Punchline and Purpose

Hi honey I got a question for you okay what you think is the thing I love the most about you not talking physical hair or just talking and I laugh a lot. Welcome to family life today where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most kind and well for Dave Wilson and you can find us@familylifetoday.com or on our family life. This is family life today.

I love your laughter. It just brings joy to the house, you have the greatest laugh.

It's kind of irritating sunglasses like it like that important to you because really talk to a guy that brings the funny brings laughter that means one of my is my favorite yes comedian in all the world.

Michael Junior and it is a joy to have you on the show by many people know you're not only a comedian but you have purpose behind your comedy I'm in you been on the Tonight Show, the late late show, Jimmy Kimmel, you've been everywhere. You're in selfie dad.

The movie more than funny. The movie room. You are the star war room that you are the star warm welcome to family life to a low, like today and tomorrow in your moment right before you know what I like most about you. You know she was getting answer that the right that I know you can say funny you say that a lot, do you know it's interesting likely right on. You know this. The first time we heard you was in Dallas.

We were going to speak at the PAO NFL conference and it was our first time to be what like a keynote speaker to couple hundred NFL players and are there wives and singles and spouses and they started the night off and they were they were like is the biggest conference we've ever done.

This needs to be really done well and they introduce you to start the whole conference on the ground. I get I turned to Adam like they're going to start this thing with a crazy. This is line where I and you gotta be good and let me tell you, dude, do you remember you killed. Do remember it was a genius move because when you are done, we set it just opened the room, all the fear all the defense is all of you became a room with peace and joy you created that atmosphere to allow speak, and really say what God wanted them to say so. Thanks for doing all your workers so on your comedy heart deposit can be made very important to watch with your laughter, your heart is open what information of the Romans will well that's deep right there that will let's talk about that because you you are an expert at funny and you wrote a book called how funny how life works. You've done stand up you done movies you get a podcast. Why why a book. But we are what we hope it okay thank you for the work world are we probably about 14 books a year like there's a lot of people like this medium who wanted to sit back and curl up and enjoy some really great stories that are funny and heartfelt and then also there's a call to action.

Each one is laugh is learned or some like there's some pretty strong ticklers and two men spoke the main reason I wanted to do. It was really out of obedience and in the second reading is on Sunday. I was reading your book because it really is. It's all stories that have occurred happening. It's like watching and listen to do on stage. It really is okay, but I thought you it's like the parables range.

Jesus compared Michael Junior to Jesus out the parables while she's never done that with me. There is no other truth in their but it's really good.

That's why it's super entertaining, but the spiritual depth and the truth have been really inspiring to us.

I gotta be honest, you know, we read a lot of books that them like today because we interview a lot of authors and I'm gonna be honest I don't read every word of every book of every chapter and read the book you read what your job a lot of reforming man with a lot of reading for anybody to start with focus, but I appreciate you read a story to let me tell you some of this was going to tell you before you cut me off.

Here's the thing I read almost all book I couldn't put it down. I was going to just a little bit here to learn a little bit here so I could do this interview with you. I went to Hannah Mike honey, you gotta read this I love how you write me again. It's like listening to you on stage that humors there. The funnies there but you just tell a story and then like you said I can't sit. It's like a parable. There's a story but there's this truth that you got a look for in your story and then you land the story at the end of each chapter.

I'm telling you, Mike. Everybody needs read this book. I hope it's just a really, really bestseller because when people pick this up and read it.

It really is life-changing. You did such a good job of telling the story and in driving home the point all the way from I'm involved in opening chapter 67 yeah and Ornish talk about that house waiting story, take us through that what happened and how old were you to our group in place called Michigan in one of her friends house wanted mom she gave him five dollars and gave me five dollars and I was blown away by this sector for probably 55 seconds money in my hand happened nobody ever just give me money before. So our group in Grand Rapids and had to sell everybody had bikes everybody had a bike.

My bike was like this dishwashing would have twin hair, puffy, just some stuff to put together of rugby. My cousin had a predator. I remember the much better greatest bike like a heavy sleep because it shows up in a predator's mom bought it anyway.

Story is really about. My dad said to me you buy me a predator. My dad is always relied by your printer work.

