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God made laughter to show us that things are seldom as bad as they seem.

Laughter liberates and laughter uplifts. When laughter comes into a life, nothing is too difficult, nothing can defeat us. We can survive the noonday sun and the darkness of death and the grinding boredom of dailiness and still find life exhilarating. Other things in life change color like chameleons on plaid, but laughter is always ornament, always grace.

There are some things that must always be laughed at in life:

1. Laugh when people tell a joke. Otherwise you might make them feel bad.


2. Laugh when you look into a mirror. Otherwise you might feel bad.


3. Laugh when you make a mistake. If you don't, you're liable to forget how ultimately unimportant the whole thing really is, whatever it is.


4. Laugh with small children. It will restore your delight in the fundamental things of life. It will also improve your sense of humor. Have you ever noticed what children laugh at? They laugh at mashed bananas on their faces; mud in their hair; a dog nuzzling their ears; the sight of their bottoms as bare as silk. It renews your perspective. Clearly, nothing is as bad as it could be.


5. Laugh at situations that are out of your control. When the best man comes to the altar without the wedding ring, laugh. When the dog jumps through the window screen at the dinner guests on your doorstep, sit down and laugh awhile. When you find yourself in public wearing mismatched shoes, laugh--as loudly as you can. Why collapse in mortal agony? There’s nothing you can do to change things now. Besides, it is funny. Ask me; I’ve done it.


6. Laugh at anything pompous, at anything that needs to puff its way through life in robes and titles. Because laughter is a social virtue, it will help the rest of us see the difference between what is authentic in life and what is not. Will Rogers laughed at all the public institutions of modern life. For instance, “You can’t say civilization isn’t advancing,” he wrote. “In every war they kill you in a new way.” And thanks to his laughter we began to see what was going on around us in fresh and shocking perspective.

7. Finally, laugh when all your carefully laid plans get changed: when the plane is late and the restaurant is closed and the last day’s screening of the movie of the year was yesterday. You’re free now to do something else, to be spontaneous for a change, to take a piece of life and treat it with outrageous abandon.

There are some things, of course, that do not qualify for laughter, that do not refresh the human heart, that set out to hurt whole classes of people, in fact, and that should never, under any conditions, be tolerated under the pretense of humor. Ethnic jokes and sexist sneers and racial slurs and jeering at physical limitations do not empty the human soul of debris. They simply fill it with a venom disguised as humor.

The sign of laughter gone sour lies clearly in the charge, ‘What’s the matter with her? Can’t she take a joke?” Then the laughter goes hollow or guttural, weak or low. Though nothing at all may be said, everyone knows on the spot that kindness and clear vision have flown the place forever.
In the final analysis, we should laugh at anything that is not a matter of life and death. The trick is to remember that only life and death are life and death. Then the canvas is broad and the palette is deep. The whole world becomes a jester’s paradise in which we laugh at what we did not foresee.

Laughter is an antidote to dualism, a necessary foundation of mental health. To the one who laughs, life is good, the world is good, goodness is the ground on which we walk. No dualism here, no fear of body or soul, no rejection of the tattered truth of our existence. Just gentle, gentle wholeness tenderly handled, lovingly held.

Finally, laughter enables us to live in a highly structured world without falling prey to the manacles of the mind that blind our eyes and cement our hearts. Laughter gives us the freedom of the Jesus who taught babies and poked fun at Pharisees and told winsome little stories, spiritual jokes, about women who would not let pretentious judges alone. Day after day he smiled his way from one theological absolute to another and left the world with enough to smile about until the end of time.
Once we learn to laugh and play, we will have come closer to understanding our laughing, playing God. The God of ridiculous promises is a God who laughs, a God to be laughed at and laughed with, until that moment when all pain washes away and only the laughter of God is left to be heard in the heavens.


Excerpted from There Is a Season by Joan Chittister, O.S.B. Copyright 1995. Used with permission of Orbis Books

