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March 2015

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Gò0dNews Christian Magazine

Dalton

• What Do You See? p. 6 • Faith Development in Children p. 20 • Two Important Tips for a Leaner & Fitter You p. 24

Ken Sparks

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God Bless You and Thank You! Writers Pastor Brian Branam Andrew Lee Darren Schalk David Gray Dr. James Marcum Jamie Nichols Kelly Hixson Samuel Burger Andrew Shaﬀer Thomas Morrison Brenda Dedmon Jennifer Govea

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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.

March 2015

G ò0 dNews

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 What Do You See? by Pastor Brian Branam GoodNews for Kids I Only Asked for a Single GoodNews on Money Matters A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Andrew Lee GoodNews for Men Father Knows Best: by Darren Schalk GoodNews for Women Spiritual Gifts by Jennifer Govea GoodNews for Parents Faith Development in Children by Brenda Dedmon GoodNews for Life Healing, one journal post at a time. by Kelly Hixson GoodNews for Health & Fitness Two Important Tips for a Leaner & Fitter You by Thomas Morrison GoodNews for Teens Show Up by Andrew Shaffer GoodNews for Seniors Lessons from the Shamrock by Jamie Nichols GoodNews from the Physician New Weight-Loss Medications by Dr. James Marcum GoodNews for Couples The DVR Saved Our Marriage by David Gray GoodNews for Everyone God Wants the Best for You by Samuel Burger

Pg 18-19

Ken Sparks

Pg 16-17

Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

What Do You See?

he prophet Jeremiah is unusual. He is unusual not because of some sort of wild, outlandish visions or miracles. He is unusual because of his total lack of them. Ezekiel saw flaming wheels. Isaiah saw God on His throne. Daniel received visions that are more like comic books than sermons. Yet Jeremiah, saw nothing until the day God told him to take notice. In Jeremiah 1 God asks the prophet a most profound question: “What do you see (Jer. 1:11)?” Jeremiah then begins to describe to God things that he sees every day. “I see an almond tree.” “I see a man pouring out a boiling pot of water.” Perhaps Jeremiah’s most well known prophecy is that of the potter’s wheel (Jeremiah 18). It is life changing vision inspired by a day at the potter’s shop, watching a master at his craft. The message of Jeremiah that shook a nation came about by him simply taking notice of what was there as he walked. He saw those things everyday, but when God told Jeremiah to notice them, the prophet never

6 // March 2015

by Brian Branam

saw them the same way again. What do you see? I have a smartphone, so I can say this with authority. Technology is sucking the life out of our souls. We need to take less notifications and we need to take more notice. Our smartphones dumb us down with constant interruptions. Instead of time with God first thing in the morning we have to check email and receive status updates. Most of us can no longer sit still at a red light. Once the car is stopped, even for a minute or two, we immediately start flipping through apps and perusing our notifications. We receive more information at an intersection than our grandparents did in their lifetimes. We get a lot of information but have lost the art of meditation. We know what is happening, but think very little of what it means. Those who want to go further in life must also go deeper. Like Jeremiah, we have to notice the almond trees. When was the last time you read something from the Bible and thought about it the entire day? When was the

last time something you read in the Bible changed the way you saw things throughout the day? If the brain is constantly interrupted by notifications, giving proper attention to deeper truth is impossible. Because we are at a place in time and technology in which we want to know so much, we have reached a place in which I believe we know too much. The fast pace at which we receive notifications is causing the erosion of one of our greatest God given abilities - the ability to think. We no longer take time to think about what we know. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” With constant notifications we are not at a pace for peace. It is difficult to get our minds to “stay” on the Lord when it strays after every vibration and alert that comes through our smartphone. Set a pace for your day that will train your mind to “stay.” Brian Branam is the senior pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Dalton, GA. He is the author of TheWalk and posts frequently at www.FeelMyFaith.com.

4/1/15

GoodNews Christian Magazine

4/1/15

GoodNews Christian Magazine

Gò0dNews for Kids

I Only Asked for a Single

Hebrews 10:35-36

he first year Dirk played Little League baseball he was the youngest player on the team. When he got to play in a real game he was always in right field. Very few balls were knocked to right field. When one did come his way, Dirk seldom caught it. When Dirk got to bat, he almost never hit the ball. When he did hit it, someone always caught the ball and put him out. "Dad," said Dirk as they walked home from a game, "I learned a Bible verse in Sunday school that is not true." "Which verse, son?" his father asked. "Jesus said, 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you' [Matthew 7:71," quoted Dirk. "But when I prayed that I would hit the ball, I didn't get what I asked for." "I'm glad you prayed for help," said his father. "Maybe God has a different way of answering your prayer." "But I don't want a different answer," said Dirk. "I want to make a run. And I asked." "Don't quit praying just because God doesn't answer the first time," his father said. "I still believe what Jesus said."

8 // March 2015

Dirk and his father talked about prayer several times during the year as the boy continued to play ball-and Dirk became a much better player. Three years later Dirk was one of the older members of the team. He was one of the team's pitchers. At the first game of the season, all of the teams were there. The seats were filled with parents and friends. When Dirk got up to bat, the bases were loaded. He missed the first pitch. But he hit the second, and he hit it hard. It was a home run! The coach awarded the home-run ball to Dirk. All his teammates had signed it. As he and his father walked home, Dirk said, "Dad, I only prayed for a single!"

Some Questions

• Have you ever asked God for something that you did not receive? • Have you ever asked Cod for something and received more than you asked for? • Does God answer some prayers in ways you don't expect?

A Prayer

Thank you, God, for listening to all my prayers. Help me keep my eyes and ears open so I can see and hear the wayYou answer prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Gò0dNews on Money Matters

A Day Late and a Dollar Short R ecently, while listening to “On the Money,” a financial radio talk show, I heard a cautionary tale that I’d like to share. The host was interviewing a realtor in Florida who told about a client’s experience while buying a home. This client thought he had crossed his “t’s” and dotted his “i’s” in terms of getting his finances in order so that he could close on the purchase of the home he desired. But one little mistake turned into a huge headache. Here’s what happened. The man wrote a check to pay off (in full) his monthly American Express credit card. But he inadvertently wrote a check that was $1.86 too short. You read that right—the check he mailed in to pay the bill was $1.86 less than what he actually owed. The man had no idea he had written the wrong number and had unintentionally failed to pay

10 // March 2015

by Andrew Lee

the credit card bill in full. As a result, American Express deemed his account payment to be “late” since it wasn’t paid in full but still had an outstanding balance of $1.86. So the AmEx folks immediately charged the man a $35 late fee, making his current balance now $36.86. But that was only the beginning of this man’s troubles. The late fee caused his FICO credit score to drop from a score of 711 to 640. (My article from last month gave an overview of the FICO score, but I confess I am baffled how one minor transaction like this could lower one’s credit score by so much so quickly). Can you guess what happened next? As a result of his lowered credit score, the man received a call from his mortgage lender saying they had changed their mind and were denying his mortgage loan. As a result, he was unable to purchase his dream home—all because of $1.86. If this sounds a bit like an episode of “The Twilight

Zone,” it should give us pause as consumers. Because I am a Dave Ramsey advocate, I would discourage the use of credit cards entirely. But if you’re determined to use credit cards, be aware of how late fees or other inadvertent, seemingly minor transactions, can affect your financial situation. When I was leading a Financial Peace University class at my local church, I had a couple describe how their credit card company imposed a $35 late fee because, according to the customer-service person, their check had arrived in the company’s mail room thirty minutes late. They had mailed a check to pay off the balance in full, which was only $6, but they were slapped with a $35 late fee for being thirty minutes late. In this case, the couple swallowed hard, paid the late fee, and immediately cancelled their credit card. I wonder if the fellow who lost out on buying his dream home did the same by canceling his AmEx card? We might do well to remember Christ’s words in Matthew 10:16: “Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves . . .” (NKJV).

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

by Darren Schalk

Father Knows Best: Four Parenting Tricks I Learned from My Dad

s I was putting my son to bed recently, he looked up at me from under the covers and asked, “When can we spend more time together, just you and me?” Although I quickly realized that he was trying to manipulate me into letting him get out of bed so we could play video games together, the question still rang loudly in my ears. I have three kids. My son is ten, and my identical twin girls are eight. I work full time in a ministry position that requires a bit of travel that at times can be time consuming, and I have a book out with a major publisher. I’m learning to navigate the waters of job, travel, family, and book promotion as best as I can, but at times I’m certain I don’t find the right balance—especially during the summer months when my kids are home every day and they realize that I’m not. So, how do I make sure my wife and kids get the time they need and deserve? My dad was a pretty busy guy. He was a pastor, so he was always on call. He was a good shepherd of his congregation, and when someone needed something, he was there to help. Although I recall him being gone quite often from our home, I never felt left out or abandoned in any way whatsoever. So I’ve considered how he managed to balance his time, and realized a few things that I’m trying to implement with my kids, as well. 1. If it was important to me, it was

