The simple act of going eyeglass shopping taught me the scriptural lesson that when one part of the body suffers then all the other parts suffer....

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.1 Corinthians 12:26

Yesterday, I took my eye glass prescription over to Lens Crafters in Maple Grove to look at frames and take advantage of their 50% percent off lens sale. After finding a real potential, I had them take a picture of the frame on my face and e-mail it to me so my wife could offer her opinion of how this would look on me. The clerk that helped me took down all of my information and agreed to hold this particular frame.

I asked him how soon it would take to have the frame ready for pick-up. He said most of their eye glass orders are sent to their manufacturing plant in Houston, Texas which we all know was hardest hit by that big bag of wind better known as 'Harvey'.

He didn't have to say anything more before I began picturing the employees of Lens Crafters being unable to get to work due to the flooded out roads, down power lines, and of course being forced to vacate their homes because of the flooding of those homes.


I pictured these hard working men and woman along with their children getting into rescue boats, and in some cases, being air lifted by the coast guard to shelters they could find for them. I pictured those families sleeping under tables at these shelters, going days without water and food while trying to comfort their children at the same time. I wept for these families.

Then, I began thinking of that verse from 1 Corinthians where we are reminded of the importance of unity-when one part of the body suffers, all parts of the body suffer, when one part is honored then every part rejoices with it.


I weep for those families whose lives have been disrupted by this storm of the century. I weep for Lens Crafters who's daily commerce is disrupted when delays result when 'Harvey'impacted the lives of its employees.


It is interesting that the name of our nation, United States, reminds us of our unity. We're all separate in the form of 50 states, but we're all united for the singular cause to provide freedom and safety for all who could not find it anyplace else in the world- Holocaust survivors, and others who come to America from repressed countries. America is made up of many cultures and though we all come from different walks of life, in America, we're considered equals.

I shop for eye glasses at my home town Lens Crafters and the employees in Houston make those glasses for me, and I weep because I see the suffering of the people in Houston. I rejoice when I hear stories of bravery as others come to their aid and rescue them. Tears of joy flow as I hear the stories of heroic rooftop rescues or the rescue of the dementia patients from a flooded out nursing home.

There is beauty with the word unity. It is what makes the body of Christ strong, it is what makes America great!

While the world around us seemingly is falling apart, we as Christians have a reason to be filled with joy and peace, a peace that others will soon notice

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is the fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

As we enter  a new week of uncertainty, wondering how the stock market is going to respond in the aftermath of Harvey, or what more this storm has in store for the people in Texas, those of us who know Jesus as  Savior are filled with the peace that is so lacking in the world we live in. Who wouldn't have joy if you knew that Jesus occupies the very core of your soul and speaks soft words of encouragement no matter what you're experiencing? One young lady trying to cross the flooded bayou with her dog was asked by the reporter why she was smiling in the face of this tragedy- her words were "it could have been worse'. I could only imagine that she might have had a strong faith in our Lord.

Throughout time with all of the unfolding tragedies that occur on an almost daily basis, God gives us a reason to sing.  Yet, for many of us, you wouldn't know that in a world where the mere glance at the horrific headline or look at the stock return sends us into a downward spiral and our bodily vital signs running dangerously in the red.

Yet, for many of us who read God's word daily, there are moments when we're sleeping that God will bring a soothing verse to your mind- a verse that gives you the assurance to help you sleep the rest of the night, a verse that enables you to awake refresh and full of zest that gets others around you wondering 'why are you so happy?' That peace God gives you is the peace that the rest of the world is looking for- a peace that is as close to them as asking Jesus into their heart.

Tragedies will always be among us. Weather related events such as Harvey will continue to come and go. But just as Psalm 23:4 reminds us 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me,' we too can walk confidently knowing that our Shepherd Jesus is at our side!

As I wrote this blog at 12:55 am, one glance at the 24/7 news told me that Harvey made landfall with wind speed of 130 mph- now is a time to pray for those in harms way.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Early this morning, 12:55 am to be exact, I glanced at the 24/7 news station to learn that Hurricane Harvey hit landfall with a sustaining wind speed of 130 mph. As I type this, my mind is reflecting on the lives of those who decided to stay, hoping to simply hunker down until the storm passes. In one post I saw what 130 mph wind speeds can do- dismantle walls of homes, throw off the roofs, completely obliterate mobile home parks, down electrical grid, and if the massive storm surge holds true, then massive flooding will take millions of lives left in harms ways.

Sigh.  It is hard for someone like myself to simply turn off the 'care switch', especially when God gave me the gift of mercy.  I think not about the logistical things such as cleanup, but the human lives left in harms ways. I think about the people crying, the children hanging on to their parents or those in charge of caring for them, and I think about the emergency personnel placing themselves in harms way to rescue people.

 One spokesperson said there are the most vulnerable among them, the poor, those without transportation, who could not leave because they had no independent transportation.  The person who said this was a parish priest who said he was going to hunker down with them because he knew they would need someone to help them get through the storm.

Right now, I'm imagining people of all nationalities on the coast line, including those who may not have had a belief system, praying to God to help them survive.  People who may not have had any time for God before the storm realizing as their lives were being decimated, their savings exhausted, their belongings destroyed that maybe God does hold the key to what ails them.

I'm imagining  families hunkering down in storm centers trying to drown out the noise while trying to give their crying children comfort by singing lullabies like 'Jesus loves the little children' and 'Jesus loves me, yes I know for the Bible tells me so.'  I'm imagining many people praying for the first time the salvation prayer after listening to their Christian friend share the good news with them, all while the wind blows against the building they might be occupying.

My prayers tonight are for God's protection on the people in this coastal region and for President Donald Trump that this unfolding of tragedy will be an opportunity for God to use him to encourage these people as they struggle to put their lives back together. My prayers are that this tragedy will unify our nation and make us realize we are all one nation, regardless of skin color, creed, or nationality.

Sometimes it takes the storms in our life to teach us what is truly important in life. One thing I know is this: Jesus is the good shepherd who laid down his life for all who lie in harms way of Harvey.

The journey

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Oh Lord, why?

this journey I'm on, why

does it have to hurt so?

when, I never asked to be on this path?

I thought that life was supposed to be 

fun,

all delight,

happy memories to fill a life time of my loved ones

Yet, in the flash of a darkened night

my loved one was gone

but,

not until the men in blue tried desperately to save her

not until our chaplain came out

and

spoke softly these words

"They did all they could, yet

they couldn't couldn't bring her back to life"

not until

cries of pain could be heard across the room

cries that would linger on in the fortress of my mind

for weeks, months and years

I know you oh Lord

cried when my loved one died

you

knew this is a fallen world  we live in, where

bad things happen to good people,

You

of all were most willing

to walk with me on this journey

I

never asked to be on

You 

responded to the prayers of many who cried out to you

to comfort me,

to inspire me with your spoken word,

to surround me with comfort and love

for 

this journey I never wanted to be on....

Grief camps for children and teens to help them grieve and mourn the losses in their lives.

 

 

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.- Anne Frank

While helping my wife move her school library collection from one part of the building to a newly created space, I found a book entitled 'You are not Alone' Teens talk about life after the loss of a parent' written by Lynne B, Huges who suffered the loss of both of her parents when she was just a child. The book does a good job highlighting grief as she interviews teens about what how it has impacted their lives 'forever'.  Lynne and her husband started a grief camp for children and teens to help them heal while providing a camp experience.

As I read her book, I was reminded how different grief looks between the Adults in their lives and their kids. For example, one teen girl said this about her grief:

"The thing that stinks the most about my loss is to walk down the street

and see a father and his daughter holding hands or playing and me

thinking that I will never again have these times with my father. Another thing is that I 

will now dread my wedding day because I know that I will not have my

father there to walk me down the aisle and give me away. Lastly, I won't have my 

father at home to scare the boys I am dating. I know that most girls would give

anything for their fathers not to grill their boyfriends, but it is something I have never experienced and never will."

Another 16-year-old young man said this after the suicide of his father;

" Nothing new ever happens--no new trips with my dad, no new memories, and the ones I have are fading. I miss him very much. I wish someone would have told me that there was a real

possibility that my dad was going to kill himself. They all told me it was okay and it's going to be fine. They never once said, your dad might be gone. FOREVER. They put false leads in my head, so it was a total surprise when my dad went missing. I thought it was joke."

