Achuckallen

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Who Else Can We Impeach?

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I’ve watched the Impeachment vote and the encircling fall-da-rah that comes with it and I’m left with three thoughts that are clearly an indication of my simplistic mind. Nonetheless, I do indeed have three thoughts that seem to remain in this cycle of political antics in Washington DC.

First, I think we could all agree that President Trump doesn’t need to be the spokesperson for a kinder/gentler nation. He makes it hard for guys like me to like him. I desperately wish to snatch his smartphone away from him and end the Twitter battles. It’s just another antic that I liken to NFL players that strut like peacocks after simply doing their job…Come on Man! Having said that, my church is benefitting greatly from the healthiest economy since, well…ever. My house has increased in value, the markets continue to set all time highs and the trade deals that he bantered about in the election have been reset with healthy guidelines and a path to a better and more stable future. So, there’s that. Oh, yeah. Back to the three things. Just because he is a bully, a flame throwing businessman, a rude and crude spokesman and lacks many of the finer graces, that doesn’t make him a criminal. It doesn’t seem to meet high crimes and misdemeanors. I have heard the evidence. To dislike Donald J. Trump is understandable. To impeach him is silly, middle school theatrics.

Second, I have seen men and women argue and bicker straight down party lines. Is it truly possible to have a viable third party in the 21st century? Is it not possible to have electable people that can think with conviction and not political expediency? This system has taken America in a direction that is not healthy and is possibly unrecoverable. And before you chuckle, thinking it’s whatever the “other party” is to you, it’s both party’s fault. I’m disgusted by both tire-slashing, trash-talking selfish party line tirades. It’s past time for a third party, or at least a handful of outliers that will speak with a voice of reason, rather than a voice of rancor.

Third, nobody is really winning at this game of name calling. If you are a Never Trump person, you might think that “we finally got him.” If you are a MAGA hat wearing Republican, you might be thinking, “we will get the House back and we are definitely winning the 2020 election.” The truth is that America is the loser in all of this. Are we to call for impeachment when our local mayor wins, but the city council wanted somebody else to win? Are we to assume that Presidents in years past have never had a call like the one that President Trump had with the President of Ukraine? Stop it! Just stop it!

Every four years, this great country has the privilege of choosing a President to lead the way. I’ve voted in every presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. I’ve seen a few winning elections and a few losers. Either way, we have an opportunity to change horses every 48 months. At this rate, we will be carrying the results of Major League Baseball games to the Supreme Court because half of America hates the team that won game seven in the bottom half of the 9th.

I realize that the chatter is louder these days as a result of social media and the digital age, but we are better than this foolishness, aren’t we? I pray that we are. I’d hate to think that my grandchildren would have to devalue American leaders so much that we couldn’t agree with the old adage, “sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Just three things I thought about while watching Survivor, I mean Congress today.

Peace, AChuck

Why Churches Die

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Why Churches Die by ACHUCKAllen

I realize that I am in the “church industry” but haven’t you ever wondered why some churches thrive and others seem to flounder, and over the course of time, die? Well, whether you’ve ever wondered that or not, here are my thoughts. Did you know that 400 plus churches close their doors for the last time every week? There are probably hundreds of reasons why churches die, but here are four. But, before you get into these four, let me offer one BIG reason why churches die – THEY ARE NOT REAL! I think you get that one without explanation.

After more than 30 years of church leadership and the past 8 years serving as a Lead Pastor I want to gently offer four reasons that churches die. By the way, my definition of a dead church is a church that could close it’s doors for good and their community not miss them for more than a nanosecond.

  1. Churches die when denominations are the central part of their culture, theology, missions and worship style. I offer this without malice or anger, but from having served in and around churches that are steeped in organizational quagmire. Every church must have a Heaven-sent mission that they are uniquely called to accomplish and hence qualified. Falling in step with offices and administrators that aren’t in the heart of the local church will lead to mission drift and remove the active and ongoing stories of the church being directed and lead by God Himself.
  2. Churches die when they are consumed with recruiting people to come in their doors but not equipped and motivated to go serve when they leave those same doors. Show me a church that is aggressively serving their community and I’ll show you a thriving church. It may not be the largest church in town, but it might have the largest heart in town. I’ll take a thriving heart over a well orchestrated production every single chance I get.
  3. Churches die when their leaders don’t know the people they are called to serve. The church can grow without relationships, but I doubt that it can thrive without relationships. I am of the opinion that in and around healthy churches, things start and stay as a result of meaningful relationships. A wise man once told me that if I wanted a long and successful career as a Pastor, then I should know people by their name and allow them to disagree with me. He was right!
  4. Churches die when they stop trying to engage culture with the compassion and passion of Jesus and His story of redemption. When churches decide that getting Jesus in the proper priority of peoples lives, then good things happen. People find hope, help and direction. It’s easy to chase after current culture and buzz phrases that sound “relevant.” See what I did right there? But honestly, you don’t have to guilt people into faith or service. Simply trust God to draw them…simply point folks in the right direction. He can do the rest.

