Courage in the Everyday

 by Dina Sleiman

...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you... ~ I Chronicles 28:20

Last week Acts 2 Church went Christmas caroling in a trailer park where we deliver food for our food ministry. This simple little excursion got me thinking about the courage needed to reach out to others in our everyday lives.

One of our caroling groups

Going door to door, knocking on a stranger's home, in a neighborhood that's a bit rough, takes some courage, especially when you have a bevy of children in tow. By the end of the Christmas cookie fellowship following the caroling, our kids were all running around in the pitch dark. We didn't know if we'd face rejection, harassment, or even drunken threats, but we went to spread Christmas joy and cheer nonetheless--to spread Christ's love. It would have been easy for someone to talk themselves out of going and facing those risks. But reaching out takes courage and inconvenience. Living life to its fullest involves taking risks.

These neighbors tagged along and joined in the fun.

And when God calls you to do something, those risks pay off! By the end of the caroling many wonderful neighbors had joined in with us to sing. We concluded the evening with a fellowship including a fire pit and Christmas cookies, and about 25 people from the neighborhood came to hang out with us :)

The Christmas cookie fellowship was a big hit.

I'm sure it would have been safer and easier for the Good Samaritan to have left the beaten man on the side of the road, but God calls us to a higher standard. Will you dare to reach out and take risks? Will you find the courage to live life to the fullest?

Do You Know Fear?

by Dina Sleiman

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ~ Psalm 86:11

This summer nineteen members of Acts 2 Church went on a mission trip to a poor, rural part of West Virginia and Kentucky. While there, we were all challenged (including the children and teens) to have an hour long quiet time, and it actually ended up being a big hit! Part of the reason it worked out so well was that we were given a devotional guide (which was actually more like an in depth Bible study) titled “Know Fear.” And after our quiet time each day we had small group discussions about what the Lord was showing us.

Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The mission organization was new to our church, and I was concerned that the “Know Fear” topic might be something judgmental and religious, trying to slap us upside the head with the fear of God. Instead, it was a very balanced and deep-probing analysis of fear: both the good and bad sides of the subject.

First we learned that fear is an important window into the soul. We shouldn’t just ignore, deny, or repress our fears, because our fears tell us a lot about what is really going on inside of us. Fear reveals certain needs and cravings that we have. And at the bottom of those needs and cravings are idolatry that we probably never even suspected. One fear in my heart that God revealed was certainly a new one for me. I had a fear of discomfort and pain, which I think comes from some of the middle-aged health challenges I’ve been facing for the last few years. Certainly not any exciting or impressive sin, and yet something that could pull me away from God’s best plans for my life it I let it.

Aaron sporting his "Know Fear" shirt

Over the next two days we really took an in depth look at the fear of man and the fear of the unknown. Two areas that hold many Christians back from God’s best for their lives. And at the end of the day, both sinful responses that we need to overcome. I didn’t personally relate a lot to the fear of man, but it revealed a different fear. I long to be free and unique, and so I fear any sort of outward control on my life. Even on this trip, I had opportunities to challenge myself and face that fear.

Due to the duration of our trip, it wasn’t until I got home that I finally had the opportunity to read the author, Lauren Wright’s, perspective on the fear of God. And it was perfect. When we are not in right relationship with God, we have every reason to fear Him. But as we grow in relationship, that fear morphs into reverence, devotion, trust, and eventually pure worship.

This probably wasn’t a subject I would have ever thought to study on my own, but I feel like now I “Know Fear” much better than I ever have before, and I’m thankful for the revelations God gave me on this subject.

You can read more about the trip here, or check out our pictures here.

What fears have you struggled with? What fears have you overcome? Those of you who were on the trip, feel free to share your thoughts too!

Fear and Peace

 by Pastor Rob Stevenson (2012)

Cockroaches fell from the upper walls of the food elevator located on one of the Navy’s aircraft carriers.  They descended like rain, dropping around my feet and on my shoulders, head, and arms.  The ones on the floor looked for hiding places, and found them under my shoes or up my pants legs.  Let’s call it a sequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, except this could be called “The Cockroaches”.  I took control of the situation by more pesticide spraying, and eventually overcame them.  This type of work entailed an adventurous Navy job; one of my entomology (a studier of insects) duties as a young, LTJG (Lieutenant Junior Grade).  Later that night, as I undressed, a few more cockroaches fell out.  I even found one in my briefcase.  Does that send shivers up your spine? Do you have an innate fear of something like that happening to you? 

Retired, I now teach life science to 7th graders.  Things like tarantulas and frogs seem to gross out the girls to the point of high-pitched screams.  It produces squeamish looks from the boys.  Earthworms?  Yep, slimy and slithery makes for a yucky, loud, and tense-filled experiment.  

What other fears do we deal with?    How about dentists, doctors, getting a shot, speaking in public, lightning, sharks, and terrorists?  These come to mind when I think of things to fear.  To some of us these and other fears control our lives.   But Jesus said, “ Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 – NLT)  In other words, we need a far-reaching vision that goes beyond what our earthly bodies endure.  Fearing our loving creator, like children fearing their loving parents, produces a healthy platform for a love-inspired relationship.  Philippians 2:12 (NLT) says,

“ Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”  Absolutely, He is The God.  Nothing exists more powerful and strong than Him.  He created the earth, the heavens, and us, and well…   everything.  I think our fear should be real enough to elicit a positive response to accept Him as Lord if we have never done that before, and to accept His Son, Jesus, as the Savior of our souls. 

When we get to that point, something happens.  We receive God’s peace.  I like the Bible’s Amplified version on the definition of peace (from Philippians 4:7): that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is.  You see, fear from this earth leads to grief and anxiety.  Fear from heaven leads to peace and contentment.  Fear God.  Experience the positive change for now and eternity.