Mar 21, 2009 | Blogging, Featured Articles
What would you want to see more of on THE CAPRANICA? We’re making a few plans around here to begin rounds of more regular posting. But I thought I would first ask my audience of 3 to give me some suggestions of what you would like to see. See the poll on the Home Page and give me some of your feedback. I’d love to know (I... read more
Mar 20, 2009 | Technology
I have two twitter accounts: one for personal stuff and one for our preaching prayer team. Many on the preaching team are VERY new to Twitter-I’ll be sending them this article next week so they can get started in the new addiction. The Beginner”™s Guide to Twitter | Michael... read more
Mar 19, 2009 | Culture, Miscellaneous
HT: ... read more
Mar 18, 2009 | Miscellaneous, Pastoral Ministry
Well, at least the recent package they sent to me advertising Sunday School stuff does. I suppose their target group is people who like instant feminized Hazelnut coffee. Their marketing scheme is built around a cup of coffee and they included a little card that is supposed to smell like the aroma of coffee. It simply makes me want to hurl. Since opening the package in my office, I’ve washed my hands multiple times and showered a few times, and took my trash out. I can’t get the smell off my hands. I cannot get the smell out of my office. Needless to say, I am NOT more likely to purchase their latest Sunday School offerings. I don’t want our Sunday School classes to smell like this. Now, maybe if they had used a Starbucks Italian Roast . .... read more
Mar 17, 2009 | Featured Articles, Humor, Pastoral Ministry, Seeker-Sensitive
This speaks for itself and makes me thankful for the people God has given our church in student ministries. Ignatius from travis hawkins on Vimeo. HT: ... read more
Mar 16, 2009 | Technology
Yep, the iPhone has my technological smartphone heart. I should really blog about it-so, until then, here’s 100 ways to productively use your iPhone (or 100 reasons why you should switch to one). iPhone Office: 100 Ways to Turn Your Device into the Ultimate Productivity Tool | Internet Service... read more
Mar 15, 2009 | Blogging, Technology, Time/Life Management
Most who use Google Reader will know this, but for those out there who are fairly new to GReader, this may be something you’ve overlooked. Helpful keyboard shortcuts. Are there any keyboard shortcuts? – Google Reader... read more
Mar 15, 2009 | Blogging, Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry
I am an ordinary pastor. That is, I know myself well enough and I have been around enough extraordinary pastors to be well aware of how ordinary I am. The content, regularity, and writing style found here at THE CAPRANICA all document the degree of my ordinariness. Actually, I enjoy being ordinary. Obscurity is often bliss. Normality, more than often, is a blessing. The front-lines of the ordinary contain enough excitement, challenge, heartache, and doldrum to keep me focused and engaged in the Lord’s work. I have been an ordinary pastor for over 20 years (I began ministry in 1988 in a rural Texas Panhandle church) and I have never been bored with ministry; I’ve always been busy, and I’m as excited today about serving the church as I was twenty years ago when I began. I really do enjoy being among the ordinary. Ordinary is not often publicly celebrated, but ordinary pastors dominate the landscape of church life across our country; we are, by far, the vast majority. In reality, only a small percentage of pastors in the world could really be called or evaluated as extraordinary. I thank God for many of them . The Savior has used (and still does) a few of them in many influential ways in my life and ministry. Yet, most of us who serve the Lord as local church shepherds will not host presidential forums; books will not host our names as authors; national conferences will not contain our photos as keynote speakers; our church facilities will never be highlighted on the latest church growth magazines; and the denominational leaders have... read more
Mar 14, 2009 | Technology
Could this help to replace my dependence of MS Outlook? Featured Windows Download: Trade In Outlook for eM Client read more
Mar 13, 2009 | Technology
Photoshop is too expensive for me and I’m not sure it would be worth my time to learn to use it (better to have good friends who do it for a living). But, this online photo editing service may be worth joining – what do you think? Online Photo Editing | Photoshop... read more
Mar 9, 2009 | Biblical Studies, Eschatology, Hermeneutics, Pauline Theology
Romans 15:7 ¶ Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.” 10 Again he says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.” 11 And again, “PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.” 12 Again Isaiah says, “THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.” 13 ¶ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday I preached on this passage. The following is simply a note for further on an issue in the text I did not address in my sermon. Does this passage teach that the church is the new Israel? Does this passage indicate that the church fulfills prophecies made specifically to the nation of Israel? Jason Robertson, recently wrote of this passage: “In Romans 15:8-12, Paul notes that the conversion of the Gentiles is a ‘confirming of the promises to the fathers.’ And at least one of the verses brought forth as proof speaks of Christ’s Messianic kingdom rule (Rom. 15:12).” Contrary to my good friend, I think... read more
Mar 7, 2009 | Ecclesiology, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Personal, Preaching
My expectations for encouragement, equipping, and fellowship as well as theological, spiritual, and practical stimulation were all exceeded this past week. I’m exhausted as I write, but overjoyed with the benefits from a fruitful three days at the 2009 Shepherds’ Conference. In an abbreviated, fashion, here were the highlights for me: Of the three days, Friday was the highlight for me. Every message hit me personally and practically (Phil Johnson, Alex Montoya’s seminar, Steve Lawson, and John MacArthur). Every song, every meal, every conversation, every moment was especially sweet to me that day. You should go and listen (or re-listen) to each of the messages from Friday. I was prepared to return to the flock. Overall: The messages ““ every one of them was used significantly in my heart. I could never communicate it all. John MacArthur stirred up my passions for the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures. He reminded me of the simplicity, yet profound impact the basics of Scriptural ministry have. He taught me again the value of plumbing the depths and doing your best to make them clear in your preaching. Tom Pennington, challenged me to protect and build the church the way Scripture demands. Rick Holland fixed my ministry focus on Christ and challenged me to make my pursuit of His glory ultimate. Albert Mohler infused my soul with a passion to preach so that the authority of Christ is publicly displayed and obvious. Phil Johnson demonstrated the relevancy of the Scriptures taught in their historical context. He powerfully demonstrated the implications of the passage (Titus 2:6-8) to the issue of our reverent speech... read more