There are indeed, hundreds of points I could have made, but these are the four that came to mind today. How is your church doing?

–AChuck

What’s the Deal with the Wise Men?

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What’s the Deal with the Wise Men? by AChuckAllen

Every Christmas we listen to “We three kings of orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.”

But who were these guys, really?

They weren’t kings and there were probably more than three. We associate three men with the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matching up the song and the narrative that has passed from generation to generation, with the Scriptural account is a challenge. I’m planning on singing the song once again through this season, but it might be good to know a bit more about these guys.

I believe the Bible to be inerrant, but over the course of history, traditions and manger scenes have added to the biblical story. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…”

They’ve been called magi, kings, and wise men. They were probably part of the King’s cabinet. They were assigned the task of studying the stars, and other duties on behalf of the King. We know these guys by the names, Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. But that too is tradition and possibly history, not a part of the Bible’s teaching.

In that day, Kings were in the habit of recruiting the best and sharpest minds into their cabinet. Magi were consulted in the Book of Daniel, and by Pharoah in the time of Joseph. The Greek word magi indicates these guys were astrologers and interpreters of dreams. Following a star wouldn’t have outside their kingly duties. But the fact that they went in search of the ancient prophecies is quite important.

The Gospel writer, Matthew never says that they followed a star. He says they saw a star, which history teaches is the Northern Star. These “wise men” were astrologers, and the star was an astronomical sign they saw that signified the prophecy of a Jewish king. 

Gold, frankincense, and myrhh are illustrative gifts as a result of their value. They were associated with royalty and associated with diety. On the night of Jesus’ birth, a great and mysterious light appeared in the sky which became a bright and astonishing star. That star remained in the western heavens.

Impressed with the star’s brilliance, the “wise men” were reminded of the prophecies found in the ancient scrolls. As they tried to understand the meaning of the sacred writings, they determined to go in search of the Messiah.

So, while the song, tradition and the Bible offer us plenty of understanding and uncertainty, we know one thing for sure. We know that what the “wise men” were seeking was the birth of a King. They simply didn’t have the rest of the story, that we have today.

Friends, we know that the star still points to the King of Kings. As you sing that old carol of We Three Kings, remember that these men, along with the shepherds in the Fields of Bethlehem, were the original early adopters of the only faith that celebrates the birth of the Savior twice.

They must have truly been WISE MEN. How about you? As for me, I’m with them. I want to search for Him every morning of every day, knowing that He is easy to find, for He has never and will never will leave me or you.

The wise men were right. They sought after a King, but we now know that this King would reign forever, and ever. Enjoy His peace today.

As the carol sings in it’s final verse; Frankincense to offer have I, incense owns a deity nigh. Prayer and praising, all men raising. Worship him, God most high,

–AChuck

POTUS, Congress and Christmas

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POTUS, Congress and Christmas by AChuckAllen

Interesting title, right?

I mean, seriously, have we lost all sense of decorum, kindness and graciousness? In the most prosperous nation of all time, we are caught in a whirlwind of insanity. The President is at war with the House and the Senate at war with the House and the media, well I’m not sure they like anybody.

When someone doesn’t like who you are or doesn’t like what you said, the next thing that is flashed across social media is a hate-filled reprisal that hasn’t moved the needle at the heart of the problems we really face. And there are real problems that need our attention.

It’s Christmas and Emmanuel, God with us has come to bring us hope, joy, peace and grace. And our loud-mouthed response is far too often filled with rhetoric and far right or far left vitriol. Meanwhile, we have hungry people, an opioid epidemic and international challenges galore. Yes, the economy has flourished and yes, my church has been a recipient of that growth. But, seriously, this isn’t about left and right, donkeys or elephants. This is is about rediscovering a voice of reason!

I don’t care if you are the President, a member of Congress, or a City Council Member, I am begging we Americans to return to a more civil, gracious way of communication.

