Tag Archives: Efree Church of Diamond Bar

More Family Connections

By Mark Hopper

Two months ago, my wife and I traveled to New York to see Niagra Falls in western New York and visit some of her cousins near Albany on the eastern side of the state.  My wife really enjoyed reconnecting with her cousins. She had not seen some of them in over 40 years.

Over the past few years, we have also reconnected with some of my cousins who live in this part of the country. One lives in Colorado and the other lives in Arizona.  Both of these sisters have been married and have raised their own families.

Since they grew up in Colorado and my brother and I grew up in Arizona, we rarely saw our cousins. Since each of us got married and started our families in different parts of the country, we didn’t spend much time together. I don’t think we even attended our cousin’s weddings and I don’t think they were present at my wedding or my brother’s either.

Now, forty years later, our paths have reconnected. All of our parents have died. All of us have our own children and grandchildren. All of us still live in different parts of the country.  But, over the past few years, circumstances have drawn us together again.

A life threatening illness served as the catalyst to increase our communication.  My wife and I became more intentional about calling and visiting. My brother and his wife sent cards and shared books as the health of one of these cousins declined. During this journey, we also reconnected with her sister, our other cousin. After almost 40 years, we were talking and texting on a regular basis. Facebook helped too!

There was a lot of catching up to do. We enjoyed learning about their children and grandchildren.  We shared about our families and our careers. There were times of laughter and smiles as we talked about our parents and grandmother (our grandfather died before most of us were born).

Unfortunately, one of these cousins died on Thanksgiving Day after a long, difficult battle with cancer. New connections were made as we met extended family members at her memorial service. Stories were shared and there was both laughter and tears.

I’m thankful that we “reconnected” with our cousins – both my wife’s in New York and and my own cousins in the west. It has given us a new appreciation for our extended family and it has given us more motivation to keep in touch.

Let me encourage you to make an effort to reconnect with your family. Social media makes it possible and convenient to communicate with cousins, nieces, nephews and long, lost relatives.  Don’t wait. Write a note, send a card or make a call during this Christmas season. They will be glad you did and you will too.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Christmas Eve Services Dec 24th

9:00 & 10:45 AM & 5:00 PM

Efreedb.org

 

A Famous Photo

By Mark Hopper

Three years ago, my wife and I celebrated Christmas with our whole family in Lisbon, Portugal.  Our four adult children, three son-in-laws and seven grandchildren were all together for five memorable days.

My wife’s mother was unable to travel with us to Portugal, but she sent some money to purchase gifts for all of her great-grandchildren. Instead of purchasing more gifts for these seven young children, we decided to use the money to take them to the Lisbon Zoo.

The weather in December in Portugal is very similar to what we have here in California. The day we went to the Zoo the temperatures were cool with clear skies.

After we bought our tickets and walked through the front gate we were met by a professional photographer who was waiting to take our picture. Everyone was in a good mood and even the younger kids were pretty cooperative as we posed for a picture. Members of the Zoo staff gave us several colorful birds for us to hold while they took our photo.

Our day at the Lisbon Zoo was a winner. The children and adults enjoyed seeing the beautiful animals and several shows that were scheduled during the day. They even have a very nice Dolphin show!

At the end of the day, we stopped by the store where they sold copies of the pictures taken at the front gate.  We purchased a copy for each family so they would have a photo memory of our day at the Zoo.

One of the lessons that I have learned about family pictures is to take them early in the day. Children and adults are usually in a good mood when people are arriving. Sometimes kids and adults can be less cooperative when it comes to taking pictures at the end of the day.

There have been times when some family members needed to leave early to go on to other activities.  I know there have been times at some of our family gatherings when we waited to long to get a group picture.  Don’t wait until it is too late. Take those groups pictures early not later.  At the Zoo, they take group pictures at the entrance not at the exit.

The other lesson I have learned is that no family photo is perfect.  In our famous photo at the Lisbon Zoo, several of the grandkids were distracted and were not looking at the camera. The colorful birds added a lot to our picture, but the younger children were distracted and a little uncomfortable holding these big birds with their hands or on their shoulders.

My suggestion is that you don’t expect perfection. Just be thankful that you can get a photo with your whole family. During this holiday season, take time to take a few pictures. You will be glad you did and your family will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Wash Your Car

By Mark Hopper

People seem to be on edge since we have not had any rain since last March or April.  Normally, we start getting rain in Southern California in November or December. The typical rainy season extends from November to March. Now we are entering a new year with no rain in sight.

I have noticed that it usually rains after I wash my car. I don’t wash it every week. In fact, I have been a little lazy and have not washed it for many weeks. But I finally got off the couch after all the college football games were over and decided it was time to wash our two cars.

While I was busy washing both of the cars, it occurred to me that all of my effort might be in vain because it usually rains after I wash them. This is especially true during the winter months.

My suggestion is that if we all of wash our cars this month I am convinced that it will rain.  You may prefer to take your car to the Car Wash or you may prefer to do it yourself. A friend of mine recently gave me a new “waterless” car wash by McGuiers. So you can even wash your car at home without using a drop of water!

I believe that if we all band together and wash our cars that it will rain.  Can we all agree that we need some rain and the sooner the better and the more the better?

The Apostle Paul said in the book of Acts “…God did not leave Himself without a witness, but provided evidence of His goodness by giving us rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons to satisfy our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).

The changing of the seasons and rain from heaven reminds us of how dependent we are on simple things like snow, rain and running water.  Without water we cannot survive. Water is essential. Fresh water starts with rain and is stored in the snow.  Seems pretty simple but it is very essential.

Let me encourage you to wash your car this week. It will certainly increase the probability of rain. You will be glad you did and we will too! Maybe you could add a little prayer while you are at it too.  Read James 5:17-18!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

If I Had A Hammer

By Mark Hopper

It is a privilege and an honor to be a grandfather to eight precious grandchildren. They bring delight and joy into our lives.

