• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Achuckallen

Instigating Better

  • Home
  • Blog
    • AChuck’s Top 10
  • Weekday Podcast
  • About Chuck
  • Resources
    • Devotional Resources
  • Sugar Hill Church
  • Contact Chuck

Hope

Returning to American Values

February 13, 2023 by AChuckAllen

Repairing and Returning to American Values

America is built on certain values that have been lost in recent years. We have been so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we have overlooked the importance of living with compassion, empathy, and kindness towards ourselves and others. This article will focus on how we can repair our broken culture and rebuild it on a firm foundation of traditional American values. Let this be a tool to foster a greater sense of understanding for one another and embrace our uniquely American differences. We’ll also explore practical steps we can take to bring back the spirit of America that has been so severely damaged over time. We are still a great land. This isn’t about returning to yesteryear but rather to dignity, respect, honor, and the pursuit of happiness.

What are American Values?

There are a number of values that Americans hold dear and which have shaped the country into what it is today. These values include individualism, equality, democracy, freedom, and opportunity. They include religious freedom, the right to bear arms, and the freedom of speech. None of these survive apart from the appreciation for the unique costs Americans have paid to ensure our rights to enjoy them.

Individualism is the belief that each person is unique and should be free to pursue their own goals and dreams. This value has led to a strong sense of independence in America and a willingness to take risks. Individualism allows our God-given personalities and temperaments to be experienced, welcomed, and accepted. 

Equality is the belief that everyone should be treated fairly and equally, regardless of race, gender, or background. This value has led to progress in civil rights and social justice. Yes, we have so far to go, but we’ve come far from where we once were. Let us not stop the progress, but let us not advance it beyond our human dignity.

Democracy is the belief that government should be elected by the people and for the people. This value has led to a system of government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens. But our system is broken, and our new world requires a better way.

Freedom is the belief that people should be free to live their lives as they see fit, without interference from others. This value has led to an open and tolerant society of different beliefs and lifestyles. But should we not have some defined understanding of what is decent, honorable, and worthy of striving for?

What Has Caused the Decline of American values?

Many factors have contributed to the decline of American values. Among them are:

The rise of materialism and consumerism: In recent decades, there has been a growing emphasis on material possessions and acquiring wealth. This has led to a decline in concern for others and a focus on “me” instead of “we.” What used to be shared value has become without value as we want more for me without you achieving more. Our competition has far exceeded our cooperation to the degree that we have lost our collaborative genius.

The family breakdown: The traditional family unit has been weakened by non-existent fathers and social media babysitters. What once was a place of refuge and peace is now a battleground of excess. This has contributed to lessened personal responsibility, self-discipline, and moral character.

The loss of faith in God: America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but there has been a dramatic decrease in Christian faith in recent years. This has led to an increase in secularism and a decline in morality. This isn’t to scold anyone about going to church, but it is a reminder that we all need a reminder of the principles that God founded for us in the 10 Commandments. It should be a wake-up call to be taken back to Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes. At a bare minimum, it should remind us of our statement, “In God We Trust.”

The rise of government: As government grows larger and more powerful, individual freedom and responsibility has declined. This has contributed to the decline of American values such as self-reliance, hard work, imagination, and personal responsibility. Friends, the government cannot repair America. We have proven that the government might actually destroy America. With the political division and excessive spending, we are now in a debt position of more than $34.4 trillion, which is almost $94,000 per American.

Discovering the America We Were Designed to Be

America was founded on the idea of freedom and liberty for all. However, over time, we have strayed from these values. We have become a wildly divided nation, with some groups fighting for their own interests instead of working together for the common good. It’s time to start repairing and returning to the American values we were designed to be. We must Start today, first in our own lives and then beyond.

We must come together as a nation and start working towards solutions that benefit everyone, not just a select few. We must value hard work and determination and treat each other with respect and compassion. We must turn to the God of all creation and ask for His forgiveness, strength, character, and wisdom. These are the values that made America great in the first place, and they’re the values that will help us move forward into a better future.


Finding Our Way Back to American Values

It is no secret that the American people are angry. We are angry at the government, Wall Street, and each other. We feel we have been betrayed by the institutions supposed to protect us and improve our lives. We are lost, and we don’t know how to find our way back to the America we used to believe in.

But there is hope. There are still people out there who believe in the American values of hard work, personal responsibility, God-honoring lives, and opportunity for all. These are the values that have made America great, and they are worth struggling for.

We need to start by repairing the damage that has been done. We need to rebuild trust in our government, churches, schools, and financial institutions. We need to create jobs and provide opportunities for all Americans.

And then we need to return to those American values that have always made us strong. We need to be a nation that works together instead of against each other. We need to be a nation that looks out for its citizens instead of exploiting them. We need to be a nation that believes in opportunity for all, not just for a privileged few. This is possible, but not if we continue at our present course.

These are the values that built America, and they can help us build a better future. There is much discussion these days about American values. So how can we repair and return to American values?

It starts with each of us as individuals. We must start treating others respectfully, decently, and even graciously, regardless of their political beliefs or background. We must also stand up for what we believe in, even when it is unpopular or inconvenient.

In addition, we must come together as a country and work towards common goals. We must put aside our differences and work towards the common good. Only then can we hope to repair the damage that has been done and return to the American values that have made us great.


Repairing and returning to American values does not have to be a complex process, but it will take dedication and effort. We should all strive to remember the principles that our nation was founded upon and work together in order to create an America that is strong, prosperous, and just. We can restore these values throughout the country through education, civic engagement, church engagement, grassroots initiatives, and other efforts. It is up to each of us, as citizens of this great nation, to ensure that our American values are upheld for generations to come.

This isn’t about political change (although needed) but rather systemic, individual, and cooperative change. Come on, America. We are better than this, aren’t we?

Go in Peace, Chuck

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: ,America, America, Uncategorized Tagged With: America, Decenvcy, God, Hope, Values

How Should We Respond to Crisis?

August 1, 2022 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen | Monday, August 1, 2022

Every week we are bombarded with another crisis. A school shooting, mass shooting, flood, fire, riot, shortage, war, and the hits keep coming.

How can we respond to these crises without remaining angry, bitter, or hardened? How do we hear about more crises without growing jaded or curled up in anxiety? Fair questions for a country that regularly finds its way into trouble.

As a pastor, coach, and counselor, I’ve learned four things that we can all do to respond appropriately to the next crisis.

  1. DON’T CATASTROPHIZE THE CRISIS
    Fight hard not to let your mind convince you that things are far worse than they are. If we aren’t careful, our brain will convince us that we are like our preferred news outlet. We can be so active in telling ourselves that the sky is falling everywhere. We can make every crisis our crisis. Yes, we should be concerned, moved, and burdened, but you cannot own and exasperate every situation. My friend Julie Homrich would say, “don’t believe everything you think.”
  2. ACTIVELY LISTEN
    In most crises, loud voices point fingers, find fault and politicize the situation. Friends, this is not how to help or how to respond. There is a reason our Creator gave us two ears and one mouth. The single best way to respond to a crisis is to exercise your capacity to listen actively. Yes, affirm your connection to those affected. Affirm their heartache or pain, but at all costs, hush and let them speak. Let them find solace in your presence without your words. Keep this in mind. If you don’t know what to say, please don’t throw a catchphrase or random Bible. Verse their way. Just be there and listen. It’s okay to have a ministry of presence. While meeting the wonderful people of Uvalde, Texas, I heard, over and over again, “you are the only people asking us what we need.” In most points of crisis, words are cheap. Listening is golden.
  3. PRAY AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE
    We Americans are such activity-based people. When a hurricane happens, we get out the chain saws and wet vacs. When a shooting happens, we tend to do the same thing. What in the world? Prayer should never be seen as the last resort. Prayer is the single most extraordinary power on earth and requires zero travel! The minute you see or hear of a crisis, start praying. I’ll never forget seeing a horrific auto crash and hopping out of my truck to see if I could help. I got to the driver and realized they were already in the process of bleeding out. An incredible EMT jumped in, and I started praying for this mom out loud in the middle of highway 78. At that moment, the single greatest thing I knew to do was to PRAY! Before I finished, there were more than 20 people that had gathered around and, in their way, joined me in praying. Five days later, I got word that this dear lady had lost her leg, but she had her life and her toddler in the backseat. Prayer works! Pray, and then pray some more!
  4. ACT WITH GRACE AND SERVE WITH HUMILITY Determine not to join the fray and jump on the whiner train. Here is an equation from my friend Brad Rhoads, “Grace + Intentionality = Transformation” grace extends forgiveness and continuously extends a benefit of the doubt. Grace doesn’t blame. It smooths. And here is an authentic truth – WHEN WE EXTEND GRACE, WE SERVE OTHERS WITH HUMILITY!” According to the poster child of humility, Mother Teresa, this is what humility looks like: These are the few ways we can practice humility:

  • To speak as little as possible of one’s self.
  • To mind one’s own business.
  • Not to want to manage other people’s affairs.
  • To avoid busy-body curiosity.
  • To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
  • To pass over the mistakes of others.
  • To accept insults and injuries.
  • To accept being slighted, forgotten, and disliked.
  • To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
  • Never stand on one’s dignity.
  • To choose is always the hardest. And best.

The evil in this world will continue to be a struggle from now until we reach Heaven’s gates. We will have minimal power over what they might be or where they will happen, but how we act and react to crises is entirely within our power.

Let us be a people that act and react in and through crises with grace, decency, and kindness. The world has a widening depletion of women and men that will respond in love. If we want to improve this world, let us act in these four areas.

Go in Peace, Chuck

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: AChuck's Top 10, Discipleship, Do Good, Emotional Health, Family, Friendship, God and Country, grace, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, Missions, Southern Border, Uncategorized Tagged With: America, America. Equality, American crises, Better Together, Hope, Kindness, Leadership, Personal Development, Spiritual Health, Strength, Voice of reason

Three Ways to Eliminate Worry

July 19, 2022 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen.com July 19, 2022

We all have moments in our life when we are worried, even fretful. But we live at such light speed that worry has become our national pastime.

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”

Corrie ten Boom

From the resurgence of COVID (which I am experiencing as I write this) to the vast unrest in the world, there’s a lot to worry about right now. The truth is that worrying does nothing to change the outcome. Absolutely nothing! It just keeps you stuck in a feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and stress. But negative thoughts are part of our biology and while you may not be able to stop them from happening, you can learn to stop them in their tracks. Some solutions help you deal with them.

1. STATE THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO

We have heard so much about simply changing our mindset about stress and worry, but I’d like to offer what I believe to be a better alternative. What if we shift the context to deal with the fear, or worry in another way. It’s a new term I learned last month – recontextualization, which is the skill of describing a condition and circumstances in a way that gives you an empowering reality.

Worry often occurs when we are trying something new, and the stakes feel really big. As a result, this worry we feel is founded in the fear of running the show. And the way to get back to positivity and away from negative emotions is through extreme negativity– yikes!

Many, maybe most of us have been taught about the modern positivity movement, including me. I’ve discovered that positivity alone is not sustainable. Instead, we can implement an aspect of realism and deal with things logically and sensibly. The process is super-simple and wildly empowering to your soul.

Matthew Ferry, the author of Quiet Mind, Epic Life, gives a name to the negative voice in your head, your “drunk monkey” mind. “It thinks it’s psychic and can predict the future,” he explains. “Turns out, the drunk monkey only predicts negative futures.”

So, we need to confront this so-called drunk monkey. But how? Well, thanks for asking. Start by writing out the negative future you’re afraid of. Then create a plan of what to do if worst happens. Most folks write out the worried about situation and then make a plan to avoid it. But this only keeps the worry in place. Instead, be completely negative and make a plan for the worst. Don’t give up on me just yet! By doing this, You’ll create a neutral perspective and a sense of peace. If the worst happens, you’ll know what do. This takes the drunk monkey out of consideration and opens your mental state for less worry. BOOM!

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

Proverbs 12:25

2. PRAY OUTLOUD

No, I’m not kidding! I’m a pastor for goodness sake. I have seen prayer work thousands of times. I’ve seen it work physically, mentally and emotionally. I’ve seen storms calmed, people healed, and children return home. I’ve seen marriages restored and relationships recovered. Yes, PRAY!

But here is the key. Pray and pray more. As the Bible teaches, “pray without ceasing.” pray specifically and pray with faith. The Divine promises to hear you, and He will respond in such a way that is for your good and His glory.

But please remember this. The Divine does not keep time as we do. He is not motivated by the same clock that we are. There is a reason that His ways are higher than ours. But you can trust Him in all ways, on all days. Pray, then pray some more.

But you might ask, “why should I pray out loud?” Here are two great reasons to pray out loud.

1. External declarations can change your internal dialogue. When we pray for things out loud, we change our inner dialogue and perspective. Praying things like, “Jesus, I know that You are enough” or “God, I know that You are greater than my grief” will build your faith and help change how you view things. I know this is true in my life.

2. Keeps you focused. Jesus reminds us, “Our spirit might be willing, but our flesh is weak.” If you’re prone to wandering during prayer, like me, praying out loud will help you remain focused. You’re more likely to stay in your zone with God through prayer when your brain listens to what your mouth is saying.

Then, ask others to pray for you. I genuinely feel like the simple act of humility of asking people to pray for you is one step in the right direction, no matter the scenario. PRAY!

3. Practice Gratitude and Generosity

Gratitude is something that we should practice daily, worry or no worry. Gratitude makes us aware of all the good things in our lives that we usually take for granted. I’ve written and said this at least 1,000 times – here’s to 1,001 – When you are grateful for what you have, what you have is more than enough!

Worry can make you feel sad. Things may seem amiss. How can you practice gratitude when you’re upset with everything that’s going on in your life? When you stop focusing on the things that are haywire and start looking at the little things that make your life worth living, you slowly experience a shift in attitude. Your general outlook towards life changes, making you a happier human. This happiness, in turn, helps relieve worry and eventually improves your overall mental health.

If you’re suffering from worry, you’re not alone. Worry and anxiety affect more than 18% of the United States population yearly. When you are fretful, it isn’t easy to find things you are thankful for. But trust me, they’re there.

Study after study has proven that gratitude increases neural modulation in the brain, in the prefrontal cortex, which regulates negative emotions. It also activates dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel good. The result is instant happiness, prompting you to engage in this practice repeatedly. Get grateful – get less worried.

By acknowledging that there are things in your life to be grateful for, you realize that your worries are irrational, and don’t deserve so much of your attention. This will ease worry and allow you to do the things you had been holding yourself back from doing. It seems like it’s worth a shot, right – dealing with worry and becoming a better human at the same time?


I’m convinced that if you write down three things you are grateful for every day, you will chase worry away!


Then activate generosity. Generosity is the natural response to gratitude. It might be time, money, service, or kindness. It might be a better attitude or offering a benefit of the doubt. Generosity can take on many different forms.

It sounds so simple. And it is, really. Generosity is good for our souls. It’s good for our mental, spiritual and physical health. According to an article in Medical News Today, “Humans thrive off social connections and benefit when they act in the service of others’ well-being.” Studying the brain, they discovered a direct correlation to targeted giving that impacts health. The study shows how the brain creates a neural pathway between the septal area and amygdala when support-giving to specific people we know who are in need. The article concluded: “Giving targeted support to an identifiable individual or organization in need is uniquely associated with reduced amygdala activity thereby may lead to health.” In short, when we give time or money to charitable causes, it activates regions of the brain connected to pleasure and trust, which creates that “less-worried” feeling.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

—John Holmes

There will always be less worry in living more like Jesus the Christ. Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

There, now go work on that worry and turn your life into a grateful, prayerful, servant-hearted leader. That’s the life your Creator made to live.

Go in Peace, Chuck

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: AChuck's Top 10, Discipleship, Do Good, Emotional Health, grace, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, peace, prayer, Scripture, therapy, Uncategorized Tagged With: anxiety, Emotional Health, faith, Hope, Leadership, Mental Health, Personal Development, Prayer, Productivity, Spiritual Growth, worry

Happy People Don’t Do These 4 Things

October 18, 2021 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen

It seems odd to suggest that in this world, you can accelerate happiness in your life. But you actually can create a sense of peace and genuine happiness within your soul if you so desire. If that’s the case, then why are so many people unhappy?

