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4for FRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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APRIL 29, 2022

EVER WONDERED IF YOU’LL BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN? This is the Best Explanation that I’ve Ever Read.

Although Scripture can be a bit enigmatic about the nature of heaven, Jesus does make one thing clear in the Gospel of Luke: even if we marry on this earth to an earthly spouse, we will not stay married to them in heaven. One may wonder how this question comes about. Of all the things to wonder about heaven, a spouse doesn’t necessarily top the list of questions one may think to ask. However, it seems reasonable that Christians may wonder about this. Many Christians have lost a spouse along the way and want to reunite with them in heaven.

FIND IT HERE

–CROSSWAY

THIS WAS FASCINATING: The Divergent Association Task measures verbal creativity in under 4 minutes.

It involves thinking of unrelated ideas. People who are more creative tend to think of ideas with greater “distances” between them. I recommend that you take the test before you learn more about it. You can also read a CNN article on the task or read our open-access manuscript in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Click the link below for each of these…you will be challenged, I promise.

FIND IT HERE

–Chuck

A PRETTY COOL FLY-THROUGH OF TESLA’S GIGA PLANT IN BERLIN, GERMANY.

This is quick and pretty dang amazing. The technology and quality of these all electric vehicles is amazing!
FIND IT HERE

– Chuck

A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR LOVERS: FROM GRACE MARRIAGE.

This playlist was curated and used at our Grace Marriage events at Sugar Hill Church.
It’s just fun music that you can dance to, sing with, and remember every single word!
FIND IT HERE

– Chuck

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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4forFRIDAY April 22, 2022

A LETTER TO YOURSELF – PLEASE DO THIS: FUTURE ME

Each year, the week after Easter I send myself a letter to the “future me.” I describe the person that I pray I’ve become and remind myself of where I’ve come from. Everyone can benefit from this internal review and inspection. FIND IT HERE

–Chuck

A VIDEO SERIES THAT WAS GREAT: PACHINKO

I couldn’t imagine this to be as good as it was. I am really enjoying this heartfelt and wonderfully produced series from Apple TV. Created from the best selling novel of the same name, this series will really pull at your heartstrings. . FIND IT HERE

–Chuck

SUCH A THOUGHT PROVOKING ARTICLE FROM YUVAL LEVIN: HOW TO CURB THE CULTURE WAR

Have you ever wondered how the world got to the point of radical anger and hatred? YUVAL Levin has the best description of how we have become the most divisive generation ever.
FIND IT HERE

– Chuck

A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST THAT IS SO GOOD: EASTER

It’s not just for Easter! This is a favorite playlist in my office, car and home. Don’t miss “Believe For It” by CeCe Winans.
FIND IT HERE

– Chuck

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY | Good Friday Edition

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4forFRIDAY April 15, 2022

A GREAT QUOTE FROM JAMES CLEAR

“Many good opportunities are ruined for the dream of slightly better ones. Would you have a more successful career if you had taken that other job or moved cities? Possibly. But your actual career will suffer if you don’t commit to doing it to the best of your ability. Would you be 10% happier in a different relationship? Maybe. Maybe not. But you’ll definitely be unhappy in the one you have if you spend all day thinking about what else is out there. The surefire way to end up worse off is to agonize over unchosen options and fail to make the most of the one you selected. Every minute spent yearning for your unlived lives is a moment you can’t invest in the one you actually have. Choices matter, but so does your level of commitment.”
FIND IT HERE

–James Clear

A FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY ON HILLSONG CHURCH

This three-part series is heart-wrenching to watch and an excellent reminder to all churches that we are accountable for our actions and reactions. FIND IT HERE

-Chuck

AN AWESOME AUDIBLE BOOK FROM BOB GOFF
UNDISTRACTED; CAPTURE YOUR PURPOSE & REDISCOVER YOUR JOY

This is a roughly 5 – hour listen, but it is so good, I haven’t been a huge Bob Goff fan until listened to this wonderful book. I cannot encourage you enough to listen in!
FIND IT HERE

– Chuck

A TRULY INCREDIBLE READ: THE LAST SUPPER ON THE MOON

In Psalm 8 David urges us to consider the heavens, to look up at the night sky. Doing so will help you discover fundamental truths about God. Namely, that—even though his love for you is as beyond comprehension as the farthest corners of the universe—through his Son, you can grab hold of it, and it has the power to transform your inner space.
FIND IT HERE

– Amazon Prime

Go in Peace, Chuck

THREE WAYS TO BEAT THE MONDAY BLUES

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April 18, 2022

“Monday, Monday, so good to me.” The Mamas and the Papas launched that song in 1966. There have been a few changes in the world since ‘66.

But Monday hasn’t changed much. It is still the day that most of us never look forward to.

