Stained glass windows damaged by tornado

We breathed a sigh of relief at St. John Evangelical Protestant Church in Cullman, Alabama when one of the devastating tornadoes hit our city on April 27, 2011. Our precious stained glass windows were spared.

Other churches were harder hit. Just one block north, Christ Lutheran was almost leveled. First United Methodist lost its stained glass windows, as did First Baptist. East Side Baptist's sanctuary was leveled. Many other churches, businesses and homes were leveled or suffered serious damage, so we at St. John's were thankful that the giant trees surrounding our church fell all around the building, but didn't land on it.

So when we walked inside the sanctuary this morning, almost three months later, we were surprised to see some of our windows gone. Pastor Bob Kurtz explained that an expert was brought in to give them an inspection and found that five of them needed repairs. They'll be out for 10-12 weeks.

I shot picture at top of a piece of tape on one of the windows near where I usually sit. I thought it odd that it said "Grace" on it, but liked the symbolism. After I called up the picture on my computer I saw it actually says, "Brace" -- which makes a lot more sense -- but still carries good symbolism.

Below is a shot I got of some of the missing windows, with a shot below from our wedding three years ago. The window you see in the bottom picture is one that is out for repairs. It is the far left blocked-out window in the picture below:

Jesus Loves You, Dixie Land

Convenience store, Interstate 65, Blount County, Alabama, July 2011

Jesus truck on I-65

I passed this truck on the way to work yesterday. I think it was carrying donations for a shelter or food bank. Spotted on Interstate 65 South in Cullman County, near Blount County line.

King James Bible reading marathon in Birmingham (with video)

A woman reads from the Gospel of John on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 on the front steps of Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Others wait their turn to read during a 90-hour marathon to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Authorized Version of The Holy Bible in May 1611. The Bible reading ends May 5, the National Day of Prayer in the United States.

Retiring pastor

Mike Garrigan, pastor of Shades Valley Community Church in Homewood , Alabama, retires today. Above, he leads the congregation in the benediction. Below, is the last in a series of four cakes with abbreviated snippets of the benediction.

"What are we looking for?" - Ronald Rolheiser (Video)

Jesus speaks Mary's name in love after his Resurrection.

The Empty Tomb: "He Is Risen"

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. (Traditional burial tomb of Jesus Christ in silhouette at bottom.

Good Friday

Dogwood blooms with Crucifix.

Maundy Thursday

Got the olive wood Last Supper in Israel. The Crucifix was my Aunt Isabel's.

Holy Week in 2 minutes (video)

Holy Week quickly explained. From the Catholic satellite radio show "Busted Halo."

Jesus in Alabama on display

Click on photo to enlarge

Some of my photos are on display through Lent at St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church in Cullman, Alabama. To see them go to the church office and you'll be directed to the atrium.

If you can't make it or want to see the the pictures included in the show, check out my Smugmug site here.

Here's the introductory message:

Jesus in Alabama
Some of us burn with a mission to share Jesus with the world in unconventional ways. The purpose of "Jesus in Alabama" is to bring those obscure messages to a wider audience.

The project started when I saw red letters spelling out the name JESUS written on U.S. 31 near Lacon. I liked the idea that the name appeared just as the road narrows from four to two lanes, alluding to the narrow road that leads to life. Soon, I found it everywhere. There was a man carrying a sign he said God had told him to write "Look Unto Jesus" on. And a tattoo artist looking for just right place on his personal canvas to ink the name. I met a lot of interesting people -- or found their messages after they left them.

Eventually, I intended to compile all of the pictures into a book. Two publishers turned it down. Still, one encouraged me to seek other publishers, and to call back in a year if I was unsuccessful. I got a full-time job and bought a house within that year, so I dropped the book idea out of time constraints, but I continue shooting pictures whenever I see the name of Jesus in Alabama.

*Special thanks to the Rev. John Richter of St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, John Sachs of The Arts Center, and Steve and Stacie Carter of The Shops at 3rd Street Promenade.

Ain't God Good

Spotted on my way to work this morning, Cullman, Alabama. (The question mark cost extra.)