tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70038022024-03-23T12:45:47.173-05:00The Blog Ideathoughts on life and love and whyDrew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.comBlogger287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-60007199808842285072011-05-26T08:28:00.002-05:002011-05-26T09:11:25.298-05:00Broken-hearted ministry"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;<br /> a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" - Psalm 51:17<br /><br />Having your heart truly broken by God is the most essential pre-requisite to being an effective minister of any kind. To the inexperienced, ministry can seem so blissful, even romantic. We often dream of our own effectiveness and how great the rest of our lives will be.<br /><br />Then comes the first heartache. It is often a significant disappointment - not as many people came to the event as expected, the church leadership did not give approval, too many details were forgotten and it all fell apart - these are often difficult to take for the first time. They cause us to doubt our idealism, "Maybe ministry isn't what I thought it was going to be..."<br /><br />The true heart-breaker comes when our ministry ideals hit the <span id="fullpost">wall of disillusionment. This pain is of a greater weight - getting fired by someone you respect, betrayed by a confidant, even realizing you're not as good in ministry as you hoped - they come with a driving force into your gut and leave you breathless. You are brought to the point of despair. All prior dreams feel paper-thin. You feel unqualified.<br /><br />It is here that the LORD can forge us into the person He is calling us to be. Right here, in this despair and pain when all seems ruined, is when the LORD walks with us through the unimaginable.<br /><br />On the other side of this heartache is the road prepared for us. We are sober-minded, maybe a little jaded, toward ministry - knowing that we are all just fragile and sinful people. We know the road won't be easy, but we are ready for the storm this time. Instead of battling against our idealism, we fight to stay hopeful. We don't wonder how large the number of people will be, but how many of them will stick around.<br /><br />And in a funny way, the LORD uses this to teach us that ministry has everything to do with Him. Our hopes and dreams in ministry revolve around Him and His plan. We can no longer get caught up in how things look or feel within our church; the disillusionment has set for too long. We are smarter now. We can do our best and trust God to move how He sees fit.<br /><br />It is here that we can begin to increase our effectiveness, precisely because we are no longer concerned with it. How our church is doing doesn't reflect our identity anymore, and it is the pain that reminds us to stay this way.<br /><br />Let our hearts burn with the pain of past lessons. Let us watch as fear and pride melt away to reveal a mature passion for the LORD. It is only the trial that can burn us this way, and we can embrace them as the LORD's blessing.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-58599807696519976872009-09-01T11:03:00.007-05:002009-09-01T11:22:11.362-05:00Sermon Audio from St. Timothy CPCI had been asking Jesus for an opportunity to preach, and out of nowhere <a href="http://www.sttimothy-cpc.org/stweb/">St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church</a> called me because my pastor (who has never heard me preach) recommended me. I almost said no because of time constraints (I was learning Greek this summer), but remembered that I'd been praying for this opportunity, so...<br /><br />After meeting with a committee, we landed on preaching for six weeks through the Book of Galatians. Not exactly light fare, but the challenge was going to be fun. After the second week, I asked the sound guy if we could record the services. He agreed (thanks, Frank).<br /><br />For all interested, here's some preaching on Galatians.<br />ht: <a href="http://www.sermoncloud.com/">Sermon Cloud</a><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Galatians: To Christ Through Abraham - 3 of 6 | <a href="http://www.sermoncloud.com/voxchurch/to-christ-through-abraham/">listen or download</a><br />Galatians: Why the Law? - 4 of 6 | <a href="http://www.sermoncloud.com/voxchurch/why-the-law/">listen or download</a><br />Galatians: Resisting Slavery - 5 of 6 | <a href="http://www.sermoncloud.com/voxchurch/resisting-slavery/">listen or download</a><br />Galatians: 6 of 6 | <span style="font-style: italic;">coming soon</span><br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-28803522952127656192009-01-05T18:14:00.003-06:002009-01-05T18:17:27.736-06:00The Caperton Family Newsletter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQZL6i6O0phCS_lrayWlz3rQ5LPyWrTo-DLhOq0oiT2A9IuHm6klbKdYBAzbM9khIoQUTo9dsdVCJ5xqszVl7pNLJO-P5vR5crN7lTft0Jcfgiu17M0hE9RaGUi0ziOaBpC8-/s1600-h/FamilyPortrait.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQZL6i6O0phCS_lrayWlz3rQ5LPyWrTo-DLhOq0oiT2A9IuHm6klbKdYBAzbM9khIoQUTo9dsdVCJ5xqszVl7pNLJO-P5vR5crN7lTft0Jcfgiu17M0hE9RaGUi0ziOaBpC8-/s320/FamilyPortrait.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287968191868335554" border="0" /></a><br />Happy 2009 from the Fort Worth Capertons!<br /><br />We're doing well, but didn't get the Christmas card done in time, so it turned into a New Year's email. Here's a little bit about how everyone is doing:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALL OF US</span><br /><br />We love being a family of seven. The big family atmosphere and the friendship that comes with it is a testament to God's grace, and we're thankful. We're active in at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, TX, and we've just started (along with two other families) a Life Group there. This past year has been a great time of new beginnings and healing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DREW AND KRISTY</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kristy</span> is enjoying life at home with five kids. Somewhere between the twins spitting up, the dirty diapers, and the whirlwind of the older three kids, Kristy maintains great composure and is a grounding force of all of us. Thanks to some help, Kristy gets relief for a few hours a week and spends time giving our children each some special attention. Sometimes she takes the girls out to lunch; other times it's a coloring date with her boys. Additionally, Kristy has found great friendships among some of the seminary wives.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drew</span> is working full-time in graphic design for the seminary and loves his job and his co-workers. It's been a real blessing to get to know other seminary students and to hear how God is directing them. Right now, he's taking a winter term course which brings the total to 16 hours completed over the first year (3 A's and 2 B's). With 10 hours planned for this Spring, the course is set for three more years at seminary.