My Travel Blog
May 20 2009
I hope that I will be a more faithful blogger during the summer while in China. If I am, you should get some pictures, videos, and updates. Take a look. I plan to start blogging here again in the fall. Have a great summer.
http://travelpod.com/travel-blog/mcoppins/1/tpod.html
Zai Jian
success
May 09 2009
The sweet taste of strawberries
May 08 2009Darla bought some strawberries yesterday and they are huge. But more than that, they are very tasty too. I sliced up a couple of them on my honey nut cheerios for breakfast. They were a great addition to my breakfast menu. Why do we have strawberries? Because God made them. Wow, what a treat. He didn't just give us food that we need, he also provided many things that we like. Those are the extra blessings from our Heavenly Father. Do you look around and see the provision of God? And then notice the extras that he gives as well? We should. It would make us more grateful.
Life is not a Triathlon
April 09 2009
I mentioned to a few of you that I participated in a Quarter Ironman Triathlon this past weekend. (1/4 of the Ironman distance) I experienced a recurring dilemma during the bicycle ride portion of the race. I saw several other participants on the side of the road trying to fix a flat tire. Flats are one of the hazards of a triathlon. Since I am a deeply sensitive and caring individual I felt sorry for the person experiencening tragedy. But as much as I felt pity, I did not stop to help. I had a race to finish. I couldn't stop because that would waste so much time. You don't blame me do you???? After all it is a triathlon race. I knew in time someone from the race staff would come by and help or that racer would get things fixed on his/her own and continue on with the race.
That may be fine in a race, but is it ok to have that attitude in life? We get so busy in life that when we see someone in distress we race right on past them. We might feel pity for them, but after all, we don't have time to stop and actually help them. So remember, as you look around and see problems, tragedies and other issues. We are not in a race. It is a good thing to stop and help. Remember that when Jesus felt compassion or pity, he actually did something about it.
Slow down, and stop and help those in need around you.
Are we supposed to work?
March 31 2009
Not long ago I was at some store and one of the workers asked me how I was. I gave the normal answer - I am fine, how about you? His response struck me a little funny. "Well, I have to be at work, so not so great."
I then had a thought or more of a question. What should be our view of work? Some people love their job, and others hate their job. And the question that always comes up when someone wins the lottery is "Will you quit your job?" I think we think that working is part of the curse. But it isn't. Adam was told to work in the garden before the ground was cursed. Granted, he didn't have any weeds.
I think work is part of God's intention for us. I don't think we should worship our work. I don't think our work should be our life. Our work may be a means to an end - provision, but it doesn't have to be something we dread.
So, keep up the good work.
I am now a Triathlete
March 22 2009
After all these years of just running and occasionally riding the bicycle, I decided because of leg injuries to work on swimming and cycling - especially swimming. Plus, I had an opportunity to help train some beginning Triathletes. I decided - Well if I am going to do all the work, I better try one out. To be honest over the years it was the swimming that hindered my triathlete ventures. Instead of looking like Michael Phelps in the pool I resemble a rock. You know - sink to the bottom. But I pushed through the lack of swimming fitness and was surprised how far I could swim after a while. I knew I could ride a bicycle so I just had to get on it and ride. Since I was injured the running would have to be by memory. No way to train for that during the recovery time. Actually it was a bit embarrassing that I had to ride Parker's scooter around on the first few running nights with the training group.
Well, over time the training started to mesh and I was feeling pretty confident so I decided to try a Triathlon in Corpus Christi last Saturday. The swimming was a bit overwhelming. It was a pool swim and I had to swim up and back through 6 lanes to make the 300 yard swim. But they sent us out one by one with 10 second intervals. I was afraid of bumping into someone. It slowed my time some but I managed to finish ok. The Bicycle ride was fine. I just have to get stronger so I can ride faster. The run was the easy part, so I took it easy so I wouldn't re-injure myself. I finished. So that makes me a triathlete. That was a Sprint Triathlon. My next one will be a quarter of an ironman triathlon. Frankly I am nervous. The interesting thing about a triathlon is that you give it all you got for each event recognizing that once you finish you have to switch to another event. So, while I was swimming and getting tired, I thought - I still have to ride and run. And as I pushed myself on the bike I was thinking. I have to run after this.
That was a bit weird for me. But, I think I liked it. So, I may keep doing this triathlon thing. Zai Jian.
There are some things that I am just plain slow in joining. Blogging is one of them. I just don't normally do that sort of thing. That is why there are big gaps between my blogs. I am trying to do better with this and I promise to work real hard on giving you lots of updates and pictures while I am gone this summer.
