Monday, October 29, 2012

One More For Theodore!

Good Monday Morning To You!

Of all the stories I have written these past few years, none has received any more attention than the one about Theodore the chicken. If you didn’t read that story from September 16, 2012, scroll down and read it, then come back to this one. My story about Theodore is all true, with no embellishments. We actually did have a pet rooster named Theodore. While I realize many country kids have pet chickens, goats, and hogs, I am not a country boy. I’m a city boy. I grew up in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is a large metropolitan area. I like the country, and both my parents are country folk, but I like the city. Yes, we had a pet rooster right in the heart of the big city. Theodore was mean; only my dad, my brother, or I could even get near him. The poor mailman had to cross the street to pass. For some reason, Theodore did let the milkman come up on HIS porch. Theodore had his most fun chasing mom all over the yard. She’d try to hang her laundry out to dry, but whenever she walked out into the yard, Theodore would chase her all over the place. I don’t know who made the most noise: mom or Theodore. Poor Theodore couldn’t help it, he had severe mental issues. He was one of those colored chicks you could buy at Easter that had been dyed various colors. Most of the birds died within a few days due to the dye, but Theodore lived. We’re convinced, however, that the coloring agent used on him affected his mind.

I can’t tell you how many people have asked me, “Whatever happened to Theodore?” One dear lady at Friendship Harmony wanted to know if Theodore was executed for his crimes. As mean as he was to mom, her heart was too tender to pass the death sentence. Instead, Theodore was deported. Dad worked with a man who owned a farm out in the country, and Theodore was exiled to another home. We would never see him again and I really do not know what became of him. For those of you who know my mom, ask her. I imagine the story we were told of him being happy with the other chickens was not entirely true. I believe the truth is that Theodore became the special guest at a chicken and dumpling dinner, but I really do not know.

What I do know is that the services at Friendship Harmony were awesome yesterday! We had a tremendous Sunday School lesson taught by Burt Nelson, retired professor of geography from Central Michigan University. Both Pastor Felber and I learned things we had never considered before. It is such a privilege to learn from God’s word. Our song service was good, too. Right now we are getting by using pre-recorded music. This is working out well, but with our sound system being in the shop, it is a bit hard hearing the music. We did the best we could and God certainly blessed the effort.

The message title was, “Better Than Hollywood.” We saw that although the Hollywood make up artists are super at their craft, what they provide is an illusion and is temporary. The new body receivers of Christ will one day possess are real and eternal. The sermon notes are below. I hope they help you in your personal Bible study. As always, if you have any questions or comments, be sure to let me hear from you. My e-mail address is preachercooper@hotmail.com.

Better Than Hollywood ©
Philippians 3:20,21
By Victor Cooper
10/22-27/12
Intro: Hollywood make-up artists are expert at making people look totally different than they really are. They can create the illusion of age out of youth, or youth out of age. They can take a normal human body and give it the appearance of perfection. However, at the end of the day’s filming, it all goes back to its original. Today we will see how our new body, shaped by Jesus Himself, will be no illusion and will not be temporary.

Our new bodies will be incorruptible, incomprehensible, and incapable of sin.

I. Incorruptible.. Synonymous with imperishable; immortal.
Def. Imperishable; lasting forever; deathless; ageless; eternal, ever living. God is said to be “incorruptible” (aphthartou) which means non-decaying, imperishable, unchanging,
and unaging.
1 Corinthians 15:42,43; 50-56
A. Incorruption is a necessity. 1 Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1. Paul believed it v50 (Read) Living or dead makes no difference.
2. Isaiah believed it. Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
3. Job believed it. Job 19:26 (NLT) And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
4. Jesus Himself taught it. Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
B. Incorruption is a gift. 1 Cor. 15:42,43
1 Six times we read, “it is sown,” “it is raised.”
2. Someone has to do the sowing and the raising.
3. Man sows: v45-47 ‘earthy.”
[b] Man is of the earth. cf. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man me a living soul.
4. Christ raises. v47b refers back to v45.

II. Incomprehensible. def. 1. incapable of being understood; 2 (archaic) limitless; boundless
1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
A. This section is hard to explain --- remember the new body is incomprehensible.
B. Paul couldn’t explain it. 1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part…
C. God told Isaiah why it could not be totally understood.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
D. Paul understood “ …even so the things of God knoweth no man,” 1 Cor. 2:11b
E. This is where faith comes in. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: “If you can trust God with your salvation, you can trust Him with everything else.” Pastor Victor Cooper

III. Incapable of sin. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
A. It is the final step in the sanctification process: I have been saved (from the penalty of sin,) I am being saved (from the power of sin,) I will be saved (from the presence of sin.)
B. This is also known as glorification.
1. It occurs at either death or rapture.
C. “… we shall se Him as He is.” The question then --- “How or what “is He?”
1. Hebrews 9:28b …he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
2. Key phrase, “without sin.”
3. We shall be like Him; without sin!

