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Laughing Matters: Learning to Laugh When Life Stinks
Find Out What’s So Funny When Nothing’s Funny
Sometimes life just stinks—people disappoint, bad things happen, and hardship comes. Laughing Matters is a collection of stories that shows the difference between those who resign and those who rejoice when reality bites. Readers will be encouraged to choose joy, to find hope, and to discover the abundant life Christ offers all who follow Him. Author and humorist Phil Callaway—once described as “Dave Barry with a message”—employs his revealing and hilarious style to remind readers that, “it’s always darkest just before the fridge door opens.”
Do you resign or rejoice when reality bites?
Sometimes life just stinks. People disappoint. Bad things happen. Hardship comes in double helpings. The last thing you want to do is laugh. So let hilarious humorist Phil Callaway show you—as only he can—that some of the darkest times are those just before the fridge door opens.
*** ** *** **
“Everything Phil Callaway writes is full of life because he’s discovered a fabulous The joy of Christ doesn’t go away, even when life is a mess.”
Luis Palau, President of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association
“Phil really knows how to get in touch with his spiritual funny bone.”
Janette Oke, Bestselling author
“One page into this book and I’m quaking with laughter. Callaway has the uncanny ability to uncover the funny in any situation and report it with inspirational wit.”
Paul L. Maier, Coauthor of The DaVinci Fact or Fiction?
“This book is an excellent source of encouragement for anyone in the midst of a crisis who may be asking God that hardest question of ‘Why?’”
Martha Bolton, Author of Cooking with Hot Flashes and Didn’t My Skin Used to Fit?
Story Behind the Book
Phil Callaway wrote this book after a five-year journey he and his wife embarked upon when she began having seizures. He discovered that when life throws you curve balls, juices lemons in your eyes, scrunches you in a knuckle sandwich…the last thing you want to do is laugh. And at the moment we realize that life can just plain stink, “this book helps us know where to go from that point,” he says. Celebrities like Dave Dravecky, Barbara Johnson, Gloria Gaither, and Joni Eareckson Tada have endorsed Callaway’s positive approach to trials. “Everything Phil Callaway writes is full of life because he’s discovered a fabulous The joy of Christ doesn’t go away, even when life is a mess,” says evangelist Luis Palau.
Sometimes life just stinks—people disappoint, bad things happen, and hardship comes. Laughing Matters is a collection of stories that shows the difference between those who resign and those who rejoice when reality bites. Readers will be encouraged to choose joy, to find hope, and to discover the abundant life Christ offers all who follow Him. Author and humorist Phil Callaway—once described as “Dave Barry with a message”—employs his revealing and hilarious style to remind readers that, “it’s always darkest just before the fridge door opens.”
Do you resign or rejoice when reality bites?
Sometimes life just stinks. People disappoint. Bad things happen. Hardship comes in double helpings. The last thing you want to do is laugh. So let hilarious humorist Phil Callaway show you—as only he can—that some of the darkest times are those just before the fridge door opens.
*** ** *** **
“Everything Phil Callaway writes is full of life because he’s discovered a fabulous The joy of Christ doesn’t go away, even when life is a mess.”
Luis Palau, President of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association
“Phil really knows how to get in touch with his spiritual funny bone.”
Janette Oke, Bestselling author
“One page into this book and I’m quaking with laughter. Callaway has the uncanny ability to uncover the funny in any situation and report it with inspirational wit.”
Paul L. Maier, Coauthor of The DaVinci Fact or Fiction?
“This book is an excellent source of encouragement for anyone in the midst of a crisis who may be asking God that hardest question of ‘Why?’”
Martha Bolton, Author of Cooking with Hot Flashes and Didn’t My Skin Used to Fit?
Story Behind the Book
Phil Callaway wrote this book after a five-year journey he and his wife embarked upon when she began having seizures. He discovered that when life throws you curve balls, juices lemons in your eyes, scrunches you in a knuckle sandwich…the last thing you want to do is laugh. And at the moment we realize that life can just plain stink, “this book helps us know where to go from that point,” he says. Celebrities like Dave Dravecky, Barbara Johnson, Gloria Gaither, and Joni Eareckson Tada have endorsed Callaway’s positive approach to trials. “Everything Phil Callaway writes is full of life because he’s discovered a fabulous The joy of Christ doesn’t go away, even when life is a mess,” says evangelist Luis Palau.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 27, 2024
We all need to laugh sometimes.
A few times a day is optimal!
But I sure needed a laugh on the fall day I wrote this review - and ole Phil is always happy to oblige. And that year I had the flu again - but Phil STILL helps.
Phil who? Later, later...
You see, I’ve always helped Health Canada out by serving as their Early Warning System for the right flu vaccines to order come October flu season...
That’s right, when I wrote this that year in the early Fall, I had a doozy of a case of it!
THAT’s where Phil comes in! Let me tell you...
One day, Canada's own Christian cutup Phil Callaway was at the Seattle airport dreaming some vivid technicolor daydreams. (Like me, two days before my flu hit!)
Seems he'd just been offered a lucrative U.S. comedy career at three times the pay he gets in Canada for his contagiously funny routines.
Just then the floor moved.
Seattle was experiencing an earthquake.
I could relate - flu can shake me up pretty bad, too...
Getting back aboard the plane after a mild but palpable shock, the smalltown boy from Three Hills, Alberta took his notebook and wrote in big letters:
“WHAT IS SUCCESS? SUCCESS IS MAKING FOLKS HOMESICK FOR HEAVEN!"
He’s a Born Optimist, of course. Needless to say, he's still working right here in Canada...
Two Christmases ago we saw Phil's standup show live in our community's Pentecostal church.
His rapid-fire, manic delivery left the audience guffawing - and in the lobby he laughed and carried on - just like he was every member of that audience’s favorite country Uncle Phil.
No, success hasn't gone to his head!
Don't know Phil?
This book's a good place to start.
Here you can laugh and cry and celebrate life - real Honest to Goodness Heart-filled Family Life - with Phil and his wife, his kids, his smalltown and his bigtime friends - all in one glorious jumble sale of good, honest, homespun humour.
Phil’s like me - he never really grew up (well, when life’s coming up roses, I’m like that...)
Not when the flu hits!
So I called Dr. Phil to make a house call.
He fixed me up in no time.
Oh, and if YOU read him, you’ll feel good again, too.
Oh... another thing: he’s got an App: it’s called, appropriately enough, LAUGH AGAIN!
So read this or listen to that... & relax. You’ll feel better about the world all over again - and YOU’LL SMILE AGAIN.
I remember back in high school, my best friend’s parents had a wall plaque mounted on their kitchen wall:
This little life we’re living
Is mighty hard to beat -
You get a thorn with every Rose...
But ain’t the Roses SWEET!
That could be Phil’s motto too.
Cause he’s Still Laughing - IN SPITE of all of Life’s Thorns -
His heart may be Broken, but it’s still Amazingly Whole...
In a BRAND-NEW LIFE:
The Life of the SPIRIT!
A few times a day is optimal!
But I sure needed a laugh on the fall day I wrote this review - and ole Phil is always happy to oblige. And that year I had the flu again - but Phil STILL helps.
Phil who? Later, later...
You see, I’ve always helped Health Canada out by serving as their Early Warning System for the right flu vaccines to order come October flu season...
That’s right, when I wrote this that year in the early Fall, I had a doozy of a case of it!
THAT’s where Phil comes in! Let me tell you...
One day, Canada's own Christian cutup Phil Callaway was at the Seattle airport dreaming some vivid technicolor daydreams. (Like me, two days before my flu hit!)
Seems he'd just been offered a lucrative U.S. comedy career at three times the pay he gets in Canada for his contagiously funny routines.
Just then the floor moved.
Seattle was experiencing an earthquake.
I could relate - flu can shake me up pretty bad, too...
Getting back aboard the plane after a mild but palpable shock, the smalltown boy from Three Hills, Alberta took his notebook and wrote in big letters:
“WHAT IS SUCCESS? SUCCESS IS MAKING FOLKS HOMESICK FOR HEAVEN!"
He’s a Born Optimist, of course. Needless to say, he's still working right here in Canada...
Two Christmases ago we saw Phil's standup show live in our community's Pentecostal church.
His rapid-fire, manic delivery left the audience guffawing - and in the lobby he laughed and carried on - just like he was every member of that audience’s favorite country Uncle Phil.
No, success hasn't gone to his head!
Don't know Phil?
This book's a good place to start.
Here you can laugh and cry and celebrate life - real Honest to Goodness Heart-filled Family Life - with Phil and his wife, his kids, his smalltown and his bigtime friends - all in one glorious jumble sale of good, honest, homespun humour.
Phil’s like me - he never really grew up (well, when life’s coming up roses, I’m like that...)
Not when the flu hits!
So I called Dr. Phil to make a house call.
He fixed me up in no time.
Oh, and if YOU read him, you’ll feel good again, too.
Oh... another thing: he’s got an App: it’s called, appropriately enough, LAUGH AGAIN!
So read this or listen to that... & relax. You’ll feel better about the world all over again - and YOU’LL SMILE AGAIN.
I remember back in high school, my best friend’s parents had a wall plaque mounted on their kitchen wall:
This little life we’re living
Is mighty hard to beat -
You get a thorn with every Rose...
But ain’t the Roses SWEET!
That could be Phil’s motto too.
Cause he’s Still Laughing - IN SPITE of all of Life’s Thorns -
His heart may be Broken, but it’s still Amazingly Whole...
In a BRAND-NEW LIFE:
The Life of the SPIRIT!
March 15, 2009
Fun reminder not to take life too seriously. And that laughter is a gift from God.
January 28, 2019
A great reminder that laughter is always the best medicine. That God is in control, and we just need to trust in him always. A great book to pass around to any and all!
January 26, 2021
This is a totally uplifting and encouraging book I reread every year...dry humour and thought provoking :) such a keeper++
March 8, 2023
Short chapters, inspiring, and good for a few laughs. It gives you another way to look at things and helps with your attitude.
October 1, 2024
Amazing book! I want to read it again and again! And, I want to buy lots of copies to share with others! Please, read it! Let God renew and revive you through the gift of laughter!
September 1, 2017
Folksy. That's how I'd describe Phil's sense of humour. It's far too entertaining and insightful to be cheesy. But folksy describes well his small town simple life kind of charm. He tackles heavy issues and calls us to continually give all things to Jesus. Phil leaves me thinking bigger and with better perspective. Easy to read and challenging to live out.
November 22, 2008
A good read, but a lot like the Skunk in the Trunk.
January 28, 2009
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.
Vange Neudorf
Vange Neudorf
December 4, 2010
A good read to remind us what really matters...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews