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Gò0dNews dNews June 2015

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Smart Money p. 10

Leading in Tune p. 14

Better Together p. 32

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Writers

Pastor Brian Branam Pastor Deven Wallace Beth Henderson Catherine Marcum Christy Bibee Jay Poag Karen Brummer Luke Sanford Mark Yates Melinda Nicodemus Phillip Knight Shibu M. Joseph Teddy Savage Tina Christein

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About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have 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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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.

June 2015

Gò0dNews Christian Magazine

Pg 4 Pg 6 Pg 8 Pg 10 Pg 12 Pg 14 Pg 20 Pg 22 Pg 24 Pg 26 Pg 28 Pg 30 Pg 32 Pg 34

About Us GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk #FergusontoBaltimore My Confession by Pastor Brian Branam GoodNews for Kids Kind, Intelligent, Devoted Servants by Christy Bibee GoodNews on Money Matters Smart Money by Tina Christein GoodNews for Men My Identity in Christ by Luke Sanford GoodNews for Women Leading in Tune by Deven Wallace GoodNews for Parents I’m Still Learning How to Parent by Shibu M. Joseph GoodNews for Life Waiting for Daddy by Beth Henderson GoodNews for Health & Fitness Obstacles by Teddy Savage GoodNews for Teens Have You Settled for Less? by Phillip Knight GoodNews for Seniors Social Interaction Is Critical for Seniors by Karen Brummer GoodNews for Everyone Handyman Corner for Everyone by Mark Yates GoodNews for Couples Better Together by Melinda Nicodemus GoodNews for Everyone Parallax by Catherine Marcum

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Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

#FergusontoBaltimore My Confession

by Brian Branam

ecently the news has been filled with images of arrests and riots. The police are accused of being brutal. Before the truth is investigated, the process is protested with people trying to prove their point peacefully, while others upstage them by bringing their message through brutality. The constant coverage and commentary are no longer informative but polarizing, beckoning viewers to choose sides. But is it really our responsibility to be opinionated? The prophet Jeremiah gives us an example of how the Christian conscience should react to the images we see. Before the prophet preaches, the prophet hurts and weeps for His people. As a pastor, I must admit, I have been too easily drawn into the fray. I try to guide people to the truth, but like everyone else, I am tempted to talk before there are tears. Our nation doesn’t need to see the church opinionated. If the policemen and the protesters could see our tears, perhaps they would hear our hearts. After reading the Book of Jeremiah, I was convicted about my reaction. Here is my confession: I need to hurt for my people. Jeremiah 8:21 says, “For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.” We are confused and fearful by the information and the images. We are inflamed by the rhetoric, but we are not hurt. When individuals are wounded in Baltimore, in Ferguson, in Charleston, and in New York City, we are not hurt. It does not matter what I think if I am not hurt. A prophet has no voice where he has no heart. Jeremiah saw the wounds of his people and his heart felt it. The problem with our current situation is that we are all being brutalized, but we are not all hurt. No heart. No voice. Our temptation is to rush for answers. We want to be experts without the rigor of study. Jeremiah exposed the folly of easy

6 // June 2015

answers: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (v.11). Easy answers are Band-aids where there should be tourniquets. Easy answers come from our heads. There is no healing if we distance our hearts. We must be hurt. Baltimore is another example of how we are undone by Adam’s sin by choosing to know good and evil. Now that we know it, we cannot stop it. This is not a situation; this is a sickness! Stop telling me what you think the mayor should say, what the police should do, why black people act like that, or why white people don’t understand. It doesn’t matter what I think; I need to hurt. We have no voice because we have no heart. We are not heart-broken, so we are mouth-broken. This is not an issue for a city, a race, or for an ideology. This is not an issue at all, it is a gaping, bleeding, infected wound of depravity. We have all been wounded, but why aren’t we hurt? I repent of everything I have said and thought about Ferguson or Baltimore. I confess that I have watched it all, but I have not been wounded at all. My prayer is: “God, I am sorry that I have not been hurt. O Lord, give me a heart for the wound of my people. Give us hurting hearts that seek healing. I repent of trying to be a Joshua generation without having Jeremiah’s heart. Heal us through the wounds of Your Son. Give us a vision of Baltimore and Ferguson, of policemen and of black men, of injustice and accusation, of anger and brutality, of prejudice and pretense, through the lens of the Cross. Dear God, help me hurt.” “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?” (v. 22). Brian Branam is the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Dalton, GA. He is the author of #TheWalk, a book about the power of breaking life down into one simple question.

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Gò0dNews for Kids

Calming the Storms of Life by Nick Poole

arents and children, let’s go on an adventure

climbed in. Suddenly, the boat begins to rock gently,

and explore God’s Word a little differently

and you feel sleepy. Your eyelids slowly close, and you

than before by using our imagination to see a

rest your head not far from Jesus.

world long since passed.

Close your eyes. You are no longer in your home but

Crash! Flashes of light pierce your eyelids, and the boat is no longer gently swaying with the waves! It is a

on a beach. A warm breeze crosses your face, flipping

huge storm! The wind is howling, thunder is clashing,

your hair around. Clouds are high in the sky; the sun is

and the waves are battering the sides of the boat. You

shining on you, and sand and water are between your

are afraid—unsure of what is going to happen—but you

toes. It feels good. Just in front of you is Jesus Christ, the

are sure of this: the twelve men are even more afraid

Messiah. A friendly smile comes across His face as your

than you. As you are being shaken by the boat’s battle

eyes meet. You wonder, Where is He going?

with the waves, Jesus rolls over, looks you in the eye,

Quickly, without thinking, you run to Jesus!

and calmly smiles just as He did before. Then He stands,

Kindness and love are in His eyes. It’s as if Jesus has

crosses the deck to the front of the boat, and shouts to

known you your entire life! Wait a second . . . Jesus is

the raging waters: “Silence! Be still!” Immediately, the

getting into a boat to cross the lake! No! You want to

storms stopped. All is calm again.

see Him, talk to Him, and be with Him! He can’t leave

What an adventure to be on the boat with Jesus

so soon! Your heart beats quickly, and there’s no time

and His disciples when the storm hit, and hearing Jesus

to think! Just as the boat pushes off, you run and jump

command the storm to stop. This is a great reminder

over the small waves and grab the edge of the boat,

that Jesus Christ wants to be with us on the journey

only to look back to see a shrinking shore. The waves

of our life. Regardless of what you are going through,

are getting bigger, and the boat is rocking more. You’d

Jesus Christ wants to be with you in your troubles. He

better climb in with the rest of the men and Jesus!

desires to take care of you, and He wants a relationship

You finish climbing into the boat, a little wet from the waves. The twelve men do not even notice you,

with you. Make sure Jesus is on your lifeboat when the storms of life arise.

and Jesus has fallen asleep on the floor near where you

8 // June 2015

Nick Poole is the children's pastor at The Church at Grace Point in Cleveland. He has a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry, and is currently working toward his masters in youth and family ministry at Lee University.

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Gò0dNews on Money Matters

Lessons Learned, Lessons Forgotten by Andrew Lee

emember when you were in school and you would

who are rich and those who are wealthy. “The status of the

“cram” all night for a big test, then take the test and,

rich,” he says, “is really a house of cards that gives the appear-

immediately afterwards, you would likely forget most

ance of affluence (nice home, nice cars, expensive vacations).

of what you had just spent the night memorizing? The same

But the reality is that what appears to be wealth is often mere-

phenomenon seems common for many people regarding past

ly a veneer of superficial consumerism, looking rich without

financial mistakes. It hasn’t been that long since the 2007-08

actually being wealthy, and one missed paycheck or downturn

mortgage meltdown and subsequent stock market crash. In

in the economy would mean financial disaster for these types

fact, it doesn’t seem like that long ago when the Dot-com

of people. The truly wealthy, on the other hand, have regularly

Bubble burst, resulting in the NASDAQ and S&P 500 Index

and systematically accumulated a sizable savings and invest-

dropping dramatically.

ment portfolio so that when the economy slows, they barely

During both of those economic downturns, people who

notice any difference in their lifestyle or underlying assets.”

had taken extraordinary levels of risk and debt were left in

Notice how rich in Sullivan’s definition corresponds

financial shambles. Some risk has always been an inherent

mainly to spending money and buying expensive items, pre-

part of investing, since the level of reward (profit) corresponds

sumably in order to have others admire those items. (As Chris-

to the level of risk accepted by the investor. But during the two

tians, the term envy might come to mind here). On the other

economic downturns mentioned above, many people blindly

hand, wealthy in Sullivan’s definition has more to do with a

and unwisely shouldered unacceptably high levels of risk such

behind-the-scenes, slow and steady discipline where assets are

as buying shares of start-up companies with no revenues or

accumulated out of the public eye and where spending is not

buying homes on pure speculation with no money down in

the primary objective.

hopes of “flipping” the house for a quick profit. Warren Buffet, one of the wealthiest men in the world, has famously declared: “Only when the tide goes out do you dis-

In which of these two categories would you rather be? Your answer to that question may reveal a lot about yourself and your motives. Based on Sullivan’s descriptions, we

cover who’s been swimming naked.” This means that inves-

know we should prefer to pursue a goal of falling into

tors who take on too much risk are always exposed whenever

the wealthy category, but daily we receive contrasting

financial markets tank. But by then it’s usually too late, and

messages from media, family, and friends that rich

the losses have already occurred. Have we learned any

is the way to go. With many American families

lessons from these two financial downturns of 2000-2001

struggling to pay bills, car payments, college tu-

and 2007-2009?

ition, and mortgages on homes that may still be

Some signs point to the uncomfortable conclu-

“upside down” in value, it may be an oppor-

sion that we may have quickly forgotten those les-

tune time to ask the classic Dr. Phil question,

sons. I know of people who have returned to some

“So how’s that been working for you?”

of the risky get-rich-quick schemes that were

As usual, God’s Word has something

prevalent seven and fourteen years ago. Even

to say about this in Proverbs 13:7: “One

government agencies and banking institutions

man pretends to be rich, yet has noth-

are returning to some of the same policies

ing; another pretends to be poor, yet

that led to the mortgage meltdown, includ-

has great wealth” (NIV).

ing ultra-low down payments for buying a home and other loosening of credit standards for borrowers. Have these lessons already been forgotten? In his recent book The Thin Green Line, author Paul Sullivan distinguishes between those

10 // June 2015

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

My Identity in Christ by Luke Sanford

C.S.

Lewis once said, “Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him.” Does that sound strange? The same principle holds for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making." So much in life is contingent upon our identity. Whether we ask a girl out or not has a lot more to do with our gumption and identity than we think. The more we believe in ourselves, the more we know who we are. So who are we? What is our identity and what is it placed in? I'm finding more and more that my identity is, and always should be placed in Christ in whom is much boldness and authority. If I place my life in Him, in a sense, I gain His attributes. I become more like Him. I change who I am by committing to someone else or something else. Whether we believe it or not, we are always committing to one thing or one person. There’s a line in a song by One Republic, called “I Lived” that says, “With every broken bone I swear I lived.” I love this, and I think that part of this man’s identity is found in living. It’s found in what he does (his music), and who he is (with every broken bone I swear I lived). So we know he lives; we know he sings, and these two things comprise part of his identity. Now the beauty in this is that we also have these attributes of our identity. I like to live by Galatians 2:20 that says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but

12 // June 2015

Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (KJV). This verse breathes through me and is something I find my identity in. It’s one thing to know my identity is in Christ; it’s another to put that into action. Our actions correspond greatly to our identity. They show who we are. I wouldn’t want to witness for Christ unless my identity was in Him. I think identity is a longing of the soul, an emanation of our will that is profoundly important. What is your identity placed in? Is it an idol? What’s that? An idol is anything you look to or put above Christ. That can even be something as intangible as culture. In a book titled Jesus + Nothing = Everything, I read this quote about idols. I think everyone should read this book by Tullian Tchividjian. In another book, Center Church, Tim Keller says that if at any time something in culture becomes greater in your mind than the Gospel’s ability to transcend it, it has become an idol of sorts. If we don’t know who we are, how can we do what we are suppose to do? This is the question I posit for you. I want to be sure of my identity; I want to be sure of who I am because as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (KJV). The only way to be able to become all things, is to place your identity in the unchangeable Christ. Luke Sanford is a recent pastoral ministry major graduate from Lee University. He is an aspiring minister and writer. He hopes to help lead a five-fold ministry based on the Paul's Ephesian model in August. He also endeavors to become a writer and help churches and nonprofits with their creative process and branding.

