Achuckallen

Instigating Better

God and Country

I’m Offended!

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I’m Offended by AChuckAllen

Everywhere I turn, somebody has been offended. Each time that I watch the news, there are people offended and often another group of people taking up their offenses.

Come on, folks! We live in a world of diversity. We have diverse backgrounds, education, skin color, and spiritual maturity. As a result, we live in conflict. There it is! That awful “C-word,” CONFLICT! But, I don’t think we are dying from conflict, we are slowly dying from misdirected and mismanaged conflict. Wherever you are and whatever you do, is done in the sphere of diversity. And, wherever diversity exists, conflict is close behind.

We, as independent people, love our freedoms, especially when everyone agrees with us. But then life happens. Someone sees the world differently that you do, and BAM! Our diversity then becomes conflict.

We seem to be able to work together. Why then, can we not think together? Because conflict always exists, whether we verbalize or stuff it. The simple recognition that God created us uniquely should give us the catalyst to understand that we look differently, respond differently, and lead differently. Why in the world would we believe that we would not think and speak differently?

I am attempting to control my heart, and I’ve asked the Divine to guide me through this season. You know why? Well, thanks for asking. It is because I have no hope of understanding my heart, much less, changing it without God’s Spirit directing it.

We must stop being offended about everything that someone does or says. Remember that conflict is always present, so don’t take the bait. Refuse to buy into the lies that everyone has a deep and dark agenda to rob you of some freedom or right.

Ask your Creator to do a work within you that will soften your heart with empathy and sincerity, and see how differently this world of conflict is from the life God has directed us to live. Ask your Creator to thicken your skin, so you will not be the victim of everything somebody says.

The foolish, binary thoughts that we must live on the fringes of our ideals with simple yes/no questions leaves no room for us to create our own thoughts and convictions. If all we do is regurgitate someone else’s opinions, we are buying into the lies that the far right or far left has all the answers. That’s a steaming pile of poop!

Lay down your idealistic, emotional boo-boo’s and battle weary pitchforks long enough to develop an “up close” perspective. The further removed from something, the easier it is to take up an offense that was never about you. The longer we remain distanced from the problem, person or statement, we seem to be more offended. The closer we get to the statement, person or problem, the easier it is to develop sympathy, solutions and empathy for the person, problem or activity.

This overly simple, three step, mental activity will save you years of heartache and the temptation to become a statistic filled with rage and no healthy way to release that anger.

1) Live in the Spirit as He lives in you. 2) Offer grace and the reality that you may not know the whole story. 3) Discipline your soul to NOT pick up an offense unless it is personally directed at you and you can deal with it in love and preferably in person. Otherwise, let it go, let it go, let it go!

The real battle isn’t what, or who are offended by, the real battle is between your ears. I’ve discovered that when I am grateful, thoughtful, transparent, and grace-filled, I can lay those offenses down so much easier. How about you?

Go in Peace,
AChuck

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A Message for America

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A Message for America by AChuckAllen

What a stinking mess we have in America today! I am talking with folks from radically diverse backgrounds, faith systems, educational experiences, and social status, and this is what I keep hearing: “Why is everything so hard and so bitter in America today?” They may not articulate it in those exact words, but that is at the heart of so many people that call this great country, home.

Maybe you have been sheltered in place so long that you have your left or right political bent welded to your soul, but me? Well, I am on the hunt for a voice of reason in this political season of hatred. I cannot believe that the advisors and ego prompters that most of our national candidates have around them are encouraging this silliness. There is no possible way that Americans truly want our political voices to remain so binary that there is no voice of reason remaining in the contest.

We can do better. We must do better. And, by God’s grace, we will do better. Our very constitution and way of American life are literally at stake. Think with me about your Congressional district; 1) Are there any voices of reason, or are the candidates wallowing in the same mud puddle? 2) Have each of the remaining candidates locked their campaign with the presidential candidate? 3) Have your options for Congress left you thinking, “Is that really the best that my country offers? 4)) Is there any person running for a national office that has been able to stay above the fray of the media bate to trash the other opponent?

