Trying to Blog

Writing a blog is not easy for me.  You have to assume someone is interested in what you have to say about something or nothing at all.  Last October, I made an entry expecting to add to it regularly.  Well, nine months later, I am trying again.  I make no claims to be an expert on anything but me.  I probably have spent more time in the Bible than the average person, and I know any wisdom on life I might share will come from what I have learned from the Bible.  As a pastor of a local church, I expect most who read this blog will belong to that local body.  If you happen upon these writings, and are not part of that particular body, I hope you can learn something from my life's journey.  Those who know me know I am a pretty simple person who believes that most of life's complexities can be summed up in my philosophy, "does it make God happy?" And this understanding of, "what makes God happy," is what I believe is taught in the Bible, or as it is sometimes referred to as, "Scripture."  If you glean any help from these writing, give any praise to the Lord Jesus, as Scipture makes it clear, "its all about Him anyway."  So my first question to you is, "Are you making God happy?"  If not, let's travel together.  Until next time.

I want to be Happy

I have never met anyone who did not want to be happy. Being miserable is not what we want.  The problem is not is happiness available but rather where can I find it.  Most of us spend time trying to remove all the problems in our lives so that we can find happiness.  The irony of this is that we never run out of problems.  As soon as we can take care of one another arises.  It is a never ending treadmill. What Jesus teaches us is not how to necessarily remove all the problems but remove what is making us unhappy, our own attitudes.  Happiness is never external but always internal.  That is why you can find people who seem to have everything most of us desire and yet are miserable.  If you do not take care of your attitudes toward life, you will never find happiness. In the Sermon on the Mount,  the Lord Jesus gives us the ingredients for happiness,  the right attitudes.  My guess is that if you look at what is making you unhappy at this moment you will discover that if your change your attitude, which you can control, the problem becomes a learning experience that draws you closer to God.  Once you are in fellowship with Him, life not only becomes manageable, but an adventure worth living.  Check your attitudes.  See what God can do if you are walking with Him.