Laughter

Ever wonder why people laugh? Ever wonder how?

Well, I just love watching people laugh. I really love it when they're just laughing about harmless stuff and fun w/ one another. Even if they're being offensive, or "rowdy." I still enjoy seeing people happy. We all feel better when we can feel happy.

But, what makes us "feel" happy? Is it the fun we have with others? Is it the fun we have at the expense of others? And, what is happy anyway?

For many who profess to be Christians, being happy is a struggle to overcome their own guilt, shame, and shortcomings. They may be sad because of others, but in many cases, their lack of happiness is about their own doings... their own sins... their own guilt. That kind of sadness, or that lack of happiness, is built on one simple thing... works.

But faith and works are different. While faith without works is dead (see James 2:20 and 2:26), works without faith is misplaced. And, counting on our works (or our peformance, or our CONformance to some standard and expectation) without FIRST placing our faith in Christ in its appropriate place in our life, will only lead to frustration. We either behave really well, and feel "OK" about ourselves, or we struggle and fail over and over. In either case, we don't find real, lasting, sustainable (hard word) happiness.

Here's the bottom line, in Romans 14:22, Paul tells us:

"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves."

In other words, lean on your faith, let God speak to you and INTO you through it, and then go and live. Live in the way He leads, guides, and MAKES YOU WANT TO LIVE! Don't keep measuring yourself against somebody's standard, or some futile notion of perfection. Just let God speak, heal, love, and shape you. Then, when you are seeking out what you should do, what He has placed in you will come out of you! And when you see HIM coming out of YOU, I can promise you... you will be HAPPY! You may even laugh out loud!

Have a great, and laughter filled week!

Saved? What does that mean?

A dear friend asked about the phrase "being saved" or "getting saved" that we Baptists use. I explained the concept of sin separating us from God, and us not being able to fix that of our own works, or will, or volition. I then explained that's why Jesus came.  He physically lived and died as a human while also experiencing a temporary spiritual death. This He did willingly, at God's direction, to pay the cost of OUR separation. When we confess our need due to our sin, accept Jesus' sacrifice as truth, and as OUR payment, we are "saved" from our sin. Then, the Holy Spirit that Jesus told about moves into our life, and reveals the nature, heart, teaching, love, and will of God to us. To be clear, I believe the decision to accept this as TRUTH in YOUR life is the critical step. Just knowing this concept won't cut it. Knowing it, and working to be REALLY GOOD won't do it. Only accepting your need, and Jesus as the fulfillment of that need leads to salvation. No other person can make that decision for you. I pray that some may find help, clarity, or above all, HIM in the words I've shared here. If I can ever help you work through such a decision in yourife, I would be happy to talk with you about that!