Religious liberty, the freedom to practice one’s faith without intimidation or persecution, is a cornerstone of democratic societies around the world. Our Baptists ancestors were among the many who contended for this liberty for persons of all faiths or no faith.

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States confirms that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Religious freedom stands as a beacon of individual and collective rights, fostering diversity, tolerance, and the flourishing of vibrant communities. Here are seven reasons why I believe religious liberty is of paramount importance in an ever-changing world:

• Ensures Freedom of Worship: Religious liberty guarantees the freedom to practice one’s faith openly, both individually and collectively. It encompasses the freedom to worship, assemble for religious purposes, and engage in religious rituals and observances. Whether it is gathering for worship services, participating in religious ceremonies, or contributing to religious organizations, individuals must have the freedom to express their faith in a manner consistent with their beliefs. This liberty is essential for the spiritual well-being and growth of individuals and communities.
  
  
• Safeguards Freedom of Conscience: Religious liberty protects freedom of conscience, recognizing that true faith is a matter of sincere conviction. One of our historic Baptist principles involves “the soul competency of the individual.” Religious liberty makes certain that individuals are free to explore, question, and embrace their spiritual beliefs without fear of retribution or societal pressure. This freedom of conscience extends beyond religious beliefs to encompass moral and ethical convictions as well.
  
  
• Welcomes Pluralism and Diversity: Religious liberty celebrates the richness of human diversity and supports the coexistence of various faith traditions. It creates an environment where individuals can freely express their religious convictions, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of cultural and spiritual heritage. Pluralism enriches societies, fostering mutual respect, understanding, and social cohesion.

• Protects Against Persecution and Discrimination: Religious liberty serves as a safeguard against discrimination, ensuring that no individual or group faces prejudice based on their religious beliefs. It upholds the principle of equal treatment under the law, promoting a just and inclusive society. Thomas Paine cautioned, “Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. By protecting against discrimination, religious liberty fosters social justice and equality for all.”
  
  
• Promotes Social Justice: Religious liberty plays a vital role in promoting social justice and defending the rights of marginalized and vulnerable populations. It empowers individuals and religious organizations to advocate for justice, speak out against oppression, and provide resources to the underserved. Spiritual communities play an active role in addressing social issues, including poverty, inequality, and human rights abuses. By protecting religious liberty, we empower individuals and religious organizations to fulfill their calling to serve and work for the common good.
  
  
• Inspires Moral and Ethical Living: Religious liberty provides individuals with the freedom to follow moral and ethical frameworks guided by their faith. For example, teachings like those of Jesus shape personal conduct, inspire acts of kindness, and promote values such as justice, forgiveness, and love. By allowing individuals to live out their values, religious liberty encourages the development of a cohesive and compassionate society.
  
  
• Safeguards Against Extremism: History is filled with instances of religious wars and conflicts that led to division and violence. Religious liberty acts as a safeguard against extremism and radicalization. When individuals are free to practice their faith peacefully, they are less likely to resort to violence in the name of religion. Religious liberty, coupled with robust interfaith dialogue, promotes understanding and unity, countering the inciting forces of contempt and hatred.

Baptists have historically championed religious freedom for all religious groups, believing that if one group loses religious freedom, we will all lose our religious freedom. George Truett emphasized, “Baptists have one consistent record concerning liberty throughout all their long and eventful history. They have never been a party to oppression of conscience. They have forever been the unwavering champions of liberty, both religious and civil.”

Religious freedom is a basic right that respects autonomy, celebrates diversity, and encourages the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.” As we champion religious liberty, we affirm the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of every individual to practice their faith freely, contributing to a more inclusive, compassionate, and harmonious world.

As citizens of these United States, we enjoy more comprehensive freedoms than any other nation on earth. On this 4^th of July week, let us remember that with great freedom comes great responsibility.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.) Top of Form

There have been times in my ministry where I have understated the importance of spiritual gifts. My approach was partly because of the way some spoke of such gifts with an air of spiritual elitism, and partly because I didn’t want to mislead church members into thinking they should only serve in areas where they are specifically gifted. I readily identify with Andy Stanley who urged, “When the house is on fire, don’t tell me what your spiritual gift is. Just grab a hose and put out the fire.”

However, so long as we are not legalistic or elitist with our gifts, I am convinced that a deeper understanding of spiritual endowments can help a local church become more missional and less conflictual.

In I Corinthians 12:1, as Paul urges the believers to serve and grow, he writes, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Unfortunately, there are many long-time church attenders who are uninformed or misinformed about the gifts of the Spirit.

