2021 Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness - 2021

Something we can all have in common (worldwide) is that very few people will give up the chance to be happy or a chance to live a happier life. There is a lot to dig into with this topic. The founding fathers of America felt this was more of a right to practice happiness rather than pursue it. They were closer to the biblical view where we are to be happy and praise Jesus/God in good and bad times. Hope you can enjoy and share the discussion of pursing happiness with others in 2021.

The Fight is Real - December

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with loved ones.

As we wrap up a year with focus on pursuing happiness.... we find that the choice was ours to make.... we live amongst those who want to control every aspect of our lives.... but your God is bigger than covid, google, facebook, twitter, governments or leaders. Why do the letters from Paul to the young churches urge them to repent and do their best to love one another like Jesus taught?   That is because everyone falls short... so we lose a lot of people that misunderstand. The more knowledgeable you become about what is right; the more the evil pressures of earth are used against you. The devil will find your weakness and use it..... it takes love and support from others for most to see the gates of Heaven. Evil wants company more than anything.... it has dulled our senses. Most people are wrapped up in their busy lives today.... you don't even realize that the "fight is real". Your services have been requested by the King of Kings to love your God and help save others. We are outnumbered. What say you?

Don't think fighting is hurting other people..... the same as pursing happiness is your choice.... fighting to keep Christ the most important thing in your life and to others..... that fight is also your choice.

I love this verse. John 8:23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.  Jesus is telling us to see beyond the earthly tribulations.....until the end, there will always be plagues, diseases, economic booms and busts...... peaceful times and awful times of war. Sure, play your part for your family, country.... but none of that is the real fight.
The real fight is to always push the noise, pressure and pain away to put Jesus first. Putting Jesus first is loving God and loving everyone else. Impossible 100% of the time, yes.... but a positive trajectory is achievable with God providing us waves of grace over grace.

I've always said that our journey of faith is a circle.... more like a slinky that is stretched out.... you will have ups and downs in life, but the goal is to keep the trajectory moving towards Jesus ... let's just say that is going up.   I'm afraid there are a great deal of people out there that think they will be a high draft pick for Heaven that will never get near the gates. It is true that if you ask Jesus to come into your heart and truly mean it... that you will go to Heaven. Sigh, but if you truly mean it.... you will have in your heart to be focused on Jesus during those circles of earthly life. We lose so many people to the dark side that release that claim to Jesus... some think they don't need him during good times and others think he couldn't care because of the hard times. Paul's letters are screaming at us now to support and help one another in this fight. Read Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Feel the love and urgency from Paul so that these people of faith will fight to keep Jesus the most important thing in their life. The letters are timeless.... he is speaking to us now.

Read Romans 8:1-39. Each person is going to have to spend time praying about their spiritual skills and where God wants them to get involved. Bible studies, small groups, charities, churches.... the needs are endless. Find your place and fight to keep the light shining for yourself and others.  This little light of mine.... song was written in the 1920s by a pastor/teacher for children. Just about everyone knows it.... that is not by accident.

I'll ask again.... Your services have been requested by the King of Kings to love your God and help save others. We are outnumbered. What say you?

1 Peter 2:1-25
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 82:4
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Romans 8:1-39
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

God, grace, pride and georgia football

Grace is when someone receives something that they did not earn ... or can't earn. In most cases, grace is related with forgiveness. Christianity is set apart because all people need forgiveness and only a sacrifice of epic proportions would make that right.... God sent part of himself to earth to be sacrificed so that everyone would be under the umbrella of grace. Christianity is the only faith, religion, way of life that begins and continues a gift that is not based on your actions. That is true love. God is the Alpha and Omega, that is our God. Understand how important this is....without grace, your actions would not matter. But due to grace, your actions to accept Christ and act like Christ... stamp your ticket to heaven. It is no coincidence that God expects us to show grace to others..... his son was the example to follow.

