Dec 30, 2007 | Psychology
I saw this hilarious Bob Newhart clip on counseling some time ago. I’ve had some great laughs with ministry partners about how it too well reflects my own counseling approach (desires?!) . But, David Powlison speaks to this clip and seriously provides some good reminders (as he always seems to do). Though – I still think the clip is hilarious! Between Two Worlds: David Powlison on Bob Newhart’s “Stop It!”... read more
Dec 25, 2007 | Personal
The Capranica clan wishes you a very merry Christmas. We pray that Christ will not only mentioned but truly honored in our celebration. This year we are humbled with the gracious gifts we have received in Brie and Josie. The entire adoption process has made us think much on our own adoption as sons into the family of God. It has caused us to consider more carefully what is truly important in our life and how central the gospel must be in our every day living. THE CAPRANICA looks forward to making its full return after the holidays, with the aim of publicly chronicling the thoughts, comments, recommendations, ramblings, both biblical and practical from the mind and ministry of an average pastor. Enjoy your family and friends – enjoy living out the gospel before... read more
Dec 24, 2007 | Miscellaneous
Want to quickly learn to converse in another language? Here’s some interesting advice. I will be employing a bit of this with the aim of learning a little Italian in 2008. How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) | The Blog of Author Tim... read more
Dec 23, 2007 | Miscellaneous
Why Christmas on December 25? According to this article it was to spread Christianity by competing with Paganism’s holiday celebrations. Who won? First Dec. 25 Xmas tied to pagan shrine – Yahoo!... read more
Dec 23, 2007 | Catholicism
While few reasons or explanations (other than his wife and children are Catholic) are provided, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has defected from Anglicanism to Catholicism. Tony Blair converts to Catholicism – Yahoo!... read more
Dec 22, 2007 | Humor
A must read of theological pick-up lines, guaranteed to keep you lonely! Mike Patton’s 20 Top Theological Pick-up Lines NOT to Use – SoCal Theologica: Theological Musings from the West... read more
Dec 22, 2007 | Miscellaneous
The brother-pastors I serve with and I are planning to attend this year’s T4G conference. Will you be going? We may in fact try to hit the T4G blogger conference also. Looking forward to April! Between Two Worlds: Band of Bloggers at... read more
Dec 21, 2007 | Adoption
Mark Altrogge, a well-known Sovereign Grace pastor and song-writer gives an interview about his experience in adopting both and infant and an older child. You’ll find great comments here about the gospel’s impact in parenting. from hope to reality » Blog Archive » Interview with Mark Altrogge: The Gospel and Adopting Older Children | the adoption blog of carolina hope christian adoption... read more
Dec 19, 2007 | Archaeology
Still catching up on material from the Dormant days, this article is fascinating, and perhaps much more credible than old tombs with Bible-sounding names. Be sure to check out the link to Todd Bolen’s site today where you will find more info and intriguing material on biblical archeology. Between Two Worlds: Remains from the “First Temple Period”... read more
Dec 17, 2007 | Catholicism
This image gives new meaning to gathering around a camp fire to transfer your sins to a pine cone and chuck them into the flames. If you saw Pope John Paul II coming out of your campfire – what would you do with your pine cone? Is this Pope John Paul II waving from beyond the grave? Vatican TV director says yes | the Daily... read more
Dec 16, 2007 | Culture, Presidential History
Posting articles I marked while on my blogging hiatus: Wayne Grudem says we should vote for a Mormon to become President – and that’s no small endorsement in my book. Townhall.com::Why Evangelicals Should Support Mitt Romney::By Wayne Grudem Search for Romney at Justin Taylor’s blog for more up to date articles and discussion. What do you... read more
Dec 15, 2007 | Ecclesiology
This is old news, but is initial evidence of a growing phenomenon we are seeing among the most influential seeker churches. Perhaps it will highlight a pendulum swing back toward a Bible-saturated and gospel centered local church ministry movement. Willow Creek... read more
Dec 14, 2007 | Music
My good friend and congregational music leader, par excellence, Scott Hill, has posted a review of Sovereign Grace Ministries new Christmas album. See his article, think check out the songs on the SG site. FIDE-O: CD Review Savior “Celebrating the Mystery of God Become... read more
Dec 14, 2007 | Blogging
