tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59196666407435377362024-03-14T13:33:37.471-04:00Chuck AllenI’m a teacher, speaker, writer, pastor, marketer, get it done kinda guy. I've served in churches and organizations of all shapes and sizes and presently serve as the Associate Pastor at Sugar Hill Church. Through a ministry of fresh thought, strategic technology, unusual delivery, and purposeful mission, I help other people reach and exceed their potential in Christ.Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-27663152303825040362010-11-15T10:19:00.000-05:002010-11-15T10:19:49.476-05:00New LocationI have moved my BLOG to my newly revised website www.bigchuckallen.com.<br />
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If you follow me, please redirect your RSS from that page.<br />
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Thanks, Chuck<br />
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Thanks for sharing a few minutes with often not so great thoughts and my occasional creative brilliance. Please feel free to call at
404-433-7851 or email at bigchuckallen@me.com. PeaceChuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-46026585882369238162010-11-04T19:11:00.000-04:002010-11-04T19:11:38.491-04:00A Cup of Security<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3shQcfPtQJcEcHHV_iy_IHY-bTa9yon0ACcIBaB0Hm2SuxQsXw58bW3-rmna2p13qZ0iKDVvxuMeMxe3P7IbcguqvGy6GILUyBHeUVI5Q8gxOYFyUg01QMYzBBRbYuUwZCExjG8qv_WK/s1600/05_23_1---Graveyard_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3shQcfPtQJcEcHHV_iy_IHY-bTa9yon0ACcIBaB0Hm2SuxQsXw58bW3-rmna2p13qZ0iKDVvxuMeMxe3P7IbcguqvGy6GILUyBHeUVI5Q8gxOYFyUg01QMYzBBRbYuUwZCExjG8qv_WK/s320/05_23_1---Graveyard_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Life Can Be Scary</td></tr>
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If you're like me, life is often scary. Having seen a spouse and a Mom die in my arms and in my presence doesn't do anything but make me a bit fearful of death...at times.<br />
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I know, you are probably thinking, come on Chuck - for goodness sakes, you're a preacher, teacher, Jesus kind of guy! You can't say that! Well, it's true. Why shouldn't I be a bit herky-jerky and afraid? We were not created to live this twisted, abnormal way of life. We weren't built to die. Way to go Adam and Eve. You blew it for all of us. LOSERS!<br />
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Now that I think about it, I don't feel so bad about my little fear-filled thoughts. It's only human, right? So, is it also human to live and stay in fear? No, Nada, Uh-Uh, No Way Jose.<br />
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ can give me security in both life and death. For the Gospel to do that, I have to believe it and value it. I'm finding it easier to trust and believe that God guards and protects me on His foundation of love supported by immovable pillars.<br />
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Those pillars can strengthen me more and more as I recognize them in my everyday walk with Him.<br />
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The first pillar is Jesus' perfect life, which means in Him I have hope for holiness (which God requires)<br />
The second pillar is Jesus' death which takes care of the punishment I deserve for all my junk. (another God requirement)<br />
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Both Jesus' life and death have been given to me (and you) freely, which really means that I am in Jesus in LIFE (Galatians 2:20) and in Him in DEATH (Romans 6:4-5). That's cool, but here's the sizzling butter on top of the perfectly cooked Ruth's Chris filet - "We will also be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:5)<br />
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So, along with your cup of coffee tomorrow morning, have a cup of safety with a dash of security on His immoveable pillars of LOVE. Then you can get a second cup of gratitude to get your day started off just right.<br />
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Chuck<br />
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Thanks for sharing a few minutes with my often not so great thoughts and my occasional creative brilliance. Please feel free to call at
404-433-7851 or email at bigchuckallen@me.com. Peace</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-21089502580681691542010-10-22T00:12:00.004-04:002010-10-22T14:52:23.489-04:00More Terminal Certainty<b>I've recently shared with you the nature of a disease under the weight
of which I am literally collapsing. The leaders and coaches in my life
refer to it as "TERMINAL CERTAINTYITIS". The more certain I become
that I must control my surroundings rather than leave an imprint of
Jesus where I tread should lead to the most certain item of all - I
actually grow more uncertain each day by clinging to my terminally
certain perspective that I can rise above and conquer the world as a
"self made man". The true and ugly reality is - I need to long for
gracious insecurity.
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<b>Look, I don't have the answers to life's dilemmas anymore than you
do... but I understand that He does. What good is clinging to man made
certainty once we realize that the certainty of man (including this
one) is wholly insecure and facing relational bankruptcy. Certainty is
the mark of the commonsense life - Gracious Uncertainty is the mark of
the spiritual life.