One of the special benefits of being a grandparent is the variety of gifts that we receive from our grandchildren.  I’m sure that their parents provide guidance and assistance as our grandkids select and send us gifts for Christmas.

In past years, there have been T-shirts, sweaters, hats, gloves and DVD’s and books and many other memorable gifts. This year was no exception. My wife and I received several different gifts including a 2018 calendar that is filled with photos of all of our grandchildren. We smile as we look over these calendars each year and we are amazed at how quickly our grandkids are growing up. The photo calendars make a nice gift that we use all year long.

This year, there was an unusual but useful gift that I did not expect. It was heavier than the other gifts and it came in a rather large box. I had no idea what it was until I opened the package and found a beautiful, 16 ounce hammer!       I already own several hammers, but this one is very special. It has an inscription carved into the wooden handle that reads, “Pop Pop (my name) – We love making memories with you”. Engraved on the other side of the handle are the names of two thoughtful grandchildren.

Do you remember a song form the 1960’s, “If I Had A Hammer”?  It was actually written in 1949 by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, but it didn’t become a huge hit until it was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962. The theme of their song had political and social overtones that made it controversial and unpopular with some people. I don’t remember the lyrics but I do remember the tune.

I’m not sure if I should mount this new hammer on my office wall and preserve it as a memorable gift from my grandkids or if I should put it in my tool box and use it on projects around the house. I’m leaning in the direction of using the hammer instead of just viewing the hammer.  I think my grandchildren would be happy to know that “Pop Pop” is building, repairing and making new things with the hammer that they gave to me at Christmas.

I think that part of our job as grandparents is to keep on building and fixing things for the generations that follow. I believe that we should stay active and keep busy doing things for others. We should use our skills and experience to teach and help others.

Let me encourage you to look for ways that you can continue to help others. Is there a tool box in your garage that has tools that can be used to build and make repairs around your house or in your neighborhood?  Do you have technological or mechanical skills that can benefit others? I’m sure that when I use this new hammer I will remember the grandchildren who gave it to me!

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Each one of you should use whatever gifts and abilities you have to serve others” (First Peter 4:10).  If you have a skill, experience, training, ability or only a hammer – let me encourage you to use it to help others. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

The Christmas Train

By Mark Hopper

I have shared in the past that I received a Lionel Train set for Christmas when I was a young boy. We have a photo of me and my father and my grandfather playing with my new train on Christmas morning in the 1950’s.

The train set was lost for many years in a closet in my parent’s home. I thought they had given it away after I got married. When we helped my parents move out of their house, my brother discovered the train set but he didn’t tell anyone.  He surprised me on Christmas Day with this mystery box.

We have a photo of me, and my children and my father playing with that old train at Christmas in the 1980’s.  After we moved to Diamond Bar, that Christmas train ended up on a shelf in our garage for many years.  Finally, some of our adult children asked me to get the train down and set it up for their children to see.

I was reluctant to get it down and set it up. I didn’t know if the train even worked anymore.  But, children and grandchildren can be pretty persuasive. Last year, I got the train box down and set it up around the Christmas tree.  To my surprise, the train worked! They were delighted to see Pop Pop’s train.

However, the wires that powered the transformer were brittle and the train engine was sluggish. I took the engine and transformer to a model train store in Costa Mesa. The owner was able to clean up and lubricate the engine and put a new cord in the transformer.  My childhood train was running again!

Now, it is the Christmas season again and that means it is time to get out the Lionel Train. When two of our grandchildren were at our house recently, we set up the train in front of our Christmas tree. I let them help me operate it. They enjoyed it and I did too.  My wife took a video to capture the memory of another generation playing with the train together.

I don’t know what childhood memories you have or what Christmas gifts that you may have kept over the years.  But, let me encourage you to look in the closet, the attic or the garage and see if there are some childhood memories like old dolls, toys or trains that you can share with your children or grandchildren this year. They will be glad you did and you will too.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Christmas Eve Services:

9:00 / 10:15 AM & 5:00 PM

Efreedb.org

First On The Block Again

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

I have shared in the past that my wife likes to put up our Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. We have boxes and boxes of decorations that take hours and hours to put up and display. It is a lot of work, but she really enjoys decorating for the Christmas season.

 

Part of decorating for Christmas includes putting up lights on the outside of our house. This is primarily my job. I use the same colored lights every year. I suppose they look a little dated, but they still work!

I always like to be the first on our block to have Christmas lights on our house.  Sure enough, we were first again this year.  I think that the City of Diamond Bar used to give recognition to the homes that have the best outdoor holiday decorations.  I doubt that we will ever win that prize, but I wonder if we might win a prize for being the first in the neighborhood.

 

However, I must admit, I was a little grumpy this year.  Decorating is a tedious task.  I have to get the lights out of the garage and test each string to see if all the bulbs still work.  Then I have to get out my step ladder and climb up and down numerous times to hang the lights up on the house.  I always forget which string of lights go where.  After all, I only do this once a year.

 

And, I think I was a little grumpy that I was putting the lights up by myself again this year.  The kids are grown and gone, and my wife spends many more hours than I do decorating the inside of our house.   The grandkids are too young to help.  Maybe I had a little too much Turkey at Thanksgiving this year.  I just wasn’t as motivated as I have been in the past.

 

Secretly, I was hoping that it might rain the day after Thanksgiving so I would have an excuse to not work on the outside lights.  But, unfortunately the weather was beautiful with temperatures in the 80’s.  It was inevitable – ready or not it was time to put up the outside Christmas lights.

 

Gradually my attitude and outlook began to change as I put up the lights.  I realized that I shouldn’t be grumpy that I have to put up the lights on the house, but that I should be grateful that I have a house to put lights on!   I’m sure there are a lot of people who would be thrilled to have a house to decorate for Christmas.  I should be grateful not grumpy.