12 // March 2015

important to him. I was involved in a lot of sports, and Dad attended every event he possibly could. If he missed one every now and then, he would be sure to find out all the details of what happened. And he rooted me on. He even coached many of the teams I played on over the years. 2. He invested time in helping me be better. I remember Dad often dragging my brothers and me out of bed on Saturday mornings to haul us over to the ball field and hit a few grounders our way. Some days I would moan and groan about it, but looking back, it meant a lot for him to take the time to do that. It was only a few hours on a Saturday for him, but I still carry the memory. 3. At key moments, he showed me I was number one. We attended church every time we had the chance (but we didn’t have much choice considering Dad was the pastor). But I can recall a few times when Dad let me skip church for a game or even a night out with friends. This may not sound like much now, but there was a different mindset when it came to church attendance back then. This simple act that happened only a handful of times over my younger years let me know that the church (ie, Dad’s employer) was not more important than me. 4. When he did wrong, he apologized (once). There’s no doubt Dad made his fair share of mistakes, but the one that stands out the most isn’t because of the mistake, but because of the apol-

ogy. We were an avid hunting family, and one year I received a permit to turkey hunt and Dad did not. He took me hunting and I got a turkey, but in his eagerness and desire to hunt, he also got a turkey. Thus, we ended up with two turkeys—one legal, one less than legal. (There’s a good joke in there somewhere.) Later that afternoon he called me out on the porch and apologized for his actions, informing me that in his excitement he had acted improperly. I would have never thought twice of the incident, but that apology taught me a huge lesson. When we make mistakes (and we all will) be sure to right the wrongs. It also made me feel pretty important—DAD apologized to ME. These are just a few things I’m trying to do with my kids. I fail regularly, but, hopefully, I can let them know over these few years that I have with them that they are truly important to me, and I value every second I have with them. We’re all busy, and time is fleeting, so pick your moments wisely and intentionally. Make sure the memories they have aren’t of the times you were gone, but of the times you were present—not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. “Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days” (Eph. 5:15 GWT).

Darren Schalk is curriculum editor (One Accord Resources, Inc.) at White Wing Publishing House, Church of God of Prophecy International Offices. dschalk@cogop.org

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Gò0dNews for Women

by Jennifer Govea

Spiritual Gifts

couple of weeks ago, I was watching Lab Rats with my six-year-old son. The three bionic teenagers were bored with their distinctive powers so they wanted to switch them around. After they secretly exchanged their powers of speed, strength, and smarts, their “owner” cautions them to never do such a thing because each of them was specifically created for the special power that they have. Once he leaves the scene, the teenagers scoff at his warning and are sure that nothing bad will happen. Mayhem ensues and they learn the hard way that the powers they were originally given are the ones for which they were designed. As a girl, I envisioned the perfect Christian couple as one being able to play an instrument or two and the other with the gift of singing. The day I met my future husband, he was leading worship at a Bible study by playing the guitar and singing. That impressive combination intimidated me because it meant I needed to be able to either sing or play an instrument. My piano and organ lessons many years prior coupled with guitar lessons at summer camp helped me to read music, but I was not a natural. What was I going to do? My husband was

14 // March 2015

the perfect Christian man who could sing, play, teach, and disciple, but I did not do any of those things. For 13 years, I struggled with feeling inadequate as a Christian wife whose husband was in church leadership. It wasn’t until a month ago when I finally realized the gifts God gave me perfectly compliment my husband’s calling. That realization liberated me1! My husband is the discipleship pastor at our church and oversees everything from small groups and membership to baptisms and community outreach for four campuses. I am deeply involved in his ministry as I serve God by being my husband’s administrative assistant. I absolutely love working side by side with him all day long. I am no longer jealous of musical wives on stage nor covet their beautiful voices. My gifts of writing, encouragement, and serving others are unique to me. When I use them for God, He is glorified. What about you? You are fearfully and wonderfully made.2 What special skills and talents do you have that God wants to use to serve others? Is it through organizing, public speaking, listening, cooking, caring for babies, construction, styling hair or cleaning? The wonderful news is that whatever your passion, God intentionally designed you that way to glorify Him. You do not need to be like anyone else. Just be open to making God’s name great, and He will use you in a special way. PS I may not be a good singer, but my husband loves when I sing to him and that is all that matters! For further reading, please see: Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 John 8:32; 2 Psalm 139:14 Jennifer Govea is a bilingual editor and former missionary in Latin America. She and her husband currently work at Rock Bridge Community Church and have a six-year-old son.

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Dalton Church Directory

Apostolic The Bridge, An Apostolic Church 715 College Dr, 30720 706-280-0541 Assembly of God New Life Baptist Church 2620 Old Grade Rd, 30721 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 16 // March 2015

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 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 1499 Riverbend Rd, 30721 706-278-1837 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 McFarland Hill Baptist Church 307 Brickyard Rd, 30721 706-277-5521 Mount Rachel Baptist Church 1600 Haig Mill 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 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 Community Rock Bridge Community Church 100 West Gordon St, 30720 Community Fellowship Church 409 North Fredrick St, 30721 706-278-3204 Episcopal Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church 901 West Emory St, 30720 706-278-8857 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 Evangelical Methodist Church 1035 Abutment Rd, 30721 706-278-9208 Five Springs UMC 2823 Five Springs Rd, 30720 706-277-3928 New Haven UMC 4040 South Dixie Highway, 30721 706-277-3338

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 A New Beginning Full Gospel Church 2110 Antioch Rd, 30721 706-602-8998 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 Pentecostal True Gospel Pentecostal Church 109 South Henderson St, 30721 706-278-5696 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

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Coach Ken Sparks A

s Ken Sparks embarks on his 35th season he does so continuing a ba le with a cancer that was diagnosed on June 30, 2012. Christian principles have been the driving force behind Sparks’ coaching career. It was his faith that brought him to Carson-Newman in 1980 and it is his faith that will see him through this latest challenge. He is the winningest active head coach in the country with 318 wins, 86 loss and two ties. He needs one victory to tie Pop Warner for sixth on the all-time wins list and six to catch Bear Bryant. In 2012 Sparks made history, becoming only the 11th man in college football to record 300 wins. The coach is reluctant to shinee the plishspotlight on himself and his accomplishments. Sparks would instead ratherr be measured by his impact in the lives of the young men and coachess who’ve been a part of his CarsonNewman family. For Coach Sparks, football is a laboratory of learning where he and his staff strive to develop the whole person – educationally, socially, athletically and spiritually.. ed Along the way, Sparks has developed rams in one of the winningest football programs the history of the sport. The Eagles have won five NAIA National Titles and played for it six times. A move to NCAA Division II didn’t slow Sparks’ Carson-Newman squad down. The Eagles played for the D-II National Title three times and were a semifinalist in 2009. The rest of the numbers speak for themselves as Sparks has recorded 21 South Atlantic Conference Championships, 24 NCAA or NAIA playoff appearances and a 308-83-2 record. Sparks holds the all-time record for wins in NCAA Division II and, with the recent retirement of St. John's (Minn.) John Gagliardi and Mount Union's Larry Kehres, Sparks is the activce leader in coaching wins. In fact, at the start of the 2013 season, he was the only active head coach with more than 265 wins. Sparks was inducted into the inaugural NCAA Division II Hall of Fame Coaches Class in 2010 along with Northwest Missouri State’s Mel Tjeerdsma and West Alabama’s Bobby Wallace.

18 // March 2015 015

Coach Sparks is also a member of the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame, the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, the Carson-Newman Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame. Sparks has been honored with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lifetime Achievement Award and National Coach of the Year. Sparks was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association in 2007. In 2002 Sparks received the AllAmerican Football Foundation’s Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Award. Coach Sparks earned NAIA Coach of the Year honors in 1984. He’s been voted SAC Coach of the Year 12 tim times. Sparks is a two-time winner of the Tennessee Sportswriters Coach of tthe Year in 1999 and 2002 and was al also named Division II Coach of the Y Year by American Football Coach Magazine. In 2010, Sparks received the prestigious General Robert R. Neyland Trophy, presented by the K Knoxville Quarterback Club for co contributing greatly to intercollegia giate athletics. In 2013 he was named Jefferson Countian of the Year by the Jeffeerson County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding commi ment to the area. Following that he was presented the Uncommon Award by former NFL coach Tony Dungy for "uncommon leadership through character and faith." Sparks has called the Uncommon Award one of the most meaningful of his career along with the lifetime achievement award from the FCA because of what they stand for. The Eagles’ postseason run under Sparks began in 1982, when he guided the Eagles to a 10-2 record and an NAIA playoff berth in his third season. Carson-Newman lost in the opening round of the playoffs that season, but the culture of the Eagles program was forever changed. The next season, C-N won its second-straight SAC-8 title, then captured its first national football title in school history, beating heavily-favored Mesa State 36-28 in the NAIA Champion Bowl. The Eagles brought home four more titles

FEATURED beginning with a 19-19 tie with Central Arkansas in 1984. Carson-Newman shutout Cameron 17-0 in the 1986 championship game, blew out Adams State 5621 in 1988 for the title and cruised to a fifth in 1989 with a 34-20 win over Emporia State. In 2009, After opening the season 0-2, the Eagles reeled off 11 consecutive victories, including a perfect 7-0 mark in the SAC to claim their 21stconference title. C-N fell a game short of making its 11th national title game appearance, falling to Grand Valley State in the Division II semifinals. 2012 went down similarly for Sparks' Eagles. After stu ering to a 2-2 start, the Eagles reeled of seven consecutive victories to earn a first round bye. C-N came out in round two and took the SAC champions, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, out of the playoffs with a 38-35 victory. Carson-Newman would fall just shy of the semis against eventual national champions Valdosta State. A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Sparks began his coaching career at Gibbs High School in Knoxville, restarting the football program with a winning season. A year later Sparks coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Tennessee Tech while earning his Master’s Degree. He coached Morristown East High School for one season before returning to his alma mater, Carson-Newman, to serve as offensive coordinator for then-Carson-Newman head coach Dal Shealy and oversee the track program. Sparks served both teams with distinction, receiving Southern Collegiate Track Coach of the Year honors in 1977. With Sparks running the offense, the 1972 Eagles advanced to their first-ever NAIA Champion Bowl, falling to East Texas State. Sparks took over the Farragut High School football program in 1977, guiding the Admirals to a 29-5 record. Sparks was twice-voted KIL and KFA Coach of the Year. After three seasons, Sparks was asked to take command of the Carson-Newman football program. Coach Sparks is a sought-after public speaker and motivator, delivering speeches a coaches clinics, church groups and civic organizations. He is a member of Manley Baptist Church of Morristown, along with his wife Carol, and is heavily involved in multiple Christian organizations.

You can hear more about Ken Sparks’s inspirational story on Tuesday, March 17 at the NW. Georgia Trade & Convention Center for the Annual FCA Celebration Dinner. For more information about tickets to the event visit www.ngafca.org or contact David Grusnick at 706-226-5144. Email: gshoates@fca.org

COVER STORY

issuu.com/goodnewsdalton // 19

Gò0dNews for Parents

Faith Development in Children

“F

by Brenda Dedmon

or You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul (Psalm 139:1314). This scripture is a reminder that God had a plan for us even before we were born. Each person is unique and one of a kind. Parents have a responsibility to help their children come to an understanding of who God created them to be and to fulfill their potential. There are four basic concepts about God that parents should teach their children to encourage them in their faith journey. 1. God is love. How do we teach this? Simply by loving them. Love is more than a feeling; it is an action. A calm, loving spirit, holding a hand that needs help walking, being generous with hugs and encouragement are ways to teach love. Children who experiences this kind of love will be able to believe when they hear, “God loves you.” In early faith development, it is important to have a loving

20 // March 2015

environment to develop trust. Learning to trust parents is a step in trusting God. A friend shared this definition of love for God? “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more; there is nothing we can do to make God loves us less. He just loves us.” 2. God is forgiving. When a child learns forgiveness from adults, the child will develop a belief that God is forgiving. A forgiving parent does not hold a grudge and begins each day with a fresh approach. It is important to guide a child to change inappropriate behavior, but it is just as important not to hold past failures against the child. 3. God is ever-present. God is with us daily in every circumstance of our journey. Parents need to be present in their child’s life by communicating and being available. When parents consistently say, “not right now” or “later,” the child develops insecurity and a lack of trust. A child needs to feel the presence of a parent that will help him or her develop an understanding of the ever presence of God in their lives. 4. God is faithful. Parents teach faithfulness by being faithful. Faithfulness is demonstrated by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a child. A definition of commitment is “Doing what you said you would do when the feeling you had when you said you would do it is gone.” Ephesians 5:1 is a guideline to follow in teaching faith values: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love” (NKJV). Developing these faith values will enable your children to become what God created them to be.

