Dan Cooper's Blog

Do you remember a time in your life when something seemed too good to be true?  When Katherine said, “yes” to my wedding proposal, weeks after we first met, that seemed too good to be true.  When I first heard that Matt and Becky were expecting, that seemed too good to be true.  When I heard Andrew and Jennifer were expecting that seemed too good to be true.  When Dr. Huffard said “finish these last two things, and you’ll be done with your paper” that seemed too good to be true.  When Katherine’s recent CAT scan came back negative, and the text message said “No cancer” that seemed too good to be true.

Here is a “too good to be true” line for you.  If you give ten dollars to our Reaching Out in Faith expansion effort, it will turn into twenty dollars.  It is true!  See all of the details inside on the top of page two! For the month of June all “new money” to our expansion effort will be doubled, up to $2,000.  One family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has completed their initial faith commitment, and is now giving more.  They want to spur others to overflow in generosity, too. God is good!  His word is always true. 

Dan

I love it when I hear a wife bragging on her husband.  Read what one of our wives said about her husband in a recent e-mail, as she described how proud she was of her husband for coaching their son’s Little League team.

“I am thankful that Rich is coaching.  The other coach is good but is crazy with the 8 year olds. He thinks they are the Phillies going to the World Series.  One of the boy’s father is dying of cancer and the other coach has been upset with the boy for being late for games; but Rich, in a very respectful way, talked with him about how his father has cancer and we need to be there for the boy and his family. The little guy is not a great pitcher but his father made one game so Rich let him pitch so his father could see him. It may be the only game the father gets to see.  The other coach would not have done that. 

“Rich has been such a good example to these young boys. This is the way Rich has been spending a lot of his time.  He would not like me telling you all this, but I’m very proud of him and thankful he is so willing.” 

Way to go Rich.  We are proud to have you serving as a deacon at the Pitman Church of Christ. 

May God increase your number,
Dan the Preacherman

Several have asked me “How does it feel to be done?”  So far, the strongest emotion since finishing my “Guided Research Paper,” hence my Master’s degree, is RELIEF!  Joy is intermingled every now and then, but here it is two weeks later, and the strongest feeling is still simply relief. 
Other emotions will eventually surface, but for now I am just relieved to be done.  I had a real day off last Monday, the first Monday that I wasn’t working on my paper in ages. I have promised Dottie and Katherine that my desk will be cleaned off by the end of May.

Gratitude
A second strong emotion I’m feeling is gratitude.  God is good, and so are you! Thank you for your kind words, cards, gifts, and your many kind expressions.  I know you’ve been praying for me, and you’ve been rooting for me even as you have been patient with me.  This is a ten year journey we’ve been on! On Saturday, May 2nd, that journey officially ended, as I was granted my degree.  Now, you are celebrating with me.  I appreciate your support more than words can say. 

Dan the Preacherman

Other than when I was a little child, and Christmas Day was coming, I can never remember asking for gifts.  It’s just not the proper thing to do.  But, I am throwing caution to the wind today, and I’m asking for your gift. 

In the last ten days I have celebrated two major events.  One event only comes around once a year: My birthday—and they even named a special holiday for me—“Cinco de Mayo.”  The other was May 2nd, the day I graduated from Harding University Graduate School of Religion with a Master’s Degree in Church Growth.  Ten years in the making!  Rejoice with me. Not just any gift, but what I would really love is your honoring me for those two special days by making one donation to our “Reaching Out in Faith” campaign in my name.  That’s it.  Kill two birds with one donation!  Unashamedly, I am asking you to be generous in your donation to our expansion effort.  Remember what Jesus said?  “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.
 
I am blessed by the Best,
Dan the Preacherman