Pride is like water, we need just enough of it for things to go right. Not enough pride in your beliefs and no-one will listen. Too much pride and it's at the top of the sin list with jealousy. Pride says God did not provide me grace.... I earned it. Pride closes our eyes to others who need our grace. Grace says - because I love you...... Pride says - because I'm better than you. It is a hard fence to straddle between sharing Christianity in a proud way and not letting pride overrun the grace that we should show.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and got along with family. I wrote in January to just listen and not argue with people ..... that time has ended. It is time to straddle that fence of grace/pride and discuss God and your differences. Still don't argue if you can avoid it..... but find ways to help your family/friends that have different views than you. Many have likely softened their pride at this point. If they don't need help, then maybe you can help others together. Nothing like helping that gives a group of people a common purpose.
Pray about keeping your eyes and ears open to your opportunities.... people are starting to look for something stable to believe in. They will be shocked when someone shows them grace without pride.

Oh yes.... another SEC championship on Saturday. This year "should" be Georgia's year. If not now, maybe never. For a long time now, Bama has beat GA.... three of those games either decided the national championship or removed GA from playing for it. Lot of emotions for GA fans these days. Hopefully, players and fans will show humility and give grace to those fans who go crazy and probably don't deserve it. I love it when the players thank their Lord and savior .... it's the best play of the game when millions of people hear these superb athletes lower their pride and share the good news of God's grace. AMEN!

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 6:14
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Expect the Curveball - October

The Braves have a 3-2 game lead over the Astros, they need to win one out of two remaining games to win the World Series. The fastball has the most speed and if a batter is looking for it..... then their chance of getting a hit is much higher. But then again... there is the change up, slider, curve ball and many others. The best major league players get hits around 30-40% of the time... it is one of the hardest tasks in sports to consistently get hits off major league pitchers. Forgive me, it's time to use all kinds of baseball analogies.

The curveball totally took Eve by surprise, the snake had twisted the truth and she took the bait. Adam never saw it coming... a steady diet of fastballs until he took a big bite of the curveball fruit. Christians call it "The Fall", when man could not obey one simple rule to live in paradise. Because of this, man-kind now has to face every kind of pitch that Satan can come up with.... until the return of Christ.

Why is this important? It explains our very existence. The spiritual pursuit of happiness is each of our desire to make it back to a place like the Garden of Eden. It explains how all our eyes are opened to see that other people are better than you at certain activities, more attractive than you, have more wealth than you, are in better health than you, have better parents than you, are a different skin color than you, think different politically than you....none of this mattered before "The Fall". Society is geared towards you putting yourself first... before anything else. Society whispers "seek fame, money, sex and power" as this is all you will need. God loves for us to succeed but while putting God first. Most don't realize that deep inside, people are searching for the garden of Eden to be with God. We were made to have that deep desire. No, we won't find Eden on earth...... it is what you do with your at-bats that make a future with God possible.

God sent Jesus to the earth ~2,000 years ago ... for this story (the pitcher's mound)... Jesus gave us a spiritual pitch that made little sense on earth, but for those that accepted him as their savior..... it solidified their place in the hall of fame (Heaven). It did not matter what inning the pitch was accepted..... many that accepted in the 1st inning will not understand why those that waited till the 11th inning to accept, still get into the hall of fame. It's God's ballpark, not ours.

Please understand, Satan may be throwing the earthly pitches, but he is doing that to keep you away from accepting the spiritual pitch of Jesus. God will send Jesus to the plate for the last at bat....... and he will hit it out of the universe for us. Game over, with an eternity of celebrations for those who believe.

God knows the curveballs of life hurt; many books have been written on the pains of life.... but God never denies you a chance to get back up to the plate and learn from the pitches you missed. Some of us just keep going up there to bat, time after time. Sometimes, God keeps sending you up to learn so you can teach others from your experiences. Sometimes, people watch you and learn from how you perform at bat. Satan knows your weaknesses .... and there are times in most people's life that it seems God is letting you get hit by every pitch.