<i></i></b>
"Our natural inclination is to be so precise, trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next, that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing...The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty... Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life... gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed wit ha sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. Jesus said, "...unless you... become as little children..." (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, " ...believe in Me" (John 14:1), not, "Believe certain things about Me." Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in, but you can be certain that He will come." --<i>Oswald Chambers</i>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-71702360016334660832010-10-21T12:05:00.004-04:002010-10-21T23:48:43.860-04:00FEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_4CwEKIbQkvkJ4I7XGWuKNxNsiSSSDjLP-684sRShuZ5B5-V3dG83Fhm66lFBP6sEfPiRaDenaS7VIXN9bA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If you're like me, there are many things that I fear. I am convinced that what I really fear is ME. </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If fear breeds fear, then faith and courage breed more faith and courage...who are you today? The fear filled fugitive or the courage filled champion? In a rough paraphrase from FDR The only thing we have to fear is me, myself!</span></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There is nothing remotely passive about being part of the kingdom of God. </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Faithfulness is not holding the fort; it’s storming the gates of hell. </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">A group of early 20th-century missionaries became known as “one-way </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">missionaries” because they packed all their earthly belongings into coffins </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and purchased one-way tickets when they departed for the mission field.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">They knew they’d never return home. One such missionary was named </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">A.W. Milne. He felt called to a tribe of headhunters in the New Hebrides. All </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">the other missionaries to this tribe had been martyred, but that didn’t keep </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Milne from chasing the Wild Goose. He lived among the tribe for thirty-five </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">years and never returned home. When the tribe buried him, they wrote on </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">his tombstone: “When he came there was no light. When he left there was </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">no darkness.”</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">to do easy things? God wants to send us to dangerous places to do </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">difficult things. And if you chase the Wild Goose, He will lead you into the </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">shadowlands, where light and darkness clash.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Read Joshua 1:1-9 today and see if you are ready to live courageously!</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Peace, Chuck</span></span></span></i></div>
</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comSugar Hill, GA, USA34.1064895 -84.033519734.035422000000004 -84.1502492 34.177557 -83.9167902tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-32642468131356040112010-10-20T09:10:00.004-04:002010-10-21T23:51:52.483-04:00Hungry?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Baskerville; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every now and then, it's a good thing to post a written devotional thought. I really enjoy the video devotions, but often find myself multi-tasking my way through it. As a result, I often get "the gist" of the devotion, but seem to miss the meditative or contemplative opportunity to see what it might really mean to me. In other words, I often seem to forget that The Lord desires me to stop and hear directly from Him...not Chuck.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a very brief, but challenging devotional thought that I was studying this morning and thought I would share it with you as well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep visiting <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1726905216"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">www.</span></a></span></span></span><a href="http://sugarhillchurch.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sugarhillchurch.com</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for our video daily devotions, but take the time to hear from Him in your own listening heart...ENJOY!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the Same Wing,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Chuck Allen</span></b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">In John 6, a large crowd crosses the Sea of Galilee looking for Jesus. But when they find him, instead of welcoming their “seeking,” Jesus says to them,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. (John 6:26-27)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">A little later on in the chapter, he purposely offends them with his “hard sayings” so that many turn away and no longer follow him. But weren't the crowds coming to the right source of blessing? Didn’t they believe that he could and would heal them and give them bread to eat?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">They did, and he certainly had the power to do it, but the problem was that that was all they wanted. They didn’t join the disciples in saying, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The Israelites who fell in the wilderness had this same kind of "faith." They believed in God enough to complain to him about their dry tongues, but they lacked a thirst for righteousness.The sort of faith that pleases God—real faith—is the kind that is created by him through the hearing of the gospel (Ephesians 2:8-9). It rests in Christ alone and hungers and thirsts for righteousness. It is the kind that, when calamity strikes, results in worship and comfort that our “redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). It is the “peace that passes understanding.” This sort of faith causes us to cry out for mercy, knowing we are sinners in need of the righteousness that only One could purchase for us.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">By faith, we hunger and thirst and are satisfied (Revelation 21:6). By faith, we are comforted that all things, no matter how painful or sweet, will work together for our good, reaping eternal benefits that are so wonderful that they can’t even be compared to our grief (1 Peter 1:6, Romans 8:28). True faith believes that God is good and rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal AppleGothic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">If as Christians we are called to endure difficult trials and yet always receive temporal blessings like health and safety, our peace could not rightly be called the “peace that passes understanding.” It would actually be quite reasonable.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">If you hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are you! (Matthew 5:6)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Baskerville; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I hope to hear your thoughts on this by way of your email to me at chuck@mysugarhillchurch.com</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Peace</span></span></span><a href="mailto:bigchuckallen@me.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">bigchuckallen@me.com</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
</span>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-19433217998512601692010-09-16T14:24:00.001-04:002010-10-21T23:52:27.634-04:00Doxology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a kid, I learned about the power and presence of God in an old school, traditional church in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. What sticks with me most is the learning of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through a small song we sang at the opening of every Sunday service. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We called it The Doxology...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Praise God from whom all blessings flow.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Praise Him all creatures here below.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Praise Him above ye Heavenly Hosts.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Amen.</span></span>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-81842597477230813282010-09-01T21:18:00.000-04:002010-09-01T21:18:54.055-04:00Aloneness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-43396896308062307372010-08-31T20:50:00.002-04:002010-08-31T20:52:04.983-04:00Come On Man!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZO0UOiHCAiUvbBeM5GdeoqpvnadJ2nOCibb576PfaJwInjJemHPZxEGuENWQYybj_D0giCHTAqusclV2GV8W2WoiSZkp6XDrZWM8LnZrK_-sinLYoPJ2spWSG1lgt-jImwpLaAW3sVOq/s1600/ESPN-streaming-coming-to-Xbox-360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZO0UOiHCAiUvbBeM5GdeoqpvnadJ2nOCibb576PfaJwInjJemHPZxEGuENWQYybj_D0giCHTAqusclV2GV8W2WoiSZkp6XDrZWM8LnZrK_-sinLYoPJ2spWSG1lgt-jImwpLaAW3sVOq/s200/ESPN-streaming-coming-to-Xbox-360.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my favorite ESPN segments is when the NFL GameDay guys break out the "Come On Man" part of the weeks highlights. Somebody whines about not making enough millions in their contract year: come on man! Some player makes a stupid decision: come on man! Some coach loses it unnecessarily: come on man! Some NFL player can't remember his kids names: come on man!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been around the church long enough to appreciate the same "come on man" phrase in the church as well. Here are a few of my favorites...