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Author: Brian Edgar
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 0718848144
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 170
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Book Description
We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh, and this is true of our relationship with God. Thomas Aquinas spoke of the sin of having too little laughter as well as the danger of having too much, while Martin Luther said, 'If you're not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.' Having a sense of humour is essential for maturity in faith and holiness, but sadly, the role that laughter plays in life and spirituality have often been neglected. Laughter and the Grace of God restores laughter to its central place in Christian spirituality and theology by examining its role in Scripture and highlighting its presence in unexpected places, including the story of Abraham and the formation of the covenant, and the tragedy of Job. Laughter can be found in the incarnation, the resurrection, and even the crucifixion - Jesus is himself the great laugh-maker - and it is nothing less than a participation in the life and love of God.
Author: Brian Edgar
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 0718848144
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 170
Get Book
Book Description
We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh, and this is true of our relationship with God. Thomas Aquinas spoke of the sin of having too little laughter as well as the danger of having too much, while Martin Luther said, 'If you're not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.' Having a sense of humour is essential for maturity in faith and holiness, but sadly, the role that laughter plays in life and spirituality have often been neglected. Laughter and the Grace of God restores laughter to its central place in Christian spirituality and theology by examining its role in Scripture and highlighting its presence in unexpected places, including the story of Abraham and the formation of the covenant, and the tragedy of Job. Laughter can be found in the incarnation, the resurrection, and even the crucifixion - Jesus is himself the great laugh-maker - and it is nothing less than a participation in the life and love of God.
Author: Brian Edgar
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 071889555X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 170
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Book Description
We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh, and this is true of our relationship with God. Thomas Aquinas spoke of the sin of having too little laughter as well as the danger of having too much, while Martin Luther said, ‘If you’re not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.’ Having a sense of humour is essential for maturity in faith and holiness, but sadly, the role that laughter plays in life and spirituality have often been neglected. Laughter and the Grace of God restores laughter to its central place in Christian spirituality and theology by examining its role in Scripture and highlighting its presence in unexpected places, including the story of Abraham and the formation of the covenant, and the tragedy of Job. Laughter can be found in the incarnation, the resurrection, and even the crucifixion – Jesus is himself the great laugh-maker – and it is nothing less than a participation in the life and love of God.
Author: John Dietz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781630501693
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 94
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Book Description
Life, Love, Laughter talks about God's impact on a family because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This family is confronted with true trials and taught how to live and learn through God's grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Author BiographyJohn was raised Catholic under the false impression that fulfilling God's principles meant pursuing perfection, and this impossibility overwhelmed him. It wasn't until he attended a Catholic retreat that this view changed. Faced with the statement "your sin is a symptom of your nature" John realized he needed to reevaluate his relationship with God. That night, he invited God into his heart and asked the Lord what He needed him to do. The answer to this prayer has allowed John to follow the Word of the Lord, maturing him into a strong, godly husband and father.
Author: M. Conrad Hyers
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 9780804216531
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 148
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Book Description
Recognizing "a playful spirit" as part of our human makeup, Conrad Hyers shows how laughter and humor are integral to our serious study of the Bible. He opens the joy of understanding the Bible in its fullness. With the darker realities of the Bible -- sin, suffering, and death -- there coexists a lighter side -- laughter, humor, and playfulness. Competent biblical study requires both perspectives. This highly readable, preachable, and teachable work gives ministers, students, lay readers a valuable tool for recovering the spirit and offers a chance to share in the celebration of life and the divine comedy of faith, hope, and love.
Author: Susan Sparks
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781459679399
Category : Large type books
Languages : en
Pages : 264
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Book Description
Laughter - the GPS System for the SoulLaughter was honored by the ancients as a spiritual healing tool and celebrated by the world's great religions. So why aren't we laughing along the spiritual path today? What would happen if we did?In this personal and funny look at humor as a spiritual practice, Rev. Susan Sparks - an ex - lawyer turned comedian and Baptist minister - presents a convincing case that the power of humor radiates far beyond punch lines. Laughter can help you:Remove the fearful mask of a God who doesn't laughDebunk the myths that you don't deserve joyFind perspective when faced with adversityExercise forgiveness for yourself and othersReclaim play as a spiritual practiceHeal - emotionally, physically, and spirituallyKeep your faith when God is silentLive with elegance, beauty, and generosity of spiritWhatever your faith tradition - or if you have none at all - join this veteran of the punch line and the pulpit in reclaiming the forgotten humor legacy found in thousands of years of human spiritual history.
