You can have it both ways

By Bruce Boyer In my days as a soccer referee, I occasionally ran into game situations when several fouls were called against one team, and no fouls were called against the other. The officiating seemed one-sided. Moments later, there was a very minor contact, and the team that was feeling slighted expected a foul to be called on the opposing team. Invariably, I heard a lone voice from the crowd saying, “Call it both ways, ref.”  Is it possible for followers of Jesus to have it both ways – to be joyful and afraid simultaneously? There are many frightful times in the Bible when an angel appears and says, “Don’t be afraid.” Often, they are at times when God is intervening in a human situation, ready to announce some good news.  So, how can we be afraid and joyful at the same time?  When the women came to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, they were afraid. They had good reason. Jesus had been crucified right before their eyes and now the Lord’s body was missing. Where had the Romans taken Jesus? The women were unaware of the joyful “good news” to follow. Then, the angels appeared and said, Do...