Navigating the Waters of Covid-19 When You Have Been in a Collision

July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Legal Matters

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

Despite the new normal of social distancing and wearing masks, most people still travel the roads of Alabama daily. We continue to get our essential groceries, prescriptions, gas or other necessities. Many people have begun shipping their essential items to their homes, so they do not have to risk exposure to the virus. More shipping means more 18-wheelers or big corporate trucks are on the road. 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. Auto collisions with these big trucks and normal passenger vehicles happen daily despite the change in many people’s lifestyle with COVID.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle crash that someone else caused, it is important to call an attorney who handles trucking and motor vehicle collisions immediately to fight for you. The trucking or auto insurance company will begin investigating the wreck right away with a team of experts and lawyers on the case, so time is of the essence for you to hire an attorney to begin investigation to protect yourself. There is valuable evidence that must be promptly gathered to show exactly what occurred in the wreck before the evidence is lost or destroyed.

Since car wrecks have continued during this pandemic, we have adjusted the way we handle cases in order to best serve and protect you and your family. While we are more than happy to meet with you in person, masked and socially distant, we can also help you by phone, mail, email, zoom meetings and an array of other resources and technology in order to continue moving your case to get the best result for you. Furthermore, the Judges in Alabama have done an amazing job of continuing to move litigation cases by a new assortment of resources, despite our world being turned upside down with this virus outbreak and our new reality. If you have a car wreck and are injured, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be waiting to help you.

-Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 43 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. Please call us for a free consultation. Visit us at www.franksbuck.com.

April 25, 2023July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Faith at Work

Birmingham’s Dwayne Thompson was looking for a second job to supplement his income. He never expected to start his own business.

Big Daddy BBQ Sauce's Dwayne Thompson — Dwayne Thompson is the creator of Big Daddy Bomb BBQ Sauce. A native of New Orleans, Birmingham became his new home after Hurricane Katrina. His sauce is available at many area grocers including Piggly Wiggly as well as Amazon.com and www.bigdaddysaucesllc.com.

After receiving several comments encouraging him to bottle and sell his BBQ sauce, Thompson started praying for God to reveal His plan. Doors opened and Thompson reflects that the process to getting his BBQ sauce, Big Daddy Bomb BBQ Sauce, on shelves was “all God. Everything was in tune.” After successfully bottling his sauce, he went on to create Big Daddy BBQ Sauce, LLC, which is designed to help other sauce makers get in the market. “I formed it with the intention to be a blessing to somebody in the future,” Thompson adds.

Thompson’s goal as a business owner is to give back. “I developed a sauce that gives back to fallen police officers,” Thompson explains, adding that a portion of proceeds from each bottle goes to a fund that makes it possible for him to go and feed police officers after tragedy strikes. When COVID-19 began, he fed the Birmingham police and fire departments for free. He also periodically feeds the homeless community in Birmingham. “My business is my ministry” is the mantra Thompson lives by. “You might get prayer with your free sandwich. Whatever the Lord leads me to do,” Thompson says. His faith carried him throughout the process of starting his business and he adds that as he looks back, he believes that, “God always reminds you in tangible ways that He has you in mind.” Since his journey as a business owner began four years ago, Thompson has gone on to become a personal chef and establish Big Daddy Sauces and Catering LLC.

You can find bottles of Big Daddy BBQ Sauce locally at Green Acres Downtown Birmingham, Vineyard Groceries, Griskey’s Meat Market, Piggly Wiggly, and Allsouth Appliance. In addition, you can order bottles on www.amazon.com and www.bigdaddysaucesllc.com. Fans of Big Daddy Bomb BBQ Sauce can join the Facebook group called “bomblievers” to stay connected. You can also click here for a delicious boston butt recipe from Dwayne Thompson.

–Melissa Armstrong

July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Parenting Points

The year 2020 has come with much news that points to the deep brokenness of the world. The growing death toll of Coronavirus, the senseless murder of George Floyd, racial unrest in our nation, and whatever other trouble fills the headlines of the local news all create discussions that we must have with our children. However, these conversations can be difficult to address.

We cannot simply hide our kids from the headlines, yet our engagement with these topics will vary based on the age and stage of our kids. As we begin to approach difficult topics in our world with our children, we remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Comfort Your Kids in the Peace of Jesus. Jesus brings us peace in the middle of the storms around us. In the uncertainty and brokenness around us, Jesus comes to be peace. He also sends us out as agents of His peace in a world that is divided and broken. Encourage your kids that peace comes from Jesus and that we get to extend His peace to others.

