As I was reading another chapter in the book Choose Joy, the author had some thought provoking ideas about Jesus, some of which started to intersect with what I feel God has been revealing to me about joy.  One sentence in particular had me thinking. Kay Warren writes: "In Jesus's role, he was a man of sorrows. But in his essence--his unchanging nature- he was a man of joy." I had never thought of it that way before. I mean, Jesus did not have an easy life. Most of His life somebody was trying to kill Him, and they eventually (temporarily) succeeded. Yet despite His troubles, there was always something about Him that drew people to Him. Generally people who are glum do not draw people to them. I would have to conclude that He was a joyful person to be around.  Kay Warren also goes on to mention something  that never occurred to me before: many depictions of Christ in artwork shows Him suffering; there aren't many artworks that show Him joyful. Why is that?
She then goes on to mention that Jesus had a great sense of humor. She mentions that many of His parables were intended to make a point in a humorous way, and we tend to read all His words as always being dead serious. For example where Jesus warns the Pharisees."Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24, NLT).  To the audience at that time, that may have been quite funny. I think she makes a great point that while Jesus was God and was killed for our sins, we tend to forget that He must have had a great sense of humor. (He had to have; He called me, didn't He? All you other Christians are stuck with me for all eternity! Lol.)
So that's my 'serious' joy thought for the day.

My not so serious joy thought for the day: I'd like to give a shout out to The Beatles on their 50th anniversary! :Yes, I know two of them are deceased, but two of them are still very much alive. Today, due to inventory, I was allowed to dress down so I wore my "Hard Day's Night" shirt. Then I got to work and saw on the USA Today that today was the anniversary. Funny how life works like that sometimes. In keeping with the spirit, I'm going to list my favorite Beatles tune from each album---some of the favorites are actually songs that they covered, so some albums will have more than one song listed.
1.) from Please Please Me: "I Saw Her Standing There"--how can you not get juiced when you hear that "One Two Three Four!" kick off.
Cover song: "Twist and Shout"--yes, that song was not a Lennon/McCartney composition! Gotta love that John, with a cold, after a day's recording, just about tears his throat out on this cover. Awesome!
2:)from With the Beatles: "All My Loving"--love the rhythm guitar, and every girl since 1963 who listened to this imagined that Paul was singing it just for her. Awesome!
Cover song: George does an awesome Chuck Berry on "Roll Over Beethoven". In fact it was listening to the Beatles' covers of Chuck Berry tunes that got me to check out the Godfather of rock and roll.
3:)from A Hard Day's Night: Tough call, as I love several songs off this, but I think it would have to be "I Should Have Known Better." This song just could not have been written or performed any better. Perfectly constructed, and again, every girl who hears it imagines John singing it to her.
No cover song, as this was the first Beatles' album that was all Lennon/McCartney tunes.
4:)from Beatles For Sale: first, this album is the most underrated Beatles' album. Another tough call, but I would have to go with the ballad "I'll Follow the Sun." Love the accoustic guitar here. Cover songs"this is where it gets interesting and I have a tie: "Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey!" and "Rock and Roll Music". The first time I heard "Kansas City" I was sitting at a traffic light, and the first opening chords grabbed me. My foot immediately started tapping, my head started nodding, and I was gone. Love Paul's vocals on that. "Rock and Roll Music" is John at his best.
5:) from Help! I have to go with "I've Just Seen a Face." Love the rhythm guitar.
6:)  from Rubber Soul: "In My Life" is by far my favorite off that album. Who doesn't get all sentimental and teary eyed listening to that song?  No cover songs on this one.
7:)  from Revolver: "Got to Get You Into My Life" I love the horns on this, it is just such a joyful song and irresistible. No covers.
8:) from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band: Oh man! My favorite Beatles' album, I could wax nostalgic on this all day. This was the first Beatles' album I listened to (I was about 8 years old) and I heard it on vinyl. My mother had it (still does, actually). Oh my word! Everytime I listen to it I see colors (this is from someone who has never taken anything mind altering in her life--probably just as well).It's a toss up, but I think it would have to be "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." John just had such a way with lyrics--this is songwriting at its finest.)
9:). from Magical Mystery Tour: "Your Mother Should Know". The song sounds like something from a Broadway show, and I love the movie footage of them dressed in white tails descending a spiral staircase. Actually, I'd kind of like to descend a spiral staircase in white tails.
People who know me very well are going to find out some surprising things about me in this blog, I think.
10:)from The Beatles (white album): This album is so all over the place that I think I have a tie here between "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Helter Skelter". I refuse to let Charles Manson take that song from the rest of the normal world. Sorry. "Ob-La-Di" is funny because growing up I always thought it was a Bobby Vinton song thanks to my dad. It wasn't until I hit my twenties that I found out it was a Beatles song. Dad loves to laugh about that one.
11:) from Abbey Road: this is a doozie, because I really love the "suite" that is the second half of the album--I always play that half first. But I think it would have to be "Here Comes the Sun". George Harrison really did some of his finest work on this album (he also has the song "Something", which Frank Sinatra called his favorite Lennon/McCartney tune) Love both of those songs.
12:) from Let It Be: "The Long and Winding Road." Even though some think it's The Beatles' break up song, it's the song my parents listened to a lot when they were first dating. Dad had to drive a long and winding road to her house. So I think of them when I hear the song.
I know this is a really long blog, but a couple more songs that I love from their Past Masters compilation (basically the singles that never went on the UK version of the albums.) "I Call Your Name", "Long Tall Sally (Paul's vocals again!), "Day Tripper" (who can forget that guitar riff), "Paperback Writer".

Here's to the Beatles'. May your music live on!