September 2022

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.

About Us

WRITERS

Abdiel Medina

Dr. Andrew Lee

Danette Reeves

Danny Hesterly

David Huff

Donald Cantrell

Dorothy Teague

Greg Grotewold

Judy Hood

Linetta Cain

Monica Gambrell

Nancy King

Pam Wattenbarger

Samuel Burger Sandra Gilmore

Shelley Knick Susan Lavigne

SALES

Shane Franks 706-270-2410

Email: dalton.goodnews@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Paula Knipp 423-310-4207

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!

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.

GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk

6 What is the Will of God? by Samuel Burger

GoodNews for Kids

8 More-ish by Danny Hesterly

GoodNews Money Matters

10 “ABOUT THAT ONE MILLION DOLLARS...” by Andrew Lee

GoodNews for Men

12 Rest by David Huff

GoodNews for Women

14 Send Me Butterflies by Nancy King

GoodNews for Everyone

18 Is Obedience Necessary? by Danette Reeves

GoodNews for Life

20 God’s Story by Linetta Cain

GoodNews Cover Story

22 Saving Limbs and Restoring Lives: Why Every Community Needs A PAD Vascular Center

GoodNews for Everyone

24 A Good Word by Dorothy Teague

GoodNews for Everyone

26 Pleasures Forevermore by Greg Grotewold

GoodNews Poetry

28 Thinking Of Me and You by Judy Hood

GoodNews for Everyone

30 Walking With Molly: Part 3 by Shelley Knick

GoodNews for Parents

32 From Tents to Tweens by Donald Cantrell

GoodNews for your Taste Buds

34 Apple Streusel Cake by Pam Wattenbarger

GoodNews for Everyone

36 Who’s Watching? by Monica Gambrell

GoodNews for Everyone

38 Enjoying Our Differences by Susan Lavigne

GoodNews for Everyone

40 A Family-tree Hugger by Sandra Gilmore

GoodNews for Students

42 Courage to Write by Abdiel Medina

What is the Will of God?

by Samuel Burger

1. The will of God is about our sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Sanctification is the process of advancing in holiness. The Christian is being progressively transformed by the Lord into His nature. The Christian life is a process of renewal until the ultimate sanctification, when the body goes back to dust and the believer goes to reside with the Lord.

The Apostle Paul writes in another place of this progressive renewal. He writes that we should let God change the way we think. He tells us to be constantly transformed by the renewing of our mind. Consequently, we will then know the will of God (Romans 12:2). Therefore, the will of God begins with the discipline of an engaged relationship with God that brings about a change in the way we think and act. Our Lord calls it discipleship.

2. Our sanctification lays a godly foundation for our choices. (Romans 12:2)

Note here, if you will, the word for “transform.” The word metamorphosis is derived from the Greek use of transform, meaning changing form in keeping with inner reality. In other words, you are becoming what you already are in the eyes of God. Your status and identity are settled. However, there is a process of daily discipleship and transformation through the renewing of the word of God. The Christian life is a process of continual change into the likeness of God.

Therefore, the will of God is more concerned with who you are rather than what you do because what you do originates from who you are. Your sanctification becomes the foundation and standard for your choices. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, along with His empowerment to study and pray, will lead to a glorious life of constant development to be like Christ.

3. Our choices are built on that godly foundation.

Who we marry, where we live, what church we attend, the occupation we choose, and how we treat others are dependent upon the type of foundation we build. God doesn’t specifically tell us every detail or even the specificities of the future. However, God is concerned with your present and progressive sanctification that will give you direction. No one need to wonder whether they are in the will of God as long as they are committed to the holy process of a daily transformative relationship with God, whether they can sense the change or not. God is responsible for the progress.

We may not understand the season we are in or why we are in frustration. One thing to remember that will get us through the toughest of times—God is sanctifying you to make you more like Him. This should be our primary goal, that is, committed to being more like Christ. If you are committed to the process, God is committed to your progress. Your spiritual maturity matters to God.

Samuel Burger is pastor of Chestuee Worship Center in Calhoun, Tennessee. He holds a MA in ministry from Piedmont Divinity School and is happily married to Danyelle.

About The Author

Guy Percy

Financial Representative

Guy Percy

Guy Percy

7371 Nashville St

Financial Representative

Guy Percy

Ringgold, GA 30736

Guy Percy

Financial Representative

Financial Representative

Financial Representative

7371 Nashville St Ringgold, GA 30736

7371 Nashville St Ringgold, GA 30736

guy.percy@countryfinancial.com (706)935-3365

7371 Nashville St

7371 Nashville St Ringgold, GA 30736

Ringgold, GA 30736

guy.percy@countryfinancial.com (706)935-3365

guy.percy@countryfinancial.com (706)935-3365

guy.percy@countryfinancial.com (706)935-3365

Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.

0221-505HC_15939-1/14/2022

Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.

Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.

Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.

Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.

0221-505HC_15939-1/14/2022

0221-505HC_15939-1/14/2022

guy.percy@countryfinancial.com (706)935-3365 0221-505HC_15939-1/14/2022

0221-505HC_15939-1/14/2022

During the month of September, we are offering our Tuesday and Thursday Farm Tours to both lodging and non-lodging guests! This is the FIRST TIME EVER that the general public has been offered the opportunity to participate in our most popular farm experience. These tours will be offered at 3PM and 4:30PM on both days and you will have the option to add camel and/or pony rides to your tour which already includes entry into our petting zoo. Space is limited so register early through our website.

More-ish

by Danny Hesterly

This may not seem all that impressive to a 10-yearold, but I’ve been married for 6,570 days. I’ve known people who have been married 3 times that number (I know, I’ll stop with the math but if you want to get some practice in, what is 6,570 x 3 =?).

One of the best things about being married to Erin is getting to be a part of her family.

