In Home Care Option: Always Best Care

July 26, 2018July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Healthy Living

Always Best Care is a Mountain Brook-based in-home care company, which has focused on providing non-medical care and skilled nursing services for the past five years. Our company hires only Nurses and Certified Nurse Aides who have extensive industry experience working with elderly and disabled individuals. Always Best Care staff members provide a wide array of services, including bathing, vital sign monitoring, medication reminders, meal preparation, companionship, transportation and incontinence care. We take a concierge approach to working with our clients and can manage such things as arranging doctor’s appointments, running errands, yard work, taking care of pets and handling aesthetic needs. All care services are supervised by an on-staff RN who completes the initial client care assessment, as well as ongoing assessments. With a team of experienced RN’s and LPN’s, we provide a full continuum of care, offering skilled nursing services such as wound, burn and trach care and disease management.

Always Best Care is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for Private Duty Nursing, Infusion Nursing, Companion and Aide Services. Accreditation by ACHC reflects Always Best Care’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care. ACHC is a not-for-profit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. “We are proud to be the only company in Alabama to be accredited by ACHC for these services.”

Client satisfaction is paramount to Always Best Care. We cater to the needs of our clients by providing care services for just a few hours per day to 24 hours, seven days a week, including holidays and weekends. All staff members must pass a thorough vetting process, including statewide and national background checks, a check of the Office of the Inspector General, Motor Vehicle Record checks, as well as a two-step TB test and Hepatitis B check. All employees must complete stringent monthly training requirements. Care providers are bonded, insured, as well as covered by worker’s compensation insurance. Our Care Coordinators develop a customized plan of care for every client and regularly meet with our clients to ensure that the care plan is being followed and updated as needed. We match our clients with the most appropriate caregiver, based on their individual needs and care plan.

-Jennifer Mancuso

Owner, Always Best Care Senior Services

6 Office Park Circle Suite 315 Birmingham, AL 35223

Office: 205-874-9730

[email protected]

www.AlwaysBestCare-Birmingham.com

Facebook: Always Best Care of Birmingham

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

bigstock Back to School Accessories b 195823603

The Hassle-Free Zone

School is back and so with it, the stacks of papers! Permission slips, homework assignments, medical release forms, volunteer sign-ups, field trips – you know it all too well. Backpacks and mailboxes inundate us with enough to wallpaper our entire homes, not to mention the time it takes to navigate through it all. Now that you’re drowning in the sea of paper, here’s some tips to help stay afloat this school year.

Everyone has heard of the one-touch rule, where you handle a piece of paper one time. As ideal as this is, it’s not always practical, so, I utilize the principle of the fewest touches. For example, when working through backpacks or incoming mail, basic categories help determine what to do with a sheet of paper. To reduce feeling overwhelmed, break big chunks down to small bite-size pieces. One such method for this is the RAFT System (also known as TRAF). Set up a sorting system with four categories:

READ
ACT
FILE
TOSS

Place each sheet in one of these boxes/files. Then, take action according to the box/folder. Grab your Read stack when heading to the back porch or the doctor’s office. Grab your File stack when you’re headed to the filing cabinet. The Toss stack should go to the trash as you sort. A little trickier, the Act stack requires the most action – like, writing a proposal, inputting data, paying bills. Some break it down with categories within Act to overcome this obstacle.

Also keep in mind:

Time management is important – set aside time each day to tackle timely information and a day each week for things without critical deadlines.
Establish ONE spot in your home for ALL paperwork – easier to find that permission slip as you’re running out the door.
Designate a basket for each child for incoming papers, then RAFT the basket on your schedule.
Establish ONE calendar to coordinate family and work (portable) – a second one only for family viewing (on refrigerator)
Setup a “Landing Zone” – backpacks, lunchboxes, jackets, etc.
Prepare on the weekend for upcoming week – at least, the night before
Set up a study area, with supplies handy
Have extra supplies on hand, especially poster paper for those last minute projects

Just as cars require maintenance to keep running, the key to staying organized is maintaining your system. Evaluate it regularly for any problem areas and stay committed to the process. After all that, your hard work will make the grade!

