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About Us
WRITERS
Dr. Alan Hix
Alisha Landes
Dr.
Jamie Renee Hill
Jan Merop
Nikki Hill
Richard Eberhart
Rick Hughes
Rodney Jones Spring Fricks
Wayne Chasteen
Dr. William Lamb
Zebbie Brewster
SALES
Matthew Ruckman
423-503-1410
Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com
DESIGN
Caleb Prytherch
Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Paula Knipp
423-310-4207
GoodNews Christian Magazine Catoosa
EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR
Sandra Gilmore
Email: articles.goodnews@gmail.com
PUBLISHER
Matthew and Bethany Ruckman
Cell: 423-503-1410
E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com
OFFICE
423-790-5378
WEBSITE goodnewscm.com issuu.com/catoosaga
Hello Friends,
We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have six beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, Leah Jean, Emma, and Cooper. We live in Cleveland, Tennessee, and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined, lives will be changed.
GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants, and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising.
GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!
Disclaimer
All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS” basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.
Breathe: The Necessity of Revival
Imagine with me: That frightful feeling when you have been under water too long. You need to breathe. Just one deep pull of oxygen would satisfy. You’ve been pushed beneath the surface. People are laughing and splashing, and yet unaware of your plight. You kick and flail, but to no avail. All hope seems gone. Just then, miraculously, a hand breaks through the chaos and takes hold of you. A strong firm grip lifts you above that thin line between certain death and needed breath! You are saved!
As a human is not meant to breathe underwater, so is a Christian not meant to live without the sweet breath of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing more needful in the American church than the fresh wind of revival.
Revival has been defined in many ways. The Oxford dictionary calls it:
• an improvement in the condition or strength of something,
• an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again,
• a reawakening of religious fervor, especially by means of a series of evangelistic meetings.
Revivalists see it as something much more significant. Richard Owen Roberts calls revival, “An extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.” Roberts goes on to say, “Revival is a time when heaven comes closer to earth than at any other time in the lives of men and women.”
Most would agree that we need a fresh encounter with God. Christians are mostly tired of mundane ministry
by Wayne Chasteen About
efforts, and sadly sedated with spiritless gatherings. We need a face to face with the living God that will convict, challenge, and change us!
How do we get from this spiritual state of near unconsciousness that we are in, back to the vigor and fervor that God desires His church to know? In God’s Holy Word, we read in James 4:8 ESV, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.” In this verse we recognize the need, see it fulfilled, and are given the formula to make it so.
“Draw near to God,” that’s the need, and the result, when we do what the Bible says. “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.” That’s the catch!
King David said in Psalm 51 BSB, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin… Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.”
David desired to be close to God. He had known that privilege before, but his sin had driven God away. Missing the intimacy he had once known, he cried out in desperation. Once he recognized his great need, David poured his soul out in repentance and pleaded with God to restore the joy of His salvation to him again!
The church is drowning in a godless culture. We’ve been pushed beneath the breakers and are sinking deeper into the abyss. We are out of breath! Let us pray, as David did, that God will have mercy on us once again, that He will reach into our death fall and take hold of us, lifting us to a place of life and revival! May our lungs fill with His glory once again as we lift up our heads and BREATHE.
The Author
Dr. Wayne Chasteen is lead pastor of Christ First Church in Lafayette, Georgia. He has been in ministry for 39 years and is an accomplished musician, evangelist, speaker, and writer who has a heart to see his community impacted through Christ.
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Beautifully Broken: Lessons from the Threshing Floor
by Spring Fricks
Istumbled. Hot tears burn my cheeks. Salt from my sweat burns my eyes. My lip is cut. As I scream, the flesh around the cut tears and blood drips down my chin.
“My God, where are you?”
Pushed, I’m knocked down. Bruises on my knee and shin are proof of the stone floor that broke my fall.
My enemy covers me. I fight back but I can’t regain my footing. His strength is more than mine. My knees buckle. My feet falter at his advance.
wind intensifies as if God exhaled a deep breath. My enemy, trying to hold on, loses the fight and is blown away.
I am free. I am safe.
The gale subsides as my Lord whispers, “I am the wind, but I am also the thresher. Do not be afraid of the threshing floor when I shake things up for it is in the shaking that I separate evil from good, and it’s in this separation that you are beautifully broken clinging only to me, sanctified, holy, and set apart. It is the harvest remnant that is left upon the threshing floor that will rise as my people. Do not fear, but in the shaking rejoice for my work is at hand.”
My enemy has one mission: my defeat.
He has one goal: my end.
Again, I cry out, “My God…my God, where are you?”
A strand of hair stuck to my forehead by dirt and sweat, now breaks free and dances in a breeze. My skin cools as the breeze grows to a gust and debris on the stone floor rides its wings and swirls around me.
A faint voice echoes, “I am the wind.”
I look up. My enemy heard the voice. Fear grips, twists, and torments his features.
The voice speaks again, “I am your shield and protection. Your very present help in time of need.” The
Ps 35:5 CJB, “May they be like the chaff before the wind, with the Angel of ADONAI to drive them on.”
The Lord comes, like the thresher, to remove the wheat from the chaff. The process entails beating and breaking the chaff, the very covering which surrounds and holds the wheat captive. It’s this threshing that breaks down and destroys the strongholds around the wheat. The turn of fate is knowing the wheat is present during this process. The wheat endures the beating, the breaking, and the reaping. And, in the end, it’s the wheat that remains, while the chaff is blown away by the wind.
Metaphorically, we are the wheat and our strongholds, both internal and external, are the chaff. But, when we submit to the thresher, grab hold of the Word of God, and wholeheartedly believe that which He says He is then His Word becomes our battle cry. The very strength we need to fight the good fight and land firmly at His feet as one of His people gathered from the threshing floor.
Shake my life, Oh Lord, and gather me unto you.
JNew Year, New Changes, New Unknowns
Money Matters Rick Hughes with
Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes founded Hughes Retirement Group in 2007. His main interest is helping his clients in reducing their taxes.
anuary always comes with changes, some of which we choose and some of which we have no control over. We almost always think about changes on a personal level and sometimes forget to think about these changes on a financial level. What changes are in store in 2025 that could have an impact on your savings and retirement planning future?
Let’s take a moment to look at the known changes and how they may benefit your retirement in the future. The Secure 2.0 Act went into effect in 2022 but some of the changes it mandated are to begin in 2025. Annual contribution and catch-up contribution limits to your 401k have increased.
The tax bracket rates would revert to 2017 rates, which would mean higher marginal tax rates across income levels and a top tax rate of 39%. It has been stated that it would be the intent of the new Republican Administration to make these tax cuts permanent, rather than allowing them to expire.
