Laughter Is Good For The Soul

Three men were at the pearly gates of heaven waiting to enter. But before going in, the angel had a question. The angel said "just out of curiosity how did you get here"? In other words, what events led to you being here?

The first man said." I came home early from work one day to my penthouse apartment, and much to my disappointment. I walked in and saw men and women clothes, scattered on the bedroom floor. I saw my wifes bathrobe, and a mans shoe. I smelled cigarettes, and me or my wife didn't smoke. My wife was in the shower, but she was alone.I knew something was going on. I looked in the closet, and under the bed. I looked everywhere and saw no one. Just at that moment I looked out the window, and saw a man downstairs running out the door. He had on one shoe, and his shirt hanging on one arm. He was digging in his pocket, trying to find his keys. He was just about to get away. I knew I couldn't possibly catch him, twenty floors below. I thought,what in the world can I do? I looked over in the corner, and saw a refrigerator. So I pushed it out of the window, it landed on top of him. It killed the man downstairs instantly. He didn't get away. The angel was like man that's incredible, but how did you get here? The first man said "In the midst of all the chaos, I got so excited. I had a massive heart attack, and dropped dead on the spot".

The angel asked the second man the same question. The second man said " I was running late for work one day, I had overslept. I couldn't be late anymore, or I was going to get fired. I didn't have time to get fully dressed in the house. So I was putting my clothes on,as I went out the door. I managed to get one shoe on, and forgot the other. I was working on my shirt. I ran out the front door of my apartment building, and was headed for my car. I had just found my keys, when all of a sudden this refrigerator came from an upstairs window. I saw it coming, but I couldn't get out of the way in time. It dropped on me, and that's the last thing I remember. The angel was like go right in man, you deserve a break.

Then the third man came up, and the angel asked him the same question. The third man said to the angel. "The truth be known, I was hiding in this refrigerator".

Communion

I think the purpose of communion, is not being properly taught. If being taught at all. At least not stressed, to the immature believers. Being immature is not necessarily a bad thing. You may have been victim to improper teaching. It just means you don't fully understand it yet. This is something I noticed during this past months activity. At the church I attend, we customarily do this every first Sunday. There were several regular members of the congregation this past Sunday. For some reason that did not participate. The practice of communion, is for all believers to celebrate. Not just those who feel they are in right standing with God. The truth of the matter is,"we all fall short". We are all saved, by the grace of God.One misconception, is what communion is for. It's not supposed to be a sign of how righteous you are. It's to thank Jesus Christ, for dying for all our sins. Even those of which we are presently in the midst. No one is excluded or exempt, from doing this in his honor. If you are a recipient of the gift, of the death, burial and resurrection. We take eat and drink, in remembrance of him. Do we as Christians ever thank him enough? I don't think we do, when we live day to day. Has the lord done anything for you today, that you couldn't do for yourself? Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect. It just means you're striving to do better. I've often heard the church is like a hospital. If everyone was cured, it wouldn't have a mission. Communion is to acknowledge that God gave us the strength. To overcome everything, through his son Jesus Christ.Since we never thank him enough,there can't be a schedule. Once every month doesn't scratch the surface. Everytime you have the oppurtunity, it's never too often. Just do it gratefully, every chance you get. Having taken part in one place, doesn't stop you from participating somewhere else. You don't have to be, at your chosen place of worship. So do it wherever you are, the purpose is the same.I could never do this subject justice, in my discussion. I heard a minister preach a sermon on this, that I found very enlightening. It made me look at exactly what communion was for. Sometimes we do it in the morning, other times in the evening. I think at a time, when I didn't pay closer attention. We may have even deviated from the specified day. I now know that it doesn't matter, about the time or the place. With people constantly looking for reasons, not to celebrate Jesus. If more people understood it. It might serve as motivation for someone, to do the right thing.

The Hem Can Be Dragging The Ground, That Don't Keep It Down

The question came up whether a dress code was needed in the church. If the spirit is there, the issue will take care of itself. Someone in a leadership role should exhibit evidence, of the fruits of the spirit. If there isn't, it's the wrong place. There shouldn't be a predetermined mode of dress, to enter into the house of the lord. Once you get there, the teaching should bring about a change. If the saints don't offer reproof and correction, they're not doing their job. This not only applies to the women of the church. It goes for the men as well. This doesn't just apply to tight short dresses, and cleavage. It goes for sagging pants, and hats inside the building too. The church is supposed to be a hospital, we haven't been charged with turning patients away.This makes me think of the Pharisees that brought the adulterous woman before Jesus. They caught her in the act, but where was the man? She wasn't having sex by herself,and I'm sure it wasn't another woman. They would have brought her to be stoned as well. They probably knew about her because, they had been with her also.They obviously wanted to hide someones trangressions. The idea not looking at her, would make the sins go away.There's a thin line between truly being concerned and being a hipocrite.Some of my most explicit sexual experiences, were committed with a supposedly spiritual woman. I wasn't a changed man then. I don't think she was truly a changed woman either. I was worldly in my desires, and she was game. She was good at playing religion, she held a position in church. She wore dresses well below her knees, and didn't wear make-up. I've know ladies that were more revealing in their dress, but much less risque in their behavior. Looks can be deceiving.We as Christians do major damage when we talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. When a woman is a Christian it doesn't make her unconcerned with how she looks.Then she is vain for a different reason. Her beauty is a testament to the goodness of God. When we always look at these attributes, as being sexually suggestive. It says something about our mindset. Maybe we should get our minds out of the gutter. Some people are provocative in whatever they wear. They could put on a pair of overhauls, and still look good. If you can't wear the same clothes on Sunday, you wear everyday. Not that you would, but could you? You should probably check your dress. You know what message you want to give when you go out. Is that the one you want to give when you go to church? What's worse, to know and not do what you're supposed too? Or not know and do, the same thing?

Happy New Year