Tag: fear

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Friday the 13th

Hey all you Paraskevidekatriaphobics out there.  I suppose most of you will be staying home today, locked inside for security.  Yep, Friday the 13th is upon is! But really, whats the deal with Friday the 13th and why are we taught from a young age that this is a day to fear?

Well it seems that this is the convergence of two traditional unlucky things!

UNLUCKY FRIDAY + UNLUCKY 13 = UNLUCKIER FRIDAY

I guess we have always heard that 13 is an unlucky number for some reason.  But I didn’t realize Friday was given that same name.  But check out this story I discovered while doing a little bit of research

Legend has it: Never change your bed on Friday; it will bring bad dreams. If you cut your nails on Friday, you cut them for sorrow. Don’t start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune. Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck, as in the tale of H.M.S. Friday. One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell the longstanding superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned and given the name “H.M.S. Friday.” They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday, and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday — and was never seen or heard from again From : http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm

So fun! ( well I guess not for those on the Friday!)

As I was reading some history, it seemed that a lot of this talk about Friday and 13 have a long history in humanity, and that when Christianity spread it change them even more.  It seems to me however, that the presence of the Christ would not have demonized these things, but set people free from the fear of them!

The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?  Ps 27:1

or what about this bit of truth

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8

Seriously, if God if for us, can a day of the week and a number conspire against us?

Enjoy the great day! ( and leave the salt at home!)

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Daily Post New Years Best of Countdown

Best of 2011 Day 3

There seemed to be a recurring topic about fear these year for me. I am not exactly sure why, but I think it has to do with the amount of time I spent studying risks.

Anyway, in September I addressed apparently 84 fears.

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Who Do You Fear

Why is it that we use the excuse of fear so many times when we are trying to do something?  We say “I am afraid of their response” or “I am afraid of how they will react”  or “I am afraid of failure”.   Yesterday I mentioned some words from the Christ in Luke 12.  Today, I wanted to back up just a little in that same section of this book from the great doctor and see what else the Christ is saying.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:4-7 New International Version (NIV)

and here is the same thing from The Message

4-5″I’m speaking to you as dear friends. Don’t be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

6-7″What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. Luke 12:4-7 The Message (MSG)

So why did I want to repeat the same thing two days in a row. Well I think it’s this thought that has been with me for several weeks, or maybe months. I was in a discussion with some people and one of the ladies said “It really comes down this. Do you fear God more than your fears?”. Hm. I think that is a tough thought. We are paralyzed by fear, yet the Son of God tells us that we should not be afraid of those on this world, but only be afraid of the creator of the world.
I find that when I live with this bold thought it becomes so freeing. It removes so many of the worries of life. Are you flying on a airplane? – no fear! teaching a kid to drive?, no fear! Talking to a new person – no fear!  Stepping out on faith – No Fear!  It allows me to life the radical risk filled life that continues to make me grow ( and avoid ruts).
But when I am fearful, oh, then I am full of the most creative kinds of anxiety that a person could ever imagine. And I a paralyzed into inactivity and non action, and I find comfort in the ruts of life.

I bet it is the same for you!

So, consider those words in Luke and the words of my friend as well – Do you fear God more than your fears?

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Daily Post

Quotable Art

Early this morning I found this set of quite inspiring posters that I just had to share with all you you.  Take a look at this group of thought provoking quotes and the accompany art that I think will help to move you out of your comfort zone and into a place of riskiness.  Since this whole concept of transforming and leaving our comfort zone is what I write about a lot, it just seem good to share these.

 

And then remember what your Creator has said to you:

7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Luke 12:7 NIV

Oh and let me know your favorite. Mine happens to be  “You’ll have an entire eternity to think inside the box!”

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Don’t Know and Have a Go

Well its Friday!  Yeah!  So, its time to wrap up another week of fun and new thoughts.  After last week where it seemed the whole thing was shutting down, this week I have been trying to parse through a load of ideas to see which ones to share and when.  I hope that it some of these thoughts and musing are actually helping you!

Anyway, last weekend, I was shown a video about creativity from Sir Ken Robinson about how the fear of being wrong can squelch our creative fires.  The whole premise of the idea is that children are so creative because, well, they don’t know they should not be.

It’s a pretty interesting concept and one that seems to hold true for us grown ups in so many ways.  The fear of something grips up and well paralyzes us.

Interestingly enough, with that fresh on my brain, I was in a discussion on Wednesday night about the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25.  In that story 3 men are given gifts and each are expected to grow and cultivate what they have been given.  Two men do.  The third is captivated by fear, and does nothing. When the master returns he is harshly punished.  Check out what the master says:

26-27“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28-30“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’ (Matthew 25:26-30, The Message)

So today, examine what it is that is stopping you from moving forward.  What fears are stifling your creativity.  What fears are stopping you from cultivating the gifts you have been given.

Let us not play it safe, but let us go for the reward!  Don’t prepare to be wrong. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake.  Act like you “don’t know and have a go.”