Month: February 2023

A Time for Jesus

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
The cover of Time magazine for June 21, 1971

Time was when Jesus got top-billing.
The headlines were unmistakable.
In cover-story proportions,
God got our attention
(or at least attempted to).

And time and time again,
God’s Spirit manifests itself
in life altering ways.
Be it at an altar near the front of a church
or in an outdoor sanctuary
in a baptistry of ocean waves,
faith is celebrated
in never-to-be-forgotten ways.

But sadly, given the times we live in today,
too many have forgotten
what God has done
and what He has promised to do.

It’s time to be reminded.
It’s time to be revived.
It’s time for God to restore
the years that the locusts have destroyed.
It’s time Jesus gets top-billing once again.

Hugh Steven (my father-in-law) wrote The Reproducers in 1972. It is the original history chronicling the early days of Pastor Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. You can read the entire book online by going to…
https://calvarycca.org/wp-content/uploads/ReproducersEbook2013.pdf

Check out this trailer to the movie Jesus Revolution

Take Up Your Cross: An Ash Wednesday Reflection

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
A lesser known painting by Warner Sallman pictures Jesus walking with his disciples

“Take up your cross and follow me
along the road of suffering
where selfish pride is crucified,
where faith takes root and grows.

“From dust you’ve come and shall return,
but in the meantime try to learn
how self-denial leads to trust
and patience proves God’s grace.”

“Come walk with me,” I hear him say.
“Beware of bandits on the way
that trip you up and steal your joy
and rob you of your worth.

“But as we journey side-by-side,
I’ll keep you safe if you’ll abide
in who I am and what I say.
My love will lead you home!”


A more well-known painting of Jesus by Warner Sallman is simply known as Sallman’s Head of Christ. https://covchurch.org/2016/02/08/a-head-of-his-time/

The Winds of Wilmore

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
The recent revival at Asbury University is drawing international attention

Will the winds of Wilmore (gale force strong)
blow nationwide before too long?
The breezes of God’s Spirit are past due.
We need a Great Awakening,
where elders dream and young folks sing
of what the Lord in our day may yet do.

We need a mighty move of God.
And though the critics think it odd,
a touch of the Divine means “Listen up!”
to what the King of Kings demands
as kneeling subjects lift their hands
confessing ways our culture’s been corrupt.

And may our hearts be strangely warmed
as faith (on fire) is reborn.
Revive Your people, Holy God, we pray!
Breathe life and love within our souls.
Restore our hope and make us whole.
O Sovereign Lord, we’re willing! Have Your way!

The Greatest of These is LOVE!

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Valentine’s Day is more than just a day

I’ve heard it said that love is blind.
It overlooks what seems unkind.
It seeks intentionally to find
some ways to show you care.

Love shows its colors when you’re blue
through little acts you choose to do
when feelings fade or joys are few.
Love really is a choice.

It turns the cheek and feels the sting
when blindsided by hurtful things
that rob you of your right to sing.
Love never does give up.

So Valentine’s is not a day.
But rather it’s the Jesus way
through what we do and what we say
to put another first.

Reflections on the State of Our Union

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
A painting of the U.S. Capitol Building by Elizabeth Roskam

The state of our union
is not what we’d like.
There’s growing division.
The dawn’s early light
has morphed into darkness
and shrouded our hope
that unity can be restored.

A Congress divided.
A White House beet-red
from classified docs
Biden wants put to bed.
And fears of recession
that won’t go away
just add to our growing despair.

There’re protests in cities.
Things aren’t black and white
when it comes to policing
and criminals’ rights.
The blindfold of Justice
needs to be retied
while those who are guilty are judged.

The Church is in conflict
over what Scripture means.
Are it’s teachings still timeless
or what culture deems?
Should preachers be silenced
from speaking their minds?
Has tolerance trumped what was truth?

Yes, the state of our union
is fragile at best.
There’s constant division and brewing unrest.
We need a revival of psyche and soul.
May God bless our nation again!