https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:30:03 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3738/do-we-matter https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3738 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:13:48 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3736/winter-haven-divine-message-or-coincidence https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3736


In early 1998, I earned my living as an over the road truck driver. My passions included reading and sharing God's Word, and also writing poems and stories that praised Him. Every stop I made I tried to find someone to share His love and Word with, and always took time to read a few scriptures. On one particular run, I hauled a load of potatoes from Idaho Falls, Idaho to a Walmart Distribution Center in Winter Haven, Florida. It was a long, hard run and I had to make a few extra stops along the way to make repairs to the truck and to the refrigeration unit on my trailer. Despite those setbacks I managed to arrive in Winter Haven on Sunday afternoon, and my delivery appointment was for the wee hours of Monday morning, so I had some time for reading, writing, sharing, and resting.



The aforementioned scripture came to me as a vision while I was sleeping. It was an experience I had never had before and will never forget. I was at death's door and talking to God! I was torn between wanting to let go of this life to go be with Jesus and feeling that there was so much more I could still do to produce fruit for His kingdom. Suddenly a vision appeared, seemingly right above my head. It was an open Bible. As I looked at it, I began to focus on the words. I could make them out, and I read them with excitement! I looked closer and could read the book of the Bible, along with the chapter and verse. I climbed out of the sleeper and opened my Bible to II Chronicles, 15:7. "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." It's my belief that God was directing me to go back and finish the work He had called me to do.



In the coming years I found myself at death's door many times. The life that I was living was one that would not have been envied by anyone. Like Job, I wanted it to end, but I knew what God had shown me in that vision, I knew my work was not done, and I knew I had to be strong in order to complete it. I stood on that word from God in II Chronicles, and refused to curse God and die. Through my faith in God, which sometimes seemed to be smaller than a grain of mustard seed, His grace has delivered me to new heights. "Onward....Through the Fog" is finished and a new project is underway. The revelation I received today is simple. The Word that carried me through the coldest, loneliest, darkest time of my life came to me in Winter Haven, and has became my haven for the winter of my life. Was this a divine message or a coincidence?



Winter Haven



I had driven hard to get there,

And I had some trouble too.

I had to make a quick repair

So that I could make it through.

I arrived on time and gave God praise,

Then I laid down for a while

Contented I'd gone through that phase

And I had passed another trial.



A vision came to me that night

Like I'd never seen before.

The Word of God was clear and bright

Telling me what lay in store.

As I read the lines He gave to me

My heart raced within my chest.

Cause if I'd serve Him faithfully

My life would become fully blessed.



I've gone down a lot of highways

Since that Winter Haven night.

I've given God all of my ways

Now I'm walking in the Light.

He said I'd have to remain strong

Work with my hands for my Lord.

I must show the world right and wrong

So I'll receive my just reward.



Cpoyright Jack Hoover]]> Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:04:25 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3733/depression-illness-or-gift https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3733


There seems to be different levels of depression. Some depressed episodes do have catalysts, and are usually short-lived. These are definitely the most common forms of depression, which occur in most everyone's life. Illness, divorce, a loved one's death, and financial problems, are prime examples of occasions where depression occurs, but are normally remediated with the passing of time.



Others of us live our lives in a perpetual state of depression. Have you ever considered how a man like Albert Einstein could be so brilliant, while at the same time there are many people whose intelligence is more comparable to the fictitious Forrest Gump? We all have different minds and different mindsets. Perhaps it is genetics that causes this, because most people who suffer major depression are diagnosed as having a chemical imbalance.



I suffer from major depression, yet I have a smile that I love to share with the world. Both are family traits. Would I change either or both if I were able? Most people that suffer from major depression would instinctively say yes, but I say NO! Herein lies the key to the victory that God has given me over depression. God has blessed me by allowing me to have a chemical imbalance that tends to cause me to see the sadness of this world we live in. Let me repeat that; God has blessed me by allowing me to have a chemical imbalance that tends to cause me to see the sadness of this world we live in. In changing my view towards this illness from one of detriment to one of thankfulness I have gained victory over it, although I still suffer.



When sorrows are shared with me, I become empathetic towards those who are saddened. I truly feel their sorrow within me. There is a constant sadness within me, regardless of whether it's my own sorrow, or that of anothers, that burdens me. But I no longer view that as a bad thing, because Jesus wants us to be burdened for others. However, some may say that Jesus doesn't want us to carry our own burdens. Yet, when Jesus was praying in the Garden, didn't He ask God to let his cup pass Him by if it were possible?. I don't know if these words I'm sharing will be beneficial to others or not, but I pray that they will.