Monday has a special significance in our culture as the beginning of the week, which influences our mood and our physical, emotional, and spiritual health outcomes

The 7-day week and the meaning we associate with the days of the week is a social construct, and not based on biological or planetary cycles. But a host of negative outcomes, such as heart attacks and strokes, happen more frequently on Mondays as people transition back to the structured routine of the week.

Something about that doesn’t seem right. Furthermore, we shouldn’t give in to that. If it really is a social construct, and we can choose to make Monday better, why not do that?

A 2021 nationwide survey conducted by the Data Decisions Group tracked awareness and behavior related to Mondays and healthy behaviors. While 11% of people report that Monday is “a day to dread”, many people see Monday positively. They view it as an opportunity for a “fresh start” (40%) and a day to “get my act together” (18%).

83% of responders to the survey agreed that starting the week off healthy would help maintain a focus on health for the rest of the week.

Over the past few months, I’ve been radically focused on becoming a healthier husband, dad, grandad and pastor. I’ve learned the following three ways to kickoff my workweek. Please keep in mind that I’m a pastor. As a result, Monday morning could possibly be a bummer of a let down. But I’ve learned to make Monday one of my favorite days of the week.

1. PLAN YOUR WEEK ON SUNDAY EVENING.

You may not want to, but taking ten minutes to review your calendar, make appropriate adjustments, and make a few notes of a few things you need to add and delete to your schedule is one of the most impactful things you can invest ten-minutes in, always.

Make a very short list of four things you MUST accomplish this week. Write them down! Then prioritize them.

Keep that in front of you.

2. Set limits on the amount of time that you will spend that week on social media, television and enthralled with your smart devices.

Simple awareness of the time you spend on these often worthless efforts is half of your personal productivity and peace perspective.

Earl Sweatshirt once said, “Everyone’s like sheep on social media; like, one person starts making noise, and everyone’s like, ‘Hey, yeah!’ and then you got a whole bunch of people making noise at you.”

And, whether you like it or not, the man trying to buy Twitter said, “I think there should be regulations on social media to the degree that it negatively affects the public good.” -Elon Musk

Don’t let the addictive dopamine hit of a like, follow or friend determine your day, week, or attitude.

3. Determine to Rise Ten-Minutes Early Each Weekday.

Rising just 10-minutes early allows you room to do three things – yes I know I sound like a broken record – but this has had such a radical impact on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. First, write down three things that you are grateful for. Don’t get all spiritual or intellectual on me. Keep it simple, but write it down. Second, read one chapter of the Bible-book of Proverbs. There’s 31 chapters. How ‘bout that? Third, write down 4-5 words that describe the person that you want to be or become this week. Again, keep it clear. Keep it simple. Keep it real.

As the Mamas and the Papas once sang, “Monday, Monday, so good to me. Every other day, every other day. Every other day, every other day of the week is fine, yeah.But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes. But whenever Monday comes, you can find me cryin’ all of the time”

I think I will choose a better Monday. How about you?

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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4forFRIDAY April 8, 2022

A GREAT SERIES FROM HBO+ with BRENE BROWN

This Is so fascinating. Based on Brené Brown’s b recent book, “Atlas of the Heart.” She has a potty-mouth, but the content is so, so good. I am an unashamed Brené brown fan. Her research based writing around the human emotions and feelings can help anyone in thier interpersonal relationships.

–Chuck

A BOOK THAT SHARPENED ME: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership

Easily on eof the best books that I have ever read. Our staff team is reading it together and it has really touched my soul. From Amazon; “Each chapter includes a spiritual practice to ensure your soul gets the nourishment it needs. Forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God is the best choice you can make for yourself and for those you lead.”

-Amazon and Chuck

A Kitchen Gadget I Love: SodaStream Terra

I love sparkling water and I love carbonated diet drinks. This has me drinking more water and less soft drinks than ever before. My mother in law gave me this gadget and love it. I think you might as well. My favorite flavor is Bubly Lime.

– Chuck

A GREAT PODCAST FROM MOODY PUBLISHERS: The Other Half of Church

This is what happens when you blend psychology, temperament, personalities and shove them all under the umbrella of the American church and BOOM! I have learned so much from thisd podcast!

– Chuck

BONUS: A GREAT QUOTE FROM A GREAT BOOK

“I really want to encourage you not to despair, not to lose faith, not to let go of God in your life, but stand in your suffering as a person who believes that she is deeply loved by God. When you look inside yourself, you might sometimes be overwhelmed by all the brokenness and confusion, but when you look outside toward him who died on the cross for you, you might suddenly realize that your brokenness has been lived through for you long before you touched it yourself.”

From the Book, This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

Go in Peace, Chuck

NOPE – Not Gonna do It

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AChuckAllen.com

It seems too easy to bash anybody that is leading anything today. Bash the president, the Congress, the Senate, the School Board, the Mayor, the CEO, the pastor, the Oscar Host…You get the idea.

