March 2023 Giveaways

February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

March Reader 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! Receive a $50 Gift Card to Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Birmingham.

To enter simply LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Birmingham Christian Family’s Instagram @cfpbirmingham.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

TAG a friend in the comments you would like to take with you.
POST to your story on Instagram
FOLLOW US on Facebook @Birmingham Christian Family
SUBSCRIBE to receive your free digital issue of BCF at www.birminghamchristian.com.

Offer ends Thursday 3/23/23. Winner announced 3/24/23 on Instagram so be sure to FOLLOW our page @cfpbirmingham.

Win 2 Tickets to the American Village National Day of Prayer Breakfast May 4 featuring Hoffman Media Founder Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.

To enter simply LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Birmingham Christian Family’s Facebook @Birmingham Christian Family.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

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

SHARE the post on Facebook

FOLLOW US on Instagram @cfpbirmingham

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

Offer ends Tuesday, 3/28/23. Winners announced 3/29/23 on the Facebook Giveaway Post. So be sure to FOLLOW our Facebook page.

February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Publishers Note

High School Seniors in the five county Birmingham area have until Thursday March 17, 2023 to apply for the 5th Annual Birmingham Christian Family Scholarship Awards. This year we will have three scholarship recipients who will be able to use their award at the college or university of their choice- $2000 to winner, and $500 to the top 2 runner ups.

To enter, students simply submit online a short essay on the following prompt: “How has your Christian faith impacted your decision making in your high school career.”

Visit www.birminghamchristian.com/scholarship to apply.

A big thanks to our scholarship sponsors who help make this program possible each year- including the American Village, The Center, and Vulcan Termite and Pest Control.

If your business would also like to partner with us on this program, please let me know.

-Laurie Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter: @cfpBirmingham

Instagram: @cfpbirmingham

Pinterest: @cfpbirmingham

LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 23 Years of Good News!

February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Free Art Class at Gardendale Magnolia Festival

Special Feature

Save the date for the 22nd Annual Gardendale Magnolia Festival on April 21-22, 2023 at the Gardendale Civic Center. Each year the community enjoys a wide variety of entertainment including free fun activities hosted by area churches.

Art Extravaganza. Every year Decatur Highway Church of Christ teaches free art classes in the Civic Center and provides all the materials. Church secretary Karen Hogeland coordinates the art classes. “We look at this as a way to give back to our community,” Hogeland explains, adding, “It’s a great way to reach out and meet people.” This year, children can participate in four sessions on Saturday including watercolor pens, string art, and sand art. Children of all ages are welcome to stay for one session or all four!

Kid Zone at Gardendale Magnolia Festival — Enjoy free fun and games at the Gardendale First Baptist Church Kid Zone including inflatables and more at the Gardendale Magnolia Festival.

Kid Zone. Gardendale First Baptist Church creates a free Kid Zone each year full of inflatables and fun games. “It’s a great opportunity for us to serve the city and community,” explains New Member and Outreach Pastor, Phil Cronin. Children are invited to come to the Kid Zone and enjoy a variety of inflatables, putt putt games, sand art, and more. Cronin believes being a part of the Magnolia Festival gives the church a way to engage the community and “let them know that church is more about loving others and helping the community.” Each child that visits the Kid Zone will receive a Gospel of John booklet.

The Magnolia Festival will also host 160+ vendors, a car show, pooch parade, petting zoo, artisan demonstrations, pony rides, live music and more! Be sure to come hungry because there will be a wide variety of food vendors with items like cheesecake funnel cakes, shrimp and oyster po’boys, tamales, polish sausages, roasted corn and sweet potatoes, bbq ribs, kettle corn, gelato, and more! For more details about the Magnolia Festival, visit www.magnoliafestival.org.

-Melissa Armstrong

April 25, 2023February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Hallie Highfield McCrory Casey McCrory Bryce Pumpkin Patch October 2021

Miracle Moments

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

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

Certain things stand out to me when I think about my childhood. I remember drugs being in my parents’ home. I remember missing a lot of school. My family seemed to be in court a lot. I didn’t really see my dad much. I remember a phone call my mom had one day. At the time, I wasn’t sure who she was talking to or who she was talking about, but I remember her saying, “I can’t deal with them anymore.” It wasn’t long before my brother and I were taken to an extended family member, and we never lived with our parents again. This path eventually brought me to Big Oak Ranch.

Seen here is Hallie in 7th grade during her time at Big Oak Ranch.

During my first week at the Ranch, I met with Mr. John and Mrs. Mary. At first, I thought Mr. John was scary, but I soon realized he was just really tall and had a deep voice. He told me the Four Promises [We love you. We will never lie to you. We will stick with you. There are boundaries.], and I still remember them to this day. I also remember thinking, “That is what everybody says.” But the longer I was there, I realized these people really stick with and keep those Four Promises. I saw something different in my houseparents. They didn’t fight like the other adults in my life. Mom would get us all together in a circle and pray with us. We had fun family outings. But I had a bad attitude. At the time, at that younger age, I couldn’t see the good. This affected my time at the Ranch and looking back I regret that so much. When I lived at the Ranch, I thought they were just there to do whatever children needed for that particular day and time. After I left, I didn’t think anyone at Big Oak still cared about me.

Hallie with husband kids and parents — Hallie and her family celebrating the Christmas season with Mom and Dad Thomas.

In 2019, I married my best friend, Casey. We have two wonderful boys – Cooper and Bryce. Five years ago, I was able to reconnect with my houseparents, and their actions showed that they did still love and care about me. Now my husband and I love to visit our family at the Ranch. Everybody who serves at Big Oak is making a difference and helping change children’s lives, even when they are hard to deal with like I was. I see younger girls, living with my houseparents, and it makes me happy. They are my house sisters, and I know they are safe, they are getting what they need, and they are loved – just like me!

-Hallie McCrory

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

April 10, 2023February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Happy Senior Man And Woman Old 468264747

Special Feature

Please. Thank you. I’m sorry. Being on your best behavior with strangers is expected in civil society. But what about in marriage? Can practicing basic manners enhance marital love?

Polite people are easy to spot. They apologize when you bump into them by accident. They say, “Yes, ma’am” and “Yes, sir,” though they may be older than you. Words used to describe them include nice, sweet, kind, gentleman, lady, etc. Genuine niceness carries over to marriage.

Best Foot Forward. In classic romantic comedies, a handsome guy and a beautiful woman collide as they try to get on an elevator. The contents of her briefcase fly across the floor except for an important letter now soaking in his spilled coffee. “Ugh! How can you be so clumsy!” “Well, this wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t staring at your cell phone!” Their eyes meet, the music plays, and a more polite argument begins. “It was my fault, actually.” “No, I should have been more careful.” Predictably, they marry and soon start taking each other for granted. Common courtesies become a thing of the past, and marital bliss fades. Courting couples often give each other the benefit of the doubt. For many, the goal is to win over the man or woman of their dreams. Unfortunately, some couples do not continue after marriage what they began before marriage.

Consistency Matters. Good manners are signs of respect and decency. Scripture encourages us in Titus 3:2 “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” “All people” includes our spouses. A study by The National Marriage Project found that “for both husbands and wives, generosity — defined here as small acts of kindness, regular displays of affection and respect, and a willingness to forgive one’s spouse their faults and failings — was positively associated with marital satisfaction….”

Ask yourself:

Is my temperament the same at home as it is at work?
Do I speak kindly to strangers and harshly to my spouse?
Do I help my neighbor but ignore my spouse’s needs?

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 reminds us, “Love is patient and kind… it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” Godly behavior equals good manners. Try it. Your marriage will thank you.

-Alonza Jones

President & Co-founder of Biblical Marriage Institute

BiblicalMarriageInstitute.org

@biblicalmarriageinstitute

February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Real Estate Agent With Couple 468584937

Legal Matters

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

1. I’m too young to need an estate plan. Accidents happen at all ages. Even if you are single with no children, you must decide who will get your assets. You may not want your assets to go to parents or to siblings or only to one parent or to one sibling. Regardless of your age, you need an estate plan. You may want to bequeath assets to friends or to charity. You have the right to decide how your assets are distributed, but it takes an estate plan to make it happen. If you have minor children, you absolutely need an estate plan to name who will take care of your children. Family fights over custody are common.

2. I don’t have enough assets to need an estate plan. the key question is, “Do you have assets that are important enough to you that you want to control who gets the assets?” If so, you need an estate plan.

3. My spouse gets everything anyway. Not necessarily. Without a will or trust, your spouse may not receive everything due to Alabama intestate law. It is entirely possible that your parents or your children could receive some assets rather than your spouse.

4. I can’t decide how to divide things up. Would you really want Alabama intestate law to decide who gets your assets? Hint: The answer is NO. Wouldn’t you prefer to make a decision that you can change later if needed instead of leaving it to chance and the State of Alabama?

5. I can’t decide who to put in charge. If you do not make this decision, the State will assign a lawyer to the task. You could name an unrelated third party rather than a family member. You can always change your nomination in the future if you later feel the person is no longer a good choice.

6. It costs too much. An intestate estate generally will cost more than an estate plan. An administration following intestate law is more complicated and can allow more opportunities for family to fight in court– all of which increases the costs.

Don’t let excuses determine your family’s future. Work through your concerns with an experienced estate planning attorney who can help you make the right decisions for you.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Holliman & Holliman, PLLC

www.hollimanlegal.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.

February 25, 2024February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Cropped Financial Investment 447114892

Money Matters

You can find many ways to support charitable organizations. One method that’s gained popularity over the past few years is called a donor-advised fund. Donor-advised funds are not appropriate for everyone, but if you’re able to make larger charitable gifts, you might want to consider this strategy.

Here’s how it works:

Contribute to the fund. You can contribute to your donor-advised fund with cash or marketable securities, which are assets that can be converted to cash quickly. If your contribution is tax deductible, you’ll get the deduction in the year you make the contribution to the fund. If you contribute marketable securities, like stocks and bonds, into the fund, a subsequent sale of the securities avoids capital gains taxes, maximizing the impact of your contribution.
Choose an investment. Typically, donor-advised funds offer several professionally managed diversified portfolios where you can place your contributions. You’ll want to consider the level of investment risk to which your fund may be exposed. And assuming all requirements are met, any investment growth is not taxable to you, the donor-advised fund, or the charity that ultimately receives the grant, making your charitable gift go even further.
Choose the charities. You can choose grants for the IRS-approved charities that you want to support. You decide when you want the money donated and how it should be granted. You’re generally free to choose as many IRS-approved charitable organizations as you like. And the tax reporting is relatively easy — you don’t have to keep track of receipts from every charity you support. Instead, you can just keep the receipts from your contributions to the fund.

Although donor-advised funds can be advantageous, there are important trade-offs to consider. For one thing, your contributions are irrevocable, which means once you put the money in the fund, you cannot access it for any reason other than charitable giving. And the investments you choose within your fund will carry some risk, as is true of all investments. Also, donor-advised funds do have investment management fees and other costs. So, consider the impacts of these fees when deciding how you want to give.

Of course, you should consult with your tax and financial professionals before opening a donor-advised fund, and if the fund becomes part of your estate plans, you’ll also want to work with your legal advisor. But give this philanthropic tool some thought —it could benefit both you and the causes you love.

-Laci P Graul, CRPS™

Financial Advisor

205-991-3179

www.edwardjones.com

February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Speaker Giving A Talk In Confe 466829339

Business Today

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

As Christian business leaders, we have three roles: steward, shepherd and servant.

1. Steward. A steward manages the owner’s resources for the benefit of the estate and the advancement of the owner’s agenda. A shepherd cares for the sheep and leads them to the place of safety and benefit. A wise servant attends to the needs and desires of the people he serves. Jesus demonstrated and talked about these qualities extensively, and He’s the greatest leader ever. As a steward, you’re responsible to God, government, shareholders and team members. The parable of the talents is clear: God expects you to get a fair return on the assets entrusted to you. Casting a compelling vision, creating and maintaining healthy profitability, using biblical principles to operate the business, and investing in God’s work fall under your stewardship. Proverbs 28:19-20 reminds us, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

2. Shepherd. In your role as shepherd, you’re responsible to care for your people. Do you view them as precious in God’s sight or simply as means to accomplish your goals? In addition to providing fair or generous wages and benefits, are you providing an excellent work environment and pointing them toward the Good Shepherd? Your faithfulness toward God will be shown by your faithfulness toward people. 1 Peter 5:2-4 says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

3. Servant. As a servant leader, you’re responsible to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Of the steward, shepherd, and servant roles, which is easiest for you?

-Convene

www.convenenow.com

To learn more about your leadership roles, contact:

Alan B Hale — Alan B. Hale
Convene Chair
205-936-6311
[email protected]

Harris Wheeler
Convene Chair
205-936-7038
[email protected]

February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

Rumors, gossip, misinformation and disinformation are constantly clogging our ever-following stream of news. Heard A Rumor is here to help.