 

By the time I was finished, I was glad I was able to decorate the outside of our house for the holidays.  I was thankful we have a house to decorate!  After the sun set on the day after Thanksgiving, I was pleased to see the Christmas lights on our house again.  They looked pretty good, too!

 

I hope that you enjoy the Christmas season this year.  Enjoy the season with a thankful heart.  Don’t be grumpy about the decorating, shopping or spending.   Be grateful that you have a home to decorate, and friends and family to share it with.  They will be glad you did and you will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Christmas Services December 24th

At 9:00, 10:45 & 5:00 PM

Efreedb.org

Dress For Success

By Mark Hopper

In a recent article, I shared about some of my experiences as a pastor when I visit people in hospitals. Thousands of people work in hospitals, Technicians, clerks, nurses, surgeons, security officers and janitors all work in hospitals.       Different employees wear different clothes and uniforms. The security people wear warm jackets. The doctor’s will usually wear lab coats. The custodial crew wears another kind of uniform. Nurses often wear bright, attractive medical outfits. The people in food service may wear hair nets and aprons if they handle food in the commissary or cafeteria.

I always enjoy speaking to the employees and volunteers at the information desk. Their help is invaluable when looking for a patient in a hospital.  The people at the front desk have access to the hospital data base and they can usually find the room number of a patient quickly.

There is one individual at the front desk of a large hospital in the area that stands out in my mind. Not only is he helpful and knowledgeable, but he is dressed for success! Unlike most of the people I meet at the info desk, this man is dressed up with a suit and tie.  He looks like he could be the CEO of the hospital, not one of the regular employees at the front door.

I don’t know his name, but he is both helpful and professional as he assists people walking through the front door. I have observed him helping patients who are checking-in to the hospital and he seems to put people at ease as he directs them to the hallway or elevator they are looking for.

His professional appearance gives you the sense that he knows what he is talking about and that the information he provides is accurate. He is the best dressed front desk hospital employee I know.

The Bible cautions us to not judge people by the clothes they wear.  James warned us to not show favoritism to people who wear fine clothes and warns us to not ignore those who are dressed poorly (James 2:1-9). There are times when my wife advises me on what shirt or tie I should or should not wear.  My friends and co-workers will tell you that I am challenged when it comes to fashion and style.

However, we should give attention to the way we dress for work. Teachers usually maintain a professional appearance. Coaches and PE teachers often wear shorts and dress more casually. But, one college coach told me that he never wears a pair of shorts to a meeting with his Dean. He always puts on a pair of long pants and a collared shirt when going to a meeting in the administration building.

Let me encourage you to dress for success. We live in a generation where casual is becoming more common.  Maybe you should consider dressing up a little more for work or take time to add a new shirt or blouse to your wardrobe. You will be glad you did and others will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

I Can Fix It (Part II)

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

A few weeks ago I shared that my lawn mower was broken.  I tried to fix it myself, but was unsuccessful.  Then I called my faithful lawn mower repairman but his phone was no longer in service. What a Bummer.

In desperation, I looked on the internet to try and find another repairman in the area. Several repair shops were listed in Pomona, San Dimas and Glendora. I decided to try the repair shop in Pomona. They came and picked up my mower. I waited to get their estimate on what it would cost to get my McLane, seven-blade front throw gas mower going again.

I sat by the phone, waiting for their call. What was their diagnosis? How much would it cost? Would it be worth repairing my old lawn mower?

When the call finally came, there was both good news and bad news. The good news was that it could be fixed.  The bad news was how much it would cost.

Actually, the basic repair was under $100. The mower needed a new pulley and a new belt. I was encouraged to hear that it could be fixed for under $100.  However, they also recommended a “tune up” – changing the oil, replacing the air filter and installing a new spark plug. The cost for that was about $50.  In addition, the repairman offered to sharpen the blades.  My McLane seven-blade mower has a lot of blades! How much would this cost? It would be around $100 more.

This was the moment of truth. Do I trust the repairman? Does the mower really need all of these fixes? Is it worth spending that much money on an old lawn mower? Should I just go for the basic repair and get the mower running again or should I spend more money hoping that it will work better and last longer?

Should I go for option number one, option number two or option number three? It sounded like the old TV game show”Let’s make A Deal”! What would you do?

Most of you who know me very well would assume I would go for option number one – settle for the band aide fix and save money. But, I actually chose option number three – spend the money and do all the repairs that the repairman recommended.

When they delivered my McLane, seven-blade front throw power mower to my house, it looked like a new mower! They had cleaned off the old grass. The new spark plug sparkled and the sharpened blades glistened in the sunlight. When the repairman fired up the engine, it purred like a kitten. When he invited me to try it out, I couldn’t believe how well it cut the grass. I was impressed!

I feel like my mower has been given a second chance in life. It has been saved from the junk pile and is cutting grass better than it has in years. I don’t know how long it will keep going, but my repairman deserves “five stars” on his Yelp review!

I suppose there are a lot of life lessons we can learn from my lawn mower adventure. There are some things in our lives that we cannot fix ourselves. We need to call on God to be the “repairman” in our lives. He can fix and He can forgive the mistakes and struggles that we cannot fix ourselves. He can restore broken relationships and repair broken hearts. The Bible says that God loves to take broken people and give us new life. One verse says that when we become a follower of Jesus, our old life is set aside and all things become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

Let me encourage you to call on God today in prayer. Confess your mistakes. Admit you can’t fix everything yourself. Ask Him for His help and forgiveness. Allow our heavenly repairman to do His work in your heart and give you a new start through faith in Jesus. You will be glad you did and He will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

 

College Football

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

One of the fun things that happens at this time of year is college football. The season has gone by so quickly and there is already a lot of talk about which teams will qualify to play in the post-season bowl games.

There is something about college football that appeals to me. College football is full of tradition.  Teams have their school colors and their school mascot.  Stadiums are filled with fans wearing t-shirts and sweatshirts proudly proclaiming their loyalty and support.

