Articles

RSS and An Ordinary Pastor?

May 12, 2008 | Blogging, Ordinary Pastor

Abraham Piper, over at the Desiring God blog, recently put up a post for those who are unfamiliar with the beauty and grandeur of RSS. I’ve been an RSS fanatic for a few years now. But what is RSS, how could it be helpful (or harmful) and more fundamentally, should a truly ordinary pastor bother with blogs or the technology associated with RSS? If you follow more than 2 blogs and are not using an RSS reader, you are wasting more time than you should as you waste time reading blogs. While I do have a Google-Reader account, I rarely use it. Instead, I’ve been a FeedReader user almost since I began reading blogs. If you don’t know what RSS is or how to get it set up, check out Abraham Piper’s step-by-step approach to Google Reader (link at the end of the post). Also see Tim Ferriss’ interview with Robert Scoble and see how he keeps up with over 600 RSS feeds a day. Google Reader seems to be an exceptionally popular means for feeding RSS. It is very simple and once you’ve eaten the Google fruit you tend to want to immerse yourself in all things Google. Here are a few benefits: It Won’t Slow You Down. The up-side of Google Reader is that it is not an additional software application running on your computer, so it won’t slow your system down regardless of how many feeds you follow. Go Mobile. Where I do use Google Reader is in connection with my Blackberry. I imported my OPML file into Google reader and using Viigo on my phone,... read more

100th Anniversary for Mother’s Day; A First For Us

May 11, 2008 | Personal

Mother’s Day celebration reaches 100th anniversary – Yahoo! News Today marks the 100th Anniversary of Mother’s Day and the first official year of celebration of Mother’s Day in the Capranica Home. So, here’s my Mother’s Day Card to one of the most superior mothers I know of: Mother’s Day has not been an easy one for you. A decade ago, your mother slipped from here to heaven. Over six years ago, we began asking God that we could be a mother and father. Over one year ago, He provided an 18 day old jewel for our thus far empty crown. Six months later we were blessed with a second arrow in our quiver, even though she may be with us only temporarily (aren’t they all only with us temporarily). Only a few months ago, God mercifully granted our request and allowed us to officially be parents. While many mothers work hard in a vocation that demands nothing less, few work as hard and happily at motherhood than you. Not every day is easy and for two people who love to accomplish loads of tasks in every day; some days feel as if only one task is accomplished: being a mother. And still, I know of few mothers who can enjoy the accomplishment of that one task more than you. Our children are an immeasurable blessing to us both. But, for me you still surpass them with the blessing you are to me as a wife and mother. I thank God for you: your love of Christ, your love for me, your love for our children, and your love for... read more

BlackBerry 9000 Unboxing Video

May 8, 2008 | Technology

Being a new (and very happy) Blackberry user (some would say cracberry abuser), I have been following the rumors about the next generation of Blackberry to come out.  Actually, the BB 9000 is still officially a rumor.  But Kevin at Crackberry.com bought one on E-bay.  Here’s the first peak: BlackBerry 9000 Unboxing Video |... read more

The Sweetness of God’s Sovereignty

May 8, 2008 | General Theology, The Gospel

On Sunday evenings for the past two months, I have been preaching through the ninth chapter of Romans. It is a difficult one to navigate exegetically and theologically. I’ve enjoyed the study and the preaching. God has used it in a number of people’s lives (as they have relayed it to me) to help them not only comprehend (what can be comprehended) but enjoy the sovereignty of God in the arena of salvation. Questions abound when reading Romans 9. Emotions tend to flair when discussing it and it’s implications. However, I remember when I was in college and was coming to terms with God’s sovereignty in salvation, I read (in a secular English course) Jonathan Edwards’ Personal Narrative. To this day, it remains one of my favorites of all I have read of Edwards. It is one of my favorites, not because it is one of the most profound or earth-shattering of his compositions, but probably because of the personal effect it had on me when I read it. I used the following quote from Edwards in the introduction of my sermon this past Sunday evening. It sums up well my own struggles and sweet resolutions in understanding and enjoying God’s sovereignty in salvation: From my childhood up, my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, in choosing whom he would to eternal life, and rejecting whom he pleased; leaving them eternally to perish, and be everlastingly tormented in hell. It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me. But I remember the time very well, when I seemed to be convinced, and... read more