The writer reminds us that Grief is like an earthquake. The first one hits you and your world falls apart. Even after you put the world together again there are aftershocks, and you never really know when those will come. She reminds us that there is no single definition of grief..it feels different to each person who experiences it. It changes from day to day, month to month, and year to year. Sadness, anger, loneliness, numbness, fear, confusion, and even relief are just a few of the components of grief. She reminds us that grief 'doesn't have an expiration date. One teen said this about grief:

" The adults in my life kept pushing on me the responsibility to be strong and take care of my mom and the members of my family. I didn't want to talk to them. I kept wanting to tell them, "No This is my loss too."

She reminds us that grief is the key to healing. Sometimes you have to walk through the "wall of pain" to get to the other side of healing. She reminds us that she understands it's a difficult to believe that experiencing pain will help you heal, but it works.

Perhaps the hardest part about loss is how it changes the personality of the young person. Many children and teens say that their losses meant they had to grow up too soon. This meant not fitting in with their same age peers at school because they feel more mature than the rest of them. Their friends were playing silly games in school while they were dealing with the pain of their loss.  Schools need to do a better job addressing the aftermath of their loss once classes start up again following the summer break.

It was refreshing to discover that there are grief camps for children and teens. Helping them embrace their grief and giving them the tools to cope with their loss goes long ways toward preventing the negative influences from seeping into their lives- things like alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, and other risky behavior.

Every one out of 99 years we have the solar eclipse

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Today, we live in an age where humanism rules,

Where those of us who believe in the creation theory are told

 simply we're believing in fairy tales

not to be taken seriously

We're told that it is absurd  to believe God made the heavens 

and the earth in 7 days

Yet, in the last days, God has revealed a glimpse of the world through

molecular biology with the discovery of DNA, and with the 
most powerful microscope reveal that God really does exist.

God will reveal to us His existence through 
archeological studies, the discovery of Noah's Ark, and through
testimonies of people whose lives have changed
after inviting Jesus into their hearts,

and through the scientific discovery of the universe

many formerly agnostic scientist have concluded that

God exists

Yet, our humanistic worldview insists on  eradicating God

from our schools, advocating for the very things that 
angers God, while
threatening believers with lawsuits should we remotely
mention Jesus name,
While permitting pornography, child slavery, and abortion to run wild

We live in a very crazy world filled with angry, unsettled and misdirected people
committing crimes, doing drugs, consuming alcohol, and re-entering 
the penal system like it's a proud thing to admit, leaving
damaged children, emotionally unstable family members 
in the dark, wondering of course
what just happened?
If only those who follow the humanistic worldview can search and see
God's existence?

As for me and my household, we will continue to follow the Lord 

Often, it isn't until we suffer significant losses that we discover the redemptive and healing power that only Christ can provide.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

In my morning devotions, I read the testimony of John Calvin from the book,'How they found Christ, in their own words' (Copywrite 1983) As a child, he was raised in a family that was, in his word, steep in the darkness of Catholic tradition, "such as confessing all my sin to a priest, to pray humbly for pardon and absolution, and secondly, to do good and by this erase our bad actions from Your remembrances. Lastly, in order to supply what was still lacking, we were to add sacrifices and restitutions to offset our sins. Then, because you are a stern judge and strict avenger of sin, they showed how dreadful Your presence must be. When, however, I had performed all those things, I was still far off from the peace of consciousness, for whenever I descended into myself or raised my mind to you, extreme terror seized me- terror, which no compensations or satisfactions could cure." It was during the time that John Calvin lived in Germany that the news started filtering out about the burning of Christian people in France.

 Calvin soon realized that the peace of God came with knowing His son, Jesus Christ, and praying to him directly, not the Catholic priests.

Through a man sent to him, John Calvin was 'arrested' whereby God's message was clearly relayed and the personal relationship of Christ became his new reality.

As I read his testimony, I'm struck how similar it is even today how God uses people to share the truth of the gospel, the correct gospel, not the convoluted gospel that many people get through the religiosity of the time.

Many of us will surround our selves with the 'goodness of traditions and rituals without finding true meaning and purpose for our lives. It is as though we're on this constant religious treadmill that makes us exhausted. We may see Jesus on the cross every time we drive by a church building or see a cute Bible message on the billboard, or hear a Christian song on the radio, but we're still far away from knowing Him on a more personal level. 

Often, it isn't until we suffer a major crisis in our life such as a loss of a loved one when we hear the gentle words of the Savior reminding us in Matthew 'and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”...