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE KIDDOS</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jedidiah Brooks</span> will only be 5 this January (21st), but he's as tall as a first grader. He's also growing up in other ways- taking on a few house chores, changing diapers, and being a terrific big brother. Lately, Jed has shown an interest in super-heroes and wild animals, and it's not unusual to see him flying around the corner or growling at his little sisters. He's also found a creative outlet in drawing and he draws everything from family portraits to animals to monsters to buildings. He's really very good at it and we hope to encourage it in any way we can.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Riley Ember</span> is 3.5 years old and blossoming into a lovely little girl. She loves to pretend to be a princess, opting only for dresses and jewelry. Riley also is starting to help around the house with cooking and helping with Cash and Canon (whom she calls "her babies"). She's becoming more able to share her thoughts, and a funny one that came out recently was, "God is the best keeper of the whole world."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Story LaRue</span> just turned 2 and is learning quickly. She is using sentences, improving her articulation, and is in the middle of potty training. The "terrible 2's" have set in as she can be quite independent and defiant, but overall, she's pretty obedient and likes to help in any way she can. Story likes playing with Cash and Canon, and spends most of her time singing, running around, and eating random ground objects. Her affinity for dirt is astounding.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cash Urban</span> is 5 months old and is all smiles. He's been having trouble getting sleep lately, but overall he and Canon are getting good at sleeping all the way through the night. Cash is a little bigger than Canon (14.5 lbs to Canon's 12.5 lbs) and has a deep baby voice (imagine a man saying "goo goo" and you're close). He's also learning to lift his head up, hold a bottle, and pretty soon he should be crawling.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Canon Gabrielle</span> is the daintier of the two twins. She is very mild-mannered and entertains herself well by rolling around and reaching for her hanging toys. When you talk to her, Canon will open her eyes very wide as if extremely interested in what you're saying, and it's very cute to watch her move her eyebrows up and down while smiling. When she's eating, she will sometimes reach out to grab Cash's hand. They already seem to have a very cool connection.<br /><br />Thanks to all who have prayed for us and helped us. Our family is blessed for it and God is honored in it. Have a happy new year.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Drew, Kristy, Jed, Riley, Story, Cash, and Canon CapertonDrew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-62601648104655359952008-12-30T16:00:00.000-06:002008-12-30T16:05:33.890-06:00Prophet and PoetI've been dreaming lately. It's probably because I've been on <a href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2008/12/island.html">The Island</a> for a little bit now, but in any case, I've been considering what life after seminary will look like. So when we were able to take this assessment during class yesterday, I jumped on it.<br /><br />This particular assessment laid out four leadership styles: Pastor, Apostle, Poet, and Prophet. It turns out I'm a Prophet first and a Poet second. I was a little surprised by the "poet" tag, but it made me think. Here's a description of each one:<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROPHET</span><br /><br />The prophet wants to see the church shaped by God’s kingdom vision for the world.<br /><br />They are drawn to the speaking the Word into the cultural context.<br /><br />Hearing what God is saying about being a biblical people is of the highest importance.<br /><br />They want the church to recognize its captivities to our culture and discover a more radical, biblical way of life.<br /><br />The prophet wants to move people toward a vision of how God is shaping them in the midst of transition.<br /><br />The prophet brings that Word that comes from the outside and addresses the people with a fresh sense of direction.<br /><br />They thrive in the world of vision and a big picture of the future, they find it hard to spend much energy in the here and now.<br /><br />Planning and strategy are secondary to vision and creating new futures.<br /><br />They are future directed, the immediate is a gateway to tomorrow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">POET</span><br /><br />They love to connect people’s confusion and struggle with the stories of God’s purposes in Scripture so that they can see things differently.<br /><br />Poets call forth that which is hidden.<br /><br />They listen, giving words, images and experiences that help people see things differently.<br /><br />They don’t criticize nor judge but bring God’s story into the reality of people’s longings and pain.<br /><br />Poets listen beneath the surface levels of the attractive and trendy changes in the culture and the church.<br /><br />They focus on people touching the feelings and inner drives forming their lives.<br /><br />Poets are not strategists with solutions or plans.<br /><br />Poets take time, they immerse themselves in the multiple stories of the culture understanding their power and critiquing their claims.<br /><br />They use words with reverence, get immersed in everyday particulars, spy out the glories of the commonplace, warn of illusions, attend to the subtle interconnections between rhythm and meanings and spirit.<br /><br />They work with the question: How can I help people to see differently?<br /><br />They stimulate, give hints, paint pictures, and create imaginations that run counter to the dominant ideologies.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-16092272941161546612008-12-29T16:19:00.005-06:002008-12-29T17:01:34.408-06:00The Island<span style="font-style: italic;">While Kristy and the kids are in Arkansas and I'm busy studying and working in Fort Worth, I thought I'd conduct a little experiment and observe the differences between living with my big family and living on The Island of Constant Solitude.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everything seems frozen in time.</span> Without the constant movement of big family life, the world around me seems to move in slow-motion. The peace and quiet of The Island is nice, but I have a feeling I will tire of it soon and begin to go stir crazy. In this way The Island is like Vegas in that it's a nice place to visit, but living there doesn't work out so well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My brain moves at half-speed.</span> This might sound strange to some of you who are more thorough in their thinking, but on The Island I am much more aware of what I'm thinking about. Usually, I'm so busy doing and saying that I'm barely aware of my thoughts before I act on it or say it. It's like watching something happen right before it happens. Right, I'm weird, I know.