Tag Archives: Pastor Mark Hopper

Holding Hands

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently, I was on my way to visit someone at Pomona Valley Hospital when I saw something that caught my attention.

Instead of taking the freeway, I took surface streets.  I like to stay off the busy freeways whenever I can and enjoy the side streets and local neighborhoods.  As I was driving along Orange Grove Avenue in Pomona, I saw an older couple walking on the sidewalk.  It was a nice day, the sun was shining and this couple seemed to be enjoying their stroll.

The thing that caught my attention was that they were holding hands.  Yes, they were holding hands.  This couple looked like they were in their 70’s.  I’m sure they were grandparents or maybe even great-grandparents.  But as they slowly walked along the sidewalk, they were holding hands.

I suppose we expect to see some teens or young couples holding hands.  Sometimes we see couples out on a date holding hands, but I don’t think we often see older couples taking a walk and holding hands.  I wonder, why do we stop holding hands with our spouse?  I suppose that it is when we start having children. Young parents have their hands full with baby carriers and diaper bags.  It may be when we try to protect our toddlers and tell them “hold my hand” as you cross the street or navigate through a busy parking lot.

Since we are busy holding the hands of our children, we may not have the opportunity to hold the hand of our husband or wife.  In addition, there are those times when our hands are filled with groceries, shopping bags and other things so we are not able to hold someone’s hand.

I think God gave us human hands so that we can touch, caress and embrace those we love.  Touch is a powerful sense that can communicate so much.  Whether it is a soft touch or a firm grip, our hands communicate love and emotion.

Let me encourage you this Valentine’s season to hold someone’s hand.  Make an effort to hold their hand as you walk to the car or stroll through a park.  Use your hands to communicate your love and feelings for the special people in your life.  They will be glad you did and you will too.

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

It’s Tax Season

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper 

 

There is bad news and good news about income taxes this year.  The bad news is that it’s tax season again.  The good news is that income taxes are not due until April 18th!

I know there is a lot of tax preparation software available these days.  And there are many tax professionals that can help people with filing their income tax returns.   Since I usually do my own taxes, I spend hours reading the instructions and filling out my tax return.   It used to take weeks to get additional forms.   Now, I can find them online and print my own copies.

All year long, I collect and keep receipts in a large manila envelope.  In January, it takes a lot of time to sort and organize these into different piles.  I have heard that it takes the average tax payer from five to ten hours to prepare their income taxes.   I’m sure it takes me a lot longer!

Eventually, my taxes get done and in the mail before the deadline.  I always say a short prayer when I put my tax return in the mail.  I hope that I got them right!

If I were a politician, I would simplify the whole income tax system.  More people would probably file their own taxes if the process was simplified.  I wonder if the complexity motivates people to not file at all or requires many people to hire tax professionals?

There is a passage in the Bible that says, “Give to everyone what you owe him; if you owe taxes, pay taxes, if you owe revenue, then pay revenue, if you owe respect, give respect and if you owe honor, then give honor” (Romans 13:7)   When Jesus was asked if people should pay taxes He answered, “Whose picture is on the Roman coin?” The answer was Caesar.  Therefore, He said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:14-17).

I don’t think anyone enjoys paying taxes, but it is part of life.  If we live in this country, we should expect to support this country with our taxes.  We may not always like the way our local, state or national governments spend our money, but we should pay our taxes and then show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box in November.

Don’t forget – good news – the tax deadline this year is April 18th!

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

What Color Is Your Car?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have heard people say that you can learn a lot about a person by the color of their car.

People with flashy red or bright yellow cars are probably seeking the attention of others.  This may be true.  I read somewhere that people who get the most traffic tickets are people who drive red cars and trucks.

I have also heard that people who desire less attention drive cars that blend in, like gray, silver or tan.  We have a gray car and a silver car.  So that must tell you something about my personality!

As I looked around our neighborhood, I noticed that one neighbor had only white vehicles parked in their driveway.  Every car and truck in their family was white.  Maybe this reflects the unity in their family?  However, I think I did notice a darker color recently.  Maybe more diversity is emerging at their house.

It is also surprising how many dark colored cars there are in our neighborhood.  One member of our family has a black Honda Accord.  Another neighbor has a black pickup truck.  Maybe the darker colors look more expensive and luxurious.

A few years ago, a hot topic in the news was the question, “What kind of car would Jesus drive?” This generated a lot of discussion and controversy.  My answer was that Jesus would probably drive a large passenger van so He could help bring people to church!

Maybe we can start a new discussion by asking, “What color car would Jesus drive?”  I’ll let you ponder this deep question.  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that the two passenger vans at our church are dark green.

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart,” (I Samuel 16:7).  Maybe we should not give as much attention to the color of the cars our neighbors are driving.  Maybe we should focus on what is “under the hood”.

