Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?  Punch line – because it was dead.  I will confess: it is stupid, and doesn’t make much sense, but whenever I hear that old joke, it makes me laugh; sometimes really hard.  And laughter these days is a valued commodity. 

     I certainly agree that we have much to be concerned over during these turbulent, wavering times; but in spite of all the heralded doom and gloom, the church needs to reclaim its joy.  Sometimes I wonder if people resist salvation simply because of their fear of becoming like the calloused and miserable Christians they encounter from week to week.  Hypocrisy at its greatest height is to tell others of the sufficiency of Christ while wearing a frown on our face. 

     I wonder, do you laugh very often?  If you are like me, you need a good prescription of it from time to time: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”  When we live without the gleeful sounds of laughter, we actually diminish the joy God wants us to have.  He has not only provided and prescribed joy in our life, I personally believe God, as our Father, delights in the joy of His children.  Contrary to popular belief, you can be saved and enjoy it! Laughing is scriptural.