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4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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SELECTED READS, LISTENS, LEARNINGS, AND REVIEWS for March 5, 2021

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAYoffers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

A Really Good and Brief Read: Five More Minutes

One of my go-to authors, Terry Hershey, offers a fresh and insightful mindset to our daily grind and need to find peace, perspective, and patience in the journey.

A Really Good Movie on Netflix: Operation Finale

In 1960, the search for the Designer of the Master Plan” that would murder millions of innocent Jewish people, Adolf Eichman kicks into full speed. This is a really good film.

A Great Snack from Amazon or Costco: Sonoma Creamery Cheese Crisps – Pepper Jack Savory Cheese Cracker

If you like a little kick to your snacks, this is for you. Sonoma Creamery Pepper Jack Cheese Crisps are lightly baked Crunchy Real Cheese™ Snacks. Based on their famous Sonoma Hot Pepper Jack recipe, they bake in 10-month Aged Parmesan and a sprinkling of certified Gluten-Free organic ancient grains for a crunchy, craveable bite.

A Must-Read for Zoom Effectiveness: Why Leading a Remote Team Requires Radical Candor

In our now normal Zoom world, it’s important to equip yourself with the best tools to maximize your zoom experience. Whether you run a company, lead a team, or just by yourself navigating the challenges of working with others at a moment of uncertainty and social distance, it’s obvious why it’s important to care personally about your colleagues now more than ever.

A Quote from Rabbi Abraham Heschel

“I would say an individual dies when he (she) ceases to be surprised. What keeps me alive–spiritually, emotionally, intellectually–is my ability to be surprised. I say, I take nothing for granted. I am surprised every morning that I see the sun shine again.”

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures.
New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the
Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers.
So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY Updates.

I Really Loved this Book:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Surviving and Thriving in a World of Digital Giants 

The following is the teaser on Amazon:

Which kinds of companies will thrive and which will get crushed by the powerful forces in the global business landscape now at work? This groundbreaking new guide will help you adapt and change your business to thrive among digital giants, including Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Drawing on considerable original research and case studies from Wang’s acclaimed firm, Constellation Research, this groundbreaking guide reveals which kinds of companies will thrive and which will get crushed by the powerful forces now at work.

I Totally Dig this Car Air Freshener:
Bath & Body Works Scentportable Car Visor Clip Black Rubber

It’s not girly, but the variants in scents are almost limitless. Yes, they are a Bath and Body Works product, but the smell in your vehicle can take you to the forest, the beach, or the backyard.

This Sunglass Case is Awesome for Your Car:
Car Glasses Holder for Sun Visor,Sunglasses Holder Eyeglasses Clip Case

It will fit on any visor. It only takes one hand, and it protects my sunglasses in a soft case that is easy to retrieve. I’ve tried them all and this is the best I’ve discovered.

It’s Great to Have Adele Back:
Listen in to Easy On Me

I love Adele’s voice and this song is so beautiful. I can’t wait for the remainder of the album.

A Powerful Quote from Jane Goodalln

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make… Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play.”

THE POSITIVE TALK PODCAST 
Integrating Faith and Psychology with Julie Homrich and Chuck Allen – A Weekly Dose of Positivity, Encouragement, and Enlightenment.
I think you’ll love this new format!

Go in Peace, Chuck

Politics and Theology

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October 21, 2021

We live in a strangely spiritual world here in America. On the one hand, we are more spiritual than ever and yet less religious than ever before. We are a country founded on Christian principles, yet we have and still fight over race, gender, and faith systems.

I doubt that a backwoods pastor|author|speaker like me can help that dysfunction, but I’d like to take a shot at what is a gross misrepresentation (maybe) of how our theology can get our faith in trouble when we replace it with politics.

I’m a political junkie. There, I said it. Whew! But I’m so disgusted by the way we have replaced our convictions with policy and politics. Please don’t hear me say that they do not intersect, but listen to me when I say that we have gone way past the point of reason.

I grew up in the home of a politician and pastor. I watched my dad serve as a voice of reason and delineate the difference between the two. Dad never seemed to replace his convictions grounded in his faith with the party politics, even though he was a state chairman of one of the two major parties. He somehow found a way to be a Republican without blindly going along to get along.

Here are the “things” that I fear we “evangelicals” are dangerously close to or have already crossed the line in.