What is a spiritual gift? A spiritual gift is a God-given potential or ability distributed to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit that enables the individuals to work and serve as a team to help the church execute its mission on earth.

In I Corinthians 12:7 Paul continues, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” The Greek word for grace is karis which means gift. Paul proposed that every believer is endowed with spiritual gifts or grace gifts. Here are few things every church member should know about spiritual gifts:

• Every Jesus follower is given at least one spiritual gift. Everybody has one, and some have two or three. Some gifts are not as obvious, and some gifts surface later in life. Know this for sure: whatever your age or stage in life, you are a gifted follower of Jesus.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts usually come with “some assembly required.” Most spiritual gifts are given to us in raw form and need to be refined.Some spiritual gifts are like the Christmas gifts we get for our children, and we have to spend time “putting the parts together.” Other spiritual gifts are like precious metal or blown glass, and they need to go through the refiner’s fire to reach their full potential.
  
  
• There are a variety of gifts. Paul specifically mentions the gift of being an apostle, prophet, evangelist, or pastor/teacher. In other passages the spiritual gifts of leadership, compassion, encouragement, intercession, and service are mentioned. I think the biblical list is exemplary and not exhaustive. There may even be gifts given just for our era in time which could include things like peacemaking, worship planning, consensus building, social connectivity, missional innovation, and technology management. These may be new gifts or perhaps even subsets of the examples Paul identifies.

• No spiritual gift is more important or less important than the other gifts.
  Spiritual gifts are not given to create a class system but to generate a community system. Gifts are not given to entertain the church but to encourage and equip the church. Gifts are not given to rank the saints but to retool the saints.

• Spiritual gifts are best used in a spirit of teamwork. Whatever our spiritual gift, our gift is best used alongside other believers with compatible and complementary gifts. Teams who work cooperatively and collaboratively make better decisions and engage in more effective ministry initiatives than any one individual on those teams.  Brené Brown reminds us, “You don’t have to do all of it alone. You were never meant to.”

• Ministers also have one or more spiritual gifts. Some church members mistakenly think that those who are called to serve as ministers have all the spiritual gifts. However, ministers, like other church members, have one or two, maybe three spiritual gifts. This means that when a church calls a minister, they should consider how the spiritual gifts of the minister correspond to the needs and gifts of the congregation. For effective ministry to happen, the spiritual gifts of the members must be activated and leveraged in concert with their minister or ministerial staff in order to maximize the giftedness of the congregation.

• Spiritual gifts are given for the equipping of the church and the advancement of God’s kingdom. Spiritual gifts are actually given to the church, and we as individual believers are simply the human conduit God uses to deliver the gifts. Spiritual gifts are not given to advocate for a personal agenda but to advance our God-given mission. One litmus test that determines whether we are using our spiritual gift appropriately is whether we are equipping and encouraging the church. If our efforts or influence creates division in the church, it is likely that we are not using our spiritual gifts as God intended.

Rick Warren urges us to remember, “Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit.” 

What is your spiritual gift? Some of us need to discover our spiritual gifts while others of us need to recover our spiritual gifts. If you have not completed a spiritual gift assessment recently, I encourage you to visit one of the following web sites and complete an evaluation to help you discover and develop your spiritual gifts: Spiritual Gifts Assessment or Free Spiritual Gifts Test & Assessment (lifethrive.com).

Recently, while making a cup of coffee in my Keurig, I put the coffee pod in, made sure the water level was full, and hit the button for a large cup. Just one problem. In my busyness, I forgot to put the cup under the dispenser. Like a chocolate fountain at a banquet or like a spring in the countryside, the coffee maker was dispensing, even though there was no container there to receive it. God’s spirit is pouring out gifts on the church in this generation. Make sure your cup is there to receive it, then use your gifts wisely.

John Maxwell proposes, “When you find your spiritual gift, God will give you an opportunity to use it.”

(Barry Howard serves as pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

In his book, Surviving the Stained-Glass Jungle, veteran pastor Dr. Bill Self contended that, “Self-care is not destructive self-indulgence, but rather it is being a steward of some rather special gifts— the human body and soul, along with the capacity to bring joy to others as well as to experience it.”

Recent studies indicate that stress, burnout, and mental fatigue are becoming more intensive among clergy, leading even come of the most devout ministers to leave ministry. And while no one knows the exact percentage of ministers who experience depression, one Baylor University professor to suggest, “The likelihood is that one out of every four ministers is depressed.”

