Allen R. Hunt's Blog, page 27

Centering Harry Potter

I will be there. The final Harry Potter movie arrives next week, and I can't wait to see it.

In fact, I've even been invited me to help chaperone a group to share the fun of the midnight opener on the 15th. Millions of Americans will rush to be the first to see the grand finale. And I will be one of them.

That got me to thinking about how much of our lives is spent rushing. To be the first to get the new Iphone. To cram all of our errands into a single lunch hour. To count ourselves among those at the premiere of a new movie. We rush and rush. And often miss life itself.

My friend practices what he calls "centering prayer." Spend a few minutes at the beginning and end of each day, just being in the presence of God. Perhaps have a word or a verse that you focus your mind on, but seek to do nothing other than enjoy the presence of God. Bring yourself back to the center of your soul. That   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

What Makes America Different: Dignity of Each Life

We are different. You know that. America is different because each person matters. Each individual has worth. That conviction comes from the faith underpinnings of this nation. That each of us is made in the image of God, with sacred worth and value. That each one of us is endowed with certain inalienable rights by our Creator.

We are not China, where individual lives are just churn for the larger machine. And this brief talk by Brig General Steve Ritchie captures that well. Watch it for yourself and be inspired as we approach July 4. 

God bless you and God bless   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Jon Wertheim Reminds Me Why I Love America

Several years ago, Jon Wertheim wrote this column in Sports Illustrated. I get it out every so often as a reminder of just how fortunate you and I are. Happy 4th of July!

 

The 1970s-era scoreboard above the court indicated that there was 4:01 to play in the first half when Bil Duany made his move to the basket. The freshman guard for the Eastern Illinois Panthers sneaked past his man on the perimeter and raised his massive onyx-colored right hand. The Panthers' point guard, Emanuel Dildy, spotted him and lofted a pass. In one fluid motion Duany put a cushion of air between his sinewy body and the court, unfurled his 87-inch wingspan, caught the ball and dunked violently. The alley-oop gave the home team a 30--23 lead over the visitors from Division III Benedictine University. The crowd of about 1,300 at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill., responded with the loudest cheers of the day. � It was a fairly   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

No Hour 1 This Week

Lots of storm tracking and weather updates in the first hour of last night's show on WSB so we were not able to capture the audio for uploading to the site or to Itunes. Life is messy, but I do hope you enjoy the final two hours on May/September(December) relationships and the Baptists' position on Georgia's immigration law and illegal aliens in America.

Thanks for   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Left Turn

Interesting new book from a UCLA prof who has analyzed the news media and found a "liberal" bias. No shock there to the average viewer and reader.

More surprising is that the Drudge Report, which President Obama considers the Huffington Post of the right, comes out as left of center.  Perhaps everything leans so far left that it makes Drudge look conservative merely by comparison rather than in absolute terms. Interesting - I am gonna get a copy for some fun reading!

Here is what the reviewer says

In a crushing body blow to the pushers of the so-called "Fox Effect," which claims the conservative media is dragging the left into the center, UCLA political science professor Tim Groseclose in Left Turn claims that "all" mainstream news outlets have a liberal bias in their   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Tale of Two Choices

On Saturday, I attended a rare event. The 90th birthday party of my wife's grandfather.

Paw Paw has been married for 71 years now. He welded ships for World War II. He and his bride have been graced with 6 children, 5 of of whom are still living.

The party reminded me of something I learned years ago in school. Your latter years of life are filled with one of two things: celebration or regret. Those are the two destinations. Your choice. Based on your life decisions.

As I watched Paw Paw get teary-eyed while greeting lifelong friends and neighbors, and hugging his 15 grandchildren and the ever-growing posse of 31 great-grandchildren, my heart filled with joy. His life has not always been rosy I am sure. But it has been lived with gusto and an embracing of the blessing of loving and being loved. That is the key to finishing with celebration rather than regret.   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Truly Scary Stuff

When the government (Granny Government or Nanny State) decides it knows what is best, the results can be most frightening.

Take, for example, China's long-time one child policy and the results it has wrought. Widespread use of abortion for gender selection, an abundance of males and a shortage of females, resulting in all kinds of social pathologies. Not to mention children who never see the light of day or feel a mother's touch.

Excellent column today in the Wall Street Journal captures this. Amazing data and analysis of the Government Knows Best mentality when it comes to marriage, children, and the basics of life.

Meanwhile, in America, we are in the process of inventing a new category of "marriage" for gays and encouraging folks to >>>>   Read Entire Post

Woody Allen was Right...Sort of

Believe it or not, I have arrived at the conclusion that Woody Allen was right. About one thing anyway. 90% of life is just showing up. For fathers that is brilliant advice.

In working on my next book, I've been interviewing a lot of people and listening to their life stories. My first question to each person is: What was the best part about growing up in your family? Often, the responder says, "Consistency. Security. My dad always came home." Kids crave predictability so they do not have to worry about the basics of life and are free to explore the world while knowing that a bed, a meal, and attentive people are home waiting for them. Consistency helps your children thrive.

It is amazing how we try to make being a dad complicated like calculus when it is really more like basic addition. Show up. A lot. Be present with your children. A lot. Listen to your children. A lot. In   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

A Hearty Chuckle

I recently saw this and got a hearty chuckle. Christians often view life and faith very differently to say the least.

Hope it lightens your day as it did mine :)

 

A Lesson in Denominational Differences…




  

The Cat and the Mat



How would Christians deal with 'The cat sat on the mat' if it appeared in the Bible?
 
Liberal theologians would point out that such a passage did not of course mean that the cat    >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Emails of the Week: Angry Generosity

In response to my most recent blog and weekly email, I received a lot of responses. I found these two to be the most thought-provoking. 

 

Allen, I always look forward to reading these as they prove very interesting.  I've messaged you before, which you may not recall, but I am an atheist; therefore, I cannot blame god for my woes.  For most, however, I would assume that this is an analogous parring of unknowns--religion and economics.  With your background, it's probably funny to see so many people blame their god for troubles, especially when they've put a great deal of faith in him (as well as their country, which too may seem to be letting them down). 

Unfortunately, which I'm sure you've had to experience in  your past profession, many faithful people often know very little about how their religion operates, just as many political people seem to   >>>>>   Read Entire Post