Tag Archives: Pastor Mark Hopper

A Familiar Face

By Mark Hopper

Some of our grandchildren and their parents have been staying with us for a few weeks.  It has been fun to have a house full of four energetic and enthusiastic young children.

 

One day one of them found a small newspaper on our driveway and brought into the house. I suggested that we look through the paper and see if there was a picture of anyone we might recognize in it. I said, “I wonder if there is a picture of Pop Pop (me) in the paper”.  My six year old grandson replied, “No Pop Pop – they only put pictures of famous people in the newspaper”.

 

I wasn’t exactly sure how to reply to his comment, but I thought it might be fun to look through the paper anyway. As we proceeded to turn the pages, he did not see anyone he recognized.  Several of the advertisements had pictures of people and several of the news articles did too.

 

As we looked at each page, I asked him, “Is there a picture of Pop Pop on this page?” His  answer was always the same – “no”.  But, when we got to page eight, he was startled to see a picture of me!  The expression on the face of my grandson was priceless.  He looked at the photo and looked at me several times. He couldn’t believe it – there was a picture of his grandfather in the newspaper!

 

I explained that I get to write articles for the “Weekly News” publication. I assured my grandson that a lot of people read my article every week. I don’t know the exact number of readers but I’m sure there are a lot.  He asked what kind of things I wrote about so I showed him a few copies of articles that I had cut out from past issues.

 

We sat on the couch and read a few of the articles together. I was surprised at his level of interest in what his grandpa had written. I told him that I had even written a few articles about him and his sisters. He was surprised but seemed happy to hear that I had written about them.

 

I couldn’t help but smile as I thought back on that conversation. “Only famous people have their pictures in the newspaper”.  I don’t consider myself famous.  I’m just glad I get to share my thoughts with a few readers each week. But, if my grandson wants to think that his Pop Pop is famous – I’m ok with that!

 

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

 

Who Ate My Cookie?

By Mark Hopper

Recently, I was playing golf with some friends in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah. It has been pretty hot here in Southern California, so it was nice to get away and enjoy cooler temperatures in the Wasch Mountains in northern Utah.

 

The sky was blue and the hillsides were covered with pine and aspen trees. There were several sparkling mountain streams running through our golf course.  It was a perfect setting for a round of golf with some old friends.

 

While our wives are out shopping, the husbands usually spend part of the day playing golf. Our wives think it is only fair that they get to spend the same amount of money on shopping as the men spend on golfing. This arrangement has worked out well for many years.

 

The men usually eat breakfast before heading to the golf course. Then we pack some snacks to take with us on the course.  We are too old to carry heavy golf bags and walk 4-5 hours playing 18 holes, so we rent golf carts to help us get around.   There are usually two golfers in each cart.

 

We load our golf bags on the carts and bring a few snacks with us, too. Sometimes we bring a bottle of water or purchase a soft drink at the snack bar to keep us hydrated on the course.

 

However, there are not only golfers on a golf course; there are small animals and critters living on the golf course too. In fact, we saw at least one deer each day we played.

 

Some of the full-time residents like squirrels and birds have learned that there is food on those golf carts. Often they will steal food when the golfers walk away to a tee box or putting green.

 

This year was no exception.  While we were taking turns on the putting green, we discovered that a squirrel had climbed up into our cart and was searching for a granola bar or bag of peanuts.  They knew exactly what they were doing and when to launch their raid on our goodies!  It was clear that they had become skilled, professional thieves who knew exactly how and when to attack.

 

Fortunately, we noticed they were in our cart before they could do any damage.  We chased them away and scolded them for trying to steal our snacks.  However, there are a lot more critters than there are golfers on a golf course.  This is their home territory. They know every tree and every hiding place on the golf course. They are permanent residents and we are only the visitors. They have home field advantage. We were at a distinct disadvantage.

 

Fortunately we were able to finish our round of golf without any loss of life or snacks. However, I must admit that we did leave a few goodies behind on the course to express our appreciation to the local residents for sharing their beautiful golf course with us.

 

Let me warn you the next time you go golfing, watch out for the local thieves and bandits on the course. If you are not careful, they will eat your lunch or steal cookies when you are not watching. But, you may want express your thanks to them by sharing a bite or two. You will be glad you did and they will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

Sunday services: 9:00 & 10:45 Am

Efreedb.org

 

There Is No Taste Like Home

By Mark Hopper

Last spring, my wife and I traveled to see some of our children and grandchildren who live overseas. We actually flew to Poland and spent a couple of days with them touring Krakow. Then, we went south on a road trip from Poland to their home in Slovenia.

 

It was fun to see another part of Europe that we had never visited before. We drove through Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria on our way south to Slovenia. These beautiful countries are filled with endless miles of farms and fields producing crops of all kinds.  We saw some fields where seeds were just sprouting and others where the corn and wheat were growing rapidly.

 

Part of our road trip included a stop in the Czech Republic at the headquarters of the organization our children work with. This beautiful conference center is situated on a hillside overlooking the forests and fields below.

