Holy Cross Lutheran Ministries- Lake Mary, Florida

HCLM BLOG

A blog dedicated to starting conversations.

What's your L Team

Ben Hoyer - Monday, May 11, 2009
Today we met with a guy who is looking to start his own church, he seemed a little frustrated with the organized church. It's not hard, when your connected to a local church body, to lose perspective. You can get so worked into the mechanics of keeping an organization running that you forget what it's about. Or on the member side. You can get worked into doing things for the church that you forget to be the church. I think that's a real challenge.
I am trying to remember myself, and initiate systems (what's your L Team?) that help others remember that life with Jesus is better than life without him. It is true that the lessons of Sunday sermons and confirmation classes and of bible studies are meant to be put into practice. Following Jesus is about a better experience of life now and later. Anyway my lunch with that guy made me think of that.

What is Your Job Worth

Paul Hoyer - Thursday, May 07, 2009
Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy was the best-compensated CEO of 2008 at $112 million. This according to an article in USA Today Monday May 4,2009.

The company did not want to look bad in these economic times so his increase was nominal, however they did buy his collection of historical maps, books, paintings and photos, artwork that was on the walls in the administrative building. The purchase price for these was $12.2 million! The board said that they got a bargain.

The article listed the ten highest pay packages for CEOs. The number ten CEO was James Dimon of J.P. Morgan Chase (they have been in the news) who made $35.7 million. Many of these men got large increases even while their companies were going down. As we watch the jobless rate and the stock market it seems hard to take.

We had a member 15 years ago who was offered a job in Chicago for $1,000,000.00 a year, when I asked if he planned to take it he said no! I asked why and he said that there is nothing that he could do that would be worth $1 million, "no person should be paid $1 million."

It would seem that we have lost all perspective when athletes and others make so very much money. One wonders what you would do with that much money? One of the wealthiest men in the world said that money is simply the way that we keep score! He went on to say that he does not need any more money but that is how he measures his worth in our society.

As followers of Christ that has got to make us think. Today our church family lost an older gentleman who once owned a very profitable company and he was worth a great deal. When he gets to heaven I would have to believe that his worth is not going to be counted in $$$!

The hard part for us as believers is to figure out just how much of a role money, our net worth and salaries should play in our plans for this life. The temptation is to do like the early Christians of Acts and sell all that we have and live together as children of the same heavenly father. But at the same time we know that we are expected to be "Good Stewards" of all that the Lord gives us in this life.

The Apostle Paul once said "I have learned to be content, whether I have much or very little". I think that gives us a hint of how we are to live, we need to remember that our salary and even our wealth are only a PART of our life they are not our life. Whether I have a great deal of wealth or whether I am poor I am too live for the Lord. My life will be measured by my closeness to the Lord, not my closeness to my money!

So in these unusual times we need to show the world that we do not measure our worth by the money that we make but by the difference that we make.

In Christ,
Pastor Paul

America, is your face changing

Ben Hoyer - Thursday, May 07, 2009

My brother, who has been out of the country for several months, recently sent me an email asking about our newest president. He said that he and the people he’s traveling with have heard a lot about “the changing face of America.” He wanted to know what he should check out to figure out what that really means. Three things came immediately to mind:

1.      I don’t know if he was here for this point in the election, but I will first tell him to check out the speech that Obama gave on race relations. You know when the news wanted to talk about his pastor. I thought that speech was pretty good

2.    The next thing I will tell him to check out I learned about in a Time article. They mentioned how Obama and his team are sort of leaving classical economics behind in favor of what is called “behavioral economics.” Apparently classical economics is based on the theory that consumers will make decisions in their best interest, and those consumers will keep companies in check; this way if you feed the systems it works in the best interest of all involved. As I read it part of the new approach says that consumers won’t always choose in their best interest (they won’t spend more money for the electric car even though it’s better for them in the long run) so the government puts things in place to nudge the system in the direction of the greater good. Sounds smart until you realize that someone has to decide what the greater good is.

3.     The last thing that came to mind is that his first interview with al jazeerah. I will tell him to read some about his approach to foreign policy. He seems to be ready to talk in a fairly open-ended way.

He usually reads this blog, so you should tell him how you think Obama is contributing to a changing face.

