Happy 700th

It’s hard to believe, but we are turning 700! I know I don’t look a day over 30, but this is our 700th Laugh Again broadcast. According to our Home Office, here are five of your favourite one-liners from the last year:

#5: I watched a very thought-provoking TV show last night. The thought it provoked was, “What am I doing watching this show?”
#4: You know how to tell which eagle is the bald eagle? Its feathers are combed over on one side.
#3: My Dad told me, “Son, always fight fire with fire.” Perhaps that’s why he is no longer on the fire brigade.
#2: I love Thanksgiving. Relatives around the table saying, “I can’t eat another thing. I’m stuffed. Oh look, pumpkin pie.”
#1: I have a friend who likes running cross country. Here’s some advice: If you’re going to try cross country, start with a small country.

When I was a boy, I told my mother, “I want to grow up and be a comedian.” She said, “Well, you can’t do both.” She was right. I’ve never quite grown up, I suppose. To remain a child requires living life with constant wonder and a side order of surprise at an unexpected punchline or sunset or link in the chain of grace.

There isn’t a single day that goes by when I don’t marvel at what God is up to and how He is using the people who put together this radio ministry.

I didn’t expect the program to reach so many who don’t know about Jesus. I didn’t expect an agnostic to contact me a few years ago to say he’s listening each day. I didn’t expect the program to be heard on more than 260 stations already, thanks to visionaries and encouragers and generous givers. I didn’t expect a dear immigrant to stop me in a mall and say, “I came to Jesus through Laugh Again. I’m learning English listening to you!” (I was overjoyed, but promised to pray for her.) I didn’t expect to hear from a supporter whose friend lost her husband to a sudden heart attack. “It is your daily ministry,” she said, “that helped me through the grief and has helped me laugh again.”

I didn’t expect to hear from a guitarist who, after traveling for 30 years with top country stars, came to faith in Jesus—a few weeks before dying of cancer. For each of these things I give thanks.

Jeremiah 32:17 says, “Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.”

Thank You, Lord, for all these surprises. And thanks, my friend, for listening. And praying. We’d love to hear from you.