I stopped writing this BLOG months ago because I was frustrated with everything. I prayed through my frustration. Talked through my frustration. Then worked through my frustration. The short end of this story is that I needed to pray, think and talk my way to being capable of working through my frustration. The following is a recipe for how I transitioned from frustrated human to peace-filled and productive, purposeful human.

I spent some time offline and off social media. I spent more time reading, praying, and rediscovered the power of solitude, investment, and trajectory. You must be thinking, here’s another preacher tale or worse, another self-help guide. NOPE, neither.

Over the past few months, I have discovered a more peace-filled and purposeful life stage. And it didn’t require an Apple Watch, super-planner, conference, book, or retreat. It took solitude, investment, and trajectory. Here, let me explain.

SOLITUDE:

We are a people that seem to stay in constant motion and with continuous noise. We fill our lives with such busyness that there is literally no time to know who we are, where we are going, or what we want to be. As a result, we drift into what the world wants us to be. But I’m not suggesting that you have to attend a silent retreat or isolate yourself. Instead, I recommend that you discover three, five-minute pauses in your day to grab solitude. Then, in that solitude, capture your investment and trajectory. Of course, I am assuming you know that solitude also needs to include quietude. That’s it. There are three five-minute pauses for your day that have an old-fashioned pen and a 3 x 5 index card. Pretty simple, right? Remember – Just three, five-minute breaks to SIT (SOLITUDE, INVESTMENT, TRAJECTORY).

INVESTMENT:

Now that you have sorted out a way to grab three, five-minute pauses in your day, grab your pen and index card and capture your investments in YOU! Start with GRATITUDE. Always start with GRATITUDE. On the top of the index card, write down two things you are grateful for today. Nothing must be cute, super intellectual, or spiritual. Just what are you grateful for. See the illustration below. This is my card from this morning. Invest in yourself by inserting GRATITUDE as an essential part of your morning routine (2 minutes). Harvard Medical School places a significant emphasis on GRATITUDE. The following is an excerpt from the hard medical Journal:

FRONT
BACK

“The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways, gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”

“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Faith and science agree that grateful people are far more likely to be more contented and happier. Why not INVEST in your happiness and contentment?

In your solitude pause number one – insert gratitude s an investment in you, your present and future.

Then determine the trajectory of your day, on the same index card. Capture in bullet form a few (typically 5-6) statements that might describe the person you wish to be today. Again, see my illustration. I tend to focus on the cxharacteristics that I believe God might be nudging me toward improvement.

Once I’ve capture my gratitude and my desired person I want to be today, I like to capture one prayer thought that I am asking the Divine to settle in my life.

When I use the term “capture,” it is an effort of be clearly understood that you have given it thought. That you have prayerfully considered it, and you are writing it down on your investment card. The Journal of Experimental Psychology published research that shows how writing your thoughts down can reduce intrusive thoughts about negative events and improve working memory, even the simple act of writing something down lets your brain know you want to remember it.

These three simple steps can, and will change the trajectory of your life, especially when you engage your Creator with a conversation about all of them.

SOLITUDE + INVESTMENT + TRAJECTORY = GREATER PEACE
GREATER PEACE = MORE CONTENTED LIVES AND HAPPIER, HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS

To continue the change in trajectory, flip the card over at the end of each day and capture three thoughts.

1. What went well today?
2. What didn’t go so well today?
3. What am I asking God to do in my life tomorrow?

Write them down – file the day away and sleep like a rock.
Wash, rinse and repeat tomorrow.

SOLITUDE – INVESTMENT – TRAJECTORY – JUST SIT

It’s not fancy. It’s not digitized (unless youwant it to be), and it makes a huge difference. Just SIT in Solitude and accomplish these three pauses in each day. If you chose to consider this a version of journaling, I’m cool with that because, according to mental health professionals, journaling is one of the most recommended tools to have a clearer mind and a happier life. It helps to release mental blockades and be more precise about your thoughts. Additionally, journaling helps to understand your desires, priorities, and worries. Multiple studies prove that writing down your thoughts can lead to an increase in well-being and happiness.

1. Solitue – Gratitude
2. Solitude – Invest in who God desires you to be.
3. Solitude – Reflect on your day and place tomorrow into His hands.

So, NOPE, I refuse to join the masses and whine about everything, every leader, and every inconvenience in this life. I’ve stumbled into a simple, sustainable routine to just SIT in solitude for the purpose of investing in the trajectory of my life. As a result, I am more peace-filled and purposeful than any other time in my life. I desire this for you as well. This allows me to focus on my part of our world and prompts me to serve those I can serve in a sustainable, practical, purposeful way.

Maybe this tiny effort, multiplied over thousands of people might make a big collective difference as we all just SIT.

Go in Peace,
Chuck