Tag Archives: Pastor Mark Hopper

Don’t Forget

BY PASTOR MARK HOPPER

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

One of my most embarrassing moments occurred about a year ago. I was asked to do the invocation at the City Council meeting in Diamond Bar. But, I forgot.

I am thankful that our City Council asks different religious leaders in the community to give an invocation before each meeting. I usually do this two or three times a year. But one day last year, I got busy and completely forgot it was my day to be at the council meeting. The City Clerk had sent me a reminder, and I even had it written on my own calendar.

My name was printed on the agenda. I’m sure it was an awkward moment of silence when they called my name and I wasn’t there. People probably wondered what happened to that absent-minded pastor.

Since that time, I have taken steps to make sure I don’t forget again. I have asked the City Clerk to call and remind me on the day of the meeting. I also ask our church secretary to do the same. I even post sticky notes on my desk and in my car. So far, so good; I’m thankful they were willing to forgive me and give me another chance.

There are many passages in the Bible that exhort us not to forget. Many of the holidays and festivals in the Bible are designed to help people not forget. The Jewish Passover is celebrated every year so that parents and children will not forget the night when the Angel of Death swept over the land of Egypt. The first born in every home died, but the first born in the homes that had the blood of the Passover Lamb on the door posts were saved. In a similar way, Christians celebrate Easter Sunday every year so they will never forget Jesus’ death on the cross, and His resurrection three days later.

As we enjoy this spring season, I hope you are reminded of the importance of holidays like Passover and the Easter we just celebrated. It’s not about Easter Egg Hunts and family dinners. It’s not about spring break and time off from school. This beautiful season is about events and miracles recorded in the Bible. We celebrate so that we will never forget what God has done for us. I hope you won’t forget!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9 and 10:45 a.m.

No Parking

 

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

My family and I came to our church here in Diamond Bar over 25 years ago.  Our church had only one building at that time and a limited number of parking spaces. On a big Sunday, we actually had to ask some people to park on the lawn.  Today, our worship center sits on the site where the lawn used to be. As our church grew over the years, we have been able to add some new buildings and increase the number of parking spaces on our property.

On Easter Sunday parking is always at a premium.  I’m sure this is true for most of the churches in our area.  You never have enough parking on Easter. Some churches provide shuttles from other parking lots nearby.  We don’t have a shuttle, but we have thought about asking our Junior High ministry to provide free Valet Parking (just kidding).

We have parking agreements with some of the businesses near our church.  They can use our parking lots during the week and we can use their lots on Sunday. We also ask people to “park and walk” by using these satellite parking lots and walking across the street to our campus. The result has been that on Easter Sunday our on-site parking lots look empty, because so many people “park and walk.”  If you visit our church on Easter Sunday, I can guarantee that you will find plenty of parking spots.

My question is, why can’t we get more people to do this on the other 51 weeks of the year?

I hope you are planning to attend a church near you this Easter, April 20th.  Don’t try to make excuses for not going because there may not be enough parking. If you don’t have a church home, please accept this invitation to celebrate with us on Easter Sunday.  I’m sure that there will be plenty of parking for you and your family!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Good Friday Service: 7 p.m., April 18

Easter Sunday Services: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Website: www.efreedb.org

Diamond Bar: Opening Day

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

BY PASTOR MARK HOPPER  

 

When I was young, I remember my grandfather taking me and my brother to a big league baseball game.  Arizona did not have any Major League Baseball teams at that time, but we would go to a game during Spring Training.  It was exciting to see big name players like Ernie Banks and Willy Mays in person.  That was a long time ago.

 

Now that we live in Southern California, it is possible to go to big league games all summer long.  For several years we actually had season tickets for the Angels.  It was fun to go to games week after week with our family and friends.  There is something about being at the game that makes it special.  The atmosphere is casual and people talk and eat throughout the game.  And, then there are moments of suspense and excitement when the bases are loaded and our team hits a Grand Slam home run.

 

Opening Day has special significance.  It is the day when a team plays its first game of the new season on its home field.  The fans are excited, the field is perfectly groomed and there is a great sense of anticipation and hope for the new season. I know there are a lot of things that you can do with your kids in Southern California, but I hope you will consider taking them to a baseball game this summer.  Both the Angels and the Dodgers are worth seeing.

