Achuckallen

Instigating Better

DAILY PRODUCTIVITY PLAN

These Ten Minutes Will Change Your Life

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These Ten Minutes Will Change Your Life by AChuckAllen

I’ve read more leadership development and spiritual development books than I can count. I’ll continue to do so, as reading is one of the best ways to constantly sharpen your life, love and leadership.

After all of those books, I’ve determined that you can radically improve your life, if you will consistently do these three things, over just ten minutes, each day.

1. Gratitude! I’ve said it at least one thousand times, but gratitude will radically change your life. Don’t just think what you are grateful for, write it down. Use your phone, a notebook or my Power Routines Journal…but whatever you do, insert the intentional effort to be grateful for at least two things, every single day! The science and the Scriptures agree that gratitude, when intentionally added to your daily routine will put you in a far better place to succeed wildly. This takes three minutes, max!

2. Pray Outloud! That’s right, talk to the Divine, vocally. There is nothing that will jumpstart or get your prayer life started, like talking to God outloud. I struggled with keeping my eyes closed and trying to pray “correctly” to the degree that I was actually frustrated with prayer. When I started keeping my eyes open, my head up and speaking out loud, my prayer life took on an entire different trajectory. Stop worrying about if you are “praying correctly” and just talk out loud. God knows what’s going on and nothing you can do will wow Him anyway. So just talk. This can be as short as three minutes!

3. HUSH! That’s right. Just get quiet and get still for three minutes and listen or feel for what the Divine wants to speak into your life. Prayer has always been designed by your Creator to be a discussion, not a monologue. When we stop in a brief moment of quietude and solitude, we will all learn how God speaks truth, wisdom, peace, power and direction into our lives. I’ve never seen a bush burning, that wasn’t consumed, but I am given daily peace, power and direction when I stop and ask the Divine for each of those things. He pushes me, prods me, prompts me, speaks to me and gives me nudges within my soul. He will do the same for you when you ask Him to. I don’t know anybody that couldn’t benefit from a greater sense of peace, power and direction in their life! You can do this in three minutes!

I get it. You’re saying, “Chuck, you can’t promise that will happen. Yes, yes I can. God has promised to be with you, to comfort you, to give you wisdom and give you peace. I am living proof of what life can look like when you don’t activate these ten minutes in your life and I’m living proof of what happens when you do. If you need a fresh start and a new and better way, get serious with these ten minutes and watch what happens. Let me know by shooting me a note at chuck@achuckallen.com.

Go In Peace,
AChuck

The Christian and Impeachment

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The Christian and Impeachment by A-Chuck Allen

I realize that the hate mail might flow from both sides of the aisle after reading today’s article, but here goes. Let me start by saying, I am in no possible way endorsing any candidate by writing this article.

This effort to impeach the President seems like another multi-million-dollar burn rate hunt that seems, from all apparent speculation to be poor partisan leadership that’s running wild at best and fool-filled hatred at worst. That’s not a good rock or a hard place to be.

I’ve been vocal on this BLOG to point out what I see as presidential errors and foolishness, but let’s face it…the country elected him, and he is our Commander in Chief. I’ve also praised him for opening more doors for the faith community to serve in areas previously off-limits to churches and faith-based non-profits. As best that I can tell, President Trump may have opened more faith based doors than any president in our history.

But dang it, he makes it so hard to love him and at times, even like him. I do indeed praise him for the efforts that have allowed me (first hand) to play a small role in the Southern Border Crisis and lending resources and aid to The Bahamas. For that I am grateful. For the judges that have been appointed, I’m grateful for that.

Now, after the Mueller Report seemed to be much laborious reading about nothing, we are opening official impeachment hearings. Yep, with tongue entirely in cheek, that’ll surely help the country!

I detest President Trump’s horrific description of women, caught on tape with Billy Bush. I daily want someone to close his Twitter account. I do not like or admire his language, especially when my Lord’s name is taken in vain. But are we really to believe that dragging the country through more hate-filled, hate-speech, petty bickering is going to lift our country to it’s highest decorum in decency and kindness? Not a chance.

You might have read this far and want to firebomb my car, but give it another paragraph before bailing out.

Let the man serve his four years and if you don’t like him as the POTUS, elect somebody else! Stop finding every possible way to derail and sabotage our country by attempting to undermine his administration. There are good people serving in so many offices that spend more time dodging hateful barbs thrown their way than doing their job.

You might be saying, “great Chuck, but as a Follower of Jesus, what should I do?”

  1. Don’t get sucked into the partisan, binary hate-speech and innuendo.
  2. Stop joining the arguments on either side. Start offering to serve in one of the many ways that you could help and make a difference instead of loading up with pundit popularism about the latest “he-said-she-said-they -said” gossip and half-truth. At best, don’t speak at all unless you are better educated than the casual viewer of CNN, MSNBC, FOX News or any other pundit rants.
  3. Stop assuming that someone – anyone on the “other side of the aisle” is wrong in every way. There are great people in both camps and we do them a disservice to lump them all into the same basket.
  4. Please stop the mindless arguments on social media that seem to be more hateful as the days go by.
  5. If you think someone offers a better future economically, in the appointments of faith-friendly judges, and in allowing the faith community go to work beside governmental friends, then defeat Mr. Trump in November 2020.
  6. Please stop expecting the pulpit to become a politically supportive cowbell, calling in all of the chips to make a point about politics and not Jesus. I’ll stick to my guns. If we were to elect God’s person to lead this proud land, it most likely woudn’t be anybody in the running! But if we were to put Jesus in the right priority in our life, the rest is a forgone conclusion.
  7. PRAY without ceasing. Pray for wisdom from on high for the Trump family. Pray for his cabinet. Pray for wisdom on the other side of the aisle and pray for ways that you can impact your community without the argumentative process of offensive, angry pundit talk.
  8. Serve people in need and watch how the Lord will elevate your voice and your potential to make a difference in the lives of real people with real problems. Jesus was Waterford crystal clear on this: “If you want to be great, you must become a servant.”

I’m no longer able to watch the political trash on any network, but I do pray every single day for Mr. Trump, his family, his pastor, Paula White and for the Democratic leaders, especially those running for the highest office in our land. All of Washington needs our prayers and according to God, “The effective prayer of righteous people avail much.” So pray!

Support whoever you wish, but do so because you have a deep conviction in what is right and just and holy. You might have to look really deeply into your soul. If you seek the Lord in all of your ways, He will use you in the effort to serve people in need and vote with conviction…regardless of who you vote for.

As Chuck Colson (a man who knows a few things about impeachment) said,  “Politics is nothing but an expression of culture. It is not enough to win elections, for political power alone cannot change how people live or change their values. It is essential to change hearts and minds as well. And that starts, not in Washington, but with our neighbors.”

Go in Peace,
AChuck

One Change I Would Make in My 50’s

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One Change I Would Make in My 50’s by A-ChuckAllen

I’m closing in on 60 years old. YIKES! I remember thinking that 60 was really, really old. Now it seems like it’s still really old. I am a pretty happy guy. I have a great job, a great marriage, six healthy daughters and five grandkids. I love what I do, but if I could go back a decade, I’d change ONE THING!

That one thing, would be to put away more of my emotions and bank on something far greater. I have spent the better part of my adult life living on my gut feelings and my raw emotions. I can have huge swings in my attitudes and often in my emotions. I’ll bet that I am not alone in that. I’m a “Type A.” “DISC High D, ” action-oriented person with a radical bent toward performance and productivity. That doesn’t help my case, no matter how proudly my temperament screams that I’ve got my act together!

If I could change one big thing over the past decade it would be to engage something daily that would trump my emotions, ego, pride, perspectives and accolades. I know of one thing that can do all of that and then more. If I could have trusted God at His word ten years ago, I would have spent more intentional time in Meditation. Don’t skip out on me here. My word is meditation. Yours might be “quiet time” or “devotional.” I don’t particularly care what you call it, but I now know of it’s power.

About three years ago, I knew my life was on a rapid pace of change. I was becoming more aware of legacy and what I might someday leave behind. The certainty was that I needed something that could overwhelm my soul and all of the internal flaws and pride. I needed something that would infuse me with peace, power and daily direction.

I found that certain something in MEDITATION. It’s an art form of four spiritual disciplines – FOUR HABITS – GRATITUDE, SCRIPTURE READING, JOURNALING AND PRAYER. These habits have become my morning routine and I rarely miss them or misplace them.

I have found that when I start my day with gratitude, what I have is more than enough. When I start my day with an intentional desire to get a small sampling of God’s Word in my soul, my days are packed with peace and power. I have learned to enjoy journaling. Not keeping a diary, but answering a few short questions that remind me to capture what the Divine is doing in my life, and praying. In my case, praying includes speaking out loud to my Creator and then getting quiet and still so that I could train my heart, mind and soul to hear His voice. I’ve found that He is still in the talking business and we chat most days, hour by hour. He speaks in promptings and feelings. He speaks in hushed whispers and at times with what is the equivalent of a shout!

I looked everywhere to find a resource that could turn those four habits into a sustainable, daily resource, to no avail. As a result, I created a resource that I have test driven for three years. They became known, in my little head as “My Power Routines.”

I’ve now published three volumes of Power Routines in an effort to invite you into a fifteen minute discipline that is simplistic, sustainable and powerful. In just fifteen minutes, you can engage in the same four habits of GRATITUDE, SCRIPTURE READING, JOURNALING & PRAYER. I’ll walk you through every step. Each volume is a separate 30-day journey.

What’s the ONE THING that I’d change? My intentional effort to discover peace, power and direction through the spiritual habits of Power Routines.

I’d be so happy to hear how these POWER ROUTINES have helped you. Grab your copy of Volume 2 on Amazon RIGHT HERE!

I Can’t Wait to Hear From You!

A-Chuck

4forFRIDAY with AChuck

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

AChuck’s 4forFRIDAY 04-05-2019

A Really Good Read: The Way of the Warrior

I love the writings of Erwin McManus. This dude pastors an incredible church in LosAngeles and has helped shape a great deal of my worldview over the years. This is a great read…especially for men.

Another Great Read: The Next Right Thing

I’ve been an Emily P. Freeman fan since “Tuesday Morning” was written a few years back. I listen to her podcast regularly and totally love this book. It’s a great companion to my Power Routines, by the way. You’ll enjoy this read, espaecially if you are female.

A Really, Really Good Lunch: Southbound

Jenny and I joined friends for lunch at Southbound and it was so stinking good! I had a catfish po-boy that’ll bless your situation. Jenn went with the burger and a salad. Everybody had plenty of food and the price was quite reasonable. You’ll be glad you went!

A Simple Plug for My New Tool, POWER ROUTINES.

I have experienced the power of the Living God as I have intentionally insertyed Gratitude, Scripture, Journaling and Prayer into my morning routine. Having no other resource that incorporated these disciplines, I created it myself. Your copy is waiting on you at Sugar Hill Church this Sunday. $10/ea and $2 for $15.

A Really Solid APP: Christian Audio

You know that I’m not a fan of many things that start with the word “Christian”, but this app is great. There are plenty of great books on audio and typically less expensive than audiobook.com. If you aren’t necessarily a reader, this is a super app. If, like me you enjoy listening to books while you ride, it’s a great resource.

Bonus Suggestion: A Podcast that I Faithfully Listen To: Lead to Win

Michael Hyatt and his daughter, Megan Hyatt Miller are great hosts and great leaders. I’ve been encouraged and coached by them both. You’ll grow and be challenged with every episode. AND, Michael’s new book Free to Focus is a GREAT, REALLY GREAT resource!

A Quote from Richard Rohr:

“Every time God forgives us, God is saying that God’s own rules do not matter as much as the relationship that God wants to create with us.” 

The Weekday Podcast and the Weekday Meditation

The Podcast is a 5 minute/day, 5 days/week Bible devotion that is a great word of encouragement.

The Meditation is about 7 minutes/day, 5/days/week and is designed to give you a combined and guided prayer and meditation experience.

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

Go in Peace, AChuck