1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. So God bless you. 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Said joy to come into your homes, and you're ever 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: in our area. I hope you'll stop by and be 8 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: a part of one of our services. I promise you 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: we'll make you feel right at home. But thank you 10 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: so much for tuning in today, and again, thank you 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: for coming out. And I like to start with something funny, 12 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: and I heard about this man. He was having a 13 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 1: terrible time training his dog. One day he came across 14 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: this charismatic evangelist who promptly told him to leave the 15 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: dog with him. He'd have him trained in no time. 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: The next day, the owner came back and the evangelist 17 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: went on to give a demonstration. He threw a stick 18 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: and said fetch, and the dog immediately ran picked it 19 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: up and brought it back. He said sit, and instantly 20 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: the dog sat, and the owner was so thrilled. He said, 21 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: that's great. Let me try he shouted hell. The dog 22 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: lifted up one Paul put it on the man's forehead, 23 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: said God, command you sickness to leave. Hold up your bible. 24 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 25 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: I am what it says. I am. I have what 26 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 28 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 29 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 30 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: about the benefits of laughter. Studies tell us that people 32 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: that laugh on a regular basis are healthier, they live longer, 33 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: they have better relationships, and they make better decisions. So 34 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: all kinds of benefits that come from laughter. But it's 35 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,279 Speaker 1: easy to get weighed down by the pressures of life. 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: We all have stress to deal with. We have bills 37 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: to pay and children to raise. We've got a dead 38 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: life at the office. If we're not careful, we'll let 39 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 1: everything become so intense and so pressured that we never laugh, 40 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: We never have any fun. We become burdened down by life. 41 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: Now I know people that don't have a sense of 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: humor anymore. Over the years, they become more and more sour. 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: Now they're all work and no play. Everything is serious 44 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: and solemn. But friends, our body was never meant to 45 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: live that way. One of the best stressed relievers God 46 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: ever created is laughter. When you're good natured, you take 47 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: time to see the humor in life. You laugh every day. 48 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: It's just like you're taking medicine. Laughter reduces blood pressure, 49 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: It activates the body's natural tranquilizers that help lower stress, 50 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: helps us to sleep better. Laughter strengthens our immune system. 51 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: It releases endorphins that make us feel better. Not only that, 52 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: laughter increases our brain function. When you laugh regularly, you're 53 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: going to make better decisions. Humor helps to stimulate the brain. 54 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: Normally we use the left side, but when we laugh, 55 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: we use the right side. This study showed people that 56 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: were having a hard time solving a problem. They'd been 57 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: dealing with it a long time. They were stuck. If 58 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: for some reason they were to laugh, it would stimulate 59 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: the brain and they would be much more likely to 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: solve that problem. Bottom line is, if you have a 61 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: sense of humor and you laugh regularly, you're going to 62 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: be more creative. You're going to have fresh ideas, and 63 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: you're going to be more effective. Laughter not only stimulates 64 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: our brain, but it helps to bring down the walls. 65 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: When you laugh with someone, their defenses come down. They 66 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: can be a total stranger, but humor will help open 67 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: the door. There'll be a lot more likely to hear 68 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: what you have to say. That's why I start every 69 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: program off with a joke. Laughter makes people receptive. It's 70 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: a common denominator. I remember when I was growing up. 71 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: Every year at Christmas we would go down to the 72 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: Galleria and in the hotel ballroom we would have a 73 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: big Christmas banquet, have a thousand or so people there 74 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: from the church. The highlight every year is when we 75 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: would show the fifteen minute blooper reel of the funny 76 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: things that had happened that year in church. We would 77 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: show people nodding off to sleep, people yawning. We'd put 78 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: it in slow motion, put some dramatic music to it. 79 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: We would edit my dad to make him say funny things, 80 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: or we might edit his hand motion in fast motion, 81 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: like three or four five times, make him look like 82 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: a rap artist. It was fifteen minutes of total laughter. 