Author: Miriam Pollard
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780894535444
Category : Prayer
Languages : en
Pages : 132
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Book Description
House of the Pasch -- Alternatives ---A book for the hand -- Keeping the likeness -- Constructive failure -- The cheerful ascetic -- The craft of appreciation -- Moppings-up.
Author: Tessa Thompson
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
ISBN: 1601787227
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 192
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Book Description
In Laughing at the Days to Come , Tessa Thompson shares a poignant story of physical suffering and her journey to not only understand God's hand at work in it, but to face the future with laughter. This book is gospel centered and hope-filled. Page after page, the author directs our focus to Christ and his work for us. We all face suffering in this fallen world, but we are not without hope. In Laughing at the Days to Come, readers are equipped to face their own stories of suffering with joy because of our present and future hope in Christ. Tessa Thompson was fifteen years old when she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that took away her hearing and would eventually cause chronic pain and other health complications. Faced with a future of uncertainty, she encountered Proverbs: 31:25: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." The godly woman of Proverbs 31 had something Tessa lacked- a vision for life that allowed her to laugh at the future. Tessa recognized she needed this laughter in order to endure lifelong suffering in a way that honored God. In this warmly personal account, Tessa insightfully considers what she calls the Christian's "peculiar perspective on suffering" and shows you how the hope of God's Word will enable you to laugh at the days to come even in the midst of tears and suffering. Table of Contents: PART 1 – Laughter: Its Definition Chapter 1 – Her Trial: He Gives and Takes Away Chapter 2 – Her Vision: A Woman Who Laughs Chapter 3 – Her Reality: Living in a Vale of Tears Chapter 4 – Her Dilemma: A Peculiar Perspective on Suffering PART 2 – Laughter: Its Doctrine Chapter 5 – Her Necessity: A Sober-Minded Suffering Chapter 6 – Her Comfort: God’s Fatherly Sovereignty Chapter 7 – Her Guide: Christ’s Perfect Example Chapter 8 – Her Guarantee: The Spirit’s Enduring Preservation PART 3 – Laughter: Its Doing Chapter 9 – Her Prayers: The Humble Expectation of a Daughter Chapter 10 – Her Practice: The Selfless Love of a Sister Chapter 11 – Her Prospect: The Heavenly Aim of a Pilgrim
Author: Michael A. Screech
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022624511X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 353
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Book Description
M. A. Screech, best known for his translations of Montaigne and Rabelais, has collected a series of brilliant essays on the question of when laughter was acceptable to the Western Church. During a time of reform and concerns about heresy, laugher becomes a subtle measure of when and how one can risk rule-breaking. While it could be cruel to mock those who fell into error, it wasas Screech points out so much better than burning them. Professor Screech explores what inspired laughter in the Renaissance, and whether it could be innocent."
Author: Richard P. Olson
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1621892026
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 196
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Book Description
Here's a different angle on humor--it can be a spiritual practice, an expression of a theology of joy, hope, and grace. Humor is so valuable, for it offers self-care, healing, and renewal, precious gifts in times of pressure and tension. Olson begins by telling of three unforgettable friends who lived their lives with joy and zest--a practice that opened doors and aided their own sense of well-being. Playfully, he continues by exploring the known benefits of humor. Next considered is the amazing variety of humor in the Bible, a basic theology of a laughing God, and the caring ethic of humor that emerges from this theology. Finally, there is a discussion of how this practice of humor enriches worship, caregiving, and administration. Laughter in a Time of Turmoil draws to a close considering spiritual disciplines/practices and why humor belongs among these practices. Suggestions are then offered on how to grow in this spiritual practice. Discussion questions are provided for each chapter to help groups enjoy their conversations about the book. This book will help you think and laugh, or laugh and think (take your pick) and then be on your way rejoicing.
Author: Howard R. Macy
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1498292607
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 140
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Book Description
Some folks are surprised to find humor in the Bible; they don't think it has any. Others are embarrassed; they worry about being sacrilegious. Some laugh and don't tell anyone; others laugh out loud and share it with those around. However people respond, the Bible does, in fact, use humor. This book examines why it's there, why it matters, what it looks like, how to look for it, and what to do with it when you find it. The author's goal is to help people become better Bible readers, growing in both skill and insight. So the book doesn't just display a collection of museum pieces, showing the treasures of other explorers. Instead, it offers readers tools and field guides to become explorers discovering on their own. It's a fun how-to manual, dealing with what is routinely overlooked in teaching about biblical interpretation. Individuals will enjoy reading it, but it's also a rich resource for reading groups, Bible study groups, and classes.