Unless we're pointed toward the cross and the redemptive power only Christ provides, most of us are on the constantly running religious treadmill trying to please God resulting in chronic despair.

In my city, there is a mosque no more than a mile from my home. It is a place where people of the Islamic faith go to pray. In some ways, my city reminds me of the city of my origin, the home to the largest group of Holocaust survivors, a city that welcomed rather than shun this group like so many other cities did at that time. Muslim people are in a period known as Ramadan- a period of prayer and fasting and seeking Allah ( God).

When people pray and fast. good things happen. Many people of the Muslim faith are making decisions for Christ after seeing Jesus in their dreams, despite the real threat of being disowned by their family of origin. The joy of knowing God on a more personal level far exceeds the risk of alienation and abandonment of their family of origin.

 The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16 with these words, ' For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Embrace your pain because God is doing some amazing things in your life.

Mark 6:34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

It was late at night.  The traffic was unusually slow.  As I inched along on the interstate, a gentle rain was hitting the windshield. My nearly worn out wiper blades were just barely keeping up. It was late and I simply wanted to be home in bed. I had just finished working second shift. I was tired. I eventually saw what was holding up the traffic. There were emergency vehicles up ahead- ten of them to be exact. As I got closer, I could see a few cars pointed in opposite direction from the direction they intended to go, with broken head light glass and shattered bumper parts scattered on the road way. 

There were many emergency medical responders at the scene.  Some of them, I could see, were working frantically on the car's occupants, giving them chest compressions trying, I could see, to bring them back to life. I tried to avert my eyes from the blood caked faces of the victims and keep my eye on the road ahead, less I wanted to cause the next collision. 

I hate seeing accidents. When I was a child, I remember how my mom would divert attention from the scene by playing silly games or telling me a story.  Tonight, there were no silly games, no story, but real life around me. On a deeper level, these scenes affect me on an emotional level as images of this scene become seared into the brain, waiting for future nights to reemerge at a time I desperately needed to sleep. These scenes of mayhem have a way of tenderizing me. 

My mind drifted back 2000 years ago where I was standing on the ground steering up at the now vacant cross where Jesus Christ had been nailed to. I watched in horror as the Roman soldiers used nails to pound the hands and feet of Jesus to the cross. I remembered the grimaces of pain uttered occasionally from Jesus and from the bystanders around me. 

I remember hearing the woman around me crying as they watched this Jesus who spoke amazing words, prophetic words I might add, who many saw as the Messiah talked about in the Torah by the Jewish leaders. Why those leaders didn't want to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, I'm not sure, but while I watched the final moments of this scene I knew that this Jesus was dead and all I was left with were the horrid memories of this man's torture- images that seared into my mind just as the images of this trail of bent up cars, smashed windshield glass, broken headlights, bodies completely covered in a blanket.  

As I continued to inch along, my mind drifted to a sunrise morning, a beautiful day I might add.  I was sitting on a rock when this woman ran by exclaiming that this Jesus they killed on the cross just days before was missing from the tomb.  I got up from the rock I was sitting and followed her.  I saw that the large boulder that at one point completely closed the tomb entrance was removed to the side.  I watched as men I recognized men who had revered Jesus, men who left their livelihoods to learn and follow this messiah. 

 As they witnessed the empty tomb and saw that this Jesus was gone they left with the saddest look.  They knew that not only was the Messiah dead but now his body was gone.  Some of them, I imagine gave fleeting thoughts about going back to their fishing trade, with only the searing memory of their Lord's torture. 

The traffic was beginning to move again. Instead of 5 Mph, I was moving 10. Progress was being made. As I witnessed this scene, I couldn't help imagining the gruesome task of contacting the next of kin of those who never made it and then imagining the guttural cries on the other end of that phone. Images that, for some, will forever sear in their minds. 

 As I drove faster now, my mind drifted back to yet another scene.  This time I was fishing on the sea of Galilee with Simon Peter, Thomas, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples I didn't know.  We came up empty handed. Early the next morning I heard this man call to us from the shore.  He asked us if we had caught any fish and we said no. Then he said to cast our net on the right side of the boat and we would catch some.  When we did we were unable to haul in the catch.  