Ten Gallon Hat

Ben Hoyer - Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Last week I was at this conference and heard two smart,successful, and passionate guys speak about church planting. One of the guys plants churches out of his church in east texas (I know the home of big churches and bigger hats). Nevertheless, he has some good ideas that encouraged what I’ve been thinking and are still rattling around in my head.

Here’s the point I’ll share: the reason to start churches is to bring more people into the kingdom of God and the key to starting churches is to make disciples. This may not sound very groundbreaking until you realize that disciple making is tough, and filling up worship service for one hour a week may be easier. This guy says if we are able to release the Holy Spirit into people’s lives to such an extent that their lives are transformed and they become disciples, a church will just naturally happen.

He even takes this approach with his mission work, both locally and globally. He is making friends and with his words and actions releasing the Holy Spirit. Trusting that the Spirit will do the heavy lifting, of conversions. Here’s an op/ed about him in the Washington Post.

In the Jeep

Ben Hoyer - Saturday, May 02, 2009
As I drove home last night I was in a really good mood. Our Softball team is playing on friday nights at this sweet softball complex and I had just finished a game. As I drove home I realized that I really like playing softball, we don't even have to win (though that would be nice). I just like being out there and running around. So I'm driving home in a good mood, and this song comes on the ipod. It's a good song, and I'm singing along (you know how you do when your in a good mood and alone in the car) and it comes to this one line "from thee like pisgah's mountain we view our promised land." After the game I had prayed "Lord give us joy in our lives." I was thinking that this life was pretty good. But when I heard that line, I backed it up and played it again.
Pisgah is the mountain that God brought moses to, so he could see the promised land, when I heard that line I realized, "I'm having fun playing softball, enjoying good music, heading home to my wife and my son. But the next stage is going to be even better." It's hard to explain, but right then I was seriously thinking let's be there now. I'm ready. More than that, I was excited for it. It was a fun moment, let's me know I really believe all this stuff.

Capitalism

Paul Hoyer - Thursday, April 30, 2009
Those of you who know me, know that I am most definitely a Capitalist! I believe that the best form of economic development is rooted in individual profit and I worry when the government takes more and more control of the economic systems of this country. That would usually be the end of my comment, "End of Story". However, I have been doing some praying and soul searching over the last few months. Here are some more of my thoughts on the economic situation.

I can't help but see some of the problems of Israel in the Old Testament in the current problems of our country. The prophets complained to the nation that they had quit worrying about anyone but themselves. As long as they had enough everything was fine. The nation never listened to these prophets and it was only after Israel was overrun and enslaved that they would stop and listen to God and how He wanted them to live!

In the recent past there were those who said that our country was becoming too segregated (the haves and the have nots) and that our rampant capitalism was the culprit. As we lived here in Lake Mary (4th best place in America to live) and contemplated which car we should buy next or whether or not we could afford a house on the beach we would respond to the detractors that this is how it should be, people should reap the benefit of their labor. Those that do not have just have not figured out how to get it yet! But now that "regular people" i.e. our parents and others we know are losing their savings and retirement while CEO's contemplate bankruptcy for their companies and a life for themselves with millions in a foreign country we look at the situation with a different eye.

Suddenly there is an outcry that we need to care for the poor and homeless, we need to make sure that people are not put out of their homes, that children don't live out of their cars! The rich need to foot the bill taxes and rules are good if they level the playing field. Now it seems that everyone should be looking out for others as well as themselves! It would seem that just like the Israelites we have come to realize that living selfishly leads to a country of selfish people!

However, our concern for the less fortunate may simply be a new form of selfishness. We are outraged that there are those who continue to have enough money to build 94,000 sq. ft. houses and sent their dogs to New York City for their styling, while we are worried about keeping our jobs and our homes! Our seeming concern for the less fortunate may be a thinly veiled cover for our concern that someone is making sure that I can keep my stuff!!!

Maybe we all need to do a self check? Have we become too worried about things? What should our standard of living be in this country? Just because I "Can" have it "should" I have it?