Quick story: When I was growing up in Southern Illinois, my mom and dad would tell me, my brother, and my sister that when we all grew up, they would

grandkids, but it’s nice to have Erin’s family close by— especially because Mimi (Erin’s mom) makes some of the best desserts in Ringgold, GA (some might even say the world).

Have you ever had a piece of chocolate pie or a snickerdoodle cookie or an apple turnover, where when you finish the late bite, you’re going for more? It happens to me every time. Every dessert Mimi makes is from scratch (never from a box) and is full of love, which makes it out-of-this-world-yummy. We always say her desserts have a “more-ish” taste.

In Psalm 34:8 it says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the person who trusts in him!”

We see in the passage that God is good. Just like my Mimi’s desserts have a “moreish” taste, you can never get enough of God’s goodness in your life. Now, we don’t taste God in the same way we eat food, that’s just funny. But we do experience His blessings every day in our lives. Think about it, when do you experience the goodness of God?

sell everything and move to Korea. My mom is from Seoul, South Korea, and hasn’t been home in a long time. My parents said this ALL the time. I never thought they’d actually do it. When I was twenty-nine, they sold everything and moved to Korea! They actually did it. I’m so happy my mom is reunited with her family and my dad gets to eat all the good Korean food all the time. Done with the quick story.

When my parents moved to Korea, Erin’s parents became an important part of my life. I still talk with my parents over video calls and they get to talk with their

How about a wake-up hug, or when you eat lunch with a friend, or get a high five on the playground? How about when you do something wrong and you ask God to forgive you? God’s goodness is all around you all the time.

So, the next time you have a cookie and you think to yourself, “I could eat another one!” think about how much better the goodness of God is in your life. I promise you’ll never get enough of the “more-ish” blessings He has for you.

Danny Hesterly lives in Chattanooga, TN where he spends most of his days in coffee shops helping others discover their part in God’s amazing story. Danny has two children (12, 10) and has been married to his lovely bride for 17 years.

About The Author

“ABOUT THAT ONE MILLION DOLLARS...”

MONEY MATTERS WITH DR. ANDREW LEE

Dr. Andrew Lee is professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.

In Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, young George Bailey walks up to the soda counter in the drug store, pulls the handle on the whatchamacallit, and exclaims, “I wish I had a million dollars!” When the lighter ignites, he shouts, “Hot dog!” In 1946, one million dollars seemed like an enormous sum. But one million of those 1946 dollars would be worth about $66,000 today, all because of that dreaded word that’s all over the financial news this year: inflation. Inflation isn’t just what Uncle Bob’s waistline experiences after Thanksgiving dinner. Rising costs mean that our money buys less with each passing year, especially when the reported inflation rate has reached 9.1 % as of summer 2022.

Yet, the idea of accumulating a retirement nest egg of one million dollars continues to tantalize us as being the “magic number,” while also discouraging many who view that magic number as out of reach and unrealistic. What would a one-million-dollar nest egg look like today, in terms of sustaining someone’s retirement? Let’s start with the “4% Rule.” This is a phrase coined by Bill Bengen around 1994; Bengen used decades of historical data to conclude that investors could withdraw 4% of their nest egg every year during retirement and never run out of money, assuming that the nest egg is invested in fifty percent stocks and fifty percent bonds. Taking into account historical periods such as bear markets, recessions, and pandemics, the 4% withdrawal rate should ensure that you don’t outlive your money in retirement. Granted, there are those who feel differently, arguing for a 3% withdrawal rate (let’s call them “Negative Nancy”) or a 5%-6% withdrawal rate (“Optimistic Oscar”), but for illustration purposes, let’s use the wellknown 4% Rule.

Withdrawing 4% of your one million dollars means you’re living on $40,000 per year, or $3,333 per month. But don’t forget about taxes: if your retirement account was tax-deferred like a 401(k) account, you’ll be taxed on each withdrawal during retirement. So that $3,333 income per month is really looking more like $3,000 (or less) per month. Suddenly that one-million-dollar nest egg is providing less income per month than you were likely bringing home while working (shucks)! The good news, however, is that you should be getting something from Social Security, perhaps between $1,000-$2500 per month, and your monthly expenses might well be lower during retirement, if for instance, you have paid off your home mortgage by the time you retire. The 4% Rule adjusts for inflation each year, so if inflation is 3% during your second year of retirement, you’d withdraw $41,200 that following year, and so on. Hitting that milestone of $1 million isn’t impossible: by investing only $200 per month in the stock markets from age 25-65, you’d have $1 million at retirement (at a historical 10% rate of return each year).

So, George Bailey’s one million dollar wish in 1946 would be worth only $66,000 in today’s buying power. But conversely, you’d need $15 million in 2022 to have the equivalent buying power of $1 million in 1946. What would the 4% Rule look like on a nest egg of fifteen million dollars? You’d be withdrawing $600,000 per year, or $50,000 per month (and that’s not including any Social Security check). But don’t forget about paying income taxes at the current top rate of 37% (ouch). After taxes of $18,500 per month, you’d be forced to scrape by on a paltry $31,500 per month. Still, that’s a lot of Grey Poupon mustard. So make a plan now. “He who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands” (Isaiah 32:8).

Rest

by David Huff

In this world today, we are taught at a very early age that if you want anything in life, you have to work to get it. While this is true in many instances, there is also a trap in this saying. For many people this translates to I must work every hour that I can so that I can have a better life. In the process of working yourself into the ground, you neglect rest and many times, a proper diet. The more you work, the more stress that piles up on you. The more that you begin to stress, the less you receive proper rest.

I was tired, I was restless, and I was hurting. I was hurting because it was my family that paid the price. I was hurting because I no longer had enough time to get quiet before God and listen to His direction. Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you take up my yoke and learn from Me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The word yoke is a device that was connected over two animals to hold them together and keep them in pace while plowing. A yoke was heavy and sturdy so that it could not be broken. It would tire you out to try and carry it. A heavy yoke could be compared to the worlds demands upon us to have the American Dream.

Sooner or later, you’ll realize you are just going through the motions of everyday life without truly realizing that your mind and body are paying a heavy toll for it. Your spiritual life and family take a back seat to the pressures of staying caught up with the Joneses. For me, this scenario is all too familiar. I got so busy doing the very things that I thought would make my life easier. I said when I get this or that or when I reach this plateau, I will stop and slow down. The truth is with each “this or that” and “plateau” that I reached I set new goals.

Jesus, however, says carry my yoke for it is lighter and easier. The world’s demands will tire us out, not just physically but spiritually as well. When we take the time to rest in Jesus’ arms, we receive a refreshing that gives us the strength to walk though this world. Romans tells us to renew our minds so that we can discern what is good. The only way we can renew our mind is in the rest that comes from Jesus. When we take time to be with Him and to make Him first, we find a rest that no sleep or vacation can give 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. I am also a senior at Liberty University.

About The Author

706-858-9676

Send Me Butterflies

by Nancy King

It was a regular day, like all the other days, when I had gone to see my eye specialist. I expected nothing different on this day. However, I learned to listen when God tells you to do something because you never know when you are going to touch someone’s life.

I went in, and sat my purse on the counter to register as usual. The lady working behind the counter fell in love with my purse. It was pale blue and covered in butterflies, and she said that butterflies were her thing. I told her that I understood that, and I really did. When my niece was taking my sister Dianne to doctors’ appointments, they started noticing butterflies. Every trip, they saw them, and after we lost my sister and would visit her grave, there would be a butterfly on her headstone.

I was called back to see the doctor, and the thought kept going through my mind to give her my purse. Then, as we people always do when God is trying to tell us something, we don’t want to listen. I asked a nurse if she knew where I could find a bag to put my stuff in, and she didn’t have anything. So, I figured that was that.

I finished my test and went to check out, when I heard

myself asking if it is against policy for patients to give employees anything. Another lady sitting next to the receptionist that liked my purse said, “Let me get the Kleenex.” Another employee handed me a small box and I started emptying my purse out. The receptionist said, “Are you serious?”

I said, “Yes, I am.” I own more purses than is probably allowed by the law anyway. She started crying.

“You don’t understand—my mother has brain cancer and has six months left. I have been having a really bad day. I prayed, God, you need to send me butterflies today,” she said. She said I would never know what it meant to her. She wanted to know if she could give me a hug, and of course, I agreed. They took a picture of us together before I left. So, when that still small voice tells you something to do, listen. God can use us in many ways for His glory if we just listen.

Nancy King is originally from Etowah but moved to Cleveland in 2006. She has one son, Jared, and a daughterin-law, Jennifer. She attends Lakeview Baptist Church in Athens, Tennessee.

About The Author

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

Is Obedience Necessary?

by Danette Reeves

“And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22-23a, ESV).

When I was in college, Keith Green sang a song about obedience. I remember thinking at that time that it was harsh. In all honesty, sometimes I still do. Even though I may not agree with all of the lyrics, he wrote some very thought-provoking words:

“To obey is better than sacrifice. I don’t need your money; I want your life. And I hear you say that I’m coming back soon, but you act like I’ll never return.”

Another portion reads: “Well, you speak of grace and my love so sweet. How you thrive on milk but reject my meat!”

I was a young Christian then and had not been taught about obedience to God’s Word. I spent many years feasting on milk and accomplishing my daily check-off list: Read my Bible verse, pray, thank God, ask forgiveness, forgive others, tell Him what I want, and do it again the next day.

When one is a student of the Word, we see that the Bible teaches obedience is central to our Christian life and goes far beyond milk and the easy fluff. Jesus calls us to the hard stuff when He says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34). In Luke, He states it even firmer, “If anyone would come after Me, let him take up his cross DAILY and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Take up my cross DAILY? Really?

That is the call to obedience. To live daily, hourly, minute-by-minute, following Jesus. It sounds great until my feet hit the floor in the mornings, and I realize this is more

than reading my Bible verse and saying a quick prayer. It is my heart, my inner being, my whole life. It is Jesus calling me to follow Him closely, living out His ministry His way and denying myself.

If I truly believe Jesus is coming soon, will I not throw off all distractions and run to follow Him? What does that even look like? 2 Peter 1:5-11 tells us to “make EVERY

effort to supplement our faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and selfcontrol with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” He says that if we are growing in these qualities, we will be effective and fruitful. In other words, we will take up our crosses and follow Jesus. Obedience. Is it necessary?

Jesus states in Matthew 10:38, “And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of Me.” Yes, obedience IS necessary.

Danette Reeves and her husband, Charlie, live in Cleveland, Tennessee. They attend The Church at Grace Point. One of their joys is being Oma and Opa to four grandchildren. Her heart’s desire is to be a student and a teacher of the Word, and a consistent follower of Jesus.

About The Author

Church Activities & Events

Abba’s House Advance 2022

Sunday, September 18 - Wednesday, September 21

5208 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN

Redemption to the Nations Church Emanate: A Missions Summit

Friday, September 2 - Saturday, September 3

1908 Bailey Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Women of Fire

Thursday, September 22 - Saturday, September 24

1908 Bailey Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Philadelphia Baptist Church Appointed Quartet

Sunday, September 25 | 10:45AM

1065 Pine Grove Rd, Ringgold, GA

God’s Story

by Linetta Cain

Iremember, as a teenager, hearing my mom tell the stories of my childhood health difficulties. A bad UTI once landing me in Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. She would then proceed to tell of how God healed me, and there were no complications after that.

Fast forward to the year 1997. Just twenty-one years old, young, happy, my whole life ahead of me! It was my first annual exam. I’m so thankful for the doctor God placed in my life at that moment. She took what she saw seriously and referred me to Shands Nephrology in Gainesville, Florida, where I lived at the time.

