Despite tech issues, I was simply reminded life is not all that serious.

Yesterday I had a simply great day with friends and family at our church gathering in New Hampshire. The music was great and the people were friendly and fun to be with. The message my friend Scott delivered was a joy to hear.

I know for many, church is not always a fun place to be. Words of condemnation coupled with guilt, pain and other hurtful feelings can often keep you from the very place of understanding and joy God has for you. I have to say my church gathering is a joy to be around. (I also need to say not all church was like that for me.)For me as youth, I was an unruly kid. (I know my friends read that and think, “no…really?!?!?”) But it is the truth. I had fun when I attended church even if others did not. Here are some of the things I did as a child in our local church.

• Playing the Doors “Light My Fire” on the church organ.
• Placing a “ghost” behind the belfry door, so when the door opened loud noises and a ghost appeared.
• Served stale bread (Don’t all churches do that serving matzoh crackers?) and added salt to the wine one communion service.
• Rang the bells one night “by mistake.”
• Wore a “superman” outfit under my choir robe.

Lest you think, growing older softened my edge.

• About 15 years ago, I recorded the sounds of a little boy crying out “Let me out! I will be good. Where are my parents? Help me, please! ” Complete with knocking on a door.  It sounded like a child was in the pulpit.
• It was so “stiff” in a church I was speaking in upon returning from the restroom, hilarity ensued as they realized I had replaced my tie with a paper towel looking like a “clerical collar.”
• And yes, I did get caught by the pastor’s wife in my early days for playing “In-A-Gadda-Da–Vida” “in church”.

At this stage of my life I would do none of those again. Grace is my guiding light, honor my creed and fear is not a good motivator. (Though if we wore robes I might wear a Superman” costume…)

Life can be fun. You may have to work a little harder, overcome a few things, but at the end of it all, it is worth it not to get caught up in the “pity parties” of life.

If we are people of light, then in that light there is joy. And I we are releasers of the kingdom then we will release joy. (On occasion while preaching I have reminded a somber congregation, that if they had joy in their heart could they send it to their faces!)

Let’s laugh everyday!

Today despite circumstance and situation, we are people who live in joy. It is high time we got over some of our stiffness and enjoyed the goodness of the Lord. And yes, I do know Jesus is our superhero…