No, we are not a gossip site. Quite the opposite. Heard A Rumor is an educational initiative created by Samford University public relations students Anna Baldwin, Bailey Baldwin, Claire Owens and myself for the Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman National Case Study Campaign. Since 1973, the Public Relations Student Society of America has challenged college students from across the country to research, plan, implement and evaluate strategic promotional and educational goals for real clients. The national competition allows students to build a functional public relations campaign from the ground-up.

“The Bateman campaign has been the most real-world experience I’ve had during my time at Samford in a class,” said Claire Owens, Samford University senior and director of public relations for Heard A Rumor. “I’ve gotten to pitch to the media, conduct research, help create branding and so many other things that I know will serve me well in my future career.”

The winning campaign is chosen by the client and implemented into their practice. This year’s client is nonpartisan news education platform, The News Literacy Project. Heard A Rumor promotes The News Literacy Project’s mission to foster a more news literate America and to fight for facts. Through our four-week educational course, we provide tools that help you distinguish “rumor” from fact. Participants who complete the course become certified “Fact Junkies” and learn to spot misinformation, disinformation, opinion pieces and advertisements in news sources. From busting bots to actively seeking quality journalists and cultivating conversations with friends and family about the importance of understanding misinformation, “Fact Junkies” are vital to the news literacy movement.

We are proud to represent Alabama and Samford University in this national competition, and hope you discover the power you have to stop misinformation and be a light for truth. “Instead of becoming frustrated, which is easy to do, we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves about news literacy as well as forces that can manipulate us. AI and bots are not going away, so we combat that with knowledge.” Said Dr. Betsy Emmons, an associate professor at Samford University and immediate past president of the Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

–Avery Ketcherside

Samford University Senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism mass communications. Heard A Rumor is competing as a finalist in the Public Relations Student Society of America’s annual Bateman National Case Study Campaign. Learn more about Heard A Rumor’s campaign here.

February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Wheeler Semi Truck On The R 217541947

Legal Matters

presented by: Frank S. Buck P.C., Personal Injury

What to Do to Protect Yourself. Due to the hectic demands of life, we often find ourselves on the road. Daily interstate travel brings many drivers in frequent contact with larger vehicles like 18-wheelers or semi-trailer trucks. Many truckers work lengthy hours, driving long distances hauling cargo, which can result in fatigue and distracted driving, both of which can lead to catastrophic crashes. In addition, truckers often face strict delivery deadlines, causing some to disregard speed limits. Many drivers do not realize how different a car wreck involving an 18-wheeler is from one involving two average vehicles. 18-wheeler trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. which often causes serious and substantial damage to the cars involved in this crashes and sometimes fatal consequences. One in every eight automobile wreck fatalities involves a large truck like an 18-wheeler. If the past is any indication, more people will be killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks this year than have died in all the domestic commercial airline crashes over the past 45 years. Because of statistics like these, there are strict laws and regulations that apply to trucking companies and their drivers, which do not apply to non-commercial drivers. Examples of such regulations include limitations on the amount of time that truck drivers can spend driving before they take a break and what they can haul.

If you are in a wreck with an 18-wheeler, it is important to call an attorney who handles trucking collisions immediately. The trucking company will begin investigating the wreck right away with a team of experts and lawyers on the case to protect itself, so time is of the essence for you to hire an attorney to begin investigation to protect yourself. There is valuable evidence such as black box data or other GPS recording devices from the truck that need to be preserved promptly by an experienced attorney working on your behalf. A “black box” is a recording device that is triggered by certain events to start recording important data about the truck and its movement and speed. Black box data can provide critical evidence later for an expert such as an accident reconstructionist to determine what happened in the wreck. If this data is not requested early, there is nothing preventing the trucking companies from destroying it. It is also important to document the wreck with photographs of the vehicles at the scene of the collision to show exactly what occurred. An attorney can also investigate the background of the trucking company as well as the driver. It is important to have someone who will fight for you after an 18-wheeler collision.

Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 44 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at 205-933-7533 or visit us at www.franksbuckpc.com. Please call us for a free consultation.

Click Here To Learn How To Reach A Christian Audience in Alabama.

March 2023 Giveaways

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