83 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: Now I'll never forget how when we showed it, the 84 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: serving crew from the hotel, the cooks, the waiters, the 85 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: bus boys. They would come out from behind the back 86 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: and line up around the walls of the ballroom to watch. 87 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: When people in the mall hurt all the laughter, they 88 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: would prop the doors open in the back. We would 89 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,239 Speaker 1: have one hundred people from the mall peering in watching 90 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: those bloopers. What's my point? Laughter draws people to you. 91 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: Laughter is attractive, it's interesting. One of the longest running 92 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: shows on television is The Blooper Show, where you send 93 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: in your funny home videos year after year. While other 94 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: more polished, more sophisticated programs get canceled, this simple, wholesome 95 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: show that makes people laugh continues to get renewed. So 96 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: on one twenty six, Verse two says, when we were 97 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: filled with laughter, the other nations took notice, and they said, 98 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: what amazing things God has done for them. When you 99 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: are filled with laughter, people will take notice. It not 100 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,559 Speaker 1: only honors God to live a happy, joy filled, faith 101 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: filled life, but laughter will cause other people to be 102 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: drawn to you. Friends, there's too much sadness in our 103 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: world today. Many people have lost the joy of living. 104 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: They've been beaten down by life, burdened by problems, by disappointments, 105 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 1: by heartache. We should make it our business to bring 106 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: joy everywhere we go. It's already enough sour people. We 107 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: should stand out in the crowd. One of the best 108 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: examples we could have is to just be happy, to 109 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: be fun, to be around, to let other people hear 110 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: our laughter. There is healing power in laughter. When the 111 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: joy of the Lord bubbles up out of you, that 112 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: laughter can break the bondages of their depression, their sadness, 113 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: their despair. I read about this hospital the patients that 114 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: have been there a long time and were having a 115 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: tough time recovering. Every day they would take them out 116 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: to the par for several hours to watch the children play. 117 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 1: Their purpose was to not only get them in a 118 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: different environment, but they discovered when they heard the children 119 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: laughing over and over that stimulated the body's natural healing process. 120 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: The patient's attitude was changed. They got their joy back. 121 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: The research showed they begin to recover quicker. Think about it, 122 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: just hearing other people's laughter brought healing and joy. Imagine 123 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: what happens on the inside of us when we live 124 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: full of joy. When we take time to laugh every 125 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: day not only affects us mentally, not just our moods, 126 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: our creativity, our thoughts. It even affects us physically. Do 127 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: you know laughter can help you stay young? Every time 128 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 1: you laugh, what's known as the youth hormone increases eighty 129 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: seven percent. That's the hormone that slows down the aging process, 130 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: keeps us fresher and young. I laugh all the time, 131 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: and I don't look seventy seven years old. Do But 132 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: you've seen people that have gone through a hard period 133 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: in life, a lot of stress, a lot of pressure, 134 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: and maybe you didn't see them for a couple of years. 135 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: When you do, it looked like they had aged twenty years. 136 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: Why is that when we don't laugh, we don't release 137 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: the healing that God's placed on the inside. When we 138 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: go around stressed and solemn and discouraged, the chemicals that 139 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: God designed to keep us young, to lower our blood pressure, 140 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: to stimulate our immune system, they just sit there, unused 141 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: and ineffective. God has given us everything we need to 142 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 1: live healthy and whole, but we've got to tap into it. 143 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: One of the ways is laughter, being good natured, being 144 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: fun to be around. Seeing the humor in life. Some 145 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: of you today, you've lost your joy, gotten out of balance, 146 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: and you're so focused on your problems. You've got so 147 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: much stress that you haven't laughed in so long. Your 148 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: laugher has gotten rusty. You need to get that thing out, 149 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: dust it off, and every day on purpose, finds some 150 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: reason to laugh. If you can't find anything, go look 151 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: in the mirror. That'll give you a good reason. Our 152 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: immune system is made up of millions and millions of cells. 