Back In Florida!

Good Monday Morning To You!

Bess and I are back home in Florida again after an “extended” vacation. I saw the cardiologist in Cincinnati, Dr. Stephen Lewis, last Monday morning. He said all looked well and felt safe to allow me to travel by car back home. It is 1050 miles from my mom’s front door to mine. It is 17 hours as hard as you can drive. In my younger days I drove it straight through, As I “aged” I got smarter and we would drive it in two days. Last week we took three days. We started home last Tuesday morning after a nice breakfast my mom fixed and we drove to Athens, Tennessee, about 45 minutes north of Chattanooga. The next morning, the motel lady told us of a cafeteria up in town that the locals liked. She was not joking! The country cooked food was awesome. We drove that day and made it to Lake City, Florida. Next destination: home! We got home Thursday evening and my dogs were thrilled. They jumped and whooped and hollered. It is great when someone is glad to see you!

While I was in the Bethesda North Hospital in Cincy, my son Jason flew up to be with us. Bess can tell you he was a great help to her and mom during that time. He flew back to Ft. Myers on the Sunday before Bess and I left on Tuesday. All four kids would have been there if they could - our family seems to draw together during a crisis. I’m proud of each of them!

Yesterday was a super day at Friendship Harmony, although I cannot recall us ever having a routine, ho-hum service. Bro. Daryl Ellis preached as I was not quite ready to do it. I thought last week that I probably could, but after I did the announcements, I was glad he was there. He preached a fine message from 2 Corinthians chapter twelve. He spoke about personal weaknesses; we all have them. Bro. Ellis reminded us that while society tells us we should “be strong,” and “exercise your will power,” Scriptures never issue such commands. Our strength comes from the LORD. As far as will power goes, we follow Christ, not our own desires.

When we recognize a weakness, Pastor Ellis suggested a three step plan. First, admit the weakness to yourself. Next, admit the weakness to God. Finally admit the weakness to someone else. It is easier to work through something if someone else is assisting and praying. He preached it is as easy A-B-C. Admit the weakness. Believe in the sufficiency of God. Consecrate your life to following Christ.

Thanks Daryl for some much needed advise as to God’s way for handling personal weaknesses; fine words from God’s word.

Next Sunday morning, the LORD willing, I’ll be back in the pulpit preaching, “Four Good Friends Of The Believer.” It comes from Mark 2:1-5. I’ll give more details, including the notes next week.

For those in the vicinity of the Church, this coming Saturday morning at The Twisted Lemon on Pine Island Road is our men’s meeting. It’s a time for the men to come together and talk about whatever. We have the private meeting room in the back, and the food and service is exceptional. The time is 8:00 A.M. I hope all you guys in the area can attend. Also this coming Sunday after services is our monthly carry-in dinner. Again, I’d like to invite all to come. We have many fine cooks in our Church, and it seems as if they just keep getting better. You do not have to be a member of Friendship Harmony to participate; just come and fellowship around the table with us.

Have a good, safe, and healthy week. Thank you for the continued prayers for me as I continue to recover, and for my family as they are going through together.

I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

Hello from Cincinnati!!

Good Monday Morning To You!

Hello from hot, Hot, HOT, Cincinnati, Ohio. Yesterday marked the fifteenth day in a row of at or above 90 degree temperatures. In two more days, a new record for consecutive days of 90 degrees will be set. The old record dates to 1901. However, before I proceed, I know many of you have been praying for me, and also Bess and the family. First, I want to thank the LORD for allowing me to go on a little further. I also want to thank the doctors and medical staff at the Bethesda North Hospital for the fine care I received. Not only was it top quality, but you could sense genuine human compassion from these good people as well. It is no wonder I chose to be born at Bethesda 57 years ago! I also thank Brenda Conley, and Bill Wolfe for keeping everybody informed. Thanks goes to my family who is even now my best support system. Finally, I thank each of you for your prayers, calls, cards, and E-mails. I was told I was being prayed for from as far away as France. Wow!!!

