FEAR NOT
We all have
fears. I am not afraid of spiders,
snakes, heights … I remember Heather’s
answer, teen class 1990’s “your greatest fear?”
“being alone.” More recently, I
heard a surprising answer – H’s answer (2016) – “I never knew you …” and then, B’s answer (2016) – “losing
my children…”
The
following are items on my list as I make a life-changing decision about
retiring early to work with a small church:
1. Afraid cannot do the job.
2. Afraid church will die.
3. Afraid will get discouraged.
4. Afraid they will not like me.
5. Afraid they will reject message.
6. Afraid of writer’s block – flurries
and famine.
7. Afraid will succeed and meet
opposition.
8. Afraid of change.
9. Afraid of loss of security and
stability.
10. Afraid
whether it is self-seeking or self-crucifying.
11. Afraid
of racial turmoil. Cf. RDC
12. Afraid
of gov’t singling out?!
13. Afraid
of not giving it my all.
14. Afraid
of losing refound fire.
15. Afraid
of smothering refound fire.
16. Afraid
of floating rather than diving deeper.
17. Afraid
of rusting out.
18. Afraid
of hotline disconnect – fresh contact with God.
19. Afraid
of stress?!
20. Afraid
not setting good example of seriously seeking God.
21. Afraid
of damaging Melanie/marriage.
22. Afraid
honeymoon ending. (7-year itch; 2-3 year tenures)
23. Afraid
that I won election, with no agenda. (HS/SGA Pres.)
24. Afraid
of burned bridges. (IP)
25. Afraid
of burned boats.
26. Afraid
to give up tent-maker independence.
27. Afraid
to limit retirement ministry options.
28. Afraid
of it being strength of personality vs. Spirit strength.
29. Afraid
of where God would take us?! (Abraham;
Mt.28 “with you always”)
30. Afraid
of not WWJD – following Jesus; other paths end badly!
In Aberdeen,
we drove into haunted house driveway – “what are you doing?” “must face fears head on! Ha!”
To Joshua “be
not afraid”
“not given a
spirit of fear and timidity, but of power …”
Need
Ragnar-like gusto
Caleb “give
me the hill country; Anakim there …”
We need a
fearlessness in the face of death, beyond any Valhalla/70-virgin death cult!
“for the joy
set before him, went to the cross…”
