Come Join Our Family!

April 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Senior Scene

We are excited and proud to say that Brookdale University Park is open to new residents. When you come in for a tour, you will have the option to choose from an indoor and/or outdoor visit, where permitted. We offer a virtual connection too. New residents will not be obligated to quarantine prior to moving in. And once you move in, you are free to come and go in the community as you wish, and accept visitors, as permitted by state regulatory requirements.

Residents of Brookdale University Park enjoy an engaging lifestyle with a selection of care options to meet changing needs. The community conveniently located off Lakeshore Drive offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s and dementia care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Call 205-870-0786 to connect with one of our team members who would be delighted to help you plan your personal visit, www.brookdale.com.

Celebrating Together

Good Friday. Brookdale residents recently enjoyed a Good Friday worship service coordinated by Bob and Polly Hatfield. It was such a special time, being able to have our first gathering on Good Friday, as our community resumes group programs. There are health and safety protocols in place, and everyone is happy to see their friends and family again.

St. Patrick’s Day. There was a campus wide celebration for St. Patrick’s Day. Residents enjoyed a socially distanced party with grab-n-go treats, a door decorating contest among residents and some of the associates went all out and dressed like leprechauns, including Tara Bailey, Sales and Marketing Director.

–Leanne Messer, Brookdale University Park

Contact Leanne to participate in upcoming Brookdale educational offerings and to schedule a tour, [email protected], 205-613-0688

Stop By & Learn More about Brookdale at the free Celebrate the Family Expo! May 8 at the Pelham Civic Complex. Look for the Brookdale University Park booth where our staff will be ready to greet you, share some great giveaways and tell you about the Brookdale experience.

April 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with us and make spreading Good News possible, we have Great Summer Giveaways for you and your family!

April 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Publisher’s Note

As we turn 21, we would like to invite you to come and celebrate with us! Here’s a snapshot of just some of the fun, free activities taking place at the Celebrate the Family Expo! Saturday May 8, 2021 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Kid Zone inflatables courtesy Fun Source!
Face Painting courtesy Painted Personalities.
Live Music including performances by Kevin Derryberry.
Meet and greet with Birmingham Christian Family(BCF) past cover stories and special guests like Pelham Mayor Gary W. Waters.
Enjoy product and food samples offered by exhibitors as well as resources to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the family.
Onsite free recycling of electronics and free shredding provided by Gone for Good, a program of United Ability from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Onsite King’s Home Thrift Store donation truck to take your donations and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt. Your donations will help the women and children at King’s Home.

Special Thanks to our Title Sponsor Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. and our Major Sponsors Children’s of Alabama, Classical Conversations, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and Vision Financial Group as well as our 50 plus exhibitors.

We look forward to seeing you and your family as we Celebrate the Family & 21 Years of FREE Good News! Visit us at www.birminghamchristian.com/expo for the most up to date and detailed schedule.

-Laurie Stroud Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter: @cfpBirmingham

Instagram: @cfpbirmingham

LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 21 Years of Good News!

“Look to the Lord & His Strength, Seek His face always.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 (Holman Standard)

March 25, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Money Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group

Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a 401(k) or a traditional IRA? If so, you will receive income from both after age 72. However, if you have saved and invested much of your life, you may also end up retiring at a higher marginal tax rate than your current one. In fact, the income alone resulting from a Required Minimum Distribution could push you into a higher tax bracket.

What’s a pre-tax investment? Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are examples of pre-tax investments. You can put off paying taxes on the contributions you make to these accounts until you start to take distributions. When you take distributions from these accounts, you may owe taxes on the withdrawal. Pre-tax investments are also called tax-deferred investments, as the invested assets can benefit from tax-deferred growth.2 Under the SECURE Act, once you reach age 72, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA, 401(k), and other defined contribution plans in most circumstances. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be fully or partially deductible, depending on your adjusted gross income.