</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pastors who are confident that the church owes them gifts for anniversaries, Christmas, birthdays, etc. simply because they are in the office of the Pastor---Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Staff members who don't work hard - everyday - and become extraordinary golfers on the "ministry discount" at the local club - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Deacons who will argue, fight and fume over a Pastor's salary or chosen sermon, or even a change in worship style, but won't lift a finger to serve widows, orphans, or hungry people in their own neighborhood - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Musicians who are certain that they ARE the show and forget they are leading in worship...not building their resume - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Young leaders that forget that more mature leaders have already been there, done that and have wisdom to share that is essential - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Older leaders that forgot what it was like to long to lead something when you are a young leader called by God - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Men who stand in worship and never let their kids see them sing, pray or praise, but will teach them their favorite school fight song before they are 5 years old - Come On Man!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Christ followers who are dreadfully worried about how loud the music is, or what kind of clothes you came to church in, but never share Christ with anybody in need - Come On Man!</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wow, I feel better! Especially that I have just painted myself and most of you with a brush that is terribly unflattering. May we passionately strive to be loving, serving and sensible followers of Jesus this week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Peace, Chuck</span></div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-89211719795943679772010-08-27T10:43:00.001-04:002010-10-21T23:53:21.757-04:00The Beatles Had it Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAVqSfSa4EBL1PTuVDP13dA9iGwxCTeAyRw1aW60tansPhwBd0tkcXC3Ud-xBrmLtpIIw0GveghhOm1zyDfE_l0PJ6jtGQZ6o1fI7NzLkm9F4op5qmNgyd8sGLfVJCGaNwTRTJNkDqZkW/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAVqSfSa4EBL1PTuVDP13dA9iGwxCTeAyRw1aW60tansPhwBd0tkcXC3Ud-xBrmLtpIIw0GveghhOm1zyDfE_l0PJ6jtGQZ6o1fI7NzLkm9F4op5qmNgyd8sGLfVJCGaNwTRTJNkDqZkW/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Have you ever wondered why God allows such suffering in the world? Suffering like the floods in Pakistan or the earthquakes in Haiti. Why children are dying in Africa because they have no clean drinking water? Me too.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What kind of God allows oppression, slaughter, injustice, hurricanes and famines? Why does He allow them and does He care? Good questions and in many cases, questions we may not have answers to until we get to Heaven, in which case we won't care any longer.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Cynics claim that suffering proves that God doesn't exist or that He isn't loving. The truth is, no human really has answers for such questions. Suffering, in many ways, is a mystery. Maybe we should all just learn to accept that. Honestly? I have a hard time simply accepting that.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There is, you see a comforting mystery in all the suffering. A mystery that is comforting and one that the cynic cannot dismiss - the fact that love is everywhere suffering is. Watch a nurse hold a hurting child's hand, watch a firefighter or police officer or a relief volunteer - the list goes on and on.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Love wouldn't be a natural act to a random universe. Love is intentional by design. Love is divine by nature. So in spite of of all the dozens and dozens of things we do not understand or like about this world - there is most assuredly - love surrounding us. And if love surrounds us then God surrounds us for God is Love (1John 4:8).</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I've come to peace with the simple fact that I am not capable of explaining everything with my little human mind. Mystery, I now understand, is a reality of this life. John, Ringo, Paul and George had it right in the Beatles song..."All you need is love...Love is all you need".</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">May you experience His love in such a powerful way today that you are compelled to share it with others (Matthew 22:36-40).</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Peace, Chuck</span></span></span></h2>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-21658561034473255392010-08-16T23:02:00.006-04:002010-10-21T23:54:23.274-04:00Satisfied<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufUxpvlEUlcgZ7wjl6uz-JRMTmNWvOu_Rm549v5Py-U_rJqWTErQVA65xWEK60yhkn42JnocSqQWON4rznDxuPq_McC5gP24VL5xxOY5SOFxqj8Aebl9oL-Cj_F0fFBMB9HgbI9aW274n/s1600/beaches_long_exposure_full_moon_reflected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufUxpvlEUlcgZ7wjl6uz-JRMTmNWvOu_Rm549v5Py-U_rJqWTErQVA65xWEK60yhkn42JnocSqQWON4rznDxuPq_McC5gP24VL5xxOY5SOFxqj8Aebl9oL-Cj_F0fFBMB9HgbI9aW274n/s200/beaches_long_exposure_full_moon_reflected.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Have you ever had something that you just couldn't get off of your mind? Well, </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Jenny reminded me yesterday of an old, old hymn that I have not heard in years, but seems so rich and full and grace that I thought I would share it with you. I hope you enjoy these lyrics from this precious old hymn. Now it's off my mind.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">SATISFIED</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">All my life I had a longing</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">For a drink from some clear spring,</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">That I hoped would quench the burning</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Of the thirst I felt within.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Hallelujah! I have found Him</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Whom my soul so long has craved!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Jesus satisfies my longings,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Through His blood I now am saved.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Feeding on the husks around me,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Till my strength was almost gone,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Longed my soul for something better,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Only still to hunger on.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Poor I was, and sought for riches,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Something that would satisfy,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">But the dust I gathered round me</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Well of water, ever springing,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Bread of life so rich and free,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Untold wealth that never faileth,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My Redeemer is to me.</span></span></div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">By Clara T. Williams</span></span></em></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">May your journey be filled with great Satisfaction in Him. Clearly this trumps Mick Jagger's "I Can't Get No...Satisfaction."</span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Peace, Chuck</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-63985415985419409912010-07-02T11:11:00.002-04:002010-10-21T23:54:56.349-04:00A Timeline of Accountability<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A few years ago, Focus on the Family did some extensive research on why and how more than 400 ministry leaders fell morally and how they failed in their rolls as ministry leaders and leaders in their homes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The overwhelming commonality was that none of them were accountable to another person or group of people. Accountability is a good thing when we are doing what we are supposed to do. It's a real challenge when we aren't! I've been in both spots, having been accountable and delivering properly and not delivering. Either way, I knew when I was winning or losing. It was clear when I was on task and in the right place and I knew when I was blowing it or blew it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">One thing we have learned is this - without accountability, we all have a natural tendency to blow it. Accountability is a necessity for all leaders, regardless of your position.</span><br />
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<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12933322&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="227"></embed></object></span><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/12933322"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Oil Spill Timeline</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3849600">RightChange</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
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Peace, ChuckChuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-56908466277043845752010-07-02T10:18:00.002-04:002010-07-02T10:23:20.438-04:00Same Old StoryI'm not a politician, I'm not even a political junkie. I do know when something isn't right -<br />
I'm amazed at the willingness to bash the previous administration over the Katrina issue but give a pass on the oil issue to the present administration. Interesting. I thought this was a humorous video. Feel free to share it and view more like it at <a href="http://www.rightchange.com/">www.rightchange.com</a> Peace, Chuck<br />
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<br />
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<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12934857&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/12934857">Same As It Ever Was</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3849600">RightChange</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-60291032141269917752010-06-29T14:19:00.001-04:002010-10-21T23:55:28.105-04:00Challenged<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Okay, I'm challenged! I've spent most of my life overvaluing my contribution to society and life in general. I am living proof of the over-statement "the older I get the better I was".