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inspiration knocks on my door.</span> On The Island, I become very inspired. I'm not sure why, but a lot of new ideas begin taking shape when I'm alone. Right now I really want to reorganize the entire house, complete with pictures on walls, a chart for the kids, and a couple of bookshelves. Ideas like these come in droves.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nostalgia is at its height.</span> Memories from yesteryear come flooding in on The Island. I am often reminded of people I haven't seen or heard from in years (<span style="font-style: italic;">speaking of which, has anyone seen Pete Smit?</span>). And the slightest thing will throw me back to the significant events of my formative years (<span style="font-style: italic;">like the time I fell in front of Brad Olivier's Volkswagon Bug</span>). Usually a photo album or old video will make its way out during these times.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My surroundings get ignored.</span> On The Island, the thermostat is lower, the lights stay off, I forget to eat, and the trash piles up. I think this is mostly a bachelor phenomena that hasn't made it out yet, but it really has nothing to do with saving money. I simply forget about them. I've heard many bachelors talk like this, can I get an amen?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I go to bed earlier.</span> Kristy is a night owl of the most tenacious kind. Our entire family (for now) is made up of morning people and she is still undeterred in her efforts to stay up late. But consciousness stops around 9 or 10pm on The Island.<br /><br />More tomorrow.</span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-56700915801475177022008-12-23T22:22:00.007-06:002008-12-23T23:36:19.332-06:00If your husband hates Christmas...The only time I've really written on Christmas, <a href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2004/12/christmas-but-not-really.html">it was full of complaints</a>. A re-write is in order.<br /><br /><strong>CHRISTMAS PAST</strong><br />When I was younger, Christmas was one of favorite holidays. We'd either be in New Orleans or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thibodaux,_Louisiana">Thibodaux</a> with a set of grandparents and other assortments of extended family. We had the staple of presents, football, decorations, drinking, and food that is typical of most white, suburban American kids. My family did a bang-up job making Christmas special.<br /><br />What I loved the most was seeing all of these people coming together. And it usually was not just five or six people getting together, it was a ton of people. By the time we began opening presents, the party had reached its zenith and it was sometimes difficult to squeeze through. I can vividly remember 20 or 30 people on several occasions.<br /><br /><strong>CHRISTMAS PAIN</strong><br />It made me very comfortable to know that I was a part of this big family, and never thought that this seemingly endless stream of people would dry up. But when my parents split in 1985, and then all my aunts and uncles divorced before 1990, Christmas shrank and became much less comfortable. Before long, I didn't like Christmas that much.<br /><br />In college and early adulthood, I would often tell people I didn't like Christmas because it was over-commercialized and hollow. The underside of it was that it hurt to think about what Christmas had become for me, and how I wished I could go back to the big family parties of my childhood. As the disillusionment and frustration set in, I became more content to despise Christmas and blow it off.<br /><br />Bigger than all that (and more than I can adequately discuss here), Jesus wasn't really in Christmas for me. I just never saw the connection between my walk with Jesus and how my family celebrated Christmas. I honestly didn't know if Jesus cared about Christmas.<br /><br /><strong>CHRISTMAS JESUS</strong><br />Fast-forward to now, with more than ten years of the Bah-Humbug pattern in my wake, and I'm tired of my Christmas ritual. I'm looking forward to Christmas again, but my hope is not in toys or even large families. It's in Jesus.<br /><br />The greater portion of my spiritual walk this last semester has been to understand what God intends for my family and how I fit into that equation. From God's Word (including Deut. 6:4, Ecc. 3, Eph. 5) I have been shown how God intends for families to embody a culture that will both point my children to Jesus and prepare them to live in a real world (a lot like a church, really).<br /><br />Specifically relating to Christmas, my gift as a father is to show my children the gospel story and celebrate it with them in a way that is fun and instructive. Through the way our family celebrates Christmas (and a myriad of other family "institutions"), I can display God's love for us in Christ and our response to His great Love.<br /><br />So, <strong>if you're the wife of Christian Christmas-hater dad</strong>, take heart and pray for your man.<br /><br />And <strong>if you're a Chrisitian Christmas-hater dad</strong>, wake up and smell the eggnog (<em>yum</em>). Christmas might be jacked up and commercialized, but it's an opportunity to display to your family Christ's gospel story in the midst of the hollow gift-giving and well-wishing of the season.<br /><br />Merry Christmas.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-70289861436505769752008-12-19T12:56:00.006-06:002008-12-19T13:05:13.706-06:00HiatusThe hiatus is ending soon. But first, an explanation.<br /><br />I haven't blogged in seven months because I've been busy. Busy <a href="http://caperton.blogspot.com/2008/07/cash-and-canon-day-one.html">having more children,</a> busy at home with my great family, busy learning at seminary, and busy working.<br /><br />Also, I haven't been able to put my insides into words. Either I had something to say but couldn't quite figure it out, or I couldn't even figure out what to say.<br /><br />So, the hiatus is ending soon with a redirection and a redesign in the works. I want to blog and I think I'm ready to put things out there again.<br /><br />Of course, I've been wrong before.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-78713789812647717522008-05-25T16:07:00.015-05:002008-05-27T15:06:26.247-05:00Galveston<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb0yvRRsYjPz9F0GHShPmsW9cj03ae9qCyQjlF1XOQtMeUGxdMTwJeE3S83EUUbLpGDtuA5h-LD06Ik-7wFTmkl6xiKg4YBm8RlYKlc-FeFFLBLYwPuJsZ5XKx6tZZCfp5gqG/s1600-h/IMG_0797.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb0yvRRsYjPz9F0GHShPmsW9cj03ae9qCyQjlF1XOQtMeUGxdMTwJeE3S83EUUbLpGDtuA5h-LD06Ik-7wFTmkl6xiKg4YBm8RlYKlc-FeFFLBLYwPuJsZ5XKx6tZZCfp5gqG/s320/IMG_0797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204427495140109442" border="0" /></a><br />Possibly the best vacation I've ever had, definitely the best I've had in my adult life: Galveston. The Capertons, Kristy's immediate family and their former (German) foreign-exhcange student from 10 years ago, Christopher Klein. Good times.