I have been blogging since March 2011. At that time I chose a weird name for my blog, A Ship Bound for Tarshish. It’s been so long ago, I can’t remember exactly why I chose that name, but it probably had something to do with Jonah and his relatable story of not wanting to do the hard things for God, and how God was going to get things done anyway so you might as well listen and obey.

After a year or so, I decided I needed a blog with a title that didn’t need an explanation and was more direct and understandable, especially to me! Since that time, I have been writing under the title Life on the Lighter Side, which has a double meaning. I like to laugh and find myself laughing a lot at life and myself, plus I come from a funny family line that excels in mixing love and laughter.

Proverbs 17:22 says “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

The other half of my blog title’s double meaning is that Jesus is the light. I want to spread that light. As Christians we are called to. Jesus is the light of the world and in Him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)

Contemplate that. It’s hard for me to conceive of no darkness. Not a shadow. Not a darkened corridor. No place where light doesn’t shine. That’s Jesus.

John 8:12 says “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Today, just so there is no shadow of doubt with anyone who reads this, let me proclaim this: that light is in me because I have been born again. Jesus shed his blood for me and I came to Him deep in sin, repented, and was declared righteous by His sacrifice.

I have a debt I cannot pay and he took it away. I must live for him. He is the light of the world.

I am forever grateful for this kind of love. A perfect love.

As I have reflected on the death of Charlie Kirk this past three weeks, I’m sobered and challenged. I don’t want anyone to perish in their sins, but the One that matters doesn’t either.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Charlie put it all on the line on his mission to make Heaven crowded. I must do the same on my somewhat smaller mission field. The words in my blog are meant to bring laugher and encouragement. Sometimes I don’t mention Jesus, but underneath it all, at a heart level, he is my fuel and the rock I stand on. If you don’t know him already, won’t you join me? There’s plenty of room.

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”