Life gets hard and we feel helpless. Either you Have been there...or you Will be there at some point..... remember the tough pitches and use them to be the best team-mate, manager and player you can be in this life. Jesus was resurrected and has never left the pitcher's mound. If you have not, step up to the plate and ask Jesus for his best pitch... it's a good one! You certainly want to do that before Jesus is called to the batter's box.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 2:8-11
8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Can You Feel It? - September

I love this time of year.... crisp cooler temperatures in the morning and the leaves start to change colors. You can step outside, close your eyes and take it in.
It feels like a simpler time.... like football in the backyard, fishing with your granddad or playing with the dog.

Let's chat about the Holy Spirit for a minute. Mentioned a good bit in the new testament, but it is hard to preach about. It is so personal to each individual that it is hard to teach people about the 3rd part of the trinity. If you truly accepted Christ, then you at some point felt the Holy Spirit within you. Some feel it often and others infrequently.... it usually takes being alone, reading the bible and praying.

The spirit is not there to tell you what kind of toilet paper to buy... it is Jesus's promise that the spirit has been sent to help you with wisdom, discernment and many times what to write and say in certain situations. For me, it feels like it helps me a lot more when I am trying to share Jesus with others. Jesus knew we would need help with that.... to reach a wide range of people that bring different backgrounds and experiences.

I pray and struggle each month with what to write about that will help the most people... and each month at some point the spirit steps in and helps me see clearly what is needed.   Nowhere did it say that the Holy Spirit was like a blanket you pull out when you need it. It takes honest and focused prayer for most people to get in tune with what God wants.

I know all of us can feel, see, hear the issues of the day. They are meant to divide us and doing a pretty good job of it. So, this world we live in..... I am not going to sugar coat it. There is something in the air...... you can feel the weakness of the United States that is no longer united, breathe in the thick smoke of world anxiety, jealousy and hatred of Christians/Jews. 3.6 billion (46%) of the world lives on less than $5.50 per day according to world bank. Over 1.2 billon people claim to have no religion/agnostic. Lots of lost sheep that will follow the first leader that makes them empty promises. There is a saying, that every argument has two sides. I would say these days, every argument probably has numerous sides. The issue is that none of them are God's side and that is the reason there is so much untruth in the world today. I am watching and listening just enough to be aware of events but trying to minimize what has become more like a daily soap opera than real information. We are in a situation where none of our leaders are right.   They continually forget the most important ingredient in decision making... which is humble prayer for wisdom and discernment to the one true God.

One of the best songs ever by Phil Colins in 1981.
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, (Oh lord)
And I've been waiting for this moment, for all my life, (Oh lord)
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord, (Oh lord)

We all feel it. There are a lot of people wrapped up in every debate right now... and feel very strongly about each topic. Please try to spend more time praying about those topics and for wisdom on how to interact with people.  You may find that the Holy Spirit has the answers.... and you'll probably find out that if we follow God's commandments......that the topics we thought were so important.... are replaced by what God says is important.

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:15-17
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Genesis 1:2
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Something We Can't earn - August

It is very hard in our world of jobs, money, bitcoin..... to understand something available to us that we can't pay for, work for... or use some form of negotiation to acquire.
A mild example is when someone stops and helps you change a flat tire..... and no matter how many times you ask to pay them.... they will not take anything for helping.

Jesus died so you would be included and have a choice to believe/follow him. No amount of good deeds on earth would give you the right to make that choice. His death, the sacrifice of one .... allowed for the reward for us all. After you make the heartfelt choice to follow him... you are saved. Yes, it is that simple and powerful. Jesus is in you, a part of you.... the part that needs you to focus on him 24/7 in all the other things you do.
What an exciting time when you are saved.... what's next?

Life is next.....friends, relationships, jobs, mortgage/rent, kids, parents, sports, colleges, vehicles, insurance.... and that just scratches the surface. Any one of those topics will create good and bad times. In case you did not know, the world will continue to spiral out of control while leaders care more about themselves than the people. The world needs Christian men/women to remember the sacrifices of Jesus when living in a society that screams at the top of its lungs "Look at ME". The world needs more people that shock others by helping without wanting in return. From Christians, who are as imperfect as anyone on earth.... we need to always be looking for those opportunities.