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu7efLEv8iQ7p8UQaApYDp2CwPGIxvRHduz4JSAyefmj2_SLES9gUFGPGIvYmfze7cDi2tXxkbyj8rMfWE7qhrn0zGjU4fN1G_yOKW4T31bOO727CwD9ZIzp5ktIse1r9ilJq/s1600-h/IMG_0804.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu7efLEv8iQ7p8UQaApYDp2CwPGIxvRHduz4JSAyefmj2_SLES9gUFGPGIvYmfze7cDi2tXxkbyj8rMfWE7qhrn0zGjU4fN1G_yOKW4T31bOO727CwD9ZIzp5ktIse1r9ilJq/s320/IMG_0804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204427928931806354" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAucTjs3zefWTNrhdAIdNMLmXxUXrezrRpaijU8BV5fBSgl5Gv48aIjKNx8A5GgJoC-NO3iY3qvPUUHTvkHBmii9NU3EE87_js0RGlcSVdv3wUCeuttpzeejppKMK6_344w9w/s1600-h/IMG_0913.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAucTjs3zefWTNrhdAIdNMLmXxUXrezrRpaijU8BV5fBSgl5Gv48aIjKNx8A5GgJoC-NO3iY3qvPUUHTvkHBmii9NU3EE87_js0RGlcSVdv3wUCeuttpzeejppKMK6_344w9w/s320/IMG_0913.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204430149429898418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuBbck2vAng0YZtx3d-gZk30bLE0iQgekIr_JQ3j_W8UHvioDnOaEiYSA-KqCo6FgtjTZyd7wf1kSD6Sx1YMBmh8u-MgUdqhyphenhyphenf_oR_3wQkJX27aUHCIh9xMKHmtnM9CZO2R42/s1600-h/IMG_0830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuBbck2vAng0YZtx3d-gZk30bLE0iQgekIr_JQ3j_W8UHvioDnOaEiYSA-KqCo6FgtjTZyd7wf1kSD6Sx1YMBmh8u-MgUdqhyphenhyphenf_oR_3wQkJX27aUHCIh9xMKHmtnM9CZO2R42/s320/IMG_0830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204429810127482018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For more pictures, check out <a href="http://caperton.blogspot.com">our family's blog</a>.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-820293833969642422008-03-01T16:11:00.009-06:002008-03-01T17:18:50.509-06:00Confessional-historicalI know, I know, it's a seminary textbook, but it's fascinating stuff. To submit the Scripture as God's authoritative revelation and also hold to its historical facts is great for me to read. Christian Hartlich says it like this:<br /><blockquote>The fundamental theological axiom at work here can be understood in one sentence: Without an objective, ontic grounding for Christology in the resurrection event Christian faith has no basis. At the same time, however, there is also the desire – so far as possible – to proceed in a historical-critical way, in order to make the event of the resurrection of Jesus historically plausible.</blockquote>In short, <span style="font-weight:bold;">I believe that Christ imparted grace to me by defeating death in the resurrection, but I also believe that Christ's resurrection was an actual historical event.</span> It might not sound like a big deal, but it's a big deal.<br /><br />The fact that this guy said it in 1978 is also humbling because I am just now coming to these realizations. Slowly.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-1153845818751881482008-02-16T21:30:00.003-06:002008-02-16T21:31:06.894-06:00Knowing and being certainAs my Dad flew through town a couple of months ago, we briefly got on the subject of certainty and relational truth. As always, the debate was very respectful and fun. In the middle of it, I happened upon a really great truth and now I'm attempting to process it a little.<br /><br />It came up that someone could know God, but only in a <span style="font-style: italic;">personally interpreted</span> way, the same way I know my friend, Dallas. In this case, I could not make absolute claims about this friend like "Dallas is a gracious person." I could only truthfully say, "Dallas is gracious to me." It would always center on my perspective, and not on Dallas himself. In terms of knowing God, it was said that <span style="font-weight: bold;">I can know God personally, but I cannot be certain of who He is.</span> That's where I had a problem.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Stuck inside the cage of our own perspective, we can never know anything about God. We cannot be certain because we can never have <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the facts about Him. I do not believe either of these statements because of one word: <span style="font-weight: bold;">revelation</span>. And even though I know it's not that easy, it is the beginning of understanding that we can make know God [and things about Him] outside of anyone's perspective, including our own. To illustrate this, I'll use a simple, three-person relationship consisting of Ann, Ben, and Cal. This is their [<span style="font-style: italic;">fictional</span>] story.<br /><br />Ann and Ben are great friends. Ann and Cal are also great friends. Ben and Call don't know each other as of yet. One day in a chance encounter, Ben and Cal meet and discover that they both know Ann. This is where the trouble begins.<br /><br />Ben declares, "Ann is one of the mildest people I know. She wouldn't even hurt a fly." Ben then tells a story to illustrate his declaration. Cal interjects, "Really? The Ann I know is extremely violent and everyone is constantly fearful of her." Cal then shares a story about one of Ann's violent tirades. Ben and Cal go back and make sure they're speaking of the same person, and that the stories they told were recent, and they were.<br /><br />The questions arises for both of them, "Who is Ann?" This is not merely one mood of Ann, but a totally different persona. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Relationally, this is a problem that only Ann herself can rectify</span>. Either she is an impostor to some degree, or one of her friends is wrong. There is no other option.<br /><br />Back to reality. One person might say something like, "God would never let someone hurt themselves" while another says, "God just allowed my mother to commit suicide." Either God is an impostor to some degree, or one of them is wrong about God. There is no other option. The answer begins with <span style="font-weight: bold;">revelation</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Relationally, God is the only one who can clear His own Name</span>, and He has... in revealing Himself to us through Scripture.<br /><br />I know this isn't a complete treatment of this problem, but it's a beginning. The road I go down from here involve questions like: why is Scripture so difficult to interpret? What <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> God revealed about Himself in Scripture? Moreover, what about those who don't believe Scripture, what are they to understand? All really good questions. Hopefully, I'll get some good answers.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-91695788412484805912007-12-11T09:03:00.000-06:002007-12-11T09:26:30.271-06:00Clean Cars of the Future... for CaliforniaI saw an ad for this today on <a href="http://time.com" target="new">Time.com</a> and got very excited.<br /><br />Dubbed as the "Zero Emission Sedan of the Future," the Honda FCX Clarity [<a href="http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/?from=fcx.honda.com" target="new">website</a>] is something I've been hoping to see for a while, but it might be a while longer because they're only being released in Southern California. Dangit.<br /><br />They have good reason for only letting the residents of Torrance, Santa Monica, and Irvine use it: no other cities have places to refuel the cars.