Here are some things making me happy this week:
1. Our summer series is an extended meditation on Jesus' teaching that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' Well, thank you Time Magazine for validating Jesus' statement empirically in last weeks' cover article. In an article titled 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' the following tidbits are asserted by researchers:
"Acts of kindness (we've called it giving servanthood, time, attention, 'being rich in good deeds') flick the happy switches in our brains; studies have shown that people who volunteer are more satisfied with their lives and are less likely to be depressed. Happier people, in turn, are likelier to help others. Just over a quarter of Americans volunteered in 2012, a slight decline from 2011."
2. God is so gracious to send us people that represent our highest aspiration at LFC, even fresh this week, who are so far out of church culture (but hungry for God, for the Real) that they swear repeatedly in conversation with me, having no idea that's not something people coming to church normally do around their pastor. I consider it a peculiar honor, and I bet you know what I mean by that.
3. Jesus' prime motivation for his life, death and resurrection was joy (Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..."). He offers to lead each of us into joy, life, or (our series theme) 'blessing.' So check this out - in the same Time article this is frankly stated: "Nearly half of regular worshippers say they're very happy, compared with 26% of those who seldom or never attend religious services." God really did make human beings to function best and happiest when we worship one out of every seven days.
4. In response to my sermon last Sunday (which I will deliver in Davidson this Sunday - can't wait to see all y'all up there), one of our Ministry Partners named David emailed me this tidbit today:
"Pastor Mike, I just read a survey (linked below) that was recently conducted by Gallup re: financial margin. It is apropos to your message from Sunday. It is an interesting juxtaposition to see that adults making as little as $24k/yr generally have enough to meet financial necessities, yet 49% of adults making $180k+ somehow still feel that they lack enough money to do what they want. I suspect that a failure to build margin into their finances goes a long way toward the explanation." http://www.gallup.com/poll/163319/enough-lack-cushion.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=072013&utm_content=titlelink&utm_campaign=newsletter
5. Matt Glass (our LFC-Davidson worship leader) is helping a bunch of talented young guys record a CD this week at LFC-H's facility on stage - and it sounds KILLER. I can't wait to hear the final, and will let you my friends know about it.
6. In our all-staff meeting for the church this week, we were asked 'what do you like about being on staff at Lake Forest Church,' and the answers blew me away - this is a unified, encouraging, excellent-work-doing staff team we have right now who deeply appreciate one another and the value of what we all get to do as our job.
7. I drove all around the E. Lincoln County/Denver/WestLake Norman area yesterday - and I am so excited for the launch of Lake Forest Church - WestLake I can hardly stand it (target date: January 2014). So that LFC folks who commute to church from there can do Christian community and mission more hyperlocally, and so that more 'people who've given up on church but not on God' may be introduced to abundant life in Christ.
8. Work is starting to progress on the pergola over the LFC-H patio - to make it more usable and beautiful space during all sorts of weather. Provided generously for by generous people giving over-and-above their tithe to our LOVE 10 vision. And there is a great new item enhancing our Sunday worship at LFC-H that was generously given anonymously. Wow.
I could go on, but I won't. I just wanted to tell you a few reasons why my heart is full today of things bringing me joy, making me happy, opening my eyes to the blessedness (=good life) Jesus offers at every turn when we abide in Him and His Word abides in us.