Let’s do the same with the people we meet each day.  Don’t focus on their hairstyle or the clothes they wear.  We should focus on their heart and realize that each person we meet is precious and valuable in God’s sight.

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

Washing Windows

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

We decided to wash the windows around our house a few months ago.  It was surprising to see how dirty they were.  A little elbow grease and our favorite household cleaner produced some really clean windows!  I don’t think we realized just how dirty the windows had become until we began washing them.  Dust and dirt had collected over the past few months.  Summer rain storms and daily grime had coated the windows with a dirty film.

The screens were dirty too, so we also took the screens off the windows and hosed them down with water.  The results were amazing.  We could see out of the clean windows.  The screens and glass looked great.  The before and after were amazing.  What a difference it made to invest a little time simply washing the windows!  Now, when we look out the windows, we see things so much more clearly.  The trees look greener and the patio looks cleaner.  It was like putting on a new pair of glasses – we could see everything much more clearly.

I wonder how much dust and dirt build up in our own hearts and lives.  Harmful habits and self-centered attitudes can creep into our lives before we even realize it.  We didn’t realize how dirty the windows had become at our house because the dust and grime built up slowly over time.

There are times that each of us could be helped by a little “window cleaning”.  Each of us needs to examine our own hearts and seek God’s forgiveness for the sin that accumulates in our lives.

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

We all need to spend a quiet moment with God each day to “clear the decks” and “clean the windows” so that His light can shine brighter through us.  The windows in our homes and the windows of our heart sure look a lot better when they are clean!

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

Clueless

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper
I am a big fan of summer.  I like the long evenings and the warm sun.  I like working in the yard and with just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.   I am not as big a fan of winter.  I don’t enjoy wearing long sleeve shirts and warm coats. I would prefer to not need to wear a sweater or sweatshirt every time I go out the door.  My wife would say that I am not always aware of what I am wearing.  When she sees me wearing an old shirt or a worn-out sweater, she will encourage me to not wear it outside the house.
But what do you do when there is no one around to help you know what colors go together or what shirt goes with a particular pair of pants?  I think most men need help in this area.  That is why men need a wife to help them with these sensitive matters.  Not long ago, I got dressed for work and put on a warm sweater and went out the door.  When I went to a scheduled meeting, someone tapped on my shoulder and said that there was something on the back of my sweater.
When I looked to see what he was referring to, I didn’t notice a thing.  Maybe it was just some fuzz or lint.  I went through the entire day and did not know that there was something wrong.  When I got home that night, I discovered that I had put the sweater on backwards!  The thing on the back of my sweater was a design of a small sail boat.  It is the logo for the Nautica sportswear company!  It belongs in the front!
I was very embarrassed.  I had been wearing my sweater backwards all day long.  I wonder how many people noticed this but did not say anything?  I wonder how many people did not notice or didn’t care? There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  If one of them falls, the other will lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).  Maybe we could paraphrase the verse to say, “If one wears his sweater backwards, the other can help point out his mistake and help correct the problem”.
Let me encourage you to be open to the suggestions or correction of a trusted friend or family member.  They may see something in your life that you are unaware of.  They may be able to help you “get your sweater on” right and help you avoid embarrassing yourself!
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org

Keep On Knocking

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

by Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently I was working on a home improvement project when I ran out of material.  I had put down some new floor tile and was trying to complete the grout, but I didn’t have enough grout to finish.  Bummer!
I knew that there was a Home Depot nearby and thought they were open until 10:00 PM.  So I jumped into the car and hurried over, thinking I had plenty of time to spare.  However, when I arrived at the store, I noticed that the parking lot was pretty empty and there were not many people around.  As I walked up to the front door, I discovered that the store closed at 9:00 PM, not 10:00 PM.  The ten o’clock closing time was correct in the summer, but in the winter they had an earlier closing time.  Now what should I do?  It was only a few minutes after nine when I arrived and I could still see a number of employees inside the store.  They were cleaning up and closing up for the day.
I knocked on the glass door and one employee saw me holding my empty container.  The employee was kind enough to come to the door and listen to my distressing situation. To my surprise, he opened the door and asked me what color of grout I needed. He explained that he could not let me inside the store, but he offered to go look for what I needed. I handed him the empty container and off he went. A few minutes later, the helpful employee returned with two other employees following him. Maybe this was a security measure to make sure I wasn’t planning to rob the store.
He found a new container of grout matching the color and texture of the empty container I had given him.  When I pulled out my wallet to pay for the material, he said that he could not accept any money and that the price had been reduced. He gave it to me for free!  The small bucket of grout cost less than $10, but I never expected a huge home improvement store to give me something for free- I was amazed, and I was very thankful to have enough material to finish my late night project.  I was especially thankful for an employee who was kind enough to help me in my time of need.
There is a verse in the Bible where Jesus taught His followers about prayer.  In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Keep on asking and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened.”  I’m sure that I said a little prayer that night when I knocked on the door at Home Depot, hoping that someone would hear and help.  How much more does God love to respond to our daily needs when we come to Him in prayer asking for His help?  All we need to do is bring our needs and requests to Him.  He always hears and He is ready to help!
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org

