Laughter And The Grace Of God

Download Laughter And The Grace Of God full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Laughter And The Grace Of God ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Laughter and the Grace of God

Author : Brian Edgar
Publisher : Lutterworth Press
ISBN 13 : 0718848144
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (188 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughter and the Grace of God by : Brian Edgar

Download or read book Laughter and the Grace of God written by Brian Edgar and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2020-08-27 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Laugh Your Way to Grace

Author : Rev. Susan Sparks
Publisher : Turner Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 1594733430
Total Pages : 173 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laugh Your Way to Grace by : Rev. Susan Sparks

Download or read book Laugh Your Way to Grace written by Rev. Susan Sparks and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2010-05-01 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Laughter—the GPS System for the Soul Laughter 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 laugh Debunk the myths that you don’t deserve joy Find perspective when faced with adversity Exercise forgiveness for yourself and others Reclaim play as a spiritual practice Heal—emotionally, physically, and spiritually Keep your faith when God is silent Live with elegance, beauty, and generosity of spirit Whatever 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.

Laughter and the Grace of God

Author : Brian Edgar
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN 13 : 071889555X
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (188 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughter and the Grace of God by : Brian Edgar

Download or read book Laughter and the Grace of God written by Brian Edgar and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2020-01-01 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Between Heaven and Mirth

Author : James Martin
Publisher : Harper Collins
ISBN 13 : 0062098624
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (62 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Between Heaven and Mirth by : James Martin

Download or read book Between Heaven and Mirth written by James Martin and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2011-10-04 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Between Heaven and Mirth will make any reader smile. . . . Father Martin reminds us that happiness is the good God’s own goal for us.” —Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York From The Colbert Report’s “official chaplain” James Martin, SJ, author of the New York Times bestselling The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, comes a revolutionary look at how joy, humor, and laughter can change our lives and save our spirits. A Jesuit priest with a busy media ministry, Martin understands the intersections between spirituality and daily life. In Between Heaven and Mirth, he uses scriptural passages, the lives of the saints, the spiritual teachings of other traditions, and his own personal reflections to show us why joy is the inevitable result of faith, because a healthy spirituality and a healthy sense of humor go hand-in-hand with God's great plan for humankind.

Laughing with God

Author : Gerald A. Arbuckle
Publisher : Liturgical Press
ISBN 13 : 0814683886
Total Pages : 212 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (146 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughing with God by : Gerald A. Arbuckle

Download or read book Laughing with God written by Gerald A. Arbuckle and published by Liturgical Press. This book was released on 2015-03-15 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When Sarah overhears God tell Abraham that she will give birth to a son, she laughs. She laughs to herself at the impossibility of her, in her old age, bearing a child (Gen 18:12). But God’s ways are not Sarah’s ways; God is far more wonderful than Sarah imagines. Of course, Sarah does give birth to a son and names him Isaac, whose name means to laugh: God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me (Gen 21:6). Surely, the ancient audience—aware of the many incongruities in this story—did laugh. But can we in modern times recover the divine humor, the paradox and promise, in this and other biblical accounts? Can we use that sacred laughter as a means to evangelize a world that longs for God every bit as much as the ancients did? In Laughing with God: Humor, Culture, and Transformation, Catholic priest and cultural anthropologist Gerald Arbuckle helps us do just that. With Arbuckle, readers will enter many rich biblical stories and come away laughing, not laughter as in response to a joke or comedy, but a profound laughter of the heart. Readers will laugh at Sarah as she laughs at God, and they will laugh together with Sarah and God. Readers will discover divine humor in the parables of Jesus and even in his suffering and death, the ultimate paradox for Christians. In addition to uncovering and recovering humor in Scripture, Arbuckle’s work is a treasure trove of modern examples of humor—from literature, movies, and television—that surprisingly can be a means of transforming cultures to better reflect the kingdom of God. In the end, readers will want to turn the phrase, He who laughs last, laughs best, into, They who laugh with God, evangelize best. Gerald A. Arbuckle, SM, PhD, is co-director of Refounding and Pastoral Development, a research ministry, in Sydney, Australia. He is internationally known for his expertise in helping church leaders minister effectively in a postmodern world. Arbuckle’s most recent books include: Confronting the Demon: A Gospel Response to Adult Bullying; Violence, Society, and the Church: A Cultural Approach; and Healthcare Ministry: Refounding the Mission in Tumultuous Times (2001 Catholic Press Association Award), all published by Liturgical Press.

