Peter Hoover (1960– )

Defending one’s self—especially against twisted or false accusations—is as futile and worthless as trying to stop the wind. All that one needs to do is wait. Sooner or later the wind changes.

No one needs to worry about false accusations coming one’s way—as long as they remain false. False accusations, sooner or later, always do the boomerang trick. So, avoid throwing them!

No one ever wins an argument. An argument itself is already a failure. It destroys friendships and ruins the peace that all those involved might have possibly enjoyed. Soft answers still turn away wrath.

The overcoming life does not begin with strategy, cleverness or power. Like the contest between the Wind and the Sun, it always and only begins with love. Genuinely loving others, as we love ourselves, overcomes all evil—and brings no end of joy with it.

The bitterest attacks against humans do not come from savage tribes far away. Instead, as in Jesus’ time, they come from threatened authorities. Particularly religious authorities threatened by truths they have long suppressed. Wounded egos become dangerous, and how do religious authorities attack? Not with guns and bombs, but through the dirty campaign of smearing, defaming, accusing, discrediting those who have gotten in their way.

How did Jesus respond? Either by saying the Truth, or by saying nothing. Jesus overcame the world.

“The more things change,” people say, “the more they stay the same.” At least it applies to organisational churches trying to re-invent themselves. They split apart, time after time, to do something “new.” But as soon as the whole circus has quieted down, once all of the furniture has been shifted again, everyone continues as before. Just as carnal, just as bored, only a bit worldlier than before.

Spiritual fellowship happens. It comes and it goes independently of any human institution. No religious organisation has ever contained the Spirit of the Lord. No more than how the wind has been held in a box or a river’s current caught in a jar.

It no longer matters to me who said what, who did this, and who did not get it quite right—years ago. Praise God, if you and I are still living, all that matters is how sincerely and completely we have forgiven one another as the LORD forgives us.

And, may the LORD be praised, I have not been barely, weakly, or perhaps forgiven by Him. Instead, I have been graciously, bountifully, and gloriously forgiven for all of the sins I have ever committed. He has forgiven me as I forgive others. What else matters?

It is all so easy, so swift and eternally secure. The Lord says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” (Matthew 6:14). One’s current life, and whatever will come after death, rests on nothing other than on forgiveness. And that, thankfully, is a choice.

It is tough to think, to question—or even to begin living out one’s convictions in a structured and controlled society. Its founders enjoyed such liberties, but in almost all cases, they never learned how to pass on the privilege to others.

Little chicks, if they want to survive at all, need to keep on breaking out of shells. Seeds need to keep on popping open and babies continue to struggle out into the light. Would you like it otherwise?

Let people say lies about you if they wish. Only undo their program by living out the TRUTH.

All amounts of things that do not matter—foolish ideas that people invent, predict, claim or steadfastly maintain and enforce—if not coming from the LORD will not last long. Not long, in comparison with eternity. Instead, human conclusions, human deeds, human power that does not come from the Spirit of the LORD becomes nothing other than fuel for the fire of hell.

Everything “will be shown for what it is when brought to the light. Everything will all be revealed and the fire will test its quality. If what a man has built survives, he will receive his reward, but if it goes up in smoke, he will suffer loss. He himself may well be be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames,” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Individuals may indeed continue to think, act, and even change for the better—as the Spirit of the Lord directs. But for entire congregations, or even complete religious denominations to change course for the better is both infeasible and unheard of. The LORD does not work with denominations. He works with souls, organically, not from the top but from the spiritual roots of those who hear his voice, think, choose, and follow Him. Groups cannot think. Neither can they correct themselves. Once on their way, they can do nothing more than to roll down the tracks they have made to their own grand destruction.

There are no train stations in heaven.

Problems between individuals can only become so large. Most Christians usually and readily work out their differences—as long as problems remain personal. But, the moment entire Christian gangs take sides, one group attacks and the word gets out, war becomes inevitable. Nothing can be fixed any more and no one can stop it until the entire land lies waste. Only through this spiritual desolation a straggling few may find the Way again—years later.

We are far more alike than what we are different. Particularly true of those whom we least like.

Many seek the LORD, but only the humble find him. So the LORD, in great mercy, orchestrates humiliating circumstances for those who love him and wish to see his face.

The humble find it delightful to forgive as they are forgiven, to love as they are loved, and to trust as they have become trustworthy. Society still works well for the humble.

Everyone sits on his own little pile of facts, thinking he has it all together . . . until the LORD comes in a whirlwind. Then, where nothing remains but Him, one may begin to see the Light.

It takes effort not to take oneself too seriously—until one stands in the presence of the LORD of Hosts.

Here in Paraguay, my friend Rubio planted climbing beans. All of them, when they sprouted, raced straight to the closest mesh fence and began to climb. Before we knew it, the entire fence became a hanging garden of blooms, fruit and gently swaying vines. How do plants know where to go? Can they see? Can they think? I keep rejoicing, wherever I see them, to see how the Kingdom of God works! Nature, long before I understood the Bible, already convinced me of the LORD. Through nature I see him, every day, wherever I go. Have you met Him too?

In Costa Rica I already marvelled at how jungle vines “knew” where to go. First a bird eats a strangler-fig fruit. Then the bird drops the seed. Within days a new vine pops out from the seed and makes its way to the closest tree. The vine crawls up the massive buttressed tree until, far far up, right before its crown, it encircles the trunk and chokes it. Then, as the tree dies, the vine produces its fruit to start the whole process somewhere else. Circles upon circles of life, death, decay and new life—yet our unchangeable LORD lives on.

Paraguay, I thought, would remain a boring place. No ocean. Hardly any mountains. Neither vast prairies, nor impressive rainforests left—but, even before we landed, by night, I knew I would love its skies and storms. From my airplane window I could see the entire heavens flickering with flashes of lightning in a tropical tempest. Now that we live here I continue to love Paraguay’s wild storms, but even more so, I love its almost surreal blood-red morning and evening skies. The LORD’s handiwork was not surpassed by anything we had ever seen in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the Middle East or Southeast Asia. Paraguay, we have learned, is also a great place to meet the LORD.

As long as proud people can still offend us and hurt our feelings it will be a struggle to learn the humility of CHRIST.

Infinitely more gets accomplished behind the scenes of humanity than on its floodlit stage.

Do not waste your time asking, “Who did this?” “Why did you do that?” or, “Don’t you know better than this?” Just quietly, efficiently, correct what is needed, do what is best, and keep on smiling. Real teaching and learning only occurs through consistent example.

Those who have been shown how to accomplish things in a better way, but who persist in doing what makes no sense, or doesn’t work at all, will need to live with their own choices. Waste no time trying to teach the unteachable. Even more importantly, lose no sleep over the stupidity of others. We all look stupid to someone else.

Finding the right church is as easy as finding the sun. Where is your light, where is your warmth coming from? Our solar system includes 456 moons but only one sun. Stick to the source of Light itself and you will do fine!

Looking for the right church? Brace yourself—you will never find it by doing that! But the better you understand how much the LORD loves you, and the more you have learned how to love Him because of it—something that quickly becomes apparent in your actions—the sooner you will find the right, narrow, and steep way to Christ. No more searching is necessary after that. Instead, you will find yourself right in the middle of His living church!

There is only one church. The living one, and that one can never be contained in human organisation. Find the Lord Jesus Christ, walk with him, and you will find yourself amongst the members of his Living Church.

Is there anything other than a living spiritual church, the true fellowship of Jesus? Yes. There are also organisational churches—only they keep on dying at birth. So far, only the spiritual one has ever survived.

Any clever ideas on how to get right with God? Or closer to Him—now? Nothing other than to start with what one least feels like doing yet knows one should. Getting that accomplished quickly becomes a shortcut to glory!

Do not trust others with your everlasting destiny. Others can neither save you, nor give you step by step instructions on how to get it done. The only thing to do, if one is serious, is to contact the LORD. Then, to learn how to identify His voice when He speaks.

From that time onward, life becomes simple—and a joy!

Even worse than depending on others, is to depend on one’s self. “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick;”¹ but “The testimony of the LORD is sure.”² If honest, open-hearted, and ready to obey as the Spirit directs, no one ever needs to wander in confusion or doubt again. The Way of Christ is easy to find and follow—but, like walking on a tight-rope, it is narrow and straight. One needs to keep one’s eyes fixed on the goal.

Have you heard His voice? And you wish to hear it again? Immediately, wholeheartedly, do what He tells you to do. No questions. No delay. As strange, or even insignificant your first assignment may seem, just do it! Then, as soon as you’ve done it, you’ll get the next one. More and more will follow. If you trust and do not worry, life with the LORD becomes an unending delight.

No humans have ever flourished under the scrutiny and analytic conclusions of those who feel themselves superior—like the “wise counsellors” that set upon Job to fix his problems. One learns infinitely more from toddlers, or from the simple, than from “the experts.”