Another change for 2025 is that there are now eligibility requirements for long-term, part-time employees. For 401k plans effective after December 31, 2020, the act provides that the employee be eligible if they have completed 3 consecutive 12-month periods, each with at least 500 hours of service. This will also cover 403b accounts in 2025 as well. For plan years after December 31, 2024, this term is shortened to 2 consecutive 12-month periods and the employee must have obtained age 21 by the end of the second 12-month period. These are all great additions to allowing individuals to save more for retirement.
We also know what the income tax brackets and standard deductions for 2025 will be.
What we do have to keep in mind is that these rates are set to expire on December 31, 2025. If this happens, the deduction amounts would lower to $8,300 for single filers and $16,000 for joint filers.
We can see how to save more for retirement and how tax brackets will affect our income in retirement, what we can’t see or know for sure is how administration policy changes and legislation will affect the markets and the direct impact that may have on our retirement funds. We saw the markets rally after Trump won the presidential election and then level out going into December. There are many unknowns for the economy with possible tariffs, a possible newly appointed Fed Chair in 2025, and a more domestic approach to drilling, all of which would have an impact on the economy and the markets.
Potential sectors that may benefit would be Banks & Financials, Defense, Oil & Gas, Small Cap Companies, and TIPS, while sectors tied to China, Mexico, electric vehicles, healthcare, renewable energy, and long-term Treasuries may decline. Pullbacks in the market are to be expected and understanding that money managers tend to have these pullbacks factored into their current portfolio allocations can help when we see market swings, but, as humans, we most often react with our emotions before analyzing the data. This is where meeting with your financial advisor and diving into your portfolio’s asset allocation mix will be key. A properly diversified portfolio can be allocated to balance out the winners and losers of market sectors so that your portfolio doesn’t decline or rise as sharply as the markets. Retirement planning is a marathon, not a sprint and our reactions to market changes should follow that stance.
If you would like to review your portfolio’s risk and allocation as we begin 2025, we would love to sit down with you. HRG’s goal is to help create your personal Retirement Playbook™ by developing your game plan and coaching you through your retirement season.
Investment advisory products and services made available through Impact Partnership Wealth, LLC (IPW), a Registered Investment Adviser.
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What Satan Wants from You and How Fast He Works to Get It
by Rodney Jones
Satan wants from you exactly what he wanted from Eve: her soul. And he got her soul, at least for a while. He would have taken her to Hell with him had not God Himself shed innocent blood on her behalf. It only took Satan a matter of hours to get what He wanted!! Think about that: from perfection to corruption in hours! Make no mistake about it, Satan wants you dead, and worse still, he wants to drag you down to the pit.
He comes on the scene only three chapters from the beginning of the Bible and He continues tormenting mankind until three chapters from the end of the Bible. In between these chapters are thousands of years of deception, misery, and death. This fallen angel is vicious, feared by thousands, and hates you.
If you have not been saved, you are in incredible, eternal, danger. At death, you will wake up in a world that you cannot get out of, lost forever. The good news is that if you are saved, you are beyond Satan’s eternal reach. But if he cannot have your soul, he will settle for your total destruction. Satan spends his time seeking whom to destroy. And how quickly does Satan work? His work is immediate! When God makes progress in the human soul, Satan comes immediately to take it away.
In Mark 4:15 *KJV the Bible says, “….Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the Word that was sown in
their hearts.” He comes immediately because he knows that the Word of God itself is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. (see Hebrews 4:12 KJV). The Word of God saves souls and transforms lives. Satan does not want that to happen. Therefore, he attacks quickly.
He wants your faith to fail. “Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you… But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-33).
He wants to corrupt your mind (see 2 Corinthians 11:13).
He wants an advantage over you. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians. 2:9).
He wants to fill your heart. “why hath Satan filled thine heart?” (Acts 5:3).
He wants you to savor the wrong things. “Get thee behind me, Satan … for thou savourest not the things that be of God” (Matthew 16:23).
He wants you to turn aside from the work of God. “For some are already turned aside after Satan” (1 Timothy 5:15).
He wants you to speak things you ought not. “They learn to be idle … speaking things which they ought not” (1 Timothy 5:13-15).
He wants to take you captive. “Who are taken captive by him at his will” ( 2 Timothy 2:26).
He wants you to give place (flinch, hesitate, re-consider). “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-2).
How do we defeat Satan? The same way that Jesus defeated him, by using the Word of God. In the wilderness, Jesus said, “It is written, it is written, it is written!” So, read it, memorize it, preach it, teach it, quote it, post it in your house and Satan will be defeated!
All Scriptures KJV.
Rodney Jones is a retired police officer and is presently a housing and residence life staff member at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Rodney is a member of Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle in Ringgold, Georgia.
Extreme Makeover: A Transformation Journey
by Alisha Landes
We've all seen those television makeover shows where a person, often looking tired and downtrodden, undergoes a dramatic transformation. The audience gasps, "What happened to her?" The answer is simple: she received an extreme makeover.
Reflecting on my life before I met Christ, I see a similar narrative. I felt run down and lifeless, trapped in a cycle that left me feeling rough around the edges. However, once I encountered the Lord, everything changed for the better. People around me began to notice the shift and would ask, "What happened to her?" The only explanation: "Oh, she met Jesus. She’s been changed!"
We are all on a continual journey with Christ, each of us needing an extreme makeover from the ultimate Potter. No matter how long we've walked with Him, there are always aspects of our lives that require shaping and refinement.
Water: The First Step in Our Makeover
Before we dive into our makeover, let's talk about water— specifically, what Jesus referred to as "living water." In John 4:14, He states, "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst."
As water purifies and nourishes our bodies, God's living water cleanses our sins, washing them “as far as the east is from the west.” It also allows us to think more clearly and make better choices.
Living water promotes inner beauty. Have you ever encountered someone outwardly attractive but whose negative actions tarnish their appearance? True beauty radiates from within, fed by the living water of Christ.
Water also regulates our temperature; in spiritual terms, it helps us remain "hot" in our faith. Like our bodies need water, our spirits require the living water of Christ to steer clear of this world’s junk.
Foundation of Grace
Next, it's time to apply some foundation—we need God's grace. Applying His grace daily smooths over our imperfections, as Romans 8:1 emphasizes, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
We must stop letting past mistakes haunt us. God doesn’t want us to live in guilt or regret; He desires for us to walk in grace so we can fulfill our destinies.
Highlighting and Contouring: Recognizing Our Gifts
Once we accept grace, something incredible happens—our gifts begin to shine. God has uniquely crafted each one of us for specific purposes. When we embrace our identity in Christ, He starts to strengthen and highlight our special abilities.
