ptl@fluke.UUCP (10/10/86)
Hi, Just wanted to get some feedback from you folks as to what you do to fight back the times when fear, doubting, and worry enter your lives. When I remember to do it, one thing that works for me is to do an end run on the `whatever' it is that's bothering me. What I mean is --- say xxx is really on my mind and bothering me, *really* worrying me, causing me to even begin to have fears I know are blown up and irrational. Instead of fighting off xxx, focusing on xxx, and battling xxx, I just tell myself "I don't have time to waste worrying about xxx" and leave it in God's hands and move on, trusting it is in God's ability to work on whatever it is; and if He wants me to do something about it, He'll open doors for me, give me insights into the problems, and desires in my heart that I will know are from Him, leading me to action or even no action at all. I'm writing this even now to help myself better accept just what I'm sharing with you, to help me overcome some fears I'm battling right now. Sharing it helps me believe in it, which actually helps me use this tool. Funny - a lot like how faith works. How about you? What do you do to overcome fear, worry, and doubt in your life? All God's Blessings, Mike Andrews (PTL)
daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (10/13/86)
> > How about you? What do you do to overcome fear, worry, and doubt in your > life? Fear, worry, and doubt, huh? If its due to something unknown, I try to learn about that thing. If its due to some problem, I solve the problem if its within my capability (I'm afraid or I worry that my program will crash, so I thrash it around 'till I can't find any more bugs). If its something I can't solve myself, I might join with others to help solve it (I'm afraid the arms race will lead to the total destruction of the human race, so I refuse to work for a bomb manufacturer, I vote for candidates that pledge to work for disarmerment, etc.). I do what I can to take direct and indirect action against these problem, whether the problem appears to be within me or in the global political arena. And as a result I have very few fears, doubts, and worries. I think some of these are healthy, and promote survival. I believe leaving these in the hands of a supernatural entity is akin to ignoring them and is very likely to give one a very false sense of security. > > All God's Blessings, > > Mike Andrews (PTL) All Hail Discordia! -- ============================================================================ Dave Haynie {caip,ihnp4,allegra,seismo}!cbmvax!daveh "Techno-Hippie, heathen, designing evil computers" These opinions are my own, though if you try them out, and decide that you really like them, a small donation would be appreciated.
kiki@isieng.UUCP (10/14/86)
In article <887@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP> daveh@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Dave Haynie) writes: >> >> How about you? What do you do to overcome fear, worry, and doubt in your >> life? > >Fear, worry, and doubt, huh? If its due to something unknown, I try to learn >about that thing. If its due to some problem, I solve the problem if its >within my capability... If its something I >can't solve myself, I might join with others to help solve it... >I believe leaving these in the hands of a supernatural >entity is akin to ignoring them and is very likely to give one a very false >sense of security. > >Dave Haynie {caip,ihnp4,allegra,seismo}!cbmvax!daveh Dave, your comment here reminded me of a dumb joke: It's a story about a flood and as the water started to rise up, there was a woman who insisted on staying in her house as the rescue workers came to evacuate the neighborhood. First, they came by in a big four-wheel truck and told her to go with them. She responded "I'll be fine, I have faith in God. He'll save me." Later the rescuers came back in a boat as the water got higher. They said to come along the water was getting too high. The woman again said "I'll be fine I have faith that God will save me." Finally the rescuers come back in a helicopter as the woman is sitting on top of her house with just her head out of the water. Again she refuses and eventually drowns. When she gets to heaven she complains to God, "Why didn't you save me? I had faith in you, I thought you'd help me." God responds to the woman "What did you expect? I sent you a truck, a boat and a helicopter!" God says that he helps those who help themselves. He encourages us to use our minds and to rationally analyze life situations. Believing in God and seeking His wisdom, doesn't mean that we should be stupid and drown like the woman in the joke. You're right, in instances like that people are relying on a "very false sense of security." But God does teach us not to worry. We should be prepared for life situtations, anticipate, plan, react and so on. But we are guaranteed that He will help us deal with life. There are numerous times in my own life where God has given me better guidance than any person or any part of my own mind could have provided. If you are looking for answers, and like you said sometimes cannot come to a conclusion, why not tap the best source possible? If there is a God and he created the world, us, everything we ever deal with, then He probably knows the answers to the questions. If you don't believe that God has a much more superior intelligence than we do, than this rational won't make a difference. I believe that God is the Lord of the universe and he will provide wisdom to those who seek his will. I believe this because His Son said so. Kiki