Why I Don’t Practice Lent

Matt Talford

(The following article, originally drafted four years ago, was as an op-ed piece [opinion editorial for those of you unfamiliar with the abbreviation] that I submitted to a major newspaper.  The submission was not used, but rather than delete the article, I decided to keep it for a rainy day.  Well, this year, I have seen quite a few discussions regarding Lent on social media, so I figured now was a good time to open those umbrellas 😊)… To Lent or Not to Lent… That is the question…  Recently, someone…

13 Quick Ways To Keep Your Cool When Your Faith Is Under Fire

Matt Talford
13 Quick Tips

Here are 13  Quick Ways To Keep Your Cool When Your Faith Is Under Fire: There was a point in my life when it was hard for me to answer this question because everything in my life was going well. I had a beautiful wife, a corporate career with a nice salary, great friends and an active social life. Suddenly, something entered my life that seemed insurmountable to human eyes, and seemingly impossible to overcome. It wasn’t until I turned around and remembered God’s words that I realized that even…

Army EFMB Memories

Matt Talford

While browsing Facebook recently, I read an article and watched a video about an Army captain who collapsed near the finish line at her EFMB road march, the final stage of the U.S. Army’s Expert Field Medical Badge training and field trials.  The article (link at bottom of this page) appears to be at least a couple years old, but seeing it for the first time reminded me of my own experience with the EFMB some 25 years ago….   My goal was to break the Ft. Polk post record for the EFMB…

Tennis and Friendships

Matt Talford

  Facebook says we became friends six years ago, but I’ve known Scott a lot longer (since 2004 perhaps). Anyway, I remember the first time I met him… I didn’t know him back then, but we were both members at the Tega Cay Tennis Club. I knew his wife Susan because she and I both worked at Microsoft. When she learned I was a tennis player, she asked if I’d met her husband Scott. I told her “No,” but that I knew we’d eventually meet playing at the same club……

Origin of Black History Month

Matt Talford

  Okay, so today is the last day of the month of February, which also means it is the last day of Black History Month. I began the month with good intentions (to post regular Black History facts), but in the now famous words of former heavyweight boxing champ, “Iron” Mike Tyson, “Everybody has a plan until they get hit.” – LOL My hit came in the form of being busy with a load of work tasks, so I didn’t get to do the research and posting of information that…

Fighting Back

Matt Talford

2016 has certainly been a tough one with regards to loss.  One would have to use the fingers and toes of both hands and feet to count the number of high profile personalities that were lost this year.  Several people whom I know very well have lost either friends or family to chronic illness, and after hearing one of my favorite radio personalities interview someone who recently lost a family member to “The C word,” I was moved to record the following vlog that I titled, “Fighting Back.”  God Bless you…

Three Things You Should Consider Doing Everyday

Matt Talford

I know I haven’t written anything in a while.  Life sometimes has a funny way of interrupting our “plans” ?…  At any rate, I wanted to share a quick thought that I hope helps someone else as much as it helps me! Take it easy, if you’re going to work hard, play equally hard and rest equally hard… and above all, take time out to pray and show gratitude everyday. God Bless! -MT

A Bittersweet Milestone

Matt Talford

Today marks a major milestone in my journey. It was Thursday, April 21st, 2011, that I received what was technically a life-saving operation to remove a completely obstructed section of my small intestine, which had been affected by the presence of a tumor that was described to me as “a silent killer.” With each day that passes, that critical period in my life drifts further into my past; yet somehow I find I am both happy and sad at the same time. Though my oncologist said that reaching the 5-yr…

Alright, Alright; Keep It Moving!

Matt Talford

If you were to close your eyes and imagine just about any 1980’s film set in New York City, you probably heard the title of this article recited by someone blowing a whistle, portraying an NYPD traffic cop.  Well, this article is not a tribute to those nostalgic screen gems, but in the spirit of those characters directing street traffic, I’d like to share with you how I direct traffic through the 25-30 feet of highway called the digestive tract.   If you’ve read my book, “From Fear to Faith:…

Journey From Fear To Faith

Joetta Talford
Man Eating Breakfast

According to a New York Times op-ed written by Duke University Medical Center psychiatrist Damon Tweety, “black men are seven times more likely than white men to receive a diagnosis of H.I.V. and more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer.” With that said, health education and inspiring men to go see the doctor early for checkups is a must to saving more lives. Tweety goes on to say “Black patients, compared with those of other races, tend to be far less trusting of physicians and their medical…