The Copeland Family: Sojourners, Stonebriar and Seminary

As most of you know my dad and step-mom, Cheri, flew in from Ohio on Christmas day. We were so excited to get to spend some good quality time with them. I had to share dad and Cheri with my three older sisters, but at least I got in two good days. Saturday night we went to Shogun Hibachi Grill here in McKinney. My dad always loved Shogun in Longview, so this stop was a definite must.

On Sunday, we visited Stonebriar Church in Frisco. Dad was super excited to see his old time buddy, Charles "Chuck" Swindoll, and even bumped into his favorite Dallas Theological Seminary professor, Stanley Toussaint. I do miss watching my dad every Sunday morning preaching his heart out at the pulpit, but maybe one day I can find him a job here in Texas :) Of course that is the selfish side of me talking...he really loves being a pastor at his church in Ohio. Since BBQ is not a big deal in Ohio, we ate lunch at Spring Creek after church. It's been a while since they've had some decent BBQ and they really enjoyed the feast. After naps, my sister, Maria, stopped in for a small visit and later on that night me, my dad and Maria went to the country club to relax in the hot tub.

Monday, we hung around the house for a little while and then ventured off to Swiss Street to visit DTS and the book store. But, before that, dad and Cheri had to have Whataburger for lunch. Whataburger chains don't exist in Ohio--so this was another feast they thoroughly enjoyed. Not too long after we made it home, it was time for another "sister-swap," so I met my sister, Gina, in Allen for the transfer.

TESTIMONY: Before we left, dad gave me a DVD of his testimony that I've heard several times. My dad has such a wonderful testimony that does none other than boast in the Lord. I'm probably doing it no justice typing it here in my blog, because he tells it so much better than myself, but I will give you the Cliffs Notes version. When I was two years old my dad was in his office on a Friday morning preparing a sermon, like always. A man approached his office door, appearing to be drunk, and shot my dad two times in the stomach and one time in the head, and quickly left the church. My dad walked around, unable to see anything, and made his way to the street. He was able to recognize the sounds of cars and nature around him. My dad remembered saying this to the Lord, "Lord, I'm not sure what's happening to me, but I think I'm dying and if I am about to die, please remember the prayer that I prayed a long time ago inviting you into my heart." A few minutes later, an old, Jewish lady named Esther picked up my dad and immediately took him to the hospital. Esther usually played eighteen holes of golf, but for some reason (even though she did great on the first nine holes and the weather was great), she felt like she needed to just stop playing and go on home. Everyone, including my mom was told that dad wasn't going to make it and my mom thought that she soon would be a widow with four young girls. Miraculously, my dad survived, the doctors were absolutely amazed and he was blind for several days. He is still color blind and has trouble with the sequencing of events. Dad was back preaching less than three months later that December of 1982. Dad has shared his testimony on TV, radio and in person, and God has enabled him through this testimony to win others to Christ. The amazing thing is that dad has kept in contact with Esther, his rescuer, for several years now and has been witnessing to her for 23 years. Last year, Esther turned ninety years old and asked my dad to fly to New York to come to her birthday party. She told him she was ready to talk about God and where she stood in her life. By the grace of God, dad was able to lead her to Christ during his stay in New York. And, last, but certainly not least, I'll leave you with this. When my dad started working again after the shooting, one of his friend's that worked at the church came in with the sermon dad was working on just before this tragedy happened. He said, "Bob, here is the sermon you were preparing, do you have any idea or recollection of what it was about?" The sermon notes were preserved in a plastic sleeve, but had blood drops all down the page. The last thing my dad typed up, just seconds before he got shot, was this: We're saved by faith and we must live by faith not knowing what the next minute holds, but knowing Who holds the next minute. I know not what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future and I know He holds my hand.

To God Be The Glory!!!!

Me and my amazing father

Jaxon and Faith with Grandpa
Stonebriar Church in Frisco, TX