“As a parent, I can’t think of anything more important than the privilege and responsibility of training my children in the way of God. The way my wife and I have chosen to do this is by having what we call Spirit Fire.”

Tonight’s Spirit Fire began with a question: What does God laugh at? I felt lead to start with that thought because I recently added a new voice to storytelling that makes all three of my kids laugh from the gut, and that is gold to me. I was also getting the feeling that God wanted us to mess around tonight, so we did. I figure God’s got the best sense of humor if we can relax enough to see it. I mean, a platypus?

After we thought about it, all five in my family answered differently.

Jack: when we tell jokes and laugh

So I asked him what kind of joke makes God laugh. Jack sat there thinking while he ate his night snack of lime chips, and he said, “What if a chip was a mountain?” And he laughed and laughed, no doubt thinking of the best snack time ever. One mountain lime chip please…

Gwen: funny faces

I asked her to demonstrate a face that would make God laugh. She made the face when you put your pointer fingers in your mouth and pull the corners apart. She then smiled and stuck her tongue out, perfect.

Caleb: tickling

We talked for a little about what it would be like to tickle God. I asked Caleb how he would do it, thinking maybe he would go for his favorite, the armpit. However, he reached right for my belly and said, “Like this!”

Betsy: when we do klutzy things

No demonstration necessary for that one.

Me: farts

My kids loved that one. Again, no demonstration necessary.

When we are working to garden the minds of our children, let us not forget fun. It needs to be fun, at least some of the time. Many preachers begin their craft breaking through countless barriers with a good joke. It can open doors and break up the soil so that you can plant some seed. Much of life is hard, and if we’re not careful we can become as hard as stones.

-Brian Carter