Local Community News and Public Relations established in 1997 and serving cities of Eastvale, Norco, Chino, Walnut, Corona, Riverside, and San Gabriel Valley.
I love the long summer evenings in Southern California. I love to get more things done after dinner with the extra daylight we enjoy in June and July. I was surprised the clock read 8:30 PM when I came into the house after washing my car.
An added bonus to the long summer evenings has been meeting more of my neighbors. There are a lot of men, women, and young adults walking past our house every evening. Many of them are doing laps around our block and come by several times. And many of them are walking with a spouse, children or exercise partner.
I like to pause what I am doing and say hello as people pass by. Some share encouraging comments on how nice my car looks. I like to return the compliment and tell them what a good job they are doing as they walk through our neighborhood.
Some people pause when I ask them their name or where they live. It has been challenging to learn new names and remember them the next time I see them. But I enjoy our brief conversations and I like getting to know my neighbors better.
There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). It is hard to love your neighbors if you don’t know your neighbors. One of the biggest obstacles to getting to know your neighbors is the garage door. People drive down the street, press the garage door opener, pull into their garage and close the door. It is pretty hard to get to know them when you can’t even speak to them.
Other obstacles include the back yard patio and the indoor air conditioning. It is interesting that older homes were built with a front porch. People would get out of their warm house on a summer evening and sit outside to enjoy a cool evening breeze. The front porch provided a natural setting to greet people walking by. It enabled neighbors to meet other neighbors.
Let me encourage you to get to know the neighbors who live around you. Why not wash your car during these long summer evenings and say hello to the people who walk by. Why not set up a lawn chair in your front yard instead of sitting in your air conditioned house or the back yard patio. You will be glad you did and your neighbors will too!
You can read 365 more stories (one for every day of the year) in the book Let Me Encourage You. by Mark Hopper for only $25 (includes postage). Order your copy this week at markh@efreedb.org. Visit Mark’s website to read his latest stories at Letmarkencourageyou.com.
Joe and Charlotte began to attend our church when I was the new pastor at Chapel in the Hills in Tucson many years ago. Although I had served on the staff of larger churches, this was the first time I was on my own after graduating from seminary.
I was pretty young to be leading a church. The church was small. A secretary came in one morning a week to print the Sunday bulletin. The church treasurer was a volunteer. Our attendance was small and our resources were limited.
Joe and Charlotte lived in the neighborhood and they actually attended a larger church across town. But they started coming to our Sunday evening services and to our mid-week Bible study. They were school teachers and loved kids. They had served with a ministry providing children’s Bible programs in rural areas of Arizona. And they rode a tandem-bike along the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans during two summers.
They offered to lead our first summer Vacation Bible School to reach children in the community. I was so thankful to have the help of this remarkable couple. They came with ideas and experience that were invaluable. VBS was a success and we met a number of new families in our area.
There is a similar couple in the Bible. Their names were Priscilla and Aquila and they worked with the Apostle Paul on a number of occasions. Paul said that they had actually risked their lives to help him. Later they started a church in their own home (Romans 16:3-5) and they provided solid Bible teaching to a budding evangelist named Apollos (Acts 18:26).
I believe God loves to bring older, seasoned people into our lives to help us in our career or ministry. Let me encourage you to watch for an Aquila or Priscilla who is willing to help you grow and learn. And be willing to use your knowledge and experience to be an Aquila or Pricilla to help others. You will be glad you did and they will too.
You can find more stories and articles by Mark Hopper at his web site – letmarkencourageyou.com. His book with 365 stories and articles (one for each day of the year) is available for $25 which includes postage – contact him at markh@efreedb.org.
Many years ago we took our children on a trip to California. We spent two days at Disneyland and then drove north to visit my brother and his family in Grass Valley. Our kids enjoyed time with their cousins and we enjoyed catching up with my brother and his wife.
One day we went to a pumpkin patch and each of our kids and the cousins selected their own pumpkin. They looked forward to carving and decorating their own pumpkins for Halloween when we got home. On our way back to Arizona we realized we would need to stop at the border for an agricultural inspection. We knew we would be asked by the border agent if we had any agricultural products that we were bringing into Arizona from California.
My wife and I had a lively discussion about what we should say to the agriculture inspector. If we said that we did not have any agricultural items – our children would get to keep their precious pumpkins. But, our children would also know we did not tell the truth. On the other hand, if we did tell the border agent that we did have some agricultural items – their personal pumpkins might be confiscated at the border and they would have nothing to carve for Halloween.
What would you say if you were faced with a similar situation? Do you tell or not tell? Do you disclose or conceal. Do you tell the truth and risk the loss of the precious pumpkins? Or to you tell a lie and hope you don’t get caught?
A man named Abraham faced a similar test. His wife was beautiful. He told her to lie and tell people she was his sister. He told the same lie when he was asked about her. Abraham was afraid someone might kill him and take his wife (Genesis 20). Years later his own son Isaac did the same thing following of his father’s example (Genesis 26)!