It just might change the direction of someone's life. I know, money can buy you a boat, truck and all kinds of happiness that will fade..... the reward for helping others won't fade, Jesus has a book and will read it back to you one day. How cool is unconditional love from a puppy, a rare best friend that just understands you, an organ donor, a savior that was willing to die for you and wants you to love him and others? Yea, more of that.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Are you on the right Boat? - July

The storm raged on as the disciples grew more afraid.. they argued, cried...and finally... they woke Jesus to ask if he cared that they were all going to die at sea. After so many miracles they had witnessed.... their faith was shaken by a storm in the presence of Jesus. And when Jesus rebuked the wind... and the sea was calm.... they were amazed. This simple story is for us; it is for every individual person to relate what they are going through.... to the fact that Jesus is the answer for all issues and waves of life.

History always repeats itself... because leaders can't help but be evil. I only know of two countries who set their foundations on God and Godly principles....USA and ancient Israel. Similarities between the two are chilling. The cycles of ancient Israel where they followed God, dismissed God.... back and forth for centuries has been well documented. Let's just say it is mind-blowing to read what had to take place for ancient Israel to start worshiping God again, each time. Those times make the USA's depressions and wars seems like a mild headache. God is asking us to come back to him.... but just like ancient Israel, things had gotten too easy over generations, the wars their grandparents fought were long forgotten... after all, they were "Israelites" and had the right to be blessed. USA has chosen its massive, titanic-like boat.... but left Jesus on the shore and ask him to stay inside the churches. Without Jesus in the boat.... the foundation of our country will sink... the greed of leaders will put too much weight on the evil side. What will it take for people to want Jesus back in the boat with them?

The bickering had seemed to calm a little by early summer 2021..... until another strain of COVID has schools, businesses and countries all pondering again over what controls to put in place to calm the storm.

Don't you see?.... God is trying to wake people up.. little pen pricks to bring people back to him without having to be the parent that really gives us something to cry about. And what do we do? Similar to our ancient sister, leaders take more control over the people, put more rituals in place to gain more power. There is no-one in government that will dare say that our countries financial debt, our people's divided views, plagues/viruses and blurred right/wrong is due to our country moving away from God. In fact, I think that most of them would laugh at that idea.

The good news is that you have not been made to enter the Titanic yet..... you can still choose your boat and ask Jesus to be in it. The storms and icebergs are almost sure to come.... but we will have a light to guide our boat, a destination of heavenly hosts and the direction to love our God and our neighbors.

If history repeats itself.... then AMEN!! It is amazing with God's blessings how people quickly focus on loving/helping each other, viruses disappear and the poor are comforted. I pray our country can return to God. I hope to be in the same boat with more people than I can count.

Matthew 8:23-27
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

2 Chronicles 33:10-13
10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

I Wear a Cross - June

I watched Mississippi State win a baseball national championship last night... I grew up about 20 minutes from MSU.... and at the same time when our society is moving so fast away from God..... it is so wonderful to see a group of young men moving towards God with a passion. I really want the ripples of good they are sending out to turn into big waves of faith for others. So many of them wear crosses, say prayers before they play... truly inspiring.

I Wear a Cross Poem
I wear a Cross... but not for me... it's for the ones who need to see
I wear a Cross... to share the win... Jesus died for all our sin
I wear a Cross... my faith so strong... through good and bad, right and wrong
I wear a Cross... to remember when... the choice I made to let Jesus in
I wear a Cross... because I know... the end is written and where I'll go
I wear a Cross... but not for me... it's for the ones who need to see

Millions of people out there without God are searching for answers.... remember they have an empty space inside to fill; they only know how to use hate, greed, jealously, envy to feel better.

Be the one that makes them wonder where your peace comes from.... where your happiness comes from.... wear the cross and be ready to share it when they ask.

Since I went to grad school there.. I'm allowed to say it... as long as they are not playing Bama.
"Praise the Lord and Go Dawgs" !!!!

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Philippians 2:14-16
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Remove the Shades - May

Perception is key.... how you perceive life and the people in it....will determine how much happiness is in your life. Life is a roller coaster... we have to learn to thank God for the slow climbs, quick drops, curves and loops of life.