After numerous tests and labs, I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD. There are five stages of CKD, and I was already showing at stage 2. How did this happen? Why me, God? Please heal me, Lord, was my cry. It was a devastating moment filled with questions, fears, and tears. I felt so alone. What was this degenerative disease going to do to my future? Would I still be able to have children? The list went on.

Then, that warrior spirit rose up within me. I still remember the day. After much research, I created a meal plan that would hopefully help improve creatinine and slow the progression of CKD. It did work, and my lab work started looking better. By 2005, I was only stage 3 and stable. I had moved to the Cleveland area and married. Life was an adventure, but my CKD was always in the back of my mind. I prayed every day for healing and truly believed it would be divine.

Having our daughter in 2009 lowered my kidney function some as expected, but what a blessing from God! Each nephrology appointment, I would hold my breath, anticipating results. I would picture, in my mind, the doctor being amazed by them. My faith was strong! By 2020,

my numbers were declining each visit. Now stage 5, dreading the thoughts of possible dialysis. You see, for 23 years, I had always said I would not need dialysis or transplant because God was going to heal me. I kept my strong faith, but where I went wrong was predicting what God was going to do.

He was writing another story—a painful experience with a beautiful ending.

By 2021, I had been on Vanderbilt’s kidney transplant list for almost five years. For the first time that summer, I was feeling the symptoms of kidney failure—metal taste, chronic fatigue, decreased concentration. During my August nephrology appointment, I said those words I had hoped to never have to say, “Doc, I think it’s time.”

On September 6, 2021, I went to my first dialysis treatment. I was terrified! My dad drove me and prayed with me. I remember crying in fear, like a child again. It was rough! But each week improved, and I started to feel better. The team at my center were now great friends that I looked forward to seeing three times a week. By week four, I was in a routine I could handle!

God’s Story...

A phone call I received on December 2, 2021 changed it all. “Mrs. Cain, we have a match for you!” The call from Vanderbilt I had waited on for almost five years was here! One day short of 13 weeks on dialysis and without it, I wouldn’t have been as prepared. On December 3, 2021, after all tests were run to determine a “perfect match,” I received my gift! God ceremoniously orchestrated every step. I’m forever grateful to my donor’s family that chose to donate life in the midst of their heartache.

Have there been challenges since? Oh yes! But I see the big picture now. A 25-year puzzle pieced together. God’s story!

Linetta Cain is wife to Greg, mother to Abigail, and 18-year resident of Cleveland, TN. Her family attends Mt Olive Church of God. Growing up in a minister’s home, Linetta learned at an early age to adapt to change and challenges.

About The Author

Saving Limbs and Restoring Lives: Why Every Community Needs

A PAD Vascular Center

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. When you develop PAD, your extremities—usually your legs— don’t receive enough blood flow to keep up with the demand of walking. This causes symptoms, most notably leg pain when walking (claudication) or weakness that can lead to falling.

Today over 22.3 million Americans suffer from PAD or blocked arteries, which causes over 185,000 amputations to be performed in the United States each year. Additionally, there is a regional disparity, with 40% of these amputation surgeries occurring in the southern states.

Many patients present with painful walking as their primary symptom. However, 40% of patients with PAD have an asymptomatic presentation or blame their leg issues on something else. Typically, people with PAD experience painful cramping in the hips, thighs, or calves

with walking, climbing stairs or exercising. PAD puts patients at a greater risk for heart attack, stroke, and limb loss because the disease occurs in arteries all over the body.

A simple ankle-brachial blood pressure test can be performed, which is the first key to detecting disease. If the diagnosis of PAD is made, then a medical treatment plan can be put into place to reduce further damage to the arteries.

Many people with PAD have no identifiable symptoms or attribute their symptoms to something else, such as aging. Be evaluated if you are experiencing painful muscle cramping in the legs when you are walking or being active, and the pain does not stop with the activity.

Becoming aware of your risk factors and signs/ symptoms is the first critical piece to the puzzle, and a simple way to remember these is the word FLOW:

Feeling of Pain in the legs, Loss of Sensation, Open Sores that won’t heal, Weakness when walking.

In some cases, people with PAD may not experience symptoms until the disease is advanced. Those with severe PAD might have the following symptoms:

• Leg muscle tiredness, heaviness or cramping

• Toes or feet that look pale, discolored or blue

• Leg or foot pain that disturbs sleep

• Sores or wounds on toes, feet or legs that heal slowly or not at all

• One leg or foot that feels colder than the other

• Thick or yellow toenails that are not growing

While PAD can’t be cured, it can be managed with appropriate treatment options. They include:

• Clot removal: A catheter can be used to deliver drugs to dissolve a clot that restricts blood flow, or the clot can be removed directly to restore blood flow and preserve the limb.

• Arterial surgery: Traditional treatment for PAD symptoms is to remove or bypass the arterial disease. Bypass is often the most preferred treatment in the legs or the abdomen, where the disease can be more extensive.

• Stenting and angioplasty: Less invasive than surgery, small balloons are used in the artery to open blockages. The balloon is inflated, stretches, and opens the artery for improved blood flow and is then removed. A stent, a metal device, can be inserted to expand the artery, enhancing blood flow to the leg.

• Prescription medication: Drugs can be prescribed to lower cholesterol, control high blood pressure, control blood sugar, improve blood flow in the body, and prevent blood clots.

a healthy blood flow and keep the “tissue” alive in the foot. Unfortunately, this message has NOT been communicated adequately to patients and families. As a direct result of delays in diagnosis and therapy, amputation surgery can be recommended. Amputation can often be the “simple solution” used by many surgeons to deal with the problem of gangrene. A PAD Specialist has many different tools and techniques to restore the blood flow to the lower leg, foot, and toes— often preventing the need for amputation. Always ask for a second opinion.

