Tag Archives: Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

Full Moon

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

I love the beautiful summer and fall evenings when the sky is clear and the full moon comes up over horizon.

Recently, the TV weather forecasters were alerting viewers to watch for the harvest moon.  In earlier times, farmers were able to work longer hours to harvest their crops with the aid of a bright, clear full moon illuminating the night sky.

In ancient times, people were apparently fearful of being “moon struck” by the light of a full moon.  In Psalm 121:5-6, the author writes, “The Lord watches over you, he is a shade on your right hand.  The sun will not hurt you by day and the moon will not harm you at night.”

I learned that the expression “Blue Moon” is when there are two full moons in the same month.  Apparently this does not happen very often.

When we hear the expression “once in a Blue Moon” it means that something is unlikely to happen or refers to something that does not happen very often.

I remember when the first men landed on the moon in July. 1969, there was a full moon filling the night sky.  It was amazing to look up at the moon and realize two men from our country were walking on the surface.

The moon influences our planet in a variety of ways.  The moon affects the changes of the ocean tides.

The orbit of the moon around the earth helps keep our planet’s rotation steady and prevents the earth from wobbling and becoming unstable.

In Psalm 19, King David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands”.  The beauty of the full moon and the vastness of the star filled sky provide evidence of God’s existence.

Let me encourage you to take time to stop and gaze at the next full moon or look up at a clear evening sky filled with stars.  Take a moment to consider the majesty and wonder of the God who created it!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Right Click

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have often said and I believe that you can find the answers to life’s problems in the Bible.  I believe that it records real events in history and demonstrates God’s involvement in human lives.  It offers hope, forgiveness and reconciliation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

I have also said that the answers to many problems we face at home and at work can be found on YouTube!  I have repaired home appliances and solved gardening problems using YouTube.  I have repaired electric windows and replaced door handles on my cars using YouTube.  The answers are there if you can find them.

Now, I have discovered another great tool in this age of computers and technology.  It is the “right click”!  Let me explain.

Our daughter had downloaded some photos onto our lap top computer.  She wanted my wife to look through the pictures that our daughter had take of our recent family reunion with her camera.  The plan was for my wife and I to select a few photos and download them onto a flash drive so we could order some prints and enlargements.  That sounds easy, but my wife and I are technologically challenged.  Actually, my wife is better at using our computer than I am.  She does pretty well.

We bought a “Flash Drive” at a local electronics store so we could download a few of these Family Reunion photos on to it.  However, we did not exactly know how to actually do that.  It sounded so simple.  Just insert the flash drive, click on the pictures we wanted and press download on the computer.  It sounded easy, but we had no success.

Someone has said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  We kept doing the same things over and over again, but we had no success downloading the pictures we wanted.  Bummer!

Finally, I asked a friend for help.  He said, “Right Click”.  That was all I needed to do.  Instead of using the left click button on the mouse, I needed to “right click”.

I followed his advice when I got home and it worked!!  Problem solved.  Photos transferred!  I looked like a computer genius!

So, from now on when I have a computer problem, I am going to use “right click”.  I’m sure it will change my life!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

How About The Angels

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

When we want to change the subject in a conversation in our family, we often use the phrase, “How do you think the Angels are going to do this year”?  This is a little “code” to help us steer the conversation in a new direction when things get a little testy or out of hand.

However, in this case, I really am talking about the Angels.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  The baseball team that plays down at the “Big A” off the 57 freeway.

I suppose every competitive sports team starts off the season with high hopes and great expectations.  I’m sure that is true of the owner, the manager, the coaches and the players.

A few years ago, the Angels made the playoffs almost every year.  They were expected to win and usually did.  But, recently, the team has not done as well and many fans are disappointed and discouraged.

There will be no playoffs for the Angels this year.  They are about 20 games out of first place.  There are not enough games left to catch up.  Even if the first place team lost all of the rest of their games and even if the Angels won all the rest of their games, I don’t think the Angels could make the playoffs this year.

However, the other baseball team in Los Angeles is doing pretty well.  In fact, they are currently in first place in their division with San Francisco right behind them.  Go Dodgers!  So how do Angel’s fans deal with this situation?  How should we react to another losing season?

First, we should avoid conversations with Dodger fans.  Fans of winning teams love to ask the fans of other local teams, “How are the Angels doing this year?”   They already know the answer, but they love to rub it in a little.

Second, think about Spring Training.  Baseball will begin again next February.  There is a good chance the Angels will do better next year and they may even make the playoffs in 2017.  Don’t focus on the past, look toward the future!