Blame it on social media if you must, but real people insert those key strokes.

If someone offends you, and be certain that they will, either own it or grow through it. But stop the bickering and middle school chatter. Talk to the person, find out what you need to learn and grow through it, but for Heaven’s sake, stop pointing fingers and lashing out with the voice of rancor, rather than the voice of reason.

The Lord Jesus stepped into this messed up, hate-filled earth to bring us peace. It is in Him, not in Congress or the Oval Office that we discover that peace. I somehow cannot imagine Christ the Lord tweeting an obscenity laced reply to someone that attacked Him. As a matter of fact, He set the world right side up and offers us a life filled with peace. Somehow, we seem to work very hard at turning the world upside down again and again. And once we have, well it’s just a simple accusation or scandal, or attack, because that’s how we do things in this country. BUT! But that’s not how He planned it. That’s not what He came to our nasty, back-biting planet to accomplish. HE CAME TO BRING US PEACE!

Okay, rant completed. I know what my part of our job is, and I’ll bet that you know yours as well. My job? My job is to encourage you and anyone else that will listen, that you can do this. You can have a peace-filled life. You can love God and love others and you can have a voice of reason, rather than a voice of ridicule. You can succeed wildly in every aspect of your life, in spite of what this world says.

May I encourage you to leave the fussing and fighting behind and choose to accept the peace that passes all understanding this Christmas season! Merry Christmas!

–AChuck

4forFRIDAY with AChuckAllen

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This week’s 4forFRIDAY October 25, 2019

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 4forFRIDAY offers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings and Reviews, simply for your enjoyment. Thanks Again! If you don’t already subscribe to my Weekday Meditation Podcast, I encourage you to check it out HERE. If you missed the articles that I posted earlier this month regarding my trip to the Southern Border, you can find it HERE.

A Really Good Read: REPLENISH by Lance Witt

Every leader functions on two stages–the front stage or public world, and the back stage or private world. One cannot lead successfully front stage when one is completely depleted back stage. In a time when pastors are leaving the ministry in record numbers due to cynicism, disillusionment, weariness, and personal scandals, there is an urgent need for soul care in the private lives of leaders.

Another Really Good Read: The Bezos Letters by Steve Anderson

Amazon is the fastest company ever to reach $100 billion in sales and they didn’t reach that landmark by staying in their comfort zone. Risk taking is the key that unlocked the door to growth at Amazon, but those risks were (and are) intentional, calculated, and strategic. Thomas Edison believed, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” and Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, has always linked experimentation and failure with growth and success.

A Healthy and Really Good Lunch: Souper Jenny’s

Other than feeling as though I needed to hug a tree upon exiting Souper Jenny’s, I loved this place attached to a health food store in Brookhaven. All organic, vegan friendly, gluten for friendly, and get this, just really good!

Another AWESOME Lunch: The Mill Kitchen and Barr in Roswell

I loved this place. The vibe is cool. The food is farm to table. The service was friendly and the portions were great. I cannot wait to go back. Jenny had a really good salad and I went for the cheesesteak, but the rest of the menu looks great. Whatever you do, do not miss the fried pimento cheese bites.

My New Journal, Power Routines 3 is now available on Amazon.
Instigating the habits of Gratitude, Scripture Reading, Journaling and Guided Prayer is a powerful way to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE! Pick up your copies of POWER ROUTINES II at Sugar Hill Church! And coming soon to Amazon!

A Quote from Bruce Lee

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” 

The Weekday Podcast and the Weekday Meditation

The Podcast is a 5 minute/day, 5 day/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures. The Meditation is about 6 minutes/day, 5/day/week and is designed to give you a combined and guided prayer/meditation experience.

Both of these resources are available on the Sugar Hill Church APP or WeekdayPodcast.com & WeekdayMeditation.com

Go in Peace, 
AChuck

The Burden of Blight

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The Burden of Blight by A-ChuckAllen

When humans exist in an elongated period of sorrow, loss, tragedy, or poverty, they can fall into a state known as human blight. It’s that place where hope seems to have been gone forever and hurt seems to have taken up residence in the human heart.

Human Blight is what I experienced on the Abacos Islands last week. I arrived into Nassau Thursday and immediately hopped in the back of a Piper Cub and flown into Marsh Harbor. Marsh Harbor is truly a disaster zone, but it was nothing compared to what I saw on Man-O-War Cay or Hopetown. These are just two of the complete disasters in the Abacos Islands.