One thing I learned was how important a visit from the preacher is when you are in the hospital. As a pastor, I have made thousands of hospital, care facility, and at home sick calls. I knew the visits were appreciated, but I had never really considered that those visits were valued and treasured. However, when I became the patient, I quickly saw it from another perspective. I received visits from the hospital chaplain, Thad Griggs, another Southern Baptist colleague. My mom’s Pastor, Brady Clark, stopped by to visit and pray with me. Two of my dearest friends, Pastor Jim Rankin and Pastor Norman Patterson along with their wives, Lisa Rankin, and Chris Patterson came by. Each of these visits was to me a gift more valuable than gold. It sure seems different when you are the one lying in the bed looking up instead of the one who is above the bed looking down.

You do not have to be clergy to bless someone with a visit. Do you know of someone who is confined due to illness, or even age? Plan to make a trip one day soon to see them. Phone calls are nice, and cards are fine, but nothing beats that face to face visit. Go see someone this week.

I have my final cardiology visit here in Cincinnati today at 10:30a.m. Bess and I plan to make our way back to Florida on Tuesday morning. Please pray for our trip; poor Bess will have to do all the driving. Perhaps next week I can tell you a bit more about our journeys, which included visits to some of the winter friends of our Church. My the Lord Jesus bless each of you, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.

Update on Pastor Vic

Good Monday Morning to you,

This is Michele, Pastor Vic’s oldest daughter, we just wanted to give you a report on dad.

I would first like to thank everyone for their prayers and support for my family, it means the world to us. While we had a few very scary days last week, it appears that Pastor Vic is on the mends. The LORD has heard all our prayers and my dad's doing much better.... He is expected to have surgery on Tuesday (tomorrow) when they will put in the defibrillator to keep his heart pumping. He does have an infection in his blood, so that date is tentative and could change.

If you would like to stay up to date on any news concerning Pastor Vic, please visit the Friendship Harmony Baptist Church's Facebook group. Brenda Conley is doing a wonderful job updating everyone, so you can be sure to get the latest information. (Thank you Brenda.) Again, thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes....please continue to pray that his surgery goes well and he and Bess can start home.

That said, hopefully dad will see you next week on Monday Morning with Pastor Vic.

On The Road With Pastor Vic

Good Monday Morning To You!

First, to answer a question many of you have asked: What happened to the Monday Morning Blog last week? On Thursday of last week Bess and I left for a two day conference sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention. It was very good, but rained cats and dogs the whole time. I had planned to write the blog on down time, but I was exhausted after each daily session. On top of that, the motel had no internet service. We spent a few days on the road and went to stay in some friends of ours condo in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. We got to go and visit Charleston S.C. From genealogical searches my daughter Amanda and I have done, we think the Coopers first came to this country through Charleston. We know that two families of Coopers came ashore here. The first was an aristocratic family, who was part of the House of Lords in the British Parliament. They were wealthy land barons. The Cooper River was named after them. The second family was servants; not slaves, but servants. What I need to find out is were we descendants from the group that got off the boat with their noses stuck up in the air, or were we the ones carrying the luggage. I can tell you at this point, it does not look good.

Friendship Harmony had two good services while we were away. I heard that yesterday’s service was very good. My thanks to our Director of Missions, Everett Rafferty, for sharing the names of these pinch hitting pastors. Our people had good comments to say about both. I do not have their notes to share with you, but I have reached back to last September to the second message I ever preached at Friendship Harmony. It was called Together In The Boat. I wanted our people to know that this new ship we found ourselves in had Jesus on board with us. With Jesus on board, no harm can befall you. Here are those notes.

Together In The Boat
Mark 4:35-41
By Victor Cooper
09/01,03,04/10

Intro: As you navigate the seas of life is Jesus together with you in your boat? He was with His disciples in their boat, and even in a fierce hurricane type storm, because they were together with him, everything turned out fine.

I. They were together in their efforts. V37
A. Several of them were experienced shipmen.
1. Undoubtedly they tried to handle it.
2. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
A. God gave you the ability to learn what you know. He expects you to use it.
B. Some situations are outside your realm of expertise.
B. The Bible does not elaborate on how hard they tried, but they were together in agreement, “We cannot handle this!”
1. They were correct. Jesus addresses the storm using the same words He used to cast out demons.
2. Jesus likely knew this storm was satanic in origin.
Cf. Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men…

II. They were together in their prayer. V38
A. Hear their desperation in their cry.
B. Their prayer was an attempt at manipulation.
1. They attempted to shame the Lord into delivering them from the storm.
2. A simple, “Help us Lord we’re perishing and we don’t know what to do,” would have been sufficient.
C. Jesus honored their unity of prayer. Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

III. They were together in their growth. v40
A. Jesus questioned their cowardice.
B. It was a great object lesson in faith.
C. Jesus taught them that as long as He is onboard all will be well.