Third, you may want to buy tickets for next season now.  Since ticket sales have been down this year and since attendance has fallen, you may be able to pick up some season tickets at a deep discount.  It is kind of like the stock market – buy low and sell high!

Finally, never give up hope.  Be loyal to your team – rain or shine, win or lose.  That is what true fans do.  They will be glad you did and you will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Life Lessons From A Losing Season

By Mark Hopper

In my last article, I shared some suggestions for frustrated baseball fans who are enduring a losing season.  After I wrote that article, I realized that many of these principles could apply not only to frustrated sports fans but to married couples, too.  Maybe these can help your marriage.

First, avoid negative conversations.  Fans of winning teams enjoy talking about the failures of the losing teams.  The result is discouragement and division.  If you are married, you already know your spouse’s faults and short-comings.  Don’t dwell on these.  Your spouse knows them as well as you do.  Don’t dwell on the negative.  Focus on the positive.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t let unkind words come out of your mouth, but only words that are good and that build up others” (Ephesians 4:29).

Second, don’t dwell on the past, but focus on the future.  Baseball teams with losing records can’t go back and re-write the record book.  The past is the past.  Look ahead to the next season and hope it will be better.

Every married couple has wounded their spouse and made mistakes.  The key is to be willing to forgive and put the offense behind you.  And, if you have hurt your spouse, you need to admit your mistake and ask for their forgiveness.  In First Corinthians chapter 13:5 it says,  “Love does not keep score of the sins of others”.   Don’t keep adding to the old score book in your marriage.  Start over with a clean slate.  Be willing to forgive others as you hope they would be willing to forgive you, too.

Third, invest in the future.  I suggested buying your tickets for next season now while the team is not doing well.  Ticket prices might be lower after a losing season and you might find some bargains!

The same is true in marriage.  You need to keep investing in your future.  Work together on a home improvement project.  Make some plans for a trip or weekend getaway.  Dream together about what you will do after the kids are grown and you two are alone again.  Don’t dwell on the past. Dream about your future together.

Finally, never give up hope.  Some baseball fans quickly abandon their team after a losing and frustrating season.  They are ready to switch their loyalty to the other team in town.  This can happen to married couples, too.  After years of frustration and disappointment, some spouses are ready to give up on their spouse and look for a new one.

Let me urge you to not do that.  Marriage is a lifetime commitment.  Don’t be mislead into thinking that someone else will make your life better.  The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence.  The last verse in First Corinthians 13 says, “Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.  And, the best of these is love.”

If you are going through a difficult “season” in your life or marriage, don’t give up.  Find a good counselor.  Find a good church.  Get help and never give up hope.

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

The Ice Maker

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Mark Hopper

My wife and I have been married for over 45 years.  We have four adult children and seven grandchildren and another grandchild on the way in November.We have shared many exciting adventures raising four kids and we certainly enjoy making special memories with our grandchildren.

Over the years, we have lived in many different  places including several  apartments and two different houses.  Some had small kitchens and some were a little larger.  But, in all these years, we never owned a refrigerator that had an ice maker.  We made Ice the old fashion way – we used ice trays!

Most of our friends and neighbor’s had refrigerators with ice makers.  We would notice with a touch of envy that our friends always had plenty of ice.  Most of them probably never knew what an ice tray even looked like.

I guess we were a little behind the times!  However, when we remodeled our kitchen last year, we purchased new, matching appliances.  This was a radical step in our married life.  And, the new refrigerator included an ice maker!

I felt like we had finally entered the 21st century.  It only took us 45 year of marriage to have an ice maker of our own!

My wife and I are now empty nesters.  The adult kids are gone and the grandkids visit from time to time.  Our last dog died about a year ago.  So our house is pretty quiet, especially in the evenings.

But, now there is a new sound at our house.  It is the ice maker doing its job.  The sound of the ice maker dumping a fresh batch of ice in the refrigerator is pretty exciting.  When we hear the tumbling sound of fresh ice cubes filling the bucket,  one of us usually makes a comment like “Nice kitchen” or “Nice appliances”!

However, I learned that progress comes with a price.  I discovered that the refrigerator and ice maker has a water filter that has to be replaced from time to time.  The manufacturer recommends replacing the filter every six months.  When I purchased a new filter at Lowe’s recently, I was shocked that it cost over $50!  Ouch!  We never needed water filters when we used trays to make ice.

I wonder how many bags of ice we could purchase for the cost of a new filter? I wonder what we could do with all of the money we would save if we didn’t have an ice maker?  Progress does have a price!