 

Whether you are a parent or grandparent, don’t miss the opportunity to make a memory this year. Go see a big league baseball game with your kids or grandkids.  It will be something they will remember for a long, long time.  And, you will remember it, too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9 and 10:45 a.m.

Easter Sunday: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Website: www.efreedb.org

 

Diamond Bar: Through The Bible in a Year

BY PASTOR MARK HOPPER

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

Easter Sunday is only a month away.  I am even more excited than usual about Easter this year because that is when we are going to begin a year long journey through the whole Bible.

Our goal is to provide a brief overview of every book in the Bible in one year, from Easter 2014 to Easter 2015.  You may already know that there are 66 books in the Bible and only 52 weeks in the year.  So a few times we will have to cover two smaller books on one Sunday in order to reach our goal.  If you are unfamiliar with the Bible, I hope you will consider joining us on this amazing journey.

One of the best tools I have found that provides a clear overview of the Bible is a seminar called, “Walk Thru the Bible”.  It is a two-day, live event that will give you a framework to understand how the Bible fits together.  As we begin our year-long journey through the Bible, we will be offering this seminar at our church.  It will begin on Sunday, April 27th.   A small tuition fee is required and each participant will receive a useful study guide.

If you already have a church home, you can listen to our journey on our website each week.  If you are not currently attending a church, we invite you to come each Sunday morning and learn what the Bible is all about.

 

The Walk Thru the Bible live event is open to the community.  Please contact our church office or check out our website to learn more about this two-day seminar.

I hope you will join us on our one-year journey through the Bible beginning on Easter Sunday, and take advantage of the Walk Thru the Bible live event on April 27.  You will be amazed at how much you will learn.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services:  9:00 and 10:45 a.m.

Website: www.efreedb.org

Diamond Bar: Something Smells Good

BY PASTOR MARK HOPPER

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

Experts say that we associate smells with specific events or memories in our lives.  For example, the scent of pine trees reminds me of summer camping trips in the mountains of Arizona.  A salty ocean breeze reminds me of trips with my parents to the beaches of Southern California when I was a little guy. And the smell of waffle cones reminds me of walking down Main Street in Disneyland on vacation when my own children were young.

What comes to your mind when you pick up a familiar scent or smell?  It may the smell of a rose in your back yard or the blossoms of a fruit tree at the house next door.  One of my favorite scents at this time of year is the orange blossoms on the trees in our back yard. They are filled with blossoms right now and they smell so good!

The smell of orange blossoms takes me back to where I grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona.  There were orange groves next to the elementary school I attended, and there were orange groves near the Little League baseball fields where we spent so many hours.  My wife grew up in a home that had over 20 citrus trees right on their property.  The scent this time of year is almost overwhelming; I have a lot of fond memories.

What are your favorite scents and smells?  What memories do they bring to your mind?

I am convinced that God created all the color, texture, sounds and smells for us to enjoy.  I hope you will stop and smell the roses or the orange blossoms you encounter today.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services:  9:00 and 10:45 a.m.

Website: www.efreedb.org

 

Diamond Bar: Small Things, Big Problems

BY PASTOR MARK HOPPER

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

Diamond Bar — I know that we are all thankful for the recent rain.  And it really did rain!  I haven’t heard the total amount yet, but it was certainly several inches of rain in my neighborhood and probably a lot more in the foothills.

During some of the heaviest rain, I noticed that my backyard was filling up with water.  I realized that the drain pipes in my yard were not working properly.  So, I rolled up my jeans, took off my shoes, and waded into the cold standing water.  When I located the drain pipe, I discovered it was covered with leaves.  The leaves were blocking the drain and causing the water to back up into the yard.

The drain pipe had a plastic cover with small slots in it.  I’m sure the cover prevents animals and large objects from getting into the pipe and blocking it completely. But I was surprised that a few small leaves could stop up the drain and prevent the water from draining out to the street.  It was a helpful reminder that small things can cause big problems.  We know that small termites can devastate a large home.  We know that a small pebble in your shoe can cause a lot of discomfort.

The same is true in personal relationships.  Small issues in a marriage that go unresolved can lead to big problems.  One white lie can lead to a habit of dishonesty.