The dedicated staff of the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga always provides quality, dependable care to PAD patients from diagnosis to treatment. If you think you may suffer from any of the issues mentioned, ask for a referral from your primary care provider or call to make an appointment with one of the VIC surgeons or nurse practitioners.

Patients suffering from PAD have a window of time to seek and receive treatment to maintain

A Good Word

by Dorothy Teague

Have you ever heard the saying, “You have one mouth and two ears, so God meant for you to speak less and listen more?”

Teachers can often be heard giving this sage advice when students get too noisy and aren’t listening. This actually aligns with God’s Word. In Matthew 11:15, God says, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

In other words, Listen, I’m about to tell you something important! However, we can’t have ears to hear if we aren’t spiritually attuned to His voice and our hearts aren’t prepared to receive the “word” He has for us. We are to meet with Him daily in prayer, then wait expectantly for Him to move and do His will for our lives (Psalm 5:3). He already knows what we stand in need of—He just wants us to ask Him and then stand in faith that He will supply what we need. Isaiah 55:2-3 gives us steps to follow: Listen diligently to me. Incline your ear and come to me. Hear, that your soul may live. So, we are to actively hear the word, listen with spiritual ears, and then act in obedience, doing what He says for us to do.

It’s not only important for us to hear what God wants for our own lives, but it is our obligation to pass the good word on to others to help them. Isaiah 50:4 says we should “speak a word in season to him that is weary.” (And aren’t we all weary?) Some days I have prayed specifically for God to give me a “good word” for someone in particular, and in His timing, He has been faithful to send me that word. But I have found that it’s more important that my heart is prepared at any time to receive a word to impart to someone else. We don’t know what others are going through, but God sees it all. In His divine

timing, He brings us together with others to comfort and lift each other up. Proverbs 15:23 reminds us that, “A man takes joy in a fitting reply and how good is a timely word.” We are all plagued with being anxious over the state of our lives at times. Proverbs 12:25 tells us that “anxiety weighs down the heart of man, but a good word cheers it up.”

There is a difference between hearing and listening. We can hear the scriptures being preached but then walk away and not act upon them. But, if our hearts are in a position of listening for God’s voice to speak, then that seed can be planted in us and we can respond to His call to action: “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.

About The Author

Pleasures Forevermore

by Greg Grotewold

In an age where hyperbole and amplification run amok, assessing the true value of an object has become a challenging proposition. The culture’s propensity to inflate reality impacts our ability to make necessary distinctions between competing items. As we artificially elevate the common, we conceal the uniqueness of the uncommon and our adjectives lose their relevancy. Good gets lumped together with legitimate greatness, dumbing down the entire category.

This is not without consequence. It’s important to recognize that at our very core we are worshippers. We are wired to exalt. Whether it’s a sports team, a loved one, or some other aim of our affection, we have a need to lift up that which is meaningful to us. It’s who we are and what we do. But here’s the issue. Our worship of an item is a function of its perceived worth. Perceived worth is, in large part, a derivative of the language we use in describing it. And when that language becomes factitiously inflated, so does our praise. The result is inescapable. As the object inevitably fails to produce a blessing that is commensurate with the worship offered, we are left at best disappointed.

There does exist, however, a target where there is no such thing as overinflating its value and thus overextending our worship. Exaggeration doesn’t apply for anything said, regardless of how outrageously wonderful it may sound, would be true. The target’s glorious reality exceeds our ability to adequately describe it; the English language is simply ill-equipped to do so.

That glorious reality is Jesus Christ. As the audacious assurances the Lord provides in Scripture indicate, He is in a category all of His own. Jesus carries not only the might to pull off these precious guarantees, but equally as important, the desire. He is both all-powerful and all-loving, an awe-inspiring combination as He fulfills His promises. There is good, there is great, and then there is the Risen Lamb.

While the assurances are as widespread as they are glorious, there’s one in particular that should cause us to take note. It surrounds a key reason we worship in the first place: joy. We elevate that which is meaningful in large part because of the delight produced. Jesus promises a delight that has no parallel. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV). Unlike what the world offers, His isn’t

dependent upon happy circumstances. In fact, the primary reason it’s considered full or complete is because there isn’t a circumstance that has the power in and of itself to penetrate and thus disrupt the peace He offers. Jesus is an immutable rock whose sovereign mercies never wane.

It was this very same Godly joy that sustained Jesus Himself at Calvary. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). And it’s the same hope that will sustain and

prosper us too in all seasons of life. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13, ESV).

We are wired to worship. More pointedly, we are wired to worship Jesus. He is the One who in fact did the electrical work and gave us not only the desire for joy but the primary mechanism from which to receive it: Himself. While there is nothing wrong with gaining a degree of pleasure from the good things of this world, don’t mistake them for anything more than they are—inferior forms of delight. Humble yourself before Jesus, the true treasure, and make Him the primary object of your affection. You will not be left disappointed. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Greg Grotewold lives in Oakdale, MN, with his wife, Sandi, and their two sons, Luke and Eli. He is a deacon in his local church and greatly enjoys serving in this capacity.

About The Author

Thinking Of Me and You

by Judy Hood

He painted the sky so blue And the trees so green He was thinking of me and you Looking over earth’s beautiful scene

He was thinking of me and you When he sent his Only Son Who gave his life for me and you

So we could smell the morning dew

He made the ocean so big and wide When he made the birds to fly He made them to fly, oh, so high As they perpetually glide

He’s coming back someday He’ll soon be on his way To take his bride to a better place For the ones who served and won the race

You can get Judy Hood’s newly released book, But For The Grace Of God Go I, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ebooks.

Walking With Molly: Part 3

by Shelley Knick

So much has changed since Molly left. When she passed, I knew that she had come to mother me. Odd, however, because I have a mother. A great mother! But at that time in my adult life, I needed an unrealistic level of attention. My friends, husband, and family members couldn’t fill the crack in my leaky bucket, and I know this because I tried to consume them as if they could.

