Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Book Reviews

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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4forFRIDAY January 27, 2023

Week four of 2023 is almost in the books, and it will be a challenging but great year. I trust your new year is off to a good start as well. Here are your 4forFRIDAY reviews for January 27, 2023.

Four lessons that I learned this week.

  1. Apparently, we all have “TOP SECRET” documents in our garage.
  2. Without prayer, this year will not be better than last year. It works, folks.
  3. Research proves that singing and/or humming can greatly minimize stress and anxiety.
  4. The older I get, the more important friendships become!

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

  1. A powerful article from Ann Voskamp: You Are Your Mental Playlist.
  2. I’m so hooked on this Israeli TV Show: Fauda
  3. A Fun Novel from Tom Clancy: Chain of Command (A Jack Ryan Novel Book 21)
  4. A Book that Spoke to Me and I Think Will Speak to YTou as Well: “Sacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself With His Will“
  5. BONUS: A Fun Restaurant in Downtown Duluth, GA – Falling Rabbit (Try the Duck Wings)

A Quote from “Life in Abundance: Filling Your Heart With a Deeper Understanding of God’s Word”

Fear blocks us from the abundant gifts God longs to give us. To experience all God has for us, we must give fear the final smackdown. Paul teaches us three things in our arsenal to combat fear: power, love, and self-control. What an arsenal of weaponry in our possession to go against fear! Let’s not underestimate Satan’s power. He can and will knock us off our feet. His power outweighs us humans in our natural state. In Satan’s pride and greed, he went to war with God, using earth, particularly Christians, as his battlefield (Revelation 12). His plan on earth is to seek out people beloved by God and destroy them (1 Peter 5:8). However, let’s not overestimate his power over us either. Jesus revoked Satan’s power over anyone who claims Christ (Colossians 2:13-15). God equips us with armor for defense and calls us “more than conquerors” (Ephesians 6:10-18, Romans 8:37). Satan knows his limitations, but he doesn’t want us to know or use this power against him. So, Satan speaks lies, hoping we won’t remember our weaponry against him.

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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January 13, 2023

Week two of 2023 is almost in the books and it’s shaping up to be a great year. I trust your new year is off to a good start as well. Here is your 4forFRIDAY for January 13, 2023.

Four lessons that I learned this week.

1. I’m amazed at how we continue to elect men and women to to serve in our Congress that are still children. How in the world will we move forward with babies battling over toys forever?

2. New habits are tough to stick with, so break the habit into micro steps and see your progress. I use an app – STREAKS – to measure sustained progress.

3. Encouraging others somehow brings encouragement to you. Be an encourager.

4. If you are looking to discover greater degrees of happiness this year, follow these three steps, every single day. Pray, move more, serve others. It works every time.

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

1. An article that I loved from Brian Dodd, “My Top Ten List of Priorities, and God is Not Number One”

2. A fun novel that I enjoyed from the Tom Clancy series, Jack Ryan; Red Winter. So many plots and so much suspense. If you enjoy a good spy novel, you’ll love this read.

3. A Breakfast that you will love, I promise! I’ve been a fan of El Taco Jalisco for years, but when I ate breakfast there earlier this week, well just yum! Be sure to order the “Huevos Mexicanos”

4. A Really Good Article from Bible Study Tools, “What Does the Bible Say About Overthinking “

A strong quote from Max Lucado, “Do this for someone. Ask someone to tell you his—or her—story. Resist the urge to interrupt or correct. Turn off the television. Log off from the internet. Close your laptop; silence your cell phone. Give the rarest of gifts: your full attention.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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1. An APP We Can All Benefit from ANXTY Widget (Panic Button)

This is most likely my favorite ap of 2022. I use it every day. It’s a simple way to connect and anchor your runaway thoughts to the intense love of God. It’s so, so good. If you are stressed, anxious, or fearful. Maybe even overwhelmed, this is a life-altering app. The folks from SoulSpace.co did it again. This is a must for every follower of Jesus!