153 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: Some of these cells their only purpose is to attack 154 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: and kill anything foreign to the body, bacteria, viruses. They're 155 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: called in case cells stands for natural killer cells. The 156 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: research shows that every person develops abnormal cancerous cells in 157 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: our body every single week. These in case cells go 158 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: to work and make sure they're destroyed. But negative emotions 159 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: like fear, worry, anxiety, depression, they weaken the natural killer cells. 160 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: Interesting studies show people that are happy, people that laugh 161 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: regularly not only have more natural killer cells, but their 162 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: activity is increased. In other words, when you have a 163 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: sense of humor, when you're good natured, your immune system, 164 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: your natural killer cells are going to function at their 165 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: highest level. That's what the scripture says. A cheerful mind 166 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. 167 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: When we live sour, discourage stress, we're opening up the 168 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: door to sickness and disease. I believe some of you 169 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: would see your healing come. The headaches would go away, 170 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: the stomach problems, the ulcers would cease, the blood pressure 171 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: would come down. You would sleep better if you would 172 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: simply start laughing more often. Laughter is as powerful as 173 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: many drugs, but it's a lot less expensive, and it 174 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: has no negative side effects. So you're for or against Obamacare, 175 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: Laugh and you'll save us all a lot of money. 176 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: Every time we laugh, healing is released in our system. 177 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: Your immune system is getting more effective. No wonder the 178 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: enemy hates to hear us laugh. He knows when you laugh, 179 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: you're getting stronger, younger, healthier, smarter, calmer, more creative, health 180 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: and favor and blessing is flowing through your system. Medical 181 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: science is catching on to the benefits of laughter. There's 182 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: something called the humor in Hospital movement, where hospitals are 183 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: bringing in programs designed to get people laughing. They know 184 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: the more they laugh, the better they'll recover. There's a 185 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: children's hospital in another state they have clowns on staff 186 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: that go up and down the halls making the children laugh. 187 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: They're finding out children there are recovering faster than other places. 188 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: Why is this? When we laugh, we release the healing 189 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: that Almighty God's placed on the inside. May you say, Joel, 190 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: that's not my personality. I'm not like you. I'm more serious, 191 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: I'm more solemn. Now realize God has made us all differently. 192 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: But what's happened most of the time is we've forgotten 193 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: how to laugh. When we were children, we all used 194 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: to laugh about anything and everything. But now we've let 195 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: the stress of life weigh us down. But every healthy 196 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: adult should have a healthy child on the inside. Think 197 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: about children. They love to play, they love to laugh, 198 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: they love to have fun, their good nature. Don't lose 199 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: the child that's in you. I read we're a common 200 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: ingredient in people that live way up in their nineties. 201 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: Wasn't their diet, wasn't their exercise routine. It was the 202 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: fact that they were extremely joyful people. They never forgot 203 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: how to laugh. About a month ago after the service, 204 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: I met a man in the lobby that was one 205 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: hundred and six years old. He looked thirty or forty 206 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: years younger. He was so happy, his mind was so sharp, 207 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: and he had stood in line nearly forty minutes waiting 208 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: to visit with me. And when I got there, I said, 209 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry. You didn't need to stand here this long. 210 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: We could have gotten your chair, you could have sat down. 211 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: He said, I don't need to sit down. When I 212 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: get old, I'll sit down. He was a black man, 213 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: just as handsome as can be. He didn't have one 214 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: winkle on his face. I said, I cannot believe that 215 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: you were one hundred and six years old. You don't 216 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: even look like you could be seventy. He smiled and said, 217 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: Joel Black, don't crack. He was so funny. When he left, 218 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: he turned around and said to the whole group, I'll 219 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: see you again this same time next year. I thought, 220 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 1: no wonder, he's so healthy. He's full of joy. He 221 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: loves to laugh, he's got a great sense of humor. 