What’s Your Perspective?

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Encouraging Word Perspective Ben nelson book cover art 2

Church Leaders

How you view God is how you will relate to God, and how you relate to God will have a direct impact on how you display God.

Ben Nelson holding his new book outside — Author Ben Nelson is the pastor of the nondenominational church, Collectivus, which meets Sunday mornings at Calera Intermediate and on Facebook Live.

Jesus longs to show us a true perspective and that perspective – that truth – will free us from a life that is lived with the limited potential of “just waiting for Heaven.” Unless we have the proper perspective, we will always wrestle with who God is, who we are, His desires, and our purpose. Satan longs to distort and corrupt our view of God. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. To distort, warp, and give a poor perspective so that we don’t see God fully and in turn, begin to fabricate an incorrect view of God. Believers must gain proper perspective to unleash the full potential of the life God has given us and to impact the world He has entrusted us with.

Have you ever wondered why we have two eyes? Both eyes send two different pictures to the brain for processing. Because each eye sends a different image to the brain, the brain is able to use the slight differences between the two images to calculate the distance between two or more things. This is called depth perception, and it is defined as the ability to perceive the relative distance of objects in the visual field. This is what brings things to life! This is what moves things from 2D, flat and lifeless, to 3D. This gives us a full and proper perspective of the things we see and the world around us.

When you believe Jesus came to give you life eternal, but not life to the full, Satan is covering one eye and causing you to see things around you as lifeless and dead. As a result, many Christians are waiting for heaven to see God, when He longs for you to see Him today. He has redeemed your life and the world through Jesus! Open your eyes! Yes, Jesus died, but He also lived, and His life modeled a proper perspective of God and the lives we are called to. The Apostle Paul constantly tried to recalibrate our hearts and he longed for us to gain proper perspective. He wrote to the church in Philippians 21:5 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

-Ben Nelson

Pastor of Collectivus Church, Calera, www.collectivus.church

Author of new book, Proper Perspective. Learn more and purchase at www.PastorBenNelson.com

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Great Outdoors State Farm Thomas Waters Mountain Bike Hammies pic 3

The Great Outdoors

Brought to you by: Community Partner www.ThomasWaters.com, 205-879-1988.

Great Outdoors State Farm Thomas Waters Mountain Bike Race IMG 0321 — Guy Jones and sons Lenwood, Teague and Conrad are seen here right before last year’s Hammie’s event- mom is behind the camera. Join in the fun Sunday November 15 at the Hoover Met Complex.

Looking for a way for the family to enjoy time together outdoors? Check out Hammies in Hoover! The event is a part of The Hammies Trail Run Series which offers Birmingham area families the opportunity to enjoy trail riding close to home. “This event series was a hit in 2019 and has provided a great medium for kids and families to participate in off-road racing in a fun and inviting atmosphere,” says Thomas Waters whose State Farm team is excited to support the event again in 2020. “We hope that by supporting it, that we can aid in growing this event to continue creating a sense of community and an opportunity for families to enjoy the outdoors.”

Hammies3thoraudisscom 18 — Thomas Waters State Farm team is sponsoring Hammies in Hoover mountain bike race as a way to help families enjoy time together outdoors and experience newly built trails.

The Hammies is designed for all skill levels of racers with easy to moderate difficulty trails incorporated in race loops. The goal is to offer a fun racing platform at local venues on a professional level. A pre-ride is offered on Saturday November 14 and mountain bike racing begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday November 15, 2020. The fun starts near the tennis courts at the Hoover Met Complex going West on Buccaneer Drive for a short dash before hopping on newly built trails. Convenient parking is available next to the tennis courts. Sundays activities include a “Little Hammies” event at 2:30 p.m. which gives children 9 years and younger the opportunity to race. Awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Finishers medals available to all those who complete the trail ride. To learn more and register visit www.thehammies.com/register-to-race/hammiesinhoover.

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Our House

The Basics. One of my favorite things to do is seasonal tablescapes. I love the statement they make to a room. Although the statement is grand, the task can be quite simple. Just start with the basics! First, I like to gather my inspiration pieces. This year, I’m all about the pumpkins! I love purchasing real pumpkins because they have so much character. For this project (and every really), I thought about different shapes, textures and colors. Tip. Don’t be afraid to move those pumpkins around when decorating different spaces. They may be on my patio one day and my table the next. It’s basically “pumpkins go ‘round” this time of year in my home! I also pulled some outdoor branches and huge fake gourds to add to my centerpiece.