I suppose that I should be grateful and not grumble that we have our own ice maker. There are probably a lot of other people still using ice trays who would gladly replace the filter if they had an ice maker of their own!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Where Are You From?

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

A few months ago, my wife’s sister and her husband invited us to go with them on a cruise to southern Alaska.  Although our 45th wedding anniversary was in June, we delayed our celebration until our cruise in August.

We enjoyed our Alaska adventure and saw many wonderful sights.  The Inland Passage is lined with beautiful forests that come right down to the water’s edge.  We saw whales, dolphins and Bald Eagles.  We also saw a glacier that flowed out of the mountains right down to the sea.  It was a remarkable sight!

In addition to all of the sightseeing and shopping, we also met passengers from all over the world.  Most of the people we met were from the United States but there were also a few from Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Every time we got on an elevator or stood in a line, I would ask people “Where are you from”?  Most people were quick to reply.  I was surprised at how many were from Florida.  I thought they already had a lot of cruise ships in Florida but people reminded me that they don’t have glaciers and icebergs there!

We also met a lot of passengers who were from California, including one couple who lived just down the road in Yorba Linda.

The biggest surprise was when we met a woman and her family who used to attend our church in Diamond Bar!  I didn’t recognize her at first but when she told us her name I knew exactly who she was.

What are the odds of meeting someone you know in an elevator on a cruise ship that was sailing to Alaska? What is the likelihood of meeting someone who knows you on a ship filled with 2,500 passengers?

We certainly enjoyed our cruise to Alaska and we enjoyed seeing so many amazing things.  But, we also enjoyed meeting so many interesting people from all over the world!

Let me encourage you to take time to greet people you meet on your next trip or vacation.  You may be surprised at who you meet.  They will be glad you did.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

In my last article, I shared my story of finding a penny at a local Hardware store.

It was a “Wheat Penny”.  It was dated 1914.  It was over 100 years old!

I smile when I think about where that penny has been over the past 100 years.  I wonder who has held it in their hand.  I wonder how many purchases it has made?  I wonder in what stores and in what states that penny has been?

No one can know for sure the answers to these questions, but here are some of my thoughts.  I’m sure you can add more.

That penny probably went as a shiny new coin from the US Mint to a large bank on the east coast.  I think there were three US Mints in the early 1900’s in San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia.  I think this coin was made in Philly.

The First World War started in 1914 although our nation was not drawn into the war until 1917.  In those days, a few pennies could purchase a gallon of gas.  Maybe the penny ended up in the cash register of a local gas station?

That penny survived through the “Roaring Twenties”.  It may have traveled to Chicago during the days of prohibition.  It probably changed hands many times to pay for many things.

In the 1930’s, that penny was probably kept in a small tin box as people struggled to survive during the Great Depression.  A penny was probably worth a lot more than we can imagine today.

I wonder where the penny was during World War Two?  During the war, pennies were not made of copper because the copper was needed to make bombs and bullets.

I suspect that in the 1960’s that old penny may have ended up in an old cigar box of a young newspaper delivery boy in Arizona.

Or, maybe that middle aged penny stayed in circulation during the second half of the twentieth century.  It may have found its way to In N Out Burger, a local movie theater or a snack bar at the beach.  That penny probably helped purchase groceries and prescriptions at the local market.

I wonder how that coin got to California?   Did it get lost between the cushions of a couch or under the floor mat of a car?

With the use of debit cards and credit cards, that penny was probably used less and less. Who needs coins when you can buy things with a plastic card?

I wonder how that 1914 penny ended up at a local hardware store in Diamond Bar, California?  Did someone use it by accident or was a family member cashing in the coin collection of a relative that died?

It is fun to dream and imagine where a coin has been over the past 100 years.  We will never know the answer.

Let me encourage you to take a look in your purse or pocket.  See what coins have found their way into your life.  They may have a lot of stories to tell!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

 

 

One Hundred Years Old

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently I was at the local hardware store picking up some metal brackets for a project we were doing at our church.

A group of men were constructing a new back drop for the stage in our Worship Center and they needed more brackets to finish the job.

Since I am not the handiest guy in the group and since they had plenty of help, they sent me to the hardware store.

As I was waiting to pay for my materials, I noticed a small box by the cash register that had some pennies in it.  The sign on the small box said something like, “Need a penny & leave a penny”.

I have seen these in other stores.  Customers are allowed to take a penny or two to complete their purchase and avoid getting a pocket full of change.

And, people who end up with a couple of pennies after their purchase are encouraged to leave the pennies for another customer who might need some.

I noticed that one of the pennies looked a little different than the others.  Sure enough, it was a “Wheat Penny”.

