Preparing to Meet with Your Estate Planning Attorney

Legal Matters

Presented by: Bradford & Holliman, Estate Planning, www.bradfordholliman.com

You made the decision that you need an estate plan or you need to update your current plan. You also scheduled an appointment with the lawyer. Now, what do you need to do to prepare for the meeting?

  1. Assets – Make a list of your assets and income. List everything, even things you do not think are important. Your lawyer can make the determination if the assets are important or not for your goals; but, only if the lawyer knows about all assets.  
  2. Incapacity – Who do you want to be in charge of YOU if you become incapacitated. People often think estate planning equals “death planning.” However, you may be incapacitated for months or years before you die. Who will handle things for you? The attorney can make suggestions; but, you need to have a list of trustworthy candidates.
  3. Distributions at Death – Give thought to who you want to receive your assets when you die. The attorney cannot help you answer this question.
  4. Business Issues – If you own a business, give serious thought to who will take over the business at your death. Will a spouse or a child that works in the business take over?  Have you established a value or a method for valuing the business so beneficiaries not working in the business can sell their interest in the business?
  5. Blended Family Issues – If you are part of a blended family, you must consider if you will give all assets to your spouse at your death; or, if you will give some assets to your spouse and some assets to your children. If you plan to give all assets to your spouse, do you want to make sure any remaining assets at the surviving spouse’s death pass to your children? If you want to leave assets to your children at your death, do you have a plan for providing for your surviving spouse?
  6. Long Term Care Issues – Your attorney may help you create the perfect estate plan; but, you still need to think about how you will pay for long term care. Remember, the best estate plan is worthless if you spend everything on long term care before you die.

These tips will help you to be prepared for a productive initial meeting with your estate planning attorney.

-Melanie Bradford Holliman 

Partner, Bradford & Holliman, LLC

Practice focuses on estate planning, elder law and special needs trust.

2491 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, Ala. 35124

205-663-0281, www.bradfordholliman.com

This article is for educational purposes and is not intended for specific legal advice.

Brought to you by: Community Partner Convene, www.ConveneNow.com

A Simple Plan for Doing Ministry through Business: Reach the Many by Helping the One

Do you ever get overwhelmed at the millions of people who need help in the world? With all the news channels broadcasting the hurt and pain around the world, with all of our friends posting their needs on social media, and with all the hyper-connection we experience today, it’s easier than ever to become overwhelmed by the needs of others. As pastor and leader-developer Andy Stanley points out in a sermon, the question should not be, “How can I help everyone?” but, “How can I help one?” Here’s the main takeaway of Andy Stanley’s message: “Do for one person what you wish you could do for everyone.”

Here are three ways that you can live this out:

  1. Go Deep Rather Than Wide. Rather than spread your resources, time and attention thinly, go deep with one person and invest greatly in them. This takes more time and intentionality, but in the end, will yield much more impact.
  2. Go Long Term Rather Than Short Term. Andy Stanley shared the story of Jane, a homeless woman who ended up in their church, listening to a sermon from Andy. After the sermon, she went up and asked to talk to Andy about some problems she was having. That began a 20-year relationship of Andy and his family helping Jane in her various problems with family, drugs, abuse and life on the street. Andy described how you can only take on one of these in your life at a time.
  3. Go Time, Not Just Money. Money is all too easy to give for many of us. It’s largely hands-off, and sometimes doesn’t take much energy or thought to give it. The measure of love you have for someone is more accurately determined by how much time you spend with them. So yes, support them with your money, but more important than that, support them with your time and talent.

What about in your workplace? This week, instead of worrying about how to reach your entire team, what if you focused in on one team member who you could invest in? Instead of fretting about how to please every one of your customers, what could you do for one of them? When you focus on trying to please the crowd, you end up pleasing no one. But when you focus on making one person’s life better, the news spreads to the crowd and your message grows.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV

Find more resources for leaders seeking to do ministry through their businesses at www.convenenow.com/resources. To learn more about Convene, contact your local convene chair.

-Harris Wheeler 

2017 National Convene Chair of the Year

(205) 936-7038

[email protected]

Encouraging Word

You will notice from creation that God is very orderly, organized and has a plan. In Jeremiah 29:11-13, God mentions to Jeremiah the plan He has established. God says, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” A plan is defined as a method of action or procedure; design or blue print; a definite purpose. As Christ-followers we are to seek God’s plan (Proverbs 16:9) and follow God’s path (Proverbs 3:6).

