Cooperland

Happy 90210!

Silly?  Yes.

Nostagic?  Yes.

Unnecessary?  Absolutely yes.

Ah, the benefits of being a big kid.

Each person is either right-brained or left-brained.  This just means that each person predominately uses one side of their brain.  They may use the other side, but there is only one dominate side.

After taking a few online tests to determine which side of my brain I use the most I got an answer that confused and aggravated me.  Apparently, I’m both.  Both? I don’t understand it either, but I’m getting mixed results from every test.  All three tests pointed to me using both sides of my brain equally.  Maybe this answers my question of why so many people don’t understand me.

Anyhoo.

Does anyone else know which side of their brain they use the most?

This video already have almost 50,000 views on YouTube since last week.

Puts a whole new spin on the phrase, “Ask and you shall receive.”

Awesome!

Here’s something that God taught me a couple years ago that rocked me to my core.  It rocked me because it’s so simple, yet revolutionary and freeing.

It’s not about how others treat you, but how you treat others.

Simple right?  Harder than it seems, too.

As humans, we are relational.  We spend time with people.  We form friendships.  We share our lives.  But when someone treats us poorly, even a stranger, we want justice.  We want that person or people to pay.  Sometimes we want revenge.  This is our natural instinct.

But is that best?  I think not, because Jesus taught something completely revolutionary.  He taught that if someone strikes your right cheek, then turn to them your left.  He taught that a person shouldn’t be forgiven seven times, but seventy times seven.  He also taught without words that you should even be willing to die for those who hate you.

And to make it even simpler, he states it in Luke 6:29-36.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!  Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you.  Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also.  If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?  Even sinners love those who love them!  And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit?  Even sinners do that much!  And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?  Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies!  Do good to them.  Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.  Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.  You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

It’s called showing the love of God, and it is extremely hard to do, but the rewards are so much greater than we can ever imagine.  And who knows, by illustrating this kind of love, then maybe, just maybe, someone will see God in you and accept his son, Jesus, as their savior.

Today is the first day of school at Berkeley High after DJ Weathers was killed in a car accident.  Reading Facebook statuses I’m already noticing that many students were having a very rough day dealing with the loss.

Let me just say to all of the students of Berkeley High: I’m sorry that you’re having to deal with this, and I wish I could take the hurt away that you’re feeling.  Given enough time it will go away.  Just always lean on God to help you; especially in a time such as this.  I love you; even if I don’t know you.  And if you need anything feel free to ask.

Last week was a really rough week so I’ll try my best an organize my thoughts.

• Let me start by saying a special thank you to my God for allowing me to serve him.  He’s such an awesome God.
• God is the God of freedom.  Freedom from religion & Pharisaical rules.  Being a Christian is about following God.  Not a man-made to-do list.
• 20 kids in Kids Zone.  Awesome!
• 6 students in the Beyond Youth.  Excellent!
• The Beyond Youth had their first prayer walk focusing on a back-to-school theme.  We prayed for fellow students, administrators, teachers, and parents.  It was a good walk, and I’m expecting great things this school year.
• The prayer walk couldn’t have come at a better time.  A Berkeley High student lost his life on Saturday, and our prayers to the hurting students and families will go a long way.  Now to figure out how we can physically help.  If you have an idea, then please hit me up.
• Parents are a huge part of Life-Givers, Beyond Youth, and Kids Zone.  Thank you for all of your hard work in raising your children, and supporting your church.
• Thanks to Restoration Ministries for hosting the awesome concert on Saturday.  It was a great time of worship.

God bless.

I’m excited for tonight for it is the start of the regular football season for public schools.  At 7:30pm, both the Timberland Wolves and the Berkeley Stags will be playing at their home fields.  Sadly, I cannot be at both games.  By-the-way, I’m still working on solving this problem so I can be at two places at once.

Bridgett and I will be at the Berkeley game.  Our niece, Kameron, as well as many other students attend Berkeley High, and we’ll be supporting her boyfriend.  GO STAGS!!!

This Saturday, Restoration Ministries is hosting the Kingdom Come tour featuring Ascend the Hill and The Ember Days.

These bands are up-and-coming, but from what I hear they are great.  Come out and enjoy a great and free show.

It is fitting that this is my 150th post here on Cooperland. And it is fitting that it is devoted to the one person to whom I love the most. Sure, I love Bridgett. She is my wife and I give her my life as according to Ephesians 5:25-33. But the person I love the most is MY God, and his son Jesus.

To sum up my passion for God, let me quote Bebo Norman’s song Nothing Without You.

Take these hands and lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
See I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing
But I love You

With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
With all the strength that I can find

Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing,
I am nothing without You

I almost began to cry listening to this song.  It’s so beautiful.  But reading the lyrics doesn’t give the song justice.  Listen to the song.

Reminds me of John 3:30, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

I love you, Lord, with everything within me.

I initially wrote this post on my last blog, but I think it’s such a relevant message that I wanted to post it here, too.

There are rules everywhere.  They dictate how we drive a vehicle or pay our taxes or dress at work.  These rules are important in that they are not negotiable.  Drive according to the rules or lose your license.  Pay your taxes or face the wrath of the IRS.  Dress appropriately at work or you won’t have a job.

But some rules are more like suggestions.  Take this article for instance.  These 5 people are those who broke the “rules” of social media, faced considerable amount of pressure to conform, and came out on top in the end.

But who makes the rules anyway?  At what point does someone say, “This is a rule that must be followed?”  Especially in social media.  Social media is about the people contributing to the entirety of the social environment.  Heck, it has the word “social” in the name!  There is no governing body except the participants, and they have the right to contribute however they deem necessary because there is no official governing body.

The same would go for ministry.  Who created the rules for doing ministry?  My favorite question to ask anyone is…here comes the black sheep question…wait for it…WHY.  Why does it have to be done this way?  Why can’t it be done another way?  Why?  Why?

I guess my point is this.  Just because it’s never been done before doesn’t mean that it can’t be done, and just because somebody says that it can’t be done doesn’t mean that an idea won’t be successful.  In the end, some “rules” end up being more like suggestions or what some would call best practices.

Now think about this: It might be prettier to stay between the lines, but not nearly as fun.

Who knows what you can accomplish if you’re willing to push the boundaries a little and step out from within the rules. In the end, some rules are more like suggestions.