Do you live a life of control based on fear, or a life of freedom based on love? Because we see ourselves as sinful, we have developed a need for control, based on the fear of, lack of redemption. We are fearful, that unless we are good enough, Jesus sacrifice will not be enough...
I often get asked what religion are you? What church do you attend? I reply “I am someone who loves Jesus with all my heart”. I have spent my life, until now, believing that religion had something to do with a building we gather in. That it had something to do with a group...
Oh to see, without my eyes! Have you ever thought how our eyes deceive us? We judge based on looks. Based on lifestyle. Her vision was taken from her at age six to save her life. I pray for her, when I think of all she is missing. I for one, enjoy the vision...
It’s so good to be back with you on this journey. A journey to find the heart… the spirit… of our Lord. To explore what it means to deeply love people. To long more for love, than to worry about right or wrong.
Katie has spent her life in the pursuit, to love as Christ...
47 years. 47 years and I am still a mediocre guitar player. I watch John Meyer, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and I wonder why I’m not that good. Then one day it hit me. I have never been all in. I have never dedicated all my time… my life… to being an amazing player. As...
His questions were warranted. “How do I reconcile the violence in the world today and in the bible? God wiped out whole nations of people even after he killed everyone except for Noah? I was taught he is a loving, merciful God, yet I read of his destruction and today I see his people...
As I talked with some students my question was simple. “Do your parents let others in front in traffic?” Do they offer their place standing in line?” Overwhelmingly the response was “are you joking?” My heart is heavy and my burden is great. People take, and take, and take. We live our lives wondering...
Jesus, through out his life was demonstrating one principle. The only thing that matters is faith, expressing itself in love. Later the mystic Paul, thru visions and communion with Christ was about conveying one concept. The only thing that matters is faith, expressing itself in love. As I prayed for her healing. As I...
I love, being in love, with you father. It’s like a fine wine as it gets older. It becomes smooth, easy and more joyful. Daily I get drunk on your love… your grace. It brings such joy, such peace, such understanding to my existence. I drink it in, and allow it to move through every part of my soul. As...
The comment I heard from the christians was “we don’t want our kids around those undesirable people”. As I walked straight into the crowded street of Belize my friends were questioning “should we be here?”. “These are God’s people” I replied and I have on his armor. We live in a world of judgement....
At an early age I could hear the music. I could see it everywhere. I could feel it in my soul, and hear it in my head. As a gift from God, I learned to play the guitar without lessons. Music is not about notes on a page, or theory in books. You have...
Good or bad everyone we see or encounter each day is judging. Is watching. Is looking for who we are. He was the host at a restaurant where we had reservations. As we introduced ourselves he inquired as to how we were? We simply said, “we are terrific and how are you doing today”? ...
Doubt? I use to think doubt was frightening. To doubt the scripture, to doubt my religion, or to doubt my beliefs, brought anxiety to my soul. I have come to understand that doubt, brings contemplation, which leads me deeper into the heart of Christ. Doubt of all the beliefs we were taught, brings a...
Talk to him. Not in formal prayer, although that is okay. But talk to him. Every minute, of everyday. As you would a best friend or close spouse. As your day progresses “Thank Him” continually for everything in your life. Talk to him about problems. Talk to him about good things. Many times...
Faith… as described by Jesus, always involved a heart of growth. This time of year I am amazed, as I watch everything come back to life from a state of deep sleep. Small seeds that dropped in the fall, become towering, beautiful plants, as the sun does its job. Faith is the same. ...
As sixty thousand pounds came out of the water, the emotion overtook me. This massive grey whale, made by God, was swimming not thirty yards from our boat. All my heart felt was amazement, at the power of our God. Ten miles in the ocean, no land in sight. The vast water does not...
As we all sit in a circle the question was; “what do you get from your spouse”? After listening to all the desires, all the wants from the others, I simply answered “I expect nothing from Lorna except to love me”. Love is a free choice. As the two of us are soulmates, our...
He battled. Daily Jesus battled. He spent his time in a never ending battle with evil. With demons. With Satan. He stood strong and fought well, but in the end… he was crucified. He was tortured… beaten… scarred… and taken to Hell. Then in a moment, he woke, he rose, and he walked again. ...
We tend to glamorize it. We even make beautiful jewelry out of it. We don’t want to face the truth. The whip had metal, and bone, in the ends. As Jesus was struck, flesh was torn away from his back… his sides… his neck. This would continue until near death. Our Saviors raw muscle,...
They knew what he had done. They had seen the healing. They had witnessed the miracles. They had heard of the dead rising. So a hero’s welcome… a kings honor. The robes from their backs, and palm leaves paved his way. Put yourself in Jesus place. Not wanting the spot light, but knowing the...
Thirty seven times. Thirty Seven!! H2O became wine. Evil spirits ran in fear. Fish jumped into nets, at his calling. Leprosy vanished with a touch. Small fish, and simple bread, fed thousands with a thought. Walking on water… no problem. Blindness vanished with a little spit and mud. Even a simple touch of his...
Most days I am amazed at the way our mind works. We have our routine, and we think we know what is right… what is wrong. We live in such comfort, and anything that takes us out of that comfort makes us uneasy. During the time of the Torah they thought the same. The...
We had gone into American Eagle on a routine shopping trip. I skimmed thru the mens’ department, the way most men do. I then found a spot to stand. A couple of minutes turned into many, and she was still trying on clothes. So I waited. People asking if they could help me. If...
As I stood beside the mighty Mississippi, I came to a quiet realization of our spirit. The flowing of such a body of water never stops. Day and night without ceasing, it flows. It bends and turns. It has a life all its own, but is never stops. Downward… always downward… toward something so...
Until we understand that Christ, is at the center of everything, and everyone, we will continue down a path of destructive disconnection we see so clearly in the world today. We live in a ego driven, dualistic society. I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m on the left, you’re on the right and we can’t...
The silence of snow. It was a Thursday. The loud part of the storm had already come and the gentle part still remained. The snow started to fall, and the flakes got larger and more robust. I dressed for the occasion, and went for a walk. There is a silence in the snow. A...
Do you ever have those days when you are fed up with Gods’ children? As I drive, I sense anger at the person driving to slow, because they are texting. I get honked at by a girl, who came into my turn lane, because she didn’t pay attention to the sign. She was texting. ...
You say you love me, but I don’t know how to be your child. You say you have grace untold for me, but I don’t deserve it. You fill my life with favor, with blessings too numerous to count, but I don’t know why. You lead me down paths that lead to you, but...
As I stand in the wind of a cold front, it feels as though it’s coming from all directions. It whips and turns, gusts and slows. It refreshes one minute, and brings shivers the next. As I feel it coming from this way, then that way. I think of the spirit of Jesus, and...
I stand at the window of my warm home, and I cry at the amazing world our father made for us. The beauty of the snow coming down. As I listen to John Denver, on the Alexa, I cry at the amazing gift of sight, sound and senses, to experience such a magnificent view...
As I read the account of a slave market my tears flowed in abundance. Men and women were forced to stand on a block of wood… naked… as buyers examined. As buyers threw insults. As they yelled out prices they would pay. In my mind I could see it… I could feel the pain… the humiliation. I then pictured myself on that block. Naked and afraid and wondering “why me”? I pictured myself full of sin… full of selfishness and ashamed of who I was. I could hear the small amounts that satan and his demons would pay for me. One who worships God but falls so short. One who loves God but is so full of sin… so full of selfishness. Then I heard his voice! Above the noise. Above the insults. Above the humiliation. Jesus… standing at the back of the crowd yelling “I will buy him”. Don’t care what he has done, who he is or what he looks like. I want him. Name your price and it is yours. I love him that much. He then walked up to where I was standing. With outstretched hands and love in his voice said “let’s go home”. Slavery was and still is a horrific thing that in the name of Jesus we need to eliminate. We are all slaves to sin. Thank goodness Jesus is willing to pay the price for our freedom.
In John 8:34 thru 38 Jesus says “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.
Lorna and I had been to Memphis Tennessee on our annual anniversary trip. As many of you may know I am a huge Dr. King fan and so I like to visit places that are significant in his life. The Civil Rights museum in Memphis is the very place where he was assassinated. As we entered the museum the first room was how it all began. The accounting of slaves being taken from Africa and brought here to be sold as if they were cattle or some other such livestock. Men and women forced to stand in front of a crowd of people, naked… afraid… and humiliated. They stood there, alone, as men hurled out insults as well as bargaining for the price they would pay. The young men, with muscles were given the highest premium. Not only for the work they could do but because they would be good breeding stock. The young women were valued based on the way they looked naked, and if they would be good breeding stock, for the men that were being bought. These men and women. Made in God’s image. Given his spirit at their creation, they were sold with no regard to their soul and the value they had to our God. Many times this was done in the name of God by people who called themselves Christians.
As I stood there reading these accounts. As I took in the details and visioned that market place in my mind, the tears flowed. My crying was uncontrollable as I felt their pain. As I felt their humiliation. As I had compassion on these men and women who are children of God. Men and women who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Are we not all brothers and sisters? Formed in the mind of God. Given his DNA at our conception. Does he not, with a single breath, give each of us life all in the same way? Are not you and I, and your neighbor, and your enemy, and these slaves of long ago, all related thru our heavenly father?
Malachi 2:10 – Don’t we all come from one Father? Aren’t we all created by the same God? So why can’t we get along? Why do we desecrate the covenant of our ancestors that binds us together?
John 1:3 – Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.
Genesis 1:26 – God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
Luke 6:35 – “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind”.
Colossians 1:15 – We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.
I could keep going verse, after verse, after verse, that simply says we were all made in his image and given life for a purpose. So why do we hate as we do?
We live in a dualistic world where we find it necessary to feed our egos by choosing sides. I want to be right, so you have to be wrong. We feed hatred from that. We feed a feeling of superiority from that. I see it everyday as so many compete with each other over race. Over religion. Over politics. Over standing in the community. Over who’s right and who’s wrong like anyone knows that but God. We place ourselves on such a pedestal as to think we can judge others based on our ideas as if our ideas are right and others ideas are wrong.
Why can’t we simply see each other, equally in the eyes of our God. Trust me when I tell you that your sin, my sin, is the same, not worse and not better than the very man that brings destruction to this world. Because we are all related by our Heavenly Father can’t we simply be the human family instead of the human race?
You may say “Wake up Perry! We can’t all sat around the campfire singing Kumbaya”
But is that not what will happen in the presence of our Savior and our God?
As I saw myself standing on that block of wood. Naked… ashamed… and wondering why me I thought of how my Savior sees me. He looks past the dirt. He looks past the ugliness. He looks straight into my soul and he sees himself. He sees the love that was given to me, the day he made me, and breathed life into my spirit. He paid a great price to take me away from a life of slavery.
Romans 8:38-39 – So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture
So the next time you find yourself thinking bad thoughts of someone that may be different than you. Next time you find hatred in your heart because of differences in religion, politics, race, or simply because their life is different than yours. Stop and look at them the way Jesus would. From a place of his love that can be found in your heart… because he put it there!
In His Love, Perry D. Hoover
Footnote; Slavery is still being practiced today right here in our country. Young girls and boys are being sold as subjects of sex and perversion. If you can, please give of your blessings in an effort to stop it. https://love146.org