IV. They were together in their worship. V41
A. In stilling the storm Jesus assumed the authority exercised only by God in the Old Testament (cf. Pss. 89:8-9; 104:5-9; 106:8-9; 107:23-32).
—Bible Knowledge Commentary
B. They would soon know in their hearts what they now knew in their heads!

Conclusion: Are you together with Jesus onboard your boat? If not, why not invite Him aboard! All He is waiting for is an invitation from you.

I hope you have a good week. I will tell you a bit more about our trip into the Carolinas next week. I’ll even tell you how I found myself in Virginia, quite unprepared for. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

Change Happens

Good Monday Morning to you. Happy Fourth of July! America’s birthday, officially known as Independence Day is traditionally known as the day of family cook outs, parades, and fireworks. This year marks year number two hundred thirty five of our breaking away from Great Britain. How do you plan to spend the day. My trucker son Kevin is home for a week and he loves to fire up the grill, so steaks will abound at our house. Three of my four kids will be here, but I wish Amanda and her family as well as my mom, brother, and his crew could come as well. Oh well, maybe one day…..

Last Wednesday Bess and I, along with Bill and Pat Wolfe and Brenda Conley got to go to Tampa to see the Cincinnati Reds play the Tampa Bay Rays. To round out the day, the Reds won. I was real impressed with the Ray’s Stadium, Tropicana Field. It was my first experience of seeing the Reds at some place other than Crosley Field, Riverfront Stadium, or Great American Ball Park, all homes of Cincinnati. I could not believe how many Reds fans were at Tropicana! Not only that experience, but Tropicana Field is a domed stadium. I’ve never watched a baseball game indoors. It was different, but I enjoyed it. I wish Great American Ball Park had a dome, although it is pretty cool to sit in the stands and see the traffic out on the Ohio River.

You will notice I named three Reds fields. Crosley Field gave way to Riverfront Stadium which in turn gave way to Great American Ball Park. There was nothing wrong with Crosley Field, but they changed. I’ve seen many good games at Riverfront, but they changed again. For good or bad, better or worse, change happens! My sermon yesterday talked about change. The title came from a sixties pop song titled, How Can I Be Sure? I first preached this message in February of 1995 at Calvary Baptist Church in Cincinnati. I updated it a bit, and preached it again. Updated. Is that a synonym for change? Did even it change? With all the changes in life, the song’s question is legitimate: How can I be sure; in a world that’s constantly changing? The 2011 version of the sermon notes are below. I hope you find them helpful.

How Can I Be Sure?
Malachi 3:6
(Read text at place marked)
By Victor Cooper
2/5/95 --7/2/11

Message goal: To help people see that the only true assurance is in Jesus Christ.

Intro: There was a pop song in the 60’s that said, “How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing?”

There is an answer to that question!

I. When I was a child, there were no:
1. Micro Wave Ovens
2. Velcro fasteners
3. Fax machines
4. On star communicators
5. PC’s
6. CD’s
7. Ipods
8. Open heart surgeries
9. Heart stints
10. Surgical lazers

II. As some of these things made life easier and better, spiritually people got worse.
- In my childhood:
1. The number one problem in schools was gum chewing.
2. Street gangs were more obnoxious than dangerous.
3. You could understand the words to a song.
4. Vulgarity was not seen or heard on TV, radio, or movies.
5. Dancing didn’t look like an act of perversion.

III. Scripture teaches that there will be change.
A. 1 Cor. 13:8 says that:
1. Prophecies shall fail
2. Tongues shall cease
3. Knowledge shall vanish away.

i.e. change happens!

If change is inevitable, then ,
Q. “How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing?”
A. *** text *** Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Change should not cause us to fear because Christ is changeless! [This is the doctrine of immutability.]