I know people are more important than pumpkins. I believe it is better to tell the truth and face the consequences than to tell a lie. There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Put aside falsehood and speak truthfully” (Ephesians 4:25). Your reputation is on the line and your children may follow your example. When we got to the border we decided to tell the inspector about our precious pumpkins. We held our breath – then he said no problem. Pumpkins are permitted! Let me encourage you to tell the truth. We were glad we did and you will be too.
You can find more stories and articles by Mark Hopper at his web site – letmarkencourageyou.com. His book with 365 stories and articles (one for each day of the year) is available for $25 which includes postage – contact him at markh@efreedb.org.
In my previous article I shared about how we need to take a look in the mirror and see what changes we need to make in our own life. The words of the song Man in the Mirror and the story of the pastor with the rebellious daughter really drive home the principle that changeneeds to begin with you.
Many years ago I attended a helpful seminar on leadership. I picked up some useful ideas on how to be a more effective leader of our staff and our church. One of the speakers was Ken Blanchard, he was well known for his best-selling book – The One Minute Manager. He shared an illustration that he often used with business leaders that has been very helpful to me as a husband, pastor and leader.
He said that when things are not going well, a foolish manager will look out his office window and place the blame on his workers. Why are sales and production declining? The employees must not be doing their jobs. On the other hand, when things are going well, a foolishmanager will look in a mirror and congratulate himself for the great job he is doing.
Blanchard went on to say that when things are going well and sales are up and production is growing, a wise manager will look out the window and recognize the success is due to the hard work of his employees. And, when sales are down and production is declining, a wise manager will look in the mirror and ask himself – What am I doing wrong? What steps do I need to take to help our business improve?
There is a passage in the Bible where King David ignored the warning of his own advisors and demanded that his staff count the number of troops under his command. This action resulted in the death of a number of innocent people. David realized his mistake and asked God to forgive him and stop the devastation and destruction. He accepted responsibility for his arrogant behavior (Second Samuel chapter 24). If things aren’t going well in your life or business, let me encourage you to take a good look in the mirror. Ask yourself – what changes do you need to make in your life? Accept responsibility and change what you are doing. And if things are going well in your life or business, I hope you will give the credit to God and to the people who have made it possible. They will be glad you did and you will too.
Pastor Hopper has published a book with 365 of his articles and stories. The title is “Let Me Encourage You”. The cost is $25 which includes shipping. Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.
Many years ago, I heard a pastor share his story about his relationship with his teenage daughter. He was discouraged and concerned that his daughter was angry and frustrated with him. One day he took his whole family to a local park. As they sat on some tree stumps, he asked his wife and each of their children this question – “What changes do I need to make in my life that can help heal our family”? He said it hurt deeply as each of them shared some of their frustrations with him. His teenage daughter was the most vocal. She told her father that he was too busy and he never listened to her.
After each of them shared, he told them he needed some time to be alone and think about what they had said. As he got up to leave, his daughter stopped him and said she needed to ask him the same question. “What changes did she need to make in her life?” This was a turning point in their strained relationship. His heart was softened and he began to make some changes in his schedule and he spent more time with his daughter. The daughter’s heart was softened and she began to make changes in her life too.
There is a passage in the Bible where Jesus said, “Before you try to remove the speck from your brother’s eye, you need to remove the log from your own eye” (Matthew 7:1-5). If there is a problem in your family, marriage or other relationship – the place to begin is in your own life. Look in a mirror and ask yourself this question – what am I doing that is causing problems in our relationship? What changes do Ineed to make in my life that will help heal the wounds and restore my relationship with others?
There is a song from the 1980’s written by a famous singer with the title – Man in the Mirror. Some of the words are, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change. I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways”.
I love the phrase – Changed people change people. I believe that when you make positive changes in your life it will produce positive changes in others too. Your words, attitudes and actions can have a positive or negative impact on others. Let me encourage you to look in the mirror and ask yourself – what changes do I need to make in my life. You can ask your spouse, children or a trusted friend too. Pray and ask God to reveal some things to you that you need to changein your life with His help. You will be glad you did and those around you will too.
Pastor Hopper has published a book with 365 of his articles and stories. The title is “Let Me Encourage You”. The cost is $25 which includes shipping. Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.
When was the last time you checked the water pressure in your house? Most people have never checked it. We just turn on the faucet and we are thankful to have running water in our homes. We assume the water pressure is fine until we have a problem. Recently a hose burst in our bathroom in the middle of the night. My wife heard a noise and woke me up at 3:00 AM. The noise came from the bathroom at the other end of the house. The hose that supplied water to the toilet had burst and it looked like a fire hose was flooding the bathroom, bedroom and hallway. I quickly turned off the valve but the water damage was extensive. I wondered why the small hose had burst and flooded the rooms. The next day I checked the water pressure in our house and discovered it was 120 PSI – twice what it should be. A few weeks later I was able to replace the water pressure regulator which reduced the pressure down to a normal 60 PSI.