Give Your Kids a Realistic Picture of the World. The world is desperately broken by sin. Things are not the way they were meant to be. Troubles, hardships, and brokenness will come. As Christians, we should not be surprised when they do. We must give our kids realistic expectations of the world that we are raising them to live in.

Encourage Your Kids to Look to Jesus as Their Hope. Jesus is the one who has overcome evil, brokenness, division, and sin. He will return to put the broken pieces of our world back together. Jesus is in the business of making all things new. We must encourage our kids that Jesus has already written the end of the story. We can have hope and encouragement in Him.

Though we may want to turn off the TV and mute the troubles around us, as Christians we are called to see the world through the eyes of Jesus while finding our family’s peace, expectations of the world, and hope for eternity in Him.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Writer, Speaker, Minister

www.benbirdsong.com

April 25, 2023July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Heritage Christian Academy featured image

Miracle Moments

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

Heritage Christian Academy (HCA) was in need of a miracle. What had begun in 1974 as Shades Mountain Christian School, a ministry of Shades Mountain Independent Church, was facing an uncertain future. After officially separating from the church in 2010, HCA experienced a decade of disappointment as multiple plans to relocate in the Hoover area fell through. The confidence of the school’s families, as well as enrollment, continued to erode. With financial resources dwindling and financing options evaporating, HCA desperately needed to find a new home. Had HCA had the faith to pray it at the time, the prayer would have been for a facility that had at least 25 classrooms, with a cafeteria large enough to serve a couple of hundred students and an auditorium that could seat several hundred people. And, since HCA had never owned the seating, lighting and sound equipment needed to successfully operate such an auditorium, HCA would need for the seller to include all of those items with the purchase. Oh, and with the financial obstacles HCA faced, they really needed the seller to handle the financing. That would be one crazy prayer, right? In short, HCA needed a miracle.

That miracle began unfolding on May 2, 2019, when HCA Board President, Brad King, visited Grace Life Baptist Church in McCalla to meet with a client of his financial planning practice. While there, he ran into Grace Life’s Lead Pastor, Joel Frederick, an acquaintance he hadn’t seen in several years. Showing King the plans for Grace Life’s new construction, Frederick casually mentioned that their current facility had been on the market for over a year and that they had been praying that a Christian school might be interested in purchasing it. King shared how HCA had been searching for a place of its own in the Hoover area for several years. Their conversation left both men with the thought of, “What if?” Over the next weeks, HCA faculty learned more about Grace Life’s facility. Would you believe there were over 40 classrooms, a large cafeteria easily able to accommodate a couple of hundred students and an auditorium that seated almost 500 people? Would you believe that seating, lighting and sound equipment were all staying? Ephesians 3:20 began fighting its way into the back of their faith-limited mind.

Five months of “What if” later, HCA made an offer on the Grace Life property. It was laughable, asking them to hold a note over fifteen years, since they hadn’t had an offer in over a year, maybe it would work. What seller wouldn’t jump at that? The next day, Grace Life received another offer, this one for $200,000 more than HCA’s offer, in cash. We were crushed, going from the only offer in a year to $200,000 short in 24 hours. Why would anyone turn down guaranteed money (and more of it) to accept HCA’s offer? Accepting one offer required no faith. Notifying HCA’s board of the other offer, Frederick said, “You should be glad this happened, because now if you get this building you will be absolutely certain that God did it.” Over the next month, HCA shared with Grace Life’s leadership team their vision of bringing a uniquely Christian school to the community. With total transparency, HCA’s heart and finances were laid bare. By the way, it’s amazing what God does with hearts laid bare. In late October of 2019, the Grace Life family unanimously voted on which offer they would accept. They chose to join HCA in a journey of faith. Seems that while HCA might have been out of options, God wasn’t. Look for more of this Miracle Moments story in our September issue!

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.

July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

The Republican Women of North Shelby County (RWNSC) recently awarded its first-ever college scholarship to Luke Love, a graduate of Oak Mountain High School. The $1,000 scholarship has been paid directly to the University of South Alabama where Luke will be a freshman this fall to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. The son of two educators, integrity has been a hallmark of his upbringing. Honesty and a strong sense of morality that accompanies the education of youth has been instilled in Luke not only by his teachers at Oak Mountain, but also by his parents at home. His father Chris is the head basketball coach at Oak Mountain High School and his mother Sarah is an AP English teacher. Luke’s academic achievements are not his only successes. He also played in the marching band at Oak Mountain and will be a member of the band at USA. Luke stated that “I have felt no greater sense of citizenship or patriotism than when playing our nation’s national anthem before Friday night football games.”