 

As we continued on our road trip, our son-in-law informed us that we needed to stop at a warehouse to purchase some food items that are not available in Slovenia. Our curiosity got the best of us as we inquired what we were looking for in Czech that was not available in Slovenia.  He was looking for authentic Mexican food.

 

Don’t misunderstand; you can actually buy Mexican food items at many stores in Europe.  For example, many of the large grocery chains sell Tortilla Chips and other items.  But they don’t always taste the same as what we are used to here in Southern California.

 

We were looking for a warehouse that actually imported authentic Mexican food.  It was quite an adventure trying to find this small warehouse.  It was not on a main highway.  We took some smaller two-lane country roads following the advice of Google Maps.  Even with the help of technology it was hard to find.  But eventually we found what we were looking for.

 

Here we were in the middle of Europe at a warehouse that imported real Mexican food.  They had Mexican spices, enchilada sauce, beer, tortillas, cheese, spices and a lot more.  All of these were authentic – made in Mexico. Our son-in-law was in heaven when he saw so many familiar items that he knew we would enjoy.

 

“They also had Tortilla Chips that were actually made in Mexico!  The chips tasted so good that we bought four cases that each contained 10 large bags. Yummmmy!”

Actually, some of the cases of chips were for other American friends who were hoping to get in on deal.  They would not be disappointed.  Four cases of Chips were on their way to Slovenia.  There would be no shortage of authentic Tortilla Chips in Slovenia for quite a while.

 

I suspect that there are certain foods that remind you of your home too.  We have a broad diversity of cultures in Southern California.  Along with these different ethnic groups comes the foods and flavors of their homeland.  I know we have grocery stores right here in our area that specializes in Indian, Chinese, Korean and Indonesian products and spices. There are probably many more that I am unaware of. There is something special about enjoying familiar food and sharing it with others.

 

Let me encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and go explore the grocery stores and restaurants in our area.  Find a familiar food from your home country and invite a friend or neighbor to enjoy it with you.  You will be glad you did and they will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Vacation Bible School July 23-27th

Efreedb.org

A Family Reunion

By Mark Hopper

My wife and I have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Some of our children and grandchildren live in Southern California but many of them live far away. We see the local grandchildren frequently, but we don’t get to see the ones who live overseas very often.

 

In addition, our grandchildren don’t get to see their cousins very often either. Since many of these eight cousins live so far away, they rarely see each other. In fact, our youngest grandchild had not met some of her cousins until this month.  She is 18 months old and she had not met over half of her cousins.

 

Recently, these four cousins flew to LA with their parents. Family members picked them up at LAX and brought them out to meet us. Other members of our family agreed it would be easier to meet at a restaurant so the weary travelers could get something to eat while the parents and kids got reconnected.

 

When we asked where everyone would like to meet, they unanimously agreed on In N Out Burger! The local family members warmly welcomed the weary travelers with yummy burgers, fries and shakes. There were lots of smiles and hugs at this informal family reunion.

 

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the four older grandchildren circled around our youngest family member. The eighteen month old seemed a little overwhelmed by these older and bigger cousins. It was the first time they had ever met!  It didn’t take long for the little one to warm up to these older relatives. It was a moment to remember as these cousins met for the first time.

 

There is a memorable reunion in the Bible when Joseph is reunited with his brothers. They had been separated for many years and it was an emotional moment when these brothers were reunited in Egypt.  Joseph was even more overwhelmed when he embraced his aging father whom he thought he would never see again. You can read the details for yourself in Genesis chapters 37-50.

 

Summer is often the season for family reunions. Relatives travel from all over the country and around the world and go to great lengths to reconnect with relatives and friends. There is something special about spending time with older and younger family members.

 

Let me encourage you to take time this summer to reach out to other family members. Make an effort to reconnect with siblings and cousins, aunts and uncles. Whether in person or by social media take the first step and tell those in your extended family that you love and appreciate them. They will be glad you did and you will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Vacation Bible School – July 23-27th

Efreedb.org

 

Sunrise

By Mark Hopper

I delivered newspapers in Scottsdale Arizona when I was in high school. In fact, I was the Arizona Republic’s Newspaper Boy of the year my senior year. In addition, I was awarded a college scholarship by the newspaper to help pay for my tuition when I enrolled at Arizona State University.

 

There were two newspapers in Phoenix in the 1960’s.  The Phoenix Gazette was the afternoon paper.  The Arizona Republic was the morning paper.  I decided to deliver the morning paper so I could earn some money and participate in sports and other after school activities.

 

Newspaper subscriptions were sixty cents per week.  I had about 100 customers on my route.  Initially, I had to collect money every week. Collecting the payments took a considerable time each week, but I had to pay for the newspapers every Saturday. Eventually, I was able to get most of my customers to pay once-a-month. This saved a lot of time.