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Gò0dNews for Women

Leading in Tune

God tunes us to reflect His handiwork to the world around us. by Deven Wallace

luthier (person who makes guitars) is well acquainted with the intricate process of making the unique sound of each instrument, starting with the choice of tree because each tree produces a different sound. As with us, there is literally a unique sound of worship locked up inside each piece of wood. Like the luthier, God intricately crafts, shapes, sands, and carves us to make a sound that is pleasing to Him—a sound that reflects His handiwork to the world around us.

The Process of Tuning

Despite the effort and skill that goes into creating a guitar, its sound is distorted if the instrument is not tuned. Tuning is not the job of the creator of the guitar but the musician who plays it. Sometimes my daughter spends more time tuning her violin than she does in performing her piece. The performance of any stringed instrument would be ineffective without the process of tuning. In our own lives, can we afford to endure the process of formation only to reach the moment of destiny out of tune? A stringed instrument needs tuning after many hours of playing, or it can be knocked out of tune if it is dropped or handled roughly. Also, extreme temperatures can cause tightening or loosening of the strings. When any of these situations occur, the instrument is not meant to be thrown away or abandoned, it simply needs to be tuned. The longer the musician neglects the need to be tuned, the more the sound deteriorates. We can relate this to our heart before the Father. Proverbs 4:23 tells us that out of the heart spring the issues of life. If our heart is out of tune, it

14 // June 2015

will make our life out of alignment with His purpose for us. An instrument can be tuned by another instrument or by a tuner. Jesus Christ is our example and our tuner. He sent the Holy Spirit to walk with us and keep us in tune with the heart of our Lord. When we fail to spend time in His presence, allowing Him to mold us, change us, and adjust us, we slowly slip out of alignment with His heart and will for us. Then our sound does not reflect His kingdom or His purpose for our lives. We may even attempt to tune ourselves to something other than Him and be deceived into thinking we are in tune.

The Influence of a Woman

The most dangerous aspect of living a life out of tune is the influence we have over those we lead. At church, in the marketplace, but most importantly at home, women lead whether given a title or not. The influence of a woman is so potent it caused the fall of humanity in the beginning and her influence was temporarily harnessed. The serpent targeted Eve for a reason—her influence in Adam’s life. If a women's heart is not in fine tune with the Lord, then those tuning their instrument to hers (her spouse and children) will also live off pitch. Our children should tune themselves to the sound of hope and faith, which means we must declare faith and not fear by modeling a consistent pitch when life is shifting. The world is unstable, but God does not change. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Psalms 91 paints the perfect example of the life of a believer in the secret place when all hell is breaking loose. The only way to remain constant is to be grounded in His presence, the secret place. My challenge to you, woman of God, is to check your tone and pitch. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and fine-tune you to reflect His kingdom in your life. Spare those under your influence from a daily off-pitch melody. Don’t just throw in the towel when you realize your sound is less than pleasing; let that truth drive you into a greater pursuit of God. Go deep in His presence and He will give you grace to lead in tune. Pastor Deven and her husband Bishop Kevin Wallace, co-pastor Redemption Point Church (RPC) based in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Under their leadership, RPC has grown from a single location in Ooltewah with 34 attendees in its first service, to over 1200 with multiple locations in just 11 years.

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Dalton Church Directory Apostolic

The Bridge, An Apostolic Church 715 College Dr, 30720 706-280-0541

Assembly of God

Calvary Assembly of God 515 Reed Rd NW, 30720 706-259-0045 First Assembly of God 508 Sheridan Ave Dalton, GA 30721 706-226-7743

Baptist

Hopewell Baptist Church 3527 Airport Rd, 30721 706-226-5987 Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church 2550 South Dalton Bypass, 30722 706-278-7020 Good Hope Baptist Church 2521 Lake Francis Rd, 30721 706-259-3719 Grove Level Baptist Church 2802 Cleveland Highway, 30721 706-259-8519 Kinsey Drive Baptist Church 2626 Kinsey Dr, 30720 706-277-3505 Whitfield Baptist Church 2134 Dug Gap Rd, 30721 706-278-6776 Harmony Baptist Church 187 Lower Dawnville Rd, 30721 706-226-5521 Eastbrook Baptist Church 204 Hill Rd, 30720 Maple Grove Baptist Church 347 Maple Grove Rd, 30720 706-259-3927 Northwest Georgia Baptist Church 222 North Pentz St, 30720 706-463-3490 Olivia Baptist Church 1817 Guy St, 30720 706-278-3507 Abundant Life Baptist Church 811 J and J, 30721 706-278-5289 Beaverdale Baptist Church 2496 Beaverdale Rd NW, 30721 706-259-7089 Calvary Baptist Church 2115 Chatsworth Rd, 30721 706-278-6324 Carolyn Baptist Church 2305 Cleveland Highway, 30721 706-259-8142 Cove Baptist Fellowship Church 461 Carbondale Rd SW, 30721 706-277-3484 Dalton Second Baptist Church 502 West Tyler St, 30720 706-278-7422 Deep Spring Baptist Church 1449 Beaverdale Rd NE, 30721 706-259-3255

16 // June 2015

Eastside Baptist Church 913 East Morris St, 30721 706-278-8553 First Baptist Church 802 Kenner St, 30721 706-226-9681 First Baptist Church of Dalton 311 North Thronton Ave, 30720 706-278-2911 Good Samaritan Baptist Church 3137 Cleveland Rd, 30721 706-259-7239 Gospelway Baptist Church 336 Jupiter Cir, 30721 706-278-1424 Harvest Baptist Church 3986 Cleveland Hwy, 30721 706-694-8951 Lakeshore Park Baptist Church 12 Crescent St, 30720 706-275-6050 Liberty Baptist Church 506 South Pentz St, 30720 706-226-5535 Liberty Baptist Church 4443 Tibbs Bridge Rd, 37021 706-226-4936 Macedonia Baptist Church 1355 Dawnville Rd NE, 30721 706-259-9220 Maple Grove Baptist Church 347 Maple Grove Rd, 30721 706-483-6300 McFarland Hill Baptist Church 307 Brickyard Rd, 30721 706-277-5521 Mount Rachel Baptist Church 332 Haig Mill Lake Rd, 30720 706-278-5192 Mount Ridge Baptist Church 308 East Matilda, 30721 706-278-0335 New Hope Baptist Church 900 Roan St, 30721 706-226-2093 New Life Baptist Church 2620 Old Grade Rd, 30721 Poplar Springs Baptist Church 897 Poplar Springs Rd, 30720 706-259-8727 Salem Baptist Church 1448 Pleasant Grove Dr, 30721 706-259-7045 Shiloh Baptist Church 2014 East Waugh St, 30721 706-226-5981 Temple Baptist Church 2310 South Dixie Rd, 30720 706-226-6785 Unity Baptist Church 1008 Burleyson Rd, 30720 706-226-3026 Valley Baptist Church 2907 Old Rome, 30720 West View Baptist Church 104 Emma St, 30721 706-226-1219

Bible

Fellowship Bible Church 2044 Dug Gap Rd, 30720 706-278-6269

Catholic

Saint Joseph Catholic Church 623 South Thornton Ave, 30720 706-278-3107

Christian

First Christian Church 1506 Dug Gap Rd, 30720 706-278-7244

Church of Christ

Central Church of Christ 214 West King St, 30720 706-278-8051 Highland Church of Christ 901 Chester Hill, 30721 706-226-4126 South Whitfield Church of Christ 118 Maurine Dr, 30720

Church of God

Cedar Valley Church of God 2744 Cleveland Highway, 30721 706-259-0016 Church of God of Union Assembly 2311 South Dixie Rd, 30720 706-275-0510 City View Church of God 1814 City View, 30720 706-226-6686 Crosspointe Christian Centre 1007 Underwood St, 30721 706-278-2649

Pleasant Grove UMC 2701 Cleveland Highway, 30721 706-259-3141 Sugar Valley UMC 503 Murry Hill Dr, 30720 706-280-9112 Trinity UMC 901 Veterans Dr, 30721 706-278-4042 United Methodist Church 1700 Beverly Dr, 30720 706-278-3954 Wesley Chapel UMC 808 Jamestown CT, 30721 706-270-2331

Nazarene

First Church of the Nazarene 2325 Chattanooga Rd, 30720 706-278-8428 Grace Church of the Nazarene 1111 Nelson St, 30721 706-278-1171

Non-Denominational

Rock Bridge Community Church 100 West Gordon St, 30720 Community Fellowship Church 409 North Fredrick St, 30721 706-278-3204

A New Beginning Full Gospel Church 2110 Antioch Rd, 30721 706-602-8998 Church on the Hill 1035 Abutment Rd, 30721 706-278-9208 River of Life Church of Dalton 2919 East Walnut Ave, 30721 706-965-6683 Cornerstone Family Church 1240 Dawnville Rd, 30721 706-259-8509 Good Neighbors Church 910 South Thornton Ave, 30720 706-226-0846 Saint James Overcoming Church 400 North Fredrick St, 30721 706-278-0319

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church 901 West Emory St, 30720 706-278-8857

True Gospel Pentecostal Church 109 South Henderson St, 30721 706-278-5696

Community

Episcopal

Methodist

Bethel UMC 123 Bethel Church Rd, 30721 706-278-3309 Dalton First UMC 500 South Thornton Ave, 30720 706-278-8494 Dawnville UMC 1529 Spring Ln NE, 30721 706-259-5342 Five Springs UMC 2823 Five Springs Rd, 30720 706-277-3928 Mineral Springs UMC 4079 Airport Road, 30721 706-517-0200 New Haven UMC 4040 South Dixie Highway, 30721 706-277-3338

Pentecostal

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church 510 South Tibbs Rd, 30720 706-226-5437 Grace Presbyterian Church 2107 East Dug Gap, 30720 706-226-6344

Seventh Day Adventist

3 Angels Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist Church 701 E Morris St, 30721 706-618-1182 Dalton Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist Church 112 W Long St, 30720 706-275-0523 Seventh Day Adventist Church 300 South Tibbs Rd, 30720 706-226-2166

Church Activies & Events First Baptist Church Dalton

VBS June 16th - 19th 311 N Thornton Ave Dalton, GA (706) 278-2911 _________________________________________

Grove Level Baptist Church

VBS June 15th - 19th 2802 Cleveland Highway Dalton, GA 30721 706-259-8519 _________________________________________

Dalton First United Methodist Church Everest VBS June 8th - 12th 500 S. Thornton Ave Dalton, GA 30720 706-278-8494 _________________________________________

Whitfield Baptist Church

On the Edge VBS June 1st - 5th 2134 Dug Gap Road Dalton, GA 30720 706-278-6776 _________________________________________

Hopewell Baptist Church VBS June 8th - 12th 3527 Airport Road, S.E. Dalton, GA 30721 706-226-5987