Susan Schwartz, AP US Government and Politics teacher at Oak Mountain was honored to recommend Luke for the RWNSC 2020 Scholarship. “Luke is an example of a future Republican Party leader. He is quick to demonstrate his core values that match the core values of leaders serving others, not themselves or special interests. Luke loves his country and believes that American is exceptional and is a world leader. Luke is kind, compassionate, but firm in these beliefs.”

Essays were judged by educators, who unanimously selected Luke Love because of his outstanding academic and extra-curricular achievements at Oak Mountain. The scholarship was established as a way for the Republican Women to give back to the community. They worked diligently to create a program to benefit students who have shown exemplary commitment to excelling academically while maintaining involvement with their communities and showing tremendous leadership skills. †

July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

Teenage youth at King’s Home come to us with tremendous educational deficits. Without intervention statistics show most of these children will drop out of school, dramatically increasing the chances of a life of hopelessness, poverty, and crime. Education is key to building confidence, opening doors for opportunity, and creating future success. Giving our kids the tools for academic success is one of the most critical investments we can offer our teenagers. Each year King’s Home supports over 100 youth ranging from 7th-12th grade. Many of these kids will spend the school year not only focusing on academics but learning from participation in developmental extracurricular activities such as show choir, band, football, basketball, and softball. What a joy it is to see our youth participate in life-giving activities that develop discipline, interpersonal skills, and holistic health!

Youth at King’s Home may have started life at a disadvantage, but this does not have to be how their story ends. King’s Home can provide a strong foundation that sets youth up for a bright future free of abuse, addiction, neglect, and homelessness. King’s Home averages approximately $200,000 annually in school expenses including school supplies, tutoring throughout the year, computers, technology, clothing, shoes, haircuts, food, transportation, and other basic necessities our kids need to be academically successful. Now pile on COVID-19 costs of masks, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, no-touch thermometers, additional computer and technology needs and the expenses escalate even more.

If you are looking for a way to have an impact on our community and specifically the children in our community, consider joining us today to bring hope and inspiration to our next generation of overcomers. They need you now more than ever! Learn how you can be a part of this important mission at www.kingshome.com/back-to-school.

-Lew Burdette

President, King’s Home

August 14, 2020July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

A recent partnership with Jefferson State Community College offers an exciting opportunity for the graduates of Hope Inspired Ministries (HIM) through a program called ReGeneration. The growing healthcare field needs experienced workers to fill administrative roles. Qualified graduates enter the Administrative Medical Assistant program designed especially for workers over 40 years of age seeking new opportunities; this program helps leverage career experience and develops the technical knowledge needed to begin a new career. At the end of the 5-week program, ReGeneration and AARP Foundation support graduates applying to and interviewing with employer partners across Birmingham.

HIM is a work-force development program whose focus is on chronically unemployed men and women ages 18-49. There are many reasons why people find themselves in these circumstances and HIM seeks to address these in order to help them transform into productive citizens. Instead of bringing a traditional band-aid approach by helping people survive in poverty, HIM’s approach is radically different. HIM trains people, through a system of structure and accountability combined with empathy and compassion, how to escape the hopelessness and despair found in a lifetime of poverty. Due to its proven formula for success, HIM expanded their services into the Birmingham communities of Woodlawn, East Lake, and surrounding areas in 2017. In 2019, a partnership with The Foundry Ministries began in the Birmingham area to serve the men seeking help in their program. Through a collaborative effort with the Montgomery Baptist Association, HIM also expanded into Lowndes County in 2020.

HIM Graduates enter ReGeneration. Before Hope Inspired Ministries, Demetra was hurt. She had escaped an abusive relationship, lost her job of 14 years, lost her home and was in a car accident that almost took her life. The next thing she knew her phone rang and Darius Haney, the Career Coach at HIM, invited her to a career development program called Hope Inspired Ministries. During her time with HIM, Demetra learned so many valuable skills to take on her job and to help her family move forward with life. God renewed her heart of hurt to a heart of joy. Demetra, a recent graduate of HIM, is preparing to enter the ReGeneration program.

