HCLM BLOG
A blog dedicated to starting conversations.
Ben talks to Chris
Ben Hoyer - Friday, November 06, 2009
Chris and I have been talking about how much he's enjoying leading children's worship. He has some good thoughts one why he likes it, and it's affected how he thinks about service. It's changed from a task to a joy. Rather than paraphrase, I thought I'd give you him in his own words.
Ben talks to a Cop
Ben Hoyer - Monday, November 02, 2009
I had a long conversation with a Lake Mary Police officer today.
Normally this would happen while I sat in the driver seat of my car, but not today. This policeman started as a night patrolman and now is the community relations officer. He's a good guy, and he's done a lot to build a bridge between the churches and the "protect and serve" folks of our fine city. We worked with him a couple months ago on a school supply drive, Helping Hands Holy Cross L Team is working with him to refurbish a house right now, he's doing a lot of good. It's fun to see churches partner with the city to make things better.
So the talk today was in our courtyard and centered around a Christmas project we're going to help him with. But in the course of that conversation our motivation for helping folks came up. It was fun to stand in our courtyard, watch preschoolers walk by and share with a police officer the model I've learned from Jesus. He walked into cities and healed people, fed people, and cast out demons without any strings attached. There was not requirement of a sermon or gospel presentation coupled with service, he answered questions when they had them but often came with one motive: love and serve. I'm trying to love and serve without any other strings attached and lead folks to do the same. It was fun to get to talk with somebody about that today.
three things
Ben Hoyer - Wednesday, October 28, 2009
1. I'm working on a bible study that goes with psalm 37:4. This is cool_God will give you the desires of your heart. As we learn to live like Jesus we find we have every thing we want. Scripture doesn't tell us to squash our desire, just to wait on the Lord to give it...I'm waiting for the fall weather. What are you waiting for?
2. Yesterday, as I waited at a light, the famous truck quit running. I was halfway home from downtown Orlando and not excited about pushing the bundle of joy. That's when a truck that ran fine drove up behind me and pushed me out of the intersection. I found out the gas gauge is less than accurate: apparently a quarter tank really means empty.
3. Since the pig turned out so well a couple months ago, I am trying to figure out how I can roast a turkey on a spit over a fire. I welcome suggestions.
adventure and a lion
Ben Hoyer - Monday, October 26, 2009
I've been reading Wesley the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe before bed. Some nights he's more into it than others. Last night we got to a part where the Lion and the oldest boy are standing at an overlook and they can see much of the land down to the ocean on the horizon. C.S. Lewis is a good descriptive writer and he describes how beautiful the land is as the sun sets the clouds and rolling hills change colors. Then the Lion (a God figure in this children's story) tells the oldest boy that he is going to be king of all he can see, and that just on the horizon is an ancient throne on which he'll sit. It's the position he was born for and it has been waiting for him. It sounded pretty adventurous for a kids story.
I pray for Wesley as I put him to bed, and last night (having just read about that adventure) I prayed that God would give Wesley courage to view life as that sort of adventure. One where there is opportunity to make a difference in the world, where a significant calling has been laid upon his life. One where there is a sense of duty and honor about the act of living.
It's hard sometimes to look at life that way, when everything else says our life banal and boring: all work and t.v. It takes faith to believe there is something significant and adventurous about my life, and it takes courage on top of faith to pursue that adventure. Father...give me more faith...then also courage
the sunrise
Ben Hoyer - Wednesday, October 21, 2009
So the little girl had one of the best nights of her young life last night! It's amazing how one less interruption to the nights sleep can make the whole day feel a little more hopeful. I got up a little earlier this morning than I have been; sat in the dark, drank coffee, ate eggs and watched the sunrise out the picture window in our house. I looked up and the light blue/grey sky was turning pink then orange then yelllow. I feel like anything could happen today!
America and the Kingdom
Ben Hoyer - Monday, October 19, 2009
On the way in to work this morning I listened to a podcast that was recapping how our economy got into the sort of trouble that has resulted in the almost 10% unemployment rate. They were talking about America's situation in this global economy. They sounded a little worried.