In conclusion, I have to say that we are all different. Depression is a formidable opponent. Some say it is incurable, and I agree. But in Hebrews 13:5, Paul teaches us to be content in such as we have, and in Ephesians 5:20 he teaches us to always be thankful to God. I know I'm different, and it's not easy being me, but I'm thankful for who I am. Be blessed in the Lord.]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:44:13 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3732/3-up https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3732


Most of the family has passed on to be with Jesus, and many of us have moved away from that ancestral center of a few decades ago in search of a "better" way of life, including myself. I haven't found it yet, but I will when Jesus returns! Five generations of my family have been laid to rest in that general area, but some of their qualities live on forever through the lessons of life and love they shared with others. In the hustle and bustle of todays life it becomes quite easy to be discouraged by even the least obstacle that comes our way, but, in these instances, I often remember one such lesson given to me, and others, by my Uncle, Bud Clark.



My Uncle Bud was as close to God as any man I've ever known. He always wore a smile and was forever optimistic. He loved everyone, and that love was reciprocated back to him. He was a true Bible scholar, and an awesome teacher of the Word. I don't think he was ever ordained by man to preach the Word, but he was definitely ordained by God. He went to be with Jesus in 1983 when I was 25 years old, never once showing an inkling of discouragement about anything to me, and probably not to anyone else. I always felt honored to be in his presence because of his uplifting attitude and his love for God, and the love he had for everyone around him.



One Saturday evening when I was about 8 or 9 years old, I spent the night with my cousin, David (Bud's boy). The plan was to get up Sunday morning and go to church, and after Sunday dinner at Granny's I would go home with my folks. As we drove to church that Sunday morning in Bud's old 51 Chevy, one of the tires went flat and Bud pulled off to the side of the road. Bud got out to inspect it, and with his ever present smile, he loudly exclaimed, "Praise God, we still got 3 up!" That's a moment in time that, praise God, I'll never forget! Now, more than 40 years later, that memory still helps me get through the pitfalls of life. It's a lesson we all can learn from.



Whatever stumblingblock comes our way, our first reaction should be to praise God. We all know we're in a battle, and we know we are the victors. We must give God praise in all things because of that. Sometimes it's really hard to see the bright side of our setbacks, but if our initial response is praise to God, He illuminates the situation before us immediately. As long as we have a breath of life within us, faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, and the belief that Jesus is our redeemer, we have 3 up! Be blessed!]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:02:02 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3731/dont-ever-give-up https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3731


During his teenage years, opportunities became increasingly abundant, opening doors to new desires and dreams. The world that lay ahead was the half full glass. He began to develope the ideology that he really could do whatever he wanted to do. There were so many possibilities, yet everything he considered had its faults, except for one. His decision finally made, he embarked upon a treacherous journey through life, filled with undoubtedly more obstacles than he would have encountered had he chosen any other endeavor.



His first few attempts were marked failures. His former exposure to approval waned. In fact, he was admonished for his efforts. He had attained a sufficient amount of knowledge for his undertaking, yet for the first time in his life he experienced genuine failure. He reasoned that this was due to a lack of first hand experience. He began to experiment with things in life that he had no desire to experiment with, but felt that it was pertinent that he experience them. He had no doubt that these things would pass from him and he could get on to the work that, in his heart, he knew he would excel at, but wondered when and where?



As time went by he experienced more and more failures at the hands of the things with which he experimented. Life became disappointing, and each attempt for approval of his efforts at his chosen endeavor were marred by more failure. Was there some mistake? Was it possible that he could NOT do what he wanted to? He became angry. Bitter. Distant. His dreams withered. The successes that had once filled his heart disappeared from radar. He decided that his greatest success in life was to be a failure. Those who still loved him and approved of him became targets as he lashed out at the world he thought he would win approval from. He felt that he hadn't changed, but rather the world around him had. He was wrong! He had changed! His experimentations to gain the experience he needed for his chosen profession had changed him. And he was right! The world had changed.