Early in my career, I was the pastor of a small church in a rural community. Wilbur and his wife, Leah, attended every Sunday morning. Wilbur was a farmer, and whenever he came into his house from the field and sat down, he would fall asleep. It was such a habit that when he came into church and sat down in the pew, he would also soon fall asleep. I discovered that some members of the church were taking bets on how long I could keep Wilbur awake on Sunday mornings.
Wilbur's wife was embarrassed by his behavior, especially when he began to snore. She tried everything to keep her sleepy spouse awake. She complained to him that she was getting calluses on her elbow from poking him in the ribs in a futile effort to keep him alert. One day while grocery shopping, she saw a small bottle of Limburger cheese. Leah bought it and dropped it into her purse.
The next Sunday morning, I had just started the sermon when Wilbur began to nod. When I finished the first point in my three-point sermon, I could see I was losing him. As I started the third point, Wilbur began to snore. Quietly, Leah opened her purse, took out the Limburger cheese, and held it under her husband's nose. It worked. Wilbur sat up straight and, in a voice that could be heard all over the church, said, "Leah, will you please keep your feet on your own side of the bed!"
What do you think? Would Jesus have laughed that Sunday? I know I did.
It has always amazed me to see the reaction some people have to the idea that Jesus would laugh. When I showed one of my friends a painting of the laughing Christ, she was horrified. "That's sheer heresy," she exclaimed. "Jesus was too holy to act like that."
"But the scriptures say that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. Doesn't that mean he would have done the things all people do? Don't you think he had dirty diapers when he was a baby?"
"Of course not!" she shot back, and stomped out of the room. Let me cut to the chase: Of course, Jesus laughed. Every normal person laughs. To suggest that Jesus never laughed implies that he suffered from deep psychological problems. And what evidence is offered to support this idea? Simply this: The gospels never say, "Jesus laughed." We do read that Jesus wept (John 11:35), but never that he laughed or even smiled. But does this mean that he didn't? An argument from silence is never valid. To see how illogical that line of reasoning is, consider all the other things one would need to argue that Jesus never did. For example, there is no record that Jesus ever took a bath, washed his face, or combed his hair.
The problem is that many people look at Jesus through stained glass and find it difficult to think that he did the normal, everyday things that all people do. If Jesus is God as well as man, they ask, would God laugh? Perhaps the God some believe in is always stern and serious, but not the God of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Psalm 2:4 states clearly that God enthroned in heaven laughs.
Some have the idea that a sincerely religious person would always be serious. In one school, the seminary students were told, "To be a bishop you need gray hair to give you that distinguished look and hemorrhoids to give you that sorrowful look." But the great religious leaders, including Billy Graham, the pope, C.S. Lewis, and Mother Teresa, all find much that makes them laugh.
Jesus was a joyful person, continually urging his followers to be joyful. In John 15:11 he explains to his disciples, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus was all for happiness. Don't miss the point in the Beatitudes by making the word "blessed" to be some solemn, otherworldly virtue. Scholars are agreed that the word Jesus used in Matthew 5 translated "blessed" could just as well read how happy, as in, "How happy are the poor in spirit." Jesus' conclusion is clear: "Rejoice and be exceeding glad" (Matthew 5:12). A Gallup poll found that half of all Americans thought that Jesus was not fun-loving. But Jesus loved a good party. He performed his first miracle so that a wedding party could continue. In Luke 15, every parable ends with a party. His famous story of the prodigal son ends with a party, and the older son who would not attend the party is portrayed as the one with the problem. In fact, the picky people around Jesus criticized him for being a glutton and having such a good time (Luke 7:34). His long list of friends included people from every strata of society.
Jesus must have been a warm teddy bear on occasion because the children loved him (Matthew 19:13-15). Children are never attracted to solemn, always serious people, but the children must have loved the sparkle in Jesus' eyes, his warm open smile, and yes, his ready laugh. They clamored to be with him, even trying to find ways to get around the blockade of the disciples, who thought Jesus had more important things to do than hold a child on his lap. But Jesus, who was calling the shots, gave a reassuring smile to the children and said, "Let the children come to me, and don't hinder them" (Matthew 14:19).
Jesus also had a keen sense of humor. Our problem is that we tend to take everything he said so seriously that we miss the humor. His parables usually had an O. Henry surprise ending that would have left people chuckling. He loved to use the ridiculous to make his point. One famous example is a camel going through the eye of a needle. Some Sunday school teachers miss the joke completely and go to extreme lengths to explain that Jesus was referring to a small gate in the city wall that a camel could only crawl through with great difficulty. Why not just laugh?
Jesus was no gloomy messiah. His standard greeting to his disciples was, "Rejoice!" So let's smile, grin, and laugh. Jesus would love that.
The Rev. Dr. William D. Webber is the author of 'A Rustle of Angels' and 'How to Become a Sweet Old Lady Instead of a Grumpy Old Grouch' (both from Zondervan). He has been an American Baptist pastor for 40 years.

 The Lullaby

Oh, Mary what a beautiful baby you have. What a beatiful baby to sinf a lullaby to. Mary sing to your lullaby to your baby. What a beautiful song to lull such a baby. The cows moo, "We will provide warm milk to lull such a beatifu; baby to sleep on this early morn. Mary do not worry, this beatiful baby will never go hungry." The sheepbleats "We will provide wool to keep you warm, beatiful baby to lull you to sleep. Mary do not wooru the beatiful baby will never be cold this very morn." The donkey brays, "I do not have nothing to give this beatiful baby." Mary sang in a loving voice. You gave me your back to carry us to this place." The poor Shephards came an sang," We havenot much to give to this beatiful baby. Only a song of joy yo lull this beautiful baby to sleep. flory to God in the Higest heaven and earth peace to all mankind. To a beautiful baby born this morn." The wisemen came and sang "We three bring thee, to a beautiful baby myrrh and frankensence to calm and lull the beautiful baby to sleep. We bring gold fit for a King to reflect your radant beaty, beautiful baby." The camels sang."we give our breathe to blow away the chill from such a beautiful baby this early morn. So don't worry Mary you beatiful baby will be warm." Mary sang," My soul rejoices in the mighty, greatness of Yahwah. My spirit rejoices in Yahwah my Savoir. He has looked upon me a humblr servant. Many to come will call me blessed. For Yahwah has done great things for me. Holy is He who comes in the name of the Lord.His faithulove spans ages to come to all those fear Him, for today Hw was given us a beautiful baby. The Chrsitmas lullaby to all in the land as far as the east is from the west, lullaby to all this early morn.Feel the calm. The stars shines a light of comfort
to all who comes in the name of this beautiful baby!" The beatiful baby coos and with a twinlke in his eyes. In comfort of all those around and those to come to kneel an sing his lullaby. He seems to sing," I'm your lullaby came and you will find rest. Let me sing you a lullaby," Hush my little chid do not cry. Abba gonna to save you thru me the eatiful baby, Abba gonna to buy you everything you need. Thru me your lullaby the price aid in full. Do not worry or fret, came an let me sing you a lullaby." Angels on high sing." Glory to God in the higest for unto us born a lullaby for all this early morn. A saviour is born. The Christmas lullaby." Listen you can haer the soothing song across the land. The Christmas Lullaby. Sing a lullaby beautiful baby, your sweet lullaby, J-E-S-U-S.

