Snowballs And Flying Hats!!!

Good Monday Morning To You.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, or a glass of juice and let’s visit. I hope you are having a good and healthy Spring. I suppose for our readers in Australia, and other southern hemisphere dwellers, you are having Fall. Wherever you are, I appreciate you for taking the time to read the blog. Have you had the chance to visit our videos on YouTube? You can see them by going to www.youtube.com. From their homepage, type in Friendship Harmony Baptist Church and hit enter. Simply select the video you would like to see. Sunday’s message, “Peter, What Were You Thinking?’ will be available tomorrow. Until then, there are other videos available now.

Last week I told you about a time in my life when I decided to use my middle name. It was while I was in Bible College. I also mentioned that I knocked the dean’s hat off with a snowball. Several people have asked me to tell more. I will gladly tell it. To me it is as funny now as it was then.

I attended school in Missouri, and lived in a dorm room with three other boys. One afternoon it started to snow heavily, and in no time, a heavy, wet snow about three inches deep totally covered everything in sight. There were three dorm buildings in a row spaced about thirty feet apart. Each dorm had four floors, and I lived in the middle dorm on the fourth floor. Each dorm had an outside staircase with a decent sized landing. That snow was just laying there asking to be packed and thrown. Off all four landings snow balls were flying from all directions, including upon people on the ground. I had nearly used the snow the LORD had allotted me, and I had enough for one more good sized ball. The students down on the ground had an unlimited supply to work with. I spotted a young man who was picking people off at will, and I decided to nail him. I was a baseball pitcher, so hitting him would not be difficult. As a pitcher, I’ve hit many batters – some accidentally. That’s another story for another day. I took aim and let my snowball fly. I could tell from the moment I released it that my target was a sitting duck. Suddenly from the side of the building, Dean Harper appeared. He was wearing a nice dressy hat and my snowball nailed him in a perfect spot: his hat went flying. The only thing that moved faster than his hat flying through the air was Vic Cooper flying back into the dorm. For days that was the talk of the campus. Secretly, nearly everybody loved it. No one ever knew who threw that ball, and since I was never into bragging, I never told it either. Several days later, I passed him and his hat on the sidewalk and greeted him. He spoke and walked on by. As he passed me, I had a grin on my face that a surgeon could not have removed. By the time I reached the cafeteria, I was in full blown laughter. What I wouldn’t give for a return to those carefree days of my youth.

Yesterday was a good day at Friendship Harmony. Our visitors continue to come, and my prayer is that the Lord will unite them with our church. They are already part of us as far as I’m concerned.

The sermon series, “What Were You Thinking?” continued as we asked Peter what he was thinking when he walked on water. The notes are below. I hope they are a blessing to you. Tomorrow, you should be able to see and here the message on YouTube.

Peter, What Were You Thinking?
Matthew 14:28-31
2nd in a series By: Victor Cooper
11/11/06
updated 5/13

Peter experienced something no other human being on earth, with the exception of Jesus, ever experienced: he walked on water! The Bible doesn’t indicate how long he walked, just that indeed he walked on water. We would ask him, “Peter, what was it like? What were you thinking when you walked on water?”

I. Peter would say, “I wasn’t thinking about the water or the
walk. I just wanted to be with Jesus, regardless of the
obstacles. (text)
A. I already believed He was the Messiah. John 1:41
B. I would soon declare Jesus was the Messiah.
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
1. Christ is the Greek word for Messiah. When we call
Him Christ, we use the word as a pronoun or a noun.
The word “Christ” is a verb. It describes the noun which
is Jesus.
C. I had gladly accepted His call to be an Apostle.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
1. We had had a miserable night fishing, then Jesus came
and told us to try again. We had the greatest catch we
had ever had. I knew our catch of the souls of men
would be just as good. Luke 5:1-7 He was our
Master.”



II. “I thought when you asked me ‘What were you thinking?,’
you were going to ask me what was I thinking when
I denied Christ.
A. I was ashamed. I had been warned I would, and I boast-
fully told Jesus He was wrong. I would never deny Him.
Mark 14:29-31.
B. I did repent, and He restored my relationship with Him.
John 21:15-17.”

