Are You Laughing?

Are you laughing? If you are laughing, are you happy?

When someone tells a joke, how do you react? Sure it depends on the joke and the one telling the joke. Some people can tell any joke, and it is funny. Others can tell a simple joke and nobody laughs.

Others tell a joke that is not polite. Some people will laugh, but some will chuckle, and are not comfortable. They are not really happy.

Some tell silly jokes. The young person, at the show in Disneyworld, text a silly riddle for the host to respond. He asked what you call a boomerang that does not come back? He said it was a stick. That kind of a joke expects a chuckle.

Another person can tell a story, and everybody is laughing all the way through the story. You could call that fun, and happy laughing.

Some people just do not seem to laugh. They are not very happy, and do not enjoy life.

True happiness, and joy is different. Everybody would like to have that. How do you get that? The Bible says you can have real joy that lasts. Knowing Jesus, and His ways can give you that change in your life.

The Joy from Jesus is a gift. It is not something you work for, or learn. It is a joy that comes from within, and not from the events around you. Happiness can be temporary from your circumstances. But joy is there even when the circumstances are discouraging. Is that hard to believe? Talk to a Christian, or check it out in the Bible, and you can have that special joy everyday.

Are You a Tourist?

What do you think of when you hear the word tourist? There are several answers to that question.

A tourist can be a world traveler. Many Americans traveling do not know the language of that country. They go there to see some great thing. It could be a mountain and the scenery, or it could be the famous architecture, or a major event.

A traveler may be visiting places in this country. Again it could be the mountains, the beaches, famous landmarks, or a major event.

Usually tourists are considered visitors that are there for a short time.

Short visits usually just get the highlights of the special place.

If the tourist stayed longer, and visited with the local people, they could learn so much more. A friend, running a marathon, had time to visit with a local person during the hours of running together.

He learned of special interest places that he was passing. He learned some of the history, and details that took place there.

The local people care and share about the culture. And they tell of the feelings of the people about the events that happened there. It is like mining. The deeper you go the more valuable the results.

What does that have to teach the Christian? Sometimes churches have tourists. They are folks that are just passing through. They are just there for a short visit. And are just interested in a quick look around.

It takes time to go deeper. Meeting the people is nice, but it takes time to learn more about the culture and get the full benefit.

This is true for a church, and a Christian friendship. Your can appreciate that relationship more as you give it time to go deeper.

Are You a Porcupine?

Did you ever play with a porcupine? They are not the kind of animal you have for a pet. Why not?

They have a point. If you are not careful you will get stuck. Did you get the point? 

They do have some good points. Everybody has some good points. Some are just harder to see than others.

A young friend told me about petting one at a zoo. He said the points were cut so that you would not get stuck.

I guess porcupines do not have many friends, they are too hard to get close to.

What about you? You have some good points. Everybody has some talents. Maybe some are easier to see.

Some people act like porcupines to keep people from getting too close. They are afraid of what might happen. You can get hurt feelings.

But life is better when you do let friends get closer. Then others will find out how special you really are. How can you let that happen?

A porcupine puts out those spines when he is afraid. People do the same thing. They put up a barrier when they are afraid.

You have to choose to put down the spines, and let someone get close to you. When you know Jesus, He will always be there for you. Do you get the point?

Like New!

Have you bought something that says, it is like new?

What does that mean? That means that it is almost as good as new.

When you go to a store that has some used video games, that have been taken in as trade, they are new to you. But they are not the same as new. You do not pay as much, because they have some scratches or marks.

Your mom may have purchased a remanufactured vacuum cleaner. It was taken in, and had some parts replaced, and now it looks new. It is made to look new, so it does not cost full price, because it is not new.

Cars that are used or preowned look like new. They are older, and have been cleaned, and made to look like new. But they have some hidden scars or aging. You do not pay the premium price for the older car.

Some people are like that. They try to fix their life. They have changed some habit. And they look better, but the scars and damage are still there. They look better, but the years of abuse to their body are still there, even if they are just on the inside.

All of these changes are good, but 'like new' is still not as good as new.

The Bible teaches that when God fixes you, He makes you a new creation. That means that He does not repair the old. He makes NEW. Isn't that great!

So if you want better, trying to fix it yourself is nice. But you doing it, is not as good as asking God to do it. He is the Creator, and He makes NEW. And He can fix anything, and anybody. Give Him a chance today. Everybody prefers new. You will be glad you did.

How do you get there?

In the past, you would stop at a gas station or convenience store and ask for directions. Sometimes they would say, I am new to the area, or I am not from here, and did not know how to tell you where to go. Others would give you directions, that you could get closer. But you would end up stopping again to get more directions.

 

Later with the beginning of computers, people started using mapquest, and print out detailed directions. They started with how to get out of your neighborhood. This was usually a good method. But sometimes it would get you lost.

 

Then people used a garmin to find a location. Sometimes roads changed direction, or a new road was built. Then a voice was used to tell you which way to go.

 

The popular phrase was recalculating. That happened when the driver missed a turn. Still there were times when you ended up in the wrong place.

 

Today many people use their phone. It is much more convenient. It is very accurate. But you can still end in the wrong location.

 

What about life? What do you follow for directions? What is the most important destination? Heaven is the big question. Everybody should know the way to get to heaven.

 

One group will come to your door, and want you to believe them. When you ask them if they are sure that is the way, they say maybe. That destination is too important for a maybe.

 

Many people tell you to do more good things than bad things, and then you should get there. That sounds good, but it is still a gamble.   

 

Many of the religions in the world follow a man. But those men are dead, and you have to trust in a man's ideas.

 

The Bible gives specific directions to heaven. It says that Jesus is the way. Jesus died, and He came back alive. He was seen by many people. He again told them to follow Him. The Bible says these things are written that you may KNOW the way. God wants you to be sure of the way, and you can trust Him.

 

The Bible gives perfect and sure directions. It is even better than the wonderful technology of today. 

 

I hope you know the way. But even more important is that you follow the way. The right directions are important, but they must be followed. That means that Jesus died to make a way for you. He will forgive your sins, and give you eternal life. Then heaven is sure.