Let’s Chat About Relationships: Commitments with Ken+Leslie

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Church Leaders 

What happens when two people who were in unsuccessful previous marriages finally meet their love match? For Ken and Leslie Gordon, they fall in love, get married, move to Birmingham and start a radio show aimed at helping others like them navigate their relationships and keep God at the center.

The husband and wife duo, who planted House of Light Church in downtown Birmingham shortly after relocating to Alabama, also started the “Commitments with Ken+Leslie” radio show which airs every Sunday from 5-7 p.m. on WXJC Radio FM 101.1 ~ AM 850. “The goal of the show is to provide hope, healing and help to listeners,” says Ken. “We believe when your life is aligned with God, your other commitments have a better chance at success.” The show puts special focus on people who are divorced, or going through divorce, to help them through a painful, confusing period in their lives. The show features guests from all over the country, many who have written articles and books about committed relationships.

The show features a conversational style that highlights Ken’s inspirational, and often amusing, perspective and Leslie’s tell it like it is, candid advice based on her real-world experience.

Listen to “Commitments with Ken+Leslie” every Sunday from 5-7 p.m. on WXJC Radio FM 101.1 ~ AM 850.

Ken and Leslie feel they are uniquely qualified to lead the conversations about starting life and love over again after divorce. The couple met in 2014 after ending their previous marriages. Both had children and were skeptical of finding love again after divorce. After meeting, the two quickly realized it was possible to find love again and just four months after first meeting, they became engaged. They married later that year and immediately began sharing with others how to have a successful relationship with God at the center.

“You can’t talk about any commitments without talking about your ultimate commitment – your commitment to God,” says Leslie. To that end, conversations on the radio show shift between marriage, divorce, dating, and many situations in between and the duo encourages listeners to call in and join the conversations. They talk about divorce; about marriage and making sure you are doing the things that keep you from getting to divorce; about dating and making sure you make the right choice in the beginning; and about keeping God at the center of your life. Ken and Leslie talk about it all and encourage everyone to tune in and join the conversation!

-Anita Debro 

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Education Extra

Wee-K3 students at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School enjoy their final virtual day of school with a Pet Show.

The Wee-K3 class at Our Lady of Sorrows(OLS) Catholic School celebrated their last day of school with a virtual Pet Show that included their favorite stuffed animals, as well as singing and dancing, and a special book about summer. In the last few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the school held virtual preschool instruction as the students were taught their letters, shapes, and colors. They also enjoyed participating in crafts, a special Mystery Reader, and a lot of social interaction. The youngsters would end each class time with a prayer. †

OLS student, Sully Raborn with his favorite stuffed animals during the class Pet Show.
OLS student, Mark BouAkar with his favorite stuffed animal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Legal Matters

Community Partner Logo 20 Years 150x150Presented by: Bradford & Holliman, Estate Planning  

Swimsuits, sunblock, and bug spray are not the only things you need to pack for a vacation away from home, but with a Grab & Go file, you will be ready for both a quick visit to your local doctor or a week at the beach.

A Grab & Go file should contain everything a doctor or an emergency room would need if your vacation is blighted by an injury or an illness.

  • Copies of health insurance, driver’s license (don’t assume your wallet will be with you)
  • List of current medications, dosages, why you take them and allergies to any medications
  • List of all previous surgeries
  • Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • Healthcare Directive
  • Contact info for your regular doctors
  • Contact info for next of kin (list more than one)

Wait… what? You don’t have a will, healthcare power of attorney, or healthcare directive?!  Don’t leave town without fixing this gap. A health issue is tough to handle when you are in your hometown where many people already know you, but when on vacation, it is a lot more complicated whether you are just a few hours south at the beach or abroad. A healthcare power of attorney is a standard part of an estate plan, but it is used when you are still alive.  Catastrophes can happen on vacation that prevent you from making medical decisions for yourself – such as a coma from a bad car wreck.