Then Simon Peter cried out "It is the Lord" and before anyone knew what happened, Simon Peter jumped into the water and swam to shore while the rest of us followed in the boat. We enjoyed the fish over a makeshift fire while listening to Jesus share beautiful words about what it means to follow Christ.  No sooner than I passed the final emergency vehicle I was able to resume my normal speed.

As I reflect on life, I'm reminded that life is occasionally hard, with images we just assume forget being seared into our minds.  Realizing that Jesus's resurrection from that horrid cross gives me hope that recovery from those images is possible through this Messiah who overcame death and inspires us through the holy spirit that rest in the hearts of believers who cry out to him.

The pain we go through in this life tenderizes us and makes us more in the image of Christ, useful for God's purpose.

 Embrace your pain and trust God that he knows what he is doing with your pain.

Laughter really is the best medicine!

"We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.And the other nations said, “What amazing things theLord has done for them.”"Psalm 126:2 (NLT)

This information comes from laughter is the best medicine-facts

A Pill of Laughter Each Day Drives the Doctor Away

When was the last time you burst into a roaring laughter? It certainly felt good, right? People love to entertain and to be entertained because laughter feels good.

On the average, a person laughs about 17 times in a day. Because of this, the entertainment industry has made a good living out of making people laugh.

Many people do not mind spending a few dollars just to have a good time chuckling, giggling, or guffawing while watching a stand-up comedy or a funny movie.

Besides its entertainment value, humor is also known for its therapeutic effects on people’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The more ha-ha-has and hee-hee-hees you have in a day, the better it is for your health. Laughter, which is the body’s response to humor, is an effective way to treat many ailments. It may not be regarded by medical professionals as the best medicine, but the best thing about laughter is that it is totally free and has no side effects.

This priceless medicine can definitely improve a person’s quality of life.

Effects of laughter on the body

A good hearty laugh provides a wide range of health benefits. As a person laughs, a number of changes occur in the body.

The muscles in the face and body stretch and the rate of the heart beat rises. Laughter also causes a person to breathe faster, which in turn brings more oxygen to the tissues. Helping the body fight certain diseases, laughter reduces health problems connected with strokes, high blood pressure, ulcer, and arthritis.

The following are the 10 physical benefits of laughter:

Benefit 1: Good work out for the body

Laughter is comparable to a mild exercise because it can burn calories. In fact, a study found that 50 calories are burned with 10 to 15 minutes of laughter. This is equivalent to a couple of minutes on the exercise bike or rowing machine.

Laughter works by moving the muscles in the abdomen, lungs, diaphragm, face, back, and legs. Aside from massaging the abdominal organs, laughter can boost the strength of the muscles that secure the abdominal organs in place.

Digestion is also improved with the help of laughter, which tones the functioning of the intestines.

Benefit 2: Normal blood flow

People who laugh more often have normal blood flow, meaning their blood vessels easily expand and contract. But those who don’t tend to have a restricted blood flow.

Benefit 3: Reduced blood pressure

If you always have a good laugh, your chance of having a high blood pressure is lower than most people. When you have a hearty laugh, your blood pressure goes up at first. But then it goes down below normal levels. As a result, your breathing becomes deeper and faster, sending oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.

Benefit 4: Lower blood sugar level

Laughter can also help diabetic people decrease their blood sugar levels. This claim is supported by a study conducted on people with diabetes that determined the effects of exposure to humor on blood sugar levels.

Benefit 5: Improved immune response

Laughter effectively activates the immune system, which is mainly responsible for protecting the body against disease-causing elements such as viruses and bacteria. According to studies, laughter increases the body’s much-needed antibodies that fight infection.

Benefit 6: Reduced pain and faster healing process

The most obvious benefit of laughter is its ability to reduce pain, which can result in a faster healing process. Various studies conducted on people in discomfort show that pain did not bother them much when they were laughing. Experts say that laughter is an effective distraction from pain such as headaches, back pains, and arthritis. More often than not, people who are sick focus their energies on their pain, causing their muscles to become tense. When these people are distracted by laughter, their muscles relax and their body is relieved from pain.

Benefit 7: Enhanced brain activity

Did you know that laughter can help improve memory and learning? Laughter stimulates the brain and keeps it alert, helping people retain more information.

Benefit 8: Relaxed muscles and lower stress levels

As a person laughs, the muscles that are not involved with laughing tend to relax. Once the laughter has finished, the muscles involved in the laughter begin to relax as well. Because laughter can ease tensed muscles, it is also known to relieve people from stress.

