Posted on 06/05/2014 9:10:16 AM PDT by OneVike
In America today, it’s almost impossible for men not to worry. After all, 102 million Americans are unemployed while another 10 million are just a paycheck away from being jobless.
World events, like Russia invading the Ukraine to steal the Crimean peninsula (which many believe is a precursor to World War Three); news reports of natural disasters all across the planet; the deadly Ebola virus spreading throughout West Africa; the disappearance of the Malaysian airliner with 239 passengers on board; the constant intrusion into our private lives by an administration bent on reshaping the American dream as we once knew it; and now we have a bloody lunar eclipse that many are convinced is the beginning of the end for the world, don’t ease our worries.
Worry isn’t something that only happens when times are rough and scary, because long before 9/11, men had plenty to worry about. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich and famous or down and out, millions of men are one heart attack away from pushing up daises.
(Excerpt) Read more at therelevantchristianmagazine.com ...
It is calculated that over 50 million Americans suffer health problems directly or indirectly related to worrying:
- Loss of sleep is the first direct noticeable effect of worrying. In time stress will break down a body’s ability to resist disease and fight illnesses.
- A recent study showed that stress caused by worrying was the number two cause of memory loss.
- A recent study of students at 21 universities found that worriers get lower grades then non-worriers.
- A British eye clinic reported that 30% of all vision problems were directly related to stress or worrying.
- An American Dental Association study showed that worrying restricts the proper flow of saliva in the mouth, thus keeping the body from neutralizing the acids that eat away the enamel on your teeth. So, worrying can cause tooth decay.
- The American Medical Association says stress is the number one cause of heart attacks. Worrying causes a person’s heart to work harder. This puts extra stress on a person’s cardiovascular system. This extra stress can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
So the way I see it, if you want to be a tired, unhealthy, blind, forgetful person with bad teeth, and one stressful day away from a severe heart attack, just keep on worrying.
I get mad, but I don’t worry. I know HE has the whole world in His hands. I don’t understand why so many things happen, and, I get mad! It’s OK to be mad, going over the top about it isn’t OK.
Ping to read later. Howdy, Chuck!
This is a very worrisome article ...
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin":do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:25-27
Hey Alex. Iv’e been following your comments. Especially the Cath vs Prot threads. You have been a valient warrior my friend.
This is a very worrisome article ...LOL
Exactly! Bless you!
But there's an even deeper root from which fear and worry come. That deepest root is CONDEMNATION. The gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ says to us, "There is now NO CONDEMNATION" (Rom 8:1). Our inheritance in Christ is New Covenant in which God says, our "sins and iniquities I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17). Jesus has "offered one sacrifice for sins for ever" that "by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb 10:12,14). We are now eternally righteous, not by what we do, but by what he did. And now, we "which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:17).
If we steep and soak ourselves in these truths of God's love and grace toward us, condemnation, fear, AND worry will melt away like filthy rags off an anointed, oil-slick surface, we also, will truly "reign in life."
> Especially the Cath vs Prot threads.<
I have come to believe those threads are an incredibly stupid waste of needed energy. With the problems we have in this country, Christians against Christians.
Pftt. Its no wonder we are so ineffectual in making needed changes in this country.
You think muslims killing Christians stop to make the distinction “Are these Protestants or Catholics we’re about to behead?”
I can almost picture Jesus with a face palm.
Thank you.
And anger is a byproduct of hurt.
My opinion of the energy used for the threads like those is irrelevant, because regardless of what I or you think, they will continue until Christ comes home.
I have friends on both sides, and while I have strong beliefs against one side, I seldom if ever join in on the debate.
I do see a use for them though, because they force Christians to sharpen their knowledge against each other. Paul tells us that steal sharpens steal, and debating the Precepts of the Scriptures is a great way to bring out the errors vs the facts.
Remember, other than the Gospels, Acts, and Revelations, the vast amount of letters in the New Testament are apologetic. Written to correct bad theology.
I look at the debates here as apoligetic. There is bad Theology on both sides that needs to be corrected. Not that I think all the combatants are spreading bad Theology, but some are, and I think God is using many from both sides to correct those bad Theological stances.
Not sure I ever thought of that before. That may very well be true.
What do you believe the root problems are in this country, the ones that require us to "make needed changes"? What are the changes, and how will they resolve those problems?
I find your post a bit interesting. You start out by saying your opinion is irrelevant and then give a very thorough opinion.
I’m well aware that these debates will continue until Christ returns. However, most of the commentators sound like preschoolers full of pride and ego and not a genuine love of their fellow brother.
I stand by my comment that our enemies, won’t bother to determine what our “affiliation”may be.
Where to start. God being removed from every fabric of our society. Thieves and liars being elected in government. Abortion. I could go on and on. We should be working together for the betterment of our Country, not the “I know you are but what am I” nonsense.
It just doesn’t occur to me to get upset with Protestants who don’t agree with me. Believe me, I used to get into those threads too. I just don’t see fellow Christians and how their views may differ than mine as something to be concerned about, not with all the horrors that take place daily. And I’ll tell you this, if I weren’t a Christian and was searching those threads for answers their condescending, hateful undertones might would turn me off.
Anger stems from hurt. Many who become angry choose to return the hurt. Their hurt-anger-hurt cycle escalates.
Our Lord instructed us to offer the other cheek. This is one of two ways to break the cycle. The other way is to take up arms. Jesus instructed his disciples to take two swords (only two) because he wanted the temple guards to leave them be and take only him. Weapons used as a deterrent are a way to break the cycle.
I agree that many of the comments in these debates are such that deserve no reply, and that more discretion should be used before hitting the enter button.
However, ones affiliation is backed by their understanding of the Scriptures. If they are wrong in their interpretation then they need to be corrected. Especially if those understandings lead to heresy.
It would be refreshing though to see a debate of Theology that is civil and loving. I believe that it is always difficult to remove the anger of the moment factor from a discussion about things many consider eternal life and death.
When one discusses their theological understandings of the Scriptures, nothing else really matters. All the problems of the world mean nothing if one is wrong on who God is, and what He expects from us. It’s those answers that separate Christians into different denominations.
Like you I do see the discussions eventually get out of hand. That is when the adults in the debate need to step back and agree to end it.
I will also say that I do not appreciate threads started for the specific purpose of starting fights. I think the moderator should delete those from the start. Others that ask legitimate questions are good for debating and education.
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