Joshua, Chapter 24, Verse 14 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Joshua was telling the Israelites that it was a day for decision-making, a day for clarifying what they worship and to what they will give their ultimate allegiance. In a sermon by Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas she states: “Put away the gods that your ancestors served...” Joshua declares. Doing that requires an act of self-examination. · What are the gods that I serve? · What does my bank statement or my credit card statement say about my values? · What does the way I spend my free time say about what matters most to me? · How does the way that I treat family-members and co-workers, neighbors and friends show which gods I serve? · To what do I give my best, most focused attention and care? · What do I Really care about?
This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.