Geri, thanks for the Word’s point of view on laughter. Can’t go wrong there! Or Latin or Greek, whatever. Not forsaking fellowship! Fellowship back the was in someone's house, a hillside and eventually catacombs! Not organized church! That said, this one time injunction seemed to be presented as an afterthought! An Oh by the way moment! People will not go to hell for lack of regular attendance! If this injunction meant anything more there would have been much follow up, IMHO! TR When I’m having a really bad day ... I mean everything possible is going wrong and even your favorite ceramic item your dog accidentally knocks over and it falls on the hardwood floor and shatters into a million pieces. Instead of getting upset ... I said ok Lord, I really didn’t need that ceramic snowflake candle holder after all. It’s only going to get left behind and burn. Then I find myself laughing and before you know it I’m singing praise songs and I’m in a joyful mood. :whistle: How many Christian's does it take to change a lightbulb?! One is praying for more faith, two are asking if it's God's will, one is still looking for proof text and one is seeking a committee to vote on it! And one is still shopping! Answer: One lone janitor who likes light! :mdrmdr: “The one still shopping!” :mdrmdr: If according to Johanan, that food is medicine, then laughter is the dessert! TR Bsfc321 - so I totally get what you are saying, I was not raised in church either, my Dad was Atheists & moved to Agnostic later in life .... I dabbled in the occult and accepted Christ as a snotty nose, smart-Alec, cocky teenager, who thought, I was so smart. I first belonged to a right-winged, Legalistic, Fundamental, we hate everybody church and went to a Bible college of the same...it took me years to get past that and at some level, I still battle that past. In the 80’s I learned how important it is to memorize Gods Word for myself and these two concepts have sustained me thru many personal battles related to bad choices that I made in life as a believer. I’m also a science nerd, so the only road for me was medicine, but all of that puts me labeled as eccentric or just a “strange bird”. Now top all that with a sick sense of humor :calvin , Creates quite the personal conflict. We are so very close and it is going to be so awesomely cool to fly upward, see Jesus and begin enjoying eternity and getting the inheritance that is kept for us. :prayer-hands: After the fact; the lone janitor who loves light could be me! Go figure! TR 
In the 70’s I was introduced to the concept of the rapture and started to learn much of what the end times is all about.
You are right, there is a lot wrong with our “community” we label as church. A lot of people “play” church, to feel good about themselves. I have witnessed this, having been a missionary for 12 years, I saw the coldness, self absorption, complacency growing in churches (we where responsible for 265 churches and that’s a small drop in the bucket of the numbers out there).
The fight has been long, I am tired and ready to fly up... so look at all we are to do .. a strange verse, I came across and decided to memorize because it speaks volumes of our life requirements by grace ....
Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”
Along with this, I have learned not to take myself too seriously (It’s not about me - it’s all about Jesus), I’m ok with offending folks into heaven (what have I to loose), and encourage those who are of like mind — keep watching, waiting, praying (conversation with God), run the race and don’t look back (I usually trip and fall when I look back). :mdrmdr:
