Sermon Tone Analysis

*Don’t Be Distracted*

*Distraction* is the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction.

Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention.

Distractions come from both external sources (physical stimulus through the five senses), or internal sources (thought, emotion, daydreams, physical urges).

Divided attention, as in multi-tasking could also be considered as distraction in situations requiring full attention on a single object (e.g., sports, academic tests, performance).

Distraction is a major cause of procrastination.

Distraction is also a television game show hosted by Jimmy Carr both in the UK and the US.

 

!! 11 ways of staying focused

!!! June 21st, 2006 by Dave Cheong

Each of us have our busy lives and in this world of constant distractions, how can we stay focused on our goals?

This article discusses several techniques I have found to work.

For me, there are always several things constantly competing for my time - articles to write, business opportunities to explore, links to follow up, my daily work, personal commitments etc.

In my experience whenever I try to work on many things at the same time, none of them actually gets done.

In response, I’ve incorporated the following techniques for staying focused into my work patterns:

#. *Having well defined goals.*

I can’t stress the importance of this too much.

Having goals which are well defined along good guidelines is key.

I’ve found writing my goals down really helps.

Whenever I get distracted, I read my goals and I’m reminded of what I am trying to do and why.

#. *Breaking things into bite sized chunks.*

Having broad high level goals are good but having an actionable plan is essential.

A plan can identify how you can get from where you are to where you want go.

Breaking goals into smaller actionable chunks (tasks) is great - it gives me motivation to start and allows me to get things done in one sitting.

#. *Prioritising constantly.*

To figure out which task I should be working on, I prioritise constantly.

Some tasks are more important than others.

Some tasks are more urgent than others.

I’ve found that working on urgent tasks followed by tasks which have the greatest impact to work well for me - urgent tasks allow me to get things done on time and important tasks allow me to maximise the benefits I receive.

#. *Tracking progress vigorously.*

Each of us wants to improve our lives.

However, it is easy to start with good intentions but more difficult to sustain commitment.

I’ve found that by tracking my progress, I have more visibility on what I’ve done and can better gauge how much effort is left.

#. *Planning ahead without fail.

*Concentrating on the remaining effort can help reinforce commitment.

Some might think they’ll get discouraged, however I haven’t found this to be the case because my tasks are bite sized and easy to finish.

I’ve found it really helps to look at my goals and task lists periodically, so I can assess how much time it’ll take to do something and determine the best time to sit down and work on it.

#. *Rewarding myself when warranted.*

By all means focus on what’s outstanding, but also take stock of what’s done.

I always reflect on what I’ve done, whether it is reading a post I did awhile ago or looking at the ticks I’ve made alongside my task lists.

Whenever I accomplish a logical piece of work, I always reward myself.

It really does help with maintaining motivation.

#. *Having positive patterns in my routine.*

I’ve found having good habits and positive patterns to be instrumental.

At the moment, I can consistently get more done.

As these patterns continue to establish into a routine, I’m finding that I can better judge the periods of the day in which I really need to focus and work.

#. *Removing distractions as best I can.

*The best way not to give in to temptation is not to have the option to.

What seems to work for me is making the distractions difficult or inconvenient to access.

Because it takes too much effort to indulge in the distraction, I find it is less likely for me to give in.

#. *Blocking out some time.*

In a previous post I wrote about waking up early and consistently.

You don’t necessarily have to do this but I’ve found that having quiet time, set aside specifically for accomplishing a given task, to be very productive.

I also tend to be more focused in the morning after a restful night.

#. *Keeping the results clear in mind.*

Instead of concentrating too much on the task at hand, sometimes I put some attention on the feelings I ultimately wish to experience.

By focusing on the results, it is easier for me to maintain my motivation especially when working on things that I am not by nature motivated by.

#. *Enlisting my family and friends for help.*

I communicate with my family and friends about my goals all the time.

