The End is Nigh!

So 2005 is winding down, it’s been over a month since my last post...and I’m getting some heat about not bloggin’...Ok.Ok...I get the message.

Without question this year hasn’t gone by fast or slow; rather, it’s gone by busy.
Truth is, I’d rather be busy.

Now I’m using busy in a positve way. Where as most people are just too busy, you don’t want to find yourself being busy just because you think you’re supposed to be.

Hopefully, I’ll post something like this in the future: “This month has been slow and reflective”. I’ll look forward to that month.

I’m still struck by the line in the song by Rush called Tom Sawyer, where it says, “Changes aren’t permanent, but change is.” And from Bryan Duncan in his song, “If there’s one thing God has promised, things are gonna change.” (titled Things are gonna change) So as I look to 2006, I embrace change. Though I may not like it, it’s not forever. But I’d better get used to it, because things will always change. Though I may instigate it, I know that someone out there will struggle with it.

God has called us to change. If we have not received him as our Lord, he’s telling us we need to change.
If we have received him as our Lord, but we’re living our life for ourself, he’s telling us we need to change.
Change will be inevitable until Christ returns, and we change no more.

That will be the final change.
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” 1 Corinthians 15:51

Until then, we’ll keep changing.
And so will my daughter! Ain’t she cute?

Hoop

Good coffee...fast wi fi...what else is there?

I'm so glad I found this place...but alas, we leave tomorrow to go home. Oh well..maybe next time I'll remember. :(

Taylor got to meet her Great Grandma this past week in Chesterland, OH. Seems both were pretty happy about the whole visit.  

Ah, the beauty of the internet.

As I sat in the comfortable settings of that fine dining establishment called McDonald's, I wondered if this small town called Chesterland, OH was really coming into wireless internet age. Sure enough, there was a wi fi signal! Although I was charged $2.95 for a 2 hour block (which really isn't that expensive) I was amazed that the manager there really didn't even know what wi fi was, except to say something like, "um, I think it's free"... Um, no it's not.

So for a few days I gladly paid my $2.95, and ordered my milkshake and sat uncomfortably in one of those little booths while the local folk came in and said things like, "You got one of them computers huh?". I especially liked the young child who walked by me and began to sing a made up song of his own. I think it was called "He's got a computer, he's got a computer".

Now it's Sunday, and I'm sitting in a place that I'd call more in my element, and yet it's only a few blocks away from that fine dining establishment. Arabica Coffee House. I remember this place from my travels here in the past and was excited this morning as I picked up a latte', I looked around to find three people with laptops opened, surfing the net FOR FREE! Ah, the beauty of the internet. Especially when it's free. In this small town called Chesterland, which I found out only got DSL less than a year ago, it's now booming with hi tech people in a coffee shop.

I know where I'll be next time we come and visit Grandma!
 

Do a little dance...

 
 

My girls...

 


Talkin 'bout my girls...my girls! Yeah, it was visit Dad day at the office. Barb and Taylor stopped by to have lunch with me and I had to snap a few shots while they were here. I know, I'm a lucky guy...what can I say? 

Blogger spam and anonymous post-er's

How frustrating do you find it when you get spam email? Me too. It’s one of those things that makes you leery of clicking on the button to open your email because you’re worried about what’s going to show up. So what do you do? You download some sort of anti spam software, and after a few times of checking, you begin to feel better about checking your email. “Two messages in the spam box…hmmm…must be working.” But last night I had a new one. Spam in my email? No. Spam on my desktop? No. Spam, spam and more spam with a little bit of email? NO…I got a spam post on my blogspot!! An anonymous post said, “read your blog, think you'd be really interested in this website” signed anonymous at 12:17 pm. And what was the sight? I know, you’re probably cringing right now saying, “You clicked on it??” Yes, I did. It was for getting quotes on a better mortgage rate…but still, that’s so frustrating that someone is doing this. I believe that if you are going to post on someone’s blog, either put your name, or don’t post at all. That’s so…so…I’m not sure of the word for it. It’s like the cheeky salesman who wants to sell you something and won’t leave you alone. The nerve of some people…well, I hope that maybe the person who posted that blog will log on again and see this post…maybe I can find out their email address and send them something like, “Hey, read your post on my blog. Think you’d really be interested in this website…www.fbi.gov…check it out!” I don’t think that will happen. But it’s good to have goals ya know? 

So, this is life huh?

It's still gripping me how my daughter looks around and everything is new to her. I've tried more recently in my life to live like everything is new. I watch a sunset and say "Wow" only to hear someone say, "there will be another one tomorrow ya know?". I eat some ice cream and say this is so good, only to hear someone say "Ice cream is everywhere ya know?" But no matter...to my little one, everything IS new. Kinda reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-24 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“ The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“ therefore I will hope in him.” Because God's mercies are new every morning, and because I hope in Him, my daughter has the same hope. :)

New addition to the Hooper's

Taylor Lin Hooper has arrived!!

