The Sweetest Kisses of All

Good Tuesday Morning To You!!

How was your memorial Day? Did you have a picnic or a grill out? Were you invited to someone else’s house. However you celebrated, I hope it was good. Do you remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day? My family is from the hills of Harlan County, Kentucky, and I remember hearing my mom and dad call it Decoration Day. Was that just a southern thing, or did any of you Yankees call it that as well? How about you southern folk? Was Decoration day just a Kentucky term, or did you call it that too? Some of you who remember, e-mail me and let me know. Let me know what part of the country you lived in when you called it that.

Yesterday at Friendship Harmony was a good day. Our attendance was pretty good for a holiday week end, and visitors continue to come. Pray that these visitors, who are local full time folk, will continue to come and soon take membership with us.

I preached a message from Song Of Solomon 1:2. If you can’t find Song of Solomon in your Bible, look for Song of Songs. Some Bibles call it that. I poled our congregation Sunday, and about 25% had Song of Songs. Either is fine, but if you lived in the United States during the time of the Revolutionary War, your Bible might very well have called it The Canticle of Canticles, which translates Song of Songs. In our verse, Solomon writes, speaking for the betrothed, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” In the sermon notes below, we look at four ways our Bridegroom, Jesus, kisses His bride, the church. I do hope you will find these notes helpful. This message was a deeper look into the wedding ceremony we investigated last week with the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

The Groom’s Kisses
Song of Solomon 1:2
By Pastor Vic Cooper
5/24,25/12

Intro: Every bride enjoys the kisses of her groom. When the bride is the Church, and the Groom is Christ, those kisses are even sweeter.

I. He kissed us when He took our nature into His Divinity.
A. Our nature was a sin nature from birth. David said, “ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. “
Psalm 51:5
B. Our nature had to change and only our Groom could change it.
1. He takes away our stony heart and replaces it with a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
2. We are a new creature; new creature equals new nature.
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
C. Taking our old nature into Him did not contaminate His Divine nature. Ezekiel 36:25a Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you…
1. Christ touched the lepers to heal them, but He never contracted the disease.

II. He kissed us when He called us to Himself.
A. The bride couldn’t be a bride had the groom not proposed i.e. called her to him.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
1. Romans 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
2. 1 Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
4. Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

III. He kissed us when He gave us His name.
A. It is a new name. Isaiah 62:2,4 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. [4] Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
B. The name is written on us. Rev. 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
1. This written name is similar in scope to today’s bride’s wedding band. If you look at my wife’s fourth finger on her left hand, you’ll see a gold band that says she has the right to be called by my name. (No wonder her favorite verse is, “I am of all women most blessed.”)

IV. He kissed us when He granted us His security.
A. Look back to the verse above in III. B. It says we will “go no more out.” (Rev 3:12)
B. We are counted as secured sheep in a secure pasture secured by the omnipotence of Almighty God. No wonder His kisses are so sweet.

Conclusion: Has the Lord Jesus proposed to you? Have you accepted His proposal? If you want the kind of kissing and loving Solomon wrote about, say yes to Jesus today.

If you want to accept Jesus’ proposal, I’d like to talk to you about it. You can E-mail me at preachercooper@hotmail.com, or call me at 239-283-8331. Now in closing let me make an announcement, then turn it over to Miss Bessie for a final word.

The Men’s Fellowship Breakfast for this Saturday morning is canceled due to the permanent closing of The Twisted Lemon Restraurant. We will attempt to find another place with a private room, but that will prove difficult. Pray about this, please. Now getting the last word (as usual) here is Miss Bessie.

Good day to all the ladies that are reading the Friendship Harmony Baptist Blog. I just wanted to give all you ladies a special invitation to our Ladies Luncheon on June 12, at 1:00pm at The Island Grill in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza. Please feel free to bring a guest or two. Karen Fain will be leading our devotion, and she wants each of you to bring a picture of your dad. I am looking forward to our time together. It is always such a blessing when we have prayer and fellowship with our sisters in Christ. If you’re in town, try to be with us. If not, please pray for us. It will be such a special time. I’ll see you there on June 12, at 1:00pm. Don’t forget your dad’s picture. Have a good and healthy week and Vic will see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!