2. A Gadget that I Use Every Single Day: Broadlink WiFi Plugs

Worshipful, powerful, inspiring, happy. I could go on and on. When you get to Revelation 19:1, just crank it up! BroadLink Smart Plug Mini, Smart Wi-Fi Timer Outlet Socket Works with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Support Both 2.4G and 5G Wi-Fi.

3. An Article That Can Help Anyone, from INC. Magazine

I’ve been an evangelist for gratitude for years, but when you read an article designed for business leaders that supports your theology of gratitude, it’s hard to pass up. The article starts this way; “Everyone wants to be happier. Yet happiness can sometimes seem hard to come by.”

A Fun and delicious Dinner Downtown: Campagnolo

Last week, we joined a few neighbors for dinner at this fashionable and fun restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed our evening. It really is a great date spot and delicious Italian food! The lasagna was good,, but the Spaghetti a Cacio e Pepe was amazing!

A Wonderful Quote from Max Lucado

“You don’t influence God’s love. You can’t impact the tree-ness of a tree, the sky-ness of a sky, or the rock-ness of a rock. Nor can you affect the love of God.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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1. A GREAT Article from Scott Sauls: Jesus and Women During Advent and Always

I loved this article. It might offend you, but give it prayerful consideration. Here’s a snippet from Scott:
“It is clear that God esteems and elevates women and men. For this reason, I am sharing something I have previously written about the place of women in the world, in the church, and in the story of God. The following excerpt was posted after we decided to commission our first class of Deaconesses at Christ Presbyterian Church. It isn’t explicitly about Christmas, but I hope it will nonetheless enrich our understanding of God during the Advent season.”

2. A Christmas Album that I Cannot Stop Listening to. A Very Maverick Christmas, Especially Revelation 19:1

Worshipful, powerful, inspiring, happy. I could go on and on. When you get to Revelation 19:1, just crank it up!

3. A Powerful Article from Crosswalk: 7 Things We Regularly Get Wrong about Worship

Don’t read this unless you are ready to be challenged a bit regarding your heart towards worship. Here is a clip from this excellent article. “

“I didn’t get anything out of that today.” “I didn’t get anything out of the sermon.” “I didn’t get anything out of that service.” “I guess her song was all right, but I didn’t get anything out of it.”

“Sound familiar? Not only have I heard it countless times over these near-fifty years in the ministry, I probably have said it a few times myself.”

4. A Powerful List of Seven Commands for a
Peace-Filled Life from Psalm 100

In Psalm 100, we find seven such imperatives in Hebrew, seven commands related to gratitude.

One: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” The Hebrew means to “shout,” to actively and publicly vocalize your praise to God. To “shout” involves your voice, mind, emotions, spirit, and body in personal, passionate worship. This is an act of public praise.

Two: “Serve the Lᴏʀᴅ with gladness.” “Serve” here means to focus your entire life and existence on your sovereign Master, giving him your whole heart and surrendering your entire life to his service. This is for every moment of every day, not just an hour at church. It means to yield your life all day, every day, to his Lordship. Do this with “gladness,” rejoicing for the privilege in a lifestyle of praise.

Three: “Come into his presence with singing.” God’s “presence” refers to his “face.” This command calls us to seek personal, transforming intimacy with our Lord.

Four: “Know that the Lᴏʀᴅ, he is God.” “Know” means to acknowledge or confess, to testify publicly that the Lord is God over all the world. This is a public confession made proudly and boldly.

Five: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.” We learn that gratitude allows us to experience God’s presence, power, and grace.

Six: “Give thanks to him.” Once you are in his presence, find specific reasons to express your gratitude to your Father.

Seven: “Bless his name.” The “name” of God denotes his presence, personality, and very essence. This means to thank and praise God himself.

5. Another Great Article: Benefits of Gratitude: 28+ Surprising Research Findings from PositivePsychology.com

This is a powerful, secular perspective that also aligns with all that the holy scriptures describe regarding gratitude and serving others. Here’s a sample: “

The benefits are split into five groups:

  • Emotional benefits
  • Social benefits
  • Personality benefits
  • Career benefits
  • Health benefits

There are many benefits of gratitude, but these categories cover quite a few.

BONUS: A POWERFUL QUOTE FROM GIL HOPKINS

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy Crap, what a ride!’”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen.

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1. A Truly Great ChristmasAlbum: A Windham Hill Christmas

I’m a sucker for some new, yet classic Christmas music. Available on all music platforms. The link above is on Spotify.

2. A Band I’m Totally Digging on Spotify: St. Paul and the Broken Bones

This is a gritty, happy, sassy band that is fun to listen to as you pick the pace up a bit on a morning walk. Enjoy!

3. A Great Book for Every Man that Desires a Stronger Relationship with God: FIVE MARKS OF A MAN

A boy doesn’t automatically become a man at age 18. What differentiates a man from a boy is the way he lives. A man has a vision for his life while a boy lives day to day. A man is a team player while a boy wants to be MVP. A man works while a boy plays. A man has the courage to take a minority position while a boy wants the reassurance of the crowd. A man is a protector while a boy is a predator. These are the five marks of a man. It’s not enough to just know them. A real man aggressively pursues them on a daily basis. Drawing from his own experience and the lives of others, pastor Brian Tome calls on men to examine themselves and take steps in the direction of a fully realized manhood that honors God

4. An App that is Literally Changing My Life: GLORIFY

This is an incredible resource if you have the desire to connect with God – CONSISTENTLY! Scripture, devotion, reflection, and so much more. Start building streaks of intentionally seeking God each day.

Let’s Close this Thanksgiving Week with These Lyrics from Fanny Crosby.

Let’s close this Thanksgiving Day meditation with a powerful poem of praise:

My heart is overflowing with gratitude and praise, 

To him whose loving kindness has followed all my days; 

To him who gently leads me by cool and quiet rills 

And with their balm of comfort my thirsty spirit fills. 

Within the vale of blessing, I walk beneath the light 

Reflected from his glory, that shines forever bright. 

I feel his constant presence wherever I may be; 

How manifold his goodness, how rich his grace to me! 

My heart is overflowing with love and joy and song, 

As if it heard an echo from yonder ransomed throng. 

Its every chord is vocal with music’s sweetest lay, 

And to its home of sunshine it longs to fly away. 

I feign would tell the story, and yet I know full well 

The half was never, never told—the half I cannot tell.

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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1. A GREAT BOOK: Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics

Eugene Cho has written a great book on how Followers of Jesus can and should engage in the political and social climate in today’s marketplace. Not only is this a helpful read, it is most timely given our present political climate. Read this over two nights and see where you fit in the political debates in your spheres of relationships.

2. A REALLY GREAT BURGER JOINT: B&W Burgers-Buns-Brews

B&W is a new locally owned eatery in Historic Norcross that you should try. The burgers are outstanding, and the nachos are killer! I would consider myself a tough burger critic, and I love this new place.

3. A GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Send a Jeni’s Ice Cream Subscription

I’ve already used this service for three gifts and more are coming. I love this gift. The ice cream is fresh, tasty and delivered frozen to your recipient either once or monthly (3, 6, 12). It’s a very cool gift.

4. A DON’T MISS EVENT: The Chosen Season Three, Shows One and Two on the Big Screen

I am a huge Chosen fan and wasn’t disappointed with the launch of season three, especially watching it on the big screen in my local theatre. Don’t miss this if you’ve already seen some of the chosen at home, or use this launch to get you started. You’ll never see the Scriptures the same way after viewing The Chosen.

A Great Quote from EUGENE CHO: “Thou Shall Not Be a Jerk”

To devalue the life of another, to be a jerk, is counter to the kingdom. To be a jerk, to revel in earthly shouting matches, sells short the radically different way of Christ. It’s a poor representation of Christianity and also a foolish political move. Before all of our best arguments, let’s first show love. That’s what we’re supposed to be known for, after all.”

Go in Peace, Chuck