-Kim McBrayer

Designer | Professional Organizer | Speaker

SPACE CADETS

5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 121 Birmingham, AL 35242

205.368.2425

www.spacecadetsorganizing.com

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Faith at Work

Joel Caldwell says playing college football helped him learn humility, time management and how to communicate with a diverse team- skills he puts to work daily at Cory Watson.

Alabama Law School grad and former Vanderbilt football standout Joel Caldwell waited in the lobby of the law firm, knowing that the interview with senior shareholders could be a game changer. He did what he always does when anxious, he turned to the Word of God, swiping open the Word Alert app on in his i-phone. The message of the day hit home- it was Zephaniah 3:20, which reads, “At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home, I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes, says the Lord.” His anxieties eased almost immediately. “It was the confirmation I needed that I was in the right place, with the right people. God was showing me the way,” says Joel who confidently accepted a job offer that day, becoming an associate attorney with Cory Watson Attorneys.

Joel identifies himself first as a Christian, then as a son, brother and lawyer. He credits his parents and the Christ -centered guidance they provided with helping him and his brother achieve success on the football field and in the classroom. Joel and his brother both played football for Hoover High School, and won scholarships to Vanderbilt University where Joel played Defensive Back and served as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Joel’s brother became a physician while Joel pursued law.

Before attending law school, Joel worked as a computer tutor at Children’s Village, a home for children who have been separated from their parents. “While volunteering there, I saw first-hand the great need for compassionate and individualized children’s care, especially for those in the foster system,” Caldwell said. “I was also inspired by this verse from James 1:27: ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.’” Today, Joel serves on the Children’s Village junior board in addition to putting in volunteer hours with the kids. At the office, Joel says he asks God for wisdom and guidance in his work with his clients and he keeps his Word Alert app at the ready. His advice for students who will be tackling new adventures this fall? Walk in love and be blessed to be a blessing to others.

-Melanie Berry McCraney

June 10, 2020July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

101 Mobility Derek and David Gann 2 IMG 5421

Faith at Work

Owners of 101 Mobility Alabama, Derek and Ashley Gann, with their children Reagan and D.C. at their 101 Mobility office on Highway 280 near Greystone.

Birmingham Christian Family sat down with 101 Mobility of Alabama’s Derek Gann who shared with us how God is using his team to serve others in our community.

Q. How does your faith impact how you run your business?

A. Simply put, our faith drives us. Each day we remind ourselves that all that we do on this side of eternity should all point to the greatness of Jesus. Even leading up to the decision to become business owners, every day was filled with prayer. We asked for wisdom, discernment and direction. Ashley and I feel that God has led us to right where we are and we must be faithful stewards of what we’ve been given. We think the greatest leader of all time is Jesus and we try daily to replicate those traits. Our faith doesn’t mean our business is void of difficult decisions or tough calls, but our faith guides us and reassures us of our purpose. We strongly believe that you have to have vision and our vision is to love our customers well, build strong community relationships, and provide top-notch service. These goals are all predicated on our faith and our hope to be a glimmer of light in what can be a dimmer time in one’s life.

Q. What is the most rewarding aspect of the business to you?

A. No question, the most rewarding aspect of our business is being able to give someone a new lease on life. No one wants to wake up and discover they can no longer walk up their stairs or get around their house like they used to. So, when 101 Mobility can design a plan, unique to your needs, that gives you that freedom and independence back, it fills our heart and reminds us that each time a job is done, we’ve left one life a little better. The greatest gifts in life are truly the ones we give, not the ones we get. We are blessed to provide mobility devices that give back joy, that give back freedom, that give back hope. The stories we hear from the customers we serve can often leave tears in our own eyes, so being able to restore something that has been lost is the greatest reward of all.

-Learn more at www.Alabama.101Mobility.com or call 205-538-5692. †

July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Encouraging Word

A hero is a person of distinguished ability, admired for their noble deeds or qualities. At The Jimmie Hale Mission, we have lots of heroes.

