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Chris Howlett

Lexington, Kentucky, USA

I am a learner, husband, father, pastor, and coach.

Interests: preaching, reading, following, leading, soccer, fly fishing

Recent Activity

More Religious = More Happy??

Does religious participation make you happier? How does religion affect happiness? First of all, I must confess: I used the “Religion vs. Relationship” trope years ago in a series of sermons at Christ Church United Methodist in Lexington, KY. I... Continue reading

Posted 7 days ago at Chris Howlett

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Less Screen - More Happy

Every time a new technology comes along, people freak out. They imagine all the potential ways this new technology can hurt them. We’ve been doing this for a long time. When the printing press was invented and books became widely... Continue reading

Posted Jun 11, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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A Lesson from the Holy Trinity

“Self-giving love is the Trinity's signature.” – Roderick Leupp When John Wesley was young, an older, wiser man told him, “Sir, you wish to serve God and go to heaven? Remember you cannot serve him alone. You must therefore find... Continue reading

Posted Jun 2, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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Busting Happiness Myths

Everyone wants to be happy. If that’s the case, why are so many people unhappy, or at least not as happy as they’d like to be? One of the reasons is because they pursue happiness through the wrong means. They... Continue reading

Posted May 14, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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How to Make Happiness Work for You

In my last post I wrote that happiness is hard work. It is. So, today I’m going to share with you how to work hard to make happiness work for you and in you and even, dare I say, through... Continue reading

Posted May 7, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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Does God Care If You're Happy?

Does God care if you’re happy? Looking around the interwebs I find tons of secular resources on happiness. We need more Christian voices out here. The problem is that when the topic of happiness comes up, lots of Christians believe... Continue reading

Posted Apr 30, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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Want to Be Happy? Be Virtuous

How does virtuous living lead to happiness? Does being good help you become happier? What does it even mean to be good, or to live a virtuous life? Virtue... there’s a word I’ve heard more and more of lately, but... Continue reading

Posted Feb 26, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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Upping Your Optimism Game

It’s amazing to reflect on some of the latest findings about how our brains function. You’re brain is sort of like the wiring in a house. Habitual thought-patterns make physical changes in your neural pathways and you become set in... Continue reading

Posted Jan 29, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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What Is Happiness?

What Is Happiness? Everyone wants to be happy, so it’s probably a good idea to figure out what happiness actually is! People have been thinking about happiness for a very long time, there’s even a really cool book titled, “Happiness:... Continue reading

Posted Jan 13, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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Bible Reading 101

The beginning of a new year is a good time to start a new, healthy habit. Daily Bible Reading is as good a habit as any, so here are some helpful tips in starting and maintaining daily Scripture reading. Three... Continue reading

Posted Jan 3, 2021 at Chris Howlett

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How to Be Happy(er) in a Pandemic

Can you be happy(er) during a pandemic? If you bought Zoom stock in January of last year, you’re probably feeling pretty good right now. However, money can’t buy happiness, so, is it still possible to be happy in the middle... Continue reading

Posted Dec 31, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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Christmas: God's Search for Humanity

The 12th century Buddhist poet, Saigyo Hoshi, wrote the following after a visit to a Shinto Grand Temple: God’s here? Who can know? Not I. Yet I sigh And tears flow Tear on tear. The world longs to experience ultimate... Continue reading

Posted Dec 23, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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Carolyn, Thanks for your kind words. Blessings!

Commented Dec 3, 2020 on Don't Bypass Advent at Chris Howlett

Don't Bypass Advent

Years ago I was invited to preach a revival at Cadiz United Methodist Church. My father had served there beginning my senior year of high school. I stayed in Louisville to finish up school, but visited my parents and that... Continue reading

Posted Dec 2, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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Set Free for Freedom

A young couple goes to the church office to answer some pre-marital questions with the pastor. The young man, who’d never talked to a pastor before, was nervous, so the pastor tried to put him at ease. When the pastor... Continue reading

Posted Oct 3, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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How Do You Approach Scripture?

Jesus, facing his testing in the wilderness prior to his public ministry, was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. He’d been fasting for quite some time and I imagine this would have been quite the strong temptation.... Continue reading

Posted Aug 10, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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How did you learn “how” to pray? Jewish children were taught to pray every night before they went to bed. Their mother or father taught them to use one of the Psalms, Psalm 31:5 “Into your hand I commit my... Continue reading

Posted Aug 3, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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The Apocalypse of God's Sons and Daughters

I was struck by this phrase: “the revelation of God’s sons and daughters,” found in Romans 8:19. The word translated “revelation” is the Greek word apokalypsis. You probably recognize the word from the English “apocalypse.” Apocalypse stirs up all kinds... Continue reading

Posted May 4, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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(Anti)Social Distancing

Social distancing might be a good strategy for combating a pandemic, but it’s definitely taking its toll on the emotional health of populations. My hope as we make our way to the other side of this initial response is that... Continue reading

Posted Apr 30, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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Pastoral Letter - March 23, 2020

Dear Friends, These are certainly challenging times. Speaking to one of our members in her 90s last week, she shared she’s never experienced anything like this. The last time our church was faced with similar circumstances was during the Spanish... Continue reading

Posted Mar 23, 2020 at Chris Howlett

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A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

The first documented occasion of one of John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Services was held at the French Church in Spitafields, a district in London, England, in 1755. Wesley was drawing on a long tradition within renewal movements when he invited... Continue reading

Posted Dec 30, 2019 at Chris Howlett

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Upping Your Happiness Game

“It’s not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy.” – Anonymous Everyone has a “happiness set-point.” It’s the general level of happiness they experience day to day. Some people are happier than others. Good things can... Continue reading

Posted Nov 11, 2019 at Chris Howlett

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“A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” – Anonymous In a classroom of high school students, a teacher asked, “If were in possession of $86,400.00 and someone took $10.00 would you throw away the $86,390.00 to try... Continue reading

Posted Sep 18, 2019 at Chris Howlett

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What Scares You?

“A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.” – Dwight L. Moody A recent... Continue reading

Posted Jul 18, 2019 at Chris Howlett

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Are You Ruderless?

“True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller A rudder is a small, flat component attached to the stern (rear) of a boat or ship. The rudder is a small but... Continue reading

Posted May 17, 2019 at Chris Howlett

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