Fear Not

F. Law Eric H.

Description

Learn how to face your fears and and live into courageous and faithful action with Fear Not. Americans live in a culture of fear, whether we know it or care to admit it. Who will attack us next? Who will steal our jobs? Whose relationship undermines the sanctity of mine? In an era when manipulative messaging is unavoidable, politicians, media, marketers, and even faith leaders play on our fears and use them to win elections, gain attention, sell products, and influence the way you view those around you - all in the name of claiming power. Fear Not subverts insidious fear-based messaging with the creation of courageous communities committed to truth-telling, grace, hope, and love. Drawing on decades as a community-building and church growth leader for churches and nonprofit organizations, Eric H.F. Law shares practical resources and processes for bringing diverse people together to build authentic relationships and share their truth. Each chapter includes suggested activities and questions for discussion and tips for creating small discussion groups.

Sujets

• Political science of religion
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Chalice Press
• Date de parution: 04 février 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780827211346
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

FEAR

NOT

ERIC H.F. LAW

IN ALIVING FRIGHTENED WORLD GRACE

AND TRUTH

“Once again, Eric Law has gifted the Church with a vibrant and relevant resource for creating authentic community from which to heal and change the world. In a time when our culture is being held hostage by fear-based messages seeking to harden our hearts against each other, Law offers a liberating way through. This book will bless faith communities with hope, courage, and strategies for building the beloved community God calls us to in dark times.” — Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, New York City

“Holy Scripture tells us that perfect love casts out fear, but we do not find many places in our religious culture that provide tools to help us as we seek to engage that perfect love and overcome our individual and collective fears. Eric Law inFear Notprovides the reader tools that are clear and concrete enough to help in navigating the culture of fear that surrounds us.” — Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, Atlanta

“I related to this book so much—to how trapped in fear we are, but also to how there is something better that we can create! The stories encouraged me, the scripture grounded me, and the content empowered me. I want more than risk management; I want life. I can’t wait to gather some friends so we can read this, create grace- filled life together and Fear Not.” — Sandhya Jha, author ofTransforming Communities: How People Like You are Healing Our Neighborhoods

ERIC H.F. LAW FEAR IN ALIVING FRIGHTENED WORLD GRACE TRUTH NOT AND

chalice press Saint Louis, Missouri

An imprint of Christian Board of Publication

Other Books by Eric H.F. Law

The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community

The Bush Was Blazing but Not Consumed

Inclusion: Making Room for Grace

Sacred Acts, Holy Change: Faithful Diversity and Practical Transformation

The Word at the Crossings: Living the Good News in a Multicontextual Community

Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries

Holy Currency Exchange: 101 Stories, Songs, Actions, and Visions of Missional and Sustainable Ministries

With Dave Law Drawing on Holy Currencies: Awesome, Amazing, and Animated Activities for Stewardship

Available at ChalicePress.com

For my mother, Law Tam Un-Oi, and my brothers and sisters: Hung-Kwan Law, Maria Oi-Kam Ho, Stephen Hung-Fai Law, Michelle Sau-Fong Ng, and Horatio Hung-Yan Law for their unconditional love for me.

© Copyright 2019 by Eric H. F. Law. Much of this book’s text is from Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear,copyright ©2007 by Eric H.F. Law.

All rights reserved. For permission to reuse content, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], www.copyright.com.

Bible quotations, unless otherwise marked, are from theNew Revised Standard Version Bible,copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Cover design: Jennifer Pavlovitz

ChalicePress.com

Print 9780827211322 EPUB 9780827211339 EPDF 9780827211346

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Contents

1 Fear, Phobia, Sex, and Ministry

2 Fear, Marketers, Politicians, and Symbolic Substitutes

3 Rituals, Rules, Technologies, and the Color-Coded Threat-Level System

4 Fear-Conqueror, Fear-Bearer, and Fear-Miner

5 Fear-Exploiter, Fear of God, and Intimacy with God

6 Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear

7 What Are You Doing Here?

8 I Need Your Light

Appendix: Prep for the Holidays

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Acknowledgments

I am blessed by being part of a few trusting communities that enable me to be vulnerable, take risks, tell the truth, and experience intimacy. First of all, I thank my family, especially my mother and my brothers and sisters—Hung-Kwan, Maria, Stephen, Michelle, and Horatio—who exemplify unconditional love for me. They are the foundation I stand on each day of my life. I am thankful for my “home” community at Sandpiper #3, Palm Desert, especially Dale and Nancy Hibler, Loraine Alvarez, Chuck McLucas, John and Pat Callender, Mary Kronman, Linda Clode, Michael O’Neill and Mark Hild, Bette and Jan Coffyn, Jim West and Karen Prinzmetal, Jon and Lois Jean Fults, Ruth Gray, Sue Brown, and Pat Griggs. From the moment I set foot in this community six years ago, I knew I would be safe and secure, with no fear of rejection or isolation. I am grateful for my colleagues and friends at the Kaleidoscope Institute for their commitment and passion for building open and accepting communities, especially Lilline Dugan, Peter Bechtel, Lynn Oshita, Lucky Altman Lynch, Alexandra Conrad, Dorothy Wilson, Keith Yamamoto, and Bonnie Rice. They have been there to help me face my fear during the transitional time of the Institute. I thank the bishops and staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the Cathedral Center for their prayers and support for me and the ministry of the Kaleidoscope Institute. Their ministry creates a safe and gracious space for people to gather to explore the possibility of faithful transformation. I thank Kaye Ballard and Myvanwy Jenn for their constant friendship and support, Linda and Paul Kelly for love and support for Steve while I was working on this book, Kent Steinbrenner for his enthusiasm and knowledge of the English language, and my editor Trent Butler for his patience and understanding. I thank Steve Rutberg for being the intimate soul mate I come home to. Finally, I thank God for being my true security.

In God, whose word I praise,  in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid.  What can a mere mortal do to me?  (Ps. 56:10–11)

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