"Puttin' On The Hawg"

I had the opportunity to perform my niece’s wedding several years back.  I always remind couples that the wedding is a magnificent moment for them and their families.  It is a new journey on the road of life.  It is a time of worship, a time of new beginnings, and a time of celebration.

For the Hopper family is a time of “Puttin’on the Hawg.”   You might say “Putting on the Dog.”  We do not do weddings in the tradition of most folks.  Yes, we have all the dainty foods of most weddings, but we take it just a step further.

Here is how we do it.  Once the date is set, I, the preacher of the family do the marital counseling and offer my cache of wedding ceremonies.  I have the spiritual responsibilities of Hopper weddings.  In fact, I had another Hopper wedding in November of same year as the one above for a nephew at the same church. 

My sister, mother of the niece and nephew, usually decorates the church and a fellowship hall and cooks most of the food and the wedding cake.  She sure had a delicious wedding cake this time.  My sister also hired a DJ (disk jockey) to play music.  No, the DJ was not at the church, but at the Jefferson State Performing Arts Hall.

One of my brothers, and his father-in-law grilled one hundred chicken halves and pulled the meat.  He marinates the chicken in a secret sauce.  You do not need any barbeque sauce to moisten the chicken when cooked in this family secret sauce.  As with any true Southern barbeque, the secret is in the sauce. 

If you are wondering about “Puttin’ on the Hawg” and I am writing about chickens, my other brother cooked a 150-pound pig.  Yes, he slow cooked a whole hog.  In the dining hall, there was a whole hog, with an apple in its mouth, on the serving table.  Can you tell it was not a Jewish wedding?  His wife cooked potato salad, baked beans, and slaw.  All other family members help serve and do cleanup.

We have always shared God’s blessings with anyone who attends one of our gatherings.  That’s the way it is when the Hoppers have a wedding or any other kind of get together we invite everyone and anyone.

When I entered my nephew’s wedding celebration that night, I saw an old friend.  We call him “The Comiss” because he is one of Chilton County’s Commissioners.  As I passed him on the way to the DJ to make a special announcement, he called out to me saying, “Hey Hopper, you sure have made a fancy preacher.”  I mingled with the guests.  After a while, I asked “The Comiss” and his wife if I might sit with them and reminisced. 

Heedy, “The Comiss,” was the first person that invited the Hopper family to church.  I will never forget that night.  Heedy had only been a Christian for a short time, but he immediately started sharing his faith.  Looking back, he was very young, less than twenty-five years old.

I was ten or eleven years old when he visited our house.  I was lying on a ragged couch in our old shack of a house.  I remember that I had on an old jacket without having on a shirt.  My brothers, sister, and I always took off our school clothes and put on our ragged clothes when at home. 

What amazed us about his visit was that he was inviting us down to the place all the rich and well-to-do people were going.  We could not understand why he would do something like that.  We were poor, lived in a shack.  Church had better sheds and barns than our shack. I felt embarrassed that night.  I remember looking up at the deteriorating sheetrock ceiling, the worn tar exposing linoleum, and the old propane gas space heater and wondering why he wanted us to come to church and hear more about Jesus.

We did start going and Heedy would become my RA leader.  After I married, he and I would decorate the church for special events.  We would take swimming pool filtering equipment and clean the dirty creek water that we pumped out of the fire truck into the baptism pool.

He and I were elected deacons at the same ordination.  We fished, hunted, worked, played, and most of all, worshiped together.  We sang in the choir, took the RA boys deep-sea fishing and all night camping, and went on church visitation together.

I cannot help but think about all the push on evangelism today.  I am glad folks like Heedy share their faith.  I am leery of more emphasis on evangelism without discipleship.  I thank God for a church and a friend that did more than invite to come to church, they were mentors who discipled me.

During the wedding ceremony I reminded everyone that we in a worship service.  In fact, When Heedy invited the Hopper kids to church; he was introducing us to Jesus, the groom, in anticipation that we would become part of the church, the bride of Christ.

The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage (Matthew 22:8-9 KJV).

Somebody Help Me

Hope is something that this world desperately needs.  People are confused about hope.  I think most people are like Stanley Johnson in the Lending Tree commercial on the riding lawnmower.  If you remember, he says, “I have a great family, a four-bedroom house in great community.  Like my car? It’s new. I belong to the local golf club.  How do I do it? I’m in debt up to my eyeballs.  I can barely pay my finance charges.”  He seems to be living the American Dream until he looks into the camera and says, “Somebody help me.”

Stanley’s idea of hope was getting help and out of debt.  He killed his hope by spending more than he made.  Debt is a “hope killer” unless it makes you hope that you can pay the debt.  People in debt “Rob Peter to pay Paul.”

I remember in one of the churches I pastored that a deacon wanted to give more to the church, but he could not because of debt.  I asked him how serious he was to increase his giving.  After a discussion, he decided either pay off his debt or consolidate his bills and have money to increase his giving. 

