When Money Buys Happiness

Growing up, my parents told me that money can’t buy happiness.  I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it turns out they were onto something.  The Los Angeles Times reports that a generation of behavioral scientists is finding that money heightens self-interest.  This self-interest often leads people to buy material possessions which, in turn, decreases happiness.

Researchers did find a correlation between money and happiness when people used money to bless others, though.  In one study, people were given a Starbucks gift card and told to go buy something for themselves.  Others were told to give the gift card to someone else.  A third group was told to go to the local Starbucks, buy a drink for someone, and then enjoy the coffee with them.  Who reported being the most happy when using the gift card?  Those who used the card to bless others and then enjoyed the experience with the people they blessed. 

This sounds a lot like the teachings of Jesus.  Acts tells us very clearly, “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Money won’t necessarily make you happy.  But, we are blessed when we serve the Lord with our money through giving.

This week, look for opportunities to bless others in some small way.  Be generous with the money God has given you.  As you do, you will find fulfillment in something far more valuable than cash.  You will find fulfillment in the Lord who teaches His people to give, share, and be blessed.

Join the Adventure

A couple years ago, I read a New York Times article about an innovative new business. “Videogames Adventure Services” is a “reality adventures” company in Manhattan that uses trained actors and producers to stage adventures for its customers. Actors show up in the customer’s day-to-day affairs and intertwine an adventure or mystery with the customer’s life. The “Video Adventure Service’s” actors infuse exciting fiction into the customer’s everyday reality. The whole goal is to make customers feel like they are living a real life video game.

As I read this article, I was stricken by people’s inability to find adventure in their own lives. People so desperately want intrigue, but can’t recognize it when it is right in front of them. So, they pay top dollar for actors to fake it.

Christians lose something when we forget the adventure that Christ calls us to. As followers of Jesus, everything we do has adventurous implications in the spiritual realm. Caring for a hurting co-worker can be a strategic advance for God’s kingdom in a sick and dying world. Sharing our testimony with a neighbor can be a missile fired at the enemy. Standing up for the less fortunate can be a ninja-like maneuver for the Gospel. Losing site of the Christian adventure robs us of a lot of meaning in life.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul encourages folks to be aware of the spiritual adventure in their lives. He writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Faithful living in everyday life is connected to incredible spiritual adventure.

As you worship this Sunday, remember that we stand in the presence of God Almighty. He has begun an all out attack on the powers of this world through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is here. He is on the move. We are His people and we can be a part of it when we join in the adventure.

Good Friday & Easter Morning

Two thousand years ago, Judean and Roman officials conspired to have a man named Jesus of Nazareth executed. They were successful. They charged him as a political dissident, had him arrested, tortured and crucified on a cross. That much is hard to refute historically.

Weeks after the crucifixion of Jesus, however, something changed. Jesus’ disciples announced publicly that Jesus was alive. They claimed they had seen him and spoken with him. They claimed he had risen from the dead. He was alive – in the flesh. Jesus wasn’t just a man in history. Jesus was making history.

Many rejected the idea. Local authorities tried to suppress the message. They had some of Jesus’ disciples arrested, confiscated the property of some, and incarcerated others. But the message kept spreading and spreading. With time, the news about the living Jesus spanned the planet. Because Jesus had made history, the good news about him was shaping history.

Over two thousand years later, the message is still spreading. People all over the world claim that He is the Son of God, crucified for the sins of the world, raised as victor over sin and death. They claim that because Jesus Christ is alive, at work in their lives, the regrets about the past are history. Their fears about the future are history. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is changing their history.

This week, our church family will be worshiping the Jesus who is more than history. On Friday evening, at 7p, Faith Center will host a simple communion service to recognize Jesus’ sacrifice. Then, Sunday morning, we will celebrate His resurrection at 9:00a and 10:45a. Join us for these special worship services at Faith Center – Aloha. Come and worship the God who makes, shapes, changes and redeems history. As you do, you will encounter the God who lives.

Entertainment and Christian Discipleship

Michael Crighton’s best selling novel Timeline describes society’s obsession with entertainment. One character says, “Today, everybody expects to be entertained, and they expect to be entertained all the time…Everyone must be amused, or they will switch: switch brands, switch channels, switch parties, switch loyalties. This is the intellectual reality of Western society [today]. In other centuries, human beings wanted to be saved, or improved, or freed, or educated. But [now] they want to be entertained. The great fear is not of disease or death, but of boredom.” Crichton’s character describes a love for entertainment that runs so deep that it trumps everything else.

