Sunday, September 29, 2013

Have You Made God Any Promises Lately?

Good Monday Morning To You!

Let’s visit for a while. Would you like a nice hot cup of apple cider? I love good cider --- hot or cold. My Kurig Vue not only makes the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted, but the hot cider is tremendous! I’d love to share a cup with each of you, but my house is a bit small if you all should decide to show up at once. There are so many, and I’m grateful for each of you. I wish more of you would send me a e-mail from time to time. You readers can be found all over the world, so send me a note and let me know where you are. In the meanwhile, I’ll pour myself another cup cider and wait.

This past Saturday, Friendship Harmony hosted a free picnic/ concert. The attendance was a bit disappointing, but visitors did come, and I believe we had the people the LORD wanted us to have. Several of the readers of this blog came to join us and I was so honored to meet them. I’d dearly love to meet more of you someday.

Once again our ladies shined with their culinary offerings. The food was awesome and plenteous. If anyone went away hungry, it was their fault. The music was provided by the Gulf State Quartet from Bowling Green, Florida. They did a tremendous job, and hopefully they will be back on Sunday, April 13. Keep reading the blog and we will let you know when we know for sure.

Not only was Saturday good, but yesterday was as well. The songs are currently being selected by members of the congregation. Our people choose so well, and our music is a joyful expression of our love for Christ. If you’re ever in the area, stop by on a Sunday Morning at 10:00 and experience Friendship Harmony.

The message was from Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. The question was, “Have you made God any promises lately?” The text was from verse 4 which says,
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” Have you, in the past, made God any promises? If you have, you need to get started in fulfilling them. God has been faithful to you and He expects, no He requires the same from those who have given their word to Him. If you need help with that, make an appointment to see your local pastor or rabbi. He would be honored to assist you in this. If I can help you, contact me at preachercooper@hotmail.com. You can view the video at www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony. A facebook membership is not required to see the video.

Have a blessed, healthy, and safe week. Don’t for get the video; it should be posted by Tuesday evening. Remember, I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Pot of Gold


Good Monday Morning To You!

I trust you had a good week since we last visited. Yesterday in Sunday School we looked at God’s sign that He would never again destroy this world with water: the rainbow. As I was studying the lesson, I couldn’t help but recall a time when my best friend Johnny Miller and I saw a rainbow and decided to find the pot of gold we believed was at its end. Johnny and I were next door neighbors and had quite a few adventures together. We wanted to find that pot of gold, so off we went on our bikes. We lived in a village near Cincinnati called Elmwood Place. Elmwood Place, we simplified it and called it Elmwood, was surrounded by Cincinnati on three sides. Johnny and I could ride our bikes anywhere we wanted, but we had to stay in Elmwood. Occasionally we ventured into Carthage, which was inside Cincinnati city limits, but it was only two blocks away and was allowed. Johnny and I are still friends after 55 years, and I can tell you that neither of us ever found it. I was always told you could not find the end of a rainbow. I believed it until about a year ago when my son, Jason, said he happened upon a rainbow that touched the ground in front of him. Sadly, he also reported that apparently someone else had been there before him - the pot of gold was gone! Jason has my luck; a day late and a dollar short. However, at least he found what Johnny and I couldn’t.

Yesterday was a super day at Friendship Harmony. We had an excellent service and the attendance was good. If there was one word that could be used to describe Friendship Harmony it would be “excited.” Our people are excited about their church. What a blessing! This upcoming Saturday at Noon we are having a picnic/concert. We have invited all of Pine Island to join us. We want them to get acquainted with our church. It is our prayer that once they experience Friendship Harmony, they will want to be a part of us. As I’ve said many times before, you do not attend Friendship Harmony, you experience Friendship Harmony. If you’re in the area this week-end, come see us this Saturday at 12 noon. There will be good food and a concert with the Gulf State Quartet from Bowling Green, Florida. If you are anywhere close by, you’ll be glad you did!

Yesterday I preached a sermon called, “The Great Love Story.” It was taken from The Song of Solomon 7:10-13. In this passage we see a beautiful story unfold about a bride who is greatly in love with her husband. She loves him because she knows he loves her too - beyond measure. This is a picture of the church and her bride-groom the Lord Jesus Christ. The notes are below and the video should be ready by tomorrow. To see it go to www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony. I believe you can see it even if you do not have a facebook account.

The Great Love Story
Song of Solomon 7:10-13

v. 10a. not a feeling of ownership, but relationship
1. This is not a unique human trait ex.. My wife, my children, my church etc…
b. The reason for the feeling expressed.
1. From a Hebrew word pronounced
tesh-oo-kaw’ meaning “stretching out”

V11-12 We want to go where He wants to go:
In the field - John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Christ commissioned us to go into the fields, because He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.

Lodge in the villages --- Be around others, including sinners The Bible says Christ was a friend of sinners and publicans.
Too many believers stay locked in the church.

Go to the vineyards -- the vineyard can refer to Israel. Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
They are in the field where sinners are, the villages where all kinds of people are, and the vineyards where believers are.

V13 The results of our love for Christ.
We offer Him pleasant fruits -- souls!
Psalm 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Conclusion: Do you have a love relationship with Jesus? To have it, all you have to do is want it?

I do hope the notes are a blessing to you. If you will print them, then follow on the video, you will receive so much more from them. Summer is past and autumn is here, so enjoy this new season the LORD has given to us. Stay well, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

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Sunday, September 15, 2013

Hello Again!!!

Good Monday Morning To You!!!

Wow!!! It seems like forever since we have visited. I had a computer problem which took a few weeks to fix. After the laptop was repaired, I was unable to get on the net. My modem was bad, so Century Link sent me a new one. Their instructions were easy to follow, but I could not make it work. I called tech support and the bottom line was my modem was on recall. The company said many of the units had the wrong password on the label. As much of an inconvenience as it was, it was a relief to know I had done nothing wrong during the set up procedure. They are sending me a replacement, but told me how to get on the net. This blog requires me to be on the internet, so here I am. Technology is great, and it affords us many opportunities, but I think I like the old days better. It was simpler then. However, here we are in the twenty first century with all its gadgets, and I believe they are a gift from God which He wants used for His glory. I believe if the Apostle Paul were alive today, He would utilize every opportunity to present the gospel.

At Friendship Harmony we have this blog and our video ministry. Both give us the ability to reach the whole world. This blog has readers in The United States, China, Brazil, Australia, India, Canada, and other parts of the globe. What a tremendous blessing!

Yesterday was a good day at the church. Our attendance has held pretty well throughout the summer. New families are coming, and we are staying busy. On Saturday, September 28, we are having a picnic and a Gospel Concert. We have invited all of Pine Island to come. Friendship Harmony is still a new church, and we want to take the opportunity to let people know who we are. We have placed an ad in our local paper, and our members are busy inviting those with whom they come into contact. The Gulf State Quartet from central Florida will provide the music, if you are in the area, come out and be with us. The picnic starts at Noon.

I know this blog is a bit short today, but I wanted to let you know that I’m still alive and kicking. After a few minor computer glitches are corrected, we should be able to get back on track again. Also let me remind you that our video ministry is still active. You can view it at www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony.

Have a good week, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!



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Monday, September 2, 2013

Computer Update...

Happy Labor Day! Pastor Cooper's computer is still down, but he is hoping it will be back next week....he will see you then!
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