Yukigassen! Now that the Olympics are over, the Japanese want to see a new competition added – Yukigassen! It’s essentially a big snowball fight. It became a sport 37 years ago in Japan. The goal of the game is to hit all seven players on the opposing team using perfectly spherical snowballs made with a special machine or capture the opposing team’s flag.

The idea of turning Yukigassen into a sport was born out of a crisis in the Japanese town of Sobetsu. Visitors once flocked to the town to enjoy its hot springs, but the eruption of Mount Usu in 1977 brought tourism to an end. Residents, looking for ways to put their town back on the map, had a flash of inspiration when they saw a group of tourists having fun during a snowball fight and thought: What if this children’s game could save our town? Yukigassen was born which means snowball fight in Japanese. They put some rules down on paper, developed special helmets, and invented a machine to mold snowballs. The first international tournament took place in 1989. Now they’re hoping to make it an official winter Olympic sport. 

Growing up in Atlanta with so little snow, I loved a good snowball fight. Down south we quickly learned not to throw snowballs at cars. Drivers were not amused and would call the police on us. 

Few today know how to have clean fun. If alcohol, drugs or screens aren’t somehow involved, they don’t know how to entertain or enjoy themselves.

Even Christians often miss that God did not give us creativity just so we could work. Look around at God’s creation and you’ll quickly discover that God has a sense of humor. Watch animals play, especially young ones, and you’ll see that having fun is part of their design. It’s part of ours too.  

Sadly, because many Christians look and act like they ate something past its expiration date, a lost world equates Christians with the anti-fun crowd. They think Christians are party poopers, but nothing could be further from the truth for those who love the Lord and know the Bible. 

If anyone should know how to have fun, it should be Christ-followers. The dictionary defines fun as “what provides amusement or enjoyment.” While the word “fun” doesn’t appear in the Bible, words like “delight” and “enjoy” fill Scripture. Jesus said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The Message renders it this way: I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. In Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT), the Bible encourages us to have fun and enjoy the life God has given us. So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

If you’re like me, growing up our family didn’t really know have to fun together. Substance abuse by one or more parents drains fun out of a family. While as kids, we had fun, we never had family fun. Over the years I’ve learned a lot from Jane and her family. Then, God wonderfully blessed me with a sense of humor and I’m a bit of a practical joker. If anyone tells you that I pulled pranks on newlyweds (clean and fun), I plead the 5^th. 

Yet, I have to be honest, Jane was so much better than I was at having fun. It’s an area I’ve had to grow in. Though our family had fun, if I had to do it over again, I’d have done a lot more of it.

Jane’s family was much better at it. They love to play games around the table. I learned very quickly that her mom is a fierce competitor. 

I think that at this time of year, during the winter when many moan about the weather, God’s people must be creative to keep their joy and delight. It’s Wisconsin so we’re still due for more snow (spring is just around the corner). So, build a snowman. Our family made one once that looked like a dragon with food green coloring. Maybe have a family or neighborhood snowball fight. One really cold winter we had a beach day. Our family cranked up the heat, grilled burgers, put on shorts, popped popcorn and watched a movie.

In the summer one of our favorites after the kids were in their pjs was to go on a pajama ride for ice cream. Then, one year we decided to try a single dip at every ice cream place within driving distance. After the 4^th shop, ice cream was coming out our eyeballs. Everyone knows that hot days are made for water fights. Nerf guns are a blast! And if you have a Nerf gun war in a hotel, it’s rare they will kick you out.

Did you know we have senior citizens at Grace who love to play Cribbage? Personally, I think we should have a Cribbage playoff. 

Remember, this building is your building. During the cold days or hot days, use the gym or the field. We have a grandmother during the summer who brings her gang and they have “Grandma Camp” at church. 

All it takes to have some clean, Christ-honoring fun is to use the creativity God blessed you with. We’re made in the image of God. God laughs and He wants us to laugh. He gave each of us a sense of humor. Have you ever thought of some of the blessings of a sense of humor? 

We rightly enjoy life to the fullest as humans when we reflect God’s goodness and character. Because we’re created to image our God, to be like Him in certain ways (character, dignity, moral discernment), we are rightly enjoying life to the fullest as humans when we enjoy life as God would have us do so, reflecting that goodness and character. 

God didn’t design us to sit home and soak in self-absorbedness. Christ-followers more than anyone else ought to find delight in God’s common grace blessings: a quiet evening of reading with family, playing table games, a meal full of laughing and joking with friends, pushing a small child on a swing, holding hands on a beach with a spouse, taking a walk together, savoring a delicious steak or a cold scoop of ice cream, cooking together, going fishing, bike riding…the options are endless.  

God enjoys His creation and delights in us and His creation. As image-bearers, we certainly should be delighting in and enjoying the blessings He’s given us. They point to Him as the giver of all good things (James 1:17). So, have lots of fun in Christ! Find delight and enjoyment in God, the fountain and source of all good! Gotta a snowball to throw?