Go The Extra Mile

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper
One phrase that we have often used in our family is “Go The Extra Mile”.  We would tell our kids to do more than they were asked to do.  We wanted them to go beyond what was expected of them.
During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a series of instructions to his followers.  He challenged them to live differently than the culture of their time.  In Matthew 5:41, Jesus said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two”.  At the time Jesus spoke those words, the nation of Israel was under Roman occupation.  A Roman soldier could force anyone to carry his equipment and materials up to a full mile.  No one could refuse this demand.
When Jesus said, “go with him two,” He was saying that His followers should exceed what is demanded of them by those in authority.  Followers of Christ should go “above and beyond” what is required of them.  Today, many people do as little as possible.  Students in school spend as little time as necessary to complete their homework.  Employees often do the same thing.  They can’t wait to punch their time card and leave their building or factory.
I wonder about you.  When you are given an assignment at work or school, do you strive for excellence or just try to do the minimum required?  Do you exceed the expectations of your teacher or boss or do you only do as little as necessary to complete the assignment?  What would your classmates or co-workers say about the quality of your work and the level of your performance?
I read a story about a man in England who built walls out of rocks and stones.  You see these stone walls all over rural England.  He was very careful to make sure that the foundation of the wall was well built, even though it would eventually be covered up with dirt.  When his young apprentice asked him why he spent so much time and effort on the part of the wall that no one would see, he replied, “Even if no one else sees it, I will know and God will know if it was well built.”
Let me challenge you to exceed expectations and excel in what you do.  Look for opportunities to “go the extra mile.”  Others may never know the extra time and effort you invested, but God will know and you will, too!
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org

A Man Named Mark

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

The worst home improvement project is plumbing.  When you start a plumbing project in most homes, you can expect to go back to the store at least three times and often more.

Recently, my wife and I were in Arizona visiting her mother and working on some home improvement projects. One of the major projects I undertook was to change the valves on the water connections for the washing machine.  A main reason that plumbing projects are so frustrating is that you have to turn off the main water supply into the house before you can change out valves and other water supply outlets.  Once the water is off and old valves are removed, there is no turning back.  You are committed to finishing the job completely before you can turn the water back on.  There is no room for error or only doing the job halfway.  Once you start, you have to finish.   Inevitably, you run into a problem that you did not expect.  In my case, I was trying to replace the two valves that supply the hot and cold water to the washing machine.

On my first trip to the store, I bought two identical valves and they looked the same.  When I brought them home and tried to install them, one fit but the other one did not.  How could that be?  I went back to the home improvement store looking for help.  Although there were several people willing to help me, they all said I needed to talk to Mark.  He was an experienced plumber with a good name.  He was the one I should talk to.  It turned out that the man named Mark was rather shy and soft spoken, but I quickly discovered that he was both knowledgeable and helpful.  He agreed that my two valves were not the same.  One valve had “compression threads” and the other valve had standard “pipe threads”.  I knew pipes had threads, but I did not realize that there are different kinds of threads!

He said that I needed a transition connection that would enable both of the valves to fit the compression threads coming out of the wall.  No one else in the plumbing department could diagnose my problem, but Mark did.  With his help, some Teflon tape and a lot of pipe dope, I soon had the problem solved and the valves reassembled.  I could turn the water back on and life could return to normal.

I’m thankful that there are “Marks” in the world who can solve problems for us.  It’s great to have someone who is knowledgeable in their field to ask for help and advice.  I’m sure there is someone in your life who knows a lot about computers, car repair or baking cookies. You may have a skill or expertise that enables you to help others, too.  I hope that you will watch for an opportunity to help others like Mark helped me.  And, I hope you will say “Thanks” to the people who have stepped in to help you solve a mystery or problem in your life.

I not only said thanks to Mark, but I also sent an email to his boss to express my appreciation for Mark’s help and guidance in solving my problem.   I hope my brief note will result in some recognition or reward for my new hero named Mark.

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

An Unseen Friend

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

We have two citrus trees outside our kitchen window.  When the weather is nice, we like to open the window in the morning and leave it open in the evening until we go to bed.

A few months ago, we began to notice that in the evening, just before it got dark, we would hear a bird in the tree outside the window.  He would chirp and whistle and sing as it got dark.  It was like he was saying good night before he went to sleep.

We continue to hear this same chirping and singing every night.  The unseen bird must consider our tree his home.  We actually enjoy hearing the bird each night.  We are glad that he is safe and survived another day.

Since we get up at different times in the morning, I don’t remember hearing our feathered friend.  However, about a week ago I heard the same singing just as day light was returning. I think the bird was saying “good morning” to our family just as he had been saying good night in the evening.

