February 2016

February 2016

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Gò0dNews Christian Magazine

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• Faith Will Overcome p. 14 • Beauty in Every Age p. 34 • For the Love of Winter p. 52

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Writers

Alan Smith Alice Marie Abbott Andrew Lee Andrew Schaffer Angie Parris Catherine Marcum Chris Isbill Danielle Jennings Darren Schalk Delaney Walker Deven Wallace Esmerelda Lee Glenda Prichard Jay Marcum John Garrod Julius McCarter Kelly McDonald Jr. Mead Vest Mickey Clark Nicole Wiley Samuel Burger Teresa Mustar

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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 four beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, and Leah Jean. 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.

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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!

Letter from the Editor

O

ne of the most popular gifts for all occasions (especially in February) is the delicious sweet chocolate we eat in cookies, cakes, candy bars, and other desserts. For centuries, legends from many cultures claimed that consuming chocolate instilled strength, health, faith, and passion in those who ate or drank it. These legends attributed magical properties to chocolate and endowed it with powerful symbolic value. Today, chocolate is still considered an icon of love and devotion.

In her book, Love Adds the Chocolate, Linda Anderson writes: “Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to enclose a little love note inside. Later, she added: “Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often, love adds a little chocolate.”

I don’t know if chocolate was available in the time of Christ, but this is a beautiful description of the way Jesus led His life. He went beyond the call of duty and acted out of love.

He went out of His way to minister, and I believe He wants us to do the same.

For many years Mother Teresa went out of her way to minister to the dying—first in Calcutta, India, and later around the world. She is quoted as saying, “True love hurts. It always has to hurt. If you truly love one another, you will not be able to avoid making sacrifices.”

Mother Teresa’s ministry went far beyond simply holding hands and praying. She physically carried broken bodies in off the streets, cleaned foul-smelling wounds, mopped up accidents, and tenderly spooned warm food into toothless mouths. She loved unconditionally. Even though Mother Teresa is no longer with us, her Missionaries of Charity continue the work she began. If you ask them why they do it, they will tell you: “We do it because Jesus did.”

You and I won’t always get to pick the time, the method, or the place of ministry in 2016, but 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (NIV). Sometimes we may do nothing at all except pray and wait for God’s leading. But when we go to Him with a willingness to serve, He directs us to something we can do for Him. And that task will always be wrapped in love.

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 6

GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk

6 Give!

by Samuel Burger

GoodNews for Kids

8

Strawberry Cake Pop Valentine’s Dessert

by Danielle Jennings

GoodNews on Money Matters

10 Christians and Inequality

by Andrew Lee

GoodNews for Men

12 Theology by Nightlight

by Darren Schalk

GoodNews for Women

14 Faith Will Overcome

by Nicole Wiley

GoodNews for Parents

20 Godly Parenting

by Deven Wallace

GoodNews for Life

22 Happy Valentine’s Day

by Delaney Walker

28

GoodNews for Health & Fitness

24 A Biblical Prescription for Life

by Jay Marcum

GoodNews for Teens

26 The Lenten Season . . .

by Andrew Schaffer

GoodNews Cover Story

28 Me Roll Tide

by Mickey Clark

38

GoodNews for Everyone

40 A Life Changed by Love

by Glenda Prichard

GoodNews for Everyone

42 Lift up Your Eyes

by Mead Vest

GoodNews for your Taste Buds

44 Chicken Parmesan

by Angie Parris

GoodNews for Daily Living

GoodNews for Everyone

Negative World

by Alan Smith

30 Staying Positive in a

by Alice Marie Abbott

GoodNews for Couples

32 Life’s a Gravel Road

by John Garrod

GoodNews for Seniors

34 Beauty in Every Age

by Esmerelda Lee

GoodNews for Everyone

36 Why I Pray

by Julius McCarter

GoodNews from the Tech Shop

38 The Truth about Online Dating

by Chris Isbill

46 Questions

GoodNews for Everyone

50 Being Poor in Spirit

by Kelly McDonald Jr.

GoodNews from the Outdoors

52 For the Love of Winter

by Teresa Mustar

GoodNews for Everyone

54 Parallax

by Catherine Marcum

Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

Give!

When we demonstrate trust through our giving, a cycle of blessing begins to flow.

A

by Samuel Burger

re you willing to trust God with what you give away more than you trust yourself with what you keep? What if you gave extravagantly? What if giving to God wasn’t your leftovers but your best?

What if you gave out of happiness and not obligation?

What if you gave over and above at least one time? What if you operated in a contributor mind-set? What if you didn’t think in terms of consuming?

The story is told of a man who had a horrible dream.

He said, “I dreamed that the Lord took my Sunday offering and multiplied it by ten, and this became my weekly income. In no time I lost my color TV, had to give up my new car and couldn’t make my house payment. After all, what can a fellow do on $10 a week?”

If the Lord took your offering, multiplied it by ten, and made that your weekly income, how much would you make? Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (NKJV).

A life of generosity produces an overflow in your life.

You never lose when you give. Charles Spurgeon said,

6 // February 2016

“Earn all you can, save all you can, and then give all you can. Never try to save out of God’s cause; such money will canker the rest. Giving to God is no loss; it is putting your substance into the best bank. Giving is true having, as the old gravestone said of the dead man, ‘What I spent I had, what I saved I lost, what I gave I have.’”

So why is giving so hard for some of us? I had a friend tell me what the Holy Spirit told him. He said, “If you can’t trust God with money, then how are you going to trust Him with your life?” I think it goes deeper than just trying to make sure you have enough. It’s more than an economical issue. It’s a trust issue. However, when you demonstrate trust through your giving, a cycle of blessing begins to flow. The trust you demonstrate produces the indescribable joy given by God. Giving is at the heart of our walk with God because it demonstrates the ultimate gift God has given us. Jesus came to earth so we could have eternal life. When we give, the door is open to tell the Good News. It’s time we give our time, money, gifts, resources and skills to the kingdom of God. Samuel Burger is pastor at Chestuee Worship Center, 1414 Athens Rd, Calhoun, TN 37309.

Gò0dNews for Kids Strawberry Cake Pop Valentine’s Dessert

by Danielle Jennings

F

ebruary is often called “The Love Month” as we celebrate Valentine’s Day on February14. And what better way to show your love to your special Valentine than with tasty treats.

Below is one of my absolute favorite Valentine’s Day desserts. This simple and delicious treat is so much fun to make, and the kids can help make it. Supervision is advised since using the oven is required.

What you’ll need:

• 9x13 Cake pan (or a pan of your choice) • Cookie Sheet • 1 box of Strawberry cake mix (or a flavor of your choice) • 1 can of icing in your choice flavor (I think cream cheese icing works best!)

• 1 block of almond bark melting chocolate (white preferably)

8 // February 2016

• Red and pink sprinkles • 1 bag of lollipop sticks (can be purchased at any crafting store) • Parchment or wax paper

Directions:

First, follow the directions of the cake mix on the box. (Don’t forget to pre-heat the oven!) Once the cake is baked, allow it to cool (in the pan) for at least 1 hour before moving on to the next step.

Once the cake has cooled, scoop the icing onto the baked cake. With your fingers, crumble the cake while mixing in the icing. (This is where it gets fun and messy.) Make sure that all of the cake has mixed with the icing.

After washing your hands, use a spoon to make 1-inch balls out of the mixture. Roll the ball in your hands until perfectly round and place it on wax/ parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet (the cookie sheet helps when transporting the cake pops!) Do this until all of the mixture is gone, or until your cookie sheet is full!

Once your cookie sheet is full, take the lollipop sticks and stick on into the middle of each of your cake balls, making a cake pop. Transport the whole cookie sheet to the fridge or freezer. Let the cake pops chill for 30 minutes. Before removing the cake pops, begin melting your chocolate in a glass bowl in 30-second increments.

