Sunday Sermon

May 11, 1997

"Have Fun"

One of my stock answers when I greet somebody is that I say, "Having Fun?" Some of us have forgotten what it's like to have fun. The hefty suburban grind often makes one look up and say, "When do I ever get to have fun?"

But there is a way to have fun even when we are not. You've heard the old commercial. You know the one about the mother who here's the baby cry, the telephone ring, the doorbell ring, and then says, "Calgon, take me away." Then we see the poor mother taking a Calgon bath. By the way, now that we are on the subject of mothers, Happy Mothers Day. So if you're wondering what to give your mother for Mothers Day, give her some Calgon, and tell her to take a bath. She may not know what you are talking about, but maybe she'll take your hint and take a bath.

Anyway, back to the subject of having fun (although a Calgon bath maybe a lot of fun, at least it would be clean fun). We need to stop ourselves and say to ourselves, "When was the last time I had fun?" If it was ten years ago, then maybe it's about time you had some fun. Even if it was less than a week ago, have some fun again.It will do you some good.

One sure fire way to have fun is to go to your local video store and find the funniest movie you can ever remember having seen before. Because laughter, I have heard, is "the universal evergreen of life." One of the funniest movies I have ever seen was "The Money Pit." This movie starred Tom Hanks, and Shelley Long. It is about a young couple who are forced to find another place to live, and they find a house that's supposedly worth a million, but only costs 200,000 dollars. They unwittingly buy it, and as the movie proceeds along, almost every part of the house falls apart. The contractors say it will take two weeks to repair. Four months later, the contractor is still saying it will take two weeks to repair. This kind of story I admit is very negative, and laughing at another persons mishaps may be thought of as negative. But sometimes we have to see others make mistakes. That way we feel less stupid ourselves for the stupid mistakes we make. I realize having fun at another's expense, namely the characters in the story, might be a little absurd, but then, as I have heard it said, "It's only a movie."

I couldn't find the word 'fun' in the bible. That is not to say the people in the bible did not have fun. The word 'joy' appears over 200 time in the bible, so there must have been great joy.

John 16:20-24 (LB), (20) The world will greatly rejoice over what is going to happen to me (Jesus), and you will weep. But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy [when you see me again]. (21) It will be the same joy as that of a woman in labor when her child is born - her anguish gives place to rapturous joy and the pain is forgotten. (22) You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy. (23) At that time you won't need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. (24) You haven't tried this before, [but begin now]. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.

In this bible reading Jesus tells of turning grief into joy. God will turn our daily griefs and troubles into joy. So instead of saying, "Calgon, take me away," you could say, "God, take my troubles away," and you know what, He will. He will take them away from you. And if you ask God right now, He will help you to find the time to "Have Fun."

Prayer: Lord, help me to find the time to put some fun into my life. I give you my troubles, Lord. Help me to turn any grief I have in my life into joy. And thank you Lord, for all the fun you have let me partake of in my life. I love you Lord. Amen.

Benediction: Now, Lord, Bless us in our daily lives. Help us to smell the roses whenever possible, to shine our light on those less fortunate than us, and lead us in the path we should go. For you are the light that keeps our path well lit. Help us to follow it, until we meet you, in a land where milk and honey abound, a place where our most wonderful dreams are fulfilled. Amen.

Hi, my name is Bryan. I'm not an ordained minister, just a messenger of hope to all those who need some cheer in their lives. God Bless.