Why fun matters
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
– Victor Hugo
What is The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.
Vision Statement
Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.
Mission Statement
The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by:
• Caring for people
• Creating faith pathways
• Building healthy communities
• Working for justice
The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
Have fun
Having fun, enjoying life or even just experiencing a genuine laugh or positive moment each day can often seem out of reach for many of us. Life can be full of multiple and complex challenges and just getting through each day consumes all our energy and resources. Taking time for fun isn’t even a consideration.
In this edition, we explore the topic of fun and why it matters, particularly when life is busy, stressful or overwhelming. And fun doesn’t have to be an expensive outing or social occasion – the power of laughter in everyday life can be uplifting, perspectivechanging and healing.
Our authors this week share some ideas on having fun, laughing more and enjoying soul-nourishing moments that can also build resilience and give us motivation to keep going when times are tough.
Founders: William and Catherine Booth
Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn
Buckingham
Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas
Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Colonel Rodney Walters
Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker
Editor: Simone Worthing
Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison
Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au
All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58
Press date: 8 August 2025
Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
On a lighter side, we share some ideas of what fun means to different people across the generations, the importance of making choices that help us feel good, and intentionally creating opportunities for fun, laughter and connection.
For these stories and more, go to salvosonline.org.au
Simone Worthing Editor
Scan here to connect with The Salvation Army services
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Why fun matters
The power of joy in everyday life
by Jo-anne Brown
We were born for pleasure, to laugh and to have fun – and we have the chemicals in our body to prove it! Just look at babies and young children – they know how to chortle, giggle, kick their legs in glee and find pleasure in the world around them.
Research shows that fun comes more naturally to us in our early years and we laugh less as we grow older.
In some ways, this is understandable. Growing up, we take on the responsibilities of adult life and become more aware of the suffering around us, often experiencing this personally. Yet still, ‘chemicals of bliss’ (as they are known), remain in our bodies.
Neuroscience research shows that when we have fun, our brains release neurochemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin and other endorphins (the so-called chemicals of bliss). These pleasure and energising hormones are natural painkillers and mood boosters that positively impact our health and wellbeing, enhancing our cognitive function, alleviating stress, and improving creativity and problem-solving.
They also decrease the effects of busyness and stress.
Finding fun
Since fun and pleasure are so important to our wellbeing, it’s important to find ways to have some fun every day. This
can be incredibly difficult when we are facing poverty, loss, sickness or sorrow. It can be challenging and uncomfortable to even think about having fun when we see media reports of famine, war and worldwide suffering.
Although the capacity for pleasure is built into us, it is also a choice. There is some intentionality about seeking fun, and this choice impacts what we give our attention to.
It’s important to regularly make time for fun, laughter and being with people we love. Most of us can’t spend lengthy amounts of time each day doing fun things; however, we can choose to make the most of moments of pleasure that come our way.
What brings us pleasure? What makes us laugh?
Moments of pleasure
Just now, I’m watching a bird pull pieces of coconut fibre out of a hanging plant. The sun’s shining, and the bright bougainvillea blossoms in the pot are dancing in the breeze. I admire the determination of this mama bird, and I smile at the thought of her lining her nest for her future babies with our coconut fibre. It’s a momentary distraction from writing, but it’s a distraction that gives me pleasure and releases more of those feel-good hormones in my brain. There is still this article to write, and other things in my life to deal with, but this small moment of pleasure nourishes my soul. We need moments of pleasure in our lives, not as an escape or a form of avoidance or denial of the painful experiences of life, but to nourish our wellbeing so we can respond well to those difficult experiences.
Finding pleasure and enjoyment in our daily routine enables us to be present to everything that happens in our lives and to show compassion and kindness to others.
When we read the stories of Jesus, we see a man who enjoyed feasting with his friends, spending time with children, and who focused on joy – while around him there was suffering, injustice and oppression. His capacity for pleasure enabled him to show compassion to those in need, and to walk his own path of suffering when the time came.
Yes, there is a season to laugh and a season to weep (Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 4), but let’s not wait for the season to change. Let’s seek out moments of enjoyment each day and give our mental and physical wellbeing a boost.
Let’s laugh a little – or a lot!
