Today Denise and I drove to Kennesaw, Ga., for a band concert. I’m not a big fan of any specific genre of music. The idea of a band concert really has about as much appeal to me as a Yugo. That begs the question, why? Why would we drive 250 miles, round trip, to hear […]

It was quite a sight at Auburn University's Red Barn last night when over 200 students were baptized within two hours of each other on the property's pond following a 'Unite Auburn' event. The Facebook account, What's Happening in Auburn and Opelika, posted footage of the event. On the post's comments section many were moved by the sight of so many young people professing their faith publicly.

Lagniappe is word used often in and around New Orleans. The simple definition is, “something a little extra.” In other words when you get a dessert added to your meal at no additional charge, that is lagniappe. When we get a little value added to the agreement, we get a little lagniappe. A friend who […]

This morning I stopped at a local McDonald’s for breakfast. As usual I take a table near the back of the dining room to have breakfast and read. In front of my table was an exit and two trash receptacles logically located. As I read, I noticed a young man, no older than early 20s […]

The experiential retail brand has been featured in Vogue, New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

“Those People.” We all walk with a limp. The limp may be physical. Worse yet, the limp may not be detectable to others. Your limp may be from a broken heart, a loss so deep you can’t express it, or just the collection of scars that life sometimes inflicts. Time and again I hear church […]

Many things are different in today’s church. Research shows we took a hit during COVID-19, just as other organizations did. Some who weren’t core members, but on the sidelines, haven’t come back. On average churches have between 60 and 80% of our pre-COVID attendance. But hope springs eternal. We trust these wandering sheep will come […]

Southern Brothers skins are pale-hued when they emerge from the fryer. They are airy, crunchy, and deliciously porky.

City promoters now set aside the entire month of August for exploring the flavors and diversity of Huntsville restaurants.

For many years I was a runner. That was before the knee replacement surgery, the fifth on the same knee. During those years I made a practice of calmly calling out to the person in front of me before I passed them. “Comin’ ‘Round” was usually what I said. That warns the walker in front […]

Adopt a Cow pairs classrooms with farms, providing students with insight into where foods like milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese originate.

Birmingham-Hoover metro is ranked as the nation’s fourth-best for fans of smoked and pit-cooked meats, not to mention macaroni and cheese.

It’s said that no one enters ministry for financial gain, but several recent accounts take issue with this. Let me hasten to say that the overwhelming majority of ministers live and work with integrity. And many live below the comparable wages of their parishioners. Nor do pastors take what belongs to others. A former staff […]

Agua fresca, made mostly with fruit, takes full advantage of Alabama’s bounty of summertime produce and has a fraction of the sugar found in most drinks.

The main reason old men get injured is because they think they are young men. That saying didn’t originate with me, but I don’t know who to give credit. Let’s just say it’s mine. The older I get the more truth I find in it. From time to time my body reminds me of this […]

Less than an hour north of Birmingham, Cullman offers great food, a stunning lake, and a handful of important sights to see.

The Singing River Trail provides 220 miles of connections and collaboration with small towns, cities and historic sites across north Alabama.

If you, too, crave that summertime aesthetic, here are three state parks in Alabama that nurture nostalgia.

It was a simple “aside” during midweek Bible study when I asked attendees how the congregation might react the following Sunday if I asked everyone to take off their shoes in reverence to God, as Moses did at Horeb. A comedian spoke up first, asking for advanced warning so he wouldn’t wear socks with holes […]

With a recent renaissance, North Alabama's ongoing transformation bears a striking resemblance to Nashville’s path to recognition and record rates of tourism.

Alabamians can enjoy the quality and creativity of small-batch production, and a bit of variety from these state-based cheese makers.

The mystery surrounding singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey’s surprise appearance behind the counter at a Florence Waffle House last week is now less mysterious. “Thank you Lana for recording and hanging out with the Muscle Shoals Sound crew. History continues to be made in 2023 for the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio,” the studio wrote on Facebook. […]

Back to school season is upon us.  For some reason this season is special to me. School days were some of the best times during my growing up years. I never attended school for an academic pursuit. My sole purpose in school was what I choose to call “social enrichment.” But even those of us […]

From farmed oysters served raw to fried, baked, grilled, and steamed preparations, you’ll find the best bivalves from the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama’s bays at coastal restaurants like these.