If It’s ACU Lectureship, Why Is the Weather So Nice?
Several fundamentalist Muslims, angered by the Pope’s statements that some parts of Islam are violent, have responded in violent retaliation. Thankfully, many moderates of their faith are pointing out the tiny inconsistency in their objections.
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High point of lectureship yesterday: hearing Pat Keifer talk about the good instincts in the DNA of our heritage not to tie Christianity to one political party or cause. He said that his tribe (Lutherans) and others have tended to tie Christianity to the Democratic Party, while other tribes have tended to tie it to the Republican Party. But fortunately, we have lots of experience in our past at resisting either attempt to reduce Christianity to right or left.
Low point of lectureship yesterday: someone from another Abilene church, upon meeting my parents at a luncheon, expressed his disgust for me. (Please: bring it to me, not to my parents or my kids!)
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What a blessing to have time at lunch yesterday with a couple of my close preaching buddies (Rick, Chris) and at dinner with a couple guys who are friends (Darryl, Leonard) who’ve made my life so much richer. Looking forward to hearing Don McLaughlin again tonight. He was incredible Sunday morning.
What, no sex talk today?
I’m going back to bed.
Of course you are, Deana, with Jenna in a MDO program!!!!! Have fun and enjoy your day as some of us have to go to work!
Wish I could be there at the Lectureships, especially to see old friends! Have a blessed day soaking up all you can.
it surprises me that one religious person would be so dreadful to another.
I very much appreciated Don’s message Sunday am
You’re right, Clint, with your tongue-in-cheek response. Nothing surprising. I know I’ve done enough stupid things through the years to deserve a lot of the things said. (Perhaps not some of the stuff on the internet, which sounds more like a version of the headlines in the magazines at the grocery store check-out counter.) Certainly those who follow Jesus can’t complain much about objections. Still . . . I wish it wouldn’t be directed toward my parents.
Maybe the critic who spoke to your parents assumed you got your brown eyes from them.
Seriously, though, that just saddens me beyond words.
That seems very strange that I person would dis you to your parents. He must be one of the greeters from his church. When I was preaching, someone visited who was a friend of mine from Harding. One of the elder types told my friend, “This is a great place if you can stand the preacher.” I guess the greeter did not know the visitor was a friend of mine. However, the dude from Abilene knew these were your parents. What did he say, “Brother and Sister Cope, it is so good to meet you. Abilene is a great place except for your scum of the earth, heretic son. Enjoy the lectureships.”
Since your parents raised you to be the gifted man you are I’m sure they can chalk up this type of comment to the source. It’s always painful for us to hear unpleasant comments about our kids and other loved ones, but I’m also sure your parents have been overwhelmed with the positive comments regarding their son. Hopefully, the busted buttons of joy about you will hit the plank in the other guy’s eye, curing his blindness.
I attended the Jordans’ session yesterday and was blessed by the dedication to Jesus these two young people exude. They expressed hunger to have closer communication and fellowship with older Believers. Also, they let us know that they too are overwhelmed by the volume of information out there these days, making their need for fellowship with older, more mature Believes even more immediate.
I was pleased for them that the attendance was so large, they’ve had to move the sessions for today and tomorrow to a larger room in the Biblical Studies building.
Sadly, I’ll not be able to attend today, but DO expect to be there Wednesday for their closing session.
Due to limited activity permitted, I’m only able to attend the last session of “This Isn’t Your Father’s Oldsmobile” with the Jordans, and Don McLaughlin’s tonight. Sunday’s sermon was a real blockbuster, imho and I don’t want to miss him tonight if at all possible.
As far as the Muslim extremists are concerned, any excuse, no matter how small will be used by them as an excuse to break out in violent behavior.
PS – just a thought – now that Lectureship has been moved to September, which brought us the usual Lectureship rainstorm Sunday, does that move mean that February will now be a drought month???
I hate that people would be that rude Mike, and especially to your parents.
A legit question: what do must people ride you for? Is it women’s roles at Highland? Or something else? I am just curious what exactly it is that most people that get riled up are getting riled up about.
Don’t answer if this is too controversial but I think your answer might shed some light for future ministers (in church and lay) who are in line with most of what you seem to subscribe to.
Anybody that can say something ugly or hateful to Anne Cope must have been influenced by Satan. That person must not have understood that they were in the presence of an angel.
DU
Mike
I know the point of this post is not about someone being ugly about you to your parents, that was just one comment among several reflections, but obviously we can not let it go – so indulge us a little.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cope
Life has certainly brought many tough things your way over the years. We know that a few words from a source that you do not hold in esteem is not the worst you will ever deal with. However, there is an age old adage that reminds us how many positives it takes to outweight a negative. This blog community can accomplish that in minutes, but more than all that, we are sorry. Sorry that you had to deal with ugly words about Mike yesterday. Because Mike is not a showy guy and because he hates being placed on a pedestal (and that is why we like you, Mike) I will not begin a top 100 reasons we “wanna be like Mike” list. But the bottom line is that you have raised a son who has impacted the world for Jesus. He helps us “sniff out the work of God” and God has certainly “poured through him the gift of preaching.” You guys must be something. Thank you!
So maybe we need a blog that addresses: 1001 Elegant/Gracious/Smart/Smart Aleck Things to Say/Not to Say/You Wish You Could Say to the Person Who Disses Your Son/Daughter.
Yeah, what Arlene said!
You said, “Thankfully, many moderates of their faith are pointing out the tiny inconsistency in their objections.” I’m not sure about that word “many.”
I have looked high and low and cannot find any moderates of the Islamic faith condemning the violence by their brethren. I’m sure there are some. Perhaps a few. But “many”?