What I saw would crush any person’s heart. What was an oasis of beauty and what was once quaint little beach towns, untouched by the rapid westernization and chain hotels and restaurants, is quite literally destroyed. Nothing is left that is green. Every leaf and every tree – gone. Every colorful hamlet – gone. Most every boat sunken, capsized, tossed into parts, or picked up and carried miles inland. While flying about 300 feet over the islands on the way back to Nassau, I spotted boats that had been picked up by winds or by storm surge and placed entirely miles inland in the middle of a chicken farm.

The natural disaster left in the wake of Dorian is overwhelming. The task to clean up and rebuild seems impossible. There is more debris than the islands can burn or bury. Every home is either destroyed or already covered in mold. Every resource is down. No running water, very little electricity, and then comes what I believe to be the worst disaster of all. The catastrophe of human blight.

People are destroyed under the enormous loss and chaos created by the sustained 185 miles per hour winds and island swamping water surge. What didn’t blow away, has been washed away. To add insult to injury, there is very little mass coordination regarding the relief efforts, and of course, there are the sin-filled and evil people that are seeking to profit from these folks’ misery and lack of resources. I wouldn’t consider myself an angry or violent man, but some folks need to have their hind parts beaten because of their insensitivity and wicked ways. And just to put the rotten cherry on top of the spoiled whipped cream, these tiny ports are under stress to manage duty on the incoming relief supplies in container ships. Small ports used to handling wholesale goods to mom and pop shops are trying their best to adjust to the new demands…and not terribly well, quite yet.

I honestly could talk for hours about the problems, and the pictures do no justice to the damage as you can see in most pictures the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean just beyond them. So what are we regular, American folk to do? Here are what I believe to be the best avenues to help, considering that it might take three years to restore these gorgeous islands.

The burden I feel for these folks is more than I can carry and more than our church can carry alone. I’ve been so blessed to have become a part of a vast network of organizations and people that can help.

  1. PRAY! Pray for these poor folks. And yes, I mean sick as in economically, spiritually, and emotionally. The only way that these gracious people recover is by the hand of God and the sweat of God’s People!
  1. Start with rebuilding and restoring the churches. Most of the small churches on the islands were completely demolished. Start with the easiest to restore and get them rebuilt, dried in, mold-free, and operating. You cannot imagine the importance of the local churches and their pastors on the islands. The church is the center of hope, food, restoration, recreation, and health. These churches aren’t worried about how big they grow, but how they love their people – Great concept, right? One church, like the church I pastor, could rebuild and sweep debris away from the local church and set up extraordinary temporary structures in one week! Sugar Hill Church will start with one and restore as many as possible! Please, join us!
  2. Restore the homes of the local pastors. Many of these folks have had to relocate to shelters. If this were the American church, I’d say, restore them last, but the people of Abaco see their pastors differently. These leaders are more than pastors. They are the connection of God to a tiny part of the world, filled with the similar strife that we Americans deal with, minus the affluence. Sugar Hill Church will start with the pastor’s home of our first church and continue to restore as many as possible. Will you and your church consider helping us?
  3. Restore dignity and hope into the lives of the Bahamian people, Bahamian-Haitian people, and Haitian migrants, both legal and illegal. Yep! You heard that right. The Bahamas has a much smaller immigration challenge, but a challenge for sure. They also have a race problem. All three of the people groups I mentioned have great need, and none of them are immune from to blight of hopelessness. As a supporter of the Prime Minister and the government of the Bahamas, I want to support and aid their rebuilding agenda…but not at the loss of human dignity and human rights of the Haitian people. Sugar Hill Church will help rebuild homes and start providing help for any people. We aren’t that big, but human dignity requires very little money. It does require a great deal of empathy and compassion. Will you and your church consider helping us?

I know this may feel cold, as this short agenda seems focused on rebuilding things, but friends, this is about restoring hope, health, and order found in the love of Christ Jesus and the power of the Divine God of all Creation working through His people and His church. We do not have much time to wait and get structured. I’m building a website that can update people on how they can travel to help, pray to help and give to help. I’ll also pass along ongoing work with a few heroic organizations that have been on the ground from day one. One such group, led by a superhero, Austin Holmes, has already restored the structure and dried in six churches. And every one of those churches held worship gathering s last week (more to come). As soon as the site is live, I’ll connect you guys.

More to Come – Go in Peace,

A-Chuck

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