College football games usually include large marching bands that perform during halftime.  These bands add to the energy and pageantry to the game.  All through the game, the bands continue to play music and their school’s fight song to inspire their team and their fans.

Many years ago, my wife and I attended a college football game with some friends in Texas.  We had tickets in the student section.  The atmosphere was electric.  We were excited to go to a game at this university which was well-known for its football program.  But, what we didn’t realize was that the people in the student section don’t sit down. They stand throughout the game!

Since we stood during the whole game, I wondered why we bought a ticket with a specific seat assignment?  I must admit it was fun to be in the student section, but I was pretty tired by the end of the game.

Another tradition at this university was throwing the cheer leaders into the fountain if their football team won the game.  If they win, the cheerleaders got wet!

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Here in Southern California we have a number colleges and universities.  Several have nationally recognized football programs. You often see the names or logos of these schools on t-shirts and bumper stickers.  Many alumni proudly promote their school on the license plate frames on their cars and trucks.

Since most college football games are played on Saturday, there is often a lot of talk on the church patio on Sunday about the games the day before.  If your favorite team college team won on Saturday, you are glad to share the news with your friends on Sunday.  But, if your team lost on Saturday, you are more likely to talk about the weather than football!

I don’t know if there are any football fans in your family.  But, I suspect there are some college football fans in your neighborhood. Please be patient with them if they seem to get carried away with enthusiasm this time of year.  At the same time, if you are an avid college football fan, enjoy the moment.  The season will soon be over!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

I Can Fix That

By Mark Hopper

For many years, we had a gardener who mowed our grass each week.  He was faithful and conscientious and did a good job. However, one day I got the idea that maybe I should be mowing the lawn.  I could save money and get some valuable exercise too!

I have hybrid-Bermuda grass – similar to what they use on golf greens.  It is a tight, short type of grass that requires a special lawn mower.  Most golf courses I know use a McLane seven-blade front-throw mower to cut the grass on their putting greens.

I was able to buy a used McLane seven-blade gas mower on the internet.  I had high hopes for my “new” mower and for my lawn, too.  But, it hasn’t turned out as well as I expected.

Over the years, my used McLane mower has needed frequent repairs.  Thankfully, there was a helpful lawn mower repairman in our neighborhood.  He would pick up my mower with his truck and take it to his shop and get it going again.

Recently, my mower stopped working again.  But, when I called my repairman friend, the phone company said that his number was no longer in service.  Now what was I gong to do?  My trusty, reliable repairman was gone.  Maybe he retired and moved to Arizona where they only have gravel or crushed granite covering the front and back yards and don’t need lawn mowers!

I decided to try to fix the lawn mower myself.  It can’t be that hard.  I gathered up some tools and began to remove a few nuts and bolts here and there.  It was fun to see the belt and chain and springs that made the mower run.  I even cleaned out a lot of dry grass that had accumulated over many years under the mower and on the blades.

I looked up the manufacturer online and discovered that McLane seven-blade, front throw lawn mowers are actually made right here in Southern California. I ordered a couple of parts online hoping these could fix my problem.

I also looked on YouTube to see if I could diagnose the problem with the help of some of the do-it-yourself videos.  But, after several hours of effort and a number of phone calls, I was not successful.  Bummer!

So, what do you do when you are unable to fix your own lawn mower?  Call another local lawn mower repairman!  I found a new source in Pomona.  They came and got my mower with their pickup truck and took it to their shop.  As I write this article, I am anxiously sitting by the phone waiting for a call from the shop with an estimate for the cost of the necessary repairs.

If their estimate is reasonable, I will probably let them fix it so I can continue to mow my lawn.  If the estimate is too high, I may call the local crushed granite company and see how much it would cost to change the look of my yard from grass to granite!  I will let you know how it goes.

Let me encourage you to try fixing some stuff by yourself.  It can be very rewarding and you can save a lot of money, too.  But, let me also encourage you to be willing to ask for help.  There are some things that we just can’t fix by ourselves.  There are times we need help from others.

I suppose this is true in life too.  There are some things that we can fix ourselves.  But, there are some things we can’t.  In the Bible, we are instructed to pray and ask God for help.  Some things are beyond our human resources and skills.  One verse says, “Let us draw near (in prayer) with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  Make the “call” today.  Ask for help.  You will be glad you did!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Happy Thanksgiving

By Mark Hopper

One of the ways that I know that Thanksgiving is coming is when I see Pumpkin pies at Costco.  I love Pumpkin pie and I get excited to see them in season at Costco. Their pies are big and they taste good!

My wife loves to decorate our house in different ways for the changing seasons.  She has special dishes and table decorations specifically for Thanksgiving.  She has had our dinning room table decorated for weeks.  You probably have plenty of Thanksgiving decorations at your house too.

Fall leaves and pumpkins are on display in many stores.  We may not have the Fall leaves like they do back east, but at least we have some in the local stores!  We really don’t have the Fall weather either, but even in Southern California there are hints of the changing seasons.

My favorite part of Thanksgiving isn’t the food or decorations.  It is having our family together.  I really enjoy seeing our dinner table surrounded by our family on Thanksgiving Day.  These days we have some little ones who make it even more fun.

Sometimes we have had extra guests at Thanksgiving.  When our children were in college, they sometimes brought home friends or roommates who could not go home for Thanksgiving.  We were glad that our kids felt comfortable to invite guests to join us for the day.

On a few occasions, we have traveled to Arizona or Northern California to be with our extended family.  The traffic can be crazy on the Thanksgiving weekend, but it was worth the effort to be with our parents and grandparents for Thanksgiving.

I suspect that you have some holiday traditions in your family.  Take time to enjoy the moment.  Share what you are thankful for and listen to what others share, too.  Look around your dinner table and make a mental note of who is with you.  Let them know how thankful you are to have them in your life.

