Musings

By Pete Hyde A cool north breeze took the edge off the warm sunshine of a winter day in Alabama.  We stood in large cemetery near the University of Alabama at Birmingham looking for grave markers of long-departed relatives.  Having no real idea where the markers were and with the...

By Victoria Ostrosky She wasn’t surprised when it happened.  Ripping her out by the roots was agonizing, but at her age, she had experienced many disappointments and much mistreatment.  No longer beautiful or symmetrical, shivering through the previous winter’s sub-freezing temperatures for days on end, was the final straw.  Already...

By Sean Dietrich “Dear Sean, how can we save this country?” the email began. The writer lives in Hartford, Connecticut. His name is Michael. I have no idea why Michael thinks a hayseed like me is qualified to answer this loaded question. I’m not a smart guy. Blondes tell jokes about me. Still,...

By Pete Hyde The sun peaked above the horizon on Sunday morning and cast its brilliant yellow rays through a crease in the clouds offering a grand statement of “This is the day the Lord has made.  Rejoice and be glad in it.”  It was not a question or a...

By Kirk McCarley There are two movie assignments I’ve often given some of my coaching clients, especially if they are preparing for job interviews. One is “The King’s Speech.”.  Featuring Colin Firth in the role of the future king of Britain, George VI, the plot deals with the to-be king’s predisposition...

By Victoria Ostrosky Small groups, or life groups, had their beginnings with the new church, as baby believers met in one another’s homes, breaking bread together and encouraging each other.  Those first home churches though were just that – small, intimate, home churches.  Small groups today are quite different –...

By Sean Dietrich The plane landed in Tuscaloosa at 8:37 p.m. Central Time. Coach Kalen DeBoer deboarded. He was met with an entourage of photographers and reporters with iPhones. DeBoer’s press conference was scheduled for 1 p.m. It was a blustery, rainy day in the Yellowhammer State. Nick Saban retired on Wednesday. DeBoer...

Rev. Pete Hyde Retired Pastor, Chaplain, South Walton Fire District He stands before a large, empty, stark, white canvas with paints and brushes at the ready.  It is time to create.  With the skill of a master artist, he begins to paint.  He starts with a pure blue and brushes the...

By Kirk McCarley I’ve heard it said there are fundamentally two reasons why people lose jobs aside from factors beyond their control such as reductions in force, position obsolescence, organizations relocating, or mergers and acquisitions. The first cause falls into the category of technical expertise.  An individual simply lacks the ability...

By Victoria Ostrosky Today, when you look around you, you see violence and wars, hatred and discord.  It can be overwhelming, especially when you watch the media.  The world is becoming increasingly unstable.  Fear and anger are rampant.  For the followers of Jesus, we know the end of the story. ...