Laughter And Living

An African proverb from Tanzania says, "Without craziness, one does not live." It's not a reference to mental illness, arrogance or the spirit of fear. It's a reference to the celebration of life.

Recently I bought a comedy DVD hoping to celebrate some Tanzanian-like craziness. My hopes were soon dashed; instead I saw the irrational mind of Satan. In one skit network television was critiqued for failing to hire diverse people. However, from the start of the DVD until I cut it off it spewed sexism, racism and religious hatred.

Comedians are supposed to make us laugh while teaching us something about human nature. Everyone shouldn't be a teacher. James 3:1-2 Amplified Bible says, "Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."

God does not give mistreated people the right to mistreat others. Levitico 19:18 Biblia Bilingue Version Reina-Valera 1960 dice, "No te vengaras, ni guardaras rencor a los hijos de tu pueblo, sino amaras a tu projimo como a ti mismo. Yo Jehova." Leviticus 19:18 Bilingual Bible New King James Version says, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."

The Japanese invented DVDs. Technology can be used for good or for evil. What are some good comedy DVDs? Write to:

Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195

Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.

The Chinese invented paper money. Diverse people should be on network television and everywhere earning money for doing good deeds. God made females and males of a wide variety of races, ethnicity, abilities and other characteristics to do good.

Being good to people brings prosperity. Becoming intimate with the Word of God teaches us how to treat people well. Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

John Maxwell, minister, leadership expert, speaker, author and entrepreneur, writes in the May 2013 Success magazine article, "Taking the Leap Is it time for your big, bold venture?," ""Between 70 percent and 90 percent of decisions not to repeat a purchase of anything are not about product or price. They are about some dimension of service," author and former Burger King CEO Barry Gibbons once noted. . . . Your understanding of people will help you build your business. Your treatment of people will help you build your business. If you can build relationships, your reputation will help you build your business."

A Good Chuckle Connects Us to Others

"May those who love us love us; and those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts, and if He cannot turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles that we may know them by their limping." -- Irish prayer

A little lightheartedness not taken too literally may produce laughter and lead to more connectedness with people in our circles of intimacy, friendship, participation and exchange. A lot of things in life can get us down especially on-going disagreements with family, friends and others. Staying down is the devil's playground. Believers build relationships in various ways through God. Nehemiah 8:10 New Living Translation Bible says, " . . . Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"

A laugh or a chuckle can be a part of expressing the joy of the Lord. Genuine laughter has many benefits for our relationship with God, self and others. The following are nine benefits of a laugh or chuckle:

1) reduces stress

2) lowers blood pressure

3) elevates mood

4) boosts the immune system

5) improves brain functioning

6) protects the heart

7) connects us to God and people

8) fosters instant relaxation

9) makes us feel good.

Try to introduce laughter into your relationships several times a day. Helpful and healing laughter doesn't make people feel bad about themselves. 

God created each person unique. No two people have the same laugh. Laughter is not elicited from everyone in the same way. Sometimes we bomb sharing jokes, witticisms and other attempts at humor because we haven't thoroughly studied and appreciated the audience. Also "nunca llueve a gusto de todos" (it never rains to everyone's taste/you can't please everybody). But don't give up or get stuck. A Japanese proverbs says, "Fall down seven times, get up eight times." Keep on asking God to help you to inspire people to laugh or chuckle.

Please share an uplifting joke, witticism or other form of humor. Romans 14:17 Amplified Bible says, "[After all] the kingdom of God is . . .  righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Hello, In What Way Can I Serve You?

I was thinking back to the concert An Evening of Elegance with Gospel singers Ernest Pugh, DeWayne Woods, Anita Wilson and Carolyn Traylor that Rafael and I enjoyed earlier this month. I was impressed that the more well known singers went out of their way to help promote the other singers by not selling their CDs at the concert while the others sold their CDs during an intermission in the concert.

How many relationships would be improved if we regularly went out of our way to help the other person? Whether we are in conflict or not, Philippians 4:4-5 New Living Translation Bible provides excellent advice in saying, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon."

Ways of serving each other don't have to always be large. In addition to music Rafael and I love to laugh. Good humor can relive tension and make us feel closer to each other.

Let's share some laughter and discover other things that improve our relationships. Join Rafael's and Michele's relationship group Thursdays from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at 14336 Winewood Lane #11, Woodbridge, Virginia.