Conclusion: No wonder the hymn writer could say, “What a day, glorious day that will be.”. Only believers will receive the new body which is incorruptible, incomprehensible, and incapable of sin. Are you absolutely sure one awaits you?

I hope you have a blessed, safe, and healthy week. For those of you who will be traveling back to Florida this week, stay safe on those roads. I hear that some areas will be getting some snow. Brrrrr! Forget that mess and come on down. Our temps are projected to be in the low to mid 70’s. No snow is predicted for the Ft. Myers area in the near (or distant) future. However, if you can’t come down, I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.


Photobucket

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Electronic Aggravation


Good Monday Morning To You!

I hope you had a terrific week. As for me --- I’m aggravated. We have a sound system at Church that is driving us nuts. It never works the same way twice. Our former music director took care of setting up the equipment and adjusting it each week. When he left, he showed several of us how to use it, and we made a diagram of what to plug where. The system was so upset with its change of handlers that it is acting like a spoiled brat. It literally does not like us. I think Bill Wolfe has somehow offended it. I took the mixer board back to Jay and Kay’s Piano Shop where we bought it and it worked just fine for them. Jay even took time to show us the proper way of setting it up. A total of five of us learned the proper procedures and it worked like a champ at the store, but when we took it back to church -----. You get the picture. I should add at this point that this hateful creature is only a little over a year old. I suspect the problem is in our speaker. Everything else seems to be just fine. This time when I take it in, I’m taking the whole kit and caboodle with me. It worked fine using their mics, wires, and speakers. Hopefully we can get an answer. If they can find an fault, we can eliminate operator error. I hope so; five brilliant Baptists can’t be wrong.

Yesterday was an awesome day at Friendship Harmony. Attendance was super, and the presence of the living LORD was with us. It is so good to be in a church where people love God and love each other. Sadly, that is not the case in all churches. All of us at Friendship Harmony Baptist Church are genuinely aware of the gift God has given us --- the gift of a unified congregation. What a tremendous blessing!!! I can’t tell you how many people who have visited from other places have said that if they lived in our community, they would definitely attend Friendship Harmony. God has blessed me twice to pastor extraordinary churches: Calvary Baptist in Cincinnati, and Friendship Harmony in Lee County Florida.

I concluded our “Walking” series with part 3 of our messages titled “Peripateo.” Remember, peripateo means to walk to prove you can. Below are the notes. I hope they are of benefit to you as you look deeper into God’s word. One way of having a peripateo walk is to study God’s word and to plumb its depths. As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments. Unfortunately, the notes cannot go into the depth the actual sermon did. With the coming of the video ministry, however, you will eventually be able to get it all.

Peripateo ©
Deut. 5:33
Walking Series 3 of 3 October 19, 2012
By Victor Cooper

Intro: Today we wrap up our look at the command to “peripateo;” walk to prove you can. We conclude by looking at some good reasons for walking in the ways of the LORD out side the fact that it is commanded.

I. Walking in God’s ways prevents sin.
Psalm 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
A. Iniquity means “evil; unrighteousness.”
1. Unrighteousness = not right with God
2. What we call a “little” sin, God calls it evil.
3. How much sin did it take before God chastised Adam, Eve, and all creation?
4. How much sin did it take for Jesus to have to die on a cross?
“By man’s way of thinking, taking a bite of a piece of fruit is not such a big thing, but look what it has done! Pastor Vic Cooper
B. You cannot walk in God’s ways and the world’s ways at the same time. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

II. Walking in God’s ways guarantees light.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life
A. “Walk“ in this verse is “peripateo.” To paraphrase our Lord, “I am the light of the world: he that accompanies me shall not try to prove he can walk in darkness…”.
B. Since Jesus is light, the only way to walk in darkness is to purposely step away from Jesus.
1. Key word: purposely. Remember, peripateo means to walk to prove you can. To walk in darkness is a deliberate attempt to show you can.
2. To walk in darkness once you have been in the light is to tell God, “I’ll show You.”
That is called rebellion. It goes back to that unrighteousness we spoke of earlier.

III. Walking in God’s ways grants rest. (A paradox.)
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The paradox ---
How can walking be restful?

A. Logic: Any creature, man or otherwise, can only walk so long before fatigue sets in.
B. Resting is fine, but can lead to laziness if one enjoys the rest better than the walk.
1. Psalm 37:7a says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…”
2. This, however, is not a rest from walking in God’s ways.
C. Walking in God’s ways guarantees rest because to do it one must be with the LORD.
1. “They that wait upon the LORD…” They walk with Him, not run ahead nor lag behind.
2. The old Gospel song says, “You’ve got to keep walking, keep walking, walking in the light of the Lord.”