Many hospitals standardly ask new patients if they have healthcare directives in place, but if you can’t speak for yourself or your traveling companions don’t know where that document is, your wishes may not be carried out. We often recommend our clients file their directives with their local hospital and primary doctor, but when it comes to vacation, you need to have a copy with you. And if you were to die while on vacation, your traveling companions need to know who to contact and possibly who you named as your executor who should already have a copy of your will and funeral specifications.

Think of the Grab & Go file as carrying an umbrella to keep rain away, and we sincerely hope you never have to use it wherever you vacation this summer.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

www.bradfordholliman.com

No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of service performed by other lawyers.

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Every  Family Deserves Hope 

It seems like only a few weeks ago I was joking about how people would declare 2020 to be the year of clarity or vision. Here we are a few months later and nothing feels farther from the truth. The goals and resolutions that we set for ourselves back in January feel like distant memories. Now we find ourselves asking questions like, What will tomorrow look like? and What will next month look like?

At The Foundry, for the men and women that we serve in Christ-centered, addiction recovery, these questions only add to the feelings of uncertainty. On top of it all, they are being told to stay home and to isolate. Those battling addiction understand that isolation is the worst possible scenario. For those who already feel like they are alone even in a room full of people, social distancing can drive them deeper into their addictions. Families working through addiction issues with their loved ones also have a myriad of questions and concerns. Are we going to make it? and How long can we go on like this?

At The Foundry we believe that Every Family Deserves Hope. Hope that there will be a better tomorrow. Hope that God sees me where I am and will keep me in His hands. The great news is, He does see us all, and He is keeping us in His hands.

The Foundry offers life-changing, residential recovery services, but more than anything we offer the hope that Jesus sees us where we are, and He refuses to leave us there all alone. As the body of believers, we have an opportunity to be The Church in ways that have a significant impact. While our Sunday mornings have been altered, we have seen creative ways to remain engaged. The need for ministries that offer a lifeline to those struggling and in need has never been greater.

As we are all looking for our new normal, I encourage you to look for creative ways to be the hands and feet of Christ and make them part of your new normal.

–Micah Andrews, MPA The Foundry LOGO

Andrews is CEO of the Foundry and has served in ministry for more than 25 years. His family worships at and serves through Church of the Highlands. To learn more about The Foundry, please visit www.FoundryMinistries.com

 

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Miracle Moments Sara and Drew Franklin family

Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, mollymaid.com/birmingham

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

This scripture verse, as well as a song by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson, “Goodness of God,” have been on repeat in the Franklins’ home in Shelby County for almost two years now.

On August 25, 2018, Drew Franklin woke up to his 31-year-old, typically healthy wife Sara, convulsing in the middle of the night and immediately called 911. She was rushed to the emergency room. Following a number of tests with a neurologist, they were unable to find a root cause of the “tonic-clonic” seizure, which in a number of ways was a blessing, as sometimes tragic circumstances such as tumors or cancer can bring on a sudden onset of seizures.

This was a setback to life as Sara knew it since it is against state law for anyone to drive for six months after any type of seizure activity. She was, at the time, a new mom of a six-month-old baby and a working mom who was determined not to let anyone around her down- whether that was her boss, her husband, her baby, or even extended family and friends. Her life shifted as she was all the sudden needing to rely on others for transportation. A few months later in November, Sara experienced additional seizures, which continued pushing the driving date back. She stepped away from work for the time being since the logistics of getting their son to childcare and herself to work and additional meetings would be tough for the next few months.

Sara and Drew Franklin of Shelby County celebrate the miracles of good health and two sons, Everett (2) and Tatum (5 months).