I suspect that the bird is also saying good morning and good night to his feathered friends in our neighborhood, too. This must be one way that the birds check in at the beginning and end of each day.

What is interesting is that I don’t think we have ever actually seen the bird who greets us each morning and each night.  He or she is an unseen friend.  We know he is there, but we have never seen him.

There are several passages in the Bible that talk about an unseen friend.  He is called the comforter, the counselor and the helper – the Holy Spirit.  In John 14:16, Jesus said, ” I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him or knows him…He will be with you and dwell in you”.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be an unseen friend, who would help and strengthen those who follow Him.  Jesus promised to never leave us alone, but to provide the Holy Spirit to be our companion, comforter and helper.

The Holy Spirit is just like our unseen friend in the tree outside our kitchen window.  Even though we don’t see him, we know that he is there.  We may not hear his voice, but we are confident that we are not alone.

Let me encourage you to dust off your Bible and do some reading in the Gospel of John, especially chapters 13-16.  You can discover some encouraging lessons about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Make time to visit a church near you that teaches the Bible and learn more about how God provides a helper and comforter to those who put their faith in Christ.  You can find comfort and hope knowing that you have an unseen friend!

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

 

A Free Lunch?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

We have all heard the phrase “There is no such thing as a free lunch”.  I’m not sure when or where this saying got started, but I have discovered that it is not true.

Two recent incidents made it clear to me that there really is such a thing as a “free lunch”!  One example was a delicious lunch that was provided for our church staff by an anonymous member.

Many churches celebrate “Pastor Appreciation Month” in October.

Different churches honor their pastors and staff members in different ways.  Someone at our church offered to pay for lunch for all of our church staff.  We went to a Korean BBQ restaurant and really enjoyed it.  It really was a “free lunch”.

More recently, I stopped at a local fast food restaurant for a quick lunch.  While I waited in line to order my food, the owner greeted me and asked how I was doing.  He does not attend our church but recently came to an event on our campus.

As I placed my order and pulled out my wallet to pay, he insisted on making my lunch complimentary. I was caught by surprise. I did not expect to receive a “free lunch”.  I felt awkward but I did appreciate his kindness and I did enjoy my lunch, too!

We have all heard stories of people paying for the food or coffee for the car behind them in the drive through lane at Starbucks or a fast food restaurant. We have heard of examples of people anonymously paying for some one’s lay away items in a local department store.

The Bible teaches us to be generous and share with others. In First Timothy 5:17-18, it says, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world…to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share”.

You may not think you are rich, but you probably have more money and more possessions than most people in the world.  You may not be able to help people in another country or on a different continent, but you may be able to help someone nearby.

I hope you will watch for an opportunity to help a neighbor, co-worker or classmate this season.  A thoughtful gift card or small amount of cash in an envelope could be just the encouragement that someone needs to lift their spirits at Christmas time.

Maybe you can provide a “free lunch” for the car behind you in the drive thru lane or give a gift to someone in need.  You will be glad you did and they will, too!

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

Cleaning The Garage

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

Spring cleaning usually happens in March or April. But, it happened at our house in the middle of November! Maybe we should call it “fall” cleaning?

There are several lessons that I learned while we were cleaning out the garage. The first lesson was that you have to start! My wife and I had talked about cleaning the garage many times, but this time we finally did it. Sometimes the hardest part of any job is getting started!

Another lesson I learned was that we tend to keep things we really don’t need any more.

As we cleared off some shelves and reorganized some different things, we both asked each other, “Do you know why we have saved this?” Sometimes we even asked, “Do you know what this is or what it belongs to?”

At the same time, I was glad to find some things that we had saved and I had not been able to find. There were several tools and other items that we discovered hidden behind boxes or covered up by other stuff. Nice to find some things that we thought were lost.

I think any cleaning project goes better if you do them with other people. It is harder to get motivated when you are working alone. There is something about working together with other people that keeps you going.  And, the conversation makes it more fun, too.

One slogan that we have used is, “When in doubt…throw it out”. My wife said, “Sometimes, you just have to let it go”.  It can be hard to throw some things away, but sometimes we have to make the tough decisions. And, some things can be recycled, too.

This may not be the time of year for “spring cleaning” but it might just be the right time for you to tackle a cluttered closet or maybe even the two-car garage. Find a friend and get started. You will be glad you did!

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

Saving Water And Saving Money

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

We continue to hear about the drought here in California. We tend to forget that we actually live in a desert. Even though we have an ocean only miles away, we have cactus growing on the hillsides right here in Diamond Bar!

I sense that many people are making sincere attempts to conserve water. Some have actually removed their lawns and installed artificial grass. Others have re-landscaped their yards with drought resistant plants and shrubs.

