Pursuing Happiness

Are you pursuing happiness? What if the road you’re on doesn’t end there?

“Now hold it right there for just a minute. I’m an American. Happiness is my right!”

Is it? The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Pursuing happiness and achieving happiness isn’t the same thing. As someone once wryly observed, “Happiness is in the pursuit thereof.”

So is happiness a destination or just the journey? Maybe both.

In the 1960’s a popular song declared, “Happiness is different things to different people.” And as they say, “Truer words were never spoken.”

What is happiness to you? How would you define it?

American frontier hero Daniel Boone famously said, “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife.” (I wonder how his wife felt about that!)

Fascinating new research reveals that certain choices and behaviors determine our happiness.

In a July 2008 Reader’s Digest article, “Why We’re Happy,” Arthur C. Brooks admits he “had always thought that marching to the beat of my own drummer and making up my own values as I went along were the right things to do, and that traditional values…were for suckers.”

It turns out he was in for a surprise. Brooks’ research found that the number one predictor of happiness was a person’s faith. He writes, “In general, religious Americans (those who attend a place of worship almost every week or more) are happier than those who rarely or never attend.”

Brooks also discovered that secularists were nearly twice as likely as religious people to say, “I’m a failure.”

Other happiness predictors were a strong work ethic, a good marriage, giving back through charity and living in a free society. But, while economic, religious and political freedom brings happiness, a lack of restrictions on moral behavior, did not. Loose living brought unhappiness.

Brooks adds, “People who feel they have unlimited moral choices in their lives when it comes to matters of sex or drugs, for example, tend to be unhappier.”

Did you catch that? People are happier living within the limits of Biblical morality than when they have unlimited moral choices! Why do so few see that? Because of a false view of God.

Many people view God as a stern grandfatherly type. They see him as looking down from the windows of Heaven--and when he sees someone having a good time, he says, “Now cut that out!” They think God is anti-happiness.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bible gives us a picture of a holy God who loves us more than we know. He made us to experience joy, peace and fulfillment through a personal relationship with him. And he has gone out of his way to reveal himself to us through nature and through the Bible.

If that’s not your picture of God then I invite you to set aside your ideas about him and pick up a Bible again. Get a reliable modern translation like the New International Version.

Then turn to the New Testament and read the Gospel of John. Or read the story of the Lost Son in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15. Let Jesus introduce you to the God who loves you.

Only the Bible can put you on the path that leads to a joyful life now and lasts forever.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Disney Dreams

Religious Christians and Jews once dreamed of pilgrimages to Jerusalem while Muslims dreamed of Mecca. Many still do. But in America today, people of all faiths dream of going to Disney. It’s the new “holy site” for modern pilgrims on vacation.

Two weeks ago I headed south for a family reunion and a visit to the Mouse’s house.

At Downtown Disney I saw little girls transformed into princesses before my very eyes. No, not by a fairy godmother but by parents with loads of cash! It seems every little girl’s wish is to be one of the many Disney princesses—and wishes come true for those with the money.

Everywhere we went we heard, “When you wish upon a star…your dreams come true.”

The World of Walt delights children of all ages. But I had to wonder if kids today know Walt’s fairy tales better than the Bible stories and lessons my generation learned.

Now hold on just a minute. Please don’t take me wrong! I enjoy a good vacation as much as anyone. And no one does theme parks better than the Mouse. So far I’ve been blessed to visit Disney theme parks in Florida, California and Japan. All were a lot of fun.

It’s just that, as I constantly heard about wishing and dreams, it started to sound hollow and empty. I mean, why would you want your children to believe in dreams based on wishing?

Think about this: Your weakest prayer is more powerful than your strongest wish.

Last time I checked, there’s no evidence that stars grant wishes or dreams come true if you’re sincere or wish hard enough. But there are studies confirming that prayer makes a difference. The reason is because the Awesome God of the Bible is a prayer answering God.

I’m a firm believer in teaching children to dream big. But I tell them to imagine what God could do through them if they will live for him and not for themselves.

Now while fantasy can be harmless, Disney dreams and “magic” seem to take a child in the direction of self-esteem, self-promotion and self-centeredness. Is it possible we have taken the “You are special” emphasis a little too far? To be well adjusted you must value others also.

The Bible teaches that when we become God’s child through faith in Jesus Christ, we are children of the King of Kings (a heavenly prince or princess, if you please!). We learn that God has a purpose for our lives. He gives us talents and gifts—not so that we might be a “star” but so that we can serve him! The Bible says we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

Serving God is the only way you can make an impact on this world with eternal results.

If you’re taking your family to a Disney vacation destination this year, I hope you will have a wonderful time. But don’t forget to do a “reality check” with your children. And while you’re introducing them to the Mouse and his friends, don’t forget to introduce them to Jesus before they get too old. Make sure they understand the difference between pretend friends and Jesus, the best friend you will ever have. He promises to be with us always.

Vacations and theme parks can distract us for a while from the problems of life. But the relief is just temporary. There’s an old gospel song that reminds us, “Only Jesus can satisfy your soul; only he can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy and Heaven too—For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.”

Do you need a fresh start in life? A vacation can change your location, but Jesus can change your life. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” When you turn to Jesus, life takes on a whole new meaning.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!