Praying and distraction are practically synonymous for me. Often, after only a moment or two of prayer, sometimes after just a few seconds, distracting thoughts fill my mind. At other times, I can’t seem to put into words or thoughts what I want to say to God. That’s when I resort to “paper prayers.”

Q.  Is there a downside to refinancing your home often?

I have been married 36 years this month, and I have noticed that the ideas and concept concerning marriage is vastly different than it was on our wedding day in 1977.  I was reading the annual “State of our Unions” report which verified what I have been sensing.

Family life is of great benefit to us - and we recognize that a home where God is worshipped and honored and His principles are placed in motion can produce a high degree of security and satisfaction.  I am so grateful to celebrate this month 23 years of marriage to my lovely, wonderful, and Godly wife, Beth.  We have seen the Lord bless our union and our family in amazing ways, for which I am deeply thankful!

Just one year ago, Mary Ellen’s Hearth opened its doors in the Nellie Burge Community Center in the heart of Montgomery. With the desire to offer hope, help and healing to the homeless women and children of Montgomery, the staff provides an environment that allows women to focus on rebuilding their lives successfully. And it’s not just a shelter or a transitional home. Mary Ellen’s Hearth allows women to dream and pursue an independent lifestyle, one where they aren’t worried about the things that pertain to basic survival, like a place to sleep and food to eat. Instead it allows them to open up their minds and hearts to all that God has for them. In this way, they can begin to pursue those things in the comfort of a place they call home for up to two years before they begin the transition to true independent living.

Many people believe that getting to heaven is accomplished by doing good things and relatively few bad things. The truth is, however, that even one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven. It really doesn’t matter how much good you do, any sin—regardless of how great or small—is enough to keep you out of heaven and send you straight to hell.

Deep in the heart of the Washington Park neighborhood in West Montgomery stands what was once an old mill building with a tower stretching toward the sky – a landmark of sorts for this historic neighborhood that housed Civil rights activists and leaders of the 1950s and 60s. It’s been over 50 years since those days and much has changed. Due to numerous circumstances too complicated to hash out here, the Washington Park community went from thriving to dying. Crime, drugs and failing schools made headlines. The once thriving neighborhood was wilting away. Decades passed and businesses closed.  Boarded up buildings and homes lined what was once a bustling street.