Mike – I hate to hear that happened yesterday – I think you are a wonderful person! I have great respect for you as a preacher, brother, etc.!!
P.S. Tell mom & dad hi for me!! I’m looking forward to seeing you in Nashville!!
“Low point of lectureship yesterday: someone from another Abilene church, upon meeting my parents at a luncheon, expressed his disgust for me. (Please: bring it to me, not to my parents or my kids!)”
Now that’s just chicken shit. Good thing your not Toby Keith or you could show them the American Way.
Those in the church can be so cruel. As a minister I have been at some pretty sorry churches where Christians treat each other without love. Saying hateful things about the ministers, without regaurd for family. I got burned out and turned my back on God. I said and had the attitude of “If Christians are going to treat each other like this and especially ministers then forget this…If elderships act like they know more than the minister forget this…If this is what Christianity and church and ministry is like I’m done!” I stopped completely going to church. I started doing habits that was against God and his church. I was had forgotten that I had been called by God…I had become like Jonah running from God and eventually I was swollowed by the great fish and spit out on to dry ground. I met with God once again and said, “God if I am going to get back in you’ve got to put me in a better place and show me that all Christians aren’t like this or I will give up completly..” Well I’m back in full time ministry. The church I am at now has been a great blessing. God new what I needed. I have come to realize over the years that wolf is in the church. Those christians who think they know God but don’t are busy doing the devils work.
I understand how you feel brother. When it comes to family that is something you don’t mess with…So I want to encourage you to stay strong, remeber your calling, the difference you are making for the kingdom of God and keep fighting the good fight. Finish the race. God bless you Mike!
Chris,
IMHO, speaking from my experience in 16 years of preaching, the reason Mike and some others of us are relentlessly attacked is because we have placed the calling of God in our preaching over and above the esteem of men. We have been tagged by God to stand up and speak for Him and proclaim, promote and defend the kingdom of God and all that comes with it. Many times that means leading people out of comfortable sin. Many times that mean leading people out of ungodly beliefs and practices. Many times that means leading people into the great unknown, where God is. Most folks are not real excited about those things, especially when someone has the courage to stand up and suggest that maybe we haven’t fully understood God’s teaching on a particular matter (grace, faith, women’s role, role of elders, instruments, unity of all believers, etc.).
I have a great amount of admiration for a man or woman who will stand up and have the courage to challenge our ungodliness. Those who do usually are not treated all that well. Back in Bible days, they killed the prophets who did that. Things really haven’t changed today, except the method by which they administer the killing. They lie about you, misrepresent you, gossip about you, draw others away from you, withhold support from you, plot against you, amass forces against you, call you the Pope, attack your family, shun their kids from yours, etc. The list could go on and on.
I just think of some of the men in our fellowship who have done the most to lead us closer to the heart of God. Rubel Shelly, Mike Cope, Jeff Walling, Lynn Anderson, Marvin Phillips, Joe Beam, Max Lucado, etc. Every one of these guys has had to endure tremendous persecution and pain because they decided to put God first in their preaching. Thanks, Mike, for helping teach me that!
In the words of a lowly Jewish carpenter, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
(sorry there Mike, I didn’t mean to speak for you)
sorry mike, i was referring to the Muslims and the Pope
Mike, as someone “from another Abilene church” please extend my apologies to your parents for that person. At my post-lectureship lunch today, we discussed Rosie O’Donnell comparing “radical Christians” to the “radical Muslims” that terrorized our country in 2001. I said that, seeing the clip, Rosie’s comments didn’t surprise me — that’s about what I expect from her — but what shocked and apalled me was the wild applause of the crowd after her comment.
It disturbs me greatly that what much of the country associates with “radical Christianity” is abortion-clinic-bombing, funeral-picketing, and hate-talking people. If we, as a body, can’t do better at a meeting-of-our-own than to trash-talk a man TO HIS OWN PARENTS who proclaims the name of Christ, even if we disagree on details, then we can’t possibly hope to show ourselves as any different to the world.
OH!! And the weather???? I cannot BELIEVE it!! LOVE it!
Mike, it’s late, but had to add my 2 cents: Your parents know we love you and hold you in high esteem and it’s a shame you/they can’t be protected from “our own.” I really appreciate the way you keep to the “high road” when you have nasty stuff dumped on you–prayers are with you and your family for good things. Your mom: I dreamt about her several nights ago–had read in your blog your folks were coming, but all I remember is a brief greeting, and loving her sweet smile. She was wearing a pink suit! I don’t remember dreaming in color before…so, be sure to give her my regards if I don’t see her personally during her visit, and ask if she has a pink suit.
I hate to have schadenfreude (German phrase for joy at the suffering of others) but in the midst of reeling not only from the statement to your parents but also to some comments on your Joe Beam post, I find myself oddly comforted at hearing you get attacked. Shocked and saddened, and certainly not happy about it, but I realize that if there are people out there who dislike Mike Cope, I should be okay with the fact that not everyone likes me all the time either. It’s hard to be disliked, especially for what you believe and stand up for, and I’m not very good at accepting it. I sometimes feel like I’m the only one experiencing it. Then, to hear that one of the most gifted and genuine ministers I know can be so vehemently disliked … and by fellow Christians, who say he is leading people to hell (!!) … clearly no one can win them all, and those of us doing far less good for Christ than Mike can take heart when people give us a little shove.
The unkind and hurtful words said about you (whom I love and admire)to your parents (who have been spiritual and personal heros of mine for many years) remind me how much we need to continue praying, “Thy kingdom come.”
michael,
i still have my ski mask,
ris
Interesting comments..