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"It appears that many individuals could benefit from reduced cat ownership and exposure."

What Motivates My Life? God or Fear?

Self-realizations are good and very often hard to swallow, because most of the time what I see inside isn't pretty! The past few years the Lord has taken me on a journey challenging me to place my desire for control into His hands. Time and time again as He provides opportunties for me to submit to Him, He proves He is trustworthy, faithful and loving. Even when I choose to take back control sometimes, He patiently reminds me that with submitting comes freedom ... rest ... and peace. I read this article today and it again reminded me that choosing to live a life of fear and worry (two forms of control) is futile and crippling. So I posted part of it here, for the full article, just follow the link at the end.

Fight Fear With Fear by Suzanne Hadley

… I see variations of fear all too often. Fear over whether I'll get married. Fear about starting a conversation with a neighbor. Fear of whether I'll accomplish the thing I set out to do.

I recently discovered fear playing an unwelcome role in my relationship with a godly guy. At the beginning of our relationship, I was very reserved. Instead of reciprocating naturally as he pursued me, I worried about saying or doing things exactly right. As I looked more deeply at why I felt anxious each time we met, I realized that I was "playing it cool" as a defense mechanism. Of course, I could justify it as "guarding my heart." But the real reason I did it was because I thought if I didn't get too excited about the relationship or invest too deeply, I wouldn't risk being disappointed. Unfortunately, my fears were stifling the relationship.

I began to pray that God would remove ungodly fear from me. If I believed that God had provided this relationship (and I did), my action in it should not be motivated by fear. The verse that came to mind was 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (NKJV). Although Paul is saying this in the context of evangelism, an absence of fear should be a hallmark of any godly pursuit. As I committed to trust the Lord and not put my own "safety nets" in place, the relationship began to blossom.

Let Love Lead
Last year when I felt God urging me to take a teenager into my home, I had reason to fear. With a history of poor choices, my potential housemate came with some risk. While most of my confidants encouraged me to pursue what God had laid on my heart, a few offered unsettling warnings of what "could happen."

As I prayed for the Lord's direction, the truth found in 1 John 4:18 became real to me: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." God has perfect love for both Lena and me. The more I focused on God's love for Lena, the more fear faded away. My confidence in God's plan and His love for me convinced me I had nothing to fear. … When God's love is compelling us, there is no reason to fear.

Holy Fear
There is one thing we are told to fear, however, and that is a Holy God. ... A fear of the Lord protects us from foolish actions and motivates us to do things that rail against human wisdom. In "holy fear," Noah built the ark (Hebrews 11:7). Because they "feared God," the Hebrew midwives let the boys live when Pharaoh ordered they be killed. And Paul tells the Corinthians that their knowledge of what it means to fear the Lord is what motivates them "to persuade men" (2 Corinthians 5:11). In each of these cases, a fear of God obliterated lesser fears.

Whom or what we fear comes down to an issue of authority. Do I truly believe God has absolute control in my life? If so, have a submitted myself fully to Him? Ungodly fear arises when I attempt to depend on my own judgment and perspective. For over a year, there has been a project I have been dragging my feet to complete. Part of the issue is laziness. I am also aware that its potential spiritual impact isn't something the enemy is excited about. But another part of my hesitancy is fear that I'll fail—that the finished product will not live up to the idea. ... God is motivating me to move past doubts over personal failure and complete the task. When we have a proper perspective of God's greatness and His control in our lives, that awe causes smaller fears to dissipate.

Safe With Jesus
"Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'" Matthew 8:24-27

My life felt like that storm. The tasks before me were like the waves sweeping over the boat. But the truth was, the storm and the waves did not have the power to destroy me. They were obedient to Christ. Each new circumstance, relationship and challenge provides the opportunity for me to play with fear or choose to trust. When I allow the Christ who ruled the storm to rule my heart, fear loses its power over me.

Copyright © 2007 Suzanne Hadley. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
The complete text of this article is available at http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001529.cfm

Only in Florida!

Bullet causes US man's headache

A bullet has been removed from behind the right ear of a US man who went to hospital complaining of a headache. Michael Moylan, 45, from the state of Florida, is quoted as saying he had woken up with a headache so severe he thought it was caused by an aneurysm.

His wife, April, took him to hospital but left when the bullet was found. She was arrested later over the shooting, but said it was an accident. Mr Moylan remains in hospital in a stable condition. A gun was discovered during a search of his house, along with blood-stained rags.

According to the Palm Beach Post newspaper's website, Mr Moylan and his wife gave conflicting accounts to police throughout the day. Mrs Moylan told police she had returned to the house from the hospital to check if there were any signs that her husband had been shot from outside the building. Mr Moylan had told police no weapons were held at the house, the paper says.

He reportedly told police he had woken up with a headache and asked his wife if she had elbowed him in the head while he slept.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6246800.stm
Published: 2007/06/27 18:18:44 GMT
© BBC MMVII

You Will Be Missed Prime Minister Blair!

Tornadoes in Sheffield, the monsoon in Manchester, biblical floods washing over Merry England.

Who would have thought that the end of Tony Blair would feel like the end of days? As it happens, the deep depression swirling over middle England has absolutely nothing to do with the ebb and flow of power. The English remain an unsentimental lot when it comes to prime ministers. Those not too busy siphoning water out of their basements may dwell briefly on the dour Scot who used to run our money but will now run our whole country.

