April 2015

April 2015

Complimentary

Gò0dNews Christian Magazine

Cleveland

• Under God’s Shadow p. 6 • Celebrating You p. 14 • I See You p. 38

Fields of the Wood

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Writers Pastor Mike Shreve Reverend Rusty Asble Andrew Lee Ann Gruber Beth Henderson Brandon West Don Smith Esmerelda Lee Fernando Alejandro Joshua Black Kelly McDonald Melinda Nicodemus Mindy White Lindsey Cooke Lori Sentell Nathan Long Nikki DeLong Paul Holt Rob England Sheldon Jeffero Terri Whiteside Vera Voznyuk

About Us 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 three beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, and Andrew. We live in Cleveland 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!

Sales Chris Isbill (423) 716-3561

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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.

contents 10

30

50

Fields of the Wood GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk GoodNews for Health & Fitness

6

Under God’s Shadow— Protected and Empowered

24 Making a Bad Day Better

by Pastor Mike Shreve

GoodNews for Teens

GoodNews for Kids

8

Action Speaks Louder than Words

by Terri Whiteside GoodNews on Money Matters

10 Marriage and Money: We Can Work It Out

by Andrew Lee GoodNews for Him

12 From Curse to Christ

by Nathan Long GoodNews for Her

14 Celebrating You!

by Ann Gruber GoodNews for Parents

20 Spring Forth into Your Season

by Lori Sentell

by Lindsey Cooke

26 Your Brokenness Has Power

by Fernando Alejandro

Seashells

by Beth Henderson

40 Seek the Lord First

by Mindy White

GoodNews for your Taste Buds

42Easy “PB&J” Healthy Smoothie

by Rob England

GoodNews Cover Story 28 Fields of the Wood

by Paul Holt GoodNews from the Everyone

GoodNews for Everyone

by Sheldon Jeffero

GoodNews for Everyone

30 EveryoneJesus Healed Me! GoodNews for Couples

32 Don’t Quit! God Has a Plan.

by Don Smith GoodNews for Seniors

34 We All Can Do Our Part in Healthcare Reform

by Esmerelda Lee GoodNews for Everyone

44 Lord Open Our Eyes

by Vera Voznyuk

46 “Do You Want to Get Well?”

by Brandon West GoodNews for Everyone

50 Learning to Let Go

by Kelly Mcdonald Jr GoodNews from the Outdoors

52 When Time Stood Still

36 Resurrection Power

by Rusty Asble

by Joshua Black

GoodNews for Everyone

GoodNews for Life

22 Snowflakes and

GoodNews for Everyone

GoodNews for Everyone

38 I See You

by Melinda Nicodemus

54 When You Don’t Know What To Do, Don’t Plan for Anything.

by Nikki DeLong

Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

Under God’s Shadow—Protected and Empowered

by Mike Shreve

B

ack in the 1950s, my family lived on the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. My father was the Commander of a U.S. destroyer stationed

there. One summer, my mother took my brother, two sisters, and me back to Grandpa’s farm in Shuqualak, Mississippi, to spend a couple of weeks in the country, fishing, exploring the woods, and doing all the adventurous things boys love to do. Little did we know, a far greater adventure awaited us at our return. It so happened, as we flew into Santiago Airport that Castro’s forces were taking over the city. Upon landing, we were taken by rebel soldiers to a nearby motel. That night, we huddled on the floor instead of the bed for fear bullets might come through the window. There was no sleeping; it was a night filled with terror.

My father wasted no time. Upon hearing of our dilemma, he put on full military regalia, secured a government vehicle, and drove over treacherous mountain roads to get to his family in distress. Arriving, he hurriedly loaded us in the car, instructing us to crouch down on the floorboard. I will never forget the stonyfaced rebels at various check-points, gripping their rifles tightly as they inspected our vehicle. Gazing suspiciously into the backseat area, they saw us huddled in fear, but then, recognizing my father’s uniform and the American flag flying on the radio antenna, they waved us on. Amazing!

I learned a valuable and remarkable lesson that day that imparted great wisdom to me later in life. Though I didn’t comprehend it at the time, there was a reason we were treated so favorably in such a dangerous war zone.

We were under my father’s shadow. Above him, there

6 // April 2015

was an invisible chain of command—from the president of the United States, to the Chiefs of Staff, to the Congress and the Senate, to every high-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy—that flowed downward to my father, empowering and protecting him. Because he was a man “under authority” (see Luke 7:8), all under his authority shared in this benefit. The rebels knew if they harassed my father, a united response from every branch of the armed forces could be furiously unleashed against them.

Since my father was “under their shadow” and we were “under his shadow,” our little hovel became a ‘safe place.’ Little ones, so vulnerable on their own, were not only shielded, but quite intimidating.

So it is with the children of God. Jesus walked under the Father’s authority, and we, His submitted offspring, abide under His authority. We would be helpless and defenseless in this perilous world, but the Most High has surrounded us with His angelic army and placed us in the “cleft of the Rock.” We may face serious battles in life as we pass through this ‘enemy territory,’ but we have the glorious promise: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1 NKJV).

Mike Shreve and his wife Elizabeth pastor The Sanctuary in Cleveland, Tennessee. They also run a Christian publishing company called Deeper Revelation Books. Their church celebrates the Old Testament feasts from a New Covenant perspective. www.shreveministries.org

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Gò0dNews for Kids

Action Speaks Louder than Words

by Terri Whiteside

I

t was my first time in Haiti. I didn’t know what to

also, we knew that was something we wanted to do. As

expect as we arrived in Port au Prince on February

I was looking at the children needing sponsors, I came

20, 2014. My team hopped up in the back of an open

across Greg. He had not been on the list when I looked

bed passenger truck and traveled 2 hours to Bois Neuf

before we left for Haiti. A Hope for Haiti board member

where we would be staying. I noticed women carrying

went to our church and I asked about this when I saw

items on their heads, men driving scooters with two or

him the following Sunday. He stated Greg should not be

three passengers, children dressed in

on the list since part of the sponsorship

uniforms, cows and goats roaming the

was for sending the child to school but

streets and huts no bigger than one of

he would double check.

my bathrooms. I was finally here.

Later he contacted me and said yes

When I arrived at my destination I

he is on there and the money sent for

was greeted by several young men and

him would go to help his family. My

children. During my stay, I met a little

husband and I knew then that Greg

boy. He was barefoot and too clean.

was our child to sponsor and we did. I

His name was Greg and it all started

came home from work one day and the

with a smile, a sweet innocent smile.

materials for sponsorship had arrived

He gravitated to me as I did to him. I

along with Greg’s bio. I started reading

noticed he never said anything but he

it and I couldn’t do anything but shout

did smile. I was told that he was deaf

for joy. Greg and I had the same birth-

and could not speak due to an illness

day; December 21. God was letting us

when he was younger and he could not attend school because of this. I saw Greg every day.

know; it had always been about a boy named Greg.

Even though Greg doesn't have much, he is always

I only knew a little sign language, but I decided to

happy. He is content in what he does have. He may not

teach Greg how to sign “I love you.” Every time I saw

have three meals a day, a big pretty house and a differ-

him I would sign to him “I love you.” By the end of

ent outfit for every day, but he has genuine people who

our stay, Greg had caught on, he would sign “I love

genuinely love him. Sometimes we get so caught up in

you” back. I was not sure if he really understood what it

materialistic things that we forget about being disciples

meant, but it meant something to Greg and I.

of Jesus and loving our neighbors—even if it is a little

My husband and I had gotten this opportunity

boy at the far end of the world.

through an organization called Hope for Haiti and when we learned we could sponsor children through them

8 // April 2015

Terri Whiteside was born in Chattanooga. After graduating, she joined the U.S. Army and has been a nurse for sixteen years. She has been married to Chris Whiteside for seventeen years and has six children and three grandboys. She attends Hamilton Life Church, where she is the nursery coordinator.

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Gò0dNews on Money Matters

Marriage and Money: We Can Work It Out

by Andrew Lee

A

ccording to a recent survey of more than 1,000 couples by MONEY magazine, the happiest marriages were the ones where the wife earned the same income or more income than her husband. Both the husbands and the wives in these types of marriages reported higher levels of marital satisfaction and happiness than marriages where the wife earned significantly less income than her husband, or where the wife did not work outside the home. Furthermore, marriages where the wife earned the same or more than her husband reported that their relationship was “hot” (intimately speaking) compared to marriages where the wife earned significantly less income or did not work outside the home. These factoids may strike you, as they did me, as intriguing but ultimately unsurprising.

Looking at the reasons why we’re not surprised may be instructive, and may shed some light on how marriage and finances interact.

(Allow me to quickly interject that I am not suggesting at all that wives who do not work outside the home have less fulfilling marriages than two-income marriages. I am simply reporting what the MONEY magazine survey concluded).

The survey suggested that one

10 // April 2015

major factor in the “happiness” measurement was less stress associated with a family relying on a single breadwinner (income) to meet its needs. Again, this revelation may seem very unsurprising to many of us: less stress due to financial woes would likely result in a happier marriage (or at least one may believe one feels happier when less stressed about finances).