See Ya Tomorrow!!!

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, Monday Morning With Pastor Vic will be available on Tuesday Morning this week. I'll see you then!!

Special Edition!!!

Good THURSDAY Morning To You!!

Welcome to this special mid week edition of Monday Morning With Pastor Vic. Let me start by saying thanks for the e-mails and calls asking how I am feeling since my “bug attack” last Sunday. I appreciate your prayers and I’m feeling much better. I’m not yet 100%, but I at least can function.

I want to make an announcement of an event I hope you can attend. The First Baptist of Central Florida will again this year be hosting the annual “Sensational Central Florida Mature Adult Celebration.” The date for this year’s event is October 8 and 9 in Orlando, Florida. Bess and I attended this last year with Bill and Patty Wolfe, and I have never been in better services. I remember last year thinking, “I wish my entire church could get in on this.” For those here in Florida, or for our snowbirds who will be returning, why not make this part of your plans? Perhaps you have some vacation time. Why not come to Orlando for the conference, then stay another day or so and tour the sights? Believe me, there is plenty to see!

This two day conference is as good of a blessing as I have ever received. I’ve been to Revivals, Brush Arbor Meetings, Tent Meetings, and many gospel music concerts. The Mature Adult Celebration is as good as any service I’ve been in.

The cost is $65.00. You must provide your own lodging and meals, but perhaps you can stay at the same motel we will be using.

For more information go to their website which is www.sensationalseniors.info. Click on “enter site” for information. Space is limited to the first 1000 people, and they already have 500 signed up, so if you can attend, make your plans and reservations right away.

I do hope you can attend - you’ll be glad you did. Check out their website now, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.

An Open Door

Good Monday Morning To You!!

This will be an abbreviated visit, because to be honest, I feel lousy. Yesterday morning before I left for church I felt none too good. I had been up since 4:00a.m so I thought I was just tired. As the morning went on, I felt worse with each tick of the clock. By the time it was time to preach, I had nothing left. I breathed one of those emergency, “Lord, please help me do this” prayers. He did, and I was able to deliver the message. When it was time to go home, I could no longer hold my head up. I had a slight fever, and my stomach was churning like a tug boat pushing too heavy a load. When I got home I fell into the bed - clothes and all! Miss Bessie was able to get a few bites of a chicken pot pie down me, but I really had no appetite. Later that evening, about 9:30p.m. I ate a peach, but that didn’t settle well either. All I can say is praise the Lord for berry flavored Tums!

I do want to give you a set of sermon notes for your personal Bible study. It is not what I preached yesterday. Yesterday I used no notes, so please allow me to be a bit lazy and dig into the past for something I believe you can use.

God’s Open Doors
various
Series: God’s Doors By: Pastor Vic Cooper
1 of 4 10/18/08

I. A door of answered prayer Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
A. The Church had been fervently praying for Peter’s release.
B. Rhoda looked through the door, but did not open it.
1. Many children of God look through the door at God’s answer, but do not open the door and seize it.
C. The Church refused to believe her report.
1. “Sadly, many rewards stay out on the porch because we won’t walk through the door God has opened to go get them.” Pastor Vic Cooper

II. A door of utterance Col. 4:3-4 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: [4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
A. This could also be called a door of opportunity.
1. Paul wanted an open door of opportunity.
2. Too many Church members are praying, “Lord, there is my neighbor; send him.”
3. As with the prophet Isaiah, Paul was saying, “Lord here am I; send me.”

III. A door of service 1 Cor. 16:9 (NASB) …for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
A. Paul recognized it as a “wide” door.
1. How wide does the door need to be before we will walk through it?
2. A good burglar only needs the door opened a small crack.
B. Paul also saw it as potential for effective service.
1. How much success must we be guaranteed before we will pass through the wide and open door?
C. Paul knew there would be adversities and adversaries, but he refused to let that stop him.
1. How often do we let even the hint of an adversity hinder us?
8810. Epigram On Overcoming Handicaps
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
—Booker T. Washington (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)

IV. A door of Heaven John 10:7-9 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. [9] I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
A. Jesus alone is the door to Heaven. Jesus also said, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
B. He also said that any other way is the way of “thieves and robbers.” Rev. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Before I go, let me say the attendance at Friendship Harmony was terrific yesterday. There were several visitors in the service, and we’re always glad to see them. These folk are full time people, so pray the Lord sends them our way.