While working for Andersen Consulting... I had a training class in 1998 where a great story of perception was shared. I've not always followed it.... but the story gets me every time... at how the tables were the total opposite of what the lady thought. Short story: A woman was waiting at an airport for her flight. Since her flight was delayed; she bought a book and bag of cookies. She took a seat next to a man and started to read the book. While she was engrossed in her book, she happened to see the man sitting beside her boldly take a cookie from her bag. She ignored the incident to avoid a scene. She ate a few cookies from the bag and went back to her book. But the man seemed to have enjoyed the cookies way too much, he took some more cookies from the bag and started eating them. Every time she took a cookie from the bag, he took one. When the last cookies was left, the man nervously took that cookie and broke it in half. He offered the other half to the lady and smiled. The lady snatched the other half of the cookie from his hand and thought, “this guy has some nerve that even after eating a half bag of my cookies, he didn’t show any gratitude.” She had been so upset by the man and was relieved when her flight was called. She boarded the plane and was putting her baggage up top... when she found a full bag of cookies in the side pocket. She went numb with embarrassment. The man was happily sharing his cookies and she treated him that way. It was too late to apologize.

We have to remove our sunglasses and pull up the shades in our house to let the light in..... allowing light on other people's situations is the only way we will understand them. Now, I tell all my clients up front... I can't fix stupid and I can't fix crooked. There is plenty of both out there that all of us deal with on a daily basis.... but we have to at least try to share the light or we might as well like the darkness and keep the shades on.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The Most Important Draft - April

The most important draft is not a beer (even though very popular), it is not the NFL draft (although very entertaining), it is the draft that Jesus provides for us..... all of us are on the player board. In this draft, We get to choose if we want to play on his team. 100% our choice, no other person gets to choose for us. Once you have chosen to be on his team... you will never be traded, the promised salary will always stay the same and he will be your coach, general manager and team-mate from now on. I don't know about you...but my family chooses to be on the team. It is the most important fantasy draft choice you will ever make.

Let me ask you a question. What team have you ever joined that did not ask for you to sacrifice and work hard? A sports team, a job, marriage, raising kids or dealing with aging parents.... none of that is easy. So why do you think joining "team Jesus"... who is offering you everlasting life as a reward... is going to be easy?

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

There is more hatred, jealousy, greed, laziness and anger in the United States today than ever before.... our politicians/media stir it up and billionaires move the chess pieces around to make more money on the unstable situations. Christians are a threat to all of it.. why is that? Because we have the Holy Spirit led assistance to know evil when we see it. Power hungry leaders don't like groups that know they are corrupt. Remember, evil knows Jesus and wants to keep as many people from him as possible.

On team Jesus, your future is filled with hope and light, no matter how good or bad things get on earth. It is a future prize... but it is worth it. In good times, it is easy to forget you need him. In bad times, you realize how much you do need him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.... this is the true pursuit of happiness.

Come on.... it is your time on the clock.... pick your team.

1 Peter 3:14
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Here in the Real World - March

God has not changed.... we have complicated every aspect of life. Our cars, TVs, phones and watches are now computers. Simplicity and not biting off more than we can chew is a big part of pursuing happiness. The movie, Shawshank Redemption, Brooks Hadley was an old man that was let out of jail after 50+ years.... his quote was "The World Went and Got Itself in A Big Damn Hurry."

We are so busy that we miss 99% of what God intended us to enjoy. A sunrise, sunset, leaves changing colors, flowers of spring, sunshine on your face, puppies, babies...... friendships, helping others... and a million other things.
My granddad would take a deep breath as we pushed off in the small boat to fish. He would say, "no problems out here, just us, God, fresh air and the fish". That was his perception; we enjoyed every second we got to spend together.

But here in the real world, I have a hypocritical mouthful of worldly challenges of my own creation, and I have Amazon 80s playing in my office... and as I am writing this, Guns and Roses is playing.
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
Yeah it does

Jesus lived it..... he met every spiritual requirement as the earthly thorns came out of everything thought to be beautiful to attack him. A life secret.....Life is always relative; it has always been a balancing act between earthly needs and spiritual requirements..... a life too busy is the same for Brooks, my granddad, the 12 disciples, you and everyone else from any timeframe. Too busy pulls us all away from God.