Another finding by this same survey was that career-oriented wives felt more empowered and more independent than if they were dependent upon their husband’s income solely for their financial support. At this point, a disclaimer in the name of “full disclosure” is in order, particularly if any of my readers is personally acquainted with me or my own family.

So here it goes . . . my wife earns more money than me (there, I said it—cat out of the bag). For our particular marriage, the results of this survey ring true. I couldn’t be prouder of my wife’s achievements, and I’ve always tried to encourage and support her career, and I try to offer wise and godly counsel when my wife solicits my opinion (frequently, I’m happy to say).

In the same token, she has always encouraged my career aspirations, whether academically in my job as a university professor, or in my creative ambitions with my writing.

But this is not the whole picture. If a happy marriage solely means “earn more money” or “dual careers,” then where does that leave us? Hebrews 13:5 cautions us to "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have” (NIV).

Proverbs 23:4-5 also tells us, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at

riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (NLT).

Recently, a student in my English class presented a research paper about the so-called “happiness quotient” in relation to money, and the studies found that more money does (surprise!) tend to make us feel happier, but only up to a certain point. Beyond $75,000 annually, the happiness feeling leveled off. Why would this be? I suspect it’s because our real needs and necessities (bills) are all typically met by that income threshold. Beyond that income, the people surveyed began to judge their happiness by more intrinsic and important measures, such as giving their money to worthy causes and using their money to help others.

Ultimately then, money really doesn’t buy happiness, as we’ve often been told.

Regarding income and financial equity in today’s marriages, where are the trends heading? According to statistics from Forbes magazine, today there are more women than men attending college and graduating from colleges and universities in the U.S. Nationally, the ratio for public colleges and universities is 43 percent male students versus 57 percent female; at private schools, the disparity is even greater, 40 percent men to 60 percent women. The implications of these trends suggest that in the twenty-first century, more and more marriages will be comprised of a wife who earns the same or more than her husband.

Whether these marriages will be happier depends on many variables, but the survey I mentioned may indicate cause for optimism. Personally, as the father of a five-year-old daughter with limitless ambitions for her future (both of us), I find the prospects encouraging.

Dr. Andrew Lee is associate 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.

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Gò0dNews for Men

From Curse to Christ

by Nathan Long

M

y first encounter with gender roles happened

bond of separation, no hierarchy, between humans

when I was five years old. I was starting pre-

when we are in Christ (see Gal. 3:28), but we can’t be

kindergarten and one of the first days there I

naive to the fact that we live in a male-dominant world.

met a boy who’s favorite toys to play with consisted of a kitchen set. Instantly, I

Women’s issues, women’s awareness, and women’s empowerment started a transformation of what a female

knew, in my five-year-old reasoning

is. Society looked at gender roles and saw injustice and

that something was wrong. Boys

fought back. We see women rising to the challenge and

don’t do that, I thought. Now that

breaking glass (or dare I say breaking the curse in Gen.

I’m grown and married, I find

3:16) every day. But what’s a man to do?

myself almost daily in front of a

When I think of what the Second Man did, how

stove cooking for my wife and

he acted, one common thing comes up—sacrifice. This

doing things very differently from

was exemplified at the cross, but it wasn’t something

the traditional male roles. I thank

that just happened. It was a constant pattern in His life.

God He created me differently,

It started at the beginning of His ministry (see Matt.

but the fact is, if we don’t define

4:1-11) and was a thread throughout His entire ministry.

a man by culture or tradition;

Jesus could have used His power for His own benefit

what’s the standard?

on many occasions, but He chose not to. He used His

As I write this article, the Christian Church is in the

power for a greater purpose—helping and empowering others despite the cost.

season of Lent. It’s forty days to

Isaiah 40:3-5 is a call for its readers to prepare a

take a step back in awe at what

highway for God by crumbling mountains and rais-

Christ did. Christ came, not in

ing valleys. It’s only when the road is even that God is

power, but in weakness, confin-

revealed. Men can’t sit on the sidelines anymore waiting

ing Himself to human flesh, en-

for women to fill their valleys to reach a mountain top.

during temptation, and submitting

It’s time for men to start coming down and crumbling

to death, and raising from death

their mountains and help. The Second Man came not to

so that He could redeem us, change

be served but to serve. It’s about time biblical men start

us, and empower us to do greater

doing the same. So what is a biblical man? He is the

things. Let’s get one thing straight:

same as a biblical woman, a servant to Christ. It’s time

It’s only in Christ that we find ourselves and what biblical manhood is.

men stop defining themselves by a curse and start defining themselves by Christ.

Scripture tells us that there is no

12 // April 2015

Nathan Long graduated from Lee University in 2012 with a bachelor of science degree in pastoral ministries. He is currently the resident director of New Hughes Hall at Lee University while completing a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

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Gò0dNews for Women

T

Celebrating You!

by Ann Gruber

his is a day to celebrate! And you are the guest of honor. Maybe you have already changed diapers, chauffeured kids to school, balanced the bank account, or started your work day. Congratulations! You, dear sister, are fulfilling your purpose. God is using you this very day to have an impact on His kingdom. He has created and chosen you, and you alone, for this. No one else can be you or fulfill your calling. Genesis 1:27 tells us we are created in the image of God Himself. First Peter 2:9 describes us as chosen, royal, holy, and God’s very possession.” That means you! Regardless of how anyone else sees you, or how the world says you should be, this is how God sees you, and how He enables you to view yourself.

The Lord’s instructions to the people of Israel in Isaiah 43:1 applies to you, too: “Listen to the Lord who created you . . . the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine’” (NLT).

Even on those days when you feel like you don’t measure up and no one cares; know that you are His. When you make mistakes, or you barely check anything off your to-do list; know that you are His. You may never be famous, and your name may never be well known in this world, but always remember that the One who knows your name and has called you by it.

In those times when you grow weary of trying

14 // April 2015

to meet expectations, be reminded that it is worth the effort to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (Col. 3:2324 NLT).

Choose your work wisely.

You do not have to do everything people ask of you. There will always be someone who is disappointed in you for something. Many times, you may find you are disappointed in yourself even more than anyone else is, but the Master you are serving adores you and will reward you for doing the work He has called you to do. Fulfill your purpose and your calling each day.

So, Royal Princess, change those diapers as unto the Lord!

Chosen Daughter, love your husband as unto the Lord! Holy Sister, sing, dance, work, drive, play, study, worship, teach, all as unto the Lord. Whatever your calling is, do it with the knowledge that the Sovereign Lord has called you by name, as he did Queen Esther, “For such a time as this” (4:14), and you will receive your inheritance as your reward.

Ann Gruber is married to Dewayne, is a proud soccer mom to three sons, and is an administrative assistant at the North Cleveland Church of God.

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Cleveland Church Directory Assembly of God

Grace Assembly 1976 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-7729 Triune Assembly 301 Sunset Drive Cleveland, TN 37312

Baptist Beacon Baptist Church 505 Corvin Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7056 Big Spring Baptist Church 1415 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1101 Bellefounte Baptist Church Pastor Lake Walker 132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312 Bethel Baptist Tabernacle Pastor Johnny Townsend 3165 Buchanan Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5820 Blue Springs Baptist Church 699 Blue Springs Church Rd SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0932F Candies Creek Church 294 Old Eureka Rd Charleston, TN 37310 423-479-3731 candiescreekchurch.com Cedar Springs Baptist Church 723 Cedar Springs Church Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5506 Center Point Baptist Church 167 Monza Ln NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2133 Cleveland Cowboy Church Pastor Wally Varnell 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936 or clevelandcowboychurch.com Cloverleaf Baptist Church Pastor Michael Coleman 2290 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3617 Clingan Ridge Baptist Church 2412 Georgetown Road, NW Cleveland, TN 37312(423) 472-3511 or www.clinganridgebaptist.com Church At Grace Point Pastor Phil Griffin 2595 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 728-5050 or grace-point.com Covenant Baptist Church 249 Calhoun Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-2653 Dalton Pike Baptist Church

16 // April 2015

3055 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7606 Elkmont Baptist Church 4030 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4600 Emmanuel Baptist Church 1227 Powerline Dr NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 East Cleveland Baptist Church 1145 Arnold St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8728 Farmland Community Church Location: YMCA 10:00am Fairview Baptist Church 5545 Runway Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5353 First Baptist Church Co-Pastor Allan Lockerman, Co-Pastor-Jim Gibson 1275 Stuart Road Cleveland, Tennessee 37312 (423)709-9100 or clevelandfbc.com Galilee Baptist Church 665 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 496-2019 Henegar Baptist Church 7423 Mouse Creek Rd. Cleveland Tn 37312 Hopewell Baptist Church 188 Old Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3763 The Journey Church 1668 S Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-4100 Lebanon Baptist Church 1411 Old Parksville Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-6700 Macedonia Baptist Church 3119 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-1713 Maple Street Baptist Church 1700 Maple St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-3622 Maranatha Baptist Church 453 Blue Springs Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-8991 Michigan Avenue Baptist Church 2741 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-8891 Mt Carmel Baptist Church 7619 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1620 New Friendship Baptist Church 1344 Chatata Valley Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-6007 North Cleveland Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Jay Mccluskey