Benefit 9: Improved respiratory function

Laughing frequently is beneficial for people with respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Laughter has a cleansing effect on the lungs—it empties the organ of more air, leading to a deeper breathing.

Benefit 10: Reduced risk of heart disease

When it comes to protecting your heart, you could say it could be considered that laughter is the best medicine. In fact, a study found that people suffering from heart ailments were less likely to laugh in various daily life situations than those without heart disease.

Just how laughter works to protect the heart is not yet confirmed by experts, but some of them explain that laughter causes the muscles in the diaphragm to move, which is good for the heart. Laughter can also induce in the brain the release of hormones such as endorphins that produce a positive effect on the arteries. To ensure the optimal health of your heart, medical experts recommend that you laugh for 15 minutes every day and work out thrice a week.

Laughter does not only benefit the body, it also improves a person’s emotional and mental well-being. A good sense of humor serves as an effective emotional medicine that reduces stress. When faced with tough and exasperating situations, people can uplift their mood simply by using humor. The ability to laugh at yourself can turn difficult problems into more manageable ones.

Also, humor gives people a good feeling and a chance to relate to like-minded individuals. According to mental health experts, humor helps people cope with stressful situations. Here are several benefits that laughter can provide to a person’s mental and emotional health.

- Humor helps

people connect with others. People with the same kind of humor are more likely to bond and enjoy each other’s company.

- Humor improves a person’s ability to interact with others. Being able to laugh often leads to the ability to talk more and to make more eye contact with other people.

- When you experience humor frequently, chances are your negative feelings such as depression, hatred, guilt, and anxiety will be replaced with positive ones.

- Laughing more often can definitely make you feel good, thus helping you develop a positive outlook in life.

Humor therapy: laughter that heals

Although laughter does not directly cure diseases as medical experts believe, humor therapy has been used to treat serious diseases such as cancer. As early as the 13th century, doctors used humor as an anesthetic to relieve patients from the pain caused by surgery.

Nowadays, a lot of hospitals and treatment centers throughout the United States have certain rooms filled with humorous materials such as books, sound recordings, puzzles, and games. These materials help patients keep their anxieties, fears, and discomfort at bay. In addition to that, volunteers visit patients and provide them with humor items such as rubber chickens and water pistols. Volunteers give patients a reason to laugh and enjoy life despite the harrowing conditions they experience. There are also cancer treatment centers that use humor therapy to treat their patients aside from the usual treatments.

How to develop your sense of humor

Now that you are aware of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of laughter, you might be thinking of ways to use your sense of humor in your everyday life.

Finding humor in any situation is easier than it seems. If you find it hard to chuckle once even for just one day, here are a few tips to help you start laughing your way to a healthier life.

1. Smile—it is where laughter starts. A smile is just as infectious as laughter. You can smile even if you do not find something funny in a situation. Smiling is very easy; you just flash your teeth while thinking of any pleasant thing. Practice smiling whenever you see a pleasant person or thing.

2. Seek out any laughter that you hear. Usually, laughter and humor are not private among a small group of people. When you hear laughter, do not hesitate to approach the group and ask what is funny. Oftentimes, people are willing to share a funny joke or story since it gives them the chance to laugh again.

3. Rid yourself of negative thoughts. Make a list of good things that have happened to you, and be thankful for those positive things. Avoiding negative thoughts is a good start in developing your sense of humor.

4. Spend more time with people who have a great sense of humor. Humor and laughter are contagious, and it’s great to be surrounded by people who love to laugh. These people take a positive view on life, thus they do not take things too seriously. These people may influence your outlook and your humor. Also, it is advisable to spend less time with overly serious people.

5. Lighten up and loosen up! Being too serious can only weigh you down and make it hard for you to see the brighter side of things. Never be ashamed to laugh at yourself. Sharing your funny and embarrassing moments to others can send you and others in a roaring laughter. It is one of the best ways to take yourself less seriously. Rather than grumble about every frustrating situation, it is healthier and more enjoyable to find humor in the situation and laugh at it. Soon, you will realize that your mood becomes lighter each day.

