VIEW from the top
'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself'
Fear is all around us. It comes in many shapes and sizes for

LELAND ACKER

a variety of reasons. There is fear over one's personal financial, emotional or family issues. There is fear about where our country and society is headed.

There is fear of failure and even fear of success. If you stop and take notice, there is fear all around you.

While visiting my doctor the other day, he mentioned that he had heard the terrorists had 10 stolen nuclear weapons within the borders of the U.S. and that the FBI was aware of it. After 9-11, it is believable that our defense and intelligence agencies would not act aggressively to prevent an attack. (I'm not blaming a political party or leader, but there is a lot of bureaucracy in defense intelligence.) There is fear of another attack.

There is fear of our economy collapsing as a result of our over-reliance on credit and foreign oil.

There are fears over personal safety, identity theft and catching the latest food -borne illness.

My fears involve whether or not my children will grow up in a world like I did, or whether their world will be worse. Many can remember growing up in the Great Depression, World War II and the post-war era. While those times produced a great generation, I'm not sure I want my kids growing up in a world where they don't know if their nation will survive.

Of 'course, the presence of a Presidential election does not help one to take his mind off of his fears.

The problem with focusing on the many fears of life is that if one continues to do so, they will sink.

You probably know the story about Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14). You also might know how Peter got out of the boat to walk to Jesus. The second Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves, he sank.

The two things we learn from this passage are that as long as we continue to focus our thoughts on our fears, we will sink and that Jesus is the Son of God.

Troubles are a part of life. Every generation has seen troubles they thought could end their world. The early Texas settlers had the Texas Revolution. Following the revolution was the war between the U.S. and Mexico. Then there was the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Spanish-American War, World War I, The Great Depression, World War II, Korea, Polio, Vietnam, counter-culture, Cold War, racial unrest, hostages in Iran, recession, out-ofcontrol gas prices, nuclear arms race, Mt. St. Helens, pollution, AIDS, Persian Gulf, out-of-control gas prices, recession, Somalia, Bosnia, World Trade Center bombing, Oklahoma City, Columbine, USS Cole, spyplane downed over China, 9-11, Terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, out-of-control gas prices and possibly recession.

Then there are the rumors of the coming attacks and wars. Jesus said in Matthew 24 "See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."

Face your challenges and fears. If you have faith in God, and know Jesus as your Savior, He will pull you through it. chreporter@mediactr.com