Not only have they been helpful with gentle reminders whenever they see my behaviour is not consistent with my goals, but they also give me constant incentives to work at my goals and succeed.

Distractions as a whole are a huge drain on every aspect of who we are.

It takes our focus away from what we should be doing - our tasks, goals and purpose.

This is why we have to eliminate them from our lives if possible!

Personally, I find if I was to indulge in a distraction, a hour could go by and before I know it, I’d blow away an entire time box.

Generally, this makes me feel drained and disappointed, not just in myself for having been weak but also about the lost opportunities and productive time I could have spent working on an article or researching a business venture.

!!! Rest Your Soul in "the Simplicity and Purity of Devotion to Christ"

In the early morning dim of March 29, 1849, a sympathetic storekeeper in Richmond, Virginia nailed the lid on a crate containing a slave.

A two-hundred pound man had folded himself into a wooden box just three feet, one inch long, two feet wide, and two-and-a-half feet deep.

Cramped in a suffocating darkness, the slave endured—often upside down—a grueling three hundred and fifty mile shipment via railroad freight car, steamboat, and wagon.

Twenty-seven hours later in a Philadelphia abolitionist's office, Henry "Box" Brown emerged from his coffinlike confinement to begin life as a free man.

The news of his stunning appearance encouraged the hopes of freedom in countless slaves.

Everyone is born a slave of sin.

Jesus Christ said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34).

We cannot free ourselves from this oppressive master, for no one can live without sinning against God.

But the sinless Jesus—not for His own sake, but for others—came from Heaven to deliver His people.

Jesus allowed godless men to nail Him to a Roman cross, and three days later rose from the dead so that "we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:6).

And all those who trust in His work (and not their own) as the way to freedom will find emancipation from sin. "Therefore," declared Jesus, "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

I wonder if Henry Brown ever suffered nightmares of being back in his box?

I do know that Christians—though freed from the penalty of all sin and declared righteous in God's sight—sometimes feel a spiritual claustrophobia.

It's almost as though they've returned to the bondage that enslaved them before they knew Jesus.

Sinful choices and activities can cause God's forgiven people to feel this way.

But there are other reasons why believers may not be breathing the sweet air of spiritual freedom.

If you feel boxed-in spiritually, perhaps it's because you've experienced what the Apostle Paul feared for the souls of some: "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3, NASB).

Paul's readers had been distracted by the message of "another Jesus" (verse 4).

In other words, men had come preaching about Jesus, but spoke of Him differently than the Apostle Paul.

Many think that false teachers had told them about Christ in a way that caused them to look less to Jesus and more to their own good deeds and spirituality.

As they did so, they were "led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

Whenever this happens to a Christian, his spiritual life soon becomes burdensome.

He feels "back in the box" of slavery to duties that bring no joy.

Instead of refreshing and ravishing his soul with the love of Christ, his spirituality seems complicated, unfulfilling, and feels like just "one more thing to do" in an overbusy life.

And so, if you recognize yourself in this bondage, rest your soul afresh in "the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

Look to Him to be the satisfaction of what God requires from you.

Rediscover your spiritual practices as means of experiencing and enjoying Christ, and not a mere checklist of requirements to keep.

But other readers who feel boxed-in spiritually, so far as they know their own hearts, /have/kept their eyes on Christ alone, not only to /make/ them right with God, but also to /keep/ them right with God.

And yet the responsibilities of life have become so overwhelming that even the habits of their spirituality only seem to add to the burden and complexity of their weary existence.

Spiritually they're as dry and rootless as a tumbleweed.

If this is you, it's my prayer that as you turn these pages, your devotion to Christ will become more simple and pure.

And as it does, may you feel the refreshing return of the gentleness and love of Christ in your soul.

\\ \\ From Donald S. Whitney, /Simplify Your Spiritual Life/ (Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 2003).

\\ Copyright © 2002, Donald S. Whitney.

All rights reserved.