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Comedian Swanberg gets serious Print Email
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Thursday, 16 April 2009 02:25 PM America/New_York
altComedian Dennis Swanberg releases his book The Man Code (Freeman-Smith LLC), along with co-writer Ron Smith, on May 1. In this Q and A, he explains his passion for men's ministry, how retailers can attract more male shoppers and the challenges of Christian comedy.

Being known primarily as a humorist, will it surprise readers to know the serious nature of this book? Why not a humor book?
A humorist enjoys the 'real life' episodes of laughter! Being more of a 'realist' in that sense he or she has a 'real' appreciation for life—even the serious side of living. With the solid base of a realistic perspective of living in Christ Jesus we can then see the 'lighter side' of life, but because of our foundation in the Lord we naturally have a 'serious side.’ I have always wanted to see men truly enjoy life, and the basis for that is through relationships. And if a man has good healthy relationships, his joy and laughter are genuine and healthy, so I wanted to enable men to have success and balance in life.

What was the inspiration for it?
I have always had a great appreciation for my friends. As a pastor for 22 years, I enjoyed working with men—equipping men and spending time with them. Even when I was leaving the pastorate in 1995, I started a small men's group Bible Study. I knew that being on the road traveling and speaking I needed a 'home base' to keep me on target and to provide me with a sense of balance. This group grew into additional groups over the years. Now in Monroe/West Monroe,  La., we have dozens of men's groups that meet for breakfast or lunch. I guess you could say that my buddies in Louisiana (who I call 'The Boys in the Bayou') inspired me to become involved in the ministry of reaching men for Christ.

What do you think are common misconceptions about men's ministry? How can the church better meet the needs of men?
Too many people think that if their church has a once-a-month men’s prayer breakfast, that that is men's ministry. I’m not against a monthly breakfast, but a man needs an ongoing, weekly interaction with other men. The church for years has pushed the coed class—which is fine and good, but it would be positive to have men’s classes once again. Men need some time with 'men only' every week. The church also needs to provide leadership—with a lay minister or minister for men. They need materials that help them actualize what men's needs are so that they can focus on those situations so that the man can be successful at home, in the church and in the community.

The church needs to be open to a men's ministry that is 'outside the walls' of the church. Give men the freedom to meet at offices, hotels, cafes and restaurants with other men—men of other denominations as well as their own—in order to sharpen themselves into the godly men they need to be. Additionally, the pastor needs to be a key person in men's ministry. He needs to be working with small groups of men so that they can assist him in the mission that God has called him to complete. The men he reaches will be the men he leads, and they in turn will be the men who legitimize many of his efforts in growing the church.

The primary shopper in Christian bookstores are women. How do you think bookstores can attract more male shoppers?
My products have always appealed to women. I think it is probably because I don't bash one side or the other with the comedy I use, and they always feel safe with me. My job is to encourage, and that is where I have found my niche. The fact that women are the primary shoppers in Christian stores really helps what I do. Most women I know, including my wife Lauree, want their husbands to live a more balanced life. I know around my house I am often "encouraged" to do things I don't want to do. This is the kind of book that if my wife gave it to me I would be intrigued.

Most comedians say that comedy is hard work. Would you agree?
Comedy is hard work! You have to analyze your audience. You have to be aware of the culture you are in and the traditions that are before you. You walk a fine line in comedy/humor. You have to watch your borders and stay in bounds. Laughter is often the result of magnifying a story or embellishing the event so that people can see the humor and laughter within the situation—to help folks laugh at themselves and their personal world. It gives us perspective and balance to laugh. It helps lift the load of life and thereby gives us some relief as well as a renewed level of energy for the remaining tasks that are before us.

When I entertain and encourage and hopefully inspire my audience, I try to always imagine the Lord Jesus sitting in the audience. And as I speak, tell stories, do impersonations and of course set the 'hook of heaven's teaching,' I hope that He laughs along with the rest of us. I like to think that He is my greatest fan and therefore, I truly don't want to let Him down. He is the one who said, 'a merry heart doeth good like a medicine!' So, I think He enjoys comedy and humor as much as anyone. Remember, He always 'spake them a parable.” People love stories, especially funny ones! Sometimes the humor enables us to 'swallow' the medicine we need—it enables us to see the 'painful truth' and yet digest it more easily! So, as Ecclesiastes says 'there's a time for tears and a time for laughter.’ So we see that comedy and humor has its place in our lives. May God give us the timing to know when each is appropriate.