It must have taken a LONG time to get back to Abilene from Waco tonight. I was in my forties when I left Waco; now I’m in my fifties.
A few of our favorite scenes from the July 16 reception at Highland to mark the completion of our 15 years. (Thanks to Debbie Riggs for the wonderful photos!)
Lots of love from Wanda . . .
And from precious Hope:
Oh, yes! I’m the first! Happy birthday, Mike!
(12:07 Baytown time)
Happy Bithday Mike.
Happy birthday! What sweet pictures…that was a great day to celebrate with you guys. I love you!
Happy Birthday, Mike!
A Birthday Limerick
T’was a day in July,
That the years flew by,
The day when Mike Cope was born.
He preached like no other,
So says his mother,
But most of the time it was corn.
Happy Five OH!
Happy Birthday man.
I wish we could have been at the reception. You have been a blessing in our lives and I anticipate the blessings are no where near their end. Your family, your example, your encouragement, and your helpful reflection on the words of our Lord are just a few of the ways you have blessed me and my family.
Don’t they say people get better with age. If this is the result of your frist fifty years I am excited to see what you do with the rest.
Lots of love
Happy Birthday Mike!!
Happy big 50 you old coot! Love the photos! You guys are the best and deserve all of the same.
Happy 50th, Mike. Welcome to the Club. Just remember the old saying, “Respect your elders” I’m still 6 months older than you.t
Have a great birthday, Mike. Congratulations on fifteen years … thanks for all you do for others. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this wonderful interactive forum.
From the front you look no more than 40!
Peace.
Happy Birthday… yours was the first blog I read and is still a daily read. Your blog has added a lot to my life. Have a great one!
Happy Birthday, Mike!
Your life is a gift to many of us.
Happy Birthday!
Best wishes on this special day! To put things in perspective……….just think, you are older than Jimmy Allen was when you came to Harding!
HAPPY 50TH!
DU
Thanks, all.
Or, David, to put it in more perspective, I’m now older than my PARENTS were the first two years I preached at College Church!
Happy Birthday, my dear. I remember well the day 50 years ago. I think most of the day as not being so good as the ending of it. Tu madre
Welcome to the club, you old guy — remember when we talked about old guys not so long ago! Ouch, the ding-dang mirror shows we are one!
Happy Birthday.
You look amazingly well-preserved in those photos!
Mike-
Happy birthday, friend! Hope your day is great. Thanks for being the blessing that you are.
Dear Mike,
If only I’d known your birthday was coming… If only you’d dropped a hint or two in your blog, or in your sermons, or in informal conversation once in a while… Alas, some people are too private for such showiness, preferring to keep their birthdays private. Still, it seems possible your secret has come out in spite of all your efforts to hide it…
So let me wish you the happiest of days. The world’s a better place because of you, my friend! The first half-century of Mike is over; let the second half-century of Mike begin!
I hate that we missed the reception, but we were in Savannah watching Coby pitch. Great pictures!!! The past 15 years have been such a blessing for our family. We love you all very much. Happy Birthday–you share the day with my very best friend from high school. I knew there was a reason I liked you.
Have a great day.
Happy 50th Mike! You are a blessing to SO many lives all over the world. Also, thanks for the great pictures you posted—The Lord has been good to you!
Happy Birthday! You have been blessed and you are a blessing to many. May you enjoy many more birthdays.
Happy Birthday!
Lee
Mike….Happy Birthday Friend !
Now……go get some sleep…….
Rob
Mike, I remember crying when my dad turned 50. I was 23. At my advanced perspective, I believe a celebration is better than tears. Joy to you and your precious family!
I thank GOD you chose Highland as a home 15 years ago.
“Dear Father, would you please be gracious enough to give your servant Mike another 50 years to live as salt and light? Please? I, for one, would be so grateful for the blessing of another 2500 sermons, 18,250 Blog Posts, and a million other sacred delights that you pour out through Mike. In the name of the One who makes both life and death a good option, Jesus. Amen.”
I love you Bro Co. Happy Birthday!!!
Glad our paths have crossed. Have a great birthday!
Happy Half a Century Mike. I still have 1 year and 10 months of youth left till I enter the Golden Age. Great pics.
Love ya,
Keith
Happy Birthday Mike!!!
Happy Birthday! I hear the violins now… Enjoy the islands!
P.S. That picture of you and Hope almost made me cry!
AND Exactly when did Chris morph into Matt? I guess he couldn’t stay a blond headed three year old forever!
Happy birthday, Mike. I hope the beginning of your fifties has been great!
Fifty years of life…fifteen years at Highland…twenty-eight years with the love of your life…may God bless you with many more joyous milestones. And may God bless Highland with the opportunity to share those milestones with you.
Happiest of birthdays, Mike. We love you out here in the western heat too!
Mike,
I am amazed that the dudes I went to school with are turning 50. My birth certificatie says that I am also 50. This can not be. I can remember thinking men like Dr. Ganus and Jimmy Allen must be on their last leg, and I would probably not see them if I went back for a reunion. However, they sure could play a mean game of softball!
You have been blessed to have filled your fifty years with a maxed out life! However, you also have that youthful spirit that connects with people of all ages.
Happy Birthday! BTW - my youngest, Michael, is 17 today! The same day of one of the most infamous preachers I know!
I haven’t seen you in quite a while, but I must say you guys look good for your age. I don’t think Diane looks any different than she did when you guys lived here in Searcy. Danna joins us in less than a month as 50 yo geezers! God bless.
Mike,
I read your blog every day, but have never posted a comment.
Today seemed like a good day to start!
Happy Birthday! May God continue to bless you and your precious family!
Janet Garza
I read you daily also and don’t usually comment - but since this is a special day. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mike! I’m a big fan of your blog (and your ministry)!
Happy, happy birthday! You make 50 look good! I pray God’s blessings of good health and great joy on ALL your years.
Happy Birthday! Fifty is a breeze - been there and done that - 60 is ok too. The journey gets sweeter as the years go by. (-:
HAPPY B~DAY UNCLE MIKE! I LOVE YOU LOTS! XOXO!
happy birthday mike, you are another year closer to home.
What great pictures and what a special day-I am really glad that I was able to share in it. I remember watching that first one being taken!!
Happy birthday, friend-may you continue to be blessed and allow God to use you in His kingdom. Thank you for being His servant-here is to another 50+ years…many blessings and much love~
Happy Birthday, MIke! May God bless you, your family, and your ministry with the richest of blessings. I used to think I followed in your footsteps at Harding but I soon realized that your path went way beyond anything I would ever match. Congratulations on 50 years well lived. You are a blessing to us all.
Happy 50th Mike! I wish you and your family the best always. You don’t know me, and I don’t comment, but I love birthdays, so I had to
comment. I’m not far behind you. God bless you on your special day.
In Christian Love,
Donna Altman
(Russ Altman’s Sister)
Happy birthday Mike!
Considering what we’re celebrating, it seems fitting to have a 50th comment, so here you are!
:0)
Enjoy this one quickly because ‘51′ will be here as quick as the last post came and went.
you rock Mike. Happy belated birthday.
Kurt
Thanks for all these kind notes. It was a great birthday.