LAUGHING IN VEIW OF THE TRUTH by Robert Soto

LAUGHING IN VEIW OF THE TRUTH by Robert Soto

March 8, 2010

1 Kings 18:27 "At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."

I enjoy performing before people and sharing with them a little of who we are as Lipan Apaches. There are so many misconceptions about our people. Most of the times they formulate an opinion based on hearsay that others who really have no clue as to who we are, are sharing. In many ways, I enjoy being the killjoy as I bring down the rumors and misconceptions that are shared with me. But I enjoy doing it through humor. Most people will remember a good joke and the truth it brings about rather than a story of the horrible things that were done to us as Indian people. A high ranking officer of the Air Force came to me after my family and I performed at an Air Force base and said, "You all are amazing. You have the most unusual way of telling the truth about the injustices done to your people by sharing a joke that in reality is putting the blame back on us who deserve it. Keep up the good job."

God had an unusual way of communicating his feelings about mankind. Here was Elijah in the middle of a challenge. He was challenging eight hundred false prophets to start a fire. What made it interesting was the humor that God uses through the mouth of Elijah His servant. Elijah stared to taunt them and said, "Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." God used humor to reveal truth to a people who had been deceived. The truth needs to be known and if it means sharing a few jokes to bring their attention to the bad they have done, then it will done. Learn to laugh so that we will remember the truth of history that has been deleted.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church