HCLM BLOG

I was on the treadmill at 6a this morning listening to a podcast, trying to wake up my legs along with the rest of my body that seemed to be sleepwalking or more accurately, sleeprunning. The speaker was challenging people to think of the key phrases that they use when praying. You've probably used some of my favorites, if not all of these, "thank you for today, watch over me, and the ever popular bless me." That last one intrigues me, mostly because I have said it a lot, mostly while I'm sleep praying, trying to wake up and say what is really on my mind. Is that really what I would say to God when I see Him face to face? I imagine "Wow you are awesome" might be the first words out of my mouth. But "bless me?" I mean isn't our role to bless God, to lift Him up? And doesn't God bless His work already? And if I'm doing something that God isn't already blessing, do I really want to ask Him to bless it? Maybe a wake up call is in order. We have a God who loves us that offers us the opportunity to communicate with Him at any point of any day. God help me not sleepwalk through my prayers!

I am sorry that you did not see more posts from Israel. I found out that the hotels in Israel do not have the free WiFi that our hotels do here. So I was too cheap to keep buying that time. Also we went from 7:30 in the morning til 8:00 at night and we were too tired to type at the end of the day.

But the visit to the holyland has changed my look at holy week! As we prepare here for these holy days, my feelings run much deeper. When I think of the Good Friday service, I can not help but think of the Garden Tomb that we saw in Jerusalem. Somehow being able to see the places that Jesus walked make His suffering and death so very much more real I wish that everyone could have the experience. I stood in the prison cell that probably held Jesus before he went to appear before Pilate and we saw the steps that the soliers dragged Jesus up after they took Him in the Garden.

All of this simply reminds me that "I AM NOT WORTH WHAT JESUS HAD TO PAY FOR MY SIN!" Holy week helps us to remember that fact. Please join us for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 7:00pm to remember and on Sunday to celebrate!

In Christ,
Paul Hoyer

This morning I did that thing where you’re thinking, “I should call that person” then you’re like, “Shoot, I’ll just call them right now.” So I did. I called a friend of mine from school.

He lives in Wisconsin (I don’t know why. I told him it was cold and flat, but people don’t listen to me). They live in a house they bought almost two years ago. He said that would be the longest they’ve lived in the same place in almost 10 years. He was marveling and the relative permanence of his life.

Megan and I had a similar experience recently. I mean we’ve lived places for two years, but whenever we moved we would save the boxes. We knew we’d be moving again and didn’t want to have to look for boxes. For six years, three states, and six moves we’ve carried these same boxes. Six weeks ago, as we packed up our house in Sanford, we realized this is the last time for these disintegrating cardboard containers. As we unpacked in Orlando, each one was stacked in the carport, and then out to the trash. It was a cathartic experience. We got to throw out the boxes. 

As I said that, “we threw out the boxes” he chimed in, “hey I still have boxes stacked in the garage…I should throw out the boxes.”

It was exciting to get to throw out the boxes, but we are realizing the reality now of our relative permanence. It means committing yourself to a place, investing in people and engaging in their lives, not just your own.

I wonder if you’ve ever thrown out the boxes. I mean committed yourself to a place. Put forth the energy and emotion it takes to make some roots. If Jesus is a role model for you, then making roots will include serving the town you live in and the people you share life with. It would mean connecting meaningfully with other followers and loving your neighbors. It takes work but hey, we’re not going anywhere we might as well throw out the boxes.

So I am sitting in JFK in New York waiting for our 9:00pm flight to Tel Aviv and by tomorrow afternoon we will be in Israel. The land where Jesus walked. There are 18 of us and we plan to keep you informed with pictures and narrative. We had 6 hours to kill here and we even played some games. We just played boggle and I have to admit that I won! This is unusual since I almost always lose. So the next time you here from me I will be in the Holy Land!!!!!

Paul