I’ve decided to put all my effort into one site right now… the address is www.troyhooper.me
So if you’ve followed me at this site, that’s where the new stuff will be that I’m posting for now.
Hoop
Aug
12
To the church in Thyatira, John records the words of our Lord: (Revelation 2:23)
And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
We try to hide from man today our thoughts and the thoughts of our hearts…but God sees right to them.
We think that if man doesn’t see them, maybe God doesn’t as well. Wasn’t that the same thought process as Jonah?
That if he ran, God couldn’t find him?
Our concern should not be on whether man can see them or not, but rather, if what’s in our minds and heart are acceptable to God.
Maybe, just maybe, if things aren’t going well in your life, look in your heart. Check out your thoughts. Are these pleasing to God.
He gives according to our works. The answer is right in front us. But to do that, we must be more concerned with what God thinks than
what man does.
We must be in this for the long haul, not the short duration that we’re on this earth.
I took this from a friends facebook page…thought it ended this post well:
Two Natures beat within my breast, One is evil one is Blessed, One I love, one I hate, the one I feed will Dominate
Jun
19
It’s kinda lonely at 2:57 am. The house is quiet, everyone is asleep. And here I sit staring at my computer screen. It’s times like these when one of two things is running through my mind. Either my mind is just racing and I can’t seem to slow down…or there’s something bothering me. Tonight, I don’t know which one it is. A friend of mine years ago talked about the 3:30 am wake up call from God. It happened repeatedly until he finally got up and spent time in prayer. Seems he thought that was the only time God could get his attention. So my choices are limited at this time of the morning, but one thing is clear… PRAY.
I choose prayer.
Jun
16
I’m at Roaring Springs. It’s a water park here in Idaho. And I’m people watching. My daughters are enjoying themselves… Well, the 4 month old is sleeping in the shade and the almost 4 year old is playing in the water with her mom. It looks like they are having a good time. Sometimes you just can’t tell, even by looking. King David would write that when he was struggling with a sin, he felt as if his insides were wasting away. I don’t know if his faced showed how he was feeling, but I do know that when his illegitimate child died, he was mourning and then got up, took a shower and fixed himself a sandwich. His actions didn’t match how he was expected to be acting.
In my life, I think I’ve bottled up things and not allowed my feelings to show… To the point where my feelings began to show more than what I thought I was projecting. Does that make sense? It kinds does to me. This is why someone could walk up to me and ask how I was doing and me think “why are they asking me that?” Because my face was saying more than I thought it was.
Father, help me to be true to myself an what I’m feeling so that i’m not trying to hide who I am.
Jun
15
You ever wonder who you are? I mean deep down inside, past the “How are you doin? I’m fine” type thing and the charades that we play with our “friends”. That’s what part of this journey has been for me. Asking those tough questions that we think we don’t want the answer to. I’m not going to divulge any details now, but it’s safe to say that I’m beginning to understand exactly who I am and more importantly whose I am. Things are starting to come into focus.
Jun
15
Saw this on a facebook page today: If God brings you to it, He will bring you though it! Yeah, I believe that. But I think it’s better stated “when” God brings you to it. Times of testing are what we all will face. And when God brings us to those times, he will bring us through it, if our faith is in him. James writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3
The only way to deal with trials in life is to have the right perspective going in to it.
Count it all joy. Joy doesn’t mean you’re not scared or fearful of the outcome. Joy means that you’re prepared for the journey ahead because you know the outcome.
You wont just face one type of trial in your life.
Various trials. Oh great. But it’s true. Life comes at you fast with all sorts of things. The only way to be prepared for all the trials is to have an attitude of joy.
The more trials you make it through, the stronger you become.
Trials produce steadfastness. They strengthen us. When we go through something we come out on the other side a little bit stronger for the next thing.
Just some more thoughts as I sit here. I need to do this more.
Jun
15
In Donald Miller’s book “Searching for God knows what” he mentions that each of us are looking for an identity. That’s why we do the things that we do. We seek to impress because we feel that will identify us. We seek to make people laugh or be smart or even just be right so that we will have an identity. He shares that our identity found though, when we seek out God, not man.