To learn more about Hope Inspired Ministries, visit hopeinspiredministries.org or call (205) 202-6305 to schedule a visit. Whether you need their help or would like to volunteer to serve, there is a place for you at HIM. †

July 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Legal Matters

Presented by: Bradford & Holliman, Estate Planning

In August last year, I wrote about the types of emergency information and legal documents your young adult should have in hand when heading to college. With the pandemic still a threat, the need for healthcare legal documents is even more important this year.

A healthcare power of attorney is a critical item, particularly if your student is considered an adult in Alabama or the state where the college is located. Once your student is considered an adult legally, parents have much less authority. If infected with the coronavirus and put on a ventilator, your college student would not be able to speak for himself and make healthcare decisions.

A healthcare power of attorney is sometimes called a medical power of attorney, an advance directive, or a healthcare proxy. In all cases, it is a legal document that allows a person to elect someone else (and a backup) to handle healthcare decisions on their behalf ONLY if they are not able to do so themselves. These situations occur when a person is incapacitated due to a coma, a vegetative state, or any type of mental condition that impairs the person from thinking rationally. Either witnesses and/or a notary public are required to acknowledge the signatures.

A living will is usually attached to a healthcare power of attorney. With a living will, your young adult can specify their end-of-life wishes such as withholding food, water, breathing assistance (ventilator) if certain medical conditions occur. If the worst happens, you may want to also know your student’s preferences regarding organ donations.

Parents always worry when their kids grow up and head out on their own whether to work or to college, but especially now with a pandemic around the world. Young adults are full of youthful optimism and may think “oh, that would never happen to me.” The best parents can do is provide the cautionary tale that “there’s always a first time” and have legal protections in place so that if difficult healthcare decisions are faced, the family is legally set to make the best decisions possible.

Take care of these legal matters with an experienced estate attorney before your young adult leaves home for college. And check your own while you are at it.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

www.bradfordholliman.com

No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of service performed by other lawyers.

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

Duck Dynasty Family — *Duck Dynasty’s* Phil Robertson and his family live in West Monroe, La. When asked what he suggests people do to stay close to God during this time of uncertainty, Robertson answered, “Every day, start your day with a prayer thanking God.” He added that if he could give America one Bible verse to study and remember it would be Romans 8:28.

How can Christians respond to the current political division in America? Duck Dynasty patriarch, Phil Robertson, believes the only answer is Jesus. In his new book, Jesus Politics- How to Win Back the Soul of America, Robertson shares his views on how politics and faith can be intertwined and the importance of remembering that every kingdom- other than the Kingdom of God- have and will fall.

When asked what inspired him to write Jesus Politics, Robertson responded by reflecting on the degradation of culture he has witnessed during his life, such as prayer being removed from schools, and thought, “Let me just write down a few things about the kingdom of God with Jesus being the King.” He explains that as he studied history, he was reminded that the one thing every earthly kingdom had in common was that they eventually fell and that’s why it’s so important to put your faith and hope in the kingdom of God, which is eternal. Robertson adds that one of the main points of his new book is the freedom found in Jesus. “The book is about love being sincere, hating what is evil – don’t hate who is evil but what is evil, – clinging to what’s good, keeping your spiritual fervor… and blessing those who persecute you.” Robertson hopes Jesus Politics challenges and encourages readers to go back to loving God and loving people. He adds, “I have this crazy notion that if human beings love God and love each other, they would be better off, and we would have a more peaceful country.”

Jesus Politics Cover — In his new book, *Jesus Politics*, Phil Robertson covers current problems America is facing and shares how he believes Jesus would respond to each one.

Jesus Politics is divided into two parts. Part I, Jesus Politics in the Voting Booth, and Part II, Sharing Jesus Politics in Everyday Life. Each delves into how Christians can advance the kingdom of God here on earth and respond to the problems America is facing with love. Robertson writes, “And as people of the kingdom, we’re supposed to value the things valued by our King.” Robertson says, “My job is to try to be a spokesman on behalf of the King.” Jesus Politics is available now.

-Melissa Armstrong

July 27, 2021July 27, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Also Enter to Win a Prize Pack from Pampered Chef ($100+ Value!). Simply Visit www.BirminghamChristian.com/Recipes, and submit a recipe. Next Winning Entry to be drawn 8/15/2020.

Navigating the Waters of Covid-19 When You Have Been in a Collision

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