222 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: I thought about all the healing that's been released in 223 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: him through the years. I realize we're all gonna get old. 224 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: But I've made up my mind I'm not gonna turn 225 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: into a grumpy old man. I'm not gonna get more 226 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: and more sour the older I get, I'm gonna be 227 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: like him and stay full of joy. Even when I 228 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: get up into my eighties and nineties. I'm still gonna 229 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: have a smile. I'm still going to be having fun. 230 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: I'm still going to be telling jokes, and I'm still 231 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: gonna be good looking. I'm not gonna lose the child 232 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: on the inside. Sometimes we think the older we get, 233 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: the more somber we're supposed to be and less fun 234 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: we should have. But I don't think that's God's plan. 235 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: The scripture says we are to finish our course with joy. 236 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: If you don't have joy, if you're not laughing every day, 237 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: if you don't take time to play, You're not going 238 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: to finish your course. God wants you to. And can 239 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: I tell you old is all in our mind. Just 240 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: because our physical bodies get older doesn't mean our thoughts 241 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: and our attitudes have to get older as well. Knew 242 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: a man when I used to go to the gym 243 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: all the time. He was eighty three years old. He 244 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: was just as happy and fun to be around as 245 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: could be. He acted like he was my age. One 246 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: day I asked him how he stayed so young, and 247 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: he said, Joel, I don't think old thoughts. I don't 248 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: think of myself as being an old man. I think 249 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: of myself as being in my twenties. See your spirit person, 250 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: the real you that lives on the inside is ageless. 251 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: It's going to live forever. We're the ones that talk 252 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: ourselves in to being old and sour and grumpy. I 253 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: think about my father when he was up there in 254 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: his seventies. We would be walking down the street and 255 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: he would see somebody, maybe in their fifties, and without 256 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: even thinking, he'd said, Joel, look at that old man. 257 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: I would say, Daddy, he's twenty years younger than you, 258 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: but he was still young in his mind. My father 259 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: loved a kid with people here. He was a well 260 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: respected minister. He was serious in his relationship with God. 261 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: He was a responsible person, but he loved to have fun. 262 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: He would go up to someone and very dramatically put 263 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: his hand on their shoulder and he would say, very seriously, 264 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: I've been meaning to talk with you. I've got something 265 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: on you. They would gulf and get real nervous. Their 266 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: eyes got real big, and they said, just fast throws 267 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: and go ahead. What is it? He would smile and 268 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: say it's my hand. For years, my father carried around 269 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: a little card in his wallet that somebody gave him. 270 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: This was his favorite thing to do. He would go 271 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: up to someone with a big smile and say, hey, 272 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: you want to see my pride and joy. He would 273 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: make them think, of course, it was a beautiful picture 274 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: of one of his grandchildren. He would play it up 275 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: real big and get them anticipating this award winning photograph. 276 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 1: He'd ask them again, do you want to see my 277 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: pride and joy? He'd finally pull out this picture of pride, furniture, polish, enjoy, 278 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: so he would say, that's my pride and joy. Now 279 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: you know why I'm so corny. Some of you today, 280 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: You need to retrain yourself to have fun. You need 281 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: to retrain yourself to see the humor and to learn 282 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: to laugh. You think you gotta work all the time. 283 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: You got so much stress and so many bills to pay, 284 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: and even if you're not working, you feel guilty and 285 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: you're thinking about the stress in your life. No, let 286 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: me give you official permission to have fun and enjoy 287 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: your life. You need to start taking a dose of 288 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: your medicine. Not every month, not every week, no every 289 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: day we should find something we could laugh about. You 290 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: may have a serious job, I understand that, but you 291 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: can still be good natured. I have a lot of responsibility, 292 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: but I like to have fun at what I do. 293 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: I like to laugh. Laughter believes the stress. Sometimes when 294 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: everything's up tight, maybe plans don't work out, or you 295 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 1: do something wrong. Instead of getting all up tight, the 296 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: best thing we could do is just laugh about it. 297 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: The other day, I was in a hotel room all alone. 