As a child it was fun to watch the movies about the swamp monster that ate an entire city, or the space alien that tried to conquer New York or Tokyo. These movies were fun because you could be afraid for an hour or so, and then it was all over. The monster was killed; the aliens were fought off. It is not fun to be afraid in the "real" sense. Fear is an emotion that is well known. It is produced by a sense of danger, impending calamity or some dire emergency, or even by walking into a dentist's office. It is a powerful emotion that can damage both the physical body and the personality. Fear can even block the thought processes. We all have fears. Our experiences and our imaginations play a big part in determining what those phobias are. One might fear mice, another snakes, someone else water, and another fear none of these things, but something totally ridiculous to the first three. Some fear is healthy and useful; other fears choke our production and effectiveness and rob us of achievement and happiness. Serious phobias not only limit us,

but also can freeze us into immobilization. They are unhealthy. In the coming months we will examine common fears, and find out, in the light of God's word, how to discern healthy fear from unhealthy fear.
Fear of loneliness
"For the Lord Your God Will Be With You Wherever You Go"
It was Palm Sunday, 1987, when a dear woman was waiting for service to conclude and anticipating a rare afternoon spent with the entire family. As the final song was being sung, she knew something was wrong. Pushing past the other family members, she made it as far as the outside steps. It was Tuesday when she awoke to find herself in the hospital surrounded by her family and physician. The neurologist found an aneurysm in the major artery of the brain. No symptoms: no headaches, no blurred vision, no motor problems-never been in better health. Still young in years, still eating correctly, still exercising-yet within a touch of death. - Continued- Home