WEBVTT

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 for Winnie the Pooh, it's honey. For Peter Rabbit, it's Mr. McGregor's carrots. For Popeye,

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 it's spinach. For Shrek, it's his stinking swamp. So what makes you happy? What is it for you?

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 Maybe not a stinking swamp. We're looking at when we believe in God but pursue happiness,

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 pursue those things, those desires that make us feel good, that make us feel warm inside,

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 or maybe that make us feel really strong when we eat spinach. So what is it for you? What do you

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 love to do? What makes you happy? What gives you that warm feeling inside?

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 Or maybe when you're really tired, actually, what is it that you grasp hold of? Or when you haven't

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 seen people all week, what is it that you turn to for comfort? What do you pursue to give you that lift,

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 that happiness, or that contentment? Maybe it's friends, family,

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 or perhaps an item of new clothing, or some really tasty food, maybe chocolate.

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 Or maybe it's things that take you away from reality a little bit. Maybe getting really into a good book,

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 imagining yourself in that story. Or maybe it's time in front of the TV to just relax and switch off,

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 or maybe it's scrolling through your phone and looking at who's posted on their Facebook or something.

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 Maybe it's going to the pub for a drink or a few. It's about happiness. It's about looking for things

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 that make us feel good. Did you know that on the Amazon website, where you can buy books and all sorts

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 of other things, there are over 20,000 books on happiness just on the Amazon website alone.

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 20,000 books that talks about how to find happiness, how to pursue it, what happiness is,

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 what it does to you. That's a lot of books to find. People seem to be really wanting this hot topic,

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 wanting happiness. It's pretty common.

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 Okay, so when was the last time you properly belly laughed? Like tears streaming down your eyes,

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 like turning in your stomach, like clenching, really laughing out loud. When was the last time

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 you did that? What was it that made you really laugh? Did you know that apparently your body

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 produces these sort of endorphins, these hormones like dopamine and serotonin when you laugh,

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 when you belly laugh, or when you're shown love, or when you're affirmed, when you feel happy?

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 Your body produces these things that loves it, that gives you that kind of warm feeling inside.

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 And I don't know, I think it's great that scientists have discovered this about our bodies.

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 They've managed to find out these things that give us that feeling of happiness.

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 There's also their discovery that actually we can see what things that we desire for,

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 but actually don't give us those feelings of happiness. Actually, we think they will,

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 but they won't. They won't completely satisfy.

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 There's one, if I can be a bit science-y. If there are any scientists in the room,

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 I apologise, because it might not be completely accurate. I don't know. But apparently,

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 oxytocin is a hormone which is generated through the feeling of trust. So maybe spending time with

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 loved ones in good relationships with people. And our researchers have also found that some of these

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 things, these feelings of relating to others can be taken away when we try and take ourselves out of

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 reality. So maybe through social media, or watching TV, or influencing ourselves by alcohol,

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 this hormone that we desire for, we think we might get from these things, actually is not being fulfilled.

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 And yet, we desire for more. We keep wanting more.

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 So I don't know about you, but if I'm really honest, I can often find myself wanting just to switch off,

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 just to relax, to watch TV, or to scroll on my phone and see what the next interesting thing might be.

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 But it never quite satisfies.

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 Apparently, the average person spends more than eight hours a day on a screen of some sorts.

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 That might be TV, it might be your phone, it might be the computer, or something else.

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 And social media is one of the fastest growing forms of communication,

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 this desire to relate to people.

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 But the fix for happiness, the fix for desiring to relate, is never quite fulfilled,

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 it's never quite satisfied, it's never completely face-to-face.

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 Now, I don't mean to bring us all down on this topic of happiness,

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 but just perhaps hoping to bring your awareness to what we use our time doing.

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 Sometimes it's good to be honest with ourselves about thinking about what we default to doing.

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 The thing is, though, that God desires so much more for us than a feeling of switching off from reality,

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 or a quick fix to make us feel a bit good.

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 Actually, God desires for us to be present.

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 God has more for us than anything this world perhaps can offer.

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 Okay, picture with me perhaps a sandcastle.

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 You get to build this sandcastle however you want it to be.

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 You might want it to make it look like a gingerbread house that's all tasty and cosy and quaint,

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 or maybe you make it grand with loads of shells around the edges,

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 maybe there are columns and towers.

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 You can make it however you like, however you desire it to be.

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 Something that you're proud of.

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 Something that you've really gained and created around you that you are enticed towards.

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 But then the rain comes.

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 The tide comes in.

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 And it's washed away.

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 It's formless.

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 It's dust.

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 It's sand.

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 It's pretty useless.

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 You see, we can go about our lives trying to bring all of these things around us that make us feel good.

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 Perhaps a nice car or a good house, some nice furniture, some nice clothes.

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 Things that make us feel good about ourselves.

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 But eventually, they're all going to fade away and be kind of threadbare and useless.

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 Cars don't last forever.

