We have a new addition to the family. It's a boy. 3 lbs., 2 oz. Very furry. Toy poodle. Birthday was March 1, 2005. We brought him home on the tonight!

He's restored so much of the joy to our home and really livened things up. It's not quiet anymore, that's for sure.

We miss Copper. We always will, but we are grateful that God led us to Wilson, another toy poodle.

Yes, Wilson as in Wilson, the Volleyball, from Castaway. He helped Chuck through some rough times on that island and I know our Wilson will help us just as well.

In Loving Memory

Coppierre' (Copper) Redley Pierce

December 22, 1994 - April 13, 2005

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You were faithful, loyal, kind-hearted, tender, funny, adorable, happy, humble, sneaky, loving, mischievous, precious.....you were you, Copper!

I will miss you forever, little man. I know you know we did the right thing because you never even tried to pull the catheter out. When Dr. Casey gave you your night-night medicine you laid your little head right down and went to sleep. I'm so sorry you suffered for as long as you did, little man. Dr. Leber tried everything he knew to do. We had you in his office every day and Mommy held you as much as she could. I know you were tired and you fought harder than any fur-baby should had to have fought. Copper, you hung in there, man. You knew how much we loved you and I'm so sorry we couldn't do more for you.

Thank you so much for enriching my life. While God didn't bless me with children, He blessed me with you. I consider it a privilege to have been your mommy and daddy loves you so much, too. 10 years is a long time, angel-dog, and you know how much you are missed. Mama, Jennifer, Steve's mother and daddy, Melanie, Brenda....oh, baby. You were *so* loved! What a testament to your life with us here on earth, little guy! I am so glad that we had you for as long as we did and I rejoice that you are no longer suffering.

Thank you, Baby. Thank you for the ride home the night we bought you, the night when you snuggled against my neck.

Thank you for letting me bury my face in your sweet fur as my tears sent you on your way to Heaven.

Thank you for letting me kiss your head and for loving your mama.

Thank you for laying beside me at night and letting me cuddle you before I would go to sleep.

Copper, I thank God for you and will always praise Him for giving me the privilege of having been your mom. I will never forget you and you will always be my sweet one.

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Good night, sir.

What we think, good or bad, really does affect our actions and the course of our lives.

Finally, brothers,
Whatever is true,
Whatever is noble,
Whatever is right,
Whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely,
Whatever is admirable -
If anything is excellent or praiseworthy -
Think about such things.

Phillipians 4:8

And then He said,

"I love you no matter what size you are."
"I didn't create you to have children but to spoil rotten all the ones in your life!"
"I love you! Get back in there and chat with your friends."
"By the way, that wasn't Me that told you to leave."

God is so good.

Sunday Morning Sermon Notes:

His Return

150+ references in the NT re: Christ's return - the Second Coming!

It's personal
It's visible
It will be Jesus
Don't know when
Are to be ready
Whether we are ready or not; saved or unsaved, it's not going to affect when Christ comes again
We are to have a passion for the people who don't already know Jesus
Our desire should be to honor and praise hHim and share *share* Him
Great day for those who are ready
Terrible for tthose who do not know Him as their Lord and Savior


Luke 24:50: When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

Acts 1:9-11: After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

John 10:9-10; 28-30: I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

1 Tessalonians 4:13-18: Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Matthew 16:27: For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 26:64: “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

John 14:1-4: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

2 Peter 3:4; 8-10: They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

John 16:7: But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Revelation 5:9-13: And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Revelation 20:11-15: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.