Sunday, December 30, 2012

HOW TO LESSEN ANXIETY


Starting on my other blog ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS on Nov 1...a 3 day series on HOW TO LESSEN ANXIETY.

Click on link below to go to One A Day blog

 


 

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

       IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF these comments AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE.

       The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

       To Visit neil's other blog One A Day Your Spiritual Vitamins click on the following  


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Phillipians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

       Let's face it...you are not going rid of your life of the causes of anxiety; there will always be rumors of wars and wars themselves, everything from nation to nation to person to person.

       But you can achieve control over your anxieties and sometimes an eradication of these bugaboos of the brain.

       I speak from recent personal experience.  A broken hip should b e a first class factory of anxiety production but I give you my word.  My anxiety factory has been working undertime as against overtime and I credit my Lord and a backlog of faith that has charged to the forefront and done me well.

       I've done this more than once...indeed my wife has always said "The bigger the problem the better you handle it."

       First, on the list for eclipsing or at least shrinking your anxiety is "Thanksgiving."

Make a list you are thankful for and check them twice. 

       It certainly beats having a pity party or a crying jag.  That's when emotions gone out of control take you where you don't want to go.

       In short, don't get into playing the "What if?" game or "What was?"  Deal with the good "What is?" truths. 

       Your left arm is paralyzed (I've been there)?  Become an expert on right arm accomplishments.  (My left never has regained all it'strengh or mobility.)

       You can't walk as well as once you could or not at all?

        Say a thanksgiving prayer for your limp or the invention  of the wheel chair does give you mobility, not the kind you would like but still mobility.

       You are having a vision problems, hearing problems, I haven't the time to name all the problems flesh can grow heir to but whatever is your problem...accentuate the positive ...otherwise the negative will accentuate on you.

       Actually, let's all join in an agree that because we are human we all are prone to worry...about real problems and in between problems and problems that really aren't problems at all. 

       And, yes, those of you who came here this morning with some kind of worry hanging around or that was hanging around not that long ago...raise your hand. 

       Please note...my own hand is raised.

       Alright... all of you have recently had some problems to worry about...or most of you...I did note some hands that weren't raised.

       I've used this Emma Bombeck story before but it is too good a story not to use again as we look at a prime example of how easy it is to worry about things that are a complete waste of time to worry about. 

       It is about a little boy named Donald and his attitude towards the first day of school. 

"My name is Donald. I don't know anything. I have new underwear, a loose tooth, and I didn't sleep last night because I'm worried. What if a bell rings and a man yells, 'Where do you belong,' and I don't know?

What if the trays in the cafeteria are too tall for me to reach?

What if my loose tooth comes out when we have our heads down and are supposed to be quiet?

Am I supposed to bleed quietly?

What if I splash water on my nametag and my name disappears and no one knows who I am?"

       Now, yes, I am aware that there are hormonal and chemical reasons for some people's anxieties and I definitely believe they should avail themselves of proper medicines that give relief. 

       Still, for all of the most of us, we need to turn to the great heavenly physician.

       One church sign put it well. It read, "If your knees are knocking, kneel on them."

       One person defined anxiety as a gap between one's demands and one's resources.

       I have a new computer with a new program Windows 7.  For  a brief time I was prepared to call it Wall 8 because it was blocking out the sermon I had just finished.  For a little while I was like Donald.  I didn't just make a mountain out of a molehill.  I started planting trees.

       I forgot for a moment a rather basic truth...keep things in proportion.

I prayed about it and Christ and common sense came charging in to slow my anxiety down...but for a bit I fed foolishness and earned what it gave me in return.

       I've heard anxiety called " unconscious blasphemy."  That's strong meat but think about it, if we can't pray and mean "Lord, thy will be done" and mean it because we trust the creator of our life both here and in the hereafter then we that lack of trust really is a bit of blasphemy.

       It's an old joke," You know, "I went to the doctor and I said, 'Doc, when I do this, it hurts.' And the doctor said, 'Don't do that'."

