duality?

I know that I've talked about this before, but I have been thinking more about it lately. The more I think about it, the more I see it affecting all sorts of stuff. 

It came up in my mind the other day when I heard an interview about the problems with our economy. The guy was a christian that worked with the poor somewhere in New England. He said the reason it was messing with people so much was because the economy had become a God for our culture, and when it fails people's God fails.

I started thinking, "I don't know anyone who would say that money or the economy is their God." But the next thing that came to mind was, "I suppose that a lot of people's security, or hope comes from money, and really isn't that what Gods are for?" That thought made me think another thought, "there are a lot of people in that camp--the camp of looking to money for things Gods provide--I find myself in that camp sometimes, how does that happen?" (sometimes my thoughts run through my head really fast like that). Finally I landed on one thought, "it's hard to find security and hope in a spiritual God for physical things. For some reason I want to separate them."

This brings me to the aforementioned point that affects a lot of stuff. With the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob there is no separation of physical and spiritual. They are wrapped up together, and he is equally concerned about all of it. That God is concerned about my quality of life physically and spiritually. That means I can trust him with my money just as much as my sin, I can trust him with my physical health just as much as my emotional health. That's what makes him such a good God, it's why he's been around for so long. 

Where did my insurance go?

So after 25 years of car and house insurance with State Farm, I now need to look for a new insurance company! I am having a hard time understanding just how they can simply decide to quit covering the homes that they have in Florida. Equally ridiculous is their commercial that says even though we are dropping your house just keep paying us for your car and by the way why not give us your money to invest.

This whole thing is another reminder that "Service Organizations" are not really service oriented they are profit oriented. I suppose that you can not expect a corporation to continue to do business at a loss, but then they should not be able to do business based on the idea that "You've Got A Friend" this is not something that a friend would do!

All of these thoughts came to me yesterday as I prepared for my Crossways Class where we were discussing the fact that Jesus came as the "Cornerstone" and his pattern of living as a servant to all was a model for us as followers of Christ. No wonder the world has a hard time understanding the actions of Christ Followers as they live to serve those around them and consider the needs of others as more important than their own. Even our "Service Organizations" do not operate in that way.

Christ calls us to see the world differently and to act differently. This is confusing to us and to those around us. You can begin to see why in the early church they separated themselves from the world and tried to deal just with other believers. The Mennonite church has some of that as they don't do insurance but if someone loses a home or property they all simply get together and rebuild what they lost!! Now that is servant living!

Searching for new insurance for my house is going to bring up a raft of new problems and I will try and keep you informed as my frustration mounts.

In Christ,
Pastor Paul

Winter Games!

Can I get an Amen for living in florida!? AMEN

I am going out on a limb...are you ready? I don't think there was black ice, frostbite warnings, or even "wintry mix" in the Garden of Eden. If that is the case, then Florida in the winter is much closer to paradise than lots of places to our north and winter games makes perfect sense. At least it does to me. Just a thought. 

Here are some pics from the Winter Games; a fun time was had by all. P.S. Duke Shumate won the chili cook-off.

cold weather

I drove out to Mt. Dora on monday and saw some folks picking oranges. I saw them, with ladders and bags and thought, "Wow I didn't know anyone cared about those fields. I thought they were abandoned." Then as I sat huddled under covers last night (our heat pump was having trouble keeping up with freezing temps) I learned why they were out there. The news said people didn't want to loose orange crops to a freeze so some were picking early. 

Chris and I were trying to figure out what the deal is with Florida cold. Both of us have lived places where cold is a much more normal experience. We should not really balk at the temps we are seeing now. But we are both very cold. How does that happen? Just something I was thinking today.

new president

so...we have a new president, in case you missed that. We want you to be privy to all the latest news. 

About two years ago I was on my way to church in St. Louis. I was scheduled to help out and was running late. So I was speeding. Right at the worst point (just after the limit had been decreased) I was pulled over. The officer wrote me a ticket. I was a post-grad student with little disposable income and none that I wanted to give to a ticket for being late to church. Needless to say I arrived at church not only late, but also in a bad mood. As I tried to get ready for worship, I sat in church praying and a scripture came to mind: something about "there is no authority but that given by God." I felt as if God spoke to me saying submit to that officer as you would to me, because the authority his position holds is given by me. That was tough.

When Jesus was questioned about the authority of worldly rulers he seemed almost dismissive. "Give them what is theirs." I think it is important to support and pray for rulers, and to follow the laws; but that should always be secondary to the King of all Kings. I mean, my first citizenship is in the Kingdom of God found in the universal church. I hope with America and for it, but I place my hope in Jesus. What is cool about hoping there, is that Jesus is trans-national. Hoping in him ties me to people all over the world who are doing the same...just something I was thinking today. I'm going to go watch Obama's speech.

stressed?

Earlier today Chris and I walked over to Albertson's. (incidently, as we bought our weekly sodas, we also picked up our 3-d glasses for the super bowl. yahoo!) As we made our way through the Krystal parking lot a guy drove by and tried to sell us cigarettes; he said he was almost out of gas and needed the money. Judging from stories I have heard, more people are going to be doing things like selling cigarettes from cars for gas. I mean it sure seems like money is going to be tight for awhile.

I listened to an interview in the car today where the woman said that 8 out of 10 americans are stressed about he "economic downturn." That number is almost as high as it was after 9/11. The woman said that people get stressed when they feel like things are out of their control, and they we should find ways to put things under our control.

I am not being interviewed on the radio, so maybe my opinion counts less, but I think just the opposite. I mean peace comes to me when I realize that I'm not in control. When I learn that everything I have that is good in my life is a gift, and that a God who is stronger than me is involved in my life. I have found that it is just as important to trust God with my money as it is to trust him with my sin, and my eternity. They all go together.

