Don’t Panic!


Ginger (right) and Mac reveal secret plans to their coop-mates. I’ve added the DJIA chart from this past week. (Graphic image from Chicken Run, Released 2000 by Dreamworks SKG)

By SHARON K. GILBERT
October 24, 2008

YOU CAN LEARN a lot from a chicken. I refer here to the ‘cast’ of Nick Park’s ultra-wonderful stop-motion film, Chicken Run, starring Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha (best known for her role as sensible, long suffering Saffron in BBC’s Absolutely Fabulous).

Gibson’s ‘Rocky’, a freewheeling ‘free range’ chicken from the US seeks refuge in a chicken prison camp (the film is a based on the WWII blockbuster, The Great Escape), where he learns about true freedom from the inmates. ‘Ginger’ (Sawalha) is determined to lead her coop-mates to a chicken’s paradise beyond the barbed wire.

One of my favorite scenes features the entire ‘cast’ (clay models so believable you’ll forget they’re animated). In this pivotal scene, Ginger tells the chickens not to panic — and of course, they do, leading to feathers flying as the chickens turn on each other.

This morning–as I watch the Dow Jones Industrial Average sink to a new low, this wonderful, instructive scene came to mind–along with the words, “don’t panic”.

God says it like this: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:19). News and business channel ‘experts’ are telling us the opposite, and the world is falling quickly into panic mode. It’s no coincidence that this is all occurring just weeks before the most important election of our lifetimes. I believe Barack Obama may well win in November, and that he will quickly lead the country into a socialist nightmare. But God is still in control–never lose sight of that fact. No matter what the Dow says, no matter who sits in the Oval Office, no matter what the enemy might throw at you–God is still sovereign.

Do you trust Him? If so, don’t give in to the temptation to ‘panic’. This will only lead to confusion and chaos. The heathen (unbelievers) may do so, but we MUST NOT do so. We must lean upon Christ in all times, in all circumstances. Serve the Lord will all your heart, spirit, and mind–and love others as much as we love ourselves. (Luke 10:27)

How can we put implement this in our daily lives? Consider stocking up on food and household basics now. In our area, some grocery prices are coming down, so it’s a great time to lay in extras. Be prepared to share your food, clothing, and perhaps even shelter if the Lord calls upon you. Remember the widow who fed and housed Elijah? This isn’t the time for selfishness or isolationist thinking. Take that light out from under that bushel and let it shine!

As others panic, let them see Christians as sources of comfort and refuge. Share all that God has blessed you with, including His love.

6 Comments

  1. I am a specialist in emergency preparedness. If there is any way that I can help people please let me know.

  2. We are caught in the snare that was to come on the whole world…Luke 21

    We have allowed idols and graven images to be placed all over the planetbecause of our lack of knowledge and so we perish as a nation of people enjoying freedom and prosperity and they must come down along with the rulers who have deceived man kind for centuries…The rulers have dealt treacherously with the inhabitants of Earth and we are now slaves to the Lenders at the Federal Reserve. Now we are to reap the consequences for our lack of knowledge and disobedience to the admonition to be in debt not except to love the Lord YHWH with all your strength, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself. LOVE = Obedience to what is taught in scriptures. Now the curses are upon the whole world. And some Sunday pastors still don’t see America in the scriptures! Blind leading the blind…I’d say we’re bout up to Rev 17 with the book of Daniel happening concurrently…

  3. Why do the dead rise at the Rapture?
    New book at on this subject THE DEAD RISE:RAPTURE COUNTDOWN by Alton Ragan & Robert D. McLaughlin.


Comments are closed.