Laughter and Other Gifts of God

Author : Gordon Kainer
Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1304671925
Total Pages : 178 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (46 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughter and Other Gifts of God by : Gordon Kainer

Download or read book Laughter and Other Gifts of God written by Gordon Kainer and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2013-12 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Laughter and Other Gifts of God shows how essential it is to understand the source and significance of laughter, humor, and joy. The author offers compelling reasons why these dynamic qualities need to be motivated and governed by God's love and grace. Discover how laughter is a valuable reflection of God Himself! It is a potent force that stirs you to see another side of things. It may also nudge you toward a new understanding of God and why the most wasted day is the one in which you haven't laughed. The book uses Scripture, scientific research, and humorous stories to answer significant questions: Why do we laugh; What does our laughter say about us? The book demonstrates laughter is not an innocent, neutral, or impartial activity but one with an agenda. Learn how your laughter and sense of humor usually reflect your innermost thoughts and feelings. Find out how a healthy lifestyle includes laughter-that by walking with Jesus, you can experience joy at every stage of your life.

The God Who Plays

Author : Brian Edgar
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN 13 : 153260761X
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (326 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The God Who Plays by : Brian Edgar

Download or read book The God Who Plays written by Brian Edgar and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2017-12-20 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many people would be surprised to hear that a playful attitude towards God and the world lies at the heart of Christian faith. Traditionally Christians have focused on the serious responsibilities of service, sacrifice, and commitment. But the prophets say that the future kingdom is full of people laughing and playing, which has implications for Christians who are called to live out the future kingdom in the present. Play is not trivial or secondary to work and service—only a playful way of living does justice to the seriousness of life! Play is the essential and ultimate form of relationship with God, which is why Jesus told people to learn from children. Indeed, a playful attitude is an important part of all significant relationships. This book explores grace, faith, love, worship, redemption, and the kingdom from the perspective of a playful attitude. It describes how to create a “play ethic” to match the “work ethic” and discusses play as a virtue, Aquinas’s warning against the sin of not playing enough, and Bonhoeffer’s claim that in a world of pain it is only the Christian who can truly play.

The Laughter of God

Author : Walter C. Lanyon
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780692643785
Total Pages : 238 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (437 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Laughter of God by : Walter C. Lanyon

Download or read book The Laughter of God written by Walter C. Lanyon and published by . This book was released on 2016-02-12 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "And then one day I heard the Laughter of God in the midst of me and within the world, and all was suddenly changed. Old patterns and ideas were shattered and passed away-a new loveliness of life was exposed to view ... "How does one hear the Laughter of God? Walter Lanyon has a powerful message to share with the world, a message based firmly on the teachings of the Master, Christ Jesus, and the joy and promise it brings is evident throughout the book. In his unique style of speaking directly to the reader, the author reveals what is needed in order to hear this Laughter: "One thing alone is necessary, and that one all-important point is your willingness to take your attention away from the limited human concept of yourself." The realization that God is not some mysterious power but is the very presence of Life within us and our universe brings instant freedom from the discords of human belief."One moment's recognition that you are the Son of the living God, and you have attuned your ear for the Laughter of God." When we awaken to this truth, we can no longer be limited, any more than the chick can be limited to its shell once it has outgrown it. There comes a New Day; the prisons of thought are opened, and we are set free."And one day you will laugh the Laughter of God, too."

7 Days of Awesome

Author : Shawn Byous
Publisher : Zonderkidz
ISBN 13 : 0310743079
Total Pages : 40 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (17 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis 7 Days of Awesome by : Shawn Byous

Download or read book 7 Days of Awesome written by Shawn Byous and published by Zonderkidz. This book was released on 2016-02-23 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With a Dr. Seuss feel, 7 Days of Awesome rhymes its way through each day of creation and encourages children to ponder God’s wisdom in creating this wonderful world. Accompanied by charming, animated illustrations by Colin Jack, this whimsical read-aloud book will be sure to delight both children and their parents.

Life, Love, Laughter

Author : John Dietz
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781630501693
Total Pages : 94 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (16 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Life, Love, Laughter by : John Dietz

Download or read book Life, Love, Laughter written by John Dietz and published by . This book was released on 2020-03-27 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

And God Created Laughter

Author : M. Conrad Hyers
Publisher : Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN 13 : 9780804216531
Total Pages : 148 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (165 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis And God Created Laughter by : M. Conrad Hyers

Download or read book And God Created Laughter written by M. Conrad Hyers and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 1987-01-01 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

What's So Funny About God?

Author : Steve Wilkens
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830855459
Total Pages : 205 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (38 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis What's So Funny About God? by : Steve Wilkens

Download or read book What's So Funny About God? written by Steve Wilkens and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2019-11-19 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you don't believe God has a sense of humor, just look in the mirror. Humor is a truly human phenomenon—crossing history, culture, and every stage of life. Jokes often touch on the biggest topics of our existence. And although it may seem simple on the surface, humor depends on the use of our highest faculties: language, intelligence, sympathy, sociability. To the philosopher Steve Wilkens, these facts about humor are evidence that God just has to be in there somewhere. Yet many Christians, scholars and laypeople alike, haven't taken humor seriously. In What’s So Funny About God? Wilkens launches an exploration of the connections between humor and many of the central topics of Christian theology. He argues that viewing Scripture and theology through the lens of humor brings fresh insight to our understanding of the gospel, helps us avoid the pitfalls of both naturalism and gnosticism, and facilitates a humble, honest, and appealing approach to faith. Wilkens turns this lens on the paradoxes of human nature, the Christian calendar, church life, and new readings of well-known biblical texts, including the book of Esther, the nativity narratives, and Jesus' own teachings. Taking into account the problems of suffering and the need for timely lament, he portrays the Christian story as one that ultimately ends in cosmic comedy. Full of wit and thoughtful jokes throughout, it's enough fun that you may not realize you're reading theology.

