The Perfect (Snow) Storm: Birmingham Gridlock Explained

I was stuck at Beeson Divinity School Tuesday night because a rare snowstorm passed through the Birmingham region and shut down a significant portion of Alabama and Georgia. Now dubbed by some as the “Birmingham Gridlock” and (somewhat humorously) “snow apocalypse,” it was a relatively minor system that only served to reinforce the stereotypical view that Northerners had about the Southerners. As someone who has lived in the North for most of his life (Maryland, to be specific), I decided to chronicle exactly what transpired and why the entire city was paralyzed by it. Why? So that you not only understand exactly what happened but also to shine light on the plight some people have experienced since Tuesday night.

Also, I have prepared a five-minute video clip at the bottom of this post, and I hope you will enjoy it!

Beeson "Lock-In" and Birmingham Gridlock

Traffic jam on I-65

About 50 students, faculty, and staff members are stranded in Beeson Divinity School since last night, in addition to countless people from Samford University. We were ordered to stay where we are and we have no idea when we can go home, but I am fine and everyone on campus is fine. However, it's a nightmare throughout Birmingham right now...

10 Best Places in Alabama

Alabama's State Flag

I am a Yankee boy, and I have a confession: I still love the North and nothing will change it! Since that was the case, my perception on the South – especially the Deep South – consisted of fried chicken, grits loaded with butter and cheese, Confederate flags flying everywhere, and hoards of rednecks driving beat-up pick-up trucks covered with Confederate flags and hunting stickers. Oh, you can't forget its state sport too: college football!

Kyrie Eleison!

© Windstar Embroidery Designs

“The mercy of God is ultimately seen in Jesus Christ!”

(Bruce L. Persons)

Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren invited me to fill the pulpit for Rev. Peter Myers, and I preached a message this past Sunday on Luke 18:9-14. It is my prayer that this message will bless and challenge you, and also enrich your personal walk with our Lord the Savior! If you ever want me to preach at your church or an event, please click here to contact me.

A special thanks is in order for Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren for recording this sermon as a part of their ongoing "virtual" ministry. However, due to unforeseeable technical difficulties, the beginning of my sermon was not recorded. For that reason, I decided to write up a rough transcript of what I said at the beginning:

Five Tips on Air Travel

I am at an airport once again, and I only have an hour to spare, so I decided to share five things I have learned over the past three years flying all over America. Here are a few things you might want to heed the next time you travel:

An Encounter at Diplomat Deli

This past Saturday, I was blessed to have a friend come to Birmingham and spend his day with me. Seminarians do not get out too often those days, and any change to my daily route, albeit slight, is always a welcoming one!

After spending an entire afternoon shopping at 2nd & Charles (it is an awesome and mind-blowing but dangerous store to go for those who love books!), we decided to eat dinner at Diplomat Deli, a mom-and-pop joint in Vestavia Hills. It did not only have good selection of food but also a mean Reuben sandwich that leaves me wanting for more! I highly recommend this place to any of you who want some good local fare, but don't go if you are a recovering alcoholic: this store prominently sells and displays liquor on its walls. But I digress...

As we entered the restaurant, three people at a table caught our attention when a college-aged girl signaled and signed to us in a rather halting manner a question I rarely hear in Alabama:

“Are you Deaf?”

Jonah: An American Tale?

"Our God is a God of second chances!" (Rev. Rick McClain)

I discovered this morning that Dr. Rick McClain, a D.Min. graduate from Beeson, would be preaching at Deaf Calvary Church in Frederick, Maryland this morning. Deaf Calvary Church is an Assemblies of God congregation close to Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren. He happens to be my mentor, a dear friend and colleague in Deaf ministry. He has been my source of encouragement and wisdom whenever I face difficult periods at Beeson or in ministry.

He is an exemplary preacher of God's Word, and I always listen to him whenever I get the chance to! With his gregarious and humorous personality, Rick has been endowed with a special gift to preach God's Word in a manner that is clear and accessible while not mincing his words at the same time. I was so blessed by his message this morning on Jonah 1-4 that I wanted to share it with you tonight because I think it is something that every American needs to hear in this present day and age.

A special thanks is in order for Deaf Calvary Church to make this video, "Jonah: An American Tale?" available for everyone!

Disclaimer: I can't guarantee the sound quality on this video for my hearing colleagues, but if you can understand this, you will be blessed as well! Please leave a comment below and let me know.