Just as high water pressure can damage your home and high blood pressure can damage your heart, outbursts of anger can cause serious physical and emotional damage to yourself and to others. Two different words are used to describe anger in Ephesians 4:31-32. One word is thumos which describes outbursts of anger when people lose their temper and vent their anger with words and deeds. The other word for anger is orge which is a slow, simmering temper that gradually builds up like a volcano until it finally bursts or explodes. Both of these types of anger can be harmful and destructive just like high water pressure and high blood pressure.
In the same passage there are two different words – kindness and compassion. These are helpful and constructive. They are the antidote of anger. Kindness and compassion seek to resolve problems and restore relationships. Words and acts of anger damage and destroy relationships. If anger is simmering beneath the surface in your heart or revealing itself in harmful words and deeds, let me encourage you to get help. A new ministry called Domestic Kindness is equipping churches to be part of the solution to domestic abuse. Find them at domestickindness.org. Let me encourage you to ask God and ask those you have hurt to forgive you. Ask God to give you a heart of kindness and compassion that comes through faith in Christ. You will be glad you did and your family and friends will too!
Pastor Hopper has published a book with 365 of his articles and stories. The title is “Let Me Encourage You“. The cost is $25 which includes shipping. Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.
There is a new four-letter word in our vocabulary. I know there are many appropriate four-letter words that people say like – love, hope, help, kind, sure and more. There are also some four-letter words that people use that I don’t think are necessary nor appropriate to mention.
But there is a new word that has become part of our vocabulary during the Corona Virus outbreak. The word is Zoom. I’m not sure if it is a noun or a verb. Maybe it can be used both ways. But I hear the word in many conversations by both older and younger people. Even our grandchildren are including Zoom in their vocabulary as they describe going to school and connecting with their teachers and classmates.
Previously we used tools like Skype and Facetime to talk with people on the internet. But Zoom seems to have surpassed them in popularity. I teach an adult Bible class on Sunday mornings using Zoom. Many churches are using Zoom to broadcast their church services to people at home. Schools are using Zoom to teach their students. Doctors are meeting with their patients on Zoom instead of in their office.
In many ways. Zoom and similar tools are changing the way we do business, education and the way we connect with family and friends. This has been a very useful and helpful tool during the Corona crisis. We have a Zoom call with all of our children and grandchildren once-a-week. But I sense most people feel it is not the same as meeting with people face-to-face. Many teachers feel that online instruction is not the same as classroom instruction. Many students miss the benefit of connecting with their classmates in the classroom and on their school campus.
The Apostle Paul wrote to some church leaders in Corinth expressing how his written letters may give a different impression than when he met with them face to face (Second Corinthians 10:1). Phone calls, email and text messages can be useful. Cards and letters are too. But I believe that Zoom will never replace meeting face-to-face with grandkids, clients, customers and classmates. When this pandemic is over and restrictions are lifted, let me encourage you to spend more time with other people face-to-face. Theywill be glad you did and you will too!
Pastor Hopper has published a book with 365 of his articles and stories. The title is “Let Me Encourage You”. The cost is $25 which includes shipping. Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.
It only snowed 2-3 times a year in Dallas. It was a nightmare to drive in the traffic. Most residents had little experience driving in snow and on ice covered roads. One time in early January, the Superintendent of the public schools canceled classes because of the weather. It seemed like a wise decision but the sun came out by noon, the snow melted and the Superintendent looked foolish.
A few weeks later, when snow was again forecast for the Dallas area the Superintendent did not cancel classes. Students and teachers were expected to report to school. Unfortunately this was a serious snow storm and there were many accidents on the roads. In fact, my wife and I were in an accident as a car slowly slid down a hill into the side of our car. A mother who was trying to get her children to school hit our car while I was trying to get their teacher to school!
Many people were critical of the Superintendent when he canceled classes on a snow day in January and many people criticized him when he did not cancel classes on a snow day in March.
This sounds strangely familiar as we face the current Corona Virus situation. It is easy for people to be critical of government officials for decisions and actions they have and have not taken. Some feel leaders did not act early enough. Others feel that many of the actions and restrictions are an overreaction. State and local officials are making decisions regarding school closures, canceling public events and restricting travel. It is easy to criticize them.
We are living in an uncertain time. It is easy to focus our frustrations on our government and business leaders. Many people are fearful and concerned about how long this will last and how bad it will get. I think our parents and grandparents felt the same way when our nation was attacked by the Japanese in 1941. I’m sure there was fear and concern about how long the war would last and how bad it would get.
There is a wonderful promise found many places in the Bible that says, “Fear not for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10 / Acts 18:9-10). Let me encourage you to open your Bible and read these verses for yourself. Pray for our country and our leaders. Help a neighbor or a classmate.
With God’s help and by helping one another we will get through this together.
