Joy is also the name of a branch of shops in the U.K. The shop is rapidly expanding and is becoming better known as a shop as it keeps expanding. There are often articles about it in renowned fashion magazines. The shop is loosely based on the style of Urban Outfitters and has a lot of urban clothing and gifts.

Established in 1999 its original store was found in Brixton, it soon grew with shops appearing in Chiswick, Greenwich, Clapham, Fulham and most recently Putney. It has clothes for men and women and gifts for all people. The shop has a very original flair and stands out from others in the street. Personally it is one of my favourite stores in London and has a very warm atmosphere inside, all the clothes in the shops are different yet link up extraordinarily well.

There are different styles all the time with retro often appearing, the clothes are aimed at people between 18-35 and there is always something for everybody. The clothes compliment the area and all the shops have different styles inside. The shops are very appealing to the eye with interesting assortments of colour and the staff are friendly and helpful.

The shop lives up to its motto and is always vibrant and is a wonderful place to go when you're near:

Joy: Love, Life, Laughter

Example: "Place Tab A into Slot B. If Joy, then place Tab B into Slot C. If No Joy, widen Slot B and repeat."

Example 2: "Hey, the date last night, joy/no joy?" "Joy. I'll tell you more later"

This probably originated as a military slang, and that is probably where "Joy" is applied most frequently. In military terms, Joy can mean anything from "successful aquisition of a target" to "target destroyed" or "enemies captured".

Joy in Paul's Teaching

To preface this essay, it is important to familiarize oneself with the story of Saul, the zealous persecutor of Christians and his transformation into the Apostle Paul (see Acts 9), as this is a large part of his reason for feeling such joy: "one of the main consequences of his reconciliation with God was his ability to 'rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom. 5:11) in spite of the afflictions, hardships and trials that came his way" (DPHL 511). According to W.G. Morrice, 131 of the 326 uses of the word for joy in the New Testament are ascribed to Paul. He also calls Paul the "theologian of joy as he undoubtedly was... of grace" and notes that both charis and chara in Greek are derived from the same root: char-

Paul's joy as a Christ-follower can be seen throughout his epistles, and this will focus on Philippians, joy as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, and joy in the midst of suffering or persecution.


Philippians

The letter of Philippians was probably written by Paul while he was in prison (or under house arrest) in Rome before AD 70, yet this letter is known for the theological theme of joy that runs throughout. According to G.F. Hawthorne, the joy described here is "a settled state of mind characterized by peace, an attitude that views life... with equanimity. It is a confident way of looking at life that is rooted in faith in the living Lord of the church" (DPHL 713).

He talks often of the joy he finds in the Philippians, writing that he always offers "prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all" (Phil. 1:4) because of their "participation in the gospel" which could mean their obedience to support his ministry as well as their maturity in Christ. Later, he asks them to "make my joy complete" by being unified {Phil. 2:2), which is another major theme in Philippians. Still later he reminds them to "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing..." (Phil. 4:4-6). In a sense, he is giving them reasons to rejoice: First he wants them to show their joy (with gentleness) so that others may witness the hope they have. Next the fact that Jesus is near is pretty exciting- He is present and working in us! Therefore, they shouldn't have to worry, but rather rejoice and learn to be "content in whatever circumstances" (Phil. 4:11) because the man upstairs has got it all under control. But where on earth is this abnormal joy supposed to come from in a world that is pretty messed up? Well it's a gift...

The Fruit of Joy

So in Galatians 5:22 Paul describes what the fruits of the Spirit are, in contrast to the "deeds of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19). The fruits of the Spirit are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is supposed to be what overflows from the life of a Christ-follower as they slowly are transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which is Christ's Spirit. More of this sanctification process is discussed in Romans 8, and another good resource is A Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.

Joy in the midst of suffering...

"...I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Paul was persecuted as a follower of the Way. He was beaten (Acts 16:19-24, Acts 18:17), imprisoned, mocked by intellectuals (Acts 17:18), under a death warrant (Acts 23:12), and eventually killed. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote that during his imprisonment, others have been emboldened to preach, though some out of "selfish ambition rather than from pure motives" (Phil. 2:17), but that regardless he rejoices because Christ is proclaimed and exalted. So where does he find the motivation for all of this joy? Well not only does Paul wait in hopeful expectation for his chance to see God's glory and to be with Jesus and fellowship in His suffering, death and resurrection (Phil. 3:10-11). See, when he calls the Philippian believers "my joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1), he's reminding them that he is running his race to win a heavenly prize (y'know, storing up those treasures in heaven, away from all the mothballs).

works cited

"Joy" by W.G. Morrice in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.
"Letter to the Philippians" by G.F. Hawthorne in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.
New American Standard Bible

Joy (?), n. [OE. joye, OF. joye, joie, goie, F. joie, L. gaudia, pl. of gaudium joy, fr. gaudere to rejoice, to be glad; cf. Gr. to rejoice, proud. Cf. Gaud, Jewel.]

1.

The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.

Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy. Dryden.

Glides the smooth current of domestic joy. Johnson.

Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. xii. 2.

Tears of true joy for his return. Shak.

Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. Locke.

2.

That which causes joy or happiness.

For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Thess. ii. 20.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Keats.

3.

The sign or exhibition of joy; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity.

Such joy made Una, when her knight she found. Spenser.

The roofs with joy resound. Dryden.

⇒ Joy is used in composition, esp. with participles, to from many self-explaining compounds; as, joy-hells, joy-ringing, joy-inspiring, joy-resounding, etc.

Syn. -- Gladness; pleasure; delight; happiness; exultation; transport; felicity; ecstasy; rapture; bliss; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity; hilarity.

© Webster 1913.

Joy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Joyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Joying.] [OF. joir, F. jouir. See Joy, n.]

To rejoice; to be glad; to delight; to exult.

I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. iii. 18.

In whose sight all things joy. Milton.

© Webster 1913.

Joy, v. t.

1.

To give joy to; to congratulate.

Dryden.

To joy the friend, or grapple with the foe. Prior.

2.

To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.

Neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits. Shak.

3.

To enjoy. [Obs.] See Enjoy.

Who might have lived and joyed immortal bliss. Milton.

© Webster 1913.