Donors are our heroes. Where would we be without our loyal donors? As a faith-based Christian ministry, we are dependent on our donors for financial support. We are not a United Way Agency nor do we receive government funding. We rely on public support contributions. We are also grateful for our in-kind donors who donate to our shelter facilities and our Mission Possible Bargain Centers. God works through people and He blesses us through our donors.

Staff at Jimmie Hale Mission are our heroes. We have been blessed with a great leadership team and wonderful employees. It requires all of us working together to get the job done as a Mission family.

Volunteers are our heroes. We are fortunate that we have faithful volunteers that give of their time to come and serve those that come to us for help.

Board of Directors are our heroes. These Christian men and women agree to serve as Jimmie Hale Mission Board members to establish Mission policy and act as the governing body.

Clients we minster to at Jimmie Hale Mission who experience a changed life become our heroes. It is incredibly rewarding to see how Jesus Christ can transform a life (II Corinthians 5:17)!

Our #1 hero is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who loved us enough to give His life to die for our sins so we could experience a personal relationship with Almighty God.

-Tony Cooper

Celebrating 28 Years of Service as Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission

www.jimmiehalemission.com

July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Education Extra

When a child or teen needs mental health resources, families and caregivers often want assistance determining the appropriate level of care. Children’s of Alabama and the Anne B. LaRussa Foundation of Hope have established the Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) to help patients, families and providers better navigate the mental health care system. Anyone with a mental health question or concern regarding a child or teen is encouraged to contact the PIRC at 205-638-PIRC (7472). The PIRC is open seven days a week, year-round from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. as a confidential phone response center linking adult callers to mental health resources for children and teens. Licensed mental health professionals match patients and their families with mental health services and providers in a five-county area (Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker). The PIRC therapists assess risk factors, answer questions about mental health concerns and provide community resource information and safety planning for future crises. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for Children’s of Alabama to offer an innovative and much-needed mental health service to those in the community,” said PIRC Director Cindy Jones, who, with Children’s Behavioral Health Administrative Director Stacy White, spent a year and a half planning the service. “We provide access to a mental health professional that will guide and support them along the way.” The PIRC, located in Children’s Emergency Department, is one of only three such centers in the country. “There is a nationwide trend of increased volume of pediatric psychiatric visits to emergency rooms, explains PIRC medical director, Dr. Tobias Martines. “Our program’s mission is to help guide patients and their families to the most appropriate level of care.”

For high-risk children and teens who may need services in Children’s Emergency Department, the PIRC will provide crisis evaluations on a first-come, first-served basis, considering treatment room availability and urgency. Patients will be assessed by a mental health team of board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, fellows, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and PIRC staff to determine the appropriate level of care. The PIRC does not provide over-the-phone diagnoses or psychiatric evaluations, over-the-phone scheduling or rescheduling of outpatient appointments, home visits, transportation, prescriptions or refills. Clinicians emphasize the PIRC is not a suicide or crisis hotline, but instead a valuable resource for anyone who is seeking mental health services on a child’s behalf. Anyone experiencing a crisis should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should call the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). †

July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Church Leaders

“So they were saying to Him, ‘Who are You?’ ” John 8:25

Every age, every generation, every person has to answer the question that was asked of Jesus by His generation and those of His day. Whether it was a pre-Christian era or a post-Christian nation like America, the question lingers, “Who is Jesus?”.

The Gospel of John gives us a picture of Christ and answers that question with such remarkable clarity. You have to go all the way to the end of the Gospel to find the thesis, to find the reason for the Gospel:

“. . . these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31

The purpose of the Gospel writer is to show the deity of Christ, His relationship to God, and His salvific power. Salvation, for John, comes only through Jesus Christ (John 1:1; 3:16; 8:58; 10:30; 20:31). In this Gospel, the Jewish leaders stand on the riverbank and call out to John and ask “Who are you?” (1:19). The baptizer knows exactly what they are asking and he says, “I am not the Christ,” (1:20). Later the Jews themselves will ask Jesus, “Who are You?” (8:25). Jesus’ response points to the cross and to the work that the Father sent Him to accomplish.

