“Humour is Medicinal”
How many reading today use email regularly? Anyone ever make
the slip up of sending mail to the wrong person by mistake. It can be embarrassing!!! Listen to this story.
A man went on a vacation to Florida from their home in
Alaska. He went ahead and his wife is to come the next day. In his hurry to send her an encouraging
e-mail he makes a slip up and sends it to the wrong person. The preacher’s wife has the same first name,
she gets the mail and her husband had just passed away the week before. The
message reads: "Having fun, but it sure is hot down here. I can’t wait for
your arrival here soon."
Readings Ephesians 2: 1-10 Psalm 107 John 3: 14-21
We who were once dead in our
trespasses - are now alive together in Christ. If that
statement is or becomes your reality, then your life is a full life - a
life of light rather than darkness, - a life of both seriousness and of
laughter; of joy, and well being. A
life in which death does not have the last word folks.
Humour, I mean humour that is clean and joyful - is
part of any full life - Humour is
medicinal – it lifts the spirit and lightens the heart. Centuries ago Solomon said - "A merry
heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones". He also wrote, "He that is of a merry
heart has a continual feast"
Today I want to share this serious
gospel message with a mixture of truth and humour. God never leaves us - or gives up on us - no
matter what we do God makes provision for the self-centeredness, pride and ego
in our lives. Yes, there is a plan for
dealing with our shortcomings, it’s called consequences and we have all experienced them. God hears the cries of his people and in love
- answers them. Comfort and meaning can
be found in the reading from the gospel this morning. God cares, did you hear it,
God, not only gave us His son but “GOD
LOVES THE WOLRD.” God reaches out in
forgiveness to heal those who turn to the Son, those who believe in him, those
who change from their old ways of dealing with life. Those who turn a new leaf, pick up their
cross and follow Him.
The story is told of three men who
showed up at the gates of heaven one day.
To their surprise there was a guard at the gate. They immediately asked what was going on -
they thought Saint Peter would be there to meet them. "Heaven has a new policy",
replied the guard. "Before entering
heaven everyone must pass a spelling test." "OK", said the first
man. "If that is what God wants,
that is what I will give him." "Spell the word GOD", the guard
asked him. "G O D" replied the
man. The gate opened and in he went.
The second man stepped forward, a
smile on his face. The guard glanced at
his bright sunny face, and asked if he was ready. "Most certainly", replied the man,
"I only hope that you will not be too hard on me." "No
problem", replied the guard. Spell GOD”
"G O D", replied the man
and the gate opened and in he went. The
third man watched all this with increasing irritation. "This is ridiculous", he said to
the guard. "Who ever heard of such silliness? As soon as I get in, I'm going to register a
complaint!!" "I'm sorry",
said the guard, "but the rules are the rules. Are you ready to spell your word?" Piece
of Cake” “Very well", said the
guard, "spell Expealidocious!!”
Jesus came to give life, and give
it abundantly - now - and eternity. In
return - he simply asks that we follow him whole heartedly, that we turn our
lives over to his care completely, holding nothing back. A song that comes to mind is “Softly and Tenderly”
God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life. God did not send the Son
into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world may be saved
through him. Those who believe in him,
will live forever - in God's kingdom. None of us knows just what that kingdom will
really be like - but we do know that in it there will be not more war or
suffering, no tears, no more torment, we are guaranteed nothing that is
unpleasant.
A suburban lady who was not only disagreeable,
but a bit of snob, was chatting over the fence with a neighbor. "We are going to be living in a better
neighborhood soon". Well we are
too, replied her neighbor. Oh, said the
snob, your moving? "No", said
the neighbor, "We're staying right
here."
In God’s Kingdom we will not be
afflicted by those who work evil, nor will we have to deal with those who walk
in darkness. But in the meantime we do
have to deal with them. A good way of
doing so is by not taking their insults too seriously, by turning the other
cheek when we can, and speaking the truth in love to all whom we meet.
Perhaps we can take a lesson from
this story. The Caption of a sailing
vessel was known to rule with a firm but fair hand. One day he was approached by a disgruntled revengeful
seaman who said "I have a special message from the admiral, Captain. It is directed to you personally." Oh said the Caption "Read it to
me", the sailor read, "Of all the blundering, stupid, idiotic morons,
you take the cake." The Captain
looked straight into the eyes of the seaman and said, "Ha a coded message A, have it de-coded at once sailor.
Which reminds me of the atheist who
asked the preacher "do you honestly believe that Jonah spent three days
and nights in the belly of whale?"
The preacher replied, "I don't know sir, but when I get to heaven I
will ask him." "But suppose he
is isn't in heaven?", the atheist
responded. The preacher though for a
moment, you might be right!!!! Then you’ll get to ask him!"
Remember as well this saying when
you are being annoyed by someone who attacks your faith “the man who tries to
prove that there is no hell, generally has a personal reason for doing
so”.
But all in all folks remember this -
for the believer there is no such thing as hell, because Jesus has given the
keys to the kingdom of heaven for those who believe in him. He has opened the gates - and he invites us
in, and all he asks of us is, that we believe - and follow him. Trusts his words, and relying upon his love,
a love which comes to us from your heavenly parent and which gives light and life to all who turn toward
it. By grace you are saved through faith
- and this is not your own doing, it is your personal gift from God. Amen. Enjoy the Song Amazing Grace to a different tune.
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