2815 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8524 or northclevelandbaptist.org Oak Grove Baptist Church 4452 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-9125 Old Pathway Baptist Church 224 Rymer Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 Parkway Baptist Church Rev. Shane Lawson 185 Meadow Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-5522 or www.parkwaybaptist.info Philadelphia Baptist Church 910 30th St SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 Philippi Baptist Church 2325 Old Harrison Pike NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-5385 Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 799 Inman Street East Cleveland, Tennessee 37311 (423) 476-4081 Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5119 Samples Memorial Baptist Church 371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329 Shenandoah Baptist Church Pastor Brent Coley 138 Osment Rd Se, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-0103 or www.sbcministries.com Shiloh Baptist Church 3406 Blair Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-5755 Stuart Park Baptist Church 850 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-6741 Tasso Baptist Church 164 Old Charleston Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2114 Temple Baptist Church 3070 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6813 Thompson Spring Baptist Church 5660 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 790-1823 Union Baptist Church 797 Hughes Lake Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-1720 Valley View Baptist Church Pastor David Tuten 4657 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7707 or vvbaptist.org

Washington Avenue Baptist Church 1720 Perry St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0489 Waterville Baptist Church Pastor Allan Lovelace 4555 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-5582 or watervillebaptistchurch.org West Cleveland Baptist Church 1959 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8927 Westwood Baptist Church Pastor Steve Smartt 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534 or www.westwoodlife.org White Oak Baptist Church 2043 White Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359

Catholic

St Therese Catholic Church 900 Clingan Ridge Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8123

Charismatic

Cleveland Christian Fellowship Pastor Mark Strickland 695 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-2642 or ccfchurch.us

Church of God

Cornerstone Church of God Pastor Rick and Lori Sentell 2823 Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0006 Church of God Sanctified, Inc. Pastor- Bishop G.R. Hill 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423)479-3895 Destiny Community Fellowship CoG 2611 Blue Springs Road SE Cleveland, TN 37311 East Cleveland Church of God Pastor John A. Lombard Jr. 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389 Fellowship of Praise COG Pastor Selma Hall 931 Inman Street East Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3121 or fellowshipofpraisecog.org Grace Community Church of God Pastor Kevin Mendel 4745 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312.

(423) 614-0708 or www.gracecleveland.org Heritage Fellowship COG Pastor Steve Gilbert 4635 S Lee Hwy

McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316 International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoración 533 Central Ave. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-1977 or www.iwcchurch.com Lakeview Church of God Pastor Dustin Wilds 105 Pound Street S.E. Cleveland, TN 37323 (423)-790-5805 or lakeviewcog.org North Cleveland COG Pastor Mitch Maloney 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513 or nccog.org Michigan Avenue COG Rev. David B. Boles 515 Minnis Road N.E (423) 584-3663 Mt Olive COG 3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381 Mt View COG 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-6925 South Cleveland COG Pastor Chris Moody 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382 or southcleveland.org Westmore COG Pastor Kelvin Page 2412 Wolfe Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 559-9646 or www.westmorecog.org Zion Assembly COG Pastor Todd Mcdonald 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337 or zionassemblychurchofgod.com/

Church of God of Prophecy

Cleveland Spanish CoGoP 2610 Grove Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)473-7199 Durkee Road CoGoP 201Durkee Rd. Cleveland, TN37312 (423) 472-4384 Keith Street Ministries CoGoP 4000 Keith ST. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-2448 Peerless Road CoGop 3301 Peerless Rd. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)303-2680 Spring Place CoGoP 2530 Spring Place Rd. Cleveland, TN37311 (423)476-6414 Wildwood CoGoP Bishop Winston Reid 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)479-6584

Episcopal

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 320 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311

Lutheran

LutheranFirst Lutheran Church 195 McIntire Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6811

Methodist

Big Spring United Methodist 1196 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5242 Black Fox United Methodist 1820 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-1908 Broad Street United Methodist 155 Central Ave NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5586 First United Methodist Church 3425 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-4504 S. Cleveland United Methodist 1165 Church St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 507-5760 Tasso United Methodist 1106 Tasso Ln NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4457 Riverston Church 85 Central Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 790-5956 Trinity United Methodist Church 731 1st St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-7900 Valley Head Methodist Church 920 Mouse Creek Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-0575 Wesley Memorial Methodist 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-9578

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4200 Pryor Rd N.E. Cleveland, TN 37312 423-503-6394

Pentecostal

Faith Memorial Church 910 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6281 First United Pentecostal Church 4095 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-9436 Full Gospel House of Prayer Pastor Michael Ferree 1500 Wildwood Ave. Cleveland, TN Set Free Christian Fellowship 1175 King Edwards Ave. Cleveland, TN

Nazarene

Cleveland First Church Of The Nazarene Pastor BJ Miller 2712 Henderson Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312-5225 423-472-7371 New Hope Church of the Nazarene Pastor Scot Carraway 2018 Washington Ave Cleveland, TN 37364 (423)479-7343

Non-Denominational

Christian Fellowship Ctr 895 6th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-9591 Church Alive Ministries Cleveland, TN 37353 (423) 559-1371 Cleveland Community Chapel Pastor Tazz Reid 1823 Forest Ridge Dr. Cleveland, Tn. 37311 Cleveland Cornerstone Church 533 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1775 Cornerstone Family Church 4997 N. Lee Highway Cleveland, TN 37312 423.380.9160 cfctn.net Dwelling Place Church Inter.

Pastors Jamie and Judy Jacobs Tuttle 523 Urbane Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 423.790.5200 www.iwilldwell.com Evening Light Gospel Dr. Donald E. Smith, Jr. 200 20th St SE Cleveland, TN 37311 Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654 God’s Family Fellowship Pastors, Doug & Patsy Bell 197 Neely Circle NE Cleveland, TN 37312 Phone (423) 790-7533 www.godsfamilyfellowship.net Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226 Living Word Church Pastor Evan Cockerham 930 25th Street, NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028 or thelovingchurch.com Norvel Hayes Ministries 24 155 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-3882 Restoration Fellowship 211 Trewhitt Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-4249 The Simple Gospel 850 Elrod St SE Cleveland, TN 37311

423-650-9572 www.pointing2jesus.com Shema Israel Ministry 850 Elrod St SE Cleveland, TN 37311 423-994-8553 Tasso Christian Church 1135 Tasso Lane, Cleveland, Tn. 37312 (423) 479-2705 The Sanctuary Pastors Mike & Elizabeth Shreve 1203 Smith Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)478-2843 / shreveministries. org United Christian Church Pastors Charles and Margie Poteat 2200 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-4277 Unity Christian Ministries Pastor Aubrey Ector 2419 Georgetown RD NW 37312 423-473-9338 Walker Valley Community 787 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-9696

Presbyterian

Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004 First Cumberland Presbyterian 161 2nd St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6751 First Presbyterian Church 433 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5584 Flint Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church Rev. Kevin Wilson 515 Flint Springs Rd Cleveland TN. 37323 423-284-6397 or Facebook Prospect United Cumberland Presbyterian Church 310 New Murraytown Rd., NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-6181 St James Cumberland Presbyterian

151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1780 Stuart Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-9595

Seventh Day Adventist

Ladd Springs Seventh-Day 5860 Bates Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-1889 Bowman Hills Adventist 300 Westview Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37312 East Cleveland Seventh-Day 801 Howard Circle SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-9299.

issuu.com/goodnewscm // 17

Athens Church Directory

Assembly of God

Abundant Blessing 2613 Cardinal St Athens, TN 37303 423-435-5867

Baptist

Antioch Baptist Church 218 Canal St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3332 Central Baptist 13 Nash Dr. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0400 Clearwater Baptist 964 County Rd. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-7147 Covenant Baptist 241 County Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-263-1569 East Athens Baptist 301 Central Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1394 Fairview Baptist 251 County Rd. 128 Athens, TN 37303 423-649-0346 First Baptist 305 Ingleside Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5441 First Bible Baptist 1819 Old Niota Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0765 Freedom Baptist 2207 Velma Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-746-0193 Mount Pleasant Baptist 414 Chester St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-6510 Idelwild Baptist 118 county rd Athens, TN 37303 423-746-0002 Lakeview Baptist 182 County rd. 126 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0451 Mount Pleasant Baptist 414 Chester St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-6510 Mount Verd Baptist 251 County Rd 249 Athens, TN 37303 423-507-1286 New Hopewell Baptist 197 County Rd Athens, TN 37303

18 // April 2015

423-744-0940 New Zion Baptist 393 County Rd 616 Athens, TN 37303 423-263-9841 North Athens Baptist 402 Tellico Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3813 Oak Grove Baptist 1212 County Rd. 100 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-9986 Parkway Baptist 1701 Velma Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9709 Rocky Mount Baptist 1002 Rocky Mount Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8758 Rogers Creek Baptist 510 County Rd 180 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-0295 Short Creek Baptist 892 County Rd. 50 Athens, TN 37303 423-336-5089 South Liberty Baptist 505 County Rd 655 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5124 Union Hill Baptist 258 County Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1241 Unity Baptist 162 County Rd 750 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-0420 Valley View Baptist 323 County Rd 370 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5159 West End Baptist 803 Clark St. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-8274 West View Baptist 2707 Highway 39 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2193

Catholic

St. Mary Catholic Church 1291 E. Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-4277

