Last Sunday our church, Calvary Baptist, joined with a neighboring congregation, Enon Baptist Church, for the Fifth Sunday Night Sing. Our Baptist Men’s group decided to spice things up a bit with a pie baking promotion – “The Guys Make the Pies.” While it wasn’t a contest, per se, my competitive spirit compelled me to sample all of the entries. I didn't mind doing my part (for the good of the cause). Although everyone made a respectable contribution, it is my qualified opinion that this entry stood head and shoulders above the rest: Nutty Buddy Pies << MORE >>

I can't recall my father trying to explain God, death, or the hereafter to people during these times. I never heard him claim any eschatological expertise. I can't even say for sure whether he is pre-millenial, post-millenial, or what-ever. Dad's usual response was that we humans can't really understand death, "Every time we try, we become like children taking part in an adult conversation." There seems to be so much that we just don't know, so much we cannot understand. Even the Apostle Paul wrote, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known (1 Cor. 13). << MORE >>

Thanksgiving Friday (Black Friday) has risen to holiday status in American culture with door-buster specials and red-tag deals for those willing to rise in the wee hours of the morning. It’s mano-de-mano, and I imagine that Nancy & Krystle intend to join the fray. Me? I plan to sleep in. I can not bring myself to begin Christmas shopping until December. And, besides, I’m saving myself for Saturday! I am looking forward to preparing a huge pot of turkey carcass soup, a plate of turkey sandwiches, a bowl of chips & salsa, a bag of pistachios and a pitcher of iced tea. Have you seen the line-up of football games for Saturday? I can’t wait …<< MORE >>

My ancestral roots extend back to the fertile soil along the banks of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina and the Lumber River in North Carolina. It is a farming area and, in its heyday, it was home to a thriving tobacco market. The area is also the home to “chicken bog,” a rice dish that has long been the featured fare at barn suppers, church socials and political rallies throughout the region. Known as chicken pileau (per-low) to the uppity people of the low country, chicken bog basically consists of “chicken and rice and everything nice.” Whether it is named for its soggy consistency or the swampy black water region where it originated, I cannot say. << MORE >>

“My old man’s a sailor, now what do you think about that …” I can remember singing that ditty riding through the shipyards in Norfolk with my father. My old man was a sailor indeed, he was a Navy chaplain then assigned to the destroyer 701 – the John W. Weeks. I vividly recall those gray ships with their bold numbers, the sailors in their white uniforms, and the smell of the fuel along the docks. At age three, I could salute properly and knew all the words to “Anchors Aweigh.” Bravo Zulu! Well Done! ... Nancy and I are proud of our son’s decision to join the U.S. Navy and wish the best to him and to the other young men and women that have made a commitment to serve our country. You have chosen well. << MORE >>

Covey writes, “Trust has become the critical leadership competency of the new global economy.” It has a ‘bottom-line’ impact on businesses and organizations. Trust is a measurable accelerator to performance. When trust goes up, speed goes up while costs come down, producing a ‘trust dividend.’ He relies on the banking metaphor to describe actions that build trust – ‘trust deposits,” and those actions that erode trust – ‘withdrawals.’ Unfortunately as one examines the political, business, family and social environments of our society, I am afraid it mirrors the federal budget and my personal checking account. Too many debits and not enough credits. Consider the following: << MORE >>

Not only is the truth sometimes difficult to handle, it often becomes so twisted and distorted that it is impossible to recognize. The truth is that the truth is elusive. “Look me in the eye, and tell me the truth,” my father used to instruct whenever he thought that I was being less than forthright. My wife, Nancy employs the same technique in her inquisitions. Perhaps that is why I am a terrible poker player – I just can’t seem to hide my lying eyes. Unfortunately, we accept and perhaps even expect our leaders to be 'truth impaired.' They look us eye to eye and say, “I am not a crook.” We read their lips and hear “No new taxes.” They ignore, twist, deflect and spin the truth ...<< MORE >>

Passion, it the intense emotional drive that often causes us to behave in a manner alien to our normal nature. Passion manifests itself in forms of love and hate; desire and devotion; anger and affection. Enthusiasm, zeal, lust and rage – you could say that it is our passion that creates our uniqueness as humans. Like the scarlet blood flowing through our veins, passion springs forth to give energy to our lives.<< MORE >>

In 1971, singer Don McLean dedicated his album, “American Pie” to Buddy Holly. The title cut, an abstract anthology of American music in the 1960s, turned out to be a number-one hit for McLean and was recognized as one of the top five songs of the 20th century. Through his lyrics, and reference to “the day the music died,” McLean evokes nostalgia for music of a time long past. Perhaps it was a purer and less sinister time - it’s really hard to say. << MORE >>

“You know,” I said, hoping to acquit both Humphrey and myself in this travesty. “That’s a fine animal back there.” Nancy rolled her eyes at me as I began to pontificate. “Eeyore was in trouble and he could have frozen to death in the snow. Humphrey came to get help - to rescue him. That is one smart animal. He is like … well, he is like Lassie.” I believe that she was almost convinced, until we saw the camel tracks leading to the house – from the driveway. “My new car,” Nancy exclaimed, imagining the worse. << MORE >>

They say that good fences make good neighbors, and I believe it is true. Two electric fences separated Camelot from Raeford Johnson’s place next door. The Johnson’s were neighbors, the kind that borrow sugar (or horse trailers) and wave hello to each other across the way. They were friendly enough, but generally kept to themselves. Nancy and I sometimes wondered what was going on over at the Johnson place, as I am sure they questioned some of our activities – but we never got into each other’s business. To this day, I have no idea what Raeford Johnson saw or hear – we’ve never talked about it. But my wife’s screams pierced the tranquility of that cold, January morning–“Get him off me now! I am not going to take it anymore! I’ll kill him this time – I swear.” << MORE >>

In recent months I have had opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most to me – to consider who I am and what I want to do in the second half of my life. I appreciate those trusted friends that provided me with support and those that guided me toward a career in real estate. I equally appreciate the interest that the professionals at Keller Williams have taken in my future. There are basically three reasons why I am convinced that KW is the best fit for Tom Collins ...<< MORE >>

Networking, making connections with people, is such an important part of any professional field. I am blessed in that it is something that has always come rather naturally for me. I would like to think it is my friendly Southern disposition, but it may be that I am just unique. Perhaps it is because my name is easy to remember (“Oh, Tom Collins. Have you seen Bloody Mary? Ha. Ha.” Over the years I have heard them all). Anyways I always enjoyed working the lobby at conventions, shaking hands with old friends and meeting new ones.<< MORE >>

My career objective is to be a factor in Brevard. I want to be a known factor; a decisive factor; perhaps even a major factor in this town that I call my home. I want to be a man of business; “one who does;” a versatile person whose advise is sound and whose character is trusted. Although commodities factors do still exist, in recent years, factoring has become constricted to a specialized field of finance, where businesses sell their accounts receivable (invoices) at a discount. When I tell my friends that I have decided to factor, they give me a strange look. What’s a factor? << MORE >>

On Christmas Eve, the women in my life joined forces and surprised me with the most unique gift imaginable - a priceless present that will have a special place in my heart for all eternity. It was just what I needed – a year of my own. 2008 has been declared “The Year of Tom.” Nancy said it, Krystle agreed and I have a calendar to prove it; so it must be true. << MORE >>

Without a private place to repair to, with all manner of interruptions and the seemingly unceasing demands of work and family, it becomes difficult for men and women alike, to think, dream and scheme. While men of position and power may enjoy the advantage of a study or library, and others the privacy of an office to which they can retreat, the common man has traditionally sought refuge in his shed. It is what every man needs – “A Shed of His Own.” << MORE >>

Malcolm Knowles, considered the “Father of Andragogy,” writes that adult learning is closely linked to the person’s social role and that adult learners tend to build on their reservoir of personal experience. Most participation in formal adult education programs (90%) can be linked to job and career motives. Perhaps this is the reason that every course begins with the requisite round-robin introductions – stand-up, give your name, where you are from, and what you do.<< MORE >>

Nancy and I have never really enjoyed the luxury of financial security. Many times we have had to scrape together every available resource in order to “pull off Christmas” for our kids, especially in our early years of marriage and during the time that I was in graduate school. In those tough times, we would often encourage each other with the lyrics from this song, “If we make it through December, we’ll be fine.” Somehow, we have always made it. << MORE >>

“Make friends with books,” is insight that Campbell University President Dr. Jerry Wallace has offered to incoming freshmen for several years. “Books are friends that will last you a lifetime.” I completely concur with my mentor on this point. But like their human counterparts, the truest literary companions are those that are there for you when times are tough. On sunny summer days by the pool, any light reading will do. On cold, dark, lonely nights you need a book with meaning and substance; a solid and reliable classic; an old friend that you can depend on.<< MORE >>

I’m afraid that somewhere inside each of us is a carnal, self-centered tyrant that desires power and control. That selfish, egotistical spirit that demands its own way and says “look at me – I am the boss.” The Apostle Paul knew about that internal struggle (Romans 7) and I confess that I too fight to keep my “El Jefe” in exile. This Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for those voices of resistance, the butterflies, that compell me to use a different paradigm. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – those are the characteristics of a servant-leader. ¡Viva Las Mariposas! << MORE >>