A Week Without Water

I am smiling as I hear some familiar sounds in our house. The water is running for the first time in a week. When I turn on the shower there is running water for the first time in a week. I can wash my hands and brush my teeth with water from the faucet. We take all of these things for granted and expect to have running water to wash dishes and do laundry.
 
I began a re-piping project at our house many months ago. Like many homeowners in Southern California we had a slab leak at our house. A plumber isolated the problem so we could keep the water on. A friend drew me a sketch of how I could re-route the water pipes through our garage and attic and abandon the leaky pipes in the concrete floor. I started to re-pipe but since we still had running water I put the project aside. However, a new slab leak appeared recently. I realized I needed to finish what I started months ago and get all of the water out of the floor.
 
The smartest solution was to hire a plumber or re-pipe company. But I thought I could do it myself. I have built several room additions and my friend had sketched out a plan. I just needed finish the job.
 
I turned off the main outside valve that supplied water to the house and then cut the cold water pipe in the attic. I knew that once I cut that pipe there was no turning back.  When the Spanish explorer Cortes invaded Mexico in the 1500’s he burned his ships so his troops knew there was no turning back. When I cut that pipe in the attic, I knew there was no turning back.
 
If I had hired a plumber or re-pipe company the job would have been done in one or two days. By doing the work myself it took me almost a week. That was a long time to not have any running water in our house. My wife deserves a medal for her patience and support going a week without water.
 
We filled buckets from the lawn sprinkler system and brought water into the house. We took sponge baths, cold showers and flushed toilets with buckets of water. We missed the convenience of running water. We looked forward to hearing the noise of the dishwasher, the washing machine and the shower again.
 
I know there are communities around the world that do not have any running water. Some people carry water for miles from a well back to their village. I shouldn’t complain about a week without water. But it was quite an adventure trying to re-pipe our water lines.   (continued)

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. During our holiday sale you can purchase two books for only $30 plus postage ($5). Buy one for yourself and one to give to a friend or family member. Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.

Trees

My wife loves to make attractive trees for friends and family members. She purchases cone-shaped Styrofoam trees and decorates them with costume jewelry. She uses a hot-glue gun to apply adhesive to the tree and arranges the jewelry in a variety of patterns.

She got this idea when she saw some trees at Roger’s Garden in Newport Beach. The decorated foam trees were priced at several hundred dollars. She decided to make one for herself with some of the jewelry she had at home. It turned out very nice. When people learned she had made the tree herself, they asked if she would make them one also. Women gather costume jewelry in their home and give it to my wife and she crafts a beautifully decorated piece for them. She has made more than fifty jewelry trees for friends and family.

Many women have shared how much they enjoy their tree. Jewelry that was just sitting in a drawer is now on display for everyone to enjoy. Some have additional sentimental value when the jewelry is from a parent or grandparent. One woman had several watches that belonged to her father and grandfather. Another woman had commemorative pins with emblems from places she had visited with her husband.

Every tree is unique. While she is making each tree she prays for the family or individual she is making it for. She enjoys working with her hands and using her time to craft these attractive display pieces. There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Use the gifts and abilities that God has given you to serve others (First Peter 4:10).  I believe everyone has skills and abilities they can use to help other people. Older adults have experience in woodworking, pottery and painting. Younger adults have skills in technology, music and sports. The list is endless.

Let me encourage you to use the gifts and abilities God has given you to help other people. A wonderful way to do this is by volunteering at a local school, hospital or nursing home. One of the greatest things you can share is your time. When you share your time, skills and abilities with other people you will encourage them and you will feel encouraged too.

You can read 365 more encouraging stories by the author in his book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. The holiday sale price is two books for only $30 plus $5 postage. Order a gift for yourself and one for a friend. Order your books today at Markh@efreedb.org. You will be glad you did and your friend will too!

You Can Only Play So Much Golf

Mark playing golf in Breckenridge, Colorado

In the 1990’s, I led a small team of adults from our church to Guatemala. We were going there to help with the construction of a school near Guatemala City. My wife and I had led a younger team of high school and college students to Guatemala in the 1970’s. This time we went with a seasoned group of older adults.

Guatemala is a beautiful country with beautiful people. Several dormant volcanoes tower over the countryside. The vegetation is lush and green. Guatemala is known for its popular coffee beans and wonderful Avocadoes.

While we were working on the construction site we met a man who was doing electrical work. He was a retired engineer who had come by himself at his own expense to pull wires and install electrical outlets in the classrooms. He was planning to be there for a month.

I don’t remember his name but I do remember something he said. When I asked him why he had come to Guatemala to work on this project he replied, “You can only play so much golf”.  He went on to explain that when he retired from his career as an electrical engineer he spent a lot of time playing golf with his buddies. But after a year of retirement he felt he needed to do something more with his time. When he heard about the project in Guatemala, he decided to put his golf clubs in the closet and spend some time helping other people.

Please don’t misunderstand. I like golf. In fact, my wife says I don’t play enough golf. But I think we all know that there are other things that are more important. We may get a sense of enjoyment from a good round of golf. But we can get an even greater sense of fulfillment when we use our time and talents to serve others.   

There is a passage in the Bible that says, “Put yourself aside and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with your own interests. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:4 – The Message Bible). You won’t find lasting fulfillment just doing things that you like. Real fulfillment is found when we volunteer our time and use our abilities to help others. You don’t find happiness looking for it. You stumble across it when you serve others.

Let me encourage you to volunteer some of your time to serve in your church or community. Don’t sit home and watch TV and play video games. Get off the couch and get into the community and help people. And allow yourself a little time for a round of golf with your buddies too! You will be glad you did!

You can read 365 more stories and articles (one for every day of the year) in Mark’s book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. You can purchase two books for only $30 plus postage ($5) during our pre-holiday sale. Buy one for yourself and give one to a friend! Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.

Help for Parents and Kids

The Hopper Family at Disneyland twenty years ago

Raising children is a remarkable privilege for married couples and single adults too. Children don’t come with an instruction manual and most parents are not well prepared for the challenges ahead.

However, there are endless resources available to parents who are willing to read, listen and learn. One of the most helpful authors we found when we were raising our children was Dr. James Dobson who was the founder of Focus on the Family ministry. He led that organization for over 30 years with a national daily radio program. He also authored numerous books on a variety of family issues. He now directs the Dobson Family Institute.

Some of his early books were written when our kids were teenagers but most of them have been revised and updated to address issues that parents and children are facing in this internet age. Some of the titles included “Dare to Discipline” and “The Strong Willed Child”. He also wrote “Bringing Up Boys” and “Bringing Up Girls”.

My favorite book was “Preparing for Adolescence”. In this book Dobson addressed topics on self-esteem, peer pressure and other challenges facing teens and pre-teens today. He provided parents and teens with helpful strategies for navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence.

I often tell teenagers at our church that they needed to be patient with their parents because their parents don’t know what they are doing. They have never raised a teenager before. The parents usually looked surprised to hear me say this and the teenagers usually nodded their heads in agreement.

The Bible has a lot of practical wisdom for parents and children. One passage says, “Children, do what your parents tell you and parents don’t come down too hard on your children or you will crush their spirits (Colossians 3:20-21 – from the Message Bible). I’m sure there are other good authors who have addressed many of the challenges facing children, teens and parents today. I also like authors Kevin Leman and Tony Evans. Helpful resources are available online and in local book stores.

Let me encourage you to equip yourself for raising the children in your life. Read some good books and find some helpful parenting passages in the Bible. Listen to some podcasts. Talk with other parents. Get your kids and teens connected in a good church in your area. Ask God for wisdom and patience as you parent your children and teens. They will be glad you did and you will too!

You can read 365 more stories (one for every day of the year) in the author’s book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. Purchase one for yourself and share one with a friend. The pre-holiday price is two books for only $30 plus postage. Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.