I am not an avid coin collector, but I know that the US Penny has changed over the years.  The penny has an image of Lincoln on one side, but the back side has changed over the years.

In the early 1900’s, the penny had Lincoln on the front and two grains of “Wheat” on the back.  In the 1950’s, the US Mint changed the back of the penny to the image of the Lincoln Memorial.

In the early 2000’s, the Mint changed the penny again with the image of Lincoln still on the front, but an image of a “Shield” with the words “one cent” on the back.

I asked the attendant if I could swap a penny for the one in the box.  Yes, she was glad to let me do that.  She was curious why I wanted the penny.  I briefly explained my interest in “Wheat Pennies”.

When I got home later that day, I looked for the date on the penny.  To my surprise, it read 1914!  That penny was over 100 years old!  Amazing!

I don’t think the penny has any significant collector value.  Millions of them were made in 1914.  But, it is remarkable that something over 100 years old is still circulating around in our pockets, purses, banks and stores.

I wonder where this penny has been and who it has belonged to over the past century.  It probably has many stories to tell!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Making New Friends (Part II)

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

We recently concluded a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School at our church. Over 200 children attended and over 100 volunteers served on the leadership team.

The kids really enjoy VBS.  There was a lot of great music with the children singing songs and learning hand motions that go with each song.

They love making different crafts that they get to take home.  They cut and paste, color and decorate a variety of projects during the week.

Recreation is a lot of fun too.  The favorite day of the week is “Wet & Wild Wednesday”.  We were careful to conserve water this year, but the students still managed to get pretty wet in the relays and other water games.

Another important part of VBS is the snacks.  A whole team of volunteers work hard all week to provide healthy, tasty treats to feed these active young people.

The children also hear stories from the Bible and memorize Bible verses.  The kids love learning lessons from the Bible that relate to their daily lives.

The purpose of Vacation Bible School is to help children learn more about God and help them grow in their spiritual lives.

But, there is an unexpected benefit from VBS.  Not only do the children learn and grow, but the volunteers who lead the program do too!

And, many of the volunteers make new friends as they serve together.  Every year, I see new friendships formed, especially among the women who serve on the leadership team.

Our church is not large by California standards.  We have a several hundred people who come each week.  But, because we have two services each Sunday, many people never meet.

But, when you serve as a volunteer every day for a week at VBS, you meet people that you never see on Sunday morning.  And, as you serve together, you get to know others better. This is true at work and school, too.

I know people at our church who met as volunteers at Vacation Bible School and who have become long time friends.

Let me encourage you to find a place to serve.  It could be at your church, local school, or the YMCA.  If you invest your time in serving others, I’m sure you will find some new friends along the way!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

Let’s Go Shopping

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently, my wife heard that a clothing store was having a clearance sale.  Everything was on sale because the store was closing.

The friend that shared the news said that she had found some good bargains.  It sounded like a shopping opportunity.

I asked my wife if she wanted to go, but I was surprised that she said “no”.  She said that she really didn’t need anything.  But I encouraged her to go.  After all, everything was on sale!

It seemed a little ironic.  Usually my wife is the one who wants to go shopping and I am the one who wants to stay home and save money.

But, here I was encouraging her to go even though she said she didn’t want to!  I finally persuaded her and I offered to go with her.

The store was not as crowded as I expected and there was still a lot of merchandise on the racks.  My wife headed to the women’s section and I went looking for some new socks in the men’s department.

I found some socks pretty quickly and had time to look at some of the golf shirts on sale.  It took my wife a little longer to try on a number of items and decide which ones she could not live without.

One of the nice things that many clothing stores provide is a place for men to sit while the women are trying on clothes.  The marketing department knows that the longer the men sit, the more the women will buy!

When we finally got to the check-out counter, we had managed to buy more items than we had planned on.  I guess that is what happens when everything in the store is on sale!

Not only did my wife purchase several items, but I ended up with socks and a new golf shirt too.   How did that happen?

When we got home, I think we both agreed that we were glad we went shopping together.  The next time your husband says, “Let’s go shopping”, make sure you say “yes”.  You’ll be glad you did and he will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org

An Unforgettable Week

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

One of the highlights of summer at our church is Vacation Bible School.  Many others churches in the community also offer VBS in June, July or August.

Vacation Bible School is a huge undertaking.  We will have over 100 volunteers serving in a variety of capacities to make this week possible.

The planning and preparations have been going on for months.  In fact, the theme and many ideas began last summer.

Vacation Bible School includes Bible lessons, crafts, recreation, and music.  The children love it and often remember it for many years to come.