We have reduced the amount of water we are using at our home and the number of days we water our lawn. I’m encouraged to see that our water bill reflects that we are using less water each month.

Recently I noticed that there was moisture in the flower bed where we left our water hose. I soon realized that the hose valve was not shutting off completely. A tiny steam of water was getting through. We were wasting water.

My first step was to try to turn the valve off more tightly. But that did not stop the water completely. I realized that the valve was not working properly. Calcium and mineral deposits had built up on the inside of the vale and it was not shutting off completely. How expensive was this going to be?

I went to Home Depot and bought a new valve but when I got home I discovered that it was not the same size. It looked like this project was getting more difficult and probably more expensive.

Then I want to my neighborhood Ace Hardware store hoping to could replace the parts inside the shut off valve and not have to remove the whole thing. They did not have the replacement parts that I was looking for, but I had an idea. Did they sell a simple rubber washer that is inside the shut-off valve?

Not only did they have the small washer, but the price was right, too. It cost a total of eighty cents – less than a dollar!

I went home and scrapped off the sediment and calcium that had built up inside the valve and installed the small rubber washer. It worked! No drips, no water seeping out of the garden hose!

I was so encouraged that I was not only saving water but I also save a lot of money.

Who would have thought that a small rubber washer could make such a difference? No more drips. No more wasted water!

Let me encourage you to look for some simple steps that you can take to save water and save money.

You will be glad you did and your neighbors will too!

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

 

Right Back Where I Started From

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently, my wife and I were looking forward to spending a week in Hawaii, but it was a lot more difficult than we expected.

Our travels started easy enough.  We got up early at 4 a.m. and left our house before 5 a.m. to catch our flight to Hawaii.  Freeway traffic was better than we expected and we got to the airport in plenty of time for our 8 o’clock flight.

We had made our reservations using airline miles almost a year ago.  We were scheduled to go from LA to San Francisco and connect with a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Maui.  Unfortunately, our flight out of LAX was delayed and we began to wonder if we would make our connection in San Francisco.  But, our airline was reassuring.  We had time to catch the Hawaiian flight.

When we finally got to the San Francisco airport we discovered that we had to go outside security, go to another terminal and go through security again.  There were about 10 people like us who were scheduled to connect with the Hawaiian flight.

As we ran to our departure gate we could see the big, beautiful Hawaiian plane pulling away from the gate.  It did not wait for us and it did not come back for us.  We missed it.

All of us were told to go back to our original airline’s ticket counter to get booked on another flight since they had caused us to miss our connection.  We were told there were no other flights available to Hawaii from San Francisco on that day.

We could stay at a hotel near the airport (at our own expense) and try again the next day.  Or, they offered to fly us back to LA and see if there were any empty seats on planes going to Hawaii that evening.  All 10 of us decided to take our chances in LA.  So we flew back to where we started from!

Two couples got rebooked on a Hawaiian Airline flight from LAX to Honolulu and then on to Maui.  Two other couples got on a flight from LAX direct to Maui on our original carrier.  We did too.  We got the last two seats on the last flight of the day!

Hurray, we were finally going to Hawaii!  Our flight was packed but we were just glad to be going to Maui and not going back to Diamond Bar.  We arrived at about 10 p.m. Hawaiian time which is about 1 a.m. our time.  We had been waiting and flying and waiting and flying for almost 24 hours!

Just when we thought we had successfully completed our travel adventure, we discovered that our bags did not make it.  Thankfully, we had our clothes in our carry-on bags but the most important one, my golf club bag, did not make it.  How can you enjoy Hawaii without your golf clubs?

The airline assured us that my golf clubs would be on the next flight and would be delivered to our hotel the next day.  What they didn’t tell us was that my golf bag was actually still in San Francisco. I finally found it in a locked office at the Maui airport two days later.  I’m not sure what happened to the overnight delivery.

I know that there are many things much worse that can happen in life.  Our little Hawaiian adventure was more of an inconvenience, not a national disaster.  You probably have a similar story of missed flights and lost bags.  I suppose we should expect things to not always go as planned.

There is a verse in the book of Proverbs that says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

In all of life there will be unexpected bends in the road and delays at the airport.  We need to learn to trust God to direct our paths and not become impatient or frustrated with the missed connections of modern travel.  Who knows, you may find yourself right back where you started from, too!

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

What Did You Say?

By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have had the privilege of serving as the lead pastor of two churches for a total of 40 years – 27 years in Diamond Bar and 13 years in Arizona.

As the lead pastor, I was responsible for preparing and delivering most of the sermons on Sunday morning.  For many of those years, we had two Sunday services.  If I preached 40 Sundays a year (deducting vacations, guest speakers, special programs, etc.) and spoke twice each Sunday, I have probably preached over 3,000 sermons in my life.

That is a lot of sermons and a lot of words!  So, I wonder, what are some of the things that people remember from all those sermons?  What words or catchy phrases do you think people remember?

Here are a few that I have heard people say they remember:

“Your ministry begins in the parking lot”.  Since we have a limited number of parking spaces on our property, we have rented spaces from businesses near our church.  We encourage people to “Park and Walk” to church from the off-site lots so that older adults, families with small children, people with special needs and new visitors can park on site.

When people park off-site, they are enabling others to use the available on-site parking spaces.  This is a very practical and helpful ministry to others.  Ministry at our church doesn’t just happen in the buildings and classrooms. It begins in the parking lot.

Another phrase that I often used with our leaders is, “Who and how many”?  I have found this question very useful in a variety of leadership settings.

At an Elder meeting many years ago, one of our leaders said that he had heard that a number of people were upset with something we had changed in our Sunday morning service.  You could sense the concern in the room.  What had we done that upset a lot of people?

Thankfully, before we launched into an extended discussion on the issue, I simply asked “Who and how many”?  How many people were we talking about and who were they?

It turned out that there were actually only two people that had complained and they tended to complain about everything!  Suddenly the mood of the meeting relaxed when we realized that there really were not “a lot of people” but actually only two.  Yes, we should consider their concerns, but we should also keep this in perspective and not be alarmed.

Another phrase that I often repeated through the years at our church was, “God uses people to bring other people to Himself”.  As you read throughout the Bible and especially in the New Testament, there are many examples where God used individuals to tell other people about Him.   In John 1, Andrew brings Peter to meet Jesus.  In Acts, God uses Peter to tell many more people about Jesus.

Certainly God does use a variety of ways to bring people to Himself.  I have heard stories of people coming to faith by reading a Bible in a hotel room placed there by the Gideon ministry.  I have met people who came to believe in Christ through a radio ministry or TV program.

But I believe that most of the time, people come to faith in Jesus through the words and friendship of other people.  God can use you to bring other people to Him.  You can invite a neighbor to church or talk with a co-worker at lunch.  You can lend a hand to stranger or spend time answering spiritual questions with a classmate.

I also believe that some of the people that God uses the most are children.  Children and grandchildren connect us with non-church people.  Kids are something that many of us have in common.  Through children, you meet their parents and grandparents.  These connections often lead to conversations about God, church and the Bible.

I hope you realize that God wants to use you to tell others about him.  Look around you this week.  Are there some people you know, work with or live near that you can help on their spiritual journey?

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

Don’t Forget To Vote

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

For many communities, this is an “off” year in the election cycle.  But for some cities, there is an election on the first Tuesday in November.

My wife and I live in Diamond Bar.  We will be voting for new City Council members and for new School Board members.  We also have a bond measure for one of our school districts.

One of the ways you know it is an election season is the amount of flyers related to the election in your mail box.  There are also a number of election signs along the main streets in our city promoting a variety of candidates.

My criticism of the election signs is that people forget to remove them after the election is over.  I believe there are some regulations on the size and location of the signs, but there should be better ways to make sure they get removed after the voting is complete.

My criticism of the election materials that fill our mailboxes is that they can be misleading and misrepresent opposing candidates.

Recently there was a flyer in the mail with a photo of a candidate.  It was an unflattering picture and it was obvious that the flyer had been produced by the opposition. The flyer made some specific accusations regarding the candidate and urged voters to not vote for him.

I have several problems with this type of political material.

First, we should have a regulation that prohibits the use of an opposing candidate’s picture without their permission.

Everyone can find an unflattering photo of their opponent. Candidates should only be allowed to use photos of themselves and not their opponent.

Second, every flyer should include the names of the people who produced and paid for it.  The flyer that I received in the mail simply had a generic name of the sponsor and a post office box in another city.  It was paid for by “Citizens for a Better Community” or something like that.

My immediate question was, “Who are these people?  Who actually produced and paid for this mailing?”  People should be required to identify themselves personally and include a phone number and street address so you know exactly who sent out the flyer.

Third, I think there should be a time limit restricting when mailings can be sent.  I received the flyer late in the campaign.  It left little time for the opposing candidate to respond to the accusations leveled against him.  And, it left him with little time to provide a more positive photo of himself.

I hope that you will vote in the next election.  I hope you will take time to learn about each of the candidates and each ballot measure.  Read the material carefully.  Read the sample ballot, too.

Understand the issues and views of each candidate.

And, be discerning when you read the material you receive in the mail.  If it contains an unflattering photo and inflammatory accusations against another candidate, you may just want to toss it in the trash.

Many people are disillusioned and cynical about voting.  They are turned off by the negative campaigning and feel their vote doesn’t matter. But, do you know that there was a City Council election in Diamond Bar that ended in a tie?  The outcome was determined by a coin toss!  Every vote really does count!

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

Famous Last Words

Pastor Mark Hopper Diamond Bar

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Someone said that “last words are lasting words”.  Words that people have spoken to us can have a lasting impact and words that we have spoken can too.

