"Real Happiness Begins Here"

Blessed are the poor in Spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:1©3

This Beatitude is best translated into the modern idiom as: "Happy is that individual who is willing to receive aid from God."  

A friend and I were discussing the subject one day when he gave me his definition. HAPPINESS IS BEING A SUCCESS", he said. Since he was what most people would identify as a successful person I asked him for his formula.

YOU HAVE TO CREATE AN ILLUSION OF SUCCESS AND MAKE IT REAL", was his reply.

"What do you mean?", I asked.

"What kind of automobile do I drive?"

"A Buick", I replied.

"I don't think a Buick is the best car but most people identify it with success, so I own one. Clothing is another suggestion of success. A successful person is always dressed in the current style, and for the specific season." He went on to explain that even one's conversation is important.

When I first opened my business in this town it was a struggle. But I didn't dare go around saying ...things are difficult. I just don't see how I'm going to make my payroll. When someone would ask, "How are you doing?" I'd always answer ..."much better than expected. In fact, we are well ahead of what we projected for this particular time in our business."

In short, he believed:

If one dresses for success

drives for success

talks for success,

eventually it will come.

And when it comes one will be happy.

Is Jim's theory the theme of America?

We've seen filled stadiums on T.V. and we've seen half fill ones. We know that the full stadiums usually have a winning team.  laughter...yelling...bragging, and excitement abound.  Half empty stadiums seem to be a drag ...boring, and one watches the game wondering if it will ever end.

Jim's theory is so common that for most of us happiness is possessing the symbols of success.

Happiness is a Mercedes, a BMW, Cadillac, 300ZX.

Happiness is Cashmere sport coat.

Happiness is a nice home.

Happiness is a healthy family.

The beatitudes are Jesus' list of those experiences which brings happiness.

His list is not a list of things, but a list of attitudes toward life.

His concepts were unlike the one which dominates our thinking. We deal with obtaining to be happy. He recommends inner changes/freedoms which bring happiness.  He relates his happiness as a gift which comes from God.  He tells us how to receive the gifts.

We human beings haven't changed much in 2,000 years. Two thousand years ago the goal in life was to find happiness. I would suspect that if a survey was taken of all of us gathered here this morning our general desire would be the same. The particular way we find it might be some what different with each of us: Yet, HAPPINESS is still our goal. Jesus began his sermon by sparking the imagination of the person of his day. Do you want to be happy", he asks?

What is happiness?

HAPPY IS THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO IS WILLING TO RECEIVE AID FROM GOD.

The logical question now arises ...How does God help us? I am convinced that God sends us aid in two ways.

He sends aid through other people.  

God sends most of his aid through other people. There is that special person who has come to our aid in time of difficulty and helped us through.

John was a professor at a very famous seminary. He taught public speaking. Coming to his class were young people from many different states, and all walks of life. Most of them brought with them a special dialect they had learned as children.

Among his students was a young man from the textile part of the state of North Carolina. In this area people called an automobile tire a "tar", Yellow was "yeller", and wife was "wyff". Add to the pronunciation a slow, heavy Southern tongue and one can imagine the results. John easily picked this young man out of his class, and suggested that he give him special help at an hour other than the regular scheduled one.

The professor and student would meet. John would sit at the back of the class, and the student would read at the front. One day the student was asked to read the beginning of Psalm 103. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all of His benefits" were the words. The young man read..."Bless the "Lard" ,O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. John said from the back of the room ..."Bless the Lord". Bless the Lard, came the echo. Back and forth they went. Other students heard the competition and listened in the hall in glee.

It was only after going out of the class and hearing one of the fellow students say It sure is hard to say Lord when you've been saying Lard all your life isn't it that the young man really heard the difference. Yet, those hours made a tremendous difference in the life of that young man. He went on to serve some of the largest and most prestigious pulpits in his state. He will never forget his help.

God helps in many and sundry ways through others. Think for a moment of some of the people who have helped you in life. Could it be that God is in EACH of us doing his work?

SECONDLY,   Only God can give us the strength to truly live.  Only God can renew our spirits ... empower of souls.  Most of the time it comes through his giving us another chance at life.

It was a Friday morning. In the church office there will be a frantic preacher present if by then the sermon is not almost completed. On this particular Friday ...the sermon was not finished. The secretary knew it. She rapped three times on the door, anyway, and pushed unannounced a middle aged lady in the office with these words ..."She needs help". The minister was stunned! Sarah knew better than this. She had never done such before.

He offered her a seat. She sat down! Before he could ask her name she took over the conversation. "

I've been seeing the psychologist across the street. For weeks I have been going without any results. I can't sleep. I'm not hungry. My life is falling apart. He says I need forgiveness and that was your business not his. So I'm here to get forgiveness."

For what doe you need forgiveness?

Born in the Northwest. Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Raised in an Upper Middle Class home. Mid-teen pregnancy, left home. For twenty five years she was trying to find herself. She was now in her third marriage. It was failing. Her sin was Fornication as a teenager. She had never forgiven herself.

The minister did the Billy Graham thing. We prayed a prayer of Confession with her. She repeated the appropriate words. He rose and started leading her toward the door.

"I'm not forgiven, she said. I'm not leaving!'

Her story and the theological training of the minister was hastily computed in the minister's mind. He too, had come from a Lutheran background. He remembered that there were members and there were communing members. Communion was most important. A question surfaced ..."WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU COMMUNED?

It was on my Confirmation Sunday. Would you like to celebrate the Sacrament? Could We?

He went to the door and asked for grape soda and crackers. ... got out the book of Worship ... placed his White Stole around his neck, Prayed the prayers of the church. And placed the bread and the wine into shaking hands. Her body began to tremble. Her eyes became cloudy. Then she began to sob.

There are important moments in one's life. This moment was important because a minister and a lady experienced renewal together. She received forgiveness of her sins. He saw the Faith did work. Wow! the power of God was there.

She was gone. He never learned her name. Nine months later on Christmas Eve he was celebrating the Sacrament. A strange family came down the Isle. Two men, two ladies, and a three or four year old child. Both were handsome couples. The lady in her mid-forties reached over the altar rail and gave him a great big hug. You don't know me do you, she asked? I'm sorry he said. Do you remember the lady back in the Spring who came for forgiveness and you served the Sacrament. I'm that lady!

God had done what no human medication, or counselling could do!

HAPPY IS THE PERSON WHO WILL RECEIVE AID FROM THE LORD!

Today is your day!   God wants to bring power to your spirit.  A power to live and enjoy life.  In order to receive one needs only to admit the need, and ask.      Amen.