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Laughing at Ourselves

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Bob Newhart

Someone said, “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.”

For the sake of love… and joy…

Wonder if Jesus made tax collectors and self-described sinners laugh until they couldn’t catch their breath… or until they cried?

If so, am guessing the religious leaders of Jerusalem didn’t find him as funny.

Don’t know how many of us remember Bob Newhart who gave us so many laughs. A friend recently reminded me of the comedian’s “stop it” routine.

If you need a smile today, see if this 6:21 minute link to a Newhart skit helps.

http://tinyurl.com/zg576c5


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45 Responses to “Laughing at Ourselves”

  1. joycemb says:

    Thanks Mart! sometimes a cold washcloth helps too…LOL!

  2. remarutho says:

    Good Evening Mart & Friends —

    Yes! The truth is profound and ultimately unavoidable. Best to fall upward into Christ alive rather than to fall downward into fear dead. As my 93-year-old friend says, “I decided long ago I would not worry about anything, but just to leave everything to the Lord.”

    As Trudy the beautician said (“Nine to Five” the film), “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”

    Blessings,
    Maru

  3. remarutho says:

    Meant “Steel Magnolias” the film! Memory had the quote, but lost the film name. :o) 43F and raining here. Maru

  4. SFDBWV says:

    Laughter in our home is essential to our survival. It is the distraction of humor that keeps us from staying too focused on the negatives of our lives.

    Just last evening we were explaining to a friend the importance of laughter for Matthew and sharing some of the things that make us laugh.

    Laughter is good medicine. In fact years ago when we used to get Reader’s Digest, “Laughter is the best medicine” was one off the staples of the magazine.

    Some of the best looks at human nature from a comedic view was the TV programs “3rd Rock from the Sun”, and “Mad TV”.

    Matt doesn’t get the “new” humor and neither do I, so we tend to watch old reruns or DVD’s of favorite programs or movies.

    Whether Jesus used humor in His ministry, I have to wonder what some of the quotes from Scripture sounded like from His voice with the tone of humor attached. As the tone of our voice can often change the entire meaning of what is said.

    Obviously God has a great sense of humor, look at some of the creatures He created, and look at some of our best comedians who like all else in creation is but a shadow of our Creator.

    36 and rain, snow incoming in the next couple hours and days.

    Steve

  5. Regina says:

    Good Morning, All
    Pray all is well in your lives… Have a busy day ahead of me, but it’s just the usual Saturday chores (cleaning, laundry, grocery store, workout classes to create balance in my life, etc.) Have been reading (have a few more to read) the “Jonah” blogs and comments to get myself caught up. I learned SO much in the comparison/contrast of Jonah and Jesus from you all! WoW! I ((love)) this blog site! :-)

    pooh, I pray that the LORD will comfort your heart and give you supernatural rest and reassurance regarding what happened to you at your doctor’s office. I can’t imagine going through something like that, and like you, my heart would be “hurt” in the aftermath. I sympathize with you, and I agree that it’s SHAMEFUL for a doctor to behave that way! Especially since all doctors have to take an “oath” (swearing/promising–before God and man–to be honorable in their practice of helping to heal bodies) to do NO harm to their patients! So, I pray (pooh) that you will sense the LORD’s love in a deep and supernatural way today because He truly cares about you!

    Looking forward to viewing that video when I have time, Mart! I love to laugh, and I’m grateful to God for giving me a sense of humor!

    45 degrees with clouds in my neck of the woods…

    Much LOVE to all!
    Regina

  6. pegramsdell says:

    I love laughter and laughing. I love Bob Newhart. I need people like him in my life to remember not to take life too seriously. And to remember there are seasons.

  7. poohpity says:

    What a good application for our blog, “Stop It”. bahahbabhbabhhabbahahaaa!!!!

  8. poohpity says:

    Thank you so much Regina!!

  9. poohpity says:

    It seems that Jesus partying with tax collectors and self described sinners was so wrong to the Religious sect but I am so sure they were all filled with joy and celebration. (Matt 11:9; Luke 5:29, 7:34) Filled with excitement and wonder would bring laughter to any heart.