God’s plan is personal (Jeremiah 1:5). God created us; He knows us; and He has a plan with our name on it.

God’s plan has purpose (Jeremiah 29:11).  His plan is to bless us and give us a future and hope. Our responsibility is “to get plugged into God’s plan (Jeremiah 29:12-13).” We are to call on the Lord; pray to Him; and seek and discover His way.

God’s plan for us begins with salvation (John 3:16). Salvation involves a new life (II Cor 5:17); a fulfilled life (John 10:10); and eternal life (I John 5:11-13). Following salvation, we must learn to be Spirit-led. Galatians 5:18 says we are to be led by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says we are to be filled with the Spirit. As we learn to follow God’s leading, we are called to be His witness (Acts 1:8); and to be His representative (II Cor 5:20).

God has a plan for you!  Let me encourage you to seek God’s plan and submit to it.

-Tony Cooper 

Celebrating 27 Years of Service as Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission

www.jimmiehalemission.com

Best Books

In the summer of 1932, Germany held a national election. After years of economic depression, the people wanted prosperity again. Suffering defeat in the first World War, they wanted to make their nation great again. Tired of political battles and government ineptitude, they desired strength and stability. Suspicious of those who worshiped God differently, and afraid of the rising ideology of godless Marxism, they went to the polls. In July of that fateful year, the German people, including many professing Christians, voted the Nazi party into parliamentary power. Ten years later their cities were in flames, their sons were dying all over Europe, and their neighbors were being murdered in death camps. The land of Luther and Bach became the domain of a demoniac, and the whole world paid a price in death and destruction.

In the recently published book, Because of Whose I Am: A Nazi’s Daughter ($18.99), we encounter a true story of what it was like to live in Hitler’s Germany. Helga Lades’ childhood was overshadowed by Nazi ideology and the war. Her father, an atheist, was a Nazi official who forced Helga’s mother to keep her faith a secret. When the war was over, her father was disgraced and imprisoned. Helga met an American soldier who fell in love with her on their first night together. She married him, moved to America, and started a family. Years later, Helga found the faith of her mother, became a follower of Jesus, and attended a church here in Birmingham. Her life is a testament of the redemptive and transformative grace of God.

<em>Birmingham’s Kathleen Jones along with the late Helga Lades Allison, authored Allison’s personal story of living in Hitler’s Germany.</em>
Birmingham’s Kathleen Jones along with the late Helga Lades Allison, authored Allison’s personal story of living in Hitler’s Germany.

Helga’s story is a powerful reminder of two important truths. First, God’s Spirit cannot be contained. He moves whenever and wherever He wishes. Second, no nation, regardless of how “Christian” it appears to be, is safe from falling into barbarity and wickedness. The ascent of Hitler and the horrors that followed occurred for numerous reasons, but the saddest reason may be that many German churches and clergymen were complicit in the rise of fascism. When a nation places an ungodly person into power, they should expect ungodly things to happen. God’s people should be ever vigilant in resisting ethnic hostility, bigotry, nationalism, and warmongering. Too many churches tried to baptize Nazi ideology, and God will hold them responsible. Their betrayal of the Gospel should serve as a warning. If it happened in Helga’s childhood Germany, it can happen anywhere.

Darrel Holcombe, Owner
Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts
Colonial Promenade, Alabaster                                                                                                                                                                                   
205-663-2370                                                                                                                                                                               

Special Feature

<em>"Joy I just want to tell you how much fun the girls and I had! You did an amazing job…This is great for Birmingham and I wish you much success.” Vanessa Lewis, Girl’s Night Out Food Tour Guest</em>
“Joy I just want to tell you how much fun the girls and I had! You did an amazing job…This is great for Birmingham and I wish you much success.” Vanessa Lewis, Girl’s Night Out Food Tour Guest

Joy King, hostess of the Bham Eat Drink Ride Food Tour, has a number one rule for her tour groups: “You must have fun!” The bus tour experience takes guests to a variety of local eateries for a five-course meal, including foods like burgers, tacos, cheesecakes, and chicken and greens. For those who prefer to have their chicken served with waffles, there is also a brunch tour, which encounters foods like shrimp, grits, and pancakes. Guests also enjoy entertainment provided by King herself, the “Queen of Clean Comedy.”