Where was I - oh yeah, I am slow in joining some things. Most recently it was facebook. I finally joined and have a whopping 20 friends. I am too embarrassed to contact my old college friends and have them join. I look like such a loser with only 20 friends. My daughters probably have thousands of friends. I guess I could be creepy and friend request all of them. I worked hard on Myspace and got up to 50 friends and then got tired of it and found out it was out of style. If it wasn't for Darla I wouldn't know anything about style. Ask her about my zip up boots in college.
If you are on Facebook you can friend request me and let me know that you read my blog. Have a great day.
What is your assumption?
February 25 2009
I had an interesting experience this past weekend. I went to a “mind enrichment conference” – Sounds Spooky!!!!! It did several things, but one of them was to help me with my memory, but I forgot what they taught me. Just Kidding.
During this three day conference with about 30 other people I noticed a few things. I noticed my nature was revealed. Some of you guessed it. I moved to the front of the room and concentrated the entire time I was supposed to learn something. I didn’t think about bathroom breaks, or getting a cup of coffee or anything else except concentrating on the speaker and the visual aids. I think I learned some things and I hope it helps me. But I observed some activity as well. There were a few people who sat more to the rear of the room and seemed to move around often. I don’t know all that they did, but they were sitting there and then the speaker would start telling a story and I would look around and they were not there. It was pretty constant for the entire three days. And I noticed that their attitude didn’t seem to be as embracing to the speaker’s ideas and assumptions as my attitude was. And I noticed a bit of challenging to the ideas periodically throughout the weekend. I thought at first – “Why are you even here?” but then I had to make a conscious decision. I don’t know what others have gone through to be here and I don’t know what is on their mind so how can I jump to a conclusion about them.
To put it succinctly, I had to change my opinion of others and then approach them with an open mind and heart to have a conversation with them. I did that, and had a couple of nice conversations.
We must consciously do that so that we don’t react to preconceived ideas in our lives. It will help you. Try it out.
Blessings
Keeping up with the reading?
February 09 2009I really don't know how you all are doing with your reading during our 63 day New Testament Challenge. I have heard from a few of you and know that you are following through with the daily readings. That is great. Keep it up. I have not had you raise your hands at Church to tell me who has been reading. I don't want to embarrass anyone. But just so you know that the Coppins family is human we have fallen behind a couple of times. Since we do this as a family, we have had to set that time aside each day, usually in the evening. Well, you know how things come up etc. But what we have done is read that missed day on the next day and then half of the next day's reading. Do that twice and you make it up without spending a long time at one sitting. Even if you fall behind, you don't have to give up. Hang in there. You will have a victory when this is all over. We are well over half way there so it should get easier to get to the end. Keep up the good work.
Heaven
February 03 2009
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 Paul says, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.”
Our earthly tent will be destroyed. But we have a building from God.
In the earlier chapter of 2 Corinthians Paul says, “Our treasure is in earthly vessels.” (4:7) and “Our outer man is decaying” (4:16). We see Paul rephrasing that idea in Chapter 5.
Paul, a tent maker, describes our body as an earthly tent. Why a tent? Maybe because a tent is temporary and a tent is transportable. What do I think about my earthly tent wasting away and being destroyed? Well I feel it every time I have a new ache or pain or pulled muscle. If that is all I have to live for then it is a scary and depressing thought. Why do we want to hang onto this tent and try to keep it strong and vibrant – remembering the “good ol’ days”?
Because we don’t have a clear vision of our building from God. A building from God is far superior to the earthly tent we have now. Paul groans looking forward to the time when he will be with the Lord, clothed in his new body – his heavenly body.
Paul had a positive view of heaven. As we get ready to begin our Heaven Bible study I am finding that many people have a poor view of Heaven. They may even dread going there.
Paul goes on to talk more about this when he says – when we are at home in this body we are away from the Lord. Paul knew his time in this world was temporary, and he wanted to be with Jesus. He couldn’t wait. Just because you look forward to a time or event in your future, it does not mean that you don’t like your current situation. Paul said “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Both are good. He wanted to be with the Lord but he had more to do for the Lord on this earth.
My question is – Do you long to be with the Lord? Do you long to have your new dwelling place? A Heavenly thought indeed!
zài jiàn
Do I love God?
January 29 2009
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says - However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
Many Sundays I talk about examining our own heart and motives. This passage helps us examine what we think about God.
There is a lot to think about here. I think it is very interesting that in God’s word he describes his followers in this verse as “those who love him” He could have said anything here – God’s people, His followers, those committed to him. But that is not what he said. He said, “those who love him.”We know that God loves us and leads us and directs us. That is clear in scripture. We know that we are to accept him, follow him, obey him etc. But do I love him? Is that how God sees me? Does he see me as the one who follows him or the one who loves him? Do I love God or just follow him and obey him and serve him? I know what Jesus said – If you love me you will keep my commands. I have preached that, but when I say I love God are there any deep feelings for him? Do I long to be with him? How about this – Do I just put up with God so that someday I can go to Heaven? I am not trying to be blasphemous here, I am just asking questions that we all need to ask.
