Don't be afraid

Takayama, Shichigahama - now devastated by the recent tsunami

Why do people like to scare each other?

When something bad happens people like to talk about it and, to be honest, I do, too! But yesterday as the conversation around the table at church started getting dismal I was very conscious of the fact that there is a point of diminishing returns... I tried to introduce a bit of optimism into the conversation by sharing the Bible verses that have been comforting me. But almost as soon as I finished my sentence someone (whom I thought should know better) took it right back to the dark side. Sigh...

Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. Jeremiah 51:46

God IS in control. We don’t have to scare ourselves with every dark speculation.