In a recent article from Discovery Magazine, I read the following; “The richest countries are not happiest, the healthiest countries are not always the happiest. The happiest countries are the ones who do have the highest levels of a whole range of things,” says John Helliwell, an editor of The World Happiness Report and professor emeritus of the Vancouver School of Economics. “They include, especially, a willingness to trust each other to work for each other and to come together in times of difficulty.”

From that and our everyday life experiences, we know this to be true. I’ve heard from countless people that “money can’t buy happiness.” Or my favorite, “stuff can only make you temporarily happy.”

I’ve written plenty of things you can do to increase your happiness, but here are four things that genuinely happy people DON’T DO.

  1. Genuinely Happy People Don’t Compare Themselves to Others. Eckhart Tolle once said, “Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love — you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” Staying in comparison mode will rob you of the lovely soul that the Divine created to be you. God made no mistake when you were created. Every molecule that helps make you the incredible, fantastic you are unique, and wonderful has a purpose that only you can deliver into this world. To compare your awesomeness is a discredit to both you and God. You know what you’re worth, right? Happy folks do because they don’t seek validation outside of themselves. Happy people understand that it comes from a sense of self-awareness — in their way.
  2. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Selfish, They Serve Others. Every study on the planet proves this to be true. Give a bit of your time, your skill, your kindness, and yourself, and watch happiness wash into your soul. A Chinese saying goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Our passion should be the foundation for our serving others. It is not how much we give away but how much love we put into giving it. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also the importance of deciding what is suitable for us. God said that He loves a cheerful giver. Like all of life…it’s a matter of our hearts.
  3. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Rigid. Every time I meet a happy person, I seem to discover this truth – they are naturally flexible. If I could add one piece of scripture to the New Testament, I’d add another Beatitude to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. When we remain flexible, we remain less stressed and less anxious. Hence, we are happier. Staying fixed in our certainty can steal the happiness from our soul. Discover the joy and margin found in your flexibility. My addition? Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
  4. Genuinely Happy People Guard Their Yes and No. Happiness is often connected to having a margin in our calendar and schedule. When we say yes to everyone and everything, we might be fueling an addiction to please people. I’ve discovered that this addiction is as powerful as alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine. Without guarding our yes and no answers, we give away our margin, grow frustrated with others, and punish both ourselves and those we love. If you want to choose happiness, guard your yes, and no’s.

Don’t settle for temporal happiness when you were created for meaningful, purposeful, and eternal happiness. Get grounded in your faith, your family, and your community. Then stop comparing yourself to anybody, give yourself away, get flexible, and guard your yes and no.

Peace, Chuck

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: AChuck's Top 10, Discipleship, Do Good, Emotional Health, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, peace, Uncategorized Tagged With: calendar, Emotional Health, faith, Hope, Kindness, Leadership, Mental Health, Peace, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Health, Time Management

How to Fix the World

September 20, 2021 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen.com

I know! Who would possibly think you could fix all of the world’s problems in one article? Well, I’m not so naive as to believe that you can improve the world with the following seven ideas, but I’ll guarantee you, these seven would radically make our world a better place to live in.


Seven ways to FIX THE WORLD.


  1. SLOW DOWN. Seriously, slow your life down and get off the hamster wheel. Constant hurry robs you of your peace and happiness. Always running creates health and emotional sink holes in our lives. Science and faith agree on this. Research on naps, meditation, nature walks and the habits of exceptional artists and athletes reveal how mental breaks increase productivity, replenish attention, solidify memories and encourage creativity. The Scriptues remind us of our need to “be still.” I find myself, and many of my circle of friends are addicts. Addicted to productivity to the degree that productivity hacks become our life’s theology. That’s a dangerous slope to live on.
  2. DON’T BE A BUTTHEAD. I’m passionate about this one. If every morning we chose to not be a butt with each other, life would be so much better. Here are a few thoughts that might apply to you.
    – Don’t Be a Butthead to “That Annoying Person in Your Life” – I think of dealing with annoying people like managing a dam on a river. Every annoying thing they do is water flowing into the reservoir. You can manage that by letting water pass over the dam, or you can let it build until the dam breaks. The dam breaking is you being a jerk and screaming, “I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR DIET! CAN’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY?!”
    – Don’t Be a Butthead to a Butthead. When presented with butthead behavior, just take a deep breath and put yourself in their shoes. Your responding in kind just escalates whatever negative stuff that’s in the air. If you can help it, do so.
    -Don’t Be a Butthead Because You’re Having a Bad Day. We all have bad days. Maybe your child is sick, a project is late, or a supplier sent parts that were all damaged in transit. Stuff happens to all of us, but not everyone responds by being a butthead. If the bad thing is your fault, own it, and move on. The worst your employer can do is fire you, and I’d rather be fired for messing up (as we all do from time to time) than for being a butthead. The people around you will see that you handled this setback with grace, and it will be remembered. If you handle stress by being a butthead, that will also be remembered.
  3. TURN OFF YOUR DEVICES. Imagine a day without answering every text like your life depends on it. Or stopping at a traffic light without checking your email. How about this – can you imagine talking with your family rather than comparing your likes and follows with everyone else?
    -Your brain will work better. By now most of you have heard of the many scientific studies that show the brain can’t actually multitask. What feels like multitasking to us is actually the brain switching rapidly among tasks. It feels good, and provides plenty of stimulation–something the brain tends to like. But it makes us the opposite of productive.
    -You’ll get better at solving problems. The biggest concern with constant connectedness is that people stop thinking. It’s very hard to think when you’re constantly interrupted, or distracted.
  4. FIND YOUR SACRED SILENCE. Two ideas with this one: 1) Every day, we all need to have a few minutes to meditate prayerfully, and 2) We could all talk less and make less noise. What a wonderful world it would be if we had less noise in our lives?
    –Silence offers opportunities for self-reflection and daydreaming, which activates multiple parts of the brain. It gives us time to turn down the inner noise and increase awareness of what matters most. And it cultivates mindfulness — recognition and appreciation of the present moment.
    – Silence also has physical benefits. “When we’re frazzled, our fight-or-flight response is on overload causing a host of problems,” says Dr. Sullivan. “We can use calm, quiet moments to tap into a different part of the nervous system that helps shut down our bodies’ physical response to stress.”

    – That means, being still and silent can help you: Lower your blood pressure Decrease your heart rate Steady your breathing. Reduce muscle tension. Increase focus and cognition.
  5. LEARN THE POWER OF GRATITUDE. We humans are naturally selfish, greedy, and ungrateful. If we were to experience widespread gratitude, we would become aware that when you are grateful, what you have is more than enough.
    – “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” – Harvard University
  6. EXERCISE MINIMALISM. When we become grateful, we exercise minimalism. Minimalism is the art, and appreciation of less is more. We stop buying what we do not need, and we stop comparing what we have to everyone else.
    -Minimalism isn’t just a concept that helps us reorganize our homes and lives in a more effective and aesthetically pleasing manner. In fact, minimalism can be a helpful way to combat mental illness of all degrees of severity, from anxiety to schizophrenia and back.
  7. PRIORITIZE JESUS. I know this to be true. When we get Jesus in the proper priority within our life, we will get every other issue right. Notice that I didn’t say, get your going to church life, right? I didn’t say, look more christianly, or talk more like a church person. It’s this simple – properly prioritize Jesus and watch how all the world’s pettiness and angst are replaced with peace, contentment, and gracious living.
    – When asked what was the most important commandment, Jesus dropped the mic, when He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

I never said it would be easy, but it is simple.
Seven personal steps to better the world – immediately!

Peace, Chuck

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: Do Good, Emotional Health, Family, Friendship, Fun, God and Country, grace, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, peace Tagged With: America, anxiety, Emotional Health, Hope, Kindness, Leadership, Meditation, Mental Health, Peace, Personal Development, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Simple Conversation that Matters

September 18, 2021 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen

I realize that I’m a bit odd. I mean, I know that I’m weird. First, I’m a pastor that works hard at attempting to be normal. Second, I am allergic to chit-chat. No, really! I would never say that I like chatting in the sense of getting together for no purpose other than a chat.

However, I greatly appreciate a conversation grounded in purpose. Purpose feels like an accomplishment, reasoning, debating, sharpening, or resolving.