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 You might have heard of the Bible story about the rich young ruler who asks Jesus,

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 how can I get into heaven?

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 How can I do it?

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 And Jesus turns around and says,

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 well, it's easier for that camel over there that's laden with stuff to go through the eye of a needle,

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 which is this tiny little door,

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 than it is for you to enter the kingdom of heaven as a rich young ruler.

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 And we all know he goes away feeling saddened by this because he knows all of the things that he's collected over the years.

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 Jesus is basically challenging him by saying,

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 you can't expect to take all of your treasures with you.

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 It doesn't work like that.

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 There's more for you than that.

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 There's more for you than that.

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 Wow.

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 In the Christian Atheist, it says,

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 we pursue happiness,

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 but what if God doesn't desire happiness of us,

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 but what if he desires actually more for us

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 than what we understand as happiness,

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 as a little hormone serotonin fix or oxytocin?

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 The thing is,

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 there's C.S. Lewis puts it like this.

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 If we find ourselves with a desire for,

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 sorry,

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 if we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy,

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 the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.

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 In other words,

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 we were made for more than this.

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 So if we desire for happiness,

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 for the good feeling that those hormones produce,

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 what if there is something greater that satisfies long term for eternity?

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 Okay,

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 before you all get doom and gloom saddened,

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 I'm going to suggest we look to the animal kingdom for help.

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 Penguins, for example.

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 Has anyone seen a penguin walk?

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 Maybe in the zoo or on TV,

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 or maybe you've been lucky enough to go out into the wild and find a penguin.

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 Has anyone seen a penguin walk?

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 Don't they look ridiculous?

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 Don't you think?

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 They've got these massive flippers on their feet,

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 and they're trying to waddle around.

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 I mean,

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 if you've ever worn flippers,

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 you know you need to pick your knees up,

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 but they can't pick their knees up,

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 because it looks like they've got these trousers around their ankles,

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 so they've got to kind of walk sideways,

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 and then their arms can't, like,

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 balance enough,

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 because they can't lift them out wide enough,

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 so they're kind of stuck around their arms,

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 and they're so tall,

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 it looks like they're going to fall over.

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 They just look ridiculous.

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 Sometimes I just think,

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 God, what were you doing?

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 Those poor penguins,

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 they can't walk properly.

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 They just look so silly,

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 and they're falling over around the place.

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 But then,

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 have a look at this video.

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 Penguins still waddle over the frosty landscape.

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 They still fly gracefully through the freezing waters,

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 though, as figure skaters,

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 they leave something to be desired.

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 When they dive into the water,

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 they look so elegant,

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 so free,

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 so purposeful.

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 They look incredible,

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 they look incredible,

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 as if they were really created for a purpose,

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 to go down and to search for their food,

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 to soar through the water.

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 Now, for us,

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 we were created for a kingdom lifestyle,

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 to swim elegantly,

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 soaring in the presence of the one who created us.

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 So our desires for happiness,

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 the way the world sees it,

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 will never completely satisfy.

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 But,

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 when we pursue Jesus,

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 and the life that he calls us to live,

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 we find purpose,

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 we find belonging,

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 we find our identity.

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 It's as if we have these flippers

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 that are holding us back here,

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 but when we recognize it's for Jesus,

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 they've got their purpose,

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 they're ready to go.

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 I want us to look at Jesus' teaching

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 to his disciples in the Beatitudes.

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 Now, these are talking about being abundantly blessed.

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 In other words,

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 finding this happiness,

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 this deep joy within,

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 not for earthly materials,

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 but with an inheritance in Christ.

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 It's their happiness in Christ Jesus.

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 Now, bear with me,

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 I'm going to read them all out,

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 and I'd love for you to,

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 sort of,

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 have a think,

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 and let these words that Jesus talks,

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 wash over you,

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 and maybe there are particular ones,

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 that you think,

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 gosh,

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 yeah,

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 actually,

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 wow.

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 happy.

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 And I'll change the word blessed to be happy

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 for the sake of what we're talking about today.

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 He says,

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 happy are the poor in spirit,

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 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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 Happy are those who mourn,

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 for they will be comforted.

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 Happy are the meek,

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 for they will inherit the earth,

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 meek being those who are content with what they have.

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 Happy are those who hunger for thirst,

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 and thirst for righteousness,

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 for they will be filled.

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 Happy are the merciful,

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 for they will be shown mercy.

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 Happy are the pure in heart,

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 for they will see God.

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 happy are the peacemakers,

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 for they will be called children of God.

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 Happy are those who are persecuted,

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 because of righteousness,

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 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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 Now we can look at these,

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 and think,

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 okay,

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 yes,

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 that's a distant,

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 and long reach of a thing,

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 that I may never desire,

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 or be able to achieve here,

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 having the kingdom of heaven,

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 or seeing God.

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 But actually,

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 the fact is that Christ is here,

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 in our midst today.

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 That actually,

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 as we change our orientation,

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 to pursue happiness,

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 in Christ,

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 we find satisfaction.

