Are You Happy?

A person recently asked me if I was happy. This was part of a survey she was doing to prepare for a speech at Toastmasters. I replied that I was “relatively happy” and then I immediately asked how she defined happiness. This made for an interesting speech, but as I got to thinking about it, I wondered why I was hedging about whether or not I was happy. As I thought more about it, I should have said that I was not only happy, I was overjoyed. Why? I have a Creator who pours blessings on me that I could never deserve by my own actions. I have a loving Father who knows what’s best for me and guides me and corrects me, even if I don’t realize it at the time. I have a Savior who has taken away the fear of sin and death with a promise of salvation and external life in His presence. When you think of things that way, how can you not be literally jumping for joy every day? So here’s the real question – Are You Happy?

Better Than Football?

So I ask you, “Is God better than football?” If you’re a Christian, then your answer should be a quick yes. But you wouldn’t know it if you compared all of the sports team logo gear with all of the Christian stuff. You see Cubs hats, and Lakers jerseys, and Michigan State banners, and cheeseheads, and bumper stickers. It’s all over the place. Now let’s compare that with all of the Christian stuff. You know those “Praise God” pennants that you see on car antennas all over the place? I don’t see them either. All of the bright clothing that says “Go Jesus” around town? It’s kind of hard to find. Now many people do wear religious jewelry. That might be a cross that you’re wearing. Let me get a little closer. Yes, it is a cross! Of course, you are also wearing a NASCAR jacket that you can see from a block away. Have you ever been someplace (could be a bar) where somebody yells, “HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS!” You have likely heard that, but it’s unlikely that you have ever heard someone say, “HOW ABOUT THEM APOSTLES!”

It often seems that our relationship with God is a very private one, but our relationship with our favorite sports team is a very public one. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? What are we afraid of? That people will find out that we love God? Check out your own closet. How much of your wardrobe honors the Red Sox, or the #8 car, or Ohio State, or Metallica? How much honors God? We have had bursts of “in your face” Christianity over the years. In the 1970s it was “ONE WAY” billboards and bumper stickers. More recently it was WWJD – What Would Jesus Do? Maybe it’s time for a new revival. Maybe “Thank God for God” or “One For All” or “Things Are Looking Up” or create your own. In today’s digital world, it’s easy to create t-shirts or bumper stickers. I challenge you to start something of your own and between all of us we can create the next Christian craze (and show people what’s important at the same time).