One of the unforgettable benefits of VBS are the friendships that develop between the volunteers.  When you spend a week serving together, you get to know people on a much deeper level.  New friendships are formed that last a long time.

VBS touches multiple generations.  And, many of the current teen and adult volunteers attended VBS as children in the past.

This year one of my adult daughters and her four children will attend Vacation Bible School at our church.   Almost 30 years ago my daughter was an attendee and 20 years ago she was a volunteer!  Now she is bringing her own children to VBS.

Please accept this invitation to bring your children to Vacation Bible School this month. The dates are July 25-29th from 9 a.m. to noon.  VBS is open to children from Kindergarten through the fifth grade. There is a nominal registration fee.  You can find out all of the details and register online at our web site – efreedb.org.  Or you can call the church office at (909) 549-7604.

I hope you will enroll your in Vacation Bible School.  It really is an unforgettable week. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

Tool Time

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

What did you get your father on Father’s Day?  Some dads receive clothes and others were given sweets.  Many fathers like to get something useful and practical on Fathers Day.

I enjoy doing yard work but my most of my tools are old and well used.  But, why buy a new tool if the old one still works?

However, my electric hedge trimmer was not working very well.  The hedge trimmer had belonged to my father-in-law.

I don’t know how long he had owned it but it was probably over 30 years old.  It took a lot of time to trim the hedges around my house.  The results were not very good.  The trimmer was on its last legs.

Recently, I saw an ad in the mail that a local hardware store had a sale on a Black & Decker hedge trimmer.  I told my wife about the ad and how this would make a perfect Father’s Day gift.

What a difference a new tool can make!  I was able to trim the hedges in half the time and they looked much better than they did with the old trimmer.

I was surprised at how much better things looked and how much easier it was to get the job done.  I’m sure my neighbor’s were impressed too.

When I saw how much better the new trimmer worked, I wondered why I had waited so long to replace the old one.

Are some old tools or worn out appliances around your house?  Is that computer or smart phone you are using is almost an antique?

Maybe it is time to upgrade or replace a something in your life?  Don’t put it off.  Do something about it this week.  You will be glad you did and others will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

For The Birds (Part 2)

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

In my last article, I shared about our encounter with the small bird that flew into our car when we were leaving a cabin in Arrowhead.  Little did I know that there was another bird waiting for us when we got home later that day.

As we were unpacking our car in Diamond Bar, we heard some noise in our yard outside our kitchen window.  A small bird was on the ground calling for help.  The mother bird was nearby scolding and encouraging her little one to get up and get going.

But the little guy just couldn’t figure it out.  It would stretch its wings and try to fly but only got a few inches off the ground.  It may have fallen out of the nest or the mother may have pushed it out, but it could not get back up.

Our first impulse was to go out and rescue the baby bird.  We knew it was in danger stranded on the ground.  It was sad to see it struggle and unable to get back to safety in the tree.

But, when we checked on Google, we learned that it was not uncommon for a baby bird to be unable to fly and that it might take several days to get the strength to get off the ground.

The key was the mother.  The article said that if the mother continued to bring food, it was best to leave the baby bird alone and give it time to get going.

The mother bird got an “A+” in caring for her little one.  She kept coming back and bringing food for five days!  Yes – five days.  Now that is commitment!  We discovered the bird on the ground on Monday and it stayed on the ground all week.

At night it would huddle in the corner of our yard.  It looked so tiny and helpless.  But, every morning, the mother bird was back with fresh worms and other delicacies.  She never gave up.

I was surprised at how much the baby grew in those five days.  It looked stronger and healthier each day.  We hoped that it would be safe and survive in our yard until it could fly.

The mom kept bringing food and encouraging her little one.

Finally, on Friday evening I discovered the baby bird in the next door neighbor’s yard.  On Saturday, the baby bird and its mother were gone.  We think all of her hard work had paid off.

This adventure reminded me of a passage in the Bible in Matthew 6:25-27, where Jesus taught His followers to not worry about what they will eat or drink.  He said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not plant or harvest or store food in barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than them?”

This is a helpful reminder that God promises to provide our needs.  We can rely on Him.  We are like the helpless baby bird and He is like the hard working mother bird caring for her little one.

This is not a license to be lazy.  We are expected to work and do what we can to provide for our needs and the needs of those around us.  But, ultimately we are dependent on God.  He cares for you.  He knows your needs.  And He will provide when you are “on the ground and can’t get up”!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

For The Birds

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

I forget that there are wild birds where we live.  They are active and busy this time of year, but I hardly notice their presence in the busyness of everyday life.