Though Timeline is a work of fiction, the description of society’s obsession with entertainment sounds familiar. We love to be entertained. Many folks want everything in life to give them a euphoric feeling. When something ceases to keep our attention or make us feel good (in other words, entertain us), we move on.

That doesn’t work well with the Christian life. Jesus calls His people to follow Him, even when it isn’t entertaining. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” According to that passage, there is a side to Christian discipleship that involves overcoming challenges, perseverance and old-fashioned growth. That process may not be entertaining, but it is always good for God’s people.

As you go through the coming week, recognize that following Jesus is way more than entertainment. Devote your life to Him, even when other things are calling for your attention. As you do, you will find fulfillment that runs deeper than the giggles of concerts and comedy. You’ll find fulfillment in a Lord who is worth following through every up and down of life.

Wearing Your Faith on Their Sleeve

I love the story about an old professor telling his student about his first interaction with a Christian pastor. The professor said the pastor was nice, but “wore his faith on his sleeve.” The student told the teacher, “I think you misunderstand Christianity.” The professor asked, “What do you mean?” The student said, “Christians don’t wear their faith on their sleeve. Christians wear their faith on your sleeve!”

The student was obviously making light of the evangelistic zeal of many Christians.  And, there is some truth there. The Christian life doesn’t exist solely for those who are Christians. The Christian life exists for the sake of all people – including non-Christians. That means we do extend our faith into the lives (or onto “the sleeves”) of non-Christians.

At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. At that moment, Christian fellowship became a fellowship built to reach outsiders. The Christian life is intended to invite and incorporate people into Christian fellowship.

As you go through the coming week, share your faith with a neighbor. Live your faith in a way that connects with those outside the faith. This may not involve “wearing your faith on their sleeve.” But, it can invite outsiders into the riches of Christian fellowship that all Jesus’ people enjoy.

Bob Dylan and the Apostle Paul Serve Somebody

Bob Dylan sings a great song about the inevitability of service. The lyric says, “You gotta serve somebody. Yes, indeed, you gotta serve somebody. It may be devil. It may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody!” In other words, the question is not if you will serve, but whom you will serve.

This is not a new idea for Christian folk. The Apostle Paul told the church in Rome that they would indeed serve someone. In Romans 6:16, Paul writes, “Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient servants, you are servants of the one you obey--whether you are servants to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Again, the question is not if you will serve, but whom you will serve.

Keep in mind that (for Paul) choosing whom you will serve is not a matter of deciding between equals. Serving Jesus blesses people with righteousness and life. Serving sin and the devil leads to death.  Even though we have to serve somebody, the benefits and blessings of service to Christ far outweigh the alternative.

As you go through the coming week, serve Jesus. Serve Jesus intentionally. Serve Jesus persistently. In doing so, you will find blessings and riches in serving a good and faithful God. You will also find freedom from the less than equal alternative.

Tug of War and the Unity of the Church

I love a good game of tug of war. Whether at camp or a youth group event, tug of war is a blast. It builds a sense of community, cooperation and provides a lot of laughs for both sides of the match.

In participating in a tug of war, you quickly realize that your team needs to coordinate. Agreeing on common timing, direction, and responsibilities on the rope allow the team to create the greatest amount of pull. If team members pull in different directions, at different times, while disagreeing on responsibilities, they are no match for the opponent. The team must be on the same page.

The same is true in the church. God has called us all to pull in the same direction. We pull in different areas of the rope, fulfilling different roles, with different gifts, but the direction is the same. We are called to tell the world about the good news of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Philippi to pull in the same direction. In Philippians 2:2, Paul writes, “…make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind.” In the tug of war of life, Paul teaches the church to pull in the same direction, following the Spirit's direction.

As you worship this morning, recognize that the Christians worshiping with you are on your team. The Spirit is calling us all to pull in the same direction for the sake of the gospel. So, grab your part of the rope and give a tug. Serve, pray, give, encourage and share. As you do, you will see the Spirit do great things in and through the church. You will also participate in the victory that is guaranteed in Jesus Christ.