What’s an after-tax investment? A Roth IRA is a classic example. When you put money into a Roth IRA, the contribution is made with after-tax dollars. As a trade-off, you may not owe taxes on the withdrawals from that Roth IRA (so long as you have had your Roth IRA for at least five years and you are at least 59½ years old). With distributions from a Roth IRA, your total taxable retirement income is not as high as it would be otherwise.

Should you have both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA? It may seem redundant, but it could help you manage your tax situation. Keep in mind that tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal from a Roth IRA also can be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death.

Smart moves can help you manage your taxable income and taxable estate. If you’re making a charitable gift, giving appreciated securities that you have held for at least a year is one choice to consider. In addition to a potential tax deduction for the fair market value of the asset in the year of the donation, the charity may be able to sell the stock later without triggering capital gains. Remember, however, that this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice, so make sure to consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals before modifying your charitable giving strategy. The annual gift tax exclusion gives you a way to remove assets from your taxable estate. You may give up to $15,000 to as many individuals as you wish without paying federal gift tax, so long as your total gifts keep you within the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption of $11.58 million for the year 2020 and $11.7 million for 2021.

Managing through the annual gift tax exclusion can involve a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before adjusting your strategy, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.

-Vision Financial Group

4505 Pine Tree Circle, Birmingham, AL 35243

205-970-4909

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. Investment Advisory services offered through Investment Advisors, a division of ProEquities, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through ProEquities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA & SIPC. Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of ProEquities, Inc.

Citations

IRS.gov, November 16, 2020
IRS.gov, March 25, 2020
Policygenius.com, December 21, 2020

April 26, 2021March 25, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Our House

If April showers bring May flowers, why not take advantage of working indoors this month when the rain is upon you and keeping you from enjoying the outdoors!

This Month’s Tip: Staging. It works well for anyone looking to sell this year. When discussing staging with our clients, we always suggest getting rid of the clutter first. We all know what clutter is, but clutter in real estate terms means to collect, box, and pack up anything that won’t be used in the next six months- a month to prepare, a month to sell, a month to buy, a month to unpack, and two months to get settled. This is a great time to donate and to educate yourself on storage facilities.

Start with closets. Get everything possible off the floor and pack the clothing that you won’t be using anytime soon. This makes your closets feel much larger which is very important to every buyer.

Move to the pantry. Organize and categorize everything on the two most prevalent shelves- think eye level for tall people and short alike.

Focus on all the surfaces of the home. Remove close to half of what you have on nightstands, coffee tables, buffets, shelving, etc. It’s okay for surfaces to feel bare because if you have too much stuff, buyers will focus on those items rather than the aesthetics of your home. Do you want them to remember your stuff and be a funny nickname house or do you want to be remembered for something awesome that only your property is providing at that time? We like to group things in odd numbers on any type of shelving- whether that is a china cabinet, baker’s rack or a fireplace mantle while also using elements within your home to help accentuate a space. You may need to make a space feel taller with tall candlesticks, brighter with an addition of an existing mirror in a dark hallway (another way for buyers to literally see themselves in your home), or jubilant with a bowl of green apples on a countertop.

Now, for the last touches. Keep all of your hard-covered books handy and locate all of your white dinnerware. Use the books to elevate items and place bowls on plates in place settings to brighten up your spaces.

Remember this. “We don’t sell houses like we live in them- no one lives in a perfectly neat-all-the-time-home with empty corners. If you feel your house is bare and basic, then you have done it right and are in the right place.

-Tom and Julie Douglass

[email protected], [email protected]

205-999-2780, 205-999-4153

Look for more Home Tips from Tom and Julie Douglass in next month’s issue of BCF! You can also learn more about them and receive real estate tips all month long by following them on Facebook and Instagram!

March 25, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

With baseball season right around the corner, what better way to be prepared to take the field than with the latest release from Iron Stream Media and New Hope Publishers? The third book in a series that highlights the faith of professional ballplayers, Dugout Devotions II: Inspirational Hits from MLB’s Best, will help you make solid contact with your spiritual side for a much-needed base hit.