I wonder… are there any small things in your life that need attention?  Are there things that you have allowed to go unaddressed and overlooked that could lead to bigger problems in the future?

Let me encourage you to take a look at your life and your heart.  Ask God to reveal to you some little things that need your attention.  Don’t let these little things become a big problem in your life.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services:  9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Website: www.efreedb.org

Diamond Bar: Lessons For Life

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

BY MARK HOPPER

We are continuing to study the Old Testament book of Ezra on Sunday mornings at our church. I noticed several practical lessons in chapter four that seem to easily apply to our lives today.
You may be in business or education. You may be married or single. You may be a politician or a business professional. It seems like these principles can apply to almost anyone of any age.
First, don’t compromise your values and convictions. In this fourth chapter of Ezra, the Jewish people faced an important decision. Will they compromise their convictions or stick to their core values?
How often have we warned our teenagers to not go with the crowd or give in to peer pressure? How often have you faced a difficult decision in your business or personal life that may involve compromising your convictions?
If you compromise, you may regret it later. If you stick to your core values, you will rarely regret it.
Second, expect opposition and criticism. In Ezra chapter four, the Jewish people declined the offer from others to help with the re-building of their Temple. Immediately, these friends turned into foes. They tried to hinder and stop the progress on the new Temple.
When you try to stick to your values and not compromise, you should expect to be criticized. Some people won’t understand why you won’t go along with the crowd. Business associates may question your loyalty to the company when you refuse to follow the new policy that you feel goes against your values.
Third, expect delays and difficulties. When you stick to your core values, you may face a bumpy road ahead. In Ezra chapter four, those who opposed their effort hired lobbyists and lawyers to try to stop their progress.
Often we hear in the news today of groups that oppose a new freeway, new housing development or new shopping center. They will hire lawyers and experts to prevent a new project from being completed.
Certainly we need to study and evaluate how a new freeway or housing development will impact those who live nearby. But even after permission is granted, some will continue to try to delay its completion.

When you try to stick to your convictions and when you are not willing to compromise your core values, expect difficulties and delays along the way. You may not get a promotion in your company or you may not get the recognition you deserve in your school.

But, when you stick to your convictions and when you refuse to compromise your core values, you will sleep better at night. You will enjoy a sense of peace. I think you will be glad you did!

Pastor Mark Hopper
Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar
3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd
(909) 594-7604
Sunday Services: 9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Website: http://www.efreedb.org

Diamond Bar: Stay or Go?

BY MARK HOPPER

We are in the beginning of a new sermon series at our church in the Old Testament book of Ezra. I have really enjoyed studying and preparing for this series.
The book of Ezra records events in the life of the Jewish people in the 500s BC. Leaders and families from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin have been living in exile in Babylon (Iran / Iraq) for about 70 years.
After the fall of Babylon, the new Persian King, Cyrus, issued a decree that allowed exiles to return to their homelands. In the British Museum, there is a cylindar (the Cyrus Cylindar), which was discovered in the 1800s, that records this remarkable event.
The decree, which was written in the 500s BC, allowed exiles from many countries to leave Babylon and return to their homelands.
The book of Ezra provides an account of how the Jewish exiles responded to this unexpected opportunity. Some decided to “go” while others decide to “stay”.
How do you think you would respond in their situation? Many of the exiles had built homes and raised families in Babylon. They were not anxious to leave.
Others felt this was a unique opportunity to return to their homeland, even though they knew that Jerusalem had been destroyed and was mostly uninhabited for the past 50-60 years. They were willing to “go”.
How do you respond to unexpected opportunities? Do you play it safe or are you willing to take a chance? Do you prefer the familiar or are you willing to venture into the unknown?
A lot of it has to do with your faith. Are you willing to venture out and trust God to lead and guide you or do you prefer to stay in your comfort zone?
If you have a Bible at home, I hope you will dust it off and use the table of contents to find the book of Ezra and read it for yourself. If you don’t have a church home, let me invite you to come to our church on Sunday morning and learn with us as we study the book of Ezra together.
Pastor Mark Hopper
Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd, (909) 594-7604; Sunday Services; 9:00 & 10:45 AM Website: http://www.efreedb.org.