  10. poohpity says:

    oops that was Matt 11:19 not 9

  11. joycemb says:

    Back in my post-modern progressive days I used to see Jesus’ words as funny sometimes when He spoke to people. Now that I’m back to my less-progressive thinking and seeing the Bible as what it is, not what I’d like it to be to suit me and the culture I do tend to take it more ‘seriously’.
    Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to laugh…

    I always loved the Bob Newhart shows, along with Frasier and Red Skelton back in the day!

  12. joycemb says:

    As far as laughing at myself, I used to be too self-protective to laugh at myself, but as I become more and more comfortable with God’s grace I find it easier to laugh at myself. Does that make sense?

  13. street says:

    been thinking of Matthew 12:45…43 “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

    it seem to me when we stop it, we need something more than ourselves to combat and protect. we can not build a house for God, but He promised to build a house for us. He also promised to make us a kingdom of priest. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to seal, help, and sanctify among many other things including humor us.
    thinking when we come to the end of ourselves, “stop it”, we need to turn to the Way the Truth and the Life.
    we really need to stop it. and seek.

    and when you find yourself in a box….

    2 Samuel 22:30
    Psalm 18:28-30

  14. jeff1 says:

    I think that the Irish are very good at laughing at themselves and that is probably because they are the butt of many jokes.

    I can remember seeing the film ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ and thoroughly enjoying it.

    There was some great British classics in the 70’s but the comedy these days is not clean and cut like then.

    While it’s good to laugh, I believe we need to cry too, but I was brought up more British then Irish and we don’t wear our heart on our sleeve.

  15. foreverblessed says:

    To stop it, as street was saying, we must be filled with the love of Christ. The house cleaned, is the house living to the kaw of Moses, but it must be filled with the Grace and Truth of Christ, John 1:17

    Anyway, Love and laughter, is what I want to shine around.
    Good topic, Mart

  16. jeff1 says:

    Are you sure foreverblessed that is what God wants, for God does not need you to be a light where there is light, for where love and laughter is there is light but where hate and sadness lives there is need of light.

    In this world of darkness so we must shine, you in your small corner and I in mine.

    As I said before it is good to laugh, but it is also good to cry, and God does not put us on the path of just love and laughter, but also hate and sadness, and He does it for a very good reason because while laughter may lift my spirits, it is the tears that cleanse my heart and soul.

  17. SFDBWV says:

    “Laughing at Ourselves”.

    Matthew and I have all the “Mad TV” shows on DVD and that includes the Bob Newhart skit Mart led us to.

    What we find amusing at looking at the satire of Mad TV is exactly what the title of this subject is about, laughing at the silly stupid, goofy things we do in a comedy format so as to see just how foolish and inane some of our behavior is.

    Mad TV in that format ended with the death of Don Martin the originator of “Mad Magazine” “Alfred E. Newman” and all.

    If you never seen the shows, what you missed were black’s making fun of black’s, political correctness over played, all sorts of things we take too serious being shown as a great waste of time and energy.

    If only we could learn to see the humor in our behavior.

    As is recorded in Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything.

    I like laughing a lot better than getting angry, and in some cases the ignorant, brazen, incredibly audacious behavior by some can best be laughed at for what it is, ridiculous, instead of getting all upset and angry over.

    Not easily done sometimes, as sometimes getting angry has a purpose too, it is just that anger takes energy away and laughter adds energy to you. One makes you smile the other scowl. One makes you feel good the other not so good.

    Cloudy and 25 degrees, more snow on the way.

    Steve

  18. remarutho says:

    Good Morning All —

    The topic of Bob Newhart’s routine in the video is the ultimate topic, it seems to me. We laugh at ourselves because we are mortal — yet, we truly aspire to join our Creator in eternity. We are anxious to escape destruction.

    We are earnest in our reach for God — and we stop being trapped “buried alive in a box” when we put our faith in Jesus.

    Christ is the way out. He gives us His resurrection life by grace through faith. We are freed for joyful obedience by His sacrifice. So, Bob Newhart says, “Stop it! Don’t be afraid you’ll be buried alive in a box!”

    In Jesus’s love you won’t be.

    May you live laughing through your tears!

    Blessings,
    Maru

    43F with light rain here.

  19. street says:

    thinking of laughter and anger. both can be shallow and both can be deep. thinking also of a guy named laughter. anyone remember who?

  20. street says:

    i thinking God get the last laugh, after all He is the Omega.

    54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  21. street says:

    looking for victory and my Champion. sustain me and keep me in my exile and lead me in the path of righteousness for thy namesake.

