Musings

By Stephenie Craig, LCSW There I sat crying in a butter-soaked shirt, holding a tired, screaming baby wondering why I ever agreed to 3 Christmases in one day.  It was our baby son’s first Christmas, what was supposed to be a picturesque, magical day to remember. We decorated, put our...

By Lauren Catanese Life is a beautiful journey. We have a plan, hopes and dreams and we set off to see it through. We have detours, byways, time-outs and U-turns. And all along the way we question it all. We feel that if only our external circumstances would match these...

By Reverend J. Pete Hyde He stands before a large, empty, stark white canvas with paint and brushes at the ready. It is time to create. With the skill of a Master Artist, He begins. He starts with a pure blue and brushes the top of the canvas. He smiles as if gaining strength...

By Rick Moore They say the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. My mother was a preacher’s daughter, and my dad was a professional gambler. I’m still not sure what that makes me. Some people bet on sports, some bet on the stock market, and some on real estate....

By Kirk McCarley At a business lunch a while back one of the attendees asked that question.  Initially there’s an inclination to measure it vs. certain standards: wealth, a position of power and influence, a solid family life, the ability to take nice trips, buy new vehicles, or residence in...

"For with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 Imagine having a life that looks abundant to the outside world. An amazing husband, four healthy, wonderful kids, two successful businesses, adoring friends, a great community and church. To the world it looked like Amy...

By Sean Dietrich In honor of college football season, I want to tell you about the biggest SEC football fan I know. He lives in Monroeville, Alabama, which is your quintessential all-American town. Walk the square and take a trip backward on the timeline. Drive around town. You’ll see barbecue joints,...

By Rick Moore As a child he had a severe speech impediment. In elementary school, classmates used to call him  “Elmer” after the cartoon character Elmer Fudd who stuttered every time he opened his mouth. So many people did so, other classmates began to think Elmer was his real name....

By Kirk McCarley Thumbing through a magazine, one came across the article, “What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?” Some of the publication’s regular readers weighed in: We don’t have to agree on anything to be kind to one another. Don’t act like the destination is more important than the journey. If...

By Rev. Pete Hyde He turned out of the subdivision onto the crowded, school-traffic-clogged main road. He turned east on the highway and headed to the church. Time to pick up from Sunday busyness and start the week. Lines of cars in both directions signaled the beginning of another work...