Meanwhile, a few weeks later, Sara’s husband Drew, who is also typically a very healthy person, returned from a work trip and mentioned he did not feel well. His arm was numb, and the numbness moved into his face. He also had excruciating, prolonged headache pain. After an urgent care visit, six emergency department visits, a sinus surgery, and two hospital ICU stays later, it was determined that Drew had a very rare brain infection, meningoencephalitis. “There were times when family members tell me now they weren’t sure if he was going to make it out of the hospital alive, but thanks to the many dedicated physicians and team members at UAB – he was sent home after a few weeks on a PICC line of antibiotics that saved his life,” said Sara Franklin. “We are so blessed to have the amazing healthcare professionals available to us right here in Birmingham.”

Due to the stress surrounding her husband’s illness, Sara had another seizure on April 20, 2019. “One thing that resonates with our family as we look on this past year and a half is how thankful we are for our family, our close friends, and especially also our church family at Shades Mountain Baptist Church,” said Drew Franklin. “Our Sunday school class and even people we didn’t know personally from the church were reaching out to us and praying for both of us, giving Sara rides to the hospital, sending us food, collecting items that we needed for our son and more.”

It wasn’t long after Drew was feeling better after being on the antibiotics for the brain infection that a colleague reached out and encouraged Sara to apply for Executive Director of Epilepsy Foundation Alabama (www.epilepsyalabama.org). She received and accepted the job offer a few weeks later. “I couldn’t believe that what I once saw as a tragedy turned into an opportunity to walk with others and encourage them through their own journeys of epilepsy,” said Sara. “There are more than 54,100 people with epilepsy living in our state, many of them below the poverty line, and I want to walk alongside them as they seek to end seizures in their own lives.”

Both Drew and Sara reflect on the past nearly two years and see the Lord’s whispers and confirmation of His plan. “We can all turn our pain into purpose – it’s about recognizing the fact that we aren’t promised an easy life even as followers of Jesus, nor are we guaranteed a certain number of days on this earth,” said Sara. “We are here to glorify God for the number of days we are here, and to point others toward him. He is the one that provides peace, no matter our circumstances. We hope to use this experience from our past year and a half to point others to Jesus Christ.”

As of April 20, 2020, Sara is one-year seizure free. She has been leading efforts across the state and recently held two very successful Walks to END EPILEPSY® in Alabama. The chapter works to continue to provide virtual support and opportunities to stay connected with the community during the coronavirus pandemic. †

If you have a Miracle that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected]. Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.

 

 

 

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Grand Re-Opening

When you donate and shop at the Foundry Thrift Stores, you can know that 100% of the proceeds support men, women and families benefiting from our programs. It’s a win-win!

Locations. We have three Foundry Thrift Stores in North and Central Alabama:

Cullman – Behind KFC on Hwy. 31

Fairfield – Behind Milos on Aaron Aronov Dr.

Pelham – Behind McDonald’s on Hwy. 31

Screen Shot 2020 05 29 at 2.26.53 PMShop. Open Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM, our stores are stocked with a large inventory and wide variety of new and gently used items, and shoppers find everything from household necessities to one-of-a-kind treasures that meet their families’ needs and budgets.

Donate. The Foundry Thrift Stores raises 2/3 of the funds needed for The Foundry Ministries to help people in our community. However, we rely on community donations to keep our shelves stocked and the sales floor inventory fresh daily. You can help by donating:

New and Gently Used…

  • Women’s, Men’s and Children Clothing, Shoes and Accessories
  • Home Décor Items including Lamps, Pillows, Artwork
  • Kitchenware such as Small Appliances, Serveware, Dishware
  • Also, Toys, Sports Equipment, Electronics and more
  • No Mattresses please

Benefiting Ministry in Alabama. Because we believe Every Family Deserves Hope, The Foundry helps hundreds of families every year through Christ-centered, residential, addiction recovery programs in North and Central Alabama. To donate or to find out more, visit foundryministries.com/thrift.†

