What would it be like if church was full of mirth and merriment? Exploring what it would be like to have a more joyous aspect to church, Steve Morris looks at the incarnation, TV's comedy vicars, comedians, clowns, and unlikely Christian humourists such as Martin Luther and St Francis to encourage us to see church from a different perspective. If God has a sense of humour, and Jesus laughed, then shouldn't we too? Challenging, fun, but with a pithy edge, Morris encourages us to think more about the seriousness of being funny and understand why merriment can breathe new life into the church. Content Benefits: By asking questions such as whether God has a sense of humour and did Jesus laugh, this book will encourage you to adopt a more joyous attitude towards your faith. * Explores the relationship between humour and Christian beliefs * Reveals the humour of God and Jesus in the Bible * Includes real life stories of church initiatives including a helter-skelter installation * Examines what TV vicars tell us about how faith is perceived * Reconnects us to the heart of God * Written in an engaging, anecdotal style that is accessible to all * The fourth book in The Rediscovering the Heart of Faith, Life and Everything series * Suitable for anyone wanting to grow in their faith and spirituality * Ideal for any church leaders wanting to create an accessible and relevant church environment

A Best Book of 2021 by NPR and Esquire From Kliph Nesteroff, "the human encyclopedia of comedy" (VICE), comes the important and underappreciated story of Native Americans and comedy.It was one of the most reliable jokes in Charlie Hill's stand-up routine: "My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem." In We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, acclaimed comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff focuses on one of comedy's most significant and little-known stories: how, despite having been denied representation in the entertainment industry, Native Americans have influenced and advanced the art form. The account begins in the late 1880s, when Native Americans were forced to tour in wild west shows as an alternative to prison. (One modern comedian said it was as "if a Guantanamo detainee suddenly had to appear on X-Factor.") This is followed by a detailed look at the life and work of seminal figures such as Cherokee humorist Will Rogers and Hill, who in the 1970s was the first Native American comedian to appear The Tonight Show. Also profiled are several contemporary comedians, including Jonny Roberts, a social worker from the Red Lake Nation who drives five hours to the closest comedy club to pursue his stand-up dreams; Kiowa-Apache comic Adrianne Chalepah, who formed the touring group the Native Ladies of Comedy; and the 1491s, a sketch troupe whose satire is smashing stereotypes to critical acclaim. As Ryan Red Corn, the Osage member of the 1491s, says: "The American narrative dictates that Indians are supposed to be sad. It's not really true and it's not indicative of the community experience itself...Laughter and joy is very much a part of Native culture." Featuring dozens of original interviews and the exhaustive research that is Nesteroff's trademark, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem is a powerful tribute to a neglected legacy.

In this book, there are puzzles to solve, riddles to unravel, tongue twisters to untwist and lots of jokes too. Look for Bin Laden (or Bin Baby) among all kinds of weird and wonderful characters, and in all sorts of places, and The Posse, Bin Ladketeers, NSA Agent Jimmy Dorch, Patty Hurst and Moonie too!Since the CIA, Interpol, the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency have spent zillions of dollars and still haven't had any luck so far, we thought we'd give You the chance to find the world's Number One Most Wanted Man.

Pawsitive vibes only Dogs understand that the key to happiness is simple: to eat well, play well, love well and sleep well. This book gathers together all the best nuggets of life advice gleaned from our four-legged friends, paired with beautiful illustrations that'll put a smile on your face and a wag in your tail. From uplifting canine tails and timeless wisdom ("when you have a struggle, have a snuggle") to practical tips, happiness hacks and life lessons from paw-some breeds (such as that wrinkles are just smile lines, or that sometimes you need a lazy day), The Little Book of Pawsitivity is sure to delight every dog lover. It's both a playful tribute to all dogs for the happiness and unconditional love they bring us, and a reminder to their humans that if we adopt their perky outlook, anything is paw-sible. Other amazing insights include: Life can be ruff, but we are tough Diversity breeds success The best therapists are furry with four legs