Let me say it again: We can do better. We must do better. And, by God’s grace, we will do better. Making the changes that are required in the House, Senate and the White House requires more than your vote. Your vote is vital, but your action is what will make this nation the city on the hill that President Reagan spoke of. His reference taken from the Scriptures is where we will find that voice of reason.

The origin of the phrase, “City on a Hill,” is found in Matthew 5: 14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“

If you want to make the changes necessary to return to and become that city on a hill, then write your leaders, pray for your leaders. Speak up to your leaders. But, please speak with the voice of reason. Have a convictional, and original thought regarding your part of this great republic. What do you think about the appointment of judges? What do you think about abortion? What do you think about healthcare, Obamacare, and national healthcare? What do you think about our national debt? What would you do about immigration?

You cannot complain and whine about the political and societal mess in America unless you codify your opinions and beliefs. Don’t be a screamer with someone else’s opinions. Form your own. Then speak to the problems with solution and well-founded, original thoughts.

Let your light so shine!

–AChuck

Why Trump or Biden?

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Why Will You Vote for Donald Trump or Joe Biden in 148 Days?

That should attract some attention. Who and why you will vote in November 2020. In many ways, things have radically changed since 2016, while many other things seem to remain stagnant. I struggle with being fired up about either of these candidates, but let’s face facts, that’s who we have to vote for. Here are a few things to think about:

  • It is still about the appointment of judges! More valuable than the economy and foreign policy, even immigration. It’s all about the selection of judges. If you are a conservative, as I am, then you have to weigh the track record of both candidates and determine where you want the future court(s) to go. You determine that.
  • I don’t meet many folks that are diehard supporters of either of these fellas. I do meet people that have strong opinions about their ideas, platforms, and party alignment. So if we are to measure a presidential vote on likability, Biden wins in a landslide. If we are to measure our vote on pro-business, lower taxes, and economic recovery, history would give you a reason to vote for Donald Trump. The outliers with Trump flags and Never-Trump flags aren’t the heart of this nation, any more than the far left socialists are. They are on the periphery of our voting populous.
  • If you are a Follower of Jesus, both of these candidates can drive you crazy. President Trump would help himself and our support if he considered slowing down or even shutting down the Twitter barrage of insanity. Mr. Biden would help if he could pick a belief system and stick with it. Pairing up with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, or Kamala Harris isn’t helping calm my fears. I want to like President Trump. I like his economic position. I like his foreign policy position. I like his tax and business-first mentality. I hate that he is a bully. I cannot stand the constant attacks via Twitter. I disdain his typical rage-filled tantrums. But with Mr. Biden, I must ask, who will genuinely run the country? Before you go off on this statement, just recognize the ongoing gaffs and instability of Biden’s health. I am all for a female to run the country. We men have had 240 plus years and we seem to have digressed in our leadership capacity. But Joe, I cannot line up with the women you are talking about.
  • If I could pick a candidate to write-in, and believe that write-in counted, I would write in former Ambassador to the UN and Governor of the great state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. She is brilliant and gracious. We could use a heavy dose of both of those characteristics.
  • I disagree with much of the Trump Doctrine, and in truth, I cannot vote for Mr. Biden as his political leanings are simply too far left for me.
  • So, it all comes down to five simple thoughts (at least to me).

    1. JUDGES and the FUTURE of THE COURTS.
    2. ECONOMIC RECOVERY from the AMERICAN SHUTDOWN.
    3. FOREIGN POLICY – NORTH KOREA, RUSSIA, and CHINA.
    4. TAXES and PRO-BUSINESS GROWTH.
    5. FAIR TRADE with GLOBAL ECONOMIES
  • I would love to be able to select a President based on his, or her faith-filled life and his commitment to Godly leadership. That doesn’t seem to be a high priority for either candidate. As a result, I will look toward these five items. Let the hate mail begin!

