Yes, this is about the kind of 'faith' you may hear about in church. Yet, often life's experiences are also brought to light. And in order to apply ourselves to the often difficult tasks, we bring our version of humor. I am going to begin with some version of some jokes I heard in church.

The first one applies to Mother's Day.

Matt and Charlene are happily married, and have three children ...one boy and two girls.

Matt had come from what he considered to be a very dysfunctional family.  Now, no family is perfect, but Matt felt that everyone should be able to accept each other ...with all their imperfections.  And nothing should get in the way of them attempting to spend time with each other ...short of incarceration, of course.  In that case, or as a result of a case ...they'd be spending time, or 'doing time' of a different nature.

Matt was one of six children.  There was a TV show entitled, 'Eight is Enough' ...but his own family was not quite as healthy nor successful with living a script to happy endings. 

Over the years, each one of his siblings, in their own time, had developed their own version of a grievance, in their own way ...towards either Dad or Mom.  It didn't matter whether it was birthdays, Thanksgiving, or Christmas ...Matt was the only one who'd show up at the old homestead on those occasions.

Matt was proud of the fact that his own children did not seem to have any severe coping mechanisms ...and for the most part they seemed happy and a close knit group.  But, perhaps it was still too early to tell ...as they were only between the ages of 9 and 13.

Mother's Day was coming up ...and it began to open those old emotional wounds, seeing how cold and unforgiving his own brothers and sisters had been at Mom's funeral less than a year ago.  Matt fought off the tears ...then resolved to come up with a plan that would teach their own children to approach life differently, and more healthy.

Matt waited until his wife left on an errand.  He then gathered the children together, saying, "Mother's Day is next Sunday ...so you have nearly a week to do this."

The oldest, Melissa, often wanted to ask questions that would otherwise had been answered if she'd just listen longer, "What do we have nearly a week to do?"

Matt smiles, "I was getting to that.  Do any of you know some things Mom would like?" 

The youngest, Denise, quickly answers, "Mom likes sunshine."

Matt smiles again, "Okay, but you can't buy sunshine ...just make sure you have sunshine in your smile for her.  I mean, like  ...do you know the type of flower she likes?"

Matt Jr. asserts himself, "I don't know, but I can find out."

Matt Sr. adds, "Okay, that's good, but try to find out without letting on why, because you want it to be a surprise. Here is a fancy vase I bought for her ...it can be your job to fill it."

Matt and Charlene were both pleasantly surprised, for on Sunday morning, there in the middle of the table was the vase ...filled to capacity.  And off to the side was a half empty bag of Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour.

The next story is about Matt and Charlene's neighbor. Virgil was a very friendly neighbor ...a single man in his late twenties.

Charlene has had it on her mind for some time now, but it becomes obvious to Matt that something is bothering her as she paces back and forth to various windows of the house.  

Matt just has to ask, "Charlene, what is it?  You've not been acting yourself lately?"

Charlene takes a deep breath, but doesn't turn to talk to her husband, "Well, I don't know how to say this ...it has never concerned me before, but there's something strange about Virgil.  I don't really feel safe having our kids play outside, and not knowing what kind of man Virgil is."

Matt does not see it the same way, "I admit he's sort of different, but not strange in the way that would concern me."

Charlene raises her tone, "Not to concern you?  He rides a tricycle to his mailbox!"

Matt tries not to laugh, "So, maybe when he was young no one took time to teach him how to ride a bicycle. He does drive a car."

Charlene will not give up her point, "But, a tricycle? What adult would ride a tricycle ...unless he thinks he still wants to be a child in some way.  And maybe he likes being around children too much ...you never see him with anyone his age."

Matt looks out the window, "Maybe you have a point ...perhaps we should be a little careful."

The very next week, Virgil is seen walking up and down the street with a young woman about his age.  He even introduces her, April, to Matt and Charlene.

Matt and Charlene notice that April visits several times a week, and always leaves before dark.  And they don't see the tricycle any more.

Then one evening, Matt and Charlene had settled all there kids in bed, and they noticed that Virgil and April were taking a stroll down the street ...and it was after dark.

Charlene is still not convinced, "I still say that Virgil is a simple man, yet too complex to figure out. I just hope April figures right."

Matt leads her by the hand to their bedroom, "What's wrong with a simple man?  I simply think you are wonderful ...can you figure out that I want to simply kiss you, or is that too complex."

