Stories from Sunday, December 25, 2016

Ricardo, Jayln and Zack enjoying what Santa have brought

On Friday, we chronicled the first half of our college football bowl game guide. As a Christmas Day present, we conclude that list with our top five bowl picks for the remainder of the college football season. While we can't give any specifics, the College Football Playoff national championship is an honorable mention, given how the semifinals shake out...

Remington Gage Oliver is all smiles in this photo submitted by Kacey Oliver, who music fans may know better as Kacey Smith. The photo was the first place winner in the Adorable Christmas Kids photo contest, sponsored by the Times-Gazette and Lowery Jewelers. It received 1,419 votes. Kacey Oliver will receive a $200 gift card from Lowery Jewlers...

A local ministry continues to look at new ways to expand its outreach to help feed the hungry. Journey of Hope was founded about seven years ago as a bread ministry by the late Dean Cantrell, said director Doug Mitchell. The ministry is affiliated with Midland Baptist Church, where Mitchell is pastor, and is located on Midland-Fosterville Road in southern Rutherford County, just across the county line. ...

This year, Bedford County was one of six Tennessee counties invited to have 4-H members create ornaments for a tree at the Tennessee Residence, currently home to Gov. and Mrs. Bill Haslam. This honor was rotated through counties in the state over the past several years...

Food often has a way of working itself around the world in strange ways. There's something about food -- cooking and recipes -- that has much more meaning than simply tasting good, filling us up, or energizing us. Yes, the purpose of food is vital and it nourishes our bodies and provides pleasure to the taste, but the recipes attached to some of the foods we eat can be so much more important. They often have meaning, provide stories, and keep our loved ones' memories alive...

Susan Howell is an archivist for The Webb School and is a Cascade alum. Got a suggestion for Sunday Conversation? E-mail it to sfowler@t-g.com....

A new author wants your worship life to be the opposite of boring. John Hambrick is part of the leadership team at Buckhead Church, part of North Point Ministries in the Atlanta area. He's also the author of the powerful new book "Move Toward the Mess: The Ultimate Fix for a Boring Christian Life" by David Cook publisher. The foreword is by Andy Stanley...

John Glenn passed away on December 8th at the age of 95. I am echoing the voices of so many when I say he was a true American Hero. The more I read about his life, the more I realize that he not only risked his life, but that he also spent most of his waking hours throughout his life trying to make America and the world the best it could be. ...

I pray that you and those you love will have a blessed Christmas Day. I want to share the greatest story ever told. It comes from the Gospels of Luke, Matthew and John. Maybe you can share this story with your family and friends today. Luke 2:4-20: 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David),5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.. ...