“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He . . .” John 8:28a

We live in a post-Christian society. If you never believed that America was a Christian nation, you certainly would agree that it had a Christian underpinning. The Founding Fathers, at least, had a Christian world view and operated with that view in mind. Today, cultural, academic, and social pressure have caused many institutions to compromise and jettison their belief or adherence to the Word of God. The secularization has been so effective that many churches and most seminaries have abandoned the authority of the Word of God. When that happens, Jesus becomes nebulous, at best, in man’s mind. I find that not only are people in the world confused about who Jesus is, but many in the church have an unbiblical view of Him.

There is no better place to start than with the apostle who was closest to Jesus, with the Gospel that apologetically sets forth His deity, and with the Christological certainty that records the words of Jesus:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6

-Dr. Mac Brunson

Senior Pastor, Valleydale Church

www.valleydale.org

NOTE: “Who Is Jesus?” is the topic of Dr. Brunson’s sermon series beginning August 5, Sunday mornings at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m.

July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Best Books

Raised in Alabama, Rachel Held Evans is also the author of the New York Times best-selling book, A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post and the CNN Belief Blog and a guest on Today and The View, Evans now lives in Dayton, Tenn. but hails as a “lifelong Crimson Tide fan.”

One day a baby girl was born in Birmingham. Her parents named her Rachel, in honor of the beloved shepherdess who gave birth to two of the tribes of Israel. The child grew in grace and wisdom, in favor with both God and her church. Her life was filled with sermons, Sunday school and Scripture. With the Bible at the center of her existence, she was a child of the rightly divided Word. But then she grew up, started asking questions, and everything changed.

Rachel Held Evans lost the Bible, only to rediscover it and fall in love with it anew. In her recent book, Inspired (Thomas Nelson), Evans shares her journey into a new understanding of the imagery and meaning of Scripture. The ancient stories in our Bibles are designed to do far more than reveal humanity’s salvation history. The Bible is not a textbook. It is power and poetry, lament and laud. It is literature on fire, stories of people grappling with what it means to be the people of God. Inspired is a brilliant book which seeks to restore the wonder and power of the scriptural account of men and women who slew giants, raised the dead, and gave birth to prophets and kings.

What happens when you have to rethink long held beliefs about the Bible? What do we mean when we say the Scriptures are breathed by God? How can ancient stories of talking snakes and genocidal invasions and a crucified God be taken seriously in our post-modern world? Perhaps you know of someone wrestling with these very questions. If so, Rachel Held Evans has a message for them.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner
Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts
Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

205-663-2370

July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Best Books

Eight-year-old Callie Chapman has written three books, Glitter the Unicorn, Glitter the Unicorn Goes to the Beachand Glitter the Unicorn Goes to the Moon. She will be a fourth grader this fall at Crestline Elementary.

Callie Chapman is the author of the popular children’s book series, “Glitter the Unicorn,” which shares the adventures of a unicorn and her best friend Ellie. Rather than spend book proceeds on herself, Chapman decided to donated proceeds from her book sales to purchase art supplies for patients at Children’s of Alabama. So far, she has donated $10,000. “Callie is a talented author with a big heart,” said Kelly Baker, coordinator of community engagement at Children’s of Alabama. “Her generous donation will provide hours of fun for our patients who use art supplies for therapeutic activities. Each week, we use approximately 4,000 crayons and 75 art canvases. Callie’s donation will bring smiles to the faces of many of our patients.” †

July 25, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Church Leaders

If you’ve ever wanted to visit a Messianic Congregation or explore the Jewish Roots of Christianity, Beth Hallel Congregation in Hoover presents the perfect opportunity! Join us for an Open House on September 9 from 4:45-5:45 p.m. featuring traditional holiday foods, an art show and gift shop items. Then the New Year Celebration starts at 6 p.m. with dance, music worship, teachings, film and free gifts!