Mar 6, 2009 | Evangelism, Humor
While I should be sleeping, or at a minimum, posting something edifying from the Shepherds’ Conference, I am actually going to do neither at the moment. Well, it was last night after the conference that two of our interns proposed our church look into a new means of increasing the evangelistic effectiveness and passion of our people. Their suggested tool: The Evangelism Linebacker. We plan to begin this Sunday. I can’t quit... read more
Mar 4, 2009 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Personal, Preaching
This week I will attend my sixteenth Shepherds’ Conference. I have been attending since 1991, when I was pastoring a church in Texas, and have only missed 2 since then. For a number of reasons, I have found it to be one of the best and most encouraging conferences I have attended in my ministry. It highlights the effective ministry of one local church. Grace Community Church has been pastored by John MacArthur for forty years. His ministry of faithful exposition has permeated the church’s culture and has produced a healthy congregation. I am always encouraged to interact with the members of GCC during the conference. One of the highlights for me in the early years was actually staying in the homes of the members and seeing the fruit of the church’s ministry. It provides exposure to a seminary located on the campus of a local church. One of the key issues that attracted me to study at The Master’s Seminary was the close connection the seminary shares with the church. The seminary is actually located on the church’s campus. Students interact with the pastors of GCC, and a few actually have the opportunity to work at the church and get an inside look. The majority of the professors are involved in pastoring local churches in addition to their teaching responsibilities. Few seminaries can provide this sort of essential connection to the local church like TMS. It highlights the expositional preaching of God’s Word. We will interact deeply and regularly with the Scripture this week. We will hear from some of the best Bible expositors in the country. We... read more
Mar 3, 2009 | Technology, Time/Life Management
I’ve been a Microsoft Office 2007 user since the day it came out. I really like it. It took me a few weeks to adjust to the new “ribbon” in MS Word, but I think I am more proficient and productive with it now than I was with previous versions of Word. I love the new Smart Art capabilities as well as the abilities to enhance pictures I use in documents and presentations. It is very easy to create better looking and functioning documents and presentation in Office 07. I also use Word 2007 to compose and publish blog posts to THE CAPRANICA, with its “Post” feature. Having said that, I’ve been miffed with the new default format for Word 2007 documents. I don’t mind the new font, Calibri. It is clean and readable. However, for my formal writing, I must use Times New Roman. For a host of other programs (i.e., Bible Software), everything is set to the default TNR font. Who wants to waste time changing all the fonts in every program? I don’t like the default 11 point font. Twelve is the normal and best size for most everything I do. Furthermore, I detest the default 10 points Word 07 puts after each new paragraph. I have to start every new document by changing the font, size, and paragraph formatting. I knew there must have been an easy way to change the default, but I could never seem to get my new settings to stick. Then I read Alfred Poor’s article “Customize Microsoft Word 2007 for Maximum Efficiency,” in PC World. Hallelujah! (I am easily pleased).... read more
Mar 1, 2009 | Blogging
I’ve been plotting on THE CAPRANICA. I have a host of ideas and issues I would like to blog about, but have wanted to give the blog a bit of a lift before wading into them. So, last weekend and this I’ve been tweaking (prolly will keep the tweaking up for a few more weekends). The two new items are a new comment thread plugin and a plugin that optimizes THE CAP for the iPhone (or iPod Touch). Intense Debate is the commenting plugin that will allow you to respond to an individual’s comment in a thread rather than merely posting it at the end of the list. Now, the lists of comments are rarely ever very long at THE CAPRANICA, but, we hope to spark some discussion in the days to come, and Intense Debate will prove a good addition (I loved hearing and seeing it over at Michael Hyatt’s blog). Anyhoo, this will allow you the option to feed the comments through various services, and even Tweet (through Twitter) your comments. Looks fun. Also, I installed a plugin, WPtouch, that will optimize THE CAPRANICA for the iPhone. Yes, I have yet to blog about it, but I did switch to the iPhone from the Blackberry this past summer. No comparison (that’s another blog post). Anyhoo, if you do navigate to THE CAP through your iPhone but want to view it in its original format (which the iPhone does superbly), it allows that option also. All of this in anticipation of ramping up the activity around here. I’m looking forward to... read more
Feb 28, 2009 | Ecclesiology
Dr. Walter Price used this video in a sermon he preached a number of weeks ago and referred to it during a message my wife and I heard while attending Fellowship in the Pass. I thought it made for a good question and reminder as we think about our involvement within the Church. What do you think? How practically can the church help its members be more battleship rather than cruise ship-minded? more about “Cruise Ship vs. Battleship“, posted with... read more
Feb 27, 2009 | Technology
If you Twitter (tweet) – this may be the most exhaustive collection of “how-to’s” out there. How to Attract and Influence People on Twitter “” The Ultimate Twitter Resource HT: ... read more