298 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,719 Speaker 1: It was early in the morning, and I had just 299 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: ordered breakfast and they brought it on a table with wheels. 300 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: After I got through eating, I wanted to put it 301 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: out in the hall so I to have more room. 302 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: And I was just in my shorts, not my gym shorts, 303 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: my underwear. And I opened the door and looked out 304 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: in the hall, and I didn't see anybody. So I 305 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: opened it up whiter and I started pushing that cart out, 306 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: and it was very hard to get out. The back 307 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: legs got caught on the threshold of the door, and 308 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: so I was having to struggle and finagle with it, 309 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,439 Speaker 1: and it was just a lot of work. And I 310 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: finally got it out, but I accidentally let the door 311 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: close behind me in the hotel room. And you know 312 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: those hotel room doors, they lock automatically. So I'm out 313 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: in the hall now in my underwear, nowhere to go. 314 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: Plus I'm on television. So I looked down the hall 315 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: and about five doors down there's this housekeeping car. I 316 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: ran as fast as I could. I got me a 317 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: towel and put it around me, and eventually the cleaning 318 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: lady came out and I asked her she had opened 319 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 1: my room. She said, I can't do it without your idea, 320 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: and I said, were my IDs in the room. And 321 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: I finally convinced her to do it. She opened my door. 322 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: She looked me up and down, said, boy, you sure 323 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: look different on television. I said, yes, I usually wear clothes. 324 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:58,479 Speaker 1: But I got a bigger laugh out of that than 325 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: she did. A secure person can laugh at themselves. When 326 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: you're secure, you can laugh when you do something dumb. 327 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: I love the fact that Victoria keeps a joyful atmosphere 328 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: in our home. She loves to have fun. When I 329 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: get kind of uptight, Victoria'll go dancing around the house 330 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: and she'll come up behind me and tickle me when 331 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: I'm stressed out. She's got a name she calls me. 332 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: She calls me old stiffy. While back, we were on 333 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: the front row here during praise and worship, and I've 334 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: got my head bowed and I'm in deep prayer, deep fault, 335 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: thinking about what I'm gonna say. And you know, Victoria, 336 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 1: she got her hands up. She's a lot more outgoing 337 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: than I am. All of a sudden she bumps me 338 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: with her hips and about knocks me over. I looked 339 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: up at her, and she said, come on, Stiffy, lighting up. 340 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: A few years ago, I was at home in my 341 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: office preparing a message along these same lines, and Victoria 342 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: came through and said, Joe, what are you gonna speak 343 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: on this weekend? So I'm gonna speak on laughter and 344 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 1: the importance of staying full of joy. And she put 345 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: her arm up in the air and said, woo hoo. 346 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: I don't need that, but you sure do, don't. We 347 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: like to have fun. If you have children at home, 348 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: there's no reason you shouldn't be laughing all through the day. 349 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: Don't get so caught up in the pressures of raising 350 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: your children that you don't take time to enjoy them 351 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,959 Speaker 1: and see the humor in what they do. When our 352 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: son Jonathan was just a little boy, maybe about two 353 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: years old. One night, about midnight, I heard this screaming 354 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: coming from his bedroom. I knew he was having a nightmare, 355 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: and I jumped out of bed and ran up there 356 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: as fast as I could open the door, and he 357 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: was sitting up in his bed. His eyes were this big. Jonathan, Buddy, 358 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: what's wrong? He said, Daddy, the Holy ghost is under 359 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: my bed. When our daughter Alexandra was about the same age, 360 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: two or three years old, I was working on my 361 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: message one day at home in my office at that 362 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,239 Speaker 1: time was right outside my bedroom, and she came in 363 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: and said, Daddy and we go outside and play. I said, noe, Alexandra, 364 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: I've got to finish. Maybe in an hour we can 365 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: do that. She went out, and she kept coming back in, 366 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: like every five minutes, again and again and again. Daddy 367 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 1: is at time I was getting so frustrated. Finally she 368 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: came in. I said, listen, Alexandra, Daddy is trying to concentrate. 