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May 2019 ministry newsletter: Magic, Movies, Pro Wrestling, and Jesus
Here is the link to the May 2019 ministry newsletter: May 2019 Hoyler ministry newsletter Please let us know how we can be praying for you. Blessings, Will and Stacy
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Wrestling Theology Fellowship: Going into ALL the world with the gospel
Mark 16:15 states, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” What I find powerfully convicting about this passage is that it is a mandate to GO INTO ALL the world and proclaim the gospel. The call of Jesus, the call of the gospel, is to go and penetrate EVERY area of life with the eternal life-giving message of the gospel. This means that, as Christian believers, we all will have our “Nineveh” where the Lord would have us go and proclaim the gospel in a way that only we can. In fact, where the Lord calls us to go,…
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Yogurt cups, lens caps, and becoming…my dad
“No saving yogurt cups, like your dad!” One quirk(?) about my dad is that he has been known to save things that [most?] people would simply throw away. No, he is not a hoarder; he simply tends to keep certain things in the hopes that they will be useful in some way…somewhere…someday. And yet, they usually are. Hey, he is resourceful and economical and he recycles too, so what’s the problem? One of those things that he keeps and utilizes are old yogurt cups. My dad has always used them in his workshop as containers for nails, screws, etc. Of course, my wife and daughters are always ribbing me when…
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Easter is…
Easter is… Easter is forgiveness for the unforgivable. Easter is redemption for the irredeemable. Easter is love for the unlovable. Easter is hope for the hopeless. Easter is healing for the sick and hurting. Easter is sight for the blind. Easter is restoration for the broken. Easter is the Way for the wayward. Easter is the rescue for the lost. Easter is the Truth erasing a lie. Easter is light shining in the deepest darkness. Easter is peace in the midst of chaos. Easter is freedom for the enslaved. Easter is Life defeating death. Easter is the Savior over sin. Easter is new life. Easter is eternal life. This is…
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[dis]Honor and [dis]Respect
Earlier this year I attended a conference where there was a segment of the program where Native Americans were being honored. Okay, I get that. Yet, for me, a Caucasian male, I was a bit taken aback at the somewhat “political” tone of the moment, especially with the [reminder] that our event was being held on “stolen land.” Sigh… Those of us in attendance were then requested to “all please stand” in order to honor and respect the Native Americans and their elders who were in attendance as they sang a song — an anthem, if you will. It was at this moment where I really wrestled with some things…
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It’s the end of the world as we know it (…do you feel fine)?
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” was a popular song penned by the band R.E.M. back in 1987. Since that time, there have been numerous “predictions” (or “prophecies”) by various prognosticators that the world would end on [such and such] date. – Oops, well, I guess not. As we have heard, the latest “prediction” is that the world will end tomorrow, September 23, 2017. Could it be true? The Bible is very clear on so many things, and prophecy is one of them. Heck, just look at the hundreds of Biblical prophecies about Jesus Christ that were spot on and were fulfilled…
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Forgiving the undeserving = Freedom for the undeserving
We say that we “forgive” people, but do we? If so, what does that really look like? And, more specifically, what does it look like if we don’t forgive? As I sat in church today and once again heard the story of the The Unforgiving Servant I was struck anew by some very powerful Biblical truths regarding “forgiveness.” First of all, forgiveness is not denying the offense, the sin. To deny something would be to pretend that it didn’t happen, when in fact, it did. Sadly, we live in a sinful and dying world where bad things do happen to us and to those we love. For anyone to deny…
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The evolution of pro wrestling: Art imitating life?
It has initially been questioned and debated by Plato and Aristotle whether “art imitates life” or “life imitates art?” It’s kind of a “chicken-and-the-egg”-type of question, but it’s a good question to ponder. As I have been watching pro wrestling for over 35 years, there have been major changes that have taken place in this sport/spectacle during this time, all of which have had an impact on society. All of these changes made me reflect on the impact that pro wrestling has had on life, on our culture…or maybe it’s vice-versa. Let’s think about this. Some important definitions to keep in the back of your mind: Evolve: {v} to develop…
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Behind the masks we wear
Q- Why do some pro wrestlers wear masks? As a kid I recall watching many masked men battle it out. There was “Mil Mascaras,” “the Masked Superstar,” “the Masked Assassins” and “the Midnight Rider,” just to name a few. One of the mysteries behind these masked characters was the question, “Who is really behind the mask?” Perhaps they have something to hide? Maybe it is a “baby face” [a good guy] masquerading as a “heel” [a bad guy], or vice-versa? Or maybe they just couldn’t come up with a better wrestling “persona?” Regardless, who are they and why were they hiding behind a mask? But what about those of us…
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Life, creativity, and ministry
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” [Genesis 1:1]. Just look at what God created through His sovereign hand and miraculous, omnipotent power: The heavens, the earth, light, day, night, water, land, nature, sun, stars, moon, living creatures [according to their kind], and man. Not too shabby for only six days of work! After all of this was completed, what did God say about the things that He created? Was it just okay? Did God simply say, “Well, it could have been better; I guess this will just have to do?” — No! Instead, He said, “…and behold, it was VERY good” [Genesis 1:31]. Life. Creativity. Ministry.…
