FIGHT
PROCRASTINATION DAY
Acts, Chapter 15, Verse 24-26
24 Since we have heard that some of
our number [who went out] without any mandate from us have upset you with their
teachings and disturbed your peace of
mind, 25 we have with one accord decided to
choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas
and Paul, 26 who have dedicated their lives to
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The
issue that caused the disruption of peace in the new church was whether it was
necessary for salvation for one to be circumcised. It was determined that it
was not and that it was prudent not to lay on the new gentiles any burden that
was not necessary for salvation. It was determined that the gentiles should
abstain from:
1.
Things
offered to idols.
2.
Blood.
3.
Things
strangled.
4.
Sexual
immorality.
One Prohibition, Not Four[1]
But
these "essential abstinences” were not references to fragments of the
Mosaic Law at all. This short list of things to avoid was the very essentials
that divided believing Gentile from unbelieving Gentile. They divided Christian
from idolater. Each of these four "essential" things to avoid were
not four things, but one. They were meant to be read as "never again
worship idols by eating with the idolaters in the sacrificial meals, drinking
the cup of blood at the idol sacrifice ceremonies, do not ceremoniously eat the
flesh of animals strangled during the worship of idols, and abstain from ritual
acts of fornication with temple prostitutes". In other words, these four
seemingly disassociated prohibitions were completely unified around one theme:
Christians cannot serve God and idols. One cannot worship God and also worship
idols. Also take note of the things cited: idols, blood, flesh, unity. Idols
are the false gods. Drinking blood is the false wine of the idol’s communion
cup. Strangled flesh is the false body of the idol’s communion dinner. And the
temple prostitute is the false unity of the idol’s servants. The things listed
are the false communion in the service of the idol. Again, to abstain from
those things is essential.
“I never put off till
tomorrow what I can possibly do — the day after.” ― Oscar Wilde
Procrastination
can really be the bane of our existence, with another day coming around the
corner, there’s no real reason that we can’t put it off till tomorrow is there?
Of course not, and tomorrow has another tomorrow, so let’s do it again! It is
by this way of thinking that absolutely nothing gets done, and we know good and
well that procrastination is us out to get ourselves. But what can we do? Fight
Procrastination Day reminds us that it’s up to us to beat this monster, and
only we can decide to get up and get done today what was supposed to be done.
History of Fight
Procrastination Day
Fight
Procrastination Day tells us to get up in arms and start battling the age-old
beast that is “putting things off”. There are a million techniques to battle
it, but procrastination is decidedly an epic level raid monster, and sometimes
it seems like a concerted effort of us and our most efficient friends is the
only thing that will put it down. The fight against procrastination has been
going on a long time, and there have been some really creative methods created
to fight it, all to varying success. What kind of crazy techniques? How about
Victor Hugo and James Riley choosing to write naked so it wasn’t a simple
matter to head out to drink with the boys at the local pub? Not necessarily a
universally practical method, but it definitely has its high points. Then there
are modern versions that are truly remarkable, programs that you download onto
your computer that act as a filter according to the rules you set up… Ya know,
like if you work at home and want to use it to control your behavior during
work hours?
How to celebrate
Fight Procrastination Day
You
celebrate Procrastination day by getting ready to fight putting things off all
day long. You can do this by starting with precommitment the night before, you
set yourself an alarm, get rid of your distractions, set up your workspace, and
be ready to hit the ground running when you get up. If you’re trying to make
sure you’re ready for work, set your breakfast, coffee, and towels for the
morning shower up the night before. Everything to streamline your way out the
door and prevent you from dawdling.
6. “God will fully satisfy every need of yours according
to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”-Phil 4:19
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
55. To love God and not venerate his Priests... is not possible.
[4]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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