by Bret Capranica | Oct 3, 2005 | Uncategorized
For some time I have been reading J. L. Dagg’s Manual of Theology during my regular morning prayer time. His Theology is not chaulked full of evaluations of other books and theories, it is a more devotional yet thorough deliniation of basic theology. Here’s an encouraging excerpt: If any one supposes that religion consists merely of self-denial and painful austerities, and that it is filled with gloom and melancholy, to the exclusion of all happiness, he greatly mistakes its true character. False religions, and false views of the true religion, may be liable to this charge; but the religion which has God for its author, and which leads the soul to God, is full of peace and joy. It renders us cheerful amidst the trials of life, contented with all the allotments of Divine Providence, happy in the exercises of piety and devotion, and joyful in the hope of an endless felicity. Heaven is near in prospect; and, while on the way to that world of perfect and eternal bliss, we are permitted, in some measure, to anticipate its joys, being, even here, blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.[2] We are enabled, not only to pursue our pilgrimage to the good land with content and cheerfulness, but even to “delight ourselves in the Lord.”[3] Our happiness is not merely the absence of grief and pain, but it is positive delight. If we loved the truth as we ought, we should experience equal delight in receiving it; and careful investigation of it would be a source of pure and abiding...
by Bret Capranica | Oct 2, 2005 | Uncategorized
Perhaps my favorite hymn is one we sang this morning in worship: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, Now to His temple, draw near; Praise Him in glad adoration! Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth, Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen How thy desires e’er have been Granted in what He ordaineth? Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen Sound from His people again:Gladly for aye we adore Him. For the tune, played enthusiastically by Scott Hill (he wishes) click HERE. As an aside – Pastor Stacy Johnson, who preaches in the AM services of our fellowship referenced this facinating link in his sermon this morning: www.deathclock.com. I’m not sure if the author of this site has access to the mind of God, but according to the deathclock, I’m due to reach glory on Friday, July 4, 2042. According to Pastory Stacy’s calculations, he’s planning to prepare my way three years earlier. This evening I will be preaching on the Dangers of Complacent Worship, from Malachi...
by Bret Capranica | Oct 1, 2005 | Uncategorized
The past number of weeks have been very full and thus the Capranica has had to suffer from neglect and dormancy. Here’s a brief update on the goings on around the world of The Capranica: Kelly and I thoroughly enjoyed time with my mom and dad a few weeks ago. Our jaunts to La Jolla and Oceanside were especially beautiful. In Oceanside, before taking mom and dad to the airport in San Diego, we had lunch at Ruby’s out on the pier. Throughout our walk down the pier, during lunch and heading back to the car, the dophins were entertaining us with their amazing gymnastics. I finished preaching through the book of Revelation and have begun a seven week exposition of Malachi. I continue to study and prepare for my next DMin seminar as well as finish up on some material in my present class (ending Oct 30). At the church, this a very, very busy time of the year for me. It is budget time and there is a host of work to prepare for it. Also, we are gearing up for our annual Christmas Concert. Our choir and a few other ensembles begin extra rehearsals during the week and there is a formidable amount of extra work for promotion and preparation. Our Christmas Concert is a major outreach event in our community each year. Oh yes, there is also this little issue with our home: The Capranica Villa. Back in May, we removed all the concrete sidewalk and patio. I must say, no one is better with a jack hammar than Pastor James Billings. His proficiency in...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 20, 2005 | Uncategorized
“You have wearied the Lord with your words, Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,’ or, Where is the God of justice?’ – Malachi 2:17 In Malachi’s postexilic complacent culture, Israel had reached a point where the doing of evil was called good and where God was charged with injustice for suggesting a matter to be evil. So goes the abortion debate in America. The New York Times purports to pursue the acceptance of abortion by downplaying absolute standards for what is good or what is evil. Read the report and see if God’s indictment of a complacent Israel does not sound like a complacent American Christianity as well. What is even more problematic from my vantage point is the number of Christians who, for the sake of so-called compassion, engage in immorality, impregnante themselves, and pursue a course of sin, while bringing along Christian supporters who affirm their activity as good. Sin is not so heinous when God’s obligation to forgive becomes a mantra to salve the conscience. Read the referenced New York Times report for a multitude of...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 18, 2005 | Uncategorized
This morning, our congregation will join in a corporate exaltation of God singing this rich song of praise: Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting nor wasting, Thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love. To all life Thou givest, to both great and small; In all life Thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perish – but naught changeth Thee. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; All praise we would render: O help us to see ‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee. To listen click...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 9, 2005 | Uncategorized
The Capranica has been dormant for a few days. I have a few posts in the oven but will have to wait to post them. Why? Mom and Dad are here! Actually, I’ve been doing well to post what I have on Fide-O due to my being with my parents over the past few days. Mom and Dad, Karen and Larry Capranica, are visiting all the way from the great nation of Texas. Dad is a pastor just outside of Amarillo. We are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary at a beautiful hotel on the beach in La Jolla, CA. I was able to get an internet connection this morning, so I thought I would make a post. I hope to have some pics to post from our time at the March Airfield Museum, La Jolla and other less interesting...