So, I consumed God instead, and He responded in abundant grace—with a touch of humor. In a type of poetic justice, He delivered a tongue in cheek response to what I needed: A soul who literally had nothing to do but spend her waking hours watching me, waiting for me, and walking with me. Albeit needy, without judgement, God simply met my need.

Since she left, we moved three times, fell into pits of ridiculous tragedy, and summited mountains of miraculous victory. The groundwork laid during our time together proved to be instrumental to thriving during the chaos. As the saying goes, “suffering vines makes great wines.” She taught me about calm submission and divine harmony, both about which I have previously written. Lastly, she trained me to focus when walking the gauntlet.

The road we walked was perfectly straight, with a cul de sac at one end and a 90-degree bend at the other. It was lined with twenty-four, five-acre properties. Almost every house had a dog. For properties with perimeter fences, the resident dogs behaved like savages. They would run full force and charge the fence when we walked by. The barking, the growling, and the fury could make any pulse race. If I could feel it, imagine what it did to Molly’s primal nature.

The upside-down fact in her training was that while primal, she wasn’t allowed to behave primally. As unfair as it sounds, I was calling her to be more than a beast. Rest assured, the blood bath that could erupt if she were given the chance to unleash was unquestionable. Regardless of her capability to dominate, those neighbor dogs existed to make her who she was meant to be with me. We walked that road like it was the gauntlet. It was every bit the technical meaning of the word: Two rows of characters lined up on opposite sides of each other to assault the one who traveled the space between them.

So, we walked. I dictated the pace and tempo. I used specific physical pressures with leash and collar to prompt and remind her to focus on me. I made audible sounds to signal her to listen to my voice. I even adjusted my placement next to her to train her to keep a constant awareness of my presence. This was because her attention had to be anchored in her Alpha.

I would intentionally fade from her when I could see her attention had been hijacked. When I could tell she was locked into the opposition, I would drift back. When it was evident that she wasn’t aware, I would purposefully take off running in the opposite direction, which provided a quick choke. It also snapped her out of that state and returned her awareness back to my presence. With her attention back on me, we continued, and she would obsessively verify my location. This pattern repeated to strengthen her bonded attention.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus is about our attention. The training isn’t punishment. The distractions might be strategically placed. Our repetitive return to the gauntlet could be exactly what will bond our attention to an invincible state, thereby proving that the daily walk is a vehicle for God’s compounding affect.

Shelley is an aspiring writer. She is also a nurse, a wife to her high school sweetheart of 22 years, a brand-new mama to their miracle baby, and a new resident of Rome after moving from Washington state.

About The Author

From Tents to Tweens

by Donald Cantrell

Ifind it amazing to watch my nine-year-old granddaughter go from stage to stage in her life. In all honesty, I was not the best dad in helping my wife with our daughter. Oh, I was there, but I was young and clueless, so I was not that great at changing diapers and feeding. Sadly, I missed out on the bonding that takes place in those early years of her life.

So, I made up my mind that I would not do the same as she began growing up, entering school, going to dance classes, recitals, and cheerleading. It was during those years that I stepped up to the plate and became the dad that I should have always been, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I was even the chaplain for some of her middle school football and basketball teams—what a joy it was to be so involved in her life during those years.

Then came along my granddaughter, who decided to try and enter into this life nine weeks early. So, the doctor put my daughter in the hospital for two weeks before allowing her to have Kinsley seven weeks early. She came into this life with bright blue eyes and dark hair, she weighed in at 3.10 pounds, and I was immediately in love and began to understand why they called them “grand.”

My daughter went back to work after staying home for four months, and guess who volunteered to keep our most precious commodity of life—yes, it was me, and obviously they had no other options, so they hesitantly placed that precious little girl into my care. I quickly learned the art of feeding and changing diapers, along with our poodle Coco, who loved her as much as we did.

Over the past nine years, I have literally witnessed every moment that mattered in her life as she progressed from step to step. I was there when she rolled over, when she took her first steps, and when she uttered her first

words. I tried with all my might to teach her to say poppy first. I was the one that took her to most of her doctor’s appointments and eventually dental appointments.

In time she began to go to preschool and then to kindergarten, where she literally cried until around Thanksgiving, day in and day out. I watched her as she battled the loneliness of having to take online classes during the pandemic and saw the joy on her face as she was able to return to school full time again. It has been the most awesome opportunity that this poppy has ever had.

Now my little girl is merely six months from being a tween. Just this past week, my wife and I saw her go from sleeping in her little blanket and pillow fort—as I slept on the bed beside her—to sleeping by herself on her bed with the door closed. Each and every day we are witnessing her growth, and sadly we cannot slow it down. She will soon be a tween, then a teen, and I will still want to see her in her fort.

Donald Cantrell is a lifelong native of Murray county and has been pastoring and preaching since 1980. He has had the honor of publishing over thirty books and his sermon material is sold all over the world by various online companies. If you visit his house any weekend in the fall you will find them watching the “Florida Gators or the New England Patriots… Chomp Chomp.”

The Author

As an 18-year veteran and a multi-million dollar producer in residential sales, I bring to each client relationship a level of maturity, expertise, and patience that is rare in our industry. I understand the fine details that make the difference between merely doing a job and offering exceptional, results-oriented service. I know what it takes to help buyers realize their dream of home ownership and help sellers get their homes sold and get themselves on their way to their next destination, wherever that may be.

I run my business as a business. I am supported by a small staff of highly trained professionals who share my vision and complement my abilities. With their help, I am better able to leverage my time and focus on my core strengths - marketing strategy and negotiation. My priority is to offer my clients the highest level of service, market knowledge and integrity. From first-time home buyers to CEOs, my client base is as diverse as the properties I represent. I have extensive experience in residential real estate. Although I have sold homes as far North as Dunlap and as far West as Jasper and as far East as Athens, I specialize in the Chattanooga area including Ooltewah, East Brainerd, Brainerd, East Ridge, and South into Georgia servicing Catoosa, and Walker counties. I am also pleased to assist clients who are moving out of the area by introducing them to top agents in other communities.