In contrast, just as we contour to downplay imperfections, God can also mask the shadows in our lives, ensuring that when people see us, they see Jesus, not our flaws.
The Power of Words
Now, let’s talk about lipstick—what comes out of our mouths matters. Proverbs 18:21 states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Research reveals that words shape our brains and can elevate our perception of reality. Positive words foster hope and resilience, while negative language produces stress and inhibits logical thought.
Vision and Focus: Eyes on the Prize
As we draw closer to God, He expands our vision, placing dreams within us that seem impossible. The enemy may try to thwart this, whispering lies of inadequacy. But remember, God gave you a vision for a reason—not to let it stagnate.
Setting our makeup and our focus is essential. Each day brings challenges. By grounding ourselves in God’s Word and Spirit, we can maintain clarity and strength.
Moving Forward: A Call to Transformation
What often holds us back is the belief that we aren’t worthy of transformation. The truth is no one is inherently good enough, but through Christ’s righteousness, we can boldly embrace change.
Take that first step today. God awaits your arrival into a new world of possibilities. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things pass away, and all things become new! Embrace your extreme makeover.
Catoosa County Church Directory
Baptist
Anchor of Hope Baptist Church
2613 Lakeview Drive Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-8318
Battlefield Baptist Church
178 South Cedar Lane Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-1316
Boynton Baptist Church
4093 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736
706-952-1551
Briarwood Baptist Church
26 Ellis Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-9177
Burning Bush Baptist Church
2195 Burning Bush Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-866-1989
Calvary Memorial Baptist Church
2 E Gate Drive Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-6183
Calvary Memorial Baptist Church 518 Highway #41 Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-9340
Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle 4994 Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-4323
Cherokee Valley Baptist Church 1495 Cherokee Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-6220
Christ First Church
5994 N Hwy 27 Lafayette, Ga 30728
706-764-2212
Clearview Baptist Church 2183 Dietz Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-866-0164
Cloud Springs Baptist Church 207 Cloud Springs Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-0164
Ebenezer Baptist Church 77 Hackett Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-7970
Faith Baptist Church 308 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736
423-509-5334
First Baptist Church Ft. Oglethorpe 2645 LaFayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-0232
First Baptist Church of Ringgold 7611 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-2358
Friendship Primitive Baptist Church 851 Ooltewah Ringgold Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-2382
Gospel Way Baptist Church 31 Bowling Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-9866
Grace Baptist Church 7638 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-7969
Harvest Baptist Church of the Deaf 1314 Old Three Notch Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-375-7107
Video Call: 706-956-0445
Heritage Pointe Baptist Church 60 Dyer Bridge Place Ringgold, GA 30736
706-858-0976
Hickory Grove Baptist Church 5010 Houston Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-673-6999
Keith Baptist Church 1573 Keith Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-450-0963
Lakeview First Baptist Church 10 Hudson Street Rossville, GA 30741
706-861-4262
Living Faith Baptist Church
Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-1817
Midway Baptist Church
Highway 41 North Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-2317
Moriah Baptist Church
2864 Battlefield Parkway
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-8843
Mount Peria Baptist Church
341 Sparks Street Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-4887
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church
66 Westbrook Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-3031
Mount Vernon Baptist Church
1006 Mount Vernon Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-3872
Nellie Head Memorial Baptist
2379 Catoosa Parkway Tunnell Hill, GA 30755
706-935-5236
New Bethel Baptist Church 1635 Salem Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-3500
New Friendship Baptist Church
3833 Salem Valley Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
New Heights Baptist Church
158 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-9838
New Liberty Baptist Church
923 Graysville Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-4754
Old Fort Baptist Church
18 Van Cleve Street
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-861-2807
Parkway Baptist Temple
65 Stuart Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-0325
Peavine Baptist Church
1089 Peavine Road
Rock Spring, GA 30739
706-375-4721
Philadelphia Baptist Church
1065 Pine Grove Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-5683
Pine Grove Baptist Church
46 Pine Grove Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-2427
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
7769 Alabama Highway
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-3348
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
1995 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-537-3633
Poplar Springs Baptist Church
422 Poplar Springs Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-4461
Salem Baptist Church
1947 Keith Salem Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-3907
Shiloh Baptist Church
24 Kay Rossville,Street GA 30741
706-861-4359
Victory Baptist Church 1013 Layfayette Road
Rossville, GA 30741
706-866-0371
Welcome Hill Baptist Church
223 Inman Street
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-4814
Catholic
Saint Gerard Catholic Church
3049 Lafayette Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-861-9410
Church of Christ
Cohutta Road Church of Christ
2233 Mount Vernon Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-3884
Fort Oglethorpe Church of Christ
6 Harker Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-4124
Ringgold Church of Christ 4099 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-2820
Church of God
Boynton Church of God
1956 Three Notch Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-6300
Indian Springs Church of God 2256 Highway 41 North Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-3599
Noble Church of God
75 Glass Rd Lafayette, GA 30728
Ringgold Church of God
117 Emberson Drive Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-2056
Wallaceville Church of God
236 Harp Switch Road
Chickamauga, GA 30707
706-375-2736
Community
Battlefield Ministries Church 64 3rd Street
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-9090
Green Pasture Community Church
1008 North Beaumont Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-375-7333
Lee’s Chapel Community Church 3253 Catoosa Parkway
Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-9928
Rock Bridge Community Church 102 Remco Shops Lane Ringgold, GA 30736
706-279-3175
Episcopal Church of the Nativity 1520 Cross Street
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-9773
Full Gospel
Yates Spring Full Gospel Church 1300 Yates Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-638-2305
Methodist
Boynton UMC 4246 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736
706-866-2626
Fairview UMC 2112 McFarland Avenue Rossville, GA 30741
423-653-1043
Fort Oglethorpe UMC 1733 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-820-6314
Graysville UMC
2331 Graysville Road Ringgold, GA 30736
706-891-9253
Newnan Springs UMC 78 Monanaw Avenue Rossville GA 30741
706-866-6724
Ringgold UMC
7484 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736
706-935-4777
Nazarene
Battlefield Parkway Church of the Nazarene 3220 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-9838
Non-Denominational
Battlefield Assembly In Messiah 195 Ashley Lane, Rossville, GA 30741
304-890-0949
Battlefield Church of Faith Highway 41 South Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-7729
Battlefield Praise & Worship 1337 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-913-0531
Calvary Chapel Ringgold 548 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736
706-952-1502
Chosen Generation Ministries 92 W Patterson Avenue Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-779-6777
Church of Living Faith 7623 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-5673
Crossroads Church 7638 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736
crossroadsringgold.com
Faith Builders International 8309 Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736 256-338-5031
Grace Memorial Church 118 East Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-7969
The Gathering 2501 Pine Grove Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-841 0161
Light House Church 1201 Lafayette Road Rossville, GA 30741
706-861-2715
Living Waters Ministries 1337 Battlefield Pkwy Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-255-8655
New Life Church PO Box 1973 Ringgold, GA 30736
706-866-7799
Ridgeland Point Church 1417 Happy Valley Rd. Rossville, GA 30741
RockPointe Church 1278 Cross Street Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-820-6523
Untethered Church 2473 Lafayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-991-6067
Venue Church 3969 Cloud Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736 423-637-7100
Woodstation Church 13198 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-3360
Presbyterian
Chickamauga Presbyterian 700 7th Street
Chickamauga, GA 30707
706-375-3432
Christ Fellowship 1176 North Three Notch Rd. Ringgold, GA 30736
706-937-4115
First Presbyterian Church 1 Harker Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-866-2521
Hope Fellowship 2000 Twin Cedars Rd
Chickamauga, GA 30707
hopefellowshipepc.org
Morton Memorial
560 Red Belt Rd.
Chickamauga, GA 30707
706-935-3741
Walker County Church Directory
Assembly of God
Cross Connection
703 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-639-3303
Gospel Tabernacle Assembly of God 1661 Highway 27
Chickamauga, GA
Baptist
Antioch Baptist Church
236 Crow Gap Road Chickamauga, GA
706-539-1117
Bethel Baptist Church 4068 S Highway 341 Chickamauga, GA
706-375-3756
Bethlehem Baptist Church 278 Oak Grove Road Chickamauga, GA
706-375-2797
Bethel Memorial Baptist Church
198 Pledger St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-2995
Bethesda Baptist Church 13432 Highway 151 LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-9450
Calvary Baptist Church 908 Bronco Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-8710
Cassandra Baptist Church 1371 W Cove Rd Chickamauga, GA
706-539-1046
Center Grove Baptist Church
68 Center Grove Church Rd Rock Springs, GA
706-764-2060
Center Point Baptist Church
118 Center Point Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-764-1753
Chattanooga Baptist Church
7300 Highway 337
LaFayette, GA 30728
Christ First Church 5994 N Hwy 27 Lafayette, GA 30728 (706) 764-2212
Christian Home
2518 Garretts Chapel Rd
Chickamauga, GA 423-313-5230
Community Baptist Church 14 Kemp Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1774
Corinth Baptist Church 2524 Corinth Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-3963
East Armuchee Baptist Church
3196 E. Armuchee Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706 375-4512
Emanuel Baptist Church
639 S Main St.
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1751
Faith Baptist Church of Chickamauga 14251 Highway 193
Chickamauga, GA
423-760-8895
First Baptist Church
603 7th St
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-2733
Friendship Baptist Church
1200 N Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-3560
Garrett’s Chapel Baptist Church
3235 Garretts Chapel Rd
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-6708
Grace Baptist Tabernacle 27 Jones Rd
Rock Springs, GA 423-362-3158
Grand Center Baptist Church of Chickamauga 1753 Grand Center Rd
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-8505
Happy Home Baptist Church
704 N Chattanooga St.
LaFayette, GA 30728
Harbor Light Baptist Church
600 Crane St. LaFayette, GA 30728
423-605-0917
LaFayette 2nd Baptist Church
500 W Main Street
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-2779
Lafayette First Baptist Church
201 N Main St, LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-3727
Lake Howard Baptist Church 1528 Lake Howard Rd.
LaFayette, GA 30728
423-304-4990
Linwood Baptist Church 18 Steele St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-6527
Lookout Baptist Church 8645 Highway 193 Chickamauga, GA 706-931-2356
Macedonia Baptist Church 12461 E Highway 136
LaFayette, GA 30728
Marble Top Baptist Church
7131 N Marble Top Rd
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-3536
Mt Hermon Baptist Church
2373 Hog Jowl Rd
Chickamauga, GA
706-858-5650
Naomi Baptist Church 4171 E Highway 136
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-4601
New Harvest Missionary Baptist Church
2034 Highway 337
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-764-6257
New Home Baptist Church
256 New Home Rd.
LaFayette, GA 30728
North LaFayette Baptist Church 1649 N Main St
LaFayette, GA 30728
Oakwood Baptist Church 115 Oakwood St
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-5760
Peavine Baptist Church 1089 Peavine Rd
Rock Springs, GA
706-375-4721
Prospect Baptist Church
194 Prospect Church Rd
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-397-2908
Ridgeview Baptist Church 1001 Magnolis St.
LaFayette, GA 30728
334-300-4733
Ridgeway Baptist Church 1594 Ridgeway Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-6832
Rock Springs Baptist Church
194 E Turnipseed Rd
Rock Springs, GA
706-810-8199
Shield Baptist Church
12684 N Highway 27
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-2554
Shiloh Baptist Church
46 Manning Mill Rd.
LaFayette, GA 30728
706-397-8427
Sunnyside Baptist Church
3573 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
423-364-9701
True Life Baptist Church 1115 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-996-8571
Walnut Grove Baptist Church 55 Walnut Grove Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1377
Woodstation Baptist Church 42 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-764-1794
Catholic
Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church 1227 Scenic Hwy, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
706-820-0680
Church of Christ
Church Of Christ
105 Crittenden Ave Chickamauga, GA
706-375-2222
Highway 27 Church of Christ 1684 S Highway 27 LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-4644
Lafayette Church of Christ 104 W Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1890
Steele Street Church of Christ 4 Steele St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-505-9583
Church of God
Catlett Community Church 122 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-309-4649
Cooper Heights Church of God 12598 Highway 193 Chickamauga, GA 423-903-3759
Cove Road Church of God 620 N Chattanooga St LaFayette, GA 30728
678-467-6982
Covenant Life Worship Center 7001 Lafayette Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-5286
LaFayette First Church of God 301 Daugherty St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-639-7329
LaFayette Church of God 1002 S Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-450-0872
Noble Church of God 75 Glass Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-764-1093
Jehovah’s Witness
Kingdom Hall 457 Rodrunner Blvd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-4342
Methodist
Elizabeth Lee Methodist Church 139 Cove Rd
Chickamauga, GA
706-375-2182
First United Methodist 15 Sunrise Dr. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1942
First United Methodist Church
301 S Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-2067
LaFayette First United Methodist Church
301 S. Main Street
LaFayette, GA 30728 (706) 638-2057
Rock Springs United Methodist Church 3477 Peavine Rd Rock Springs, GA 706-375-5345
Non-Denominational
Battlefield of Life Worship Center 56 Kevin Ln. Rock Springs, GA 770-827-6718
Care Mission
105 N Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-3664
Cowboy Church of Lafayette
196 County Line Rd, Rock Spring, GA 30739 423-596-7227
Faith Worship Center
200 S. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728
423-313-7035
Gospel Light Christian Fellowship
36 Fortune St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-996-8535
Hope Fellowship 2000 Twin Cedars Rd Chickamauga, GA 30707
706-375-4673
Life Gate Church
204 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-7620
Mission Bridge Church 807 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-364-6771
Mount Zion Church
223 Dunwoody Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-1238
New Bethel Christian Fellowship 4009 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-6904
Power of Life LaFayette Church 798 W Main St LaFayette, GA 423-596-703430728
River of Life Church 807 W. Maqin St. LaFayette, GA 423-596-703430728
The Haven - LaFayette 415 Chestnut St. LaFayette, GA 706-996-815030728
Presbyterian
Chickamauga Presbyterian Church 700 7th Street
Chickamauga, GA (706) 375-3432
Highland Presbyterian Church 1211 W Noth Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-8940
Lafayette Presbyterian Church 107 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-3932
Quaker
New Friendship Baptist Church
281 Friendship Rd Chickamauga, GA
706-375-7198
Wesleyan
Gordon Lake Weslyan Church
29 Gordon Lake Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728
706-638-6517
for Marriage
Not One, Or Two, But ALL Things
by Nikki Hill
“How do you have the strength or the patience to keep going?” I am often asked this or similar questions when others find out that not only do I work from home, but I also homeschool my son. Moreover, I take care of my other little blessings (under the age of two) while also trying to maintain a clean household. I can answer the above question comfortably and boldly with thanksgiving in my heart, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
There are situations that sometimes occur while working that make me ask the question, “Is this job for me? Am I not good enough? Should I come back to this type of
work when I feel I am able to?” And the last question which encourages me to let me know I must be doing something wrong or right depending on how one looks at it, “Why haven't they fired me yet?” Whether it is rebuke, a warning, or more training, I am thankful that there is still mercy and grace from my place of work. Instead of receiving the rebuke, warning, and training as an insult or attack, I see it as God giving me mercy, grace, and another huge benefit: discipline. As I continue to work my job, God has exposed more dark areas in my life that I need to work on as well as the good things and talents I can do to further my career for the common good.
Furthermore, I have come to find homeschooling is not an easy task to accomplish for many reasons, but the main one is if I, or my child, don’t have patience with one
another as well as with my other children or his younger siblings, homeschooling will not work. Yes, patience with one another is vital in my household (my husband is not excluded). My Lord is patient. He is the ultimate example of who I should look up to when I am feeling anxious and impatient when there are days that my son does not want to fully engage in his lessons while his brother is throwing a tantrum, and the baby is getting fussy, in need of sleep and food. So, when I look to the Lord and call upon Him for His strength in these times, He restores me. I am reminded of how He may feel when I am being a difficult child, yet exposing the disobedience in my heart, in which I am, in turn, remembering to have patience with my children.
Lastly, after finishing work and school with my son, it seems I barely have the energy to do housework. Although I have not been diagnosed with OCD, there are things I have to do to accomplish certain tasks before moving to the next task. Moreover, when my husband lends a helping hand, I sometimes reject it because of the above sentence and so I feel overwhelmed by the mess and wonder how I will get it clean. In addition, I struggle to utilize the help given to accomplish my tasks.
But God exposes the messes in my life and encourages and reminds me, “...With men, this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 KJV). Enter faith, trust, and hope. He cleanses me of my thoughts of selfinadequacies and places in me a renewed mind of self-worth and improvement. He reminds me to keep ripened fruit like a fresh apple available. This symbolizes patience to me when dealing with my son when he is hungry and cranky. In my son’s weakest moments, I am reminded of myself, just as the Father sent Jesus to save us from our sins when we were weak. And when filth and foulness begin to rave my home and my life, I am reminded that God wants me to give all my anxiety to Him as well as my trust and obedience. He works ALL things out for my good!
CYNC Solutions in Ringgold Georgia
Quite often, businesses need trusted technology partners to help achieve their goals. When businesses want to do that with more precision, more speed, and more cost savings, that business needs IT solutions. And CYNC Solutions can provide just that.
Why Choose CYNC Solutions?
Solutions is not just a catchy phrase, but an integral part to the IT ecosystem that helps businesses maintain success. Whether that solution is on premise, data center architecture, cloud services or a combination of all the above, CYNC Solutions has the staff and engineers to help achieve the right solution for the right problem within budget and on time.
You are looking for solutions that fit your business with cost effectiveness and scalability that provide minimum downtime and little-to-no interruption. All of that is readily available at a local level with local team members. With CYNC Solutions, you can count on expertise to boost you toward your company’s goals.
President/CEO Joe Roderick explains the aim of CYNC Solutions this way, “Our mission is to simplify technology for every business. We can do this by empowering them with our knowledge to be successful through cost saving solutions. This helps them focus on their core business.
“After 50+ years in the IT industry, our team decided to change directions. Now, we share our experiences to help others. Our ramp-up process is designed to empower your technical team or staff your company with the services they need to succeed.
“Our services include a comprehensive technology consultation to help identify gaps and opportunities, a comprehensive report that includes a project plan with timelines and milestones, a cost analysis, and a schedule. We also offer a suite of mainstream quality products that will help you get there quickly and smoothly.”
Seamless Solutions: Our Team with Yours
Local consultants can team with your business offering managed IT Cloud based services, IT Help Desk, and IT consulting for larger projects required to grow your business.
Local team members can better understand the region, your business goals, and the customers’ specific needs.
Roderick adds, “There’s a lot that doesn’t need to be explained or described when our local consultants team up with your employees and listen to your management team to meet your needs in this region or if you have a national presence that needs a more strategic standard for operations at a technical level. Together, we can design systems that work for you and target solutions that streamline your IT needs. Managed Business IT Services is the core function of CYNC Solutions. This assists you with focusing on your business goals and needs while we work side by side with you to achieve your business success. Whether you have an IT department or not, we are here to integrate seamlessly into your organization in any capacity. Or we offer Outsourced IT Consultants who are a team of experienced technologists who work with many other partner companies to augment their success without the cost and overhead of hiring more employees. Integration into their process and procedures is a win for great customer success at many different levels!”
Expertise You Can Rely On
way — from initial planning and analysis, through design and implementation. Less risk… more success, and less disruption of your business. Most importantly, it means your business can better maintain the continuity — and the profitability — it needs to compete in today’s marketplace.
Project Management
With their Project Management Services, this team can facilitate the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to consistently deliver a quality product. President Joe Roderick explains, “We pride ourselves on providing results that typically exceed expectations.”
Strategic and Tactical Business Development
Founded in 2019, CYNC Solutions was formed to specialize in the provision of high-level strategic and tactical technology consulting and project management services. CYNC Solutions offers rapid, cost-effective IT solutions to the business challenges faced by companies through its indepth experience and knowledge, technological expertise, and project management skills. CYNC Solutions has earned an excellent reputation as a solution-oriented organization specializing in assisting its clients in developing innovative strategies, the crafting of business effective technology solutions, and the successful execution of highly complex projects. With over 50 years of combined proven industry experience and technology proficiency to draw on, CYNC Solutions can and does deliver significant incremental value to the realization of our customer’s needs.
Core service offerings include technology implementation and integration, project management, and strategic and tactical business development.
Technology Implementation and Integration
With CYNC Solutions’ capable staff, they help assure quality and consistency, as well as more effective project control by providing service and support at every step of the
CYNC Solutions’ Strategic and Tactical Business skills help you analyze and provide the planning ‘blueprint’ to improve the efficiency of your business operations through implementation of advanced technology strategies.
Expect the Highest Commitment
Roderick shares the philosophy that drives each service offered, “CYNC Solutions has always held ethics, professionalism, and commitment in the highest regard. These are traits that are consistent in the fabric and culture of our organization and its employees, and we are committed to making sure all our clients retain that view after successful completion of each engagement.”
Contact CYNC Solutions today at info@cyncsolutions. com or call (877) 543-2962. Tell them the folks at GoodNews sent you!
for Everyone Blinded by Fear
by Dr. Alan Hix
Have you ever been in a situation in which it feels like all the forces of life are against you? As I write this article on the day after Hurricane Helene devastated much of the Southeast, I wonder how many people who were in Helene’s path might feel like that. Living in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana for several years, we ran from many hurricanes. I understand what it is like to hurriedly evacuate and not know what you will have to come back to. We rode out a few lesser hurricanes, but nothing that packed the devastation of Helene. My heart goes out to those who feel helpless in the face of nature’s power.
Once, when I was staying at a hotel in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a strong storm appeared. Bursting through the narrow confines of a mountain pass, it surged into the bowl-like area of the Sea of Galilee with great force. I was amazed at the size and force of the waves it generated. This experience gave me a clearer picture of the disciples’ situation in John 6:18-20 ESV,
18 “The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
The disciples knew their lives were at risk, and they were afraid. Notice that John tells us that after they see Jesus, they are still afraid. It might be Jesus coming to them, but they had other things to worry about. They were focused on the storm and trying to save themselves. Jesus literally says to them, “I am. Do not be afraid.” It is the same phrase that He will use seven more times in John—“I am the bread of life;” “I am the living water;” “I am the resurrection and the life.” And each time Jesus makes that statement, He is pointing His hearers back to that moment on the mountain when Moses asked God His name, and the LORD replied, “I AM, THAT I AM.” However, the disciples didn’t expect to be rescued from the storm, even when the creator OF the storm was present.
The disciples were so overcome by fear in the face of a situation they were totally helpless to control, that even the sight of Jesus did not give them hope. When we experience that same kind of fear, and we cry out to God in desperation, and we feverishly search through the Scriptures hoping we will find some answer, we can be like the drowning man who struggles against his rescuer because all he can see is that he is drowning.
In those moments, Jesus calls out to us, “I am; do not be afraid.” As “I am,” not only does He have power to save us from the storm, but as creator, He has power over the storm. The disciples’ problem is that they were not willing to let go of their fear—that’s why even Jesus’ walking on the water did not phase them. But when we can release our fears and grasp hold of Jesus as the I am, note what happens next: 21 “Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” (John 6:21 ESV).
is Professor of Christian Studies
University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.
Dr. Alan Hix
at Shorter
Local Education; Global Opportunity
for Parents
How Can I Help My Child Get Closer to God?
by Dr. Brent Madaris
Irecall reading an account about Celeste Sibley, one-time columnist for the Atlanta (GA) Constitution, when she took her three children to a diner for breakfast one morning. With the diner full of patrons and limited seating available, the family sat apart from each other. All was moving along well until the eight-year-old daughter named Mary broke over the usual diner hub-bub with a loud voice, speaking to her mother as if no one else was around, “Mother, don’t people say grace in this place?” While the stunned Mrs. Sibley stalled and gathered her thoughts, silence reigned over the dining room. It was the counterman’s turn to speak as if no one else was around. He said, “Yes, we do, sister. You say it.” With bowed heads, the patrons sat in reverent silence as Mary offered thanks for the meal, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food…”
Don’t you just love kids?
It has always been distressing to me to see so many children so far removed from God in their daily lives. I do not know the reasons for this, nor the answers to it in every case, but parents must realize their great responsibility in this matter. The following suggestions, I feel, are extremely important in keeping your children close to God. Choose, and implement, as many of them as you possibly can.
Establish a family altar. Read and study the Bible together. Sing gospel songs together. Pray together. This will be a difficult project to establish and maintain, but it will reap eternal dividends and rewards in the lives of your children. It is best to start a family altar when children are very young. Make it a natural part of their lives.
Labor to lead your child to faith in Christ. Live the right kind of life before your children. Be a genuine Christian in every sense of the word. Get as close to (and stay as close to) God as you possibly can. Hypocrisy, on the parents' part in this matter, is terribly destructive to children. There is no doubt that one of the main reasons why many children turn away from God is because their parents are pretending to be Christians. Maintain a genuine spirit of praise and joy. Nothing turns off young people any more than a gossiping, backbiting, critical, pessimistic, negative approach to life.
Go, as a family, to a strong Bible believing, Bible preaching, soulwinning, fundamental church. Participating
with your child in some form of Christian service with the express intent of leading others to Christ is a powerful way to keep your child in love with God. Encourage them in their efforts to serve God. If they show interest in devoting their lives to God in some full time capacity (Pastor, Missionary, Evangelist, etc.), do everything in your power to encourage that desire and help them fulfill it.
Spend time with your children doing fun things together. Take an interest in them and their interests.
Praise your children when they do right. Lovingly correct them when they do wrong.
Greatly limit or even eliminate television. Television has been the greatest means of moral destruction in our generation, It constantly bombards the mind with a worldly approach to life. No child (or adult either) can get close to God, or stay close to God with such materials being constantly put into the mind. Be extremely careful with electronics, like cellphones, iPads, iPods, computers, etc.
Be very careful about which school your child attends. If a child is exposed to worldly, humanistic, and evolutionary philosophy for eight hours per day, even the strongest Christian home will struggle to raise godly kids.
Be careful who you let your children run with. Many a child has been ruined by the wrong kind of friends.
Last but not least: Pray for, and with, your children! Pray! Pray!! PRAY!!!
Flying Jewels
by Jan Merop
Hello, Kids! This article is part of our Chatty Critters series. Check in future issues for another installment in this series.
One hot summer day, Jewell, the caterpillar, crept along complaining as she crawled.
“If I had been a duck, I’d have been the ugly duckling.” Never mind that she and her fellow caterpillars looked alike. She couldn’t see passed her worm-like appearance.
“Mom, why did you give someone creepy like me an elegant name? I wish I looked like you.”
and see.”
how to learn. But her impatience robbed her from listening fully and learning details that would have helped her understand her nature. She dragged herself in another direction as soon as words like struggle, hope, and future change came up.
to feel the stirrings of something deep within her. She couldn’t describe it or ignore it. Again, her mom said, “Just wait and see,” knowing God’s process was about to begin.
After a time in the cocoon, she felt restless. So she pushed and struggled against the wrapping. “Won’t someone help me get out of here?” she called. But, the answer came back that it was in the struggle that she would develop strong wings.
“Wings like my mother has?” came her heartfelt hope.
At the right time, Jewell emerged with bright yellow/ orange wings edged in black. Transformed into a delicate, graceful butterfly, she finally fit her name…Flying Jewell.
soon find out, her Creator had fashioned her uniquely. Jewell awoke to find her unattractive body becoming wrapped in a cocoon. She didn’t understand, yet it seemed the most natural occurrence and she easily gave into the process.
Joining the many other “flying jewels," she brought the beauty of new birth to the world: from a creepy, complaining caterpillar to a gentle, graceful, breath-taking, exquisite butterfly.
Exploring Truth Through God’s Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV).
The Butterfly and You
Discontentment and lack of patience cause us to be unhappy and unable to learn the truth about our sinful nature. When at last we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, He enables us to work out the beauty He has put in us. Be content (accepting) in your circumstances and show joy! In Christ, you have been transformed from your old self into a new, ‘uniquely His’ creation. You can be a “flying jewel” for His kingdom!
The Good News, You Are More Than
by Garrett Nudd
After all the Christmas decorations are packed and returned to the attic, and the children head back to school, things are slowly settling back to normal. A long January ushers in new beginnings, fresh challenges, and opportunities to start the year on the right foot.
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? I used to make resolutions every year, but I stopped because I was tired of falling short and disappointing myself. Did you know sources indicate the average New Year’s resolution is broken before January 31?
A few years ago, at AdventHealth, we did an advertising campaign centered around the concept of ditching traditional resolutions and instead focusing on living with resolve. The headline was “Fewer Resolutions, More Resolve,” and I loved it.
As we start 2025, I’m not going to ask you to make resolutions, but I would like to encourage you to have resolve. Take some time to think about the things in your life that you can adjust—even slightly—and get closer to becoming the person God intended you to be.
For whatever it’s worth, here’s my list of 10 qualities I’m resolving to work on in 2025:
I resolve to be loving.
I resolve to be forgiving.
I resolve to be positive and optimistic.
I resolve to be peaceful.
I resolve to be content.
I resolve to be proactive.
I resolve to be intentional.
I resolve to be consistent.
I resolve to be more present.
I resolve to assume positive intent.
There’s no magic to coming up with ten, just come up with whatever feels right for you. The truth is, I’m addicted to these types of things, and ten is overkill—kinda makes it hard to focus. (Maybe I should add “I resolve to be focused” to my list, but that would be crazy because no one has enough resolve to focus on eleven items!)
Perhaps a more realistic strategy would be to identify a single word for 2025—a word that you can own and make yours throughout 2025. This word would be one you can carry with you as your north star, your bullseye, and your personal battle cry for the year.
So, think about it. What’s your word for 2025? Skip the resolutions and resolve to focus on one word. My friend’s word for the year is intentional. His goal is to be intentional with his family, with his work, with his relationships, with his faith, with his time, and with his finances. I really like this because his word—intentional—will impact several areas of his life, resulting in significant positive gains for the year.
At the heart of resolutions is the desire we all have—at least I hope you have!—of becoming a better version of yourself.
I recently came across the following quote that really resonated with me: “Who you are is God’s gift to you. And who you become is your gift to Him.”
Think about that for a minute. Go ahead re-read it.
What does God want for you? And what does He want FROM you?
Aesop, in his classic fable “The Tortoise and the Hare,” teaches us that slow and steady wins the race. And current author, James Clear, in his wildly popular book, Atomic Habits, reminds us that small, incremental adjustments every day add up to significant improvements over time.
Aesop and Clear remind me of the fact that God has given me the tools I need and the foundation to do something remarkable for Him. And maybe that’s the best New Year’s resolution of all.
dNews for Seniors
God’s Protective Hand
by Zebbie Brewster
Ihad set my alarm Saturday night so I would get up in plenty of time to make the eight mile drive to church the next morning. We still have Sunday School which I love to attend. Our teacher really prepares to teach God’s Word and his lessons always speak to my heart. He always has a personal story to share that will relate to the lesson.
When I was growing up, we only lived about a mile from church. We were never late to church that I remember.
Now in my senior years, I am at this time still able to go to my home church. I have moved and it takes a little longer to get to church. Yet, I have family who live near where I grew up. I am still trying to get used to watching for their vehicles as I rush to church. Coming over a hill I try to slow down. This past Sunday morning, I met my grandson trying to pull out of his mom’s driveway into the road I was traveling on. I am thankful that we did not collide into each other. I would say that was one more time God’s protective hand has been on my family and me. How can I ever begin to thank God for His protective hand all these years? I am so thankful for the church family God has blessed us with. We have shared many prayers to lift burdens. I will continue thanking God for His protective hand. He is so trustworthy. When I think of His protective hand, these verses come to mind:
I used to help my mom teach a ladies’ Sunday School class. We would take time about it. Preparing to teach helps you learn more about the lesson. My mom has not been able to go to church since Covid-19 and she has really missed being able to go. We always sat together in church and I have missed her so very much. She would love to be well enough to attend church again. She has become homebound. My mom still misses her church family and prays for them every day. My mom would always greet everybody in church by speaking to them and shaking their hand. I guess she has been a greeter from way back. Looking back on it, my mom’s grandfather and father were also greeters in our church. I remember my grandfather going to church early so the heat would be turned on to make the church warm.
Psalm 91:11 KJV, “For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Psalm 34:7 KJV, “The angel of the Lord, encampeth round about them that fear HIm and delivereth them.”
