Happiness In Christ - Reece's Peace's

The US Declaration of Independence defines one of our inalienable rights as the “Pursuit of Happiness.” But for many of us, that pursuit feels like a constant chase, a fleeting feeling that disappears with the next deadline or unexpected bill.

Here at Hurstbourne Christian Church, we're starting a new sermon series called "Happiness in Christ." Over the next few weeks, we'll delve into the idea of Christian happiness, a happiness that goes far beyond fleeting moments of joy.

Overcoming Challenges

In the boxing world, there’s a famous quote from Mike Tyson: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Now, I hope that none of you are regularly experiencing a literal punch in the mouth, but there’s a parallel in life. We can all find happiness when things are smooth sailing, but when life throws its unexpected punches, it can be challenging to sustain that happiness. Perseverance in the face of adversity can be as crucial to our happiness as almost anything else. Christ promises to stand with us in every moment of our lives, but nowhere does He promise an easy journey.

Gratitude & Thanksgiving

The practice of thanksgiving helps us recognize that whatever we have is sufficient. There will always be individuals with more or less, people who go hungry, and others who discard food we would gladly consume. Offering thanks to God only when we feel like we have enough isn’t truly being thankful. Instead, it’s essential to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This way, regardless of what you have or the circumstances you face, you are thankful to God for the breath in your lungs and the life you have at this very moment. Life itself is a precious gift that we are meant to carry with us.

Serving Others & Happiness

As we learn more about God, we often realize that material possessions do not equate to happiness. We understand the significance of serving others and spreading love, as exemplified by Christ. This presents an opportunity to redirect our focus from the worldly desires imposed upon us to a deeper, more spiritual passion that aligns with Christ’s teachings

Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Marc Music Notables

Julia Ward Howe was born into a wealthy family in New York City in 1819. Descended from Roger Williams and two governors of Rhode Island, she mixed socially with such luminaries as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Charles Dickens. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) counted himself as her friend.

In 1843 she married Samuel Gridley Howe, eighteen years her senior. An autocratic husband, he sharply limited her activities and took charge of her money, which he managed ruinously. When he died in 1876, she wrote in her diary, “Start my new life today.”

Howe used her writing and speaking skills to promote a number of causes, including women’s rights, education reform, and the abolition of slavery.

In 1861, she traveled to Washington D.C., where she met with Abraham Lincoln at the White House. She also visited a Union army camp, where she heard soldiers singing, “John Brown’s body lies a’molderin’ in the grave” - a song honoring John Brown, a prominent abolitionist who had been hanged for treason against the state of Virginia in 1859.

Howe’s pastor, the Reverend James Freeman Clarke, asked her to consider writing new words to that tune. That night, in her hotel room, the words came to mind as she tried to sleep. She got up and wrote them hastily on an old piece of paper. She then offered her poem to The Atlantic Monthly magazine, which published it in February 1862, sending her a check for five dollars.

Chaplain C.C. McCabe of the Union army heard the song, and began to teach it to the soldiers in his command. It soon spread to soldiers in other units, and finally to ordinary citizens of the Union States. It became incredibly popular, making Howe famous.

The song is couched in the language of Christ’s Second Coming - a time when Christ will “sift out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.” Howe’s “grapes of wrath” in the first verse alludes to the passage in Revelation 14:19, which speaks of “the great winepress of the wrath of God.”

Howe’s mention of “the trumpet that shall never sound retreat” might allude to the trumpets of Revelation 8, where seven angels sound seven trumpets. However, that phrase spoke loudly to soldiers who, in the confusion of battle, received their commands from trumpet sounds. A “trumpet that shall never sound retreat” was an inspiring image for those soldiers.

Howe’s song continues to enjoy great popularity. Lyndon Johnson had it sung at his inauguration in 1965. Andy Williams sang it at Robert Kennedy’s funeral in 1968.

But the loveliest story comes from James Humes, a presidential speechwriter. Humes interviewed General Eisenhower a few weeks after Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. He asked Eisenhower to talk about the most moving moment of that funeral - and Eisenhower mentioned this song. He noted that Churchill had learned this song at his American mother’s knee. It was one of his favorites.

Battle Hymn Of The Republic Eisenhower said, “We all know the first verse, ‘Mine eyes have seen the glory’ - but do you know the third verse? Because there I was seated with heads of state - Charles de Gaulle of France, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. King Olav of Norway, King Baudoin of Belgium, heads of nations whose freedom had been redeemed by the warrior who lay in state only yards before us:

“And I could see feelings of gratitude and reverence mist their eyes as they did my own as we all sang:

‘He sounded forth the trumpet that never called retreat. His will goes marching on.’ ”

(From Humes’ book, Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter)

Red, White & Blue Berry Pizza - Jenna's Favorites

4th of July celebrations are the perfect occasion for this patriotic dessert! A simple crust, creamy topping, and some mixed berries are all you need to have a festive and tasty treat for your holiday gatherings. Slice and serve just like pizza!

Ingredients:

For Crust

• 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped

• 1 & 1/4 cup almond flour

• 2 Tbsp coconut flour

• 1 egg

• 1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 Tbsp melted butter or coconut oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp salt For Topping

• 1/3 cup plain Greek or non-diary yogurt

• 8 oz cream cheese or coconut cream (the thick stuff)

• 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1-2 cups blueberries/raspberries/blackberries/ sliced strawberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the crust and mix thoroughly.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer crust mix to the sheet. Press the dough into a round or rectangular shape with hands. When roughly formed, cover with another sheet of parchment and roll out with a rolling pin until it’s 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

4. Bake for approximately 16 minutes, until the edges are golden. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. While crust is cooling, combine all ingredients for topping in another bowl, except the berries. Mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

6. Once crust is completely cooled, spread the topping mixture over it, then top with the berries. You can be as artistic and creative with the design as you want, or simply scatter them around. It all tastes delicious, no matter what you do!

7. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice into small pieces and enjoy!

*You can make the crust and topping mixture ahead of time, but it’s best to wait to assemble the whole thing until shortly before serving. If it’s assembled too far in advance, the crust may get soggy.

**Banana slices make an excellent addition & fit in with the red, white & blue theme. If you aren’t going for a patriotic theme, you can add any kind of fruit that you enjoy

Homemade BBQ Sauce -

You may or may not realize that most barbeque sauces sold in grocery stores are packed full of things like high fructose corn syrup, modified food starch, preservatives, dyes, and all sorts of things that are generally not healthy for human consumption.

What you probably didn’t know is just how easy it is to make your own barbeque sauce at home with simple, wholesome ingredients. Seriously, it only takes 5 minutes to throw together, and you can customize each batch with a unique flavor profile depending on your tastes. What could be better?

Here’s my favorite recipe for homemade barbeque sauce, with some suggested customizations depending on your palate. This makes a great marinade for grilling, or you can use it to create a wonderful meal by throwing it in a crockpot over some chicken meatballs, bell peppers, onions, broccoli and pineapple. Serve it over some jasmine rice and you’re all set!

 Ingredients:

· 1 can of tomato sauce (15oz)

· 2 Tblsp tamari soy sauce or coconut aminos

· 2 Tblsp apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar

· 1 Tblsp Dijon or yellow  mustard

 · 2 tsp garlic powder

· 1 tsp onion powder

· 1 tsp smoked paprika

· 1 tsp chili powder

· Salt/pepper to taste

 Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and stir thoroughly until smoothly mixed

2. That’s it!

 * The amounts of the ingredients are not exact. Start with these proportions as a base, and then add more of whatever you like. I like to add a little extra garlic, onion powder, and paprika. See the     potential customization options below.

* Making this recipe ahead of time and storing it in the fridge for several hours allows the flavors to really pull together, so it’s recommended to make it a day in advance if possible.

 Optional Customizations

· If you like a sweeter sauce, add a tablespoon of maple syrup, pineapple juice, or orange juice. Start with a small amount and add more if needed. A little sweet goes a long way in this recipe!

· If you like a spicy sauce, add some cayenne pepper, chili flakes, sriracha, or hot sauce to taste.

· If you like a tangy sauce, add some extra vinegar or lemon juice. You can also swap out balsamic vinegar for the other kinds if you want a richer sauce.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee - Marc's Music Notables

The words for this hymn were written by one great man and the music by another. The words were written by Henry van Dyke, a great 19th Century clergyman, poet, and educator. A graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, van Dyke later taught English literature at Princeton University. It must have been in that setting that he came to know Woodrow Wilson, the university president, who appointed van Dyke to be Ambassador to the Netherlands when Wilson became President of the United States in 1913.

The music for this hymn comes from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. While Beethoven never wrote hymns, a number of people adapted portions of his music to serve as hymn tunes. “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” is the best known of those.

Van Dyke was quite taken by the joyful sound of Beethoven’s Ninth, and thought that it should be used as a hymn tune. Others had tried without great success. Then, while van Dyke was serving as guest preacher at Williams College in Massachusetts, he was seized by inspiration - perhaps because of the beauty of the surrounding mountains. He presented it to the college president to be sung in the chapel.

Van Dyke was the author of the Christmas story, “The Other Wise Man,” and wrote several books of poetry. He was known for his devotional writings as well. But this hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” is his more enduring work.