 

Delivering newspapers involved getting up every morning at 4:45 AM, every day of the year. Delivering papers was like milking cows – you had to do it every day – rain or shine.  Newspaper boys never got a day off!  We worked 365 days of the year, even Christmas morning!

 

I used my bicycle to deliver the newspaper. Even when I bought my first car, it was still easier to ride my bike than to drive my car. You didn’t earn a lot of money delivering newspapers, but I did earn and save enough money to buy my first car – a ‘57 Chevy!

 

One of the things I remember the most about delivering newspapers every day was watching the beautiful sunrises each morning.  My family literally lived on the edge of town. Just beyond our neighborhood were cotton fields that stretched for miles. This provided an unobstructed view of the mountains on the eastern horizon. I could pause on my route to witness the sun come up over the Four Peaks and the Superstition Mountains. The colors were amazing!

 

On a recent trip back to Arizona, I enjoyed getting up early and going for a walk. The nicest time of day in the Arizona desert is just before sunrise. The birds and animals come to life and the eastern sky is filled with color. It brought me back to my newspaper delivery days fifty years ago.

 

In Psalm 19, it says, “God’s glory is on tour in the skies and on exhibit across the heavens”.  The author goes on to say, “The morning sun is like a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed or like an athlete who races from sunrise to sunset” (the Message Bible).

 

Let me encourage you to pause and watch a sunrise or sunset this summer. Whether you are camping in the mountains, relaxing on the beach or enduring the morning commute – take time to admire the beauty of God’s handiwork on display. You will be glad you did and He will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

Vacation Bible School: July 23-27

 

Hats

By Mark Hopper

I was sitting on a park bench a while ago and I noticed that I was the only person wearing a hat!  There I was enjoying a little snack in this open pedestrian area watching people go by and it dawned on me that no one was wearing a baseball cap except me.

 

This pedestrian shopping area was in a Central European country.  The spring weather was great.  There were blue skies, a cool breeze and plenty of sunshine.  It was pleasant, peaceful settings as I relaxed by myself and watched the world go by. But, the only one wearing a hat was me!

 

I started to watch more carefully.  Was this really true?  Was I really the only one among dozens of shoppers that was wearing a hat?  Finally, I noticed a man and woman walking in my direction.  The man was wearing a baseball cap.  Finally, I thought to myself, people do wear hats in this country.  But, as they got closer to me, I noticed the woman had something in her hand.  She was carrying a map.  Then I realized they were tourists just like me!

 

Slowly I began to realize that people who live in this European country don’t wear baseball type hats.  No one!  And because I had my baseball cap on, I stuck out like a sore thumb.  I suspect people were looking at me thinking – this guy is a tourist.  He is wearing a hat!

 

There is an interesting passage in the Bible in Mark chapter 14.  Jesus instructs two of his disciples to go into the city of Jerusalem and make preparations to celebrate the annual Passover meal.  When these two disciples ask him where they should go, he told them to look for a man who is carrying a pot of water on his head and follow him the to place Jesus had reserved.

 

This clandestine encounter always seemed to me like it was out of a Spy movie.  “Look for your contact at the Train Station – they will be wearing a red carnation”.  Jesus told his disciples to follow the man carrying water.  Jesus had reserved an upper room so he and his followers could enjoy the Last Supper alone and undisturbed.  He wanted to get away from the crowds and his critics.  He knew the Cross was only hours away.

 

Why the man with the water pot?  Because, in Bible times the women were usually who would go to the well to get water.  In the culture in Israel, the men did not carry the water.  When the two disciples went into the city, they would easily notice the man with the water pot on his head.  He would stick out just like an American tourist wearing a baseball cap in a European city.

 

Our country and our community are a blend of many different cultures.  This diversity of cultures and customs enriches our community and provides us with a remarkable opportunity to experience and appreciate cultures from around the world.  The world has come to us!

 

I don’t know if you wear a baseball cap or if you transport water in a particular way.  But, I hope you will take time to observe and enjoy the diversity of cultures in our community.   You will be glad you did and they will, too.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

A Little Light Goes A Long Way

By Mark Hopper

During our tour in Israel, we were given the opportunity to walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel in the city of Jerusalem.  Around 700 BC, the city of Jerusalem was threatened by the powerful Assyrian army.  The Assyrians were one of the most powerful nations in the Middle East at that time.  Their empire was centered where Iran and Iraq are today.  Their capital was the city of Nineveh.

 

The Assyrians had already defeated the northern half of Israel and were poised to attack the southern area called Judah.  Jerusalem was the capital of the southern kingdom.  A large wall protected the city.  A common military tactic in those days was to besiege a walled city until it ran out of food and water forcing the inhabitants to surrender.

 

King Hezekiah knew that a reliable source of water would be essential to withstand a long siege by the Assyrians.  He directed his engineers and workers to dig a long tunnel from a spring outside the city to provide the water that would be needed to survive behind the city walls.  It was a remarkable engineering feat to create this tunnel with just hammer and chisel.

