Category: Uncategorized

The Quilt (Part Two)


I have shared about the quilt which was presented to my wife and me when we left our church in Tucson to serve at a new church in Southern California. This was a memorable gift which the women in the church put together as a reminder of the wonderful families and individuals who were part of Chapel in the Hills Church in Tucson.

Each family in the Tucson church made a square with a note or image with their name on it. A number of women put these memory squares into the quilt which was given to us at our going away party. We found it in a trunk after my wife died and it is now on display in our home.

I enjoy viewing the squares on the quilt which provides many special memories of the people who were part of the church in Tucson. One of the things which impressed me was how many missionaries are included in the quilt. I was surprised by the number of missionary families our church supported so many years ago.

For example there is a square from Eric and Susan Binion who still serve as missionaries teaching at a Bible College in South Africa. The McAlevy’s taught at a school for missionary children in Ecuador. And John and Babette Wood served as missionaries in Belgium and Africa.

Art and Ellen Johnson were teachers at a boarding school in Brazil for children whose parents served as missionaries in the Amazon jungle. NT Dillinger and his wife served as missionaries in Belize in Central America. Steve and Kathy Marlatt were skilled linguists who translated the Bible for the Siri Indians in Mexico along the Sea of Cortez. Jim and Alice Tucker were missionaries who served in Cameroon, West Africa. And the Matthews worked with a group called JARS which stood for Jungle Aviation and Radio Services. They lived and worked in South Carolina maintaining small airplanes which were used to train pilots who flew in remote jungle areas of Indonesia and Irian Jaya.

The Apostle Paul used a phrase several times to describe the people who helped spread the good news about Jesus across the Mediterranean world. He called these faithful servants, “My fellow workers and partners in the Gospel” (Romans 16:4). Let me encourage you to pray for the missionaries you know who continue to share the Good News around the world. Do something this week to encourage them. They will be glad you did and you will too.

Read more stories by in Mark’s newest book, “Let Me Encourage You Again” by Mark Hopper. You can purchase one copy for $25 or two books for only $40 and this includes postage. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.

The Church Nursery

Many years ago I heard the pastor of a large church in Dallas, Texas, speak at our graduate school when I was a seminary student. This well-known pastor told us the first thing he did when he became the new pastor of his church was remodel the church nursery.

As seminary students we were expecting to glean some profound insights into pastoral ministry. I would have never thought the church nursery would be the top priority when leading a new church. But our guest speaker said he wanted to reach more young families and realized these parents would be attracted by what facilities and programs were available for their young children.

Recently our church remodeled our nursery in Diamond Bar. Our pastor and staff worked with church leaders to remodel and reopen the nursery after it had been closed during the Covid19 pandemic.

One Sunday morning I walked by the nursery and spoke to the two women staffing the ministry. They only had a few children but the nursery looked nice with new paint, new decorations and new flooring.

The women were wearing disposable “booties” over their shoes to keep the floor clean for little ones who were crawling and playing on the new surface.

I took time to thank these volunteers for their faithful service. I shared my belief that their ministry was one of the most important in our church. I explained that when the children are happy then their parents are too. They were not just caring for children but they were impacting a whole family. When the parents know their young children are bring well cared for they feel comfortable and confident leaving their kids in the nursery.

In addition, I believe the parents and the young children are happier when the little ones are in the nursery. If parents bring their children into the church service their little ones often get restless and the parents get distracted. Other worshippers can be distracted too.

One verse in the Bible says, “Use your gifts and abilities to serve one another” (First Peter 4:10). Let me encourage you to volunteer for the most important ministry in your church by serving in the nursery. You will not only been ministering to the little ones but also impact a whole family. The parents and children will be glad you did and you will too.

You can read more stories by Mark Hopper in his third book, Let Me Encourage You Again which was published in 2023. There is an encouraging story for every day of the year. The book is available for $25 per copy or two books for $40 postage included. Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.

Let Me Encourage You Again

A New Book by Mark Hopper

I Love Your Book

One conversation I enjoyed after attending the first Portrait Church service was with a woman I had never met before. She waited patiently while I talked with a few friends and then introduced herself. She told me she had read my book and was excited to meet me in person. I felt like a celebrity but she didn’t ask for my autograph.

She explained someone had given her a copy of my book and she had faithfully read one story a day over the past few months. She said she loved my book. She felt like she already knew me because many of the stories in the book were about my family.

This stranger also expressed her condolences over the death of my wife Jeanne. She had read about my wife’s journey with cancer and offered some kind words. She felt she knew her because of the number of stories in the book about Jeanne’s life and our family.

When I told this woman I had published a second book she wanted to know how she could get a copy. I asked her which book her friend had given to her. Was it the book with the white cover (Let Me Encourage You) or the second book with my picture on the cover (Let Me Encourage You More)? She said it was the book with the white cover.