Interestingly, the goal that he chose in life was to change the world! And by doing so he would win the approval of scores of people from all over the world, simply by sharing the love of God that had been instilled in him in his youth. Now, that boy is an old man, who has experienced life from many angles and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge that he feels would be beneficial to young folks starting out in life. Please consider these;



1. The world has a Savior and you ain't Him!

2. He doesn't change, but the world does!

3. Succeeding at failure is not always a bad thing!

4. Failing at success is not always a bad thing!

5. Seek approval from God, not people!

6. Satan can't tell the truth!

7. The most important thing to God is people!

8. The most important thing to people should be God!

9. Sin adversely affects others!

10 Above all else, know that Jesus loves you!



The world has a Savior and you ain't Him! This is not meant as a sarcastic remark. The young man I wrote about honestly thought that he could win scores of people over to God by simply sharing his love for God. I know because he was me. I've learned that my job is simply to plant seeds and nurture them with care. I became discouraged about my ministry when I listened to Satan lambasting me for failing to win souls, and I considered myself a failure. I failed to see that the seeds I planted might take years to produce fruit. My ministry might have been much more productive had I understood this many years sooner and continued steadfastly. Young people, you can't save the world, but you can make a huge difference by planting one seed at a time, and don't ever give up!]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:09:30 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3714/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-at-hand https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3714


America is becoming increasingly volatile. Tensions are mounting between the liberal leftists and the Christian conservatives. Issues like abortion, homosexuality, our relationship with Israel, our Christian heritage, and others are kindling points which could very easily erupt this country into a civil war at any time. For the first time in our history we have a leader who has denounced our heritage as a Christian nation. He has advanced abortion rights and is openly promoting the advancement of gay rights, and quotes the Koran, all the while apologizing for the historical stands of past generations to advance the Biblical laws of liberty and justice. He cries, "Peace, peace" where the Bible says there will be no peace, but seemingly sees himself as a great arbitrator, and many refer to him as "the Messiah."



The world as a whole has become more volatile. Nuclear threats from North Korea, world- wide economical crisis, Muslim uprisings against Christians, unparalleled advancement of a totalitarian one world government (Without Jesus as King), massive killings and bombings in every corner of the world, Israeli-Palestinian unrest, and the list goes on and on and on. The Battle of Armageddon, in my opinion, is very close to beginning.



People who are against abortion and gay rights are misnomered as haters. Anymore, in America, men call evil good, and call good evil. Abortionists are called "pro-choice," when in reality they are pro-death. Homosexuals are viewed as people with alternative lifestyles while the Word of God says it is an abomination to God. Swine flu, bird flu, and AIDS are examples of plagues in our world. Famine is a multi-faceted fact in our society. There are starving people in all parts of the world. The world is in an economic crisis, yet money won't buy very much anymore. Interestingly, the average cost for a new home is $166,000 (down from $181,000 a few months ago), yet the minimum wage for workers is just a tad over $5 an hour. Automakers are in extreme financial duress, as well as homebuilders and speculators, because of high prices which no one can afford. These are famines just the same as someone not having enough food.



The Bible says that all these things will happen, so do not be fearful. The kingdom of Heaven is at hand!]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:12:52 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3713/the-valley-of-baca https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3713
5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.



The Valley of Baca was a miserable, dry, and barren land, totally unfit for sustained human habitation. It was a place you never wanted to be. In my mind I see visions of cowboys in the old western movies who are crawling through the desert, barely alive, trying to reach a watering hole where they can be refreshed and renewed. Have you ever watched this scene played out and seen the extreme joy on the face of the cowboy when he finally reaches the water? It's like he's arrived at the gates of Heaven. He shouts and laughs and hoops and hollers and quite often dances with joy!



Other scenes show the cowboy arriving at the watering hole, and finding it dry and dusty. His face shows bitter disappointment, anger, and disgust, and quite often, he yells out, "Why me God?" If any answer comes, it's normally a wolf howl. Another scene that sometimes plays out, the cowboy arrives at the water hole only to find bitter sulphur water that is undrinkable. This scene often plays out with the cowboy stretched out on the ground crying his heart out in sorrow.



We all pass through the Valley of Baca in our lives. We all have times when we thirst for the Living Water, and it seems to be out of reach. It seems we'll never get another drink, and quite often we become discouraged. Financial problems, marital problems, addictions, and a host of other circumstances quite often leave us thirsting for a touch from God. As we go through the Valley of Baca, our outcome is largely determined by the life we've lived up to that point. If we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and have dug wells by implanting His Word into our hearts, we will find fresh drink. His Word promises us that! But if we don't know Jesus, and don't know that He is the one we need to reach out to, our wells will be empty, dusty, and dry. And I envision those who, at one time, knew Jesus and have turned away from Him may find water, but it may well be bitter and sulphurous.