 

The source of the water and the entrance to the tunnel outside the city walls was concealed so effectively that the enemy never found it.  In fact, the source of the water was only discovered in the 1800’s!  The tunnel had to be designed with a slight slope so that the water would run down hill and deep under the walls to bring water to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Water still flows in this tunnel today!

 

Tourists are allowed to walk through this tunnel beneath the city of Jerusalem.  The water level is only one to two feet deep.  The tunnel is only about the width of one person and barely high enough to stand upright.  And, the tunnel is very dark.  In fact, you can’t see the person walking in front of you.  You can hear them, but you can’t see anything.

 

Thankfully, they sell small, inexpensive flashlights at the gift shop near the tunnel entrance.  I usually don’t purchase trinkets and small souvenirs when we travel, but I was glad I spent $2 to by a flashlight.  It was the best two dollars I have ever spent!

 

My friend and I were the last two people in our group to enter the water tunnel.  We were glad we wore water shoes as we started to walk down the dark tunnel.   We were delayed a bit as we put our shoes on and quickly fell behind our group.  We could hear them ahead of us, but we couldn’t see them at all.  The narrow tunnel twisted and turned in the darkness.  The bottom and sides were rough.

 

I quickly learned that my friend had not purchased a flashlight.  I had the only one.  It was pitch black, but my little two-dollar flashlight really helped us navigate our 30 minute walk through the tunnel.  It was amazing how one little light illuminated our path.  I don’t know how we would have made it if we didn’t have that one little flashlight.

 

Jesus told his followers that they are “lights in this world” and that they were to “let their light shine” so that people would see their good works and be drawn to follow Jesus, too (Matthew 5:16).  When you and I help others and serve those around us, we are like a small light in a dark world.  Radom acts of kindness and thoughtful, encouraging words can brighten someone’s day and make their lives better.

 

We don’t need to be “in the spot light” and draw attention to ourselves.  We are called to bring a little light into the lives of those around us.  A little light goes a long way.  Let me encourage you to look for ways to encourage and help people around you.  Even a $2 flashlight can make a big difference in a dark place.  You will be glad you did and they will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Three Cheers for the Postman

By Mark Hopper

 

I suspect that the employees at the post office are the recipients of a lot of criticism.   I know I have voiced my frustration about the long lines and slow service at the post office in the past.  Maybe you have too.

 

I am sure that they hear many comments and words of criticism that are unkind and undeserved.  Customers are always in a hurry and it seems like the lines moves slowly at the post office.  I’m sure that the postal employees have a thankless task as they try to serve the needs of impatient customers.

 

However, I want to go on record and express my appreciation for the people at the post office in Diamond Bar.  I was pleasantly surprised by the shorter lines and positive service.  They deserve some recognition for their hard work.

 

We tend to ship things overseas several times a year.  Birthdays and holidays required sending small packages with special gifts for wonderful grandchildren and family members.

 

My wife does most of the shopping.  She asks our daughters who live overseas what the grandkids need or want for their birthdays or Christmas.  They provide some helpful ideas and she sets out to find the right gift for each grandchild.

 

Sometimes, we order gifts online and have them shipped directly to their homes.  Amazon, FedEx and UPS all offer delievery overseas.  Many of the items are already in Europe, we just have to track them down and order the desired items.

 

But, some gifts need to be purchased locally and shipped overseas.  We have found that shipping them through the local post office is most coat effective.  Don’t misunderstand, the price to ship even a small box to Europe is pretty high.  But, our post offfice has a pretty good record getting our packages to their oversea destination on time.

 

We have a very diverse community in Diamond Bar.  People who live here are from all over the world.  And, these wonderful people send letters and packages to their friends and families all over the world.  I have seen postal employees patiently assist people from many different countries.  They have helped me on a number of occasions to get our packages to our families in other parts of the world.

 

I hope you will exercise more patience the next time you go to the Post Office.  And, I hope you will express your appreciation to the postal workers, too.  They will be glad you did and you will too.  Three cheeers for the people who work at the Post Office.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efree DB.org

 

30 Years (Part One)

By Mark Hopper

Thirty years is a long time. It is almost a third of a century. But, that is how long we have lived in Diamond Bar, California. I began my new job as the pastor of our church on June 1, 1988 – 30 years ago. My wife and kids stayed in Arizona waiting for our house to sell while I began work at the church. I lived by myself in a condo near Pathfinder and Diamond Bar Blvd.  The condo belonged to a widow who was in poor health and she was living with her family. So I was on my own for about six weeks.

Although I missed my family during that time, I had a lot of time to get to know the community and people in the church.  I was able to visit most of the church families and several of them invited me to dinner in their homes.  In addition, I enjoyed delicious chocolate chip cookies and other snacks that came to my door during those days.

When our house finally sold in Arizona, I flew home to pack up and move to California.  With four kids and a four bedroom house, we had a lot of stuff to move.  We rented a U-Haul Truck – the biggest they made towing the biggest trailer they made!  Friends in Arizona helped us load everything in to the truck and trailer and new friends in California helped us unload it.  We could not have done it without their help.

