The Lord spoke to my heart tonight that I should not get too caught up and frustrated over whether things are happening in this life the way I think they should. I was having a pity party and telling the Lord I have served for 33 years and this should be the peak of my game but rather I feel like of I am often sitting on the bench. I have never been one to sit on the bench. As I was “complaining” to God, He said, I know, after 33 years in my life, through man’s eyes things were not going too well either, but in the eyes of My Father it was exactly what was suppose to happen, just the way it was suppose to happen. That is when the Lord impressed upon my heart that the resurrection could not have happened if there had not been a death. Eternal life cannot be experienced until there is an end to the physical life. I know it is really silly to get so consumed and frustrated with things that you cannot control and allow it to steal away the time you do have. If I have 3 score and 10 then I have 13 more years to serve God, love my family and love others. My preacher once preached a message entitled “Don’t Waste Your Wasted Years”. Simply put, don’t ruin and waste the present, frustrated over the past or frustrated over things you cannot change. The words to a song came to my heart as I walked, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…” Why get so hung up on a place you spend a microscopic amount of time compared to eternity.
Joh 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
By Bob Hooker
On November 8, 1975, while sitting in his dorm room at Memphis State University, Robert Hooker realized he was miserable deep inside. He really didn’t have anything to live for. He had seen several of his friends die while in high school and college and knew that he too would face death someday. Robert’s heart was in turmoil as he picked up a small Bible and started to read. God’s Word was foreign to Robert and it was hard for him to understand; just as he was about to close the Bible he spotted some verses in the back of the Book. After reading these verses he understood that he was a sinner, and deserved to go to a place called Hell. Robert knelt beside his bed and asked Jesus Christ to save him and give him eternal life. Robert realized for the first time that Jesus Christ was truly the Son of God, and had lived a spotless life. He realized Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the grave, just so he could have eternal life.
Robert graduated from Memphis State and went on to work at Trinity Baptist Church in Collierville, Tennessee as the Youth Pastor. While attending this church, God called Robert to preach and he, his wife and two daughters moved to Indiana to attend Hyles-Anderson College in January of 1982. Robert graduated from Hyles-Anderson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Theology in May of 1985. Later, Robert received his Masters in Pastoral Theology. Bro. Hooker has been working at Hyles-Anderson College and in the ministries of First Baptist Church since 1985. In 2005 Bro. Hooker was given a Doctorate of Divinity by Dr. Jack Schaap.
Dr. Hooker is the Sr. Vice President and a Professor at Hyles-Anderson College. Dr. Hooker teaches the Faith and Family Sunday school class at the First Baptist Church of Hammond.
1985 - Demerit Counselor
1986 - Part-time staff member at the church and director of the Sailor Ministry
1990 - Athletic Director and part-time faculty
1996 - Full-time faculty
2001 - Dean of Married Students
2003 - Dean of Student Counseling
2006 - Sr. Vice President
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