Ruth
2003

The First Christmas Tree

The first Christmas tree has gone without notice among the human race. It was very long ago. A angel came upon a sprout of a tree, not even a foot high then. The angle said you are a very special tree and no harm will come to you. During this time period Caesar Augustus was taknig a census in the town in the distance. An mother to be and her husban were leaving the town due to this. The tree heard from the Angels that the child to be born was the one who would save mankind. The couple could not find room in the inn. So the couple needed rest and the child was now due in the next hour. The husband did not want to raik the life of his wife nor child so the asked to stay in the stable. The stable was cut from a large roack on the hill looking over the town down there. The child was wrapped in cloth and was safe in his mothers' arms. A bright star couls be seen. The tree looked at the star as it grew to the most amazinf colours ever seen. He wished at one point that he could touch them. No harm came to this tree. He saw many things like the cold shepards and thier flocks coming to this child. One left his cloak as a gift. The stayed and rested under the tree which was growinf strong. The next thinf he saw was three great men the tree saw they had costly gifts and clothes. He heard the Angel say King Herod had sent them so he can worship him, only to have in mind he will lose his throne. The wisemen never returned to the King only back to their land. A fews days later the tree saw the new parents leave for egypt. The King is enraged with the wisemen. The poor tree stood helpless as he saw the sky was silent with anger. Parents running and screaming and sobbing for thier boys who was murdered. Since the King ordered all males under a certasin age to die hoping to kill the baby. The King soon died, as the tree heard. The aprents soon learn and were going to Israel, but learned someone else is reaining instead of his father. So they went to Galilee. The child child grew the tree heard one day. About the childs first visit to the Holy City. The tree also heard of all the things he did as an teenager. Even the death of his father. the tree saw him sometimes asan adult teachinf in the hills and vallys. The best is when the tree heard them call him Master while resting on the trees trunk. The tree rembers the sermon he gave on the mountion top. As the other trees were harmed, this tree never saw it come to him. He grew tall and very strong than one day the angel left him alone. the tree looked around an in a moment of time he knew fear for the first time in his life. The treewondered if the Angel could see the men coming or even hear them. Then the Angel appaered and said that it was wise that he leaves and the men where only the Master and three of his followers. The Master looked like he was in great pain, the others fell asleep. He saw the Master check on the others and say can't you stay awake one hour? They could not since they were tired. The tree saw a man kiss the Master that came with many others with fire and spears. The onl thing they took with them is the Master. The tree stood in silence and the next dat a man came to the tree and broke his long trunk until the tree hit the ground. The man drugged the tree to a house they took his limbs away and bark away. All the poor tree could ask is why did the Angel lie. The next thing the tre knew was he was being carried on the Masters back that was bleeding and the throns on his head were sharp even xcraped the tree. The tree heard the insults and the whip. Thwn the Master fell a man in the crowd carried the tree to the spot on a hill. Next thing was a sign was nailed on the tree that said King of The Jews in three languages. The tree felt sad, but was overwhelemed with what the Angel said in the beginning he will save mankind. Today the tree is gone not rembered of his duty, only the one nailed to him. As we see the cross remember our Master Lord Jesus Christ who was had came as a babe in a stable with the warmth of the animals breathe and left only to come back for us. The one who has saved us from death grip. As you look upon the tree this year remember who the true tree is and the light of this world.

Ruth
1995

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Mary had a little Lamb,
This I know.
This lamb was born on
a cold midnight clear.

Mary had a little Lamb,
This I know.
This lamb followed His Abba,
Father everywhere He went.

Mary had a little Lamb,
This I know.
This lamb died alone
for my sins atonement.

Mary had a little Lamb,
This I know.
Lamb has made
me white as snow.

Mary had a little Lamb,
This I know.
This Lamb for generations
to come to know He saves.

Mary has a little Lamb
This we know.
This Lamb was and is known
to all mankind as JESUS!!!

Ruth (aka: heartofdavid)
December 1999