6. Another great way to develop your humor is to try to be like a child. Children, unlike adults, take life lightly and see things in an uncomplicated manner. Moreover, children laugh a lot. Childlike innocence is what many serious people lack, and that makes them even more prone to stress. Try to act and think a bit like a child, and you will find yourself enjoying the perks of a hearty laughter.

7. Find ways to cope with stress. Stress is a major barrier to laughter and humor. If you allow stress to get the best of you, you are in for a miserable, depressing, humor-free life. There are a lot of ways to deal with stress. You can do some relaxation exercises or learn a new sport. Having enough sleep and a balanced diet can help you recover from stress easily. Do every means to relax so that you can ease your tension. That way, it will be easier for you to laugh.

8.Make it a habit to laugh every day. That does not mean you should force yourself to laugh—you just need to make an extra effort to laugh. Here is how to do it: go to a quiet and private place and then laugh out loud for a few minutes twice a day. You will feel silly and awkward at first, but keep practicing until you get comfortable with it. You will surely benefit from the stimulating effects of laughter.

9. Like reading and writing, humor can be learned. Take your cues from comedy TV shows and movies. Read comic books, visit comedy clubs, and listen to comic radio programs while driving. Find every opportunity to expose yourself to laughter-inducing moments. You may soon pick up some funny lines that you can use to amuse your friends and coworkers.

10. Finally, practice your sense of humor. Your friends will definitely appreciate that. Share a hilarious situation you encountered on the street or a funny anecdote or joke that you have read from the newspaper. When having conversations, ask people about the funniest moments they recently had. For sure, they will be more than glad to share their own funny stories to you. The sound of your friends’ laughter may be enough to send you into a non-stop laughing fit.

All in all, laughter offers a wide array of health benefits without costing you a single penny (so laughter is the best medicine in that respect that it is free!). Aside from being safe, laughter lessens your chance of getting sick and allows you to enjoy life fully. So laugh hard and do it more often!

So do you think laughter is the best medicine? At least it has many benefits to your health - but never forget to consult your doctor!

I feel that in making life easier and more joyful to live, laughter IS the best medicine. With a little humor we get enough strength to raise our eyes and see life from a broader perspective.

Not to mention that laughter is catching. If you really laugh heartily, others usually start laughing too and laughter makes everyone feel better. You might even say that in connecting people laughter is the best medicine also. Or what do you think?

Read more: http://www.inspirational-short-stories.com/laughter-is-the

Everyone of us has lost a loved one we truly miss. Here is a song that speaks what we often think about in our grief

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Long after the loss of our loved ones, the memory of them lingers on in our mind. We don't stop loving them even when they are no longer among us. 

We remember them in our dreams, every time we drive by a place that holds special memories of them, and in our homes, our loved one occupied.

The pain is real and may take one to recover at a time table that is unique to them. Through our journey, we have to be kind to ourselves by embracing each emotion. 

 We must never think of ourselves as 'weak' when we have a crying spell  Yes, men, it is ok to cry. It is never a sign of weakness to do so, and in fact, it is emotionally and physically healthy for you to do so. 

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is the one that read, "Jesus wept" which was what Jesus said upon seeing a deceased Lazarus.  In that same chapter was a reminder from Jesus of his pending resurrection. 

In John 11:25 were these words from Jesus: Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

In the next verse, Martha replies,“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazardus had been dead 3 days and his body laid in a cave tomb with a large stone blocking the entrance. Jesus reply was to ask them to take away the stone.

Martha's response was "“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Jesus said these words to Martha, "“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Jesus then prayed to the Father in heaven these words, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Then Jesus called out, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face.

Because of Jesus's resurrection, He made it possible for our loved ones to see heaven and enjoy all the fruits which only heaven can provide.

While we love the thought to be with them, we must remember that as long as we have breath our mission is to share the love of Jesus with as many people as we meet and to grow closer every day by reading God's word and enjoying fellowship with other believers.


Yes, it will be a glorious day when we see heaven- a buffet of the soul!

Hope is what the world years for

"A man can live about 40 days without food, and about 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without air...but only for one second without hope"- Hal Lindsey

5 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Food, water, and air, 

then there was the elusive hope

There are so many people, hurting people, walking around

in search for this hope....