However, that changed recently.  Unexpectedly, I found several birds to be directly involved in my life.

My first bird encounter was up in the mountains of Arrowhead.  My wife and I had stayed at a cabin with some members of our family.  As some in our group were loading their car and getting ready to leave, a small bird flew inside their car.

Because their car windows were down, the small bird flew right in and couldn’t find his way out again.  After several minutes of fruitless effort, it huddled fearfully on the floor of the back seat.

We rushed over and opened all the car doors hoping it would escape.  But this frightened little bird would not move.  So I finally reached in and gently picked it up and set it on a ledge nearby.

I have heard that if you touch a baby bird, the mother will abandon it.  But, I researched on Google and learned that this is not true.  The article said that birds have a poor sense of smell and that it is okay to touch them if necessary.

After our guests drove away, I kept looking out the cabin window to see if the bird was okay, but it had not moved.  I watched and looked many times worried that it was injured.

Finally after several hours, the bird was gone!  Maybe the mother came to the rescue and persuaded the little feathered friend that it was time to get going.  Or maybe it got hungry and decided to find some food!

I was relieved that the bird was gone and was apparently okay.

There is a verse in the Bible in Matthew 10:29-31 that says, “A sparrow does not fall to the ground without your Heavenly Father knowing it.”

In the context of this passage, Jesus is talking about fear.  He reminds us that God knows every detail of our lives and cares for us, just as He knows about even the smallest bird that falls to the ground.

If you are experiencing fear or anxiety, remember that God knows your situation and cares about your every need.  Talk to Him in prayer and rely on Him for the strength you need to face your fears and worries today.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

A Living Legacy

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

Gordon MacDonald started a new church in Tucson, Arizona in the early 1960’s. Although he worked full-time at the Hughes Aircraft Company, he also worked part-time as a pastor.  He and his family launched a new church in the garage of their home on the southwest side of Tucson.

Gordon had a shepherd’s heart and a love for Christ.  He had a warm smile and bubbled with enthusiasm.  He saw that this new community needed a church and he set out to meet that need.

Gordon and his wife and their children passed out invitations in their neighborhoods. They also mailed postcards to several hundred homes.  A handful of people came.  Gradually the group grew and a church blossomed into existence.  They called it Chapel In The Hills.

When they outgrew the garage, they began to meet at the local elementary school.  As the church grew, they purchased a piece of property and constructed a small church building.

Unfortunately, Hughes Aircraft lost a big government contract and a number of employees lost their jobs.  Gordon was able to find a new job with Texas Instruments and moved his family to Dallas.

Chapel in the Hills had several other pastors during the next few years.  Pastor Gail Bender served in a part-time role for several years hoping they would find a younger pastor to come and lead the church.

I graduated from Dallas Theolgical Seminary in 1975 and I was looking for a church to pastor.  About the same time, Chapel in the Hills in Tucson was looking for a new pastor!

Gordan contacted the Seminary placement office and was given the names of several prospective candidates including mine.

On a hot summer day in 1975, Gordan came to our little apartment in Dallas and asked if I would consider coming to Tucson to serve as the first full-time pastor of Chapel in the Hills.

After visiting the church and meeting the people, we agreed to come and serve there.  That began a 13 year journey for our family.  Three of our four children were born in Tucson.  We made many friends and loved serving at Chapel in the Hills.

The church that Gordan started continued to grow.  In the 1980’s we constructed two additional buildings and remodeled the original one.  Attendance increased and a preschool was launched at the church.

When the church celebrated its 40th anniversary, Gordan was invited to come back to see the church he started.  He expressed his thanks to God and to everyone who was attending the church.  He gave all of the credit to God and he was thankful to have been part of this amazing adventure.

Recently, we learned that Gordan had died.  He was in his 90’s.  His faith in Christ and love for people had never faded.  Although his earthly life was over, the church that he started is alive and well.

The Apostle Paul wrote about his own life in II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. These words could describe Gordan MacDonald as well.  Gordan’s faith and vision still impact people today through the church he started over 50 years ago.

Have you thought about the legacy that you will leave behind when you die?  What lives have you touched?  Where have you invested your time and energy?  Will generations express their thanks for the things you have done?

I am thankful for a man named Gordan MacDonald and what he started over 50 years ago.  His legacy lives on.

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Need A Plumber?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

 By Pastor Mark Hopper

I shared in my last article about discovering a major water leak at our house just before we left town for a week.  I was grumpy to have a water leak but grateful that we discovered it before we left on our trip.

I have built several room additions and helped on construction projects at our church.  I am willing to do repairs on our house, too.  The problem is that sometimes I don’t have the right tools or enough experience to finish the job.

