Saturday, September 28, 2013

Happiness and Healthy Relationships

            This weekend (September 28th & 29th), we will continue our sermon series on happiness by exploring healthy relationships.  We know from the empirical studies conducted by psychologists and other researches that healthy relationships are a key component for true and lasting happiness.

            The scriptural foundation for our exploration of happiness is 1 Corinthians 13, which Christians have nicknamed “the great love chapter.”  Among the many important insights on relationships in this chapter is this observation in verse 4:  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful of arrogant or rude.”  Many people are already familiar with this scripture by the Apostle Paul because it is frequently read at weddings, and it does offer very wise advice for newlyweds. 

Yet, when Paul wrote this chapter, he was not thinking of marriage, specifically.  Instead, he was thinking of relationships between individuals in general.  So, the advice in 1 Corinthians 13 is pertinent for all sorts of different relationships, including our relationships with friends, parents, children, other family members, neighbors, significant others, etc.  This week, we will use the “great love chapter” as our guide toward understanding how to build healthy relationships that contribute to happiness.

If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, I invite you to join us this weekend, as we continue our exploration of becoming happier persons.  Meriden United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Dawson and Main Streets in Meriden, Kansas.  We have two worship services each weekend:

Ø  Our contemporary service starts at 6 pm on Saturday evenings.

Ø  Our classic service starts on at 10 am on Sunday mornings.

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.

Friday, September 20, 2013

A Common Myth About Happiness


            We live in a culture which glorifies consumption as the key to obtaining happiness.  In our daily lives, we are bombarded with messages encouraging us to consume in order to be happy.  These messages come in various forms, through print and media commercials that tell us that we will be happy if we just buy a particular product or service.  This message also reaches us through television shows, movies, and books that glamorize wealth and consumption as the key to a happy lifestyle. 

            Despite the prevalence of this message that consumption is the key to happiness, many empirical studies suggest that having more and more possessions actually does not lead to greater happiness—at least not after a basic threshold of life necessities has been met.  Rather than consumption, we know that it is personal growth, positive attitudes, strong relationships, a sense of gratitude, a strong sense of meaning, serving others, and working to make the world a better place, which lead to greater happiness.

            Still, this false myth that consumption is the key to obtaining happiness permeates our society.  Embedded within this false myth is an unholy trinity of doctrines: 

1.  “I consume, therefore I am.”

                        2.  “The more I consume, the happier I will be.”

                        3.  “What I consume is who I am.”

It is impossible to escape continual exposure to this myth within our popular culture.  Yet, there is an alternative path from a Christian perspective.  This alternative Christian perspective coheres much closer with the empirical findings of psychologists, neuro-scientists, geneticists, and others.

            This weekend, my message will be based upon Luke 18: 18-30, the story of the rich, young ruler.  In this story, the rich ruler asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  This, I suppose, is the core question concerning ultimate happiness.  In essence, the rich leader asks what is the key to happiness and bliss forever and ever to infinity—and beyond!?! 

            After establishing that the rich leader strives to lead an ethical life by following all of the Jewish laws, Jesus tells him, “There is still one thing lacking.  Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 

Luke explains that after this statement by Jesus, the rich leader “became sad; for he was very rich.”  At this point, most likely, the leader got up and left the discussion.  Saddened by the leader’s decision to choose his earthly wealth over eternal happiness and bliss, Jesus observes, with hyperbole, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

The crux of this story about the rich, young ruler is where we place our faith.  In the story, the ruler trusts that his material wealth will provide him with more happiness than anything else.  This is similar to the false myth prevalent in our culture, which tells us that consumption of more and more things will bring us the greatest happiness.  This outcome deeply saddens Jesus because he knows that in actuality true and lasting happiness comes by placing our faith in God and striving to be a faithful disciple.

From Christ’s perspective, happiness in this present life is rooted in faithful discipleship which includes personal spiritual growth, strong relationships within the family and a community of faith, gratitude for the blessings that we receive from God, serving others and striving to make the world a better place.  In addition, the Christian life provides a spiritual meaning which is greater than simply we, ourselves.  In short, the lifestyle of a Christian provides those factors, which empirical studies suggests are the key to authentic happiness—in the here and now. Further, faithful discipleship holds the promise of everlasting happiness in the far future.

My message this weekend (September 21 & 22) will explore more deeply this false myth that consumption is the key to happiness.  More significantly, it will explore the alternative, counter-cultural Christian understanding of happiness as played out in the story of the rich, young leader.

If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, I invite you to join us this weekend, as we continue our exploration of becoming happier persons.  Meriden United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Dawson and Main Streets in Meriden, Kansas.  We have two worship services each weekend:

Ø  Our contemporary service starts at 6 pm on Saturday evenings.

Ø  Our classic service starts on at 10 am on Sunday mornings.

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Spiritual Happiness


            During the early autumn, I will be preaching a sermon series around the question, “Would You Like to Be a Happier Person?”  Personal happiness has been an important, trending topic for the past few years.  Over a three-month period earlier this year, Amazon.com added over 1,000 new books to their already vast sales inventory on happiness.  Research into personal happiness has increased dramatically by psychologists, as well as neuroscientists who are studying those areas of the brain that become active when we experience joy and happiness.

            In this sermon series, I will explore the keys to true and lasting happiness from the perspective of Christian faith.  In my own personal experience, my Christian faith has been foundational for happiness and flourishing.   My faith gives me comfort in times of trouble, opportunities to serve and make the world a better place, and meaning when confronting life’s major questions.  We know that human persons are multi-dimensional, including intellectual,  physical, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.  

            This Sunday, September 15th, we will be exploring the spiritual dimensions of authentic happiness.  In order to live a good and happy life, we must maintain a healthy spiritual life.  Our foundational scripture for the service will be 1 Kings 19: 11-13, which is from the story of the prophet Elijah.  In this story, Elijah has fled out into the wilderness and is living in a cave.  Depressed to the point of being suicidal and all alone, Elijah prays that God will come and speak to him.  Elijah looks for God’s Presence in a fierce wind, an earthquake, and a fire.  Yet, God is in none of these natural events.  Finally, God speaks to Elijah through a “still, small voice,” and Elijah is comforted and rejuvenated.

            Taking some lessons from the story of Elijah, my message will explore the spiritual dimensions of authentic happiness.  I will describe what it means to “be spiritual,” and look at different, individual forms of spirituality.  One of the most difficult challenges for many persons is finding time to nurture and develop our spiritual lives.  I will suggest some strategies for finding time for daily prayer and spiritual growth—and, I will suggest a few spiritual practices which may be helpful for spiritual growth and nurture.  My hope is that this message will help everyone strengthen their spiritual health—and become happier persons.

If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, I invite you to join us this weekend, as we explore the keys to spiritual fulfillment and happiness.  Meriden United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Dawson and Main Streets in Meriden, Kansas.  We have two worship services each weekend:

Ø  Our contemporary service starts at 6 pm on Saturday evenings.

Ø  Our classic service starts on at 10 am on Sunday mornings.

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.