    –AChuck


Open When?

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Open When? by AChuckAllen

Let’s face it, if we open too soon, the critics will be screaming. If we open too slowly, the critics will be screaming. So, just to play the role of Captain Obvious here, no matter what you do, someone is going to be screaming at you. Got it!

But that isn’t the end of the story. This “I caught you doing something wrong” mentality that we have allowed to spring out of glorified shock-jock media entertainers is pressing us into a powder keg that is ready to explode. You pick almost any subject, then google that subject and you’ll discover that America is roughly 50-50. Split right down the middle on almost every topic other than we need to rebound from this shutdown…safely.

To do so requires we Americans to fight back and press on. Fight back, not at your governor, or your president, but fight back against the insane rhetoric that is spewed from both sides of the media aisles. Americans need a voice of reason, and that voice is already in many of us. Why can we not regulate what we are willing to listen and watch with a better intent than watching a train wreck. Have we not learned that counting on Washington is a fool’s errand? Have we not recognized the foolish hate talk thrown around the newsroom?

The answers are not to be found in the halls of Congress. The solutions will not be discovered in the offices of senators. I can promise you that the answers will not be found in the pundits that propagate shouting matches as to who is worse.

The answers we seek are found in Americans truly trusting that the Divine Creator of the Universe is waiting on us to seek Him first and in all our ways acknowledge that He is God and we are not. The odd thing about that is that it costs us nothing to stop, take an accurate inventory of our situation and know that whether it is a pandemic, economic collapse, or a fully public moral failure, our Creator is the only way out of the present mess. I know that seems like a simple man’s answer, but I would argue that it is a thinking person’s answer.

  • If we are to admit who our Creator is, we have step one.
  • If we are to acknowledge that all wisdom comes from on high, we have step two.
  • If we were to seek that wisdom, He promises to faithfully grant that wisdom, step three.
  • If we were to admit, acknowledge and seek, we then could eagerly obey, step four.
  • If we were to obey, we might just fall to our knees and offer proper praise and thanks for the fact that the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit has heard our prayer. That we might just turn from our self-filled ways and hear from Him…Then we would hear from Heaven and will be forgiven our sins and our land would be restored. There it is, step five.

Simple, right? So, when should we open? Do I need to go back through numbers 1-5 again? Let’s be ready to open the second He gives us the green light. Should we happen to be bright enough to actually follow these steps, what an awesome way to return to our places of worship, and continue streaming our message, and care for those in need and maximize our efforts to love people with the life-altering message of Christ.

Go in Peace,
AChuck

GRIT is Your Superpower

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GRIT is Your Superpower by ACHUCKallen

John Wayne was one of America’s great actors and great Americans. He somehow seemed bigger than life, and that may have been a result of the fact that he was popular in the age before social media took over!

My two favorite John Wayne quotes are:

# 1 “Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.”

# 2 “Courage is being scared to death…but saddling up anyway.”

John Wayne won his only Oscar in 1969 for the movie “True Grit.” In the movie, 14 year-old Mattie says to Wayne’s character, Marshall Cogburn, ”They tell me you are a man with true grit.”

Angela Duckworth did her research on what seperated successful people in various high stress situations, from those that crumbled. After an extensive study, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn’t social intelligence. It wasn’t good looks, physical health, and it wasn’t IQ. It was grit.”

The best definition I’ve ever heard of grit is: “Grit is doing what you don’t want to do, to be what you want to be.”

If you want to succeed wildly, you need to develop grit. True grit or more properly put God-honoring GRIT is your super-power. And here is how you get that kind of grit.

Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23-27 ”Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. [24] Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. [25] Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. [26] Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. [27] Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. …And just how are we going to do that? Let’s start with our emotions.

Reel in Your Emotions

A person with true grit will never give in to the list of following seven emotions. There is a difference between being attacked by these things and allowing them to take you over. The list includes: “anxiety, fear, doubt, guilt, depression, discouragement and jealousy” It is not mind over matter for the Follower of Christ. It is the continual applying of God’ Word to overcome your negative emotions.

