Some may find personal remarks offensive; and if so, I apologize. I hope sincerely you will not be offended.

I spend much of my life laughing; I love to laugh. Nonsense seems to flourish within me. Possibly it's an addiction.

Or maybe my laughter simply veils an earnestness I want to bury.

I believe God has a sense of humor. I'm convinced of it, in fact, the first thing every morning when I gaze into the bathroom mirror. At that instant, believing I am made in God's image, I know He must enjoy laughing, too.

But, sometimes, I'm sure God wants me to be serious.

I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus and His teachings.

I recommend His church. It's a wonderful place to search, to learn, and to laugh.

The church is comprised of sinners and hypocrites who are trying to do better. We try and fail and try some more. It's a life-long struggle, and God's love and mercy keeps us trying.

The church welcomes conservatives, moderates, and liberals, Democrats and Republicans, all races, all ages.

Yes, politicians, power-seekers, and the greedy can exploit and mis-use the church to recruit followers, to profit, and to incite zealots and bigots to condemn, to hate, and to fight.

But at the same time, quiet, humble Christians are loving, serving, ministering to others, pleading gently (as Christ himself would do), and praying for the exploiters.

And learning to love enemies and, eventually, to have none.

In the midst of the struggle, Christians experience a joy even greater than laughter, a joy we can neither describe nor understand; we can only invite others to experience it also.

I endorse the church as a place, not to be religious, but to learn. To love. To serve. To get to know Jesus.

Though not a Bible scholar, I advocate the Old Testament wisdom of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon describes how he learned that every achievement in life was vain, except reverence for God.

And I champion the New Testament encouragement of Phillippians when Paul implores us to always be full of joy in the Lord.

I encourage Bible reading in a modern translation like the New American Standard, the New King James, or the New International Version.

My favorite is The Living Bible, a paraphrase that for me makes scripture easier to understand.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
"God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (From The Living Bible, John 3:16-17)

I hope you will consider involvement in a church. Talk to a pastor or to an active member. They'll welcome you and your questions.

Thank you for allowing me to be serious. May God bless you. I know He loves you.

                                        Joe Hickman