Laughing our way to a better life
I recently watched a video of Rufus the Hare – a rescue hare with an unusual story. Of all the rescue animals he lives with, he seems to be the comedian. Every night he performs for his family, jumping and running around to make them laugh. The more laughter, the more boisterous he becomes; his jumps becoming higher and faster. His antics bring laughter and happiness to his family and to many people around the world.
We all feel better after laughing. Whether we are with other people or alone, we have a laugh and feel lighter. There are reasons for this feeling. Laughing affects not only our mental wellbeing but our physical body as well.
Laughter therapy
The study of the effects of laughter on the body even has a name: gelotology. Laughter is sometimes recommended as a therapy because of its many benefits.
When we laugh, the brain releases endorphins, which boost mood and help reduce stress.
Laughter helps lower anxiety and relaxes the body; it increases pain tolerance, helping people manage discomfort better and improving overall resilience.
Laughing increases blood circulation, promoting better cardiovascular health, which indirectly benefits mental health.
Laughing together strengthens relationships and creates emotional bonds, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
As we get older, we laugh less. An average toddler laughs about 400 times a day, while an average adult
tends to laugh about 15-20 times a day (timeanddate. com/holidays/fun/ lets-laugh-day).
Some of us need to be reminded how to laugh. Perhaps find a funny movie or TV show to watch, play games with friends or family, attend a dress-up day/party, make use of those bad joke books on the shelf. Try to find the funny side of things and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughing is a day wasted.” Let’s not waste our days and make time to have a laugh.
– Major Karen Masters
Fun and connection at billy cart races
Every February, for the past nine years, the farming community of Cooma in southern NSW pauses for one day from their ‘everyday routine’ to come together for some good, old-fashioned fun. It’s the annual billy cart races, and the Salvos are in the thick of it.
Cooma Salvos leader Auxiliary-Lieutenant Bryan Bartlett says the Salvos provide free water and sunscreen to racers, spectators and volunteers, a simple yet meaningful way to care for and connect with those enjoying the event.
“What began as a small mentoring initiative with just 13 competitors has grown into a beloved community event,” Bryan said. “The thrill of the race, combined with the
cheers of the crowd, created an electric atmosphere that brought the community together in a shared celebration of fun, creativity, and friendly competition.”
Bryan stated that the Cooma Salvos want the community to know they are here for them, not just on event days, but every day.
Refugee family fun day
The Salvation Army’s Melbourne-based Asylum Seeker and Refugee Service recently held a Family Fun Day at their Brunswick centre.
The event featured activities for children as well as time for sharing stories of hope from beneficiaries of the service.
The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team provided a van and catering services, utilising halal meat donated by Madina Halal Meats. Additionally, the local Persian community contributed a coffee van and barista services from Thanks a Latte Co.
The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Service has been assisting people
seeking asylum with emergency relief, material aid, casework, chaplaincy and employment support since July 2010.
This specialised service of The Salvation Army is designed to deliver crucial support to people living in the community with a temporary or bridging visa status.
What do you do for fun?
I like to spend time with friends and family, and I love to sing!
Lauren
I love to socialise, dance and drink coffee. Aaron
I like quiet walks where the trees do all the talking. I love reading books that challenge my thinking, adventures that challenge my patience, and feasting with friends and family that challenge my comfort zone. A wild night for me is colour-coding my bookshelf and admiring it like I’ve just opened a tiny art gallery. Quiet is my happy place, and solitude is my idea of a party, but at the end of the day, sharing moments with those closest to me is what brings me the greatest joy.
I love to dance and sing. Bella, 12
Helen
We play on our iPads, draw, and play at the playground. Jasper and Frankie, 4
I play on my iPad and I love to draw. Hudson, 9
For fun, I like going to the movies with mates or watching a good TV show at home with my wife, Rosy. I’m really into board games and regularly attend board game nights at a couple of corps (Salvos churches) near me. I also enjoy listening to music as well as playing guitar, and I love hanging out with my dog, Junia. Scott
I love a good road trip with my husband Rodney (him driving and me controlling the audio books!!). That is one of my happy places. Planning and travelling are pretty high on my ‘just for fun’ list –there is usually a cruise or some type of adventure in the planning. Can’t go past mentioning the grandkids, love spending time with them, I love to make things for them, such as quilts, crochet blankets, cardi, long-haired highland cow! –whatever their order might be!
