sunday schedule for july and august

ok, i know you're all dying to know, so . . .

morning stuff first:
sunday, july 29 will be the first of four sundays in which the sanctuary will be closed for repairs, and we will have two services on sunday mornings at 8:00 and 10:30 am. the goal is that enough people will come to the first service so that we will be able to fit everyone into the fellowship hall for the normal service time.

also on july 29, we (youth) will be sharing our stories and experiences from our mission trip. i need volunteers for both the 8:00 and 10:30 services. we will show the trip dvd at both services.

evening stuff:
this is exciting stuff. the youth ministry has been given permission to hold our sunday Bible study time at 5:30pm on sundays, through labor day. pastor sam has ok'd this experiment for several reasons. but i think this is our/your chance to stand up and show the church how important this is.

currently, very few of you students come to sunday evening worship service. i hope to encourage you to come on sunday nights, and this is a chance to invite your friends and fellow youth group members to come to something that ISNT AT CHURCH. most of you probably dont' attend sunday evenings because your parents don't attend. some of you don't attend just because you don't want to. some of you are inconsistent in your attendance.

sunday night Bible study is a chance for you to get involved in something that could change your life, as well as your friends' lives. if you don't like coming to "sunday night church," fine, but don't think of this Bible study as "church." if you want the chance to do more with your sunday evenings, this is your opportunity to come and let your attendance state loud and proud, "I WAS HERE!"

now, then, july 22, 29, august 5, 12, 19, 26 are six nights we have to make our case. will you come and make your case?

rando

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Now playing: Air 1 Radio
via FoxyTunes

Mission Trip Share Service

Maybe you've heard, maybe not. But the time for us to share has been moved. The original plan was for us to share about our experiences tomorrow morning (July 15). But with nearly (maybe more) half of our team out of town or under the weather, we've moved it. maybe next sunday morning, maybe next sunday night. i'll let you know.

in the meantime, keep the jennings, hotards, and willies in your prayers while they are traveling this weekend and next week. also pray for emily walker who has tonsilitus, and me, i've got some crud and sore throat stuff going on.

rc

even more of the story. . .

wednesday was our last day in myrtle beach, and we sadly said our goodbyes to the children we had poured our hearts into. we had some free time at the home (pool) of some members of fbc surfside. dinner was followed by a great time of worship with the ico staff, then we headed back to sleep before leaving myrtle beach.

thursday took us to columbia, sc for breakfast, and then to atlanta, ga for six flags theme park.

friday saw us at six flags white water park, dinner and hang time at an atlanta mall.

tomorrow, saturday, will bring us safely home (with no problems; we trust God for our saftey) to belle chasse between 3 and 4:00 pm.

we look forward to sharing with you our stories from this week. please pray for our travels tomorrow.

God bless,

randy

the story continues...

monday was another early day. we left columbia, sc at 6:00 am and arrived in surfside beach, sc just after 8:30 am. we unloaded then headed to daycamps. considering that nearly all of the students had never done anything like this, our day camps went very well.

each day we did two day camps, and two of our students worked at the surfside sunburn unit giving away free sunscreen and water.

tuesday was free time, so we went to the beach and dinner.

more about our week later. . .

the story thus far...

mission trips are funny things. when you go on a mission trip, you expect God to do great things in your life and in the lives of the people to whom you will minister. you expect God to give you safe travel and to keep you and yours from physical harm.

so far, God has kept up his end of the bargain and for that we are grateful.

sunday 0600 -
we left FBC bright-eyed and bushy tailed (or at least, awake). we stopped to gas up the church van, and, noticing the tires on the pork chop were low, decided that the tires would be fine until we stopped for gas. thirty or so minutes later, we had a full-out flat tire (avoiding a blowout!), and had to stop in slidell to purchase a new tire.

sunday 1000 -
we finally can leave slidell, 3 hours behind schedule, with two fresh tires, full bellies (thanks to mcd's), and a new lease on life (or maybe a bank note)

sunday 1400 -
lunch in montgomery, al. making good time, but still behind schedule

sunday 2200
we finally arrive at 120 greengate drive (home!) for a good, home-cooked meal. we decide to crash in columbia, sc, and drive to myrtle beach monday morning.

monday . . .

New Blog

Attention! Important information to follow!

Sunday night, we began our first week of Sunday Night Bible Study. The students who attended received a book to aid in the Bible Study process.

Part of this Bible Study involves posting or commenting on a special blog created for FOCUS Bible Studies. Each week each participant will post his/her thoughts, ideas, questions, or whatever on the blog. I hope each of you will take this seriously and step up to the challenge.

Go to focusbiblestudies.blogspot.com to get more information or call randy if you have questions.

my brilliant idea

so, most radio stations have traffic updates during the morning and afternoon rushes. i was thinking that to make everyone's lives less frustrating, radio stations should have grocery store checkout line traffic updates. it would sure make going to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk a whole lot easier.

rc

FOCUS Bible Study Tonight

Just a reminder, tonight Bible Study will begin at 6:00 with pizza and drinks. Bring money for pizza - $1 per slice or $2 for three slices.

see ya!

hello?

once again, i'm asking for you to tell me you're out there. i'd love to know if you are visiting the blog, and who you are. so . . . leave me a comment and tell me you've visited. please  :-(....

