COUNT IT ALL JOY IN TIMES OF TRIALS

COUNT IT ALL JOY IN TIMES OF TRIALS

The Apostle James gives a hard saying when he wrote in his Epistle (James 1: 2-8), “My brothers and sisters count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and completely lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like the wave of the sea  driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man receive anything from the Lord he is a double minded man unstable in all his ways.”

St. James teaches that when we face trials of any kind, we should consider them joy. How are we supposed to do that? 

Trials, difficulties, hardships, adversities, misfortunes, do not bring joy. They bring sadness, pain, unhappiness, fear,  suffering, and anguish.

We need to confront the teaching of James with honesty because this is a tough issue. How in the world are we going to count it joy when we fall into various trials. Can we Christians do that?

Those who would argue that we should do so, have failed to grasp the real meaning of the exhortation. Counting it all joy when you fall into trials does not mean that we simply are to falsely rejoice in hardships, or we simply are to rejoice by putting up a strong face, like a stoic philosopher pretending and acting as if everything is fine when things are hard.

St. James seems to teach that we have to use trials and hardships as means to strengthen our character and develop our ability to endure the difficulties of life.

Strengthening our character means that we develop within us a core of faith and belief, a central focus of trust in God,  through the experience of enduring trials.

The Apostle James is saying that  no Christian can mature in faith without undergoing the fire of testing brought about by the unpredictable  circumstances of life. The testing of our faith produces trust and belief, a confidence that God is still in control no matter what.

James is saying we cannot develop that trust and unshakable confidence in God's presence and power without experiencing hardships. We cannot exactly rejoice in our hardships but we can use the hardships and trials as means of growing in faith, as means of testing our trust and relying on God again and again and again discovering that God never fails.

The Apostle James has been describing the ways we ought to live through trials and tribulations and difficult times. James said the source of our troubles is not God. He explains that we face trials and difficulties not because these are God's intention for our life but because of the sin nature in us.

We live in a fallen world, and  Christianity is the only religion that teaches the fall of man, that humanity is a fallen race without hope of redemption if not for the saving grace of God. Many of the problems we face are the direct result of our own sinfulness, pride, self centeredness and spiritual blindness. God does not tempt us. Pride, selfishness, lust, jealousies, anger, hate, greed, arrogance, deceitfulness, covetousness, all these and other human weaknesses  conspire to tempt us and lead us into problems and hardships when we give in to them. The problem with most people is that they want to blame someone, something, or God,   for their troubles and difficulties.    

Billy Graham's  daughter Anne Graham was interviewed on television in the Early Show and Jane Clayson the program host asked her  'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding the devastating effect of typhoon Katrina). 

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.

She  said, “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but  for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out  of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the Gentleman  He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to  give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us  alone?'In light of recent events ... terrorist attacks, school  shootings, etc., I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she  was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't  want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you  better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not  kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we  said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children  when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped  and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed  suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And  we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no  conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't  bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and  themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can  figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE  SOW.’”  

Throughout the New Testament, we can find a common theme: testing will come to all God’s people. The only questions are when and what kind will they be.  Times of testing are neither an indication that we have been abandoned  nor selected for an attack by the enemy. They are the result of living in a broken world.

St. Peter addressed the whole issue when he wrote to the suffering brothers and sisters in Rome. He said that the proper response should be threefold: First we should rejoice, just as James said, no mater how strange the logic is, for suffering has a far deeper purpose in building our faith. Second we should commit ourselves to the loving care of our Heavenly Father, and third, we should continue doing what is right, no matter what others say or do.

There is a common perception today that in this world faith in Christ will exempt one from hardships in life especially those associated with one’s health, happiness and prosperity. This is not true. Preaching a Christianity that is easy, pleasurable and indulgent is a high form of deception. A hostile world is out there. Finances are short, expenses are mounting, debts are overdue, a child is sick, the employer is losing, health is failing. The strain and stress of the world are very real. When they come the human tendency is to  point an accusing finger at circumstances, which one cannot change, or blame God for not preventing them.