Charlene's smile cannot be seen in the dark, but it's obvious it's there, by the changed tone in her voice, "Well, simplicity can be fine, I just hope April has enough wisdom to fine-tune her thoughts ...or his thoughts."

Charlene was right.  Virgil was a simple man ...you could tell the way he talked.  But, it was April who was keeping Virgil in the dark.  She had a rare medical condition where she was always tired, and her heart worked only as good as that of someone three times her age.  April had been heartsick about her failure to be able to keep a friend, so she was yet to tell Virgil about it.

April suddenly collapses on the ground.  Virgil panics.  He has a cell phone with him, and calls 9-1-1.

An operator comes on-line, "May I help you?"

Virgil stutters more than usual, "I need help r-i-g-h--h-t  n-o-w-w!  M-y-y g-i-r-l ---f-r-e-n-n ...she's a-l-m-o-s-t not breath-i-n-n!!"

The operator remains calm, "Now, calm done ...we'll help you.  Just tell me what street you are on."

Virgil does compose himself somewhat, but barely, though his words do come out more clearly, "On Sickamore ...no wait, we just turned the cor-ner, so t-h-at would be Youkaliptus Bullavard."

The operator asks, "Could you spell that for me please?"

Virgil is beginning to get more tense again, "Y-o-u-k-a, no wait, it's E-u-k ...no that's not right either. Oh forget it, I'll just drag her down to Oak." 

The third story, I'm not sure where I first heard it. It's about Lottery township. It's where Virgil's parents came from. Most lotteries were deemed illegal in the township, all except one. Lotteries were considered gambling, but the only one they permitted to be held could be considered the biggest gamble of all. There were not that many people in the township, but all of the residents participated in a drawing to see what position they would hold in the township.

There was no equal to Virgil's sister ...Mabel.  Mabel considered it a compliment if someone called her "simple". And she considered her brother, Virgil, a genius.

It so happened that the lottery placed Mabel in the position of police officer.  The only thing anyone in the township could do well ...was drive.  And Mabel could drive well ...so it seemed fine to be fitted for a police uniform.  It made her kind of proud.

Virgil's girlfriend, April, had survived her heart attack ...but had suffered a stroke.  Her brain had a hard time getting oxygen after that, but it didn't bother Virgil much ...it just kind of put her more on his level.  She did everything slow ...she moved slow, and she thought slow.  And she couldn't remember much, but she and Virgil held as fast friends ...in a slow sort of way.

Virgil wanted his parents to meet April.  And April wanted to drive.

Mabel knew they were coming, and waited all morning ...and halfway into the afternoon before she pulled them over. She wanted to impress her brother, "I think I'm going to have to give you a coupon."

April didn't speak at first, "What fer ...I'm not buying anything."

Mabel smiles over at her brother, "Fer going too slow."

April speaks up, "I'm not buying that either."

Mabel stands more upright, "Let me see yer driving lie-since."

April gets a little excited, and holds her head, "What's a driving lie-since?"

Mabel tries to be as professional as she can be, to impress her brother, "It's sumthin' ya keep in yer purse ...with yer pit-cher on it."

April goes through her purse twice, and can't find it ...all she comes up with is a broken make-up kit and some powder all over her fingers.

Mabel restates the only thing she knows, "It's square ...and got yer pit-cher on it."

April sneezes from all the powder ...and lifts her hand out of her purse to shield another sneeze, with the broken lid of her make-up.  She looks into the mirror on the lid, and says, "Oh, here it is!"  And she hands Mabel the mirrored lid from the broken make-up container.

Mabel looks at it, then says, "Sorry, you can go ...I didn't relize you were a po-leese offi-sir." 

(This was originally a blonde joke, but I don't like blonde jokes ...but I don't know if it's politically correct to tell jokes about simple-minded people either.)

Story number four ...was actually pastor's third joke, or one of the three in some order this past Sunday.

This story actually was addressing the subject of faith.  The story was of a church ...gathered together for prayer and healing.

I have heard of many miracles in and outside of hospitals ...but though I'm not saying it's not possible, I've never personally witnessed nor heard of a friend who witnessed an organized healing extravaganza. 

In this story though, it was one of these such occasions ...and they had set up a curtain for people to step behind.  It was not like any claim of Holy of Holies ...as is legitimized in the Bible, but just for some unstated reason why, they had to step behind the curtain.

