Musings

By “Doc” Doug Stauffer The most controversial issue on the November ballot is Amendment 4, titled the “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion.” Abortion is, unfortunately, divisive, but this amendment is deceptive. This change to the state’s Constitution would forever alter Florida. While Amendment 4 is being marketed as a...

By Sean Dietrich Sunrise on Lake Martin. I’m usually the first one awake. I rarely have any company in the mornings. I wake up with the chickens. Most mornings, I sit on my porch alone. Just me and the feral cats. This morning, however, I had company. I heard small feet walking...

By “Doc” Doug Stauffer It’s a familiar scene often portrayed in nativity displays: the wise men gather around a baby in a manger. However, a closer look at the Bible reveals a different picture. According to Scripture, by the time the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, Jesus was not an...

By Rick Moore On September 22, 1993, Amtrak experienced the deadliest crash in American history. Just north of Mobile, Alabama, the Amtrak train known as the Sunset Limited derailed in the swampland near the Mobile River. At that time, I was the owner of a video production company in West...

By Sean Dietrich The first concert I ever saw was the Oak Ridge Boys. I was 2 years old. Mama took me. I pooped my diaper while they were singing “Elvira.” My mother changed me at the foot of the stage as I was singing at the top of my...

By Sean Dietrich This is not my story. It was told to me. In fact, I’m hearing it for the first time, just like you are. The year was 1982. The old man climbed out of a rust-red Ford. He was ancient. He walked with a shuffle as he hobbled into...

By Pastor and Father Doug Stauffer As we approach Father’s Day, I wanted to use this opportunity to honor and celebrate the fathers in our community. As a pastor (and traveling evangelist for 20 years), I have witnessed how the love, dedication and strength of fathers make a lasting impression...

By Sean Dietrich I am an imaginary old man. I am every World War II veteran you never knew. I am each faceless GI from the bygone European War. Or any other war for that matter. I am in my 90s and 100s now. Lots of young folks probably don’t even know...

By Sean Dietrich Dan Lovette became an usher at the Baptist church on Easter Sunday, March 26th, 1961. He stood at the door shaking hands, passing out bulletins. Nobody knew Dan. Weeks earlier, Pastor Lovette had introduced Dan as his older brother. Dan was a tall man with a soft voice and...

By Rick Moore After traveling to the far south-east of the Caribbean, we flew to the island of Tobago to see the GOAT. Some say Michael Jordan is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Some say Tom Brady is the GOAT. Some say Elvis Presley is the GOAT. However, we...