Even today, Monday to have $100. He would say yes.

Have 100 for me to he just does not just hand out money, bike, and I finally got the courage asked him about his bike and he said it. Instead of saying no.

He actually said if you are happy money on, which blew me away. This was an opportunity to remind him nine years old will go out and start shoveling snow in the first place I go to my neighbor and she was old the book how she could tell the stories Bible stories and it would include phrases like, and then I said to Jesus to shoot crazy old so flush up her snow when I'm working on the heart and the more proud I walk up to her door and she pays me $0.60 in an orange jump from $0.60 an orange I just say this Michigan winters are rough when not talking probably like a little half inches not even a little cry like 9 inches of fresh snow would some of old snow and ice under this note and am nine years old and sweat. I got almost no school got shovel this thing out. She patted me on her pet mill my head to like like there you go young man what to do what I did mixing in the book is when I left work kicked all the snow back a lot of snow back usually give you 66 and later that day, after a raise $91 in one day. I'm nine years old hello so much of your story and go back and tell your dad what had happened because you are so discouraged $0.60 yeah what your dad told you it was a great lesson when I told her.

First of all, or how to negotiate a report he inspired me to go well and get the rest of the money like you told me not to stop. There are so many left of the present. But I went back out and actually kept shovel snow even more. What I did mixing the book is I raise $91 you got no my dad offerings okay you got $91 close enough since we don't get the bike and I will way. I didn't get much progress we said and then Susie said that to me all right. I spent all my money on a bike bike before money was just whatever I had to go out and work toward where did you learn so much for live literally never got the bike fixed up my old fluffy and I was cool in the next day I went back to my neighbor's house again additional to get re-shovel her snow but I didn't even knock on the door on Rogers learner.

Some of the moment unit nine years old and those like D. Just give your kids money just throw it out and you make them pertinent know my kids have always had money but one thing I did love her and even tweak you to teach my kids any money to get you have to earn it when it first where you changed it to a shore when you get some money to figure out a way to make the money work for you that little add-on was pretty significant shift. I had to make in a really big way. So one story that you got from the book and the book a little bonus shares, door I should have really low self-esteem that you keep in mind that is amazing awesome that I love love love my dad I think great is that were not until you start to cut my hair and execute in the face of your listeners might be struggle relations with her dad. Maybe her struggle would understand. Whatever I want to tell the listeners. This will be hard to hear. At first, you gotta hear me out. Your dad actually did amazing job know know some you to Mark right now so you tell your story so my dad used to cut my hair and when he cut my hair.

He would yell at, not just kind of deal he would feel really really really really loud very aggressively and investment self-esteem to my dad is cut my hair and express it is not behind-the-ear. It hurt a lot and I'm actually fletch would yell at me even lower number crying because he was yelling at me so much talk with Lois. I was thinking my dad always Gail every time, even as an adult or even the older teenager, I would like to get my haircut just in general because the actual much for your reference, and then walk one day and my dad used to also cut his hair but my dad's dad used to drink a lot, is very very me.

My uncle told me a story about how he walked in the house one day and my dad probably 11 years old was sitting there getting his hair cut while his drunk father would cut his hair and if he moved he would take the clippers and hit him upside the head clippers three city walked in and my dad was sitting near tears and blood running down his face sits theologically back to the reason I said I have an amazing day. That is just one of many stories were Monday had taken some things that happened in the past and said nope. I'm not going to allow this to happen to my son and all he did was raise voice, but he could allow all travel down generationally that are so strong all he did was raise his voice. Not alone.

For me with my son. I don't really want to hear. It's 100%, but likely lacking digital when I cut my son. So now what is it look like when he cuts his sons here supposedly just focusing on the fact that he raised his voice just a little dramatic on what he had gone through found the answer to it that I so much love and respect for the minimum dad is a good result for maybe some people listen right now, you probably only focus and a lack of did you ever do to matter what may have taken place them that's really good because there's always a story behind the story. Yeah, you know like your dad was yelling that there something behind that. I think to find out our parents history and what they've been through and why they respond the way we that they have is really big and a lot of times we just never do that is were angry or resentful. That's big and it's important you know I wasn't a kid that really read the Bible, growing up a was dragged to church by my mom.