We often associate words or phrases with the individuals that said them.  For example, in the movie, “The Godfather” there is the memorable line, “It isn’t personal, it’s just business.”  And in one of the Clint Eastwood movies Clint says, “Go ahead, make my day.”

These words and phrases tend to stick in our minds and remind us of the person who said them.

I learned a lot about construction from veteran carpenters like Ed and Carl.  These men knew their craft and did their work very well.

When Carl was trying to teach me about framing a wall or hanging a door, he always found a way to encourage me with a timely word.

When I would ask him if my small mistake or imperfection was a problem, he would reply, “You won’t be able to see it from my house”.  It was his way of encouraging me even though I didn’t have the skill or experience to do the job as well as he could.

Another phrase that I remember Carl used to say was, “We’ll do something even if it is wrong.”  That may sound like a contradiction, but what he meant was let’s get busy and get to work.  Sometimes we can spend so much time talking about a project that nothing actually gets done.

My old friend Joe was a pattern maker.  He worked in the aerospace industry using wood to make patterns that became molds for small parts for planes and missiles.

When we worked on projects at our church like framing a wall or remodeling a room, he would say, “Hand me the persuader.”  The “persuader” was a long-handle sledge hammer that proved helpful aligning a row of two by fours.

What are some words or phrases that your children or grandchildren have heard you say that they still remember today?  I wonder what are some words or phrases that I have used that people in our church remember about me?

Proverbs 22:17-18 says, “Listen with your ears and hear the words of the wise…and keep them in your heart.”

Let me encourage you to treasure the words that you have heard from those in your past and choose your words carefully, you never know who is listening and what they will remember!

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

Painting A Memory

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently my wife and I spent time with some of our grandkids.  While we were staying at their house, their mother (our daughter) asked if we would be willing to help paint a room in their apartment.

Our son-in-law was out of town on business, so we agreed to take on the task to surprise him when he got home.  The grandkids were excited about the idea, too.  They really wanted to help.

One of the most important parts of painting is the preparation.  We moved the furniture into the middle of the room and found some interesting things that were hidden under them. We found some lost toys and a missing puzzle piece.  I was hoping we might find some money, too, but that was not the case.

We covered some things with plastic and used blue painter’s tape to mask off wooden door frames and the corners of the ceiling that we did not want to get new paint on.  We removed some of the electrical outlet and light switch covers.  We found some large pieces of cardboard to put down along the walls to protect the floor.

When it was time to begin painting, our seven year old grandson got the brush and I got the paint roller.  His assignment was to paint in the middle of the wall, far away from doors, door frames and windows.  My job was to roll most of the open wall space and use a brush to trim around the edges.

We made a pretty good team.  He worked hard at his task and I tried to keep out of his way with the roller.  I was impressed at his steady effort and careful work.  I think I splattered more paint than he did!

My wife’s job was to keep our younger granddaughter busy while we painted.  They went shopping and to lunch.

It seems like painting always takes longer then you expect.  We ran out of one color and had to go back to the store for more.  We needed another paint roller, too.  But gradually, the project came together and our daughter was delighted with the result.  We hope our son-in-law is pleased, too.

Home improvement projects usually take more time and cost more money than you expect, but the end results are usually good.  It seems like they go faster and better when you work with others.

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)  I was glad to have a hard-working grandson helping me.  There may not have been any monetary “return” but there is a delightful memory we will share together for years to come.

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

Do You Have A Passport?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Everyone who travels outside their own country is required to carry a passport.  We are now required to have a passport to even visit Mexico and Canada.

A passport reveals a lot about a person. A passport identifies you as a citizen of a specific country.  My passport clearly states that I am a citizen of the United States of America. I am thankful to carry a US passport.

In addition, a passport tells a lot about you.  It includes the date and location of your birth.  It includes your photograph so that you can quickly and easily be identified with the information in it.   It tells when your passport was issued to you and the date it will expire.

Your passport also contains a record of the places you have been.  When you enter a foreign country, they usually stamp your passport to record the date you entered and the date you departed.  It indicates if you arrived by plane, train or by automobile. It is fun to thumb through the pages in your passport and remember the adventures you have shared and the places you have been in the past.

Sometimes airlines will put a sticker on the outside of your passport.  This indicates that you have been interviewed or screened for security purposes before they allow you to board their airplane.

Today, many countries are relying more on electronic screening.  They can scan or swipe your passport and immediately know a lot about you. You may find this comforting or you may feel concerned that there is so much information about you in their records.

I don’t know if they had passports in ancient times, but I do know that citizenship was a big deal even in Bible times.

The Apostle Paul invoked his rights as a Roman citizen on several occasions (Acts chapters 16 and 22). Citizens of Rome had additional rights and protections that were not granted to non-citizens.