We moved into the Daisy apartments (now the Hillside apartments) on Grand Avenue across from the Fire station.  We unloaded some things into this two bedroom apartment, but most of our things would need to be put in storage.  When I drove this giant truck and trailer down the exit driveway, it got stuck.  The trailer hitch got caught on the pavement and the back wheels of the truck were lifted off the ground.  The truck was stuck and we couldn’t move!  It was quite a sight.

I ran over to the fire station and asked for help, but they didn’t know what to do either.  Finally, I called the U-Haul hot line and they sent a tow truck from Sana Ana to help.  The tow truck driver hitched a heavy chain on to the front bumper of the truck. The firemen blocked oncoming traffic and the tow truck dragged us down the driveway and on to Grand Avenue while I was sitting in the truck using the brakes so I wouldn’t hit the tow truck in front of me.  It was a memorable start to our new life in Diamond Bar.

Our life at the Daisy apartment was fun.  It felt like we were on vacation.  It was a little crowded with four kids and two adults, but it had a pool, spa and tennis court.  I would go to work each day and my wife and kids enjoyed “vacation” at the Daisy apartments!

I usually took Monday as my day off, so we began to go to the beach on Mondays.  We usually went to Newport Beach and we usually stopped at Thrifty Drug store to get a scoop of ice cream on the way to the beach.  This became a weekly routine. Eventually the kids began to invite friends to come with us. The summer of ‘88 was a summer to remember.

In the first book in the Bible (Genesis) there is the record of Abraham leaving his home in Ur near the Persian Gulf and traveling to a land called Canaan (Israel).  The Bible says that Abraham went in faith, following the call of God on his life.  Abraham packed up his family and his possessions and traveled to a land he had never seen before.  It was a journey of faith.

We packed up our family and our possessions and traveled to a community we had never heard of called Diamond Bar.  It was a journey of faith for us too.  We are thankful that the Lord led us to this special community and to this special church.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45

 

Stuck on the 405

By Mark Hopper

Recently, my sister in law’s car broke down while she was driving on the 405 Freeway.  Bummer! She had spent a few days with her grandchildren in San Diego and was driving home to in Bakersfield when her Nissan began to sputter and finally died in the middle of the north bound 405 Freeway!

Thankfully no one hit her as her car slowed to a stop in the middle of afternoon traffic. A helpful stranger pushed her car to the side of the freeway and she called 911 and AAA for help.  The CHP office arrived quickly and parked his cruiser behind her car to protect her from the rush hour traffic. The tow truck arrived and asked her where she wanted to go for repairs.

While all of this is unfolding on the 405, my brother called me and asked if I could go help his wife. He knew she had broken down on the 405 Freeway but he was not sure exactly where she was. After a flurry of cell phone calls with his wife and with me, he decided to have her car towed to our house in Diamond Bar.

He asked me if I knew a good mechanic who could analyze the situation and if his wife could stay with us until her car could be repaired. Unfortunately, when I called a reliable mechanic that we often recommend, he was unable to help. He was overbooked with work and his co-worker was gone for the week.

As the tow truck slowly made its way in rush hour traffic toward Diamond Bar, I realized that it would drive past a Nissan dealer on the 60 Freeway. Maybe he should take the car there and ask them to diagnose the problem? I could meet my sister in law there and we could decide what to do.

We didn’t know how late the car dealer and service department would be open late in the afternoon, but they responded quickly and assured us that they could repair the car quickly. The diagnostics would cost about $125 plus the parts and labor. The service advisor encouraged us to go find some dinner and come back in about an hour. They would call us if there was any unexpected problems.

While we ate dinner, we prayed that the repairs would be done quickly and that it would not cost too much.  My sister in law was hoping to get back on the road and get home so she could teach school the next day.

When we returned to the car dealer, we went to the cashier’s office to pay for the repair work. But, the cashier didn’t have the paper work so she told us to go back and talk with the service advisor. He explained that the repair was actually very simple. An air intake hose had come loose and they actually found the missing part laying on the engine. They simply put the part back together with a new hose clamp!

When we asked how much this cost he said, “No charge”! At first we weren’t sure we heard him correctly – did he say “No charge”? Yes – the missing part was still there and a simple hose clamp reconnected everything and the car was running fine. “No charge”. We were stunned and very thankful for this unexpected outcome. Amazing!

My sister in law was able to get back on the freeway and continue her journey home. She arrived safe and sound later that night. My sister in law had quite an adventure. From broken down in the middle of the 405 Freeway and towed 40 miles to a very helpful car dealer and back on the road without a scratch or paying a penny – pretty amazing.

By the way, did I tell you the name of the service advisor who was so helpful? His name was “Jesus”. No kidding! I thought Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but I guess he is in the car repair business too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Wedding Season

By Mark Hopper

Spring has traditionally been the season for weddings. I often tell people that some of the happy parts about being a pastor are weddings and babies.  And, some of the sad parts about being a pastor are deaths and divorce.

