Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies.
A.W.TOZER
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV)
The intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls. A.W. Tozer wrote this sometime around 1960 when we were making great strides in technology. He died in 1963 so he didnt get to see men on the moon, microwave ovens, personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and many other things that we have today. But he could see how things have a way of being intrusive. To fully understand how intrusion works I go to Websters dictionary for the definition of the word intrude. Share this with me: to thrust, push or force something, or oneself and ones thoughts upon others without being asked or welcomed. Today we have an invasion of things in our live that we dont ask for and many times dont even want. Not only can things be intrusive, but thoughts also can be very intrusive. We dont ask for certain thoughts, they just seem to pop up at times. My first experience with intrusive thoughts was right after my return from Vietnam. I found myself thinking about Nam all the time. Us vets called these thoughts flashbacks, but the shrinks called them intrusive thoughts. I remember when I would hear fireworks and explosions, immediately I would think of Vietnam. When I heard sirens I would think of Nam. When I would hear or see a helicopter, or a jet, I would again think of Vietnam. When I would see soldiers in uniform I would think of Nam. If I was walking in the woods and would see a vine I would think of trip-wires. I did not ask for these thoughts to appear, they were intrusive and made an appearance with out being asked. These intrusive thoughts still occur today, but by the grace of God and the peace that I have found in knowing Jesus Christ they are not a threat to my mind, spirit, or body. It has taken some work though. I located a few Christian counselors at the VA hospital that I was able to confide in and share my experiences with. We dont always talk about the Lord, it is not government policy. But I do find there to be something about being in the presence of another Christian that brings about a third element of spirituality, whether it is mentioned or not. Today as I have learned from my experience with intrusive thoughts, I try to place intrusive things in their proper place also. They are just things. If they start to control my life I need to back up a bit and take a self-examination. For me I have found great solace in reading the Word of God. In the actual turning of the page, and underlining with my own pencil, this simple thing, the written Word, keeps the light that Jesus brought into world burning. As long as I fan the flames regularly and kindle the fire with words from God, things will be just that, things. God has done for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
But know the words Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works began to carry bright promise and meaning.
Bill W. .AA 12X12 page 75
A.W.TOZER
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV)
The intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls. A.W. Tozer wrote this sometime around 1960 when we were making great strides in technology. He died in 1963 so he didnt get to see men on the moon, microwave ovens, personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and many other things that we have today. But he could see how things have a way of being intrusive. To fully understand how intrusion works I go to Websters dictionary for the definition of the word intrude. Share this with me: to thrust, push or force something, or oneself and ones thoughts upon others without being asked or welcomed. Today we have an invasion of things in our live that we dont ask for and many times dont even want. Not only can things be intrusive, but thoughts also can be very intrusive. We dont ask for certain thoughts, they just seem to pop up at times. My first experience with intrusive thoughts was right after my return from Vietnam. I found myself thinking about Nam all the time. Us vets called these thoughts flashbacks, but the shrinks called them intrusive thoughts. I remember when I would hear fireworks and explosions, immediately I would think of Vietnam. When I heard sirens I would think of Nam. When I would hear or see a helicopter, or a jet, I would again think of Vietnam. When I would see soldiers in uniform I would think of Nam. If I was walking in the woods and would see a vine I would think of trip-wires. I did not ask for these thoughts to appear, they were intrusive and made an appearance with out being asked. These intrusive thoughts still occur today, but by the grace of God and the peace that I have found in knowing Jesus Christ they are not a threat to my mind, spirit, or body. It has taken some work though. I located a few Christian counselors at the VA hospital that I was able to confide in and share my experiences with. We dont always talk about the Lord, it is not government policy. But I do find there to be something about being in the presence of another Christian that brings about a third element of spirituality, whether it is mentioned or not. Today as I have learned from my experience with intrusive thoughts, I try to place intrusive things in their proper place also. They are just things. If they start to control my life I need to back up a bit and take a self-examination. For me I have found great solace in reading the Word of God. In the actual turning of the page, and underlining with my own pencil, this simple thing, the written Word, keeps the light that Jesus brought into world burning. As long as I fan the flames regularly and kindle the fire with words from God, things will be just that, things. God has done for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
But know the words Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works began to carry bright promise and meaning.
Bill W. .AA 12X12 page 75