  22. joycemb says:

    I’ve had this song on my mind the last couple days. Michael Card sang it in 1993.

    Lyrics

    A barren land and a barren wife
    Made Abraham laugh at his wandering life
    A cruel joke it seemed then to call him the father of nations
    A heavenly prank, a celestial joke
    Cause grey hair and babies leave no room for hope
    But hoping is something this hopeless old man learned to do

    Chorus:
    They called him laughter
    For he came after
    The father had made an impossible promise come true
    The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady
    So they called him laughter
    Cause no other name would do

    A cry in the darkness and laughter at night
    An elderly couple sat holding him tight
    An imporbable infant, a punchline, a promise come true
    They laughed til they wept then laughted at their tears
    This miracle baby they’ve wanted for years
    Would make a messiah who’d give us impossible joy

  23. joycemb says:

    Joining you in your prayer Street.

  24. foreverblessed says:

    Thanks for the song, Joyce.
    And yes, Jeff, there is a time for crying and a time for laughter.
    I have been crying a long time, 19 years ago when I left my youth church, but legalistic. When I went to christian meetings and the singing started, the tears would flow, and they were cleansing my soul. It always felt as a relief. This stayed for more then 3 years.
    But now is for me the time for laughter, and I am slow in this. So I like this topic.
    But sure, for other christians, they still may be in their crying times.

  25. foreverblessed says:

    In the evening devotion of Spurgeon of January 11, ends with:
    “Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.”
    And what is that matter:
    That Jesus prayed for us before the enemy would test us:
    Luke 22:32 “I have prayed for thee.”
    “We little know what we owe to our Saviour’s prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank him because he never held his peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, he does not say, “Satan hath desired to have you.” He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, “But I have desired to pray for you.” No, but “I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made.” O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.”

    But this might also be much to serious, Mart was saying, can we laugh about ourselves?
    The first sign would be that we would not get angry when people misjudge us, and do not have the urge to set things right, but leave that into Jesus’hands.

  26. poohpity says:

    That is a good saying not to get angry when people misjudge but even Jesus set things right when confronted by critics(John 5:41-47 NLT) Then Peter also gave us guidance about setting things right or defending in 1 Peter 3:14-15

  27. poohpity says:

    I often laugh at myself but I try so hard not to laugh at others I will however laugh with them but not at them. Sometimes my laughter is in astonishment over certain thinking, you know like really? I can not laugh at anyone I am feeling anger towards, that to me would be like lying but I can laugh at my responses especially if I am repeating an unwanted behavior and for that same reason I bet God laughs with me too. Like my Aunt used to do with me when I would get in another pickle, she would just shake her head with a smile on her face and say, “Debbie, Debbie, Debbie you do some the darnest things” but I always knew of her love and even though I had blown it again she never shamed me.

    I look back now over somethings I did out of ignorance of the consequence and I can laugh but I sure wasn’t during them.

  28. poohpity says:

    One of the wisest pearls of wisdom that I still fall prey to and laugh about is from Solomon “don’t answer a fool according they their folly or you will be just like them”(Proverbs 26:4) but then the next one says, “Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.…(Proverbs 26:5). One says according to or in the same way while the other says as the folly deserves the exact opposite like someone who calls names do not call names back.

  29. bubbles says:

    Good morning. . . 5F here.

  30. SFDBWV says:

    Good morning Bubbles, it is 01 degrees here, I plowed last night after I got Matt to sleep. We only had about 4 inches of snow yesterday.

    Enjoy your day off.

    Steve

  31. street says:

    Laughing at Ourselves

    read the story of joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers. first time i ever read it with the idea that the we live now like this when the brothers were sent to bring israel back to egypt. joseph told them, “not to quarrel on the way.” pretty funny! so just stop it!

    He will build us a house.

    Genesis 45: 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

    i have to admit living in egypt is not fun, but it is His will.

  32. poohpity says:

    Talk about a good role model that was MLK. He did not retaliate but clung to peace and doing good to those who treated black people in a fashion befitting his relationship to the Lord while on the other side even those who called themselves as followers of God treated black people as less than human and sadly many still do. MLK taught those who looked up to him, “Stop it” do not return ugly for ugly, hatred for hatred just as Jesus taught. The message sure got heard more loudly from MLK than the other side. One can not stop hatred by being hateful.

