June 2014

Gò0dNews

• The Gifts of a Father • Heavenly Thoughts • Keeping Active

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contents 22

28

GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk GoodNews for Health & Fitness

6

The Gifts of a Father

by Pastor Phil Griffin

GoodNews for Kids

8

A Time to Be Quiet

GoodNews on Money Matters 10 “Crockpots versus

Microwaves”

by Andrew Lee

Baptism

by Darren Schalk

You

by Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow

GoodNews for Teens

26 Worth Nothing

by Jimmy Page GoodNews Cover Story

28 Herschel Walker

by Kristi Schalk GoodNews for Parents

20 Heavenly Thoughts

by Anna Anderson GoodNews for Life

30 Breaking the Bondage of

by Beth Henderson

40 What is a Dad?

by Oreeda McClure Burnette

GoodNews for your Taste Buds

42Banana Pudding

44 Compassion in Action

by Carl Corser

Legalism

GoodNews for Couples

32 God Calls Us to Unity and Harmony

by Pastor Don SMith

GoodNews for Everyone

46 Heart for Haiti

by Laurel Martin GoodNews for Everyone

50 Holding Hands

by Terrie Ruff

GoodNews for Seniors

34 Keeping Active

by Esmerelda Lee

22 One Small Step Can Make a Lifetime of Difference

by Dave Carringer GoodNews for Moms

GoodNews for Everyone GoodNews for Everyone

by Pastor Samuel Burger

Night Out”

Vineyard

by Pastor Jason Browning

GoodNews for Her

14 A Reflection on “Moms’

GoodNews for Everyone

24 Two Weeks to a Healthier 38 Lessons from the

GoodNews for Him

12 How I Botched My Kids’

40

GoodNews from the Outdoors

52 When Close is too Close

by Rev. Rusty Asble

GoodNews for Everyone

36 A Glimpse of Heaven

by Kelly Hixson

GoodNews for Everyone

54 Pretending to be Sincere!

by James Richardson

God Bless You and Thank You! Writers Pastor Phil Griffin Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow Pastor Jason Browning Pastor Samuel Burger Pastor Don Smith Rev. Rusty Asble Andrew Lee Darren Schalk Kristi Schalk Anna Anderson OreedaBurnette Beth Henderson Jimmy Page Esmerleda Lee Dave Carringer James Richardson Kelly Hixson Carl Corser Laurel Martin Terrie Ruff

About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have three beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, and Andrew. We live in Cleveland and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined, lives will be changed.

GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants, and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising.

GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used

by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!

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Editors Matthew and Bethany Ruckman Wanda Griffith

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Disclaimer All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS� basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.

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Gò0dNews from the Pastors Desk

The

Gifts of a

father

by Phil Griffin

W

ith Father’s Day upon us, the thoughts of the average family are, What gift are we going to give daddy? Knowing the joy that comes from giving, I would never discourage children from giving a Father’s Day gift to their father. But with giving in mind, I wonder if the fathers who are reading this article have ever given thought as to what gifts they are handing down to their children and grandchildren? If you will allow me the opportunity, I would love to make a few suggestions that are mentioned in Proverbs 22:1-6.

The first gift we should be giving our children is the gift of a good name. Verse 1 says: “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is be er than silver and gold.” The word desired means to make a careful choice. My father always taught me that a good name is the hardest thing to earn and the easiest thing to lose. To pass on a good name has less to do with how much money you make or the house you provide and more to do with the decisions you make in relation to your character. It’s about where you go, what you do, and how and why you do it.

The second gift we should be giving our children is the gift of a gracious faith. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Mark 8:36 reminds us: “What shall it 6

June 2014

profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his soul?” Simply stated, you will never hand down to your child anything remotely as important as the testimony of a life lived in total dedication and dependence on Christ Jesus as Lord.

Finally, the third gift we should be giving our children is the gift of a Godly example.

Verse 5-6 says: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” No father was ever successful in raising children with the a itude: “Do as I say, not as I do.” Fathers do not have the right to expect their children to live by a Godly standard when they have not set that same standard by their own example.

I wish all you fathers a wonderful Father’s Day with hopes that you receive many gifts as expressions of love from your children. Let them serve as reminders of the importance of the gifts you are leaving behind for their benefit.

Pastor Phil Griffin is the senior pastor at The Church at Grace Point.

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Gò0dNews for Kids

A Time to Be Quiet Habakkuk 2:20

It was Sunday afternoon. Maria was si ing on her father’s lap.

“Did you like being in church this morning?” her father asked.

“It was kind of long,” said Maria.

“Sometimes being in church is a long time for children,” said her father, “but we have a lot of things to do when we worship. I like to sit with you and your mother in church.”

“I like to be with you,” Maria said. “You held my hand today and Mommy let me keep her purse on my lap.”

“That was nice,” her father said. “But I would like to ask you to be more quiet in church. We usually like it when you talk, but talking in church causes problems.”

forgives us when we do something wrong; he also helps us do right things. Jesus loves all the other people as well as you, and he can help you think about the other people so that they can worship too.”

“It’s all right to make noise sometimes,” said Maria.

“Of course it is!” her father said.

“We can praise God when we laugh and sing. There is a time to make noise and have fun.

And there is a time to be quiet and have fun.”

“You think church is a place to be quiet.” Maria said.

“I didn’t say anything bad,” said Maria.

“Yes, most of the time,” said her father. “And I still think it’s fun to sit with you.”

“No, you didn’t,” said her father. “But you talked during the prayers. “

Some Questions

“But God can hear our prayers anyway,” said Maria.

“He can hear our prayers even when we don’t say them out loud.”

“That’s right, and I’m glad you know how God hears our prayers,” her father said. “But the problem is not God. In church we are praying together. If you make noise, other people can’t hear what the pastor is saying and can’t join in praying together.”

“Did I sin when I talked?” asked Maria.

“It’s not a sin to talk,” said her father. “Jesus not only 8

June 2014

1. Do you like to be with other people in church?

2. Do you know that other people like to have you with them in church?

3. If people are going to pray together, why is it important for them to be quiet?

A Prayer Dear God, thank you for all the others who worship Jesus with me. Help me enjoy them, and help them enjoy me.

Amen.

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Gò0dNews on Money Matters

“Crockpots versus Microwaves”

by Andrew Lee

T

he title of my column this month alludes to a metaphor used by Christian financial educator and radio talk show host Dave Ramsey who reminds students in his Financial Peace University classes, “We sell crockpots here, not microwaves.” In other words, rather than “get rich quick” (the microwave metaphor), conventional wisdom dictates that we should “get rich slowly” (the crockpot metaphor).

We do this by formulating a long-term plan of disciplined financial management and stick to it throughout our lives.

God’s Word affirms this in Proverbs 13:1: “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”

I’m not suggesting—nor do I believe this verse suggests—that all money or profit that is quickly obtained is necessarily dishonest. Financial “windfalls” that produce wealth quickly come in all shapes and sizes, from the star athlete who is awarded a multimillion dollar signing bonus or an entrepreneur whose customers clamor to buy this latest must-have product, even to the grieving spouse who receives a large life insurance check. None of these are dishonest gains, even though they may happen very quickly. But the majority of us probably will never receive such a quick financial windfall. Rather, our path to financial security and wealth will be built slowly over many years, and through a series of disciplined choices to save, to avoid unnecessary debt, and to invest in order to achieve our long-term financial goals. Discipline is the key to this more common “get rich slowly” strategy. Indeed, Proverbs 13:18 warns us that “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame. . . .”

Most of us have at some point in our lives received that dreaded phone call, text, or Facebook message—you know the one that says, “Hi, friend! I’d like to get together with you to discuss a business opportunity.” More often than not, this turns out to be “code” for some type of multilevel marketing proposal. (I won’t name real-life examples here, but most of us can recall some of these from a personal experience.)

This is not a column meant to disparage all multilevel marketing proposals. Some of these opportunities offer legitimate products for sale, and they meet a tangible need in the consumer marketplace; and some people do indeed 10

June 2014

achieve remarkable levels of financial success with these sales paradigms. But we all know people (why are they usually our relatives?) who have plunged blindly ahead into these opportunities with unrealistic expectations and with an eye to get rich quick or to “quit your job and work from home,” but the end result was only disappointment and cynicism.