Christian

Athens Christian Church 802 S Matlock Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5791

Church of God

Aoh Church Of God 501 Ohio St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1279 First Church of God 200 Fisher St. Athens, TN 37303 423-887-5855 Woodward Avenue CoG 507 Woodward Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1618

Community

ChristCommunity Church 14 Congress PRKY S. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8185

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) 508 Cedar Springs Rd Athens, TN 373 423-745-0102

Nazarene

Athens Church of the Nazarene 1908 W. Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-3017

Episcopal

St Paul Episcopal Church 123 S. Jackson ST. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2224

Lutheran

Athens Lutheran Church 710 Forrest Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9419

Methodist

Keith Memorial UMC 600 W Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37371 423-745-2612 Piney Grove UMC 767 County Rd. 750 423-462-2130 Athens, TN 37303 Riceville 2519 Cindy St Athens, TN 37303 423-462-2130 St. Mark Ame Zion Methodist 707 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 Tranquility UMC 135 County Rd. 177 Athens, TN 37303 423-334-3062 Trinity UMC 100 E. College St Athens, TN 37303

423-745-0452 Vine Grove UMC 517 County Rd. 778 Athens, Tn 37303 423-507-5760

Non- Denominational

Ascension Life 935 Rocky Mount Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-829-5102 Christian Freedom Wrshp Center 109 Cherry St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8999 Emmanuel Church 1905 Congress Parkway S. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0851 Freedom Chapel 815 Cleveland Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8079 Great Deliverance Ministries 2329 Clearwater Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-7575 Liberty Church 3328 Hwy 11 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9248 Overcoming Faith Christian 14 Carter Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3105 Restoration Church 3115 Hwy 39 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-7777 Sanctury 9 S. Kilgore St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8900

Pentecostal

Crosslife Ministries 817 S. White St Athens, TN 37313 423-368-7197 Athens United Pentecostal 2820 Hwy 11 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-7159

Presbyterian

First United Presbyterian Church 321 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 423-744-9073 Mars Hill Presbyterian 205 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1403

Seveth-Day Adventist

Seveth-Day Adventist 230 New Englewood Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2335

Church Activities & Events Living Word Church

First Baptist Cleveland Dodgeball Tournament April 17th - 5:00pm Location: Main Campus Category: Students

This is a 10 on 10 team tournament that will take place at First Baptist. You can either come with a team of 10 or come solo and be placed on a team.

First place team will receive a large cash prize as well as prizes for 2nd place and best dressed! This event is an outreach event and will have a short Gospel message. Our goal is to have 1,000 6th-12th students on campus that night. So come, even if you don’t intend to play! Registration will take place the day of the event. _________________________________________

Mother Daughter Tea When: Saturday, April 18, 2015 - 11am - 1pm Where: Beyond the Garden Gate Tea Room, 9508 Church Street, Ooltewah, TN 37363 Description: Will meet at LWC & Carpool _________________________________________

Church at Grace Point

SHJ Rummage Sale Saturday, April 11th, 12am - Sunday, April 12th, 12am _________________________________________

Cornerstone Church of God

Women’s Worship Service Friday, April 17th - 7:00pm 2823 S. Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 ___________________________________________

Westmore Church of God Upcoming Events

Gò0dNews for Parents

Spring Forth into Your Season

by Lori Sentell

A

s we leave winter, spring is emerging. Signs of new life in animals and plants will be all around us. This is a time of rebirth, leaving the bareness of winter. Temperatures begin to warm us, and now the cold is fading. Just like the seasons around us, we may find our lives in a season of winter—bare and cold, with no hope visible to our eyes.

As we sense spring in the Spirit, there is a longing for a season of new growth in our daily walk with the Lord. He longs to give life to those things we thought had been dead—promises, dreams, and goals that have never been fulfilled, or the feeling of being just bring stuck in the season of dryness. You may have found yourself loitering there longer than you intended.

Sometimes we feel that the Lord isn’t anywhere to be found. Yet, He is so close to us during those times of heartache, struggle, devastation, hurt, loneliness, death, rejection, and fear. He tells us in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am the God. I will strengthen thee yea, I will help thee Yea, I will uphold thee in the right hand of my righteousness” (KJV).

We do not have to remain in winter spiritually; we can strive to not be dry by keeping our relationship with the Lord fresh and revived. The definition of spring means to move suddenly or rapidly, upward or forward. We can arise from within, leap and jump out of the dry place that we are in. I challenge you today to vault out of your present season into a season full of life in the Spirit.

Reach for the blossoming freshness of the Spirit in your life and move into a more intimate place with Christ as the Lord refreshes you, heals you, and makes alive what was once dead. Your new season is coming!

You can receive the refreshing power of God in your life.

You have to begin by praying, fasting, and reading your Bible.

The old saying is “To turn over a new leaf.” The Lord wants to do more than that in your life. He wants to bring back to life those things that were dead. He will place your life completely in a lush garden of the Spirit to fertilize what which was dead.

F- Fast E- Encourage yourself in the Lord R- Rest in Him T- Take all your burdens and cares to Him I-Invite Christ to have 100 percent control of your life L-Live in his presence I- Increase your intimacy with Him Z-Zeal to draw closer and to go deeper in His Word E-Eradicate those things that cause you to be dry (sins of omission and sins of commission).

Spring Forth!

20 // April 2015

Lori Sentell is a kindergarten teacher at Blythe-Bower Elementary and is the pastor’s wife of the Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland, TN. She and her husband Pastor Rick have four children: Joseph, Sarah Emily, Katriel, and Lorin.

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Gò0dNews for Life

Snowflakes and Seashells

by Beth Henderson

A

s the snowflakes fell this past February, my daughters and I thrilled as tiny drops of white hit the windshield and windows of our car, and we could see God’s handiwork in a way it seemed we never had before. We marveled at tiny stars and pinwheels and zigzag shapes that seemed to be cut from the icy sky and sprinkled around us as part of some celestial celebration.

Then, just as February was giving way to March and snow still lay on the ground, my husband and I took advantage of a few days off and headed to warmer climates. We made our first visit to Sanibel Island, Florida, famous for its innumerable seashells, and I was like a child going to and fro on the beach picking out the prettiest ones, the most unique, the right pattern and color, and so forth. There was no end to the variety, and I was completely taken by it all.

It seemed funny that only hours had passed between the time I had been fascinated by the snow, rushing to snap a photo of the remarkably designed flakes before they disappeared forever, and when I combed the shores to collect evidence of sea life that has come and gone and left us the beautiful remnants of a life passed. God’s creation is so beautiful.

I thought of the beautiful people who have and are making such a significant impact on my life. Like snowflakes and seashells, fascinating and unique, some only a part of our lives for a moment, others with us longer, are growing and shaping us through the years. Each one is significant, and each is to be treasured, whether delicate or strong, whole or broken, big or small.

22 // April 2015

Like my 90-year-old grandmother, bent and broken from the waves of time, who has given me colorful stories, pearls of wisdom, and an example personal strength; or my cousin Benjamin, only here for 13 months, whose delicate heart gave out before we were ready to see him go, but whose beauty I will treasure in my heart for eternity. Like a photograph snapped at just the right time, this is a picture of God’s sovereignty, love, and joy in the midst of pain. His smile reminded me of God’s goodness.

And so many others: • Stella May who faces a great many challenges, but who rests peacefully when she’s in her daddy’s arms and exults at her mother’s smile: A reminder of the peace I have in Jesus and the joy I can experience in His will.

• My parents, husband, and children who bring the warmth of love into the cold days of life and remind me that I have value.

• Sweet friends who have come to me as a gift just when I needed them most, and who, like the seashells, provide beauty and shelter in the form of laughter and camaraderie, even when I’m feeling buried in the sands of busyness and my own weaknesses.

And while I don’t always understand why some are taken before their lives even begin, some live long into the winter of life, and others fall somewhere in between, I know that each life, formed in the image of God and created by His holy hands, has a purpose, and none has been conceived in vain.

God’s creation is indeed beautiful, and I’m so grateful for the snowflakes and seashells.

Dedicated to Madison Christina Gault: Gone too soon but loved by many.

Beth Henderson is the development director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center.

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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness

Making a Bad Day Better W

by Lindsey Cooke

e have all done it.

need a pick-me-up, where nothing seems to work out

We have all made a

right.

New Year’s resolu-

tion to lose weight, eat better,

and hit the gym more often.

Starting out was great!

But where are you now that it’s April?

Are you seeing the results you

want? And, most

What if I told you that working out could make a

bad day better? We all know that when we work out, endorphins are released in our bodies. And as we learned in a popular movie, endorphins make us happy. Not only does going to the gym help our bodies, but also our minds. And, if you’re like me, that bad day you were having suddenly disappears after a few weight repetitions.

There are many different types of workouts, and

importantly, are

you are sure to find one that you love. Running, swim-

you still follow-

ming, boxing, and weight-lifting are a few of my person-

ing through with your being happy about yourself?

