February Giveaways

January 26, 2023January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Giveaways

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with Birmingham Christian Family(BCF) and make spreading Good News possible we have TWO Great Giveaways this month!

3 Ways to Win 2 Tickets to the Birmingham Home Show February 18-20 at the BJCC, www.birminghamhomeshow.com. 3 Winners, 2 Tickets Each!

1. LIKE and SHARE the Giveaway Post on our Facebook Page and FOLLOW BCF.

2. SUBSCRIBE to receive your free digital issue of BCF at www.birminghamchristian.com.

3. FOLLOW US on Instagram @cfpbirmingham

Offer ends 2/11/22. Winners announced 2/12/22 on Facebook so be sure to LIKE our page! www.facebook.com/BirminghamChristianFamily.

2 Tickets to attend Cottontails Village March 4-6, 2022 at the BJCC. 2 Winners, 2 Tickets Each!

LIKE and SHARE the Giveaway Post on our Facebook Page and FOLLOW BCF.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. TAG a friend you would like to take with you in the comments!

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3. FOLLOW US on Instagram @cfpbirmingham

4. TAKE OUR READER SURVEY by clicking here.

Offer ends 2/21/22. Winners announced 2/22/22 on Facebook so be sure to LIKE our page! www.facebook.com/BirminghamChristianFamily.

March 1, 2022January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Publisher’s Note

Would you take a moment to help us improve your reading experience and give you more of the Good News you want? Our very brief online reader survey may be completed anonymously or if you provide your email address, we will enter you in a drawing for an opportunity to receive two tickets to Cottontails Village at the BJCC March 4-6, 2022.

We know your time is valuable and we want to say THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts with us.

Click here to enter our February giveaways!

-Laurie Stroud Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

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Celebrating 21 Years of Good News!

January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Music Notes

Is one of your goals for 2022 to memorize more Scripture? Adam Wright, the creator of The Corner Room and member of the band Acts of Congress, has written more worship songs whose lyrics are verses and chapters of the Bible! “Psalm Songs, Volume 3 is a continuation of The Corner Room’s primary focus of setting Scripture to music as a tool for memorization and meditation, ultimately leading to worship,” Wright explains.

Acts of Congress Group Picture — Pictured above are the members of Acts of Congress, who have contributed to Corner Room projects. L to R: Chris Griffin, Adam Wright, Connie Skellie and Tim Carroll Jr.

Wright has been the worship leader at Cahaba Park Church for 12 years and plays the mandolin and sings vocals for Acts of Congress. In 2013, as Wright was preparing the worship set for a series on Psalms, he began to brainstorm ways to musically tie the Psalm of the week into worship. “I had the idea of sitting down and writing the Psalms to music straight from the Bible.” He reflects that the first time he sat down to put music to the Bible, he felt more connected to the passage than ever before. After only two and a half hours, he had nearly completed a musical arrangement for Psalm 1 that he led the congregation in worship to the next Sunday. He adds, “I enjoyed the process so much that I said I want to do more of this.” By that summer, Wright wrote 12 additional Psalms to music and within a year wrote eight more. “This was my initial discovery of taking text and trying to interpret the feeling and the intent of it in a way that is faithful to what the Psalmist is trying to say.”

In 2015, Wright embarked on the journey of recording these songs at Cahaba Park Church’s current location. On the second floor of the church building, there is room literally in the corner that Wright inquired about transforming into a recording space. A good friend helped him design the room that is now referred to as “The Corner Room.” Since then, Wright has continued to put music to Scripture. He has written songs on 1 Corinthians 13, Isaiah 53, and a children’s album called Remember and Proclaim.

Psalm Songs Volume 3 Cover — The Corner Room’s latest album, *Psalm Songs, Volume 3* includes songs for Psalm 4, 11, 53, 146 and more.

Psalm Songs, Volume 3 includes a variety of musical genres. “Listeners will primarily hear acoustic instruments exploring various styles such as rock, gospel, and country/bluegrass,” Wright says. Reflecting on the process of putting music to Scripture, Wright says one of his favorite parts is inviting friends and musicians to work on the album. “Wilder Adkins, Connie Skellie, Demetrius Hicks, and Molly Lockwood all serve in music ministries in their respective churches and I’m so thankful for their willingness to lend their voices to this project,” Wright says, adding, “As the psalms are all very diverse, including different voices adds another dimension to the variety on every Corner Room project.” Visit www.cornerroommusic.com to learn more about the songs that are available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and more.

