Monthly Archives: August 2026

The Kindness of Strangers in a Parking Lot

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

After a sudden fall left me bloodied and disoriented in an Atlantic Beach parking lot, two strangers stayed with me until help arrived. Their kindness has stayed with me ever since. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Monday, August 31, 2026: Sensory Overload and the Peace of God

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

We live in a world of constant stimulation, but peace is not simply the absence of noise. Isaiah 26:3 points us toward a mind anchored in God. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Return to the Barstool—What Familiar Places Teach Us About Growth

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

We return to familiar places expecting comfort, but sometimes they show us something more important: how much we’ve changed. The old barstool may still be there, but we may belong for a different reason—or realize we no longer belong at all. Continue reading →

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If the Salary Was the Same, I’d Be a Writer

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Teaching pays the bills, officiating works as a side hustle, but writing is the thing I’d choose if salary were no longer part of the equation. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Sunday, August 30, 2026: You Look Mahvelous! What God Sees Beneath the Surface

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

We may spend a lot of time trying to look “mahvalous,” but God is far more concerned with what’s underneath. Isaiah 1 reminds us that genuine worship should lead to repentance, justice, mercy and changed lives. Continue reading →

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The Story Between the Lines: Twelve Days and the Secret Mission Beneath the Waves

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Two lost nuclear submarines. A classified Navy mission. Twelve days left on the clock. What happened next became one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. Continue reading →

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And This Time I Mean It: My Bourbon Aging Hobby

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon is fun, tasty and expensive enough on its own. Then I started aging whiskey in a small oak cask, and the hobby became an experiment in oak, time and temptation. Continue reading →

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Southern Sports Stillhouse: College Football, Bourbon & Week 0 Picks

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Welcome to the Southern Sports Stillhouse, where two American favorites—college football and bourbon—share the same bar. For our inaugural edition, we pour Linkumpinch Single Barrel Cask Strength, break down TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin, and make picks for every game on the Week 0 slate. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Saturday, August 29, 2026: Unwrap the Gift—The Holy Spirit at Work in Us

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Holy Spirit is not simply the source of spiritual gifts. He is the gift Himself, sent by Jesus to dwell within us, transform us and make His presence visible through the way we live. Continue reading →

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The Weirdest Coincidence I’ve Ever Experienced

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I wasn’t sure I had an answer to the weirdest coincidence I’ve ever experienced. Then I remembered two airport encounters that somehow led right back to my classroom. Continue reading →

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