III. “You think walking on water was a miracle, you should have
been with me at that Church Council meeting when I
revealed the Gospel was going to be delivered to the
Gentiles. Acts 15:7-11
A. I had told them Acts 10:34 …Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons:
1. The statement, We are saved, just as they are, is amazing. A Jew under the Law would say the opposite and in reverse order (“they are saved as we are”), but one who knew God’s grace, as Peter did, would not say that. Salvation for anyone— Jew or Gentile—is by God’s grace (v. 11) and is by faith.”


“What was I thinking when I denied Jesus? He forgave me. I’d rather think about that. What was I thinking about when I walked on water? I was thinking about, loving, and desiring to follow my Lord. The best thing to ever happen to me was meeting Him. Do you love Him, too?”

For those of you with us here on Pine Island, our monthly fellowship meal is this coming Sunday morning after church. The theme is, “My favorite casserole.” If you are in the area, come by and share what our ladies, and some of the men, can do with a casserole. It’s going to be delicious. Also, don’t forget that each Wednesday evening, our small group, “The Basics of Christianity” will continue at 6:30. Call me for more information if you’d like to go. May the LORD bless your week, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Welcome To Autumn!!!

Good Monday Morning to you,

Can you believe autumn has arrived. It seems like only yesterday spring had sprung and we were celebrating Memorial Day. Now, Labor Day has passed and we are gearing toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. The stores here are already promoting those “two big days.” In southwest Florida, autumn is a nice time of the year. We have a three season climate: warm, hot, and sweltering. We paid for our abnormally cold winter with a sweltering summer. With the coming of the fall season, though, our temps will moderate and be very pleasant. Come on down if you can. If you’re a full timer like my family and me, you will be happy to see the humid temperatures settle down into the comfortable range.

Yesterday at Church I preached a message called, “Spiritually Injured.” We examined three people who were spiritually injured by ----------- the Lord. You heard right, spiritually injured by the Lord. Jonah, Elijah, and Peter were injured because they were told them something they never thought they would hear fall from the lips of God. So what were they told, how were they injured, and what was the final outcome? In the next paragraph is the full set of sermon notes that you can use to study this for yourselves.

Spiritually Injured
Various Scriptures
September 18, 19, 2010
By Victor Cooper

I. Jonah
A. What The Lord said. Jonah 1: 2  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
B. Why he was injured. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was Israel’s most hated enemy. Jonah figured the Lord was more interested in their destruction than their deliverance.
C. How Jonah responded. V3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa…
` D. The Lord’s reply. V4  But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. v17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
E. What Jonah learned. 3:10  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
1. God forgave repentant Jonah,
and
2. God forgave repentant Nineveh.
F. How Jonah grew through the experience. 4:9  And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
1. He did not so far as we know recover from the injury.
a. In this verse he actually smart mouths God!

II. Elijah
A. What The Lord said. 1 Kings 19: 11,12  And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
B. Why he was injured. To Elijah, a still small voice was not the same powerful God that consumed the prophets of Baal and that he needed to deliver him from the threats of Jezebel.
C. How Elijah responded.
1. He had already ran to hide in the wilderness.
2. He tells God in V 14 I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
D. The Lord’s reply. V15  And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
E. What Elijah learned. V18  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

III. Peter
A. What The Lord said. Luke 22:31-34  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
B. Why he was injured. Jesus told Peter he was not as loyal as he thought he was and that his faith was weak.
C. How Peter responded. Matthew 26:69- 72  Now Peter sat ` without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
  D. The Lord’s reply. Luke 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

E. What Peter learned. —Smith's Bible Dictionary The time and manner of the apostle's martyrdom are less certain. According to the early writers, he suffered at or about the same time with Paul, and in the Neronian persecution, a.d. 67, 68. All agree that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.

Conclusion: Have you suffered a spiritual injury due to something the Lord has told you? Remember, the Lord never sets out to hurt or injure you, but to help you and to use you in service for Him. Even though you might not understand, believe what He tells you and obey His words. You’ll be the better for it!

I hope the sermon notes are a blessing to you and that they help with your Christian walk. Remember, if you ever have any questions or comments, I’m as close as your keyboard or phone. I do so love hearing from you.

Last week I talked about the St. John’s River in Florida and how it ran backward. I told you there was another that did the exact same thing. The answer is The Nile River in Egypt; it also flows backward. Many things to my good friend Michelle in Illinois who went to the time and effort to give me a list of several rivers that follow a weird course. Thanks Michelle and Randy!

Have a really great week and stay safe and healthy. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.