The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
PAGE 2A April/May 2025
Cadaver Lab at Gadsden State A unique learning opportunity for students pursuing careers in professionals.”
Lynn's Ledger Devotional Column By Denise Lynn The Prodigal Cat
The cadavers used in the lab come from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. The cadavers spend one year at Gadsden State. Once the cadavers are no longer used for educational purposes, they are cremated and returned to their families. Students in the human anatomy and physiology course also hold a memorial service for the cadavers to honor their contributions to their education and training. “It’s a deeply respectful and meaningful experience,” Snider said. “The students form a connection to the cadavers because they understand how integral the bodies are in their learning process. It is a part of the educational journey, and the memorial service allows them to show gratitude and acknowledgment for the gifts they received.” He said the Cadaver Lab is a significant asset to the institution and to the region. “By providing a hands- on, immersive learning environment, we ensure that our students graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the human body, which prepares them for success in the fields of healthcare, medicine, nursing, physical therapy and other health sciences. They are learning beyond the lecture. It’s the kind of learning that sticks with them throughout their careers.” To learn more about science courses and other academic offerings visit www.GadsdenState.edu/ Academics.
healthcare is offered at Gadsden State Community College. The Human Gross Anatomy Lab is the only lab of its kind among the state’s community colleges that offers an educational resource for students enrolled in the College’s human anatomy and physiology course. “The lab is known as the Cadaver Lab on our campus,” said Phillip Snider, an anatomy and physiology instructor and director of the lab. “It sets the standard for hands-on, real-world education in the sciences.” The Cadaver Lab is located in the East Broad Campus’s Science Building, which opened in January 2020. The state-of-the-art laboratory accommodates four cadavers each year giving students an in-depth perspective on the human body that is critical for understanding both normal anatomy and the impact of disease. The laboratory provides an immersive environment where students engage in dissection activities and explore pathophysiology concepts, such as disease, cancer and the cardiovascular system. “Cadaver labs are an essential part of medical and health-related education,” Snider said. “They provide students with the opportunity to study the human body in a way that no textbook or computer simulation can replicate. The hands-on experience of dissecting real human tissue is indispensable in cultivating the next generation of healthcare
I have some feral cats that wandered up, six to be exact. I have four that let me pet them. The other two treat me like a fast food window, get their food and go. One cat loves me so much, his name is Joe Bob. He is named after my late uncle Joe and my brother Bobby who just moved out of the country. Joe Bob is a tom-cat. It is tough being the mom of a tom-cat because he is gone for really long amounts of time. Every day when I feed them I count cats, call them by name and pet the ones that will let me. Quite often I count only five, I know Joe Bob is missing. He is my prodigal cat. I immediately get super focused in my thoughts and concerns for him. I still love and care for the other cats, but my heart is concerned and it desires for him to just stay home. The dictionary says a prodigal in an essence is acting foolish and returns after an absence. I ask why a lot. Why would he leave the comforts of our house where he receives food, water, has a warm bed and is so very much loved. Although I love the other five, me and Joe Bob are really close and I miss him. The Bible talks about the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. We are invited to the story as Jesus is sharing three parables and ends with the prodigal son. His audience is the Pharisee's (religious Jewish leaders) and the Jewish crowd. Why was Jesus doing this? In those days it was very much frowned upon for a son to ask for his inheritance and if they should return, they would either be denied or I guess outcasts, an embarrassment to the family and they would take on his shame. Jesus wanted to teach them a different way. Here goes the story in my words. A father had two sons. The youngest son asked for his family money. He wanted it and without hesitation the father gave it to him, he didn't try and stop him: he just let him go. (Hit pause do you think he let him go because the father knew he would learn a lesson that he could never 2025 Hydrofest Lake Guntersville will once again be home to the Hydrofest as the fast paced boat racing event is set to return to the Lake on June 6-8, 2025. The event will kick off on Thursday, June 5 with the Hydrofest Pre- Game. Water Testing will take place on Friday, June 6 and Heat Racing and the Championship will take place on June 7-8.
teach him or if you think he believed he had done a good job as a parent and he would make wise decisions with his money or maybe because he was grown and knew he couldn't really stop him. Maybe it was all three.) Either way, it was just days later that he packed and moved a good distance away from his family. He spent all his money unwisely, so when troubled times came in the form of a famine in the land, he found himself doing odd jobs including feeding pigs. Here is the pivotal day: this young prodigal son hit rock bottom when he realized the pigs he was feeding were eating better than him. I have a saying "there is never a changed heart until they hit rock bottom." This was the young prodigal's rock bottom. Before continuing the story, can we pause and think about the father? This dad was missing one of his kids like crazy. Throughout everyday the little things reminded the father of his son and made him sad. I am certain everyday he asked himself the "why's". Why did he have to go? Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to my family? Maybe he also ask the "what's". What can I do? What can I say? What can I pray? "What could I have done differently" Then the "how's". How can this turn around? How long will it take? How much pain do I have to endure as he was separated from his beloved son? Then he was reminded of "who, what, when and where". The "Who" is God and He bookends that with the "where". God is the only one that can fix this problem for the father of the prodigal and God will do it in His timing, not ours. So the father of the prodigal was growing too. He had a new slogan "grow through what you go through" Okay, let's get back to the story. Once the prodigal hit rock bottom he came to his senses (Luke 15:17) realizing that the one person in the world who would help him was his father.