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Grand Re-Opening

Prodigal Pottery is overjoyed to re-open after 38 days of temporary closure due to COVID-19! We were devastated to furlough all of our women and cancel seven Prodigal Pottery shows creating a revenue loss of $30,000 per month. To celebrate Prodigal Pottery reopening, we are offering $5 off every order for our friends from Birmingham Christian Family Magazine through June 30th. Head to our website,  www.prodigalpottery.com to shop the wide selection of pottery and know your purchases are directly employing, equipping, and empowering women fleeing domestic violence at Prodigal Pottery. Use coupon code CFM2020 to get $5 off your order. All orders over $100 receive FREE shipping! †

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Our House

Brought to you by: Community Partner Hinkle Roofing, www.HinkleRoofing.comCommunity Partner Logo 20 Years 150x150

Your roof is a major element of your home’s curb appeal. It’s one of the most visible parts of your home’s exterior color scheme, so you need to choose the right roof color. Additionally, roof color affects energy efficiency. Dark-colored roofs retain heat and work well for cold regions, while light-colored roofs reflect heat and work well for warmer regions. Here are three tips to select the right color:

1. Research Color Theory. As a roofing expert, we recommend studying basic color theory. The right color choices and combinations can control how your home appears to visitors. For instance, a home with a contrasting roof color has impact and grabs attention. A home with a complementary roof color appears harmonious and appealing, while a matching roof color makes a home look subtle and unobtrusive. When using color theory, make sure to consider your siding, trim, window, and door colors.

2. Think About Roofing Materials. You can also take inspiration from the colors and textures of roofing materials. For instance, slate and wood roofs have natural earth tones. Metal roofing, on the other hand, has a sophisticated and distinctive metallic sheen. Consider using a material’s natural color to complement your home’s style and architectural features. Metal roofs look good on modern homes, while slate and wood roofs work best on traditional homes.

3. Examine Your Surroundings. As a specialist in roof repair and roofing, we recommend using your surroundings as inspiration. Walk around the neighborhood and examine similar homes. Imagine how their roof colors will look on your home. If you have beautiful trees or plants on your property or neighborhood, you can also use them for inspiration. Lastly, you can match your roof color to elements like brick exteriors, stone facades, and chimneys.

A good roof color can make your home stand out. Hinkle Roofing can provide you with specific advice for your home during our initial consultation. We have over a century of experience and have worked with countless homes, so you can rely on our recommendations. We serve many communities, including Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, and Hoover. Call us at 205-352-1940 to learn more tips on choosing a roof color. You can also ask for a free estimate.

-Bob Baker HinkleLogo

Owner/President, Hinkle Roofing

205-324-8545

www.HinkleRoofing.com

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Parenting Points

Over the last few months, we have been given the gift of pause. Before the Coronavirus, “busy” was the adjective that many would use to describe their life. Now that cancellation and quarantine have decluttered our calendars, we have a great chance to begin again and redefine what our lives and the lives of our families will be moving forward.

At the end of Paul’s beautiful explanation of grace in Ephesians 1-2, he paints a picture of who we and our families can be when we begin again: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so we can walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). The word “workmanship” in the Greek means a product of creative expression like a canvas or poem. We have been created and redeemed to express the beauty of Jesus to the world around us.

As we process beginning again, we should begin to think about everything that we add back into our lives through the lens of the story we are writing about God and His grace. When people look at our families, do they see lives expressing the worth of Jesus and the beauty of the gospel or are we simply running the rat race of the American dream like everyone else? Here are three questions that we can use with our families to evaluate life as we seek to begin again:

1. What is our purpose? We often do things simply because they are what we have always done. Seeking a purpose forces us to ask the “why” question behind our actions and decisions.

2. What do we value? Our values give us the framework through which we can process the purpose behind our decisions. Without the lens of value, we often trade the best things for good things.

3. What is our mission? The mission keeps us focused on what really matters. The story is greater than us. God is redeeming the world by drawing sinners to repentance and faith in Him. We have an opportunity as a family to join Him in His mission.