S.N.A.C.

Sunday Nights After Church -- SNAC

Next Sunday, June 17, Focus Youth Ministry will begins our SNAC. We will meet at church for worship at 5:30 pm and then go to the Toler's home for Bible study and swimming. Bring your Bible, bring your friends and bring your swimsuit and towel.

Got questions? Give rando a holla!

done . . . for now . . .

(warning: part of what follows will only make sense to leavell college folk)

it's been 12 years since i ended a semester in college and there was no more.

no more.

leavell college is done. a chapter in my life is finished. it's the end of the spring semester, and finals are over, and i'm done. no more drumm tests.

no more hammer. no more gibby eagle. no more pontotoc days. no more longhorn days. no more drumm/grubbs jokes.

sure, all those things will still be around, but they won't be part of my life.

friday morning i don a funny square cap and a black robe, i walk across a stage, and i bid farewell to part of my life.

leavell college played a huge part in my life. to all my profs - thank you for everything. to all my friends - you have been super, and i love you all. i'll see you on the dark side.

rando

Summer Mission Trip

In lieu of a Summer Camp trip, FOCUS Youth Ministry will be going on a Summer Mission Trip. You may be wondering, “What’s the difference, Rando?” Well, I’ll tell you.

Summer camp trips generally are more about Bible studies, and games, and hanging out; but our Summer Mission trip will focus more on doing missions work, instead of Bible study. There still will be Bible study and worship services, but students will be more involved in doing ministry projects, like Backyard Bible Clubs, Beach Ministry, Hotel Ministry, and Campground Ministry.

The location for our Summer Mission Trip will Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The dates for this trip are Sunday, July 1—Saturday, July 7.

We will depart FBC on Sunday morning and travel all the way to the sunny Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach. Our partner for this trip is Intracoastal Outreach, a resort ministry in Myrtle Beach. ICO will coordinate our ministry projects, and provide us the necessary tools and resources for a successful week.

After three days of ministry in Myrtle Beach we will head to steamy Atlanta, Georgia for a day and a half of fun at Six Flags theme park and Whitewater Water park.

Saturday, July 7 will mark our return to Belle Chasse, and the end of our Mission Trip.

Wednesday, May 23 at 6:30 pm will be a Mandatory Parent and Youth meeting to answer questions and discuss details of the trip.

Begin planning now for this amazing opportunity to serve our Savior this summer. What part would God have you play in this ministry?

Call Randy if you have questions (office: 394-1707, cell: 232-5579).

**Once again, the particulars:

Cost: $50 per person

Dates: July 1-7

Place: Myrtle Beach, SC

***NewBoys/Kutless/Stellar Kart*** IMPORTANT***

REMINDER!!! REMINDER!!! REMINDER!!! REMINDER!!! REMINDER!!!

If you want to go to the Newsboys/Kutless/Stellar Kart concert on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18th, you must pay by WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11th!!!

I can NOT make exceptions. I only have a limited amount of tickets.

This is the list of who has signed up:

Jenna
Caitlyn
Katy
Scott H.
Robert
Gabbie
Ryan J.
Vicky B.
Brittany N.
Adam G.
Jordan G.

If you are on this list, bring me money WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11th.

If you are not on this list and you want to go, bring me money WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11th.

do we have an understanding?

rando

zot!

i read on another blog yesterday that cartoonist johnny hart passed away. if you don't recognize the name, maybe you'll recognize the name of his strip, "B.C.". for almost 50 years hart faithfully crafted the witty stories about prehistoric cavemen/women, apterixes, and anteaters.

one of my favorite pieces of B.C. art is an Arby's glass with the anteater being "zotted" by his own tongue as it wraps around the glass. i currently have both B.C. and Wizard of Id on my myyahoo homepage, and read them faithfully every day.

you may or may not know this, but johnny hart was an outstanding Christian, and his comic strips reflected his faith. in a time where Christians have a hard time meshing with the culture around them, johnny hart did just that. in the mostly liberal and political world of comic strips, johnny hart found a way to shine the light of Jesus Christ to all his readers.

said one cartoonist/blogger, "I know that in his later years Johnny was very controversial because he expressed his Christian faith unapologetically in his work. Whether I share that faith or not, I found it admirable."

that johnny hart could have this kind of impact on someone who doesn't share his faith should encourage believers all around the world to share their faith with the people around them.

thank you Johnny Hart for how you unapologetically shared your faith in Jesus Christ, and may your example embolden our lives.

goodbye, mr. hart. you will be missed.

thinking funny,

randy copeland

ps - i really want to post an example of johnny hart's B.C., but i'm waiting to hear from the syndicate. if, or when, i get permission, i'll post one.

one giant leap for rando, one small step towards graduation...

well, i've finished my senior thesis paper. i've still got to read 16 of my classmates papers, evaluate, and discuss them, but the big hump is past. thanks to all who prayed for me as i pumped that sucker out. graduation is in may, pray also that i survive this last month.