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 It may not look like a,

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 a full,

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 flitty,

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 fling,

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 but actually,

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 it's something that,

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 roots a lot deeper,

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 and lasts a lot longer.

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 When we are broken,

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 and hurting,

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 sometimes,

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 the idea of someone,

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 who's all happy,

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 and bouncy,

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 coming along to comfort us,

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 just doesn't,

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 doesn't quite,

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 make it,

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 does it?

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 It almost seems like,

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 a bit of a mockery,

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 you just want them to,

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 go away,

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 you don't understand,

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 you're too happy,

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 I'm not in that place.

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 And actually,

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 in that moment,

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 Christ is not that person,

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 Christ comes,

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 and sits alongside us.

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 He hurts with us,

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 he experiences,

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 the things that we experience.

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 He understands,

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 he relates.

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 And with that,

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 actually,

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 we find something,

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 that's not happiness,

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 but it's a,

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 a deep joy,

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 knowing that there is,

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 a God who cares,

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 right next to us.

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 His presence,

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 is rooted deeper,

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 than,

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 the comfort of,

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 switching the TV on,

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 or,

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 scrolling through your phone.

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 Christ speaks,

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 truth,

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 and he speaks,

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 love,

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 into our lives.

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.220
 And as we,

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.259
 come to land,

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.460
 and think about,

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:01.160
 how this might affect us today,

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.240
 in our daily lives,

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.860
 there's a guy called,

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.500
 Aristotle,

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.019
 who's quite,

00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.620
 a wise philosopher,

00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.480
 back in the day.

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.720
 And he says that,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.640
 happiness,

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.440
 depends on ourselves.

00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.100
 In other words,

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.839
 it's all about us.

00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:18.939
 Which,

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.819
 I could argue,

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.679
 it doesn't,

00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:22.740
 depend on ourselves,

00:18:22.959 --> 00:18:23.619
 it's actually,

00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:25.219
 Christ is the centre,

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.359
 of true happiness,

00:18:26.719 --> 00:18:27.759
 like I was just saying.

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.439
 But,

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:31.879
 that would then be,

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:32.439
 naive,

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.059
 to think that we have,

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.559
 no part to play,

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.059
 in this,

00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.039
 happiness.

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.779
 Because actually,

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.199
 Christ made a way,

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.879
 for us to know,

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.680
 and live,

00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:48.180
 in the everlasting life,

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.440
 that he has given us.

00:18:50.040 --> 00:18:50.440
 But,

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.740
 we still have a conscience,

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.740
 we still have,

00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:54.560
 a mind,

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.140
 and a given,

00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.160
 free will,

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.420
 to choose,

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.180
 to choose him,

00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.840
 who has already chosen us.

00:19:01.780 --> 00:19:02.140
 Actually,

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.260
 we can choose,

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.220
 to orientate,

00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.520
 our lives,

00:19:06.280 --> 00:19:07.440
 towards Jesus,

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.200
 towards happiness,

00:19:09.780 --> 00:19:10.200
 in a,

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.060
 in a kingdom way.

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.280
 So,

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.040
 how might we,

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.040
 do that today?

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.800
 What does,

00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.520
 a kingdom happiness,

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.120
 orientated,

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.240
 towards Jesus,

00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:23.500
 who is with us,

00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:24.100
 in everything,

00:19:24.800 --> 00:19:26.120
 what might that look like,

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:26.920
 for you today?

00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:29.140
 You might want to,

00:19:29.260 --> 00:19:30.160
 think back to,

00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:30.600
 earlier,

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.340
 when I asked you,

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.200
 what makes you happy?

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:32.840
 If it's,

00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:34.060
 honey for Winnie the Pooh,

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.020
 what is it for you?

00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.820
 Why don't you,

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.700
 ask yourselves,

00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:41.120
 what does it look like,

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.780
 for Jesus,

00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:42.900
 to be fulfilling,

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.680
 my happiness,

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.680
 in that moment,

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.920
 when I'm seeking,

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.280
 after those other things?

00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:48.880
 They may be good,

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.500
 in themselves,

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:50.800
 looking out,

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.920
 for friends and family,

00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.519
 they are good things,

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.440
 but with Jesus,

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.740
 in the centre of them,

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.720
 they are so much better.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.780
 So,

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.000
 as we pursue,

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.680
 happiness,

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.700
 let us pursue,

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.400
 Jesus first,

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.160
 let us hold on,

00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:09.940
 to that goodness,

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.400
 that he gives us,

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.920
 truth and love,

00:20:14.060 --> 00:20:15.660
 so that we can also,

00:20:15.780 --> 00:20:17.240
 impart that good,

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.300
 deep joy,

00:20:19.040 --> 00:20:20.100
 of Jesus,

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.860
 kingdom,

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.560
 happiness,

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.080
 to others,

00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:24.120
 as well as,

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.740
 to ourselves.

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.039
 for ourselves.