Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Leadership

If You Aren’t Perfect…

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Maybe I am the only person that has felt the sting of imperfection, daily. I’m so far from perfect that I couldn’t even see perfect with the Hubble Telescope. Or maybe there are plenty of us out there and we just don’t talk about our imperfections, frailties, insecurities and failures?

I think there are plenty of us that recognize our significant peculiarities and the challenges that they present. But why then do we see through the lenses of social media, our veneered, perfectly wonderful lives?

I listened to a podcast recently from a distant hero of mine, Michele Cushatt. Michele is a speaker, author, coach and part of leadership team at Michael Hyatt and Company. She is brave, brilliant, powerful, full of faith and a source of wisdom and encouragement.

If you are one my fellow messed up pilgrims in this life of ours, I urge you to listen to THIS PODCAST. When you have listened to this episode, stop and invite the God of all Creation to simultaneously soften your heart for the folks in your relational circles that aren’t perfect, while thickening your skin to the sting of criticism and shame.

I promise you that you’ll be encouraged and strengthened by listening to Michele Cushatt.

As Always—-Go in Peace,
AChuck

If I Were 17 Again

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If I Were 17 Again by AChuckAllen

Even with the odd graduations of 2020, it would appear that we will be going back to school this fall. As a result, I started thinking about the things I would do differently if I were about to start my senior year at South Gwinnett High School again.

I enjoyed my high school years, well at least a couple of them. My dad moved us several times during my four years, but I wound up attending three schools, but two schools for three years. I know, it was odd.

I have fond memories of my short time at Southwest Dekalb High School, which I attended for one fall and then we were off to South Gwinnett. There we stayed for almost two full years and we made a stop in Lubbock, Texas. I attended a few Summer School classes attempting to avoid sitting out a year of varsity football. That summer turned out to be a great year and held one of my favorite adventures of high school. I was 15 years old, living with Mom and Dad in Texas. I would have had to sit out a football season and so, moving back to Georgia was my highest priority. So, I left Mom, Dad and the sweetest little girlfriend, Deanna and drove myself (remember-15 years old) from Lubbock, Texas directly to Camp Bow and Arrow for football camp with my teammates – The Not So Mighty South Gwinnett Comets. That trip at 15 years old included a night of sleep in the back of my Monte Carlo in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Sometimes being stupid will cause you to grow up in a hurry. So, after that little bypass, here are my re-wishes.

If I could relive a few of those senior days, I would have:

1. I wish that I had been less of a butthead and been a nicer human being. Especially to kids that were struggling.

2. I wish I had been a real Follower of Christ, not a convenient Christian with no spiritual guts at all.

3. I wish I had played every single play like I was one yard away from winning the Super Bowl. I loved playing ball!

4. I wish I would have said yes to Troy.

5. I wish I would have focused more on literature and actually listened to Mrs. Adair. I didn’t particularly like her.

6. I wish I had started intentionally reading earlier in life…like as in at 17.

7. I wish I would have made that one tackle that got away from me while playing the coldest game of my life at Elbert County. That dude was big.

8. I wish I would have kicked the guy playing over me as I was long snapping while at Habersham County in the privates. I don’t even know his name, but I still hate him.

9. I wish I would have treated my Mom and Dad with more respect. When you are 17-18 years old you really are an idiot.

10. And finally, I wish that I would have honored my coaches for the painstaking efforts they poured into me. I’d still try and run through a wall for any of them..especially Coaches Strickland, Johnson, Carter and Sawyer.

We don’t have the luxury of reliving our past, but we can pass along our hard earned knowledge to those that come behind us. So, feel free to share these and your desired mulligans with the kids that will start their Senior years this Fall.

Go in Peace, AChuck

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

Don’t miss a single day of my Weekday Podcast. Just 5 minutes/day and 5 days/week will deliver to your inbox a “Cup of Encouragement.”

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

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