Greg Coplen’s Story

Guest post by Greg Coplen (originally on Greg’s facebook).  He issues a challenge:

 

I think that Jeff Harris did a series entitled something like “What’s your story” recently so I may be stealing the title from him.

 

People are inspired and moved by life-change. Seeing someone else rise from the ashes makes us want to do the same.

 

I’ve heard that any good testimony has three parts: What life was like, What happened, What life is like now. Many of you know my story, but I’m going to give another brief run-down for reasons that will become clear later.

 

What life was like:

My life was in shambles. It had started out well enough. I started in full-time ministry back when I was 24 years old as a Music Director at a local church. Through the years though my alcoholism, which I had been fighting since my late teens, began to overtake anything and everything that I deemed important until it finally overtook me. By the time I reached 30 years old I was jobless, homeless (in a physical and spiritual sense) and in horrible physical condition. I didn’t really eat or take care of myself other than just enough to get by for the day. Alcohol had become my meal of choice. I was no longer welcome in my family’s life. Everything in my life that I truly loved had been taken away.

 

What happened:

Aug. 8th 2005: I was driven to University Hospital in San Antonio, TX and spent a few days there detoxing from alcohol. I was then driven to a treatment center in Fredericksburg, TX where I began a recovery program. I had no hope that it would work because nothing ever had before. But, what I did have was the knowledge that I could not go back to the way life was because I knew that I would kill myself.

 

So, I asked God to walk with me one step, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. I asked Him to take away the desire to drink. I asked Him to give me my family back and I asked that I would allow Him to guide each of my steps.

 

In short I began a process of exchanging my own life for a life that I hoped would not only exemplify Christ in me, but would truly be Christ in me. For some it happens overnight, for others it is a process. But, what I know is that God heard my prayers and saw my desire to be the person He had called me to be.

 

What life is like now:

In short: incredible! I’m on a journey that is so much more than just recovery. I’m on a journey that challenges me to love people I don’t want to love, to walk with those in whose steps I have already taken, and to be open and authentic about who I used to be and who I am now.

 

There is no place and no time for hiding my past. If my past and my mistakes can be a part of leading someone else to the Cross then what a blessing that is to me.

 

I’m on a journey to be the husband, the father and the friend that He has called me to be. I’m on a journey to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself.

 

Finally, I’m on a journey to let go of all that I hold dear and recognize that it’s all just a gift from God. I’ve been given the responsibility to take care of it while it’s in my possession.

 

Am I up for the challenge? Today I am!

I’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

 

So, the question is, what’s your story? I would love to hear it and so would the rest of the world.

 

I’m going to put this on my profile for the FB world to see.

 

Are you willing to share your story?

 

Surf on over to Greg Coplen Facebook and leave your story.  Thanks Greg.  This is incredibly encouraging!  God bless.

God Spot Verified

From my friend Faith.  What a great name!

My Thoughts:
Jeremiah 10:6
No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

So…most of you know that this last week was pretty intense for my family. I received the call Friday evening from my parents telling me that my mom had been having chest pains, had been to a cardiologist, and that she would have a heart catheterization (with stints or bypass) on Monday. My entire family rushed to Missouri to be with my mom and dad. My mom was having all the symptoms of a heart attack on Sunday and was taking nitroglycerin. On Monday, the doctor told us that my mom had some anomalies (defects) and 2 clogged and calcified coronary arteries. He told us that he was pretty sure that she was going to have a triple bypass. We rallied, prayed, and hoped for the best.

An hour passed and the doctor came out with a perplexed expression on his face. He said, “She’s fine. Actually she is better than fine. Her arteries have zero plague and no calcification. Being 65, she should have some but she doesn’t. Not only is she plague free, but the abnormalities on the CAT scan just aren’t there anymore. I cannot explain it, and I called 3 other doctors in to look…God must have performed a miracle.”

My mom went home that evening and has had no chest pain or any symptoms. My mom says that all her symptoms went away shortly before they wheeled her into the procedure room and that it was fascinating to watch the doctors freaking out because they didn’t see what they thought they would. They even checked to make sure they had the right CAT scan.

I am praising God because I truly believe He healed my mom…a mighty demonstration of His power. As you pray and listen to God this week, what is God demonstrating to you?

There are lots of gods!

WOW!  Lightening bolt!  There are lots of gods!  Yep.  That’s right!  There are lots of gods, but only one true God.  The problem is determining which one is the ONE true God?

Just for the moment, I’d like to step back and not be judgmental on your selection of the true God.  I’d like to post some guest appearances from your god or God as the case may be.  This is not  a religion bashing opportunity.  I could care less about your religion.  This is a sincere insightful look at God.

Almost all religions reference the Bible in some form or fashion.  So, you know there is the story of the prophets calling on their gods to start a fire in the middle of nowhere.  This is a challenge among the gods to put up or shut up.  My God is big enough to put up if He so chooses.

This is not a demand on my God.  This is a request for you to enlighten me.  If your god is the one that proves His love by demonstrating His power, I want to give you an opportunity to convince me.  I don’t want to have picked the wrong God.  No bashing.  I have sensitive skin.

If your god can’t prove His power without your help, then I have to say, “You bought into the wrong God”.  So, what will it be?  Will you accept the opportunity to have your god build a fire after my God soaks your wood with water?

If so, leave me a comment and I’ll give you a “guest blogger” login.

archie

James Harrison T-Shirt – What will you pay?