It only snowed 2-3 times a year in Dallas. It was a nightmare to drive in the traffic. Most residents had little experience driving in snow and on ice covered roads. One time in early January, the Superintendent of the public schools canceled classes because of the weather. It seemed like a wise decision but the sun came out by noon, the snow melted and the Superintendent looked foolish.
A few weeks later, when snow was again forecast for the Dallas area the Superintendent did not cancel classes. Students and teachers were expected to report to school. Unfortunately this was a serious snow storm and there were many accidents on the roads. In fact, my wife and I were in an accident as a car slowly slid down a hill into the side of our car. A mother who was trying to get her children to school hit our car while I was trying to get their teacher to school!
Many people were critical of the Superintendent when he canceled classes on a snow day in January and many people criticized him when he did not cancel classes on a snow day in March.
This sounds strangely familiar as we face the current Corona Virus situation. It is easy for people to be critical of government officials for decisions and actions they have and have not taken. Some feel leaders did not act early enough. Others feel that many of the actions and restrictions are an overreaction. State and local officials are making decisions regarding school closures, canceling public events and restricting travel. It is easy to criticize them.
We are living in an uncertain time. It is easy to focus our frustrations on our government and business leaders. Many people are fearful and concerned about how long this will last and how bad it will get. I think our parents and grandparents felt the same way when our nation was attacked by the Japanese in 1941. I’m sure there was fear and concern about how long the war would last and how bad it would get.
There is a wonderful promise found many places in the Bible that says, “Fear not for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10 / Acts 18:9-10). Let me encourage you to open your Bible and read these verses for yourself. Pray for our country and our leaders. Help a neighbor or a classmate.
With God’s help and by helping one another we will get through this together.
Several years ago after my wife finished an extensive series of treatments for breast cancer, some friends invited us to use their house while they were away to give her an opportunity to rest and recover from this exhausting journey. Their home was on the water in Newport Beach, California. When we walked up to the house, we were amazed at how beautiful and peaceful it was. It was not on the beach with all the tourists and bicycles but on Newport Shores where it was quiet and restful.
She began to regain her strength as we went for short walks along the water. As the days went by, she felt more ambitious and determined to walk further. By the end of our stay she was walking all the way from the house to the pier and back. It felt like we were on an extended vacation even though we were only thirty miles from home.
On several occasions over the years other friends have shared their cabins in the mountains east of Los Angeles. My wife was a school teacher and after the end of a busy school year, we often went to the mountains to get out of the foggy June Gloom and enjoy the blue skies and warm sunshine. Our wedding anniversary was also in June so this provided a perfect setting to rest and celebrate together. When our children were younger, a friend loaned us his motorhome for our family vacation.
We are so thankful for the people who have shared so much with us. There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share” (First Timothy 6:17-18).
You may not think of yourself as rich but I am confident that you do have things that you can share with others. You may have a mountain cabin, a beach house or a motorhome. You may have an extra car or some tools that you can lend. You may have experience, knowledge or skills that you can share with others. Let me encourage you to watch for an opportunity to share some things you have with neighbors, friends or people in need. You will be glad you did and they will too!
I grew up during the Space Race of the 1960’s as America and Russia worked furiously to be the first to land a man on the moon. It was an amazing time in our nation’s history. Apollo 8 was the first time men orbited the moon and Apollo 11 was the first landing of men on the moon in 1969. America won the Space Race.
It is hard to believe that was fifty years ago. In 2019 I enjoyed reading several books and watching TV documentaries and movies about both of those remarkable moments. One of the things that caught my attention was how essential reliable navigation was to the success of those missions. I learned that the American astronauts were required to memorize the locations of a number of stars and constellations. Even though they had computers and sophisticated navigational equipment the astronauts knew they could rely on the locations of constellations and stars to chart their course to and from the moon.
I have read that Polynesians used the stars to navigate their way across the vast Pacific Ocean. They rested in the day and paddled and sailed by night aiming toward certain stars and constellations. The European explorers like Henry the Navigator from Portugal and other nations used the location of the sun and the stars to identify their location and chart their courses, too. They knew the locations of the stars were predictable and reliable in ancient times and they still are today. Now we have GPS (Global Positioning Satellites) to chart the paths for ships, aircraft and our own automobiles. These provide a reliable source for navigation and travel.
The Bible says that God created the universe. He placed the sun, moon, earth and stars in their places. The planets follow predictable orbits and the location of the stars are consistent and trustworthy. The Bible says, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens – who created all of these? God calls each of the stars by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).
Let me encourage you to reflect on the beauty and order of the stars in the sky. When you see a beautiful full moon rising up in the eastern horizon I hope it reminds you of the regularity of the seasons and the reliability of each day and month. Give thanks to God who created the world we enjoy. You will be glad you did and He will too!
Recently my wife and I were traveling to Texas to meet some friends in San Antonio. Our flight on Southwest airlines took us to Dallas first and then we waited at Love Field for our short flight to San Antonio. After we found our departure gate we noticed a familiar looking person in the waiting area. I had just seen his picture in the Southwest Airline magazine on our last flight. It was Gary Kelly – the president of Southwest. He was going on the same flight we were to San Antonio.
I wasn’t sure it was him until I introduced myself and my wife and asked if he really was Gary Kelly. He greeted us warmly and assured us he was the guy in the magazine and he was glad to take a picture with us. I told him we loved Southwest Airlines and we had been flying Southwest since the time it began in Dallas when I was a graduate student in Dallas in 1971. I enjoyed our brief conversation and told him how much we appreciated the way Southwest has personally helped us on several occasions. I told him we had recently flown on one of the new Southwest flights to Hawaii a few months ago.
He was very gracious and gave the credit to the airlines’ helpful employees. As we prepared to board our flight I noticed Gary and his wife were in line with all the other passengers. He did not request or expect special or preferential treatment. I suspect most of the passengers on our flight had no idea that the president of the airline was flying with us. I have enjoyed reading many of Gary’s articles in the Southwest magazine. Many times he has stressed Southwest’s philosophy of customer service. I am confident he models being a servant leader and putting the needs of others ahead of his own. There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Jesus did not come to be served but to serve others and give his life for us” (Mark 10:45). Let me encourage you to watch for opportunities to serve people around you – in your company, your community and on your school campus. They will be glad you did and you will too.
In
golf they have a term called a “Mulligan” which allows a player to hit another
shot. It is like a “do over” after you hit a really bad one. Can you remember a
time in your life where you wish you could rewind the clock or calendar and do
something over? A few years ago, my wife and I were invited to attend a wedding
north of Santa Barbara. She had recently finished chemotherapy so we decided to
drive half way to the wedding, spend the night at a hotel and drive the rest of
the way the next day.
I
looked online and found a few hotels near Ventura. One looked nice and had a
view of the harbor. There was also an Embassy Suite in the area on the beach
where I had attended a pastor’s conference, but it was twice the price. I reserved
the harbor one.
When
we arrived a few days later, we were very disappointed. The paint was pealing,
the TV in the room looked like it was from the 1950’s and the view of the
harbor wasn’t like the website!
After
we unpacked, I suggested we drive over to show my wife the conference site at
the Embassy Suite. It was gorgeous with flowing waterfalls, an impressive lobby
and an ocean view. The contrast was devastating. I felt terrible. I checked to
see if they still had any rooms but they were double what we saw online. Why
didn’t I book the Embassy Suite when I had the chance? Why did I trust
the website and select the hotel by the harbor? I wished I could have a
Mulligan. As we drove back to our hotel we noticed the sign on the building was
missing the letter “H” – it read “otel”. It was clear I had made the
wrong choice.
I’m sure that all of us have done something or said something that we wish we could “do over”. Thankfully, the Bible says God is willing to forgive us for our sins and mistakes. He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and kindness (Psalm 103:8 / Jonah 4:2). He is the God of the second chance. He gives us “do overs” we don’t deserve! Thankfully my wife was gracious and forgiving, too. I hope I don’t make this mistake again and hope you don’t either. When in doubt, go with the Embassy Suite and not the “otel”. You will be glad you did!
This article was written by Pastor Mark Hopper of Efree Church of Diamond Bar. Sunday Services are held at 9:00 am & 10:45 am at 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. You can contact the church at 909.594.7604 or visit them online at Efreedb.org
Diamond Bar- California was a cattle ranch for many years. It has an interesting history dating back to Mexican land grants and a variety of owners. Our church is built on the site where the original ranch house stood. In the 1960’s, Transamerica Corporation bought the ranch and developed it into a beautiful master planned community.
Although
Diamond Bar does not look like a cattle ranch today, there are some other
residents who still call it home. In the past we have seen deer on the hillside
east of our house. We have seen coyotes trotting down our street. And, we
have seen skunks and raccoons.
Our
church property used to have some undeveloped land behind the first
building. Hawks built nests in the tall pine trees and skunks were seen
from time to time.
One
day before a Sunday church service a child approached me with an urgent
message. He said there was a skunk in the church! At first I thought he
was kidding, but when several of us investigated we found a skunk lying in the
return air duct that ran under the floor. We could clearly see him but we
weren’t sure if he was dead or asleep.
What
should we do? Should we evacuate the building or just wait and deal with
the skunk after the service? We decided to wait and not say anything so
we wouldn’t cause a panic and risk waking him up. The service ended without
incident. After people left, a friend helped me investigate. We realized
the skunk was dead. We removed him and buried him in the land behind the
church.
Apparently, he had found his way into the furnace room which had a fresh air grill to the outside. He must have climbed into the return air duct, slid down under the floor and was unable to get back out. We don’t know how long he was there. We actually saw two other skunks on the property that morning. They were probably looking for their lost friend who had disappeared in the church furnace room.
As a pastor, I like to think that everyone is welcome at our church. We encourage friends and guests to attend our services. But, we may need to post a new sign, “No Skunks Allowed”!
This article was written by Pastor Mark Hopper of Efree Church of Diamond Bar. Sunday Services are held at 9:00 am & 10:45 am at 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. You can contact the church at 909.594.7604 or visit them online at Efreedb.org
Recently,
my wife flew home from Arizona on Southwest Airlines. She had been in Phoenix
for a few days visiting her family. Things went smoothly and her flight was on
time. I picked her up and we headed home in heavy afternoon traffic. Suddenly
she realized that she had left her book on the airplane that was going on to
Oakland. She had changed seats shortly after she boarded the plane and had left
the book in the seat pocket in front of her.
This
was no ordinary book. The book she had been reading was the one that was just
published with my name on it! The book is titled, “Let Me Encourage You”
by Pastor Mark Hopper. It is a collection of 365 articles and stories that I
have written over the past ten years for this local paper. Over a decade ago,
the publishers invited me to write a weekly article for their local advertising
publication. I have enjoyed the opportunity to write many different
stories and articles.
A
friend encouraged me to put these articles into a book. It took a lot of
time to read through hundreds of stories and decide which ones to include in
the book. Many of the articles are about my own family. Other stories are about
current events in our community or country. It was fun reading these stories
and articles again.
After
my wife realized she had left my book on the plane, she called the airline.
They gave her the local number for the Southwest baggage office at the airport.
She explained she had left her book on the plane and wondered if it had been
found. She emphasized that this was no ordinary book. It was a book authored by
her husband!
We were pleasantly surprised to hear that they had found the book on the plane and it was safely in the lost luggage office. We could come by and pick it up any time. What a relief. The lost book was found! Maybe the helpful employee will read a little before we pick it up. If you would like to purchase a copy for yourself or for a friend, you can contact me at my email address (markh@efreedb.org). But you have to promise to not leave it on an airplane! Pastor Mark Hopper Efree Church of Diamond Bar
This article was written by Pastor Mark Hopper of Efree Church of Diamond Bar. Sunday Services are held at 9:00 am & 10:45 am at 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. You can contact the church at 909.594.7604 or visit them online at Efreedb.org
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 S. Diamond Bar Blvd. Sunday Services are 9 am and 10:45 am. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.
By Mark Hopper
Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to New York City. I had been there 30 years ago on a trip with my father and my wife had been there about 20 years ago with two girl friends. But, we had never been in New York City together.
We had a great time seeing the sights and enjoying things together. We stayed at a small hotel near Times Square. It was fun to see the huge billboards illuminated at night and amazing to see the large crowds of people filling the area.
We went to see two Broadway shows while wewere in New York. We were able to walk from our hotel to the theaters. We saw the Carol King musical “Beautiful” and the Disney musical “Aladdin”. We really enjoyed both of them.
We rode the “Hop on – Hop off” bus tour around the city. This enabled us to get off at some specific locations we wanted to see. The tour also allowed us to hear a lot about the history and highlights of Manhattan. We went to the top of the Empire State Building and we also visited the “9-11 Memorial”. We actually saw the name of James Hopper listed as one of those who died when the Twin Towers collapsed. We don’t know who this was but the name caught our attention.
There is so much more we could have done and seen, but we really enjoyed our short visit to New York City. However, we did get lost a few times as we walked through different parts of town. We had to stop and ask for help several times trying to navigate our way around the city. People were very helpful.
One night before we went to a Broadway show,we went to a nice restaurant near the theater. My wife’s cousin lives in Long Island and she was able to drive into the city and join us for dinner and the show. The restaurant was packed. Thankfully, we had reservations and were seated right away. The food was great and we were glad to spend time with her cousin. After dinner, we walked right across the street to the theater.
After the show, we went back to the restaurant
to pick up our “left overs” that they kept in their frig for us. We
walked her cousin back to her car and then walked through Times Square back to
our hotel.
The next day after our the tour of Manhattan
and decided to try to get last minute tickets to another Broadway show.
We stood in line at the box office and were glad that there were tickets for a
show that night. However, when I went to pay for our purchase, I
discovered that my Visa credit card was missing! Where was my credit card?
It was lost in New York!
I shared in my last article that my wife and I enjoyed a memorable trip to New York City. We went to the top of the Empire State Building and visited the 9-11 Memorial. We also enjoyed two Broadway shows. But, my credit card got lost! I had all my other cards, but the Visa card was gone.
We were able to purchase the theater tickets with another credit card, but now the search began. Where was my credit card? We had made several purchases during the day but most of those were with cash. We tried to think back to where we had been during the past 24 hours. Should we call the credit card company and report the lost card? What should we do? Where could it be? It was lost in New York!
I knew that one place I had used the credit card was at dinner last night before the show. I called the restaurant to see if I had left it there. They took my name and information and said they would call back if they found anything. It was clear that they were very busy. I decided to walk from our hotel to the restaurant to talk with someone personally. One of the employees said this happens a lot and she went to check in the office to see if my card was there.
I held my breath and said a short prayer hoping that had my credit card. After several minutes, the employee came back with my credit card in hand! She asked for my ID to make sure I really was the owner and then gave the card back to me. I must have left the card on our table when I was signing for the check and packing up our left over food as we were leaving for the show.
We were scheduled to leave New York the next morning. We might have never recovered the card if I had not walked back to the restaurant that night. What a relief! I was so thankful to find my lost card. My wife said that she was thankful that I was the one who lost it and not her! We celebrated by sharing a slice of New York Cheese Cake!
There is a parable in the Bible that talks about a woman who lost a valuable coin in Luke chapter 15. She had nine other coins, but searched her house for the one that was missing. When she finally found it, she invited her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her. She rejoiced when she found it. The point of this parable is that there is rejoicing in heaven when one “lost” person is “found” and comes to faith in Jesus.
I know that all of us have lost something -the car keys, a wallet, a purse or even a credit card. It sure feels good when you finally find it, especially in New York City!
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 S. Diamond Bar Blvd. Sunday Services are 9 am and 10:45 am. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.
Recently, my wife and I were able to attend the Ground Breaking service for Vantage Point Church in Eastvale, California. Our effort to launch a new church in this new community actually started 15 years ago in January, 2003.
Several families from our church had moved to this new community in 2000-2002. It was called Corona Valley at that time. Developers were buying up the Dairy Farms in area from Archibald to the 15 Freeway along Lymonite Road. Hundreds of homes were being built at attractive prices. I often said that you could buy twice the house for half the price in Eastvale.
In early 2003, a family from our church asked me if I would help them start a Bible study in their new neighborhood. Their names were Greg and Carol Crawford. They invited neighbors and we launched a Bible study in Eastvale in their new home.
However, we quickly sensed that we should do more than have a Bible study – we should start a new church in this rapidly growing community. There were three things we began to pray for – a leader, a location to meet and land for a future church site.
In 2007, God provided two leaders – Mark Lee and Tom Lanning from our church staff in Diamond Bar. They offered to enlist the people from the Bible study and recruit people from Diamond Bar to launch a new church in Eastvale. About 40 people banded together to launch this new church.
Throughout the summer of 2007, these people worked hard to promote the new church. They handed out free bottles of cold water to people driving their cars near Hamner and Lymonite. They gave away free gas and did free car washes to meet people in the community. In September, they launched preview services once-a-month in a local Middle School. And, in February 2008, they launched weekly church services with 200 people coming the first Sunday. As the church grew, they were able to move to the auditorium at Roosevelt High School. They now have four church services at the high school with about 2,000 people attending each week.
The church was able to purchase ten acres of land on Archibald Road just north of the Santa Ana River in Eastvale. Our church in Diamond Bar gave a generous gift to help with the down payment. The land had been a dairy farm. On Sunday, September 29, 2018, church leaders broke ground to begin construction on their new facility. It was a historic moment with about 1500 people on the property to celebrate and dedicate this land for the future site of Vantage Point Church.
It will take time to construct and complete this new facility. I am sure their will be roadblocks and unforeseen challenges ahead. This has been a remarkable journey. We prayed for a leader and God provided two. We prayed for a location for them to meet in and God provided a Middle School and eventually a High School. We prayed for land and God provided 10 acres in the middle of this beautiful new community. We are very thankful.
If live near Eastvale and don’t have a church home, I hope you will visit Vantage Point. You can find information on their services and ministries on their website. If you live near Diamond Bar, I hope you will visit our church on a Sunday morning. I think you will be glad you did and we will too!
My wife and I have eight grandchildren. The oldest is ten and the youngest will be two in November. It has been a wonderful experience watching them grow up. There have been a number of milestones like taking their first steps and saying their first words. I actually got my name from our first granddaughter. She couldn’t quite figure out how to say grandpa so she started saying “Pop Pop”. That has been my name ever since!
Some of our grandchildren live out of the area, so we did not get to experience some of these milestones firsthand. However, the youngest of the eight lives nearby and we actually babysit her and her older sister once a week. So we have been able to see some of her first steps and hear some of her first words. In the past few weeks, this little one has started saying a lot of new words and putting some of them into sentences! She repeats words that she hears from us and her parents and from her olde sister. We are continually amazed at the words and phrases that she comes up with.
One day we were startled to hear her count from one to ten. One, two three….and on she went! I don’t think she actually understands the counting part of what she was saying, but there were the words in the correct order – one to ten!