I have two requirements for doing a wedding – come to church and come to counseling. I encourage each couple to come to church together regularly before their wedding. In many cases, these couples already attend our church.  Some actually met their fiancée at our church!

Sometimes I am asked to do a wedding for a couple in the community who do not attend our church. I actually enjoy this opportunity to get to know an engaged couples and I feel honored to lead their wedding ceremony.

When an engaged couple go to church together, they are developing and deepening their relationship with one another and with God. It is a healthy habit to develop early in their relationship and a habit that I hope they will maintain throughout their married life. I also encourage them to make time to pray together for one another and for their future.  When a couple prays together, they are revealing their inner thoughts, concerns and dreams.

I also require the engaged couple to commit to spend time with me in premarital counseling. I have used a number of different books and resources over the years to help these couples talk through various topics that will impact their marriage. Topics include communication, finances, expectations, money, intimate relations and more.

We usually meet together 4-5 times before the wedding. Each couple is expected to do a homework assignment on one of the topics listed above and then we discuss their thoughts and ideas together. I always remind them that the more time and effort they invest in this process the more they will benefit from it. Some couples work hard and “do their homework” while other couples only put in the minimum effort required. Some don’t realize the long term benefits that can come from premarital counseling.

We always spend a session planning and discussing the wedding ceremony. I enjoy hearing about what the bride and groom would like to include in their ceremony that makes it unique and special for them. Sometimes I am able to offer a suggestion, too.

I always use the Bible in premarital counseling and in the wedding ceremony itself. I believe that God created the institution of marriage and that the Bible has a lot to say about marriage.  In the very first book in the Bible, the author explains that God intended that “a man shall leave his father and mother and embrace his wife and the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:25). God’s plan is for the kids to grow up, get married and start a family of their own. It is both sacred and very special.

Weddings can be stressful for everyone involved. There are so many details to attend to and so many decisions that need to be made.  But, I always remind these hopeful couples that a wedding is a day of celebration for the lucky couple, their friends and their families. Don’t let the stress and pressure detract for the celebration. You will be glad you did and your family will be too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Leftover Easter Eggs

By Mark Hopper

I have shared in previous articles how much my wife loves decorating our home during the various seasons of the year.  We have boxes and plastic storage tubs full of decorations for spring and fall, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I think we also have some patriotic decorations for the 4th of July.

Easter season has been a lot of fun this year.  One of the things that our young grandchildren like to do is hunt for Easter Eggs around our house.  I enjoy hiding the plastic eggs and love to watch them enjoy finding them.

We have also learned that hiding the eggs is just as much fun as finding the eggs. The four year old likes to hide the plastic eggs inside drawers and kitchen cabinets. The younger 15 month old likes to hide them in more conspicuous places like on a living room chair or on top of the coffee table.

The four year old likes to give hints about the location of the hidden eggs. She uses words like “you are getting warmer” and “you are getting colder” to help guide her younger sister and me to the hidden locations.

On the other hand, the younger one likes to actually show her older sister when she has hidden the eggs. She will walk right to the spot and pick up the egg and give it to her older sister.

It is a fun game to play inside or outside the house. It fills a lot of time and allows both girls to be creative in where they hide the plastic Easter Eggs.

However, one of the challenges of hiding and finding Easter Eggs is accounting for all of them.  After we play this game several times, we realize that some of the eggs are still missing.  I sometimes forget where I have hidden them and sometimes our granddaughters do too. Where did they go? Why haven’t we found all of them yet?

The other day, as we were going to bed, my wife and I discovered a plastic egg under our pillow. Another time, we found one behind the living room curtains. Leftover Easter Eggs keep popping up around our house days after the children had left.

Leftover Easter Eggs bring a smile to our faces and warms our hearts. When we come across a hidden egg, we are reminded of the special times we share with these two precious little girls.

I recommend that all grandparents keep a supply of plastic Easter Eggs year round. They provide a fun activity with little guests and create some memories that will last for a long time. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Planting Seeds

By Mark Hopper

I have an Aunt who lives in Des Moines Iowa. She was an elementary school teacher and principal for many years. Now she is retired and in her 90’s. We were able to visit her when my wife and I went to see the Solar Eclipse in the mid-west last summer.

We enjoyed our conversations with her and learned a lot about my family roots in a small town outside of Des Moines called Boone, Iowa.  She told us stories about my grandmother and about life in Iowa.

One thing that she shared with us was her tradition of planting tomato seeds in small containers in her house in Iowa in February. She often saved seeds from the previous years, dried them out and planted them in the late winter. It was too cold in Iowa to plant the seeds outdoors, so she started them in her house and set them in the kitchen window sill to get plenty of sunlight.

So in her honor, I decided to do the same thing here in our house in California. I saved some seeds from one of last year’s tomatoes and dried them out in our garage. In early February, I planted the seeds in a little plastic “tray” that had six small compartments, like the ones you buy at the local home improvement store.