It is tremendously tough for those who care for the souls of others to take care of themselves. But proactive self-care is essential for ministers. Self-care includes developing and maintaining healthy practices that promote and preserve good physical, spiritual and mental well-being.

While these three areas of wellness are intertwined and inseparable, in my own life and the experience of many of my colleagues, I recognize that more attention has been given to physical and spiritual health, and mental health is often neglected, often resulting in the diminishment of all three.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  Every human being experiences highs and lows in mental health.  Although some forms of mental illness are serious and require the ongoing care of a therapist, general variations in mental health may be related to circumstances or body chemistry, and may be preemptively avoided or proactively addressed by practicing good mental hygiene.

A common, but naïve misconception is that pastors, or persons with strong religious faith, are exempt from mental distress. The Apostle Paul is noted for his courageous ministry but he confessed, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28 NIV).

Those in every vocation experience varying levels of stress, distress, and duress. However, because the pastoral task requires remarkable investment in the lives of others, a pastor who neglects mental hygiene can gradually slip into a state of melancholy or emotional chaos, and then compound the dilemma by ignoring the symptoms for fear of stigmatizing his or her ministry.

As a pastor I can identify at least five areas that commonly place stress on a pastor’s mental and emotional health:

• Unrealistic expectations- These expectations can be real or perceived, and they can be generated by vocal congregants or be self-imposed by a minister with a “messiah complex.” Most congregations have ambivalent expectations that fluctuate between market-driven goals (e.g., attendance, budgets, awards) and mission-driven goals (e.g., participation, stewardship, life transformation).  The wider the gap between these two categories, the more intense the stress on the minister.
• Perpetual preparation– The task of perpetual preparation can be a mentally exhausting chore. Many professional public speakers have 4-5 well-rehearsed speeches that they give over and over to different groups.  Professors and teachers have lectures and lesson plans that are updated and revised from semester to semester but they usually follow a core curriculum.  A preaching pastor is unique in that he or she is generally expected to prepare and deliver 40-50 different Sunday sermons per year to virtually the same group of people, in addition to providing devotionals, Bible studies, and speeches for community events.
• Diverse emotional encounters- A minister deals with grief, grace, and everything in between on a daily basis. Perhaps more than any other vocation, a pastor regularly moves in and out of situations with polarizing and intense emotions such as birth and death, marriage and divorce, perversion and conversion, and conflict and resolution. If a pastor is not careful, the residual emotions from these encounters will linger and intermingle creating either emotional apathy or spiritual neuropathy.
• Problem people- Not to be confused with people with problems, problem people are unusually high maintenance individuals who consume an exorbitant amount of a pastor’s time with an unnecessary complaint or unconstructive criticism. Marshall Shelley refers to these “well-intentioned dragons” as “sincere, well-meaning saints, but they leave ulcers, strained relationships, and hard feelings in their wake.”
• Confidentiality cache- Because the pastoral role is not only prophetic but also priestly, a pastor is entrusted with a lot of confidential information that is locked away into a pastor’s mental storage. The volume of this information can become a heavy emotional weight if it remains in a pastor’s mental inbox and is not appropriately archived.

In light of these and other areas of pastoral stress, to preserve good health and promote longevity in ministry, how can a pastor practice good mental and emotional hygiene?

Each pastor has to identify and adopt hygienic habits that fit his or her context and personality. Here are some practices I am finding to be helpful in my own pastoral routine:

• Establish and maintain a consistent prayer and devotional life.
• Maintain friendship with a trustworthy conversation partner, perhaps even another pastor, outside of your church.
• Convene a small accountability group, establish a confidentiality covenant with them, and meet with them monthly.
• Read regularly in multiple genres including biography, history, and fiction.
• Pay attention to diet, especially limiting intake of sugar, caffeine, and other foods that can trigger emotional swings.
• Develop a regimen of moderate physical exercise.
• Follow a consistent routine for sleep and rest.
• Periodically disconnect from the work of the church, especially from mental labor (problem solving, conflict management), cellphone calls, and social media.
• Have an annual physical examination, as well as eye examination and dermatology screening.
• Participate in a peer network of pastors who convene with a covenant of confidentiality, and who vent and vision together.

Be alert to seasons when your mental distress leads to dysfunction, manifested by ongoing and overwhelming symptoms of depression, chronic anxiety, paranoia, and/or insomnia. Immediately enlist the care of a medical professional.  To procrastinate getting care prolongs the process of recovery.

Life in the stained-glass jungle has unique rewards and challenges.  Self-care is absolutely essential.  Bill Self reminded us that, “It takes courage to take care of yourself. One of the hallmarks of a professional is the ability to keep healthy— physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You must take responsibility for yourself and not expect others to take the initiative to care for you.”

Practicing good self-care can empower a pastor to be mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, and spiritually perceptive in all seasons.

(Barry Howard currently serves as pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches.)

Faith and friendship are two of the most pivotal factors in determining quality of life. Just as the Bible encourages that ” we live by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7 NIV), it also extols the virtues of friendship, even suggesting that “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul” (Proverbs 27:9 MSG).

Who is your friend and why is friendship important? Elbert Hubbard proposes, “A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the same.”

Not everyone enjoys the blessing of companionship and friendship. In 2018, CIGNA Healthcare surveyed 20,000 U.S. adults and discovered that 46% sometimes or always feel alone. As churches seek to address the needs of their communities, they will discover that loneliness is a significant concern and a major ministry opportunity.

Through the years I have often concluded my prayers, sermons, and newsletter columns by saying, “May we continue to grow in faith and friendship.” I use those words intentionally because I believe faith and friendship have a symbiotic relationship.

I am intrigued and perplexed at times by the vast diversity of denominations and sects within the Christian family. One of the most fascinating groups to me are the Quakers. I admire their emphasis on the love of God, their passion for justice and equality, and their conviction that the light of God can be seen in each human being. But I especially like their name: Society of Friends.

In Jesus’ conversation with his disciples in John 15:15, he specifically states, “But I have called you friends.” I am convinced that church is first and foremost a community of friends. Church at its best is not a religious institution or a brick-and-mortar campus, but a spiritual community that thrives on being friends with Jesus and being friends with others who are friends with Jesus.

Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified five ways that friends make life better (www.mayoclinic.org ):

• Increase your sense of belonging and purpose.
• Boost your happiness and reduce your stress.
• Improve your self-confidence and self-worth.
• Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one.
• Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise.

In my experience, faith and friendship are forged and nurtured in the shared life of a healthy congregation. Ryan Burge, a political scientist and research analyst from Eastern Illinois University, notes that “In obituaries where a religious community was mentioned, the person lived an average 5.5 years longer.”

Multiple times in John’s gospel we are told that Jesus came to show us the way to a “full and meaningful life.” Faith and friendship are two of the most important dynamics in embracing an “abundant life.”

May we grow in faith and friendship!

The first time I walked onto the grounds at Augusta National in 2002, I was in awe of the aura and the ambiance. I better understand why Nick Faldo said, “This is the The Masters. It’s got the beauty, it’s got the color, it’s got the sound and the breezes. Everything together makes this place special.”

I have been privileged to attend The Masters several times through the years, and on each visit, I am inspired when I step foot on this immaculately manicured acreage, which is a rare combination of botanical gardens, nature preserve, and golf course. 

During my years as a pastor, I have gleaned valuable insights about life, business, and ministry from innovative organizations that strive for excellence, companies like Disney, Amazon, Chick-fil-A, and Apple.

Last weekend as I watched the golf tournament on TV and recalled my previous visits to the property, I began to reflect on the lessons the church could learn from The Masters. Here are a few things worth considering:

• Hospitality is welcoming and winsome. From the parking attendants to the ticket takers, to the groundskeepers, Augusta National evokes a friendly vibe as staff members greet patrons with “Welcome to the Masters!” and a hearty smile.  A hospitable sense of welcome is a trademark of a healthy congregation.
  
  
• Not everything has to be high tech. Technology is important. I utilize a smart phone, a laptop, and a tablet. And I served churches through the years that embraced technology, striving to have the most recent computers, the most up-to-date audio technology, the most cutting-edge video screens, and the most elaborate lighting. I am not anti-technology, but it is sort of nice to see thousands of patrons staring at a low-tech manual scoreboard manned by volunteers, which happens to be one of the most iconic scoreboards in the world of golf. Churches should remember that technology is one tool in the toolbox, and if we become co-dependent on technology, it can become a liability rather than an asset in ministry.
  
  
• Appreciate silence and celebration. The aura of Augusta alternates between the roar of the crowd and a holy hush. I am always amazed that thousands of golf enthusiasts can cheer with loud enthusiasm, and yet a few moments later they can stand still in focused silence as a golfer is about to putt.  A healthy church appreciates and makes space for silent meditation and jubilant celebration.
  
