HUMOR: The Best Medicine?

Humor in inspirational fiction: Is it OK to laugh?

by James Yarbrough

Do we Christians have a problem with humor?

I love writing humor and comedy. So, this is a personal question for me!

We know not to laugh at bad situations or crude jokes. We don’t want to dispense ill will or magnify the suffering or discomfort of our fellow man. We understand those boundaries of humor and should stay far away from them.

But has all the out-of-bounds “humor” the world pummels us with every day jaded us Christians? Jaded us to the extent that, well, we may avoid humor in our writing?

Whoa! As a famous TV character used to say, let’s back up the truck!

Not only is it OK to laugh, positive humor is a blessing! Humor is a refreshing balm, a tension-reducer, a unifier, and at times, an appropriate humbler. And there are plenty of great examples in the Bible.

Can you sense in Matthew 4:19 (NIV) the good-natured banter by Jesus with the veteran fishermen Peter and Andrew, when He said “I will make you fishers of men”?

And how about the story of Baalam in Numbers 22:21-30? Proud and greedy Baalam is forced to converse with a simple donkey, getting a much-deserved comeuppance in the process.

Then there’s the clever wording and turn-of-a-phrase that appear in many Bible books. As in Proverbs 11:22 (NIV):  “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” I can tell you my tactical recitings of that verse have brought laughs to both of my daughters, if sometimes reluctant ones!

So, what does humor in inspirational fiction look like?
There are so many humor variations, but try this for a basic outline:

• Start with an unusual situation
• Add a person who tries to ignore, or manage the unusual situation but for some reason finds that he can’t
• Then the person gets deeply involved with the unusual situation that he can’t ignore or manage and in doing so, funny outcomes result

How many good TV comedies from the 1950s and 1960s followed this outline? Think the show with a zany red-headed lady and her Cuban-born husband. Or the one with a talking horse.

If you’re interested in sampling some of my humor writings, and see how I embellish the basic outline above, check out these short stories and short story collections:



Or my romantic comedy novella for the Christmas season, Jingle Belles and Christmas Beaus:

All these are available at www.amazon.com/books.
 
James Yarbrough and his wife live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and have three adult children. After a long technical career, James began fiction writing in earnest in 2014 and enjoys writing positive, inspirational stories that entertain as well as prompt the reader to enjoy thinking. Follow him on Facebook at James Yarbrough - Author
Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a blessed and humor-filled day!

A Sense of Humor is Essential!

Have you ever laughed so hard it brought tears to your eyes and made you sides hurt? Yeah, me too. And it felt great, didn’t it?

Solomon wrote:

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance . . .” ~ Proverbs 15:13a [KJV]

My guest today agrees wholeheartedly. Please welcome Max Elliot Anderson.

 

NEWS Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

by Max Elliot Anderson

CONTACT: Max Anderson

PHONE: (815) 877-1514 mander8813@aol.com

The Sense of Humor

Let Humor Fast Track You to Healthier, Happier Living

Rockford, IL - Max Elliot Anderson announces the release of his new book, The Sense of Humor - Let Humor Fast Track You to Healthier, Happier Living, from Elk Lake Publishing. ISBN: 9781942513971 | ASIN: 1942513976

“April is National Humor Month,” Anderson said, “and kicks off on April Fool’s Day. During these uncertain times, what people need most is a good laugh. Imagine what would happen if we understood there is an untapped force, contained within us, that has the power to totally change our lives. And what if we discovered, all we had to do in order to unlock this secret, is to simply start using it?”

The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 85% of all human illnesses are curable by the body’s own healing system. Recent data suggests the more positive input we can include in our lives, the more we are supporting our body’s ability to tap into its natural healing process.

The Sense of Humor is divided into two sections. The first explores the benefits of incorporating humor in medicine, relationships, the classroom, families, the workplace, by youth workers, pastors, counselors, and more. 

“This project began as a simple joke book,” Anderson continued. “But through my video production work with clients, I began to discover the healing value of laughter and humor plus the benefits being found in business and industry where humor was used.”

The second part of The Sense of Humor contains hundreds of jokes and humor arranged in sections that relate to each of the major subjects found in the first. 

Studies reveal that humor aids in the healing process. And a personal sense of humor helps combat stress and depression. In business, one of the primary traits the human resources department looks for is a healthy sense of humor in job applicants. People without a sense of humor aren’t expected to go far. 

A pastor notes, “Humor is disarming. It makes us deal with issues we wouldn’t face otherwise. Humor is more than a joke at the end of a sermon.” As one youth pastor puts it, “The way to a student’s heart is through his funny bone.” 

Education professionals tell us laughter encourages learning. Humor leads to an increase in attention span and it can help both the students and the teacher. Educators find, when used in teaching, humor promotes better retention, better understanding, along with more attentiveness and alertness. 

Research also demonstrates how humor can make sense in the life of anyone who is willing to use it. Outside of this primary benefit, humor touches the lives of everyone around the user in positive ways.

Max Elliot Anderson is best known for his many action-adventures and mysteries written for middle grade readers. The Sense of Humor, with its clean content, is intended primarily for adults.

The Sense of Humor is available wherever books are sold.

Bio for Max Elliot Anderson

Max Elliot Anderson has spent most of his life in the production of documentary and dramatic films, client videos, and television commercials. Most of his previous writing includes adventures and mysteries that bring the same visual excitement, and heart-pounding action from those productions into his books for middle grade readers 8 and up.

While producing video programs and commercials for clients, he observed the important role humor played in many different situations. The Sense of Humor is a culmination of those experiences and observations, and is intended to help people understand the power a positive sense of humor offers.

Mr. Anderson is listed in Who’s Who in America and his productions have won multiple Telly Awards. He and his wife Claudia have two children and four grandchildren.

 

Some Links for You:

Amazon link http://ow.ly/Zlcca

The Sense of Humor Promo blog http://yourhumorsense.blogspot.com

The Sense of Humor Promo Video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NcL0N9Vt5g

The Sense of Humor Promo Video 2 https://youtu.be/sa8dboA8IH4

Let’s Celebrate!

by Peggy Blann Phifer @pegphifer

Today is:

• 
  
  Air Force Reserves Birthday


• 
  
  Look up at the Sky Day


• 
  
  National Support Teen Literature Day


• 
  
  National Dolphin Day


• 
  
  National Reach as High as You Can Day


• 
  
  National Pecan Day


• 
  
  National Ex-Spouse Day


• 
  
  International Moment of Laughter Day

So . . . what will you celebrate?

Personally, I like “Look up at the Sky Day, because today it is a gorgeous, sunny day here in NW Wisconsin

Then there’s National Support Teen Literature Day. No need to explain why, right?

And of course, “International Moment of Laughter Day . . . everyone knows laughter is good for the soul, AND your health.

Please share your thoughts with me.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

 [bctt tweet="What will you celebrate today? #WhispersinPurple " username="pegphifer"]

A Baptist and a Methodist in Las Vegas

After writing two blog posts for other sites and sending out two interview questionnaires for future guests, I was at a loss for what to write here. So I let it slide for a while and did a few other things.

I ended up on YouTube, and I found THIS for your entertainment today.

This is  6’ 2” Jeanne Robertson, one of my favorite stand-up comedians. So just adjust the sound on your computer, sit back, and watch this eleven-minute laugh fest. Trust me.

Just click HERE   and enjoy!

See you tomorrow with an interview with author Jean Williams, introducing her debut novel, Just Claire.