I got some soil from my garden, planted one or two seeds in each compartment and waited to see what would happen. I was so excited to see that at least one seed in each little compartment sprouted! It was fascinating to see tiny, thin plants emerge from the moist soil. The first little spouts were as thin a hair. Then a two tiny leaves emerged over the next few days and these little plants begin to grow bigger.

It was a slow process. But each day I would check on these little plants to see how much they had grown each day. I was excited to show these little tomato plants to our grandchildren when they would come to visit our house each week. I think they were excited too.

Unfortunately, I decided to add a little fertilizer to these fragile plants. I think that was a mistake. Over the next few days, I notice some of the tiny tomatoes plants began to look unhealthy. I think I may have over done it a little.

Since my wife and I were scheduled to go out of town for a few days, we sent to small tray of tomato plants home with the grandkids. When we returned the next week, only one plant had survived. Bummer.

But, one living plant is more than we had last winter and even one tomato plant can produce a large crop. I suspect that we will go to the home improvement store or local nursery and purchase some additional plants for the coming season, but I am hopeful that my one little friend will produce a bumper crop of tasty tomatoes this year.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Christians he says, “One plants, another waters, but God causes it to grow’ (First Corinthians 3:6-7). The miracle of life seems to be conclusive evidence of the existence of God.  One small, tiny seed can grow into a healthy plant and produce fruit that in turn contains dozens of seeds for the next season. And another crop! Amazing!

Let me encourage you to get busy and plant some seeds this spring. Watch the miracle of life emerge from the soil and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Why not plant some seeds in honor of my Aunt?  I think you will be glad you did and I’m sure she will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond BAr Blvd

909-594-7604

Easter Sunday Services: 8:30 / 10:00 & 11:30 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Bumper Crop

By Mark Hopper

I always say that the nicest days in California are the days after it has rained. We have enjoyed some beautiful weather the past few weeks thanks to string of winter storms that brought blue skies, white puffy clouds and crystal clean air. It reminds you why Southern California is such a nice place to live.

The rain also causes our hillsides to turn green. We get accustomed to the brown scenery most of the year. It is amazing to see the parched hillsides transformed with beautiful dark green vegetation. The snow capped peaks add a lovely contrast that makes the picture complete. Blue skies, green hillsides and fresh snow covered mountain tops complete the painting.

However, I have noticed that all the winter rain has also produced a bumper crop of dark green weeds in my garden. I think I pulled out more weeds from my garden this year than any in recent history. They were big, healthy weeds that covered most of my winter strawberry plants.

Many of these healthy weeds were six to eight inches high! Where did they come from? How did they grow so fast?  Who is responsible for this weed epidemic? I suppose I share most of the responsibility since I didn’t go out to the garden during the last few rain filled weeks. I’m sure that my absence and neglect contributed to the weed infestation.

It took me a couple of hours to pull all of the weeds out. It didn’t completely fill my “green” garbage can, but I was surprised at how much space it did fill up. Hopefully the trash company will appreciate my efforts and recycle all of this “green” material. It really was a bumper crop of weeds this year.

One problem with weeds is that they have seeds. They reproduce like rabbits and they keep coming back. Gardening is an unending struggle against the forces of nature. It is a fact of life that weeds produce seeds and those seeds keep producing more weeds!

Did you know that weeds are actually mentioned in the Bible? The early chapters of Genesis provide a remarkable account of how God created the world and the people, plants and animals that live on the earth. God provided food for all living things. But, when the man (Adam) disobeyed God, the man had to start raising his own food and so the struggle began – man verses weeds!

The Bible says, “The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you will get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk” (Genesis 3:18-19 – from the Message Bible).

This is a helpful reminder. Our actions and decisions have consequences. When we do things that we know we should not do or when we don’t do things that we know we should do – there are consequences. When I neglect my garden, weeds gain a foothold and multiply. When I take time to tend my garden, the weeds are held at bay and we enjoy the fresh strawberries, tomatoes  and other vegetables.

This is true in our relationship with God and with other people. When we cultivate our relationships with God and others, we enjoy the benefits and blessings. When we neglect our relationship with God and others, we experience the consequences.

Let me encourage you to invest more of your time and energy in your relationship with God and with others. Don’t let the “weeds” get the upper hand. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Lost And Found

By Mark Hopper

You have read in my previous articles how much we enjoy getting to spend time with our grandchildren.  We usually babysit one day a week. They love to come to Grammy’s house and we love to have these special visitors.

In addition to playing with toys and baking muffins at our house, we usually take them out on an adventure.  Recently we went to the big Lowe’s home improvement store in Chino Hills.  My wife wanted our granddaughters to see the new potted plants and colorful flowers.  We then purchased some plant food to enrich some of the strawberry plants growing in our beautiful garden.

