Gulf Coast Family

By Carolyn and Michael Reynolds

Whenever I see the television commercial of a harried mother escaping chaos to find refuge in her minivan, I chuckle. But if the truth be known, there are many times I, too, have found a place of refuge within the confines of my car. Maybe you know the feeling.

“There is really only one person you can effectively change or control, and that person is YOU.”

By John Carter

After a few minutes in any group, an astute observer can tell which people are socially gifted, less gifted, shy, or downright misfits. Perhaps these differeneces are easier to see for those of us who habitually get picked last, picked on, or just not picked at all.

Several years ago, I spent a long weekend with a former protégé in Auburn. A local ministry, Auburn Christian Fellowship, planned to demolish one of their old buildings. So what to do with this rare opportunity? Play capture-the-flag inside the old house, of course!

By John Carter

Let’s take some time to reflect on the potential of a human life by descending into the breathtaking world of the diamond mine.

A diamond has no light of its own, but if you shine a laser into it, the room fills with brilliant points of light. A red laser produces lovely stars of red, while green rays project eye-popping green stars. If you had a combination of colored lights to make a white-light laser, those prismatic rays of light would be in all the colors of the rainbow. All around, all colors, all glorious.

By Jeff Iskra

None of us have reached our full potential. Life has so much more for us to experience and to achieve. This requires us to make some changes, which in turn, usually require us to face some fears and insecurities. Are you aware of the circumstances that trigger your fears? Has insecurity held you back?

Four Common Traits of Insecure People

“2011 holds unlimited potential and unlimited opportunities. Choose to face your insecurities.”

By Jeff Parish

On the seventh of November daylight-savings time will end and we will “fall back” one hour. If you are like me, you are grateful for any bonus that makes you feel like you have cheated time, even if only for one extra hour. Time seems to fly faster with each passing year. Especially as I watch my children grow, I find myself asking, “Where has the time gone?”

By Jeff Parish

H = Hurting
E = Empty
L = Lonely
P = Purposeless

The other day I was driving on Ulmerton when suddenly a yellow light illuminated on my dash telling me to check my engine.

By Dr. Brent Stancil

“Children do not instinctively know how to behave appropriately– it is the parent’s duty to teach them.”

By Dr. Brent Stancil

“They are so exhausted and frustrated with the behavior that they will do anything to make it stop”

By Joseph Mitsch

By Joseph Mitsch

“Often times, what we see in others is, in some way, a reflection of something within ourselves”