 |
|
|
|
On The Lighter Side It’s a funny old world Funny how we set our clocks to arise at 6.00am so we can be at work by 8.00am. but on Sundays we can’t make church for 11.00am to praise the one who gave us the jobs! Funny how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard to introduce them to the rest of our family. Funny how much difficulty some have learning the Gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest gossip about someone else. Funny how small our sins seem, but how big ‘their’ sins are. Funny how we demand justice for others, but expect mercy from God for ourselves. Funny how we can’t think of anything to say when we pray, but don’t have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend. Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost, but are hesitant to take God’s direction for our lives. Funny how so many church goers sing ‘Standing on the Promises’, but all they do is sit on the premises. Funny how people want God to answer their prayers, but refuse to listen to his counsel. Funny how we sing about heaven, but live only for today. Funny how people think they are going to heaven but don’t think there is a hell. Funny how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world, but it is not necessary to thank him for what is good and pleasant. Funny how when something goes wrong, we cry, “Lord, why me?” but when something goes right, we think, “Hey, it must be me!” Oh wait ... maybe all this isn’t so ‘funny’ after all, or is it. *********************************************************************** Lenten Humour An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone. An hour later, the man has finished the three beers and orders three more. This happens yet again. The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire town is whispering about the Man Who Orders Three Beers. Finally, a week later, the bartender broaches the subject on behalf of the town. “I don’t mean to pry, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers?” ‘Tis odd, isn’t it?” the man replies, “You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond.” The bartender and the whole town was pleased with this answer, and soon the Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and source of pride to the hamlet, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink. Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the evening - he orders only two beers. The word flies around town. Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the brothers. The next day, the bartender says to the man, “Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know-the two beers and all...” The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, “You’ll be happy to hear that my two brothers are alive and well. It’s just that I, meself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent.” With acknowledgement to the March 2007 magazine of St. Francis Anglican Chaplaincy of South Tenerife, Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. |
|