King’s relationship with Birmingham’s local chefs began with her work as the hostess of a show called “Dining Out with Comedienne Joy,” which airs at 11 a.m. on Saturdays on WABM/Channel 68. On the show, King explores local restaurants of Birmingham that the audience probably would not have otherwise discovered. She was inspired by the feedback she received from her viewers, which was often that they wanted to eat like King eats. The message was clear: she needed to start a food tour.

Tours are open to many types of groups like office staffs, ministry groups, bridal parties, and ladies’ night out tours, her specialty. “We ladies to like to get together and have fun over a good meal and in a safe environment,” says King. “We typically have things in common such as kids and crazy coworkers, so the tours are a great way to get a mini-break from our family and bond with our girlfriends or meet new friends.”

<em>"Mrs. Joy came through with flying colors. My family’s first experience with the tour was phenomenal. The best time ever." Edna Ryans Weaber, Mother’s Day Event Food Tour Guest</em>.
“Mrs. Joy came through with flying colors. My family’s first experience with the tour was phenomenal. The best time ever.” Edna Ryans Weaber, Mother’s Day Event Food Tour Guest.

King is driven by her passion to keep local restaurants’ doors open. She knows that many of these restaurant owners work long hours over the grill, making food for our families so that they can provide food for their own. The food tour gives guests an opportunity to meet the chefs and owners personally, putting a face to the food and forming a relationship between chef and patron. Because of the personal connections (and the good eats, of course), guests often return to dine again at the restaurants they explored with King.

One of King’s guests, Cynthia Welborn, describes her food tour experience as such: “My coworkers and I experienced a wonderful and fun time on the Bham Eat Drink Ride Food Tour. Lots of excitement and good tasting at Swamp Monster, Indigo Hotel, Corbin Farm Winery, Preservery Bham, Michael’s Sea Food and God Father’s Pizza. We didn’t have to drive and were picked up in Montgomery! What a good way to start the weekend.” For more information on King’s Bham Eat Drink Ride Food Tour, you can call 205-482-6999 or visit her website at www.DiningOutWithComedienneJoy.com.

-Regan Green

Special Feature

Picture this – you’re outside on a hot day; you go inside and pour a tall glass of water. Did it spill all over the counter? The floor? Into the garage? Of course not – you knew when to turn off the faucet. You knew the capacity of your glass and stopped before you exceeded the level.

Now picture going to see a movie. The theater holds 250 people but 500 tickets were sold, so everyone packs in, two in a seat. There’s people everywhere! Your comfort and enjoyment has been compromised, not to mention your safety.

For public facilities, signs are posted with the capacity and these limits are enforced with good reason.

How does this relate to organizing? It has to do with equilibrium. Essentially, being organized equates to achieving equilibrium; the balance of matching the contents to the capacity of a container. However, those struggling with clutter and disorganization must first begin to view their homes, offices, calendars, purses, garages, closets, even junk drawers as a container with a limited capacity.

Our society makes it too easy to tip the balance and exceed the capacity. With shopping centers on every street tempting us, it’s just way too easy. Ask any teenager to list their hobbies and shopping will make the list. It has become a favorite pastime of many Americans.

Occasionally I’ll hear, “I’ll get rid of this now and go buy another one.” How does that help?

Once equilibrium is achieved, a system is needed to maintain it, either with (1) no additions or (2) addition = subtraction. The first option is not likely but the second option of one in – one out is more realistic. However, we add one, add another and another and so on. Every now and then, yard sales and donation trucks restore our equilibrium, but is only temporary and needed again months later.

You knew when to stop pouring the water – before it spills. Purchases brought home will become clutter spilled out if the capacity is not considered.

Evaluate your container – look at it in a new way. What would the capacity sign read? Mentally post a limit for yourself and adhere to it.

In my small closet, I have had to limit myself to 24 shoes. That’s how many shoe cubbies I could fit without compromising the comfort (think movie theater). If I find a pair of shoes I just “have to have”, I determine IN THE STORE which pair I’m donating. If I don’t want to lose any, I pass on the purchase.

This really works! We set a closet for a client with a specific number of hangers (determined capacity). Years later, she still says it saves her money because she has to decide if she likes the new outfit better than her current wardrobe because she can’t add any hangers. She shops less and smarter.

Giving away more will certainly reduce the clutter, but what about purchasing less?

-Kim McBrayer 

Designer  | Professional Organizer  | Speaker

SPACE CADETS

5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 121 Birmingham, AL 35242

205-368-2425; www.spacecadetsorganizing.com  

The Great Outdoors  

Looking for that perfect Father’s Day gift? The staff at Mark’s Outdoors is ready to assist you in finding a gift Dad will love and use. Besides being a one stop shop for hunting and fishing needs, Mark’s also carries a wide variety of lifestyle products for the husband or father in your life. Here are just a few ideas for Father’s Day.

Keep it Cool. Out in the Alabama summer heat, Dad is sure to appreciate a Yeti or Orca gift. Mark’s has in stock Yeti coolers ranging in size from 20-210 quarts and they all come with a five year warranty. Orca coolers are also available in 26-58 quart sizes and each comes with a lifetime warranty. Mark’s also offers both Orca and Yeti beverage options from small to tall to keep Dad’s drink ice cold or piping hot ($20-$30).

Play it Safe. Shirts with sun protection are a great gift for the dad who spends anytime outdoors. Mark’s has sizes ranging from small to 3x in great colors and styles from the top men’s sportswear brands including Columbia, Simms, and AFTCO.

Enjoy Function, Style & Craftsmanship. Mark’s Outdoors knife specialist Chris Thompson oversees the inventory of the Southeast’s largest and best selection of knives ranging from “mild to wild” in design and price. In stock selections include brands like William Henry ($350-$2200 range) and Chris Reeve ($400-$500 range). Besides knives, the William Henry brand also offers a great line of men’s jewelry that has the same distinct style as their knives. Particularly popular is the William Henry bracelet made from leather and forged damascus steel and accented with gem stones ($400).

Besides remembering your Dad with a gift this Father’s Day, most importantly, we hope you will have the opportunity to spend some time with your Dad- if at all possible, in God’s great outdoors.

Mark’s Outdoors 

1400-B Montgomery Highway, Vestavia 35216

205-822-2010, www.marksoutdoors.com

Under the Hood

presented by Franklin Automotive

Spring is one of the prime times for auto maintenance. The first wash and wax on a warm Saturday afternoon is liberating. Winter’s gloom (to say nothing of the dirt and grime) is literally washed away. Take out the gloves and ice scraper and store them ‘til next season. Summer’s not far away! Some preparations now will help ensure that your vacation plans go as smoothly as you envision them now. Franklin Automotive offers the following tips on getting your vehicle ready for summer:

  • Read the owner’s manual or ask your service shop about recommended service schedules. You are probably overdue for one.
  • Have hard-to-start, rough idling, stalling, etc. corrected before hot weather is here.
  • Have the cooling system flushed and refilled according to recommendations for your vehicle. Have the level, condition, and concentration checked periodically.
  • If you are not a Do-It-Yourselfer, find a repair facility you trust. I recommend Franklin Automotive!
  • The tightness and condition of belts, clamps, and hoses should be checked by a qualified auto technician. They know what to look for.
  • Have the air conditioner serviced BEFORE it gets too hot. It never quits working on a cool day!
  • Have your oil and filter changed. A repair facility will make sure your used oil is disposed of properly.
  • Have your other filters replaced (air, fuel, cabin air, etc.) as recommended.
  • Have the condition of your tires checked, including the spare. Always check tire pressure when the tires are cold.
  • Inspect all lights and bulbs. Replace as necessary.
  • Replace worn wiper blades, and make sure your washer fluid is topped off.
  • Stay safe and have fun!

Ward Drennen 

Owner, Franklin Automotive

2880 Acton Road, Birmingham 35243

205-969-2886

www.FranklinAutomotive.com

 

A LOVE Story Founded on Faith & Family:

<em>Big on family values and the “family” that comes from a close relationship with the church, HGTV’S Chris and Peyton Lambton will be at the Birmingham Home Show Feb. 16-17 at the BJCC. For details and ticket information, visit <a href="http://homeshowbirmingham.com">homeshowbirmingham.com</a>. Photo Courtesy Chris &amp; Peyton Lambton</em>
Big on family values and the “family” that comes from a close relationship with the church, HGTV’S Chris and Peyton Lambton will be at the Birmingham Home Show Feb. 16-17 at the BJCC. For details and ticket information, visit homeshowbirmingham.com. Photo Courtesy Chris & Peyton Lambton

