AChuck's Top 10

I can’t dance, but I convince myself that I can occasionally. Don’t you just bust out a groove thing and dance sometimes? I do! It’s usually when I am cleaning our main floor. I ask Alexa (Amazon Echo) to play some Sly and the Family Stone and just crank it up and dance to the music, dance to the music! (See what I did right there?)

And then, there are times that I lose my pastoral inhibitions and bust out in public – just watch. WAIT! Before you click on the play button below, be sure there are no children in the room. This is not pretty!

The thing about dancing is that it’s a great equalizer.  How many people do you know that don’t look silly dancing? We all do. There’s always that person or that couple that really shows off because they took classes. Come on, man! The beauty of dancing isn’t Dancing with the Stars, it’s in losing your fear and insecurities and just dancing!

Life is hectic, stress-filled and can seem overwhelming most of the time. But how we respond to life’s challenges determines how well we will handle the next challenge. We are all in one of three stages of life. We are in a mess, just getting out of a mess, or preparing for the next mess. I am convinced that most of us would truly be happier, healthier and more content if we would just let go occasionally!

I’ve spent most of my life attempting to achieve everybody else’s plan for my life. When I set my course to the true north found on the compass of the Divine, I started to dance to the music, I found peace, fulfillment, and laughter playing a much bigger role in my day to day life. I still find myself in a mess, or just coming out of a mess, but I don’t linger there. I have learned that when I “just dance”, both literally and figuratively,  I significantly shorten the seasons of struggle. When I let my soul dance, I am worshipping in a spirit of gratitude, praising in a spirit of joy, trusting with great hope, and loving without selfishness. When I dance literally, I look ridiculous, but in that moment, I’m John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

Let your soul dance today and get your groove thing on, as you sway to the rhythms of grace. Turn you hang ups and fears loose and enjoy the journey. When you do, you’ll discover that you are encouraging everyone you connect with…even if they use your dance video to get a few laughs!

Go ahead! Let your soul dance today!

–AChuck

I’m a Liberal?

I’ll never forget it. A couple sat in my office last year and shared their many grievances with me. The grievances included a few things that I’ve heard before. Things like, you are too casual, the music is too loud, you aren’t deep enough…you know, the usual preacher stuff. And then it happened! I’d never heard my name associated with this statement, “You know what you’re problem is? You are a Liberal!” Well, how bout that? I never knew that.

I rarely feel the need to defend the usual preacher stuff, but now it got real all up in here! My immediate response wasn’t what they imagined or what I imagined, for that matter. Without much thought, I declared, “Thank You!” Again, how bout that?

If your version of liberal includes the following, then yes, I am a proud, card-carrying liberal: Caring for hungry kids, helping kids break the curse of poverty by helping them graduate, helping single parents, orphans, widows and breaking the sinful attitudes of bigotry and racism, then yes…I am a liberal. If you mean that by not screaming and picketing against people that don’t agree with me, then yes, I am indeed a liberal. If not teaching on the millions of things that you find wrong with other people and asking you to look within your own heart is liberal, then wow, I am a liberal. If the statement that I believe the Bible is a BIG DEAL, that Jesus is the BIGGEST DEAL, and living that means we will naturally desire to SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED is liberal, then I am proud to be a liberal. If you mean that being a liberal means that we welcome anybody and everybody to worship with us, then, by all means, put me in that camp. If you mean that being a liberal includes living life with open hands, broken hearts and well-worn knees, then I long to be more liberal.

I would love to be a part of a church that is liberal in love, grace, mercy, compassion, generosity, kindness, acceptance, truth without hate, purpose without predetermined agendas, and neighbors without regard to race. I’d love to pastor a church that determined that if we could get Jesus in the right priority of our lives, we will get the rest of life’s decisions right as well. Let us all be willing to be liberal in our worship and in our desire to live more like Christ.

Let us all be willing to be liberal in caring for single parents, pregnant teens, immigrants, orphans, impoverished families and hungry and hurting people. Let us be willing to be liberal in our love for one another, liberal in holding our tongue when tempted to cast our hatred on people that we do not understand or cannot empathize with.

Liberal is a term we often use for folks that simply do not agree with us. Let’s learn to be liberal in our gratitude for what we have, gracious in our actions, sacrificial in our giving, and passionate in our service to the Divine and to the rest of His creation. How about being liberal in our concern for sharing the message of The Gospel with rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, old and young, Jew and Gentile, man or woman, and even liberal and conservative. Here’s a thought: Let’s be liberal in our willingness to stop the insanity of right and left bickering and foolishness.

I know, I know, I’m truly a well camouflaged progressive conservative in my day job, and a Jesus loving, liberal in my heart. So bring it on! Let’s do this Liberal in Love Thing and Change the World!

Go in Peace, AChuck

Heart Attack with ACHUCKAllen

During the first week of January this year I wound up in the Emergency Room. I had problems catching my breath, my chest was in pain, my left arm could feel that pain, and I was sweating profusely. I had just finished speaking at one of our local schools and Jenny sent my assistant, Beth to pick me up and deliver me to the ER. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. But, of all the women on the planet, I have learned to listen to both of them and got into Beth’s Tahoe like a little boy that had just been given detention for fighting. I use that illustration as an example that I have no problems relating with.

Once in the ER, the first concern that the nurses and technicians have is “are you having a heart attack, or have you had a heart attack.” My EKG was wonky, my BP high and my breathing was shallow. Add that to the fact that I am in my late 50’s, still overweight, and live in a tension-filled role and you have the perfect candidate for a heart problem.

After multiple tests, screens and scans, it was determined that I should have a Heart Catheterization to determine what was going on. When the cardiologist said, I think you will probably need at least 2 bypass corrections, it got real. All of a sudden, all those double cheeseburgers and biscuits with gravy had come back to haunt me! There is no such thing as privacy in a heart cath. Stuff gets shaved, taped, prepped and left uncovered that completely leave you in a weird situation, but hey, it’s your heart.

As the heart cath was ending, the tech looked at me and gave me the 2 thumbs up sign. I had no idea if he was telling me good, you are healthy, or awesome, we get to bill you thousands more for open heart surgery. About 30-minutes later the cardiologist stopped by and opened the file. He read through some notes and looked up at me and Jenn, only to say, “Your heart is shockingly healthy.” He seemed a bit disappointed since I clearly was a candidate for a heart attack. Once they determined my heart was fine, and in spite of the fact that I still didn’t feel well, they couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.

When I look at the challenges in our country right now, I think she is in the middle of a heart attack. Filthy, nasty, deceitful politics, race wars, inflation, pornography, poverty, fatherlessness, fragile economies, massive debt, and we haven’t even gotten to Russia, Isis, Boko Haram, Sudan, Cuba, Haiti, and immigration. We could go on and on with this list, but at some point, something has to change. Every counselor on the planet has learned the value of these words, “Nothing Changes, Until Something Changes.”

If we could treat these problems one at a time, we would want to know the symptoms, the family history, the systemic challenges created by each, and we would want to start running invasive testing that would allow us to see deeper into the problem.We would order blood work, x-rays, CT scans, Pet scans, sonograms and eventually a heart catheterization. And this time, there would be no 2 thumbs up. There would be no evaluation that would sound remotely like, “Your heart is shockingly healthy.”

This diagnoses would be that our planet has a heart problem, a neglected heart attack, and is dying, one artery and one beat at a time. Pick the issue, any issue and when put it through the gauntlet of testing and scrutiny, you’ll find that its root cause is one thing – A MATTER OF THE HEART!

Race, radical Islamic terrorists, economics, education, politics, government, faith, immigration…just pick one or pick 40 more. The search for the problem leads you to the cure for the problem simultaneously – THIS WORLD NEEDS A HEART TRANSPLANT! 

We left stents and bypass surgery decades ago. We are in a full blown heart meltdown that requires a brand new heart. But watch this – the first heart that needs a transplant is mine, and yours, and those folks over there! We all do.

The Divine spoke through the Prophet Ezekiel and offered a promise that still stands true and deliverable today: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

Okay! I get it! We need the terrorists to have a new heart. We need the bigots to have a new heart. We need the political party (that is not yours) to have a new heart. We need Wall Street and Main Street to have a new heart. But HEAR ME! The only place to start is with the heart that you control…especially when you surrender that control to the One that created it. ME and YOU – WE NEED A NEW HEART! Here are three ways to get a new heart today:

1. Recognize that we don’t know everything about everything. And in that, realize that there is only ONE GOD, and you are not Him.
2. Forgive! The heart grows stronger when the soul is willing to forgive. I didn’t say anything about anybody accepting your forgiveness. I said your soul must forgive. In case you need a refresher on this, Jesus helped us understand forgiveness. If you need to be forgiven, you must be willing to forgive. Maybe you’re saying – “NO WAY, Chuck,” I will not, I can not forgive them.” Then your day in the Heavenly Courtroom might be a bit funky. All those folks that you are harboring hate in your soul for? They are one prayer away from being your Heavenly neighbor!
3. Serve! The great challenge in our country isn’t economics, debt, immigration, politics or fake news. The problem is a lack of leaders! John Maxwell has sold millions of books and made million of well-earned dollars helping folks lead better. I remember hearing him say, 30 years ago that leadership is best defined as INFLUENCE. While in my heart, I totally agree with him, I’m puzzled as to why all these leaders can’t seem to make a dent in all these problems? Here’s my AHA! We don’t need more Great Leaders with greater influence! We need a handful of Godly Leaders who are influenced by the One that created the world, and all that is in it…including you! Jesus said that if we were to ever be great, “we must serve!” Serve who? In this order 1) Him! 2) Others! 3) Him Again! 4) Others More!

Today is the time to start! Recognize, Forgive and Serve and watch your heart expand in its newfound health and see it take hold and spread like strep throat at a Youth Camp! (okay, bad example—but you get it!)

You see? You are the solution.

Peace, AChuck

Beauty & The Boycott:

Okay…Deep Breath…Here we go!
I find the whole boycott Disney thing so ridiculous. I really do. On the other hand, I can see why folks are all jacked up about it. But here is my take, not that anybody asked for it, but here it is none the less.

If people who are claiming to be Followers of Jesus are willing to boycott Disney, why do they keep spending thousands of dollars for their kids to enjoy the parks and films? Why do we keep ESPN and faithfully watch SportsCenter? Why do we watch Good Morning America? Here are a few companies that you may not know to be part of the Disney Family of Companies: Lucas Films (think Star Wars), Pixar (think Cars & Cars 2), Marvel Entertainment (think Iron Man & Captain America),  Touchstone (think Bridge of Spies, Lincoln & The Help), ABC (Think 20/20, Modern Family & Good Morning America), A&E (think Duck Dynasty), ESPN (think Monday Night Football), The History Channel (think American Pickers), and there are plenty more. But hey, it’s pretty easy to get all whacked out about Lefou! (You really didn’t think he might have been gay in the original animated film?)

Why are we so selective about what we want to scream about? Are we willing to also praise Disney for the decades of great entertainment? Are we going to thank them for hosting Disney’s Night of Joy, which hosts tens of thousands of Christians and bands like Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Crowder, and plenty more?

Come on, folks? At what point did Christians develop such venom and hypocrisy in America? We call for boycotts, but too often, don’t really know what or why we are boycotting.

I listened to a TED Talk yesterday from a young woman that grew up in the hate-filled, angry lynch-mob better known as Westboro Baptist Church. I am pleading with you to listen to and watch this 15-minute talk on how and why she got out.

You may feel that it’s your spiritual job, or even calling to shout, scream, picket, or hate other people. But with all I am, I do not believe that is the message of The Christ. I refuse to believe that the Divine’s highest calling on our lives is for us to spew venom and hatred to anybody!

When Jesus speaks of our desire to point out someone else’s  sin, He is perfectly Waterford Crystal clear that we are first called to address our own sin. To hide behind the statement “love the sinner and hate the sin” is so easy to state. I’ve discovered that we should drop that mantra and replace it with “hate my own sin so that I might love others well.”

Listen, folks. I’m probably more conservative than you are, but I continue to grow in the understanding that I have more than enough sin and selfishness in my own life to keep me busy, don’t you? In a season of American polarization and segregation, why can’t we, as Followers of Jesus first choose to work on our own hearts, minds, and souls to love God, and love others as we love ourselves?

In the TED Talk mentioned earlier, Megan Phelps suggests these four things to check-up on our love, hate, and motivation meters. Again, I urge you to listen/watch Megan by clicking HERE.

1. Don’t Assume Bad Intent. Assuming ill motives will end our opportunity to introduce our faith and the life-altering love of Jesus. I sincerely doubt that Lefou is part of a worldwide “Gay Agenda.”
2. Ask Questions. You might be right, but we must learn to convey a willingness to listen and hear rather than proving our position in anger.
3. Stay Calm. We often allow our “rightness” give liberty to our “rudeness.” At that point, the opportunity to live Jesus with others has stopped. Often finished with our tone and decibel levels.
4. Make Your Case. Paul explicitly directs each Follower of Jesus to be able to “have a reason and understanding for why you believe.” Terminal certainty, even when that confidence is fully correct and biblical, must always be personal, not corporate. Loving, not hate-filled. Kind, not angry. And lived, not just talked (or in this case screamed).

As the Divine directs, “let us not grow weary in doing good.” But I guess that depends on your definition and understanding of “GOOD.”

Seek Peace today and if you’re not sure where to start, try clicking  HERE.

Peace, AChuck

 

I read where many institutions of higher learning, like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Cal Berkeley excused students from finals, as they were too emotionally distraught over the presidential election and its outcome. Are you kidding me? Nope! No kidding. 

Clearly we are part of a unique season in American politics, but overwhelmed to the point that you cannot participate in an exam? This all started with participation trophies, ribbons, medals and moral victories. Here’s a life lesson to cling to. Once we grow up, we occasionally lose. 

When Jenny and I were dating (kinda), I joined her at one of Sam and Abby’s swim team matches. Having never done any swim team parent duty before, I was amazed that every single kid won a ribbon. If you were in the pool. You won a ribbon! How about that! If you couldn’t swim, you won a ribbon. 

Yes, they were different colors, but really? One Mom, came up to Jenny in a panic, as her precious child had not received a ribbon. When Jenn asked what the darling little ones name was, it became apparent that he had been in the pool one time, finishing in the lower third of his “race.” Jenny, being the pragmatist that she is asked, “what color would you like?” Blue seemed to be his favorite color and he was awarded a 1st place blue ribbon…bless his heart. 

By my math, the little boy is old enough to have voted in his first presidential election this week. I’m willing to bet that he was too distraught to attend class or show up for his part time job. Oh wait, he doesn’t have to work, he’s on a government subsidy that funds his education. 

Okay, I know that was an unnecessary rant. Thank you for enduring it. I feel much better. 

Every kid should be affirmed and encouraged, but not coddled. Every kid needs to learn how to win with humility and lose with class and dignity. I’ve won and I’ve lost. I’ve voted for winners that were losers, and for losers that were winners. I’ve been the best player on some bad teams and one of the worst players on some great teams. And! I am better because of it!

Disappointments are a part of life. Sometimes you win, and other times you don’t. Many of my failures have been my greatest times of personal growth and development.         So, if you are stressed out about what is to come, suck it up! Put on your big boy pants and do something to make this life better. Nobody has ever changed the world with a whine. President-elect Trump might be a disastrous leader. He might also be awesome. Either way, he won. 

The more we allow our kids to fail, while under our roofs, the more productive they will become to our society. It’s okay to lose, especially when it stings a little. It’s the universe’s way of humbling us and simultaneously motivating us. 

Go to your version of class, and take your exams. If you want a different elected leader in a few years, work for it to happen, or stay out of the pool. There are still situations where losing really occurs and it sharpens us, betters us, and prepares us. 

Oh, by the way, if this post has offended you, just tell me what color ribbon you would prefer. 

— Chuck