paul) that this was his and Jackie's wedding Anniversary. As Paul put it, "this is just one more reason to make this date very special".

Well Chris, you've always been a very special part of our family and it seems as if you have married a very special person in Ellen, and I have no doubt that Olivia will grow up to be just as special. That is, and will be, my prayer. God is good.

posted by Bert Owen @ 4:50 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

The Land Of the Rising Sun

All night last night my mind was directed toward Tokyo. Patrick left Louisville yesterday about 9:30 a. m. Eddyville time and by our time was to arrive at Narita airport in Japan about 1:30 a. m. this morning. I knew he had to get his luggage, go through customs, find where to catch a bus to a certain station in Tokyo (a four hour drive) where he would be met by Hiro, a young Japanese Pastor, and taken to Glenn's apartment. I started checking my e-mail about 6:30 a. m. and about 9:00 I was delighted to see two e-mails in my in box. One from Patrick with subject, I'M HERE. One from Glenn with subject, HE JUST HIT THE SACK !

What a joy to know all was well and the trip went fine and Patrick's "mission" had begun. (see previous post on May 19.) Remembering when both Glen and Patrick were born, some twenty years apart, seeing them grow up, give their lives to God in ministry and now be together for this missionary experience really excites me. God is good !

posted by Bert Owen @ 9:30 PM 0 comments

Friday, May 19, 2006

Patrick's Mission Trip


Just got off the phone with my grandson, Patrick Wilkerson. The excitement mounts! He just ordered his airline ticket to go to Japan this summer. He is scheduled to spend about six weeks there, leaving home on the 26th of June and returning home on August 7th. He will spend most of this time working with and substituting for missionary Glenn Watts. During this time he will also have some contact with the Japan Youth Mission tour that will be there from the United States and South America. They will have opportunity to visit many places in Japan and the last five days will be spent participating in the Asian Youth Mission Conference being sponsored by Japan Presbytery. This conference will have older youth and young adult Cumberland Presbyterians participating from all over the World. (U.S., Colombia, Brazil, Korea, China, Japan, erc.)

What a great opportunity for Patrick. He will be a senior at Berhel next Fall and is then going on to Seminary to prepare for the full work of the Gospel ministry. At this time he is interested in youth ministry or being an overseas missionary. I hope any who read this will devote special prayer for him and this mission opportunity.

posted by Bert Owen @ 9:53 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Family Ties On Special Days

It's been nearly nine months since Jackie died. Jackie is our daughter who died last August at the age of 49. Needless to say, she has been greatly missed. Mostly, I'm sure, by her husband of 31 years, Paul and their four children, Melissa, James, Patrick and Joshua and Melissa's husband, Ben. But she has also been greatly missed by her sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Jim Syme and their children, Chris and Dana and Chris' wife, Ellen.. And then I add, Pat and myself. Pat and I have been greatly ministered to and blessed because of the close ties and relationships of this fourteen in our immediate family. God, in his grace, gave all of us a great gift of peace and comfort and affirmed our faith in the midst of our grief. I think He was able to do this for us because Jackie was a woman of such dynamic faith who faced death as a conqueror and at last welcomed her transition to heaven.

Since that sad time in August we have gone through nearly a year of "special" days in which we were reminded of how much we missed her. First, there was Thanksgiving which had always been such a large family day for us, then Christmas, which goes without explaining, and then her birthday in March, and Easter in April. Then this past Sunday, Mother's Day. As we approached this day Pat and I seemed to feel it more than all the other times. I suppose it was because we were thinking of Paul and their children. Then Patrick called on Saturday night and asked, "What's your schedule tomorrow? Dad, Joshua and I want to meet you for church and James will meet us there so we can all worship together. Then we'll go to lunch in Paducah, then go by and visit Mom's grave." Our brief time of blueness changed to joy and once again God's grace and family blessed another special day and together we "celebrated" the life of a wonderful daughter, a loving wife and a terrific Mom. I think all of us felt it was one of the nicest days we could have had.

Now, since Jackie went to be with Jesus, Jessica came along and the next generation has begun. Soon Olivia will be here and that immediate clan will have grown to sixteen.

Somehow I think Jackie is still a real part of what's happening in the family and the special days are made more special because of her. It's hard to imagine that my little girl is now a grandmother herself and is soon to be a great aunt.

posted by Bert Owen @ 12:44 PM 0 comments