Family legacy comes in many different forms for garden, landscape and outdoor remodel television personalities Chris and Peyton Lambton. It shows up in the prayer they recite with daughter Lyla every night before bed, the same blessing Chris’ late mother recited to him and his brothers when he was a child. It shows up in the church elders and older generations within the community in Peyton’s east Tenn. hometown, offering a greeting and a word of wisdom at the grocery store. It’s a legacy hinged on faith, say the Lambtons, who are preparing for the release of Chris’ second season on DIY Network’s “Lawn & Order” and who will make an appearance at the Birmingham Home Show February 16-17 at the BJCC. “It’s nice and refreshing to be able to be open about our faith,” says Peyton. “I think a lot of people aren’t; they either hide it or maybe they don’t feel that they can talk about it along with their careers, but it’s exciting that we are able to share something that’s important to us and our family and our careers. It’s all encompassing.”

Romance & Reality TV. A fan-favorite and the runner-up on season 6 of The Bachelorette, Chris Lambton met wife Peyton, who had competed in season 10 of The Bachelor, through mutual friends at a charity event in 2010. Instead of returning to ABC for another season searching for love, Chris had decided to stay home in Cape Code, Massachusetts, running E. Lambton Landscaping with brother Erik and their father, Ed, who is notoriously remembered by Bachelorette fans as the man who used to tell wife Marjorie that “love is the only reality.” Impressed with his authentic skill as a landscaper in a charming hometown, HGTV approached Chris with an idea for the gardening and landscaping series “Going Yard” just after his engagement to Peyton in 2011. The couple co-hosted the show, and they even filmed a special in Chris’ backyard to prepare for a Cape Code wedding reception for friends and family. Once his parents’ house, both of Chris’ brothers were married in the same backyard. Chris is now a familiar face on HGTV and DIY Network, also hosting “Yard Crashers” and appearing on “Blog Cabin,” “HGTV Dream Home” and “HGTV SmartHome.”

Chris Lambton is seen here on the set of his DIY Network show, “Lawn &amp; Order.” To view full episodes of the show as well as “Yard Crashers” and “Going Yard,” visit <a href="http://diynetwork.com/shows">diynetwork.com/shows</a> or <a href="http://hgtv.com/shows">hgtv.com/shows</a>. Photo Courtesy DIY Network.
Chris Lambton is seen here on the set of his DIY Network show, “Lawn & Order.” To view full episodes of the show as well as “Yard Crashers” and “Going Yard,” visit diynetwork.com/shows or hgtv.com/shows. Photo Courtesy DIY Network.

Mentors in the Faith. When it comes to mentors who inspire him as he sets out to engage Christian values as a husband and father, Chris looks no further than his own parents. “My mom was raised by her mom, and so forth, [to be at] church on Sundays. Every meal we had growing up we’d say a little prayer first. When my mom tucked us in, she had another prayer she would say to us every night. I think those little things and the instilling of the family values was very important in my growing up,” he says, noting he still hosts Sunday family dinners with his brothers and their children as at their home in Cape Cod as often as possible. Raised in Kingsport, Tenn., Peyton says traveling to baptize their daughter in the same church she was baptized in was a significant step in maintaining faith traditions important to her family. Born in November 2016, Layla James Lambton became the sixth generation from Peyton’s family to be baptized at the family’s church. “My father served as an elder in the church, so he was able to be a part of the ceremony,” Peyton remembers. “The biggest reason I wanted to do that was because family is so important to us, teaching Layla this is what we have.”

When considering flowers and shrubs for 2018, Chris says, research what’s native because it will cut down on your water and landscaping costs. Also, for the biggest impact for the money, a stone patio will require little upkeep after the initial investment. “The great thing about stones are they are not going to rot out; they are going to last forever, and if they are laid correctly, it’s something you can use for decades and decades to come,” says Chris. “It gives you that entertainment space where you can put chairs, a little table for a dining area… a place for people to congregate, and it cuts down on the amount of grass that you have to mow, which is always a bonus.” Photo Courtesy DIY Network
When considering flowers and shrubs for 2018, Chris says, research what’s native because it will cut down on your water and landscaping costs. Also, for the biggest impact for the money, a stone patio will require little upkeep after the initial investment. “The great thing about stones are they are not going to rot out; they are going to last forever, and if they are laid correctly, it’s something you can use for decades and decades to come,” says Chris. “It gives you that entertainment space where you can put chairs, a little table for a dining area… a place for people to congregate, and it cuts down on the amount of grass that you have to mow, which is always a bonus.” Photo Courtesy DIY Network

