Jeremiah 17.5-10 & Psalm 1; Luke 6.17-26
And g’morning to you …
I used to be a people person, and then I got to know a few.
I’m told I should improve my attitude, but my insurance doesn’t cover that kind of medication.
Oh, by the way, may your life be as amazing as you pretend it is on Facebook.
My IQ tests came back the other day … they were negative.
Advice to husbands: praise your wife now and then, even if it startles her at first.
They say, “Money talks!” … I don’t know what your money says, but all mine ever says is “Goodbye!”
I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey, but then I turned myself around.
I used to work for a calendar factory and they fired me … all I did was take a day off.
Light travels faster than sound … which is why some folks appear bright … before you hear them speak.
What happens to a cheese maker when they get cold? Their teeth cheddar.
If you don’t pay your exorcist, do you get repossessed ?
I love to laugh, and sometimes I realize, I haven’t laughed for awhile …
Laughter is good for the soul, that’s for sure … and more specifically, laughter at ourselves.
When was the last time you stood in front of a mirror and pulled faces? Yeah, tell me, I know you’ve done it.
When was the last time you walked into a room and forgot why you were there?
When was the last time you tried to tell a joke, and, uh, uh, ummm, forgot the punch line?
By the way, do you know why angels can fly? They take themselves lightly …
We laugh at ourselves; it’s good for the soul.
Laughter opens up the windows of the heart, laughter energizes the mind … laughter gives us permission to be who we are, and what we are … we laugh, we learn … go ahead and stand in front of the mirror tomorrow morning, or this afternoon, pull some faces at yourself - scowl, smile, roll your eyes … let your face come alive in all of its wonder, beauty, and craziness.
Talk to yourself …stand in front of the mirror and tell yourself that you really like your nose … you have great eyes … a marvelous smile, you’re looking pretty smart today, you’ve got what it takes.
Go ahead, have some fun - talk to yourself.
Your day will be different … your mood, a little lighter … and you’ll learn a few things …
There is something about laughter … in The LORD of the Rings, after some hard going, Pippen says to Gandalf,
Are you angry with, Gandalf? …. I did the best I could.
You did indeed! said Gandalf, laughing suddenly!
Pippin looks at Gandalf, a face full of care and sorrow, though as Pippin looks more intently, … he perceived that under all there was a great joy: a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing.…
Look how Psalm 1 begins … beware the negative …
The wicked, the sinner, the scoffer … anger, bitterness, contempt … it can happen to any of us, and we’ve all be there a time or two … when everything is bleak and hard, miserable and sad … but stay faithful to the things of God, says the Psalmist.
Sink your roots deep into the heart of God.
Like trees planted by streams of water …
It’s the first Psalm, the opening words, the primal thought … everything else in the Book of Psalms flows from this one, singular, Psalm … … here is where it all begins … the life of faith, our walk with God … God’s love at work in our lives.
We can always learn more about God’s love … God’s grace, mercy, and peace … what it means to be alive, to be people of God’s love, to walk the ways of faith … to sink our roots deep into the energy of God, like a tree planted by a stream of water.
Alisa Donner wrote to me recently, and with her permission, I share it with you: Alisa writes - I recognized anger in my life, and I realized that forgiveness was needed, so I wrote this prayer …
Father, renew in me a heart of deep forgiveness. Grant me the understanding to know how to open my heart wide. And let go. Deeply surrender. To understand how to release the grasp on the past, on wounds, and righteous anger.
I pause and sit with You now. Every breath I breathe with You. Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for Your wisdom. I expand the spaces of my heart to receive Your grace. Thank You for Your wisdom and mercy. Your loving kindness endures forever.
I am calmed with the knowledge that when I call upon You, You answer.
I bow in gratitude. Holy Holy Holy…what was, what is, what is to come. Surround me with Your favor as if a shield. And protect [my loved ones] from all harm.
I petition on behalf of all my relations, friends, colleagues, and those most close to my heart and consistently on my mind: may the peace that passes all understanding guard their hearts and minds in Christ. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for the gift of peace. May it be felt far and wide by all sentient beings. May they all and we all be free from suffering.
I know You hear my cries. You listen. You comfort me, always. God is all around me and within me. From the beginning of time. I give thanks for this gift, this blessing. In all reverence I give thanks. And widen my heart to receive future blessings in abundance that are coming. Amen.
I began this sermon with laughter … and we end with hope … hope for a better day … because God remains God … in all the ups and downs of history … in the good times and the hard times …
We have a calling with Christ … to reach into the deep places of our faith, to reach outward with the energy that makes a difference.
In Christ, a culture of love and kindness …
fair play and honest religion …
freedom and faith … hope and peace …
a culture of dignity, and mutual respect …
a culture that makes sure every child has a good school, everyone has a good job …
a culture that’s brave …
a culture of confidence …
a culture of open doors, open windows, and open minds …
a culture where everyone’s religion is honored and faith and philosophy respected … a culture of humility and wonder … prayer and gratitude.
A culture where we can laugh at ourselves, and laugh with one another.
Though the world go otherwise, go the way of Christ … choose love … choose faith and hope … choose laughter … open the doors of life to all … look up when you’re down … and look down when you’re up.
Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, says the Prophet …They shall be like a tree planted by water…. Amen and Amen!
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