369 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: Please don't come back in. I'll come get you in 370 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: just a little while. She said, okay. Three minutes later, 371 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: the door opens, she peers her head through and says, Daddy, 372 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: are you still trying to constipate. And do you know 373 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: every time you've laughed today, healing has shot through your body. 374 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: You're getting stronger, younger, healthier. I'm asking you to start 375 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: taking a dose of your medicine. If a doctor prescribed 376 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 1: us a pill to take four times a day, every 377 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: six hours, we would be very careful to follow those instructions, 378 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: even if we had to get up at two o'clock 379 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: in the morning. Well, I'm giving you a prescription not 380 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: from a doctor, but from our creator. He says to 381 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: stay full of joy, take time to laugh every day, 382 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: be good natured, find the humor in life. In the 383 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: Old Testament, one of the ways that an enemy would 384 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: overtake a city was by clogging up the wells that 385 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: provided water to that city. They would feel them full 386 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: of stones, and before long the people wouldn't have any 387 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: water that have to come out from behind the protected walls, 388 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 1: and that's when they would attack and overtake. In the 389 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: same way, every one of us has a well of 390 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: joy that God's put on the inside. When we were children, 391 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: it flowed freely. We laughed, we loved to have fun. 392 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: We were good natured. But too often we've allowed our 393 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: wells to get clogged up with stones of worry, stones 394 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: of disappointment, stones of stress. Now that joy doesn't flow 395 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: freely like God designed it to. In Genesis twenty six eighteen, 396 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,719 Speaker 1: it says that Isaac read of the wells for the 397 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 1: Philistines had stopped them up. It's interesting the name Isaac 398 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: actually means laughter. Now, I believe it's significant that Isaac 399 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: was the one that unstopped the wells. God is saying, 400 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: if you want your wells to become unstopped, if you 401 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 1: want to see His goodness flow once again, you've got 402 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 1: to get your joy back. Laughter is one of the 403 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: best ways to unstop your well If you'll learn to 404 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: laugh on a daily basis, it'll loosen up those rocks 405 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: and eventually wash them totally away. When our sink gets 406 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: clogged at the house, I'll run up to the store 407 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: and get some draino. You pour it in there and 408 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: wait fifteen minutes. I come back and the sink is 409 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: totally unclogged. And I was thinking, you know what laughter is. 410 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: It's the draino in our lives. When we laugh every day, 411 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: it's just like we're continually cleaning out the hard, crusty 412 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: things that tried to keep us stopped up. I'm not 413 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: talking about laughing once since you've heard a message on it. 414 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,479 Speaker 1: I'm talking about developing a lifestyle of seeing the humor 415 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: in your everyday life. Laugh with your children, laugh with 416 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: your family, learn to even laugh at yourself when you 417 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: do something wrong. If your well is clogged up, you 418 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: got to take action and start laughing more often. I 419 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: heard a story about a comedian. His name was Joey Grimaldy. 420 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: He lived back in the early eighteen hundreds, and he 421 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: kept people laughing for over forty two years. He could 422 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: change a riot into an applauding audience. But Grimaldy was 423 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: a workaholic. He lived with a constant pressure of bettering 424 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: his routine. He was a perfectionist that was never satisfied. 425 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: Although he continued working, he became a very sick man. 426 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 1: He went to the doctrine. This doctor didn't recognize him. 427 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: He examined him and said, sir, I don't see anything 428 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: physically wrong with you. I think you're just overly stressed. 429 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: My suggestion would be to take some time off, and 430 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 1: why don't you go see the comedian Joey Grimaldi. He'll 431 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: do you good. He'll make you laugh. He hung his 432 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: head and said, very sadly, but doctor, I am Joey Grimaldy. 