Here are the seven.

Anxiety. Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Doubt. Mark 11:23 says:I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

Guilt. Isaiah 43:25 “I-yes, I alone-will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

Depression. Psalm 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

Discouragement. Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Jealousy. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud

Tenacity What does the Bible have to say about tenacity? What does the Bible have to say about tenacity? Hebrews 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Amelia Earhart once said: “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

The strength of a person’s character. . .their grit and drive to success is determined by whether or not they can finish what they started.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

If God doesn’t change, and He doesn’t. If His word doesn’t change, and it doesn’t. If God’s promises remain the same, and they do. Then it’s pretty obvious: We need to change.

Acts 3:19 in The Living Bible says: “Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.”

But hear this,“faith is a fact, but you’ve got to act.” Life is full of people who talk about what they’re going to do someday. I have a friend who is one of the most creative people that I’ve ever met, but he has a totally unrealistic view of what it takes to make the things in his mind become a reality. Here’s a word of truth: A creation without implementation with never come to fruition.

Do you want to move from where you are to where God wants you to succeed? Then do something instead of talking about it. Take one step and let Him propel you thru the next 30!

When you read or listen to God’s Word, then simply obey and act on His Word. And when you do, God will bless you and reward you! This is True Grit!

This is how we push past pandemics, failures, market crashes and circumstances outside of our control. Go get your grit on!

CHUCK ALLEN Pastor · Speaker · Author · Coach

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Troop Zero

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TROOP ZERO by AChuckAllen

Jenny and I watched an Amazon Original the other night and I thought it was a must watch for America, especially during this political season of open name calling and deep-state poop that every aisle is slinging. It’s an odd movie with one of the most powerful message that I’ve seen in a long time.

Hear me on this, the language can be a bit salty and the characters are not what many folks would hold up as a model, but I fell in love with the misfit kids and adults of this fictional, tiny town in rural Georgia.

I learned three things from this simple movie.

1. I Greatly Dislike Mean People. I’m serious. I know that mean people seem to occupy our airwaves of audio and video content, but I want to call for a cease-fire on the hate talk and cruel spirited talk that is considered a norm today. Stop it! Nothing can suck the life-giving oxygen out of a room more than hate talk and mean spirited attitudes.

Proverbs 15:1-2
[1] A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. [2] The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. …

2. Unique is Awesome. I mean it. This group of misfit kids were being raised by misfit adults that had totally given up on their future. I’m now sixty years old and I’ve got dreams of what I want to conquer and create, like never before. These are the things that wake me up every morning. Somewhere along the way, we must continue to give kids an opportunity to celebrate their weirdness. I am an odd bird. I think counter culturally and I am drawn to folks that think counter culturally. America was birthed on the unique concept that all people have great value. Friends, we must stop telling people, with our words and attitudes that they are somehow less valued than we are. If you claim to be a Follower of Jesus, walk, talk and live with a graciousness that comes from being a Child of the King!

“The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct.” Andrew Murray

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” ― C.S. Lewis

3. True, Unscripted Authenticity is Powerful. I watched this fictional little girl, known as a bed wetter be belittled and picked apart. The back story was that her mother had passed away and her daddy was ill equipped, in his own grief to be a healthy daddy. I understood that more than most folks. But still, this little girl and her band of equally authentic friends took that emotional trigger of anxiety and in it, discovered authentic community and joy. If only our messed up, self-centered, mean-spirited adult world could simply discover joy in who we are and in all that God made us to be!

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6

As I wrap this up, I realize that this movie would never take America by storm or win any accolades on a red carpet. It’s not a “Christian film,” or filled with stars. It’s just a movie that moved me to write about these three life lessons.

Please don’t read between these lines and make the assumption that I have arrived in these three areas, but God knows that I desire to do so. May we become a people that want to make America great by the people of God becoming more like He asks and calls us to be.

Go in Peace,
AChuck

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