Ready for Takeoff

I believe we still see God working in our world today when He provides for our needs, answers our prayers, changes our lives and protects us from harm. The Bible records some specific examples in the book of Ezra in chapters 7-8 and I think we still see Him doing this today.

We had a memorable experience getting off the ground flying from Los Angeles to Maui. Our seats were near one of the bulk heads in the economy section so a flight attendant was sitting in a jump seat facing us. As we settled in for takeoff one of the flight attendants reviewed the safety features of the aircraft. When we turned on to the main runway the pilot announced that we were cleared for takeoff.  

At LAX planes usually take off to the west over the ocean. We could feel the plane picking up speed as it raced down the runway. Suddenly the plane began to shake violently and shudder to a stop near the end of the runway. A few more seconds and we would have been swimming in Santa Monica Bay.

I looked at the flight attendant sitting in the jump seat facing us and could see she was alarmed. I asked her how often this had happened in her career. Her reply was brief – never. In all the years she had flown she had never experienced the plane aborting takeoff as it raced down the runway.

The pilot came on the intercom and explained that the computer sensed that we did not have enough speed to take off and it shut down the engines before it was too late. One of the two engines did not have the required amount of power to get us off the ground. The pilot was reassuring. He told us that we would be towed to a remote part of the airport so they could test the engines. While we sat on the plane they tested one engine and then tested the other. The pilot told us that one of the engines was underperforming and we needed to go back to the gate and wait for another plane to take us to Maui.

The next flight did not have room for all of us so they offered a $1000 voucher for a future flight, a hotel room and meals for people who were willing to wait for a flight the next day. My wife and I volunteered. We believe that God protected us and the other passengers and crew from serious harm or death. We were thankful to be alive and glad to receive the travel vouchers too. It was a takeoff we still remember to this day! Let me encourage you to watch for examples of God working in your life each day. You will be glad you did and He will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. You can purchase two books for only $30 plus postage ($5). Order a copy for yourself and one to give to a friend this holiday season. They will be glad you did and you will too! Order your books at markh@efreedb.org.

Washing Dishes

I don’t remember doing dishes when I was growing up. I know my parents did not own a dish washer until I was middle school. I lived at home during my college years so I never had an apartment until I got married. So I didn’t have a lot of experience washing dishes.

After my wife and I got married she worked full-time while I studied full-time in graduate school. She usually fixed dinner then I would dig into my homework. One day it dawned on me that if I helped wash the dishes we could get them done in half the time. She would have time to relax and I still had time to study.

I preferred to wash and she was willing to dry and put the clean dishes away. It became a good routine. One of the benefits of washing dishes was talking together. I used to say that we solved most of the world’s problems while we washed dishes.

As our children grew up they were expected to wash dishes after dinner. Sometimes I would help them. It gave me an opportunity to talk with them one-on-one.

At family holiday gatherings I often found myself helping with the dishes with my sister-in-law Linda. She and her family lived in Colorado and we lived in Arizona. But it gave us time to catch up on our kids and careers doing dishes after holiday dinners.

There is a passage in the Bible when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-14). In Bible times most people wore sandals. Dirt roads and pathways left feet dusty and dirty. It was common for a servant to wash the feet of people who entered a home. Jesus took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of his disciples to provide an example for them to follow. True leaders are humble and willing to serve those they lead.

I always said that real men wash dishes and change diapers. We only had cloth diapers when our kids were young. You had to dunk the dirty ones in the toilet before we put them in the washing machine. Real men wash dishes and change diapers.

Let me encourage you to be willing to wash dishes and change diapers. Lead by example. Show your wife and kids that you are a servant leader – willing to do the dirty work. 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 Let Mark Encourage You by Mark Hopper. You can purchase two books for only $30 plus postage ($5) – buy one for yourself and give one as a gift this holiday season. Order your copies today at markh@efreedb.org.

Let Me Tell You About My Life

Hopper Family Reunion in Estes Park, Colorado 2005

My adult children gave me an unusual gift for my 70th birthday. It was a one year subscription to an online company called Storyworth. This company helps people write stories about their lives by answering a different question online each week.

They provided a suggested list of topics and ideas. In addition I could write about things that I thought would be important to include in this one-year project. For example there were questions asking me to describe what my father and mother were like. I was asked to share about memorable family vacations when I was a child. There were other questions asking me to share about things I did in High School, jobs I had during college and how I met my future wife.

Initially I thought my task was to just respond to different questions. But then I began to see this as an opportunity to tell my children and grandchildren about my family’s history and provide information on my ancestors.

Another part of this project was adding pictures and photographs to the stories I had written. My wife helped me locate photographs of my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. I also included some pictures of my wife’s parents and her siblings. We found some pictures of me when I was very young and as a teenager. There are also some photos of our wedding and our own children when they were young. I have included over 150 pictures in this project.

I was asked to write one story a week for a whole year. I started in August 2020 and just completed my assignment in August 2021. All of the stories and pictures will be combined into a book and I will give a copy to each of four our children and one to my wife. There are over 350 pages in this book about my life.

As with any project it has taken more time than I expected. My wife and I have spent hours and hours locating pictures and editing each story. My children have sent us pictures too. Remember – this was their idea. It has been a lot of work. But it has also been rewarding to record things about my life, my faith and our family. I hope it will be a helpful reminder of God’s faithfulness for future generations. Let me encourage you to take the challenge. I’m sure there are many companies that offer this kind of opportunity. Don’t wait until it is too late. Get started this month. You will be glad you did and your children and grandchildren will too!

(You can read 365 more stories in the book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper – an encouraging story for every day of the year. Right now you can purchase 2 books for only $30 plus postage. The holidays are coming. Mark’s book makes an inexpensive and encouraging gift for family members and friends. Order several books now during this pre-holiday sale at Markh@efreedb.org.)

Lonesome Dove

Recently I discovered a dove hiding under some bushes in our front courtyard. He was concealed so well that I didn’t realize he was there. But when I went out to water some of the plants in the courtyard, I was startled when the bird abruptly flew out from under the bush.

Actually he didn’t fly very far. It was evident that he was weak and was only able to fly a few feet above the ground. I backed away to give him some room and not frighten him further.

Over the next few days I continued to see the dove in the courtyard. I wasn’t sure what I should do to help him. I set out a small dish of water on the ground and later bought some bird seed to provide him with some food.

Gradually he began to look stronger. On one occasion he flew up to the top of the wall that enclosed the courtyard. Another time he flew further to the short wall between our house and our neighbor. But he kept coming back to our courtyard. I know a bird is vulnerable on the ground and I hoped a cat or hawk would not find him. So far so good.

I wondered if he had any family or friends in the area. We have seen several bird’s nests in our trees and above our patio. The dove seemed larger than a newborn but it may have still been pretty young and just learning to fly. I have seen other young birds on the ground in our back yard trying to fly. Maybe this guy’s parents were watching from a distance hoping he would get airborne.

Early this morning I took some new seed out for his breakfast but he did not react to my presence. The dove was gone. Maybe he finally got strong enough to join his family and friends in the safety of the trees. I hope he is on his way to a healthy and happy life.

I was surprised at my level of concern for this little bird. I felt a sense of compassion and wanted to help him if I could. There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home” (Proverbs 27:8). I believe that God has given us family and friends to provide support and help in our time of need. Let me encourage you to value your friends and family. Don’t stray away from them. And be willing to help them when they go through difficult times. You will be glad you did and they will too!

You can read 365 more stories and articles by Mark Hopper in his book – Let Me Encourage You. The price of a book is only $20 plus postage ($5). Order a copy for yourself and one for a friend or family member at markh@efreedb.org. Your will be glad you did and they will too!

