Our chapter in the Believe series asks the question, What brings true happiness and contentment in life?  How would you answer that question?

     As you know, I am a dyed in the wool Calvinist and I need to make a confession, "the word joy sometimes makes me nervous."  Not because I don't like to have fun.  Goodness sake, the word joy was listed on the Campbell Gardner Christmas cards a couple years ago.  No, the word joy makes me nervous because I think a lot of people answer the question above with a life of exhausting self-seeking; trying to produce joy from earthly things and suffering when their search for joy is repetitively illusive.  What is worse, all the while the dark side of joy . . . despair often lurks and tortures.  Why despair?  Because true joy is found not in those people or things around us but in the source, the creator of all things, in God.

      The words of the Psalmist are the entry gate to our true joy and confidence, Psalm 16, "I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."  and later, "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more." and finally, "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure . . . you make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand."  YES!  This, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the ONLY real source of joy.  The best news is that his love means that he wanted, no intended all along, to provide us with this illusive gift.

     This Good News, this Gospel, is the only kind of joy that makes any Calvinist, Pietist or Papist . . . ANY CHRISTIAN secure.  Is there despair in your life?  A lack of Joy?  Then please, ask yourself, "what brings true happiness and contentment in my life?" Admit that there are areas in your life where trust in God has been replaced by trust in other things, people or even yourself.  Then, pray, if you need to use the words of the Psalmist, "Apart from you, Lord, I have no good things, no joy.  I will turn back.  I will look into the eyes of the Lord . . . He will fill me with the joy of His presence.  Amen."  Blessings, Rev. Ellen

Joys:  Softball Team (Brandi Coley), Mike Iosue and Glenda Kirkman (Heather Kirkman), Amanda/Amy Ritchie (Amy Ritchie), A.J. (Susan Smith), Mission work of the church (Ed Kusper), Wedding in the spring - Brandi/Charlie (Brandi Coley)

Concerns:  Rev. Ellen (Diane Mullinax), Shirley Smith (Kim Gibson), Elizabeth Parks (Mullinaxes), The Family of Hayden Miller (Leigh Ann Allen), Andrea Waters' Family (Amy Ritchie)