PAX & other Men,
My hope is this email will be an encouragement to the week ahead of you; that fear would not lead you, but LOVE would hold you up as it does me.
This past week during a BOM (ball of man) the reality of fear set in. As Fathers praying for their children’s fear and anxiety over their first day of school. I saw that fear creeping up into the heart of the men. The uncertainty, the lack of control, and need of assurance were all present in that very moment.
Disclaimer :::This might get a little bit long but I would encourage you to see it to the end:::
So how does this all relate to F3? Why would we even address fear? Welp, Fear may be what is keeping you from a workout, it may be immobilizing you from action in your community, or it could just be the root of stress keeping you from living freely.
In any case Fear is real. It is faced on the first day of school by our children. It is faced when you pull up in the dark to an unknown park, with unknown figures, it is faced when you had a rough day of work, it is faced when you lose or change jobs, it is faced when illness comes, it is faced… We all face it… The question I want to pose is Does Fear Lead?
When Fear Leads… It leads to some anxious places, some hidden places, and ultimately to lonely places!
There are many things we need to know about fear but here are just three:
FEAR IS REAL
As I’ve already stated we all allow fear to sneak up in our lives; even the strongest men experience fear.
LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR
Every time in the Bible an angel of the Lord or the Lord reveals His glory to a human the words He shares with them is
“Do not be Afraid”
See God never comes onto the scene to invoke Fear; He came to display love and care, taking away the fears we face, even unhealthy (“kid with a magnifying glass”) fears of Him. He is called a comfort, prince of peace, and savior. These terms come with a healthy respect and awe.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” -1John 4:18
In this verse you’ll find the antidote for Fear, it is perfect LOVE! Obviously none of us are perfect but much like a father to his child on the first day of school your love for that child, your protection, and their trust in you is casting out their fear. So it is with God through Jesus. His Love for us should be casting out the fears we face because he loved us perfectly, till death, showing His Love, His Protection, and giving us every opportunity to trust Him.
Finally,
MEN ARE CALLED TO LOVE
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like MEN, be strong. Let all that you do be done in LOVE.” – 1Corinthians 16:13-14
We are to watch out for fear and anxiety, in our own and the lives of others. Stand firm in our faith. ACT LIKE MEN and be strong (honest, upfront, real). Doing it all in LOVE.
Next time fear begins leading you to that anxious place, that hidden place, that lonely place. When fear begins holding you from engaging in community that care for you, keeping you from living freely, hindering you from being the Husband, Father, Friend, Employee you think you ought to be.
Remember This! The MEN of F3 are prepared and desire to walk with you in LOVE. We’ve all experience fear, But the LOVE from the MEN that surround us as they display the LOVE of the one who Created them in Prayer and Encouragement, that fear fades to the back round and we take each step together, covering our SIX!
It isn’t just a workout, It is living life together, taking on one another bricks and carrying them around the lake we call life! (if you missed Saturday’s Workout Read it on the BackBlast!)
YHC,
Bo Schembechler
“He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christs may rest upon me.” – 2 Cor 12:9
Resources
F3 Columbus 