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Joy

Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Focus Your Faith on Your Purpose Rather Than Your Pain (Phil. 1:12-30) – June 21, 2009

Last week I read the blog of a friend Lynn Anderson, a friend of mine. Lynn has preached in Churches of Christ for decades. He is the author of several books. Now in the final chapters of his ministry he serves as a mentor and consultant to ministers, elders, churches and other organizations. Lynn has preached at Highland and has served as a consultant for our staff and elders. I have never sat and talked with Lynn when he didn’t go out of his way to pray with me or encourage me spiritually. He is in my Christian-Hall-of-Fame. In my short Christian life Lynn Anderson has been a fixture. His preaching and writing are among my earliest Christian memories. And there’s a part of me that has always assumed that Lynn will always be around. But last week he announced on his blog that he needs spinal surgery and that there are very significant complicating factors.

Read More »Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Focus Your Faith on Your Purpose Rather Than Your Pain (Phil. 1:12-30) – June 21, 2009

Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Focus Your Faith on a Person Rather Than Piety (Phil. 3:1-11)

A couple of years ago the Associated Press told the story of Stan Caffy. Stan had met the love of his life and asked her to marry him. His girlfriend said, “Yes!” As the two of them began to prepare for the wedding and their lives together, they both cleaned out their garages. They didn’t want to have to move any junk from their current homes to their new home. They packed up all that old trash and took it to Goodwill—old clothes, bicycles, tools, computer parts and other things. One of the pieces of junk in Stan’s garage was a faded and tattered replica of the Declaration of Independence. It has been hanging in his garage forgotten for about a decade. He gave that to Goodwill as well. Days later a man named Michael shopped at Goodwill and purchased that tattered replica of the Declaration of Independence. He paid $2.48 for it. But Michael later discovered that this was no piece of junk. It turned out to be a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence made in 1823. What Michael purchased for $2.48 he later auctioned for $477,650. What Stan has originally treated as trash turned out to be valuable treasure. Sometimes we confuse trash and treasure.

Read More »Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Focus Your Faith on a Person Rather Than Piety (Phil. 3:1-11)

Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Recognizing the Joy Possible for People of Faith (Phil. 4:12)

 

What makes you happy?  Two years ago MTV and the Associated Press surveyed young people.[1]  They asked 13-24 year olds, “What makes you happy?”  At least two sets of answers were surprising.  The first surprise has to do with what 13-24 year olds said makes them most happy.  What makes 13-24 year olds the most happy?  They said it was this: spending time with family.  Over 70% said spending time with family is what makes them happiest.  A second surprise had to do with what 13-24 year olds said does not make them happy.  What does not make 13-24 year olds happy?  They said it was this: sex.  Despite all of the pressure in our culture to be sexually active, young people said having sex does not contribute to happiness.

Read More »Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Recognizing the Joy Possible for People of Faith (Phil. 4:12)