More about Jeff
Jeff graduated from Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia, the self-proclaimed "watermelon capital of the world." Yes, they had a festival, a parade, a queen, and a seed-spitting contest. After a long, circuitous college career, he graduated from Georgia Southwestern College with a degree in business and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from West Georgia College. Jeff served as a helicopter crew chief and a medical service corps officer in the U.S. Army, including getting shot at by Saddam's finest in Iraq in 1991. He married the lovely and talented Gwen Leetch in 1989, and they have two beautiful daughters who they wouldn't trade for all of the gold in Fort Knox. Jeff served as a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church for two years. Other post-college, post-Army experience is in general business management.
New!! Free Book Content Available
Tuned In
Receiving God on His Frequency
By Jeff B. Copelan
Summary: God speaks to his people; he always has, and he still does today. But because we expect to hear from God directly in a clear, unmistakable voice as the Bible describes his conversations with Moses, Abraham, and others, we often miss him speaking to us through other people and through the circumstances of our lives. "Tuned In" guides readers through a study of the avenues God has used to speak to people in the past, helps them understand how he speaks to us today, and encourages them to expect to hear from God.
This is an unpublished, roughly-edited manuscript for you to read, consider, and enjoy. I look forward to your feedback – including suggestions, typo’s, etc. (jeff@jeffbcopelan.com)
Download the book and other free content at www.jeffbcopelan.com/Free Stuff.htm
What a Tithe Means
To give credit where it is due, my pastor is a devout, sincere, righteous man of
God who seems to have his focus and priorities straight. The previous sermons
during the campaign had focused less on the mechanics of stewardship and giving
and more on the attitude and heart of the giver. Less of a "what" we should give
and more of a "why" we should give. But this week the pastor really homed in on
two aspects of stewardship. ...<< MORE >>
The Shack: Reader beware!
(September 23, 2008), The Shack is the number five top seller of all
books on amazon.com, and it is the number one selling book on Amazon in three
categories: Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction, Books >
Religion & Spirituality > Fiction, Books > Mystery & Thrillers.
Further, it tops The New York Times Best Sellers list for "paperback trade
fiction". The key word in all of those lists is the word "fiction". ...<< MORE >>
Free book content on the web
There are times in life that are truly humbling, as most of us know. (If you don’t know it, then you’re just choosing to have selective memory.) One of my humbling experiences has been writing and publishing two books, and expecting to become the next Rick Warren or Max Lucado. I’m still working my day job and haven’t been asked to do any book tours, so obviously that didn’t happen. I have peddled my third manuscript to a vast host of publishers and literary agents, all of whom either ignored me or offered polite rejections in response to my queries. The conclusion that I have finally reached is that most people in the world aren’t interested in paying for what I write, so John Ortberg can stop looking over his shoulder to see if I’m gaining ground. I’m not.
So, much to the surprise of the people with whom I live, I have decided to offer my books for people to read for free on my website. My hope is that this might generate more interest – it’s a risk-free way for people to see if they’re interested in what I write. It also helps me to achieve my initial goal as an aspiring author to get some important stuff about God and faith in front of people to consider and reflect on. I have said before that if even just one person reads what I write and it causes them to draw closer to God, then I have managed a great accomplishment in ministry. Hopefully, more people will be inclined to read the books and refer the material to friends and acquaintances if they can do it for free. I know that the material has been useful in small group studies, and I hope that small group leaders can use the material now available on the website.
All of that is to say that I hope you will visit the revamped website,
www.jeffbcopelan.com, and visit the "Free Stuff" page. There you will find both of the published books, "That Was Yesterday" and "Are We There Yet?", available in several Adobe Reader (.pdf) files. You will also find some other free content, and I hope to soon have my third manuscript (which is completed, but unedited) available for preview. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who might be able to use it and benefit from it. As always, I am available to help, answer questions, etc. if needed at jeff@jeffbcopelan.com.Thank you for your help!
-Jeff
No Mind
lives of faith as well. They may be in the forms of jobs, families, finances,
world events, or any number of things that seem to conspire together to distract
us from God. Sometimes church worship services serve more as oases in the midst
of our personal deserts than as opportunities to encounter and experience God.
But if we can let go of those distractions and focus on God, we come into his
presence and receive his mercy and grace. ...<< MORE >>
2008 Lenten Devotional
typical of that time of year, the Sunday school class conversation turned to
what people were "giving up" for Lent. Most were giving up food items: sweets in
general or chocolate in particular, red meat, bread, and similar items. One man
promised to give up Saturday golf outings, and a woman said that she had given
up shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories. We were missing the point. ...<< MORE >>
Family Feud
witnessed someone performing miracles claiming their authority from Jesus, and
the disciples wanted to put a stop to it. "He is not one of us," they complained
to Jesus. "If he is not one of us, he shouldn’t be performing miracles in your
name." Pay close attention to Jesus’ response: "Whoever is not against us is for
us." ...<< MORE >>
The Stale Bologna Sandwich
offers to provide, only then can we be gratified. Only then do we stand in the
place that we must in order to receive God's blessing when we give. ...<< MORE >>
Why I Don't Like Religious Books
I thought about the difference between those books by Yaconelli, Ortberg, and
Eldredge that meant so much to me and the "religious" books that I am attracted
to and so want to enjoy, but which routinely disappoint. I enjoy study and
learning, particularly when I am studying and learning more about the things of
God. But why is it that those scholarly books that explore religion and theology
almost universally put me to sleep? Why do I find those books difficult to read,
almost like work, when other books, like those mentioned above, ...
Some thoughts on Christmas…
frustrating things, we might try focusing instead on the positives, on the
things that make it all worthwhile. ...<< MORE >>