Rev Gerald Peterson was my wife's former pastor, and chances are you never heard of him. This is the man who performed our wedding ceremony and from the time I met him until the last I spoke with him before he died. He always had a joke to tell me or some bit of humor to pass on.
One day he met me coming out of city hall. He said ''My friend, you can keep going back to the City Hall all you want, but there is no Expiration date on those marriage licenses…. Believe me, I've checked many times.
I remember when he was frail, on a walker and looked like he should be on his death bed, he'd pull me aside at church and tell me a knee slapping joke.
One night he pulled me aside and told me the following story:
A man broke into a large house one night and was tip toeing around when a voice said ''Jesus is watching you''. He froze in place and waited until his heart started beating again to continue.
Again he heard the voice: ''Jesus is watching you''.
Slowly he turned on a flash light and saw a parrot sitting in a cage.
''Bird'' he asked ''what is your name''?
''Clarence'' the bird replied
''What kind a person names a parrot Clarence?'' the crook giggled.
''The same type who names his german shepherd Jesus'' came the reply.
God gave us the ability to laugh and to have a good time. In other words God did not intend for us to walk around looking angry or pious at all times. It's ok to have fun; its ok to laugh!
Ecclesiastes 3 1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
So there is a time to have fun, and it is ok to do so. So find time today to have some fun.