How much will you pay for an authentic James Harrison Superbowl record breaker T-Shirt?  I think this shirt may have been worn during the Super Bowl game and James made his record breaking touch down.  I think the guy that has this shirt stole it off his back while he was in the shower.

 Or possibly you’d like to bid on Aretha’s hat she recently wore at the Oh’Bama inaugeration.  She says she’s not sure if she is going to let the Smithsonian Institute have it.

 

And if nothing else you could always bid on Michael Swim Phelps’s hooka pipe.  He says he used bad judgement.  Probably thought the pipe was a bad fit for his teeth.

Or possibly my dirty socks. 

I don’t know.  I guess the Super Bowl brings out the best or worst in me.  Sigh…

 

Which item will bring the best price on ebay?

Till Death Do Us Part

Till death do us part… Excuse me!  But what does that mean?  Does it mean I will stick with you as long as I “FEEL” like I love you? Does it mean I will be faithful as long as you stay young and perky?  OR does it mean I will stay faithful and love you until death separates us?

Believers in our church are beginning a movement to turn our eyes and hearts to God every 60 minutes for 60 days.  God has impressed me that for now, I am to pray for specific marriages.  These couples include friends, family and even a new friend reqesting prayer in Barbados. 

Something really profound happened today.  A friend called today and said he was bringing his wife to town as a surprise and wondered if we could meet for dinner at the River Walk.  We hadn’t seen each other for years and he reminded me that they were in a marriage enrichment class we taught 10 or 15 years, ago. 

Our meeting was not a coincidence.  It was God reminding me.  The battle for marriages is worth the fight.  If I can pray for you or a friend of yours, let me know.  I will be honored to add your choice to my list.  God is in the miracle working business for those that love Him.

I look forward sharing some incredible “God Spots” with you as God rescues marriages!

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are One.

^“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

I’m up in the middle of the night, because I just had the most vivid dream of a life time.  I dreamed I had a poisonous snake trapped in a box and periodically I would let it out of the box.  The snake would then come after me.  It would stalk me and look for an opportunity to strike. 

I would beat it into summission if I could.  It would end up back in the box until I released it again.  Each time it got stronger and more difficult to subdue.  I woke up and begin repeating the name of Jesus over and over until my adrenalin eased and my heart stopped racing.

This has never happened before.  I believe I was visited by the evil one.  He was beaten by Jesus.

I believe this to be a revelation from God requiring soul searching for what in my life is of the evil one, that I periodically take out of the box, only to be stalked. 

I believe there are those of you out there that are reading this that are doing the same thing.  Without Jesus, you will never beat satan.

Thank you Jesus for being there for me in a time of need.

Love a Good Parade

What the world needs now is love, sweet love …  Don’t you just love a good parade?  All the hoopla, cotton candy, peanuts and the show.  Wouldn’t you like to lead a parade at least once in your life?

The Word says, “Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade. “ 

Have you figured out if you believe the Word, the world system just really goofs with your mind.  We are to keep in step with God, not anxiously or proudly striving to lead the parade.   But the world says always strive to be #1.

God wants us to be all we can be, because it brings Glory to Him.  God may put  us in a place of leadership at the front of the parade.  If so, we best do it right.  He will hold us accountable to a higher standard. 

So, it seems it is just as ok to be #1 as it is to be #37.  The quest is to be in step with God.  He is not obligated to get in step with us.

My Christmas Kiss

About 40 years ago or so, I kissed my girl friend for the first time.  It was at her house next to the Christmas tree.  I still remember that first kiss.  Mostly, because I didn’t know what I was doing.  As a matter of fact, I still don’t know what I’m doing.

I thought that kiss was the sweetest moment of my life.   But then later I got a second kiss and it turned out sweeter than the last.  Well 10′s of thousands of kisses later, the kisses just keep getting sweeter. 

What is it about a kiss that you have shared thousands of times before and yet it never goes stale? How is it that you anticipate the touch first thing in the morning and last thing at night?  It is really a God Spot!

My girl friend and I have been married 36 years.  I still open the car door, take her coffee in bed and hold her hand on walks.  She is the ultimate encourager for me.  She never gives up on me.  She is always there as my number one cheer leader.  God has sure blessed me through her.

Christmas is a time for remembering the good things in life.  Appreciating God for all He has done.  It’s a time for remembering that first kiss. 

Thank you, sweetie.

.

TRUE Confessions: For the rest of the world, where was your first kiss?

The Promise and a Story

Likely you have noticed that God is a God of creativity. Look at the forming of the world. Look at life given a new born. Creativity is everywhere. It is what God does. He creates freshness and new life in a world of darkness. But, have you noticed God is a God of repetition. Take Noah’s story for example:

Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Mankind chased after their own selfish lusts and ignored the God that created them. So, God chose to destroy them by flooding the earth. God said to Noah to build and board his ship, him and all his family. Out of everyone in this generation, God knew Noah to be the righteous one.

Noah did everything God commanded him and when the flood subsided, God blessed Noah and his sons: He said, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! I’m putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth.

… never again will floodwaters destroy all life.

God is a God of repetition. God looks continuously down on the earth. He doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t take a break. He sees me and knows me intimately. As God chose Noah, God chose me.

As destruction comes to those that do not know God, a repetitious promise of life came to me. God has promised to never leave me. He has promised to never destroy me. The question is, “Will the floodwaters in your life destroy you or create life in you?” Without God there is no hope. With God there is a rainbow waiting to be formed in your life. That same God and his repetitious promise is available to you. Choose God. Choose life.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6