Articles

Just Say NO

Feb 2, 2008 | Time/Life Management

Are you overwhelmed?  I have been this week (many weeks).  Philip Ryken tells us we need to learn how to say “NO” more often and when it is most important. Reformation21 » Philip Ryken HT:  Desiring God... read more

When I’m a Doofus (sp?) God Smiles!

Jan 30, 2008 | Humor, Seeker-Sensitive

I learned some great theology today.  God get’s pleasure when I’m a doofus.  I am regularly a doofus and find myself mourning over my doofus-hood often.  I find no real lasting pleasure when I do doofus things.  I hate my doofus activities.  But, God’s enjoys it. Watch the video at the end of Denny Burk’s good analysis of Rick Warren on the Colbert Report. Denny Burk » Rick Warren on the “Colbert... read more

Mahaney Blogs!

Jan 29, 2008 | Blogging

C.J. Mahaney has begun a blog – check it out: Sovereign Grace Blog – C.J. Mahaney’s View from the Cheap Seats & Other Stuff HT:  Between Two... read more

I Didn’t Waste MLK Day

Jan 29, 2008 | Christian Living, Culture, Ecclesiology, Ethnic Issues

Admittedly, I normally waste Martin Luther King Day. I can’t say that I’ve read any significant biography of Dr. King. I’ve probably never taken the day to think about his accomplishments or the implications of them. Normally, I have a normal Monday on MLK day. I don’t think that makes me a racist (perhaps I am and am merely in denial -I just don’t think so). I don’t take off on President’s Day either. I don’t celebrate Washington’s birthday. It never crosses my mind. I have wasted tons of July 4 celebrations – in terms of spending the day in patriotic reflection. If anything, my normal lack of reflection on MLK day – or any other national holiday – says more about my lack of being intentional about my life than it does any racial tendencies. Even so, I did not wast this past MLK day. Last Monday, I did in fact go to the office for our normal Monday pastors’ meeting and then left at mid-day to go home. I spent the rest of the day reading through the 9 Marks e-journal (I saved it for this day) on the Church’s response to racism. I was incredibly blessed by it. For me, the greatest articles in the journal were D. A. Carson’s article, “Five Steps for Racial Reconciliation on Sunday at 11 a.m.” This was one of the more balanced and biblical reflections on a Christian response to ethnic discrimination that I have read. Thabiti Anyabwile’s “Many Ethnicities, One Race.” Well articulated, thoroughly biblical, and if heeded, would change the language in which we speak of race, or... read more

Can You Be Overly Intentional?

Jan 28, 2008 | Time/Life Management

Can you live an overly intentional life?  I don’t know, but I already sort of do what this article suggests.  I may just try it more emphatically.  Key:  be sure to explain the system to your wife! Clutter: Avoid Over-Wearing Clothes with a Left-to-Right... read more

Cheap Sovereign Grace

Jan 27, 2008 | Music

God’s Sovereign grace is not cheap – but the CDs at Sovereign Grace ministries will be cheap in February.  Be sure to take advantage of this.  SGM possesses some excellent modern day congregational worship writers and producers.  I regularly benefit from this ministry. Sovereign Grace CDs and Books for Ridiculous Prices and Free Shipping | Worship... read more
Finally a Father

Finally a Father

Jan 26, 2008 | Adoption, Personal

Yesterday I became a father. The road to fatherhood for THE CAPRANICA was a tad different than what many experience. Our daughter was born at 3:25 a.m. January 15, 2007. A year and ten days later, I finally became her father. Unfortunately, I did not go to the hospital when she was born. Actually, no one told me that she had been born. I didn’t find out for seventeen days after her birth that she had arrived. I never had the privilege to see her through the glass window where they take the newborns for ecstatic fathers and family to smile and stare. We took no pictures of mom, dad and infant in the delivery room after her birth. No family was present when she entered this world, and within hours, the woman who gave birth to her would even walk away. She was sick and needed ten days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to detox from the methamphetamines and marijuana that were found in her blood as well as to be taken off of the ventilator and oxygen necessary to sustain her life. Even after little Brie was allowed in our home, the authorities would not allow me to be considered her father. In fact fatherhood for me and Brie would require months of paper work, court hearings, conversations with multiple social workers, lawyers and other state mandated and sanctioned organizations. Prior to Brie’s birth, my wife and I were required to attend over thirty hours of classes, just so one day we could actually be allowed to officially be called her parents. Multiple social workers had... read more

Happy New Year! From an Ordinary Pastor

Jan 1, 2008 | Personal

What does an ordinary pastor do on New Year’s Day? Wake up later than normal (6:30 a.m.). Spend extra time playing with the kids. Pick some oranges from the tree with one of the girls so mom can make some fresh squeezed orange juice. Read the news headlines, a few more blog articles than normal, compose a future blog post – and not really care about any of it. Enjoy a good time of fellowship over breakfast with some church members. Take a nap. Read from Ronald Reagan’s diaries (I’m into September 1986 so far). Begin another year through the Bible. Enjoy playing with the kids some more. Have a quiet dinner with the wife while the kids play wildly in the family room. Help feed the kids and put them to bed. Compose a blog post. Think about what bowl games went on today and have no concern whatsoever. Enjoy some 2008 goals-conversation with the wife. Start a new book (Future Israel). Go to bed by 9:00 p.m. Wonderfully ordinary! Enjoyably so. Happy new... 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.