FEAR, it's something that affects everybody at some time in their lives. Fear can be destructive, but can it be constructive? Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first inaugural address at the hight of America's Great Depression declared, “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless,unreasoning,unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” WOW!
Fear is also one of our most basic emotions, it is the first emotion mentioned in the bible. (Genesis chapter3 verses7-10). Today the fear of something evil happening overwhelms many people who give an inordinate amount of attention to the media, which constantly report bad news and violence happening around the world. So, why talk about fear?
On April 7th, a large group of ladies from St Ives and Hayle were joined by ladies from Porthleven as they presented various personal accounts on how fear had affected their lives.

Lizzie, from Hayle, reflects, who would of thought that in this day and age women could or would want to sit and talk about fear!! I guess it's one of those things that we 'brush under the carpet', but then there are those obvious fears like spiders, snakes, heights and thunder, which are acceptable to talk of openly.

Sharon Smith and Mary Baldwin, from Porthleven, shared poems and a testimony respectively. Mary shared that fear can be crippling, robbing you of experiences and relationships, as it had done in her life. She now works with a group of 10-16 year olds, something which even a year ago would have rendered the bathroom as her best friend!! One of her sayings are good to remember, 'fear is the darkroom, where Satan develops your negatives'!

Sarah Chaplin co-paster of Porthleven Apostolic church presented an illuminating and sometimes humorous slide show, giving the scientific names of 'fears' and we had to try and guess what the fear was. There were some very strange ones indeed!! The evening was fun and enlightening and was rounded off with a buffet of cheese and biscuits, sticks and dips and afterwards,coffee.

On the 5th May, the ladies all met at Dynasty Chinese restaurant for a meal, followed by a sunset paddle off the slipway at Perrnuthnoe and coffee at The Fire Engine pub in Marazion! A grub-tub-pub crawl!!!The youngest person was 17 and the eldest 99!! A great evening was had by all.

On 2nd June the evening will be on the topic of GUILT, and will be at the usual venue of The Gilbert Hall in Nancledra, starting at 7pm. There will be free raffle tickets at the door for those arriving between 6.45and 7. In her book, which we are following in this course, Marion Meyers says “Healthy guilt says our conscience is functioning and allows us to look back long enough to learn a lesson.” “We can, however, get stuck in overwhelming and crippling guilt regarding our past failures,mistakes and sins when we continue to review them in our minds and live backward. We torment ourselves with images of what could have, would have or should have been!”

We look forward to seeing you, and if you are a first timer, we're sure you'll enjoy making new acquaintances and maybe catch up with a few people you already know!

Fit 4 Life is part of The Vine church St Ives, and is a member of Elim pentecostal church. www.thevine-stives.org.uk Marion Meyers co pasters at www.riverdreamcentre.com in Exeter.