Random Thoughts

What Kind of Medicine is Laughter?

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For those of us who did not have online news and social media as children, do you remember enjoying The Reader’s Digest?

Honestly, there was only one section that I really enjoyed as a child: “Laughter Is the Best Medicine.”  Perhaps that is why I still enjoy a good “Dad Joke” every now and then.  I like to laugh.  I like verses like Proverbs 17:22: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

However, I think we can agree that while walking through our day-to-day lives, most people seem to have dried up bones – not joyful hearts.  Why?

As adults, we know that life is hard.  The responsibilities we have seem enormous.  The pressures we endure seem relentless.  The weight of the world seems to rest on our shoulders.  It is enough to steal our laughter.

Of course, I also realize that you cannot go through life in a constant state of hilarity.  Good things (like happiness) can be taken to an extreme.  However, Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is a time to laugh.

God knows how important joy is.  He even told the Israelites to set aside days of celebration that Numbers 10:10 calls “joyous occasions.”  We cannot be healthy if we are not enjoying life.

The problem we face is not understanding what brings real joy to life.  Paul stated in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  True joy comes from a life that is right with God.

Jesus clarified this as we read what He said in John 15:11-12: “‘I have told you these things that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.”  Love God.  Love others.  That is the source of true joy.

One will have to try really hard to not experience joy if they love God and love others.  And I do not believe that most of us want to not experience joy.

So, I choose the happier road.  I choose to love God and love others.  I choose to recognize how blessed I am and how much of a blessing I can be to others.

Will you?

Click the picture below to find an additional resource that might help you choose joy…

What Would I Do?

DrJayCook Random Thoughts

A few months ago, my son Jameson asked me a sobering question. I was reminded of it last night.

Newsong came to FBC with their Christmas Tour again (and all the groups were incredible). Jameson got to sing Christmas Shoes with them on stage – it made this dad proud. But Jameson is always excelling (musically, academically, athletically, and even spiritually).

Yes, I may be bragging, but I’m getting to something – I promise.

I am very proud of him. I love him. I would do anything I could for him.

And that takes me back to the question.

We had just finished our nightly prayers, and he looked at me and said, “Dad, you know how Abraham had a son and God asked him to sacrifice him? Would you do that?”

Wow!

Now I think I answered properly, but I will admit that the answer was a struggle.

When we are pressed to give a good “Christian” answer, we can typically give the acceptable Sunday School answer. But what would your heart say?

What does that say about our hearts?

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Wrestling with God?

DrJayCook Random Thoughts

For a number of weeks at First Baptist Church of Pascagoula, I have been preaching a series on the life of Jacob. (Really interesting – the man, not the sermons 😉 )

Anyway, lately we’ve been focused on the night Jacob wrestled with God. Have you ever wrestled with God? I have. For that matter, I sometimes think I’m doing it now.

* What do you do when you can almost taste God’s movement? Continue reading →

What would you do?

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The following article was published in First Baptist’s Reminder newsletter September 28, 2011…

Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a house church in the former Soviet Union.  They had to meet in secret to avoid reprisals from the communist government.  One Sunday these believers arrived inconspicuously in small groups throughout the day so as not to arouse the suspicion of the KGB informers.  By dusk they were all safely inside, windows closed, and doors locked.  They began by singing a hymn quietly but with deep emotion.  Suddenly, the door was pushed open and in walked two soldiers with loaded automatic weapons at the ready.  One shouted, “All right – everybody line up against the wall.  If you wish to renounce your commitment to Jesus Christ, leave now!” Continue reading →

There’s a Truck on My Tummy!

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Tom with a truck on his tummyOK, not exactly on my tummy, but on someone else’s – but it got you to read this far…

So, I’m flipping channels a few days ago, and I turned to the History Channel (Do you remember when they actually presented history?).  A show was on (Stan Lee’s Superhumans) where they tell the story of people who can do “superhuman” things.  The reason it caught my interest was because I recognized the person – Dr. Tom Owen.  At over the age of 60, he displayed his amazing tummy strength by allowing a truck to drive over his stomach.

Pretty cool!  But I remember him when… 😉 Continue reading →

Driving in the Fog

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Something happened today that I found very illustrative.  The fog rolled in.

OK, I realize that fog isn’t mysterious, and it isn’t strange – but it caused me to think (or, should I say, reflect).

I was coming home for lunch when I saw fog ahead – it was rolling in from the Gulf (and we live a block from the Gulf of Mexico).  Suddenly, I found myself engulfed by the Gulf-fog (pun intended).  I turned on my lights, slowed my pace, and continued home. Continue reading →