Our adventure also included a stop at Chick Fil A for some chicken nuggets and waffle fries.  Our older granddaughter already knew that she wanted a “Kid’s Meal”.  I think it had something to do with the toy that came with the meal.  Her little sister was glad to help eat the chicken nuggets and waffle fries, they each got a box of apple juice too.

When we got home after our outing, we got the kids out of their car seats, unloaded the diaper bag, grabbed their coats and got them into the house.  We took time to check the mail box – they always like to see if there is anything in the mail box!

The afternoon included some rest time.  We were hoping they would nap – we needed one!  But, a nap didn’t seem to be part of their plan.  Their mother picked them up after work and it was a nice day with our special visitors.

However, a few hours later when we decided to go out to dinner, we could not find the car key.  We had lost the original key a few months ago and paid quite a bit of money to replace it.  Now, we couldn’t find the new key…how responsible of us.

We looked everywhere for that key. We looked in the toy box,  in the car, under the sofa, under their car seats, we searched through my wife’s purse.  Where did the car key go?  I knew we had used the new key to drive the car earlier that day, so the key had to be somewhere but we couldn’t find it.

There is a passage in the Bible that includes three stories about a lost coin, a lost sheep and a lost son.  In each story in Luke chapter fifteen, Jesus explained that a “woman searched and swept her house until she found the lost coin.”  He also described how the shepherd left the ninety nine sheep to search for the one that was lost. And, he used the story of a lost son (the prodigal son) to reveal the heart of the father who watched patiently for his “lost son” to return home.

The common thread in these three parables was that they searched diligently for what was lost and they rejoiced greatly when it was found. We are like the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.  God is like the determined woman, the searching shepherd and the loving father.  All of them celebrate when they found what was “lost”.

Our Heavenly Father never gives up on you and me.  He never left us – we strayed away from Him.  He longs for us to come back to Him.  The Bible says that Heaven rejoices when one “lost” sheep, coin or son is restored to fellowship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

By the way, we finally found the lost key.  I sent an email to our daughter and asked her to look through the kid’s coats, snack box and the diaper bag.  She called and told us that she found the key in the diaper bag.  How did that happen?  I must have dropped the key into the diaper bag when we unloaded the car when we got home from our fun adventure.

Let me encourage you to dust off your Bible and read Luke chapter 15 for yourself.  And, let me encourage you to be more careful where you put your car keys, too!  You will be glad you did!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

Impossible

By Mark Hopper

In C.S. Lewis’s famous book, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, there is a remarkable scene where the evil White Witch killed the powerful Lion named Aslan.  Aslan had willingly surrendered himself to the Witch.  She and her minions had bound, ridiculed and humiliated the Lion and she had personally killed him by plunging a dagger into his heart.

The wicked Witch had killed the mighty Aslan.  She had won, he had lost – or so it seemed.  Aslan’s friends had witnessed his execution from afar.  They had embraced his cold, dead body.  They wept as they walked away knowing their friend and leader was dead.

However, moments later the stone table where Aslan had been killed was shattered and Aslan’s body vanishes.  Those who witnessed his death are confused.  What happened?  What does this mean?  Where did Aslan go?

To their amazement, Aslan reappears alive.  He is no longer dead – he is alive again.  His followers are stunned.  But, there he is alive again.  They not only saw him with their eyes, but they could also touch him with their hands and talk with him and hear him speak.  He was really was alive again!

As C. S. Lewis continues his story, the forces of good and evil find themselves in a fierce battle.  The White Witch leads her army in battle against the followers of Aslan.  The Witch’s forces are winning and things look bleak for Aslan’s army.  But, suddenly Aslan arrives at the scene of the battle bringing reinforcements.

When the White Witch sees the powerful Lion, Aslan, she says in disbelief – “Impossible”! This can’t be the great Lion Aslan.  She had personally thrust the dagger into his heart.  She saw him die.  She knew he was dead.  How can he be alive again?  It is “Impossible”!

Many people may not realize that the reason Christians celebrate Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  All of the biblical writers provide detailed accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.   These events are the foundation of the Christian faith.  You can read them for yourself in New Testmanet books like Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.

For some people, the idea that a dead man could come back to life seems unlikely if not impossible.  Why would intelligent, educated people believe a story like that?  How can someone believe in something that seems impossible?  There are no photographs.  There is no DNA evidence to examine.  Why do millions of Christians around the world believe in the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ?

I would like to share with you in my next article why I believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead.  There are a number of reasons that His resurrection is not only possible but probable.  I hope you will dust off your Bible and take time to read one or more of the chapters listed above.  Examine the details carefully.

I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts with you in my next article.  Easter is coming in only a few weeks.  I hope you will make plans now to attend a church near you on Easter Sunday.

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

 

More Family Connections

By Mark Hopper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Christmas Eve Services Dec 24th

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

Efreedb.org

 

A Famous Photo

By Mark Hopper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

I Can Fix It (Part II)

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

 

College Football

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo courtesy: Google Images

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

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

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

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org