The people I know personally who have succeeded in multilevel marketing are people who took a more patient, long-term view with no expectations of making a quick buck. Again, discipline is the key. Other instances of the getrich-quick mindset are much more egregious, often leading to financial ruin, such as obsession with playing the lottery, day-trading of stocks, or buying and “flipping” real estate for a quick profit. Do these sometimes work? Certainly.

But more often than not, these are not paths for building a secure retirement, and they involve high levels of risk—risk of losing one’s entire investment very quickly (as if buying lottery tickets could be considered an investment)!

Disciplined saving and investing is still the surest route to financial success in America today. I personally know schoolteachers who saved regularly every month toward their retirement throughout their teaching career and ended up as millionaires when they retired—and we all know that the average schoolteacher doesn’t make anything like an exorbitant salary. (I’m a teacher myself, so I know what I’m talking about here). In fact, most teachers fall somewhere in the median annual income range for the typical worker in the U.S. So if the average U.S. worker can retire as a millionaire through a regimen of regular, disciplined saving and investing, you can, too!

Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to povert

Dr. Andrew Lee is Associate Professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.

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Gò0dNews for Men

knew the moment was coming that Wednesday evening.

My dad baptized me when I was li le, and I was thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to do the same for all three of my children. I was moved to tears several times throughout the day as I thought about the upcoming moment. My children love Jesus, and this was a moment I knew I wouldn’t forget.

When the opportunity finally presented itself, I was ill-prepared. Although I had pictured it in my mind all day long, I had not planned what I would say. And much to my wife’s chagrin (and my own), my default personality trait is wit and sarcasm.

Because I had not thought through my words for the moment, I ended up being way more lighthearted than I had intended. I asked the kids questions like who their favorite parent was and how old Mommy was before ge ing to the more serious questions and, eventually, baptizing them.

After my first two children were baptized, the third walked into the pool. That’s when my mind began to whirl as I realized I had not said what I wanted to say. I moved quickly through the moment with my third child, and then stepped out of the pool in a dizzying fog of panic. I had taken it all too lightly and didn’t grasp the opportunity at hand. Immediately, I realized it was a moment I’d never get back. My heart sank into my chest. I wanted to crawl under a rock.

My wife and friends did their very best to comfort me, but it’s something I’ll always regret. I had a prime spiritual moment to speak life over my children, and I replaced it instead with wit and sarcasm. As I’ve reflected on this botched opportunity, I’ve realized a few things.

1. My wife is awesome. I already knew this, but she continually proves it to be true. She comforted me with gentle words of assurance. She said I was the Dad my kids knew, and by making them laugh, I likely made it more memorable for them. She helped me sleep that night.

2. I can’t live up to every expectation. After working through my regret, I realized that one of the reasons I was immediately so stressed was because I was worried about what the people in the audience might have thought. I’m certain several individuals probably didn’t approve of my lightheartedness during the baptism. I don’t blame them, but I can’t control everyone’s opinion. If they choose to judge me based on one moment in the spotlight, I cannot control that either!not to mention the fact that it was all based on fear alone, since I never actually heard anything negative about the whole thing.

3. Friends who pray are friends you should keep. The day after the botching, I had to appear on two television shows in Atlanta. These on-the-spot interviews in front of a camera and a live television audience are daunting. They call for extreme mental concentration. I woke up that morning unable to concentrate on anything because I was filled 12

June 2014

with regret from the night before. I shared my struggle with a few praying friends, and they immediately chimed in with encouraging words. Over the next two hours, I felt the weight of my burden slowly lift. I’m certain it was because they were praying.

4. Cherish every opportunity. My son is nine, and my twin girls are seven. I can honestly say that up to this point, I hadn’t had a major regret in parenting. But now I do. And this has made me appreciate more deeply the fact that these babies will only be around once. They’ll soon grow up, marry, and have kids of their own. But that hasn’t happened yet. So I’m going to cherish more fully every moment I have left with them. I’m going to hug them a li le tighter tonight.

I’m going to shut off the TV, the phone, and the computer a li le sooner. I’m going to linger at the foot of their beds a li le longer when I tuck them in. I’m going to cut my meetings shorter and let the board games last longer. I may have missed one moment to speak into their lives, but I refuse to miss another.

5. One botch doesn’t define you. I was reminded by many over the next couple days of the following truth: “Your kids won’t remember what you did once. They’ll remember what you did all the time.” I’m reminded of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Old Testament. Out of fear, Abraham lied twice about his wife being his sister. Isaac did exactly the same thing. And Jacob stole his brother’s blessing and birthright. Yet, over and over and over, God is referred to as “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” These men had great moments of failure. They had flaws and shortcomings. They weren’t prefect, but they were faithful. One single act will never define us over the course of our lives.

We’re not remembered for our one-time actions but for our repeated actions. I won’t always get it right, but I’ll always try to get it right. In the end, I hope and pray this is what my kids will remember.

As Jim Henson once said, “The a itude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn from more than what you tell them. They don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”

To be honest, I don’t really remember my baptism. I don’t know what my dad said or didn’t say. I just remember that he was there, and that’s all that ma ered. I want my kids to remember me not as a good minister or writer or editor, I want them to remember me as a faithful Dad. Thankfully I have a few more opportunities to successfully capture that title.

No ma er where you find yourself today, so do you.

Darren Schalk is author of the book Dear

God We Need To Talk from Charisma House and serves as Curriculum Editor for White Wing Publishing. He has appeared on television and radio shows across the nation discussing faith and discipleship. He considers himself a promoter of discipleship, progenitor of humor, preacher of Pentecost, and potential possessor of a platypus. Find out more at www.DarrensChalk.com.

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Gò0dNews for Women

A Reflection on

“MOMS’ NIGHT OUT”

by Kristi Schalk

P

lato once said, “Courage is knowing what not to fear.” Plato obviously was never a mother.

As a mom, I never know what to fear, much less what not to fear! I’ve been “stress paralyzed” and hiding in the closet eating chocolate more times than I can count. I’ve feared it all as a mom-fear of fires, fear of boo-boos, fear of kids sticking corn up their noses, fear of kids’ friends, fear of the kids waking up in the middle of night, and on and on the list goes.

Some of my fears have subsided over the years, but many remain.

The problem is that most of my mommy fears now stem from what others may think of me as a mom.

Am I too strict? Am I not strict enough? Did I handle that situation correctly in the eyes of my friends?

What will the PTO moms say if I forget to bring that dish? Ah, where do the expectations end? After seeing the movie “Moms’ Night Out” with a group of moms, I realized that the expectations end when I stop pu ing them on myself! Yep! It’s my own fault. I’m the one se ing all these expectations! Motherhood is much 14

June 2014

like middle school. We think that all the other moms are looking at us and judging us, but the truth is, they’re too busy judging themselves to have time to judge anyone else.

In the movie, Sarah Drew’s character had three kids and she was trying to be the perfect wife, mother, friend, person, and so on. Many of us are in that same boat, give or take a couple of kids. We do all we can to be everything for everyone. Sarah Drew’s character would walk into her church and see all these moms that “had it all together.” She then compared herself to these women.

She believed that she was doing it all wrong because these moms had children who would stand quietly next to them in the foyer of the church with their hair coiffed, faces clean—perfect li le angels-while her own children needed leashes and a hairbrush.

The thing I took away from this movie is that we’re all trying to survive motherhood. The other women at church may have had their mothers-in-law helping out that morning, maybe they have nannies, maybe they have just learned a good routine and stick to it. No ma er how we do

it, the point is to do it. Be there. Enjoy the journey. Stop worrying about what others may think. Stop comparing yourself to everybody else. Stop judging one another. And above all else, stop judging yourself.

We have been entrusted with motherhood. It’s a great responsibility. However, we cannot continue to beat ourselves up over every li le mistake. We can’t continue to fear what others might think. We have no control over that anyway!

A statement made in the movie by the character Bones, had a profound effect on me, and I hope that it will resonate with you: “I doubt the good Lord made a mistake by giving your kids the mama he did.”

Take heart that this is where God wants you to be. Stress paralysis is a thing of the past. In the end, there’s only one fear that’s worth having— the fear of the Lord. All other fears are frivolous.

Kristi Schalk

is a wife and working mother of three. She holds a B.S. in Human Development and an M. Ed in Classroom Teaching. She currently teaches fifth grade at North Lee Elementary in Cleveland, TN.

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Cleveland Church Directory Assembly of God

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

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

16

June 2014

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

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

4657 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7707 or vvbaptist.org Washington Avenue Baptist Church 1720 Perry St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0489 Waterville Baptist Church Pastor Allan Lovelace 4555 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-5582 or watervillebaptistchurch.org West Cleveland Baptist Church 1959 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8927 Westwood Baptist Church Pastor Steve Smartt 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534 or www.westwoodlife.org White Oak Baptist Church 2043 White Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359

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

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

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

(423) 614-0708 or www.gracecleveland.org Heritage Fellowship COG Pastor Steve Gilbert 4635 S Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316 International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoración 533 Central Ave. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-1977 or www.iwcchurch.com Lakeview Church of God Pastor Dustin Wilds 105 Pound Street S.E. Cleveland, TN 37323 (423)-790-5805 or lakeviewcog.org North Cleveland COG Pastor Mitch Maloney 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513 or nccog.org Mt Olive COG 3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381 Mt View COG 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-6925 South Cleveland COG Pastor Chris Moody 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382 or southcleveland.org Westmore COG Pastor Kelvin Page 2412 Wolfe Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 559-9646 or www.westmorecog.org Zion Assembly COG Pastor Todd Mcdonald 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337 or zionassemblychurchofgod.com/

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

(423)479-6584

Episcopal

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

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

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

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

Pentecostal

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

1175 King Edwards Ave. Cleveland, TN

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

Non-Denominational

Christian Fellowship Ctr 895 6th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-9591 Church Alive Ministries Cleveland, TN 37353 (423) 559-1371 Cleveland Community Chapel Pastor Tazz Reid 1823 Forest Ridge Dr. Cleveland, Tn. 37311 Cleveland Cornerstone Church 533 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1775 Dwelling Place Church International Pastors Jamie and Judy Jacobs Tuttle 523 Urbane Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 423.790.5200 www.iwilldwell.com Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654 God’s Family Fellowship Pastors, Doug & Patsy Bell 197 Neely Circle NE Cleveland, TN 37312 Phone (423) 790-7533 www.godsfamilyfellowship.net Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226 Living Word Church Pastor Larry Cockerham 930 25th Street, NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028 or Thelovingchurch.org Norvel Hayes Ministries 24 155 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-3882 Restoration Fellowship 211 Trewhitt Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-4249 The Simple Gospel 850 Elrod St SE Cleveland, TN 37311 423-650-9572 www.pointing2jesus.com Shema Israel Ministry

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

Presbyterian

Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004 First Cumberland Presbyterian Church 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 Church 151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1780 Stuart Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-9595

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

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17

Athens Church Directory Assembly of God Abundant Blessing 2613 Cardinal St Athens, TN 37303 423-649-0350

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

18

June 2014

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

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

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

Church of God Aoh Church Of God 501 Ohio St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1279 First Church of God 200 Fisher St. Athens, TN 37303 423-887-5855 Woodward Avenue CoG 507 Woodward Ave Athens, TN37303 423-745-1618

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June Church Activities VBS • Tasso Baptist Church will have Vacation Bible School Monday, June 2, through Friday, June 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Cedar Springs Baptist Church will have Vacation Bible School. Monday, June 2, through Friday, June 6, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There will be classes for all ages.

First Baptist Cleveland

Monday – Friday, June 9th–13th!

Candies Creek 423-479-3731

June 23-28th

Shenandoah Baptist

• New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 2018 Washington Ave., will have Vacation Bible School, Saturday, May 31. Registration will be at 10:30 a.m., and the school will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It will be for preschool through sixth grade.

• Spring Place Church of God of Prophecy will have Vacation Bible School Wednesday, June 4, through Sunday, June 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The theme is C.I.A. (Christian in Action).

• The Church at Grace Point on Freewill Drive is having an International Spy Academy Vacation Bible School on Sunday, June 8, through Thursday, June 12, at 6 nightly. For more information and to register your spy kid, go to www.grace-point.com or call 423-728-5050.

• Vacation Bible School will be held at Elkmont Baptist Church, 4030 Old Freewill Road, Saturday May 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 423-508-2974 or email elder35@msn.com.

• WEIRD Vacation Bible School, “where Jesus’ love is one-of-a-kind,” will be June 3 through 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Salvation Army, 437 Inman St. WEIRD will teach kids ages 5 through 12 how God filled the world with a lot of crazy creatures ... including them. WEIRD will remind kids that “when they feel weird, different or even lost in a crowd, nothing compares to the extraordinary love of Jesus.” Register kids by calling 423308-3467. Snacks will be provided.

First Baptist Cleveland June 7th at Walnut Hill Farm Pre-K through completed 6th grade!

North Cleveland

June 17-20

No equipment necessary Onsite Registration $7 per child

Gò0dNews for Parents

Heavenly

Thoughts

by Anna Anderson

M

y youngest son has always been a collector of items.

Although he enjoys playing with toys, he often takes different sets apart just to keep his favorite pieces. He will color coordinate and keep them somewhat organized"all over his room. My husband and I have known this about him for some time and it helps when we are looking to buy birthday gifts for him. He doesn’t want the biggest most expensive thing, he wants something with lots of small parts so he can keep the pieces he wants. I have had to stop obsessively counting the number of blocks that go with this or the number of game pieces that go with that. I have had to let that go and just let him enjoy playing.

Recently his love of collecting has taken a different twist. He claimed one of his toy boxes as a “Heaven Box.” He started pu ing his most favorite items in that box because he says he wants to take those things with him to heaven.

My husband and I know the Bible tells us we can’t take material things with us to heaven, and we are to store up treasures in heaven (see Ma . 6:1921); however, my son hasn’t grasped those verses yet. All he knows is that heaven will be great! And if he can take his favorite things too, then it is a winwin situation for him.

We are hesitant to encourage this new idea of his, and we don’t want to lead him falsely toward the idea that all of these things will go with him to heaven. On the other hand, we are thrilled that he talks about heaven and knows he is going there. In fact, he is already packing! He has everything he thinks he will need"swords, bouncy balls, flashlights, favorite blanket, costumes, and of course, extra underwear is his favorite ones.

We have really had to stop and pray about the best way to approach this. We don’t want to discourage his thoughts of heaven because we want

him to keep his eyes toward heaven and be excited to go there. As we have prayerfully considered this, we realized with joy that he already is excited to go to heaven! He already has his eyes set toward heaven! He is thinking about heaven just the way he should at this age.

We want our children to desire heaven and not be afraid that they will miss it. We want them to know that with Jesus in their hearts, heaven is where they are headed. The Bible gives us glimpses of heaven, and it is going to be greater than we can even imagine.

It is fun to watch my son imagine how great heaven could be.

It is easy for our eyes to be set on the day-to-day activities of life and forget about the words of Jesus, “There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2 NLT). He really is ge ing a place ready for us! My son is ge ing ready, are you?

Anna Anderson is the Preschool Director at Westmore

20

June 2014

Church of God. She also is able to help part-time with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Anna and her husband have two boys who keep them entertained and laughing daily.

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Gò0dNews for Life

One Small Step Can Make a Lifetime of Difference

by Beth Henderson

L

ast night I visited the home of a family member who is also a cancer patient. During that visit I was fortunate enough to receive some of the bounty of what was called “a feast that could feed the entire church.” I’m sure the person who said this meant her own local body of believers, but I thought about that sentiment in terms of the whole Church, or even the whole world.

The smiles, laughs, joy and hope that I experienced in that house last night were due to the gracious acts of a few ladies who got together and prepared a meal. There’s nothing especially grandiose about preparing a meal, we do it every day. The significant thing about that meal was that it was prepared for others – and useful to benefit someone other than those who prepared it.

That’s the way it is with God’s people. We have a responsibility and a privilege to see the needs of others, offer what we have and see God multiply it for His glory, our blessing and their benefit. In Ma hew 13:31-32 we read, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Earlier in the day, I heard of a woman who encountered much the same kind of mustard-seed blessing from another. “I was so despondent and depressed when I walked through that door, but now I feel be er. Now, I have hope,” she said.

She had been ministered to by another who had simply heard her words, understood her heart’s cry and offered help. What a difference that made.

This November, we’ll have the opportunity to plant a seed that when it is grown will be greater than the original

product, and has the potential to protect future generations.

On November 4, 2014, the people of Tennessee – you and I – will have the opportunity to go to the polls and reverse a decision made by the Tennessee Supreme Court in September of 2000. The Court declared in a 4 to 1 ruling in Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee v. Sundquist, “We specifically hold that a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy is a vital part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution.”

That decision, made by 3 judges of this state, stripped away what have been called the “common sense protections” of informed consent for women considering abortion, a 48-hour waiting period and the hospitalization requirement for later term abortions. It also opened the way for a later judgment that removed any requirements for inspections or regulations of abortion facilities. And this, they say, was to protect a woman’s rights.

But we don’t have to stand by and do nothing. In fact, for the last 14 years, a work has been accomplished to get us to this day when the small act of standing for the truth could save many lives. If one word could save a life, would you say it? That’s how easy it is to make a lifetime of difference.

On the ballot this November 4 will be the proposed Amendment 1 vote, which will read: “Shall Article 1 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section: Section___. Nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”

We can vote YES and stand for life in our state.

Basically, by simply going to the polls and voting YES on Amendment 1 this November, we can promote the protection of human life – the unborn child and her mother.

Vote YES on Amendment 1 this November. It’s a small thing that will have big results. We can make a difference for Life.

Beth Henderson

22

June 2014

is the Development Director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center

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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness

Weeks to a Healthier You

by Zona Hayes-Morrow

S

ummer is here! It’s the season for reunions, weddings and vacations. Everyone wants to be looking their best and feeling their best but if you’re like most of us, our schedule had us so busy that our plans to “slim down” before these events didn’t quite happen. I don’t advocate “quick fix” diet solutions but there are a few things you can do that will help if you only have a couple of weeks.

Firstly, get rid of all soda. This means diet or regular. There is nothing beneficial for you in soda and in fact, all of the chemicals and preservatives actually hurt your system. Instead, learn to drink water. Plain water is best because when you add the various flavor packets you are also adding the chemicals and sweeteners that you should be avoiding. Water is the most important thing your body needs to function. If your body is properly hydrated it will function more efficiently and you will feel be er. Plus it will help to flush all of the excess salt, chemicals and toxins out of your system. If you need to drink coffee, try to drink it black to avoid all of the fat and sugars that come with creamers.

Green tea is also a good thing to drink as it has plenty of polyphenols and antioxidants such as EGCG which promote brain and heart health as well as helping with your metabolism. If you need to add some sweetness to it, add a touch of local, raw honey which will also help fight allergies.

Next, change your diet. Stop eating fast food and sugar. If you can, avoid starches such as rice, bread, pasta and potatoes. Keep in mind that I’m only saying this as a SHORT-TERM

solution. I do not recommend an extreme diet like this for any length of time as your body needs nutrients from a variety of sources to be truly healthy. Try to only eat lean meats such as salmon, chicken or turkey. Avoid high fat foods and condiments as they are loaded with extra calories. Include as many vegetables in your diet as possible but try to avoid cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli as they could lead to gas and bloating. Instead of bu er or dressing on vegetables, use extra virgin olive oil which is packed with omega-3 and use herbs instead of salt to bring extra flavor. To stop massive cravings and urges to binge eat, prepare healthy snacks such as carrots, celery, or an apple to eat every few hours. And avoid eating less than 4 hours before going to bed.

If you can do these things as well as increasing your activity level then you will be on your way to slimmer version of you.

Just remember, there are no instant fixes.

The weight didn’t show up overnight and it won’t be lost overnight either.

Good health takes time and effort and skinny doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. You won’t lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks but you can be feeling be er, looking be er and on your way to healthier and happier version of yourself!!!

Zona Hayes-Morrow is a 24

June 2014

successful business woman, mother, bible teacher and Executive Director of Norvel Hayes Ministries.

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Gò0dNews for Teens

by Jimmy Page

READY "But "But u I ccount ount ou n my li life if of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the th he ministry m niistry I received mi recceiive from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace." grac gr a e."" –Acts –A Actts 20 20:24 0:24

SET Wh When hen is the last tim time me you thought thou ugh g t my life is worth nothing? In a culture of sself-esteem se lff-esteem where everyo everyone yone ne win wins ins be in b because c we don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, fe eelings, this th hiss is not a popular populaar theme. th heme. We W often see athletes pointing to their names on the their heir i jer jerseys erseys ys o orr th thumping humping theirr cchests when they make a great play.

Still St til ill other otthe her athletes athl hlet e es refuse ref e us u e to t play pla l y for fo or a team am m because be they don’t have a chance of winning winn wi n in nn i g a championship. ch ham mpi pionship p. It is is th tthee ultimate ultima ul mate t in in selfi s l shness! se We have hav avee pl plenty plen enty t of of examples e ampl ex ples of of the “It’s “ t’s all “I a l about al abou ab outt me” m belief in sports and in llife. li fe. Af fe A After teer all, there’s the h re re’ss n no o “I “I” I” in tea team, eam, m b but ut there the here re is is “me”! “m me” e Paul Pa ul throws thr hrow ow ws selfi seelfi fish sh pu p pursuits rsuiits rs t u under n err tthe nd h bus. In he n the h face fa of trials and suffering, h d he doesn’t oesn oe n’tt dem demand man and d to b bee tr ttraded a ed ad e sso o he ccan an w win in a rring. He doesn’t plead with God fo Go forr an eeasy assy wa w way y out or a ssimple im mp plle as aassignment sign si g me m or prosperity. You get the sen se sense nse th that at ccomfort omfo om fortt aand nd d cconvenience on nveeni n en nce aare re n not ot even distant thoughts to Paul. He, like li ke y you ou aand nd m me, e w e, was a on as n a miss mission. ssio ion. n H Hee re realized that finishing the race meant bein be being ing g fa ffaithful i hfful tto it o hi h hiss Lo Lord d Jesus us aand nd tthe h truth of His resurrection. He gave up h hi hiss “r ““right” ig ght ht” to o a llife ifee off sta if status t tus an aand d we w wealth and personal gain. Apart from Jesus, hi h his is lli life ife f w was as w worth orrth not nothing othi h ng n tto o hi h him. m

GO 1.. D 1 Do o you yo ou lo llook ok out u for your own interests?

2 Is yo 2. y your urr llife i e apar if apart a t from finishing your mission with Jesus worth nothing?

WORKOUT WORKOU Galatians Gala Ga lati tian 2:19-20; Philippians 3:7-11

OVERTIME OV Heavenly Father, please forgive my selfishness and vanity. I want to be faithful to You and live my life according to Your holy Word. I pray that You will guide me as I daily strive to do just that. Amen.

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Herschel Walker

by Jason Browning

JASON: I would like to start by asking you to tell us how you came to know the Lord and how you became a Christian.

the hospital. That was difficult, but I always had my faith.

Our faith never abandons us. When people abandon their faith, it costs them more. I always look up at Him.

HERSCHEL: Well I grew up in the church. My parents are from Georgia, and my family grew up in the church.

My mom would take me to church and that’s how I first heard about this guy called Jesus Christ. I watching TVshows where people would get shot and killed, but, of course, they never come back to life. However, on Sunday when I went to church, the pastor talked about Jesus Christ who died and came back to life. That just struck me and I thought, Man, that’s a bad dude right there. After that Sunday, I went home, started reading the Bible, and really reflecting about what my parents had been trying to tell me. That’s when I became born again.

JASON: It’s no secret that you are a man of routine; can you tell me what kind of routine you have in regard to your spiritual walk, as well your devotions and prayer?

JASON: So is it safe to say that your parents and pastor were the primary source of sharing their faith with you?

HERSCHEL: I would tell the next generation to hold strong to their faith. We live in a society where so many go by what they see and hear, rather than staying strong with what is in their hearts. It is very difficult in today’s society because they have to overcome so many obstacles. If you think about it though, even in biblical times, some of the followers closest to Christ abandoned Him in difficult times. I know it can be hard at times, but it’s important to hold strong to your faith even if you are the only one.

HERSCHEL: Yes, there is no doubt; they were.