  
• Simplicity and excellence often work in tandem. The kitchen staff at Augusta has mastered the art of making egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches. Nothing fancy. Just a simple sandwich. Excellence in the local church doesn’t require glitz and glamour, but often emerges in doing the simple things well.
  
  
• Spectators cheer for the golfers, not against them. In other sports, and even at other tournaments, fans may boo or jeer the opposing team or their least favorite golfer. Church is a place to “encourage one another” without prejudice.
  
  
• Golf has a discipleship program that is called “drive, chip, and putt.” This catechism is designed to teach basic skills and disciplines.  Healthy churches emphasize and exemplify the basic tenets of the faith, giving opportunities for the next generation to practice “on the course.”
  
  
• Bad things happen to good golfers. Good putts lip out. The false front causes the ball to release and trickle into Rae’s Creek. Wind direction changes and weather is unpredictable. Yet the best golfers are required to be disciplined enough to put the last shot behind them and focus on the next shot.  Likewise, healthy churches help others to put the past behind them and the future before them, and to “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
  
  
• New terms, new rules, and new norms take some getting used to. Did it sound a little different to hear the announcers referring to “patrons” instead of “fans,” and “penalty areas” instead of “hazards”? Or are you still adjusting to seeing players putt with the pin “in” the hole? Were you surprised when no penalty was assessed for knocking the ball off the tee during a practice swing?  In church we like to say that our message is timeless, but our methodology is always changing. Churches must exercise patience as our “patrons” adjust to our evolving nomenclature and a rapidly changing culture.
  
  
• Treasure and maximize diversity. At Augusta National, no two holes are identical. At many golf courses, the trademark characteristic might be big greens or postage stamp greens, lots of undulation or no undulation, elevated greens or elevated tee boxes. However, at Augusta National, the rich diversity of landscape, elevation, and undulation is a part of the appeal. Churches often struggle at the task of navigating diversity. But healthy congregations perceive diversity as a strength, and they find ways to leverage their diversity for missional purposes.
  
  
• Everyone loves a good redemption story. Sometimes the tournament is won by one of the most popular golfers. On other years the winner is someone who has fallen to the wayside, and yet through hard work has rebuilt his game and his reputation. Among many other things, church is a place of spiritual redemption, a place where the prodigal is welcomed home, a place where grace covers a multitude of sins, a place where we celebrate recovery, and a place where all stand on level ground before the cross.

The golf club at Augusta National is not a religious place, but in their quest for excellence in facilities and engagement with their patrons, their hospitality, simplicity, and adaptivity is a good model for faith communities to emulate.

(Barry Howard currently serves at the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

A devotional for Holy Week

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: ¹⁶ This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
¹⁷ Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” ¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:15-17 NIV

Long before mobile phones became the normal means of communication, my landline phone rang at 2:30 in the morning. Usually that meant it was either an emergency or a wrong number. Startled from my sleep, I grabbed the phone prepared for bad news. The voice on the other end of the line was frantic, but familiar. The caller was a church member, let’s call him Tommy, who apologized for calling during the night, but quickly explained his desperation.

I had known Tommy for years. He was a good guy, married, with two kids. I could tell that Tommy was at the bottom of the well emotionally and spiritually. He said he hadn’t slept well in several days because of struggling with a deep sense of guilt. During our conversation Tommy seemed consumed by the ghosts of his youthful and recent sins. More than once he said, “I am underserving of God’s grace” and “I’m not sure that Jesus can forgive my sins.”

As a young pastor, I was relieved it wasn’t a trauma call, and I was trying to think how to respond in a helpful way while still in the fog of being almost awake. Off the cuff I suggested three things: First, I said, “Being underserving is a prerequisite to receiving grace.” Second, I proposed, “I’m not sure which sin is bothering you most, but if it includes a violation of one of the Ten Commandments, I think you are covered.” And finally, I added, “If God has forgiven the sins of other human beings for thousands of years, it might be considered arrogant to think that you are an exception.”

After a long pause, Tommy said, “I’ve never thought about it that way before. I think you are right. Even my sins can be forgiven.”

Today is Good Friday, a day we reflect on the suffering of Christ on the cross. Let us be reminded that all our sins, from the simplest to the most horrendous, were nailed to that cross, and because of God’s grace, we are forgiven.

Prayer: Our most gracious God, thank you for forgiving the worst in us so that you can bring out the best in us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca, a diverse, mission-driven congregation in North Atlanta. The Church at Wieuca is glad to support the ministry of Morningstar Children’s Home. Barry and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia. He also serves as a columnist and leadership coach for the Center for Healthy Churches.)

What are the things that contribute to happiness? Internationally acclaimed motivational speaker Denis Waitley insists, “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”

I have never met anyone with perfect circumstances, or anyone who constantly lives in a state of perpetual bliss and ecstasy. Life can be tough at times, and everyone I know has at least a few burdens to bear and obstacles to overcome.

So, what really makes a person happy? Is it reaching the pinnacle of a successful career? Is it finding the right soul mate? Is it being blessed with good health? Or could it involve achieving a certain status of wealth? While these factors may contribute to happiness, my observation is that these do not guarantee happiness. In fact, chasing after ideal circumstances is like pursuing the proverbial, but nonexistent, pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

In my experience as a pastor, I have encountered people who are happy most of the time, and people who are most definitely unhappy much of the time. I have friends who are extremely wealthy and friends who are moderately poor, and yet neither of these economic circumstances seems to be the determining factor in whether a person is happy.

Recently, as my wife and I were discussing some of our friends and their degree of happiness or lack thereof, I began to think about the common factors that we have observed in our friends who are generally happy. I have noted five common traits among our friends who live with a high degree of happiness:

• Happy people treasure relationships. They consider the people in their lives, including their friends, family, and colleagues, to be blessings rather than burdens. In an article posted by the Stanford School of Medicine, Thomas Oppong proposes that “good social relationships are the most consistent predictor of a happy life.”
  
  
• Happy people are cheerfully generous people. And science supports that observation. A study by the University of Zurich in 2017 concluded, “Generosity makes people happier, even if they are only a little generous. People who act solely out of self-interest are less happy. The study noted that merely promising to be more generous is enough to trigger a change in our brains that makes us happier.”
  
  
• Happy people had rather serve than be served. They enjoy offering hospitality, participating in volunteer projects, and/or engaging in missional service. There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
  
  
• Happy people are resilient. You cannot keep them down. They tend to deal with adversity without being overwhelmed by it. They are resolved to bounce back quickly from disappointment. They perceive obstacles to be a bump in the road, not the end of the road. They have the determination and durability to outpace discouragement and despair.
  
  
• Happy people are rooted and grounded in their faith. The happiest people I know have a simple, unassuming, and meaningful faith in God. Maybe that is why Psalm 144:15 declares, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Happy people have a spiritual life that thrives on a daily walk rather than a Sunday-only religion. They are comfortable in their own skin, and they seem to have the same disposition and attitude day in and day out.

While there is no “guaranteed or your money back” formula for achieving happiness, a happy approach to life seems to be connected to one’s attitude more than one’s circumstances. Happiness seems to correlate to one’s faith and mission in life.

Pretense is exhausting. And in church, pretentiousness is downright repelling to those who are searching for an authentic spiritual path. I am convinced that we are more likely to find happiness by following Jesus and practicing his teachings than by any other path in life. And that kind of happiness tends to be contagious.

Popular comedian Groucho Marx resolved, “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”

I once heard a minister say in a sermon, “God is more interested in your holiness than your happiness.” What if happiness and holiness are not mutually exclusive? Perhaps they play for the same team.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, currently reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

On his 100^th birthday he played a tennis match. When he turned 101, after suffering a light stroke, he switched from tennis to pickle ball. And he is the first person over 100 years old to invite me and my wife to join he and his girlfriend for a double date. Today Frank Stovall turns 102.

Over the years I’ve been privileged to serve as the pastor to more than two dozen men and women who have lived 100 years or more. The oldest lived to be 108. Each one of them were remarkable in their own way. Frank is by far the most active, perhaps because he has good health, great eyesight, a sharp mind, and a positive attitude.

Frank was born on February 25, 1921. Earlier this week when I asked Frank if he was having a big celebration, he said, “I don’t have a birthday. My family has turned it into a birthday season, with multiple events over several days.”

Since Frank is Wieuca’s most senior member and one of Wieuca’s two remaining charter members, I interviewed Frank about some of the most significant memories and highlights from his life. Here are a few of the questions I posed:

• What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in your 102 years? Oh my! I really haven’t thought about that. There have been so many gradual changes. The city limits of Atlanta and other major cities have expanded. People have not changed all that dramatically…There are still some good people and some bad people. However, when I was younger there was so much trust. As time has gone on, we don’t have the trust in other people we once had. Of course, I’ve experienced the Great Depression and a couple of major wars. There have been overwhelming changes in technology, especially with computers and smartphones. Now you can ask your phone a question and it answers immediately. We used to look up those questions in the encyclopedia, which took a lot of time.
  
  
• When did you start playing tennis and what was one major highlight of your tennis career? My brother played tennis, so of course I wanted to play. I started playing around the age of 10. I became pretty competitive, but there was one fellow who beat me regularly. I would be ahead in the match, and he would come from behind and win. One of my biggest moments was when I finally beat him. After that, he never beat me again.
  
  
• When did you make your commitment to become a Christian? I think I was 8 years old when I made my commitment to Christ at the West End Baptist Church. M.A. Cooper was our pastor, and during the invitation hymn I walked the aisle and made my public profession of faith. I was baptized a short time later. Then I joined Wieuca as a charter member on July 7, 1954.
  
  
• What are one or two fond memories from the early years of Wieuca? I remember our first meetings in the schoolhouse at R. L. Hope. Those were exciting days. Later, my wife and I started the young adult department and led that department for 25 years. It started as a young married department but expanded to include all young adults, married and single. Eddie and Dryna Rains and many other wonderful people were in our department back then.

• Who are some of the influential people you remember in your life and in the church? In high school, a retired military gentlemen named Mr. Sutherland, was an excellent English teacher. He influenced many of us by his example and his teaching. In the intermediate department at Wieuca, Dr. Bill Galloway, was an outstanding Sunday School teacher, and respected leader. He was also a good tennis player and a great badminton player. I usually won when we played tennis and he usually won when we played badminton. He was highly regarded.

• What is your hope for Wieuca in the future? I am very impressed with Wieuca and the faithfulness of those who have stayed. Our community has changed significantly since those early days. I hope Wieuca will always stand by the principles of Baptist theology. I hope Wieuca will continue to do the things that made Wieuca great. Hospitality, generosity, and creativity have been a few of Wieuca’s greatest strengths. I hope Wieuca will flourish in missions and ministry in the next chapter as it has in the past, which I suspect will look much different. But it will be good!

Until now, Frank has continued to drive himself to church on Sundays where he attends more than 90% of the time. However, he told me last Sunday that he plans to give up driving, not because he is no longer a good driver, but because his insurance company considers it too much of a liability for a 102 year old to drive. Then Frank added, “I guess I will start Ubering to church.”

Frank Stovall’s exemplary faithfulness is encouraging and, I hope, contagious.

James Garfield wrote, “If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.” Let’s all be Frank now, and not wait until we are 102.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

If you have a longing for spiritual renewal, the observance of Lent presents a great opportunity to re-examine your life and recalibrate your soul.

Wednesday, February 22, is the first day of Lent. What is Lent? In the Christian tradition, Lent is a period of penitential preparation for Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday in Western churches. Lent is observed for 40 days, like the fast of Jesus in the wilderness, and it traditionally focused on “fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.”

Respected British scholar, N. T. Wright, proposes that “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.”

Lent is a time for repentance and a season for spiritual renewal. Perhaps over the past year you have neglected some of the important spiritual practices such as prayer, devotional reading, confession, thanksgiving, and worship participation. Maybe you have made poor ethical or moral decisions. Or possibly you have grown inactive or dormant in our spiritual walk.

Lent is a great time to reconnect, recommit, and reengage. To maximize the opportunity to deepen your spiritual walk, consider refreshing your devotional life (including prayer and Bible reading). In addition to the hard print devotional books, there are many online devotional options available for your Lenten reading. Here are a few examples:

• MorningStar- Living Lent Campaign – Morningstar (morningstarcfs.org)
• Journey to the Cross-  d365 Daily Devotionals
• Pittsburgh Theological Seminary- Lent Devotionals (pts.edu)
• Today Devotional- Devotions about Lent – Today Daily Devotional
• Sacred Space- Sacred Space | Your daily prayer online

Lent is also a time to prioritize our participation in worship. Worship is not only a time to gather with others to offer prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Worship is a time encourage others along their journey and to allow others to encourage you. Consistent involvement in worship leads to a reshaping of our perspective and a realignment of our priorities.

Walter Brueggemann contends that Lent leads us exit an anxious way of life and to embrace a more simple way of life: “I imagine Lent for you and for me as a great departure from the greedy, anxious anti-neighborliness of our economy, a great departure from our exclusionary politics that fears the other, a great departure from self-indulgent consumerism that devours creation. And then an arrival in a new neighborhood, because it is a gift to be simple, it is a gift to be free; it is a gift to come down where we ought to be.”

So, where do we begin? Perhaps we begin by praying the words of Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife Amanda currently reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

What is it like to visit the home and the church of a former president?

In the spring of 2012, my wife and I were blessed to spend a week in Plains, Georgia where I had been invited to lead in revival services at the Maranatha Baptist Church. Their most famous members, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, were present in every service.

I first met Governor Jimmy Carter in 1975 when I was a sophomore in high school and he was the featured speaker for the Alabama State FFA Convention in Montgomery. Interestingly the delegates at those conventions were seated in alphabetical order according to the school they represented, and since I served as a delegate from Alexandria High School, I had a front row seat.

Then in 2004, Amanda and I made the pilgrimage to Maranatha to attend President Carter’s Sunday School class and stand in line with the other worshippers to have a photo taken with the 39^th president. On that particular Sunday, Mrs. Carter was traveling internationally with an initiative related to the Carter Center.

Never would I have guessed in 1975 that I would become a pastor and someday preach in President Carter’s home church. After the first service in 2012, the worshippers formed a line to greet the guest preacher and his wife and welcome them to Maranatha. The Carters stood in line like every other member, and when they greeted us, Mrs. Carter welcomed us and commended the sermon, while President Carter shook my hand and kissed my wife on the cheek. She was so in awe of President Carter she quipped, “I may never wash my face again.”

The tradition at Maranatha is for the guest preacher to have lunch with the Carter’s during the revival week. We met the Carter’s at Dylan’s Diner on Wednesday, and then accompanied them to their home for dessert and conversation.

Before departing the restaurant, President Carter took me to every table in the restaurant, asked the patrons where they were from, introduced me as the guest evangelist for their revival, and invited every person in the diner to attend the final service that night. Then he added to his invitation, “If you come, you can sit with me and Rosalynn.” That night the attendance peaked, and the Carters were surrounded by the guests he invited from the restaurant.

The Carter’s home is modest and welcoming. President Carter built most of the furniture. We talked about his upbringing in Plains, his career in the Navy, his visits with world leaders, his work with Habitat for Humanity, his love for the Gulf Coast, and the well-being of several of our mutual friends. It was remarkable to hear stories of his recent conversations with Fidel Castro, and I was particularly interested in his recollections of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

Mrs. Carter, who insisted that we call her Rosalynn, had prepared sugar-free banana pudding for our dessert. She served it in a Corningware dish much like my grandmother’s. When I went to the kitchen to assist her with the coffee, I noted that she used a white older model Mr. Coffee coffeemaker, just like the one we use at home. Our visit was rich in simplicity and authenticity.

After we finished dessert, President Carter gave us a tour of his study, where he gave us an overview of some of his newest commentaries, followed by a tour of his workshop, where he showed us a few of his paintings and samples of his woodworks.

Then he said to Amanda, an avid tennis player, “Would you like to see our tennis court?” After he shared a few tennis stories, he said, “We normally take a photo of the guest minister on the front porch, but since Amanda loves tennis, we can take a photo of the four of us here on the tennis court.” Then he requested that one of the Secret Service Agents take the picture, a photo that we will continue to treasure for the remainder of our days.

After the photoshoot, we returned to the house to retrieve a few books he had signed for us, and then they walked us to our car, so we could return to the Plains Inn to freshen up before the evening service.

On the casual walk to our vehicle, as the two of them held hands, they shared with us that their home had been given to the National Park Service so that visitors could continue to visit Plains for years to come. Then Mrs. Carter pointed to a gardenesque area in the front yard and said, “And this is where we will be buried.” And President Carter squeezed her hand and said, “But not yet, Rosie. Not yet.”

In his book, A Full Life, President Carter confessed, “Earlier in my life I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see — the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are.”

Before our visit, we knew the Carters were faithful servants and influential advocates for the poor, the persecuted, and the underserved. During our visit, we learned they were gracious, down to earth, and comfortable in their own skin.

On Saturday, the world learned that President Carter is beginning hospice care at home, rather than continuing to go back and forth to the local hospital. Hopefully, this proactive decision will enable him to maximize his time on earth with peace and comfort.

As they complete their final chapter, I can almost imagine him saying, “Not yet, Rosie. But soon!”

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, currently reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)