Numerous believers do not give due to indebtedness.  I encourage couple contemplating marriage to live by the 80/20 rule.  It is give ten percent to God, save ten percent for themselves, and live on eighty percent of their income.  I tell them to base their income on thirty-two hours, rather than a forty-hour income.  This principle allows you to have room for an unexpected event that you cause them to miss a day’s work.

Unfortunately, most believers do neither.  The first place people cut from their budget is in giving.  I think it is important to remember that the Bible teaches the tithe and that God holds us accountable for the ninety percent He has blessed us.

Momma reminded us of hope every day my brothers and sister were growing up.  She taught us that a better day would come.  We had to focus on the Lord and his plan for our lives.

I remember one time when daddy was on layoff.  This seemed to be quite regular when I was young.  Daddy would “Draw His Pennies.”  The best I could tell was he did not have enough pennies to pay the bills.  One day a man, the dad of one of my classmates, and another man dressed in a shirt and tie drove into the yard in a pickup.  I watched momma cry as the two men loaded our furniture into the pickup truck.  When they left, we did not have a living room or dining room suite as well as some other things.  I felt sorry for momma as she pleaded with the men not to take her furniture.  I found out at school the next day that my classmate’s dad got the furniture for hauling it away from our house.

I do not remember a time that daddy and momma were not in debt.  Daddy had a tendency to make debt and then not pay for it.  Sometimes it was due to a layoff, between jobs, or at other times pure negligence.

Sometimes when I see or read the news, it seems that America spends more than it makes.  In recent days, there have been reports of America’s indebtedness to China.  Our National Debt is astronomical.  The Outstanding Public Debt as of 16 Feb 2011 at 09:29:29 PM GMT is: $14,142,147,989,931.15.  According to the National Debt Clock it was $27,898,933,000,000 as February 11, 2021 12:26 pm CST.

Speaking of the National Debt, I recall my friend “Big Ugly” complaining about it twenty years ago.  He wanted Uncle Sam to print more money.  I told him that he was part of the National Debt.  After he gave me a few “choice” words of admonishment, I asked him if owned any money.  He had mortgages on an auto, a pickup, and a mobile home.  After a long discussion on economics, I helped him see he was part of the National Debt and that the government was a reflection of the people.  If people do not have hope, how can a government of the people, by the people, and for the people give hope? 

Money is a medium of exchange.  Escalating debt is greed.  According to Charlotte Johnson’s article, “The Reason People Get into Debt” says, “In 2007, the average American household possessed $9,480 in credit card debt.”  There are many reasons for this.  She continues saying, “Although many people would shy away from calling themselves greedy, the simple fact is that greed leads to debt. The age old problem of matching or exceeding your neighbors' wealth status still exists. People often see something they want and hastily purchase it rather than saving for the item over time and waiting to purchase it when they have enough funds (or refusing to purchase it all together if it is unnecessary).

Greed is a “Hope Slayer.”

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.  And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee (Psalm 39: 6-7 KJV).

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (Romans 8:24-25 KJV).

 

 

 

Notes of Love

 

I may be a little old fashion in a high-tech society because I collect books.  I’m glad that I do because books are on the endangered species list.  Thanks to all the new electronic gadgets and the evolving smart phone, books will soon disappear.  My publisher has conferred that books are no longer in demand and want my future writings to be in electronic format.

I have a good number of books that the authors have autographed.  I have a signed copy of Herschel Hobbs’ My Faith And Message, which Dr. Hobbs autographed three months prior to his death.  I will never forget my conversation with him at a senior adult retreat at Shocco Springs Baptist Retreat at Talladega, Alabama.  We had some mutual friends.  Dr. Hobbs spent his childhood in north Chilton County a few miles north of where I grew up.

I have several book autographed by Dr. Calvin Miller.  It was Dr. Miller that encouraged me to write.  And his books are special reminders that we were friends and that his passing left an empty spot in my heart.  In his book, The Sermon Maker, Tales of A Transformed Preacher he signed , To Bobby, A Great Friend.  In another, The Book of Jesus,  that he edited he signed, To Bobby from an old, old prof and admirer. Calvin Miller.

I always date the books that I read.  I underline pertinent things that help to write articles such as this one.  I have my own order to how the books are on my shelves and usually can find them without much searching.  I know most of my books by color and size and it drives me bananas when I cannot find one quickly.

Since this is Valentine month, I decided that I would look for some Valentine cards that my children have given me through the years.  I knew that I had some in one of my old Bibles.  Instead, I found a Father’s Day note that Aaron gave me in 1999.  It is a white piece of paper with heart stickers all over it.  On the front, Aaron has written Happy Father’s Day!! in blue and he has drawn a red heart with I love you in it. 