Many verses in the Bible remind us to give thanks to God.  Psalm 100 says, “Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. The Lord is good, His love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations” (4-5).

I hope that you enjoy a memorable Thanksgiving this year.  I hope you will invite some guests to join you and your family at your dinner table. And, I hope you will join your hearts in prayer and give “thanks” to God for his abundant blessings in your life.  You will be glad you did and He will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Lost In A Hospital

By Mark Hopper

One of the privileges and responsibilities of a pastor is to visit people in the hospital.  My goal is to encourage the patient and family when I go to visit them.  I often read a verse from the Bible and always pray with the patient and their family.

However, I think there should be a rule that requires everyone from a specific church to use the same hospital!  I spend many hours on the freeways of LA visiting people in hospitals from Redlands to Santa Monica and from Pasadena to New Port Beach!  I have even driven to San Diego to see someone receiving critical medial care.

When I see the look on their faces and the tone in their voice, I know they are glad to see me and that they appreciate the time I have spent coming to see them.

Sometimes it is hard to find the patient in the hospital.  On some occasions, new mothers use their maiden name when having a baby.  In some cases,  people  simply use a different name when they are in the hospital.  It can be hard to find people and pastors learn to become persistent when searching for their parishioners!

But, even when you have the right name and the right room number, it can still be difficult to find a patient in a hospital.  Many older hospitals are like a maze in a corn field.  Hallways go in different directions, signs and numbers are hard to read and elevators only serve certain floors.  I have heard that some pastors have gotten so lost in hospitals and that they are never found again!

Recently, I was looking for a patient at the City of Hope in Duarte.  I was given the room number and general directions on how to get there.  However, as I wandered down several corridors in an older part of the hospital, I realized I was lost.  Which hallway was I supposed to follow?  Did they say to go left or right?  Was it the first hallway on the left or the second hallway on the right?

As I stood near a nurse’s station, a nice woman wearing a white lab coat asked me if I needed help.  She must have noticed the confused look on my face.  When I said “yes” and told her what rooom I was looking for, she politely explained that I was in the wrong ward.

To my surprise, she insisted on taking me to the room I was looking for.  I was amazed that she was willing to abruptly leave a meeting she was involved in to personally help me find the room and the patient. She sympathized with my dilemma and said that people often get lost or confused finding rooms in this older part of the hospital.  With her help I found the room and person I was looking for!

Several passages in the Bible (Mark 6:34 / I Peter 2:25) refer to us as sheep who have gone astray.  Sheep tend to wander away from the shepherd and get lost as they search for green grass.  The lost sheep need a shepherd to find them, guard them and guide them.  King David said in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd…he makes me lie down in green pastures and he guides me to still waters”.

We need to remember that there are times when will we need the help of others to find our way whether through confusing hospital corridors and in broader areas of life.  And, we also need to remember that there are people all around us that need our help finding their way, too.

The Bible says that we are all lost sheep and that we all need a shepherd.  You can read more about the “Good Shpeherd” in the gospel of John chapter 10 and in Psalm 23.

Let me encourage you to be more willing to stop what you are doing and give help or directions to those around you.  There may even be a pastor who has lost his way and needs your help!  You will be glad you did and he will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

A Different Perspective

By Mark Hopper

 

Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Niagara Falls near Buffalo, New York.  We had never been there before and it was something we had talked about doing for a long time. The Niagara Falls were amazing!

We actually visited the Falls three different times on our trip. On our first visit, we drove over the bridge to the Canadian side. The sky was overcast and gray. The heavy mist churned up by the power of the falls obscured most of our view. We did walk down several tunnels that provided a limited view from behind the falls.

In addition, we took the Horn Blower boat that goes upriver to the base of the Falls. They issue every passenger a plastic poncho because of the spray; mist and wind that is generated by the powerful falling water.  We did get wet – very wet.  But it was fun to see the water falls from a different perspective.

We also took time to have lunch at a nice restaurant overlooking the falls.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch that also provided a different perspective on the size and power of Niagara Falls.  The volume of water and the height and shape of the Falls are hard to describe.

Later that day, we went back to see the Niagara Falls again after dark. They illuminate the towering waterfalls with powerful lights at night.  The colors change every few minutes.  The lights actually penetrate the mist and provide a clearer perspective of the expanse of the falls. Niagara Falls are in the shape of a horseshoe – almost 180 degrees from the American side to the Canadian side.

We were glad that we ventured out after dark to visit the park and the walking area along the American side of the Falls. The evening was cool but not uncomfortable and it was nice to see the Falls at night.

We planned to leave early the next morning.  But, when we woke up, we were surprised to see that the gray sky was gone and the sun was shining brightly!  We agreed that we should drive back to the Canadian side and get a better look at the magnificent waterfalls.  We were not disappointed.  The view was much better.  The mist and spray was more limited and we could clearly see the full expanse of these mighty waterfalls.

Did I mention that our return visit also allowed my wife to return and exchange a souvenir T-shirt that she had purchased the previous day?  We were glad we went back and saw the water falls again.

I suppose visiting something like the Niagara Falls is like visiting an art museum.  The more you look, the more you notice.  Just like an artistic master piece, these powerful waterfalls are difficult to describe and fully appreciate. Viewing them from different perspectives allows you to appreciate their beauty and majesty more and more.