In one of his letters, Paul says “Our citizenship is in heaven…” (Philippians 3:20).  Paul was both proud and thankful to be a citizen of Rome, but he was even more thankful to be a citizen of heaven through his faith in Jesus Christ.

If you have a passport, let me encourage you to dust it off and look through the pages.  It will be a helpful reminder of the places you have been to.   And, if you are not sure about your citizenship in heaven, let me encourage you to dust off your Bible and read some of the things that the Apostle Paul wrote his letters to the Romans and Ephesians about how you become one.

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

Be Thankful

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently, I passed the baton of the leadership of our church to a younger pastor on our staff.  It was a morning filled with excitement and emotion as I stepped down from serving as the senior pastor and Pastor Tim Park accepted this new assignment.

Later that day, over 400 people gathered at the Diamond Bar Community Center to celebrate the 27 years that my wife and I have served at our church.  It was both humbling and amazing to see pictures and hear stories highlighting some of the things that happened during those many years.

A team at our church put together a wonderful evening.  The food was delicious and the decorations were gorgeous.  The room looked amazing! The program was filled with humor and memories.  It was an evening to remember.

One of the things I noticed was that I looked a lot younger 27 years ago when our family moved to Diamond Bar in 1988.  My hair was darker and there was a lot more of it!  Our kids were a lot younger back then, too.

A number of people shared stories about my years at the church.  Our own adult children shared some humorous accounts about their dad.  The Mayor of Diamond Bar presented me with a plaque recognizing our service to the community.

The pictures and videos brought back memories of building programs and special events that we will always remember.  In addition, many people wrote cards and notes thanking my wife and me for our ministry in their lives.

Through all of this, I was reminded that each person at that celebration had been touched in some way by my wife and me.  Their cards and words reminded us that the greatest impact we had at our church was not the new buildings and the special programs, but the times that we helped families and individuals at critical times in their lives.

God gave us the privilege to be part of their lives over the years.  We celebrated the births of their children and the weddings in their families.  We wept with others at the death of their loved ones and through the heartbreak of divorce.  It was both humbling and gratifying to hear how we were able to help and serve others.

Let me encourage you to look around you this week.  Who are the people that you work with and see every day?  Take time to thank them for the impact they have had in your life.  And, give thanks to God that he is using you to make a difference in their lives, too!

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

You Can Do It

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have heard that you can get free TV channels without your cable provider.  This could be very helpful in the case of an emergency when land lines are out of service.  It could also be a helpful way to avoid those large cable bills!

I thought I would give it a try and see if I could get some of these channels on my new TV. I began by locating the TV instruction booklet.  The booklet had a few pictures and a lot of words that didn’t help an inexperienced technician like me.  But, I pressed on hoping for success.

I disconnected the cable wire and hooked up the portable antennae.  Then I grabbed the remote control and started pushing buttons.  I tried the menu button and tried to find settings.  It didn’t go very well.

So I re-read the instructions and tried it again.  No luck.  I did this over and over again, but never found any wireless channels.

I’m sure they are out there.  We used to have “on air” TV when I was a kid, but I couldn’t find them now.  Maybe it is a cable channel conspiracy?

When I have encountered challenges fixing my car or other projects around the house, I have found helpful videos on You Tube.  Many people have posted “How To” videos on line that have saved me a lot of time and enabled me to do repairs at home myself.

So, I went on the Internet and found some You Tube videos with information on how to get “on air” channels on my flat screen TV.  The video confirmed that there are free channels available and gave instructions on how to program my TV to get them.

I tried to follow the You Tube instructions and after a few mistakes I actually did it!  It took the TV several minutes to locate a number of HD “on air” channels, but there they were. Amazing!  I really never expected to find these free channels, but I did.

Maybe you are facing some difficult challenges in your life.  You may have tried many times, but feel you just can’t do it.  Here are some lessons that I learned.

I learned that the two most helpful “keys” on the remote control are the “menu” key and the “input” key. I’m not sure what they actually do, but I used them several times and got the results I was hoping for. When in doubt, hit the “menu” and “input” buttons!

Be willing to get help.  The instructions that came with the TV were not that helpful, but the You Tube video was great.  Ask a friend, classmate or co-worker.  Pray and ask God for help, too.

If others can do it, you can too.  A friend told me that his father used to say, “If one man built it, another man can fix it.”

Many other people have struggled with programming their TV and other electronic devices.  If they can do it, so can you!

Never give up.  England’s Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is remembered for his famous saying during the dark days of World War II, “Never give up, never give up, never, never give up.”

I was ready to give up many times with my futile efforts trying to program my flat screen TV.  But, it was so rewarding to figure it out and succeed in finding those “on air” channels.

I don’t know what challenges you may be dealing with in your life right now, but “you can do it.”  Don’t give up.  Keep on trying.  You’ll be glad you did!

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