I'm right there with you... almost everyone remembers a time that life was simple, a time life made sense...... and you long to be back in that boat. For every wonderful memory.... I have one that haunts me. Don't let your perception of good and bad times change your perception of God. Again, we changed .. he has not.

God wants us to simplify and focus on him.... we live in the devil's playground (always have) and we should thank God for all the good and bad experiences as they shape us for when God brings his kingdom down.... only then will we truly be in the boat with God and his wonderful world as he created it. Until then, take a minute in between the earthly thorns and enjoy God's beautiful world.

Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

1 Corinthians 13:10-13
10 But what is perfect
    will someday appear,
and what isn’t perfect
    will then disappear.
11 When we were children,
we thought and reasoned
    as children do.
But when we grew up,
    we quit our childish ways.
12 Now all we can see of God
is like a cloudy picture
    in a mirror.
Later we will see him
    face to face.
We don’t know everything,
    but then we will,
just as God completely
    understands us.
13 For now there are faith,
    hope, and love.
But of these three,
    the greatest is love.

Who Believes in You? - February

I can remember when I was about to start school at Alabama.... there were several adults that said I would fail out and be back home in a matter of 6 months. I don't blame them.. but I certainly remember their belief in me. Do you remember people who did not believe in you or still don't? It is not a good feeling, especially when people close to us have reasons not to believe in us. Some people let it drive them and others let it sink them.

Who believes in you? It is an amazing and deep feeling of responsibility when someone puts their faith in you. Some people let it drive them and others crumble under the pressure to not disappoint others.

How does this relate to the pursuit of happiness theme this year? There are some secrets of life in this lesson. The main one is that if you're focus is on what other people think about you; then you're focusing on the wrong thing. If your focused on God/Jesus, then you will live for him.... and you can stop living the painful life that was focused on yourself and what others think of you. Others will see your light and know you have changed... they might not stop judging you, but it will now take on a low level of importance in your life. It gives you the chance to share some of that light with the very people who hurt you. That is exactly what Jesus did and he wants us to follow his perfect example.

God's focus has always been on you, wanting to share his love with you, giving his only son for you, wanting to have a relationship with you....in our experiences, we get a little taste of the sorrow and joy God must feel when people accept or deny him.

I can't finish this without sharing the few secrets in this: The people who don't believe in the good of others are most often the ones who have very little belief in themselves. They need Jesus as much as anyone. A song that I can't believe is 30 years old goes: That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight, losing my religion. People might look like they are on the social pedestal..... pray you can see the real situation.... they are in the corner with all the pressures of this world on their shoulders.... show them your belief in them comes from your belief in God.... introduce them to spotlight that never goes out.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

A Season to Listen - January

Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

This year's writings are about the pursuit of happiness. Stop arguing with people this year and just listen. I promise... you have not changed anyone's mind on facebook.... only given them someone to fight against. Their eyes and ears are closed, you will have to wait until their pride gets tired.

God has done us another favor we don't deserve. Like when Adam and Eve took a bite of the apple.....God has opened the eyes of every American to how weak our country has become.... God is pleading with us to return to his ways and be the light of hope for the world again. It is painful to say it... but we are far from that now.

Deuteronomy 32:35
35 "It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
and their doom rushes upon them.”

Make this year about "you" and to show your happiness for what God has provided. Listen to understand. There will be a time for us to argue, defend and even fight for what you believe in... but right now, it is only fueling the fires of evil.

Return good for evil, you will have the chance to help those who hate you this year. Let God repay those who love lying, cheating and hurting people. There is so much to be thankful for.... show your love for God and to your neighbors. Yes, many will hate you for your happiness and for our savior, Jesus. That is good, you will know you're on the right track! Those people will remember your kindness in the future.... it may even lead to many of them being saved. It is one of the hardest things to do..... if your mind is on your happiness, it will not be on their hatred. I'll be praying for you.

Romans 12:17-19
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 18:2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.