Fitness is more than just an outward appearance. It’s about know-

al favorites. But there is a lot of variety. I would suggest making appointments with yourself or a friend to make sure you don’t talk yourself out of it. There are also apps on android and iPhone that allow you to make a pact to work out so many times per week; and, if you accomplish your goal, they’ll give you money.

ing that you are doing

Remember that while a diet doesn’t have to mean

something great for

that you don’t eat, think of it as a lifestyle change. Eating

your body, that you

right fuels your body. And when you give your body

are being a great

the right fuel and exercise regularly, you can finally

role model to your

achieve that resolution you keep making every year.

kids, and how

Remember to “Be strong and courageous . . . for

you feel about

the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”

yourself deep

(Josh. 1:9 NKJV). And conquering this resolution means

inside. We all have

that you can finally have a new one in 2016!

days where we

24 // April 2015

Lindsey Cooke is the administrative assistant for Cooke's Food Store & Pharmacy.

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Gò0dNews for Teens

Your Brokenness Has Power

by Fernando Alejandro

H

as there been a time when you and your

the grave. He can do whatever He wants.” But, you for-

friends were playing around in the house

got one thing; Christ has given you that exact power for

while your parents were at work or on vaca-

your brokenness. Christ’s brokenness has been talked

tion? Most of you will say yes. During that time of shenanigans, did you happen to break your mother’s favorite picture frame, your father’s football trophy, or maybe put a teenage body size hole in the wall? I can admit that I did that too many times during teenage years. All of these broken things have one thing in common: There’s a history

about for thousands of years and King David’s brokenness has been talked even longer.

Your brokenness can change the lives of those who hear about it. Your faults and future mistakes can touch lives better than someone who tries to beat the Bible into someone (literally and figuratively).

If Christ dwells within you, then you need to stop throwing yourself on the ground. As

behind them that make

a teenager, you have the

them meaningful. Also,

energy and passion to let

they are expensive or

your friends know and

irreplaceable.

see that brokenness turn

I know you have

into something more

heard since you be-

than just a sob story you

came a teenager that

tell to others who have

God has big things

given up.

for your life and that

What would we do if

you’re one of a kind, but you don’t see that at all.

You wake up every morning and see your hair looking like the Tower of Pisa, your eyes filled with green gunk, and your breath smelling like the city dump. That’s the external stuff, but inside you see things that no one does. You see a broken and misused “thing” that there’s no way God created this.

If only your parents knew what the inside of you looked like, they would grab the oil. Jesus was pretty broken by the end of His walk to Calvary. He was tortured and disrespected so that no one recognized who

Christ said, “I’m too broken to go to heaven?” The resurrection and ascension of Christ would have never happened, and I wouldn’t be here writing this. I made a choice a long time ago to stop looking at myself as a broken piece of clay in the trash. Now I see myself has an abstract of art that has cracks, bents, and oddly shape grooves who allowed God to work on me while I work here on Earth. Perfection isn’t reached until we get to heaven, but we have the power for our brokenness to invade this broken world.

He was. If He would look in a mirror when He hung on the cross, He most likely looked worse than you do. But you say, “He’s Christ. He has power and He rose from

26 // April 2015

Fernando Alejandro is a senior youth ministry major studying at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. He is originally from Florida and was called into youth ministry at age 15 during a youth camp in 2008. He currently serves as an intern at The Element Student Ministry of Westmore Church of God.

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FEATURED COVER STORY

Fields of the Wood—A Hidden Gem of Christian History

by Paul Holt

E

ach year thousands of people from all walks of life encounter the living testimony of nature and stones at the Fields of the Wood Bible theme park.

Located at 10000 Highway 294 in Murphy, North Carolina, the park is less than an hour’s drive from Cleveland, Tennessee.

The original parcel of property that became Fields of the Wood was obtained in the early ’40s to commemorate an event that took place on June 13, 1903. On that date, a traveling Bible salesman and minister named A. J. Tomlinson was visiting the home of W.F. Bryant. A. J. Tomlinson had become acquainted with the Holiness Church at Camp Creek and was at the Bryant home for a special meeting of the church scheduled for June 13.

He spent the night of June 12 and rose early on June 13 to climb the mountain behind the Bryant home for prayer. In his time of prayer, he heard the voice of God. He joined the Holiness Church at Camp Creek, which became the Church of God movement. A. J. Tomlinson led what is now the Church of God of Prophecy for many years. Today, the Church of God of Prophecy’s International Offices oversees and operates the Fields of the Wood Bible theme park.

Ten Commandment Mountain

The appeal of Fields of the Wood has expanded well beyond the heritage of the Church of God movement.

28 // April 2015

People from all walks of faith come to see its interesting sights. The altar at the top of Prayer Mountain commemorates the place where A. J. Tomlinson prayed in 1903. At Fields of the Wood you can find what many have referred to as the “World’s Largest Ten Commandments,” displayed in stone across the side of a mountain. The letters are five feet high and four feet wide.

The display measures 300 feet from side to side. Visitors can walk 359 steps up to Ten Commandment Mountain, where they will find a large New Testament marker that reads, “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40 KJV).

From the top of Ten Commandment Mountain, you can look down into the valley of the park. The shrubs in the valley spell out “Good News,” most clearly seen from this vantage point. One man testified to looking down from the top of the mountain and seeing the message, “Jesus Died for Our Sins.” He realized his need and received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Each year he returns to the park to celebrate this life-changing event.

Fields of the Wood is all about celebrating our Christian heritage. A replica of Golgotha helps remind

us that Jesus died for our sins. A replica of Joseph’s tomb with the stone rolled away reminds us that Jesus rose on the third day, and, because He lives, we can have life and have it more abundantly. Visitors are welcome to climb the steps of Prayer Mountain to an altar for a time of seeking God. Some also submit their own prayer requests at this altar.

All Nations Cross

In addition to these larger displays, there are many other markers that bring the Word of God to life in marble and stone. Not to be missed is the All Nations Cross. The cross is 150 feet long and 115 feet wide. Flags from many countries where the cross of Christ has been preached are displayed here.

Fields of the Wood Park is open daily from dawn to dusk. There is no admission fee. Yes, admission is free! The park is supported by donations. You’ll find donation boxes throughout the grounds, but there is no obligation.

So as the gray days of rain begin to fade and you feel the warmth of the sunshine once again, take a drive out to the beautiful mountains of Murphy, North Carolina. Many before you have found a life-changing encounter atop a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

Maybe you can, too. At the very least, you’ll see the world’s largest Ten Commandments. That alone is worth the drive.

Fields of the Wood is a valley with two mountains on each side. For those who love to walk, there are plenty of steps up each mountain and hiking trails. Others can choose to drive to the top of Ten Commandment Mountain, the top of Prayer Mountain, and to the All Nations Cross.

There are plenty of picnic areas near the pond to enjoy, and, if you come at the right time, you might even hear live gospel singing. Visitors should make sure to visit the Gift Shop where all kinds of gifts and souvenirs can be found. Within the Gift Shop is a café where you can find a good meal for a reasonable price.

Testimonies of Salvation and Healing

Since the first markers went up in 1941, the park has been visited by believers and non-believers from all over the world and all walks of life. There have been many testimonies of salvation and healing. There have been thousands baptized in water. God has confirmed calling and renewed hope in so many individuals.

Paul Holt is executive director of the Church of God of Prophecy International Offices in Cleveland, TN.

issuu.com/goodnewscm // 29

Gò0dNews for Everyone

Jesus Healed Me!

by Sheldon Jeffero

C

an you still pray? Are you

who was the least in society’s eyes.

fighting to even try any-

This man was poor and broken and

more? Have you become

desperate, looking for healing. I,

this disability. Society has no say as

faint to the issue your battling? Well,

too, was once desperate, in need

to where I stand or where I'm go-

if any of these scenarios fit your po-

of healing. I suffered from a brain

ing, because the Lord has my life. I

sition, rejoice for you have stumbled

bleed at birth. Doctors said I was go-

graduated high school and I'm now

upon this article at no coincidence

ing to be disabled for the rest of my

pursuing ministry. By God's favor,

(see Ecc. 3:1).

life, but the Lord had better plans

I am sharing my testimony in hopes

for my life. Through the prayers of

to encourage you. I know it's diffi-

has led you to this passage to give

my mother and the awesome power

cult sometimes, but know in weak-

you encouragement. I urge you

of God's healing hand, I became

ness, you can be restored. Surrender

through the hope of Jesus to pass

healed. Though I was healed, I had

It all to Jesus.

this on to your friend. Right now,

side effects. I struggled through

think of that one battle you have

school, I stuttered as a child and

Jesus, he was healed on the spot! It

yet to overcome, that wound that is

took medication for seizures. I went

says in Scripture, "He threw off his

yet healed, that frustration that is

to special education classes and had

garment and ran to Jesus" (v. 50).

still present that may have birthed

to suffer being made fun of because

I couldn’t find the version; maybe

from a child or even as an adult. Be

I wasn't "normal." This brought me

paraphrased? The moment he let go

of great courage, you're still strong

into a darker state of depression and

of his garment, he made up in his

and you can overcome. Let's take a

thoughts of suicide. I was tormented

mind he was letting go of the past—

journey together and prove to the

and at a stage in life where I couldn't

letting go of what had him bound

Enemy that you can overcome.

pray. I was weak and broken by the

all his life. So, to the reader let go of

weight of the world, but through

the hurt pain and bring it to Jesus

us to depend on Him. Let’s look at

much prayer from others and faith,

because in weakness His strength is

blind Bartemaues (see Mark 10:48-

I can stand boldly and say Jesus

made perfect. God bless you.