FEATURED COVER STORY

THE ‘CHAMPIONS’ STORY O

by Jay Poag Owner of Champions of Dalton

n January 21, 2013, aboard US Airways flight 1503, God forever changed the life direction of my family. The following is a brief synopsis of how those events unfolded. It has been almost two and a half years, but I remember that morning like it was just yesterday. Boarding an early morning flight that would take me to the annual Floor Covering Builder Show in Las Vegas as an employee of Mohawk Industries, was not something I had looked forward to. After arriving late at the airport and being scolded by the baggage handlers, I made my way into the last row of the aircraft. Settling into that unpopular middle seat between a smaller guy on my right already deep into a Kindle book and a very large fellow on my left who was already in snoring mode from his nap, I remember thinking what a miserable trip this was going to be. Little did I know then that this trip would be the first step of God’s new plan for my family. As the pilot announced a slight delay in departure due to a few mechanical problems with the aircraft, I dozed off into a short nap. When I awoke, my world had suddenly changed as the result of a dream! It’s

18 // June 2015

important to understand that I had experienced a similar experience two years earlier in a dream one evening that was centered around an old “Indiana Jones” movie. That particular dream eventually led my wife, Amy, and me to establishing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Lake Norman in our home of Davidson, North Carolina. Amy and I have always been avid movie watchers, and we have a trivia game going on between us, challenging each other with one liners from the movies that we have seen over the past twenty-seven years. For the record, I usually win! As my eyes opened that January morning, I can remember how rested and alert I felt. God had spoken again, and this time He was coming to me with slides of the movie “Evan Almighty”! I grabbed a pen and paper and began writing furiously, trying to recapture every memory of every slide in my dream. It was crystal clear to me that God wanted a new direction for the Poag family. After I had put my pen down, I was left staring at a roadmap God had laid out for me to follow. With my background as a college football coach and being used to examining situations from all possible angles, I picked up my pen and listed ten reasons why God’s plan was completely

ridiculous. Very quickly, however, then I listed a positive response for every one of the negative reasons. I put the pen down and a feeling of complete peace came over me. My wheels were really turning at this point as I contemplated how I would ever be able to explain this to Amy. We were very happy in Davidson—a charming college town and home of my alma mater, Davidson College. We loved our home, our friends, our church, our schools, and the many other things that make Davidson special. A conversation dealing with selling our house, quitting two jobs, taking our kids out of school, and moving back to my hometown was not going to be easy! How much sense would it make to walk away from a lucrative job with Mohawk Industries and start a new business in a town that has been ranked as having one of the worst economies in the United States . . . all because of a dream on an airplane? What I can say now is that God really made it easy. Every step of the way, when we were in the highest of highs or the lowest of lows, God was there with an immediate response. I could talk for days about all of the miracles that had to occur for this new life to take baby steps and continue to move forward. I could tell you about the guy on my right reading his Kindle on the plane and how he grabbed me by the shirtsleeve that morning and pointed his finger at me and asked, “What are you doing?” and the wonderful conversation that followed as he shared his life story with me, which was also centered around a “calling” from God to leave the ministry and start a Christian consulting business. (I still believe that God was sitting next to me that morning)! I could tell you about two friends from two different towns each sharing devotions with us centered around the verse Ephesians 2:10 which says, “For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV), and how that verse has become our battle cry! I could tell you about having to sell a house that we were totally upside down on and being offered the exact figure that we needed to get out from under it and break even! I could tell you about checking in a hotel shortly after the dream and being offered a room by an over enthusiastic desk clerk that “had been waiting for me all day with a special room—room number E210!” (see Eph. 2:10)! I could tell you about all of the super natural support we received in finding the perfect location for our new business, in securing funding to purchase it when we were in no position to even think about such a thing, in Amy being hired as the college counselor at Christian Heritage School, in the way God directed the lives of individuals to walk through the doors of ‘Champions’ and eventually

become our employees, and in the way the local community has supported our business and trusted us with their most prized possessions, their children! And I could tell you many, many other stories that have encouraged us to keep moving forward with God’s plan! I look back on it now, and it is truly hard to believe. It has been such a humbling experience, and we are blessed every day with the opportunities to serve the families of this community.

Champions of Dalton is Georgia’s largest Sports Performance Training and Academic Center. It houses Georgia’s only Parisi Speed School and is also home to the Champions Academic Center (specializing in ACT/SAT prep), the Champions College Recruiting Center and the Champions ‘Force Elite’ travel team organization (fielding over 50 travel teams in baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball). We have trained over 1,000 athletes in our first year, and it is truly special to be surrounded each day by wonderful families that recognize the importance of training the mind, body, and spirit. Our mission statement reads that “Our company and our employees will strive to offer the youth of our community a positive, Christian training environment that will enhance performance, build character, and increase self-esteem. Using sports and academic training as a vehicle to teach ‘life lessons,’ our desire is to ‘change the world . . . one child at a time.’” We are most definitely on a faith journey. There are days when we’re not really sure where this journey is supposed to take us. There are days when it’s easy to long for those things we left behind. There are days when it just doesn’t make sense. Those days are outnumbered, however, by the days that present crystal clear “God stops” of just why we have been led to Dalton. We are eternally thankful for the path that God has put us on, and we will continue to look for every opportunity to make a difference in this community. “We are all God’s masterpiece.”

issuu.com/goodnewsdalton // 19

Gò0dNews for Parents

About That Picture

by Emily Stone

ocial media serves a meaningful purpose if it helps to

stuff my picture doesn’t show is normal life. Do I need to cry

foster greater connection.

and complain about it? You betcha. So do you. We all need a

I took this picture today after my daughter rode her new

place and to say: “This is awful! This isn’t fair!”

electric scooter for the first time. It was a sweet, childhood

On the same day I took that picture, I went to a gathering

moment for my daughter, and I was happy watching her.

of mothers. When I walked in, I heard things like: “Wow,

After posting this picture on Instagram, I looked back at it

this week has been tough!” I smiled to myself and even felt

throughout the evening, smiling at the joy in the faces of both

comforted. Coming out of my own tough week, I recognized

my oldest daughters. I thought about the image this picture

that tough is just so normal.

gave of our life, and then I realized that so much was missing.

When we think that life isn’t normal, we start to get into

The picture showed a true moment in our life, but this

trouble and think that no one else must have it as bad as we

snapshot is not the whole picture.

do. That’s when we isolate; we sulk.

• It doesn’t show the fret lines on my face because I have grades due within an hour for two of the classes

Everyone experiences tragedies and loss. We have cars that break down, washers that give up, and bodies

I am teaching—all to be done while

that become ill. And just because these things

watching my children play outside.

happen frequently doesn’t mean that

• It doesn’t show that my husband

they are any less painful and stressful.

is going out of town for a

We just don’t always post about

conference and I am making

that on social media. Some of the normal life

schedules in my head about how to get children

stuff is also where a number

to certain activities and

of sacred moments take

places.

place—where healing struggles

• It doesn’t show the

happen. Because we forget this

deadline for a writing

other part of the story is one

project I have looming just

reason we fail to reach out to

weeks away.

others. We see the highlights on

• It doesn’t show that our washer

everyone’s walls and o decide not to

decided to break last night and

reach out to these friends because there

that I am trusting we will find the time

is no need for any more good things in

and finances to cover the repair before the laundry of six people takes over our home. • It doesn’t show that I miss family, friends, and that I have dreams and goals I am still running after.

their lives. We respond out of jealousy over a lie, thinking that their life looks so perfect compared to ours. We respond out of insecurity over a lie. Both of these conclusions just further the lies that lead to isolation. So I am going to keep posting occasional pictures of my

It’s Just Life

highlights. Just to keep it real, I will probably work some

It doesn’t show so much, but it captures a second in

moments that will not make it onto the “greatest hits,” too.

which I made a choice to love and laugh in the midst of a

I just hope we remember the wonderful, rich, crazy stories

normal, regular, crazy day. None of this stuff makes my life

behind those pictures of highlighted moments we see on social

any worse or any better than anyone else’s life.

media. Social media can serve a wonderful purpose, but it can

It is just . . . life!

never tell the whole story. As long as we remember that fact,

What we have to remember when we get on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter is that the snapshots we see are celebrating the moments of joy in the midst of life. All that

20 // June 2015

that’s okay. Emily Stone is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, therapist, professor, pastor’s spouse, writer, reader, and tennis player. www.stonewritten.com

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Gò0dNews for Life

Waiting for Daddy by Beth Henderson

ach day when my husband gets home from work, my daughters race to see who can get to him first. Hugging Daddy is a highlight of their day. As a mother, I guess I could be a bit jealous of their affection for their father, but in reality, I know their relationship with him is critical to their well-being, and it gives them an enormous sense of security that will last them well into adulthood. Besides, if hugging their daddy is a priority for these 11- and 15-year-old girls, who am I to complain? This “hugging-daddy” race really began a number of years ago when they were much younger, and one day, it taught me something about the priorities in my life. God used an incident with my youngest daughter to remind me that I needed to put getting to know Him above everything else, and that sometimes I don’t have things my way because I haven’t done things His way. That morning, my youngest daughter woke before daybreak. Her daddy leaves for work early in the morning while she is still in bed. My oldest daughter, however, is an early riser and is often awake to see him leave. She gets a hug from him and he leaves encouraged by his daughter’s expression of love. Having heard her daddy praise her sister’s actions, our youngest daughter decided she would be the one to steal his affection. She got out of bed early and sat on the stairs watching the front door, waiting to hug him before he left. She didn’t know he went out the basement door, so she sat and watched. Excited and smiling, she waited for Daddy. I know this because after I heard his truck pull out of the driveway, I heard her on the stairs. Our oldest daughter had always been instructed to go back to bed after he left, because there was still another hour before she had to get ready for school. But I found my

22 // June 2015

sweet youngest daughter sitting patiently on the stairs. She was radiant. “Jessie, what are you doing?” “I’m waiting for Daddy.” “But Daddy’s gone,” I said, putting my arm around her. I could see the disaster that was coming. “But Mommy, I’ve been sitting here a long time, and Daddy hasn’t come by.” “Baby, he goes out the basement door so he won’t wake you. He left already.” She was devastated. She wanted to do the right thing to make her daddy proud. I was heartbroken for her, and we cried together. My husband had been leaving by the basement door for years, and she never knew it. When I cried with her that morning, I cried because she was hurting. I wanted to turn back the clock. I wanted to make my husband go out the front door. How dare he not go that way? His daughter was waiting for him there. I also saw myself that morning. How many times have I, with good intentions, set out to do something I thought was the right thing? Then, when things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, I wanted God to fix them. I wanted God to turn back the clock and do things my way. But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have to seek the way of the Father. His ways are not my ways, but they are always the best way. I’m trying to seek God and His direction more carefully now, because I don’t want to settle for being close to where God is; I want to be where God is. How often do we experience the pains of this life, when all we really need to do is go the way God does? So race to the Father's side every day; feel His arms around you and know that He is pleased with His child. Beth Henderson is the development director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center.

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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness

Swimming by Kristy Snider

ater is a vital part of our lives. We drink it to

impact on joints, which can become an issue over

stay hydrated and healthy. We play in it to

time. Swimming is a great workout for individu-

cool down in the summer. Lakes and rivers

als who are overweight or have issues with joint

are a popular location during warm weather because of

pain. This low-impact resistance is also a great

all the activities available: water skiing, tubing, boating,

option for individuals doing physical therapy for

or just floating around. Most people think of water as ei-

an injury or other condition.

ther a requirement for staying alive or an avenue for fun

3. Swimming is a valuable life skill. This fun activity

activities in warm weather. For those who have never

is a great form of exercise that can also be lifesav-

tried swimming as a form of exercise, they don’t realize

ing. With so many activities in our area based

what they are missing!

around water, learning to swim is a skill that some

Swimming is beneficial for your health in many ways.

people do not have. Most people practice habits and develop skills that keep them and their family

1. Swimming gives you a whole-body workout.

safe, and swimming is no different. When enjoy-

Swimming gives you a moderate or intense

ing water sports and relaxation around the water,

aerobic workout that can strengthen muscles and

it is great to know you and your family are more

increase lung capacity. There are four main com-

protected by knowing how to swim.

petitive strokes in swimming and more strokes

If you are rethinking the idea of swimming as a

that are for recreational swimming. Each of these

recreation-only activity, then you should check it out.

strokes work different muscle groups and helps

There are plenty of places that teach swim lessons for all

build muscle tone. An adult can burn hundreds of

ages, offer competitive teams for youth and adults, and

calories in a single hour-long workout! Swimming

also offer personal lap swim times during their daily

can also increase flexibility and improve balance

schedules. If you did not learn how to swim as a child,

and posture.

it is never too late to learn! Don’t let anything hold you

2. Swimming allows you to exercise without putting stress on your body. Most exercises on land create

24 // June 2015

back from learning a different skill and starting new and healthy habits!

