March 2023

WILLOW TREE FARMS

1000 eS

Con dently take on tough terrain with next-level capability. Bring along the entire crew for the adventure of a lifetime.

1000 eS

• Spacious, 4-Passenger Seating

• Powerful, High Torque 999cc Parallel-Twin Engine

• Massive Ground Clearance And Long-Travel Suspension

Con dently take on tough terrain with next-level capability. Bring along the entire crew for the adventure of a lifetime.

WARN® VRX 45, the WARN logo and THE RED HOOK STRAP are registered trademarks of Warn Industries, Inc. Accessorized unit shown.

• Spacious, 4-Passenger Seating

• Powerful, High Torque 999cc Parallel-Twin Engine

• Massive Ground Clearance And Long-Travel Suspension

EDITION

EDITION

WHITE'S

CYCLE

VRX 45, the WARN logo and THE RED HOOK STRAP are registered trademarks of Warn Industries, Inc. Accessorized unit shown.

MARINE 4917 HWY 58, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37416

&

KAWASAKI CARES: Read Owner’s Manual and all on-product warnings. Warning: The Teryx® side x side can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Avoid excessive speeds and stunt driving. Be extra careful on difficult terrain. Protect the environment. The Kawasaki Teryx side x side is an off-highway vehicle only, and is not designed, equipped or manufactured for use on public streets, roads or highways. ©2022 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

423.499.6000 | WHITESCYCLEMARINE.COM

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KAWASAKI CARES: Read Owner’s Manual and all on-product warnings. Warning: The Teryx® side x side can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Avoid excessive speeds and stunt driving. Be extra careful on difficult terrain. Protect the environment. The Kawasaki Teryx side x side is an off-highway vehicle only, and is not designed, equipped or manufactured for use on public streets, roads or highways. ©2022 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

TERYX KRX®4

TERYX KRX®4 1000 eS SPECIAL

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TERYX KRX®4

TERYX KRX®4 1000 eS SPECIAL

WARN®

About Us

WRITERS

Brenda Dedmon

Brent Goodge

Brian Johnson

David Beckmann

David Huff

Granger Hughes

Judy Hood

Karla Smedley

Katie Loveless

Kenneth E. Ware

Kristen West

Lori Sentell

Matt Jensen

Rhonda Beavers

SALES

Matthew Ruckman

423-503-1410

Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hayley Phillips Photography

FACEBOOK

GoodNews Christian Magazine Catoosa

DISTRIBUTION

5000 Monthly

EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR

Jodi Varnado

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!

7 Things That God Loves

by Kenneth E. Ware

Has it ever occurred to you that there are certain things that God loves. The very nature of His essence is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The Bible makes it clear that there are things and people that our Lord loves in a special way. Obviously, this is not a complete list of things that God loves, for there are many more that extends this list. However, these in particular bring pleasure to Him.

1. God Loves Sinners

The Apostle Paul affirms the love of God towards sinners, saying, “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Again, John, the beloved disciple, in his wonderful discourse to Nicodemus states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God loves sinners.

2. God Loves Unity

In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus prays, “…that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me” (John 17:2223). Christian unity is both pleasant and precious to the Lord (Psa. 133). God loves unity.

3. God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Giving is important to the Lord. It can be so with a good or bad attitude. One may give grudgingly or under compulsion. In order to please God through giving, it must be done so with a cheerful heart. Paul states, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:8). God loves a cheerful giver.

4. God Loves Israel

When the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, she was stunned at what she saw. The Temple he had built unto

the Lord, the food on his table, the seating of his servants… and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. She blessed the men of Solomon. She blessed the servants of King Solomon. Then, she blessed the God of King Solomon, saying, “Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever…” (1 Kings 10:4-9). God loves Israel.

5.

God Loves the Church

The love of God towards the Church is inseparable. In fact, Paul says, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution? …neither death, nor life, nor angels…will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39). Jesus emphasized His love for the Church as He declared, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). God loves the Church.

6. God Loves Repentance

When true repentance takes place, it greatly pleases the Lord. The entire angelic host of heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and turns to the Lord in faith. Jesus says, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). God loves repentance.

7. God Loves Justice and Righteousness

God loves justice and righteousness because it is His very nature. King David asserts, “For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones…” and “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face” (Psa. 11:7; 37:28). God loves justice and righteousness.

Kenneth E. Ware, M.M., M.A.B.S., M. Div. is a husband, father, pastor of New Scholar Avenue Baptist Church, and graduate of Temple Baptist Seminary. Pastor Ware is also a Christian writer and an Expository Bible Teacher at Samford University Ministry Training Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I Wish

by Brenda Dedmon

“We all have the power to make wishes come true as long as we keep believing.”—Louisa

May Alcott

Have you ever said to your parents or teachers: I wish I would get an A on this test or I wish I could be a starter on the team? It is good to have wishes about what we want, however, only wishing will not make them happen. The following activities will be a way to help you accomplish your wishes and turn them into achievable goals for you to reach.

It is very important that you ask your parents to help you with these ideas so that you can begin making your wishes happen. Tell your parents that you would like to have family time to talk about the things that you “wish” you could do.

For the family time, have paper and markers to record your ideas. Talk with your parents about what is important to you, for example: sports, dance, school, friends, family, or any ideas in which you are interested. Write down in order of which is the most important to you and what you “wish” you could do in each area.

As you think about these wishes, discuss with your parents what you can do to help make those wishes become real. Remember, this may require you to do things to turn that wish into reality. If you wish you could be in the spelling bee at school, then you will have to set goals. It would be necessary for you to learn ways

that you can learn to be a good speller. You would need to decide how much you were willing to study and spend the time to make sure you were prepared for the spelling bee.

As you continue to work through your list, remember that there is more than one way to make a wish come true. You can make a list of things that you feel would help you reach your goal and a list of things that you feel may make it impossible to reach. Invite your parents to give you suggestions about the things that are most important to you so that you can make your wishes come true. You may choose to invite your teachers at school and church to give you ideas in reaching your goals.

One of the most important things you need to remember in making your wishes come true is that God has a plan for you. I would suggest you learn these verses to help you remember God will take care of you and help to make your wishes come true.

“I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hoped for” (Jeremiah 29:11, MSG).

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, RSV).

“May He grant the dreams of your heart and see your plans through to the end” (Psalm 20:4, The Voice).

Written by Rev. Brenda Dedmon, retired director of Children’s Learning Center, First Baptist of Dalton and an avid Roll Tide fan.

Is An Annuity Right for Me?

Money Matters Granger Hughes with

Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes works with his father to help provide educational opportunities for clients as well as others in the community. He feels a responsibility to help inform those who may otherwise not be aware of strategies, changes, and opportunities available to them when it comes to their financial well-being.

Alot of people ask this question, and as we approach retirement, we probably hear more and more about it. The biggest thing with any retirement tool is understanding if that tool is right for you. We’ve all heard the saying if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. As fiduciaries, this is something we avoid when working with clients, as annuities aren’t as bad as you have heard, and they aren’t the answer to all your financial problems, but they can be a valuable tool for a retiree.

Let’s look at some types of annuities. One of the most common that we use is called a fixed indexed annuity. This means it’s linked to an index such as the S & P, but the fixed component means that the principal (the portion you put in) is safe. Taking that into consideration, the next step is what am I trying to accomplish?

1). Do I want to protect a portion of my portfolio?

2). Do I need an income stream?

3). Is there a Long-Term Care need?

1). Annuities in today’s day and age can be structured based on the need for protection. For instance, let’s say you want to take some risk out of your portfolio by purchasing an annuity. There are annuities in this current environment that will actually give you a bonus when you purchase one! This is one of the benefits in a rising interest rate environment that is actually a benefit to those who don’t want to risk their money in the market and want to save in a safer environment. In addition, there are no fees with this strategy, and as mentioned before, you would be linked to the S & P, which means if the S & P does x percentage, you would receive a portion, but if the S & P loses money, your principal is still safe. One of the potential drawbacks is liquidity (access to your money). Typically, a lot of carriers will give you 7% to 10% a year penalty free. But if you wanted to take out all your money, you could face a penalty of 10% as well, so you need to make sure that the annuity is a piece of your overall portfolio and not your only option for withdrawals. Contracts also differ on length, though its common to see 7 to 12 years. Some misconceptions could be if I pass away, my beneficiary will have to pay penalties and that is not the case. The annuity would be liquid to them, though tax liability could potentially ensue, as will most accounts. In addition, a lot of annuities will allow a higher percentage of access should you need long term care or have a chronic or terminal illness. Once again, it’s important to know your options and find the annuity that suits your needs the best.

2). Another option is creating an income stream. Let’s say you have a portion of a 401k, for example $300k. The positive about this example is that you are basically going to have two accounts, a lifetime income (LTI) account and a life time income base. The income side will be credited with a bonus up front in a lot of cases. For this example, let’s use 20%. The income side has grown to $360k day one. In addition, every year that we wait to take that income, they would give us an additional 8%. After five years, your income account would be close to $530k. If you decided at that point that you wanted to activate the LTI, the payout would be based on a mortality table at that time. Meaning if you were 70, that percentage would be 6%. This would create $31k of annual income for the rest of your life. If you passed away, your spouse would have the option of taking a lump sum or continuing that stream of income. One common misconception is that if both spouses pass, the money is gone and that isn’t necessarily the case. As mentioned earlier, there are two accounts, the income account and the actual account value. Should both husband and wife pass away, whatever is left in the account value would be distributed to the beneficiaries you had selected.

3). The third option is creating some support for Long Term Care (LTC). This option will piggy back off of option 2. Let’s go back to the previous example and say we have created a stream of income annually of $31k. This strategy would actually double that income to $62K, should you need LTC. The key here is, are you able to perform the activities of daily living (ADL)? If you can’t perform two of the six, for example you can’t feed or bathe yourself, the LTC option would be eligible to be activated. All you would need is a doctor to sign off stating that you can’t perform two of the six ADLs. This can help provide some much-needed support, as the likelihood of us needing some form of LTC as we get older increases drastically. The positive aspect of this strategy is it is your money, and you can use it how you want to. You don’t have to go into a facility, you can make your home handicap accessible, hire a nurse etc., whereas a lot of traditional LTC policies only give you the option to use an actual facility.

The key is to look at what options and tools you have in retirement. An annuity can be a great tool and can be structured in different ways to meet your specific needs. They aren’t going to suit everyone’s needs and desires, but it is important to know what your options are entering into retirement and how each tool can help protect and preserve what you have made throughout your working years.

Stay on the Ride

by Brian Johnson

We don’t like trials. I think that goes without being said, but it’s one of the methods God uses to conform us to the image of Christ James 1:2 says, “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Paul says, in Romans 5:3 that “…we glory in tribulations…” and they eventually end up with hope in verse 4. How can that be? How can a difficult beginning end in hope? Let’s discuss.

I love roller coasters. So, I was excited to take my oldest son on his first roller coaster when he was nine years old. While we waited in line for about an hour, I checked with him frequently to make sure he was still okay with the ride. He assured me he was. As coasters typically do, it started slowly creeping up the first hill, creating anticipation for the first dip. We got over the hill and started to come down when, all of a sudden, the ride stopped. We were stuck on the ride, strapped in our seats in a declined position.

Obviously, I was concerned about my son. A couple of workers walked up the stairs to let us know they were working on the ride. I asked one of them if they wouldn’t mind taking my son back down with them. He said to me, “Once we get the ride going again, it’s actually safer to go through it.” I said okay, and after a few minutes, they got things going, and everything ended up okay.

When difficulty comes into our lives, our natural inclination is to get away from it as quickly as possible. That’s understandable. We want off of the ride. But, if you’ve prayed about it and God still allows it, trust that He knows what He’s doing. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ

Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

God doesn’t promise that we won’t go through suffering. In fact, He tells us we will. But, after that suffering, we gain so much and become more like Christ in the process. That’s why we can have hope. When God continually shows His power in our lives by bringing us through trial after trial as we trust Him, we become

spiritually mature, established, settled, and hopeful regardless of the circumstances. The hope that’s developed gives us the ability to have peace that passes understanding in the midst of the ride and will give us a testimony to share about the power of God in our lives.

The ride that God takes us on isn’t smooth, but if you stay on, He’ll be able to take you to places and work through you in ways you never would’ve imagined. Trust Him in the trial. Stay on the ride. By the way, my son is 22 now and still likes roller coasters.

Brian Edward Johnson is a deacon at his church and a nurse by vocation. He wants to do the best he can to teach people to trust God, for their eternity and for each day.

One Track Mind

by Katie Loveless

Ihave fond memories of my childhood playground on Arista Mountain in West Virginia. My grandparents lived there, and we visited often. The memories are so prominent for me that I can remember the backdrop of the cool blue sky that hovered like a canopy, a dinosaur-like mountainside by the clothesline, and the sounds of singing birds like wallpaper in my mind.

There was ample opportunity to explore and shake hands with nature. Walking to the forks of the road with my siblings and grandfather is one of many fond memories as

that all these years later, I still stand in the flow of His goodness and trust Him to wash me and make me clean. It’s a miracle that He can take the potsherds of my life and make them beautiful and functional again.

I think about Job and how he sat among ash and broken pottery as he was reeling from grief, unspeakable loss, and physical affliction (see Job 2:8). I consider how he lanced his own weeping wounds with shards of broken pottery to bring relief. We are not so different. We try to foster healing in the necrotic places of our hearts by introducing them to the broken places and we marvel why it doesn’t work. Neither one can cure the other. Brokenness alone won’t heal the stench of death in me. I need my brokenness and humility to be coupled with God’s power and grace like a hitch to get anywhere at all.

we interacted with the lush landscape. It is a place where the power to choose is outwardly evident. In fact, it was during one of those walks that my grandfather talked with me about the temporary nature of the human life. He was a new Christian and eagerly commented on how the human life is like vapor that disappears, grass that withers, and a puff of smoke that wafts away. My young mind whirred to connect the dots at the forks of the road in that moment, but the conversation remains with me to this day.

There isn’t time to waste on indecision. Entertaining doubt is an expense much too extravagant. We can’t afford it. With my childhood sprinkled with poverty at times, I understand the importance of making even a little count and stretch. Little is much when God is in it.

As I pray for bystanders refusing grace’s invitation, I consider the frailty of my own decisions. I simply can’t make good ones without God’s continual aid. It’s a miracle I ever chose to surrender my life to God at all. It’s a miracle

As my heart is joined with His, I am in a position to make better choices, more redemptive ones. I begin to meditate on His goodness with the stamina of a one-track mind like a locomotive. And with that, my mind is kept in perfect peace. The peace is not a stagnant pond with life ebbing away. Instead, it is a river that is moving, productive, life-giving, and never will run dry.

I hear a train whistle blaring near my home as I write. Have you ever wondered what it takes for a train to switch tracks or make a turn among two divergent paths? A train conductor cannot make a detour independently. He relies on the flip of a switch to elevate the chosen path. This process means that the old, forgotten path is seemingly recessed in the earth, and the new, chosen path is elevated, making it the only way to go.

The Holy Spirit will do that for you. He will be your switch operator if you allow it. He will elevate righteousness for you and make that path the only way to go. He will give you a one-track mind. “Righteousness shall go before him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway,” (Psalm 85:13, NKJV).

Katie Loveless is a social worker, wife, and mother of five boys. She is a student of grace who enjoys writing, gardening, and empowering others to pursue stability.

Ringgold Church Directory

Baptist

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

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

1008 N. Beaumont Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-375-1008

Clearview Baptist Church

2183 Dietz Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

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 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

Living Faith Baptist Church Highway 41

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-891-1817

Midway Baptist Church

Highway 41 North

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-937-2317

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

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

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

Welcome Hill Baptist Church

223 Inman Street

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-965-4814

Church of Christ

Cohutta Road Church of Christ

2233 Mount Vernon Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-935-3884

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

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

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

Graysville UMC

2331 Graysville Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-891-9253

Ringgold UMC

7484 Nashville Street

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-935-4777

Woodstation UMC

13198 Alabama Highway

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-965-3360

Non-Denominational Battlefield Church of Faith

Highway 41 South

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-937-7729

Calvary Chapel Ringgold

548 Boynton Drive

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-952-1502

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

Messianic Ministry To Israel

P.O. Box 22654

Chattanooga, TN 37422

New Life Church

PO Box 1973

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-866-7799

Venue Church

3969 Cloud Springs Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

423-637-7100

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

Morton Memorial

560 Red Belt Rd.

Chickamauga, GA 30707

706-338-7176

Seventh-Day Adventist

Ringgold Seventh-Day Adventist Church

124 Kittle Street

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-935-3741

Battlefield Community

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

96 Hillman Lane

Ringgold, GA 30736

706-861-5999

Fort Oglethorpe 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

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

Cloud Springs Baptist Church

207 Cloud Springs Road

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-0164

First Baptist Church

Ft. Oglethorpe

2645 LaFayette Road

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-0232

Moriah Baptist Church

2864 Battlefield Parkway

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-8843

Nellie Head Memorial Baptist

2379 Catoosa Parkway

Tunnell Hill, GA 30755

706-935-5236

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

Victory Baptist Church

1013 Layfayette Road

Rossville, GA 30741

706-866-0371

Catholic

Saint Gerard Catholic Church

3049 Lafayette Road

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-861-9410

Church of Christ

Fort Oglethorpe Church of Christ

6 Harker Road

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-4124

Community

Battlefield Ministries Church

64 3rd Street

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-9090

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

1520 Cross Street

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-9773

Methodist

Fairview UMC

2112 McFarland Avenue

Rossville, GA 30741

423-653-1043

Fort Oglethorpe UMC

1733 Battlefield Parkway

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-820-6314

Newnan Springs UMC

78 Monanaw Avenue

Rossville GA 30741

706-866-6724

Nazarene

Battlefield Parkway Church of the Nazarene

3220 Battlefield Parkway

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-9838

Non-Denominational

Battlefield Praise & Worship

1337 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-913-0531

Chosen Generation Ministries

92 W Patterson Avenue

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

423-779-6777

Living Waters Ministries

1337 Battlefield Pkwy

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

423-255-8655

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

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church

1 Harker Road

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

706-866-0232

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Your Church Listing (423) 790-5378

All Things Are Possible

by Kristen West

Have you ever noticed that the Bible is full of “impossible” stories? Had they been published in an ancient newspaper, I can imagine some of the bold headlines reading:

Noah and His Family Survive Destructive Worldwide Flood!

Puny Shepherd Boy Annihilates Battle-Hardened Giant!

Man Trapped Overnight with Lions Lives to Tell About It!

EMPTY Tomb Discovered?!?

You’d be hard pressed to find a story in the Bible where a country, a people, or an individual wasn’t boxed in at one time or another. Solutions proved to be out of their reach. Their circumstances seemed bleak. It always appeared like the end was near, unavoidable, and without hope.

Yet, time after time, these stories get to a point where all the struggles, white-knuckle moments, and intense perplexity and pain is turned on its head as God moves, intervenes, and does the impossible.

The Bible—God’s incredible written Word to us—is a faithbuilding book. From cover to cover, it is packed with stories intentionally meant to grow and challenge us in our daily spiritual walk. The crux of every impossible story, when believed, continually reminds us that in our own strength, we are powerless. But God is not. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Maybe you feel like you’re drowning in your own personal flood right now, unable to see how things will ever get better. Perhaps you are facing your own personal giant who challenges you with taunts, guilt, and ridicule as he tempts you to think you’ll never get passed him. God knew we would need those faithboosting stories (and promises) about the impossible to spur us on in our own lives.

What is your “impossible” today, friend? Whatever it is, He already sees, cares, and is there with you. Roll

up your sleeves and dig in to some of those incredible faith-boosting stories so that just like Noah, David, Daniel, and Jesus, you can face your impossible with utter dependency on God as you believe today that with Him all things ARE possible!

WILLOW TREE FARMS

Nestled in the rolling foothills of Northwest Georgia. Conveniently located between Chattanooga and Atlanta, our family farm offers unrivaled beauty and serenity with just the right touch of rustic charm and modern amenities. Our lush grounds frame tranquil ponds. Cascading willow trees sway majestically in the mountain breezes. Cattle and llamas graze in nearby verdant fields as ducks and swans paddle peacefully atop shimmering waters. Aside from the pristine countryside, we offer a barn, a pavilion, two gazebos, an open, flat grassy area, and a fire pit for your special occasion. Whether you need indoor or outdoor settings for your next event, look no further than Willow Tree Farms.

Willow Tree Farms

Are you in need of a beautiful outdoor venue close to home for an event this year? Willow Tree Farms is on Post Oak Road in Ringgold, GA, right off Boynton Drive. We can accommodate anything, from birthday parties and family reunions to baby showers and weddings. We’ve even hosted concerts and corporate events. With the revenue we make sharing our home with the community for private events, we can turn around and invest in large public events for the whole community to raise money for different local charities throughout the year. These events bring fun to Ringgold families and help organizations such as The Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Center, North Georgia Animal Alliance, and Catoosa County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association.

Our 160-acre property has been the passion project of Alvin and Sherrie Mashburn for over ten years. What started as empty fields and a single little black barn has since turned into a luscious hidden paradise with six large ponds. Willow Tree Farms has a convertible indoor/outdoor pavilion, multiple barns, an aviary, a wedding arbor surrounded by willow trees, a 45-foot bridge, six fountains, three gazebos, and a big cozy firepit amongst its event amenities. Even with all of that, there’s still plenty of wide-open field space that we’ve added water and electricity to make it the perfect spot for inflatables, food trucks, stages, yard games, petting zoos, tents, and more!

In addition to being an event venue, Willow Tree Farms is also our home. Alvin and Sherrie Mashburn live on site. They raise black angus cattle and grow their own vegetables every year, in addition to growing hay for all the livestock. The big project we have going on this year includes moving Alvin and Sherrie from their current house on the property to a new one we are building right next to it. They will leave the space they are currently in, and it will become an upcoming addition to the venue. It boasts a bride and groom getting-ready suite, as well as a large reception hall that will be available in 2024. This brings our venue from a primarily outdoor retreat to one that has the best of both

Hayley Phillips Photography

worlds. Willow Tree Farms is a glimpse of willow trees and glistening waters alongside a luxurious indoor getaway.

The most popular feature of our event rental packages is catch-and-release fishing. Everyone is invited to enjoy our ponds when they book a private event with us. We keep them stocked with catfish, bass, and crappie! We are also now offering our very own decoration rental catalog this spring with everything from wedding arches to cornhole boards. Continuously seeing what we can do to make the event planning process even easier for our clients is something we strive for year-round.

One of our favorite ways to get involved in Ringgold, aside from our fundraising events, is with our vendor list. We put pride into keeping it full of exclusively small, locally owned businesses, just like us. There are so many talented people in Catoosa County that we have recommendations for just about everything! From photographers and florists to petting zoos and bounce house rentals, you name it, we’ve got a contact for it.

Our farm is a labor of love run almost exclusively by the family. Sherrie Mashburn is the mastermind behind the design of the farm and every building that sits on it today. Alvin Mashburn discovered a natural spring under the property and went to town in digging all of our ponds himself. His hands are also the ones that brought all of Sherrie’s creative visions to life and built them from the ground up. Their daughter, Stacy Mashburn, is a vet tech with a passion for llamas. She rescues animals of all kinds and brings them back to our farm to care for them. Their son, Trace Mashburn, is our resident trolley driver for our public fundraising events. He also does all he can to help around the farm and garden with maintenance each year. He also helps maintain their commercial property business

that funds the passion project that is Willow Tree Farms. It doesn’t stop there because the grandkids are also involved! Our farm manager and maintenance expert is Ian Bryson. He cares for the property and animals alongside Alvin every single day. Then their granddaughter, Cassidy Lightfoot, attended Georgia Northwestern to acquire her business degree to return home and help run the commercial property business and the events at the farm. Today, she is a business management graduate and our event coordinator. She ensures all of the private events booked with us go as smoothly as possible and puts her all into organizing our fundraisers throughout the year.

Of course, we couldn’t have made it this far in the last couple of years without a few more additions to the team. Barbara and Randall Johnson are retired Catoosa County school bus drivers that now live with us and help care for our animals as if they were their own. They are some of the most incredible people you will ever meet! We may have a small staff, but every one of us has a heart for bringing joy to the people of Ringgold. We are dedicated to providing the best service we can and serving our community. The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce made our year in 2021 when we were awarded their Micro Business of the Year award. We love watching memories be made at our home and hope to continue our venue for years and years to come.

If you’d like to check the farm out for yourself, you can take a virtual tour at www.willowtreefarms.com or visit our social medias on Facebook (@willowtreefarms) and Instagram (@willowtreefarmsringgold).

WILLOW TREE FARMS

Marriage—A Profound Mystery

by Matt Jensen

“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Family is the most important unit in society and the Church. Societies and churches are made up of families. Marriage—the covenant bond between one man and one woman until death—is the most important unit of the family. Without biblical marriage, families derail from God’s good

Women have an indispensable role in this task (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Finally, marriage is a supremely intimate relationship. It’s described as being naked and unashamed (Genesis 2:25). To know and love another completely in a physical and spiritual sense. To be one in communion even as you are one in union. This is the marvelous intimacy of a godly marriage. Paul can only call it a mystery! This mystery calls us to action.

A man must leave his father and mother. Not in an absolute sense, as if he can’t have anything to do with them anymore. It means that he leaves the authority of his parents’ house to become the head of a new family. This doesn’t exclude seeking advice, but much damage is done when a man slavishly follows the wishes of his parents to the detriment of his own family. Likewise, a woman is to leave her parents, and the two are to hold fast to one another. The moment you say, “I do,” your relationship with your spouse becomes your highest priority, second only to your relationship with God. It’s more important than your relationship with your work, parents, or even your kids. This is what it means to leave and hold fast to your spouse.

design. When families derail, societies and churches derail. There is much at stake here!

Not unhitching himself from the Old Testament, Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, saying, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The context of Genesis 2:24 reveals some important things about marriage.

First, God made man and woman in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Maleness and femaleness are not fluid. They’re not socially constructed. Maleness and femaleness are God’s chosen way of manifesting His own glory in and upon human beings. Secondly, woman was created as a suitable helper for man (Genesis 2:23). The task of filling and subduing the earth was primarily given to man; thus, the responsibility falls more heavily upon his shoulders. However, man can’t do it alone.

The staggering mystery and dignity of marriage is that it “refers to Christ and the Church.” It’s not merely for human flourishing. It’s a picture or living representation of the relationship between Christ and his Church. Christ was born, lived, died, and rose again for his Church. He enters an unbreakable covenant with Her sealed with His own blood and merit. The marriage has been established (union), and life with Christ has begun (communion). Christian, Christ knows everything about you and loves you! You may be reading this because you’re interested in marriage, but if you don’t know Christ, that needs to be your top priority. Knowing Christ is not the means to a good marriage. Marriage—as wonderful as it is—points to something greater than itself—a union and communion with God that is not ‘til death do us part. Death only ushers in the eternal celebration (Revelation 19:6-9)! Repent and believe the gospel.

Matt Jensen is a missionary from Reformation Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia. He and his wife, Danielle, are preparing to move to Thailand soon with their son, Judah. They are also anticipating the birth of another son, Gabriel.

Church Activities & Events

Oakwood Baptist Church

Sidewalk Prophets Songs & Stories Tour

Thursday, March 2

4501 Bonny Oaks Dr, Chattanooga, TN

Parkway Baptist Temple

Karen Peck & New River

Saturday, March 4 | 6:30PM

65 Stuart Rd, Fort Oglethorpe, GA

Christ First Church

Ladies Bible Study & Fellowship

Sunday, March 5 | 5:30PM

5994 Martha Berry Hwy, LaFayette, GA

Relating To Your Kids

by David Beckmann

Parents, you love your kids. You want them to turn out well and become men and women of God. You want to be a good parent. God wants this, too. He loves your kids; indeed, they are more His than yours! We are ultimately raising them for Him, to be Jesus’s disciples.

Yet, we know that there is work that needs to be done in their hearts that only He can do. So, it makes sense that one of the most important things we have to do as parents is to be sure we are not relating to our children in some way that is hindering or frustrating what God is wanting to do

worth, 4) having unrealistic goals—trying to make them be or do something that God has not given them the talent for, 5) failing to show affection, 6) not providing and protecting, 7) leaving them to themselves—not teaching and training them toward godly adulthood, 8) destructive or habitual criticism, 9) not matching correction with the weight of the offense, i.e., overcorrecting, and thus, 10) being unfair— which is huge!

The other side of the coin is to be thoughtful and purposeful in our relationship with our children: nurture and train. If we are just letting things go along and only intervening when they are doing something we don’t like or that bothers or embarrasses us, we are just being capricious. We are not taking on the responsibility of parenting. There is no nurturing or training going on; there is no plan, no objective, and certainly no careful maintenance of a good relationship with the kids. We are certainly not modeling for them what their Father in heaven is like.

for them. We want to be a help to their discipleship, not a hindrance!

St. Paul gives us some help with this. Combining Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21, we read: “Fathers, a) do not provoke your children to anger or resentment, lest they be discouraged, but b) bring them up in the nurture and correction of the Lord.”

So here we have “two sides of a coin” for relating to our kids. First, do not treat them in such a way that leads to the breakdown of their relationship with us, resulting in a loss of hope. We learn from John MacArthur that we must watch out for: 1) overprotecting, 2) favoritism, 3) depreciating their

And by the way, who was the imbecile who said you maintain your dignity in your position by never apologizing for anything? Good grief! God doesn’t have to apologize for anything because He is perfect. We, however, must—and the best way is to do it immediately upon an offense. The kids know when we are wrong. When we apologize, they see we are being honest. Few things earn their respect better than humble honesty.

Raising children is part of your own discipleship; part of your own training as a child of God. Embrace it, and lean on your loving Father who gives you grace to follow His example (2 Corinthians 9:8). Keep up this good work—they grow up so fast!

The Rev. David Beckmann is an Anglican priest and Moderator of the C.S. Lewis Society of Chattanooga. Recently, he was director of the C. S. Lewis Study Centre at The Kilns, Oxford, UK. He blogs at revbeckmann.com.

The Gentle Giant

by Rhonda Beavers

Iwas recently privileged to witness an act of a husband’s love for his wife. A young married couple who lived next door to me were expecting their third child who was due in one of the hottest months of the year, and was coincidentally my birthday.

One warm summer day after the husband returned home from work, instead of resting from his labors, he joined his small wife in her walk around the oval shaped walkway in the courtyard of our apartment complex. He towered over her, not in a threatening way, but as her protector. The wife had been doing a lot of these walks recently, probably having been prescribed by her doctor.

On this occasion, the couple strolled leisurely around the oval with her small hand tenderly tucked into her husband’s folded arm to steady her gait, which was affected by the weight of their unborn son. She would gaze up into his eyes and he into hers as they joined in deep conversation. Who knows about what they spoke—plans for the

new baby, discussions about the older children’s school performance, or even their plans for a home of their own. Maybe they discussed how to bear the weight of the responsibility of being good parents.

I watched them unobserved for quite a while, drinking in the sweetness of the moment. This walk was a reminder of how Christ loves us.

Ephesians 5:25 states, “Husbands love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Although He is much bigger than us in every way, He is a gentle giant. He gazes down to look into our hearts, to listen to our every word, to our every problem, and steady us when we stumble. All we need to do is to take His arm.

On My Mind

by Judy Hood

I woke up this morning with you on my mind

My feelings for you I just cannot hide

My faith grows stronger with each passing day

From your word, it’s my manna, you made a way

I look to the heavens looking for you

But there you are right beside me in everything I do

I will not fear as I walk through this life on earth

What can man do to me? You knew me before birth

Lord, you have loved me with an everlasting love

I can’t wait to get to heaven to give you a long-lasting hug

My love for you I’ll not be able to control as we stroll down those streets of gold

And I look upon your face your radiance to behold

The Master’s Voice

by Brent Goodge

Have you ever ridden the emotional roller coaster? It seems we all experience the feeling sometimes. One moment life is great. The next, the entire world seems to come caving in around us. As Christians, we all want to put on good faces. We polish up our testimony of broken lives before we met Christ and how everything is different now. And in the best sense, that is, or at least should be, true. If the peace offered to us in Christ doesn’t change the entire outlook of our existence, there’s a serious problem.

But often in our quiet moments, when we don’t have to be strong, how often do we see the waves of life crashing around us and wonder, “Why?” Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6 tell a story to remind us this question is not new.

Almost a year earlier, Jesus had angered the religious leaders by clearing the temple of their profiteering (John 2). Jesus had recently been rejected by his childhood friends and neighbors (Mark 6). John the Baptist had just been beheaded (Matthew 14). And of the relatively few who believed in Jesus, many would be turning against Him within 24 hours (John 6).

In the midst of all the failures to obtain popular support to make Jesus king, the feeding of the five thousand seemed to the disciples to be the perfect opportunity. Jesus took a small boy’s lunch and fed close to twenty thousand people. A leader who could feed vast armies, heal the wounded, and even raise the dead was a leader who could restore Israel to the top of the Mediterranean food chain.

The disciples’ hopes rose to a fevered pitch. This was the moment! Their dreams were coming true. They were no longer following a no-name. They were going to be the cabinet for the new King of Israel.

And then Jesus messed everything up. He told the disciples to take a boat across the lake. Jesus dispersed

the crowd. And then He disappeared up the hill to pray alone. The disciples were crushed. The opportunity had vanished. They sullenly left the dock for the opposite shore. A terrible storm arose. The storm was so severe that even these seasoned sailors were sure all hope was lost. They were going to die. And then they saw it. They weren’t sure what it was, but Something or Someone was walking on the water. Then It spoke. “Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Inside the boat, Jesus asked, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

From the pride and jubilation of the afternoon, to the sullen disappointment of the evening, to utter despair of life itself in the storm, to solemn awe in the presence of the Master. The disciples had been through it all. When all hope had died, the voice of the Master changed their world. Will we, of little faith, allow His voice to change ours?

Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County and prays for focus to listen for the Master’s voice rather than staring at the surrounding waves.

A New Heart

by David Huff

Ilove springtime; birds start chirping and frolicking in the yard, grass turns green, and trees start blooming again. New life begins to spring up everywhere. For many plants, animals, and humans, it is a fresh beginning and an opportunity for something new. Spring often makes me think of the creation story. God is creating everything from nothing. There is a part of the creation story that I am afraid many of us have forgotten.

3, He calls out, “Where are you?” Firstly, this lets us know that Adam and Eve were used to communing with God in the garden because they hid when they head His footsteps. Secondly, this tells us that even though God knew what had happened, He still went looking for His creation. That is the beauty of the creation story that is still present today.

God looked at everything that He had just created: water, land, trees, animals, man and woman, and He pronounced, “It is good.” God was well pleased with what He had created. Every time I see new life forming in the springtime, I wonder what Eden was like when God finished creating the Earth. We know He said, “It is good,” but how peaceful was it for Adam and Eve communing with the living God?

In the Genesis account, we are given a sample of what Eden felt like. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God walked through the garden to look for them. In Genesis

God, in all His glory, knows each of us sins and falls short of His glory. Yet He still seeks us, He still searches for us, and He still wants to heal us. Are we like Adam and Eve and try to hide from God’s presence because of our sin? He already knows them. Do you remember the story of Jonah, who tried to run away from God and found himself in the stomach of a great fish? King David was not a perfect king by any means. He had a sin problem, and yet David is known as a man after God’s own heart. Why? King David cried out to God, “Search me and create a new heart in me.” He also asked God to seek him.

It is never too late to start over, and it is never too late to ask forgiveness as long as you are still alive. The very God that created each one of us is waiting on us, seeking us, and is calling us to Himself. May we stop hiding from the God who loves us so much, open our hearts, and allow God to create a new heart in each one of us.

My name is David Huff, and I am married to Brittany and together we have five wonderful kids. We attend Rock Bridge Community Church Calhoun where I serve on the prayer team, host team, and production team. I am also a senior at Liberty University.

The Influence Of Underage Drinking & Marijuana Use

Rates

Bank-issued, FDIC-insured

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$1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00

per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/11/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

www.edwardjones.com

www.edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

706-858-9676

706-858-9676 FDI-1867H-A

Springtime Lemon Cookies

Lemon cookies are the perfect treat to celebrate a spring day! We recommend sharing these cookies with a friend during your mid-afternoon coffee date, popping one in your child’s lunchbox for a mid-day surprise, or treating yourself to one (or maybe two) after a long day! If you try out this recipe at home, tag us on Facebook at Goodnews CM and let us know your thoughts!

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• ½ cup of all-purpose flour

• ½ cup of almond flour

• ¼ cup of tapioca flour

• ¼ cup of cane sugar

• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt

• ¼ cup of coconut oil

• 2 teaspoons of lemon zest

• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon of milk (or dairy-free milk alternative)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cane sugar, lemon zest, salt, and flour. Then, stir in coconut oil, lemon juice, and milk. Combine until all ingredients form a dough.

3. Place your mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes. This will help you roll out the dough easier!

4. Then, roll out your dough and use cookie-cutters to cut out as many cookies as possible. Place cookies on the parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes.

Sitting Duck

by Karla Smedley

How ignorant are we to simply sit stagnant, making us an easy target to be tempted by Satan? God’s Holy Word states no one is immune to the temptations of Satan, and yet, we often sit still, like a duck waiting for the hunter to take his shot. Will you sit like a dumb duck, or will you take action and protect yourself?

Take A Page from Dobson’s Book

Have you ever read a line that sticks with you forever? I gleaned one such thought that has resonated with me for over twenty years. In James Dobson’s book, Coming Home: Timeless Wisdom, he creates the image of a couple sitting on a lake in separate row boats. As the title indicates, he shares wise words, hoping the reader will apply them to his/her own life. He draws the picture of the separate boats drifting apart because neither of the rowers are willing to put in the effort to move toward one another—just sitting like ducks with a target on their backs. While motionless, Satan will tempt them, and if they act upon these temptations, they will actually shift further away in the opposite direction. He suggests that both are in control of their boat and should pursue action, intentionally rowing to one another.

Applying to My Relationship with God

What a wonderful comparison for a stagnant marriage. However, couldn’t this be said about our relationship with God? God does pursue us. In the book of Matthew, he shares the parable that Jesus told concerning the shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine, seeking to gather the one sheep that is lost! Yes, God would row towards me while I chase after a temptation that Satan has baited me with. Sometimes, I fall for his methods: hook, line, and sinker. More often though,

I find myself just sitting there like that ignorant duck resisting Satan’s blatant temptations, but making no movement toward God. Thus, I drift away from Him whenever Satan tosses a pebble, one of his less subtle allures, in the pond, causing me to drift with the ripples. When I give in to his coaxing, my boat weighs more, producing increased difficulties in managing the oars to draw closer to Him.

The Good News

There is a way to find my way back to God. Dump the contents of my sin out of my boat, and turn toward Him.

• Ask for forgiveness and repent

• Know that God forgives as far as the East is to the West

• Remember God loves me

• Pray, asking God to help me feel His presence

• Read His word and seek His wise ways

• Apply this wisdom to my life, overcoming my consequences

• Learn from my mistakes and strive to live like Jesus more each day

Ditch that sitting duck attitude and migrate towards the Lord. You will be surprised by the peace you will find when you cultivate your relationship, rowing toward God every day.

Karla Smedley lives in Dalton, Georgia, where she has taught 5th through 8th grade for the past twenty-four years. She is a member of Emmaus Baptist Church and has two grown children. She enjoys singing with the praise team at church, and she writes a Christian blog, Smorgasbord of Sisterhood, with her cousin Donna. About The Author

Fear Not?...Not!

by Lori Sentell

We are reminded in Isaiah 41:10 that we are not to fear. This Scripture tells us that He is with us, yet, in our present world, we see ourselves and others around us experiencing fear. What can we do when everything we see and hear wants to evoke fear into our lives? We need to take a closer look at the Scriptures that can help us overcome fear in ourselves and others. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you: Be ye not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous hand.”

Our Heavenly Father does not want us to live in fear. He assures us that no matter the circumstance, He is ever present. He wants us to know that in the moments and times when fear tries to grip us, we are not to be consumed by it. He desires for us to realize that He is God and that we can cast every fear (care) upon Him. We cannot overcome it alone but can make it because of His promises. Knowing that He will help and strengthen us is so encouraging!

In Isaiah 43:1, the Word tells us, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

He reminds us so many times not to fear. He felt it was important and necessary to tell us so because

He knew that we would experience stress, worry, and even terror. Our life experiences can be treacherous and unpredictable. We all go through difficult times that are overwhelming. I think David understood this when he stood in front of Goliath that day. He knew that Jehovah God was with him. Others were in terror and fear as Goliath ridiculed them, yet he chose to fear not! David slew the giant that day because of his faith and trust in God.

We can see the giant of fear in our lives fall. Do not allow fear, worry, and anxiety to taunt you any longer. Refuse to give in, stand up in faith, and trust God to bring you through. Realize that you are His child, and He cares about every detail of your life. Share with others around you how the Lord has helped you trust more in Him. Fear not!

Lori Sentell is the pastor’s wife of Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, and she is a teacher at Hopewell Elementary School.