<br /><br />Here is the ad I saw - "Waterfight"<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXjYHdMo670&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXjYHdMo670&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />More videos after the break. <span id="fullpost"><br /><br />Here is the Kelley Blue Book review of the FCX Clarity<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-KZb1dUxNE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-KZb1dUxNE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />And for more digging and good ads, <a href="http://www.honda.com/fuel-cell/" target="new">here are some more Honda FCX Clarity ads</a>.<br /><br />Mark those calendars for 2009!<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-45373273080739505502007-11-28T21:49:00.000-06:002007-11-28T22:01:37.186-06:00I got the job!I would like to announce a few things on the blog because so much has been up in the air about where we're going, what we're doing, etc. Today, things got solidified and it feels so good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I got a job at Southwestern Seminary as a production artist</span> [graphic design] and will start January 2nd. I accepted it today [after I turned it down about 10 days ago, long story].<br /><br />This means <span style="font-weight: bold;">we're moving to Fort Worth right before Christmas</span>. We don't know about the living situation just yet, but I'll be looking for houses/apartments in Fort Worth while Kristy and the kids are in Northwest Arkansas [<span style="font-style: italic;">hey Browns!</span>] over Christmas and a little while afterward.<br /><br />This also means <span style="font-weight: bold;">we need to sell the house very, very soon</span>. If you know someone looking for a 4bd/3bt 2,100 sq ft house right in the middle of Lafayette, you just let me know. Also, if you are an able-bodied person who would like to help us clean up and fix it up, we need you pronto. Give me a call or email me.<br /><br />OK, consider yourself informed and please help us inform others. Hey, it's not gossip if I give you permission, right?Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-2554133021504902007-11-25T15:52:00.000-06:002007-11-25T23:56:30.183-06:00AnniversaryToday, Kristy and I tied the knot 7 years ago... and she's still got it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here she is as a cute little girl...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hF0SlTHzpm3EKSRZMoWyshMu6VYMjg-ob7jvLViZzJ1WZGBa29Oyfh9kD3-4QcZnG6vk-TcHYYEX9MkGweGe5QT_lH3jBENA9S5HGoX5Fxfy54pRZ28MFzQ6B4jAeitaD6zM/s1600-h/Kristy+6+Yrs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hF0SlTHzpm3EKSRZMoWyshMu6VYMjg-ob7jvLViZzJ1WZGBa29Oyfh9kD3-4QcZnG6vk-TcHYYEX9MkGweGe5QT_lH3jBENA9S5HGoX5Fxfy54pRZ28MFzQ6B4jAeitaD6zM/s200/Kristy+6+Yrs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136904549307768146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...a foxy lady...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqI6xVVjNIJ3_CgCclqtdqJPsalqGXXhZ5icOVEIqNyVOeJjIy4jvZ73zhsOKMkg_KMFJobNVp52lMElDbv9D1-8nGDhzro0YmFnyQZtOavMkp4kHXyXKpIe6xp5U_RklXJe49/s1600-h/Kristy+Profile.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqI6xVVjNIJ3_CgCclqtdqJPsalqGXXhZ5icOVEIqNyVOeJjIy4jvZ73zhsOKMkg_KMFJobNVp52lMElDbv9D1-8nGDhzro0YmFnyQZtOavMkp4kHXyXKpIe6xp5U_RklXJe49/s200/Kristy+Profile.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136904772646067554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...a faithful mother...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbccmq9B_o33XSEEgqFWVp6SpDmT5MVNOYmd_uvzf3DL3qrGn8gLKiHgiocB2zlDGPexm1VZFof5dXbTQ2oOe1zt05i87m7Xn80WKwedmPDhQu230C_MklFK6m9rzEyupk9Rz_/s1600-h/P5300046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbccmq9B_o33XSEEgqFWVp6SpDmT5MVNOYmd_uvzf3DL3qrGn8gLKiHgiocB2zlDGPexm1VZFof5dXbTQ2oOe1zt05i87m7Xn80WKwedmPDhQu230C_MklFK6m9rzEyupk9Rz_/s200/P5300046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137023695995526530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...and a loving sister.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmZRF2MmT1tY-jSOre55_cUzlnaQr7yj2WrmP1lfxQdbO5EXERz6-98Xq1HsfWA5CeVbA1vbCZx3ODCfb8JFk32Id2HZwnfLRT8VhJ9d5PDYWewp2PmUwfElawyqO3gjLCcT-/s1600-h/April+2007+Family+061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmZRF2MmT1tY-jSOre55_cUzlnaQr7yj2WrmP1lfxQdbO5EXERz6-98Xq1HsfWA5CeVbA1vbCZx3ODCfb8JFk32Id2HZwnfLRT8VhJ9d5PDYWewp2PmUwfElawyqO3gjLCcT-/s200/April+2007+Family+061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136904119811038514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baby, you do it all. Thank you. Happy Anniversary.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-91977580608062574472007-11-21T15:00:00.000-06:002007-11-21T15:08:35.609-06:00Songs for a Funeral<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8EgOv6-MWg_9HxImqFkuleVJCmzfeso_IaKd1v4gC4g5UuVQEqd93EvAWLadzQdOswLV7-JRiUgK1D4g3rxOaOouB2Wch2O4R0eJO8XECfO3LFHzB8t0XzkYwFpA_VMIlveL/s1600-h/990.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8EgOv6-MWg_9HxImqFkuleVJCmzfeso_IaKd1v4gC4g5UuVQEqd93EvAWLadzQdOswLV7-JRiUgK1D4g3rxOaOouB2Wch2O4R0eJO8XECfO3LFHzB8t0XzkYwFpA_VMIlveL/s200/990.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135402899892067618" border="0" /></a>Every once in a while, I consider what my funeral would be like [don't worry]: what Scripture would be read, what songs could be played, who would give the eulogy?<br /><br />I don't know about Scripture or speakers, but here are a few songs I'd like to be played at my funeral. Am I crazy or do other people think about this?<br /><br />Read on for songs and related videos.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Come To Jesus" by Chris Rice</span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e_4g8_e16dc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e_4g8_e16dc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I Will Wait For You There" by Phil Wickham</span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n0ZR4bkx8-o&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n0ZR4bkx8-o&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Daylight" by Brave Saint Saturn</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If you get tired of this one, just fast-forward to around the 4:00 [or -1:50] mark. Simply moving.</span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zZ48C8z7aOQ&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zZ48C8z7aOQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-70203795141061865782007-11-17T16:34:00.000-06:002007-11-17T16:43:12.845-06:00My Next Inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ThZn36tzq0oD8zWzgj-hP-SQ_mOAp6Wp724YwmKJfxKba5KJMPK3q82w3t_niCKnZF_cOKUoqMgBVqOTrJq-vlxr2_y0MdTri8njIW1uMTB_5vRHyUR95XlJ_AuiXY7coETa/s1600-h/08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ThZn36tzq0oD8zWzgj-hP-SQ_mOAp6Wp724YwmKJfxKba5KJMPK3q82w3t_niCKnZF_cOKUoqMgBVqOTrJq-vlxr2_y0MdTri8njIW1uMTB_5vRHyUR95XlJ_AuiXY7coETa/s320/08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133941374060846338" border="0" /></a><br />The cool thing is that these kids are lying on the ground. The artist's name is <a href="http://www.janvonholleben.com/" target="new">Jan Von Holleben</a> and his latest work is Dreams of Flying. Very creative and fun.