The issue is how will God’s people respond?  But  the  child of God is not left helpless. God is saying “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Be still and know Me, He said. He assures that “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” ( Isaiah 30;15).  God has given us His promises. First He promised to be with us always. He goes with us through the fiery trials. Second he promised to protect us. Nothing can happen to us apart from the will and protection of our Father. Third He promised to refine us so that we can come out pure in our faith that His power may be demonstrated in our lives.

MESSAGE TO THE COURT STENOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

             WELCOME ADDRESS COSTRAPHIL   

       By: Hon. Ray Alan T. Drilon, Executive Judge

                        RTC, Bacolod City.

                     

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Magistrates of the First and Second Level Courts of this City and Province I would like to thank you for your kindness in coming  to this occasion,  the Convention of Court Stenographers Association Of The Philippines.

Let me congratulate each, and everyone, who has been  actively involved in the organizational endeavor to hold this activity in this part of the Visayan region.

The practice of stenography not only as a profession but an art, within the framework of our court system has indeed raised the court stenographer’s awareness of the importance of their vocation in the justice system of this country. They say that without the presence of the steno reporter, hearings could not possibly proceed, for no one would take down the court proceedings, in a manner most faithful to what transpired in the court room. The  familiar figure of the steno reporter as a passive participant in the court room drama, could hardly be taken for granted. The product of their work is heavily relied upon by the courts in  handing down  decisions.  Their transcripts would find their way in the decisions of the High Court to form part of jurisprudence.

Court reporters usually create verbatim transcripts of the spoken word, conversations, oral arguments, court rulings, legal proceedings, meetings, and other events. Written accounts of spoken words are sometimes necessary for correspondence, records, or legal proof, and court reporters provide those accounts. Court reporters play a critical role not only in judicial proceedings, but also at every meeting where the spoken word must be preserved as a written transcript. They are responsible for ensuring a complete, accurate, and secure legal record. In addition to preparing and protecting the legal record, many court reporters assist judges and trial attorneys in a variety of ways, such as organizing and searching for information in the official record.

In addition to possessing speed and accuracy, court reporters must have excellent listening skills and hearing, good English grammar and vocabulary, and punctuation skills. Court reporters also must work well under time and deadline pressures and be able to concentrate for long periods. They must be aware of business practices and current events, as well as the correct spelling of names of people, places, and events that may be mentioned in court proceedings. For those who work in courtrooms, an expert knowledge of legal terminology and criminal and appellate procedure is essential.

I hope that in the near future our court reporters will be able to expand their methods, with the help and support of the Supreme Court. The manual methodology of steno-writing  may be reinforced by the use of advanced technology like the electronic steno-machine, electronic reporting with the use of digital audio equipment and transcribers, or perhaps the use of voice writers one of the latest technologies used in court room reporting.

Having said this, as a trial judge, for a number of years perhaps it is accurate to say that one of the most overburdened employees of the court is the stenographic reporter. A court with a heavy case load would mean overworked court steno reporters. The coming of the cyber age has now raised questions whether technology would soon replace the human skills of the stenographer. There is likewise the question of the steno reporter’s necessity in the light of the fast growing advances in computer and information technology. Calling for a convention such as this to discuss the most pressing issues affecting your profession is   significant step in advancing the primordial interests of the court stenographic reporters. 

I am proud and   honored,  by your invitation, and congratulations to your officers.

May I take this opportunity to welcome all of you, and  wish you a fruitful day. God Bless.

AN ORDINARY DAY

An ordinary day in the small city I call home would begin with a struggle winding through the streets and avenues practically appropriated by tricycles, trisikads, bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians all jockeying for whatever space could be grabbed.

Bacolod City boasts of her wider streets and long broad avenues, but soon this will become more of an eyesore. The wider the streets and sidewalks the more they breed shanties, stalls,  shelters, makeshift dwellings, literally choking up  the walkways.

The drivers in this city have developed a culture of rudeness, road rage, and insensitivity that road courtesy or whatever is left of it has completely vanished. 

How I miss the old days when the town was slow, and sleepy. When people preferred to walk, than ride, pause to chat,  help an old woman cross the street.  

