Football

Michael Vick what were you thinking?

I had my first of three fantasy football drafts last night. I had a blast hanging out with some of our church folks and talking football. Fantasy football has become a fun outlet and source of fun for me. I love the strategy and competition involved in it. I also love to talk trash to our church people when I see them at church after a victory. When I lose, I AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE :)! This league is a 4 player keeper league, and it's our third year into the league. I've developed killer keepers over the last three years. My starting line up is one of the best I've ever had.

QB Matt Hasselback
RB Frank Gore
RB Shaun Alexander
WR Steve Smith
WR Terrell Owens
TE Kellen Winslow
K Neil Rackers
D Green Bay Packers

Weekend Update

1. My wife's mother was in town from Nebraska. Our kids love to see grandma.

2. I strained my voice a little during the 6:30PM Saturday night service. I got a little too excited :). My voice struggled a little during all three Sunday services but especially the 9:00 AM service.

3. Super Saturday went very well. The kids had at a blast at Super Saturday, and I saw parents connecting with one another. Those of you who attend on Sundays, be sure to check out Saturday night services the next couple of weeks, you'll love it. We had a lady who usually attends on Sundays come on Saturday night for the first time, and she told my wife that she really enjoyed it, and it sounds like she's going to start attending regularly on Saturdays. If you check out Saturday nights, I know you will feel the same way she did. Plus, we need 300 to 400 people who attend the 10:30AM and the 12:00PM service to make the switch to Saturday nights so that we can continue to reach more people for Christ this fall. Thanks church family for your passion to reach people who are far away from God. You guys are awesome!

4. 16 people gave their hearts to Christ! PRAISE GOD!

5. Bling Bling is going incredibly well! Don't miss the last teaching on how to fix your finances coming up this weekend. This teaching could change your financial future forever!

Random Thoughts

1. Today is my off day, and I'm excited to chill out today. My family has some fun things planned today.

2. This morning I woke up and my wife and 3 kids were all on the living room floor playing together. It was a precious sight to see.

3. Almost everyday when I come home from work, my two boys meet me at the garage door. Lately, they've actually been coming into the garage and meeting me right at the car door. That's a very cool feeling to have your kids pumped up to see you everyday.

4. I'm ready for football season. I have two fantasy football drafts next week.

5. I went on a date with my wife last night. We ate Mexican food. I haven't had Mexican in awhile, and it was awesome to feel my stomach bloated by all the chips, salsa and the fried Chimichanga.

6. I can't imagine life without following Jesus. My life would be a total wreck without Christ.

7. Bling Bling is helping so many people. Don't miss this weekend as we continue to learn how to fix our finances.

8. On Wednesday night, the fix your finances workshop was so crowded they had to put people in an overflow room. Way to go church family!

9. See you this weekend!

My Kids

1. Cale, who will turn 4 in December, is getting so big. It's amazing how quick kids grow. He talks so good and is full of energy. He loves trains and loves to play outside.

2. Cade, who turned 2 in May, is starting to talk where you can understand him. He is a small little fellow but full of energy like his brother. The two boys are best buddies. Cade constantly follows Cale around the house and imitates him.

3. Caris, who turns one this month, is so adorable. She is a pretty little baby. She is one of the happiest babies I've ever seen. She is always smiling. She's not walking or crawling yet. She is just content to have her brothers get stuff for her and to scoot across the floor on her belly.

4. I'm a proud daddy! I love my family!

Leadership Conference

I spoke at a leadership conference last night to around 1500 to 2000 pastors. My assignment was to share the story of People's Church and give some leadership insights to encourage pastors. It was fun remembering where God has brought us from.

Highlights from my talk last night:

A. I started People's Church in May 2002 when I was 26 years old (I turned 27 the next month). I really didn't have a clue what I was doing (I'M SERIOUS). I had never worked on a church staff before or been a senior pastor before. I was inadequate, inexperienced, scared and insecure.

B. After Tiffany and I started People's Church, we were exhausted physically, emotionally and mentally from the wear and tear of church planting. I had to travel and speak out to provide for my family for two years. The demanding schedule of trying to get a new church off the ground with no financial support or people support and having to travel to make ends meet and to help underwrite the church was a VERY TAXING season for Tiffany and I.

C. After we started People's Church, I was extremely discouraged. I thought the church would take off and run 400 to 500 in three to six months. The first three months of the church our Sunday attendance was between 40 and 60 people. How many of you know that's a long way from 500 people? I was discouraged and wondered if I had missed God's will for my life and ministry.

D. After we started People's Church, I felt like a failure. I hired a staff member in the first three or four months of the church and had to let them go in the first six weeks of their arrival to Oklahoma City because they were not a fit with our vision. In the first year of the church, I had a secretary quit and leave me a nasty note. I felt like a failure in more ways than one.

3 Things I've Learned So Far While Being A Senior Pastor (I've learned a lot more, but I only had time to share three)

1. You have to seek God and get His vision for your city and church and STICK WITH IT!

A. Don't let people sway you from the vision God has given you. God's not going to bless their ideas or complaints, he's going to bless the vision he's laid on your heart.

B. Don't allow a church bully to sway you from the vision God has given you. Every church will have someone or some people show up and try to bully and control the pastor and the direction of the church. Don't give in! Hold your ground and do what God has called you to do. How you handle the church bullies will be defining moments in your leadership.