Wendy
I love 4-wheel driving on the beach! Nathan
I have fun spending time with my family, and reading. Kylie
I like netball, fishing and swimming. April, 11
I like playing all sorts of games with Mum. Judah, 6
I play basketball and read. Jackson, 8
I read and do stuff on the computer. Caleb, 11
I like playing with my dog Pipa and getting very dirty with water and mud. And teaching Pipa new tricks. Ruby, 10
Would you rather …
The choices that make you feel good
by Faye Michelson
Would you rather eat all the chocolate you can for one week or have one chocolate a day for a year?
Or, would you rather be the worst player on the winning team or the best player on the losing team?
‘Would You Rather’ is a popular page in The Salvation Army’s Kidzone magazine, and a favourite game with some of the young people I know.
It’s a simple format. To play the game, you start each line with ‘Would you rather’ and choose your preferred option. Of course, with kids, the more outrageous the choices, the better.
For example: Would you rather swim in a pool with sharks OR waterski on a river with crocodiles? Or would you rather eat a bowl of blowflies OR a cup of cockroaches?
So, get ready to choose your options in our Would You Rather game on the best ways to have fun.
Your choice
Would you rather spend a month walking 800km on the Carmino de Santiago OR a month on a beach in Spain? That’s easy enough to decide; you either like walking or you don’t.
Would you rather bungee jump over a pool of piranhas OR a pool of blue-ringed octopuses? Yuk, but presuming the
rope doesn’t break, I guess you’d be safe enough with either. I think I’d go the octopuses, just in case piranhas can jump out of the water.
Would you rather paraglide over a volcano OR hike up a glacier? Hmm, a bit harder to select but remember, the rule is that you have to choose one.
Of course, fun doesn’t have to be all action.
Would you rather read 10 books in 20 days OR watch 20 movies in a row, only stopping to sleep. Maybe that’s something you do regularly anyway; perhaps the question should be, would you rather live without books OR without movies?
Fun is unique
How about, would you rather be able to play 10 musical instruments really well OR be great at playing 10 different sports? Either choice sounds exhausting, especially if they’re woodwind instruments. But fun means different things to us all. For many of us, it’s centred around those we love to spend time with.
Would you rather take your family on holiday to the moon OR go camping in the Sahara Desert? At least it would be cheaper getting to the Sahara.
Would you rather have a pet who could talk to you OR be able to read your pet’s mind? Looking at our greyhound, who for some reason thinks she’s the queen and we’re her subjects, I think either choice means trouble.
Belonging
Expanding the idea of spending time with others, though, can include being part of your community.
Would you rather spend time cooking a community meal OR volunteering at a playgroup? The fun and
camaraderie that comes with belonging to groups can also offer a deeper enjoyment when you know you’re adding joy to the lives of others.
I like Proverbs chapter 17 verse 22, which talks about the benefits of being happy. The Contemporary English Version doesn’t pull any punches: “If you are cheerful, you feel good.”
So, this ‘Would You Rather’ question is a win/ win for me, with either answer guaranteed to make me feel good: Would I rather have a hot chocolate with marshmallows OR a cappuccino with extra chocolate on top? I’ll take both, thanks.
Choosing joy
F.A.T. nights, laughter and a lifetime of memories
by Terri Muendel
Years ago, there was a show on TV that I loved, called Wonderland. It was about a bunch of friends that lived in an apartment complex together on the beach in Coogee, Sydney. Once a week, the friends would gather in one apartment for what they called ‘F.A.T Night’ – Family Appreciation Time. I loved the idea and decided years later to adapt it to our own family.
We have a growing family: a 25-year-old married daughter, a 23-year-old son who lives at home, a 13-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter. As they grow and create their own lives, it can be a challenge to all get together at times, and we felt it was important to stay connected and keep having fun, so we have created our own F.A.T. Night tradition. Fortnightly, on a Wednesday night, we get together and take turns organising the evening.
Building memories
When it’s your turn, you are in charge of planning the main meal, dessert,
drinks and a family activity. Everyone has a turn, even the younger kids. We always have a laugh together and enjoy each other’s company, especially washing up together in the kitchen afterwards with music blaring and tea towel flicks to backsides.