After the chocolate melts to a smooth consistency, remove the cake pops from the freezer. Begin dipping the cake pops into the chocolate, make sure the chocolate goes up to the stick. Before the chocolate hardens, sprinkle red and pink sprinkles on the tops of the cake pops for a splash of color!

When the chocolate hardens, enjoy your treat!

Danielle Jennings is the director of children’s ministry at Ooltewah United Methodist. She is a graduate of Lee University and is currently working on her master’s degree. Her passion is working with children and helping them succeed.

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Gò0dNews on Money Matters

Christians and Inequality

by Andrew Lee

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

—Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)

I

recently read a book by French

are distributing the wealth, while others

boisterously oppose. But these phrases

economist Thomas Piketty titled Capital

receive smaller bags of money. Whenever

have dozens of different meanings,

in the 21st Century, published in 2013.

I hear about the so-called distribution of

depending on who is talking at that

Early in the book, Piketty asserts that he

wealth, my question is simply this: Where

particular moment. It is imperative that

will examine the history of “inequality

is the money train (or truck, or yacht, or hot

Christians be informed about precisely

of wealth and capital” and will then

air balloon)? And where do I pick up my bag

what they are supporting or opposing.

conclude by offering suggestions about

of money? I’m quite certain I’m not the

how to solve this problem of inequality

only person who wants these questions

alike are fond of quoting Matthew

and economic injustice.

answered immediately, if not sooner.

26:11 where Jesus says, “The poor you

Some Christians and non-Christians

His proposed solution is a “global

I’m being facetious, but I hope

will always have with you” (NIV),

tax on wealth” whereby anyone whose

my point is made about the jargon

and I know people who have used

net worth exceeds one million dollars

employed by socialists like Piketty who

this scripture as an excuse never to

would be taxed at a nominal rate every

claim that there’s a pot or pie of money

aid the poor either through monetary

year, with the wealth tax rate increasing

somewhere, and that some people

contributions or through giving their

for those with higher net worth. Piketty

are unfairly receiving a smaller slice

personal time to serve the poor. This is an

believes that somehow all of these taxes

of the pie than others. As Christians,

erroneous application of Christ’s words,

will be redistributed to those with less

when we encounter terms that are

for the Bible reminds us countless times

net worth (i.e. the poor, or at least those

currently in vogue, such as social justice

that God expects His children to help

who consider themselves poor compared

and economic inequality, we are apt to

and to serve those who are poor (or, if

to millionaires and billionaires, which

be sympathetic. After all, who could

you prefer politically correct jargon, “the

I assume would include many folks

possibly be against these noble ideas?

underprivileged or disadvantaged”).

reading this column). On the surface,

The first phrase sounds like something

Piketty’s idea may seem like a fine idea.

any compassionate person should

be people who are in dire straits

After all, most of us don’t mind higher

support, and the second phrase sounds

financially, no matter how much help

taxes on somebody else’s wealth as long

like something awful that we should

they receive, just as there are some people

as it doesn’t apply to us.

Personally, I balk at the

Jesus was right. There will always

who actually prefer the “freedom” of being homeless. But that fact shouldn’t

phrase distribution of wealth,

discourage us from helping

since to my mind it conjures

others in responsible and

an image of a big money

productive ways, namely by

train rolling by, while crew

helping them receive the

members toss out bags of

education and training

money to random people.

needed to be self-sufficient

In this strange metaphor,

and to escape poverty.

some folks are lucky enough to receive a big bag of money from the mysterious “they” who

10 // February 2016

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

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Gò0dNews for Men

Theology by Nightlight

O

Explaining to a five year old how God knows everything.

by Darren Schalk

nce while putting my daughters (yes, plural, I have identical twin girls) to bed, after prayer time, Abby looked up and out of the blue asked, “Daddy, how can God know everything?”

WHOA, where did that come from?

I tried to flip the neon sign of theology in my head to the “on” position and began forming my response: “God’s omnipotence is directly related to his omniscience and omnipresence. The sovereignty of the Godhead over all creation comes from His foreknowledge. . . .” Wait a minute, Darren, that’s not going to work with a five year old.

This one needed to be as simple as possible. I couldn’t use the blinding neon light of theology, I needed more of a theological nightlight—simple and subtle. I would not be able to tell her about sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence. “Can’t possibly use those terms until at least six years old,” I thought to myself.

I fumbled for words.

“Well, baby, uhhh, I guess, He knows everything because . . . He made everything.”

I was über pleased with my simple but deeply theological response, but Abby was still staring at me blankly. I realized she needed more.

Then all at once it happened. The heavens parted and the Spirit descended on me like a dove of intelligence. I heard an angelic choir of a thousand

12 // February 2016

children’s voices singing in perfect 12-part harmony as I relayed this theological nightlight.

“You know how when you draw me a picture, you can tell me every detail of that picture?”

“Uh huh.”

“You can do that because you created that picture, and that means you know everything about it, down to the smallest detail. Right?”

“Uh huh.”

“That’s how God knows everything. He drew it all.”

As I finished speaking, the angelic choir of children’s voices faded into the distance, and then, as they faded, I’m sure I heard a still small voice say, “This is Darren, in whom I am well pleased.”

We seem to think theology is complicated and incomprehensible, but the truth is, we are all theologians, and we theologize (yup, just made that word up) every single day, even when we don’t know it.

And when the opportunity presents itself, don’t avoid it; tackle it head-on. God will help you.

Otherwise, you may hear that angelic choir singing in falsetto: “It’s too late to theologize, it’s too laaaaaaate.”

And here’s my attempt to draw it all. As the picture illustrates, we can be thankful that God drew it all, and I did not.

Darren Schalk is the curriculum editor for the Church of God of Prophecy and author of the book, Dear God We Need To Talk, from Charisma House. He has been featured on radio and television programs across the nation discussing topics of faith and discipleship. Learn more at DarrensChalk.com.

Gò0dNews for Women

Faith Will Overcome

P

by Nicole Wiley The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

—Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

overty, discrimination, economic struggles,

and the shimmering white snow. The Creator of all of

sickness, and pure terror: all things that our world

these beautiful things knows your name. He knows every

is facing today. We may believe that there is

single thing about you, and He loves every part of you.

nothing we can do to turn things around, and we believe

That same God sent his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to hang

that we will walk around in fear that something horrible

upon a cross for all of your sins. This is the same God

may happen at any given time. It’s so easy to become

who tells His children not to fear, for He is with us every

so absorbed in the current events of the world that we

step of the way.

often forget who is truly in control. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So

If we learn to trust His grace and His discretion, we

do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I

will find that even the toughest hardships can’t bring

am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will

us down. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but

uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NIV).

of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7

The Lord promises that He will be with us and that

NKJV). So, no matter what happens in this ever-changing

He will provide strength against anything and everything

world we live in, we must place our unshakeable trust

as long as we place our unconditional trust in Him. In

in the Lord, and do not be overcome with fear of any

my mind, unconditional trust is trust without borders. It

person or anything. God will always love us and will

is believing that God has the best plans for us even in the

forever protect us from all harm. He is and always will be

darkest days or times of our lives.

stronger than any threat that this world can place on us. I

If you are having difficulty casting away your fears

feel as though “Faith Will Overcome” is a motto that we

and replacing it with love for God, take a moment to

should proclaim to the world, for we have the Savior of

realize who is promising you safety. We serve the God of

the world watching over us every single day.

the universe who created the heavens and the earth. The

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace

great God that you praise is the God who made the soft

that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not

green grass, the fluffy white clouds, the deep blue waters,

be worried and upset; do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).

14 // February 2016

Nicole Wiley is a sophomore at Cleveland High School who attends First Baptist Church.

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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 132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312 Bethel Baptist Tabernacle 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 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936 or clevelandcowboychurch.com Cloverleaf Baptist Church 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 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 3055 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7606 Elkmont Baptist Church 4030 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312

16 // February 2016

(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 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 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 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 Rolling Brook Baptist Church 1675 Greendale Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-0612 Samples Memorial Baptist Church 371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329 Shenandoah Baptist Church 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 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 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 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

Agape Place Church of God Pastor John and Melanie Arias 2611 Blue Springs Road SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-8691 Cornerstone Church of God Pastor Rick and Lori Sentell 2823 Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0006 Church of God Sanctified, Inc. 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423)479-3895 East Cleveland Church of God Pastor John A. Lombard Jr. 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389 Fellowship of Praise Church of God 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 Church of God Pastor Steve Gilbert 4635 S Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316 International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoraci贸n 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 Church of God Pastor Mitch Maloney 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513 or nccog.org Michigan Avenue Church of God Rev. David B. Boles 515 Minnis Road N.E (423) 584-3663 Mt Olive Church of God 3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381 Mt View Church of God 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-6925 South Cleveland Church of God Pastor Chris Moody 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382 or southcleveland.org Westmore Church of God Pastor Kelvin Page 2412 Wolfe Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 559-9646 or www.westmorecog.org Zion Assembly Church of God Pastor Kim Erwin 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 Union Grove COGOP 533 Union Grove Rd Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 479-5357 Wildwood COGOP 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)479-6584

Disciples of Christ First Christian Church 3925 N. Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6682

Episcopal

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

Lutheran

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

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

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 Riverstone 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

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 2712 Henderson Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312-5225 423-472-7371 New Hope Church of the Nazarene 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 Community Hall Church 1305 6th Street Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472 2178 Dwelling Place Church Pastors Jamie and Judy Jacobs Tuttle 523 Urbane Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5200 DPCI.TV 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 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 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 PCA 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 // February 2016

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 Church of God 507 Woodward Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1618

Community

Christ Community 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 Worship Center 109 Cherry St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8999 Calvary Tabernacle of God 2820 Hwy 11 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-7159 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

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

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Gò0dNews for Parents

Godly Parenting

A

True training is pointing our children to the God who hears their cry.

by Deven Wallace

fter a typical day of Christmas break for the Wallace clan, we enjoyed cooking, wrapping presents, and playing with cousins. In the midst of the commotion of adults chatting and children playing, I heard the cry that would drain the color from any mother’s face. Without words, it was the sound of my child in crisis. My ten-year-old daughter, Zion, had rolled across the floor into the corner of a dresser. As I fell on the floor beside her, the protruding two-inch pumpknot on her head sent this mother of four into alarm.

Words cannot describe the size and discoloration of what I witnessed, and I immediately began to prepare everyone for a trip to the ER. Zion wailed in pain as I phoned our pediatrician. Somewhere in the midst of the crisis, I stopped dead in my tracks as I heard the cry of my daughter change from crying out to me, to crying out to God: “O God, help me now! I am afraid. Please make this swelling go away right now in Jesus’ name.”

20 // February 2016

She cried it several times in a row before I could even respond in my shock. Had she continued to cry out to me, I would have continued to console her, but I was unable to fix the situation. As I continued speaking with our pediatrician on the phone, I noticed the swelling on Zion’s head was disappearing as quickly as it had surfaced. God had heard and answered her! I could only offer my daughter relief and comfort in the middle of her struggle, but her soul began to cry out to the one who could actually remove what was afflicting her.

When life squeezes on us, we are no different than lemons. What is inside will come out. When equipping our children for life, we must remember that true preparation is not teaching them to depend upon us, but to look to Him. When pressure is applied, there is no time for training, and as much as it breaks our heart to imagine, we will not always be sufficient as parents to alleviate whatever life may bring.

Godly parenting is not always making life easy for our children or assuming the unrealistic pressure to fix every crisis. True training is pointing our children to the God who hears their cry. I rejoiced in that moment because I realized that the greatest learning moment of Zion’s life took place in that moment of crisis, and I would not have to lose endless hours of sleep worrying when she begins to grow older and not always be within my arm’s reach. I saw her in the middle of panic and fear, yet Zion had learned the secret of overcoming in life. She knew how to cry out to the one who would hear and answer. When pressure was applied, true faith came out. True faith always unlocks the miraculous.

Now may we as parents never lose that childlike faith in the midst of crisis.

Pastor Deven and her husband Bishop Kevin Wallace, co-pastor Redemption Point Church (RPC) based in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Under their leadership, RPC has grown from a single location in Ooltewah with 34 attendees in its first service, to over 1200 with multiple locations in just 11 years.

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Gò0dNews for Life

Happy Valentine’s Day

Step up your February 14 celebrations by paying it forward to someone—maybe even a stranger.

by Delaney Walker

A

round Christmas a joke had me laughing, cringing, and nodding my head in agreement.

Luckily for you, I remember how it goes: A girl walks up to Santa Claus. She requests a dragon for Christmas. Santa balks and says, “Child, be more realistic.”

She frowns, thinks for a second and responds, “Fine, in that case, I would like a boyfriend.”

Santa laughs and asks, “What color would you like your dragon to be?”

Chances are this joke was written by a single female who has had one too many well-intentioned relatives ask how a sweet, pretty, talented girl like her is still single. This question is akin to asking someone the meaning of life: there are a plethora of theories, but few people can give a concrete answer. Society places a huge emphasis on relationships, and when someone falls short of the standard they are reminded of their “lack” time and time again.

This might be the reason Valentine’s Day is known in many circles as Single Awareness Day, or S.A.D. for short. Single Awareness Day tends to include a lot of ice cream, crying, ranting, and bashing of exes. Although I have been single for many a Valentine’s Day, I have never joined in on the S.A.D. festivities. (I have seen the day celebrated in style though thanks to social media and the lives of my friends.)

Honestly, S.A.D. activities look like they take too much work, and anyway, I happen to be a hopeless

22 // February 2016

romantic. This means I love Valentine’s Day. I enjoy seeing what couples do for each other, listening to love stories, and reminiscing on childhood card exchanges.

In fact, I enjoy the holiday so much I want to join in on the fun.

Seeing as I do not have the ability to make a boyfriend appear out of thin air, my celebration of the day is a little different from both the traditional and S.A.D. route. Mostly, I just celebrate love— and not just the romantic kind. I wear pink, I shout “Happy Valentine’s Day” to friends and co-workers, I remind people I love how much I care about them, I eat chocolate (duh), and squeeze in a chick flick for good measure.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about stepping up my Valentine’s Day celebrations. Instead of enjoying the day on my own, I’m considering using the day of love as an opportunity to pay it forward. Maybe I will leave coins on a vending machine, pay for the order behind me in a drive-thru line, or make cookies for my neighbors.

Whatever my decision, I guarantee it will be more fun than a Single Awareness Day party (as if I need a reminder) and just as memorable as sharing the day with the one I love.

Here’s to you however you decide to celebrate (or ignore) this Valentine’s Day.

Delaney Walker is the development director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center. She is an avid fan of reading, exercising, and making silly faces at babies in the grocery store.

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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness A Biblical Prescription for Life

T

Being Thankful in All Things

by James Marcum

he world headlines have been full of despair— attacks in Paris, Mali, in the air, on the sea, and in cyberspace. After the headlines, the political rhetoric starts. This fatigues me. Even the sports section is not as upbeat. To make matters worse, one of my favorite cartoons, “Henry” is not available. Henry, was at least some sense of normalcy for me. Believe it not, these inputs, including Henry, do change our health.

be methylated or my telomeres to be shortened unless there is a good reason.

When a person says thank you and means it, there is a physiologic response that we are just beginning to understand. Through functional MRI’s and the sequencing of the human genome, knowledge of the function of the brain is unprecedented. Being thankful is one of the best prescriptions for life. The text, 1

Today, I want us to focus on the importance of being thankful. This is an important input and is a Biblical prescription for life.

Thankfulness, gratitude, appreciation, recognition, honor, and even praise are similar words.

But, what is a word? A word elicits some type of chemical response in the body. The brain recognizes the word, searches the hippocampus, and the 100 billion neurons with a quad-million (one with 15 zeros) connections go to work. There are neurotransmitters generated, new connections, and interactions all in response to a word.

The limbic system may turn on an emotion, and the amygdyla may turn on the stress chemistry depending on the word.

Fredrickson described in the American Psychologist, the complex dynamics and pointed out, the brain has a hard time focusing on negatives when being thankful. There is an on-off switch. Negativity and anti-thankfulness, can also stress the body. Dusek has shown how even the DNA and gene expression are changed by our brains. The epigenetics can be changed by words. I do not want any of my 20,000-plus genes to

Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (NKJV).

Notice the text does not say to be thankful for some things or to be thankful on a holiday, or when you “feel” like it. It says to be thankful in all things. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Being thankful is a complex physiologic condition representing chemical and structural changes.

I am sure a thankful factor of 2 looks different than a thankful physiology of 1000.

Thankfulness can be learned. I have noticed that in my patients who learn how to be thankful, their heart rate slows, their blood pressure is decreased, less medications are needed, less heart attacks, and even less pain. A thankful heart is a happy heart with more endorphins. Endorphins are our bodies’ natural painkillers. A Biblical prescription changes the entire body.

As the world moves away from being thankful, at least in the headlines, we need to move, one step at a time, being thankful in all things. There is no better time to start.

24 // February 2016

Dr. James Marcum is speaker/director of Heartwise Ministries. He is a cardiologist practicing with the Chattanooga Heart Institute.

He is very active in the television, radio, and print arm of Heartwise Ministries. He is married to Sonya and has two children, Kelli and Jake.

He enjoys music and outdoor activities.

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Gò0dNews for Teens

The Lenten Season . . .

H

A time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading to Easter.

by Andrew Schaffer

ooray, fasting! Lent begins this month; get excited.

I didn’t grow up practicing Lent. I didn’t know

what I was missing. I knew about lint, but that’s

40 days can produce. I fasted from various foods: bread, meat, soda, caffeine, and so forth. Although mine were always food oriented (priorities), my friends gave up music,

different. Lent was something Catholic kids did, like mass or

Facebook, and even driving. Each created a unique moment

confirmation, but that was the extent of my knowledge. My

or opportunity to consciously refocus on God. It can be

familiarity eventually increased as I ventured outside of my

challenging to find the sweet spot between difficult and

little Protestant bubble and discovered how impactful these

ridiculous—sacrificing something too insignificant misses

six weeks could be.

the point of both fasting

If you aren’t familiar

and Lent, but something

with the Lenten season, it is

too big and we give up or

traditionally a time of prayer,

even become more intent

fasting, and almsgiving leading

on self-discipline than faith.

to Easter. This 40 days (doesn’t

Part of the beauty of Lent is

include Sundays) is analogous to

becoming more self-aware

Jesus’ time in the desert and once

in examining our habits and

served as a period of purification

quirks, revealing what we can

and enlightenment for new

live without and what might

converts back when all believers

be taking precedence over

were baptized on Easter Sunday.

time with God.

Beginning with Ash Wednesday

Got it. So what do I do?

and awareness of our own

Just like our faith, this

finitude, brokenness, and general uselessness apart from

is a personal thing. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 not to look

Christ, it culminates in our celebration of the Resurrection.

miserable while we fast because that only attracts attention.

This is why the Orthodox Church calls Lent the season of

Outside of the necessary accountability, this is between you

“Bright Sadness.” We celebrate Lent in that spirit, calling us

and God. Honestly, we don’t really have to give up anything

back to God and deepening our faith.

to “fast.” We can take on more intentional time to create space

That’s cool. Why fasting?

How much do you do in a given day without even

and commune with God; it’s the concept that’s important.

This Lenten season, try something a bit different. If

thinking? We’re so accustomed to being on autopilot—grab a

you’ve never participated, anything will be different, so

soda, eat dinner, turn on the TV, check instagram/snapchat,

you’re golden. If you have, change it up! This year I invite

and binge on Netflix. Giving up a part of this could

you to fast; give up something you know you’ll miss, take

completely derail our routine. Fasting removes something,

on something new, and discover what God can show you in

typically something difficult to go without and interrupts

this season of Bright Sadness.

our lives. It’s not simply about forgoing your favorite useless habit or snack; it’s self-denial, creating a space for intimacy with Christ.

Practicing Lent quickly taught me both the value of fasting and the challenges that avoiding something for

26 // February 2016

Andrew Shaffer is the minister to youth and their families at First Baptist Dalton, GA. He is a graduate of Mississippi State, Samford and Truett Seminary. He has worked in youth ministry one way or another since 2000, and has been bitten by an otter.

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FEATURED COVER STORY

by Mick

O

ey Clar

k

n October 11, 2015, my daughter, Bynnlon Clark,

Brynn would probably never be the same. I remember

fell from a stool at church and hit her head on the

Amy looking at a picture taken of Brynn dancing that

tile floor in the café which resulted in a traumatic

morning and simply stating, “I do not know if I ever will

brain injury called an epidural hematoma. What started out as an exciting day of worship and anticipation of what

see her dance again.”

After crying, holding each other, and having some

God was going to do at Grace Point quickly turned into

time alone in the family waiting room, I remember when

a life-changing journey and testimony of a modern-day

the atmosphere shifted. Amy and I realized everything

miracle that has spread farther than Amy and I could have

was out of our hands and we started to play a praise song

ever imagined. I wish I had time to tell you every detail of

on her phone that a friend, Mrs. Melanie, had gotten to us.

Brynn’s Miracle Tour, but I simply do not. You can go to

I remember my focus went from sorrow to praising God.

merolltide.org and see the detailed daily blog of the journey

My attitude went from hopeless and mourning to a sense

and get a better timeline of Brynn’s injury and her story.

in my spirit that I was going to storm God’s throne with

This article is intended to be the cliff notes of the story and

spiritual determination and refuse to let this attack against

encouragement for us all.

Brynn go on without an all-out spiritual fight and allow

Rewind four months immediately after the fall. I

Jehovah Rapha to do what He does—heal! I remember

remember Brynn being rushed off for brain surgery while

the submissiveness in my spirit to accept what God has

Amy and I sat in a waiting room and starting the process

deemed His will, but I also remember the deep gut feeling

of mourning the loss of Brynn, as well as celebrating the

(now I know it was God’s Holy Spirit) of faith that was

time we had been given with her. The doctors did not hold

welling up inside me that God had this! Amazingly, by

much hope because of the size of the blood clot. The harsh

the time I lifted my eyes and headed into the hallway, I

reality we were facing was that even if she recovered,

was greeted by a host of people eager and ready to fight

28 // February 2016

spiritually with both fists to an amazing God who had

more waiting, being move to a normal room, saying her

already started His fight on Brynn’s behalf by incredible

first words “Me Roll Tide,” more waiting, no movement

earthly provisions.

in her right side, not being able to eat, and did I mention

As the dust settled, brain surgery was complete,

waiting? Despite a time when it felt like all hell had

hematoma removed, and Brynn was in recovery. We sat

broken loose, Amy and I remember the sweet spirit of

with Dr. Straight and he simply said, “Now we wait.”

God’s people and His Spirit leading us to “be strong and

I asked so many questions, and he kept saying, “We do

courageous, do not fear for my God is with you” (see 1

not know.”

Chron. 28:20). This was Brynn’s Bible verse before the fall.

Having two year olds from Brynn’s GP Clubhouse Kids being video quoting that verse was a testimony of what God was already doing before we did is still emotional to think about.

Fast forward four weeks as Amy and I watched Brynn go from being minutes away from death with not much hope to loading her in the van to carry her home as a normal two year old. When I say normal, please understand that prior to her fall, Brynn had major hearing loss, wore hearing aids, attended physical therapy because of hip dysplasia, and simply was not your normal two year old. Since her fall, we have seen a complete restoration of

I remember the “not knowing” was more frustrating

not only her head injury, but she has normal hearing (no

than anything in the process, but it was also where God

hearing aids), hip dysplasia is almost completely gone, and

put the hope because not knowing meant God could do

she is basically normal except for a lazy left foot that points

anything He wanted. Nothing had been determined and

inward or drags, which I believe will also be completely

nothing had been resolved. So Amy and I, along with

restored in just a matter of time.

what seemed like all of Cleveland/Bradley County at the

So why share Brynn’s story? First and foremost, I want

time (people in various states, and even various countries)

to share the power of YHWH and to let people know He

started praying and seeking God’s face on Brynn’s behalf.

is still in the business of loving people and meeting their

I remember the power Amy and I received Monday

needs. Yes, God still heals! Secondly, some of you may feel

morning when we started receiving messages and texts. I

you’re in a hopeless situation. My response is: Fight with

recall getting a video from Lee University’s choir praying

both fists. Do not settle for the hopeless, but be spiritually

over Brynn during their class. We had messages from

determined to storm His throne. You may be closer to the

friends in other states spreading the story of Brynn and

miraculous than you realize.

asking for prayer, texts from various pastors informing us that their church was praying for Brynn, and messages from other countries as Brynn’s condition was going global. We knew then that God was up to something, and I started publically journaling and posting on Facebook (now – merolltide.org) as Amy and I anticipated seeing what God had in store.

Those next four weeks were simply divine and joyful.

In the middle of the struggles: seeing Brynn for the first time since the fall, her being in a sedated comma, waiting, her starting to come around but with no body function to her opening her eyes, concerns of major brain damage,

issuu.com/goodnewscm // 29

Gò0dNews for Daily Living Staying Positive in a Negative World Laughter is healing and worry will make you sick.

H

by Alice Marie Abbott

ave you ever stopped and paid attention to how much negativity you hear in a single day? It is really quite overwhelming. We are surrounded by negative complaints from family and friends, to co-workers, and sometimes even church members. You can’t even turn on the TV or radio or look at the Internet or Facebook without seeing or hearing something negative.

In Exodus 3 God reveals Himself to Moses and tells him that He indeed has heard the cries of suffering from the children of Israel. Then He instructs Moses to go before Pharaoh and tell him to let the people go. Can you imagine the thoughts that must have been racing through Moses’ mind? Most were not positive, I’m sure. In chapter 4 Moses goes to Egypt; then in chapter 5, Moses has his first encounter with Pharaoh. At that

There is a wonderful example in the Bible of what happened to a group of people who grumbled and complained. It is found in Exodus, and it is the story of the children of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. I’m sure most of you know the story well. However, in the day we are living, let’s take a closer look just to remind us how negativity can affect our lives adversely.

time, Pharaoh had no intention of letting the Israelites go. Not until a series of plagues and the death of his own son did he agreed to free the Israelites. As they packed up and prepared to leave, the journey ahead of them should have only taken eleven days; instead, it took forty years for the next generation to reach their destination. It wasn’t just their complaining but also their disobedience that caused that first generation to die in the wilderness never having reached the Promised Land.

This is a great lesson on how negativity and complaining can bring about harmful consequences in our lives. God’s Word says in Proverbs 15:13: “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken” (NKJV). It is impossible to stay cheerful and positive when all you do is complain about things.

Also Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (NKJV). In other words, laughter is healing and worry will make you sick. Even doctors will tell you this. I have never known anyone who complained that didn’t worry, and worry is not an attribute the people of God should possess.

So let me encourage you to stay positive. You will be surprised at the changes you will see take place around you. A positive attitude is contagious. It will draw people to you so that you, in turn, can share Christ with others. It is the greatest purpose to being positive in a negative world.

Until next month, keep studying God’s Word.

30 // February 2016

Alice Marie Abbott DD (HN)

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Gò0dNews for Couples

Life’s a Gravel Road

The secret to a successful marriage is in navigating the “rocky” times.

by John Garrod

I

f you’ve been married for 50 years, and never argued, fought, or had a disagreement, and it’s all been roses and honey, go ahead and turn the page. I have nothing for you. And honestly, we probably wouldn’t get along anyway.

Marriage isn’t a glass-smooth interstate with all of the lanes clearly marked, the potholes patched before you get to them, and McDonald’s and a gas station

about my disappearance, but eventually, I reached it, and I knew. I was there, and it was worth it.

When I got married, I had no idea what the future would hold. I have few memories of hearing my parents argue, and I couldn’t tell you if there were any points where there were financial struggles. If I took anything about marriage from my childhood with me into adulthood, it was a simple notion: You don’t give

every ten miles so you can pull off, rest, refuel, and confirm your direction. No, marriage is more like a gravel road you’ve never traveled down.

Not long after I moved here, a neighbor gave me directions to a remote spot along a scenic river, with trout, bass, bear, deer, and beautiful views. The key part of the directions was, “When you get to the end of the pavement, bear right onto the gravel road, and go about four or five miles I think (maybe more), and you’ll know when you get to it.” With that, I was off.

The road twisted and turned back through the hills.

In more than a few spots, the road was almost washed out, and potholes threatened to rip my car apart. I went uphill, downhill, stopped for wild turkeys, and probably would have turned around if I could have found a place wide enough. I would have called my friend, to make sure I was on the right track, but I lost cell signal as soon as I left pavement. I started to have visions of headlines

up. Divorce wasn’t something that was discussed as an option. Of course, looking back, I know there were struggles, there were arguments, there was stress. But there was determination.

Marriage is a commitment, a three-way agreement between man, wife, and God. Scripture doesn’t promise us that married life will be any easier than single life.

But in marriage, while you still reach those places where you don’t know where you are, have no room to turn around, and you’re not sure what’s ahead of you, you have two tremendous advantages. You have with you a partner to help you steer, to watch for the signs and dangers, to help you pass the time, to sing with you while you pass the miles. And you have the promise that you’re not on this journey alone: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12. So stand strong together, weather the bumps and hills, and enjoy the journey and the company.

32 // February 2016

John Garrod is a father of six, husband of one, Army veteran, and a resident of Tennessee for the past four years. He is a member at South Cleveland Church of God.