Probably the smart thing to do is call a plumber who has the tools and experience to get the job done quickly and properly.  But, plumbers cost money.  So I thought I would try to fix the water leak myself.

As soon as we returned home from our trip, I changed clothes and got to work.  The leaky pipe was right next to the foundation.  It was the main supply line leading from the street to the pipe that enters our house.

I used my shovel and a hand tool to clear away the dirt and expose the pipe.  Thankfully, the water had dried up during the past week so I wasn’t working in a pile of mud.

I was able to cut the copper pipe below the leak and proceeded to solder a new coupling on to it.  Then I removed the valve leading to the sprinkler system and soldered a new valve on the line.  I also decided to put in a new valve on the main line to the house too.

I must say that it looked pretty good!  Progress was slow, but I was feeling confident that we would have the water on again by the end of the day.

When I got the last pieces in place, it was almost dark.  A neighbor came over to inspect my progress.  When I turned the water on again at the street, I still had a small leak!  After all of those hours digging, disassembling and repairing the water line, I still had a leak.  Bummer!

When we went to bed that night, we still had a leak in the line.  It was much smaller than the original problem, but we still had a leak.  We turned the water on briefly to shower and refill the toilets then turned it off again at the street for the night.

Early in the morning, I went back to the hardware store and got a new rubber gasket that I thought might solve the problem.  No luck – the leak was still there.  Finally, I came to my senses and called a plumber!

The plumber and his helper arrived in a few hours and they were able to fix the leak.  I didn’t feel too bad when I saw that it took him two tries to get it right!  Finally, no more leaks!

I don’t think we really appreciate having running water in our homes.  We turn the faucet and expect water in our sinks and showers.  It is very inconvenient to not have running water.  I am thankful for water that works!

I am also thankful for plumbers who come when we call and have the tools and experience to fix our problems.  Three cheers for plumbers!

I am also thankful that God comes to our aid when we call and that He is able to fix our problems.  A verse in the Bible says, “Let us draw near (in prayer) with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help (us) in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

If you have a water problem – call a plumber.  If you have a personal problem – call on God.  He is ready and willing to help you in your time of need.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Water Worries

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

The night before we were scheduled to leave for an out of town trip, I discovered a major water leak at our house.

Previously, I had told my wife that I thought I heard water running.  We checked all the indoor faucets and the outdoor hoses, but did not see any water running.  But, I still thought I was hearing something.

Since we would be gone for a week or more, I decided to trim the hedge in our front yard.  The hedge was getting overgrown and I wanted the yard to look nice while we were away.

As I was trimming the hedge, I noticed a puddle of water in the courtyard that I had not seen before.  Where was that water coming from?  When I went to investigate, I discovered a major leak in the water main that supplies water to our house.

At first I was aggravated to have a major water problem just when we were getting ready to leave.  But, at the same time I was thankful that we discovered the leak before we left town.  Imagine how much water would have been wasted if the water leak continued for a week or more while we were away!  Imagine how much the water bill might be!

I immediately shut off the water at the meter near the street.  This would prevent wasting any additional water.  However, with no water, there were no showers, no dish washing, and no toilets in operation.

We decided to leave the water off until we returned from our trip.  I was thinking that I could fix the leak when we got back home.

But, how would we water the garden in our back yard?  We had arranged for a friend to water the garden each day, but now the water was off and I did not have time to fix it before we left.

In desperation, I asked a neighbor if we could hook up our hose to his house and run it to our backyard.  This would enable our friend to keep the garden watered until we returned.  Our neighbor was glad to help.

The week went by quickly and our friend kept the garden watered.  When we got home, the plants were alive and well.

As I look back on this situation, I realized that I could be grumpy about the fact that we had a water leak or I could be grateful that we discovered the leak before we left town.  Do you tend to get frustrated when unexpected problems arise or are you thankful that the problems are discovered before things get out of hand?

Everyone has problems in life.  The question is how we view them?  Is your glass half empty or is your glass half full?  Are you grateful or grumpy?  The way we view each situation has a big impact on how effectively we deal with them.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org

A Dinner To Remember

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

My wife and I will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary on June 4th.  It is hard to believe that we were married 45 years ago.

We actually met at the beginning of our freshman year at Scottsdale High School in 1964.  I was elected as the freshman class president and she was elected the class secretary.

We became good friends as we worked on Homecoming floats and various class projects.  We enjoyed being with a group of friends as we cheered our hearts out at the school football games and enjoyed high school life in the 1960’s.