While on this journey, each day brings sets of emotions. Fear, anger, guilt, sorrow, satisfaction, contentment and the like. The flood of emotions come like the ebb and tide. I feel empty. And then I feel full.
While sitting at Starbucks today, I looked at everyone around me and began to pick out what they might be thinking or feeling based on their body language. I could see saddness in a ladies eyes who was trying to act like everything was ok. I could see arrogance in a guy who walked the whole coffee shop on his cell phone dealing with things happening at his office. Kinda made me wonder what he was doing at Starbucks if everything was crashing back at work. Even though he smiled when he talked, there seemed to be a condescending tone about his voice. I wondered, “Do I sound like that?” God I hope not. But I’m not on the receiving end of how I’m portrayed. So I have to rely on those around me to tell me, “Hey, you could be a little nicer ya know?” And even though I can’t see it, I have to trust them that that is what I’m portraying. Robbie Burns, famous scottish poet penned these words, “O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us.” The way we see how others see us, is by listening to those we trust tell us how we’re coming across.
I need to be more present to those who are around me and be more aware of how I’m perceived.
I conclude this post with a song from Don Williams. I think this is how I’m feeling right now… course that could change 
Lord, I hope this day is good
I’m feelin’ empty and misunderstood
I should be thankful Lord, I know I should
But Lord, I hope this day is good
Lord, have you forgotten me
I’ve been prayin’ to you faithfully
I’m not sayin’ I’m a righteous man
But Lord, I hope you understand
Jun
13
I opened up my twitter page and read the following verse out of 1 Corinthians 9:27 “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” And right there I knew…. I’ve got to do two things at once. First, I need to watch my own life and what I’m doing and what I’m saying. If I’m not healthy spiritually, physically, etc I will not be able to lead. This is the area in my life I’ve let slip and I’m thankful for the elders in my church, the people in my staff and the church where I serve. This is a time of refreshing and refocusing my life.
Second, I need to think of others first.
Another thing I read was from a friends twitter page. It read, “When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves.“
I will make a turn around today. I will be and do what I’m called to and I will not let Satan tell me differently. Whenever you want to turn around in your life, to repent and go the other direction, the first obstruction you’ll meet is Satan. He’s right there. Telling you that you can’t do this. Maybe they’re all wrong. I cannot let this deter me from the direction and purpose that God has called me to do. But like all attempts to change something in your life, it doesn’t happen over night.
I’ve got wrongs I need to right. And it starts today.
Father, I know what I need to do, I know what I have to do, give me your power through the Spirit to do this. 
Jun
11
I’m setting out to find myself. After 40 years on this planet, and 15 years as a pastor… I’ve reached a point where stress, life and everything else has collided. Some would call it pastor burnout, maybe that’s what it is, but to define it now is not my intent. Rather, it’s the journey that I’m beginning.
Day 1
I’ve already learned that the hardest part of this process is isolation. Trying to push life, pastoral work, sermon prep aside so I can concentrate on me. You can admit that you need to do something like this, but the actual doing it is what I’ve found to be difficult. Not impossible; just difficult.
So the journey begins. One step at a time. One day at a time.
I can do this, I just have to be patient. 
Dec
04
I listened to the Dave Ramsey show on election day and continued to read other things that have been said regarding our new President. The question was asked of one who voted for Obama “What were the issues that inspired you [to vote for him]?” The caller proceeded to say how inspired she was by his speeches and how much she believed he will do for our country. The question was re-asked, “but those aren’t issues, what issues inspired you?” She replied that it wasn’t that there were issues she agreed with, it’s just that she didn’t oppose what he said.
The idea that President elect Obama is a skilled speaker is without question. He excelled above Senator McCain in every way. He had poise. He had the right words. But I think this on air question was probably something that alot of people dealt with. It wasn’t that they didn’t like Obama. They were inspired by him. And McCain made feathers ruffle. I don’t believe people were listening to what they said, they were listening to how they made them feel.
I personally was not in favor of either candidate. The lesser of two evils was how I viewed this. But more and more I’m running into people that voted on how they felt, instead of what the issues at hand were. What does this candidate stand for? Who do they associate with? Still, time always has a way of teaching us whether we made the right choice or not. We’ll see.
How do I make you feel?