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Gò0dNews for Seniors

Beauty in Every Age

A

As you make your resolutions, I hope you will go easy on yourself and serve wherever you are planted.

by Esmerelda Lee

t the beginning of each year, some people begin

yourself is powerful; however, respecting yourself is key to

to make changes to their diet, purchase a gym

seeing the beauty at every age.

membership, and set goals to change their body, alter

Healthy older adults don’t give up. The word retire is

their negative habits, and improve their current situation. As I

not in their vocabulary. They live their lives knowing that

write this article, I refer to my own 2015 resolutions—marking

they have something to offer the world. They may go about

the ones I have accomplished and others that never saw the

life differently than the typical “rat race,” but most still

dawn. Most older adults tend to look at life differently. They

mentor and encourage others. They volunteer and offer their

may want to lose a pound or reach new goals. However, most

assistance to those in need. A beautiful older lady, whom I

of them are content with how they look, who they are, and how

sit next to at church, still travels on missions trips, chauffeurs

they see themselves.

people to their doctor’s appointments, and helps so many

Healthy older adults realize that while they do not have

others in our community. All of her good works are done in

the body they had in their twenties, that’s okay. They’ve grown

secret. She inspires me daily with her zest and determination

to appreciate what is really important in life, and it’s definitely

to contribute to the lives of others and share Jesus. No matter

not how one looks in a swimsuit. Many older adults choose

what her future holds, I know she will never retire. I can see

to exercise. They play pickle ball, doubles tennis, spend an

her still serving wherever she is planted.

hour at the gym, or enjoy long walks. They also take the time

As I reflect on 2016, one important resolution I chose to

to appreciate the enjoyment of the game, the conversation

keep is that I will still continue learning from older adults. As

with others at the gym, and the nature they are surrounded by

I grow older, I desire the art of seeing the beauty at any age.

along the way. Life becomes more about quality than quantity.

Wrinkles are in! True joy and zest for life are definitely in! My

Mature adults care more for a select circle of friends rather than

hope is that as people make their resolutions, they will go easy

being accepted and loved in a large circle of superficial friends.

on themselves.

I am also learning that at this season in life, they respect

I don’t want to wake up twenty years from now and realize

and love the person they have become. Recently, I heard an

that I do not like who I have become. I want to be like the many

older lady I love say, “I respect myself too much to allow

older adults who surround me; I want to love and respect

negative words to hurt me.” How powerful is that statement?

myself. I desire to see the beauty in others and the beauty of

However, this does not happen to everyone. Most healthy older

being me. I want to embrace my wrinkles and never retire. I

adults respect and love the person

want to know that at every stage of my life, I can contribute to

in the mirror with all her flaws

the lives of others. This is the kind of person I want to grow into.

and imperfections. Loving

In the words of Betty White, “I may be a senior, but so what?

I’m still hot.”

34 // February 2016

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

Why I Pray To pray is to surrender control to God.

by Julius McCarter

I

learned to pray from The Book of Common Prayer, which

5. On earth, as in heaven. I pray not because prayer

is to say, I’ve never trusted myself to pray as often

is a technique of self-improvement or an instrument of

(“always”) or as well (“without ceasing”) as the apostle

spiritual experience, but because it is beyond all human

Paul admonishes. I’ve had to rely upon the spiritual wisdom and prayers of the Church. That means, I’ve never gone it alone.

1. Our Father, who art in heaven, I pray because without prayer, there is only myself. The more I try to find myself, the more I am lost. To call on God as Father is to discover

competency, beyond all language and learning and control.

6. Give us this day our daily bread. I pray because every day I hunger, need, and lack. I live by lack; God lives by fullness. Prayer is the act of coming to God with open hands, in thanksgiving for abundant gifts in the abundant life.

7. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. I pray

myself as someone God calls child. Prayer teaches me that

because hurt, disappointment, and resentment are always

there’s more that matters in the world than just self.

knocking at the door of my life. As soon as I drive one

2. Hallowed be thy name. I pray not because prayer

away, another arrives, eager to come in and set up its home

will give me what I want, but because it will knead and

in the little house of my heart. I learn to forgive when God

pummel my wants, stretching them my whole life long,

writes off my debts and makes me free.

until at the last hour of my life I have learned to want one

8. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

thing only, the only thing worth having. Prayer is the quiet

I pray because this world is so much trial. Yet, it is God’s

living of life—the silent giving back to the name of God

world, and all the evils that crowd in upon my life can

spoken over me in my baptism.

never hide my voice from the listening God. Prayer is the

3. Thy Kingdom come. I pray because my prayer encompasses not only my own life but the entire world of which I am a part (see Rom. 8).

4. Thy will be done. I pray because prayer is the end of

protest, in the face of death, that God’s light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot win.

9. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. I pray because God is glorious. All my life I was

my will, and the beginning of wisdom. The life of prayer is

asleep within myself, but when I bowed my head to pray, I

a slow dying into the will of God, a slow awakening into

opened my eyes to the glory of God. It is right to give God

the freedom to live. “Thy will” is spelled

thanks and praise, for God is glorious.

out most clearly, definitely in Jesus of

10. Amen. I pray because

Nazareth. To know the will which God

the life of God is prayer itself.

desires us to pray and work is to know

It is deep calling to deep, the

Christ as His disciple.

endless giving and receiving of unbounded self-divesting self-communicating joy.

36 // February 2016

The Reverend Julius McCarter, Ph.D., is a minister and spiritual director who lives in Loudon, TN. He is the author of eleven books—most recently a theological commentary on the Book of Revelation.

His ministry, Sunergoi Ministries, maintains a blog at www.the-little-friar.blogspot.com.

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Gò0dNews from the Tech Shop The Truth about Online Dating

F

Never settle for less than the excellencies and blessings God has in store for you.

by Chris Isbill

or many people, Valentine’s Day can’t come too often.

virus. Copy and paste the person’s name into Google and see

For others, it holds distant memories of heartache,

what pulls up. You might be surprised at what you find.

broken promises, and boxes of chocolates that were

3. LinkedIn: Folks this is really simple. It is for your résumé

eaten alone. For some, though, it’s a very different kind of

and business profile. Don’t junk up your workspace with

holiday filled with screens, mouse clicks, and hours spent

unnecessary comments to colleagues. Keep it professional and

searching through online profiles of single people in hopes of

all will be well!

finding that perfect love.

4. EHarmony: After the 400 questionnaire upfront, it costs

Unfortunately, that is

more than $300 per year to

just not always the case. Not

remain an active member.

to say that it doesn’t happen,

Consider that with the time

because I have friends who

and money spent here, you

reconnected after high school

could pay off a small credit

thanks to EHarmony and

card and enjoy those hours in

have been happily married for

prayer with God, asking Him

more than ten years, but this

to send you the right person.

5. ChristianMingle.com:

is not the typical situation!

Statistics show that meeting

There is no verification to this

someone online will only

site. Anyone anywhere can

last for 18.5 months. It can

put in anything they want and

happen, but there is a reason that the $1,750,000,000 industry

start browsing. They may look like a girl or guy your age from

is putting in a “ton” of research and money to ensure that their

five miles down the road, when they could be halfway around

customers make it past the honeymoon stage.

the world with the intentions of sending you a virus that can

It sounds like I am putting a bad spin on online dating, but I’m not! In fact, my wife and I met on a different social site

attach to your computer and steal your banking info.

These are just a few of the sites; there are more that you

called Facebook, and we were in different states. Granted, she

can apply these cautions to as well. Always use logic, wisdom,

went to church with my parents first, and I later looked at her

and decrement. Remember, you are a child of the King.

profile, but I still met her online. If you are going to do online

First Peter 2:9 makes it pretty clear: “But you are a chosen

dating, be safe and do it right! Here are some tips to help you

race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own

during your search for true love this Valentine’s Day.

possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who

1. Craigslist: Stay away from this site all together. Danger has become the norm for this site within the last two years.

2. Facebook: Harmless enough right? Wrong. There are so

called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (ESV).

Don’t forget that you are loved, adored, and you are royalty. Whether on line or off, if that person doesn’t treat you

many scams and fake profiles that can become overwhelming.

the way Christ treats His Church, then he or she is not worth

If you are a male and a half-dressed woman pops up and

your time. So when searching for true love, the “love of your

asks to be your friend, you should see red flags. Look on the

life,” or just a good old-fashioned Valentine, please don’t settle

person’s profile and see if you have any mutual friends. Check

for less than the excellencies and blessings that God has in

to see how long the person has been on Facebook and scroll

store for you.

through pictures. If this doesn’t check out, the person is either scamming for personal information or trying to give you a

38 // February 2016

Be safe and have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Chris Isbill is the owner of Isbill Tech Services and enjoys spending time with his wife Chelsie and their dog Maggie.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

A Life Changed by Love From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another.

