by Sue

When a person comes to Jesus in repentance of sin, they find forgiveness and new life. And they find things change. But Jesus doesn’t change who we are.

Although new life in Christ will bring us many blessings including joy and peace, we are still the same person – and still prone to all that people experience in their lives - times perhaps, of illness, grief, and even fearfulness plus the many other emotions and feelings that we have as ordinary people.

The Lord promises us good things including times of happiness and laughter. But we need to grow and to learn what is right and proper, and what is bad and not appropriate. Sometimes, what appears to be a harmless joke can be crude and not at all funny. We should be able to discern and know what is right and what is wrong.

We should be able to laugh and have fun without being exposed to obscenities or any kind of discriminating language.

Malc and I always liked the comedy duo of Cannon and Ball because we found them funny without being offensive. One time we had learned that they had both come to Christ and received Him as Lord and Saviour into their lives. And we were so pleased.

And then we learned that they were going to be appearing locally – in fact, were going to do a show at our local Salvation Army where other big names, including Susan Boyle, had also appeared. Well, we wasted no time in getting hold of a couple of tickets to their show.

On the day of the show, we had to make a trip to London as Malc had purchased an electric piano and we had to collect it in the car. Malc had recently started to have piano lessons. We had a seven-seater car then so we had plenty of space to bring it home.

As usual, the traffic was very heavy and as It started to get a little dark, we realised that we were ‘cutting it fine’ to get home in time to go to the show.  But with a sigh of relief, we arrived in time and still managed to get a good seat, near the front of the stage.

Cannon and Ball came out onto the stage and they sang and shared their personal and very moving testimonies before their comedy act started.

Bobby made everybody laugh with all sorts of great comedy which he managed to make funny without being offensive. He looked out into the audience, pointing to no one in particular, and commented that one lady’s hair was an unusual style and asked “Did you come here on the back of a motorbike?”

Then he spotted Malc at the front (who was laughing at everything Bobby said) and obviously decided he would be a good target for more jokes.  Bobby looked at me and pointing to Malc asked, “Is that your husband?”

Of course, I replied “Yes.”

Then he said, “Is he your first husband?”

Again, I answered, “Yes.”

To which Bobbly replied, “He wouldn’t be my first choice!”

And everybody just roared with laughter – especially Malc and me.

We just thought that he was so funny. They told loads of gags and not one with the slightest hint of coarseness or offense. Comedy simply does not have to be crude or offensive to be funny.  After the show, we waited and spoke to Bobby who was absolutely charming, and he made sure that he had not offended Malc in any way.

Sadly, we heard last year that Bobby had passed away but it was great to recall how we had heard his testimony of salvation in Jesus that evening and we were comforted by the knowledge that he had gone to be with Jesus.  Now he is worshipping and praising the Lord with the angels and all the saints (all those saved by the blood of Jesus) that have gone before.

The Christian life isn’t stiff and starchy as some people care to think. The reality is the new life in Jesus brings peace, joy, and laughter – sometimes amid the most difficult situations we face. The Christian life is a wonderful life even in difficult times just as we are all facing today.

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