Hand Me Another Brick

Most people don’t realize that many homes and buildings around the world are made with bricks. Israelite slaves made bricks with mud and straw in Egypt (Exodus 1:14). Native Americans in the southwest made houses with adobe bricks. Many buildings and cathedrals in Europe are built with flat red bricks and covered with plaster.

One of my favorite people in the Bible is a man named Nehemiah. He led the efforts to rebuild with walls of Jerusalem around 450 BC. They used stones, bricks and timber to restore the walls around the city. You can read the details of this amazing project in the book of Nehemiah.

When Scottsdale High School was torn down in the 1990’s, the school district removed bricks from the old buildings and sold them to local residents and former students as a way to remember the importance of Scottsdale High School in their lives and in their community.

Several years ago, Disneyland invited people to purchase a brick that would be placed in the large plaza between Disneyland and the new California Adventure Park. It is fun to read some of the names on these colorful bricks paving the way for visitors at the theme parks.

A few years ago my brother learned of an opportunity to honor our father’s military service in the Army Air Corps in World War Two. Steve attended a ceremony at Atascardero Lake Park Veterans Memorial and heard he could purchase a brick to honor the service of men and women in the military. He purchased one for our father.

Recently I received an invitation to purchase a brick at my graduate school Dallas Seminary. The school will soon be celebrating 100 years in 2024. They have invited students, faculty, alumni and supporters to purchase a brick for the patio area in front of the new Chapel on the campus. My wife and I decided to purchase a brick to express our thanks for the years we shared at the school. Dallas Seminary prepared both of us for decades of pastoral ministry. We are thankful for the leaders and professors who encouraged and prepared us to love people and love teaching the Bible. I learned so much in the classroom while my wife worked full-time. She also attended classes in the evening. We are thankful for the impact Dallas Seminary has had on our faith, family and ministry.

Let me encourage you to watch for an opportunity to honor and express your thanks to a school, hospital or an individual who has impacted your life. Make a donation and leave a small statement for your children and grandchildren to see. You will be glad you did and they will too!

You can read 365 more stories and articles (one for every day of the year) in Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. Purchase two books – one for yourself and one to share with a friend for only $30 plus postage ($5). Order at markh@efreedb.org

Molly

My wife and I had our dog for 13 years.  She was about a year old when our kids gave her to us as a Christmas present.  We really didn’t need a dog but our adult kids thought we would be lonely now that they were out of the house.

Without asking us, they conspired together to bring a dog into our home. They went to a local animal shelter and found her huddled in the back of a cage with several other dogs. She was shaking and afraid. A few days before Christmas we came home to find our kids and a dog in our family room. She was still recovering from surgery and seemed overwhelmed by all these people attending to her.  

There was no turning back. We couldn’t send her back to the shelter. We agreed to welcome her into our home. We named her Molly.  She was part of our family for a long time.

As I was reflecting on our years with Molly, I realize that we had a completely wordless relationship.  She seemed to understand our words, but she never said a word herself!

She did communicate in different ways.  Sometimes she simply looked at you with those big brown eyes and you knew she wanted something.  We didn’t always know right away what she wanted, but we knew she needed something.  Usually she wanted to go for a walk!

Sometimes she communicated with a little whine.  She might need to go outside or she was having a bad dream.  Her little whine usually got our attention. One time when she was older she became stuck under our bed and was crying out in pain and distress. We knew immediately she needed help.

She also alerted us with a bark when someone came to the front door. And she would usually go to the door to greet them. It is interesting that she could communicate so much with us without words.

There is a verse in the Bible in First Peter 3:1-2 that says you can have an impact on other people without words. Peter said our behavior speaks louder than our words! You and I are probably unaware how loudly our actions and behavior speak. You can learn a lot about a person by their behavior. You learn a lot by how people act and react in different situations. Let me encourage you to communicate love, kindness, patience and compassion through your actions and reactions.  And, be aware that what you do often communicates much more than what you say!

Read 365 more encouraging stories and articles by Mark Hopper in his book Let Me Encourage You. The price is only $25 and includes postage. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.