-Melissa Armstrong

January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Young And Happy Family With Ch 429479783

Special Feature

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7, ESV).

The best time to start anything was yesterday and the next best time is right now, so the saying goes. The daily commute, baseball practice, and homework can all become so overwhelming that for most of us, we are just trying to make it to the weekend! But we are called as parents to a holy vocation, indeed a vocation that many would-be parents envy as they struggle with infertility. This holy vocation is to raise our children in the covenant of God’s grace. I don’t expect this will come across very well but everything else is a distraction when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. But even tithing a couple hours of our day to the Lord sounds taxing when you have work, commitments, and then your children’s school and their extracurricular activities – what is a Christian to do?

Re-read the verse I started this article with. The modern hustle and bustle creates anxiety – but the solution is to seek the Lord who calms the seas through prayer and giving thanks. The promise God gives us is His peace – a deep and abiding, peace from the anxieties and distractions of this world. As parents, we are called to lead our children. This means starting at home by setting a time for family prayer and devotion. If you have never done this before, I know it can be awkward at first. But again, do not be anxious but be faithful. As a trivocational pastor with three little ones I can sympathize that the days can get away from you – so be encouraged by starting slow and growing from there.

We can pray or have devotion anywhere- even in the carpool line! While driving our kids to school I pray over them for the new day and during the evening they pray for tomorrow and give thanks for the day that has passed. If everyone gathers over a meal then end the meal with a short portion of the Gospel and reflect upon it. You will be amazed by what your kids take away from our Lord’s parables and teachings. Older children are fed a lot at school – so fill them with spiritual knowledge to benefit their soul. Use a catechism as a tool and work through a question a night and dig into the Scripture references to get your pre-teen or teen deeper in the Word and in their faith. Your grandchildren will thank you one day when they too are being raised in the faith.

-Rev. Andrew Brashier

Senior Pastor of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd

Author of A Faith for Generations: A Family Prayer Guide in the Anglican Tradition

January 27, 2022January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Church Leaders

It is Tuesday night and a group of adults fire up Zoom and do what many of us have done many times over the past couple of years, they meet. But this meeting isn’t to talk about budgets or school assignments or really anything concerning planning. It is about FAITH. It is the weekly meeting of the Online Small Group at Clearbranch United Methodist (UMC) in Trussville, Ala.

Small groups are not anything new to the church world. A group of people join together to discuss life, grow in faith, and support each other through prayer and a kind ear. Sometimes these groups are defined by an age group or a stage in life. Other groups are defined by a shared interest or a hobby. By meeting online, this group is made up of members that for various reasons can’t get to an in-person group but feel the need to join in Christian fellowship and discipleship. The time (8pm) allows for parents of young children to get their kids in bed before joining from their sofa.

There are many reasons why this group is important. Some physically have a hard time getting out of the house to make it to a physical group meeting (due to COVID precautions or physical limitations). Some are restricted by geography and are joining from a long distance. Others are finding time to work in a small group around a busy work schedule. One thing is clear though, the members of this group consider it to be a valid and important part of their week.

Each week, they join the meeting and share about their week. They share a time of fellowship as they catch up. The members rejoice in each other’s victories and support each other in times of hardship. They share a Bible study lesson and then prayer requests and praise reports. Ending in prayer, the members leave with the knowledge that they have a group that cares about them.

If your church does not have an online small group opportunity, consider starting one. If you would like to join the group at Clearbranch, email [email protected]. Distance is not an issue and you do not have to be a member of Clearbranch. You just have to be ready to be a part of a group that is with you wherever you are.

-Mark Harvard

Minister of Communications and Online Campus, Clearbranch UMC, Trussville, Ala.

Host of The Mark Harvard Podcast

[email protected]

January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Coin And A Banknote You Can S 435463286

Money Matters

1. Saving Honors God and Serves Others. Many are familiar with Jesus’ instruction to “not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19). However, the Bible does call us to set aside for future needs. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Saving honors God because it values money as a gift that He has given to us. Jesus also tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). His point is not that wealth itself is evil, but that we’re not to choose material things over godliness.

2. Don’t Assume Tomorrow, But Prepare For It. 2 Corinthians 2:13-14 says, “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” Paul isn’t saying to ‘give until it hurts,’ but to give out of abundance, helping the needy instead of hoarding riches. In addition to giving, I encourage my clients to plan for financial margin and set long-term goals. Proverbs 27:23-24a says, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever”.