Sometimes we need to look at things from a different perspective.  One look is not enough.  Sometimes we need to take a second or third look to get a clearer understanding of a person or a problem.  Let me encourage you to take another look.  We were glad we did and you will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Fall Colors

By Mark Hopper

Last year my wife and I traveled to New England to see the Fall colors.  We flew to Boston and then drove through the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.  We were amazed to see the beauty of the fall colors. This year, we traveled to upstate New York on a similar journey.  We flew to Buffalo, New York, to see Niagara Falls and then drove across the state to visit relatives in the Albany area.  In addition, we spent two days in the Adirondack Mountains in northwestern New York State hoping to see the fall colors again. We were not disappointed.  The hillsides in upstate New York were covered with trees in bright, vibrant colors.  We intentionally drove on the smaller country roads so we could see them up close and admire the beautiful scenery.  The further north we drove, the brighter the colors became. Guide books and web sites try to predict when the fall colors will be at their peak.  On both trips, we found that the week before and the week after Columbus Day are the best.  Both the temperatures and the moisture influence the changing of the leaves.  We were fortunate that both the rain and the temperatures cooperated to paint this beautiful landscape. We don’t experience the four seasons in Southern California.  The local mountains do get some snow and the high Sierras can get a lot of it.  But we are fortunate to have a moderate climate that makes us the envy of the nation. Our weather for the New Year’s Day Rose Parade is usually clear, sunny and in the 70’s, while most of the country is buried in snow!  I suppose that is why most of us live here.  The climate is hard to beat. However, there is something to be said in favor of Fall and Winter.  When you see the color of the fall leaves blanketing the hillsides of New England and New York, you do realize why people actually enjoy “four seasons”.  The beauty is difficult to describe and impossible to capture on your smartphone or camera.  It really is amazing! There is a verse in the Bible that says, “God has created everything for us to enjoy” (I Timothy 4:3-4).  The passage is actually referring to the food that God provides for us.  But, I think the principle can apply to the beauty of the world we live in too. God did not create a dull, drab grey world.  In His infinite wisdom, He crafted a world with an endless variety of creatures and colors for us to admire and enjoy.  Let me encourage you to find some fall colors near you before they are gone.  You don’t need to travel to New England or New York.  The leaves are changing in our local mountains and all across our country.  Make time to go and see some for yourself.  You will be glad you did!

This article was written by Pastor Mark Hopper, efree Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd, 909-594-7604, Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM, Efreedb.org

 

Family Connections

By Mark Hopper

My wife and I recently traveled to upstate New York to see Niagara Falls.  In addition, we drove across the state to visit some family members near Albany.  My wife was born in Long Island, NY, but moved west with her parents when she was a young girl. When her family moved to Arizona in the late 1950’s, they left behind extended family members like grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who remained near the east coast.

Over the years, there were phone calls and letters, but very little direct contact between the relatives in the east and relatives in the west. Some of the extended family attended a family wedding in Arizona in the 1970’s and there were a couple of visits by the Arizona clan to the east.  But, the contact was limited while parents were busy raising families in different parts of the country.

The internet and Facebook have helped to reconnect my wife with some of her east coast relatives.  They have been able to share pictures and update one another on their families. Our visit to Albany reunited my wife with a cousin that she had not seen on over 40 years.  It was a happy reunion.  In addition, another cousin drove up from Long Island and completely surprised my wife. They had a lot of catching up to do. Conversations included the death of parents, the marriages of children and the births of grandchildren.

One of the cousins had a photo album filled with old pictures.  This album belonged to their grandfather and included some photos that my wife had never seen before.  It was filled with memories and images that helped deepen her understanding of her heritage and extended family.

Hopefully, the cousins won’t wait another 40 years to re-connect with each other.  In fact, there is already talk of another reunion on the west coast next year. Are there some friends or relatives that you have not seen in a long time?  The years pass quickly.  The internet can help, but it takes time and effort to stay connected with people.

Let me encourage you to call or email a friend or family member this week.  There may be an old neighbor that would love to hear from you.  Don’t miss the opportunity to reach out and re-connect with someone soon.  They will be glad you did and you will too.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-860-9556

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Don’t Laugh

By Mark Hopper

 

Recently we had a clean up day to get ready for our church’s 50th birthday party.  There was one specific area on our property that really needed some sprucing up. The ground cover was thinning out and we agreed to order some new mulch and bark to make it look better.The area that we targeted was on the southwest edge of our property.  We refer to it as the “point” on the right side of the driveway that exits our site.  It is an odd shape – not quite a triangle but certainly not a clean square or rectangle.  One of the men agreed to order the mulch if I could just give him the dimensions of the area to be covered. The site was too large for a tape measure, so I simply walked over the space estimating that my step or stride would be about 3 feet long.  That is what golfers do on the fairway to estimate their distance to the green.  Find a fixed distance on the fairway and then “walk it off” to your golf ball.  By adding or subtracting your steps, you would get a pretty accurate distance to the green, sounded pretty simple to me.  So I “walked off” the length and width of the area to be covered with mulch and came up with a number that I shared with the man ordering the material.  He gave my estimate to the supplier and they ordered the bark / mulch. I was a little surprised when I heard how many bags of mulch the supplier was sending, Using the information I gave him, he estimated that we would need about 400 bags of mulch.  Four hundred bags!!  That was certainly more bags than I thought we would need, but remember, I was only the “estimator”.  The mulch man was the expert.  Who was I to question his knowledge and experience?When I told our crew of volunteers how many bags that we had ordered, they laughed!  Four hundred bags of mulch for that small area.  They all thought I was crazy.  But, it was too late to back down now.  The delivery truck was on the way with 400 bags of mulch and bark. When the delivery truck arrived at our church, it was loaded with pallets of material.  Most of it was for us!  It was a full-size 18 wheeler flat bed truck.  I can’t even describe how big it looked piled high with pallets of mulch!  The truck was so big, it had difficulty pulling into our parking lot! Did I mention that the truck driver had to use a fork lift to off load the pallets onto our parking lot?  I think there were 4-5 pallets.  Each of them taller than any man on our crew.  Four hundred bags of mulch on 4 or 5 pallets taller than us.  That was an impressive sight! Fortunately, the crew of volunteers took it all in stride.  They continued to poke fun at me for my extravagant estimate but they graciously unloaded the bags of mulch and spread them over the target area.  We all agreed that the new mulch and bark looked great. As we neared the end of the project, I did point out to the team that we were not short on materials!  We had plenty of mulch!  In fact, we had enough mulch to also fill all of the flower beds at our church with a plenty to spare!  I’m sure that the event committee was pleased to see 400 bags of new mulch enhancing the appearance of our property just in time for our 50th birthday party. I think we all can learn a lesson from this experience.  When in doubt, order more than less.  Trust the experts.  Trust your instincts.  Don’t worry if you order too much mulch.  My new slogan is, “You can never have too much mulch”! Let me again invite you to our church’s 50th birthday party on Saturday, October 21st.  Free food and activities begin at 1:00 PM with the main event from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.  I hope you will come and enjoy this special day with us.  And, come see the new mulch, too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