He does what anyone running from the Father should do, he turned around and began going the opposite direction. A changed heart isn't enough, we also have to change directions, sometimes friends, drop habits, etc. This leads me to the question: What caused the prodigal to loose his 'senses' to begin with? Also, what makes us dumbed down, going through the motion, ignoring the red flags, buying the next big thing, etc. To learn from the prodigal, we must realize, or come to, our “senses”. If you don't, I hate to say it, but a "rock bottom" may be on your horizon. Once you realize and decide to change your ways or direction, your now headed straight back to the Father who has been patiently waiting for this very day. Before we go on, if you have children think of the day when you thought you lost your child. Maybe it was in the grocery store, a park, church, or somewhere else. The knee buckling panic, you can not even think straight, and your yelling their name frantically to find them. This is the feeling of a prodigal parent. In the story, everyday the father stretched his eyes towards the horizon watching for his son. But one day when he goes to look he sees him. I am sure he was dancing, jumping up and down, and super excited. In fact the Bible says he took off running towards him. He completely lost his ability to worry or care what anyone thought about his behavior. All that mattered to him was the son. He didn't sit him down first and tell him the new rules or list of pain and hurts he caused to his family. He didn't mention how reckless he was or rub it in his face. Instead his reaction was to bless his son in all the ways he could think of because he was over the top happy to have him back. The Bible simply says he had compassion. Now the story takes a turn and shines a light on the brother of the prodigal son. He became very jealous (shown in anger) and prideful (began listing
his accomplishments and loyalty to the father). Sometimes the haters in life are the people closest to you. So even after the prodigal comes home you will have a momentary happy ending. But, then there is still work to be done, truths to surface, forgiveness, freedom to embrace and grace. All the good things of God. Have you gone to far to return to the Father? You are never to far if you're still breathing. Follow the example from the story of the prodigal son. Ponder, pray, self reflect and ask God to show you how your eyes have been blind (John 12:40). Then decide to turn and go the other direction, drop the habit, get out of that abusive relationship, stop the spending, stop the secret sins you do not want anyone to know about. Finally, the last example is repent which returns you back to your heavenly Father. The prodigal is returning, its not his first time with the father. So if your returning to the father in rededication think back to how it started the first time. Many of us were children or child-like when we asked Jesus into our lives and heart. As a child you should return holding your heart out as a broken toy for a father to fix. Surrender and shake off the things the world has cluttered your soul with. It reminds me of an old Twiila Paris song "The Warrior is a child". There is a part in this throwback song that says: "They don't know that I go running home when I fall down, They don't know who picks me up when no one is around. I drop my sword and cry for just a while, cause deep inside this armor the warrior is a child." Drop your sword, your mask, lean not on your accomplishments and your wisdom and return to the Father. Let Go of your way and fully surrender. The best ending is coming because God is about to re- write it. He loves a good Prodigal story. My prodigal cat will return one day without any notice and all will be well with my soul.
C OLLINSVILLE D RUGS Brandon Boswell h Pharmacist/Owner h 256-524-2981 “Caring for You Like Family” 588 South Valley Avenue P.O. Box 498 Solutions Plus Bank (Proposed) President and CEO Thomas Carroll prepares to speak at the bank's "Journey Event" in Albertville on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, Alabama Ledger
Hidden Treasures Antqs & Flea Mrkt Centre’s Favorite Flea Market Always Good Deals & Friendly Staff Over 60 Booths
Collinsville, AL 35961 (256) 524-2981 (256) 524-2987
Happy Easter
1110 W. Main Street Centre, Alabama Todd (Owner) 646-647-6530 Janet (Manager) 337-353-8723
Brandon Boswell, PharmD Pharmacist/Owner
How to contact The Sports Ledger, LLC & Alabama Ledger We are NOT affiliated with any other sports or news publication. READ FREE ONLINE AT www.thesportsledger.com www.alabamaledger.com Alabama Ledger - Established in 2020 Home Owned, Operated, and Published by The Sports Ledger, LLC.
The Sports Ledger, LLC Established in 2006 MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 175 Albertville, AL 35950 TELEPHONE 256-506-7368 Take One - First Copy Free Additional Copies $2.00 each
Print Edition Service Area
PUBLISHER Brandon K. Pierce Brandon@TheSportsLedger.com MANAGING EDITOR Myra W. Pierce Myra@AlabamaLedger.com
God Bless America!
More News Online
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator