In this dark angry world, it’s critical that God’s people make it their goal to be happy uplifting lights! God’s Word commands us to rejoice in God’s Feast days and to “rejoice always.” The most convincing evidence to others that you have a good religion is that you are happy and contented. In this sermon, joy, happiness and contentment are used almost synonymously. A happy person benefits himself and everyone around him. The book of Ecclesiastes tells about the extreme efforts of Solomon to find happiness, but he kept coming to the conclusion that in the long run, God intended that the greatest satisfaction comes from living a godly life, and enjoying and being thankful for the simple joys of life, like eating, drinking, enjoying one’s work, and living joyfully with your family and friends. In fact, gratitude is fundamental to being happy, while envy and jealousy are fundamental to being unhappy. We can do things to increase our happiness like listening to happy music and doing good to others.

Don Hooser

United Church of God Pastor

Don Hooser is a minister for the United Church of God. He and his wife Judy live in his home in McKinney, Texas, during the winter months and in her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, during the summer months. His wife Elsie died in August 2020 and he married Judy on January 1, 2022.  Mr. Hooser graduated in 1963 from Southern Methodist University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and graduated in 1966 from Ambassador College, Big Sandy, Texas.  For most of the time since then he served as a church pastor.