The nation whose lower lip once quivered for the passing of Diana, the People's Princess, will be as sentimental about the end of Tony and the beginning of Gordon as the movers lugging furniture in and out of Number 10.

It is here in America that Tony Blair will be missed.

Brother Tony

The ThankYouTony.com website has been virtually drowning in tears. Our neighbours, staunch Democrats who hate George W Bush, silently shake their heads when they contemplate the early retirement of Tony Blair. "Why, Matt, he's so articulate?"

The enthusiastic car insurance broker who gave me a 5% discount thanks to Tony Blair's steadfast support of George Bush -"if it weren't for you Brits, we'd be completely alone!" - is still deeply perplexed by it all.

America simply cannot get its head around the fratricide of Brother Tony in his own country. It reminds me a little of the way that Germany could never fathom the revulsion felt by ordinary Russians for Mikhail Gorbachev, the hero who helped to unite Germany by dismantling his own empire.

But rest assured, Mr Blair, America will make up for it.

George Bush has already offered you a job as the Quartet's Middle East envoy. You will be mobbed like a rock star on the lecture circuit and the book tour. In adulation you will be rivalled only by that other British superhero who was ejected from the nest and is soon to reside with his foster family, LA Galaxy, on the Pacific coast. David Beckham will bend balls and Tony Blair spin words for the delectation of a country that appreciates their talents.

Seeds of downfall

What I point out to my neighbours is that the British have always been nasty to their chief executives.

Winston Churchill, hailed at home and abroad as one of the greatest statesmen ever, was felled at the polls within months of British tanks rolling victoriously into continental Europe.

Margaret Thatcher, the unflinching Iron Lady, was melted down and reduced to tears by rebellion in her own ranks.

By comparison, Tony Blair's departure has been graceful and bloodless.

In each case, his or her success also harboured the seeds of downfall. By winning the war against Hitler, Winston Churchill mobilised a nation but also raised expectations of social mobility. Once the war was won, the nation outgrew a leader who hailed from a different class and a different era.

After years of dithering and brittle parliamentary pacts, Lady Thatcher ruled with an iron fist and a solid majority in the House of Commons. Without anyone snapping at her heels she was allowed to overreach with policies like the unpopular poll tax. She ended up aggravating her own Tory MPs, who feared oblivion at the next poll and thus pulled the plug on her. A British prime minister is after all elected by the winning party, not the electorate.

American infatuation

Tony Blair's success was that he managed to liberate the Labour Party from its traditional trenches and appeal directly to the nation at large. He stole policies and voters wherever he could find them. He managed to win three elections, a historic hat-trick for Labour. He charmed the globe into believing that Britain mattered and then put the troops where his mouth is. He was inspired by Bill Clinton's charisma and partially groomed by his advisers.

Tony Blair was perhaps the most presidential prime minister we have ever had, ruling with a small coterie of advisers, growling at his troublesome party while smiling at the nation. At first it worked a treat. We were Cool Britannia. Tony fixed Northern Ireland. What would be next? The Middle East perhaps. African poverty. Global warming.

And all the while Tony Blair spoke not about the minutiae of policies and quotas but reached for the stars with speeches about values and faith. He began to sound less and less like the man in Number 10 and more like the guy in the White House.

The combination of presidential charisma with a parliamentary majority was at its most successful when he persuaded his party against their better judgement to go along with the war of choice in Iraq. The infatuation with America, emboldened by the belief that Britain must stand solidly behind its strongest ally, became Tony's fatal attraction. The hour of success began the countdown to failure.

Tony's hubris?

America's founding fathers made sure that the president had many of the trappings of monarchy but none of its power. As George Bush is discovering now, the business of government is grinding trench warfare between the White House and Capitol Hill. It is meant to be unpleasant and tedious. The checks and balances built into the system are like speed bumps, road blocks, pot holes and traffic cameras on British roads. They are meant to slow things down.

The president is only allowed to serve two terms in office. He spends most of his first term trying to get re-elected and most of his second being described as a lame duck. No wonder they give him the shiny plane and the armoured limos. There have to be some perks to this job.

By comparison, a British prime minister with a solid majority in parliament wields far more power. The day that George Bush was fighting for re-election in the first presidential debate against Senator John Kerry, Tony Blair graciously conceded that he wouldn't be seeking a fourth term of office. "But he hasn't even won his third yet!" an American colleague pointed out indignantly.

It is the combination of a majority in the Commons and the temptation to appeal to the voters above the heads of your own party that has encouraged hubris and ultimately led to Tony Blair's early retirement. Which prime minister hasn't ended up disappointing the voters? But these days the moveable feast of policies, the squishy middle ground, the Third Way, also means that you end up losing the support of your party.

Modern British prime ministers are brilliant but lonely, and they benefit from none of the inherent respect which Americans harbour for the presidency. They may loathe the incumbent, but they revere the office. Even when George W Bush retires he will still be addressed as Mr President. On Thursday, the prime minister becomes Mr Blair.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6243328.stm
Published: 2007/06/27 10:47:52 GMT
© BBC MMVII