That’s why I know that the following conversation is a double win for you and your friend, child, parent, or spouse. Maybe even all the above!

Build these three questions into your daily routine and watch how your relationships improve with each day that you engage your person (s) of choice.

1. Start with YOUR BEST: What’s the best thing that happened yesterday?

2. Then Tackle the Worst. What’s the worst that’s happened (or is happening) today?

3. Then Add Prayer. What can I specifically pray for you today?

Please be sure to keep it simple. Keep it very real. Keep it truthful. Once you commit to asking, be equally committed to answering. Here’s the essential element in this brief, personal, purposeful conversation – actually pray for them!

If you don’t have anyone to have this conversation with, let your prayer be that you’ll discover them this week. In the meantime, feel free to send me an email and answer these questions. I’ll reply with my answers and pray earnestly for you.

Go In Peace, Chuck

Need help? At Clear Path Counseling, we believe that reaching out for help is hard enough; finding it should be straightforward and simple. Just CLICK HERE and start your free assessment. You can finish your complimentary assessment in less than 10-minutes!

ClearPathCounseling.org

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Pocket
  • More
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print

Filed Under: 4theLOVE, Discipleship, Do Good, Emotional Health, Family, Friendship, grace, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, Parenting, prayer, therapy, Uncategorized Tagged With: anxiety, Better Together, Emotional Health, faith, Hope, Kindness, love, Marriage, Mental Health, Personal Development, Prayer, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Health

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search this Site

FOLLOW MY BLOG

Want to get my blog posts in your inbox? Want to subscribe to my weekly 4forFriday email? Click here to sign-up.

Social

  • View achuckallen’s profile on Facebook
  • View AChuckAllen’s profile on Twitter
  • View AChuckAllen’s profile on Instagram
  • View chuckallen1’s profile on LinkedIn

Categories

  • ,America
  • 21 Good Vibes
  • 4ForFriday
  • 4theLOVE
  • 9/11
  • AChuck's Top 10
  • Advent
  • Advent Devotional
  • America
  • Christmas Meditation
  • COVID-19
  • DAILY PRODUCTIVITY PLAN
  • Discipleship
  • Do Good
  • Emotional Health
  • Family
  • Friendship
  • Fun
  • God and Country
  • grace
  • humor
  • International
  • laughter
  • Leadership
  • Life and Happiness
  • Marriage
  • Mental Health
  • Missions
  • Parenting
  • peace
  • Pigskin Picks
  • Politics
  • Power Routines
  • prayer
  • Reviews
  • Saturday Share
  • Scripture
  • Sermon Replay
  • SLU
  • Southern Border
  • Sunday Morning
  • The CLIMB
  • therapy
  • Uncategorized
  • Weekday Meditation

Topics

4ForFriday 9/11 America America. Equality American crises anxiety App Reviews BATTLING COVID-19 Better Together Book Reviews border Busy calendar Christmas ChuckAllen church Civility CORONAVIRUS courage Covid-19 Currency Decenvcy Easter Economy education Emotional Health faith forgiveness Friends Frustrated fun Goals God God Reads Good Books Good Friday Good Listens good reads Gratitude Happiness Hectic Helpothers Holy Week Hope humor Israel jesus Kindness laugh laughter Lead Leadership LIFE WITH CORONAVIRUS love Marriage masks Meditation Men Men's Discipleship Mental Health Mindfulness missionhouse Missions Music Music Review Name Calling New Currency New Normal New Year open schools overwhelmed Palm Sunday pandemic Passion Peace Personal Development politics Post Covid Post Pandemic Power Prayer Productivity psychology PURPOSEFUL Race Relations Reading Reading List rebuild the Bahamas Recommended Articles Recommended Reading Relationships religion Restaurant Reviews Reviews sacrifice Servanthood Southern Border Spiritual Growth Spiritual Health Spiriyual Growth Strength sugarhillbeyond sugarhillmissions tasks taxes Theology therapy Time Management Transformed USA vaccination Values Voice of reason work smart worry Worship yucatanmissions

Chuck Allen © 2023 · Site designed and built by Karen Brown · Log in

 

Loading Comments...