Achuckallen

Instigating Better

4ForFriday

4forFRIDAY with ACHUCKAllen

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SELECTED READS, LISTENS, LEARNINGS, AND REVIEWS for April 23, 2021

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAYoffers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, for your enjoyment.
Thanks Again!

A Brief, but Awesome 40-Day Devotional: The Chosen; 40-Days with Jesus

It’s short, poignant, challenging and well prepared. This brief 40-day devotional from The Chosen is designed for folks that are in a hurry, but want to have a brief time of spiritual growth and grounding in their lives. But it’s not watered down. The book itself can easily be placed in a bag or pocket, and the devotion can be done in 4 minutes, easily. I think you’ll dig it…really!

An App and Reminder of The Chosen

This series is so entertaining, and so encouraging. I absolutely love the characters and the quality. In the app, you can view every episode from seasons one and two. It also has products that I am enjoying (see above). I urge you to watch this show and any of the outtakes on YouTube.

A Solid Business Read: The Culture Quotient by Gregory Besner

I really enjoyed this book. It was challenging, but super practical. If you are a entrepreneur, CEO, or a business leader, read this book. Amazon says: “Based on never-before-shared insights from more than 1,000 organizations and millions of employees, this insightful book reveals the ten essential culture qualities that can help any organization prepare for, and thrive in a constantly changing future.”

A Great Low-Carb, Keto Friendly Breakfast or Snack: Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Bites

If you are looking for a delicious way to eat low-carb, keto friendly snacks, or even a breakfast option, these are filling and delicious! I love the turkey sausage, but the regular sausage is great as well. Just pop them in the microwave for about 65 seconds and boom! You’ve low-carb deliciousness!

A Quote from Author St. Francis of Assisi :

“It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful.
The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me
to embrace God in all things..”

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures.
New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY 04.09.21

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SELECTED READS, LISTENS, LEARNINGS, AND REVIEWS for April 9, 2021

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAYoffers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings,
and Reviews, for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

A Great Article from Scott Sauls: Critique Gently, Encourage Fiercely

This brief article is timely and helpful. If there ever was an article that America needs, it is this one. From Scott’s article: “It has been said, “Be kind because everyone you meet is fighting a hard, hidden battle.” As we limp toward transparency and community and friendship with our own fears and insecurities,
we recognize that we aren’t alone.”

A Business Book for Everyone: The Breakout Blueprint by Doug Foley

I loved this book, and read it twice. If you are struggling to make lifestyle and work connect, read this book!
“Many of us live in a prison of our own making. We spend our lives dreading Mondays, looking forward to paychecks, and working longer hours, only to shoulder even more responsibility. It’s a never-ending chase. Life doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time to stop going through the motions and start living. It’s time to build a business that offers you freedom. After interviewing more than 150 entrepreneurs, Doug Foley realized they all had one thing in common—and it wasn’t a fancy job title, car, or house. Instead of building their lives around their businesses, they built their businesses around the lives they wanted to live.

An APP for Every Follower of Jesus: SoulSpace

If you’ve been around this BLOG or Sugar Hill Church for very long, you know that I am a huge proponent of Prayerful Meditation. The centering power of time seeking the wisdom, clarity, peace, and power
of the Divine is essential to walking the talk of Faith in Jesus.
This is a meditation app anchored to truth, love, and peace.

A Reminder of a Really Fun and Delicious Restaurant: BlueTop

We returned to BlueTop after a long COVID season, and it was still one of my favorite stops. Nestled in Chamblee, Georgia, this fun-filled place has some extraordinary casual, comfort food. My favorite is definitely the sloppy-joe, but the fish tacos are a close second. If you happen to be fortunate enough to be there when they are serving the beignet fries, you are in for a very sweet and decadent treat! Dip those bad boys in the chocolate sauce and you will be thanking me!

A Quote from Psychologist Adam Grant on How to Elicit Feedback:

“When people hesitate to give honest feedback on an idea, draft, or performance, I ask for a 0-10 score.No one ever says 10. Then I ask how I can get closer to a 10. It motivates them to start coaching me – and motivates me to be coachable. I want to learn how to close the gap.”

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures.
New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY January 29, 2021

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01.29.2021

Five years from now, you’ll be the same person you are today, other than the books you read, the places you go, and the people you meet.

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAYoffers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, only for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

A Fantastic Book from Jim Denison: To Follow in His Footsteps: A Daily Walk with Jesus through the Holy Land

From the soaring peaks of Mount Hermon to the watery depths of the Dead Sea . . .From the bustling city of Tel Aviv to the ancient ruins of Masada . . . From a Bethlehem stable to an empty tomb outside of Jerusalem . . . In To Follow in His Footsteps: A Daily Walk with Jesus through the Holy Land, you will experience Jesus at dozens of sites where he made his indelible and eternal mark on the world. This is a fantastic devotional book that includes the most thoughtful and well-crafted book I’ve seen on the Holy Land. Dr. Denison is my favorite author, and he has created a beautiful piece of art hand literature. You should get this book!

A Great Video Teaching from Joe Sangl; 9 Rungs to Your Fully Funded Life

I typical Joe Sangl fashion, this is fast-paced, super-sharp teaching that will help you get your financial dreams on track, on point, and fully funded. If you’ve ever wondered what your next step is in creating a financially secure future, watch everything you can from our friend, Joe Sangl.

A Fun, Binge-Worthy Show on Netflix: Monarca

This Netflix series feels like part soap opera and part cartel docu-series. The patriarch of this crazy Mexican family is murdered, and his daughter is trying to revive their family business, including the Monarca Tequila Company. It’s just mindless fun.

A Great Chicken Pot Pie, Southern Baked Pie Company

A dear friend brought us a chicken pot pie that was better than homemade. It was full of white meat, vegetables and the crust was so light and flaky. It was so good! You will be so happy that you got a pie from Southern Baked Pie Company.

A Quote from Richard Rohr

“Faith is not for overcoming obstacles; it is for experiencing them—all the way through!”

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures.
New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the
Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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4forFRIDAY November 27, 2020

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAY offers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, only for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

A Christmas Event with a Twist: BLUE CHRISTMAS

Christmas can be difficult for so many people. Just the thought of not having a loved one with you through the holidays or trying to work your way out of grief and anxiety is challenging. That’s what “Blue Christmas” is a perfect, comfortable evening for you to join me at Sugar Hill Church in our Chapel at 7:00 pm. Music, Communion, Prayer, and Encouragement. November 29, 2020.

A Really Fun and Great Restaurant: Blue Top

I mentioned this restaurant a couple of years ago, but here is a reminder about Blue Top in Chamblee’s revived little downtown. The food truck turned indoor/outdoor restaurant with fire pits, and the kid-friendly area is so good. I went with the comfort food sloppy-joe with queso and house-made chips. I think you’ll love its casual feel and comfort food.

A Furiously Paced Novel from Brad Thor: Use of Force

Another Scott Harvath series novel from Thor that I enjoyed for mindless, fun reading. As a storm rages across the Mediterranean Sea, a terrifying distress call is made to the Italian Coast Guard. Days later, a body washes ashore. Identified as a high-value terrorism suspect (who had disappeared three years prior), his name sends panic through the Central Intelligence Agency. Where was he headed? What was he planning? And could he be connected to the “spectacular attack” they have feared all summer? In a race against time, the CIA taps an unorthodox source to get answers: Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath. Hired on a black contract, Harvath will provide the deniability the United States needs, while he breaks every rule along the way.

Awesome BBQ and Even Better Brunswick Stew: DAS Barbecue

The pork (Boston Butt) is fantastic, but I fell in love with the old school ground Brunswick stew. I felt like I had been transported back to the old Gil’s BBQ in Holly Hill, Fl as a kid! Man, that stuff was so good!

A Fun Family Card Game we Love: Hand and Foot

We play this game a lot at home but had eight players at Thanksgiving, and it is so fun. If you’re like me and know nothing about card games, this is for you!

A Quote from T.S. Eliot

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

My Spiritual Journals, Power Routines are now available at the Sugar Hill Church Store and Amazon. Instigating the habits of Gratitude, Scripture Reading, Journaling, and Guided Prayer is a powerful way to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE! Pick up your copies of POWER ROUTINES at Sugar Hill Church or Amazon.

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures. New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, AChuck

4forFRIDAY with ACHUCKAllen

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I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAY offers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, simply for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

4forFRIDAY November 6, 2020

A Really Fun Place to Grab a Light Dinner: LaGarde American Eatery in Chamblee

Jenny and I grabbed a late lunch on a beautiful Fall afternoon at LaGarde and loved the whole vibe of this little joint in Chamblee. The outside seating and fire pit were a bonus, but the food was excellent. Don’t miss the pimento cheese appetizer, and I would get either the burger (that’s a lot of meat) or the fried shrimp po-boy (that’s a lot of shrimp.) If you are looking for something different than the typical chain, you’ll probably like LaGarde.

A Really Good Read for Our Times: Respectfully, I Disagree: How to Be a Civil Person in an Uncivil Time by Jim Denison

From one of my favorite authors, Jim Denison. Two out of three Americans consider civility to be a major problem in our country today. Only 7 percent say it is not a problem at all. It seems we are all fighting to be heard, but no one’s listening. Has our culture lost the art of civility?

A Fun Novel from Stephen Coonts; The Russia Account

The Russia Account, pits CIA officer Tommy Carmellini against a murderous international financial conspiracy that leaves a trail of death and corruption, extending from a small bank in Estonia to the highest reaches of the Kremlin and the halls of Congress—perhaps even to the CIA itself, putting Admiral Jake Grafton, the head of the CIA, in the crosshairs of an assassin.

A Really Great Brunch! Flavorich in Suwanee

I know food, and I love food. This little gem on Buford Highway has the best Chicken and Waffles on the planet! If you love shrimp and grits, well, this is your place! The menu isn’t huge, but the food is so stinking good!!

A Quote from Scott Sauls

“Christianity always flourishes most as a life-giving minority, not as a powerful majority. It is through subversive, countercultural acts of love, justice, and service for the common good that Christianity has always gained the most ground.”

My Spiritual Journals, Power Routines are now available at the Sugar Hill Church Store and Amazon. Instigating the habits of Gratitude, Scripture Reading, Journaling, and Guided Prayer is a powerful way to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE! Pick up your copies of POWER ROUTINES at Sugar Hill Church or Amazon.

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures. New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com

Go in Peace, AChuck

4forFRIDAY with AChuck

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09.04.2020

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens, and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAY offers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings, and Reviews, simply for your enjoyment. Thanks Again!

I Love this New Tool on my iPad Pro: NotePlan

One app for my calendar, tasks, journal, and notes. Fully customizable and extraordinarily useful! NotePlan 2 is an app for macOS and iOS that enables you to manage your calendar, notes, and todos all in one place. It brings together many of the elements I love about Bullet Journaling and Markdown formatting. It also combines systems that I have historically managed using separate apps for each—notes, tasks, and calendar. This unique approach to those systems is what made this app so appealing to me.

A Great Scripture Memory Tool from DWELL

This is a simple reminder of A Great Scripture Memory Tool Ancient Meets the 21st Century with the memorization strategies and resources from DWELL! I like the key fob, temporary tattoos, and the 3×4 cards that get the Scriptures in front of you all day long, wherever you go.

A Great New Assessment: The Four Tendencies from Gretchin Rubin

It might sound like a dry question, but understanding how you respond to expectations is extremely helpful in everyday life. This free assessment is super helpful and fun! Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations (I’m an Upholder, 100%) Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense—essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations
Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike

A Really Good Read from Scott Sauls: Gathering for Worship in a COVID-19 Age

A fresh look at the separation of church and state in regard to Covid-19: I understand firsthand why church people dislike gathering restrictions. Like casinos and restaurants, schools and concert venues, sports stadiums, and protest rallies, a congregation’s ability to thrive depends on people meeting together in crowds. The practice of faith is as much public as it is personal. This is why the Bible is adamant that congregations not forsake the habit of worshiping together (Hebrews 10:24-25).

My Spiritual Journals, Power Routines are now available at the Sugar Hill Church Store and Amazon. Instigating the habits of Gratitude, Scripture Reading, Journaling and Guided Prayer is a powerful way to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE! Pick up your copies of POWER ROUTINES at Sugar Hill Church or Amazon.

A Quote from Terry Hershey

“Before we mount our steads to slay the dragons of discontent, let us rest. Did you know that the first thing God called holy was not a place? It was time. The time to rest. In rest, in quiet, in Sabbath, we may be able to see prayer as living the moment with open hands and an open heart. Open and awake to the wealth of life’s quirky offerings. In that space my heart can expand, to receive those parts of my life, all those parts… the messy, the uncertain, the doubts, the insecurity, the shadows. Just as Jesus made space for the disenfranchised. So too, there is room in my life and heart for the fragile things.”

The Weekday Podcast is a 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures.New episodes are available Monday – Friday on the Sugar Hill Church APP or at WeekdayPodcast.com 

I’ve also launched a new Podcast with two friends, Corron Boston and Mau Mennesses. It takes a shot at discussing God in Race Relations. You can find it here: Race Forward: God and Race Relations

Go in Peace, AChuck