rando

elevate and lazar tag lock-in

FOCUS is going to attend a city-wide youth worship and prayer service followed by a lazar tag lock-in.

when: april 20th, meet at fbc @ 6:00 pm (pick-up saturday morning @ 6:30 am)
where: God's House WestBank Cathedral, Lazar Tag in Harahan
how much: $15 (includes transportation, food, and 8 hours of lazar tag)

spaces are limited, SIGN-UP NOW!

more information to follow, but you've really got all you need right here...and as always, call randy if you gots questions.

concert!

that's right, we're going to a concert.




newsboys







kutless







stellar kart




i can hear you asking, "randy, when is it? where is it? how much is it? is there a deadline?"

well, i'll tell you:
when: wed, april 18th. leave fbc @ 5:00 pm.
where: southeastern louisiana university in hammond.
how much: only costs $5 plus money for food and/or souvenirs.
deadline: april 8th

sorry

sorry about the length of that last blog. please don't let its length deter you, though.

rando

a bit of myspace-inspired blogging

as with most people, i am about to type something very
cliche: i normally don't do these things. but since it didn't take a
lot of thought, i thought i'd do it. an interesting note: paul, whose
bulletin i read and inspired me, shared with me the same band on "fight song"
question; not the same song, but same band. fun, yeah? starflyer is just such a cool band.

some of the
coincidences are pretty stinkin cool. also, i've decided to add some thoughts after each song (a little something extra for focus fans across the globe). [I didn't realize how long this sucker was gonna get]

anywho... here goes:

If you're reading this and want to try it for yourself, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool!


Opening Credits:
panorama - the cars

panorama: isn't this a good word to describe what our lives should be like? when i hear the word, i think of a picture or painting of glorious mountains. our lives should reflect a panorama of our glorious Savior.

Waking Up:
you already take me there - switchfoot

imagine a world where, when people get up in the morning, they are already thinking about their Savior. they are so longing to spend time with Him, it is as if they are already there. a world where people walk so closely with their Lord that they don't have to carve out 15 or so minutes in the morning.

First Day At School:
your love endures - third day

first days at school typically are either good or bad - not much in between. God's love endures even through our hardest days.

Falling In Love:
unchanging one - todd agnew

if only the person we fell in love with didn't change, didn't grow old, didn't put on a few pounds. how about falling in love with the unchanging, God who created the universe?

Fight Song:
play the c chord - starflyer 59

i'm not sure if fight refers to something like a college or high school fight song, or to a song about fighting. i might be stretching it here, but if "c" stands for compassion, we might be fighting less.

Breaking Up:
taking over - evanescence

i got nothin' here. oh, wait... the hurt takes over. it's all you can see, especially if you didn't see it coming...

Prom:
your love - eoghan heaslip

many high school students fall into the lie that love is about sex, when sex is really about love. God created sex to be between a man and a woman, married together. sex is God's gift to humans. it's sad that we've let a lost, mistaken world twist God's gift into something wrong. sex itself is not wrong, but it is intended for married couples. what greater gift could you give to your future wife or husband than yourself?

Life:
how great is our god - chris tomlin

pretty much says it all.

Mental Breakdown:
i'll fly away - o brother where art thou? soundtrack

ever want to fly away from your troubles? ever want to make everyone else fly away from your troubles? crawl into the Bible sometime and read the words of david in the Psalms. let his words soothe your pain.

Driving:
let me take you home tonight - boston

sometimes the best part of driving is coming home. home brings rest, sleep, food, warmth, comfort, love.

Flashback:
through the fire - day of fire

can you remember back to a time when things weren't going so well? was it school, work, family, girlfriend, boyfriend? if something like that came up again, would you call on God to help carry you through it? he will, you know.

Getting Back Together:
brilliant corners - thelonious monk

i've never gotten back together with an ex-girlfriend. i have, however, become re-acquainted. it's like turning a corner. a very brilliant corner where you can't see the hurt anymore, and you can begin to heal.

Wedding:
you and i - shane and shane

it's what marriage is about - you and i become we. there is no longer two, but now is one - just as God intended.

Final Battle:
you are my joy - david crowder band

seems like this one and the next one should have been switched, but oh, well...

Death Scene:
draw the line - pod

its' not too late to draw the line. you're dying...are you ready? do you know where you'll go?

Funeral Song:
novocain - olivia the band

i hope that when i die, they play something cheerful. i hope there's no morose moping and crying. i know i won't be crying. i will be in the presence of my creator king, and i hope that the people i leave behind have a celebration for me.

End Credits:
something more (augustine's confession) - switchfoot

something more... heaven. could you imagine living, and not knowing if there was something more?

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DNOW

DNOW is March 16-17.

Cost is $35.

Information packets will be sent out this week.

I am extremely pumped about what God wants to do in the lives of Westbank students. The trick, of course, is that God can only do what he wants in the lives of his people if his people let him.

Please be praying about what God wants to do in your life at DNOW '07. I'm praying for you already.

Please call the church office to talk to me if you have any questions about DiscipleNOW. If you need financial assistance for DNOW please do not hesitate to call me - PLEASE do NOT let money stop you from coming to DNOW.

rando