Personal Touch

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

In our Personal Touch interview for this week, Rebecca Cressman interviews Richard J. Allen who is the author of New Testament Who's Who, an encyclopedia-like portrayal of every person found in the New Testament. Gleaned from a lifetime of intensive study and instruction, the book is a resource giving historical context, personal descriptions, and explanations on how each individual's story contributes to the larger message of the Bible. Richard Allen is a husband, father, teacher, and writer. He has served on several high councils, in several stake presidencies, and as a bishop. Richard¹s teaching assignments in the Church have included service as a full-time missionary, instructor in various priesthood quorums, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and stake institute director. He has served as a faculty member at both Brigham Young University and the Johns Hopkins University. Richard has coauthored many articles, manuals and books and has served on a number of national educational boards. He and his wife, Carol Lynn Hansen Allen, have four children and five grandchildren.

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Procrastination is the thief of time.

~Edward Young

I like that quote. It’s short, but right to the point. How many of us allow procrastination to rob us of something special? It could be a hug, a loved one’s kiss, a missed opportunity.

I like this definition that came from E. Marvin J. Ashton: “Straightway is a power word. Straightway is an action word. It means immediately, without delay or hesitation. It means at once. Also, it is associated with having no curve or turn—a straight course, track, or path. Procrastination would be the very opposite of straightway. To procrastinate is to put off intentionally and habitually something that should be done. Procrastination is unproductive delay.” (Source: here)

Every year, at the start of the New Year, my husband and I make a spring cleaning schedule. We start in January because it’s a daunting task and we just do one room a week. We don’t want to hurt ourselves in the process, you know. :o)

It’s something we don’t like doing, but somebody has to, and there’s no way around it. This year, most of the house is being done for us by strangers: we’re going through a remodel. I was looking at our bedroom walls the other day and realized why we’ve cleaned them all these years. Because of the dust involved, they’re filthy.

President Eyring has said: "However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies." ("Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 38)

I believe there are many things in life we may not want to do right away. We have to decide what’s important, and set priorities for ourselves and our families.

If you’d like to share, please post it in the comments section.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Monday, 10 January, please click here.