The old days when the streets were deserted and everything stood still because no one dared to blaspheme the venerable siesta. I long for the days when the city was slow to wake, to move, unhurried relishing every moment of passing time.   

WE ARE ALL FACED WITH A SERIES OF OPPORTUNITIES BRILLIANTLY DISGUISED AS IMPOSSIBILITIES.

SLOW ME DOWN LORD

SLOW ME DOWN LORD

Slow me down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart, by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace, with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me,  amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles, with the soothing  music of the

singing streams,  that live in my memory.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations-

Of slowing down to look at a flower,

To chat with a friend, to pat a dog,

To smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values,

That I may grow toward my greater destiny.

Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift, that there is more to

life than increasing its speed.

Let me look upward to the towering oak, and know that it grew great and strong,

Because it grew slowly and well.

-Tim Hansel, When I Relax I Feel Guilty-

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

What is Christian Fellowship?

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Philippians 2:1

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Fellowship with the family of God and with God Himself is one of the greatest blessings of being a Christian. Fellowship is something that is shared by all faithful Christians the world over. It  is comforting and encouraging to know that we have wonderful Christian brothers and sisters from all over the world – most of whom we will never meet until that great day we are united with them for eternity in Heaven!

All believers share a common life in Christ, whether or not we recognize it. We are in fellowship with literally thousands of believers from every nation of the world. Although we have never met most of them, yet we are in fellowship with them. We disagree with many of them over various issues of faith and practice, yet we are still members of the same Body. Even though we struggle to like some of them, that does not alter the fact that we share together a common life in Christ. Neither our attitudes nor our actions affect this objective sense of koinonia (fellowship). We are in fellowship with all other believers, whether we like it or not--or even recognize the fact. This objective truth of koinonia is meant to provide the foundation for the experiential aspects of fellowship. The realization that we do in fact share a common life with other believers should stimulate within us a desire to share experientially with one another. This is the whole thrust of New Testament teaching on koinonia. (Fellowship)

True Christian fellowship is not just socializing after worship service or gossiping in the hallways of the church, or pot-luck lunch during church activities, youth assemblies or social get-togethers. True fellowship goes beyond mere social activity. True fellowship is found in unity of the heart, spirit and understanding which can only come from a mutual acceptance of Biblical authority and a mutual love for the truth. Christian fellowship is not similar to the secular fellowship of members of social clubs or civic or professional organizations, or perhaps a political party organization  to be wielded in order to influence public opinion and aspire for power.

The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word koinonia. It is elsewere translated in the King James Version as communion (1Cor.10:16; 2Cor.13:14); communicate (Heb.13:16); or contribution (Rom.15:26). All three usages of the word koinonia suggest commonality of purpose, partnership and interest. This commonality is illustrated by the words of the prophet Amos, Amo.3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Certainly not. They must be agreed on the place of meeting- the cross of Christ; the direction to go – Heaven ; and the goal- holiness with Christ.

The neighborhood bar is probably the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church. It’s an imitation dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting and inclusive fellowship. It is also unshockable. It is Democratic. You can tell people’s secrets and they usually don’t tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes, not because most people are alcoholics but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.

True Christian fellowship is sadly lacking and desperately needed. It is hard. It is a response of faith in Christ and is costly. It demands self-sacrifice. One must die to self to “enjoy” Christian fellowship. It is far beyond a simple relationship between friends, though it is a relationship between friends. Remember Jesus said one “could not” be His disciple unless he died to self. Fellowship cannot seek to be ministered unto and to minister at the same time. Fellowship’s focus isn’t primarily ourselves, but God and others. Yet, strangely we need it from others to grow.

The Scriptures reveal to us that  fellowship is sharing, communing, participating together in the Christian life; it is being involved with one another in living for Christ. It is also referred to as the work of ministry, service, and care for one another and it leads to growth, edification and a sense of family unity. It is loving one another and ministering our spiritual gifts  in such a way that we practice self-sacrifice, humility, endurance, and faith with the  guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is working together to grow in Christ. It is Christian community. Christians come together, worship together, pray together, share experiences and thoughts, sing together, weep and rejoice together. Christian fellowship is essential for mutual strengthening and encouragement. Ordinarily gathering together in church for worship is the best example of Christian Fellowship. But there is also a much closer fellowship in small groups like prayer meetings, bible study, discipleship group, or cell prayer group. Christians derive strength, encouragement, sympathy support, joy, and learning from their fellowship with other Christians. We learn to walk in obedience to Christ, we learn to suffer, serve together, pray for one another, comfort one another and bear each other’s burden.

Fellowship with the body of Christ is not just an option, but is critical to our continued survival as Christians. We need the preaching and teaching from God’s Word, the atmosphere of worship and praise, the encouragement which we draw from our brethren, the opportunities of Christian service, and we need the opportunity to practice love toward other Christians. We need to get involved and stay in faithful fellowship with the body of Christ!

Fellowship exists when believers participate in each other’s life in Christ. When believers confess theirs sins one to another, help bear burdens, restore and rescue fallen Christians, accept one another and give comfort. There is fellowship when Christians show hospitality, exhort, and admonish one another,  forgive,  forbear with one another and  hold each other spiritually accountable. Fellowship is the outworking of Agape love for fellow believers in a way that shares and participates in living in, and for Christ

Since fellowship is to help people grow, it must be a means for ministering the Word of God, for by it we grow. Fellowship is skillful, loving, personal, and truthful interaction with fellow Christians for the mutual goal of personal growth in Christ likeness. Fellowship is vital for growth in Christ, effective for growth in Christ and clearly taught in the Scriptures as a significant means of edification, ministry and service. It is not an option! Yet it takes disciplined work to endure in skillful, loving, personal, truthful interaction with fellow Christians for the mutual goal of personal growth in Christ likeness.

People often do not take part in a church because they see no clear purpose. Others are simply disinterested or too timid to get involved. Some feel inadequate to be involved in the ministry.  We can practice fellowship by taking an active part where we can best serve God using our different gifts and talents, thereby complementing the gifts and talents of others.  We can discover where we can best help by recognizing our spiritual gifts and natural abilities and by knowing the needs of our church. Then help where we can make not just ourselves, but the church as a whole, to be the most fruitful. If you do not know your spiritual gift, pitch in where you have a natural ability. As you work with others, your gifts will surface and you’ll find places you might function in our church according to your gifts and abilities.

St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians describes how he viewed true and genuine fellowship among believers. He said:  2:1  “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The Bible gives  us guidelines for fellowship which are divided into four groups.

1.  The Fellowship Of Mutual Relationships

Love One Another (John 13:34-35; 15:12-17; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11)   Receive One Another (Romans 15:17)Greet One Another (Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14)  Have the Same Care For One Another (1 Corinthians 12:25) Forgive One Another (Ephesians 4:31-32; 1 Corinthians 3:13) Put Up With One Another (Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 3:13-14) Submit To One Another (Ephesians 5:21) Confess Your Sins To One Another (James 5:16)   

2.  The Fellowship Of Mutual Edification

Build Up One Another (Romans 14:19) Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Speak To One Another In Psalms & Spiritual Songs (Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16)  Teach One Another (Colossians 3:16) Exhort One Another (1 Thessalonians 5:1; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:25) Consider One Another (Hebrews 10:24)

3.  The Fellowship Of Mutual Service

Be Servants Of One Another (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10) Bear One Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:2) Be Kind To One Another (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8-9) Pray For One Another (James 5:16) Show Hospitality To One Another (1 Peter 4:9)

4.  Prohibited Acts That Destroy Fellowship

Do Not Judge One Another (Romans 14:13) Do Not Bite And Devour One Another (Galatians 5:14-15)Do Not Provoke One Another To Envy (Galatians 5:26)Do Not Lie To One Another (Colossians 3:9) Do Not Speak Evil Of One Another (James 4:11) Do Not Murmur Against One Another (James 5:9)  Do Not Forsake The Assembling Together (Hebrews 10:25)

So, out of true Christian fellowship in the family of God comes:

Less fear - but more security

Less immaturity - but more growth

Less criticism - but more acceptances

Less apathy - but more joy

Less division - but more unity

True Christian fellowship is a wonderful blessing, but as with all of God’s blessings, it is important to remain faithful.