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Here's a way to avoid economic crisis panic
FAITH
Rev. Herb Sadler at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church shared a message regarding the country's economic crisis in his newsletter last week. "I'm so aware, as are you, of the flood of news about the effort to bail out Wall Street, the end of some financial institutions, the mortgage loan crisis, and related financial news, virtually all bad," Sadler wrote. "My good friend, Lawson Bryan, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, in writing to his congregation referenced a book entitled 'Patterns of Panic' written by Dr. Joost Meerloo, a Dutch professor. The book details panic reactions of communities of people in Europe during World War II. It studies what Meerloo calls 'the stampedes that occur among human beings.' "With all of the focus recently on bad news, not just the financial news nationally and internationally, but also hurricanes and other matters, the tendency is either panic or despair," Sadler continued. "It is so important to distinguish between genuine concern and an excessive reaction like panicky thinking and acting. "How do we avoid or counter patterns of panic? Meerloo's findings are interesting. He says that when a person or group has a strong sense of purpose, the strength of that purpose will counteract the panic reaction. Without a strong, clear purpose, we are open to the manipulation of our fears. "Here is a fundamental benefit of belonging to the church of Jesus Christ. 'I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly,' Jesus said. 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?' (Psalm 27:1) "Jesus Christ gives us an eternal sense of purpose." Good Shepherd Lutheran Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 4257 Gulf Breeze Parkway will host its 19th annual Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 18, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Authentic German food and drink will be served Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday night's entertainment will feature the Sawmill Band. Visitors should bring lawn chairs and blankets (no coolers, please). Also on Friday, there will be an early garage sale, Good Shepherd's Ladies Crafters' exhibit, local crafters' exhibits and a silent auction. Saturday's entertainment will feature The Johansen's Band from noon to 2 p.m.; Big Bob's Barbershop Quartet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Michael "Black Elvis" Burnett from 4 to 4:30 p.m., and The Johansen's Band from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 932-3263. E-mail your church's news to news@gulfbreezenews.com. |
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