Inaugural Tacky Christmas Run in Cullman, Alabama

Bright colors were popping on Saturday morning, December 1, 2012, at the inaugural Tacky Christmas Run, in downtown Cullman, Alabama. Everyone from Santa to Elves to Who's from Whoville to tutu-laden runners put in appearance at this race. To put it mildly, it looked very much like Christmas kitsch threw up all over itself - but then again, that was the point.

Inaugural Tacky Christmas Run, Cullman, Alabama :: December 1, 2012

Some fifty run participated in the 5K, which kicked off at 8am in ideal weather. Despite it being the race's first year, it was well organized, with Cullman police blocking intersections, encouraging volunteers stationed along they way to point runners in the right direction (including the Easter Bunny in Christmas Decor - below), water stations, on-site paramedics, and free food (from Chick-Fil-A and Logans, among others) at the end of the race.

The Easter Bunny Cheers Runners

The race was dubbed "Feet on a Mission!" by its organizers who are using the proceeds from this and other fundraising enterprises in their continual mission to aid the Sonrise Baby Home in Uganda, Africa. The orgnizers, among whom are two nurses from Children's Hospital of Alabama and who attend Cullman's Desperation Church, will be visiting the Sonrise Baby Home in the near future.

Following the 5K was the One Mile Fun Run, which had about twenty-five participants, the majority of whom were children. In fact, kids placed first through third in the Fun Run.

So if this time next year, you're looking for a good, little race run by good people for a good cause, I encourage you to seek out what will hopefully be the Second Annual Tacky Christmas Run in Cullman, Alabama. And don't forget to seek out your most appalling Christmas garb.

Young Caleb Heis bests both his Dad, Andy, and the Easter Bunny to Win the One Mile Fun Run

Generation Band at Youthquake 2012, Cullman

Generation Band, which is the worship band at Desperation Church in Cullman, Alabama, has just released a new album, Desperation Church Live 2012, which can be downloaded free here.

But mind you, Generation Band isn't just your average praise-and-worship band; they're much more talented and passionate. And Desperation Church isn't just your average church congregation; they're much more vivacious and passionate.

If you think this is something you're ready to experience, Generation Band will be opening for Switchfoot at Youthquake 2012 in Cullman, tomorrow Saturday, October 6, 2012.

Generation Band from Desperation Church, Cullman, Alabama

In Memoriam of the April 27 Tornadoes in Alabama

It's been a year since tornadoes tore across the state of Alabama in several waves of storms, on April 27, 2011, uprooting trees, homes, and lives. More than two hundred were killed, tens of thousands were left homeless, but none of us were unaffected. Memories of that day are no less vivid now than in the days immediately thereafter. 

I got a call from my tenants in Warrior around 8:30am that a tornado had ripped through that town, damaging my house, but leaving everyone healthy; almost every large tree on the block was downed leaving that landscape forever altered. That afternoon, I watched live footage of a large tornado as it tracked directly toward downtown Cullman, eventually ripping through that city and devastating it.

But those events were only precursors fore what was to come. A couple of hours later, multiple tornadoes touched down in western Alabama and began making their way east. One particular tornado stayed on the ground for more than 120 miles, at times more than a mile wide, and ravaging the likes of Tuscaloosa, Phil Campbell, Pleasant Grove, Pratt City, Fultondale, and on east to Anniston.

What left an equally strong impression as the storms themselves was the outpouring of love, compassion, giving, and humanity from neighbors and strangers across the street, state, and nation, that began in the moments immediately following the devastation and has continued to date. And while the landscape is still scarred, the long road to recovery is well under way.

Earlier posts regarding these tornadoes: Warrior and Fultondale, Fultondale, Tuscaloosa, Pratt City.