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1 week ago | 
annistonstar.com | Michael Brooks
I stopped by a fast-food restaurant en route to work lately and saw the line of cars around the building. I decided walking in for a morning biscuit would be faster. However, the lady at the counter said, "We're out of biscuits and won't have any for 20 more minutes."
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1 week ago | 
lowndessignal.com | Michael Brooks
Published 1:00 pm Saturday, May 31, 2025 By Michael J. BrooksA pastor on a denominationally-related Facebook page took issue with ministers dressing casually in the pulpit. This is truly an unwinnable argument. Many congregations have been influenced by the contemporary church movement—though this movement from the 80s is hardly contemporary anymore.
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1 week ago | 
thealabamabaptist.org | Michael Brooks
Seniors recently received encouragement through worship and messages at the Senior Adult Evangelism Conference at First Baptist Church Pelham. Vocalist Guy Penrod told the audience how important they are, having the ability to show the current generation where the “potholes” are. “You’ve seen the faithfulness of God, and your voice is important,” he said during the May 5 event.
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1 week ago | 
thealabamabaptist.org | Michael Brooks
I’m not sure why I got the invitation; perhaps because I served on the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions’ Christian Life Commission for a number of years and have always been interested in the intersection of faith and government. Nevertheless, I was happy to accept and spend several days at the D.C. office of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Our mission was to lobby Congress to withhold tax dollars from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading abortion provider.
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2 weeks ago | 
annistonstar.com | Michael Brooks
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2 weeks ago | 
lowndessignal.com | Michael Brooks
Published 1:00 pm Saturday, May 24, 2025 By Michael J. BrooksThose who follow a legend have a daunting task. Consider Joshua who followed Moses of whom it was said he knew God face-to-face! But Joshua had been a careful student learning from the mentor who instructed him. Joshua isn’t remembered as a lawgiver as Moses was. Not really a King John or Thomas Jefferson giving great legal documents, but more like Patton driving the German army out of North Africa.
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2 weeks ago | 
annistonstar.com | Michael Brooks
Those who follow a legend have a daunting task. Consider Joshua who followed Moses of whom it was said he knew God face-to-face! But Joshua had been a careful student learning from the mentor who instructed him.
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3 weeks ago | 
lowndessignal.com | Michael Brooks
Published 1:00 pm Thursday, May 15, 2025 By Michael J. BrooksMy neighbor stopped me to announce he’d taken up lawn care as a second job. He asked if I’d be interested in patronizing him. I’ve always taken care of our yard, without charge, but I know sometimes things happen on weekends, or I get rained out. “How much would it cost?” I inquired. “Probably about sixty dollars,” he said. I was shocked. The last time I priced lawns was when I was 12 or 13 years old.
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3 weeks ago | 
annistonstar.com | Michael Brooks
My neighbor stopped me to announce he'd taken up lawn care as a second job. He asked if I'd be interested in patronizing him. I've always taken care of our yard, without charge, but I know sometimes things happen on weekends, or I get rained out.
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4 weeks ago | 
lowndessignal.com | Michael Brooks
Published 10:15 am Saturday, May 10, 2025 By Michael BrooksOur Alabama Baptist retreat at Shocco Springs is a gorgeous place, and I’ve enjoyed every event I’ve attended there. Several years ago, I attended a two-day training course for pastors. A conference for senior adults was on site at the same time. I saw that the other group was having a concert that night when our group wasn’t meeting, so I went. The singer did a great job.