Conclusion: We are called upon to walk to prove that we can. Primarily we are called upon to prove it to selves. It is encouraging to try it and succeed at it. It makes you want to keep going.

I hope you can join us at Friendship Harmony soon. If not, be sure to keep up with us here on the Monday Morning Blog. Either way, it is always a joy to visit with you. Here’s just a little preview of the message for this upcoming Sunday. “Our new body will be: imperishable; incorruptible; incapable of sin; incomprehensible.

Stay safe and well, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Photobucket

Monday, October 15, 2012

Personal Revival

Good Monday Morning To You!!

What a fine Bible Conference Bess and I were able to attend this past week. We heard good preaching, good singing, witnessed the antics of a Christian comedian, and enjoyed a worship service led by David Crain from Grand Saline, Texas. If David Crain is ever within driving distance of where you are, be sure to go hear this fine man. He writes his own music, and what a tremendous gift God has given him. You can learn more about David, and see his schedule at www.Davidcrain.com.

Yesterday at Friendship Harmony, we were privileged to have Bro. Marvin Sams preach for us. Brother Sams has pastored two churches in the southwest part of Ohio that I visited back when I traveled and sang Gospel Music. One church was in Oxford, Ohio where I attended Miami University. It was good to hear him preach. He preached a very powerful message on personal revival. He said that America can only be revived, or a church can only be revived if the individual is revived. Friendship Harmony was blessed indeed having this man as our special preacher. He and I know many of the same people from back in Ohio. In fact, I was his aunt’s pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Norwood, Ohio.

I’ll give you a brief update on the video ministry. The equipment has been purchased, and we are securing the services of someone experienced with this kind of thing. We want to do this right, so we’re going to take our time and be properly educated as to the technical end of internet broadcast. Our goal is to be up and running by Thanksgiving. I’ll keep you posted on our progress.

As I said, I did not preach yesterday, but I have included some sermon notes from back in 2008. As always, you are free to use these notes for your personal Bible study, or in a Sunday School or small group setting.

The Value Of A Good Woman ©
Proverbs 31:10-12
By: Victor Cooper
June 17, 2008

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, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
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 silly.
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.

May the LORD bless your upcoming week. The LORD willing, this coming Sunday morning, I will preach part three of our four part series called “Peripateo.” If you did not get the notes for parts one and/or two, just scroll down and you’ll see them from two and three weeks ago. Stay healthy and safe, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.



Photobucket

Monday, October 8, 2012

Good Morning...

Good Monday Morning To You!

This will be an abbreviated version of Monday Morning. While you are reading this, Bess and I are attending a Bible Conference in Orlando, Florida. I’ll tell you about in the next few weeks. I will not be taking my laptop, so there might not be a blog next week. Hopefully I can borrow one, but no promises. Below are the sermon notes I used at Friendship Harmony yesterday. Take care and I’ll (hopefully) see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!

Peripateo ©
Deut. 5:33
“Walking” Series 2 of 3 By Victor Cooper
10/04,06/12

Intro: The title of this series seems strange to a modern hearer, but the word peripateo comes to us from the Koine Greek. It is one of the words meaning walk. It means to walk about to prove that you can.

I. Walk in God’s ways. Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
A. The psalmist wrote, Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
1. What he asked:
(a) To learn from God, and
(b) to have a heart that feared the LORD.
2. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be our teacher. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
3. “fear” comes from the Hebrew word yare’, and means to revere; to reverence.

II. Seek the old ways. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
A. Note the order; stand, see, ask, walk.
1. Stand --- You cannot pay attention if you’re busy thrashing about. Numbers 9:8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. Cf also Ex. 14:13;
1 Sam. 12:7; Job 37:14
2. See --- Pay attention! (to the words of the LORD.)
3. Ask --- for the old paths. God’s righteousness is the old way. Idolatry, apostasy, and compromise are the new ways.
Then-
4. Walk. If you get outside the God given order, your “walk” will be in vain.
B. The result: rest for your soul.
1. It is rest from thye burden of sin.

III. Refuse to walk in the ways of the world.
Leviticus 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
A. Paul said life’s walk is not your call; its Gods!
1 Cor. 6:20/1 Cor. 7:23 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
[7:23] Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
B. Remember peripateo --- walk to prove you can.
1. Prove it to God. A holy walk pleases Him
2. Walk to prove it to yourself. It is encouraging.
3. Walk to prove it to others. It is your testimony - don’t soil it.

Conclusion: Walking with God is a commandment, but as we have seen is a pleasant one with grand benefits. Walk with God so that, as our text verse says, “…it may be well with you…”

Again, have a good and a safe week and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic. (I hope - lol)




Photobucket