2. We overestimate what God can do in the short run, and we underestimate what God can do in the long run. One of my mentors told me this two or three years ago, and boy, it's sure true.

3. People give up too quickly.

A. Too many pastors leave when the going gets tough instead of sticking to what God called them to do!

B. Galatians 6:9

Exciting Things Happening

1. Tomorrow night our Business Administrator is starting a four week Fix Your Finances Workshop. He will be dealing with subjects like getting out of debt, establishing a budget, improving your credit score, etc. The workshop will be held at People's Church at 7PM and is ABSOLUTELY free. If you need help in your finances, don't miss this workshop.

2. The next three Saturday nights are Super Saturdays at People's Church. This coming Saturday after the 6:30PM service, we are having inflatable games for the kids. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MANY OF YOU WHO ATTEND ON SUNDAYS TO CHECK OUT OUR SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICES AND LET YOUR KIDS HAVE A BLAST!

3. Friend’s Day weekend is August 25 & 26. We are expecting a record crowd on this weekend! School will be back in full swing the week leading up to Friends Day weekend, so everybody will be back in the saddle. We will be beginning a new 5 week series titled God, Love & Sex. START PRAYING AND INVITING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO NEED CHRIST. THE FALL IS GOING TO BE OFF THE CHARTS! Also, after Saturday night services on Friend’s Day weekend, we are having a cookout, pony rides, a petting zoo and inflatable games. YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE A SUPER FUN TIME, and you will have fun eating and hanging out with some new and old friends. START NOW INVITING AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN!!

4. On August 25 & 26, we will be baptizing people in all 5 weekend services. GET SIGNED AND GET DUNKED FOR JESUS! There's nothing like going public for Christ. I'm excited to see and celebrate with many of you as you get baptized in water! JUST DO IT!

Weekend Update

1. I'm really tired today. I didn't sleep well last night or on Saturday night. I hate when I don't sleep well. Oh well, God is good, and life goes on. I'm going to sleep like a champ tonight.

2. We had great services this weekend. Bling Bling is going really well. Let me give you a quick recap on this weekend’s message.

A. People are busting the bank financially. They are out of control in their financial
life. 5 Reasons why people bust the bank:

1. They are lost financially. Many people don't have a clue where they are or why they
are when it comes to their financial life.

2. They don't have any margin financially. Most people spend their entire pay check
every month (many even spend more than their pay check every month).

3. They don't track their spending. Most come to the end of the month and don't know
where all the money went because they don't track their spending.

4. They don't plan their spending. You have to pre-plan where you are going to send
your dollars.

5. People don't realize money is a spiritual issue. How you handle your finances is a
reflection of what's going on in your heart.

3. Over 30 people gave their heart to Christ!!!!

Random Thoughts

1. I am already hearing great things about what God is doing through the series Bling Bling. God is going to really help people in the area of finances through this teaching. I'm so excited!

2. We had a huge number of people sign up for the Fixing Your Finances workshop beginning this Wednesday night at 7PM at People's Church. Our Business Administrator, who is a financial whiz, is teaching for four straight weeks to help you get out of debt, get on a budget, improve your credit score, etc. Be sure to sign up this weekend to assure you get a seat. There is a limited number of seats for this workshop.

3. I'm hanging out with my family today. I'm always excited to spend the day with my family. We are going to do a little shopping today and grab a bite to eat. It will be a fun and eventful day for the Cooper crew.

4. Football season is right around the corner. I'm ready for the season to start and to get the fantasy football action rolling!

5. I have a great team that I get to work with everyday. I'm very thankful for the high quality people the Lord has assembled to carry the vision of People's Church. Thanks team for all of your hard work, loyalty, friendship and passion to see lives transformed by the power of Christ! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

6. I enjoy living life. I honestly believe there's no better life than whole heartedly following Christ! Life is a blast!

7. I can't believe it's already August. 2007 is flying by.

8. I'm excited about the future of People's Church. We are going to tear Oklahoma City up for the glory of God!

9. Invite everybody you can to attend this weekend's services!!!!!!!!!

Community

I'm very exited for my Community Group to start meeting again on Monday. Our group took some time off during the summer, and I miss hanging out with the fellows. We have a great group that I really connect with. We are going to be studying the book Today Matters by John Maxwell.

I want to encourage everyone to get involved in one of our Community Groups. We are launching several new groups at Community Group University on Sunday night at 6PM at People's Church. Community Group University is an event where you can come and meet new friends and fellowship, eat great food from Zio's Italian Restaurant and get plugged into a Community Group. This is really a fun event, so don't miss out! You will have several different groups to choose from.

Bling Bling...Fixing Your Finances

1. How would your life change if you were debt free (or at least debt free except for your home)?

2. How would your life change if you didn't spend as much as you earned in a year?

3. How would your life change if you knew to the penny how much you actually spend every month?

4. How would your life change if you actually knew WHERE all the money went to at the end of the month?

5. How would your life change if you didn't live with financial pressure?

6. How would your life change if you didn't live with worry and stress about your finances?

7. How would your life change if you knew you were investing properly for retirement?

8. How would your life change if financially you paid the price now to be financially free and played later instead of playing now and knowing you're going to pay later (never be financially free)?

9. How would your life change if you and your spouse didn't argue and have tension over finances?

Herbert, is it really possible for me to experience the above questions? ABSOLUTELY YES! Don't miss this weekend at People's Church and invite as many people as you can to get to People's Church. God is going to set so many people free this weekend! I'm EXCITED!