麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Rt Rev Paul Mason.

Good morning.

Sorry if you鈥檝e heard this one before. It polled as the funniest religious joke in an online survey run some years ago. It was written by American comedian Emo Philips.

A man was walking across a bridge one day, and saw another man standing on the edge, about to jump. He ran over and said to him: "Stop. Don't do it."
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
"Well, there's so much to live for!"
"Like what?"
"Well, are you religious?"
"Yes." He replied.
He said: "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"
"Christian."
"Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"
"Protestant. He replied."
"Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"
"Baptist鈥� he said.
"Wow. So am I. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"
"Baptist Church of God."
鈥淒itto. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"
"Reformed Baptist Church of God."
"That鈥檚 amazing鈥�, he said. 鈥淎re you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"

Back came the reply:: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."

The other said: "Die, you heretic," and pushed him off!

Almighty God, grant us all the ability to laugh at ourselves. Used with love, humour can lower barriers, stop us taking ourselves so seriously, give us a joy in our shared humanity and it is surely your gift to help us come together in a divided world.

Amen