Kristy Snider is the aquatics director at the Cleveland Family YMCA.

Changing the world…one child at a time. 706-529-7528 419 S. Glenwood Avenue Dalton, Georgia

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Gò0dNews for Teens

Have You Settled for Less? by Phillip Kight

find a lot of the seasons I go through in life have

tempted to find a place that is suitable (that’s good,

some similarities to the Israelite’s journey from

that’s not bad), and move on to the next thing

Egypt to the Promised Land. In Numbers 32:1-6,

I need to do. The thing I should be doing is to

we find a life lesson that I still check myself with

remember the standards the Lord has called me to,

today, where two tribes of Israel found a place that

and remember the things the Lord has called me to

seemed suitable for living. The issue with the area

accomplish.

wasn’t that it was actually a bad spot, but it was not where God had called them to.

I think the two tribes of Israel had grown tired of the journey—the busy life they had been living

Moses reprimands the two tribes for not

and just wanted to settle down. That sounds like

being willing to go fight for what God had

me more often than not. So where are you today?

promised. So my thoughts for you today are pretty

When you look around, have you camped out in

straightforward. The first question is: Have you

a place that is suitable? Or are you on the journey

settled for less than what God has called you to do

to be the very best God has for you and has called

in your life? Some areas to check could be a dating

you to? Don’t settle for less!

relationship, eating habits, friend choices, or even your walk with the Lord. When we stop the busy pace of our daily lives and check what’s around us, we could easily find ourselves in a place that was suitable for living, but it wasn’t what God had called us to do. When life gets busy and everything is going on, it’s so easy to pick the easy choice rather than checking to see where God wants us to be. Often I find I am

26 // June 2015

Phillip Kight is a graduate of Lee University with a degree in youth ministry. He enjoys spending time with his finance Kalyn, playing and watching sports, hanging out with friends, watching movies and meeting new people. His passion is encouraging and challenging young people to become true Christ-followers. He can be reached by email at phillipkight@yahoo.com.

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Gò0dNews for Seniors

Social Interaction Is Critical for Seniors by Karen Brummer

nnumerable studies confirm that seniors who are isolated from others are generally in poorer physical and/or mental and emotional health. Social contacts in the senior years tend to decrease for a variety of reasons: retirement from a job; the death of a spouse, friends and family; loss of transportation; lack of mobility; or being the caregiver for a partner with Alzheimer’s or another illness, among other reasons. Regardless of the cause of isolation, the consequences can be harmful in many ways. Studies show that seniors who are isolated have poorer cognitive performance and quicker cognitive decline; they show more symptoms of depression and even show increased systolic blood pressure over time. Isolated seniors are more likely to report risky health behaviors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, lack of proper medical care, and poorer grooming habits. Prolonged isolation can damage the immune system, sap a person’s energy, and even lead to the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The National Center on Elder Abuse reports a connection between social isolation and higher rates of elder abuse, whether financial, physical, or emotional. To sum it up, social isolation takes away one’s quality of life. Combating the negative consequences of social isolation is one of the greatest benefits of a senior living community! Not only can living in a senior community be an effective

28 // June 2015

barrier to loneliness, living among peers provides numerous benefits. Residents often regain health through enjoying healthy meals where all that is required is to order what sounds tempting. Exercise programs are available to keep the joints limber and the balance issues at bay. Nurses on staff 24/7 oversee any medical issues and manage medications. With a hairdresser only a stroll away and certified nurse assistants to assist in any grooming needs, appearances are frequently dramatically improved. Housekeeping and linen services keep the apartment fresh and tidy, while the Life Enrichment Department maintains a stimulating calendar of daily programs. Entertainers love to perform for our residents, so music abounds most days. Hobbies, both old and new, are again pursued. Do you play bridge? There are players looking for more partners. Have you always thought you would like to learn to paint? Watercolor classes happen on a regular basis. Do you like to read? Mosey on down to the library and make your selection, and you won’t be homebound. Senior living typically includes transportation to outings, doctor appointments, and errands. Some communities, like The Terrace at Mountain Creek, are pet friendly allowing residents to have that four-legged family member beside them. This is some of the best medicine for those able to care for a pet. Best of all, you can just sit and chat with friends—friends from your era with similar backgrounds and memories. What’s missing in a senior living community like The Terrace? The many demands of maintaining a house, no cleaning, painting, mowing, or raking required. Just sit back and enjoy. You’ll soon remember how much fun a social life can be, and you’ll thrive! Karen Brummer is the community relations liaison at The Terrace at Mountain Creek, where she can show her passion for seniors. She not only educates the public on the many aspects of senior living, but she also has a rich history of face-to-face contact with prospects, residents and their families. This experience, combined with her ‘real life’ role of daughter to parents in their 80s, gives her firsthand understanding of seniors and the challenges they face.