Have a good and healthy week, and hopefully we can be back on track by then. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

Mother's Day 2012

Good Monday Morning To You.
One final time in 2012, let me say Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms. I got to call my mom up in Cincinnati and wish her a happy day. I told the congregation yesterday that when I was a boy we attended the Fairview Baptist Church in Cincy. Each year for Mother’s Day every one received a flower to wear in honor of their mom. I asked dad why his was white while ours was red. He explained that if your mother had passed on, you wore a white flower, and if your mom was still alive, you wore a red flower. I then asked the group, “How many of you ladies here today your children’s mother is still alive?” It was as quiet as a funeral home at 2:00a.m. It eventually dawned on them what I had said. I don’t mean to do these things, but sometime my mouth works faster than my brain. These things just hit me and before my brain can tell my mouth to stay shut, it’s done. Oh well. That’s just Pastor Vic’s sense of humor. By the way, I get it from both my parents, but especially my mom. Happy Mother’s Day once again mom!

I surprised Miss Bessie with a special Mother’s Day Dinner. I made her corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots. I told her several days ago that I was fixing “something.” It drove her nuts trying to guess. She never did and on our way to church yesterday, I told her. I told her it would be some of the finest food she’d ever eaten. All she could say when she took her first bite and I asked her what she thought was, “Ooh, it’s so good.” That was appropriate since I got the recipe from Mr. Food. It was one of his slow cooker recipes. I cannot share it with you due to copyright limitations, but you can get it (and many others) by going onto his website. It can be found at www.mrfood.com.

Yesterday at Friendship Harmony, Bill and Patty Wolfe surprised our ladies with an orchid floating in a decorative glass bowl. These were flowers they had grown. Thanks Bill and Patty from all of us.

In honor of the occasion, I preached a message called, “The Value Of A Good Woman,” from Proverbs 31:10-12. I told our people that Proverbs 31 would be the text that many preachers would be using on Mother’s Day. I preached a simple three point message and I explained to the men in attendance that these traits were for us too. The Bible teaches holy living on the part of both women and men. The sermon notes are here for your use. You may use them in your private Bible study, for a Sunday School class, or as sermon notes. I hope you find them usable.

The Value Of A Good Woman
Proverbs 31:10-12
By: Victor Cooper
Preached 5/13/12

Proverbs 31:10-12 (NLT) Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. [11] Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. [12] She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

These three points concerning the qualities of a good wife are noble goals that all women, married or not, all men, and all young people would do well to try to copy for their lives.

I. She is a dedicated woman.
A. She is dedicated to her family.
1. God instituted the family long before He instituted the Church.
B. She is dedicated to God.
1. Dedicate = def. Gk. qudash; to pronounce clean
2. Psalm 30:1 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up… (underline mine)
a. thou hast lifted me up - thou hast pronounced me clean; thou hast dedicated me
C. To whatever else she becomes part of, she is dedicated to it.
D. A synonym used in several translations of Scriptures for dedicated is devoted.
1. The difference between the two words is only slight;
a. Dedication has to do with action from a sense of duty while
b. devotion has to do with action from a sense of love. Both combined make her more precious than rubies!

II. She is a dependable woman.
A. Her word is her bond.
B. v11 Her husband can trust her
1. He is the closest person in the world - if he can trust her, everyone else can trust her.
2. Even God can trust her. We often speak of the importance of trusting God, but it is also important that He can trust us.
REMEMBER: She is more precious than rubies!

III. She is a delightful woman.
A. v25 She is a pleasure to be around. She can laugh.
1. She is happy, joyful, positive and upbeat, without being foolish or frivolous. .
B. v20 She cares for others.
C. Being such a person makes her more precious than rubies.