Yesterday I had a conversation with a guy that has worked most of his career in and around government programs. We talked a for a while about the future of America's economy. We mentioned debt to other countries, and the collapse of manufacturing, sort of landing on...America doesn't produce anything. What happens to an economy built on consumption? He wasn't pessimistic, but he sounded a little worried.
Six or eight days ago I was with a friend who was talking to me about this pundit he listens too. The pundit was more than a little worried. He's watching the value of the American dollar go down and is afraid that the future for America could be gloomy.
Yesterday I mentioned briefly that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God before we are even Americans. It was just a short point Sunday, but it is a big deal for me. I've come to realize that my first citizenship is in this Kingdom that stretches back to Adam and forward for eternity. I have a king that is infinitely concerned about my welfare. I happen to live in America, but this country has a different idea about justice, about generosity, about economy even. I don't know what's going to happen to this country, but I do know what's going to happen to my King and his Kingdom...it never ends. It's comforting; I hope America works it out-but that's not where my hope is.
thirteen dollars!
Ben Hoyer - Tuesday, October 13, 2009
There was mild outrage in the office at the church yesterday as folks logged on to our new credo coffee page and exclaimed thirteen dollars for coffee? (they misread the page, the coffee is $8, if it needs to be shipped there is a $5 charge). As I was fielding their concern I realized...I've been thinking about money a lot lately.
It is all over the place and affects us all. I just had a phone conversation with a guy at his whits end, without work and staring down eviction. I spoke with some friends this weekend about being laid off, others about their job sending them out of the state, others about working a job that feels like it's killing them just for that paycheck. I have a friend working jobs on the weekend and losing the family time he wants so he can earn more money, one who is investing as much as he can in his future business, and one whose business is just taking off and he wants to know the best place to invest. Money is all over, and has its hand in everything so this may sound funny, but: money is a serious distraction.
It's not the point. Money is not the point of your life. It may be easy to agree with that, but it's harder to live like it's true. It's hard to avoid living like money is the point of our lives. I think that's why Jesus spoke about money so much. He knew that it had the possibility of being our biggest distraction.
whew!
Ben Hoyer - Monday, October 05, 2009
Whew! I don't know about you, but I had a busy weekend. Definitely over-booked the two days. Golf, Octoberfest, Preach the Word of God, Wings and College football, preach the Word of God some more, nap, celebrate nuptuals, and fall asleep in front of NFL. If you add in a couple bottle feedings a date with my wife on Friday Night and a couple book readings with an almost 2 year old, then you're starting to get a picture of what I'm talking about. I was sitting here, running through it in my head and thinking, "Was that too much?" Ok. it probably was, but I'd rather have that than the opposite. Not that I don't like alone time, I just really value having friends to enjoy life with. I like having casual friends, and ones that really know me and feel like family.
It made me remember a conversation that Chris and I recorded several months ago. We called it King of Queens, because we realized that although it feels easier, sitting at home and watching reruns doesn't make us happy.
armor of God
Ben Hoyer - Friday, October 02, 2009
In our Gospel reading for Sunday from John chapter 17 Jesus prays for his followers that will stay on the earth after his ascension. He asks that they be protected from an enemy, he reminds the Father God that it will be hard for them on earth because they are not of this world. They are aliens in a foreign world. The chief attack of our enemy is to convince us that this is our home. That our main goal is to make this life as comfortable as we can, cause it's all we get. That's a lie and you'll need some armor to fend it off. Or service this weekend will try to convince you of that truth.
what are you doing?
Ben Hoyer - Monday, September 28, 2009
Yesterday as our evening hanging out the with folks wound down, dad sat on the couch soothing little Eleanor, Wes watched "Bear necessities" with mom and Megan readied all the the stuff it requires to take two kids anywhere. I sat and played on the piano they've had as long as I can remember. I thumbed through the hymnal til I got to one that I only slightly knew. I now hope they sing it at my funeral. To me it sings about reality. The truth of who we are and what we're called to that the busyness of life tries to distract us from. More on that later. Until then, here's the hymn:
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
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