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

Handyman Corner for Everyone by Mark Yates

much-awaited summer has arrived for activities

contact a professional for help if needed. To summarize it,

that take you away from your home with time

you can pay a little now or a lot later.

and money spent on preparing the boat, the

TRADE TIP: Have a stripped screw and no-screw

RV, camping equipment, summer vacation, and more!

extractors in your tool box? Try this; a rubber band can

Investing your time and hard-earned money for activities

sometimes take the place of an extractor bit. Just place

and family is needed and wanted. Ask yourself this

the rubber band in the head of the screw and maintain

question: Are you prepared for a disaster on the largest

pressure on your screwdriver or drill. Turn slowly and see

investment you have? That’s right, your home. Most

what happens. Depending on how bad it's stripped, this

people are not.

may not work, but in most cases, it will

It would be heartbreaking to

at least enable you to back out the

you and your family if that

screw. Hope this helps you!

vacation or other activity

Did you know nearly

was canceled because

17,000 fires a year are

a major problem had

caused by dryers or

taken place at your

washing machines

home and the money

resulting in 51 deaths,

you saved for your

380 injuries, and

fun activities has to

over $236 million

be spent on taking

in damage! Clothes

care of the problem.

dryers caused 92

You say, “Insurance

percent of these.

will cover that; I’m not

(Reported information

worried about fixing

through 2010.) Many

that problem. I’ll get to it

people say, “That won’t

later,” or “Oh, that can wait.”

happen to me; that happens

Do these statements sound

to the other guy.” Remember, to

familiar? The truth is, most people are

the other guy you are that other guy.

not prepared to cover a major problem or take

Remember, no vacation or family outing

care of small ones that arise in their home. Depending

is possible without you and your family. Don’t become a

on the nature of the problem and your insurance policy,

statistic. Professional help is always available to assist you

you may not be covered. Simply put, that minor issue

in any area of maintenance or repairs. Have a safe and

you see can turn into a major problem later, and the small

great summer!

costs that could have been paid to make repairs now have turned into a large amount of unwanted expense. There goes that vacation or other outing you wanted so much for you and your family. Take the time to do a walkthrough in and around your home and make repairs or

30 // June 2015

Mark Yates is a 49-year-old Navy veteran with over 2 decades of remodeling, restoration, and repair experience. He is married to Wendy who is his business partner. Between them they have 3 adult children, Derek, Kevin, (deceased) and Courtney. They make their home in Rossville, GA.

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Gò0dNews for Couples

“H

Better Together by Melinda Nicodemus

owever, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33 NIV). This past February my husband and I went away for the weekend for the first time in more than seventeen years! My church has an annual couples retreat in Gatlinburg, and thanks to some awesome friends of ours, we were able to attend this year. Having now gone away together, it is something we will for plan again! The speakers were Scott and Elizabeth Sheppard, and they were fantastic! I took a ton of notes which I will be referring to for this article. The main lesson was that men need respect and women need love. When the man doesn't feel respected by his wife, he does not show love; and when the wife doesn't feel loved, she will act disrespectful. We create a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. I will be honest here and tell you that this is the exact problem my husband and I have had in our marriage. We haven't intentionally done these things, it just happened. I don't think you could find a couple more opposite than my husband and me. Our love languages are very different and every other aspect of how we respond to life is different. The great thing is that we are in this together, and we keep learning more about each other. Here are some things we learned that weekend 1. We love and react different (not wrong) just different. 2. We need to hear what is in each other's heart and not always what their words or actions are showing. 3. You cannot be disrespectful to motivate love, and you cannot be unloving to motivate respect.

32 // June 2015

4. The one who sees himself or herself as the most mature moves first. Regardless of who is responsible. Some of the mistakes couples make are thinking that he can be unloving and get respect and that she can be disrespectful to get love. A man's greatest need is to be respected by his wife and family. He needs it like he needs air. If she is putting him down and not letting him be the man of the house, the vicious cycle starts. Same is true in the opposite, if he won't show the love his wife desperately needs and craves. Here are a few tips from the other couples who attended the retreat on how to keep your marriage on the right track were: 1. Communicate—don't be afraid to tell the truth. 2. Always be honest with each other. 3. Watch your body language. It can say so much. 4. Replace selfishness with selflessness. 5. Always speak highly about each other in front of others. 6. Do not compare yourselves to others. 7. Celebrate wins and losses together. 8. Be intentional with your time. You are responsible for your own response. You cannot blame your emotions on someone else. When we are mad and feel unloved, we lash out. It is our responsibility to keep our words in check and our emotions under control. Show respect regardless of how you are feeling. Is this easy? No way! I still haven't mastered it completely! I want to make my relationship with my husband a goal for my children to strive for when they are married. Wives, you have to respect even when he does not deserve it. God never ask us if we are deserving of being loved or forgiven, He simply does it. Who are we to refuse to do the same thing? Being submissive is a Godly strength. We are different, but equal and being submissive does not make you less than your husband. You will be judged on what you do, not on what your spouse does. God sees your attempts; He hears your cries. He knows the desires of your heart. Men, love your wives with every ounce of your being, and wives respect your husband every second of the day. It may take time, but your marriage will benefit from this. Melinda Nicodemus is married to Paul and they have three children. She is the owner and operator of Nicodemus Photography.

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Parallax by Catherine Marcum

ooking at life from one view—our own

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

perspective—is insurmountable and narrow-

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

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

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

then the meaning of the word parallax holds great

to know not only does God have our circumstance in his

value. Parallax, in the philosophic/geometric sense, is

sight, but He is also in our circumstance.

the discrepancy in position of an object as seen from

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

two different perspectives (wn.m.wikipedica.org). If

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

that object is our circumstance, and our understanding

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

is limited to a single perspective, then we have a

circumstance to cause us suddenly and completely

very narrow viewpoint. Importantly though, our

to lose courage in the face of trouble or danger

circumstance is viewed from two separate and distinctly

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

different viewpoints—our perspective and God’s. Our

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

gaze is not the only one fixed on our circumstance.

remember our circumstance does not pose any obstacle

God’s gaze is always-already on the object of our

that God has not always-already inscribed Himself

concern (wn.m.wikipedica.org). Knowing this allows us

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

to rest in the fact that all things are inherently mediated

always-already there bring you great peace and health—

by the discrepancy between our point of view and

physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

God’s. Always-already, a double positive, indicates that our circumstance is carved into the sight of the Almighty. Metaphorically speaking, God’s gaze is inscribed in our circumstance in the guise of its “blind spot”—that which

34 // June 2015

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

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