Laughter of Joy

Author : Ofejiro Akwenuke
Publisher : Ofejiro Akwenuke
ISBN 13 : 1079569723
Total Pages : 131 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (795 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughter of Joy by : Ofejiro Akwenuke

Download or read book Laughter of Joy written by Ofejiro Akwenuke and published by Ofejiro Akwenuke. This book was released on 2019-09-29 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Learn to hope in your future, because you are not your past." Many people have lost their joy as a result of life's challenges, such as financial issues, academic failures, health or family problems, and spiritual attacks. But when you call upon the God of the Bible and stay in his presence, you will overcome these challenges. The amazing grace of God is available to change your story, fill your life with joy, and show you the power of unlimited laughter. In this inspirational book, you will discover: -- How to attain true joy through the power of faith and prophecy. -- God's desire to heal and restore you in every area. -- Biblical wisdom on difficult topics such as finances, relationships, and spiritual warfare. God wants you to experience the laughter of joy, the ever-exciting feeling of victory and happiness. Let Him make a masterpiece out of you.

God Mocks

Author : Terry Lindvall
Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 1479883824
Total Pages : 384 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (798 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis God Mocks by : Terry Lindvall

Download or read book God Mocks written by Terry Lindvall and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2015-11-13 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the 2016 Religious Communication Association Book of the Year Award In God Mocks, Terry Lindvall ventures into the muddy and dangerous realm of religious satire, chronicling its evolution from the biblical wit and humor of the Hebrew prophets through the Roman Era and the Middle Ages all the way up to the present. He takes the reader on a journey through the work of Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales, Cervantes, Jonathan Swift, and Mark Twain, and ending with the mediated entertainment of modern wags like Stephen Colbert. Lindvall finds that there is a method to the madness of these mockers: true satire, he argues, is at its heart moral outrage expressed in laughter. But there are remarkable differences in how these religious satirists express their outrage.The changing costumes of religious satirists fit their times. The earthy coarse language of Martin Luther and Sir Thomas More during the carnival spirit of the late medieval period was refined with the enlightened wit of Alexander Pope. The sacrilege of Monty Python does not translate well to the ironic voices of Soren Kierkegaard. The religious satirist does not even need to be part of the community of faith. All he needs is an eye and ear for the folly and chicanery of religious poseurs. To follow the paths of the satirist, writes Lindvall, is to encounter the odd and peculiar treasures who are God’s mouthpieces. In God Mocks, he offers an engaging look at their religious use of humor toward moral ends.

Laughter in a Time of Turmoil

Author : Richard P. Olson
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1621892026
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (218 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laughter in a Time of Turmoil by : Richard P. Olson

Download or read book Laughter in a Time of Turmoil written by Richard P. Olson and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2012-04-11 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Laugh Your Way to Grace

Author : Susan Sparks
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781459679399
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (793 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Laugh Your Way to Grace by : Susan Sparks

Download or read book Laugh Your Way to Grace written by Susan Sparks and published by . This book was released on 2014-05-07 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Surprised by Laughter

Author : Terry Lindvall
Publisher : Thomas Nelson Inc
ISBN 13 : 1595554785
Total Pages : 498 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (955 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Surprised by Laughter by : Terry Lindvall

Download or read book Surprised by Laughter written by Terry Lindvall and published by Thomas Nelson Inc. This book was released on 2012-01-17 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surprised by Laughter looks at the career and writings of C. S. Lewis and discovers a man whose life and beliefs were sustained by joy and humor. All of his life, C. S. Lewis possessed a spirit of individuality. An atheist from childhood, he became a Christian as an adult and eventually knew international acclaim as a respected theologian. He was known worldwide for his works of fiction, especially the Chronicles of Narnia; and for his books on life and faith, including Mere Christianity, A Grief Observed, and Surprised by Joy. But perhaps the most visible difference in his life was his abiding sense of humor. It was through this humor that he often reached his readers and listeners, allowing him to effectively touch so many lives. Terry Lindvall takes an in-depth look at Lewis's joyful approach toward living, dividing his study of C. S. Lewis's wit into the four origins of laughter in Uncle Screwtape's eleventh letter to a junior devil in Lewis's The Screwtape Letters: joy, fun, the joke proper, and flippancy. Lindvall writes, "One bright and compelling feature we can see, sparking in his sunlight and dancing in his moonlight, is laughter. Yet it is not too large to see at once because it inhabited all Lewis was and did." Surprised by Laughter reveals a Lewis who enjoyed the gift of laughter, and who willingly shared that gift with others in order to spread his faith.