Renewing Your Mind How Do You Spell "JOY"?
22 snips
Feb 4, 2026 
R.C. Sproul, Reformed theologian and founder of Ligonier Ministries, reflects on public and personal moments of joy. He tells vivid stories from VE Day and sports, examines why games swing emotions, and teaches a J-O-Y acrostic prioritizing Jesus, others, yourself. He points to Jesus’ empathy and a cancer patient’s outward focus as models for sharing joy amid sorrow.
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Childhood VE Day Celebration
- R.C. Sproul recalls VE Day as a childhood moment when the city erupted in joyful celebration.
- He describes how that public outburst of relief and happiness interrupted his stickball game but left a lasting memory.
World Series Joy At Forbes Field
- R.C. Sproul describes being at Forbes Field when Bill Mazeroski hit the series-winning home run in 1960.
- He recalls pandemonium, a delighted elderly fan, and citywide honking that defined communal joy.
Why Sports Trigger Strong Emotions
- Sports victories act as vicarious representations of our identity and struggle, so we feel their wins and losses personally.
- R.C. Sproul argues that this explains why we often say 'we won' when our team succeeds and feel deep sorrow when they fail.