3. Give Generously. If we truly believe “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,” then sharing what we’ve been given is foundational (Psalm 24:1). Our first command in giving is to tithe, honoring God with our first fruits. The Bible also talks about generous giving extensively (Luke 6:38, 1 John 3:17-18, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8). For Christians, giving isn’t primarily about money. It’s about the nature of God, how he gives to us, and our relationship with Him. We’re to give out of thankfulness for our undeserved blessings, reflecting Christ’s love.

4. Biblically Aligned Investing. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus gives the parable of the talents. The servants who invest the talents are told, “well done.” It wasn’t about how much they were given, or how much more they gave back, but that they were faithful to use these gifts to increase their impact. At OneAscent, we believe there’s an additional layer to biblical investing: values-based investing. We avoid companies that profit from things that are dishonoring to God and to His creation, and elevate companies that positively impact the world.

We want our clients at OneAscent to feel confident that their investments support their financial goals and honor God. I’d love to talk with you about a financial plan and investment strategy that reflects these biblical principles! Call us at 205-313-9142 or email [email protected].

-Holden Gully, CFP®

Lead Advisor, OneAscent

205-313-9142, [email protected]

July 27, 2022January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Loving Young Couple On A Date 432336401

Legal Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Bradford & Holliman, www.bradfordholliman.com

What is a Legal Matters article doing discussing date nights to enrich your marriage? Legal matters such as estate plans are a spectacular way of letting each other know now just how important your marriage is by making sure you are on the same page. Each spouse should be ready to manage family affairs if the other is not there. Estate lawyers often talk about the peace of mind that a current estate plan provides clients. That estate plan can also provide a long-term sense of love and caring long after one of you is gone.

Plan a date night to discuss each of your individual thoughts on your estate plans (you do at least have wills, don’t you?), beneficiaries on IRAs, pensions, life insurance, and financial situations of elderly family members. You may be surprised by the assumptions each of you hold. Date night without kids in tow is a great time to talk about best guardians for any minor children. With 50% of children impacted by a divorce, the specifics of divorce decrees are a major factor in setting up estate plans. If you have adult children who are in stressful marriages or who do not manage finances well, you may want to talk about how your estate plan could be structured to prevent your child from losing inheritances in a bitter divorce or how to keep your adult child from misusing any future inheritance.

If one spouse exclusively manages family finances, make the discussion for one date night about how finances are managed and who the key contacts are – financial advisors, accountants, and even personnel contacts at employers. A one-month swap of day-to-day financial duties can be eye-opening for the spouse who does not usually manage it. Such as swap often increases the appreciation for the spouse who manages it.

In fact, these discussions could take several date nights even beyond February. These conversations are key to have even before you call your estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can provide options you may not know about such as spendthrift trusts and can also make sure that your estate plan aligns with current Alabama estate laws. Add a little candlelight and tasty food, and your date nights can enrich your marriage and give you both peace of mind for a long time.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman, LLC

www.bradfordholliman.com

205-663-0281

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.

April 25, 2023January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Miracle Moments

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

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,” Psalm 73:26

July 30, 2019 started as a normal day for Darryl Fuhrman. It wasn’t until he started his daily workout video that things took an unexpected and frightening turn. “I was about eight minutes into my workout when my heart literally stopped beating and I expired,” Fuhrman shares. By God’s grace, his mother (who has been a nurse since the Korean War), stumbled upon him and immediately called for help and began administering help in the waiting time.

Darryl Fuhrman playing football at Alabama — Darryl Fuhrman is a former college athlete himself. He played football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Coach Ray Perkins.

Fuhrman was taken to UAB and after many days full of uncertainty and countless heart monitors, Fuhrman underwent surgery. The doctors planned to crack his chest open and give him an artificial mechanical heart valve. Before the risky surgery, Fuhrman came to terms with the fact that he might not wake up. He wrote letters to family and friends describing the goodness of God no matter the outcome of the surgery and encouraged them to continue strong in their faith- to forgive quickly, love freely and serve the Lord. “I often thought during that time what dreams may come, or will I finish the race,” Fuhrman says. His surgery was successful and he is thankful for his recovery.

Darryl Fuhrman is a native of Southside, Ala. The devastation experienced in Tuscaloosa and surrounding cities on April 27, 2011 spurred Fuhrman to start Lettermen of the USA.