I also told my new friend I was working on volume three (this book). I hoped the new book would be ready for the Christmas season.

It is very humbling when someone says the like my book and very encouraging when they give a copy to a friend of family member. The purpose of the stories in these books is to encourage people and to motivate them to do something in light of what they read. Most stories end with a challenge like “do something today” or “send a card this week” to help and encourage others.

The Apostle Paul wrote several personal letters which are included in the Bible. He wrote letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon. His purpose was to instruct and encourage these men in the work God had given them. Let me encourage you to send a card or write an email to encourage someone this week. And if you are really feeling generous why not send them a copy of one of my books. They will be glad you did and I will too. Write to me at markh@efreedb.org if you need one.

You can read 365 more stories by Mark Hopper in his new book, Let Me Encourage You Again. Order you copy today. The cost is $25 for one book or only $40 for two plus $5 for shipping. Purchase one for yourself and one to give to a friend or family member. Order yours today at markh@efreedb.org.

A Furry Friend

Sammy
 
Recently I visited six of my grandchildren who live in Europe. Two of them live in Central Europe in Slovenia. It is a beautiful country with green hillsides and towering mountain peaks bordering Austria and Italy. The other four grandkids live in Western Europe in Portugal. It is also a beautiful country that is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and looks just like southern California.
 
Both families have adopted a dog since the last time I visited. The Wynn’s in Slovenia call their dog Broham which means friend in snowboard talk. He is a Boarder Terrier. He is a little guy with a lot of strength. The Shoemakers have a larger dog named Sammy. Both dogs are young and active. Their owners are doing a good job training their new family member to walk, sit and stay. They are learning to play fetch with the tennis ball too. Both are a work in progress.
 
The Wynn’s and the Shoe’s don’t let their dogs sit on the furniture. But the Shoemakers do allow Sammy to sit on the sofa if there is a towel or blanket on it first. While I was working on the computer this morning I noticed Sammy curled up on a small chair in the room where the kids watch TV. He looked very uncomfortable because he was too big for the small chair. However, when I looked more closely I saw his blanket concealed under him. He knew he could sit on the chair with the blanket. Instead of scolding him for being on the furniture, I actually helped him by moving his blanket to the sofa so he would have more room to stretch out.
 
In Portugal my job was to take Sammy for a morning walk while the parents got the kids ready for school. It took a few days to learn their routines and I was glad I could help while grandkids ate breakfast. In Slovenia we usually took Broham with us when we walked with the kids to their school. Both dogs really enjoyed their morning walk.
 
A family pet can be a lot of work. They need to be fed and cared for just like the children. And they need shots and regular medical care to keep them healthy. We enjoyed our dogs Spiffy and Molly when our kids were growing up. Let me encourage you to consider adding a furry friend to your family. Your children will be glad you did and you will too!

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his new book Let Me Encourage You More by Mark Hopper. This second book is filled with new encouraging stories – one for every day of the year. The cost is only $25 plus $5 for postage. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.

The Quilt

When we made the difficult decision to leave the church we served in Tucson, the people in the church gave us a wonderful celebration. It was a fun filled evening where people shared stories and memories of our 13 years at the Chapel in the Hills.

In addition they presented us with several gifts. One of the most memorable was a quilt. The quilt was a large bedspread with a collection of squares made by individual families. We kept the quilt in a large trunk for many years.

Recently I came across the trunk and was delighted to see the quilt again. It has been over 30 years since we were given this thoughtful gift. I took time to read many of the squares and was deeply touched by the messages people shared.

Just reading the names of families and individuals brought smiles to my face. I was reminded of many adventures we shared together. We raised our children together and built church buildings together. We went on campouts and family retreats together.

I was reminded of individuals who came to faith in Christ during our years at Chapel in the Hills. I smiled as I reflected on memorable moments like weddings and the births of children. The names on the quilt and the creative designs were helpful reminders of God’s blessing in our lives and theirs.

In his second letter to the Christians in Corinth the Apostle Paul referred to the people in the church as “living letters” who reminded him of all that God had done through his ministry with them (Second Corinthians 3:2-3). They were living proof of a loving God.

The squares on the quilt were visible reminders of how God touched people as we served together with these friends. There were older adults who were like grandparents to our young children. There were young couples who were raising their children just as we were. Each square told a different story. Let me encourage you to write a letter or send an email this week to some people who have touched your life and family in the past. You may want to add an old photo or memento that reminds you of adventures you shared together. They will be glad you did and you will too.

You can read more stories written by the author in his newest book Let Me Encourage You More by Mark Hopper. The price is $25 plus postage ($5). Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.