We’ve eaten Spanish tapas, burritos, Korean barbecue, and heart-shaped mashed potatoes with ‘schnitties’. For dessert, we’ve had cheesecakes, chocolate fondue and the revered trinity of Muendel desserts – apple pie, custard and ice cream, our all-time fave.
We’ve played Finska, Billionaire, Cup Olympics and ‘Chicken-leg’ dominos; we’ve attempted Japanese calligraphy and a playdough sculpting night; we baked cookies and did ‘knock and run’ deliveries late at night, and so many other fun ideas. We have laughed until we cried and created great memories together. Life can get busy and unless we’re intentional about creating these joy-filled moments together, it can get away from us.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN MASTERS
Joy is a choice
At Eastlakes Salvos, we are currently exploring the book of Philippians, both in our preaching series and in an online YouVersion Bible study. We have learned that [the Apostle Paul] mentions joy 16 times in the four short chapters of Philippians, which tells me he thought it was pretty important. I mean, this is a guy who could sing hymns while chained up in prison! Impressive!
I find joyful people magnetic. I think Jesus was full of joy when he was here on the earth in
bodily form. Unfortunately, over the years, Jesus has been portrayed as a very serious person in art and movies, but that’s just not what I think he was like. He loved to party and eat with friends. People were drawn to him in the hundreds. He was a great storyteller and was full of compassion, othersfocused and completely selfless; he was intentional about investing time with his loved ones and created incredible memories with them. Their lives were so changed by these interactions that they wrote an amazing book about them.
I don’t always get it right. I’m learning that I have to choose joy. I can’t always find it in the circumstances I’m in, so I have to choose it anyway. I have a beautiful friend who, whenever I ask how she is, says “Amazing!” – not because her life is perfect but because she chooses joy. She inspires me to live authentically and joyfully, just as Jesus did. How can you choose joy today, regardless of your circumstances?
Aux-Lieutenant Terri Muendel is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) who oversees Eastlakes Salvos in NSW
Fast, easy pizza
Ingredients
1 packet pita bread; 1 bottle of sauce – pizza, barbeque or tomato; ham/bacon; mushrooms/onion/capsicum; tomatoes/olives; cheese
Method
Preheat oven to 220°C.
Have each person make their own pizza.
Place pita bread on a greased cooking tray.
Spread preferred sauce on first. Add desired toppings. Finish each pizza with grated cheese of choice. Cook for 8-10 minutes.
Enjoy eating together while watching a movie or playing a game.
☺ Believe in Good: Tips
“Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart.” – Kris Kristofferson
Have fun this week sharing time with family and friends. Watch a funny show, play a game or tell some jokes. Remember to laugh.
Quiz
Words for Laughter
1. For really hilarious occasions.
2. The sound a chicken makes.
3. A group of young girls might laugh like this.
4. A nervous bird-like laugh.
5. Suppressed laughter, also a chocolate bar.
6. A throaty, loud boisterous laugh.
On this day
2 September, 1752
UK adopts the Gregorian Calendar. Also known as the Western Calendar, it is the one widely used today. Britain and its territories previously followed the Julian Calendar. Due to the change, they lost 11 days that year when 2 September was followed by 14 September.
Have a laugh
Why do people say ‘break a leg’ when you go on stage? If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do elves get?
What kind of ghost has the best hearing?
Because every play has a cast. Mistle-toes. The eeriest.
What do you call a pig that does karate?
Where can you buy chicken broth in bulk?
pork chop. The stock market.
Tum-Tum
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Answers
van on page 7.
Tum-Tum: is hanging out
Word search
Words are hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forwards and backwards. Enjoy!
Anchovies
Capsicums
Cheddar
Cheese
Cheesy Chicken
Classic
Crispy
Bible byte
Pepperoni
Pineapple
Pizza
Sauce
Spice
Supreme
Tomatoes
Vegetarian
“A cheerful disposition is good for your health.”
Proverbs chapter 17, verse 22a The Message Translation
Quiz: 1. Roar 2. Cackle
3. Giggle 4. Titter 5. Snicker
6. Guffaw
with Cousin Koala in the coffee