The Layering. Now that I have my inspiration pieces gathered, its time to put them all together. I always have layering on my mind when decorating. I’m a huge fan of cozy, and layering always seems to do the trick! As a base, I used a neutral table runner that added instant contrast and coziness to my white farm table. I then started stacking the pumpkins from the middle working my way out. I do this to create balance to the eye. To add interest to the look, I decided to use a large vintage round bread board to separate the largest pumpkin from the table runner. This also created balance by adding the same brown color as the gourds that I would later put on the outer edges of the centerpiece. This wooden bread board instantly added warmth and you guessed it, another layer! Note. Wood tones always add warmth to a space because of their warm color. To give it that finished look, I added warm green branches to the base of the pumpkins. I also added brown gourds to the outer ends of the centerpiece to give it a bit more balance and warmth. Why so much warmth? Well, its Fall and Fall screams warm and cozy to me! Also, I have a white table with some white chairs, so warmth is definitely needed to cozy up the space!

-Charlotte Evans Russell

For more design inspiration and tips, follow me on Instagram

@charlotteshappyhome and subscribe to my blog, www.charlotteshappyhome.com.

Read Charlotte Evans Russell’s inspiring faith story here.

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Healthy Living

Children are naturally curious and can often be injured by falling, touching a hot stove, etc., but there are steps parents and guardians can take to prevent these injuries. Dr. Kathy Monroe, medical director of the Children’s of Alabama Emergency Department and a professor of pediatrics at UAB, shares that injuries are the leading cause of death to children in the U.S. Here is a list of four common injuries and simple ways you can prevent them.

1. Motor vehicle crashes. Dr. Monroe explains that motor vehicle collisions are the number one leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children, adolescents and teenagers. “Appropriate child passenger safety restraints save so many lives,” she explains. Car seats work, Dr. Monroe stresses, adding, “I’ve said a thousand times, if they made car seats for adults, I would be in one.” As models, adults should wear seatbelts and ensure that all of the passengers are as well.

2. Sleep-related deaths. Roughly 3,500 sleep-related deaths occur among U.S. babies each year. Dr. Monroe suggests following the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, on his or her Back and in a Crib. The crib should have nothing in it except for a fitted sheet. Sadly, she often sees infants that have suffocated due to pillows or toys in the crib. She adds that it is okay to sleep in the same room as your infant, just be sure that they are not in the same bed as you.

3. Water-related deaths. For ages 1-4, drownings are the number one cause of death. “Drownings can be in a bucket of water, in the tub, in a lake or pool,” Dr. Monroe adds. Swim lessons decrease the chance of drowning. However, there should always be close adult supervision near water. Adding a gate around a pool with a lock also greatly protects children from drowning.

4. Fire-safety. Having working smoke alarms in every room of your house- besides kitchens and bathrooms- is very important, Dr. Monroe says. She suggests teaching children very early what that sound means. Test your smoke alarms every six months while your children are at home so you can discuss and practice exit plans, meeting spots, and more.

Look for a green rooftop at Children’s of Alabama on November 18 as they “help light the way toward child injury prevention” and celebrate Injury Prevention Day. To learn more visit www.childrensofal.org/emergency-department.

-Melissa Armstrong

November 10, 2020October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Senior Scene

Brookdale Brightens Day for Visitors & “Friends.” Everyone had a “Dog-Gone” good time at Brookdale University Park’s recent Doggy Drive Through. Each dog of drive through visitors received a treat bag as well as a Brookdale “Bark-A-Chino.” We saw many smiles and were thrilled to bring joy to so many people during such a challenging time. To find out about the next Doggy Drive Through, contact Leanne Messer, Brookdale University Park, 205-613-0688.

Cassie and Khloe are just a few of the furry friends along with their masters who enjoyed the recent Doggy Drive Through at Brookdale University Park in Homewood.

Honoring our Veterans. To thank you for your service, Brookdale is treating you to something sweet! Drive by Brookdale and get a pie* to take home through a contactless pickup(while supplies last). It’s that simple. RSVP deadline is November 10 by 12 p.m.

Wednesday November 11, 2020, 2-3:30 p.m.

Brookdale University Park, 400 University Park Drive, 35209

For reservations or more information call Leanne Messer at 205-613-0688.

An Invitation to Experience Brookdale. As we enter the second half of a year dominated by the novel Coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2) and the disease caused by the virus (COVID-19), many Americans are eager to return to business as usual. Brookdale University Park is beginning to move into a new phase of life. We’re looking forward to opening our communities for visits by prospective residents and their families. We understand that you want the most authentic and detailed view of life in a Brookdale community when your’ making decisions about senior living for yourself and your loved ones.

3 Ways to Visit Brookdale University Park

1. Virtual Visits and Tours. You might be familiar with video-conferencing technology, but if not, that’s okey, because we’re here to help you every step of the way. With Virtual visits you’ll experience your new home from the comfort of your current home. You can see a sample apartment, dining room, common areas, many of the amenities the community has to offer, meet some of the other associates and maybe even meet a few of the current residents (aka your new neighbors).

Live Video Chat Visits. Talk to a Brookdale associate over video chat and ask questions in real-time. It’s a great way to experience the community if you are not comfortable visiting in person just yet. You’ll also be able to use the video app you are most comfortable with using ( e.g. Zoom, FaceTime, etc.) And if you’ve never used video chat apps, well take you through the process step by step.) Schedule yours today!

Community Tour Videos. This type of visit is a pre-recorded tour by a Brookdale associate who will tailor the video to you, show you around the community and then send the video to you in an email or text. You can also review the video with a Brookdale associate over the phone to ask any questions about what you’re seeing in the video and about the community.

2. Outdoor Introductory Visits. Meet with Brookdale associates and be able to ask all questions in person. There will either be a tent set up in the parking lot with seating or you’ll visit on the porch.

3. Indoor Discover Meeting. Get the feel for your new home by coming into our community. You’ll be invited to a discovery room to ask questions and connect with Brookdale associates After your meeting, you will be able to preview an available or model apartment. Discovery room and previewed apartments are cleaned between each appointment.

With both outdoor and indoor visits, safety measures are taken to protect you, residents and staff. Face covering required (if you don’t have one, one will be provided), six foot social distance maintained during visits, hand sanitizing stations throughout areas, temperature and health screenings at entrance of the community.

Call 205-870-0786 to connect with one of our team members who would be delighted to plan your visit, www.brookdale.com.

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Every Family Deserves Hope

Fall is absolutely my favorite season each year. The reasons are fairly simple. It brings its own colors, smells, foods and usually cool temperatures. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the fall we yell and cheer and add a little pigskin to the conversation. But what about this year? What will this fall look like?

How will Thanksgiving be affected this year considering the social distancing and everything that goes with the pandemic? Will Thanksgiving look different? Will there be some bizarre shortage of turkey similar to that of toilet paper? One of the worst possible things that could happen is that we run out of those beautiful little cans of cranberry sauce! What about the day after Thanksgiving? Will Black Friday draw the same level of pandemonium and chaos that we have grown accustomed to seeing? What about school and Thanksgiving break? I remember the days when we could hardly wait until the Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week because it meant we had a really long weekend but how has that changed with so many of our children going to school virtually, traditionally or a mix of both. Seriously, what should we expect this Thanksgiving to look like?

Regardless of what it may look like we can determine what it will be like. In a year when we may be hard pressed to find a reason to be grateful, we should look a little deeper and find an abundance of reasons. We have life and we have hope and we have each other. We have relationships and people who love us and those who can hardly wait to see us gathered around the family table as we pass the pumpkin pie. We have all experienced a year like no other but we also have a God who is like no other. Regardless of what Thanksgiving may look like, the spirit of the season remains the same. I am reminded also of the simple prayer of blessing that many of us prayed as a child. “God is good, God is great. Let us thank Him…”

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

– Micah Andrews

When you donate to the Foundry,

you’re supporting a charity,

you’re saving a life,

you’re restoring a family.

Every Family Deserves Hope

FoundryMinistries.com

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

When I was a child, I understood things as a child. That means, of course, that I spent much of my formative years reading comic books. The aforementioned literary category suffers from an obvious misnomer, for the genre is rarely comedic. The exploits of Conan the Barbarian, Sgt. Rock, and Spiderman often deal with complex characters and serious social issues. Although comic books are filled with fantasy and fiction, they have a remarkable ability to accentuate truth.

Tyndale House Publishers has recently released a new Bible storybook that uses comic graphics to illustrate the story of redemption. Starting with creation and proceeding through the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament, The Epic Bible is a literary journey, vibrantly illustrated by DC and Marvel comics artists. All the major stories of the Bible are covered, including the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Epic Bible will be enjoyed by readers of all ages, but it will primarily appeal to young boys. It is filled with cool art, faithful heroes, tragic villains, and accurate portrayals of the Biblical events which comprise the ancient story of salvation history – the greatest story ever told. And it is, therefore, aptly named.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner

Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts

Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

205-663-2370

October 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Most of us love technology. Social media keeps us connected. New apps and technological advancements provide more opportunities for personal and business use. But did you ever stop to think about how technology may be the modern-day equivalent of the Roman roads during the early church growth?

In the timely and ministry-boosting book, Multiplying Disciples: Social Media and the New Roman Road, international evangelist and speaker Sammy Tippit will inspire you to embrace technology as the crossroad of man’s invention with God’s intent. Much like the Roman roads served as a tool for commerce and information, Tippit shows believers and churches how today’s technology can be a powerful ministry tool to advance the kingdom of God. Highlighting how our thought processes about technology may need to be challenged, Tippit inspires believers and ministry leaders to prayerfully consider how they can best use technology to teach the Bible to youth in Afghanistan, disciple a group in Kenya, or simply engage someone in your neighborhood.

Sammy Tippit has spoken to more than thirty thousand people in India from his home base in Texas. His ministry also launched more than one thousand discipleship groups in more than sixty countries using WhatsApp. Tippit believes social media is the intersection of God’s intent and modern technology for multiplying disciples.

Tippit has preached in more than eighty countries and in some of the world’s largest venues. Today he uses technology in innovative ways to reach places that seem impossible. Multiplying Disciples: Social Media and the New Roman Road is available from NewHopePublishers.com and your favorite book store! †

Also available from New Hope, Hope When It’s Hard is more than encouragement for adoptive parents. It’s a lifeline. This adoption resource and more available from NewHopePublishers.com.

October 27, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Legal Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Bradford & Holliman

Birmingham holds a special place in Veterans Day history. In 1947, World War II veteran from Birmingham, Raymond Weeks, led a delegation to Washington, D.C. to urge then-Army Chief of Staff General Dwight Eisenhower to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans. Weeks led the first National Veterans Day Parade in 1947 in Alabama and continued the tradition until his passing in 1985. In 1954, President Eisenhower established November 11^th as Veterans Day.

Attorneys help many veterans receive benefits because the Veterans Administration (VA) has designated “presumptive illnesses” as relating to their military service. VA presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2021, and be at least 10 percent disabling. These illnesses include:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Functional gastrointestinal disorders, conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome
Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms such as abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances

In 1986 a class action lawsuit called Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was settled by the VA recognizing the conditions below to be caused by Agent Orange exposure automatically. The settlement also specified that veterans (and families of deceased veterans) with one of these conditions who were previously denied disability benefits can be awarded disability benefits, including back pay to the time of the initial claim.

Agent Orange

AL Amyloidosis
Chronic B-cell Leukemias
Chloracne * (or similar acneform disease)
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Hodgkin’s Disease
Ischemic Heart Disease
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Parkinson’s Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset *
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda * (a liver dysfunction)
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory Cancers(lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus cancers)
Soft Tissue Sarcomas(other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma)

* condition must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – The VA presumes ALS diagnosed in all Veterans who had 90 days or more continuous active military service is related to their service, although ALS is not related to Agent Orange exposure.

If applicable and even if you’ve been denied previously, please check with a VA-certified attorney to help you apply or appeal for your VA benefits.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

205-663-0281

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.

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock A multi racial group of Colleg 20321627

Money Matters

presented by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group

Lesson 1: Budgeting 101. Perhaps your child already understands the basics of budgeting from having to handle an allowance or wages from a part-time job. But now that they are in college, he or she may need to draft a “real world” budget. Here are some ways you can help them plan and stick to a realistic budget:

Help them figure out what income there will be (money from home, financial aid) and when it will be coming in (at the beginning of each semester, once a month, or every week).

Make sure they understand the difference between needs and wants.
Determine together how you and your child will split responsibility for expenses.
Warn them not to spend too much too soon, particularly when money has to last the entire semester.
Show them how to track expenses by saving receipts and keeping an expense log.
Encourage them to plan ahead for big expenses by setting aside money for them on a regular basis.

Lesson 2: Opening a bank account. For the sake of convenience, your child may want to open a checking account near the college. Ideally, a checking account should require no minimum balance and allow unlimited free checking.

Lesson 3: Getting credit. If your child is age 21 or older, they may be able to independently obtain a credit card. But if they are younger, the credit card company will require you, or another adult, to cosign the credit card application. A credit card can provide security in a financial emergency and, if used properly, help them build a good credit history. Here are some tips to help your child learn to use credit responsibly:

Advise them to get a credit card with a low credit limit to keep credit card balances down.
Explain that a credit card isn’t an income.
Teach them to review each credit card bill and make payments by the due date.
If they can’t pay the bill in full each month, encourage them to pay as much as possible.
Make sure they notify the card issuer of any address changes so that they will receive statements.

Finally, remind your child that life after college often involves student loan payments. When it comes to the plastic variety, extra credit is the last thing a college student wants to accumulate!

-Hal B. Holland, Jr., RFC®

Vision Financial Group

4505 Pine Tree Circle,

Birmingham, AL 35243

205-970-4909

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. Please be advised that Hal Holland holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses and is licensed in AL, TN, TX, VA, SC, NC, FL, MS, GA, LA, MN

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