E-Mail and the Ordinary Pastor

May 5, 2008 | Ordinary Pastor, Technology, Time/Life Management

A few weeks ago, I linked to and posted a question about how to handle e-mail clutter. I think it is safe to assume that the vast majority of modern and ordinary pastors deal with e-mail and thus they deal with the clutter that comes with it. A significant portion of my conversation with a variety of people takes place via e-mail. I am fully aware of the possible impersonal downside to ministry by e-mail. However, we should probably be slow to chide conversation by e-mail (For a humorous take on this see HERE). Long before the advent of the telephone and well before cars could take us a few hundred miles in a round trip visit within a day, pastors and people in general used to correspond and communicate via letter.  E-mail, if done thoughtfully and handled carefully could be a good means of carrying on helpful, engaging, fruitful conversation – but that sounds like different post for a different month. While I don’t want to suggest that phone calls are unimportant or a hand written note is not valuable, I simply want to say – don’t discount e-mail as a valid and helpful means of communication. So, how do I handle e-mail and use it for the benefit of an ordinary pastor’s ministry? My approach is my approach. I neither commend it or suggest it as THE most helpful means of dealing with electronic correspondence. I’m open to help and helpful recommendations. But, then again, I am but an ordinary pastor. Here’s some thoughts: Keys to Quicker Responses and Clean In-Box Those who know me well, know... read more

Church Unity

May 4, 2008 | Ecclesiology

The most recent 9 Marks e-journal has come out.  It has an entire syllabus for a 13 week class on Church unity, in addition to a number of books reviews, links to audio interviews and a an article on conversion. May/June 2008 Editor’s Note –... read more

102 GTD Software Apps

May 4, 2008 | Time/Life Management

If you are in to David Allen’s Getting Things Done, you may be interested in the bookoos (is that really a word?) of software (free and $$) available. 102 GTD Software Apps – Researched... read more

T4G Reflections

May 3, 2008 | Miscellaneous

I had about three good days after arriving home from Together for the Gospel before getting sick and laying in bed for a week, so, while I’ve had some time to think about it, I have been unable to post any reflections on what was an outstanding conference. Some of the items I found most helpful: The Simplicity Yet Depth of the Music. Mark Dever was responsible for the selection of the songs (as well as the choice of instrumentation). Bob Kauflin did a masterful job of leading from one lone piano on the stage. What I enjoyed most were the songs chosen after each speaker. The hymns fit the message as a perfect expression, both in content and passion of what our hearts were thinking and feeling. “How Sweet and Awful is the Place” was stunning as it was powerfully sung by over 5,000 mostly male voices, just after John MacArthur finished an excellent message on Human Inability. The singular instrumentation was perfect for allowing our voices to carry and our minds to remain focused on the truth of what we were singing. While I love lots of instrumentation, it was wonderfully simple and helpful to remain undistracted as Bob led from the piano. C.J.’s Charge to Bless Our Wives. After reminding us that “Conference Life” was not real life and that our wives were the only ones experiencing real life, C.J. exhorted all of us to return home, take our wives to an unhurried, childless dinner and share with her all we heard. I very much enjoyed doing this with Kel, who had dealt with two sick... read more

Pastoral Testimony Working with a VA

May 3, 2008 | Time/Life Management

Here’s a testimony from a pastor who employed a virtual assistant.  I don’t doubt that this will become more of a reality on a wider scale in ministry as well as business in the near future. Working with a Virtual Assistant : W. David Phillips – missional. theological.... read more

How to Write a Letter to the Editor

May 1, 2008 | Miscellaneous

Writing a letter to the editor assumes one is actually reading the paper or magazine.  Assuming we are, here are some good tips in writing a letter to an editor with the aim of glorifying God and being read in the public market-place of ideas. How to Write a Letter to the Editor: Twelve Principles for Christians –... read more

Moore on McClaren

Apr 30, 2008 | Emergent

Dr. Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, provides a good critique of recent comments made by Brian McClaren at Willow Creek Community Church. The Henry Institute:... read more

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C.J., Lig, Al, Mark, et. al. Mark Dever and Company John Piper John MacArthur Phil Johnson and Friends the same says it all.