Writing a Book

I published the first copies of my second book in November, 2022. It took hundreds of hours to write 365 stories over the previous year. I did include a few stories and articles from my first book but most of the stories in book two were new. I decided to include a few black and white pictures in the second book to enhance the content.

Self-publishing has some advantages. I found a wonderful printer on the internet named DiggyPOD which stands for Digital Printing On Demand. They are a small company in a small town in Michigan. Their staff has been so helpful and the quality of their products are outstanding.

I am able to print a limited number of books at a time. I usually order my books in batches of 100 copies. This is cost effective and includes the shipping. One hundred books weigh over 100 pounds. The printer sends me updates on the publishing process and estimated shipping date. I love to track the shipment on the internet as my books thread their way across the country from rural Michigan to Walnut, California.

One of the other benefits of self-publishing is it enables me to correct mistakes and improve the quality of each new batch. When I read the first copies of my newest book I discovered spelling errors and spacing problems. For example one story was about a Mexican food restaurant that served all you can eat dinners for $1.49. I wasn’t sure how to spell the name of the restaurant. Was it Pancho’s or Poncho’s? A friend explained to me one spelling is a personal name while the second spelling is something you wear. So the first 100 copies of my book are spelled one way and the next 100 books are spelled the other way.

Printing is not cheap.  One hundred books costs about $1,200 to print. My first book was listed at $20 per copy. My second book is listed at $25. But one of my best marketing strategies was to offer two books at a lower price. I sold the first book at two copies for $30 and the second book at two copies for $40. My goal is not to make money. My goal to get as many books into the hands of as many people as possible. I also give a way a lot of books too. I am humbled and grateful when someone buys a book for themselves and buys a book to give to a friend or neighbor. Let me encourage you to consider writing a book. Make the effort to put your thoughts and ideas on paper. Consider printing some copies to sell or simply share with others. I highly recommend DiggyPOD for your printer. You will be glad you did and your family and friends will too!

Mark Hopper has now published two encouraging books that you will enjoy. His first book is titled “Let Me Encourage You” published in 2020. The cost is $20 for one or two for $30. His newest book is titled “Let Me Encourage You More” and is available for $25 per book or two for $40. (add $5 for shipping) Both books contain 365 stories (one for every day of the year). Order you books at markh@efreedb.org. Visit my web site at Letmarkencourageyou.com

Directing Traffic


 
My wife taught sixth grade at Chaparral Middle School in Diamond Bar, California. She loved her students and they loved her too. She made learning fun and helped students succeed.
 
One of the worst things about teaching at Chaparral was the volume of traffic at the beginning and end of each school day. Like most teachers Jeanne got to school early to avoid the crush of cars.
 
When I was driving to my office one day I noticed the traffic light near Jeanne’s school was out. There were no flashing red lights either. Most people were stopping but some were not. Clearly this was a dangerous situation. There was a long line of southbound cars trying to turn on to the street leading to the school. There was also a long line of cars on the residential street trying to get away from the school after they had dropped off their students.
 
But the cars going northbound on Diamond Bar Blvd were not stopping. They drove right through the intersection without slowing or stopping. It seemed likely there would be an accident at any moment.
 
I pulled over on a side street and got out of my car. I carefully walked out into to the middle of the intersection and motioned for all of the approaching cars to stop. Then I began to direct traffic on all four sides of the intersection. I allowed 10-15 cars to go one way and did the same with the traffic going the opposite way. I also alternated the cars making left turns. Gradually traffic improved and accidents were avoided.
 
Eventually a motorcycle officer arrived on the scene. I asked him if he wanted to take over but he told me I was doing a pretty good job. One of my wife’s students ran into her classroom to report that her husband was out in the middle of Diamond Bar Blvd directing traffic. She didn’t believe him at first but several other students confirmed his story.
 
Finally the police officer did take over and I went on to work. It was a crazy situation but thankfully no one was hurt. There is a passage in the Bible in Luke chapter 15 about a Good Samaritan who stopped to help a stranger who had been robbed and injured. Let me encourage you to follow his example and be willing to stop and help when you face an unexpected situation. You may save a life or prevent an accident.. You will be glad you did and they will too.  

You can read 365 more encouraging stories in the book, “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. Order your copy today for only $20 plus $5 postage at markh@efreedb.org.

Locked Out

Today was the birthday of my favorite daughter-in-law Christine. I drove to the Dollar Tree Store to buy her an expensive birthday card and stopped at the bank to get some cash to put in the card. I was planning to leave the card and cash at their house when I stopped by to check on their dog Moose. He stays indoors while Tim and Christine are at work.

However, when I arrived at their house I realized I forgot the key to their house. I didn’t have time to drive back to my house to get the key because I needed to be in Costa Mesa to pick up two granddaughters after school. I called Tim and Christine to see if they had a hidden house key I could use to let Moose out for a few minutes and leave the birthday card. No luck – there was no hidden key.