They look in all the wrong places and cannot find it

Just like in the days of Noah, they mock God,

These same people would deny the living Christ 

by calling him a fairy tale

depicting him as a cartoon character

in a super hero movie

Yet, when tragedy strikes one of their loved ones

their heart rate escalates to dangerous levels

they smoke more

consume more alcohol, take more drugs 

just to

drown out the pain, and

find any sense of hope and assurance that things will get better

I know someone who 

melds his own belief system from the best of all religions

everything is fine, until tragedy strikes and the unthinkable happens

In his self-made religion, there is no explanation for what to do in this situation

In his self-made religion, there is no answer for tragedy

it doesn't exist

While he practices deep breathing, proper cleanliness, and eating healthy

his nightmares of the tragedy lingers on

hope is what he wants- to know that the pain would subside

hope is what he yearns for

But,

To him, this hope is elusive, like a jack rabbit running away

If only,

he would turn to the Son of God who died for him

who knew him before he was born

who genetically designed him with his own unique DNA

from which no one else shares

who died for him on the cross

Through my decision made in 1974 to receive Jesus 

hope is what I have

a hope of seeing loved ones again

a hope that Jesus is walking with me through my pain

a hope that when my time is complete that I will come face to face

with my creator God, my savior, and the one who never disappointed me

whenever tragedy strikes

Jesus is my living hope!

God will lift us out of the muck and mire of our grief....you can bank on that thought.

I love stories!

Human interest stories, especially.

Stories of people finding God in the worse of circumstances

trauma,

significant injuries

loss of a child

loss of their livelihood

Stories about people who had no way of knowing Jesus, 

seeing Jesus in their dreams

When one thinks about it, God is a better creator and writer than

William Shakespeare

Stephen King

John Grisham

Mark Twain

J.K Rowling 

and the list goes on

God pens on human hearts

He speaks visions into the minds of human beings

He reminds them how much Jesus loves them

regardless of the trauma

significant injuries

loss of their child

He reminds them that they will recover 

and

given a brand new beginning with a new purpose

God will not waste your pain!

If only they knew that Heaven is a place filled with people taken from us before their time....

“So imitate God. Follow Him like adored children, and live in love as the Anointed One loved you—so much that He gave Himself as a fragrant sacrifice, pleasing God.” — Ephesians 5:1-2

In my conversations with others who experienced the loss of a child, I've learned that this form of grief is never a cookie cutter grief. It isn't a one size fit all, 6 months out and it's back to life as we know it approaches. 

This kind of grief takes a special kind of caring and some pretty good listening on the part of those who care.

A child is a precious gift of our heavenly Father, who I imagine each time one of these little ones were born warms God's, heart. 

I can imagine that it brought smiles to  God just as it does for us every time a little one coos, smiles,  laughs, or sings 'Jesus Loves Me' in Church. 

It warms God's heart when he sees the profound impact on adults each time a little one is held.  Walk into any child care center and I can assure you that there are plenty of smiling faces on the grown-ups who work there.   

I imagine that when one of these little ones dies suddenly before their time, God grieves just as we grieve. He cries just as we cry. In fact, since we were created in His image means that we share God's emotions. 

God could see the unimaginable toll that grief would play on humanity each time a life would be taken. 

Since the beginning of time, God has used those he called to tell them how much He loves them.

"Abram, you will father a nation! And Abram,  tell the people I love them."

"Moses, you deliver my people! And Moses, tell the people I love them."

" Joshua, you will lead the chosen ones! And Joshua, tell the people I love them"

"David, you will reign over the people! And David, tell the people I love t hem"

" Jeremiah, you will bear tidings and bondage! But, Jeremiah, remind my children that I love them." (Page 74 'God came near' by Max Lucado)

When God sent His son to die for us it was as though he was reminding us how much He loves us.

Oh, how God wishes that everyone would learn to trust the one who died for them- the gift of His Son, the one who truly understands the intensity of their pain when death occurs. 

If only they would know that Jesus's death and well-documented resurrection made it possible that the love of our loved one doesn't just disappear, but continues on in this place we call heaven.

If only they knew that even if their earthly father disappointed them, they have a heavenly Father who waits for them to call on Him each time pain and suffering is close by.

If only they knew that drinking hard liquor isn't the way to cope with their pain. 

If only they understood that God's wisdom is as close to them as reading the book of Psalms or going on bended knee and uttering their pain in prayer, or keeping a prayer journal that reflects the amazing ways God is helping them in this life.

If only they knew......