Real estate is “in my blood”, but nothing means more to me than the lifelong relationships I have built with my clients over the years.

I believe that it is important to give back to my industry and community. I volunteer at our local American Legion, assisting with fund raising, educational scholarships for our youth and raising money to assist our veterans with their many varied needs. I also donate materials to the schools for various sports programs so they may sell them and raise money for their particular sports.

My love of Chattanooga runs deeper than my real estate connection. I enjoy the diversity of people, neighborhoods, cultural venues and restaurants. I hope to help make Chattanooga great for generations to come. I have found this to be a great place to raise my family and now my grandchildren.

I earned a B.A in Business from Syracuse University, and after college, I worked in the nuclear industry and sales. I am passionate about cooking, our veterans, photography (I shoot the properties I sell), travel, and my family, which includes my daughter, my son and my fabulous grandchildren who make everyday better than the last.

for your Taste Buds

Apple Streusel Cake

by Pam Wattenbarger

Take advantage of apple season with this semi-homemade cake. It uses a boxed cake mix as a base, along with an easy filling prepared from fresh apples. Perfect for tailgating, brunch, or dessert, this cake is delicious served warm. Any type of baking apple will work well in this recipe. Good choices include Honey Crisp, Jonathon, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady.

Ingredients

Cake:

1 (18-ounce) box white cake mix

1 (3-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1 (8-ounce container) sour cream

½ cup vegetable oil

Apple Filling:

1 ½ cups baking apples, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon flour

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup chopped pecans, toasted

Streusel Topping:

¾ cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon flour

2 tablespoons butter, melted

Powdered Sugar Glaze (optional):

¾ cup powdered sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract

1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spritz a 9” by 13” baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil on low speed for 2 minutes. Pour ½ of the cake mixture into the baking dish. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, stir flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar until blended. Add in the diced apples and stir to coat.

3. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add apple mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, and simmer 3 to 4 minutes or until apples are tender. Spread apple mixture over the cake batter and top with pecans. Spread remaining cake batter over the apple mixture.

4. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, and butter until small clumps form. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the cake.

5. Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Begin testing the cake after 35 minutes.

6. In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, almond extract, vanilla extract, and milk until blended. Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze evenly over the cake.

Pam Wattenbarger is the author of The New Southern Cookbook: Classic Family Recipes and Modern Twists on Old Favorites & The Southern Air Fryer Cookbook. Find her recipes and more at SimplySouthernMom.com

About The Author

Who’s Watching?

by Monica Gambrell

My husband and oldest son, Daniel, were always known for their lack of physical grace. Countless times they seemed to trip over thin air. One fine morning I joined their ranks. I was heading out the door to work and was met by a cold, stiff wind. I hadn’t realized that it was going to be so cold. As usual, I had both hands full; a briefcase in one hand and a cup of hot tea in the other. We had nine or ten steep wooden steps leading from the porch to the sidewalk. It was impossible to detect, but there was a thin layer of ice on the stairs, and my first step became my only step as I tumbled thumpity-thump down to the sidewalk. It must have truly been a hilarious sight. If I had been watching, I don’t know if I could have stifled my laughter. I don’t know why it was so immediate and instinctual to look up for witnesses, but it was.

I didn’t even take time to survey and assess the damages before I scanned the neighborhood to see who might have been watching. Our house was on a very high hill. We could see a lot of the city from the porch. Every other house near us, save one, was twenty or more feet lower than ours, so it would surprise me to know that no one witnessed the event. I didn’t have any broken bones, but I was bruised and bloodied. I had to climb back up those icy stairs in order to change my torn and now stained clothing. You can be sure I was much more careful on my way up than I was on my way down!

In our hometown there was a neighborhood walking track my husband and I frequented often. The children played on the playground equipment in the center of the track while we held

hands and leisurely walked. One Sunday morning a visitor approached me and told me something that just blew me away. She and her husband had been going through some challenging times, and were even considering divorce. Their daily trek took them past the track almost every day. She said that the sight of us enjoying one another so completely made her believe that they could revive their marriage. How humbling! Others are watching us, but most importantly, God is always watching us.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and exhausted land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

Father God, we must be more cognizant than ever that every thought, word, and deed are in full view of You. May I live in such a way as to be fully invisible so that You are visible to those whom You place in my path. Every heartbeat brings us closer to the moment when we will be at the judgement seat of Christ. May I truly feel the urgency to sow seed in as many souls as possible, that they might enjoy both relationship and fellowship with You.

Enjoying Our Differences

by Susan Lavigne

Are we really so unaware of how different we are from each other? That may sound like a silly question, but how many times are we disappointed when someone doesn’t act in a way similar to us or in a way we expect?

When I was in college, my roommate and I decided to paint our dorm room. I had been taught in my youth the “proper” way of painting with even strokes of the roller up and down. Meanwhile, on the opposite wall, my roommate was being a free spirit. She was creatively making circles. She was having fun, and I confess, I was angry. In my mind, she wasn’t doing it “right.” But who is to say what is right or wrong in this situation or in a lot of situations we face? The end product was what mattered most, and in this case, the room got painted. There are many situations in our lives where as long as the task gets completed, does it really matter how it gets done?

Now, think about some of the struggles with which you deal. Are the conflicts in your life about little things that really don’t matter? Is your child not cleaning his/her room exactly the way you would like? Is your spouse not doing the household repair/ task exactly how or when you would like it done? Are you upset because maybe the dinner is not the way your mother used to make it? How hard is it to let go of our expectations and let others be who God created them to be? What about you? Are you too hard on yourself? Are you trying to live up to an unrealistic standard of perfectionism?