I am not a touchy feely person so I tend to ignore that in relationships. I know that God loves me with Agape love and that is an unconditional love and I am supposed to love God with an Agape love, but do I have a friendship love with God? Or how about a family love toward God. I am afraid at times that we have taken the emotion out of Agape. For God so loved (agape) the world that he gave his son. There was emotion in the Garden when Jesus was praying about the upcoming crucifixion. That happened because he loves us.
King David followed, obeyed and served God, but when you read the Psalms you can see that King David loved God. God was special to him. He longed to be with God.
An example of this might be how our older generations viewed marriage and divorce. Marriage was a commitment so you didn’t break it. That is noble. But then you saw examples of parents, grandparents, or great grandparents who were committed to the family but over the years couldn’t stand each other. We call that keeping your commitment, but the love was lost along the way. Don’t let that happen in your relationship with God. Don’t just stay committed and lose your love for him.
Jesus shows us in Revelation that we should not lose our first love. John tells us we love him because he first loved us. Think about it.
zài jiàn
New Testament Challenge
January 24 2009
We started the 63 day – New Testament Challenge on January 4 and it has been great so far. In fact, after today’s reading, we are 1/3 of the way to completion. I know that it has been good for our family to find 20 – 30 minutes each day to sit down together and read the Bible. If you are taking the Challenge, I hope you are keeping up with your reading. 63 days is a long time and it is easy to get discouraged so hang in there. It has been good also to speak each Sunday morning about some Challenges found in the New Testament. We need to have our lives challenged periodically. It keeps things fresh and keeps us out of a rut. So keep up the good work and let’s finish this challenge together.
New Adventure
January 20 2009
Let me tell you about some big news this summer. Since this is our 10th anniversary this year with First Christian Church, I asked the Elders for a Sabbatical. Think about it, Parker turned 4 the day after we moved here and this year he turns 14. Where has the time gone? Back to the Sabbatical – I asked to have the summer off to travel and it was granted, so this summer I (and possibly Darla and Parker) will travel to Asia. I am still finalizing all the plans. I do know this, I will teach English in Dalian China from the middle of July to the end of August. What happens in June is still in the planning stage. This is an opportunity to see some of this big world we live in and to learn about a culture that is different from ours. I am really looking forward to it. First Christian Church is in good hands under the leadership of our Elders. We also have several men who can step in and preach and they will get that opportunity this summer. Plus I hope to be able to send back some videos during my time away to let you know what I am experiencing. So please keep us in your prayers as we continue to plan for this new adventure. zài jiàn.
Oh, the Power of a head cold
November 10 2008
I am a bit ashamed. After preaching about the persecuted Church and all the terrible things other Christians are going through in different parts of the world, my big concern this morning is that I don't feel good. I can't shake this cold. It is amazing how we let our external and in this case internal circumstances affect our outlook on life.
So, give me more medicine, let me sleep a little more, and maybe I will feel better soon. Until then, I hope you are feeling well. Don't take it for granted.
Ride to Galeana
August 30 2008
Heading out on a Friday morning with Jeff leading the way, we crossed our motorcycles into Reynosa and started our new adventure of riding motorcycles in Mexico. Jeff couldn’t go with us so he went on to work and we headed out of Reynosa towards Galeana.
Jimmy in his Ford Focus pulling a trailer with his bike on the back became our new leader of the pack. We made a couple of quick stops along the way toward Linares. Everything is going smoothly. We had our Pesos so we could pull in the Pemex gas stations and say with confidence – “Fill er up.” How do you say that in Spanish anyway?
In Linares we had a great meal provided by Jimmy’s family, dropped off his car and trailer and now it was all bikes heading to the mountains and Galeana.
Rain???? Yes, we hit rain before the curvy mountain roads, so we had to go slow. Greg finally was able to find some children that would take his handfuls of candy, so he was pleased. And we just tried to enjoy the view.
In Galeana we found our motel, walked around town looking like tourist and had a great meal.
On Saturday Tim and I headed back and the rest of the crew had another touring day before they came home on Sunday. The mountain roads were still wet so we again took it easy and ventured a different way home. On the way down the mountain we had to dodge the burros in the road. Gives a new name to country riding.
Rain Again!!!!! We got soaked. It is hard to get your pesos out for the toll booth when your hands are all wet. Tim and I had a good ride back on Saturday and the rest of the group had an uneventful ride home on Sunday.
I still have some Pesos so when do we do this again?
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