Single mom divorced dad did know my dad really that well and come to Christ is in going in my junior in college and 12% start reading the Bible and I had no idea because I always said I'm never gonna be like my dad. He was trying to much had women, you know, divorced, my mom, I'm never to become like my dad.

I'm reading the Bible brand-new Christian read the 10 Commandments in Exodus chapter 20, and I never knew this was in the Bible it said you know the sins of the father will visit down through your generation through third and fourth generation. And I read that one day in my dorm room and thinking I am becoming just like my father know I have let Reno's verse like this is happening to me. I made a vow and I can be like my dad and yet I'm going to parties and Dragon picking up women and I now give my life to Christ and was stopped at and it hit me right then and there and I you know what was going to be married for years yet but I never thinking if I don't intentionally stop this pattern. The sins of my dad are going to become my sins. Even though I don't want to do it. I'm going to do it in less I intentionally say I'm not going to just like your dad said I am not going to do what my dad did any start a legacy that you now your continuing in a beautiful way, I Marine that that verse to my nine-year-old son, my nine-year-old son who's now 34, married.

I never read it to see James and CJ.

We think it is first and was nine years old. The sins of your father. He just looks at me and all he said was dad.

Don't sin never just going okay but me and he got it at nine years old.

He's like, whatever you do, I think I'm going to do and then you just told this great story and I and I gotta get to you know the theme of your book keeps coming up over and over and it starts in this very first story at the end of that story about $0.60 in an orgy right these words you say. If you have a mindset that is open to learn from your experiences the obstacles of today can become the opportunities of tomorrow. And as I've heard you on stage and in your book, you keep talking about your punchline and your setbacks in your set up.

Go ahead, tell us what that all means could you beginning in chapter 1, and it's a theme all throughout $20 worth of products.

Why ringing a book on how life works 20 and we explain how life works but it really is funny how life works to you in a comedy, there's always a set up breakfast instead of, any time you laugh, there's a formula takes place set up and there's a punchline. The setup is when a comedian will cause the audience to think in the same direction depends on hers. We change the direction away.

They're not expecting when audience catches on to the change they perceive the punchline, then result a revelation, fulfillment and joy. What is expressed through laughter will life is the same weight as the setup. There's a punchline. Your setup is what you have received the fact that you got a car. Your marriage got his disability but your punchline is about what you're called to deliver. And if you know your setup but you don't want to punchline you like symptoms miss and you think what you need to fill that void is more set up the bucket just get this if I could just give Mary Parker just opened his business. What you really need to know what is your punchline.

And just like me. As I mentioned in the book I should struggle more reading. Even your setbacks in life are part of your setup you can deliver the punchline of your call to deliver what happens. More ties a knot of people really actually believe once to get some more set up. That's when you will be happy but it's really about asking the question what can I deliver everyone have a question that's always running about her mom and a question either has to do with getting or receiving yet to make a decision.

What question are you going to ask when you walk into a room. You will be asked what can I give you will be asked what can I get that is really the reason I like the book once I sat down actually put paper. It only took me four years but I did not have the I just felt like I should and am super happy with the results. Example of that would be when you did a shell and a woman came up to you and said I know how the story had a comedian friend of mine read the book early called me up and she could not make it through chapter 22. That's where you talk about.

