Go ahead judge this book by its cover.  One look at the cover of Fearless, by Max Lucado will tell the reader exactly what it is about.  Fearless is about dealing with fear and worry as a normal person (as apposed to a Hollywood action hero who “knows no fear”).  Lucado opens Fearless with a chapter (appropriately entitled “Why Are We Afraid?) explaining fear itself and the how it affects all of us.  Each subsequent chapter approaches a specific area of fear, for example:  Chapter two deals with the “Fear of Not Mattering;” chapter seven addresses the, “Fear of Worst-Case Scenarios;” and so on.

This is actually the first Max Lucado book that I have ever read, and I have to say that I’m extremely impressed.  I began this book for no other reason except this review, but it has turned out to be extremely relevant for me.  Fearless reaches in and grapples with areas of fear and worry that everyone faces from time to time.  Max Lucado approached each area of fear from a Scriptural standpoint, laying down solutions that were both practical and encouraging.  Fearless is an absolute “must read” for anyone who ever suffers from fear and worry.

(Preview Fearless)

We are a family on the move and one of the tasks that had to be done before we did was cancel our phone and internet service.  This had to be accomplished about ten days before we moved out of our house.  No phone, no problem.  I hardly use the thing anyway.  No internet?  What?  Are you serious?  Okay, initial shock passed and my senses come back slowly.

I figured I could go about half an evening without the internet before I got the shakes… and I was right.  About halfway through the first evening, I started getting these strange urges to update the Twitter and my facebook status about how rough it was to be without the internet.  Oh, wait.  Argh!  I can’t update my statuses without the internet!

The fact is, I’m really not on the internet all the time.  I actually get very bored when I try to surf without a real purpose.  And, now that I’m not in any on-line classes, there is nothing officially tying me to the internet for extended periods of time.  So, why the angst?  I’ve thought about it and have come to believe that the internet has become a sort of “security blanket” for me.  Weird, huh?  It’s not that I have to be on the internet every waking moment.  It’s in the knowing that the internet is available to get a recipe for that late night craving for a caramel macchiato, or when the need for a light hearted laugh calls for clips of Family Ties on YouTube.  I guess I’ve just grown accustomed to it being there whenever I need it.

I needed a solution and I needed it soon.  At this point, I did something novel.  I set out two folding chairs in the yard towards the sunset, and sat there with my wife, and we talked.  Whoa!  Is that crazy or what?  No YouTube, no facebook, (added to no television), just husband and wife sitting in the cool evening air talking.  We’ve actually done this most evening over the past week, and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorite rituals.  Why didn’t we do this sooner?  Oh, yeah.  There were too many distractions.  Who would’ve thought that an internet blackout would be such a blessing?