Allen R. Hunt's Blog, page 2

Compassion Invitation

April 20 is almost here. The date for our motorcycle rally to benefit the children of Murphy Harpst, a place that does special and unique work in helping children who have been viciously abused. Many of them have been broken in ways that most of us cannot even begin to imagine.

Details on the ride can be found by clicking here.

And Murphy Harpst has a recently produced video that you will find helpful and inspiring. CHeck it out   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Celebrating Well

When you're too busy to celebrate with a friend, you're too busy. In fact, the apostle Paul said that when one of us is honored, we all should share the joy (1 Cor. 12:26).

Well, this week I celebrate with my dear friend, David Talley. I've known him as David, Father David, Monsignor David, and now he is Bishop David Talley in Atlanta. His was the first bishop's ordination service that I have ever attended. Beautiful. It was also likely the first Catholic bishop's service with a shout-out to Baptists. Bishop Talley grew up as a Baptist, and his ordination was certain to thank his Baptist roots for introducing him to Jesus.

Anyway, his ordination got me to thinking about how easy it is not to celebrate the true high-water marks in the lives of your friends and loved ones. Births, promotions, marriages, big awards. Perhaps we are occasionally jealous of how well someone's life may be going when our own is sputtering.   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Mystery of Faith

"Any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you’re not a believer." So wrote John Irving in A Prayer for Owen Meany.

He's right. For Christians, it all rides on the Easter resurrection. And I believe in that resurrection for many reasons, including

- Jesus appeared after His death 12 times over 6 weeks. Peter, Mary, Thomas, and a crowd of more than all witnessed Jesus after His resurrection.

- Eyewitnesses, like the apostles, left their homes and families to fan out across the globe to share the good news of Jesus' conquering death. Many of them willingly suffered, even died, for doing so. They clearly had seen something significant that had changed everything for them.

- On a more personal note, I have come to know the risen Lord in my own life. Jesus is a living reality in my life and the lives of many of His 2   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Lovely

Terrific poem translated by my friend, Chris. Enjoy!

Sonnet 89 by Pablo Neruda (translated by Chris Jansen)

When I die I want your hands on my eyes.
I want the light and the wheat of your beloved hands
once more to pass their newness over me,
to feel the gentleness that changed my destiny.

I want you to live while I sleep; while I wait for you
I want your ears still to hear the wind,
for you still to smell the sea that we so loved together,
for your feet to walk the beach that was once beneath us.

I want what I loved to go on living,
you whom I loved and sang above all things,
for this you must go on blooming, little flower-girl,

so that all my love has arranged for you may come to pass,
so that your hair may fall across my shadow,
so that you may know the   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Podcasts

Beginning tonight, the show will be available in podcast form but no longer loaded onto this home page for separate listening. Feedback has been that most of you prefer the podcasts, so feel free to subscribe and listen all day long at your   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Time Shift

Beginning tomorrow night (24th), you will be able to hear my show on Sundays from 7:00-9:00 pm until July 1, when I will move to 3:00-5:00 on Sundays. Wish I could keep the third hour but happy to move to the earlier time slot with a larger audience.

As always, the show will still be live. And still   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Simple Things

Pope Francis is reminding me of the old Shaker song

Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 
'Twill be in the valley of love and   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Tis a Gift to be Francis

For the past week, the entire world has stopped and watched Pope Francis. I've received emails from Christians and non-Christians alike who are fascinated by a man who appears to lead with simplicity and its first cousin, humility.

In a time of 24 hour accessibility, obsession with security, and a rabid pursuit of material possessions, simplicity starkly stands out. Pope Francis steps into the crowd, unassuming and unpretentious. A simple person. Honest, sincere, and straightforward. Simplicity shows single-mindedness. He seems to seek only to do the will of God without regard to self.

May the leadership of Pope Francis inspire the world, Catholics, other Christians, and non-Christians alike. May his call to compassion and generosity spur us to notice the needs of others as much as our own needs. And most of all, may his simplicity draw each of us nearer to the very heart of   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Pope Francis

A new day dawns for God's Church. Pope Francis represents a first in so many ways. The first pope named after St. Francis. The first pope from the Americas. The first Jesuit pope.

But perhaps most inspiring about Pope Francis is his embrace of simplicity. A servant of the poor and defender of the weak, Pope Francis has a reputation for leading by self-denial. In choosing the name Francis, our new Holy Father draws strength from the saint who so fully embodied the virtue of simplicity.

As Pope Francis begins, may we join together to pray for him and ourselves this Lent in the words of St. Francis himself



“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Pure Passion

I'm not from Kentucky, but I was listening. In Lexington to speak at an event, I found myself captivated by the radio as I drove my rental car across town. On the air: the Kentucky boys' basketball championship game.

To be honest, I don't follow high school basketball closely. Especially in Kentucky, since I live in Georgia. But I listened and hung on every word as the host interviewed both coaches. As the announcer shared observations about the lives of various players and shouted out the flow of the game. As the crowd roared and I struggled to make out what had just happened.

There was a simplicity to this basketball game and radio experience. Young kids playing for sheer joy and for the pride of their school. Coaches, living on public school salaries, who have labored for decades to reach the ultimate game at their level. Fans from towns like Richmond, KY, who traveled, cheered, and reveled in their local team's   >>>>>   Read Entire Post