Why is laughter an important component for life and faith? On this edition of Live the Promise Susie talks again with author and comedian Phil Callaway about his book, .

He offers these pearls of wisdom:

• A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not nice.

• If you want to stay married for 32 years, “remember her birthday and forget her age.”

• It’s always darkest before the dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the best time.

• Going into debt is like wetting the bed; it feels good for just a short period of time.

Phil shares what we can learn from believers who have gone before us. “These were people who had learned to take God very seriously and themselves not so much. As we enter the holiday time of year, it can be a painful time for some people. We all know where we can go for laughter, but true deep abiding joy comes from looking in the right place. “

For Phil, that’s the Lord. He offers five keys to keeping that joy in your life that form the acronym GRACE:

Grateful
The “great secret of the joy-filled life.”

Relational
Keep a strong circle of people around you to point you back to God. Phil also points to being “rust-proof” – in his words, “Die young, as old as you can.”

Amazed
Phil urges us to keep a child-like view of God, the world, and the day. “To think there is a God who can count the hairs on my head and chooses to forget my sins, not just forgive them… I’m amazed.”

Compassionate
Be looking for opportunities to encourage others with a word, an act of service, or a prayer.

Expectant
Wake up in the morning expecting God to work and do great things.

Key Scriptures: Psalm 126:2-3; Nehemiah 8:10

Theme Song: Open Up the Heavens by Meredith Andrews

Highlight : Finding true joy in Christ

A comedian’s perspective on life and faith