When Moses died, Joshua (his trained successor) stepped into his role.  Upon assuming his new position, the Lord talks to him to prepare him for the tasks that lay ahead of him.  One of the first things that Joshua is told is not to be afraid.  “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

If there is one piece of advice that occurs over and over again in scripture it is to not be fearful or afraid. The word fear or is derivative occurs 260 times in the Bible and in many cases it is an encouragement to not fear. The propensity to fear is one of the experiences we all share in common. 

At the moment I have good reason to let fear grab a hold of me.  On Tuesday, Jan 8th I received a phone call from my urologist telling me that I have prostate cancer. As I put down the receiver, fear was lurking in the shadow of my mind. I very quickly went to a favorite verse of mine; Psalm 112:7 in the old Living Bible, “He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen, for he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him.”

My experience has led me to conclude that I have fears/regrets about the past or live in fear of the future. As it relates to the past, I wish I hadn’t said this or done that and now I’m living in fear of what may result from past folly, sin or mistakes. Or I borrow from the future playing the “what if” game in my mind. What if this happens?  What if that happens? What will I do? How will I cope? Someone remarked, “what do you mean it doesn’t pay to worry. Most of the things I worry about never happen.”

For me, the temptation is to play the “what if” game.  What will I do if the cancer has spread to other parts of my body? What will I do if I get really sick and can’t function normally anymore?  What if they tell me it is really advanced and I have 6 months to live?  What if?  What if? What if? It is so easy to live in the past or borrow from the future and have no energy left to live in the present; in the moment.

A few years ago I came across Matthew 6:34 in The Message. Most people know Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In fact Matthew 6: 25-34 is, in my thinking, the best passage in the New Testament on not fearing, worrying or be anxious. But Verse 34 is often overlooked, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (The Message). This challenge to live in the moment has been a great help to me in and will be now as I face the unknown.

Through the years I have feared:

1. Rejection
2. Not being successful
3. Not making it financially
4. People’s opinion of me
5. Failure

As I begin my cancer journey, I want to replace potential paralyzing fear with faith in the character and promises of God.

While we’re on the subject of fear, what type of fear is currently gripping your heart and life?  Don’t go to God and tell him how big your problems are, but go to your problems and tell them how big your God is.

As most of you are going through the How People Change curriculum and undoubtedly facing some heat from the sensitive topic on Sunday, Mark has provided additional information and resources on the Pastors blog.

By Mike O’Dea | Mars Hill Theology Response Team

The elders at Mars Hill are very serious about encouraging Mars Hill members and attendees to get busy in their community groups with the study and application of the “How People Change” material. What is the big deal about this stuff? After all, are we not already undergoing huge change at Mars Hill? New campuses are springing up. New elders are being added. The member’s website is different.

Not only is “our church” different from what it was a few months ago, but now they want to change ME! What’s up with that? Well, it just so happens that Mike needs to make changes too. I am so grateful that our elders recognized the value of the “How People Change” material, authored by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp. As a Christian of close to 30 years I had become pretty set in my ways (also known as pride). So what, if things were not going so well in my marriage of 31 years. Surely it was her fault, and not mine. I was sure Jesus was on my side. After all, I have a mission to attend to and my wife better get used to it. Right? Well, wrong Mr. Mike.

“How People Change” has opened my eyes to realize that I have made a habit of sinning against my wife for years. Not only that, but I was oblivious to my sin. I had developed a pattern of sin that became habitual (automatic responses to “Heat”) and I was not even aware of my sin. Let’s look at an example: My wife might say, “Mike, you spend too much time involved in Mars Hill ministries. All you care about is making yourself look good and seeking the approval of others.” Wow! That would cause the hair (what little I have left) to raise on the back of my neck. I would respond in one of the following ways: I might argue with her and try to defend myself by selling her on how much I loved Jesus and I just wanted to serve him at Mars Hill. Or, I might get so —–d off that I would go into a retreat and just withdraw from her. Or, I just might get even more involved in Mars Hill ministries to show her how wrong she was. Or……..well, you get the idea.

The “How People Change” material, and the emphasis on bringing Jesus into the situation in order to turn a “Hot” situation into a fruitful situation, has had a tremendous impact on me and my marriage. I now look at the “Heat” from the perspective that my “Thorns” (sin) has much to do in causing my wife to react with “Thorns” (her sin) and the beat goes on. I am learning to recognize the “Heat”, “Thorns”, “Cross” and “Fruit” of daily life. Even at my age (67) I am learning how to better love my Savior and my wife. Thank you Jesus!

I want to encourage all community group coaches and leaders to become enthusiastic about the “How People Change” material, because if taken seriously and applied to each of our lives, the transformation and fruit in our lives will go a very long way in reaching Seattle for Jesus and for causing us to identify with the apostle Paul when he said, “…….I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content (Phil. 4:11).

Sweetheart! Are you ready for your back rub?

Photo courtesy of CCCF