Reverend Brenda Dedmon is director of Children’s Learning Center, First Baptist Church of Dalton, Dalton, GA

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Gò0dNews for Life

A Glimpse of Heaven to Me Today . . . Healing, one journal post at a time. by Kelly Hixson

t was exactly a year ago that I began my healing

ing in that same pit I was in, there is hope for you.

process for depression. I had allowed Satan to

Start looking for Him in each day, and you will

steal life from me. Little things such as the green

find Him. He will make you smile.

grass, the blue sky, a sunny day, or from the big

Here is my first post on my Facebook page

things, such as my children accomplishing some-

that started my healing.

thing great or needing me just to be a Mom. I was

February 4, 2014—A Small Glimpse of heaven to

so deep in that dark pit of despair that I never saw

Me Today. I was helping a child read today, and

a way out until one day during my prayer time,

she was coming up shy of meeting her goal each

the Lord spoke to my heart. He said “Enough! I

time she read. I could tell she was getting a little

have a purpose for you and if you don’t stop, you

discouraged, so I looked at her with a smile, ad-

will miss it. Start looking for Me in each day.”

justed her hair back in a head band, and fixed her

So I did, I stopped wallowing in my muck and

glasses, and said, “You look so beautiful today.

mire and obeyed. I began journaling about one

She said, “Do you like my shirt?”

good thing that happened to me each day, and I

“I love your shirt! I believe in you. Do you

used my Facebook page to hold me accountable.

believe in yourself?” She shook her head yes with

Little did I know that my first posting would be

a smile!

the gateway to my healing, helping others and

“Okay, let’s read and pass your goal.”

realizing I had the gift of writing hidden deep

She began to read, and as she realized she

inside me I never knew I had.

was getting close to passing her goal, she had the

God did have a purpose for me, but Satan

biggest grin on her face as she was reading! She

had a plan as well. God’s purpose was to use my

passed her goal, and we celebrated with hugs

depression to help others through my writing and

and a piece of candy! Her smile is “heaven” to me

Satan’s plan was to keep me in my muck, stealing

today!

my life. Today I am so grateful God gave me the

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out

strength to obey His command, and I can write

of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid

this article as just another girl hanging on to the

ground and steadied me as I walked along” Ps.

hem of His garment set free, smiling, laughing,

40:2 (NLT).

and enjoying the ride. If you find yourself suffer-

22 // March 2015

Kelly Hixson is a teacher at Black Fox Elementary. You can follow her “Glimpses” on Facebook or email her at kellyhixson2@gmail.com

LIST YOUR

Church Activities & Events Help us get our communities connected. We offer Free Church listings, and monthly activities and event listings.

Special Events:

Please submit events for September by August 15th. -Revival -Cook Outs -Concerts -Fundraisers And anything else you have during the month.

Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness

Two Important Tips

for a Leaner & Fitter You

by Thomas Morrison

ave many of you will have made resolutions to start exercising, eat better, or lose some weight this year? Now that it is March. Here are two important tips that you can use right away to continue living your healthiest and happiest in 2015. 1. Do less. Many “secrets” of body transformation are actually counter-intuitive, leading many astray. Doing the opposite of what so many others try to do can lead to success. Since about 95 to 98 percent fail in long-term weight loss, you really need to pay attention to those in the 2 to5 percent group! I’ll let you in on one secret right here: To achieve more, you need to do less. People make change too hard on themselves by attempting to change too many things at once. Weight loss or muscle gain is a multifaceted endeavor that will impact a number of different areas in your life. Too many try to change what, when, and how much they eat, including their exercise habits, and negative self-talk all at once. Frankly, each major area of weight loss or muscle gain (diet, exercise, thoughts and attitude, social support) can involve a number of smaller behaviors that have to change. Going for it all at once is a big mistake. Newly emerging research and the experiences of countless people reveal that change is typically most successful when engaged in only one behavior at a time. The problem? We are all human beings and human nature is impatient! We want to know everything and get everything working the way it