However, we didn’t actually start dating until our senior year.  She said that I was too busy dating girls with long blond hair and I didn’t seem to notice this cute red head that would be my future wife!

We continued to date as we went to college at Arizona State University.  As our friendship deepened, it seemed inevitable that one day we would get married.

On my wife’s birthday 45 years ago, we went out for a special dinner at the Camelback Inn overlooking the lights of Phoenix.  It was a perfect setting to give her an engagement ring and ask her to marry me.

Recently, we went back to the Camelback Inn to celebrate our 45th anniversary.  The setting was beautiful and the food was great.  We took time to reflect on our journey together.

We have been very blessed to have four wonderful adult kids and seven grandchildren with another one on the way.   It has been an honor to serve together for over 40 years in two wonderful churches – 13 years in Arizona and 28 years here in Diamond Bar.

When we told the server at the restaurant that we were celebrating our 45th anniversary, he presented us with a special dessert at the end of our meal.  The chef had written “45th Anniversary” on the dessert plate.  We took a picture to capture the moment.  It really was a dinner to remember!

Let me encourage you to make time to express your love an appreciation to your husband or wife.  Make a date and plan a dinner to remember!  You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

My Favorite Mother-in-Law

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently, my wife’s mother died in Arizona.  She was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1924.  She was 91-years-old.

I always called her my favorite mother-in-law.   Actually, she was my only mother-in-law.  My wife and I have been married for 45 years, so she has been my mother-in-law for all that time!

She was a remarkable woman.  She was born during the “Roaring 20’s” and lived through the Great Depression in the 1930’s.  After earning her nursing degree, she worked at a hospital in Washington, DC during World War II.

After the end of the war, she married my father-in-law and they settled down on Long Island, New York in the first modern subdivision called Levitown.  It was a futuristic master planned community filled with returning veterans and their brides.

This young couple was also part of the post-war “Baby Boom”, having four kids in New York and a fifth child after they migrated to Scottsdale, Arizona.

My favorite mother-in-law was a stay-at-home mom who was actively involved in the lives of her five children.   When the kids got into high school and college, she became a school nurse and enjoyed helping young students at the local elementary school.

My in laws enjoyed their retirement years and traveled to Europe and the British Isles several times.  One of their favorite trips was to Ireland because she had Irish roots.  Her maiden name was Gallagher!

My wife and I enjoyed some memorable times with her parents.  We traveled with them to San Diego on several occasions.  And, we will always remember a special trip with them to Hawaii.

I was surprised at how many people attended her memorial service.  There were many former neighbors and friends in attendance, plus many family members.  Almost all of her grandchildren came, too.  She had five children, 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

There were also a number of our high school friends and former classmates at the service.  They considered her to be their adopted mom, too.

Let me encourage you to take time this week to express your love and appreciation to an older adult in your life.  Why not put a note in the mail or pick up the phone and make a call?

Tell them how much they have meant in your life.  You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Teacher Appreciation Dinner

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

I have shared before about a special dinner that we do at our church each year. We call it our “Teacher Appreciation Dinner”.

When our children were young, my wife and I would invite their school teachers to come to our home for dinner.  This was one way we could get to know each teacher better and to express our thanks to them for helping our children learn.

After we moved to California, we got the idea to expand our effort by encouraging all of the children in our church to invite their teachers to come for dinner.  We have been doing this annually for over 20 years.

Each child is encouraged to invite their teacher to come to the dinner.  Parents are also invited to come.  This way the teacher, the student, and the parents are able to enjoy a nice dinner together.  Public school, private school and home school teachers are all welcome. We also extend an invitation to school principals and local superintendents.

We realize that this is an extracurricular activity for all of these educators and some are unable to attend.  But, we have found that parents, teachers, and students always love this event.

At the dinner, students give their teacher a small gift.  In addition, we usually have a game for students, parents, and teachers to play together.  Speed Scrabble and Paper Bag Charades have been popular in the past.  I don’t know what is planned for this year.

We believe that teachers and parents are partners in the education of our children.  Together they help children to learn and discover the wonders of our universe, the order of mathematics, and the depths of literature.

In the Old Testament, parents are commanded to teach their children well.  In Deuteronomy 6:7, it reads, “…teach your children when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

In addition, children are instructed to listen to their teachers and learn from their wisdom and knowledge.  Jesus said, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

As the school year comes to a close, I hope you will make a special effort to express your thanks to your children’s school teachers.  Teachers deserve our support and appreciation!

If you would like to know more about our annual Teacher Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, May 17th at 5 p.m., please feel welcome to contact our church office at (909) 594-7604.

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.