Since that harrowing experience in 2019, Fuhrman hasn’t stopped giving back. He is the Founder of Lettermen of the USA(LotUSA), which is a 501 (c)(3) organization that serves those in local communities that are in need. “LotUSA has teamed up to help serve honorably discharged veterans, wounded veterans, disaster victims, and former college players in need.” Fuhrman adds that since LotUSA was founded in 2012, the organization has been able to help more than 13,000 people. Since waking up after his surgery, Fuhrman feels that every day is vital in the mission of serving others.

On March 11, LotUSA is hosting the 2022 One Yard at a Time Gala at The Club in Birmingham. Proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit and serve discharged and wounded veterans and former college athletes in need. The Voice of the Crimson Tide, Eli Gold, will be the Athletic Honoree and Lt. Gen. Willie J. Williams, USMC Retired will be the Military Honoree. To learn more, visit www.lotusa.org.

-Melissa Armstrong

We need you to share your Miracle Moment! Email [email protected] Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.

January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

One day, long ago, a Jewish Christian pastor in Jerusalem heard some disconcerting news. Christianity was a new way of being a person of faith, and some churches were struggling with what being a follower meant, both in beliefs and in practice. James wrote a letter to the church and informed them their conduct was antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Their doctrine was not the problem, it was their preferential treatment of people.

In a wonderful new children’s book, The Big Wide Welcome (The Good Book Publishing), Trillia Newbell tells the story of James and the church that learned to love all people. Having favorite foods, toys, and colors is fine. Playing favorites with people is absolutely not. In James’ case, the church was treating poor congregants as less important than wealthy ones. Showing favoritism towards one group over another is a troublesome human instinct, deeply embedded within us. But it is not acceptable in the kingdom of God and we must unlearn that way of living. Favoritism based on race, social status, language, and intellectual ability has always plagued the church, but we can overcome it when the gospel is taken seriously. The concept of inclusion is inherent in the teachings of Jesus. When inclusion is embraced, the church is in sync with the heart of God. When the church excludes or shows preferential treatment, it does so in violation of the gospel.

Author Trillia Newbell — Trillia Newbell is the author of more than 10 books, including *Sacred Endurance*. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville, Tenn.

One of the things I love about The Big Wide Welcome is that Newbell does not present inclusion as a drudgery as if accepting others without prejudice is a distasteful burden. When we treat others who are different as Jesus would, inclusion and equality become a catalyst for joy. The church of Jesus is enhanced, not diminished, by diversity. The Big Wide Welcome is a celebration of the good news that all people are valued and loved by God, and we should, therefore, value and love one another.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner

Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts

Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

www.sanctuarychristianbooksandgifts.com

205-663-2370

January 26, 2022 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

What is the path for fulfilling our God-given purpose? My book Made for Eden: Promises and Provisions of the Life God Created You to Live describes God’s intention for mankind. I wrote it to show how God renews us to a life in and by His presence and power, through Jesus’ sacrifice, and to present the path to full restoration that He promises for His own upon His return. We have a vital role in His kingdom now, as children and ambassadors, and in the future, when He forms the new earth, and we receive an inheritance beyond our wildest hopes. “Our choice is to believe God is who He says He is, and therefore we are who He says we are: sons and daughters of His household.”

I write from the premise that we need to synthesize all that the Bible says about how God relates to His people, what it says about Him and about us, so we walk in the certainty of what we’ve been saved from and restored to. The sample size in the Bible of life without sin is small, for after Creation, Genesis so quickly details the Fall. But God’s design for us was not lost once sin happened. We must lean on God’s pronouncements about mankind before sin entered Eden to discern God’s original purpose. He says man is made in His image and is to be fruitful and multiply, ruling the earth.

God had given them all they needed to live in their purpose in Eden, and His presence walked with them. That purpose remains, so we must measure the fulfillment of our relationship with Him today by our Creator’s viewpoint. “Ultimately, the purpose we are made for can only be established by the One who made us. How well are we doing in the purpose in which our Creator says we should succeed? … We were created as a reflection of the Divine. God gave us a responsibility: to rule over creation! We were made to steward what belongs to God. We were made for Eden.”

The book explores what it means to be a new creation, why the life of Jesus was so powerful, and why the gospel is such good news. The book also offers perspective on suffering and evil in light of God’s promises for now and the future. I hope readers receive hope from the many demonstrations of God’s love.

-Dr. Bryan McIntosh

www.newhopepublishers.com

February Giveaways

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