24 // March 2015

should quickly. But you see—that is the problem! It’s what everyone tries to do. Every year in January, people make resolutions and are sure that they will work out regularly, get their diet in order. and finally get in shape. And every year, only a tiny percentage actually make it to summer and attain their goals. Will that be you? Accept the fact that you can only change a little at a time to fully succeed. Trying to change more than one thing at a time equals failure. It really is that simple. 2. Get a mentor or coach. The one who can help us the most when embarking on something new, whether losing excess body fat or building up skinny muscles is a mentor or coach. Find, someone who has been where you are and achieved what you would like to, or has helped others to. When you find someone like this, simply listen and follow in his or her footsteps. That is what a mentor or coach is for! What champion athlete or sports team tries to successfully compete without a coach? In every profession, those who want to improve and go higher actively seek mentorship and support. It is necessary. If not just for the knowledge that can be gained, it is necessary to provide the structure and accountability that is needed to stay focused enough to accomplish the goal. Making the effort to find a suitable mentor or coach and then making the commitment to be accountable to them is the surest path to success! Be your best by summer—give us a call today! Thomas Morrison is a personal trainer at Bradley Wellness Center. For more information, call 706-278-9355 and ask to speak with a personal trainer. They will give you a complimentary assessment to learn more and to see if one of their coaching packages are right for you.

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Gò0dNews for Teens

Show Up

t’s 6 p.m. Wednesday; do your youth members know where you are? We are being watched. Ominous, I know, but let me explain. Youth notice things. Adults, especially parents, who interact with youth are watched. They notice who’s around and who isn’t. We all know stories about adults who are the greatest, or even the worst, but in the best way possible, stories that will end up as youth group lore for years to come. These adults have a secret to becoming legendary: show up. We’re being watched, so let’s be seen. Easy, right? But how do we find time? We know how busy we are. We’ve seen articles about multisport kids, we know about extracurricular and college applications. We’re over-connected and overscheduled, and so have our kids; it’s contagious and we’re all suffering. Sabbath isn’t just something for Pharisees to argue about, it’s what we need. Slow down and rest, recharge the batteries and other clichés. Quit adding more stuff and find out what takes precedence. Step out of the hurry and prioritize. That account is important, but what are we sacrificing? Youth learn priorities from us, and if faith development and church community lose out to other things, those priorities are communicated clearly.

26 // March 2015

by Andrew Shaffer

Baby Steps

Now get interested. Hey man, how’s your walk? Do we know what our kids are doing in school? Do we ask them? Of course. We should apply everything to faith too! I had a friend in college who would randomly ask me, “Hey man, how’s your walk?” It was really irritating at first, but honestly, it became refreshing. Let’s make discussion about faith a thing. Let’s talk about our own faith and ask our kids about theirs. I’m not saying evangelize the family dog or shout down the perceived heresies of neighbors, but what if we get interested in hearing each other’s thoughts on the week’s Bible study, or encourage questions on developing faith? We might not have all the answers, but creating a space to seek those answers does more for growth than we can imagine. Fostering family discussion

can be more complicated than interpreting a text made of nothing but smiley faces, but as with texttalking, faith gets easier when we get involved. Be present. Be connected. Obviously, youth aren’t always stoke to have the parental units everywhere they are, and let’s be honest, neither are parents. You know who is, though? Other youth. Odds are your story speaks uniquely to a youth and vice versa. Cook a meal, drive a van. Mentoring happens in some of the most unexpected places, but first we have to show up. One of the greatest moments a youth can have is realizing that an adult, (1) is a human and (2) really does care about her or him. Seriously, they make movies about it. So as I said: We’re being watched. We can show our youth empty chairs and better things to do, or we can show someone who’s in their corner.