<br /><br />Just looking at them made me laugh and think of how much fun it would be to shoot pictures like that. Maybe we'll try it sometime. More pictures after the break.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0sCDrJCaHUIjSk7khxd87ueYGLLEoIQmHdWWRkPzbZ2XMIEzuZHQXlb3I2dpagaikD_9Dfc5l8yofmuvJ2XxYXhE9qpew7TRvtlNpd26tlDjNYkp4hASE9gBGQWUjBcVLhA0/s1600-h/09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0sCDrJCaHUIjSk7khxd87ueYGLLEoIQmHdWWRkPzbZ2XMIEzuZHQXlb3I2dpagaikD_9Dfc5l8yofmuvJ2XxYXhE9qpew7TRvtlNpd26tlDjNYkp4hASE9gBGQWUjBcVLhA0/s320/09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133941661823655186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />ht: <a href="http://www.stevekmccoy.com/" target="new">Reformissionary</a><br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-86813242196824285632007-11-16T09:11:00.000-06:002007-11-16T09:56:47.599-06:00October's Top 7Presenting the top Blog Idea posts from the month of October. Courtesy of <a href="http://google.com/analytics/">Google Analytics</a>:<br /><br />7. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2007/01/steve-horn-and-sean-payton.html" target="new">Steve Horn and Sean Payton</a>. Both run large South Louisiana organizations [FBC Lafayette and the Saints respectively], and both have the same exact face. Strange.<br /><br />6. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2006/03/sixed-perry-sanders.html" target="new">Sixed: Perry Sanders</a>. An interview with a great preacher. The funniest part about this is where Dr. Sanders does the word association with "rap music" near the bottom. Classic.<br /><br />5. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2007/02/like-you-know.html" target="new">Like, you know, it's Taylor Mali</a>. Still funny, and I've watched it a few times. <a href="http://youtube.com/results?search_query=taylor+mali&search=Search" target="new">More videos by comedian Taylor Mali on YouTube</a>.<br /><br />4. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2005/08/lets-go-to-capertons-house.html" target="new">Let's go to the Caperton's house!</a> Don't know why this is #4.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />3. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-son-is-artisitc-prodigy.html" target="new">My son is an artistic prodigy</a>. When Jed is older and his tire sculpting is in the Museum of Modern Art, I can sell this post on eBay!<br /><br />2. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2007/06/review-me-alcohol-should-believers.html" target="new">Alcohol: Should Believers Drink?</a> I've refined this post a little- easier to understand and a little more culturally apt.<br /><br />1. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2007/02/triple-x-church.html" target="new">Triple X Church</a>. A fun video to watch and a great work these guys are doing for freedom in Christ. Their work among the women coming out of porn is awe-inspiring.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-69702994907639743782007-11-15T22:08:00.000-06:002007-11-15T22:15:51.302-06:00Writing Right with a DragonMy friend Paige Gmaz is a teacher, a really good special ed high school teacher. She's so good that she's helping one of her students get to college. Here's the story and how you can help him go to college.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=128718&utm_source=teachers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TeacherMarketing" target="new">Paige's Proposal: Writing Right with a Dragon</a><br />[<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5779394493" target="new">same proposal as an event on Facebook</a>]<br /><br />Right now [as of 10pm on 11/15/07] his need is down to $290.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://donorschoose.org/" target="new"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2jDSZ7I9UiVd8aINXqcVku9AravGH37h63mUTHoALhtCwAd3bnFyubXkEtJssOFUQsi9afpyVEDu7FGN482k4-C7Q8AD2WpXZXj0efUy-uLG9W3F-V_5JBnNuo6HApTXQmWJ/s320/Donors.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133286455972715762" border="0" /></a>Paige is going through <a href="http://donorschoose.org/" target="new">DonorsChoose.org</a>, an organization that tries to be "<span style="font-style: italic;">a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our </span><span style="font-style: italic;">public sc</span><span style="font-style: italic;">hools often lack</span>." One obvious route is helping great teachers [like Paige] get special funding for their students.<br /><br />So, take the plunge all you people that read this blog with some extra cash. All you have to do is click the link. You could even give a mere $5 to help Paige out. Think about it.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-31790357075137653862007-11-14T23:44:00.000-06:002007-11-14T23:47:56.214-06:00Seminary-ing at SouthwesternI've spoken with many of you personally about this already, but I wanted to put it there for everyone to know: the Capertons are going to seminary and we've chosen <a href="http://www.swbts.edu/">Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary</a> in Fort Worth.<br /><br />It was either going to be Southwestern or <a href="http://www.sbts.edu/">Southern Baptist Theological Seminary</a> in Louisville, and after visiting both, our choice was clear. Here are some highlights from those trips.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOUTHWESTERN IN FORT WORTH</span> [<span style="font-style: italic;">in order of occurrence</span>]:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Aunt Patti and Uncle Lee</span>. I have an uncle I'd never met until this trip and Lee Cooper is his name. It turns out he's a great guy and he loves my dear Aunt Patti very much. I'm excited he's part of the family. I stayed with them while I was there and Aunt Patti's charm and hospitality was so needed.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. The Admissions Staff</span>. I know it's their job, but these people are just downright hospitable to the core. By the time I left, I felt as though three or four of them were really good friends of mine. Somebody deserves a raise.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch with </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://stwthoughts.blogspot.com/">Sean Walker</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and Tori</span>. Besides Sean's amazing beard, it was good to catch up with Sean and sit in on a class with him. Too bad the class was a tiny bit boring.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meeting Catherine Garner</span>. Joe and Rebekah Garner had me over for dinner one night and I got to meet their daughter Catherine. She is a sweetheart and made an already-excellent dinner a lot of fun.