“A Time to Laugh”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4a “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh…”
Laughter is woven into the fabric of life; may I suggest that it is an ordained part of life as it should be lived. Who here has not enjoyed a time to laugh?
Now I know what some of you are thinking…
Just great-I come to church to worship in song and giving and hear God’s Word preached. This is serious business! And Amato is going to preach on laughing? Or
Just great-That Amato, he’s Italian and Italians are always laughing. But I’m not Italian, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or
Just great-That Amato, he’s sanguine and sanguine people are always laughing.. But I’m not sanguine, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or
Just great-That Amato, he’s oblivious to reality. “When you become an adult, you need to be responsible…and we live in a world of reality which includes difficulties…and therefore, we have no business laughing and enjoying life.” (Swindoll) Everyone knows the old expression: “Life is no laughing matter.” What does Ecclesiastes also say? “There is a time to weep”, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or
Just great-That Amato is going to preach on a topic that finds no place in the serious works of theology. Who here has ever heard a sermon on laughter? So why is he preaching on it?
Now before you force me to close in prayer, why don’t we start with Scripture? Do you know what Scripture says about laughter?
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Brent is a family man, married to Sherrie since 1976 and father of two adult children, Jason and Kristin. While he has practiced business/corporate law in the Chicagoland area since 1976 and currently serves as Vice President, General Counsel of Heritage-Crystal Clean, a publicly-traded company based in Elgin, Illinois. He has journeyed on a parallel ministry path for over thirty-five years. Brent has served his local and other churches and through the Christian Legal Society and Peacemaker Ministries. He has sustained his "love affair" with "children of all ages", serving for six years as Chairman of a Christian Elementary and Junior High School, leading for ten years a college/career Bible Study in his home, teaching Business Law for four years as an Adjunct Professor at Judson University and teaching in churches for over thirty-five years in classes ranging from Junior High through Senior Adults. Brent is a free lance writer for Standard Publishing. He has served as a church moderator for over twenty years. His ministries have been sustained and expanded through God's grace and the exercise of the spiritual gifts of teaching, administration and encouragement. Brent strongly believes that God continues to call him to these ministries.