The first person to step behind the curtain, was Sister Bertha.  Bertha was on crutches ...had been for a long time. She had reportedly fallen over two years ago ...at a church picnic, during a sack race.  She had always been very active, and she loved to eat.  Because of her inactivity, it seemed that her eating had got her to the point that her vastly increased weight was hindering her healing.

When she stepped behind the curtain, it was uncertain whether the Preacher was going to pray for healing of her increased appetite ...to curb her diet, or for her to throw her crutches to the curb.

But, the Preacher didn't pray just yet.

The next person to come forward, was Brother Steve ...they affectionately called him, Stuttering Steve.  He too, was called to step behind the curtain.

The Preacher then began to pray, "Sister Bertha, you will now accept your healing!  Take that crutch that you have in your right hand, and throw it down."

She threw it up ...up over the curtain.  The Preacher had to duck, to avoid getting hit by it. "Amen,  ....now, Sister Bertha ...that crutch that you have left in your left hand, throw it any which way you want, just throw it, Sister!"

The other crutch came flying over the curtain, and the Preacher ducked again. "Amen, ...now, Brother Steve, let you be healed of your stuttering.  Speak, Brother Steve, speak!!"

From behind the curtain, could be heard, "P-r-ea-ch-e-r-r ..."

The Preacher called out loudly, "Now, Brother Steve ...this thing is holdin' on to you, because you don't have enough faith.  Now, just believe ...and accept the healing!!  Now, speak, Brother Steve, speak ...let it come out!!"

From behind the curtain, "L-e-t you c-o-me b-a-ck here. S-i-st-er Ber-th-a f-e-ll on my ch-e-st ...a-n  I c-an-t b-r-ea-the!"

Okay, all kidding aside ...my purpose is not to joke about faith, but to better define it. And like I said before, I do believe in miracles and healing.

Yet, when I look to guidelines as to how things happen ...perhaps you'd say, "But we're talking about faith, and faith is about God, and with God all things are possible."

That is all true ...as well as saying, that at different times God works differently.  Yet still, I like to look at how Jesus did things while He walked the earth.  Yes, it's true that we are not to do things exactly as Jesus did them ...as we are not equal to Him, nor is our purpose.  So, we should look to what He would have us do ...or more accurately, what He had His disciples to do.

And I see neither Jesus, nor His disciples going about like part of a 'medicine show'.  The healings seemed more as pointing to the genuineness of the healer, not for the healing itself, but for the message that was the main purpose of Jesus or any of His disciples entering into any particular area.

And it seems to me that we can simply point to the genuineness of the Bible ...not pretending we are more genuine than it is.

Yes, with all these things to consider, I too was a bit confused ...though my response was to remain humble, and not think I knew what I didn't know.

There is a sad fact, that we sometimes make things up that we don't know.  Perhaps that is too strong of a statement, so let me just say, we often fill in the blanks on things we don't know.  It has a sort of adventuresome spirit to it ...but often not in line with the Holy Spirit that we should seek out to guide us.

Yet, when we seek out the Holy Spirit to guide us ...we can get a bit too eager to have the Holy Spirit move us, or at times even can get a bit confused on how we are to be moved.  It is so difficult at times not to interject our own feelings ...and often to discern the two.

I was attending a Wednesday evening church service ...and each of us were handed a very lengthy and extensive questionnaire that was to assist us in discovering our gifts.  I carefully filled it out, and we were then given a key to add up the various components to help show our strong areas ...where we were most gifted.

The first thing I did when I got my score ...was to recheck my score.  I was certain I had made a mistake, or added wrong.

Why did I think this?  It was because my highest score was in the category of 'faith'.

I just couldn't figure that out ...there must be some error, I thought.  We were allowed to take the tests home, and I dissected each question, finding out  how each answer came to score me as having strong faith.

What I found out ...was that faith was not in the ability to get a desired result from prayer, nor one that I could necessarily understand.  Faith was believing in God for who He is ...irregardless to any condition that I may understand or experience.  And it was believing in God, as He reveals Himself to us in the Bible ...and that fact not deviating according to my understand of it at any given time.

And it is actually more comforting to me ...knowing that I am weak and He is strong, and that I can depend upon Him even when I feel tired &weak and things are hopeless in my eyes.