How many things have you been anxious about that were things that you knew before you got into them were probably going to create for you some problems.

       Some sins...some stupid decisions you knew were stupid decisions...past, present and future.  Learn from the past...don't fill up the future with more such stupid decisions and actions.
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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

       Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS


       Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

       Spring (May 2012)

       Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

       Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER


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OTHER BOOKS BY REV. WYRICK

Poor Richard's Almanack for the 20th Century

Sixty Plus and Not Holding

Boundaries Unlimited

I Am

The ABC"s of Parenting and Grandparenting

Letters to America


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Thursday, December 27, 2012

CHRISTIANITY BY REFLEX (Continuation)


Click on link below to go to One A Day blog
 


Below are recent titles on my One A Day blog


A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND

The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW

 

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       CHRISTIANITY BY REFLEX (Contiinuation)

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

To every person who lives as if they believe that Christianity and Christ teachings are madness…I say, “If this be madness then perhaps we should double check our definition of sanity.” 

Yes, I tell you this…my friends…you name me most of the pain and problems that you know of today and I will tell you that a tremendous, overwhelming percentage of them have come from breaking God’s commandments.

IT MAY BE MADNESS to imagine a world in which our noble thoughts have been translated into noble deeds. 

It may be madness to imagine a world no longer selfish, or foolish, or temperamental, or angry, or doubting or sinful. 

But if this be madness, then perhaps we should pray that everyone go mad.

Do you know what our greatest problem is?  We are addicts.  Addicted to compromise.  Why?  Because it is easier than taking a stand.

“Because thou art lukewarm, I will spew the out of my mouth” says the Bible.

And we in reply give the excuse “But I can’t stand the heat.”

We are a strange breed; mankind.  We will organize and sacrifice and drive ourselves with an incessant urge to win wars against enemies from without; but we will not exert half the effort to defeat the enemies from within. 

If we used half the dedication to win the battle of the soul we would come out such victors on the field of living that it would be difficult to believe.  But we don’t.

We battled in Europe and Vietnam and Korea and Iraq and are still battling in Afghanistan.  But the battle on the fields of eternity?  That battle I fear too often we fight as if we are trying to lose it.

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS


·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

 

GO TO ONE A DAY YOUR SPIRUTAL VITAMINS...Neil's other blog...over 900 stories and comments...

click on the URL below

                        http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

 

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GO TO AMAZON.COM TO BUY NEIL WYRICK'S THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN...still receiving RAVE REVIEWS 8 years after it's publication.

 

        "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

        "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

        "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)                                             

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING


 

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BELOW...ON... ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS BLOG....PAST POSTINGS

WHICH IS BETTER TO BE?  A WINDOW OR A DOOR” ” “BE A RAINBOW SEARCHER AND FINDER” “IS YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION?

Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER
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CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING


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MAGNUS PRESS

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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

LEISURE, A BLESSING OR A CURSE (Continuation)


Starting on my other blog ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS on Nov 1...a 3 day series on HOW TO LESSEN ANXIETY.

                    click on the link below
            http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

 
A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND

       The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

TO GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read inspiring stories and comments to set you thinking. CLICK ON URL BELOW


          TUESDAY 
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Mark 8:36 

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forget his soul?

       It is not a casual problem, this making the clock your dictator to the point you cannot rest.  This refusing to let the Lord be your Shepherd because you must always be in charge. 

       If you refuse to take time out for the Lord, such a choice will make you lie down not in green pastures but in brown, exhausted pastures.  Such a decision will drop you off into a valley of depression. 

       Business, for the sake of business, will drive you and those around you crazy.  Rushing from one deadline to the next you will find yourself in the valley of dead and dried up souls.  

Does the path you have chosen in life seem to only go around in circles? 

If you are not careful, it will be too late to change and you will fear, oh yes, you will fear yourself for where you have let your ambitions take you. 

Your Lord is willing to lead you in the paths of righteousness, but not if other paths have all or most of your attention.  His rod and His staff will comfort you, but not if you use them to beat yourself to death with overwork.