8lbs 10oz; 20 inches long...our little angel came into this world on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at 3:46 am (yes...A.M.!) It's so amazing to watch a child being born...everything is new for them. Every sight, sound, taste, touch...all new. Made me think...what if I could start over? So, I'm a daddy now...my wife is a mommy...and life has just begun for us. Thank you Lord for your answer to our prayer... 1 Samuuel 1:24

Well, I'm glad to hear the Gunners won...even if it was on penalty kicks.  

Movin'...Gotta keep movin'

I love that song from Acappella...it's the theme song it seems for me and ministry right now. Things have happened so fast in the last year that I'm afraid to slow down ya know? Our church is in the building process. We've made an offer to buy a location, it's been accepted and now we're "Movin'...gotta keep movin'". God has really blessed us here. And this church is learning to trust God when things are movin'. I quote Rick Warren, "When your rowing the boat, there's no time to complain" or something like that...I really don't want to go pick up the book and look up the quote but you get the point.


Movin'
Words and music: Ken McAlpin © 1999 Clifty Music
Chorus:
Movin', gotta keep movin'
Groovin', stay in the groove (yes)
Movin', gotta keep movin'
Pressing on, striving toward the goal, (yes)

Well every one of us is in a race
And we're running for the prize
It takes time and energy to train
A spiritual exercise
Throw off every weight that slows you down
Take that path that Christ has led
Forget everything that is behind
And just strain toward what's ahead
And just keep on

Well everyday we have to make a choice
Say true to what is right
Overcome everything that's in our way
And fix our eyes on Christ
Just keep pressing on up toward the goal
Where a crown of life you'll find
Well no doubt Christ will be waiting there
When we cross the finish line
And we just keep

Bridge:
Jesus died on the cross
Willing to die for even me
Now he reigns up on high
Don't give up or become weary

The Danger of Blogging

Here's the deal...you're surfin' the net, you come up on some blogs and you say to yourself, "Hey" (since you're the only one there listening) "I kinda like the look of that blog there" So what do you do?? You change yours. That's the danger of having a good looking blog. Ok, so what's new? My dad had surgery yesterday on his heart. He had a triple bypass (3 to be exact) and he's now recovering. Technology is incredible these days. Prayerfully my dad will up and walking around within this week. I love my dad...he's inspired me to be what I am today.

ok, ok...I'll start posting more...thanks to some prodding from some people! :)

Advertise where the people are...

Doin' the radio spot on 96.9 the Eagle 


This year we did something a little different...I don’t know if you heard the ad or not, but we stepped out in faith and decided to advertise for our Easter services on the Eagle, classic rock station. There were a number of things that prompted us to do this. One, everyone who advertises on Christian radio is targeting Christians for Easter. That seemed rather odd to us that we target Christians...they know where to go right? But what about the non Christian? What does he or she listen to? What station does Caldwell Cal / Christy listen to each day? That was one of the reasons we choose to advertise on the Eagle. The Eagle is one of the top listened to radio stations in Canyon County. Therefore the audience we reach is much broader than those who listen to Christian radio.
Secondly, we didn’t think that we would get a spot on a station such as this, and yet, God was the one who orchestrated this so well. Not only were we able to secure a spot, but I was able to say the reason to come and join us was to celebrate that Jesus is risen from the dead! No political correctness was given to me. I read the spot, I waited for a response, and the engineer said, “Sounded great to me”. Wow! God is truly great! Lastly, and this is connected with the first part, the apostle Paul reminds us to “...be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life,…” Philippians 2:15-16. Indeed, we have to be lights in the world, and our lights will shine brighter when we are in places of darkness. Thank you Lord for this opportunity to be a light.

Vacation in McCall, ID 

A little R & R

Well, this week I'm on vacation...time to get the check list out and see what things I need to do around the house. A big thanks to our church for giving us a few days to spend up in McCall, ID. during the ice festival. We look forward to spending some R & R up there and take in the sights.

Blessings,

Hoop


www.caldwellfirst.org

Latest stuff in the library...

So, to date I've purchased these books for my library...
"Lectures to my Students" Spurgeon
"Pathway to Freedom" Alistar Begg
"Preaching & Preachers" Martin Lloyd Jones
"Morning & Evening" Spurgeon / Edited by Alistar Begg

Anyone else read these?

Good stuff...really good stuff.



Hoop

Ok...so I live in Idaho

Ya know, I didn't really think much of it till I got here myself, but I really like living here. So, here's the latest update in the Hooper world...we've got a bun in the oven! Yep, God has answered our prayers and the lil peanut is due to arrive in July! Woohoo! God is good.
Other than that, if you're catching up with me on this blog for the first time, I'll let you know that Barb and I moved to Caldwell, ID. I accepted the position of Sr. Minister at the Caldwell Christian Church and God has blessed us greatly. You can check out our website at www.caldwellfirst.org

More news to post later.

Blessings,


Hoop