—John 1:16

A

by Glenda Prichard

s our calendar says 2016, our Christmas decorations are all taken down. The stockings are packed away for another year, and our hearts are focused on Valentine’s Day. As I reflect on Valentine’s Day and the true meaning of love, my heart always goes back to Christmas. The year was 1985 and my family had just moved to Athens, Tennessee, the friendly city. During that December, I was introduced to my first “Hanging of the Green.”

The minister of music at that time referred to it as a “true” Hanging of the Green, and by that he meant that everything heard or seen reflected on an aspect of Jesus Christ and His life.

The colors of Christmas were explained as garland and bows were put into place. I remember hearing the youth explain that the color red represents the blood of Jesus. The color green represents eternal life. The colors gold and silver represents the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ.

I remember the children bringing in greenery and candles for the windows. The candles represent Jesus, the light of the world, and once again the greenery represents eternal life given to us through Jesus Christ. Then wreaths were brought in and put into place as the congregation sang a carol telling of Jesus’ birth. The green wreaths with red bows once again reminded us of the eternal life made possible by the blood of Jesus. The wreaths being a circle were a symbol of the never-ending love of Christ. The

40 // February 2016

poinsettias were brought in and put in place, once again reflecting the red color being the blood of Christ shed for us. A tree in the baptistery was lit with white lights representing the purity of Jesus and the green of the tree reflecting eternal life. The light that shone from this tree was representing Jesus as the light of the world.

This service changed my life! Every time I see these colors or see a wreath, I am reminded of how these things show Jesus. It changed how I viewed the decorations of Christmas and changed how I decorated my home during this season. These symbols and their meanings are forever etched on my heart and in my mind whether it’s December or February. I never see these colors that I do not remember their meaning. I am so grateful for this experience of my first “Hanging of the Green.” All I saw that night continues to take me back to what Jesus did for me and the true meaning of love.

As I celebrate Valentine’s Day, I am still celebrating the wonder of Christmas. We can’t have a celebration of love without reflecting upon Christmas. The decorations may be packed away, but their true meaning touches our lives in all the celebrations we experience throughout the year.

Now that is love!

Glenda Prichard is a preschool and children's specialist.

She is passionate about using her skills and talents with preschoolers and children. Glenda is married to Phil Prichard and they have two sons (and daughters-in-law) and five grandchildren. Glenda and her husband are members of East Athens Baptist Church in Athens, TN. Glenda can be reached at littlehouseinthebigwoods.pg@gmail.com.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Lift up Your Eyes

Everything the world presents to us is below us, so look up to the Maker of all things!

I

by Mead Vest

t seems to me that everyone these days is talking about exercising. Perhaps that is because I am growing older and so that is the mantra from those who came before: “Exercise before you can’t! Use it before you lose it.” As I watch my aging parents and those around me getting older, I recognize the benefits of exercise despite my inclination to do something I deem as more productive.

So in the spirit of getting older and wiser (and still hating exercise), I have been getting out of my house and walking more in my neighborhood.

As I have been walking and thinking through different things going on in my life, I found myself deep in thought, looking downward only a few feet in front of me. There is very little traffic in my neighborhood, so safety wasn’t an issue. I wasn’t looking downward intentionally. I just noticed my posture. As I thought about it, I realized I had been walking that way for days. I looked up and started looking around, but pretty quickly returned my gaze to about five feet in front of me—partially out of an

42 // February 2016

inward sense of discomfort at seeing the open expanse and partially due to an awareness of being distracted from the thoughts I was working through.

After a couple of days of this continual dance between looking downward versus looking up and around me while I walked, I realized what God was teaching me. When we are working though difficulties in our lives, our focus tends to be on the here and now . . . the next five steps. We are just trying to get through the day. We tend to be so wrapped up in our problems that we tend to close out other things and the people around us. While introspection can be good for a time, dwelling in that arena too long becomes part of the problem rather than a means to a solution.

However, when we take our focus off of our present circumstances and the next five steps, our focus doesn’t stay on ourselves because there is too much else to see around us. Only then can our focus can be returned to its rightful place—our Savior. At that point, we begin to see His blessings around us. We begin to see Him at work around us. We begin to see others’ needs instead of only our own.

I think when the Psalmist wrote the words in Psalm 121, he had been looking down and deep in thought. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (vv.1-3 NIV).

While I recognize that the mountains referred to here are likely referring to Jerusalem, the part I would like to point out is “lift up my eyes.” We aren’t really looking to the mountains to help us anyway; we should be lifting our eyes above the mountains to see the Creator of all things and recognize that it is He who will solve our problems in His own way and in His own time.

Mead Vest is married with seven children. She is passionate about classical education and serves on the school board of Candies Creek Academy associated with Candies Creek Baptist Church. She has homeschooled for over twenty years and is in leadership with a non-profit that promotes competitive speech and debate for high school students. She is an avid organizer and an essential oils enthusiast.

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Gò0dNews for your Taste Buds

Chicken Parmesan

by Angie Parris

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded thin • salt and ground black pepper • 2 cups all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper • 4 large eggs beaten with 2 tbsps. water and salt and pepper • 2 cups plain panko bread crumbs • 1 cup olive oil • Tomato sauce (recipe that follows) • 1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Tomato Sauce Recipe:

• 2 tbsps. olive oil • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 4 cloves smashed garlic • 2 (28 oz) cans plum tomatoes, pureed in a blender • 1 (16 oz) can crushed tomatoes • 1 small can tomato paste • 1 bay leaf • 1 cup water • salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

44 // February 2016

Tomato Sauce:

Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until soft.

Add tomatoes, 1 cup water, bay leaf, salt and pepper.

Reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened (approximately 30 minutes).

Chicken:

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.

Dredge each in the flour, then egg and then cover in panko bread crumbs. Put oil in sauté pan. On high heat cook 2 breasts at a time until brown on both sides (approximately 2 minutes per side). Transfer to baking sheet and repeat for remaining breasts. Top each breast with some of the tomato sauce, 1/4 lb shredded mozzarella and about a tbsp. of parmesan. Bake in the oven until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted (approximately 7 minutes). Remove from oven and garnish with parsley or basil (optional).

This is great just as it is, or it can be served over pasta.

Angie Parris is director of food services at Broad Street Methodist Church and has been with BSUMC for 21 years. She is Mom of 4, Nana of 9. Angie and Jackie Parris have been married 35 years and are active members of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church in Cleveland.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Questions

Giving thanks for everything good in life that comes from a Father’s loving hand.

by Alan Smith

I

f you knew that tomorrow you would not wake

another shot to try again? Would you want to tell Him

up, what would you want to tell God before you lie

how grateful you are that every time your heart was

down to go to sleep?

broken that He remembered you and came to your aid

Would you want to thank Him for all the

opportunity that came your way? Would you want to thank Him for being a perfect provider? Would you

with love and compassion? Would you thank Him for allowing your story to be a blessing to others?

Would you mention that you were glad that you

want to tell Him how much joy your kids and your

got to make your own choices? Would thank Him

family members have brought you through the years?

for His guidance on all the right choices and His

Would you praise Him for the people He sent your way

forgiveness for all the bad choices? Would you boldly

that spoke into your life when times were hard? Would

thank Him for sending His only Son Jesus to the cross

you want to tell Him that you were always so thankful

to die for your sins? Would you give thanks to the fact

that He never left your side when things were tough?

that He waited on you year after year without giving

Would you thank Him that He gave you grace and mercy every time you messed up with

up for you to accept to Him, or would you ask Him into your heart for the first time?