What happens when you die?

We have had a rash of funerals at Holy Cross in the first two weeks of 2009. One person died of surgery complications, one person abused drugs, one person had a heart attack and one killed themselves!

My Son Jacob sent an article to the Sanford Herald from Africa where he is now and spoke about the way that the African people deal with death.

In addition to that the "Crossways Class" that I was leading this week spoke about Christ's second coming and the time when all of our lives will be over.

These things have caused me to spend some time thinking again about what it means to die! People who live without a relationship with Jesus Christ, will usually be afraid of death. I think that this comes because we are naturally afraid of anything that we have not experienced and that we know nothing about. I have no desire to eat Sushi, I have not experienced raw fish and I am therefore a little afraid to have that first bite. Once you get past the first taste, you decide that raw fish is not that bad. As the commercial used to say "now you know and knowing is half the battle".

In Jesus Christ, we know that death is not the end to our life but a door to a new and glorious existence with God in Heaven. We believe that He will never leave us alone and when we leave this life He will be with us to guide and protect us. For many of us we begin to look forward to the opportunity for this new existence. However we are still afraid of death! (we have not experienced it). We face our death as the great door that must be opened but with out Jesus we have no idea of what is on the other side, when we know Him and believe what is on the other side we have a hole through the door. Instead of a big solid door, we have a sort of picket gate. You still have to open it to get to the other side, but you all able to see just what is coming.

When we begin to think in this manner about death it changes just how we grieve and even end of life issues. Our views on death will change our views on life.

In Christ,
Paul Hoyer

biggest loser

I think I have confessed before that I watch Biggest Loser. So last night I watched and there was this cool moment in one of those "talk to camera," interview things. The girl had just one this challenge where they kayaked and climbed up a mountain (not like harness and hand over hand or anything. But it was certainly a steep walk). She said excitedly to the camera, "I can't believe I just did that. Man I feel so alive!" 

That really landed on me. "I feel so alive." How did she feel before? She wasn't dead before. But now she feels more alive. I love the concept that we could be here, living but not alive. Not because I want to feel that way, but because it hits at a reality that Jesus mentions. "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." This is a personal goal: to be present and alive in each moment. I don't have obesity robbing me of my experience of life, but there are other things that can do that: lies I believe or habits I can't break or thought patterns I can't avoid. 

Working Out

I got back into a gym this week. It had felt like a long time since I was there. About three years ago I made it over that hump people talk about, but you're not sure is real. That hump where working out quits making you feel worse than not working out. I can honestly say that I feel better when I am working out regularly...I eat better too. 

It has begun to occur to me over the last two years or so that body health is important. I mean that spirituality is not separate from physicality. That following Jesus is not like achieving Nirvana, we're not snatched up when we get faith. We're left here because life is a gift and calling from God. 

What's more, Jesus himself is not separate from the physical things in our world but all wrapped up in them. Often he is found in the people around us. I listened to a short interview the other day with a guy named Shane Claiborne, it renewed my desire to live life in the middle of real community. Where life is lived together with people...I don't know if it would work or what it would look like, but it sounds good.

Thoughts from 30,000 feet

I like flying. It gives me time to think. I was really looking forward to this flight back to Orlando for a number of reasons. Reason one, the wind chill was 8 when I left Detroit on New Year's Eve. But more importantly, thanks to so many people traveling today, I had to use a lot of frequent flier miles in order to make it back for our New Year's Eve service. Translation: I'm flying first class. As I got to the airport, I got to go to the first class check-in and was treated really well. As I got ready to board the plane, I felt a little bit of entitlement creeping into my attitude as if I wanted everyone to notice, "I'M FLYING FIRST CLASS. I'M A VERY IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL." Pride is scary isn't it?

I thought about a story that I heard told about Winston Churchill. He was at a worship service walking up to the altar to take communion. A man, not very well dressed was about to be placed next to him. When his companions tried to usher him away, Mr. Churchill is reported to have said, "let him be. We are all equal here."

What would our world look like if we remember that we are all sinners in desprite need of His forgiveness? What is we not only knew, but believed and lived the truth that God loves us unconditionally and welcomes us at His table, regardless of the way we come? What if that began to shape our attitude toward other people?

We have a great, loving, compassionate God. I really hope that people are able to meet Him through me.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790

So I am starting to think that life can be a pretty busy thing. I mean there can quickly become more things that you want to do than have time/energy/know how/money to do. I'm not even talking the classics like learn the piano or guitar or golf. I'm just talking the basics like eat at the right times or talk with the right people. 

I have found there are times where the sort of tired I am is not helped by more sleep. Sometimes the best rejuvenation comes from laying and listening to praise music and being open to God. Just something I was thinking today.

I am glad to have made it through the holidays. Sometimes this time of year that we just passed through feels like a good party. Lots of fun while your in the middle of it but a lot to clean up afterward. That's where I am right now. Trying to find a routine and put things back in place. Case in point: I got a ticket before the holiday for not wearing my seatbelt, forgot to pay it, got a suspended license, and spent last wednesday afternoon and the earliest part of this morning at the D.M.V. getting it all straightened out. 

The D.M.V. is mostly filled with no fun interspersed with line waiting. If there is a silver lining to the D.M.V. it's standing around sorts of people you otherwise never would. This morning there was a construction worker (who was not working today but mentioned several times that he was working tomorrow) a painter (who was a seriously loud talker and what he lacked in teeth he made up in hair) and a short guy who counseled he friend on the phone that Vegas was best for divorce (whatever that means). 

I know that the world takes all sorts of people, but it's nice to be reminded. I mean I can get so rapped up in what's going on with me that I lose perspective. When I realize how life could be going, I am glad for mine. God has been at work all around me this past year, I have to believe he will be in this next as well.