  1. All policy matters. All policy affects all other policies. To choose a party, person, or policy, we must see the person’s whole and the entirety of the platform.
  2. The idea that any single person is qualified to run the country is truly a silly concept. The people the person surrounds themselves with are of equal or greater significance than just the person.
  3. To assume that as a Follower of Jesus, you must support one party and park your brain regarding the immediate contextual concerns is ridiculous. There are extraordinary people of faith on both sides of the aisle.
  4. We must be confident that we do not worship any person, plan, party, or policy. Let our worship be connected to God alone.
  5. The voice of American Christians is far more vocal when it comes to our political preferences – or favorite news channel – than we are about the wonderful Christ we claim as Savior. No explanation needed, I fear.
  6. We must be willing to question our motives when it comes to our politics. The Christian life doesn’t change leaders every four years. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is not subject to voters and their whims.
  7. Character and decency matter as much as toughness and savvy. It’s an age-old challenge. But I am confident that the ends rarely justify the means. How we lead is as important as what we accomplish.

Let us not confuse our politics with our faith-filled convictions. We are a great country. Let’s not slip into another political has been and depart from the framework of integrity, decency, and honesty.

Peace, Chuck

Happy People Don’t Do These 4 Things

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AChuckAllen

It seems odd to suggest that in this world, you can accelerate happiness in your life. But you actually can create a sense of peace and genuine happiness within your soul if you so desire. If that’s the case, then why are so many people unhappy?

In a recent article from Discovery Magazine, I read the following; “The richest countries are not happiest, the healthiest countries are not always the happiest. The happiest countries are the ones who do have the highest levels of a whole range of things,” says John Helliwell, an editor of The World Happiness Report and professor emeritus of the Vancouver School of Economics. “They include, especially, a willingness to trust each other to work for each other and to come together in times of difficulty.”

From that and our everyday life experiences, we know this to be true. I’ve heard from countless people that “money can’t buy happiness.” Or my favorite, “stuff can only make you temporarily happy.”

I’ve written plenty of things you can do to increase your happiness, but here are four things that genuinely happy people DON’T DO.

  1. Genuinely Happy People Don’t Compare Themselves to Others. Eckhart Tolle once said, “Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love — you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” Staying in comparison mode will rob you of the lovely soul that the Divine created to be you. God made no mistake when you were created. Every molecule that helps make you the incredible, fantastic you are unique, and wonderful has a purpose that only you can deliver into this world. To compare your awesomeness is a discredit to both you and God. You know what you’re worth, right? Happy folks do because they don’t seek validation outside of themselves. Happy people understand that it comes from a sense of self-awareness — in their way.
  2. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Selfish, They Serve Others. Every study on the planet proves this to be true. Give a bit of your time, your skill, your kindness, and yourself, and watch happiness wash into your soul. A Chinese saying goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Our passion should be the foundation for our serving others. It is not how much we give away but how much love we put into giving it. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also the importance of deciding what is suitable for us. God said that He loves a cheerful giver. Like all of life…it’s a matter of our hearts.
  3. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Rigid. Every time I meet a happy person, I seem to discover this truth – they are naturally flexible. If I could add one piece of scripture to the New Testament, I’d add another Beatitude to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. When we remain flexible, we remain less stressed and less anxious. Hence, we are happier. Staying fixed in our certainty can steal the happiness from our soul. Discover the joy and margin found in your flexibility. My addition? Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
  4. Genuinely Happy People Guard Their Yes and No. Happiness is often connected to having a margin in our calendar and schedule. When we say yes to everyone and everything, we might be fueling an addiction to please people. I’ve discovered that this addiction is as powerful as alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine. Without guarding our yes and no answers, we give away our margin, grow frustrated with others, and punish both ourselves and those we love. If you want to choose happiness, guard your yes, and no’s.

Don’t settle for temporal happiness when you were created for meaningful, purposeful, and eternal happiness. Get grounded in your faith, your family, and your community. Then stop comparing yourself to anybody, give yourself away, get flexible, and guard your yes and no.

Peace, Chuck

Two Lessons I’ve Learned Since My Last Birthday

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October 11, 2021

I turned 62 years old yesterday. In the past 365 days I’ve learned so many things about this world, and about me. Out of all the various lessons learned, these two have become the most significant in my life. I pray that they will be an encouragement to you on this Monday..

  1. You only have a few people that truly love you. Invest your life into being the very best you that you can be – for them. I have hundreds of meaningful acquaintances. I have dozens of meaningful relationships. I have a few really good friends. Even fewer extraordinary friends. And then there is my family. I’m beyond blessed. Six daughters, seven grandchildren, and an amazingly wonderful wife. I love what I do, who I serve, and where I live. I’m as perfectly imperfect as you can get, and yet, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. What is the key to this life I am describing? Realizing how incredibly grateful I am and expressing that in the following order: 1) God, I’m grateful for these people today. 2) God, I’m grateful for these two things today. Start every single day with gratitude. I promise you that this small addition to your morning routine will radically change the trajectory of your attitude and your perspective.
  2. Social media isn’t your friend. It will cause you to waste time, act impetuously, present yourself as you are not, and create new insecurity, and lack of security. Determine to cut your social media time to less than 15 minutes each day for one week, then less than 10 minutes the next week. Replace whatever time you would have spent on social media with reading a book or magazine. Maybe even the Bible. This is equally true for your preferred news channel. Both social media and so-called news channels will rob you of peace and joy. Walk away from both of these peace and time thieves.