  33. poohpity says:

    Our Daily Bread was certainly very good for today.

  34. street says:

    happy martin luther king day. i find it enlightening that men of God who are sold out to Him are remembered, even with annual holidays or like bunyan who is still read 500 years after his death. even job asked that his complaint where written down so it could be preserved. it was, we call it the book of Job.

    there are holidays that celebrate victory over bitter enemies, but i hope you will never see a holiday dedicated to hate and evil, like roe vs wade.

  35. joycemb says:

    Discover the Word is very helpful for all us bloggers here. I studied this my first year of Bible college but that was years ago now and really need a refresher. Hoping to improve my blogging.skills as I am not happy with some of my posts. Maybe I can laugh about it some day. I think taking a step back for now is what I need to do. Peace to you all.

  36. foreverblessed says:

    Discover the world of Jan 18, about Heb 13:5-6?
    Do you mean that one.
    That is a very touching story.
    We believe what is said in that bible verse, but Ed Dobson has lived through it.
    It is reassuring to know that the Holy Spirit is always with US, and will lead us from faith to faith, which I perceive to mean, an ever deepening faith, from sure to very sure, to very very very sure.

  37. foreverblessed says:

    Or maybe I should say, from sure, to very doubtful, to a bit sure, to doubt again. To no contact with God anymore…
    But God does not leave US nor forsake US, and a little hope comes back, and grows into belief again.

  38. poohpity says:

    I think Joyce was speaking of “Discover The Word”; “What does it mean to have a “high view of Scripture” for today January 18th 2016.

  39. Regina says:

    Good Evening, All

    Off topic here… Dear BTA friends, I need prayer! I don’t remember if I shared this info with you (if I didn’t)… I live in a rooming/boarding house (at present) with three women. Well, one of the women has a vile, unclean spirit in her and it’s at enmity with the Holy Spirit in me. I also have reason to believe that she’s been stealing some of my food out of the refrigerator (our Landlady had locks installed on our bedroom doors, so she doesn’t have access to the majority of my personal belongings). Please pray with and for me that the LORD will protect me and give me wisdom/advice regarding every situation or circumstance that involves her. I also sought godly counsel and prayer from three sweet, godly sisters (we attend the same church), and one of them suggested that I anoint my belongings and area with blessed oil, plead the blood of Jesus and command all unclean spirits to go in Jesus’ name. She also gave me a Bible verse to pray (Luke 10:19-21) while I’m praying. Thank you in advance, dear BTA friends, for praying with and for me regarding this situation.

    47 degrees and partly cloudy in my neck of the woods…

    Much LOVE to you all,
    Regina

  40. phpatato says:

    Dearest Regina

    I will be praying for God’s protection for you and for His wisdom and guidance in your circumstance.

    Psalm 91:4 (NIV) He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection.

    Know that you are much loved and will be remembered in prayer by all who come here.

    xoxo

  41. remarutho says:

    Good Evening All —

    Prayers going up, Regina, for you and for Pooh and all the fellowship who call out for God’s watch-care:

    “Those who trust in the Lord
    Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
    As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    So the Lord surrounds His people
    From this time forth and forever.”

    Blessings,
    Maru

    45F with rain showers in the valley.

  42. remarutho says:

    My Scripture reference is Psalm 125:1-2 Maru

  43. SFDBWV says:

    Regina, Psalms 91 is a good prayer for you as Pat has offered, I would also recommend Isaiah 54:17.

    Prayers for you.

    Steve

  44. oneg2dblu says:

    Regina… be as Christ would want you to be, be filled, be filled with the food that no man can provide or steal from you.

    Only an empty, lonely, and now guilty person, would ever steal the food of others, but, what they steal away for themselves, no matter how many barns they may try to fill, they will never satisfy their true source of emptiness.

    Thieves are always taking from the wrong source, trying to fill the wrong things, the voids in themselves where only God can truly fill their current “unquenchable emptiness.”

    Be filled with the prayers of those who will suffer this present but temporary concern with you, and be blessed by your hearing their responses to your need.

    Gary

  45. poohpity says:

    Regina praying for the person stealing that if they are hungry they will ask rather than take. Praying also for your response maybe buying a little extra to share if you are able and that with kindness the spirit of evil will be overcome. :-)

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