Conclusion: Proverbs 31:30 (NLT) Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

I hope you have a good and safe week. Be watching this Wednesday morning for a special mid week edition of Monday Morning With Pastor Vic. I’ll be announcing to you an upcoming two day service in Orlando that you will not want to miss. Last year Bill and Patty Wolfe and Miss Bessie and I went to the services and it was absolutely the highlight of our year. I remember sitting there thinking, “I wish my entire Church could experience this.” You can, and I’ll tell you more about it this Wednesday morning. So for this week I’ll conclude by saying, I’ll see you this coming WEDNESDAY Morning with Pastor Vic!!

See You Later Charlie!

Good Monday Morning To You!

I hope you are well and excited about the new week the Lord has given us! The week will likely be full of challenges and surprises, but hopefully the surprises are good, and the challenges are stepping stones to better days.

I want to tell you about a good friend of mine who passed away last Thursday evening. His name was Charley Gilbert, and he was one of the finest Christian gentlemen I’ve ever known. Charlie served as Chairman of the Deacons at one of the churches I pastored, and he was an absolute joy to be around. He was dedicated to the Lord, and served the church well. Charlie was every preacher’s dream deacon. He supported the pastor and once told me if the church ever decided to hang me, he’d be swinging right beside me.

Charlie was 91 years old and was present at Pearl Harbor the day it was attacked. I used to tease him and tell him he was probably looking at those Japanese planes and admiring the little red balloons painted on their wings and fuselages. He said at first he thought it was a training run with the planes dropping “heavies.” He said it didn’t take long to know this was no drill. He wouldn’t watch war pictures about Pearl Harbor. He told me he had lived through it once and didn’t care to experience it again. He also told me the only time he ever had a flashback to that moment was when the cowardly Muslim terrorists attacked the twin towers and pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Due to health Charlie had to move back to his home in York, Pennsylvania. When I learned he was from York, I told him I loved the peppermint patties. He had a great sense of humor and could dish it out as well as he received it. He’s happy now, and I’m glad he is well, strong, and young again. Pray for his daughter Esther, and her husband Jay. They too are fine Christian people, and they know he is in Heaven, but it still hurts. Jesus never told us that grieving was a sign of weakness. On the contrary, the shortest verse in the King James Bible says, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). Did you know that the Bible says that God collects our tears? Psalm 56:8 says, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Why would God do this? Does He intend to bring them out one day when we face Him? Will we hear Him say, “These prove your lack of faith!” No - no, a thousand times no! Scriptures also teach us, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:17) Again in Rev. 21:4 John writes, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” God keeps them so as to comfort us! One day He will wipe those tears away, and they’ll never appear again. This is a promise to believers; to those who have repented of their sins and have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Have you received Jesus? If you have not, your eternal future will be nothing but weeping and wailing bitter tears. The Bible says, “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42) Is that really what you want, or do you want that eternal comfort that only God can give? I’d be happy to talk to you about it. Feel free to e-mail me at preacher cooper@hotmail.com.

Well, I guess its time to wrap up our visit for this week. Remember the announcements made at Friendship Harmony yesterday. The ladies luncheon will be this Tuesday at the Island Grill at 1:00 p.m. All ladies are invited, and reservations are not necessary. Also, next week we will receive our annual Mother’s day offering to support the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. These homes, located strategically throughout the state, take in children whose lives have been shattered due to problems within their family. The homes provide them with a safe and secure Christian environment, and help them get their lives back in order once again. If you’d like to help, bring your gift, or mail it to the Church. You can either make your check payable Friendship Harmony Baptist Church, and mark on it “children’s homes,” or you may make it out to Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and send it to the Church. The mailing address is 2296 Date Street; St. James City, Florida, 33956. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. These kids are introduced to Jesus while in our care, and many have received Him as their Savior and Lord.

Incidentally, for those wondering, services at Friendship Harmony were terrific yesterday. Karan Barry came to play the piano for us and she knocked it out of the park. She is very accomplished, and we even learned two new songs. What a treat that was! Take care and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!