Both of these simple changes will provide a greater degree of peace, time, joy, and contentment in your life. It really will! If you are like most Americans, you could use a considerable increase of peace, time, joy, and contentment. Why on earth would you not try and invite these four elements into your life?

Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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Here is Your 4forFRIDAY for October 8, 2021

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers.
So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG.

I Love This New Laptop Riser: 3M Laptop Stand

If you work with a tablet or laptop you’ll love this inexpensive, yet brilliant little gadget!

A FASCINATING PODCAST from CHRISTIANITY TODAY: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

This brutally truthful series shines a light on one of the early mega-churches that went completely off the rails. Heartbreaking and eye-opening, this docu-cast is almost unbelievable.

A Book That Was So So Good! Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business

From Whole Foods CEO John Mackey and his coauthors, a follow-up to groundbreaking bestseller  Conscious Capitalism — revealing what it takes to lead a purpose-driven, sustainable business.

An Awesome Bible App from DWELL: Listen to the Bible

Pick your version and your voice, then select your plan. This is the simplest way to get the Word in you daily!

A Powerful Quote from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

THE POSITIVE TALK PODCAST – Integrating Faith and Psychology with Julie Homrich and Chuck Allen – A Weekly Dose of Positivity, Encouragement, and Enlightenment. I think you’ll love this new format!

Go in Peace, Chuck

Hump Day Happiness

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by Chuck Allen

It’s midweek, and I’ll bet you could use some cheerful news, or at least something humorous. Here you go.

Fifteen things that make me laugh, even if they are ridiculous. Enjoy.

  1. Whenever I watch the Progressive Insurance commercials with Coach Rick coaching up later-aged adults, I laugh. It’s too stinking accurate not to be funny.
  2. I realize it’s old, but Terry, the Office Linebacker, makes me smile. If you don’t remember him, click here.
  3. Now, 15 years later, remembering Abby when she dropped her milkshake in my brand new truck and simply said, “oopsies,” I saw strawberry ice cream dripping from my brand new headliner.
  4. The fact that Fox News has more commercials for toe fungus and catheters than there are people that need either. But when they offer the fact that they even offer “self-lubricating catheters, ” I laugh a bit. Come on, can you imagine a catheter that isn’t lubricated?
  5. Every single time a sideline reporter stops a coach on the way to halftime and they somehow all say the same thing, and the reporter has to recover.
  6. When I think about our daughter Samantha excitedly stating at a baby shower that “I love pedophiles.” when she meant to say petit fours.
  7. Anytime someone says, “Pastor, with all, do respect.” I can see it coming – very little respect.
  8. Each time I read the words “ customer service” at a Delta Airlines ticket counter.
  9. The Babylon Bee. It’s satire at its best. They are equal opportunity offenders.
  10. Recalling the night Jenny and I were attempting to select a date to get married and decided on that evening that “tomorrow” was the perfect day. Charlotte was probably right when she said, “normal people don’t do that.” Fourteen years later, I still smile about that.
  11. When I think of the conversation regarding the Broadway show Hamilton when someone was asked what the Revolutionary War was about…and the answer? “Taxation without respiration.” Bless.
  12. Whenever I stop and remember the closing song after a funeral I preached when they played the song, “I’m Not Good at Much, But I’m Good at Drinking Beer.” I was chuckling inside when that happened, and I just laughed again as I wrote this at 35,000 feet in a Delta jet. See number 8.
  13. When I’m reminded that I have some peculiar sayings like, “broke as Joe’s turkey,” lost as Hogan’s goat, ”or “Oh my stars.” I’m just odd, but I think it’s fun when people ask me about those oddities.
  14. Whenever I watch the completely inappropriate Christmas movie, “Four Christmases,” and Pastor Phil is introduced. That’s too stinking funny!
  15. When I remember the very proper young lady that was part of our daughter’s volleyball team saying that her proper family said it was “window time” whenever someone “tooted” in the car. Yes, I know it’s middle school’ish, but that makes me laugh a bit.

I trust that your Wednesday is better as a result of these downright foolish thoughts.

Peace, Chuck