Would say out loud, “Lord, I thank You for clearing a path for me to come to the cross. I have sinned and ask Your forgiveness. I believe that it is Your Son who died in my place on that cross for me.

I know it to be true that only You, God, brought Jesus back to life from the dead and who still lives today.

Everything that I am and everything I have, I want You to have it. I am laying my burdens down before you Lord and willfully asking Your Son Jesus to come into my heart and to be Lord of my life. Thank You, thank You, and thank You. Amen!”

46 // February 2016

Alan Smith is a Dalton native and an entrepreneur. He specializes in sales, marketing, and legal services. izaakalan@gmail.com

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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.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Being Poor in Spirit

by Kelly McDonald Jr.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

—Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

I

n Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus spoke to seven

There are ways to refocus our lives so that we have

churches. The last of these churches was in a city named

the mind-set of being poor in spirit. The first key is to give

Laodicea. To this church, He said, “You say, ‘I am rich; I

God thanks. This requires that we consider what God has

have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do

done for us and thank Him for it. This is refocusing on the

not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and

source of our blessing and not the blessing itself. Secondly,

naked. . . .” (Rev. 3:17 NIV). The Laodicean Church had

consider the areas of your life where you need direction or

abundance in the natural, but they lacked in the spiritual

strength. Where do you have weaknesses? This requires

realm. They allowed the material wealth in their lives to

honesty on our part. We must see the need for His strength

be a replacement for God. In their abundance, they forgot

in our lives. God wants to help where you struggle. He

about their Creator.

wants to turn your deficiency into strength. There is always

In America, there is tremendous physical abundance compared to the rest of the world. We have Ipads, smart

a new revelation, a new experience, and a new use for you in God’s Kingdom.

phones, television, video games, sporting events, and so

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and

forth. It can be easy with our modern, fast-pace lifestyle

his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto

to neglect God. In our minds, the need for God becomes

you” (Matt. 6:33 KJV). When we seek God first, we can

diminished when our focus is on the wrong items. A lack of

learn to put natural things into the proper perspective. The

focus can cause us to become unaware of our own spiritual

physical needs we have will be met by God, but we will

condition. Considering this, any of us could fall into the

receive wisdom from Him as to the proper place and time

Laodicean mindset described in Revelation 3. This church

for them. Being poor in spirit will draw you into a closer,

did not understand how to be poor in spirit.

more intimate walk with your Savior. It will be a walk

Being poor in spirit is an attitude where we see the

worth far more than anything in this world.

need for Christ in our lives on a consistent, daily basis. In Philippians 4:13, Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (KJV). Paul realized that all things were possible, but He could not do it alone. He had to have Christ’s strength to help him through!

50 // February 2016

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

423.336.3841 » 8466 Hiwassee St. NE » Charleston, TN

Gò0dNews from the Outdoors

For the Love of Winter

M

Purposeful prayer is the “winter” in our spiritual walk with God.

by Teresa Mustar

y sweet friend, Mrs. Janie, loves winter. She explained

What about Mrs. Janie's comparison of God's creation, His

that winter uncovers God's creation to reveal the hidden

children, being uncovered before Him in the same way winter

beauty that is often overlooked the rest of the year. Mrs.

strips the elements before their Creator?

Janie went on to say that God sees His children in the same way.

Her reasons for liking winter more than colorful fall, blooming

In my opinion, purposeful prayer is the winter in our spiritual walk with God. We must be barren and raw with ourselves and

spring, or fun-filled summer physically made me stop in my tracks

before God in order to become more like Christ. God made us. He

to consider her words of wisdom. I have continued to pondered

knows us.

this conversation for months while watching fall turn to winter and winter unfold.

From the picture window in my bedroom, I watch squirrels

We may put on a happy face as the blooms and buds in spring, but God sees us stripped and barren in our struggles and in our fears. We may show our family and friends the sunny face of

play high in the trees and am close enough to throw a rock into

our relationships outside of our homes, but God sees us in our lack

Mouse Creek. At times, the colorful leaves slowly float to the

of faith and anger. God hears the harsh words we speak against the

ground, and at times the leaves fight the wind with violence.

ones we love. Yet, God loves us anyway.

At one amazing moment, I caught a thick golden curtain of

We may dress up in vivid colors and work obsessively toward

leaves swirling so simultaneously and almost supernaturally, that

titles, raises, cars, houses, and ministry positions, but God is a

I grabbed my phone to capture the moment. I was disappointed to

discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts (see Heb. 4:12).

learn that the swirling curtain had slowed, and my video did not catch this amazing presentation of God's creation.

To my surprise, the audio caught the joyful song of an

Just like winter, I want to be stripped of self as I bow down in the glory of the Lord (see 2 Chron. 7:1-3). Then comes the splendor of spring. The Bradford pear trees will bloom, patches of dormant

unnamed bird calling out to its friends. Many of my Facebook

grass will become green here and there, warm days will mix with

friends "liked" the lackluster video of leaves falling with the happy

cold days, and rain showers will come and go.

bird's song at the end.

After a lonely two-months medical leave from work, I now

Thank you, Mrs. Janie, I will always try to see winter through your insightful eyes.

have a new respect for winter. Spring is still my favorite, but I better understand Mrs. Janie's love of winter.

52 // February 2016

Teresa Mustar is the founder of www. personalvictory.org, a web site where Christians can share God’s good news of spiritual, physical, and financial victories with the world. Also, download teachings, videos, and submit prayer requests.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Parallax

God does not only have our circumstance in His sight, He is also in our circumstance.

L

by Catherine Marcum

ooking at life from one view—our own

is in the object being more than the object itself. In other

perspective—is insurmountable narrow-

words, God has a “picture” of our circumstance in His

mindedness. If we are the objects of God’s love,

eye; however, He is also in the picture. It is comforting

then the meaning of the word parallax holds great value.

to know that not only does God have our circumstance

Parallax, in the philosophic/geometric sense, is the

in His sight, but He is also in our circumstance.

discrepancy in position of an object as seen from two

In Isaiah 41:10 we are called to be fearless because

different perspectives (wn.m.wikipedica.org). If that object

He is with us—He is in our circumstance. He reminds

is our circumstance, and our understanding is limited

us not to be dismayed. Don’t allow the Enemy to use

to a single perspective, then we have a very narrow

circumstance to cause us to lose courage suddenly

viewpoint. Importantly though, our circumstance is

and completely in the face of trouble or danger

viewed from two separate and distinctly different

(thefreedictionay.com). God reminds us He is “always-

viewpoints—our perspective and God’s. Our gaze

already” there. He will help. He will uphold. Today,

is not the only one fixed on our circumstance. God’s

remember our circumstance does not pose any obstacle

gaze is “always-already” on the object of our concern.

that God has not “always-already” inscribed Himself

Knowing this allows us to rest in the fact that all things

into—it is simply parallax. May knowing that God is

are inherently mediated by the discrepancy between our

“always-already” there brings you great peace and

point of view and God’s.

health—physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

“Always-already,” a double positive means our circumstance is carved into the sight of the Almighty.

Metaphorically speaking, God’s gaze is inscribed in our circumstance in the guise of its “blind spot”—that which

54 // February 2016

Catherine Marcum is a board certified nurse practitioner and lifestyle practitioner with 30 years experience in the field of critical-care nursing. She is a 2014 graduate with two doctoral degrees, adult gerontology acute care and lifestyle therapeutics from Southern Adventist University. Catherine resides in Cleveland, Tennessee. She is married to Dr. Robert Marcum, and is the mother of three grown children.

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