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Getting a job interview on the spot</span>. I didn't plan to interview for jobs while there, but it just unfolded for me. It is a position with the seminary doing graphic design, which is <a href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2005/10/portfolio.html">something I do on the side</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOUTHERN IN LOUISVILLE</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. The Legacy Center.</span> Compared to many hotels I've stayed at, this was a very swanky and very roomy place. Everyone at the front desk was very cool.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sojournchurch.com/">Sojourn Community Church</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span> After one service [and multiple trips to their website] I am thoroughly impressed with the gospel-centered / community-minded approach to church planting that Daniel Montgomery and the guys at Sojourn have taken. If I was going to Southern, I'd definitely be going here.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Articles/2007/10/Saints%20at%20SF%20Game%20Story.aspx">Saints win three straight!</a> With a win over the hated [at least by me] 49ers, the New Orleans Saints are one game out of first place in their division after an 0-4 start. Good times.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Josh and Tracy Mauldin</span>. I stayed my last night with Josh and Tracy and we had a really good time with dinner [asian], dessert [pies], and many late-night laughs. The bed was also very nice, which was an unexpected surprise [foldouts aren't known for their comfort].<br /><br />In the end, the LORD led me to be wise with what He's given me, and Southwestern was the wise choice for very many reasons. Thank you to all who have prayed.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-49757642235699005432007-11-08T22:14:00.001-06:002008-02-17T14:34:47.411-06:00InCarnation Instant Breakfast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://incarnationinstantbreakfast.wordpress.com/" target="new"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDjmMnvNKQTRuyOS_Ie1sYjGA6W3A6J7D2bPxM9OJInF7heJx8J91jYzCAOm_cOeoCt6tNmcFfeQJKqSOu7q2O8BMzvJ6rUFaWkIgiPYvkXkokSOGab-G8yLQ8akQA9HDrinX/s400/banner2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130689918474921698" border="0" /></a><a href="http://incarnationinstantbreakfast.wordpress.com/" target="new">InCarnation Instant Breakfast</a> is possibly the best title of a blog I've ever seen, and it's "the unofficial weblog for new types of missional communities in Canada." Anyone looking for the last frontier in missional church planting can find it blogged here.<br /><br />Get on <a href="http://incarnationinstantbreakfast.wordpress.com/" target="new">their site</a>, give them some love.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-52883183875050970962007-10-31T20:28:00.000-05:002007-11-14T23:26:57.879-06:00No more Vox ChurchOver the last year or so, I have undergone one of the most painful and revealing times of my adult life. Our efforts to plant a church have proven only temporarily fruitful. We planted a church, but the church did not survive.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />I guess this is what most church planters feel when their efforts do not produce a church that lasts longer than a few months or years. It's difficult to put into words, but one phrase that captures a lot of it is <span style="font-style: italic;">second guessing</span>.<br /><br />"Is there something wrong with me?"<br />"Did I really receive a call to plant this church?"<br />"Is this mostly my fault?"<br />"Is this what the 'minor' prophets felt like?"<br />"How in the world does this fit into God's plan?"<br /><br />The list goes on and on. In fact, I'm thinking about writing a book filled with just the questions that are in my head at this given moment.<br /><br />I'll leave you with what I wrote at the end of my last newsletter:<br /><br /><blockquote>Two and a half years ago, two men and their families came to Lafayette with a dream and a calling for a church family. Through heartaches and jubilation, I have journeyed through the process of church planting with no church and fewer friends to show for it. I know the LORD has done great things in the lives of others and has transformed things that I cannot see, but it still seems like such a loss. Even in that "I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." Even though Paul wrote this from prison and I'm far from that, this is one of the hardest things I have walked through. Thank you to all who have walked it with me. I am better because of you. The LORD is glorified because of you.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By the way, could one of you Photoshop-ers make me an image of a nice gravestone with "Vox Church RIP June 1, 2005 - May 9th, 2007" on it? I'd like to post it here, but don't have the means to make it.</span><br /><br /><em>UPDATE: Kent Caperton has come through for me. It's a little spooky, but I appreciate it, thanks bro.<br /><br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuH5OhjKuZtIvTXvx1Qn72W_kV2zto7RimUnZ2EWEKqP40eJ-fdQ2aCvz0jCQX4lm3ACBJdU2_Uq_Y1eKwf8nVwohqQAeaeBvj3F3s6jKevJaJ2a7wa4s4wfV94vOHeopDzr0/s1600-h/gravestonevox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127909610322184418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuH5OhjKuZtIvTXvx1Qn72W_kV2zto7RimUnZ2EWEKqP40eJ-fdQ2aCvz0jCQX4lm3ACBJdU2_Uq_Y1eKwf8nVwohqQAeaeBvj3F3s6jKevJaJ2a7wa4s4wfV94vOHeopDzr0/s320/gravestonevox.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-24434370417501575062007-10-14T15:03:00.000-05:002007-11-14T23:26:39.424-06:00My son is an artisitc prodigyOK, so I know a lot of people think their children are super-talented and super-smart, but when Jedidiah did this<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwHF21kO0-FxWb9nrZAGaxhv6fmdNgvI4lStdvNQKM-Pt4GloDltoENYhE36xaZZPuzAmXnQNSpQHhcN0xmH6ECPOEPJmAF7YuQN6DjgoT5jrns2Y-VbQHYtWogYv6U6o8419/s1600-h/PA140019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwHF21kO0-FxWb9nrZAGaxhv6fmdNgvI4lStdvNQKM-Pt4GloDltoENYhE36xaZZPuzAmXnQNSpQHhcN0xmH6ECPOEPJmAF7YuQN6DjgoT5jrns2Y-VbQHYtWogYv6U6o8419/s320/PA140019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121295250602154002" border="0" /></a><br />and then said, "Hey Dad, come here, look I made a pig soooooie!" I was pretty amazed. Take a closer look:<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYvEA41HRzvkFUhH11CwEi6_tRelkTUKpC_4N-tfvYRBYkz_6tX4PHOBa6IYICwDL-nG5i1iqG0qa2Gisz4OvG2QGACmVAFkfKeCMf6Rcx0NagnZFvrUgbDs2NxzgZD8Xc26c/s1600-h/PA140018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYvEA41HRzvkFUhH11CwEi6_tRelkTUKpC_4N-tfvYRBYkz_6tX4PHOBa6IYICwDL-nG5i1iqG0qa2Gisz4OvG2QGACmVAFkfKeCMf6Rcx0NagnZFvrUgbDs2NxzgZD8Xc26c/s320/PA140018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121300713800554610" border="0" /></a><br />And then compare it with the old Arkansas icon [still used in some logos]<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yQEeq3MMgIVtCtrOzJXBuNxbDKHO5heREHn5NeDSEtNcylTkcrhUv8o6CpO2S_5r0ie0Ck3-t1lW27zpIjgp21Qnb-dlxTEYivLDDxDRJRhig5qFHLoXzn3uQqW_I2iOhX6H/s1600-h/FG23211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yQEeq3MMgIVtCtrOzJXBuNxbDKHO5heREHn5NeDSEtNcylTkcrhUv8o6CpO2S_5r0ie0Ck3-t1lW27zpIjgp21Qnb-dlxTEYivLDDxDRJRhig5qFHLoXzn3uQqW_I2iOhX6H/s320/FG23211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121299811857422418" border="0" /></a>Pretty cool.