Inside are twenty heart stickers on the left and the sticker page where the hearts were is on the right.  Above the missing heart sticker page Aaron writes, “Your the best dad anyone can have you don’t drink and cuss and I thank you for being a good christian.”  The back page has, “from Aaron I love you always. June 20, 1999”

There was a Valentine card from Andy.  It looked like one a small child would draw, but was a published card.  It said, “Dad, here’s a Valentine just to say “I love you.””  The inside reads, “No, I haven’t been drinking and I don’t want to borrow money.  Happy Valentine’s Day.”  Love Andy

Little Valentine Cards from Angel simply say, “Will you be my Valentine.” 

I do not know if children still give Valentine cards at school.  I know I had to give them to classmates that I really did not want to be my Valentine.  There were those little girls that chased me that I really did not need to foster their thoughts about me being their Valentine. There were those pretty, little girls that I had very special Valentine cards.  I took time to write special words to declare my intentions.  Some of those little girls I really thought special felt the same about me as what I felt about the ones I did not want to receive a Valentine.  Well, that’s love.  Sometimes I have wondered, “Did I run too fast and from the wrong girls?” 

My wife Lisa wrote some beautiful love language in last year’s Valentine.  One special line was, “I go to sleep every night knowing that I am loved by you & also that you are my one true love.  I’m lucky I could not outrun her.

 Jesus has sent us a wonderful Valentine card, the Bible.  The Bible is God’s love letter to you and to me.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 KJV).

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1a KJV).

We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19 KJV).

Matthew Henry stated, “As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Savior should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it...Christ’s love to us should direct us to love each other.”

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY and as you might guess; I was not able to find all those hidden Valentines.

 

Turn Your Radio On

 

One morning I got a special note from a friend who listened to my Tuesday morning Moody Radio broadcast.

 

Good morning Brother Bobby,

It made my day to hear your voice this morning!! You are always so happy and cheerful, your laugh makes me laugh! We love you and your family and pray you will have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Blessings to you!!! 

Hugs to the Hoppers,

It is always good and encouraging to get notes.  In fact, this morning I sent several text messages to some special friends that are enduring some difficulties and I remember how important an encouraging word can be when your world is tumbling downhill.  Sometimes you just need to hear a voice.

People tell me I have a great radio voice and that I should consider going into radio.  I think that they say that because they can cut me off when they do not want to hear me.  I often tell people that I have a great radio face to go with the voice.

I will never forget the first time I was on the radio.  I did not know it.  Here’s how I found out about it.

I had surrendered to the ministry and I had opportunity to do supply preaching.  I had been asked to supply at the Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Clanton on a Sunday night.  Back then, I knew very little about hermeneutics or exegesis.  Hermeneutics is a fancy word, or should I say a technical or Greek word, for the science of Biblical interpretation.  For example, Paul writes in Second Timothy 2:15 “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Exegesis is the Greek word meaning “narrative” or explanation.”  Paul and Barnabas exegeted to the Jerusalem council the wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:14).  Back then, my fathers in the ministry gave me sermon outlines.  They said here is the skeleton.  It is left up to you to put the meat on the bones.  My sermon that night at Liberty Hill was JESUS.  J, Jesus Justified us.  E, Jesus gives Eternal life.  S, Jesus is the only way for Salvation.  U, Jesus provides Unity for His people. S, Jesus Supplies our every need.  It was a simple sermon by a simple-minded beginner.

The following Sunday morning I headed to the Chilton County jail.  No, I was not arrested for disturbing the peace or preaching a bad sermon even though I probably should have been.  I was going there to pick up a trustee who was a product of our jailhouse ministry.  On the way, I listened to WKLF radio in Clanton.  A well-known preacher from central Alabama, Hyman Atcheson was preaching.  Reverend Atcheson is the father of Randy, a renowned concert pianist at Carnie Hall, and Wayne, author of Faith of the Crimson Tide and other books of faith.

I had visions of what it would be like to preach on the radio.  I thought that I would never have the opportunity to preach on the radio.

I picked up the trustee and headed back to my home church.  When I went into the sanctuary, Mrs. Georgia Crumpton greeted me.  She said I enjoyed your message last Sunday night.  I replied with thank you.  I told her that I did not see her and I hate that I missed her.  She said that she was not there and that she heard me on the radio.  Earlier I wondered how it would be to preach on the radio and now I find out that I had been on the radio.  Since that night, I have been on the radio, television, and the internet.

People all over West Alabama tell me how much they enjoy listening to the Tuesday morning announcements on Moody Radio out of Dixons Mills and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Traveling the around the state, people say, “I am so glad to put a face with that radio voice.”  There are times when we meet radio personalities, their voices do not match how we imagine them to be.  One lady told me that my voice sounded much younger than I looked.  With all the assorted compliments, I remind them that I do have a great radio face.  People recognize me by my voice, my laugh.  They say, “I knew that had to be Bobby Hopper.  I could tell by your laugh, your voice.”   It is wonderful to be heard and recognized. 

People ask me have you heard the voice of God.  I say I recognize His voice just as if I would if mom or dad spoke to me, saying, “Bobby. . .”

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (Psalm 29:4 KJV).

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 KJV).