Q. How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing?”
A. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can be sure because our victory is in Christ Jesus, our LORD.

Q. How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing?”
A. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Israel faced change, but was sure because of the Rock.

Q. How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing?”
A. Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Sing together: This Rock is Jesus, yes He’s the one.
This Rock is Jesus, the only One.
I’m very sure, I’m very sure,
My anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock!

Conclusion: Hebrews 6:19-20 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,… even Jesus, made an high priest for ever…

Have a safe Fourth of July, and a good week. Miss Bessie and I have a Bible Conference to attend later this week up in Orlando. I say up, because from our home, Orlando is north. I’ll let you know about it next week on Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

Time Marches On!!!

Good Monday Morning To You!

I had a pretty normal week. Nothing extraordinary happened, yet no adversity came along either. I’ll take days like those. I call them ridge runner experiences. You know what I mean. Sometime you have a mountain top experience! A mountain top experience is where something super has occurred. These times are really good and quite desirable, but in reality are few and far in between. Then, there are the valley encounters; those low times in life when things aren’t going so well. Fortunately, they do not normally last too long. Most of life is lived somewhere in between -- not on top of the mountain, but not at the bottom either. Most of life is lived in the middle, on the ridge. That makes us ridge runners. I said in Church yesterday that life is nothing more than a series of events. Some are good, pleasant, and enjoyable, while others we’d rather avoid. One difference between life in Heaven, and life on earth is that life in Heaven is also a series of events, but they are all mountain top experiences and they are never ending.

They are never ending ---time no longer matters. For now, however, time does matter. Our time on earth is limited, and it sometime seems that it is getting away from us. My Sunday message was titled, “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Sometime we see time, and especially its passage as an enemy; but it doesn’t have to be. For a believer the passage of time can be a blessing, because it draws us closer to the day of our glorification; that day that we move to our Heavenly home. Remember, life is a series of events. The last event you will consciously participate in will be your passing. However, that same event will be your first one of Heaven. It will be good, and will be the first of gazillions more. Following are the sermon notes concerning time. Time is a gift to us from the LORD. As believers, we need to understand it, embrace it, and use it wisely.

Funny How Time Slips Away
Various
By Victor Cooper
6/25/11

Intro: Willie Nelson wrote a melancholy song titled, “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Time does march forward and there is nothing funny about it. However, it does not have to make us miserable. For a believer, a proper understanding of time makes it bearable, and possibly even an ally.

Ephesians 5:15-21

I. Key verse is v 16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
A. Redeeming> ex-ag-or-ad’-zo> to buy up as in to rescue from loss.
1. Time, then, is seen as a valuable commodity.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
Believers then, are to walk (live) carefully, so as to be wise, skillful, and thus pleasing the Lord. The manner for this careful, precise walk is making the right use of every opportunity (cf. Col. 4:5), and the reason for this careful walk is that the days are evil. Many are walking in sin, and since the time is short believers must make full use of their time to help turn them from darkness to light. This necessitates wise conduct.
B. Redeeming the time comes by wisdom which is the end result of understanding the will of the LORD.
1. To understand the will of the LORD, you must first know the LORD, then be in fellowship with Him.
C. Redeeming the time comes by being Spirit filled.
1. Being filled with the Spirit and being indwelled by the Spirit are two entirely different and separate things.
2. All believers are indwelled by the Spirit at salvation. If not, eternal security would be impossible.
3. Being filled with the Spirit means a believer is controlled by the Spirit. Many are self controlled. That is simply not a Biblical concept.
Dr. Donald K. Campbell, Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary said, “Each Christian has all the Spirit, but the command here is that the Spirit have all of him.“

Hebrews 13:8

II. Christ has conquered time. Cf Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
A. Christ has conquered time; it has not changed Him.
B. At our glorification we will conquer time, because Christ has conquered it.
1. This is why we will cast our crowns at His feet --- we are crown winners only through Him!

