The Power of Laughter
Last night I had a great dinner with some friends. What made it a good time wasn't the food, it was the laughter. I think we laughed the whole time. Some say laughter is the best medicine, and science is starting to prove this. Laughter is said to lower blood pressure and increase circulation. Laughter lowers stress levels and greatly improves a person's emotional well-being.
Everyone at last night's dinner is a pastor and most of our laughter came from ministry stories. If you've been in ministry any length of time you will have funny stories to tell. Why? Because ministry is about people and people do funny and bizarre things. And because pastors are people too, we do funny and bizarre things. We had a good laugh at ourselves too.
We all need a good dose of laughter. I ended the night feeling very refreshed and grateful for good friends. I needed that.
God’s Will
I had a thought this morning about God's will, here it is: Knowing God's will is more about education than revelation. Reading from Ps. 143:10, David requests of God, "Teach me to do your will..." This jumped out at me because I often ask God to show me his will. But David asks God to teach him. Moses asked the same thing in Exodus when he asked God to "teach me your ways".
Here are some distinctions between teach me and show me:
Sad day…
- Just got word today that my friend, Elliott Tomai, died last night.
- Elliot was a profile in courage: born with Spina Bifida, Elliott wasn't supposed to live very long.
- He died last night in his sleep. I think he was 28.
- I remember he started a bible study while he was studying at LCC. He always had a desire to reach his friends for Jesus.
- I remember he invited me to sit in on his religion class because he couldn't believe the crap the prof was teaching.
- I remember Elliot was on our mission team to Maui when we went to serve at GBC Maui's youth camp.
- I remember cruising I'ao needle and Lahaina with him.
- I remember his dog, Vita, and how Vita used to chase mongoose at KCC.
- I remember watching him swim in Bruce's pool and thinking how fluid and free he looked.
- I remember he loved chicken katsu.
- I remember when he told me about a girl he liked.
- I remember his heart and desire for ministry.
- Now, Elliott's without his wheels and with his Father.
- See you again, ET!
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