4'20'08 Sermon on Ecclesiastes 2

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U.S. Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

• We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
  all men are created equal, that they are endowed
  by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
  that among these are Life, Liberty and the
  pursuit of Happiness.

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Q) What is your formula for Happiness?
Happiness ____ ___ ___

• Happiness S (Stuff)i !

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Ranking World's Happiest CountriesRonald
Inglehart et al. (eds.) Human Beliefs and
Values  A Cross-cultural Sourcebook Based on the
1999-2002 Values Surveys

• 1. Nigeria
• 2. Mexico
• 3. Venezuela
• 4. El Salvador
• 5. Puerto Rico

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2007 MTV / AP Study of 13-17 yr olds
www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/research

• Sexually active are
• LESS HAPPY
• Drug Alcohol users are...
• LESS HAPPY
• What one thing makes you most happy?
• 1 Spending time with family
• 2 Spending time with friends

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• Psychology and sociology aside, there is a final
  reason money cant buy happiness the things
  that really matter in life are not sold in
  stores. Love, friendship, family, respect, a
  place in the community, the belief that your life
  has purposethose are the essentials of human
  fulfillment, and they cannot be purchased with
  cash. Everyone needs a certain amount of money,
  but chasing money rather than meaning is a
  formula for discontent. Too many Americans have
  made materialism and the cycle of work and spend
  their principal goals. Then they wonder why they
  dont feel happy.
• Gregg Easterbrook, The Real Truth About Money,
  Time (1/17/05), p. 32-34

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Psalm 231

• The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in
  want.

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