I don't truly know when exactly I came to the faith - I grew up in a Christian home. However, I joined the church at 12 and in my late teens, early teens I became for real and keep getting more real. Since then, God has challenged me more and more, so that now there is no other place for me to walk to. He is the greatest and sole constant in my life. "I walk before Him" is my motto - I realized it early this year. It's a reality whether we realize it or not. How we walk in that is what is significant.
How can I live without God's total sovereignty in all things? If salvation were of me then I am lost. It is only of His grace producing redemption and faith that I have any hope. His work is the unshakeable foundation of living - even when I miss what that means practically and lose sight of His perfection and love.
Yes - for several years I have read through the Nelson 1 Year Bible each year. I am also reading D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation in the 16th Century as side reading. (now through 1 inch of the 2 inches and after Luther, Zwingli and Farel I'm just seeing Calvin arrive)
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20061028 Content being single? 'Fraid not... However, content being married and second dad to five? Yes, sometimes it's a challenge, often tiring, and always bringing me back to have to trust in the Lord. The quote "may you live in interesting times" is very apropos. Looking back on my comments of a year ago, it's still true - every day comes from the hand of God and every day we have to rely on His strength beyond our own, whether married or single. God is the same - our spiritual situation is the same - only the external circumstances have changed.
20050706 Am I content? Yes, though there are days from time to time that stretch me.
There is a difference between being contentedly single and in the hand of God's providence versus the "not married" that I was for so long. I'm daily blessed to be getting mileage just living and walking consistently before God in the state I am in - and you know, those simple words "before God" make all the difference. To be cared for by Him (and strengthened by Him) is the difference between being alone and not alone.
It is fundamental that I live - and live today. God gives us our .daily. bread. :^)
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Honesty, sharing, doing the right thing, caring - valued, but not always clear and sometimes painful. But most times blessed, because these are God's blessings.
I am EXTREMELY happy that my marriage is continuing. I am so blessed.
A few Luther quotes:
Pre-decision...
"...now at least I have no thought of taking a wife; not that I do not feel any attractions in that estate; I am neither a stock nor a stone..."
Post marriage (42 years old):
"The best gift of God is a pious and amiable wife, who fears God, loves her family, with whom a man may live in peace, and in whom he may safely confide."
I am not Luther - neither am I a stock or a stone. And I agree - what a blessing it would be to live in peace with someone in whom to safely confide and share life with. And yet, providence today is what it is - you do what you can each day while it is your job do be content.
I am a software architect and developer. I have been an engineer since 1990, working for two major companies in the Denver area and having contacts which continue to provide work. I have worked for my current company for over 6 years and am an engineer on the senior staff. It is excellent, enjoyable, and very profitable work.
I also own and manage a rental home in addition to my own home. I have a pair of grandmothers living there and most of the time it cares for itself.
Life goals & priorities:
- Walk before God to the best of my ability and walk truly contented.
- Love my family, wherever God may take them
- Work in the kingdom as possible
- Be financially responsible
- Personally support and work in a local congregation and local area.
10/28/2006 LEISURE TIME? What's that? Where is that amidst taking kids to school, work, picking up kids, helping with homework, directing children for the 3rd time to put their stuff away, bookwork... I think it's a myth... :^) More seriously, though, leisure time is that 20 minutes driving back from dropping kids, or that 5 minutes of reading that can occasionally be squeezed in. My favorite recreation is lying on the bed for 3 minutes between knocks at the bedroom door.... Mom? (no, she's downstairs - can I help you?) :^) Keil!? (No, I'm not a paging system - come into the same room and then ask me...) OK, yes, you may have ice cream, no, you may not have a popsicle - it's dinner time soon, no, I didn't know the capital of Brazil, yes, the natural weather processes are indeed quite complex, no, you need to not guess at the answer - here's how you work it out... YES, I love sleep! Now if only I could get more! Yes, silence - sweet silence... :^) Well, I'm definitely not lonely ANYMORE... (smile) No more dull moments FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN YEARS...
And yes, recreation is those golden shining moments when I can wake up and say - "I love you, Dawn". And we're both fond of Friday night date nights - a necessity for family survival. :^)
My family consists of myself, Dawn (sweetsoutherngagirl) my wife, and our five children (of whom I am the newly installed (as of 4 months ago) and very permanent father ).
I am close with most of my (now extended) family.
I have an excellent career in Denver and am dedicated to and active in the local church. I am well established and so moving is not a wise option. However, family is very important. At this point I am more firmly grounded than ever.
writing, arranging music, singing - interests in just about everything
How about - "I have children and anything more is a blessing from the Lord"
'Keil' is pronounced 'Kyle' - rhymes with mile.
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Photo Captions
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- Along the headwaters of the Colorado River - a bit windy
- Photogenic nephew - Ethan Rodney King
- Brother Kirk & sister-in-law Kelly at their recent wedding
Private gallery: walking with digital camera (password 'gallery')
Webshots gallery: http://community.webshots.com/user/kdcoppes
(Kirk & Kelly wedding shots are there)
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Microblog....
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10/28/2006: "In the midst of trials and threatened turbulence, the eternal constants seem more important when in fact they have always been the only thing that has ever lasted"
7/7: "stress is the antithesis of faith"
7/23: That special quality in life - knowing the beauty in God's creation and rising to reflect it. From time to time I wake - somewhat stiff, eyes simply wanting to go to bed... and then I get up, go to sit on the couch and check the morning mail. After a little while, the switch may click, and still bound up, intention begins - to stretch, to wake up my spirit, to get up and go to the day. God puts beauty and tremendous attention to detail in creation - shouldn't we rise in response to that? To go and make some of our own, even if it's simply the craft of a good day at work? And praising Him that way?
(Note: had an opportunity to give some contact info for the church up in the mountains on Sat. And God in another method sent 19 visitors on Sun evening to our congregation of 60.)
7/31: It really is a good thing to have a sovereign God. So many days you wake and simply don't know that the future holds. Perhaps this, perhaps that, hopes mixed with fears, blessings, tiredness, comfort... Come to think of it, sometimes you simply have to step back from it all, put it in God's hands, and step into that state of trust where He has it all. That does mean that you accept .both. sides of things - either hopes or fears coming true, and yet things are stable because God never changes. He .will. care or the outcome, even as you work to be faithful. But if you can't emotionally accept the outcome God gives you, particularly not the one you wanted, where is trust? And so you work to step back and thank God for the blessings He .has. given today.
A thought for every breath: Do we look for a world that meets our ideals and conceptions or do we look for one God is making to glorify Him? In what scale do we weigh our thoughts, dreams and emotions?
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