Psalm 32:7 KJV, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalm 46:1 KJV, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Zebbie Brewster resides in Summerville, Georgia. She is an active member at Perennial Springs Baptist Church.
Gò0 dNews for your Taste Buds
Hearty Winter Vegetable Stew
January calls for comfort food that warms you up from the inside, and a hearty vegetable stew is the perfect answer. Serve it with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal. Packed with seasonal vegetables, this stew is not only nutritious but also incredibly flavorful. Here's a detailed recipe to guide you through making this delightful dish.
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and diced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Vegetables: Begin by dicing the onion and mincing the garlic. Peel and chop the carrots, celery, potatoes, sweet potato, and butternut squash into bite-sized pieces. This prep work ensures everything cooks evenly.
2. Cook the Base: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing them until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes. This forms the aromatic base of your stew.
3. Add the Vegetables: Incorporate the chopped carrots, celery, potatoes, sweet potato, and butternut squash into the pot. Stir well to coat the vegetables with the oil and onions, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. This initial cooking step enhances the flavors of the vegetables.
4. Combine and Simmer: Pour in the diced tomatoes along with their juice and the vegetable broth. Stir in the dried thyme, dried rosemary, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and cooked through.
5. Add Green Beans and Peas: Once the root vegetables are tender, add the green beans and frozen peas to the pot. Simmer for another 10 minutes to cook the green beans and heat the peas through.
6. Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaf from the stew. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Awake America Prayer Meetings
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
We Shall Overcome
by Jamie Renee Hill
We will walk together We’ll walk hand in hand
Breaking racial barriers And together we will stand
We are not afraid Of what the enemy may do We will overcome
The Lord will see us through
We will live in peace
Yes, the whole human race
Every heart will sing Of God’s amazing grace
We will overcome We will overcome
And the victory will be won some day.
for Everyone Rookie Mistakes
by Dr. William Lamb
It was a rookie mistake. I didn’t mean to do it. Honestly, I can’t believe it happened! But the proof is in the eyebrows.
Let me explain. About 10 years ago, my boys and my bride bought me my first Big Green Egg. In case you are not aware of what that is, it is a kamado style grill and smoker. They are incredible cookers. You can smoke, grill, bake, sear, broil, etc., the possibilities seem endless. You can hold temps as low as 200 or as high as 800 degrees with the use of two vents: one at the top and one at the bottom.
But be careful. It also can be dangerous, if you forget to burp it.
known as the high sea’s disaster or the sinking of the Titanic which was estimated at $7.5 million dollars in 1912. That’s about $168 million dollars in today’s economy. Plus, the loss of over 1500 souls to the frigid sea.
So how can we prevent “rookie” mistakes that will cost us money, a few burns here or there, or even the loss of life or relationships? Here are three steps that require we ACT.
Acknowledge your propensity to make mistakes. No, this does not mean you are accepting a reality that you will fail or mess up. This just means that you are aware that you are not perfect and can fall short of the goal at times. Part of being able to prevent the failure is realizing that you can fail. Then, putting into place the necessary tools to prevent the mistake or the failure.
Once the Big Green Egg is lit, one must burp or vent the dome, by cracking it slowly multiple times to avoid a flashback. I know this process having used the grill hundreds and hundreds of times. But on Saturday, June 29th I forgot to burp it. As a result, the hair on my left wrist and both eyebrows were singed because of my rookie mistake.
According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a rookie mistake is “a basic mistake, like one that a person with no experience of an activity would make.” The problem is not just in the mistake but also the result which can sometimes be costly. One of the costliest mistakes is
Correct the action you did not like. That you wish you had never repeated. It could be behavior, a skill set, a choice, etc. If you make the decision to correct the areas of your life that cause you to make repeated mistakes, then you will establish a corrective culture and minimize repeated mistakes.
Think. Much of what happens in our lives is attributed to how we think. Think smart. Think wise. Think pure. Think right. Then…be smart, be wise, be pure, and be right.
Rookie mistakes can also be attributed to a person’s level of maturity. One of my least favorite demographics of people are the childish adults. You know the type. They are not just jovial or fun people, but they act with childish behavior that one should know better than to repeat.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things…” What childish behavior do you need to put away today? What activity do you need to quit repeating?
William Lamb, PhD Lee University
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for Health & Fitness
Exercise is not a Bad Word
by Richard Eberhart
Humans know that we are supposed to move but in today's world we choose to sit at our desks or on the couch. We need to move everyday. Come to think of it: why not start using a different term other than exercise?
The word “exercise” has been turned into a bad word. I know that I had thought exercise was only at the gym. I would be surrounded by people who were in shape and I would feel like an outsider. When we change how we look at the word and trade “exercise” for “movement,” we are now winning the fight and a daily walk becomes just part of our day.
As a nurse, I know that we are all different. We have different skin color, hair, height, and yes we have different movement goals. I want everyone to know that you do not have to be as skillful as David was with a sling shot but you can be a mover of your body. Exercise is listed with the American Diabetes Association as 150 minutes a week. That is a large number so I recommend looking at 22 minutes per day. That is a much better number and much easier to do compared to skipping 6 days of movement and trying to walk for 150 minutes in one day!
troubles. When you return home, your troubles will be 11 minutes away from you!
The greatest benefit of daily movement is that your muscles will work burning glucose in your blood for up to 48 hours after you finish exercising. This will help anyone, not just people with diabetes. Muscle growth will also help with bone strength. I know that as I age I want my bones to be as strong as possible to protect me if I fall.
The way I look at movement is that it is part of my retirement plan. At work we invest in our retirement so we will have money later in life. I look at my daily movement as an investment in my health so I can walk hand in hand with my wife for years to come. I also want to be able to run and chase my grandson. I know that if I move every day then when I do get to play with him, I will be able to keep up. We talked about 22 minutes a day. Now I want to let you know that if you walk 11 minutes away from your house and then simply walk back, you will be done for the day. You can also mentally drop off all of your daily
All you need to start a walking program is to make sure your doctor is ok with you walking daily. Next you will need a good pair of shoes. Lastly, you need a place to go. If you check your local Parks and Recreation Department, they will let you know of all the paved walkways in your town. If you live in an area that has a mall, then you can walk indoors when the weather is not favorable for outside walks.
I hope you start slowly and keep walking every day. It is simple: just one foot in front of the other.
Richard Eberhart: 44 years Type 1 Diabetic, 21 years paramedic, 15 years RN with a bachelor’s degree, married to Janet, 30 years. We have 2 adult children, William and Elizabeth. We also have a 3-year-old grandson who keeps us moving. I enjoy walking/hiking, gardening, cooking, and spending time with family.