We need to dig a well! We need to have ample knowledge of the Word of God stored deep in our hearts so that when we do pass through the Valley of Baca, we will be filled with fresh, drinkable, Living Water to carry us through. No matter what circumstances are in our lives, we can dig a well. Trials and tribulations are sure to come our way, but we can dig a well and be prepared. Notice the end of verse 6, "the rain also filleth the pools." I view this as a promise that if we have dug our wells, God will supernaturally make fertile ground for us, even in the most dry and barren lands we will ever encounter! Dig a well my friends! The rains are coming!]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:07:02 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3701/just-some-thoughts https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3701


Over the years I've heard preachers tell the exact date, hour, and minute they were "saved." They tell how their lives were miraculously changed instantaneously right then and there, and how they were freed from the grip of sin. The sailor who never swore again, the addict that never used again, the alcoholic that never drank again, the liar that never lied again, the gossip that never bore false witness again, the adulterer that never lusted again, etc. Based upon my experiences as a Christian I have grave doubts about the validity of their claims, but maybe it's just my own inability to live a sin free life that causes this doubt?



Throughout the Apostle Paul's teachings, he clearly struggled with his spiritual being warring against his physical being. Paul instructed us to pray without ceasing, and spoke about the daily renewing of our faith. Through his teachings I have become satisfied that sin is an inevitable consequence of living life in the flesh. Being satisfied with that is one thing, however becoming complacent in it is another. We must never become complacent in sin. We all have our crosses to carry, and as we press on toward the prize, it is my thought that our crosses will become lighter as onward we go until we finally meet Jesus and our crosses are gone for eternity.



What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see

When I look upon his face

The One who saved me by his grace

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the promised land

What a day, glorious day, that will be!



It's been 45 years since I first prayed for Jesus to forgive my sins and be the Lord of my life and I still feel like a miserable failure. I still struggle constantly with things that (in my opinion) should've been removed from my life long ago. It's a battle I cannot win, but thank God I don't have to, because Jesus won it for me long, long ago. His grace is sufficient for me. Thank you Jesus!]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:14:48 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3527/im-back https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3527
You can't have inalienable rights when you deny the One that made them inalienable.]]> Mon, 24 May 2010 09:55:22 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3489/alligators https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3489
Sometimes, we, as Christians, who know right from wrong, turn into alligators unwittingly. Sometimes we make snap judgements about others because of something we may have seen or heard about, and want to correct them without hearing their thoughts on the matter. Sometimes Christians want to ram their Christianity down the throats of others, and can become frustrated due to their lack of acceptance. We often want to share the love of Christ with alligators, and become fixated on making them understand what we know is right to the point that we turn into alligators ourseles. Our mouths can get very big and we can lose our ears. We get frustrated and both people walk away as losers. My grandpa used to tell me a little saying that I'll never forget: To be seen, stand up. To be heard, speak up. To be appreciated, shut up! Sometimes listening will say more to a lost soul than all the words we could ever say, and there is never a fight! If we'll listen we may learn something. and that something may just open the door to let us in. And sometimes we may need to just walk away. Endeavor to not be an alligator! Pray diligently for discernment. God bless you!]]> Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:14:50 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3479/the-new-world-order https://indiegospel.net/jack-hoover/blog/3479
Continuing on, we see that God came and saw the city (the people) and the tower (the government) that man was building and said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Genesis 11:6 KJV. In verse 7, we read that God confounded their language that they could no longer understand one another’s speech, and then scattered them throughout the face of the earth.

God would not allow the imaginations of man to govern all of mankind, knowing the hearts of man are inherently evil. As we press on toward an elitist cry for a New World Order, God is preparing to allow for man to self-destruct. The Battle of Armageddon is approaching fast, as man tries yet again in vain, to establish his authority over the earth. Very soon, God will withdraw his remnant of followers from the earth and from the graves to make way for man’s final attempt at self-governance. That attempt will end disastrously for those who reject the Almighty, and will culminate in a victory unlike any ever known before, for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No man comes to the Father, except through Him. Not through Allah, nor Buddha, nor Mohammed, and not through Joseph Smith. Jesus Christ is the only way.

There is a New World Order coming soon. It will be headed by Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that you will be a follower of this world-class leader. His reign will last forever.

Amen


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