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And for those distrusting souls out there, this was not coaxed. I'm not even a fan of the Razorbacks, he saw the icon on a jersey his Uncle Nate gave him.</span><br /><br />Next time you see Jed, ask him to draw a picture, you might get a surprise.<br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-14479068742126321362007-10-08T13:50:00.001-05:002007-10-08T13:55:54.983-05:00Man sues God, God respondsSo, a man sued God to "make a point" but I don't think he guessed God would respond. The man filed a "permanent injunction" against God, but I don't know if he thought through the ramifications of that.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/suing.god.ap/index.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">CNN:</span> 'God' responds to legislator's lawsuit</a><br /><br />ht: <a href="http://aaronstewart.blogspot.com/">Aaron Stewart</a>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-22274503364402774882007-10-07T20:15:00.000-05:002007-10-08T12:05:23.517-05:00Changing it upI'm going for a different look with the blog, and I'm in transition for the time being. So, if there are broken links or things don't look right, just know I'm working on it. You can also drop me a line of encouragement or chiding, either will do. Since I got this template from Mexico, I'm thinking of keeping everything in Spanish for my bi-lingual friends..<br /><br />By the way, I'm looking for some more <a href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/2006/03/sixed.html">sixed</a> candidates, got any ideas? I've only done three so far, but I'm interested in doing more. Here's who I've <a href="http://blogidea.blogspot.com/search/label/sixed">sixed already</a>.Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-32775230622401038782007-10-06T12:33:00.000-05:002007-11-14T23:26:22.266-06:00BKing the fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yGuhdm9CruAwnhzwgA-yYl-f9Ce5J_01g7H4-dg_n0f3p1CPSqjS5m6npIvEJugZNwBY4r5g9K3d-NSrbMqOzAuO9nv2kXtw63sIlYx7_ZXigOGQZZXkRprCawmCdSSNEtqt/s1600-h/PA050003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yGuhdm9CruAwnhzwgA-yYl-f9Ce5J_01g7H4-dg_n0f3p1CPSqjS5m6npIvEJugZNwBY4r5g9K3d-NSrbMqOzAuO9nv2kXtw63sIlYx7_ZXigOGQZZXkRprCawmCdSSNEtqt/s320/PA050003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118279582264940162" border="0" /></a>Today it was just the boys for breakfast and Jed and I headed out to BK for some morning man time. Lately, Jed and I haven't gotten much time just by ourselves and we were both due.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Since Jed has an insatiable urge to do things by himself lately [he's such a firstborn], I asked him to carry our food all the way to our table, which he did without a hitch.<br /><br />We began taking pictures of each other randomly and I have to admit Jed is quite the photographer for only being 3 years old. After his first shot of my face didn't pan out, Jed got it dead on with his second attempt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuO6_LbITfEOCcnbQomkF0nGfz9YBPcn2cZ87K7u1KlJxgIY2-3HXp9kWJk6xZsHIXDocyUcSk2owEy7gWZZ73rfnw8px4WcgIFBLeOHs6CfLeBxD44AgP2d8haUef23XpG1v/s1600-h/PA050010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuO6_LbITfEOCcnbQomkF0nGfz9YBPcn2cZ87K7u1KlJxgIY2-3HXp9kWJk6xZsHIXDocyUcSk2owEy7gWZZ73rfnw8px4WcgIFBLeOHs6CfLeBxD44AgP2d8haUef23XpG1v/s320/PA050010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118452231360304786" border="0" /></a>The only problem was that I happened to have a drink straw nearing my nose when he got the shot right.<br /><br />After downing a couple of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">croissanwiches</span> [by the way, I don't know why Burger King did not win the Nobel for coming up with the name <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">croissanwich</span></span>; regardless of where you fall on the like/dislike continuum, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">croissanwiches</span> are here to stay and BK gets all the cred for entering them into our vocabulary... and mouths], Jed and I decided to go outside and play on the playground.<br />There was only one problem: when we walked outside the only thing we could see was the plot of cement where a playground once lived.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1BG4tUmwbIH4pVJ0ciqDImTT31JnQxqZ-AvjpWzsnsmfp6Z5CZNkQpi-Udx9dLC1lYCq3Tx3Rlw9TBrVPoEKoAae9GnNRTx94ohgD6uJ6vNt5slBDo4jD9wGg0hCJxXJy7Nz/s1600-h/PA050012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1BG4tUmwbIH4pVJ0ciqDImTT31JnQxqZ-AvjpWzsnsmfp6Z5CZNkQpi-Udx9dLC1lYCq3Tx3Rlw9TBrVPoEKoAae9GnNRTx94ohgD6uJ6vNt5slBDo4jD9wGg0hCJxXJy7Nz/s320/PA050012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118454962959505058" border="0" /></a><br />At this point, Jed became sad [yes, this was staged].<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyZrq5bLcO4bGfGPfujlRmIN-stqUgnlJ35L7-SZpOw4_Jucu_PWbg9gQk4lAmCMSr3PUDf7U7o3E8p7T7uHki8jLW46CIKNXNtYZvohiSP_JgWCAjc6RO4njHPiyLeuK4n2B/s1600-h/PA050013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyZrq5bLcO4bGfGPfujlRmIN-stqUgnlJ35L7-SZpOw4_Jucu_PWbg9gQk4lAmCMSr3PUDf7U7o3E8p7T7uHki8jLW46CIKNXNtYZvohiSP_JgWCAjc6RO4njHPiyLeuK4n2B/s320/PA050013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118458441883014834" border="0" /></a><br />But we eventually found some good times at a nearby car lot. We took jumping pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFemkv6FBsA5sI2ylVj4ZxFpmwfThTyPmAJYkDs-dNmbdXyyXVp4o2x4EdP7NP2dzYSA37QM0hnp5AhiXxlDIwu87D-EP8MeA2uetToREOHf44TBnDaNDQEjOzZHhna4TQiH04/s1600-h/PA050020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFemkv6FBsA5sI2ylVj4ZxFpmwfThTyPmAJYkDs-dNmbdXyyXVp4o2x4EdP7NP2dzYSA37QM0hnp5AhiXxlDIwu87D-EP8MeA2uetToREOHf44TBnDaNDQEjOzZHhna4TQiH04/s320/PA050020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118459683128563394" border="0" /></a><br /></span>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003802.post-21247336502670779302007-10-02T10:14:00.000-05:002007-10-07T16:59:47.953-05:00Would you make it as an immigrant?<span style="font-style: italic;">"Officials have released updated questions that are part of the naturalization test required for immigrants to become citizens."</span> And here's the 25-question quiz.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21019797/" target="new">Quiz: How well do you know the United States?<br /></a><br />I got two wrong [#4, #18] and I hang my head in shame... I wouldn't make it as an immigrant.<br /><br />Let me know how you did. No cheating, I'm serious.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">ht: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://relevantmagazine.com/" target="new">Relevant Magazine</a>Drew Capertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164556403234524968noreply@blogger.com1