Comments on: Like a Rabbit Loves to Run

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:27:32 +0000

Sandy - Thanks for sharing that story. Just reading it takes me back to that horrible week. Our son is a football-, basketball-, baseball-playing ninth grader now. But the other parents are still trying courageously just to press ahead without their son. They are two of the most faith-filled people I’ve ever met.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:10:29 +0000

I was going to send an email but didn’t find an email address ( I understand you not posting one though)….so I’ll just type my comment here.
I have been reading your blog entries the past few days ( I have heard you speak at Jubilee years ago, read some of your articles in magazines, etc.)
I definitely relate to your feelings of “Please God, please God”. My oldest daughter was in a terrible car accident on Feb 10, 2005 (she will be 21 this December) and when we received the phone call, all I could do was just pray “in the name of Jesus” repeatedly that she would be okay. I had been listening to the Third Day song, “Cry out to Jesus” and that’s what my husband and I did. The EMT’s were amazed she lived through the car accident,and we never ever take for granted that she is with us still. I’m so sad for the family whose son died in that accident that your child was involved in though. It is hard to understand.
I also have a rock that I keep, and that night I held on to it, passing it back and forth to my other daughters as well, symbolic of Jesus being our rock, and that helped me as we traveled 3 hours on a snowy night to get to the hospital where my daughter was taken. I’m thankful your son is doing well. Praise God!! I remember just staring at her when we brought her home and she was asleep on the bed..we just couldn’t believe she was still with us after seeing her wrecked vehicle.Thank you Jesus!

By: Q

Sat, 29 Jan 2005 21:44:00 +0000

“My prayers for the previous hour had been fairly simple: “Please, God. Please, God. Please, God. Please, God.” I think you’d expect more from a 48-year-old minister. But that’s about all that would come.”

As far as I know, that’s one of the best prayers possible. “God, you’re in charge. I give up.” Or, “Please, God. Please, God. Please, God.”

Sounds exactly like the earnest words of a hurting heart. And that in itself is a sort of wisdom.

By: don

don — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 19:28:00 +0000

I’m having trouble seeing the monitor on my computer. I can imagine my own son coming in battered like that, and get a glimpse of what it must have been like. You are blessed to have him, and he is blessed to have you.

Our prayers continue to be with you, the Bourlands, and the driver and all the families involved.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:23:00 +0000

I have been reading your blog since this all began. I too am a 48 year old father and fully understand the simple prayer; ‘Please God’ and I beleive that the Spirit does interpret our groanings and that God knows all we can’t bring ourselves to say. Know that Chris has family in Gulfport, Ms. praying for him daily.

By: SkipD

SkipD — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:14:00 +0000

Mike,
What a sweet, tender and intimate moment you have shared with us. Thanks for comforting us all. Blessing to you, Chris and Diane. sd

By: SG

SG — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 14:54:00 +0000

Oops ~ My bad! Hookem Horns!

By: ann

ann — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 14:46:00 +0000

Bless Chris’s heart. A couple of years ago I was seriously ill in the hospital for about a month, and almost daily I would make those exact same comments: “I’m tired of this. I wish this didn’t happen.” Oftentimes they were spoken through tears and many times out of exhaustion. I was 21 rather than 12 at the time of my illness, and it breaks my heart that someone so young should be facing so much. However it is evident that he has an amazing support system, which makes all the difference in the world. I will say a special prayer for him tonight, that he will have the courage and strength and spirit to face each step on the road of recovery.
As we say in Japan, “Gambatte Chris!”

By: Jana

Jana — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 13:26:00 +0000

Bless you, Mike Cope. You are certainly a blessing to all of us.

Still praying for Chris and the others.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 10:20:00 +0000

SG - It was actually Megan who was your little charge when you were at ACU, but Chris was also part yours. So your presence there meant a lot to us. Chris would want you to get this right, though. He’s a Lincoln Longhorn. Austin, his buddy who was one door away on the fourth floor, goes to Franklin. And Jon Weston, his buddy who was a couple more doors away, is at Madison.

Thanks, everyone, for those touching words. I’m especially moved by those who are hugging their own children tighter and who are praying more fervently for all the little children of the world.

By: SG

SG — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 05:07:00 +0000

Just when I think you have jerked every last tear from the ducts, you manage to squeeze out a few more! Mike, Thank you a thousand times for your openess and your sharing heart. You inspire and prod me towards the Father almost eveytime I visit here. Your blog is quickly becoming sacred ground. (Can guacamole be sacred?)

Chris-man,
The road is long but certian. In the words of the lovely Mary Poppins, a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. I bet you will be the best basketball and baseball fan Franklin Junior High ever had!(It is still Franklin isn’t it?) AND sooner than you think, you will be a player again!

Still praying, praying, praying!

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 03:29:00 +0000

As I sat a few moments ago in my dimly-lit nursery feeding my little boy I rocked, and wept, and prayed for sons. I prayed for healing for Chris; I prayed for healing for Ira Hays, unborn son of dear friends Joe and Laura Hays, and I prayed for my sweet son Levi who was safe and protected in my arms, for the moment. Though not acquainted with such grief as you and Diane have experienced in recent days, I realize that at some point my tiny boy will hurt, and I pray with a mother’s fierceness that the steadfastness of the Lord will cover him. I pray this for Chris, and for Ira, and for Levi tonight.

By: WDS

WDS — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:47:00 +0000

I don’t think I have an expectation of what 48-year-old ministers should say under dire circumstances. But, I am glad to know that 48-year-old ministers still utter two-word dependency phrases for the God of grace to honor. Those “Please, God” moments sure keep our ears more finely tuned. And it warms my heart that God honored your dependency on Him.

By: Donald Philip Simpson

Donald Philip Simpson — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:03:00 +0000

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” - Philippians 4:8

Often these words fall short of our grasp, until we are given or presented with an opportunity that forces us to deal with them. I am humbled by your honesty and the blessing you have given to each of us by sharing your families struggle, as well as the peace that has passed all understanding through this. I have only been attending Highland for about five months, yet what I have seen, read and experienced there has redefined for me what We are to be as the church forever. Continued blessings and mercies to you, your family and to the others who have been impacted by these events.

“The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit”
Philippians 4:23

By: Davis

Davis — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 22:19:00 +0000

Mike,
You mentioned some Zoe music that had ministered to you. I don’t know what genre of music Chris enjoys but the new FFH cd “Still the Cross” has at least two songs that talk about being hit from the blind side in your faith that he might relate to right now (Cover Me & All Part of the Walk).
Also, I wanted to add a few of my favorite short prayers that haven’t been listed yet :
sorry - Your love - Your strenth - Your peace
Glad you all are home!
Jill Davis