Even though many days the last few weeks may not have seemed like a gift, we have been given the gift of beginning again. As we begin to press “go” on our lives and schedules again, let us seek to express the beauty and value of the One who saved us and carried us through.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong parenting points Ben Birdsong 0320 Headshot 2019 Cropped

Writer, Speaker, Minister

www.benbirdsong.com   

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Money Matters

Community Partner Logo 20 Years 150x150Brought to you by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group, Inc.

During the last week of February 2020, the S&P 500 lost 11.49% — the worst week for stocks since the 2008 financial crisis — only to jump by 4.6% on the first Monday in March.1 By all accounts, the drop was largely driven by ever-increasing fears about the potential effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its ultimate impact on the global economy. Although many market observers contend that the market was overvalued and due for a correction anyway, the unpredictability, strength, and suddenness of the historic tumble was unnerving for even the most seasoned investors. If recent volatility is causing you to consider cashing out of your stock holdings, it may be worthwhile to pause and put recent events into perspective, using history as a guide.

A look back. Since the turn of the millennium, the market’s negative response to health crises has been relatively short-lived. As this table shows, approximately six months after early reports of a major outbreak, the S&P 500 bounced back by an average of 10.47%. After 12 months, it rebounded by an average of 17.17%. Although there are no guarantees the current situation will follow a similar pattern, it may be reassuring to know that over even longer periods of time, stocks typically regain their upward trajectory, helping long-term investors who hold steady to recoup their temporary losses, catch their breath, and go on to pursue their goals.

Epidemic Month end* 6-month performance, S&P 500 12-month performance, S&P 500
SARS April 2003 14.59% 20.76%
Avian (Bird) flu June 2006 11.66% 18.36%
Swine flu (H1N1) April 2009** 18.72% 35.96%
MERS May 2013 10.74% 17.96%
Ebola March 2014 5.34% 10.44%
Measles/Rubeola December 2014 0.20% -0.73%
Zika January 2016 12.03% 17.45%

Source: Dow Jones Market Data, as cited on foxbusiness.com, January 27, 2020. Stocks are represented by the Standard & Poor’s 500 price index. Returns reflect the change in price, but not the reinvestment of dividends. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index that is generally considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market. Returns shown do not reflect taxes, fees, brokerage commissions, or other expenses typically associated with investing. The performance of an unmanaged index is not indicative of the performance of any particular investment. Individuals cannot invest directly in any index. Actual results will vary.

What should you do? First, keep in mind that market downturns sometimes offer the chance to pick up potentially solid stocks at value prices, which could position a portfolio well for future growth. Again, there are no guarantees that stocks will perform to anyone’s expectations — and decisions could result in losses including a possible loss in principal — but it may be helpful to remember that some investors use downturns as opportunities to buy stocks that were previously overvalued relative to their perceived earnings potential.

Moreover, if you typically invest set amounts into your portfolio at regular intervals — a strategy known as dollar-cost averaging (DCA), which is commonly used in workplace retirement plans and college investment plans — take heart in knowing you’re utilizing a method of investing that helps you behave like the value investors noted above. Through DCA, your investment dollars purchase fewer shares when prices are high, and more shares when prices drop. Essentially, in a down market, you automatically “buy low,” one of the most fundamental investment tenets. Over extended periods of volatility, DCA can result in a lower average cost for your holdings than the investment’s average price over the same time period.

Finally, and perhaps most important, during trying times like this, it may help to focus less on daily market swings and more on the fundamentals; that is, review your investment objectives and time horizon, and revisit your asset allocation to make sure it’s still appropriate for your needs. Your allocation can shift in unexpected ways due to changes in market cycles, so you may discover the need to rebalance your allocation by selling holdings in one asset class and investing more in another.

Vision Financial Logo-Vision Financial Group 

4505 Pine Tree Circle

Birmingham, AL 35243

205-970-4909

-Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of ProEquities, Inc. This material was prepared by  Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2020. Investment Advisor representative of Investment Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor and a division of ProEquities, Inc. Securities offered through ProEquities, Inc., a Registered Broker-Dealer, Member FINRA & SIPC.  Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of ProEquities, Inc.  

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