I enjoyed and gleaned some great idea for personal productivity from Tim Ferriss’ book, The Four Hour Work Week. When it comes to using time more effectively, he has put his finger on some important issues. Here’s a helpful post on blogging. Any thoughts on his approach (click on the number in parenthesis to leave a comment). The Top 5 Uncommon Timesavers for... read more
Dec 9, 2007 | Blogging
. . . that is in regard to my return to blogging. I am quite sure I will resume blogging before the next millennium. However, the return will not be before 2008 unless something really excites or irks me before then. My month hiatus has turned into a multi-month break from blogging, although I have been keeping up with a few blogs here and there. My feedreader is stuffed with unread material. My doctoral writing project continues and I hope to be finished with the bulk of it by the end of the year. I also find myself one week away from leading our annual Christmas Concert (after about 20 rehearsals since October) at church, the completion of our 2008 Budget process (of which I oversee) and I should finish preaching through Romans 8 by the end of the year. Since last reporting, Brie is now ten and a half months old, crawling, trying to pull up on most everything and making Kel and I laugh all the time. All is set for her adoption to be final – we anticipate around the first of the year. And, while I did not report on it, we have another little one with us: Josie. We were not sure that we would have her more than a week, but that week has now turned into four and a half months, since she came into our home at the ripe old age of five days old (I’ll post pics when I officially return to blogging). The foster/adoption process can be (really, ‘is’) a difficult road to follow. We ask for your prayers... read more
Aug 15, 2007 | Blogging
Some of you know that I am currently in the midst of working on a Doctor of Ministry project with Southern Seminary. Writing has really been slow going while trying to keep up with normal ministry responsibilities and a few new (and beloved) personal responsibilities at home. So, in an effort to give some concentrated time on project writing, THE CAPRANICA will lie dormant for awhile (much more than normal). I am planning to spend a concerted writing effort over the next month on the primary chapters of the project. So, I’ll only be checking my e-mail accounts once per day, shutting my feedreader down so that it doesn’t even come on at all each day (no blog-reading – this one will be incredibly difficult). Checking voice mail at the office and on my cell phone once every other day, limiting my administrative responsibilities as well as any reading that I would normally do outside of sermon and teaching preparation. I would appreciate your prayers. I’m very excited about the project I’m working on and looking forward to how it might be used in our church and eventually in our region of the country. If I get enough of the project written, I may become a more consistent contributor to the blogosphere in the future. Blessings on the three of you who... read more
Aug 9, 2007 | Ecclesiology, Southern Baptist Issues
A few weeks ago, I finished a little booklet by our favorite living Baptist pastor-theologian, Mark Dever called By Whose Authority? I don’t intend this to be a formal review of the booklet as much as a plea that you get not one, but many copies of it. Have one copy to devour personally and have several more to use in a group study as soon as you are able and many more copies to hand out. After reading a few comments from another famous and influential Baptist suggesting that elders aren’t all that necessary (since they aren’t named specifically in the BF&M), I may even make sure that I send a copy to him. A tiny bit of background on my part as to why I found this book so very refreshing and helpful. I pastored a small Southern Baptist Church in Texas from 1988 to 1997. I loved that congregation (and still love those who were there) with all that was in me. I began my eight and ½ years there at age 18 as an associate pastor. I became the Senior pastor and the junior age of 20. I followed my mentor in ministry, Dr. J. C. Traweek, who had planted churches and pastored for over fifty years. Before his resigning from our church and his subsequent passing on to glory, he had begun to set up what he called “an eldership” in our church. It consisted of the younger “preacher boys” (all were older than me by some fifteen to thirty years) and some of the prominent men in the church. He met with them... read more
Aug 2, 2007 | Culture, Miscellaneous
As always, John Piper responds quickly and profoundly to the tragedy in Minneapolis. Our church’s pastoral team was just there this past February traveling across this very freeway. Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed :: Desiring... read more