For the Lambtons, the significance of Layla’s baptism also represents a lesson in patience and seeking God for guidance while pursuing parenthood. Conceived via in vitro fertilization, Layla’s birth followed what Peyton calls “a long long long hard battle and a lot of soul searching” on how to create a family when it doesn’t happen naturally. “Trusting God is a huge part of it because it’s such a frustrating process,” she remembers. “It was so long, and I’m very much a person of instant gratification. It was probably two years of going to the doctor and blood tests and injections and all of these things that you did not imagine when you set out to start a family. There was a lot of resentment. There was a lot of anger. But then I just had to put my trust in God that He had a plan, and He did. His plan was for Layla, and no matter how we ended up with the family that we have, that was His plan all along,” she says, adding, “I just have to trust that in the future when we want to have future children. If that is in the cards, then we will just have to trust and have faith.”

The Fun is in the Filming. Still working daily in his family landscaping business, Chris says one of the most memorable parts of filming for HGTV and DIY Network landscaping shows is the people he meets along the way. Filmed in Philadelphia and Orlando, ”Lawn & Order” focuses on finding homeowners who lack the inspiration, the money or the skill to raise their home’s value by boosting curb appeal. “We get to go in there as a team and completely tear out the yard and make the client work a little bit so they get the sweat equity,” Chris says. “It gives them more of an ownership so they’ll take care of it when we leave.”

Now an interior designer in Cape Code, Peyton says when it comes to filming for Chris’ newest shows, she leaves most decisions up to him. “He’s so good at what he does that we try to stay in our own lanes. I’ll come in and help with some finishing stuff if there’s furniture involved, as far as what style, what fabrics, finishing accessories. But when it comes to the basic landscaping, the layout and design, that’s all him.”

Meet the Lambtons. In Birmingham this month, Chris and Peyton will share photos and stories from some of their most memorable projects and give helpful tips for committing to the first step in making your outdoor dreams a reality. “We try to give people ideas to get outside, to take that first step, and to renovate their yard into a great space where they can entertain. The great thing about a home show is that I can give some ideas and walk around and find people to help implement those ideas right there. It’s kind of like a one stop shop.”  The Lambtons will appear at the BJCC Birmingham Home Show at 6 p.m. on February 16th and again at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on February 17. For more details visit www.homeshowbirmingham.com.

– Camille Smith Platt 

Healthy Living

Why do some couples benefit from marriage therapy while other couples do not? My work has led me to the following conclusions.

The most important factor is a faith-based foundation of the marriage. I have tried to provide therapy to spouses who were not devoted to God; the results were not good. Here’s why:

  • A person with little or no faith likely will enter into a marriage with the goal of finding happiness through the relationship. This is an inherent problem. God wants each of us to find joy and peace through Christ; the spouse should be a help to that goal, not a substitute for that goal.
  • In marriages not based in faith, typically, one’s own happiness is the top priority. This seems perfectly natural, but God calls us to rise above our nature and to live a life of sacrifice. When I give to a couple the homework assignment, “Each day, find a new way to demonstrate your love for your spouse,” the faithless couple returns and reports to me that they only made a slight effort to do the homework. Why? Because, as they display in our discussions, each spouse is chiefly focused on what he or she isn’t getting from the marriage rather than what he or she isn’t giving to it.

In addition, it is important that the therapist is of the same faith as the clients. I’m reminded of an individual client who came to me for an initial session even though she was already engaged in therapy with another psychologist. She told me that when she asked the other psychologist whether she and he could incorporate spirituality into their work together, he had replied, “We can talk about religion some if you want, but I don’t want it to get in the way of our work.” In the way? If your spirituality has the importance that it should have in your life, you don’t attempt anything without it; and you certainly can’t expect to improve your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without it.

To explore the opportunities to participate in online therapy in our practice or to explore the opportunities to attend our Marriage Bread workshop, please visit our website at www.crosswalknow.com, call our office at 334-744-3694, or email us at [email protected].

-Dr. Thomas Maple

Dr. Maple is an Alabama-licensed psychologist and the founder of Crosswalk Psychological Services, LLC.  His clinical background includes work in private practice and in university clinics. Born and raised in the Birmingham area, he resides in Auburn with his wife and his two daughters.

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