​For many, life seems dull at best, and at worst, filled with anxiety and turmoil. Our nation’s constitution guarantees the pursuit of happiness as a right, but it does not guarantee our ability to find it. It often appears people are in need of a JOY transfusion.    However, they may not know where to get one. I am persuaded that no method or program would attract unbelievers to the church like the message that real happiness can be pursued and gained in Jesus Christ, the Lord.
 
Here comes the irony: most nonbelievers do not associate the concept of joy with church or Christianity. I have asked myself do they have a reason to think that way. Haven’t we been to church services where the assembly looked like they had gathered to mourn a defeat rather than a victory?  Too many Christians look like they were baptized in freshly squeezed lemon juice. God intends Christians to live a joy-filled life. The Psalms are full of invitations to come before the Lord with a spirit of gladness (Psalm 100:1-2). Brothers and sisters, we must remember that real joy does not come from things, nor is it found in some package. Real joy only springs forth from a close relationship with the Savior, Jesus.

Clark Tatum

​     Volcanoes are interesting. They are mountains with a crust that are full of molten lava. Sometimes the crust is so strong and so thick that the molten lava is kept inside; but sometimes cracks form in the crust, and the molten lava will flow out. Now, if you will pardon the illustration, we are like volcanoes in that there is a certain crust to our lives. There’s conformity in our lives, but inside the crust of conformity is a molten mass called sin in all of us. If that is hard for us to understand, it is because we don't understand that sin is not initially action against people; it is initially an attitude and action towards God. Have your sins been forgiven? 
     There is in all of us a molten mass of disobedience to God. Now, the crust may be such in some of our lives that the lava rarely bursts out, but there will be times when it will. Sometimes a little religious crack will form in our thick religious crust, and guess what will come out? The lava of sin flows in all sorts of forms. There is the flow of pride; an unforgiving current; an unloving attitude; an independent attitude of disobedience toward God. Sin needs to be forgiven by God. You could have a list as long as your arms of socially acceptable lava flows, but the crust is not important; the lava is.  Matthew 12:34-37

Clark Tatum