She said she made four attempts to get through the chapter. She could not do, and then we talk in the home she let him a try tomorrow. Here's what happened. I'm doing my bit and nothing impure Illinois hometown of Richard Pryor that are practical in the widest range of information from on stage and I do more comedy and I'm asking a different question. Instead of asking what can I get him on stage asking what I did not audibly in between the jokes while people were laughing. That's the question I asked him, used only ask, how can I get more laughs but don't forget to thought like a cancer say something a little action. I can remember, and inexplicable how life is like the setup of the punchline system lecture went on to the next joke you start having fun it was great that at the end of the show we have autographed line normally is lady walked up to me she's in our lives. She says I get it now and if she walks off to get anything. I have books and CDs. Anything we, Michigan's walks off of our whatever and then come back impure Illinois year and 1/2 later. She says dear Marie and I weren't enough, didn't remember her because it was so weird. We should place the left. She so I came to your event last year year and 1/2 ago and I came because she says she's a schoolteacher in her bank account was like a $-130 negative in a big and somebody gave her the ticket to my common show because I knew she had so much pressure she was under the just want her lap to succumb to the show. She said I really laughter had a great time, but then you start saying some things that really penetrated me and I was expect that a common show that's just me listening between the gaps listen on… Right now you have gaps in your life would question are you asking and between the gaps so I said whatever I said to her initially. So when you say what you said. I knew what I had to do and she explained to me that earlier that day schoolteacher. Her favorite student had approached her and said hey is what you know and I can become back-to-school anymore see her mom going to prison. She never met her dad before didn't have any other family. She did not want to end up in foster care system. She said she would just go work it out with his teacher after going to marsh over lunch I set up with Mike on the deliver part of the message. She said I went on ahead in the context of not press it was an automotive look like one to come stay with me for a little while and we could just figure this thing out to get the she says she takes the student home in over the weekend they start unpacking her close because her discomfort is going up together and she let her moving water washes on packer close she found a suicide note dated for that weekend that she contacted Ms. she says to me she's looking at me telling this I'm trying to hold.

I got tears welling up in his she says to me since then I've adopted that student to my daughter now would you like to meet her and her sister.

I adopted them both and I couldn't even turn my head to look at him without losing it what to do you like all I did was say whatever you say.

That moment after asking the question what can I give as result of that story blesses me so so much like is it still possible that that girl wouldn't be here today. This woman not ended up thinking shall I be that just shows God. If we open our ears and listen God what he you have what lets the punchline. What's my part, wet and listening in the gaps. I loved it. As I look over it and right now she's got a tear in her eye and I'm think in everyone listening has a tear in their eye right now because you know this and you said it better than anybody your book.

Michael Junior is we were made for purpose. That's why God created us.

We have a purpose in us and when we hear a story like that like wow, look at how God use you anything comedy because it's one of things I love about you is your not just a funny guy getting up there trying to make money and make people laugh. You like another some bigger, there's a purpose bigger than just the funny in that story highlights like that since some of his life because the surface bigger than just teaching kids yeah exactly and so you're not even for the listener listen is like what your purpose, what is God made you to do. And as you say it probably has some to do with the setbacks in your life the obstacles the hard things your life. The adversity is probably part of what God allowed you to go through so that he can use that to put you on your purpose. Conversations like the one we've heard today with Dave and Wilson and Michael Junior always remind me of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10, which tells us that we are God's workmanship. We are created in Christ for good works that he prepared before hand that we should walk in them.

So do we understand God has a punchline for us and do we understand how our set up affects that punchline. As Michael Junior said he's written a book that deals with this subject. The book is called funny how life works and it's a book that we got in our family life to the resource Center you can go to our website. Family life to.com to find out more about Michael's book ordered from us online@familylifetoa.com or you can call to order one 800, FL, today is the number again. Michael's book is called funny how life works ordered from us online@familylifetothe.com or call to order one 803 586-329-1800 F as in family L as in life, and then the word today. I think many of you already know about the new book that David and Wilson have just completed a book called no perfect parents. It's a great guide for all of us who are in the process of raising our children a great reminder that there are no perfect parents, but there are things we can do to point our kids in the right direction. As parents we are making Dave and Anne's book available this week as a thank you gift to those of you who can help support the ministry of family life.

Help us reach more people more often. Through this daily podcast and radio program family life today is being heard by hundreds of thousands of people every day. People who are getting practical biblical help and hope for their marriages and for their families and you make that possible. Every time you donate, so if you'd like to help support the ongoing work of this ministry and get a copy of David and Wilson's new book, no perfect parents, either for yourself or to give to someone you know family like to.com make a donation to support the ministry and ask for your copy of Damien's new book and the website is family life today.com you can also donate by phone. Just call one 800 FL today. Not tomorrow or to hear from Michael Junior about how he is a comedian deals with hecklers because comedians have to figure out how to do that and how that applies to the obstacles we face in living lives on purpose. Hope you can tune in for that on behalf of our hosts David and Wilson on Bob Lapine. We will see you back next time for another edition of family life today action of family life accrue ministry helping you pursue the relationships that matter most