 He will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies, but not if you daily make new enemies because you are so tired and hard to get along with. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life, but not if you are racing along life’s highway so fast they can never catch up with you.  

When Larry Walters was thirteen he read that the local Army & Navy Store had some 7-foot weather balloons for sale.  As he read about them he had the thought that it would be a wonderful idea to fill them with helium and go flying off into the sky. 

He didn’t have the money so it was just a dream.  But twenty years later he had the money and he still had the dream, so he went out and bought forty-two used weather balloons and filled them with helium. 

He put on a parachute, attached himself to a Sears lawn chair and prepared for flight.  He carried with him proper nourishment and a proper method for descent- a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a can of coke, and a BB gun.

It is not that he had not planned for what came next.  It was just that he was infinitely more successful than he had imagined he would be. 

He shot into the air with such great speed that in no time he was 16,000 feet in the air and into part of the flight path of the Los Angeles airport.  Soon a TWA pilot reported he had just passed a man floating in a lawn chair beneath a massive collection of balloons.  The airport sent up a helicopter to check it out.

Not wanting to go any higher, Walters shot down 10 balloons before he accidentally dropped his gun.  All air traffic was shut down until finally two hours later he gently touched back on mother earth.

Reporters on the scene bombarded him with questions. 

“Were you scared?”  “Yes.” 

“Would you do it again?”  “No.” 

“Why did you do it?”  “Because,” he said, “you can’t just sit around doing nothing.”

It is this attitude which demands we must be busy, busy, busy that creates a climate in which lots of really crazy things are done.

 Or not done.  What is crazier than not taking time as a family to sit down and eat dinner together? 

Common sense says this isn’t wasting time, that it is really a productive kind of leisure, but well…one can’t just sit around doing nothing. 

What is crazier than people spending themselves into bankruptcy because if they are not filling every moment with expensive activity they feel they are not living? 

But after all one can’t just sit around doing nothing.  What is crazier than someone trying to exist on four to six hours of sleep with the explanation, “I’ve got too much to do to waste it sleeping?  Can’t just sit and lie around doing nothing.”  If we are obsessed with filling every moment with activity, we don’t just fill it, we bloat it. 

            I don’t imagine anyone here would suggest that our leisure time should be spent aimlessly or frivolously.  Of course, what I may call “frivolous” may be to you great joy. 

       What you call “aimless” may be my lost-in-thought time.  But how many people do you know who would say on their deathbed, “I sure do wish I had spent more time down at the office.” 

So what is a proper balance between work and leisure, and what we do with our leisure time?  There is no one answer that fits all, but there is a question that fits all.   “Who am I, Lord?”

 And can we ever begin to find the answer if we do not stop and listen to the angels sings?  Can we ever know who we are, and why we are if we do not sometimes court silence so we can hear whatever message heaven is trying to send.

       Leisure, is it a blessing to you or a curse?  Actually, whatever is your answer, the answer needs to be filtered through the mighty threesome of religion, work and leisure.   Religion to feed our inner being.  Work to give us a sense of destiny.  And leisure to stop long enough to appreciate it all.  Man does not live by bread alone.  He lives also by putting his eye to the beauty of the world on which he stands, the sky above, his own inner world…and all at the same time never forgetting the maker of all these worlds.

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ANOTHER WAY TO SHARE THESE SERMONS WITH FREIENDS...CLICK ON "MORE" AT TOP LEFT OF THIS BLOG PAGE AND  FROM THERE IT SHOULD BE EASY

 

                                            ++++++++

CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  


·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

       GO TO AMAZON.COM TO PURCHASE Neil's best selling book"THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN" that is still receiving rave reviews 8 years after it's publication.

       "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

       "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

       "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)  

                          

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

       CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING


       V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at

MAGNUS PRESS

       AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle


       25% off all books, buy 4 get 1 free and free shipping

       Phone Orders:  800-463-7818