The Attitude of the Heart

by Jefferson David Tant Years ago we had a cartoon character in our papers named Joe Btfsplk. Wherever he was, there was a cloud over his head. He was a pretty sad-looking fellow. The only luck he seemed to have was bad luck. I think I have known people like that — always gloomy —…

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Instant Gratification

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/InstantGratification.mp3 by PJ Anderson

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Mistakes of a Rich Man

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MistakesOfARichMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:13-21   I.         Someone approached Jesus, asking him to settle a dispute over an inheritance.             A.        Jesus declined, stating that it wasn’t his occupation             B.        But he pointed out the root problem between the brothers – greed                         1.         We know this without even knowing the facts in the case.                         2.         Whether it was…

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How can non-Christians be nice people without the Spirit?

Question: I am studying the fruits of the Spirit.  In fact, I am scheduled to give a talk on it this Sunday.  I’m confused about something.  We all know people who are not Christians and are nice people.  Not the nasty, evil person that Paul talks about before going into the fruits of the Spirit. …

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Can I reach heaven with all this negativity in my life?

Question: I am a Christian and have been for some time now. My problem is I have trouble letting go of my guilt because of past sins. I feel extremely depressed and in deep remorse for past sins. I know that God forgives me if I repent, confess, and ask for forgiveness, but I still…

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The Pursuit of Happiness (Series)

Fall Gospel Meeting 2009 Drawing by Stefan Van den Bergh, 2004 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness: What Does Happiness Look Like? Learning to be Satisfied: What Do I Require to be Happy? Enjoy the Trip! Don’t Keep Waiting Until you “Get There” Changing the Question: The Shock Value of Pain and Suffering Removing…

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Making My Life Matter

The Amazing Results of Serving Others https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall6MakingMyLifeMatter.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness

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Removing Hindrances to Servanthood

Too Much Self-Focus https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall5RemovingHindrancesToServanthood.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness

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Changing the Question

The Shock Value of Pain and Suffering https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall4ChangingTheQuestion.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness

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Be a Better Person

by Carey Scott Don’t we all wish that everyone would be a better person? Do we not hope that some bad people would turn their lives around and start doing good? Do we wish our neighbors would treat us better than before? Do we hope that the people we meet each day would show us…

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Enjoy the Trip

Don’t Keep Waiting Until you “Get There” https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall3EnjoyTheTrip.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness

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Learning to be Satisfied

What Do I Require to be Happy? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall2LearningToBeSatisfied.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness

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The Pursuit of Happiness

What Does Happiness Look Like? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009Fall-PursuitOfHappiness.mp3 by Oscar Miles The Pursuit of Happiness (Series)

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I am convinced I do not really deserve happiness. Am I being rational?

Question: I have been struggling with some problems recently.  I was baptized into Christ three years ago, and have been married for several years.  My wife was baptized into Christ while in high school, but sadly did not maintain an attitude of repentance, and was involved in inappropriate relationships with two of her boyfriends before…

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What is the difference between “happy” and “joy”?

Question: I can’t find a defined difference between happy or happiness and joy or joyfulness in the Bible. I was wondering about the difference. I remember learning about it one time, but I can’t find what I learned anywhere and my dictionaries are not that in-depth. Answer: “Joy” is the translation of the Greek word chara.…

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Is life not meant to be enjoyed?

Question: I still have some things troubling my mind. I always wanted to try my best and enjoy life as much as I can, obviously with God. But lately, in church and from reading the Bible, some things really confuse me. For example like how Jesus told us that if we wanted to be perfect…

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How to Raise a Heartache

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. via The Auburn Beacon “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15). Though I have been a father for many years and a grandfather for a few years, I still do not claim to be an expert on child-rearing. I…

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How Can I Keep from Singing?

by Robert Lowry, 1860 My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation I hear the sweet though off hymn That hails a new creation: Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul — How can I keep from singing? What though my…

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Boredom

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The child has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, DVD player, a huge collection of movies, every piece of sports equipment known to man, his own telephone, a fully loaded computer with high-speed Internet access … but he doesn’t have a thing to do. He’s bored. Boredom…

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The Problem with Emotions

by Stan Cox Do you feel good about yourself? Your relationship with God? Do you feel good about those with whom you have spiritual fellowship? Do you have joy without measure? A peace which passes understanding? Does a smile invariably crease your face when you contemplate your eternal welfare? It does? Good! Now for the…

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