When Flies Kill Lions

Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 750 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.

Did you know that tiny flies can bring down the king of beasts?

The flies, known as stomoxys, will bite a lion and then keep biting its wounds, inflicting nagging, relentless pain. Over time, the lion dies of trauma. A few years ago, at least six lions in Tanzania’s world famous wildlife park were killed by swarms of these flies.

Our worries can do the same to us. Left unchecked, our anxieties will buzz around us like a swarm of blood-sucking flies, pestering us and distressing us until we collapse. Maybe we’re revealing more than we intend when we sigh and say, “I’m worried sick!”

As the late Corrie Ten Boom once noted, “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” That’s why Jesus said, “Don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:34, Msg).

Billy Graham wrote:

What is the opposite of fear? For the Christian there can be only one answer: The opposite of fear is trust--trust in God and His unchanging love. Once we realize God is in control and he holds us in his loving hands, we can meet life’s dangers and uncertainties with confidence. After all, if we can trust God for our eternal salvation, can’t we also trust him for our lives right now? The psalmist declared, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid” (Psalm 118:6).

This Sunday, July 8, come learn how to win over worry! Come to our 9:30am “Bold Blend” service or the 10:45am “Smooth Blend” service, or listen online Monday (iTunes; website).

Don’t Miss the Deadlines for “Adventures with Tom”! You’ve been reading about our four summertime adventures, and now is the time to sign up! To go to the Rockbox Theater in Fredericksburg, the Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne, or Pioneer Town in Wimberly, go ahead and turn in your registration fee in while you’re at church this Sunday, July 8! For more information, go online at www.HillcrestAustin.org or call the church office at 345-3771.

Meet Courtney at the Sunshine Lunch. Courtney Carlson joins our staff next week to develop our College-and-Career ministry. All senior adults are invited to come meet Courtney at the monthly “Sunshine Lunch,” a pot luck lunch held next Tuesday, July 10, 11:15am.

Interested in Membership? Spread the word about our next Discover Hillcrest class. It will be held next Wednesday, July 11, 6:00-7:30pm. SUPPER IS PROVIDED! The class is for those who want to become members, and for those who just want to learn more about Hillcrest. While I teach the class for adults and teens, there’s a "Discover Hillcrest Kids" for children ages 8-12. Childcare is provided for children under the age of 8. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. You can register by contacting our Ministry Assistant, Jami, at jami@hbcaustin.org.