Ann Cipperly

Ann Cipperly

Columnist

Ann Cipperly is an award winning journalist whose career includes being a lifestyle and food editor, feature writer, columnist and photographer for newspapers and magazines

Ann Cipperly's Latest

Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | A servant’s heart

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — Jesus told how the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and anointed him to preach. I remember when the same thing happened to me.During my senior year in Wetumpka High School, I helped to arrange a youth revival that was...

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Spencers celebrate life with cooking, traveling

Spencers celebrate life with cooking, traveling

BY ANN CIPPERLY OPINION — Situated in a country setting with a spacious lawn surrounded by forest, a long winding driveway leads to the home of Laura and Mark Spencer, just outside Alexander City. As our car stopped under a shade tree, three...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | Sitting under oak trees

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — I enjoy staying busy, but over the years I have had to turn off the engine and allow my soul to catch up with my body. And many times, I found that a walk in the woods was a good remedy for exhaustion.Though I can no...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | Surprised by Worship

OPINION — It is morning again. I am dragging, as usual. I understand why. Fatigue is the primary side effect of my chemotherapy medicine. Weakness is a small price to pay for the way this drug has stopped my cancer from growing. After two years in...

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Southern Hospitality | Woman’s Club gathers for salad luncheon

Southern Hospitality | Woman’s Club gathers for …

BY ANN CIPPERLY OPINION — At the historic clubhouse, members of the Woman’s Club of Auburn recently gathered for their annual salad luncheon, with each member bringing a favorite salad to share. The elegant dining room table was covered with salads...

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Altar Call | Little things that bless people

Altar Call | Little things that bless people

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — In recent years we have become aware of the phrase, “little acts of kindness.” This awesome idea has caused many of us to show others acts of kindness in small ways.Two examples come to mind: First, you are in line at...

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Altar Call | Little things that bless people

Alter Call | I am in Him, and He is in me

OPINION — When I decided as a teenager to live for Jesus, I had no idea how frustrating that would be. My struggle to live “like Jesus” met with disappointment at every hand. It began to seem foolish to think that I could imitate Jesus in all my...

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Southern Hospitality | Barbecue champion shares recipes, grilling tips

Southern Hospitality | Barbecue champion shares re …

BY ANN CIPPERLY A barbecue contest winner and judge, Jonathan Middleton of Auburn, enjoys grilling and smoking meats on four different kinds of cookers. He is sharing his tips and recipes for preparing flavorful, perfectly cooked meats for Memorial...

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Altar Call | Little things that bless people

Altar Call | The talking donkey [part 2]

OPINION — There is more to the story of Balaam in the Bible that the amusing account of his talking donkey. Balaam is mentioned in five books of the Old Testament: Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Micah and Nehemiah. And Balaam’s name is found three...

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Altar Call | Little things that bless people

An Altar Call | The talking donkey, part one

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — Three chapters in the Book of Numbers are devoted to a man named Balaam and his talking donkey. As I read again the story, I was arrested by the idea that Balaam could not see what his donkey saw — an angel with a drawn...

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Southern Hospitality | Ashley Spurlin shares thoughts on motherhood

Southern Hospitality | Ashley Spurlin shares thoug …

BY ANN CIPPERLY With their home filled with beautiful music, Ashley, a violinist, and Dr. Corey Spurlin, director of the Auburn University Marching Band, have a love of music from both of their families’ background in music performance. They also...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | You can wear a morning face

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — I dearly love the song, “Precious Memories.” The one line that continually bubbles up in my mind is the song’s basic theme: “Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul.”Ah yes, they do so linger....

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | Planting alleluias in a child’s hea …

BY WALT ALBRITTON A friend of mine introduced me to the “Greenless Child,” an intriguing poem written by Ann Weems. My friend often quoted the poem as she shared her faith with others. Perhaps it will touch your heart as it did mine:I watched her...

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Southern Hospitality | Trinity’s barbecue, bake sale, craft fair is April 26

Southern Hospitality | Trinity’s barbecue, bake …

BY ANN CIPPERLY Billowing smoke from hickory over a custom 50-foot grill drifts throughout the parking lot at Trinity Church in Opelika, as 2,000 chicken halves slowly simmer for hours. Prepared with a secret recipe, the specialty chicken will be...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | He took my hand

BY WALT ALBRITTON The pump that provided water for our home when I was a boy was about 75 yards downhill from our house. On stormy nights, lightning would sometimes strike the pump and disengage the power. More than once, my dad got me to go with...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | Holding Hands

BY WALT ALBRITTON Soon after his resurrection, Jesus appeared in the Upper Room with his disciples. Two were missing — Judas, who had betrayed him, and Thomas, the skeptic.When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he...

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar Call | Walking around that old rugged cross

OPINION — As we approach the celebration of Easter, it is time once again to take a walk around that old rugged cross. Remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on that dark Friday helps me realize my pain is nothing compared to crucifixion on a cross....

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Altar Call | A servant’s heart

Altar call | Opening blind eyes

My dear friend shared these somber words with me during a recent visit: “I am legally blind.” She can still see, but barely. “I cannot recognize a person who is ten feet away,” she said. Fortunately, losing her eyesight has not dimmed her faith in...

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Altar Call | Little things that bless people

Walter Albritton: The busy life of a man of faith

ALABAMA — At a country setting in the outskirts of Wetumpka near his childhood home, Walter Albritton has authored over 20 books and countless newspaper columns, including his popular weekly article in The Observer. At nearly 93 years of age,...

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