Fear Factor!

"Elijah was afraid and he fled for his life."

I guess if Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of God, could be afraid of a wicked queen then we shepherds may struggle with fear now and then.

The question then becomes not if you become afraid but when do you become afraid?

Fear can have a paralyzing affect on our ministries. When I asked over a hundred pastors what they were afraid of the following answers were given:

1. "I am afraid of failure"

2. "I am afraid of becoming irrelevant."

3. "I am afraid of losing control."

4. "I am afraid that my family will not measure up."

5. "I am afraid of losing people."

6. "I am afraid that people will find out I'm not as spiritual as they think I am."

7. "I am afraid of history repeating itself."

8. "I afraid of what people think of me."

There are many more fears out there so you can fill in the blank.

Paul gave some good advice to a fearful and timid young pastor Timothy. "But God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." NLT

There is great power in the truth. The word of God is powerful. Fear is essentially believing a lie. Paul tells us to fix our minds on truth. What lies are you buying into?

Perfect love casts out or drives out fear. Fear and Love cannot coexist. When we understand specifially how much God really loves us fears have a tendency to melt away. When we trust in that love our faith becomes our reality. When is the last time you sat down and truly contemplated the love that God has demonstrated in your life?

Paul reminds us to think with sound judgment in Romans. This takes discipline. Paul also tells us to take every thought captive. Are you being proactive in the battle for your mind?

It all starts by facing your fears rather then rationalizing or running from them.

The good news is that God met Elijah in his fear so that he got up off the mat and continued to fight the good fight.

We must discipline our minds to focus on truth.

Keeping Your Life Under the Speed Limit

Arizona has been blessed with photo radar on all the freeways. Motorists for the most part detest big brother watching. However these devices do have an affect on overall speed. If you aren't paying attention the next thing you know you are getting flashed for doing 15 over.

Are you consistently going 15 over?

Let me throw up a warning sign to those of you who insist on going over your human speed limit.

Sooner or later you will get flashed and pay the consequences.

One of the biggest problems I am seeing in the lives of pastors is an inability to set boundaries. I recently heard from a pastor who is bi-vocational feeling guilty that he can only give 3 hours a day to counseling those in his congregation. I hear from other pastors who don't enjoy a day off or have been on a legitimate vacation for years much less a sabbatical. Most pastors I talk to are exceeding the speed limit and are not paying attention to the warning signs.

What are those warning signs? How about fatigue, depression, lack of compassion, cynicism, anxiety,guilt, physical problems, loss of patience, loneliness, sleeplessness, too many nights out,

disengagement with the family? The list can go on.

So how do we keep under the speed limit?

1. Distinguish between real guilt and false guilt. Real guilt comes from God not your own or others expextations.

2. Be intentional about setting boundaries. If you can't do it well, then ask for help. Find a secretary or person who will hold you accountable.

3. Understand your own idiot lights. God has uniquely given us alarms in our systems that go off when we are on overload. We need to determine what they are and pay attention to them.

4. Give yourself permission to take some time to rest. Remember boundary setting should lead to margins and margins should give you time to rest. You can bet in ministry that nobody will do it for you. The demands are too great.

5. Ask your spouse and kids if they feel significant and understood.

6. Make sure you are not in denial. As you know that is a deep and long river.

The bottom line is this: SLOW DOWN AND LIVE!