My Mom recently endured brain surgery, the torture and humiliation of the following rehabilitation, another surgery, endless procedures, two more hospitals and now a hospice center. She has had strangers bath her, tend to her, poke and prod her for seven weeks now. While sitting in her hospice room yesterday morning early...just her 50 year old baby boy and his now aged Mom, she discovered a brief moment of lucididity. And in her clarity she didn't complain, worry about money, houses, clothes or objects collected over the years. She wanted to know if I was okay! She was worried about me!
I'm not sure when I began my self centered journey of life and leadership. You would think that after all life has thrown at me in fifty plus years, I would have gotten over me by now - but I suppose it's a life-long lesson for some of us...starting with me.
I've seen my wife, Jenny serve my ailing mother as if it were her own mother. I've seen her weep and clean and "mom-sit" when she was physically and emotionally exhausted and never miss a beat at our Atlanta Airport busy-like home. She is amazing. Truly amazing.
I've seen how the many years of ministry spent building budgets and buildings could have been spent investing in people and caring for people - and the different imprint my life might have made. I don't know about you, but I will forever be reminded that when my Mom deserved to whine a little, when my wife could have griped a lot, they both were serving and concerned for others.
By the way, Jesus said that if you want to be great, you must become a servant. He also answered the question of what was the most important commandment by answering to love God and love others. I've seen that at work, but not in the mirror. I think it's time to change that - starting now...how about you?
May you leave a lasting imprint of loving service somewhere today.
Peace, Chuck</span></span>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-51775721955813430452010-02-20T10:00:00.006-05:002010-10-21T23:57:36.960-04:00UUURRRGGGHHH!!!---The Unforced Rhythms of Grace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDfjQiTXQZApdDn2UFUMhPwDtnSMmqei4iR4I7rX-Ud2ZR8f7p4EUFwTuqH0urxp_EQ9ZIKlA_fyhwM7oAChZoO37xXnT9lWNKqy1ugb6aJAQHp7od6NsbgyHZmDhIhOUwf2jZRRTMcjd/s1600-h/IMG_3816.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440353962498889586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDfjQiTXQZApdDn2UFUMhPwDtnSMmqei4iR4I7rX-Ud2ZR8f7p4EUFwTuqH0urxp_EQ9ZIKlA_fyhwM7oAChZoO37xXnT9lWNKqy1ugb6aJAQHp7od6NsbgyHZmDhIhOUwf2jZRRTMcjd/s200/IMG_3816.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 150px;" /></a>
I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> am now 50 years old. Unbelievable, 50 years old. Just yesterday I was the overachieving kid on the block. Now I'm the guy with six daughters, salt-n-pepper hair and wisdom lines around my now droopy eyelids. I've discovered in, what I refer to as midlife, that I am more irritable than I used to be. I am less tolerant and yet I find myself at times more, dare I say it, liberal than days gone by. Okay, I just lost 50% of my Baptist friends. I don't mean theologically. I mean socially.
I'm frustrated that we care more about a golfers infidelity than Haiti's starvation, are more passionate about an ice skater's triple lutz than homeless people and more caring of our pets than we are of single parents.
And then I realize that I am the problem! I have become like far too many Americans. Comfortable in my irritability of my own comfort. Like all irritable people, I am often hard to love and have a hard time loving others. My attention is often consumed by being aware and driven by my circumstances. I find myself in a constant state of agitation, frustration and disenchantment by what is happening outside of my control. I feel heavy, burdened, stressed and weary.
I don't like being that way and hate admitting it to you. It makes me feel like the spoiled brat I probably am. When life doesn't go my way, which seems to be often, I get fearful and it displays itself as irritable.
My gray hair and wrinkles also reflect some good news in that I now recognize that God invites me to abandon all those fears and irritability - He invites me to leave my self and come to Him for rest in Matthew 11:28. Jenny and I were reading The Message this morning and I was so captivated by Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Matthew 11:28 - "get away with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn <span style="font-style: italic;">the unforced rhythms of grace</span>. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
I can now leave my fears, my irritability, my frustration and my foolish self with Him because He promised that He came that I might have an abundant life in John 10:10, not a life filled with fear, pain and irritability.
He set me on a path completely free from the dependence of circumstances for my joy. I now can bank on each day being filled with more joy and less irritability because of Him. That's very cool.
That is also a reminder that I am to redirect the personal energy that was once directed toward irritability and fear and direct it toward caring for others with a passionate heart of service and love for those that might be the most unlikely recipients of God's love working through me. I recently became aware that God will often allow my life to cross paths with a need that He desires me to meet and that I missed that blessing for decades in my irritable selfishness.
May your day be filled with the blessed crossing of paths with those that you and you alone can bless.
Peace, Chuck</span></b></span>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-17477918431566410932010-02-19T10:11:00.003-05:002010-02-19T11:10:03.055-05:00If it Makes You Happy...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QsYAXhRjcK-MtEawC0tO4ZYK-lecoUhQRtBpsEqxMgcToSB6A0P7b6hOZS1aXM3BQYlJGTQdbtXXSW5LZQsqLJrwjKoHovhzTVuO-ifYZG6KT0AagjzHeKlZNAoytIUvreDhRrRjtjLq/s1600-h/SHERYL_CROW_PROMO_PHOTO.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QsYAXhRjcK-MtEawC0tO4ZYK-lecoUhQRtBpsEqxMgcToSB6A0P7b6hOZS1aXM3BQYlJGTQdbtXXSW5LZQsqLJrwjKoHovhzTVuO-ifYZG6KT0AagjzHeKlZNAoytIUvreDhRrRjtjLq/s200/SHERYL_CROW_PROMO_PHOTO.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439987480431038370" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sheryl Crow had a hit song not long ago, "If it Makes You Happy" and the lyrics in the chorus are </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If it makes you happy It can't be that bad. If it makes you happy, Then why the hell are you so sad?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sheryl is an amazing artist but apparently a not so amazing theologian.</span></span></span></i></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "></span></span></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the church fathers, Augustine of Hippo (come on, that's funny), summarized the Christian life in simple terms and Martin Luther later echoed him. Let me paraphrase; "Love God and do as you please."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That sounds so stinking radical to a recovering fundamentalist like me. But if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. If we truly love God, what we will do is what He will want us to do.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For years I would read John 14:15 and think to myself "Jesus is scolding me when He says "if you love me, you will keep my commandments". Now I realize that in the 14th chapter of John chapter He makes many huge promises, and this is one more HUGE promise. It isn't a scolding, it's a loving promise. "If you love me, of course you'll obey me"! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus is simply stating that if we truly love Him, we will live like it. Which makes me think Sheryl Crow may be accurately portraying the vast majority of Americans. Doing what we want, miserably unhappy and woefully discontent. Why? Because we missed the whole "if you love me thing". You see, we didn't get the benefit of the "do the right thing", because we didn't get the because "we love Him thing".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On our own we are so far gone that we can do nothing more than be a recipient of His grace. And through His grace He has set us free to love Him just as we are, to love others just for who they are, and to even love ourselves as He has created us. I bet I've heard 100 preachers make a statement like "God didn't call us to be happy, He called us to be holy." Wow, that's a motivator! I think He called me to love Him and in that, obey Him and in obedience to Him; experience joy, and in that joy - HAPPINESS!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So let's rewrite Sheryl Crow's song; "If it makes you happy, it must be Jesus" </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pretty Cool, huh?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Peace, Chuck<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div></div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-87362548525389290592009-12-02T19:23:00.004-05:002010-10-21T23:58:01.377-04:00Am I Responsible?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18XgXUIUUsPsJsBzY6CHNdNwEO-t93DnW2gJpZ_aQeSgFJ7PVa-ia5VlWanZ5QMX-vy-5A09cVewWbIurJFScnIzCjgA29Xabmd29l0nt4D9WLbBxdmA036EpXJFUYIE4AkbQuQ1MW15S/s1600-h/corporate_responsibility.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410803552024362002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18XgXUIUUsPsJsBzY6CHNdNwEO-t93DnW2gJpZ_aQeSgFJ7PVa-ia5VlWanZ5QMX-vy-5A09cVewWbIurJFScnIzCjgA29Xabmd29l0nt4D9WLbBxdmA036EpXJFUYIE4AkbQuQ1MW15S/s200/corporate_responsibility.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 194px;" /></a>
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The other day, I found myself telling a buddy about all my woes. Money's tight, work is driving me crazy. Ministry is tough. Four daughters in college...Blah, Blah, Blah! When my kids whine like that I usually respond in the whiniest, most pitiful voice - "it's so hard!"</div>
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He responded with what I considered a pretty smart reply, as in smart-butt reply; "Good, now we can do something about it. There's hope for you yet!" Like I said - smart-butt.</div>
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My buddy understood that I live a relatively responsible life, minus the fact that I have a difficult time passing a Krispy Kreme when the <b><i>HOT NOW</i></b> light is on! The point he was making is that I suffer from something else. I suffer from an obsessive attachment to an exaggerated sense of responsibility that warps me into a little self-described messiah. I tend to exhaust myself attempting to deliver for everyone, work smarter and harder than everyone and carry everyone's burdens and needs on my shoulders. I seem to compulsively manage other's lives and feel guilty when they fail as if I've failed them.I even seem to feel compelled to carry Jesus's burdens.</div>
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The causes are many. Sometimes I'm addicted to control. Sometimes I think too highly of myself and too little of others. Usually I'm just scared to death of failing (not that I haven't done my fair share of that). Other times I think it's just what is expected.</div>
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Recently, through the truth of a good friend, I came to realize that this is not a responsible way to live. It may be noble, but it is typically unhealthy. Admitting this weakness in me and the fact that it is rarely as noble as I think it is to God is the first step in creating a healthy sense of responsibility and a truly responsible life.</div>
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Trusting Christ with eternity seems far easier because it is so etherial - true responsibility begins with honesty and ends with trusting Jesus. Period. May you choose to live responsibly. Not as others would choose. not as you think you should but through the honest eyes of Christ.</div>