Another time I asked her to say the word “entertainment”. I don’t remember where we were, but I just said, “Janie, can you say the word entertainment”? She did not hesitate. She repeated the word exactly as I said it! I think there are three or four syllables in that big word and she got every one of them right. I should also add that she has leaned some other words quite early – words like “no” and “mine”. I suspect that your kids and grandkids learned these words too. It is amazing to hear the words that come out of the mouths of young children. But, I wonder what kind of words do they hear from your mouth? Do they hear harsh words of criticism and anger? Or, do they hear kind words and compliments? Do your words strengthen their confidence or do they sow seeds of insecurity?
There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Do not let any unwholesome words come out of your mouths, but only words that are helpful for encouragaging others” Ephesians 4:29). I hope your vocabulary is filled with words of affirmation, appreciation and encouragement. I hope that the words you say to others are not selfish and critical, but kind and thoughtful. Let me encourage you to watch your words this week. I hope you will add some new uplifting words of praise and thanks to your vocabulary. You will be glad you did and others will too!
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
There are a lot of coffee places in Diamond Bar. We have at least two Starbucks; the It’s A Grind and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Plus McDonalds has the McCafe. I’m sure that the possibilities are endless.
My wife likes me to bring home a cup of coffee for her from one of these local shops. It is called Julie’s Cafe. It is near our home and located in the Walmart – Crunch Fitness shopping center at Diamond Bar Blvd and Grand Avenue.
Since I don’t drink coffee, I can’t compare the tastes and flavors offered at Julies with other coffee shops in town. But I know that my wife prefers the Hazelnut coffee with two packets of sweetener and a lot of cream. I have memorized the formula.
I think that one of the things that make Julie’s so popular is the hospitality. The setting is peaceful and comfortable. I have seen Julie (the owner) personally trimming the potted plants on the patio and tending to the flowers that enhance the atmosphere.
They serve a variety of breakfast items and they have a large lunch menu. They prepare each item with great care on site. They are not open for dinner and are closed on Sunday and Monday. Julie’s Cafe is often filled with people of all ages enjoying good coffee and great food. Guests enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and warm hospitality.
There are a number of verses in the Bible that emphasize the importance of hospitality. You can examine a few for yourself like Romans 12:13, First Timothy 3:1, Hebrews 13:2 and First Peter 3:9. All of them highlight the importance of welcoming others into your home, church, business or office and treating them as your guests.
I wonder how you are doing in this area of your life. Do people feel welcome and comfortable in your home or business? Do you greet them with a warm welcome and friendly smile? Do you make an effort to learn their name and how you can help them?
I think we could use more emphasis on hospitality in our culture today. Let me encourage you to do more to exercise hospitality to your clients, friends and strangers, too. You will be glad you did and they will too!
My brother and I grew up in Arizona. We didn’t have major league sports in the Phoenix area when we were young but there were several Major League Baseball teams that did their Spring Training in Arizona.
One of my memories as a little kid was going to a Major League Baseball game with my brother and our grandfather. The stadiums were much smaller and we got to see some well known players in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Now, sixty years later it was my turn to take one of my grandsons to a Major League Baseball game at Angel stadium. We have gone to several games with our whole family but this was the first time it was just grandpa and grandson. I wondered how the two of us would do on our baseball adventure.
We stopped at In N Out Burger for a quick dinner. We both enjoyed burgers and fries and shared a Milk Shake for dessert. We saw other Angel fans who were going to the game. We arrived at the stadium in time for the National Anthem. As we entered the stadium we each received a free T-shirt marking all star player Mike Trout’s 27th birthday! My grandson was impressed!
A friend had given us two tickets to the game. We didn’t realize they were near the Angel’s dugout less than 15 rows from the field. My grandson and I were very excited to be sitting so close with a great view of home plate.
It was a great game to watch. The visiting team got off to a quick start getting two runs in the first inning. But, the Angels came back in the bottom of the inning scoring five runs. They would score six more runs during the rest of the game and win 11-5!
We brought some snacks with us to enjoy during the game and my grandson also brought his own baseball glove and hoping to catch a foul ball. A couple came in our direction but none were close enough for us to catch. We also did some shopping in the Angel’s team store. He selected a souvenir so he could remember this special time with Pop Pop.
I wondered how long my grandson would want to stay. I asked him a couple of times if he was getting tired and was ready to go home. To my surprise he said that he didn’t want to leave early but wanted to stay until the end of the game. So we stayed until the last out and cheered the Angel’s victory.
I took a lot of pictures with my cell phone and sent them to my wife and his mom and dad. In addition, we were on the Jumbotron during the game as a cameraman captured us and other enthusiastic fans in our section. My grandson was also excited to be part of the “Wave” where fans stand and cheer as the “Wave” sweeps around the stadium. And, we sang “Take me out to the ball game” in the 7th inning.
It was an eventful night at the ballgame. I’m sure it is an adventure that we will remember for a long time. I held his hand as we walked across the parking lot and I couldn’t help but smile – Grandpa and his grandson at a baseball game. As we drove home, I asked my little buddy if he enjoyed the game. He said “Yes”. Then he asked, “Can I close my eyes now?”
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