I took great joy in doing the research for this book, which included several personal interviews with big names in Major League Baseball. One of my favorite encounters was with Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis, who spoke to me about the lengthy slump he went through at the plate two years ago. Everyone in life goes through struggles, but not everyone has the spotlight on them while they face a challenge. Chris, the All-Star first baseman, told me how he had to turn over his professional troubles to the Lord and count the blessings God had given to him. “I had to remind myself that He is always there for you, even when you go through trials,” Chris said. “You might not feel like it at times, but He cares about you and is thinking about you all the time. He cares so deeply for you and me that He sent His son to die for us.” That was the perspective Chris needed to maintain. After all, he was just trying to hit a baseball. But that’s also his job, and he wasn’t performing well. “No matter what happens, if you are a success at your job or not, God loves you the same if I’m in a slump or not – day in and day out.” When Chris gave his struggle to God, he was able to connect and get the monkey off his back. There are also motivational and inspirational stories from my interviews with Jose Altuve, Curtis Granderson, Albert Pujols, Tim Tebow and many more. I was honored and blessed to have spent some time with Tim, even though he just announced his retirement from baseball. Tim follows God’s leading in his life, and the time we spent together was priceless.

My hope and prayer is that Dugout Devotions II will encourage and inspire the reader. It’s not so much about baseball, but how recognizable names in the game find peace and comfort in serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

-Del Duduit

Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

September 24, 2024March 25, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Lane Harper Power of Life Foundation with family

Special Feature

Police officer, humanitarian, actor, and man of God are just a few ways to describe Birmingham’s Lane Harper. After serving in Birmingham area law enforcement for more than 20 years, Harper felt compelled to do more for those in need in our community and throughout the southeast. He founded the nonprofit Power of Life Foundation in 2020 “to empower the underserved both financially and socially and to enhance their health and wellbeing while helping them overcome hardships.”

Since moving to Birmingham in 1989, God has given Harper many job roles that have allowed him to foster relationships with people including respite care provider, behavioral specialist, and juvenile probation officer. Currently, as a Birmingham police officer, he encounters people from different spheres of life every day- some of the people are the children or family members of people he worked with in his previous professions. “I think God has put me in perfect positions in order to be where I am today. It’s like a building block of generations that I’ve been able to cover through my interactions with family members,” Harper says.

The perfect positioning Harper has experienced has led to many miracles. Harper shares the story of reaching a homeless woman who showed disrespect for police officers. After a few failed attempts at helping her, he asked himself, “How can I be different?” A simple Hi-C drink and Vienna sausages cracked her rough exterior and allowed Harper to foster a relationship with her. “We have to treat people as people and realize just because you see someone in a light doesn’t mean that’s the one they’ve always carried.” Harper even tries to help people when arresting them. If he notices that there isn’t food or basic necessities for the family, such as diapers or food, he offers to stop by and drop some items off. Harper laughingly shares that this can be a shock to some, but he likes to say, “I’ll arrest you one day and help you find a job the next day.”

Lane Harper Power of Life in Suit — Pictured above is Officer Lane Harper.

The Power of Life Foundation focuses on helping women, children, transients, veterans, and at-risk youth. “It’s community outreach. We go in communities and try to lift up people… There are people who need help in every corner of the city. You just have to look.” Learn more at www.poweroflifefoundation.com.

-Melissa Armstrong

March 25, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

college scholarship recipient and finalists featured image cap and gown

Publisher’s Note

As I am writing this, our panel of judges is reading through essays submitted by high school seniors throughout our community. Each student took the time to share with us about a time their faith impacted them during their high school career. What great stories they have to tell!

Five students will be chosen as finalists in the fourth annual Birmingham Christian Family (BCF) Scholarship program. Our essay winner will receive a $1000 scholarship to the university of his or her choice, and our two runner ups will each receive a $250 scholarship to the university of his or her choice. We need your help in sharing these great stories of faith and helping us select an essay winner! Follow us on Facebook.com/BirminghamChristianFamily and on Instagram @CFPBirmingham to find out who our Top Five Finalists are, read their essays and vote on which on you think is best. Look for the finalists to be announced Tuesday March 23, 2021 on Facebook and Instagram. Voting will continue through Tuesday April 13, 2021. All finalist essays will be posted on www.birminghamchristian.com/scholarship for easy viewing and sharing. The winner’s essay and essay excerpts from finalists will also appear in the May issue of Birmingham Christian Family.

Join BCF in encouraging our youth to live out their faith wherever they are, and may we set an example for them to follow.

-Laurie Stroud Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter: @cfpBirmingham

Instagram: @cfpbirmingham

LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 21 Years of Good News!

March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Liz Lewis Shades Mountain Independent Church Academy — Liz Lewis attends SMIC Academy in Hoover, Ala.

Throughout my high school career, my Christian faith has given me strength through many obstacles. However, one of the most trying occurred in November of my junior year, when I was diagnosed with an L5 stress fracture. As a softball player, the news was devastating especially since I had just had an Ulnar Nerve Repositioning Surgery in August of my sophomore year. I believed my junior year would finally be my year to play to the best of my ability without any pain or injuries. However, the injury that should have healed in two to three months turned into an eight-month ordeal and I questioned why this too had happened to me. I had already dealt with pain in my right arm for three years after being hit by a pitch. An athlete’s biggest year for recruiting is their junior year, and due to my injury, I would be unable to attend the many college softball camps that I had planned to. I wondered if I was meant to continue my softball career or give up something I loved so much. After much prayer, I sent emails to all the schools I was interested in and received several replies. By February my back was still hurting every day and when my school ball season started, I could be found cheering in the dugout unable to play. The first week in March, I visited a college that had piqued my interest. The coach who had previously attended one of my tournaments offered me a partial softball scholarship, at the end of the visit and I accepted. This occurred one week before everything was shut down due to COVID. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God knew that I would be injured through June of my junior year and that I would miss out on camps and tournaments. He also knew COVID would restrict the recruiting process and yet He provided for me. I could not be more thankful for a God who loves me so much, and I am continually reminded that “All things work together for good,” whether it is turning a major nerve injury into a tremendous blessing to become an ambidextrous pitcher or using a back injury to strengthen my relationship with Christ.

Is this your favorite essay? Click below to vote today!

March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Hannah Lloyd attends Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala.

I believe that everyone has a purpose in life and that God uses His children in ways that seem unimaginable in order to share the Gospel and bring glory to Him. I have been a part of many different organizations and have helped volunteer with many different things at my church, school, and in the community. But, I have never felt so personally involved with anything until I became a part of the organization Project 5:11. This organization was created by a girl at another school after a friend in my Sunday school class took his life a year and a half ago. Project 5:11 seeks to spread encouragement to others to let them know that they matter, are loved, and have a purpose in life. The name comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:11 about encouraging others. Shortly after hearing about the organization I felt God lay it on my heart to bring it to my school. At first I tried doing other things to distract myself from this calling but I then realized I couldn’t ignore it. A few months later, a few friends and I came together and brought Project 5:11 to Hoover High School by making and passing out thousands of Valentine’s cards. Since then, we have written encouraging notes to students, faculty and staff at school, and kids in the foster care system. We have also posted encouraging messages on social media and have done several other things to encourage those at our school and in our community.
If someone had told me a few years ago that I was going to lead a new organization at school and in my community I would have thought that would be cool but I don’t think I would have believed them. Although the reason that Project 5:11 was created is heartbreaking, it is fascinating to see how God uses terrible situations to spread His light and bring people to Him. Even though I do not know how our encouragement has directly impacted anyone, I do believe that God is using it in mighty ways to either simply brighten someone’s day or to help them realize their need for Him. Through my involvement in Project 5:11 I have learned that God uses every single believer in ways they could not imagine and that He is right there beside me every step of the way.

Is this your favorite essay? Click below to vote today!

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