September 9, 10.The New Year is called Rosh HaShana , (head of the year) and in Israel, this date is the equivalent of America’s New Year’s Eve as the beginning of the secular calendar year. But in the Bible, this event is called the Feast of Trumpets, which in Hebrew is Yom Teruah. (Leviticus 23:24-25; Numbers 10:2-10, Numbers 29:2-5, Nehemiah 8:2-6)

As one might expect, one highlight of the Feast of Trumpets is the melodic sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) and the blowing of long silver trumpets as well. Traditional foods include honey because the Bible is sweet and presents the opportunity for a sweet new year. At Congregation Beth Hallel, many traditional foods will be offered to guests. The holiday celebrations are always free of charge and include child care and holiday experiences and explanations for ages 0-12.

You may hear these Fall Feasts also referred to as the “High Holy Days”. In Hebrew, these special events are called “Moadim” (moe-ah-DEEM), which translates as “Appointed Times”. In Deuteronomy 23, God says to keep these appointments for all time. Says Rabbi David Schneier, “We look at it like, the Bible says God made some yearly appointments with us, and God always keeps His appointments. We fully expect God to show up, as we celebrate the wonderful things He has done.”

And don’t think these joyous gatherings are just for those of the Hebraic persuasion, because Jesus celebrated these moadim during his life on earth. Some Christians even contemplate that the Feast of Trumpets might be the timing for Jesus’ return on the Bible’s reference to the “last trump.” Beth Hallel will also have a Rosh HaShana day service starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 10.

September 18, 19.The days immediately following the Feast of Trumpets are called the “Days of Awe” and are times for reflection, repentance, and dedication, leading up to the Day of Atonement, the second in the lineup of High Holy Days. This is Yom Kippur, translated “Day of Covering.” Jesus’ blood provides a covering or an atonement for our sins. Though Christians are cleansed of sin upon accepting Jesus, it is still meaningful to participate in a set time to transact with God, as in 1 John 1:9. Yom Kippur is a day to do just that. It is traditional to fast, and to pray on Yom Kippur. At Beth Hallel there is an evening service on Tuesday September 18 at 7 p.m. and a Day service on Sept 19 at 11 a.m. After a short service that evening at 7 p.m., there will be a break-the-fast potluck gathering.

September 23.The third fall feast is called the Feast of Tabernacles, in Hebrew “Sukkot.” This is characterized by building tent-like structures outside and eating or even sleeping in them. The significance is to remember that the children of Israel once lived in tents as God delivered them. The Bible says that Jesus “tabernacle” among men. This Feast, Israelis and people of Nations would go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Lord.

At Beth Hallel Congregation, a Parade of Nations with flags and foods from around the world are part of the pageantry and celebration. There will be two outdoor structures to eat and drink within, and a musical extravaganza of worship and Israeli dance. All visitors are welcome to participate, or to just enjoy. The Feast of Tabernacles event will be Sunday September 23 at 6 p.m.

September 30.A final celebration is Simchat Torah (SIM-haht TO-rah), or Joy of the Torah. This is a day of rejoicing that God gave the first 5 books of the Bible, which constitute the Torah. At Beth Hallel, the Torah scroll is unrolled for all to pass by and see up close the detailed Hebrew letters written on skins or parchments – a rare opportunity. On this day, the scrolls are rolled up to start another year of weekly scripture readings beginning at Genesis 1:1. Candy and sweets are in abundance to signify that the Word of God is sweet on our lips and in our life.

And if you make it through all the High Holy Day Celebrations in September, come December, you can look forward to 7 days of Hanukah, the Feast of Dedication mentioned in the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, Verse 22! In fact, even though Hanukah is thought of as an exclusively Jewish holiday, the only place in the entire Bible it is mentioned is in the New Testament!

Come visit Beth Hallel this September and taste and learn of your rich Jewish roots. All are welcome, and all events are free of charge. Childcare available for ages 0-5. Happy Holidays!