A People, Not a Steeple

By Mark Hopper

 

I have shared in my last few articles that our church’s 50th birthday party is coming up on Saturday, October 21st.  I was asked to look through some old photos and put together a short visual history of our church.

I enjoyed my assignment and spent several hours looking through many photos that went back to early days of Diamond Bar.

There were pictures of the original Diamond Bar Ranch property.  In the 1970’s our church held Sunday Services in one of the buildings there.

I also found pictures of the construction of each of the church building on the site from the 1980’s and 1990’s.  There were also photos of the parking lot expansion and the new children’s play yard.  There was a lot of building activity during those years.

As I looked through hundreds of photographs, I was reminded that many faithful people have been part of our church over the past 50 years.  There were some pictures of people that I did not recognize.  And, there were dozens and dozens of photos of people that I did know personally.

These pictures brought back many special memories.  Pictures of church dinner-dances and baby dedications.  Pictures of summer Vacation Bible School programs and baptisms at the beach in Corona Del Mar.  Pictures of Couple’s Retreats and Christmas programs and Easter services.

One of the things I noticed was how young we all looked 20, 30, 40 years ago.  It was also fun to see the different hair styles and the different clothes that people wore.  The cars in the parking lot looked different, too.

I was reminded that a church is a group of people not a building or a steeple.  Certainly, I am thankful for our facilities.  But, the real core of our church is the people.  Faithful people who have attended regularly, served faithfully and given generously.  People of all ages and stages of life – children, students, single adults, married couples, widows and widowers.  The people who share a common goal to know Jesus and make Him known.

I suppose that we all need to be reminded from time to time, that it is the people in our lives that are really important.  It is not the size of our homes or the success of our careers or the level of our education.  We should value the people in our lives not the volume of our possessions.

Let me encourage you to express your love and appreciation to the people in your life.  Maybe it is time to write a note to an old friend and tell them how much they have meant in your life.  You will be glad you did and they will too!

Let me again extend an invitation to you to come and celebrate our church’s birthday on Saturday, October 21st.  There will be free food and activities starting at 1:00 PM with the main event from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.  Check out our web site for more details. I hope we will see you there!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

efreedb.org

A Special Birthday- Part 2

By Mark Hopper

 

The idea of starting a new church in Diamond Bar was the dream of a man named Wally Norling. He was the District Superintendent of the Evangelical Free Church in Southern California.  He loved to plant new churches in new communities that were popping up all over Southern California 50 years ago. Wally personally approached a few families and individuals and challenged them to start a church in Diamond Bar.  Two families already lived in Diamond Bar, another family lived in Rowland Hiehgts and another in La Habra Heights.  They did not have the backing or support of any other church.  They were on their own. This small group of people accepted the challenge and set out to start a new Evangelical Free Church in Diamond Bar.   In my previous article I shared about how this small group grew during the following decade under the leadership of several pastors including Pastor Scott Owsley and Pastor Steve Campbell. They met in a number of different locations until they were given the property on Diamond Bar Blvd by a generous contractor in 1980.  The first building was completed in 1983.

 

Pastor Steve Campbell continued to lead the church until 1987.  Steve and his wife Peggy faithfully served at the church for over 10 years.  In 1988, the church invited my wife and I to come from Arizona to serve as the next Pastor of Diamond Bar Efree Church.  It was a new adventure to leave our roots in Arizona and move with our four kids to Diamond Bar, California. As the church continued to grow, we lacked adequate classroom space for the children of young families.  One solution was to rent the Peppertree Preschool around the corner on Brea Canyon Road to help meet this pressing need.  We also launched a new building campaign to construct an education building on our property.  Instead of borrowing money, we decided to build “pay-as-you-go”.  We were amazed at the generosity of people in our church and the many unexpected gifts that enabled us to complete this project debt free in 1991.

Not only did the new two-story education building provide additional classroom space, it also enabled us to open a Preschool.  Mrs. Jean Thornton agreed to serve as the first preschool director and opened the school in 1991 with about 15 students.  The preschool eventually grew to three classes and over 50 children meeting five days a week from 8:30 AM – noon.

 

During the 1990’s, our church began to send out short-term mission teams to serve alongside missionaries around the world.  Our first two-week team went to Guatemala to help construct a school building in 1992. In the following years, we also sent teams across the border to help build homes in Mexico.  Other teams went to Russia, Romania, Kenya, Korea and other countries to serve in various kinds of ministries. As our church continued to grow in the 90’s, we realized we needed more classroom space.  The Hughes Aircraft Comapny was closing a plant in Fullerton and offered some of their portable modular units to non-profit groups for one dollar each.  However, we did have to pay to have these units moved and for the clean up of the old site and for set up on our property.   We remodeled these large modular buildings into four large classrooms on our property.

 

Near the end of the 90’s we knew we needed a larger worship center and more classrooms.  In 1998, we broke ground on the largest building on our site – the Familiy Worship Center.  During the next eighteen months, the campus looked like a war zone.  The building site was surrounded by fences and piles of dirt and mud.  Equipment and building material covered our property. We had record rain fall in 1999 which slowed the work and delayed completion.  But, on Easter Sunday, 2000, the new worship center was finished and ready for use.  It was a day to remember!  Did I mention that underneath the worship center there is a lower level with eight large classrooms and additional restrooms.  (This allowed us to donate the modular units to a church in Rowland Heights). The Worship Center also has a large elevator that provides access to all the levels of the Worship Center and the Education building.