What do you think?
Pastor Paul



jim lehrer

Ben Hoyer - Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I was watching a news show the other day. Every friday they have these two guys debate the weeks news. I like listening to these guys because they're smart and, for the most part, gracious. Anywho there were two things said that have stuck with me:

1. He said that he figures most people are pulling for Obama's ideas to work out because they have hitched to him for their "fate, fortune, and future." As he goes so goes their lives. It made me think..."I am not counting on Obama for my fate, fortune or future." I mean I can see why americans would, but I consider myself american only secondarily. I have hitched to Jesus for my "fate, fortune, and future." As Jesus goes so goes my life. It made me think, I wonder what percentage of people following Jesus would see that distinction and which percentage would just throw themselves in with all the other americans. Remember as we follow Jesus we are citizens of his kingdom first, america is second at best. Our king is much more trustworthy then their president both with the things of this world and the next.

2. As they spoke about the changing economy they mentioned "We have to learn that there are no transformational purchases. No ipod, lipstick, or masarati is going to change who you are." I thought, wow that is profound for a news program (I guess that's pbs for you). But that is so right. It's hard to remember that even if you get that car that is new, sensible, good for the enviroment, looks cool and is marketed to the sort of person you want to be (big truck, hip hatchback, smart green car) you are still going to be the same person...it won't change your life. I think that's something that we relearn and remember over and over again. At least I do.

Heroes

Paul Hoyer - Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I just received a copy of Ben Stein's final Column, this was the one where he wrote from a famous restaurant that had traditionally be the hangout for Hollywood Stars. In that final column he said that he was going to stop because things had changed. He no longer feels that the people who live in "insane luxury" and are paid millions of dollars to memorize lines and speak them back to an audience or a camera are the heroes that he once thought them to be. He then lists the type of people that he feels are the true heroes of today's society. His final thoughts are that to be heroic a life must be a life lived in service to others.

The root of this kind of thinking to me is that to be a hero is to do the difficult with little regard for our own welfare. Serving others can be this when it is done with recklus abandon! To live the heroic life is to put my needs and wants behind the needs of others. The hero leads the way, they lead not by asking others to give to them, but by offering to give themselves to others.
Great leaders have always known this, but it seems to just now have come into the foreground of leadership training. We are the heroes, when we care for ailing parents, or give ourselves completely to our spouse.

In this Easter season it is easy to see that Jesus was that type of hero and would lead us in that direction. But in the society that we live in today too many people still see heros as those who do whatever it takes to get what they want for themselves!
The "ME" generation produced a generation that looks up to those who put themselves first. Even in the current envirorment of "Change" as our country digs deep to pour Trillions of Dollars into the econamic bail outs and people are suffering as never before, I read yesterday that the government knows that more than 10% of those trillions will be lost to fraud, graff and con artists. Where are the Heroes? We need to let Jesus lead our lives and then let our lives shine on those around us. That is the only thing that can produce "Change".

What do you think?
Pastor Paul

a prayer

Ben Hoyer - Wednesday, April 22, 2009

So…here is a prayer I’ve sort of been praying

Father it’s true that we want to be in the center of yourwill. We know that’s where we’ll have peace: freedom from doubts and worries, fearsand anxieties. We know there is provision there, and joy. Tune our hearts tosense where that is, and then the courage to go there boldly. Open doors for usin the days and weeks to come. Go ahead of us in authority.

Knit together our little daughter, and tell us what her nameis. In and through Jesus your son. Amen

Bronze Snakes can create problems

Ben Hoyer - Monday, April 20, 2009
mosesYesterday (april 19) we told the story of God punishing Israel with deadly snakes. That was kind of a bummer story to hear. But as he tends to do, God also made a way out. He told Moses to make a bronze snake. If people wanted to, they could look at the snake and be healed. So sometimes God punishes his people in order to correct them. The interesting thing is that the story of the bronze snake doesn't end there. A thousand years later that bronze snake is still around. The Israelites carried it all through the desert, and put it in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem. But when that snake is mentioned again it is being shattered. King Hezekiah destroys it because the Israelites had started worshiping it. Can you believe it? They were worshiping the thing God worked through to save them instead of God himself. They had turned it into an idol. What a mess we are.

We talked a little bit about money yesterday too. I think it can become our bronze snake. I spoke with a member after the saturday service who said that money is so dangerous because we have to be constantly reevaluating our relationship to it. We are never done. When it's up there on the pole it looks like it would make such a good little idol. Worse it seems to give us results. God often gives us money to help our experience of life, but the minute we start worshiping the things God works through rather than God himself, it's time to take it out and smash it.