Laughing in downtown Toronto...

[takes a deep breath]I just spent the morning going to an muslim outreach group with various ministry people all across toronto and ontario canada seeking to reach the musilm population and spend time praying. It was a great time and blessing in the Lord.Me and a new friend from this event came downtown where brother Ricki (from trenton) was coming with a few of his friends to open air preach and hand out tracts. We get down there and are able to speak to a few muslims that are giving out literature. I get back to see Ricki and his friends abit desponded due to the cold and lack of fervor to preach the gospel, they were handing out some tracts but overall the was a lack of motivation to really preach open air. So I walked with Ricki to a place to go talk and use the washroom. I was abit confused about why there was despondency etc.. We were walking back and I noticed a group of people in a circle laughing... I thought to myself what is this????Its the busiest corner in Toronto tons of people going back and forth and this crowd of 10-12 people laughing in a circle with big smiles on their face. At first I thought it could be the Toronto Airport Chrisitan Fellowship with the "laughing in the spirit" which I wasn't to happy about if they were doing it like this in public...I felt such an spiritual warfare and intesity walking up beside then and getting in the center of the circle and asking the person there "what in the world is going on? are you a religious group?" after many questions I found it is called "laughter yoga" they were unashamed in their practice and old people, young people and all sorts where practicing this in public. They pleaded with me "just laugh" its good, it will take the stress away, etc.. I felt such an vexation in my spirit.. I walked away and talked with ricki and the others where on that same spot 30 minutes ago we were handing out gospel tracts, etc. I just don't know how to express how I feel. It is so sad and pathetic that people can go and do this in public and not be ashamed but we are ashamed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in public. I felt like crying and almost did, the church of Jesus Christ needs to wake UP! things are not ok how they are going. WE NEED REVIVAL, desperatly it is an CRISIS HOUR. "Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep." -Luke 6:25:cry:

maybe the Holy Ghost is speaking to you about a winsomeness and a joy we should have in public ministry......listen, the bad news and the horror that is all around us is FACT, but is it truth ?

maybe the Holy Ghost is speaking to you about a winsomeness and a joy we should have in public ministry.....Are you serious? I would rather weep over the lost souls around me and share with them the serious sober fact that they are lost without a saviour.

I felt such an vexation in my spirit.. I walked away and talked with ricki and the others where on that same spot 30 minutes ago we were handing out gospel tracts, etc. Greg,You touched on several important points in your leading post, and possibly there is much to learn from this heart-rending experience.The enemy is always there... you can't expect to go to a public place where normally he has free reign, and just take over, unless the ground has been thoroughly prepared in your hearts first and then also, the public ground itself.What you describe - a loss of confidence and then a loss of 'ground' - flows from each person's individual insecurities and then the lack of 'pack mentality' to work as a group. It needs to be approached like a proper battle in a war - with practical strategies for possible eventualities..... such as a good quiet crowd gathering to hear one person speak, or, individuals genuinely wanting to discuss the needs of their souls, or, the sort of group you describe setting up an alternative attraction nearby - always remembering that if you can move, so can they. Personally, I feel it's important to give each Christian the freedom to minister in their own calling, and respect should be paid to this, so that the Lord's leading within them can be obeyed. This helps to bring His authority into the event, and as the Holy Spirit enables, the whole place can be affected - despite traffic, noise, hecklers and outright opposition.It is a matter of 'every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, shall be yours'. But as individuals, you have to have already taken the ground in your hearts and in the Holy Spirit.I'm a little concerned about the possibility of weeping in public over the lost, although I have seen and have heard of, preachers being moved to shed a few tears at the intransigence of an indoor gathering. However, I would, of course, accept there may be a time when for those to whom it is given, it may be wholly appropriate to give expression to God's heart in this way.Also you are right, that Jesus despised the shame, for the JOY that was set before Him. In this, that we are inviting people to experience the JOY of salvation - of sins forgiven, of peace with God, of being healed and of being provided for by and in Him. That the public face of much ministry should be joyful does not seem amiss..... It may be a matter of different ministries here, which each have their place in the work of the whole Body.

you asked me: Are you serious? very much so, if we are to reflect the light and the love that is our Saviour, the Risen Lord, there is a joy inherent that the world is desperate for...a true joy, a real joy , a joy birthed in the Spirit, bereft of any carnality, any phoniness, and when the lost, see this joy in Jesus manifested in us, they will be hungry for the Living Bread.we live in a fallen world, all around things are desperately our of order, out of whack, there is horror, there is poverty, tears, grief, war, hunger....all around us, but He Who lives in us is God the Holy Ghost....and He is light, and love, and I believe that we are to reflect it.weep in your prayer closet, and smile in the streets.......

