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How To Quantify Your Happiness

How To Quantify Your Happiness: Mutiny on the Bountiful

Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

In the year 1789, the crew of the HMS Bounty decided they'd rather go it alone and promptly placed their captain on a lifeboat in the south Pacific and waved goodbye. Could it be that some of us living here in the blessed and bountiful USA are perhaps not so different than that mutinous crew?
Saturday, June 21, 2014

More In This Series

06/28/2014
What do you get for the God who has everything? Especially if He already gave everything He had for you? Jesus gave us the answer in John 15:13 "Greater love has no man than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends."
05/10/2014
Contrary to what we've been taught, the latest research states that "Money Can Buy Happiness". Discover the surprising secret to a life of happiness and financial stability right now.
05/17/2014
In his famous poem Henry Wadsworth Longfellow embedded the key to happiness and a life of meaning. What secret lies within the Churchyard of Cambridge?

“How to Quantify Your Happiness: Mutiny on the Bountiful”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  “Mutiny on the Bounty”—The Tale
  • □  “Mutiny on the Bountiful—The Truth
    • Luke 12:16—“The of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.”

       Psalm 24:1—“The is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the , and all who live in it.”

      •   Psalm 50:12—“The is Mine, and that is in it.”
      •   “He’s Got the Whole in His Hands.”
      •   “ gave a certain rich man an abundant harvest.”
      •   David Redding: “You and I are rich beyond the wildest dreams of most [people] on

        earth—rich in groceries with freezers full of fresh vegetables right out of the garden in January, rich in health with magic immunity, miracle medicines and fabulous hospitals filled with Florence Nightingales for T.L.C. We are rich in hundreds of gasoline horses faster and far more comfortable than any camel—rich in houses with huge staffs of mechanical servants to do the laundry and the dishes and furnish whatever weather we wish inside. This parable begins with a little bit of our own autobiography. ‘The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully.’” (The Parables He Told 127)

    • Luke 12:16-19— times through the first person pronoun this rich man takes all the credit.

       It is no more a sin to be , than it is a virtue to be .

      •   Jesus neither condemned , nor did He commend .
      •   Deuteronomy 8:10-14—“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your

        God for the good land He has given you. Otherwise your heart will become

        and you will the LORD your God who redeemed you.”

    • Luke 12:20, 21

       David Redding: “This parable is very sad, but sad to shock us into happiness—to make us stop and take stock as the shadows lengthen over our lives. I think it is agreed that Americans are not so bad. But the question this story raises is not are we good or evil, but are we squandering eternity for a pocketful of pleasure.” (130-131).

      •   Christ’s Object Lessons: “To live for self is to perish. Covetousness, the desire of benefit for self’s sake, cuts the soul off from life. It is the spirit of Satan to get, to draw to self. It is the spirit of Christ to , to self for the good of others.” (259)
      •   isthemostpowerfulantidotethereisforselfishness/covetousness.
      •   Ellen White: “Continual starves covetousness to death.” (3T 548)
      •   So if you want to be “rich toward God,” if you want to be like God, .
    • The 90 Day Tithe Challenge/The 90 Day 2nd Tithe Challenge
    • 2 Corinthians 8:9—“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was

      , yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become .”
       “Be rich toward Me, even as I have been rich toward you.”
       “The Mutiny on the Bounty” and the Pitcairn

      Jesus: “Be rich toward God” 

Offering for June 20, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

During the 1992 Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond was favored to win the 400-meter race. But halfway through, he tore his hamstring and collapsed in pain. Determined, he got up and began hobbling toward the finish line.

Suddenly, a man pushed past security and ran onto the track—it was his father, Jim Redmond. Ignoring the officials, Jim wrapped his arm around Derek and said, “You don’t have to do this.” Derek, through tears, replied, “Yes, I do.” His father held him up and said, “Then we’ll finish together.”

Step by step, they moved forward, with Jim supporting his son all the way to the finish line. The stadium erupted in cheers—not because Derek won, but because of the incredible display of a father’s love. Jim didn’t care about medals or records—he just wanted to be there for his son. Just like
that, God runs to us in our pain, carries us when we can’t go on, and helps us finish the race. “I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes,
even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and be your Savior” (Isaiah 46:4, TLB).

God, our Supreme Father, loved us so much that He adopted us as His children, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, CEB).

Today, let’s give in appreciation for what our heavenly Father has done for us. Happy Father’s Day!

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Hymnsing at The Old Rugged Cross Church

You are invited to a hymnsing at The Old Rugged Cross Church on June 27,  Sabbath, 4:00-5:30 PM.  The Old Rugged Cross Church is located at 61041 Vermont Street, Pokagon, MI 49047. Please bring your Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal.  A free will offering will help to maintain this historic church where the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” was introduced to the public by the composer. For further information, please contact Melchizedek Ponniah, melponniah@gmail.com, or 269-876-7476.

Sun, Fun, and Faith

Sun, Fun, and Faith is returning this summer! Incoming High School Freshman to Outgoing High School Seniors are invited Every Tuesday Night (June 9 - Aug 11) for food, boating, and faith-fueled friendships.

Location and Times Coming soon. Follow @pmcyouthministries on Instagram for more info