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NLT)

1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. 4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees.
6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! 9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
[The NLT helps clear up some of the old English words and makes for smooth reading, but be sure you also read this particular passage in your King James Bible] VWC

III. Solomon felt time had slipped away.
A. His focus was wrong.
B. He said it was like “chasing the wind.”
C. The King James rendering is “vanity,” coming from the Hebrew heh’-bel, meaning empty, transitory, unsatisfactory.
D. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The godly Solomon had satisfaction in his riches and wisdom, when God gave them (2Ch 1:11, 12). The backsliding Solomon had no happiness when he sought it in them apart from God...
(preached 6/26/11 @ Friendship Harmony Baptist Church)

We had a very good service at the Church yesterday with good attendance. As a matter of fact, we have never had a service at Friendship Harmony that wasn’t a joy and a blessing to be part of. If anyone ever asks you , “Where is the Spirit of the living God?”, you tell them He is alive and well at the Friendship Harmony Baptist Church. His presence is definitely appreciated. Have a good week. Stay safe and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

Pastor Vic's special gift!

Good Monday Morning to you.
Yesterday was Father’s day. It was a pretty good day with only one little glitch. I’ll talk about that in a minute. I was wished a happy day by all four of my kids. Jason and Michele are both home and saw to it I received good wishes. Amanda called me from her home in Arizona (the part not on fire) and my trucker son Kevin called me from Atlanta. It was cool hearing from everybody. Miss Bessie fixed me my favorite dinner. Turkey! I get a turkey dinner at lease three times a year: Thanksgiving, my birthday, and Father’s Day. Bess is trying to score points after she gave me a horrible gift. My good friend and our minister of music, Ken Birdsong, received from his wife a really nice shofar for his gift. He used it yesterday morning as our call to worship. My gift from my wife --- a badly botched haircut! That’s right; a messed up haircut. We have a set of clippers that are relatively new. When she attempted to use them, they would not cut. She eventually got out the old set, but could not find the guard. She decided to try anyway. This was where things went seriously wrong. She took more hair than a Comanche ever did. I look like Captain Picard on Star Trek. My daughter Michele said I favored Mr. Clean. She even posted a picture of me on her website. If you’d like to see it, go to www.bebe-chat.com and click on “blog.” It is hideous!!! My buddy Gene Middleton is going to love it! I’ve been wearing a baseball cap even around the house. I cannot be seen in public looking like this. I’m not a vain person, and I know my looks are more suited for radio than for television, but ridiculous is ridiculous. Go look at the picture and tell me what you think. Please please send up prayers for Miss Bessie --- she is going to need them. I will somehow be avenged. I do not know how or when, but she is definitely in the cross hairs of my sight. It will be sweet. Poor Miss Bessie. Poor Pastor Vic, shamed beyond belief.

Fathers Day at Friendship Harmony was really special. As I said, Ken Birdsong blew his new shofar to start our service, and Karen Fain and Margaret Birdsong sang a beautiful song. Their voices blended with really tight harmony. As a former traveling Southern Gospel singer, I know good harmony. I was really impressed with Karen and Margaret. It was a job well done. I preached a message titled Our Father Where Art Thou? Sometime it seems like God is nowhere to be found. When that is the case, what do you do? Below are the notes for your personal Bible study. You preachers and teachers may use them also. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Our Father, Where Art Thou?
Micah 7:7-8
By Victor Cooper
06/18/11

Intro: Have you ever felt like God was thousands of miles away from you? While theologically that is impossible, sometime that is how it seems. When that is the case, what do you do?

I. God is never unaware.
A. Nothing ever happens to a believer that hasn’t first filtered through the hands of God.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
B. What God allows, God watches.
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

II. God is never “not there.”
A. Troubled as he was, Job knew it. Job 5:17-19 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
B. Paul, a man acquainted with trials, knew it. He testified, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” 2 Corinthians 4:8
C. Jesus felt alone, but still knew God was there.
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
1. Forsake> to desert
2. Jesus knew God would hear Him, or He would never have called upon Him.

III. Jesus promised His presence.
A. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
B. The Bible teaches it elsewhere.
Deuteronomy 31:6, Josh 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20.

IV. What do you do when God seems so far away?
A. Know that God is there.
B. Keep praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
C. Keep believing. Hebrews 11:6/John 20:29b But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 29 Jesus saith …blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Preached 6/19/11 at Friendship Harmony Baptist Church Fathers Day Service.

As you go about your week, just remember the Savior walks it with you. Just knowing that makes it easier to get through each day. Have a good week and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!