What up Skillet fans!!! Korey Cooper here, enjoying maternity leave and all that it entails (sleepless nights, poopy diapers,
diets, working out, etc.) Yes, I do miss rocking the stage, but life with two little ones is much easier at home. Don't worry
though, I will be back at the end of December. I have been doing quite a bit of Skillet work from here as we are busily recording
demos for the next skillet-rock your world project. I have to say, it's definitely my favorite skillet project to date - but
doesn't every artist say that about their newest cd? Anyway, my vocals are back in action along with some more keys, but not
like we've done before. That's all I'm gonna say about that...
Anyway, I have some random thoughts that I would like to share with you guys. I've been reading a new book by Ron Luce
which I recommend to everyone - "Battle Cry for a Generation". (Also, check out the site http://www.battlecry.com/ ). It has really helped to rekindle my zeal for the purposes of God and my vision for what God has called me to do in my
very short time on this planet. Man, I love God so much - I want so much more of Him in my life-I want to run faster, to serve
him better, to be more like Him, reflecting His unending love for all of His creation. I find it really upsetting at the large
amounts of "Christian" young people who lack this desperate passion for more of God, who don't seem to have tasted His goodness
and seek in other places the fulfillment that only He can give.
Do you know that God has a purpose for your life? He created you with all your uniqueness to serve Him, to make a difference
in the world, to love people like He loves them. Instead, we are so influenced by the world that we have become a self-indulgent
Christian generation!
My daughter, Alex, turned 3 recently. She got soooo many presents she didn't know what to do with herself. She couldn't
even sleep because of the anticipation of playing with all the new toys the next day. She woke up, ran to her toys and played
while watching Dora the Explorer. Commercial time came, and whatever toy appeared on the screen caught her attention. "I need
that, mom," she exclaimed. I was flabbergasted as I looked around the large room full of brand new toys. How could she possibly
want anything new at this point!!! It made me think how many of us Christians are 3 year olds when it comes to our spiritual
lives. We are so self consumed & indulgent, and because of this so unfulfilled in our lives.
Galatians 6:7-10 states, "Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap
what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But
those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good.
Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity,
we should do good to everyone..."
What great opportunities we have in this day to do good and to show our love for our neighbors. There is so much practical
need - hurricane victims and starving children just to name a few. I think young people don't really see that they have the
ability, even at 11 or 12 years old, to make a difference in this way. However, how much money do we waste just to entertain
our boredom - $4 a day for coffee, $20 on the latest CD, $7.50 for a movie, and don't forget our ever precious cell phones!
I'm not against any of these in principle, in fact, I enjoy the benefits of most of them. I am suggesting, however, that we
make some "sacrifices" so we can actually bless someone who is truly in need. The added perk for you being the simple biblical
principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Begin to sow more and more into meeting the needs
of others, and you will find that feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction swiftly dissipate. You will find yourself being less
critical of everything and everyone else and more attuned to meeting the needs of others. And remember, sin is pleasurable
for a season, but it will never bring any sort of fulfillment. Therefore, don't get as close to that invisible line of compromise
as you can under the guise of grace and think it is there you will be fulfilled. Selflessness is good for the soul.
Practical places to sow:
Firstly, read Psalm 63 as you will find in it a man with such real passion for the ever-present
God that we serve. Let your passion and love for Him be your motivation to serve and love others.
Secondly, some of you may attempt to start at home! Serve your parents without them having to ask - and do it with a good
attitude. Load the dishwasher, make your bed, clean the bathroom - these are practical things that everyone has the capacity
to do.
In addition to that, what about giving money to some great organizations. You could support a child through World
Vision http://www.WorldVision.org/Sponsor or Compassion http://www.compassion.net/. You could give money to St. Jude's to help defeat childhood cancer http://www.stjude.org/. You could donate time or money to the Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/ or Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitat.org/.
Thirdly, you could go on a mission trip with teen mania http://www.teenmania.org/ or a similar organization and experience what life is like in another country - shake yourself up, change your world view!!!
Start learning how to apply your faith by loving a hurting world. Decide that you want your life to make a difference and
then just do it.
Well guys, thanks for taking the time to read my random thoughts. As I finish this, I'm heading out the door to rake my
Nana's leaves. Seems like a simple, small thing, but I know it is a huge blessing for her. I'm sure she doesn't realize how
it blesses me - like I said, selflessness is good for the soul. I look forward to rocking you again soon.
God Bless,
Korey Cooper
"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder
your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me,
you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything
worth more than your soul?" Matthew 16:24-26