433 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 1: A few weeks later, amid the applause and laughter of 434 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: a packed house, Joey Grimaldy collapsed and died from exhaustion. 435 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 1: He could make other people laugh, but he never took 436 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: time to laugh himself. Don't let that be you. Job 437 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: a'ight twenty one says God wants to fill your mouth 438 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: with laughter. That's God's dream that we live full of joy. 439 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: I hope you'll take time every day to laugh, get 440 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: your well unclogged. Look for the humor in life. Friends. 441 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: If you will let God fill your mouth with laughter, 442 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: that not only brings honor to God, but you'll enjoy 443 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: your life more. You'll have better relationships, you'll live healthier, 444 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: you'll be more creative. I believe and declare every one 445 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: of us is going to finish our course with joy 446 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 1: and become everything God's created us to be. Amen. There 447 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,239 Speaker 1: you received it today. We never like to close our 448 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 449 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 1: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 450 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: come into my life. I make you my Lord and Savior. 451 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Amen. Well, friends, if you 452 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 453 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 454 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 455 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: When we face challenges, it's easy to feel like God 456 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 1: has forgotten about us. We don't see anything happening. God 457 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: tell us it's not going to work out. But God 458 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: is not called the Great I was or the Great 459 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: I will be. He's called the Great I Am. Then 460 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 1: my new book, he Is I Am, you'll discover that 461 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: God is with you in every area of your life. 462 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: I Am is always in the present, not at a 463 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: later time. God is working in your life right now. 464 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: I Am means I am your healer. I am your provider. 465 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 1: I am your waymaker. Whether you're facing a challenge or 466 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: pursuing your dreams, stay in faith. The Great I Am 467 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: is right there with you. 468 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 469 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 470 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's book, He Is I Am. 471 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 2: God is for you here and now. Are you in 472 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 2: need of protection or provision today? Jesus assures us, I 473 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: Am the good Shepherd. Does the path ahead seem uncertain 474 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 2: or dark? Jesus declares, I Am the Light of the world. 475 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 2: Do you feel like your career, calling or marriage just 476 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 2: beyond hope? Jesus promises, I Am the Resurrection and the Life. 477 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 2: With every I Am statement, you'll discover more about who 478 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 2: God is and what He has made available for you, 479 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 2: not someday, but today. Request your copy today and watch 480 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 2: God's promise come alive. No matter what you face, He 481 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: is here and now for you. Be sure to request 482 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 2: your copy of He Is I Am. God is for you, 483 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 2: here and now today. Visit joeloastein dot com or call 484 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 2: eight eight eight five six seven. 485 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: Joel, You're never alone. The Great I Am is behind 486 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: the scenes, making ways, opening doors, turning things in your favor. 487 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: Victoria and I want you to know we love you 488 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: and we pray for you every day. Thanks for your 489 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: prayer and support of the ministry. Your generosity is making 490 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: a difference in people's lives around the world. Special thank 491 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. 492 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 493 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 494 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM, watch our 495 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:02,239 Speaker 1: YouTube channel and the new joel Ostein network streaming on 496 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: television twenty four hours a day, and until we see 497 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: you next time. May the Lord bless you and keep you. 498 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of He Is I 499 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 2: Am God is for you here and now today. Visit 500 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 2: joelostein dot com or call eight eight eight five six 501 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 2: seven Joel for an additional donation. This month we are 502 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 2: offering the IM Collection. It includes a beautiful two piece 503 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 2: scripture wal art plus that He Is IM book bundle. 504 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: The stretched canvas elegantly features IM and scripture reference John 505 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 2: fourteen six. You can request these unique resources by calling 506 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 2: eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging on 507 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 2: to joelostein dot com today, call or click anytime twenty 508 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 2: four hours a day. Yes, be reminded that the power 509 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 2: of IM is for you each and every day.