JASON: It’s important for us because here at our church we are doing a really aggressive campaign. We have looked at Psalm 78:4 which says, “We will tell the next generation about the Lord.” We have interviewed several different individuals and that is one of the things that has been outlined by so many: parents and the church are instrumental in sharing faith. So I’m glad to hear that has also been the case in your life. One of the things I also wanted to ask you about your faith is, “Do you feel that in anytime in your football career you were treated unfairly because of your faith ?

HERSCHEL: I don’t think so. Maybe, I was, but didn’t know it. I say that because my faith has always taught me to look up. I’m blessed. There was a time when I was in

HERSCHEL: I call it my quiet time (almost twice a day) where I’m reading the Bible or just spending time with the Lord Jesus. This time is usually an hour or two a day.

JASON: I’m si ing here with Ma hew Ruckman and his son, Brendon. Brendon is twelve years old, and he is part of the next generation. What would you tell the next generation in reference to faith?

JASON: Let’s talk a li le football. How did you know football was your sport? Did you just fall into it, or did you always know that it was something you wanted to do?

HERSCHEL: Honestly, you might laugh at this, but when I was young, I thought it might be a good way to get out of doing my chores. Of course my mom had me do them anyway. Really though, I’ve always felt I wanted to compete. I played hard. I find it a huge blessing to even be recognized as a football player.

JASON: In reference to football, who is the most influential coach or someone you looked up to that really encouraged you along this journey.

HERSCHEL: I’ve been very blessed to have many amazing coaches who loved the Lord and were always encouraging me. When I got to the Cowboys, things were a bit different in a good way, because although there were rules, Coach Landry didn’t let that stop him from speaking God’s truth. There was even a time when we were training in California, and usually the rule is, if you train for six days, you can have the seventh day off. Coach Landry didn’t let that happen if you were married and your wife wasn’t in town. The only way the players could take off was if their wives went to him to show they were in town.

He didn’t want anyone to have the opportunity to stray from his wife. He always said, “If your home life isn’t together, then you won’t be a good football player. So make sure your home life is together.” I feel very fortunate to have been able to play under him.

JASON: Is there any particular year of your football career that stands out to you?

HERSCHEL: When I look back at my freshman year, I don’t just think of winning the national championship; I look at being together as a team. We honestly didn’t think we’d win a game because we weren’t the strongest or the fastest team, but we had great leadership. That’s what it’s all about. Having good leadership can make anyone stronger. That’s what it did for us. We held strong as a team.

JASON: Moving into the NFL, was there any one person you can remember that you didn’t want to be the one to run over him?

HERSCHEL: Oh, there were a couple. Lawrence Taylor and Mike Singletary were guys who came out on Sunday to play. There weren’t going to be any slacking off there.

They knew the game. They are two that come to mind and I think, Oh, man, I have to play that guy?

JASON: You moved into some Mixed Martial Arts fighting. How did you get into that?

HERSCHEL: At the time, I owned a couple of businesses that were doing pre y well. One of them was training and conditioning MMA fighters. One of the guys said that he was the best out there. I thought that was a pre y bold statement to make. A lot of people don’t know, but I’ve been doing martial arts for years. I would do football sometimes in the morning on Saturday, and then I’d do martial arts on Saturday afternoon. So I did a li le fighting and was offered the opportunity to fight in the MMA. JASON: I also read that you wanted to come back to the NFL. Is that going to play out for us?

HERSCHEL: I don’t know; I had a couple of teams that wanted to give me a shot, JASON: Looking through your bio, it states that you have dissociative identity disorder. Because this interview is going to reach thousands of individuals who suffer from similar illnesses, what are you doing to raise awareness and change the conversation about mental health, and what role does that play in your life?

HERSCHEL: It plays a huge role in my life. I work with a hospital that treats 4,200 military men and women. I try to tell people that we all fall short of the glory of God. Sometimes, we become shameful and full of pride, and we try to hide what is really going on with us. Trying to hide it brings Satan into our lives because he wants us to feel shame. When I was open about what was going on with me, the doctors were able to help me get back on the right track. You know I always say you’ve got to look up, but I started looking down. You’ve got to have faith. My mom always told me that the Lord is the true doctor.

JASON: GoodNews want to thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. It has been an honor to talk with you.

HERSCHEL: I want to thank you for giving me an opportunity to share the love of God. We need to take every opportunity to speak about what God is doing.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Breaking the bondage of Legalism

by Samuel Burger

I

n every religion, there is some form of legalism with the exception of Biblical Christianity. Legalism stresses our performance to receive God’s acceptance. Legalism requires you to take the responsibility of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption upon yourself. The gospel (Good News) gives you the revelation of Jesus who has already taken the responsibility of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption upon Himself. Any religion that stresses your performance in order to receive God’s love and acceptance is nothing more than legalism, which was something Jesus opposed.

My friends, anytime you try to achieve or sustain your salvation, you are living in the subtle trap of legalism.

As Christians, we are to live life based on the fact we are already forgiven. We do not live to achieve, but to live out the victory Jesus Christ has already achieved for us. Legalism can be compared to a chain and each link on the chain represents self-imprisonment. The links represent the following: 1. Self-Righteousness. I once believed that God gave righteousness, but I thought I had to sustain it by my obedience.

Paul refutes this fallacy by writing these words to the church in Rome: “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Rom. 4:5-6 ESV). Obedience should be based on the fact that God accepted us before we obeyed Him! 2. Self-Condemnation. As you try to make yourself right with God, you will begin to walk in condemnation. You will ask yourself questions such as, •Did I do enough for the Lord today?

•Did I read enough Bible verses today?

•Can I live more righteously next week than I did last week?

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You will doubt your acceptance with God because you are putting that responsibility upon yourself.

Therefore, you will condemn yourself. However, there is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:1).

3. Self-Regret. After the self-condemnation, self-regret will possess you. Instead of living in the revelation of being forgiven, you will live in the deception of regret.

Regret becomes your identity because you can only identify through what you do for the Lord and not what Jesus has already done for you.

4. Self-Pity. Now your thoughts will be consumed with feeling sorry for yourself because you don’t measure up to God’s standard. However, I have good news for you. Since you can’t measure up to God’s standard, Jesus did it for you! Today, we relate to God based on Jesus’ work, not our work.

5. Self-Effort. Finally, self-effort will be the basis of how you live your life. You begin to think God blesses you based on the actions you take in life. Therefore, you base your whole relationship with God based on your labors. Self-effort puts a barrier to the free blessings God has for you.

The legalistic chain that has you bound is the chain you unknowingly embrace. Once you look away from yourself as having no responsibility for your rightness with God, the chain will break. Don’t let the chain become your master and dictator. I have one question to leave with you. “Are you going to keep dragging the chain around, or are you going to abandon that chain?”

Samuel Burger is an associate pastor at Chestuee Baptist Church in Calhoun, Tn. He loves laughing, writing, preaching and Mexican food. Feel free to contact pastor Samuel via email at samuelbrgr@yahoo.com.

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Gò0dNews for Couples

God Calls Us to Unity and Harmony

by Don Smith

T

hree words come to mind when I think about the topic of couples: grace, peace, and joy. At the risk of sounding 1950ish, once a man and a woman are united, God wants them to stay together. In our throw-away mentality, we think it would be be er, easier, and more desirable to start over with someone else. However, that does not work (just look at the stats), but I don’t need to state them. You’ve heard them countless times. Separation, divorce, or whatever word you choose to insert here, is not the solution.

G R A C E is the only roadway that leads to what we all want, which is peace and joy. I’m not going to play the acronym game.

Please note that God treats us with grace, and mercy; furthermore, He expects us to treat others with the same grace and mercy.

Let me give you my interpretation of grace.

• It is Forgiving when the other person does not deserve it.

• It is pressing into the relationship when the other person reacts, rather than responds.

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• It is Looking beyond the offense, into the future and remembering your past.

If we approached our earthly relationships the way our Daddy does with us, what a difference this world would see. Jesus was asked the question most of us want the answer to: How many times must I forgive? Jesus’ answer was 70 x 7 (490). Some commentators suggest the implication was for the same offense in the same day. Try that one on!

Peace is in some folk’s world is life without strife. That, my friend, will never happen on this planet.

Peace is living in harmony with others. We are not called to unanimity but to unity and harmony.

Unanimity is being in lockstep with someone else. God calls us to unity and harmony. We all have our perspective and our experience. It varies from others because we are all unique. As a couple, understand that living in peace with your “other” means accepting their differences and singing a harmonic chord with them.

Being in peace is knowing where you are, with the person you love, and enjoying the presence and sound of that person. Peace for some is a fragile state of mind.

For others, it is a fairyland. But for the child of God peace is a place in harmony and unity with others of God’s creation. Paul commended us to live at peace as best we can.

That third word of mine is joy.

Joy is not happiness. Joy is the knowing, the recognizing, the living in the gift God has given you.

Joy is experiencing God’s deeprooted love and presence. Couples have been given a great gift; the complement of another person"not only of the opposite sex, but of those who have a different perspective. God has given us resistance.

Without resistance there can be no growth, no intimacy, and no future

Don Smith is the Pastor at Evening Light Gospel Tabernacle in Cleveland, TN

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Gò0dNews for Seniors

“Keeping Active: Beware the Comfy Recliner”

by Esmerelda Lee

A

s part of my role as a manager for a retirement living facility, I have the privilege very often of visiting older adults in their homes. Frequently when I enter their rooms, I will notice the television is turned on, books, magazines and newspapers are laid out on the tables, fruits of various shapes and colors are si ing in bowls on countertops, and without fail, somewhere in the living room one will find the “comfy recliner.”

During my visit, I have the opportunity to talk about the benefits of retirement living and an active lifestyle. An active lifestyle even in retirement is crucial to slowing the aging process and ensuring quality of life. I have noticed in my own life how exercise impacts my day.

Even though it is a chore to awake at five in the morning, I know that it is essential. As I begin to exercise, invariably I start out feeling awful, sluggish, and with most of my body still very much asleep. About a quarter way into my workout, I begin to feel the stretch; my blood cells begin to circulate, and I am well on my way to having a great workout and ge ing the adrenaline pumping. Inadvertently, having a great workout always leads to having a great day. To be honest, my positive a itude after exercising helps my outlook throughout the day.

I am very well aware of the fact that I have been blessed with good health, and even though I am aging, I am not a senior yet. It has to be difficult to walk when your limbs don’t move as fast as they used to, and when joints are sometimes stiff and aching. I am sure it is challenging to do any type of exercise when you are quickly out of breath. However, doing nothing must be so much worse. People look at their lives in the present tense. Most say, “Well I can’t do this now, so what is the point!”

I want to challenge you to be the person that says, “I can’t do this task now; however, if I try, in a few short months I will be able to accomplish it!

By surrounding yourself with amenities that will keep you stagnant—such as that comfy recliner—it’s like surrounding yourself with negative people . . . you will become so much like them eventually.

My advice to people, not just seniors, is to live today with tomorrow in mind. Limit a sedentary lifestyle, and push your body each day to its limits so that whether you walk the Greenway or your hallway, you are moving forward. Begin small, be consistent, have a Esmerelda Lee goal, and you will be rewarded. is campus manager Being active sparks my day, so that in for Garden Plaza of some way I can be a spark to others. Don’t Cleveland, an indeget me wrong: I love a comfy recliner as pendent and assisted much as the next person; but I love it only living facility for seat the end of a well-worked day. My hope is that you will choose to be a spark and not niors. She and her husband Andrew se le for a comfy recliner! have three children.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

A Glimpse of HeavenSpeak Life

by Kelly Hixson

peaking life into a small child is a glimpse of heaven to me! There is a sweet li le girl I have been working with since last year!

When she came to me she couldn’t read at all; she had an a itude when it came to learning or reading, and she would get mad easily. I didn’t let her anger bother me and I didn’t give up on her. I knew her behavior was more than just acting out, it was because deep inside she was wanting someone to take the time to love her. No ma er how angry she would become, I would always reply with a gentle and soft answer, a soft backrub and the words, “I love you; I am so proud of you.”

As the years have went on, she has improved with great leaps and bounds. She is reading, her self-confidence has improved, and now she uses calm words to work out situations between her friends! You would just have to know this spunky li le girl to know how much my heart smiles because I am so proud of her!

She came to me today and said some things that weren’t respectful and I gently reminded her she would not get her treat because I couldn’t reward her behavior. She began to get angry, so I decided to ignore her and work on my computer.

After a li le while, she came to my desk and apologized for her behavior. I accepted her apology and put my arm around her. Looking her in the eye and talking as softly and gently as I could, I

S

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began to talk to her about when we first met and how far she had come; how smart she was, how much I love her, and that I am so very proud of her.

As I was speaking all these things to this cute li le spunky girl, she began to draw nearer and nearer to me with each word until she was laying her head on my shoulder. We just stayed like that in silence for a while as if our hearts were speaking to each other. All I could think about is “He knows the plans He has for her, plans for a future and a hope” (see Jer. 29:11).

When she raised her head, I looked her in the eye again and told her I was proud of her. Then I poked her li le nose with my finger and said with a smile, “You should be proud of yourself, too.” With a grin that you could tell she was trying to hold back, she said “I am!” and walked back to class holding her head a li le higher than when she first walked in!

So you ask what is the glimpse in all this to me. It was the sweet, timid, humble words she mumbled softly to me as she was walking out of my classroom “I AM”! This was heaven to me . . . pure heaven! Speak life to someone today, tomorrow, and you will experience your own personal glimpse!

Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (What version is this?)

Kelly Hixson is a teacher at Black Fox Elementary School

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

I Lessons from the Vineyard (#2)

by Dave Carringer

38

June 2014

n the vineyard, Kay and I learned the word, terroir, the conditions, soil and climate, in which grapes are grown that gives wine its unique flavor and aroma. The French word terroir (pronounced ter-wahr) means “The fruit reflects the ground in which it was grown.”

Because we can bear no fruit on our own, the fruit we bear should be a direct reflection of the characteristics and Source that enabled it to grow and come forth. After all, the branches being in union with the Vine provides the source for all the fruit.

No root = no fruit.

In John 15:4-5, the Passion Translation (TPT) says it this way: “So step into Life-union with Me, for I have stepped into Life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the Vine will not bear fruit, so will your life be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to Mine. I AM the Sprouting Vine and you are My branches. As you live in union with Me (or grafted into me) as your Source, then fruitfulness will stream

from within you, but when you live separated from Me. You are powerless.”

The Source of all our power and fruitfulness comes from the Vine. The Father’s focus is on Jesus, the True Vine, (His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased) and His finished work. Our focus should be on Him as well.

This revelation really brings light to the apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-17: “And I pray that He would pour over you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His Divine might and explosive power! Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of His Love will become the very source and root of your life, providing you with a secure foundation that grows and grows!” (TPT) Amen!

Dave Carringer is the owner of Abundant Living Organic Foods.

Continued on page 2...

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Gò0dNews for Dads

WHAT IS A

DAD?

by Oreeda McClure Burnette

A

ccording to the dictionary, it’s the male who contributed DNA to the formation of the child.

This definition may be technically correct but it is nowhere near the whole story.

My father didn’t let me call him father. He always said we should call “no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9).

So, I called him Daddy.

The first memory I have of Daddy is sitting on the arm of his chair and listening to him read aloud to me the Chattanooga News Free Press. We didn’t live in Chattanooga, but he always said our local paper wasn’t worth the 10 cents he had to pay for it. I heard stories about Eisenhower, Congress, our state (Georgia), and the world in general.

The newspaper wasn’t all my daddy read to me. Every night Daddy would let me look through his Bible. It had about ten pictures in it. And like any kid, I was only interested in looking at the pictures. The Holy Bible looked a little imposing to me, especially since I was too young to know how to read. But, you see, I didn’t have to read the Bible; my daddy already had.

Each night as I went through his Bible, he would tell me the stories I loved—stories about David and Goliath, about Jesus as a boy in the Temple, about Elijah, Jonah, and Moses. I really liked the picture and story about Jesus and the little children. The last picture in 40

June 2014

my daddy’s Bible was very dark. Jesus was sitting beside the water cooking fish over a fire. In the distance you could see a boat with fishing nets. It was almost time to turn in for the night, but I always cried, “Daddy, tell me the story about ‘They fished all night and caught no fishes!’”

And every night my daddy told me that story. He didn’t tell me the story like it was a fairy tale or a story ending with a well-thought-out moral; he was telling what really happened and relating to me the fact that those miracles could still happen in my life today.

My dad taught me how to make a bow and arrows; he taught me how to tie my shoestrings; he taught me how to pop my knuckles; he taught me how to sharpen a knife; he taught me that my congressmen worked for me, and he shared his outlook on life with me. But the best thing my dad did for me was: He was there. He was there to answer my questions. He was there to tell me about Jesus. He was there to mold my beliefs, my actions and reactions . . . I guess you could say that my daddy trained me up! What a concept. And to train me, he used the manual-his Bible.

Oreeda Burne e is the church secretary at United Christian Church, Cleveland, Tennessee.

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B A N A N A P U D D I N G Ingredients

Preparation

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour • Dash of salt • 2 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk • 1 (14-oz.) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk • 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 3 cups sliced ripe bananas • 48 reduced-fat vanilla wafers • 4 egg whites • 1/4 cup sugar

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Combine flour and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually stir in 1% milk, sweetened condensed milk, and yolks, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

2. Layer 3 banana slices, 3 1/2 Tbsp. pudding, and 3 vanilla wafers in each of 8 (1-cup) ramekins or ovenproof glass dishes. Top each with 6 banana slices, 3 1/2 Tbsp. pudding, and 3 vanilla wafers.

3. Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves (2 to 4 minutes). Spread about 1/2 cup meringue over each pudding.

4. Bake at 325° for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Let cool 30 minutes.

Note: An 8-inch square baking dish may be substituted for glass dishes. Arrange 1 cup bananas on bo om of dish. Top with one-third pudding mixture and 16 vanilla wafers. Repeat layers twice, ending with pudding. Arrange remaining 16 wafers around inside edge of dish, gently pressing wafers into pudding. Spread meringue over pudding, sealing edges; bake 20 to 25 minutes; cool as directed.

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June 2014

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Compassion in Action

by Carl W. Corser

P

eople enter and exit our lives as we live from season to season.

Some make a difference, but most just pass through as an acquaintance.

How is this true? Do not all relationships require an investment? Isn’t it true that investments come without any guarantee of return? If all investments paid good dividends, what kind of world would we live in today? It seems to be all about how I will benefit from the investment into another individual. What is in it for me?

One Investment at a Time

Is compassion in action an act of kindness that will last forever? (see Ma . 9:35-38; Jude 20-25). Isn’t it all about the kingdom of God being built one investment in a soul at a time?

This story of compassion in action will surely warm your heart.

A young pastor moves to a small Midwestern community from the East coast. Visitation was important to him to adjust to the Midwestern culture.

During a visit with a family who a ended his church, he discovered a great need in two boy’s lives. He decided to play “Let’s Make a Deal.”

The circumstance was quite different to what he was accustomed. This poor family of seven lived in a two-bedroom home with paper feed sacks tacked to the walls, no running water, and an out-house. There was no carpet on the wood subfloors that had cracks between the boards, and the wood stove was warming his backside as Let’s Make a Deal played out.

Pastor made a deal with their dad to assist the boys in hoeing a two-acre field of strawberry plants in exchange 44

June 2014

for Dad allowing them to go to youth camp that summer. Pastor arrived to keep his deal, ready to invest some sweat in the situation. Li le did he know that these boys would dearly love making his white T-shirt into the current style of the day"tie-dyed, covered with red strawberry stains. Pastor did not think about how much this investment would cost him.

Since this field was a new planting, all the berries must be picked to allow the nutrients to be used by the new runners so the crop would be what it should be next year. The boys did an excellent job of picking all the berries, ate some, and saved all the soft mushy ones for target practice. The pastor’s once white T-shirt proved that the boys got plenty of practice, hi ing the target.

The pastor’s wife made him wear the same clean, but stained T-shirt every day for two weeks until the deal was complete.

The cultivation process was now complete and youth camp time arrived.

The young pastor with the boys in his blue-green Corvair, headed for another investment"youth camp. It was a wonderful experience for all involved.

The second year came and again the boys were allowed to accompany the young pastor to a second youth camp investment. When the third year for youth camp arrived, the young pastor had moved on to another pastorate. His investment was still paying dividends because the boys were still privileged to a end youth camp. This year, one of the boys responded to the call to the ministry. The fourth year rolled around and the boys a ended the summer youth camp again. The fifth year was different as one of the boys was in college and the other was working a job. One boy went to youth

camp as an art instructor and the other did not a end camp.

A Lasting Example

Then the boy who accepted the call to the ministry progressed on to pastor’s school and upon completion, graduated. As life unfolded for the new young pastor, he began investing into other lives. The example shown to him had a profound effect upon his a itude about investing into others.

Approximately thirty years have now passed and the young pastor developed the desire to find his mentor. He was found, still pastoring in the Midwest. The two met and both pastors experienced a memory that will last forever.

What if the young pastor had not believed that compassion in action is an act of kindness that will last forever? How about the value of his game, “Let’s Make a Deal”?

Friend, I was the boy in the story who responded to the call to the ministry at youth camp. My life would not be what it is today if it had not been for the investment into my life by the late Reverend John Ash from Greenville, North Carolina. Through Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, to that small Midwestern community of Parsons, Kansas, I’m so thankful that the difference he made in my life is going to last forever.

It is my sincere hope that this story will motivate and encourage you to adopt a passion to make a difference in other’s lives with compassion through an act of kindness that will last forever.

Surely a difference made in another will last forever, especially if God’s love is at the center of it. Be blessed in your investing!

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Heart for Haiti

by Laurel Martin

M

y good friend and mission partner, Julie Simily, is a first grade teacher at United Christian Academy. We have become short-term missionaries that have a true passion for the people of Haiti. We participate in a variety of activities including children’s VBS, prison ministry, visiting hospitals, performing small medical clinics, and visiting orphanages.

On our most recent trip we visited two orphanages that are in their beginnings. One orphanage was home to twenty children, and the other home to sixteen. Each orphanage had two rooms"one for boys and one for girls. There were a couple of beds in each room, but it was evident that many slept on the floor.

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At the first orphanage, we spent the day simply playing with the children. It’s amazing the joy these kids receive from simple things like ge ing their picture taken, twirling around in the air, or simply being held. Haitian children are always so loving and so receptive to us.

We also had the pleasure of going to see a house that is being built for this orphanage. It is incomplete due to lack of funding, but it is larger, and bunk beds have been donated and built for each child.

The second orphanage we visited seemed to be struggling even more. While touring the facility, we became aware that they quite literally did not know where their next meal was coming from. They were low on food and completely out of the charcoal they needed to cook it. We bought them the charcoal, a

large bag of rice, cooking oil, and two large bags of beans. This was estimated to feed all the kids for ten to twelve days. When we returned with the food, the children sang to us, and Jude, the man running the orphanage, thanked us greatly.

It’s moments like those that you really feel like you are making a difference. Some may wonder if a two-person mission team can really do anything worthwhile. I promise you, they can. Visiting orphanages was just one of the many things we participated in on this trip. Want to learn more? Stay tuned!

Laurel Martin is a registered nurse at SkyRidge Medical Center.

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

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

Our mission is to bring people into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ—a relationship that empowers them to see how God can work through individual personalities, situations, and talents. Christ was an activist, he did not neglect the needs of the people as He brought His message. We strive to encourage everyone to look more like Christ by reaching outside of themselves to serve the needs of others—at home, at school, in communities, and across the world 48

June 2014

What: We believe that it is important to laugh together, praise each other, encourage one another, and to offer biblical advice.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Holding Hands Again

By Terrie E. Ruff

““Therefore “T Thereforree strengthen strengthen the the hands hands which which hang hang g down” d dow do own” (Heb. (Heb. 12:12).

1122:12).

M

close. l O Oh, h, I could ld ttell ell ll you stories th that hatt would ld make ma ke y you ou laugh lau augh gh about abo bout ut our our times tim imes es together tog oget ethe herr growing up in Columbia, South Carolina,"like the time she got upset with me because I told on her and she packed my things, set them outside her door with a simple note: Go home! And I can’t forget the time she wanted to see if pu ing someone’s hand in a bowl of cold water while they slept really caused them to wet the bed (I’ll just say the experiment worked)!

As li le girls I remember eating potato chips with peanut bu er, sharing secrets about who we had a crush on, or holding hands as we in our child-like way consoled each other when someone hurt our feelings.

In our young adult years, life was filled with college, careers, relationships, and the death of our parents. Again, we found ourselves together talking and this time sharing tears and memories of Mama/Auntie, Daddy/Uncle and the unbelievable heartache we felt as we experienced these deep losses. We held hands again as we looked for a be er day when the pain would not be as freshly felt.

On her wedding day and mine, we smiled and celebrated the memories made in South Carolina being lived out in reality. And although reality is never as accurate or fulfilling as our dreams and fantasies, Shawn 50

June 2014

and I continued cont co ntinued holding holdin in ng each each other other tth her up up through thro th roug ugh h phone ph calls, visits. call lls, text textt messages, Facebook, emails, email ils, and d vi isit its.

Now Now in our our forties, for orti ties es,, we think thi hink nk of of our our mothers moth mo ther erss more more often and tease each other by calling each other by our mother’s first name. Shawn is “Jane e” and I am “Evelyn.” We reminisce and allow the warmth of days gone by to refresh us for the days ahead.

A few months ago when the matriarch of the family died, Shawn was there with me, holding my hand as we approached the gravesite and faced another closed chapter. Yet, we smiled knowing that this warrior of a woman was ready and is just sleeping.

I am thankful for the journey God has allowed me to travel, and I am thankful that I have a cousin who has held my hand through so many of the challenges I have faced. She has allowed God to use her to strengthen me when I have been down, and she has done so by the simple gesture of taking my hands that were hung down with the hurts of life and gently and lovingly holding and lifting them up!

Terrie E. Ruff is originally from South Carolina, but has been in Tennessee for approximately 23 years. She is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker (LMSW)

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After

Gò0dNews from the Outdoors

by Rusty Asble

I

n April of 2004, I took the boys to explore a new hunting property in Central Florida. In talking with my son Ridge the other day, this is what he recounted of our adventure in the outdoors: It was an April afternoon. I was three years old at the time, and my dad had just acquired a 3,000-acre hunting property lease.

My dad wanted to take my brother and me on the four-wheeler to survey the property. On our way, we ate lunch at McDonalds. Upon arriving at the property, Dad drove about a mile and a half and stopped the truck on the main grade road. While sitting in the truck, my dad explained to us that we were going to unload the four-wheeler, load up, and drive the property boundaries.

It had been raining a few days earlier, so the Florida cypress swamps were filled to capacity, and water overflowed through the pine and oak hammocks. The water was a tea-stained brown color because of the thick covering of pine needles that layered the ground. There was a fresh earth smell in the air due to the multiple wild boar rootings that were surrounding the pine flats knee-deep.

The property was located outside of Osteen, Florida, situated between Lake Harney and Mosquito Lagoon, which was the backwaters of the Atlantic ocean. Each afternoon it was common that the offshore cool air would mix with the warm inland air, and around the lake, thunderstorms would form quickly.

My dad was well aware of these afternoon storms and watched the skies as we unloaded the four-wheeler from the truck. He loaded me on the gas tank, which was in front of where he sits, and my brother on the back of the four-wheeler behind him. I would hold 52

June 2014

on to his forearms as he drove, so I would feel secure. As we left the field, my dad looked back over his shoulder and saw a small black cloud forming in the distance over the lake. Not feeling too threatened by it, we preceded into the woods on the flooded trail. He would stop along the trail and point out different things about the woods and swamps. We were having a great time.

After about thirty minutes, we crossed through a very wet pine flat. The pine trees were at tall as telephone poles. Dad was not going very fast when all of a sudden there was this brilliant flash of light of white, blue, pink, and purple. The sound was louder than anything I have ever heard. As Dad let off the gas and coasted to a stop, he was dazed and seeing spots. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, and that’s what brought Dad out of the daze. My brother was squeezing my dad so tightly he could barely breathe. It took a few minutes for us to get our senses about us when we realized that lightning had struck the tree fifteen feet above our heads. There was a strong smell of sulfur in the air.

Dad quickly spun the four-wheeler around and headed for the truck. When we got to the truck, he threw my brother and me in the back seat of the truck as the rain began to fall. When Dad jumped in, I screamed, “I’m telling Mommy,” and I began to cry. Trying to calm us down, my dad shared that there were some things best left not shared with Mommy, and this was one of them. As the rain stopped, Dad loaded the four-wheeler, and we headed for home.

I was glad to be heading home now. When I got home, I ran inside and immediately told Mommy what had happened.

When thinking back on that event and how we could have been hurt badly, there were a couple of things that saved us. My dad had just got new tires that were bigger and higher off the ground than the old ones. If we had been in more than seven inches of water, we would have been killed, but luckily we were in about six inches of water. If we had been walking in the water, we would have been killed. If I had not been screaming, my dad would not have responded, and we would have been driven deeper into the water and killed. But by the grace of God, we survived this event, and I am here to write about this event.

That’s how it happened, folks. Here are a few summertime tips that may help you and your family as bad weather approaches: 1. Watch the radar. Get an app on your phone that shows lightning strikes and radar movement.

2. Get a lightning strike indicator. These little gadgets are helpful while on the go.

3. Be prepared with a spur-of-the-moment response plan.

4. Seek a safe shelter. Be safe and have fun, Reverend Rusty and Ridge Asble (Age 14)

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

They reside in Cleveland.

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I heard a statement from the Lord this week concerning a friend, God said ‘derailed destiny.’

Strong words, I thought. I began to ponder that statement; derail a destiny. Not fully understanding what caused a derailment, I decided to do some research. I looked online to find out what caused a train to derail. I discovered that it isn’t as I thought; it isn’t that something on the track causes the derailment. Actually, studies show that a train can move 4,000 lbs off the track without ever derailing or even slowing it down.

Additionally, there are two causes of derailment; one is going too fast and the other is failing to apply the brakes when needed. Pretty simple. I could see why God has said this about my friend and how they had derailed their destiny.

-excerpt from the Motivation : Derailed Destiny

Here’s what others are saying: “Your daily motivations are a tremendous blessing to me, personally, they are the first thing I read every morning!”

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Pretending To Be Sincere!

by James Richardson

I

wrote the following short piece in 2006 on my now dormant blog. At the time, I was reading through the Book of Ezekiel, discovering how relevant this book is to contemporary Christianity. I posited my incredibly small readership back then the following thoughts: Do you ever wonder what percentage of any given congregation allows Sunday’s message from the pulpit to penetrate their soul and influence their character? I would guess that it depends upon spiritual maturity and/or brokenness of spirit. Personally, it always astounds me how the Lord is able to speak to me every Sunday in some new way through the message I hear. Could it be that the coughing, sneezing, cell phone ringing, infant howling, and social idiosyncrasies have exasperated our senses and hindered our ability to focus? Perhaps, but I doubt it. There may be another reason: “So they come pretending to be sincere and sit before you listening. But they have no intention of doing what I tell them. They express love with their mouths, but their hearts seek only after money. You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t do it!” (Ezekiel 33: 31-32).

Therefore, let us strive to not only be hearers of the Word but have every intention of being doers of the Word as well. It continues to amaze me how Scripture is always relevant no ma er what the year, season, or culture.

Wait, I'm not finished. I'd like to amend the preceding thoughts with the following invitation. No doubt it will test your courage and cause you to venture outside your comfort zone. Just remember that some of the best events in life are experienced under these circumstances.

Here we go. Ready?

Go to church a half hour early. Gasp! Why would anyone do this, you may ask? You'll discover that God's Spirit is already there, waiting. You'll find people there shaking hands, singing songs, and discovering new relationships. By sharing your story"your life"with familiar faces, you will find someone else who appreciated and perhaps even desperately needed to hear it. You may even discover, as I finally did, that investing in the life of someone else is a whole lot more rewarding than focusing on your own problems.

Then, when the fellowship is assembled and the music begins, you are sincerely ready to worship.

54

June 2014

James Richardson is a Christian freelance writer. He and his wife have two children. James also authors a Christian based blog at: www.essentiallifematters.blogspot. com/

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