Titus 3:4-5
But when God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
I've always said that there certain things that come with being a pastor that are like getting a payday. Marrying a couple and helping them start a new journey in their life together. Seeing someone get saved and be awakened to a new way of doing business here on ol' planet earth. But yesterday, I got to experience a new payday. I got to present Charlie Copeland with his ten year sobriety chip. It was something Monica, his wife, cooked up along with their pastor at Solitude Baptist Church. In other words, it was a surprise and they didn't want Charlie to know about it.
Charlie Copeland.....
How do you describe this fellow? Can you say a true, blue Jesus Freak...Charlie is that. When Charlie first came to the program at Rapha, he was high energy. I thought it was the drugs he was coming down off of, but it wasn't. This is just Charlie. Charlie Copeland is like a super-ball in a concrete room. In fact his nickname at Rapha was "Ping". The sound a golf ball makes when it's hit and flies off into the wild blue yonder.
Now take that same high energy and put Jesus in the mix. Not talking about religion, but a real burning passions to live a Step #12 life. To take the message to others. To tell everyone he meets about what Jesus has done for him. That is one Mr. Charlie Copeland. So yesterday was a celebration. The sobriety trail Charlies has followed for ten years was a part of this, but truth be known, it was a celebration of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in a life that was just crazy enough to take Him at His word. In other words, Charlie is a living example of God's promises, and His faithfulness to carry them out.
Charlie loves to worship....
Sunday mornings you'll find him in the parking lot of the church directing traffic and helping people. But you'll also notice that he is worshiping. Charlie has the worship tunes cranked up on his phone...ear buds in....walking around with his hands in the air singing at the top of his lungs. That's Charlie....
Another extra from yesterday...
I got to sit with Jonathan and Tiffany Bright and their two children. Jonathan is another one of these success stories that began at Rapha years ago. It was great to see them, catch up on what is going on in their lives. I guess you could say that I got two "Payday's" yesterday.
As I drove back home, I was very full....
Tears...
Joy....
Thankfulness....
That we serve a faithful God who is still in the business of redeeming lives.
God is good...
Everyday...
God on you...
mbb
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