Despite popular belief, most people are not trying to be difficult. They are just different. When we open our minds to this concept, we will have less conflict and more peace. When we have expectations of others or compare ourselves with others, we are

setting ourselves up to be disappointed. Our greatest disappointments normally start when we don’t talk about our expectations. Sadly enough, most of the time, we don’t even realize we have expectations until we get disappointed. (I thought you were going to stay at home tonight with the kids)! These unspoken

expectations occur when we don’t inform the other person of our expectation and just assume they should know. (I shouldn’t have to ask. You should have known that I wanted flowers for my birthday).

So, what is the best way to deal with our differences? Talk about what we want and make sure it’s fair and agreed upon by everyone. Once we do this, we will really start to enjoy our differences and our lives more.

Susan Lavigne attends Cornerstone Church. She is a Christian speaker and songwriter. Feel free to contact her at susanclavigne@gmail.com.

About The Author

A Family-tree Hugger

by Sandra Gilmore

Have you been following this series? Check each month as we explore often-overlooked connections to Christmas and wind our way back to this sacred event.

George Santayana almost got it right when he mused, “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” In fact, the family is one of God’s masterpieces. When I was younger, I thought little of genealogy, meaning ‘not often’ as well as where it fell on the roaster of priorities. Folks who were family-tree huggers were not on my “want-to-be-like-them-when-I-grow-up” target.

Have you given much thought to the Begats chapters in Scripture? Me neither, at one time. What changed my perspective? Bible study, particularly in the books of Matthew and Luke.

Just like re-wiring an old lamp or re-finishing a stately sideboard, the Begats can be seen through a fresh perspective with a little study. Have you read through the names not as names but as definitions?

Here’s a sample:

Abiud (My Father is Glorious!) Eliakim (My God will raise up) Azor (a helper) Zadok (the Just One)

Akim (will the Lord raise up) Eliud (My God is my praise) Eleazar (God will help) Matthan (May the gift of) Jacob (Jacob) Joseph (increase in greatness) Emmanuel (for God is with us, our Messiah and Savior)!

Wow! Each person’s position in the family tree of the Messiah is significant. Each person carries purpose, starting with his name, the first gift we receive in this world. When we consider the magnitude of how many grandparents are represented by one person, we can see the orchestration of an Almighty Hand. Just how does this look in practical terms? Given calculations to the 10th great-grandparent level, the

number of people represented is 4,096! Only an Almighty Hand could and would create a family tree leading to Emmanuel while narrating it with their names all the way to “God with us,” the ultimate Christmas gift. He dwelt among us. He provided our salvation on the Cross. Then, Holy Spirit was sent as our ever-present Comforter.

You are significant in your family tree as well. You carry position and purpose in God’s grand plan. Have you heard the saying “You’re one in a million!”? Consider this: if you allow for 25 years between each generation, 500 years ago there were 1,048,576 people involved in creating you!

Consider the uniqueness of your family tree. It’s like no other in history and will remain unique no matter how many generations follow you. Yet, branches upon branches are spread out across the globe, intertwined with other unique family trees functioning, networking, supporting, supplying each other through seasons as life carries on—all to the glory of God!

Application: Read through the first chapter of Matthew once again. Consider your own family line with generations before you and ones still branched out today. Here are some potential prayer points: Pray for your family members, far and near. Pray for their salvation. Forgive those who have fallen short. Praise the Lord for His gifts of talent and abilities granted to your family line. Praise the Lord for their influence on your life. Ask the Lord to draw them closer to Him. Ask for opportunities for them to impact their communities for the sake of the Good News.

serves the Lord as wife, mom, and encourager, mostly through writing and speaking, occasionally through cooking, rarely through anything athletic and only because of the mercy and grace of Jesus. You can reach her by email: tandsgilmore@yahoo.com or her www.sandragilmore.org

Courage to Write

by Abdiel Medina

Any of my teachers from elementary to college would agree that I have bad writing. I even used to consider writing an unenjoyable, tedious task. Despite my negative perspective on writing, it became a passion that God ingrained in my heart all the way back when I was in the 7th grade. Honestly, I was surprised when God put a passion in my heart for writing, and it would take me a while to begin to understand the impact God would have in my life through it.

For example, writing became an outlet for me to live out my faith and go into a deeper relationship with God. During my time in middle school, I was uncertain about what I should be doing as a Christian. So, during my time at lunch, I would read my Bible and write about what I read and songs of praise. My writing was not deep or profound, but it enabled me to have a platform to worship God and dig into His Word.

Because God gave me a desire to write, it also served as an outlet to express my struggles. Vulnerability has never been easy for me, and during middle school, there were some personal struggles I was going through. Writing became a way for me to be vulnerable with God about my struggles.

Finally, I want to share how writing has become a tool for me to encourage and show my appreciation for others. During my time in high school, I started trying to be intentional about writing letters of encouragement and gratitude to others. Throughout my years of doing so, the impact that it can have on a person’s life has amazed me. Sometimes, I may not know what a person may be going through, but God will use the letter I wrote to provide the person with encouragement or

appreciation deeply needed. I’ve been blessed that through writing, God has enabled me the opportunity to use GoodNews Magazine as a platform to encourage and share God’s truth with my fellow citizens here in Cleveland.

Proverbs 3:5-6 declares, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Back when I was a 7th grader, I never envisioned

that God would use my passion for writing to help me grow as a Christian, endure tough trials, and positively impact several lives. Therefore, I want to encourage you that if you feel uncertain or confused about a prompting from the Lord or where He may be leading you, do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Lean onto God beyond your own understanding, and even if it takes a couple of years, you will be grateful for where God will take you.

About The Author

Abdiel Medina is a young writer working on his second year at Lee University. He loves God, his fam, and church fam at Keith Street Ministries!

Hyun Lee,

Richard Morrison,