4ForFriday

4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen
February 9, 2018

Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!Here is This Week’s 4forFRIDAY February 9, 2018

A Really Solid Read from James Clear: You Get 25,000 Mornings as an Adult: Here are 8 Ways to Not Waste Them
You know I am a passionate learner when it comes to lifehacks and productivity. James Clear is a go-to author for and he offers up some really solid info in this article. It’s about an eight-minute read, and so worth it!

A Really Good Mini-Series from Nat Geo: The Long Road Home
We loved this series and saw past some of the spicier language to experience a true story that I knew nothing about. On April 4, 2004, the First Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ferociously ambushed in Sadr City, Baghdad– a day that later came to be known as “Black Sunday.” Based on Martha Raddatz’s best-selling book, The Long Road Home chronicles their heroic fight for survival, as well as their families’ agonizing wait on the home front back in Texas.

A Really Different Great Read: The Kindness Pact by, Domonique Bertolucci
I really found this small book to be refreshingly practical and encouraging! Most people are terribly unkind to themselves. They make harsh judgments, engage in endless self-criticism and are unforgiving of even the smallest of failings. At the same time these people are often loving and kind parents, generous and encouraging friends, and supportive and committed colleagues. They give everyone else their best, only to give themselves their worst. The Kindness Pact introduces the reader to the Eight Promises: commitments they need to make to feel good about who they are and the life they live and invite readers to be as kind to themselves as they are to others.

A Powerful Ted Talk: I Grew Up in Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper
What’s it like to grow up within a group of people who exult in demonizing … everyone else? Megan Phelps-Roper shares details of life inside America’s most controversial church and describes how conversations on Twitter were key to her decision to leave it. In this extraordinary talk, she shares her personal experience of extreme polarization, along with some sharp ways we can learn to successfully engage across ideological lines.

A Quote that I am Pondering from Anne Lamont
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes,
including you.”

A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your Family: WeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week. A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.

And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.com

Go In Peace! AChuck

4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen January 26, 2018

Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!

Here is This Week’s 4forFRIDAY January 26, 2018

A Great Listen that We Should All Listen to at Least Five Times; Oprah Winfrey interviews Shauna Niequist:
Shauna Niequist, author of Present Over Perfect shares some brilliant simplicity with Oprah Winfrey. Like her, love her or hate her, Oprah is the best interviewer I’ve ever seen. Niequist’s wisdom and lessons learned the hard way caused this weary, broken human to STOP and LISTEN! If you are done with the pace of your life — This is for you!

A Fascinating Film: Mark Felt, The Man that Brought Down the White House
This film is based on the true story of FBI Assistant Director Mark Felt. Felt, played by Liam Neeson would become known as “Deep Throat.” If you are under forty years of age, he’s the guy that funneled the dirt of the Watergate break-in back in 1972. This film is a bit intense but really well done. 

A Local Eatery that We Loved: Famous Toastery Suwanee
We tried this place after my good friends, Beth and Lamar Sudderth recommendation. It’s a new favorite, especially after enjoying the Country Benedict and the Avocado Omellete. It’s not fancy, but it’s so good!

Another Really Good Movie: 12 Strong
“12 Strong” is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. This movie is pretty salty and pretty gruesome. When you leave, you might be exhausted, but it’s a great motivational film!

BONUS 4for: Techna Clip –- Conceal Carry Belt Clip:
If you have looked for a lightweight, simple holster option for your every day carry pistol, this is a great option. I placed my right-handed clip on a Ruger LCP .380, and love it.

A Quote that I am Pondering from Shauna Niequist: “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your Family
WeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week.
A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.

And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life’s Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.com

Go In Peace!
AChuck

4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen January 19, 2018

Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!

Here is This Week’s 4forFRIDAY January 19, 2018

A Solid Read for Folks that Need Some Encouragement: The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too)
In this groundbreaking analysis of personality type, bestselling author of Better Than Before and The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin reveals the one simple question that will transform what you do at home, at work, and in life. 

A Really Great Series by Ken Burns: The War
The Emmy® award-winning documentary THE WAR explores the history and horror of World War II from an American perspective by following so-called ordinary men and women who became caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in history. This epic film focuses on the stories of citizens from four American towns taking the viewer through their personal and harrowing journeys, painting vivid portraits of how the war altered their lives.

An Unusually Fun Date Night: Candlefish at Ponce City Market
Okay, so don’t think I’ve lost my brain here, but this was a lot of fun. We did a candle making class and loved it. You book it online, sit down and become a chandler. Guys, you’ll be grateful for the tip – guaranteed! 

A Really Fun Evening and Dinner: Ponce City Market & Minero Mexican
We loved Minero! Ponce City Market is a funMinero is a casual Mexican eatery from Neighborhood Dining Group, located in Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, the recently renovated historic Sears, Roebuck & Co. building. The food is affordable and served in a fun and lively environment. James Beard award-winning Chef Sean Brock offers a collection of dishes inspired by the flavors and culture of Mexico.

A Quote that I am Pondering from Billy Sunday: “Lord save us from off-handed, flabby-cheeked, brittle-boned, weak-kneed, thin-skinned, pliable, plastic, spineless, effeminate, ossified, three-karat Christianity.”

A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your Family
WeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week.
A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.

And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life’s Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.com

Go In Peace!
AChuck

4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen January 12, 2018

Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!

Here is This Week’s 4forFRIDAY January 12, 2018

A Read for Everybody that Wants to Kill It this Year, The Four Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
An insightful new book from the multimillion-copy bestselling author Sean Covey and the FranklinCovey organization based on their work with hundreds of thousands of employees and large companies to unveil the essential disciplines proven to help businesses and individuals realize their most important goals. I devoured this book that my good friend Bobby McGraw shared with me.

A Really Good Movie onAmazon Video or Netflix: The Mountain Between Us
Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness. This fil is a tad slow, but the intrigue and adventure are fascinating. It’s not for the kiddos as it has one fairly graphic love scene. The redemptive and forgiving qualities of this film are pretty interesting. 

A Great Gadget that Everyone can Afford: Wireless Charger, E&jing QI Wireless Charging Pad Ultra Slim Wireless Charger
If you have an iPhone X or any other smartphone that can charge wirelessly, this is for you, At $9.99 it is affordable enough to put on your nightstand and your desk. This is a good deal. You might be able to find the same thing on Groupon for a buck or two cheaper.

If you are a fisherman that stays out of the river in the winter, you’ll love these waders: Caddis Hybrid Extreme Elements Stockingfoot Chest Wader
These bad boys are a tad bulky, even for a big dude, but on a 38-degree day, I was pretty warm in the river. For the quality, they’re hard to beat!

A Quote that I am Pondering from Donald Rumsfeld: “Don’t be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.”

A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your Family
WeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week.
A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.

And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life’s Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.com

Go In Peace!
AChuck

4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen January 5, 2018

Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!

Here is This Week’s 4forFRIDAY January 5, 2018

A Read that we All Need this Time of Year: How to Break a Bad Habit and Replace It With a Good One by James Clear
This is a really helpful article from one of my favorite authors, James Clear. 
Bad habits interrupt your life and prevent you from accomplishing your goals. They jeopardize your health — both mentally and physically. And they waste your time and energy. So why do we still do them? And most importantly, is there anything you can do about it? This brief article can give you a quantum leap toward removing your bad behaviors and sticking with good ones!

A Really Good Movie on PPV: The Seige of Jadotville:
This film is based on a true story and is pretty captivating. But I am a sucker for the “based on a true story” label. In 1961, the UN sends an Irish peacekeeping troop commanded by Commandant Pat Quilan to Katanga, in Congo, to protect the inhabitants of the mining town of Jadotville in the beginning of a civil war. Meanwhile, the UN advisor Dr. Conor Cruise O’Brien launches a military attack named Operation Morthor against the French and Belgian mercenaries. Soon there is a reprisal from the mercenaries and Quilana and his men are left under the siege of a huge Katangese and mercenary troops. 

A Great MUG: Yeti Rambler 14oz Mug:
 My good friends, Beth and Lamar Sudderth gave me one of these mugs for Christmas. It is awesome! It’s my go-to for morning coffee, the ride into the office and keeps my coffee hot for hours. I hear it’s great for ice cream. I’ll wait for the temperatures to get a b it more human to try that! Get you one of these mugs. They are great.

A Great Read for Guys: Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood
This is a read for every guy that can look in the mirror and know he needs help. I’ve been counseling men for years…trust me guys – Read This Book! With no-holds-barred honesty and poignant storytelling, Nate Larkin introduces a model of community and friendship that is reinvigorating men’s ministry across the country, a model he calls The Samson Society. Too many men see the biblical hero Samson as their model for manhood–a rugged individualist of the highest order. Yet, Samson’s solitary successes were eventually overcome by moral weaknesses. Larkin, through the story of his own past and the stories of those in The Samson Society, offers a radical, refreshing alternative.

A Quote that I am Pondering from Shauna Niequist: “It’s not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What’s hard, she said, is figuring out what you’re willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.”

A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your Family
WeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week.
A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.

And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life’s Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.com

Go In Peace!
AChuck