There are more stories to tell about the life of our church.  I hope to share more of our history in my next article.  Let me again invite you to come to our 50th birthday party on Saturday, October 21st.  There will free food and a variety of activities on our campus starting at 1:00 PM and the main event will be from 4:30 – 6:00 PM in the Worship Center.  We hope you will come!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

The Solar Eclipse: Part 2

By Mark Hopper

 

I shared in my previous article that my wife and I went to see the total Solar Eclipse in St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 21, 2017.  This was the first total solar eclipse to cross the entire USA in about 80 years.  It was exciting to be part of it.

 

As we sat down in our borrowed lawn chairs, clouds continued to linger overhead.  We knew that the one thing you don’t want on the day of a Solar Eclipse is a cloud filled sky.  We learned later that 90% of the path of the total eclipse across the United States was cloud free.  But, 10% of the path had significant cloud cover.  St. Joe, Missouri was part of the 10%!

The actual eclipse in our area of the country began around noon.  We could see the moon begin to cover part of the sun.  It looked like someone had taken a bite out of the top edge of the sun.  We were able to view this through the high clouds with our special sun glasses.  You could sense the excitement build among the 20,000 people at our location as the eclipse slowly increased.

However, we noticed a band of dark rain clouds heading our way.  The clouds quickly blocked our view of the progress of the eclipse.  The light drizzle turned into heavy rain.  People jumped into their cars hoping for the rain to pass through quickly.  The eclipse was progressing but our view was blocked by the dark clouds.

We had come half way across the country to witness this historic event, but at the very moment of the eclipse, we were in a rain storm!  Finally, when the rain storm passed our location, it was at the height of the eclipse.  We could see parts of the sun directly overhead through the remaining high clouds.  We could see the silvery edge of the sun’s light as the eclipse reached totality.

We really didn’t get to see the total eclipse clearly, but we did experience the black darkness as the shadow of the moon swept across the land.  It was an strange sensation as the day turned to night!  We could see day light on the horizon but we stood in black darkness.  I have read that you can see stars in the middle of the day when the eclipse reaches totality and the sun light is completely obscured.

We did not see any stars, but we did see and feel the darkness as it covered and surrounded us on the ground.  After about 2 minutes of darkness, the sun began to reappear.  A brilliant light graced the edge of the sun as the moon began to move away and more sun light was reappeared.  Even with the high clouds obscuring part of our view, it was a remarkable sight to see.

As quickly as it began, the eclipse quickly diminished.  Two minutes of totality.  Then it was over.  But it was well worth it.  I have heard people say that there is nothing comparable to witnessing a total solar eclipse.  I agree.  It was amazing to see and experience.  I’m glad that we flew across the country to see this unique event.  It was amazing even with our reduced visibility.

One of the things about an eclipse is that is predictable.  Astronomers have known for decades that this event would occur on this exact date, at the exact time in a precise path all the way across the country.  The rotation of the moon around the earth and the orbit of the earth around the sun are perfectly aligned to create a total solar eclipse.

Some would argue that all of this is the result of a Big Bang and billions of years of evolution.  Others would argue that this kind of precision could only be possible through the creative genius and power of our creator.  In the first book of the Bible, we have the account of creation.  It says in part, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night…let them serve as signs to mark the seasons and days and years…and God saw that is was good”(Genesis 1:14).

In Psalm 19 it says, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands”.  Let me encourage you to dust off your Bible and read these passages for yourself.  You can draw your own conclusions.  And, let me also encourage you to plan see the next total eclipse in Austin, Texas in 2024!  You will be glad you did!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Little Friends

By Mark Hopper

I was driving in Yorba Linda recently and saw a sign in front of a church.  It was Rose Drive Friends Church.  I have heard many good things about the church.  The sign in front of the church read, “Now Enrolling: Rose Drive Friends School & Little Friends Preschool”.  The phrase “Little Friends” caught my attention.  I like the way they said that their Preschool was for “Little Friends”.  It brought a smile to my face.  Yes – preschool children are like “little friends”.

I know this month is the start of another school year.  For most children, it is a familiar routine.  They are moving up from one grade to another.  Some of the older ones will graduate at the end of this school year.  But, for some of the “little ones” this will be their first time in school.  They will be leaving the familiar routine of their home life and launching into a new world of teachers and students in a classroom setting. The children will probably adapt well to this new world.  But, sometimes the parents have a harder time enrolling their children in school for the first time.  I remember a kindergarten teacher saying that the parents were more of a problem than the children.   The teacher drew a line on the side walk at the entrance of her classroom and instructed the parents to wait behind the line.  It was difficult for the parents to comply.

There is a passage in the Bible that reveals how much Jesus loved “little ones”.  In Matthew chapter 19, Jesus’ disciples tried to prevent the little children from bothering Jesus.  But, Jesus opened his arms and embraced them.  Verse 14 says, “Let the little ones come to me. Do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. In an earlier chapter Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you can not enter the Kingdon of Heaven”. He went on to say that we need to humble ourselves like a child in our relationship with God. (Matthew 18:3-4).

We can learn a lot about our relationship with God from these “Little Ones”.  Faith is not complicated.  It is simple.  Trusting, believing and coming to God with child like faith.  God is not looking for academic credentials and deep theological concepts.  He is inviting us to come to Him with child like faith.  Trust Him and come to Him just as a child does his or her earthly mother and father. You may have a child or grandchild who is starting school this year.  I hope that they will enjoy this new step in their life.  I hope you remember to say a prayer for your “little ones” and for their teachers.  They will be glad you did and you will too.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org