Comments on: Fear and Decision-Making http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:38:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Monica Conde http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-2194 Monica Conde Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:16:51 +0000 /?p=94#comment-2194 Hi! I came across this page as I was looking for some material regarding fear of decision making. I haven't checked the rest of the website but this article as brought some light and freedom in. I will definetely look at your website in depth later on. Thanks. God bless you and your work! Love, Monica (your sister in Christ) Hi! I came across this page as I was looking for some material regarding fear of decision making. I haven’t checked the rest of the website but this article as brought some light and freedom in. I will definetely look at your website in depth later on. Thanks. God bless you and your work! Love, Monica (your sister in Christ)

]]> By: Brian http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1077 Brian Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:51:40 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1077 Thanks for these words Adam. I've had some fairly significant decisions to make in the recent past and your words have been in my brain during that time. So, praise be to God! Thanks for these words Adam. I’ve had some fairly significant decisions to make in the recent past and your words have been in my brain during that time. So, praise be to God!

]]> By: Heine Partriarch http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1066 Heine Partriarch Tue, 15 Mar 2005 19:45:06 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1066 Yes Adam, you have some of your mom's personality. Years ago I taught a class on Spirit Filled Temperaments, not that I think those should drive our lives but understanding temperaments really provides some good insights. Mom is phlegmatic, which means she will analyze things things to see how she can minimize the effort required to accomplish the task. Remember your t-shirt with "Lazy Man" on the back? Same thing. How can I minimize effort. Me, I plunge in and find out later what to do. Is either way the more correct one? Phlegmatics are more efficient so that would say they are good stewards. Melancholy, like me, go forward in faith that would say they trust God implicitly. So who is better? It depends on how much God is the center of attention - "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you". So the answer to the question is, not necessarily either one is better than the other. It is how we respond to those inherent personality traits God has given us under His guidance. Yes Adam, you have some of your mom’s personality. Years ago I taught a class on Spirit Filled Temperaments, not that I think those should drive our lives but understanding temperaments really provides some good insights. Mom is phlegmatic, which means she will analyze things things to see how she can minimize the effort required to accomplish the task. Remember your t-shirt with “Lazy Man” on the back? Same thing. How can I minimize effort. Me, I plunge in and find out later what to do. Is either way the more correct one? Phlegmatics are more efficient so that would say they are good stewards. Melancholy, like me, go forward in faith that would say they trust God implicitly. So who is better? It depends on how much God is the center of attention - “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you”. So the answer to the question is, not necessarily either one is better than the other. It is how we respond to those inherent personality traits God has given us under His guidance.

]]> By: Payshun http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1059 Payshun Tue, 15 Mar 2005 02:35:36 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1059 Yah you had to go w/ Dune did not you. It's a great quote though and very apropriate. Yeshua is really proud of you. p Yah you had to go w/ Dune did not you. It’s a great quote though and very apropriate. Yeshua is really proud of you.

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]]> By: Matt http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1055 Matt Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:33:33 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1055 I think it's possible to over-analyze to be sure. But I think that there's also a time when we need to be aware of what our mind is telling us, so that we can "take every thought captive." If Adam is weighing his thoughts, and recognizing that some are from fear, he can then discount those thoughts more easily. Reflection can be very helpful, but it must be practiced in moderation. C.S. Lewis in effect lost his faith as a child because of too much introspection. He kept "monitoring" his prayers, to see if he was sufficiently sincere when he was praying. This led to him getting a fairly warped sense of Christianity. Later in life, he learned how to actually be "in the moment" instead of just "observing" the moment. For further reading on this subject, see <i>Surprised by Joy</i> by Lewis and <i>The Most Reluctant Convert</i> by David C. Downing. -M P.S. I tried to link those, but I think I did it wrong. Thanks, Preview Pane! I think it’s possible to over-analyze to be sure. But I think that there’s also a time when we need to be aware of what our mind is telling us, so that we can “take every thought captive.” If Adam is weighing his thoughts, and recognizing that some are from fear, he can then discount those thoughts more easily. Reflection can be very helpful, but it must be practiced in moderation.
C.S. Lewis in effect lost his faith as a child because of too much introspection. He kept “monitoring” his prayers, to see if he was sufficiently sincere when he was praying. This led to him getting a fairly warped sense of Christianity. Later in life, he learned how to actually be “in the moment” instead of just “observing” the moment. For further reading on this subject, see Surprised by Joy by Lewis and The Most Reluctant Convert by David C. Downing.
-M
P.S. I tried to link those, but I think I did it wrong. Thanks, Preview Pane!

]]> By: Adam Heine http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1054 Adam Heine Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:13:19 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1054 Ah, my geekness has finally crossed the line. Yeah, I analyze things a lot, and what you say is definitely a valid point. We need to be careful in our analysis for sure. In this particular case, I think my analysis is <i>supporting</i> my faith though. I realize my method of decision-making is probably more organized than most people, but I don't think I'm over-analyzing. This is just how I handle tough decisions. But I completely take faith into account. That's why "Requires more faith in God" is even a pro, and that's why I went through the whole process of ignoring the points based on fear. When I ignore my fears like this, rather than undermining my faith, it forces me to rely on it. Fear says, "Wait a while, learn more, prepare more, be ready." Faith says, "Go, immediately." It's just that the way my mind works, I need to see it on paper in a list. Does this mean I got my obsessive-compulsive organizational skills from Mom? Ah, my geekness has finally crossed the line. Yeah, I analyze things a lot, and what you say is definitely a valid point. We need to be careful in our analysis for sure.

In this particular case, I think my analysis is supporting my faith though. I realize my method of decision-making is probably more organized than most people, but I don’t think I’m over-analyzing. This is just how I handle tough decisions. But I completely take faith into account. That’s why “Requires more faith in God” is even a pro, and that’s why I went through the whole process of ignoring the points based on fear.

When I ignore my fears like this, rather than undermining my faith, it forces me to rely on it. Fear says, “Wait a while, learn more, prepare more, be ready.” Faith says, “Go, immediately.” It’s just that the way my mind works, I need to see it on paper in a list.

Does this mean I got my obsessive-compulsive organizational skills from Mom?

]]> By: Heine Partriarch http://firewatching.com/itsara/2005/03/fear-and-decision-making#comment-1053 Heine Partriarch Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:41:58 +0000 /?p=94#comment-1053 Adam, I sense you enjoy analyzing everything. However, a question I have is how do analysis and faith fit together? What I am thinking of is Peter when he by faith walked on the water, all was fine. Then when he began his analysis he took his eyes of Christ and the analysis revealed that he was in a storm walking on water and sank. I have always tried to live my Christian by listening to God and then following. Clearly there are times when it becomes necessary to lay out the options before Him and then let Him show you. My point is any analysis must be done with God in the equation, otherwise we too will sink. Adam, I sense you enjoy analyzing everything. However, a question I have is how do analysis and faith fit together? What I am thinking of is Peter when he by faith walked on the water, all was fine. Then when he began his analysis he took his eyes of Christ and the analysis revealed that he was in a storm walking on water and sank. I have always tried to live my Christian by listening to God and then following. Clearly there are times when it becomes necessary to lay out the options before Him and then let Him show you. My point is any analysis must be done with God in the equation, otherwise we too will sink.

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