Hi Phil! Amen! I agree with you. You know, it's always those who have
never experienced anxiety, who try and tell us how to deal with it. I
loved your comments! Keep up the excellent articles and comments!
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Pat Ferguson
At 12:37 PM 2/24/2008, you wrote:
>I spent a little more time developing my comments on this article and
>thought I would post it again so I could try and make you even madder than
>the first time.
>
>Followup Commentary On The Dumbest Article I've Ever Read.
>
>
>By Phil Scovell
>
>
>Subject: LIMITING ANXIOUS FEELINGS.
>
> The Author said, When I'm facing such situations, I try to
>follow the six steps described below to limit my anxious
>feelings.
>
> First, state the problem. A problem well stated is half
>solved. In anxious states of mind, people can't see the forest
>for the trees. Put the problem in perspective. Will it matter for
>eternity? The danger at this juncture is to seek ungodly counsel.
>The world is glutted with magicians and sorcerers who will
>promise incredible results. Their appearance may be striking.
>Their personality may be charming. But they are bankrupt of
>character. Avoid them. (Psalm 1:1).
>
>Step Number One Comments.
>
> What if you don't know the identity of the problem or what is
>even causing it in the first place? What if you are lost in the
>middle of an endless ocean of mixed emotions instead a forest of
>trees as he suggests? If a tree falls in the forest and you
>aren't there to hear it, does it make a noise? I hope he isn't
>suggesting we confess the problem rather than Jesus as the Solver
>of all problems.
>
> He said, Second, separate the facts from the assumptions.
>Since we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, we make
>assumptions, and we usually assume the worst. If the assumption
>is accepted as truth, it will drive your mind to its anxiety
>limits. Therefore, you must separate assumptions from facts.
>
>Step Number Two Comments.
>
> What if you don't know the facts about what you face and you
>are unawares of how to determine the facts? Does this mean your
>mind has therefore been stretched to the outer limits of anxiety
>and so you now must be mentally ill?
>
> He said, Third, determine what you have the right or ability
>to control. You are responsible for that which you can control,
>and you are not responsible for that which you can't. Don't try to
>cast your responsibility onto Christ; He will throw it back.
>
>Step Number Three Comments.
>
> Meanie Jesus. Tossing back what you cannot bear? This ain't
>no Heavenly ball game we are playing; it's life. Control? How
>can you control uncontrollable circumstances that slam into you
>without warning? How about the sudden death of a loved one for
>example? Did he ever think of that? How about a loved one who
>has cancer and has been given six months to live? What if you get
>a call in the middle of the night and your son, who was on his way
>to visit his sister in Wichita, was changing a flat tire and was
>struck and instantly killed by a passing vehicle? What if you are
>12 years old and just found out you have no father, to speak of,
>and the one who is your real father is living the rest of his life
>in the state prison? What if you can't control even your own
>thoughts? This guy obviously has never had that experience or he
>wouldn't say such a stupid thing. Where is Jesus when you need
>Him the most? This guy certainly doesn't know.
>
> He said, Fourth, list everything you can do which is related
>to the situation that is under your responsibility. When people
>don't assume their responsibility, they turn to temporary cures
>for their anxiety, like eating, TV, sex or drugs.
>
>Step Number Four Comments.
>
> What he means is, you aren't worth spit as far as God is
>concerned because you won't take responsibility for your own
>problems. In short, God doesn't care if you are trapped by the
>anxiety that you should be able to handle on your own in the
>first damn place. Besides, he left out eating chocolate and TV
>dinners.
>
> He said, Fifth, once you are sure you have fulfilled your
>responsibility, see if there is any way you can help others.
>Turning your attention away from your own self-absorption and
>onto helping people around you is not only the loving thing to do,
>but it also brings a special inner peace.
>
>Step Number Five Comments.
>
> This is the old standard come back, everybody else is worse
>off than you. So run right out into the traffic, find a freaking
>volunteer job, help others, and it will make you feel so much
>better, you'll forget all about your fears and anxieties which
>God isn't interested in helping you with in the first place,
>dummy.
>
> Finally, he said, Sixth, the rest is God's responsibility,
>except for your prayer, according to Philippians 4:6-8. So assume
>your responsibility, but cast your anxiety on Christ.
>
>Step Number Six Comments.
>
> The rest is up to who? You just were told in five, and
>possibly six, steps, how to manage your own freaking anxiety
>problems without God's help at all. Why would you now even think
>to pray if you don't need God to help you in the first place.
>Where did Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible go in these six
>steps in the first place? I'm just glad he didn't have 10 steps,
>or 47 steps, or 685 steps. Maybe that's the holy version and this
>is just the practical, and secular, 6 steps version.
>
>This has been a slightly cynical response to one of the dumbest
>Christian advice articles I have read in years. By the way, in
>my 50 years plus walk with the Lord, I have tried every single one
>of these things many times and they don't freaking work so get a
>life and stop showing everybody how little you know about anxiety
>of any kind.
>
>Phil, Know It all, Scovell.
>
>
>It Sounds Like God To Me.
>www.SafePlaceFellowship.com
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