May 23, 2013
By Derek Maul May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth (Psalm 72:6) “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8)(…)
May 23, 2013
By Dr. Reba Haley Often when individuals communicate, they do not listen to what the other person is saying because they are so busy thinking about what they are going to say to defend themselves or respond. Listening is one of the most important skills that a person can have. How well an individual listens(…)
May 23, 2013
By Libby Hopkins Six years ago, Stacia Hepburn was called to help children in need, orphaned, abused and neglected. Hepburn started I Matter Too, an organization that mentors and tutors children through the love of Jesus Christ. “Every day, we hear the stories of children who have been severely abused and see the struggles they(…)
May 23, 2013
By Libby Hopkins Try seeing life through the eyes of a foster child. Would you want to walk a mile in their shoes? Unless you have, you have no idea what their life is like. That’s the mind-set that Lorita Shirley, executive director of Eckerd Community Alternatives had when she formed the idea to host(…)
May 23, 2013
By Libby Hopkins Immanuel Lutheran School was founded in 1980 as a ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brandon. It strives for academic excellence through a strong partnership of home, school and church. Betsy Proeschel, an admissions counselor at the school, believes the reason the students excel is because of the involvement of the families.(…)
May 23, 2013
By Ray Lynch How do you feel about waiting for a long time for something? Waiting is not a strong character trait for many. Instant gratification through credit and debit cards— which separates the pleasure of the purchase from the pain of the payment— has created a culture of impulsive shoppers. We don’t pray about(…)
May 23, 2013
DoDad’s Wild Bible Adventures This year’s VBS program at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church will be DoDad’s Wild Bible Adventures, taking place from Monday, July 29-Friday, August 2. Returning from last summer are the coolest professors on the planet, Professor DoDad, Professor Bud, and Professor Lulu. They will team up with OJ the gorilla to(…)
May 23, 2013
BY Kayla Hayes Family Firearms is a local business owned and operated by Marco and Jessica Caporale in Valrico, offering firearm inventory and courses, gun range membership, and a friendly atmosphere for customers to buy, sell and learn. It has been operating since March 2009 and are located on St. Cloud Ave. “What we teach(…)
May 23, 2013
By Nicole Mion I have been blessed to have a father who has a vested interest in my education. Being a girl and the firstborn, my Dad and I went through some trial and error before we discovered our mutual interests. He wanted to take me to the gun range, I wanted to go shopping. Even(…)
May 23, 2013
Heifer International Gift Ark Presentation In acknowledgement of the generous contribution of Four Gift Arks ($5,000 each), an award was presented by Heifer International to First Presbyterian Church of Brandon. These Gift Arks go around the world— Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Wherever Heifer finds hunger, poverty and hopelessness, they answer with Heifer animals(…)