52). This man was blind all of his life

healed me! Whatever it is, you, too,

and was labeled a beggar, someone

can receive healing when brought

My friend, understand that God

God designed in weakness for

30 // April 2015

before God in weakness.

No longer do I struggle with

When Bartimaeus cried out to

Sheldon Jeffero is public relations at the Cleveland Emergency Shelter.

Proud son of Dr. Alginon and Minister Nicole Jeffero and the happy father of Mariah Nicole Jeffero.

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Gò0dNews for Couples

Don’t Quit! God Has a Plan.

by Don Smith

H

ardship and trial . . . how many times have

kids went to the best schools, they had the best camels,

husbands and wives come to this? Why not

they dressed in the finest clothes and had nothing to

just give up this “God thing” and die? So is the

worry about; or so it was thought. Then that infamous

story of Job and his wife. This is a story understood by

meeting between God and Lucifer; God, the protector of

few. Most people quote verses from Job only to quote

Job, essentially said “sic ‘um” to Lucifer, and Job’s suc-

one of the three friends of Job. Be careful when quoting

cess came crumbling down around him. His wife said

from Job. It is a story of suffering and blessing. It is not

nothing at the loss of their cattle and other things. She

a box of trinkets to pick through and find something

said nothing (recorded that is) at the loss of their chil-

shiny that you like.

dren. However, when her husband was covered in boils,

This is the story of a man and a woman who have

covered in sack clothe, scrapping himself with broken

been blessed by God, surrounded by His protective cov-

pieces of clay pottery, she broke. She had had enough.

ering, and living in the lap of luxury. Job is described

Her lover, provider, protector, her shield was at the bot-

as the wealthiest man in the East; no man was more

tom of the scrap pile, and where would she find solace,

wealthy than he. His wife was blessed because of his

protection, or anything for that matter.

position and their children were raised amidst the affluence of this wise, wealthy man.

Can you imagine the young ladies who were lined

So she lashed out. She had had all she was going to take. And you know what? There was no lightning from heaven, no divorce court—no anything. Job just spoke

up in hopes that Job would court them? Then when

firmly and surely about the truth. There’s no record that

Job’s wife was chosen, she was set for life; or so she

Job remarried, no record of his wife turning into a pillar

assumed. They set out on their journey. They had sons,

of salt or being devoured by wild animals. What we do

daughters, cattle, and all the other accoutrements of a

see is Job still wanting her near in chapter 19.

wealthy family of the East. Please imagine with me this

I can’t say I know “the rest of the story,” but I have

lifestyle of the rich and famous—Job and his wife. Their

to believe that they were restored; for God gave back to Job twice what he had lost and returned to him a quiver full of children to boot.

What is my lesson? In times of adversity—work it out. Don’t leave; don’t throw up your hands and quit; stick it out? God does have a plan, and it is a plan to bless and not to harm.

32 // April 2015

Donald E. Smith, Jr. M.Div., D.Min. Executive Director Hearts Set Free

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Gò0dNews for Seniors

We All Can Do Our Part in Healthcare Reform.

by Esmerelda Lee

M

uch has been debated in the media and in political circles about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Regardless of one’s opinions on this complex issue, a commitment to high quality and affordable healthcare is something all Americans can agree is important to everyone.

One of the main discussions in healthcare today is the reduction of hospital readmission rates. The National Institute of Health Care Reform’s 2011 report “Physician Visits After Hospital Discharge: Implications for Reducing Readmissions” found that the cost of hospital readmissions is $97 billion annually, $27 billion of which are Medicare expenditures according to a report

by Academy Health. Furthermore, the article points out, “Compounding the problem, discharged Medicare and Medicaid patients have higher bounce-back admission rates than those with other types of health insurance according to a study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.”

Increased readmissions do not necessarily mean access to better care. However, it does mean that patients need more education and should take an active role in being involved in healthcare reform. Patients in our community should be knowledgeable that the new rules passed as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aim to reduce the need for readmissions by charging additional fees to hospitals with excessive readmissions.

Recently, in a conversation with a member of our community, I was told in response to a similar statement, “Why should I care? It’s the hospital’s prerogative; they make enough money anyway!”

My response is this: “We should care. Knowledge is power.” Negatively impacting our healthcare providers

34 // April 2015

will limit the potential good they could do toward our future. Assisted Living Facilities play a vital role in educating their customers, assessing their customers, and providing added benefit that can only positively impact our healthcare system as a whole. These are some of the ways we can provide value: • Identifying patients who are at highest risk of readmission • Using follow-up care with nursing visits to patients’ apartments • Proactively ordering patient prescriptions and scheduling follow-ups with their own PCP (Primary Care Provider) • Providing patient and caregiver education • Suggesting culturally specific diet tips • Providing transportation for patient follow-up appointments Sometimes, something as simple as making sure seniors understand their medication regimen could go a long way in preventing readmissions and improving patient outcomes. Senior Living has become so much more than just an apartment complex for older adults. It has become a community where information is exchanged, and where older adults still continue to learn, grow, and contribute to their community in a variety of ways.

Through the support of knowledge and education, we all can still contribute toward healthcare reform, and, by doing so, change the future for our children.

Esmerelda Lee is campus manager for Garden Plaza of Cleveland, an independent and assisted living facility for seniors. She and her husband Andrew have three children.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Resurrection Power

by Joshua Black, Ed.D.

A

s we enter the high season of the Christian church, Eas-

put on Hospice care more than once.

So for these Bible-believing, Chris-

The sustaining power of God mentioned in Isaiah 46:3-4 is what

ter and its traditions remind us of the ultimate sacrifice that God made for us. So let’s take a minute as we enjoy our Cadbury eggs and chocolate crosses to ponder together the resurrection power of Christ.

Hundreds of scholars, preachers, and historians have described the physical death and resurrection of Christ for almost 2,000 years.

But have you thought about God’s resurrection power in your own life recently? What is He doing in your life? Have you thanked Him and shared it with others?

We have family friends in Chicagoland that have seen God do some amazing things in their son’s life over the past two years. They were shocked to have their seven-year-old son diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and the family has been on a rocky roller coaster ride ever since.

This young boy has been through multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation, multiple other procedures at hospitals around the country, and multiple times he has been diagnosed with only days to live. He was even

tian parents, who believe in divine, physical healing, this has been hard to take.

This family has been standing on Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (NKJV).

Their son is ready to go meet King Jesus, but God has kept him alive on this Earth longer than any doctor could have ever imagined.

The parents surrendered the bed of their son last fall for his Hospice care as it appeared that his body had given up. They were told that he could not hold out without eating to make it to Thanksgiving. So family and friends gathered to celebrate his last Christmas in early November, but God wasn’t done with him yet.

After weeks of barely being able to speak or even sit up, he arose one morning. This family was shouting glory as their son not only spoke, but he got up to play.

our friends are now standing on.

They are amazed that their son is still alive. He has blown away all the medical experts. He has been healed and sustained by God. The joy and life that this nine-year-old boy now has is a refreshing testimony to the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ still at work today. The Lord is still working miracles and raising people out of situations that seem hopeless and devastating.

God has done some pretty amazing miracles in my life. How about yours? Have you seen God pull you out of some real binds?

Have you seen God resurrect something or someone in your life from despair? Let’s share God’s goodness with others this Easter season of how God is truly saving people, marriages, and families, from desperate situations.

36 // April 2015

Joshua Black is a husband, father, Christian minister, and an educator living out his dream of serving students at Lee University.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

H

I See You

by Melinda Nicodemus

ey Mom! Driving in the mini-van, yawning at 3 p.m. I see you. I see you struggling to get through the day without a nap. I see you making trips to Target with your crew right beside you. I see you herding your kids like cattle to get in the store, while holding their hands, pulling up purse straps, and carrying that infant seat. I have seen you at home cleaning the living room, only to find the kids have made

alone, Momma. Those moments when you feel like you can't handle another day at home cleaning up poop and left-over lunch, remember you are not alone. When you think you are the only one who just wants to sit quietly for five minutes in the bathroom or take an extra long stroll around the grocery store, please remember you are not alone.

Other Moms have been in your shoes before and

a mess in the just-cleaned bathroom. I have seen you struggle to stay awake past 7 p.m., and I have seen you up all night tending to sick ones. I have seen you feel alone, overwhelmed, and loved all at the same instant.

I have seen you not because I am there, but because I have been there. I have done the early mornings, late nights diaper-changes, spit-up cleaner, dish, hair, and clothes washer, fixers of all things broken, mender of broken hearts, lover of all things possible, discipliner, best friend, worst enemy, story reader, prayer warrior, seamstress, chauffeur, chef, and house cleaner.

You are not

so many are in your shoes now! You are not alone, Momma! Your job is worth it—so hard, but so worth it!

I know it seems like you are doing the same thing over and over with no end in sight. It may seem like those precious, beautiful, bratty, wonderful, perfect kids of yours aren't learning anything. Trust me, they are! Every mess you clean up, every meal you make, every outfit you wash, and every problem you solve is appreciated and seen.

God created each of us to raise these amazing little beings into self-sufficient, God-loving, contributors to society. As a mother myself, often I feel like I am failing at the biggest job God has given me. On the days that I want to pull my hair out and quit, I just have to remember to hand it over the Creator himself and let Him take over. Raising children is a full-time job, and God did not intend for us to do it alone. Turn to your fellow mothers for help and turn to God for guidance. You are not alone, Momma! I see you, and I am praying for you!

Lean on the following scriptures for help: “ I can do everything through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NIV).

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you’.” (Is. 41:13).

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

38 // April 2015

Melinda Nicodemus is married to Paul and they have three children.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

D

Seek the Lord First

by Mindy White

o you feel like the Enemy is

How are you responding when the

in your territory? Maybe he

Enemy comes at you? Have you

slipped in before you even

set yourself to seek the Lord? Or

communion with the Lord. He is our

noticed and he is closer than you

are you already letting the Enemy

strength; He is our shield; He is our

knew. In 2 Chronicles 20

defeat you before the battle even

everything. We pray, read the Word,

Jehoshaphat’s men came to tell him

begins? Don’t let there even be any

praise, worship, give thanks, and

that the enemy was coming to make

question on how you are going to

whatever else we may do to spend

war. Not only were they coming, but

respond. Set yourself to seek the

time with the Lord. We do all these

the enemy had already crossed the

Lord. It seems like we try all of these

things to not only spend time with

sea and they were in Jehoshaphat’s

different ideas, but we should be go-

Him, but to also stay prepared for

territory. Before they even realized

ing to God first thing. The scripture

battle. We must stay ready to avoid

it, the enemy had entered their land.

doesn't say Jehoshaphat prepared

the cost that comes when we have

his army and then they sought the

to hurry and get ready when the

responded after hearing the news

Lord, it says that they sought the

Enemy is already in our territory.

that the enemy was coming. “Then

Lord and fasted first.

Look at how Jehoshaphat

Jehoshapaht was afraid and set his

situation.

We have to continuously stay in

One of my favorite parts of

No matter what is coming

this chapter is in verse 21 when the

face to seek the Lord, and pro-

against you, you have to seek the

“praise team” is sent out ahead of

claimed a fast throughout all Judah”

Lord. You are not going to waiver

the army to sing to the Lord. When

(v. 3 ESV). He may have been

and you are not going to doubt. You

the people began to sing and praise

afraid, but he knew how to respond

have to be determined to go after

is when the Lord set out an ambush

to the news. He sought the Lord.

God wholeheartedly. Remember

against the enemy. Just think about

Not only did he seek the Lord, but

that “Greater is He that is in you

that, with every song of praise that we

he also went one step further and

than he that is in the world” (1 John

sing, an ambush is being sent against

proclaimed a fast throughout the

4:4, KJV). You are on the winning

our enemies. That just makes me want

nation.

side, so keep your eyes on the Lord.

to start singing, how about you?

On this earth we are going to have battles in all areas of our lives.

40 // April 2015

Set your mind now that you are going to seek the Lord first in every

Mindy White and her husband Robert have been married for 20 years. They have 3 kids, Brittain, Noah, and Alaina. She is a member of Cornerstone Church of God where she is the ladies ministry president.

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Gò0dNews for your Taste Buds

Easy “PB&J” Healthy Smoothie

by Rob England

O

ne of my favorite healthy smoothies is designed around my cravings for PB&J’s. While I no longer eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I made this custom recipe to be reminiscent of PB&J’s but without peanuts or jelly. Vegetables are snuck into the recipe, but hopefully you’ll hardly notice!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of leafy greens (baby spinach or baby kale works best) • ½ cup of blueberries or other berry (frozen works best) • 2 florets of broccoli (frozen works best) • 2 tablespoons of almond butter or cashew butter (or any nut butter you prefer) • 1 cup of almond, cashew or coconut milk (or any milk you prefer) • 10-20 drops of strawberry or other berry flavored liquid stevia • I also add a half scoop of Barlean’s Superfruit Greens powder, but this is optional.

(Note: If you are not using frozen blueberries or broccoli, you may need to add ice).

Instructions

• Put all ingredients into a blender, Nutri-bullet, or similar, and blend well.

• This smoothie provides approximately 2 ½ servings of vegetables and one serving of fruit (and still tastes great)!

42 // April 2015

Rob England is a resident of Cleveland and works as a senior technical support rep at Thomson Reuters.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

R

Lord Open Our Eyes

by Vera Voznyuk

ecognizing your miracle can be far more chal-

Sometimes the toughness and intensity of

lenging than one might think. In Luke 24:13-35

our situation can cloud our vision and dis-

we read about two disciples who were traveling

cernment. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope

to Emmaus after Christ's resurrection from the dead (of

deferred makes the heart sick, but

which they were not quite convinced). Jesus appeared

when the desire comes, it is a

to them and walked with them to Emmaus. During the

tree of life ” (NKJV). The

entire trip, they conversed with Him and He taught

truth is: Our miracle may be

them regarding the prophesies spoken about Christ

happening right in front

throughout the Old Testament. The disciples, still not

of our eyes, openly and

recognizing Jesus, implored Him to stay with them for

on display; yet, we may

the evening. It was when He broke bread and served

not be able to recognize

them that their eyes were opened and they knew exactly

it. My prayer is that the

who He was. They said to themselves, “Did not our

Lord would open our

hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the

eyes to see Him clearly.

road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke

May we see what God is do-

14:32 NKJV).

ing and recognize when His

It's important to note that these two disciples had witnessed the horrendous execution of Jesus. I am sure

answer is evident.

There are times when God

it was very traumatic and shocking to anyone who was

performs big, obvious, instanta-

there for this fateful event. When Christ was buried, it

neous miracles, and at other times

seemed to them that all hope was gone. After all, they

He releases a series of mini-miracles

saw everything with their own eyes. How could anyone

as we journey until He completes the

come back to life after all that? Their teacher, prophet,

work that He started. Rejoice in your

friend—the One who claimed to be the Son of God—

victory! May the Lord replace dis-

was brutally crucified. I am sure they felt as though God

couragement with encouragement

had abandoned them. Questions must have haunted

and joy for mourning which will be

them:

your strength. Let us not lose hope

•What would their future be now?

but look to God for our solutions

•What would happen to Jerusalem?

believing that He will perform

•What would now be the destiny of the world?

what He said He would do. He

Hope had vanished! You may be in a season or a

is “the author and the finisher

situation when it seems that all hope has vanished. You

of our faith (Heb. 12:2 NKJV).

may have been through a tremendous time of pain—so much that it makes you skeptical of whether God would fulfill His promises to you.

44 // April 2015

Vera Voznyuk is minister of discipleship at Westmore Church of God.

Women Build Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland’s Women Build unites teams of women to build homes for families in need in Bradley County! We invite women who want to build homes and communities and also learn construction skills to be a part of this initiative!

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Office Telephone: 423-476-6947 ReStore Telephone: 423-473-4610 habitatofcleveland.org

Gò0dNews for Everyone

Do You Want to Get Well?

by Brandon West, PA-C Fast Access Healthcare

T

his is such a simple, yet awesomely complex

ing for the one who is seeking wholeness, completeness,

question. There is a cultural, or maybe even a

and wellness. Second Chronicles 16:9 states, “For the

humanistic, redundancy within these quotation

eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole

marks. If asked, most people would almost certainly

earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose

answer to the affirmative. Inherent in mankind is the de-

heart is loyal to Him” (NKJV). An encounter with Jesus

sire to be well, to be made whole. We all long for whole-

Christ offers the opportunity for both physical and spiri-

ness, completeness, and wellness, whether it is physical,

tual healing. The Lord is mighty to save; He is willing to

emotional, psychological, or spiritual. The complexity

heal, and He has the power to make well.

lies in the depth of intent behind the question.

I believe Christ is still asking the same questions

In John 5, the Bible tells us of an encounter Jesus had

today. “Do you want to be made well?” Matthew 7:7 re-

with a man who had not been well for thirty-eight years.

flects an everlasting truth: Ask, seek, knock. God knows

For some time, he had been waiting by the pool so that

our infirmities. He is intimately compassionate about

when the waters were stirred, he could step in and be

our wholeness, completeness, and wellness. He holds

made whole. Knowing this man’s condition of infirmity,

the keys to the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life.

Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (v. 6

He offers to bring physical, emotional, psychological,

NKJV).

and spiritual freedom. “Ask, and it will be given to you;

The emphasis of this encounter is not as much on the medical details as on the supernatural cure, the emphasis is on the testimony to Christ’s life-giving power

seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7 NKJV).

May His name be praised forevermore!

and the consequences of being made well. Jesus’ focus is on sustainable wellness, which is ultimately only truly sustainable in the Spirit because we are finite beings with an eternal destiny. However, Jesus uses the physical healing to reflect an eternal cure through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus ends this encounter by speaking these words: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (v. 14 NKJV).

Jesus is a personal Savior, with a desire for intimacy with each of His children. The call to salvation is found in this passage of healing. The man is lost in his own infirmities with no one to help him into the pool when the waters are stirred. That is exactly where Jesus finds each of us in our infirmity. We don’t find God, who is somehow hiding until we search for Him. He is search-

46 // April 2015

Brandon West is a 2013 graduate of Emory University Physician Assistant Program. He is married to Evie, a police officer for the City of Cleveland. They have two children, Josh, a Lee University student and Brooklyn, a senior at Walker Valley High School.

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Christian Magazine

Mission Statement: We believe when people are equipped, motivated, and passionately engaged in living out their faith in Jesus Christ they have the potential to be world changers.

Our mission is to bring people into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ—a relationship that empowers them to see how God can work through individual personalities, situations, and talents.

Christ was an activist, he did not neglect the needs of the people as He brought His message. We strive to encourage everyone to look more like Christ by reaching outside of themselves to serve the needs of others—at home, at school, in communities, and across the world

Writer Guidelines: Who: Our writers range from pastors, professors, and professional writers to stay at home moms and dads, business professionals, and others who have a desire to reach out to people through words of encouragement.

What: We believe that it is important to laugh together, praise each other, encourage one another, and to offer biblical advice. Articles can be directed toward everyone, or from woman to woman, or man to man. We love to share recipes and family traditions as well. We ask that articles be kept to a 500 word maximum. We’d love to hear from you!

Where: Please send submissions to goodnewstn@ gmail.com

Why: Because God has not intended for us to just survive. We believe that we are intended to reach out to love and encourage each other. God has brought each of us through tough times, blessed us, and made the “impossible” possible. Let’s, together, share the love of Jesus Christ.

48 // April 2015

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Individually and through our chapters we have joined together for three purposes: •To provide support and accountability to Christian officers in various agencies; •To become more effective witnesses for Christ to those around us; •To learn how to disciple and train others to carry out the Great Commission.

423.553.8806 | www.fcpo.org

Gò0dNews for Everyone

“Y

Learning to Let Go

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

ou shall not take vengeance, nor bear

important aspect of the Feast of Atonement. On this day,

any grudge against the children of your

the sins of the nation of Israel were atoned for.

people” (Lev. 19:18a NIV).

There are times when people do us wrong. They

We always want to pray for those who harm us. This is the essence of the example of Christ, who forgave us

may say things that are untrue. Sometimes we are physi-

on the cross in the midst of His suffering. It is interesting

cally harmed or our property is disrespected. When

that both hunger and thirst are mentioned in the verses

this happens, our first reaction is typically anger. As

above. This can refer to spiritual hunger and thirst. Of-

humans, we think of ways to “get even” with people. In

ten people who hurt others are in need of spiritual food

Leviticus 19:18, God asks us to do something that is very

and drink from God. They hurt others out of their spiri-

much against human nature: We are not to hold grudges

tual frustration. We want to pray that God fulfills their

against others.

spiritual longings through a genuine relationship with

This takes the grace of God and the assistance of the

Him. As we do good to others and pray for them, we are

Holy Spirit. In our flesh, we want to get even because

letting go of the grudge. Other people being spiritually

we think that will make us feel better and pay them back

whole is of more value than our grudge. Our grudge

at the same time. We must forgive them and release the

may bring us momentary satisfaction; their spiritual

grudge. The grudge harms us and does not harm them.

health will be a tree of life to them and countless others.

Letting go can be the hardest thing, but God guides us to release the hurt and pain. As His children, God wants us to react differently than the rest of the world. He wants us to live a holy, set-apart life.

In Romans 12:17-21, Paul wrote: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

At first, we might think that these verses refer to bringing down hot coals of harm upon them. That is not the context of Paul’s statement. Coals were used in the altar of incense in the Temple of God. The altar of incense can represent our prayers. This altar was also an

50 // April 2015

Kelly McDonald, Jr. is an ordained evangelist with Hungry Hearts Ministries. He has written 15 books and booklets on Christian Living. www.hungryheartsministry.com

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Gò0dNews from the Outdoors

I

When Time Stood Still

by Rusty Asble

t was the beginning of an exciting January hunt in lower Alabama near Creola on the Alabama River.

This hunt was to be one of a lifetime. Bucks were in full rut and running everywhere chasing does. The property had been managed for trophy-sized deer with a beautifully prepared habitat.

After a stop/start drive on the interstate, we arrived late that Thursday evening, laid out the next day’s hunt clothes, checked our guns, and set the alarm for a 5 a.m. wake up. At midnight, the lights were turned off and to bed we went.

“Beep, beep, beep, beep,” the alarm went off at 5 a.m. on the dot. The cabin was cold as we set our feet on the floors. We commented about what a fast night’s sleep we had. After a quick bite for breakfast, out the door we went, eager for a great morning hunt.

Mr. Emory, a great church member from Decatur, Alabama, was my hunting partner. He went toward the east side of the property, making his way to the Stump Stand, and I headed south with my climbing stand and the wind in my face. After taking 30 minutes to set up, I settled in. The sun was to rise at 6:50 a.m., so it was a matter of about an hour before the excitement began.

I did not have my watch or phone with me, but after what seemed to be an hour, I looked toward the east and . . . nothing. I waited for another great amount of time and still darkness. As I started to get worried about what was happening with our world, thoughts crept into my mind. Did something happen to the sun?

Was there some eclipse happening I did not know

about? Did Christ come back and take the sun with Him? Did time stand still?

Okay, it was just a weird feeling and some crazy thoughts, but what in the world was happening? After what seemed to be another hour (now approximately three), a glimmer of pink was revealed from the East.

Whew, that was close.

As predicted, bucks began to come from everywhere, many right under the stand, broken 6’s, nontypical 8’s, a huge 6, and a glimpse of a BIG 10. With so much to look at, it almost became dizzying, and thoughts of the long darkness were almost forgotten.

With two days left, I decided to wait it out for the big buck. Getting down, I went back to the cabin for lunch thinking it was about noon.

As I turned the corner of woods, there was Mr. Emory sitting on the front porch shaking his head. The look on his face was what I’d been wondering all morning. As I got closer, he held up the battery-powered alarm clock, which showed 12 a.m. Bewildered, I asked what happened. He discovered the clock was running two hours fast for every actual hour. What we thought was a 5 a.m. wakeup was actually 2:30 a.m. We had a great laugh as we shared our thoughts and concerns of the sun and world.

It made me think and question, How would everybody respond if Christ came back today? Would we be ready for Him? Would it feel like time stood still? Would we experience sadness, or joy, or both?

“No one knows when that day or hour will come, Not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36).

52 // April 2015

Reverend Rusty Asble is the associate pastor of recreation administration at First Baptist Church, Cleveland, TN. He and his wife Stacy have three children: Ridge, Garrett, and Susie.

They reside in Cleveland.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

When You Don’t Know What To Do, Don’t Plan for Anything.

by Nikki DeLong

G

raduating high school is most people’s first big accomplishment. It’s something to be proud of and to enjoy before going into the world. I spent my high school graduation day packing boxes.

As an eighteen year old, ready to be out on my own making my own choices, I had big plans. I wasn’t going to wait another day for my life to start. My “Five-Year Plan” was more important than the moment I was living in, and I was going to accomplish it all on my own. Five years later, not one of those plans came to past. And, I’m better for it.

I think back to eighteen-year-old me, and I thank God I wasn’t able to make those plans a reality. I had no idea who I was, what I really wanted, or what was best for me in the long term. I do believe my heart was in the right place, but I wasn’t leaving a lot of room for God’s voice in the matter. It was more of a Hey God, watch what I’m going to do and be proud of me. I was asking a blessing for something I was going to do regardless.

Thankfully, God kindly took my plans and pitched them out the window of expectations.

When I share my story about what led me to where I am versus where I was, I enjoy talking about the lowest points. It’s okay that I went through hard times because of poor decision-making. It’s a reminder of what I’ve overcome, and I hope my story encourages others no matter where they are in life. Mistakes aren’t bad if you learn from them, they help us grow and prove we’re human.

54 // April 2015

One story pivotal to my journey is a six-months period of time where I couldn’t work because of an arm injury. As an artist, that’s a crippling thing. I joke that God had to literally break me to reset my focus on Him and what He wanted. People laugh, but it’s true! I was that hard pressed in refusing to be used for His plans instead of my own.

We want to be in control of our days; that’s a normal urge. It’s okay to plan and prepare. Where we tend to be off-track is when we don’t allow God to make the final call or even consider Him at all. When making decisions, we choose things we want and know we can accomplish. That’s a huge mistake. God doesn’t need us for His plans to be achieved. All He needs is for us to be willing and able to do anything He asked. He’s the One who does the work. He makes us capable.

Sure, stepping out in faith is horrifying. There are lots of things that can and probably will go wrong in our eyes, but our eyes can’t see what God sees. Any failed plan you have may seem like a failure, but you have no idea what might be around the corner. God may be saving you for something better—or from something harmful. We keep trying to get “in the know,” but that’s not our place. God will open and close doors. We just have to walk through the open doors and be okay with the ones He shuts. It’s easy when we look at it that way. When something doesn’t go as planned; be thankful that He’s in control.

Nikki DeLong, 22 years old, was born and raised in Cleveland, TN. She is an artist and owner of The Clayful Artist Paint Your Own Pottery Store.

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