In James 1:2-4, James wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Consider it all joy? You may be thinking, "Give me a break. Does James really think trials are joyful?" Yes, that is exactly what he wrote. Now he didn't say, "Consider yourself lucky, or hey, don't trials make you happy?" He wrote, "Consider it all joy." There is a difference.

In his book, Shattered Dreams, Larry Crabb wrote, "People who insist on happiness never find joy." Happiness is a result of favorable circumstances and is transient in nature, but joy remains, even during unfavorable circumstances. Joy is a calmness that runs beneath life's storms, it is a delight that stills the heart and anchors the soul.

For more information on Shattered Dreams go to, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578564522/fm082-20

Dan is a pastor's son, pastor's brother, and pastor's brother-in-law who taught Sunday School, sang beautiful solos and led music in his church for many years. But he lost his joy after a difficult divorce. After several years away from the walk with the Lord, he met and later married Laurie. Laurie was raised in a fully dysfunctional family, and was twice divorced.

Dan and Laurie, a non-believer, attended church when visiting family members. While not openly against Christianity, she had no desire to pursue the relationship with God that other members of the family cherished. When Dan's job transferred him to a new community, the pastor of a church in this community soon made a visit in Dan and Laurie's new home. His witnessing added a dimension that others had failed to express-the joy of salvation.

His family members were well intentioned, but all they talked about was his sinfulness. No one talked about the joy of salvation. Within a few months, a transformation began in Laurie and Dan's lives. Laurie prayed to receive Christ and was joined with Dan's rededication.

The change in Dan and Laurie's personal lives was immediate. Laurie redecorated the house with religious pictures and framed verses. Their two children joined them in Sunday School, worship and becoming fully involved in the Christian life. She took a part-time job in the Christian School, became a helper in Vacation Bible School, and then Sunday School. Dan returned with a new fervor in music leadership and performances. Christian music floods the house and the cars when they travel. The joy of salvation was renewed in Dan's life and added to Laurie's.

Laurie's question for the family was simple to ask, but difficult to answer. "Why didn't someone tell me about the joy of knowing Jesus sooner?"

Psalm 51:12 KJV "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

For more information on Transformations, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966177851/fm082-20

A study based in Britain has found that people older than 52 tend to be grumpier than younger people. The poll results found that those over 50 laughed far less and complained far more than people under 50. The study found that the average number of laughs per day declines as a person ages. The cable TV channel Dave found infants generally laughed up to 300 times per day, while teenagers laughed an average of six times daily. By the time a person reached the age of 60, the laughs per day had declined to only 2.5. The channel speculated one reason for the decline in laughing might be a lack of joke telling skills. They also discovered the average Briton only knew two jokes.

--Over 52? Then you’re probably grumpy, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6974KG20101008; October 8, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Proverbs 17:22 (NASB77) “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

An online poll taken by a social networking and dating website recently asked 30.000 people from 15 different countries to rank the “funniest” and least funny nationalities. The global poll found Germans to be the least funny nationality while Americans and the Spanish were the funniest or best at making people laugh. Italians took the third position, followed by the French.

The voting for the least funny nationality ranked Germans over the Russians and Turks at the least funny people. A British company operates the website, and although many British motion pictures and programs are funny, the British took the fourth place in the least funny category. In terms of being funny, the British fell in the middle, ranking 7th out of the 15 countries in the survey. The company’s Director of Marketing Lloyd Price is British. Commenting on the survey results, Price remarked, “I’m afraid that we don’t find some of the results very funny.”

--Americans rated most hilarious in global poll, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/07/us-humour-nationalities-idUSTRE7563XB20110607 ; June 8 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Humor is one thing, but when it comes to joy, nationality doesn’t matter. Joy should be a natural result of a relationship with Jesus.

Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV) (22) God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, (23) gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

On the list of Top 40 musical hits of the last 50 years, today’s hits are slower, sadder, and have more negative lyrics. Peppy, upbeat songs have dwindled and the percentage of songs written in a minor key, which most listeners find gloomy, has doubled since the 1960’s.

This is just opposite of what you might expect from the current generation that believes it has broken free from the cultural restraints of the past. Today’s young generation believes it is more accepting, more tolerant, more open minded than previous generations. It seems, by listening to their musical choices, they are also more depressed. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Nehemiah 2:2 (HCSB) so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.” I was overwhelmed with fear

One 61-year-old Texas man is intoxicating; or maybe I should say intoxicated. The interesting thing is he gets that way without touching alcohol. His wife finally came unglued when he showed up with a blood-alcohol level of 3.7 and ended up at the emergency room. Doctors discovered that high levels of brewer’s yeast in his stomach had effectively turned his digestive system into an alcohol-generating brewery. His disorder was published in the International Journal of Clinical Medicine.

You and I ought to be just as spontaneously filled with the spirit of God, living a life of unintentional joy. The source of our joy is caused because of high levels of Holy Spirit in our lives. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (HCSB) Rejoice always! 17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

JOY

You have heard the saying, “as exciting as watching paint dry.” Well, scientists from the University of Surrey have been watching paint dry for years. They are looking for ways to improve paint by watching the way it dries. “Despite the apparent boredom, the researchers say their work has not been in vain.” And contrary to what you might imagine they describe the experiment results as exciting.

1 Peter 1:8–9 (HCSB) “You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Film star Pierce Brosnan has experienced loss that has shaped his life, according to Alex Bhattacharji in Esquire. His first wife, Cassandra, died from ovarian cancer in 1991 and their daughter, Charlotte, to the same disease in 2013. A year ago, ovarian cancer also claimed the life of his producing partner, Beau Marie St. Clair. "I don't look at the cup as half full, believe me," Brosnan says. His father deserted the family when Brosnan was an infant. He went to live with relatives when his mother left to find work, finally living in a boarding house with nothing to his name but a metal bed with a curtain around it.

Loss and sadness doesn’t have to define us. The Psalmist says, “God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (45:7) In Hebrews we read that even on the way to the cross Jesus was led by Joy. (12:1-2) Life as believer is living in the joy of salvation. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Psalm 16:8–11 (CSB)“I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.”

The Hittites were a culture that ruled much of modern Turkey during Biblical times. They were fierce warriors, known for their skill with war chariots. A new discovery may show another side to these people. Archeologists recently found and restored a 3,700 year old piece of ceramic that has what is believed to be a smiley face painted on it. Researchers think that in our emoji-filled culture, this jug may be the oldest version of a smiley face. Nicolo Marchetti, from the University of Bologno, said researchers did not notice the image until the small white pot had been restored. He added, “The pot was used for drinking sherbet (sweet drink). Most probably, (this depicts) the oldest smile of the world.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Proverbs 16:15 (CSB) “When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.”

12-year-old Brandon Smith might typically spend his birthday playing golf or going to an amusement park. During the quarantine for the coronavirus, Brandon learned more about the world. On his birthday, Brandon’s father posted a tweet introducing his son and asking people to send a reply stating where they were so Brandon could mark it on a map as a way to celebrate. They expected to get 50 to 100 replies, but instead the request exploded, and over 100,000 replies where posted to the father’s Twitter page. Brandon heard from Mark Hamill, who is best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, with other friendly replies coming from as far away as Tasmania, and Antarctica. Brandon’s father said it was a great birthday present for his son because he loves geography. He added, “He says it all very exciting, people taking time to send pictures and videos has been really nice.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.