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Peace, Chuck</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-58089328416500805502009-09-10T09:49:00.002-04:002009-09-10T09:54:12.651-04:00Healthcare and Worship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh251jl1O_EW4SVY3PZGhzpv_oQcHhpxbeUidBCt6tQMD4sG_O7qrzqHlVBeOYTZNSNCFXKfuEn3KQKqiqTTh5AisMwXOaRftPGo4Uk5uW0ycDMYiC5WWWk8uzMk05TYEWin6ry3MPYE_TF/s1600-h/Health+Care+Advocacy+Group+Leads+Protest+Over+B4eNJemDkqZl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh251jl1O_EW4SVY3PZGhzpv_oQcHhpxbeUidBCt6tQMD4sG_O7qrzqHlVBeOYTZNSNCFXKfuEn3KQKqiqTTh5AisMwXOaRftPGo4Uk5uW0ycDMYiC5WWWk8uzMk05TYEWin6ry3MPYE_TF/s200/Health+Care+Advocacy+Group+Leads+Protest+Over+B4eNJemDkqZl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379836709007297778" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I have been amused with the process of town hall meetings regarding the President’s healthcare initiative. I am probably a conservative on most everything in life but seem to lean a bit left on many social issues. I really have tried to find a positive perspective on President Obama’s healthcare initiative, but well, I haven’t found a policy he has enacted that I agree with yet. Healthcare is critical, but we offer healthcare to every person in America today! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I cannot find one example of a government operated organization that is a shining example of efficiency or excellence, period. Postal services, TSA, IRS, Cash for Clunkers, just pick it and it’s screwed up if the government runs it. I don’t really care if it’s a Republican or a Democrat – More government is not a good thing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Any attempt at taking this needed, and yet already provided care and placing it under the direct authority of an already abusive, pervasive government is a mistake. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I love America and I pray for and respect the office of the President of the United States, but I must say that from the Czars with great authority and no fundamental accountability to the healthcare giveaway to the 9 trillion dollar debt…Well this is a train wreck in the making.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I pray and trust that you will pray that the people of the good ole USofA will grasp the urgency of our great nation’s plight and seek God’s wisdom. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the day, everything comes down to worship. Do we worship our will or the God of all creation? Do we worship the political platform of convenience and wet finger in the air follow-ship or will we worship the Lord God.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">You see, the worship part is found in the definition that the Bible gives of true worship; submission, service and reverence. We submit to the one who said that the greatest commandment is to love God and love others. We serve when we attempt to care for others and minister to others in the name of Jesus. We are reverent when we are in a constant state of awe of the God we worship.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So maybe we need to recognize our need for authentic worship in submission, service and reverence as a better solution to most of our crucial and most urgent issues we are facing in our dear country.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Be that person who chooses to make a difference in the name of Jesus today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Peace, Chuck</p> <!--EndFragment-->Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-3739587653015249642009-09-08T17:01:00.003-04:002009-09-08T17:05:42.002-04:00What Would You Think<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGzg8VtXhl1yDvxpfURADDpdO7aNoSgvYKJHtYXe4kN0FyevLzCSbGlsEzk-uJhxl0Fe5L0q_lQeAZcMWvf_4bzdZC-H1K7nvmMPfei5H4Vr0GiglV50OG6gx6zYakbDHSRrIjuvnb4WI/s1600-h/090206_obama_rogers_634.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGzg8VtXhl1yDvxpfURADDpdO7aNoSgvYKJHtYXe4kN0FyevLzCSbGlsEzk-uJhxl0Fe5L0q_lQeAZcMWvf_4bzdZC-H1K7nvmMPfei5H4Vr0GiglV50OG6gx6zYakbDHSRrIjuvnb4WI/s200/090206_obama_rogers_634.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379205389758001666" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, fantasy;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">WHAT WOULD YOU THINK<br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current on their income taxes, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to Cinco de Cuatro in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the fourth of May (Cuatro de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word advice would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how he inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victimsthroughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had sent his wife and daughters on a shopping trip to London on Air Force One, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br />So, tell me again, what is it about President Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 5 months -- so you'll have three years and seven months to come up with an answer.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">There are times when you just have to be amazed at the American mindset.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Peace, Chuck</div></span>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-32633517661462472522009-08-02T22:39:00.003-04:002009-08-02T22:59:18.223-04:00Clarity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP4yGI7T-Qi3Y8ZrdI_WlnRaTcUTymOgWZeaR057TWnqVXQ2yVvs4KOr_iknQXw4BrAWM5GsFs5KXkG-ZS6o5ujk9W1KP8mjkDueaJ2WnPNEwg-V5cSmkMYRNrpKN8UWdiaaCKVJ0SF3R/s1600-h/Waterford.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP4yGI7T-Qi3Y8ZrdI_WlnRaTcUTymOgWZeaR057TWnqVXQ2yVvs4KOr_iknQXw4BrAWM5GsFs5KXkG-ZS6o5ujk9W1KP8mjkDueaJ2WnPNEwg-V5cSmkMYRNrpKN8UWdiaaCKVJ0SF3R/s200/Waterford.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365566589704672258" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever battled with DENIAL? Too often, I battle with denial and allow denial to win. Denial keeps me blind to the truth about myself! When denial wins in my life I become competitive - not cooperative, intense - not peaceful, joyless - not joyful, and emotional - not self controlled. Why not? When I am blinded by self, I imagine self to be far more important than it really is-yuck! But denial is like that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've noticed over the years that denial and God's Holy Spirit don't exactly get along like buddies. God, you see, wants me to see Waterford Crystal Clear; He wants me to see and understand my weaknesses, my pride, my flaws and my failures. Not so He can hurt me, but rather so that I might hide and trust further and more deeply in Him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At times, clear sight is blinding though. At times, seeing myself clearly hurts a bit, often it hurts a great deal. But it doesn't hurt as badly as denial does. Denial causes me to hurt others as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So when I allow God to defeat denial in my daily walk with Him, denial goes away, beaten, bloodied and preparing to fight another day. When denial goes away, I have hope. Real hope - not hope that some elected official will bail me out, but real, genuine hope for today and tomorrow! I have that hope because God can now show me how incredibly able He is to take care of me and love me through all my junk. That's when seeing the truth with Waterford Crystal Clarity is okay - accepting the truth of who I am and Who's I am. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Life is truly better when the truth sets me free.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Peace, Chuck</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-53457153140183352692009-07-27T13:20:00.001-04:002009-07-27T13:23:02.725-04:00Men and Women<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq4kstrOtkm0MGja6x4X_E4kA8FnEmVSa2cEHpuSdltqZBPucdQ0k4C-w9Bb9nJXEUZzamhqnjZ3pcB8JrEHntd0xgVlhtnNtPoQsrYgdHfZLCDsrafCepYyFVjOYztAml-B_3FoH8u02/s1600-h/menwomen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq4kstrOtkm0MGja6x4X_E4kA8FnEmVSa2cEHpuSdltqZBPucdQ0k4C-w9Bb9nJXEUZzamhqnjZ3pcB8JrEHntd0xgVlhtnNtPoQsrYgdHfZLCDsrafCepYyFVjOYztAml-B_3FoH8u02/s200/menwomen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363191601904672610" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NICKNAMES</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">EATING OUT</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only f or $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. (Unless they’re pilots….)When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">MONEY </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">BATHROOMS </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel ...The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">ARGUMENTS </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A woman has the last word in any argument.Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">FUTURE </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">SUCCESS </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.A successful woman is one who can find such a man.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">MARRIAGE </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">DRESSING UP </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail..A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NATURAL </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.Women somehow deteriorate during the night.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">OFFSPRING </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist app ointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house..</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">THOUGHT FOR THE DAY</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!</span></span></span></div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-70908953359585803602009-07-23T14:38:00.004-04:002009-07-23T17:27:58.226-04:00On the Other Side?<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYzTH--mEVg80fHdC9Cp82o09DZ6T7q-K__YMpVNjiNcdPMp17qhY4XjIbmV6b2jHIukQlGqUgawhOQK7pqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-64673353925981957472009-07-20T21:37:00.004-04:002009-07-24T15:36:15.649-04:00Accountability is NOT a 4 Letter Word<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpzd35yKstrRKQt4cfE489EitrKAoSjRa6LHqQW3uMFEz1sy6jbtK3sapQfQKvg6c-hXmp-IuRe46LxNyE-69IMWqVWYkxyGPR_vaY_mMuI9orpg_LuVrqEIKRnn5NskmzCEP0rIGcjyD/s1600-h/Accountability.JPG.jpeg"><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpzd35yKstrRKQt4cfE489EitrKAoSjRa6LHqQW3uMFEz1sy6jbtK3sapQfQKvg6c-hXmp-IuRe46LxNyE-69IMWqVWYkxyGPR_vaY_mMuI9orpg_LuVrqEIKRnn5NskmzCEP0rIGcjyD/s200/Accountability.JPG.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360728447749180882" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When I say ACCOUNTABILITY, what do you think of? For too many, the first thought is heavy-handed, top-down leadership. Most of us really don't like to be held accountable. Pick a subject; finances, spiritual growth, weight loss, health, time, work - we don't like it when people hold us accountable. Let's face it, we don't really like being accountable to people because we "give up some freedoms"- I would argue that we <b><i>gain</i></b> freedoms as we allow ourselves to be held accountable. We gain the freedom of knowing we will attempt to achieve more. We gain the knowledge that we will stay on task. We gain the understanding that we need other people in our lives. One leadership truth that remains consistent - as leaders, we must be willing to be held to a higher standard of accountability than we are desiring to hold others.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Accountability Means Doing the Right Thing.</i></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Accountability is About People Development as Much as it is Results Achievement.</i></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Accountability Should Focus our Efforts in Measurable Components.</i></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">For us to really be and hold each other mutually accountable, we must:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Start with Focus - </i>Create Waterford Crystal Clear Key Results and Activities. The goal here is to be clear, not cute. If I know it and want it, I can conquer it. Your personal and team purpose should be clear, common and compelling-I get it, We get it, We want it!</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Be Held and Hold People Accountable for Their Schedules</i> - Leaders get their calendars and their team member's calendars focused on mission-centric activities, not putting out fires. When we are focused on purposeful mission, we spend our resources, including time, on the main thing.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><i>Leave Your Computer and Get in Front of People</i> - Accountability is hard work and serious people work. The very best coaching takes place face-to-face. Accountability is up close and personal, not a game of hide and seek behind the anonymity of email, text, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Face Book</span> or Twitter.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">In a study of 400 ministry leaders that fell morally; one commonality was discovered. That one commonality - NO ACCOUNTABILITY. We are all capable of evil and and most certainly STUPID. Learn to survive and thrive in the arena of <i>mutual accountability.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Peace, Chuck</b></div></div></div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-82584603312391070632009-07-16T13:12:00.007-04:002009-07-24T17:04:07.119-04:00I'm Sorry, So Sorry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll1mawD4L7fbP5BHlvqEXo4TbDiZfoI226_7_YFDOym4Xgjclj2XD2bgKH23N8Xv3olaa7aq-wnGUKZHehmS3-wN1lsCybpK4kMJELcJrbtdc6u36VRlH4p9Ctt-gQFxMBaraR6Ju9B0-/s1600-h/im_so_sorry-2715.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll1mawD4L7fbP5BHlvqEXo4TbDiZfoI226_7_YFDOym4Xgjclj2XD2bgKH23N8Xv3olaa7aq-wnGUKZHehmS3-wN1lsCybpK4kMJELcJrbtdc6u36VRlH4p9Ctt-gQFxMBaraR6Ju9B0-/s200/im_so_sorry-2715.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359141108964174610" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the most difficult lessons in life and leadership is the art of "I'm sorry". Knowing how to express and experience forgiveness is a critical form of leadership. It really is an art form and a leadership essential.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So how do we extend a real apology? I read these three elements of a good apology from Dianna <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Booher</span>, author of The Voice of Authority. These three apology processes can make a huge difference in your journey. They begin with...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. <i>Admission of error, guilt, or wrong doing.</i> You accept responsibility for what was said or done and its <i>inappropriateness, inaccuracy, </i>or<i> insensitivity</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. <i>Specificity</i>. Apologize in specifics. Blanket apologies convey lack of concern of the situation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. <i>Amends</i>. Apologizing involves some attempt to make things right or words or gesture of goodwill toward the offended person or group.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relationships are more critical today than ever. When you find yourself in need, it's not about being right or defending your position. It's about people needing meaningful, long lasting relationships. There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in desperate need of a real relationship. At those moments of crisis or loneliness, we forget about being right, but rather, we long for a relationship that comforts us, encourages us and models for us how to care for others.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">May you invest in others and may you build meaningful, lasting relationships as you journey through your life and leadership. The ROI on that investment will be through the roof!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Peace, Chuck</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-30820029500160912002009-07-15T08:43:00.005-04:002009-07-24T17:13:36.155-04:00Sea World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4McvLc3o085FS9y5NAqQc5fPP18mz7aepJ5fHeXKmv4qF4wD2bs-qJHySAmMQNYEsRInvnvEZyngcQTvpzIH89WA4I0riKUL32mzVpH05FtWpd7qKf6uAiCX1Q5boCJHF8gz3wl_iBE5d/s1600-h/friends.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4McvLc3o085FS9y5NAqQc5fPP18mz7aepJ5fHeXKmv4qF4wD2bs-qJHySAmMQNYEsRInvnvEZyngcQTvpzIH89WA4I0riKUL32mzVpH05FtWpd7qKf6uAiCX1Q5boCJHF8gz3wl_iBE5d/s200/friends.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358671404251081570" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday was a hectic day. I started the day with 185 high school students in Shamu Stadium at Sea World. I am part of the teaching team of Student Leadership University. Every Tuesday, for 8 straight weeks we are at Shamu Stadium for a session on building trusting relationships at 7:00am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, 7:00am, are you kidding me? At 7:00am, I'm looking at these students like the movie line "I see dead people". But the minute they see Shamu and the other 3 whales come out of the back pool and jump in the large pool in front of them, they come alive. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's fantastic to see the transformation. I do the same thing. Like a little boy, every week, I am thrilled to see those killer whales perform. It's very cool - you can't make a killer whale do what it doesn't want to do...And you can't make people do what they want to do either! These extraordinary trainers at Sea World build trusting, meaningful relationships with the whales and the lesson learned is that <i>we must build trusting, meaningful relationships with those around us as well.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday, in the middle of the Shamu show, the whales stopped doing "the show". The trainers didn't beat them, shout and scream at them, taser them or speak of them as losers. These trainers simply explained that something in the whale pod was emotionally or environmentally wrong. As a result, they stopped and cancelled the show. The students came back for the 12:30 show and everything was great, perfect synchronization between whale and trainer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another lesson learned. What if we lead and encouraged those around us in this manner where we are sensitive to their surroundings and their environment and their emotions? We might have an opportunity to succeed at greater levels because we have intentionally built a trusting, meaningful relationship. <i>I think that is the expression of great value, that someone would want to, and then actually attempt to build a trusting, meaningful relationship with me, of all people.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">May you be that kind of leader; Building trusting, meaningful relationships day after day-starting today!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a thought....Peace, Chuck</div></div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5919666640743537736.post-63466858276091357652009-07-12T21:47:00.004-04:002009-07-24T17:14:06.172-04:00Every One of Us<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ5KEyWw2Fjw6bdgxThYmONVkLdp3qGt9IrQqWy-NrNmMGS0KRtnzSSKj5GHYo4bXXK8Q-2R7ha9us8_4qWKsaRKWoJjrs9IuRSAFEZWr-sKhY6_nrDl0g6q5JWemmDpYc_dDqqpVfE5-/s1600-h/CSC_4507.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ5KEyWw2Fjw6bdgxThYmONVkLdp3qGt9IrQqWy-NrNmMGS0KRtnzSSKj5GHYo4bXXK8Q-2R7ha9us8_4qWKsaRKWoJjrs9IuRSAFEZWr-sKhY6_nrDl0g6q5JWemmDpYc_dDqqpVfE5-/s200/CSC_4507.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357757298496118194" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"Every one of us is called upon, probably many times, to start a new life. A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of job...And onward full tilt we go, pitched and wrecked and absurdly resolute, driven in spite of everything to make good on a new shore. To be hopeful, to embrace one possibility after another - that is surely the basic instinct...Crying out: High Tide! Time to move out into the glorious debris. Time to take this life for what it is." taken from "High Tide in Tucson', Barbara Kingsolver - May your journey be filled with joy and your heart be filled with laughter. Peace, Chuck</div>Chuck Allen - BigChuckAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368905497849170896noreply@blogger.com