by Bret Capranica | Jan 21, 2006 | Uncategorized
This week was a week to catch up on a number of items after not only a week away in Kentucky for class but also a few weeks of being out of pocket due to illness and the holidays. I did have a few opportunities to read some interesting blog articles this week. Here’s a few I enjoyed: Adrian Warnock’s interview with Justin Taylor (John Piper’s editor). Justin’s blog is where I first learned about the blogosphere. Looks like Justin is also headed to Wheaton as an editor at Crossway and the ESV Bible. Mark Dever’s comments on blogging and reading. Mark Driscoll’s new blog. The article on Schuller is an interesting read. Jerry Wragg’s article on the loss of genuine exegesis, not only in our pulpits but our blog commenting. I found this very intersting. I am in the process of asking a number of pastors and expository preachers what they actually do in preparation for preaching. I have found that while many call themselves expositors, exegesis is very limited in weekly work they do. Significant interaction with the biblical languages is extremely limited. This issue will have some to do with my doctoral project, so I’m sure I’ll have a few more things to say about this later. One more thing. Chris Meirose pointed me to a few ways to increase the speed of my Firefox browser. Wow! Thanks Chris, very helpful! The Capranica Villa has dominated most of my time today. While we are in the house, we are slowly unpacking, decorating and getting back to normal. I was able to get much of my study...
by Bret Capranica | Jan 12, 2006 | Uncategorized
After class today, my DMin cohort comrades took off to the Cave Hill Cemetery here in Louisville to visit the grave sites of a number of Southern Seminary figures. Here’s a few pics of those we vistited today at Southern’s cemetery. After the cemetery stroll, one of my cohorts (Michael aka, Gus) went through Heritage Hall and viewed the massive portraits of all nine of Southern’s presidents. James P. Boyce – first President of Southern Seminary. John A. Broadus – member of the first faculty at Southern and the second President of the school. A.T. Robertson – Professor of New Testament, buried in the shadow of Broadus’ grave. Basil Manly – Professor of Old Testament in the early days of the school. John R. Sampy – fifth President of Southern. Duke McCall – seventh President of Southern and a chief proponent who carried the school in a very moderate to liberal direction. McCall is still alive, but his grave will one day be next to the other Southern Seminary leaders. Here’s my beloved brothers in the DMin program, who I have grown to love and value their friendship, integrity, parternership in ministry and kindred...
by Bret Capranica | Jan 11, 2006 | Uncategorized
PyroManiac: You’re probably a cessationist, too Yesterday was another great day of class, discussing how to effectively and accurately preach from the Gospels. Some of our time was spent discussing how to preach the miracle accounts in the gospel, which led to a number of fun discussions during our breaks on the subject of cessationism. The conversation carried over last night as well as we had a wonderful dinner with a great professor, Dr. Cook. In light of our recent conversations, I enjoyed reading Phil’s comments today on cessationism. I don’t want to put words in the mouths of my brothers, but I’m not sure they were really ready to call themselves cessationists. Perhaps Phil can help tip them in the right direction....
by Bret Capranica | Jan 11, 2006 | Uncategorized
Between Two Worlds: Bruce Wilkinson Interesting chronicle of Bruce Wilkinson’s recent ministry experiences. From my limited vantage point, his life is the fruit of a ministry that wants quick fixes and immediate successes rather than steady faithfulness. How many who have sought bigger borders through the Jabez mantra have experienced a similar inconsistency in life? Interestingly, this morning I began reading John Piper’s God is the Gospel. In light of what you read about Wilkinson, consider a few quotes from Piper: “. . . we have turned the love of God and the gospel of Christ into a divine endorsement of our delight in many lesser things, especially the delight inour beingmade much of. The acid test of biblical God-centeredness – and faithfulness to the gospel – is this: Do you feel more loved because God makes much of you, or because, at the cost of his Son, he enables you to enjoy making much of him forever?” “The critical question for our generation – and for every generation – is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?” “Have we shifted with the world from God’s love as the gift of himself to God’s love as the gift of a mirror in which we like what we see?”...
by Bret Capranica | Jan 10, 2006 | Uncategorized
Interesting little slap at Italians here! But, perhaps Italians are so faithful to their spouses, that they are more bothered about eating too much pasta. In honor of this article, I might just eat a little more with my steak tonight.