ok. I am sure Jesus was smiling when and laughing when he said these things to the multitudes? I know what you are saying brother but come on under the allusions and story I brought up its something where someone has to weep for the lost.Luke 14:25-35 (King James Version)25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.--something else that I was reading today:Acts 26:25 "But he said, I am not mad most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Mike, I think I might have not expressed myself clearly to Greg.I understand exactly how he felt, and respect that.....I think what i was trying to say (as led) was something thats been bothering me about open air preaching...in general.....but first, lemme just talk about the "holy ghost bartender" John Scotland, and what happened to me. I desperately wanted to get up during that travesty of a sermon, publicly rebuke him, and then huff off into the night....but God told me to just let him be, and to love him...so I stayed and then hugged his neck, loved on him a bit, and that was it.was I grieved about the whole mess?very much so, and primarily becoz this canyon I live in, is just a stronghold of the devil, and the brother who brought Mr. Scotland into the canyon later told me he rued this decision.I am almost done with my ministry here....no man can say what is a powerful or weak work of the Lord's. I am truly happy to be moving on, and in my flesh I believe that I am leaving a dark godless hellbound community of 12,000 hardened hearts.......thats my flesh saying that.Now the Spirit, the Holy Spirit in me that has prayed and wept and tarried for revival and begged and claimed souls in this town for Christ says that God will work a miracle and bring revival to Topanga, praise His Name, for God can do anything. I don't see it, but this vessel of mine is earthern, cracked and flawed.I'm leaving for Chicago on Dec 28 with my son on a train. God has been so good to me and answered many prayers. During the last year, He gave me a play to write called "Hizzoner"....its about Chicago's very famous Mayor Richard J. Daley, and some very wealthy producer's came along side to produce this work, and I will portray Mayor Daley on stage. We will open this work March 3rd at my home theater (that I was trained at) in Chicago...its our 25th anniversary. I've been a working actor since I was kid. I've been in Los Angeles for 18 years, and now it feel God is calling me back to my hometown. All my old friends, and teenhood colleagues in the theater are unsaved, they don't know Jesus.They know my relationship with Him, they have seen the change in me these past four years, they see the fruit of the Spirit, and believe me, they watch....when I'm around them, I'm very light, very loving, very winsome...they watch....they are waiting for the inner Pharisee to come to the surface, the "religionist" to rear his ugly head.......its not like they are hoping for me to fall....they are just "scared", they are scared becoz they think that once you get saved, you can't have fun.....I havent had a chance to tell them, that your idea of "fun' gets radically changed once you die to your sin nature......anyway, I'm blithering on....just pray for me if the Spirit leads you. I'm very excited.I didnt mean to sound as if I was admonishing Greg, I was exhorting him. I believe that some street preaching these days is missing something, and I say this respectfully....it lacks a gentleness, a brokeness...its has too much of the pharisee in Luke 18, rather than the Humble Sheperd of Matt 11:28-30....God bless you beloved brother, neil

ok. I am sure Jesus was smiling when and laughing when he said these things to the multitudesone of my favorite verses is in the "rich young man" version in Mark, the 10th chapter , 20th verse...and after Jesus tells him how to inherit etrenal life the young man replies, "Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy.""Jesus looked at him and loved him."Greg I truly love that verse......truly. I can almost see the Lord's face.I also love Ravenhill's "Weeping between the porch and the altar" sermon....I burned it to CD, and I love that passage in Joel. I love to weep, and agree with you........but I believe those laughing yogaite's might be onto something....thats all I was saying, maybe we should be joyous in public ministry....thats all.

very much so, and primarily becoz this canyon I live in, is just a stronghold of the devil, and the brother who brought Mr. Scotland into the canyon later told me he rued this decision.You have to be kidding. Is John Scotland still in ministry and people still inviting this guy to their churches? I cannot believe it. He is an false teacher, prophet, etc however you want to label it. I would not go within 10 feet of the man and I would rebuke him. And the whole laughing that I experienced in the streets is the same exact spirit and tie in that scotland and these others have into the spiritual. It is very dangerous and definetly not of God.I believe that some street preaching these days is missing something, and I say this respectfully....it lacks a gentleness, a brokeness...its has too much of the pharisee in Luke 18, rather than the Humble Sheperd of Matt 11:28-30....I agree whole-heartly with that brother, but surely it is not missing this "laugher" and how dare we even call it holy. I always smile when I hand out tracts to people and I don't appear to be mad or distraught over them. At times I will sometimes get sober and serious with people and show angious over them and show I have genuine concern. Yes tears and brokeness are needed.

You have to be kidding. no I'm not, I wish I was. Is John Scotland still in ministry and people still inviting this guy to their churches? yes, it was a very large house meeting here in Topanga, and it was VERY distressing...not only Scotland, but some of the out of canyon people who follow him around, 'holy ghost drunks'. I was so distressed I spent about half my time there in the back yard on my knees praying, and when I got up and went in to listen to Scotland, I wanted to do, so dearly wanted to stand up and wring holy fire upon his head, but the Lord told me to hold my tongue.Greg it would of felt goooood to righteouslessly tee off on this deluded confused apostate........but God told me to be still.He knew something I didnt, so.........neil

How does this type of laughing differ from the "holy" laughter?It doesn't.

Holy Ghost laughter at Azusa Street: www.christianword.org/revival/azusa.html Go to the bottom of the page. I had to move this topic from the Women Preachers sight to the Holy laughter sight since we got off topic.