I left their house in Glendora and drove about an hour to the grandkid’s school in Costa Mesa. The weather was unusually hot as parents and grandparents waited in the parking lot to pick up their young passengers. After I picked up Emily and Janie we drove from the school to their house. I used the code to open their garage door but discovered the door from the garage to the house was locked. I called my daughter to see if they had a hidden house key. No luck – we were locked out of their house too!

The grandkids were hot and tired. They wanted to get into their air conditioned house. I decided to take them to a local Frozen Yogurt shop to cool them down. However, the Yogurt shop was just as hot from all the Yogurt machines running in the building. We ended up eating our melting Yogurt on an outside picnic table. 

Their mother teaches at BIOLA University in La Mirada. She was able to leave school and drive home to let us into their house. When she arrived we were glad to get cooled off in their house. It had been an eventful day and it was nice to be home.

There is a verse in the Bible where the Apostle Paul said he learned to be content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:13). I’m sure this would include hot and humid September days when you are locked out of the house with no hidden keys nearby. Let me encourage you to follow Paul’s example in whatever circumstance you find yourself today. And let me suggest you hide a key under your door mat so forgetful people can get into your house. You will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. for only $20 plus $5 postage. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.

The First


 
People told me there would be many “firsts” in the months following the death of my wife. Our first wedding anniversary without her. Our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. I’m sure there will be many more.
 
Recently I celebrated my first birthday without my wife. We were married for over fifty years. It was a tender day filled with many emotions. Sometimes I shake my head in disbelief. Even though I am comforted to know she is in heaven I still feel a deep sense of loss not having her here with me.
 
I was overwhelmed by the number of birthday cards that came in the mail this year I also received many text messages and phone calls. People were very kind and thoughtful 

In addition a man from our church called me a few days before my birthday to inform me he was personally making an apple pie for me. He makes the best apple pies in town. Jim said he didn’t want to give the pie to me at church where people might want a slice. So we planned a covert operation to meet in the parking lot on Sunday after church and secretly transfer the pie from the trunk of his car to the trunk of my car.
 
I also received a text message from a woman and her daughter who left a gift by my front gate. I didn’t know they were coming so the gate was locked. But I knew immediately what they had left. It was a small box of the best Chocolate Cookies in town. Judy and Madison had given me some cookies in the past and I often reminded them I would be glad to enjoy more when they baked another batch. It meant so much that they would share this thoughtful gift on my birthday.
 
There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Encourage one another and build up one another just as you have been doing” (First Thessalonians 5:11). There are people all around you who are discouraged and going through difficult times. They may be facing some “firsts” in their own life. Let me encourage you to mail a card, send a text, make a call or bake a pie or a batch of cookies to lift up someone who is feeling down. You will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. The cost is only $20 plus shipping ($5). Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.

Cleaning House

 
Recently two of my granddaughters planned a day to go shopping with their mother but one of them discovered that she didn’t have enough money to buy what she wanted. As a loving grandfather I was ready to provide some extra funds to enable them to purchase what they were dreaming of.
 
But their parents have tried to teach these young girls that the way we get money to purchase things we want is by working. Money doesn’t just appear out of thin air. Adults get paid by their employer for the work they do. Children can also earn money by doing chores around the house and by doing extra things for neighbors and relatives. 
 
After checking with their parents I offered to hire my two young granddaughters to clean my house. Their mother agreed to come and help too. I decided to work with one of the girls and their mother worked with other. We identified things that needed cleaning and got to work.
 
My partner and I decided to dust the living room and bedrooms. I was surprised how much dust there was in our house and how many things needed dusting. It took a long time to dust the furniture and various tables in all of the rooms and all of the decorations on them. The other granddaughter and her mother cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed the carpet and mopped the kitchen floor. I was impressed at how hard the grandkids worked and never complained.
 
After two hours of working together the house looked so much better. We agreed that these young girls needed some nourishment so we went to In N Out and enjoyed burgers, fries and shared a shake. I checked with their father about the new minimum wage in LA County. It was more than I expected but worth every dollar. I was thankful to have a clean house and they were glad to have money for shopping.
 
There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Whatever you do, do your work with all of your heart” (Colossians 3:23). In addition it says, “The worker deserves his pay” (First Timothy 5:18). Let me encourage you to work hard and do your best at any job. And let me encourage you to pay your workers a fair wage. Help your children learn the importance of hard of work. Teach them about wise spending and saving. Instill in their hearts a desire to share some of what they earn with others in need (Ephesians 4:28). You will be glad you did and they will too.  

You can read 365 more stories by the author (one for every day of the year) in his book titled, Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. Purchase your copy for only $20 plus $5 for postage. Order you book today at markh@efreedb.org.