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

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Gò0dNews for Seniors

Lessons from the Shamrock

by Jamie Nichols

his month we will see many Irish symbols,

three different leaves, it was one plant. This visual

such as pots of gold, red-bearded lepre-

example helped solidify the idea of unity. So, in a

chauns, and shamrocks as we celebrate

way, the shamrock did become a good luck charm

St. Patrick’s Day. There will be talk of “good luck

for St. Patrick and the people of Ireland.

charms.” A four-leaf clover is considered by many

The shamrock can also be a reminder for us

to be good luck. What many people do not know

about the unity of humanity. We all have differ-

is that the three-leaf clover, or shamrock, has a re-

ent backgrounds, political views, and beliefs. We

ally interesting story attached to it. It has been said

are beautifully diverse individuals, yet we are all

that St. Patrick used the clover to make a beautiful

human. We are different branches on the same tree

point about the Holy Trinity.

and, like the clover, different leaves on the same

One day, he was approached by a group of

plant. My hope is that when you see the decora-

people trying to understand the concept of “three

tions celebrating St. Patrick’s Day being displayed,

as one.” The idea that there is the Father, the Son,

or when you are out in nature and see a shamrock,

and the Holy Spirit— three entities that are all one—was difficult for many newly converted Christians in Ireland to understand.

that you are reminded of the Holy Trinity that watches over us all and the unity that connects our beautifully diverse world. “Finally, all of

That day,

you, live in har-

St. Patrick

mony with one

bent over,

another; be sym-

plucked a

pathetic, love as

shamrock and

brothers, be compas-

held it up. He pointed out that even though the shamrock had

28 // March 2015

sionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8 NIV).

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Gò0dNews from the Physician

New Weight-Loss Medications by James Marcum M.D.

I want to lose weight fast. What do you think about the new weight-loss medications? wo new weight-loss medications have recently been approved by the FDA. Qsymia was the first, and the second release, Belviq, was released in July 2012. There are other non-approved substances released for weight loss. It is no wonder that pharmaceutical companies would want to release more weight-loss drugs. In America, approximately 30 percent of the population are now obese and a total of 60 percent are overweight. Extra weight is a worldwide problem as well. This amounts to many potential customers. At an estimated $6 a pill, there will be much money made. Obesity not only affects adults, but the rate of obesity in children is also growing (excuse the pun). This market could be a gold mine for the pharmaceutical industry, but does taking medications or chemicals for weight loss for obesity make sense? Fat cells are an organ in and of themselves. This system is called the endo cannabinoid system. Fat makes a host of chemicals that make us hungry, increases stress chemicals, makes estrogen, which increases the risk of cancer and makes inflammatory chemicals that damage the entire body—including the brain. As you can see, extra weight is not good. Many of our chronic medical problems have extra weight as the cause. As the world’s population gains weight, it is only natural to want a quick fix.

30 // March 2015

Previous medications for weight loss have been removed from the market. Ephedra-based weightloss medications have been removed as ephedra has increased the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. The first weight-loss medications in the ’50s and ’60s were amphetamine-based compounds. Amphetamines speed up the metabolism. The combination of Phentermine and Fenfluramine has been removed from the market because of the concern for heart valve abnormalities. Both Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine were removed in 1997. Sibutramine (Merida), another weight-loss medication, has been removed form the market. So far, there has been no quick fix. Qsymia, one of the new weight-loss medications, has as a component called phentermine. The other component is a medication used for seizures, topiramate. Some of the known problems are increased heart rate, birth defects if taken during pregnancy, and cognitive defects. Thus far, in the weight-loss world, there has been no quick fix. Extra weight changes the metabolism of the body. Now we are throwing in another chemical to “fix” the problem. It just does not make sense to me. I expect these new medications to have a greater risk than a benefit. As to your question, I do not think these new medications will be the answer.

Dr. James Marcum is speaker/director of Heartwise Ministries. He is a cardiologist practicing with the Chattanooga Heart Institute. He is very active in the television, radio, and print arm of Heartwise Ministries. He is married to Sonya and has two children, Kelli and Jake. He enjoys music and outdoor activities.

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Gò0dNews for Couples

The DVR Saved Our Marriage

don’t know how we survived before DVR technology. For all you youngsters out there, back in the day, we actually had to watch commercials! That’s shocking and slightly unbelievable I know, but it’s true. And, if we thought we were going to miss our favorite show, we had to program our VCR’s ahead of time to record it. This task was fraught with difficulty. And even if we had the technological prowess to figure it out at all, it would rarely catch the whole program. Then, one glorious day, someone invented the DVR. Press a couple buttons on the remote and presto, favorite program lodged into the mechanical memory banks forever. The DVR had another consequence. Before DVR, husband and wife both come home from long, stressful days at work. Husband wants to plop down in front of the TV to hide in his mental cave and destress. Wifey wants to share—every detail of every conversation and every emotion of the day. Unending details of the lives of people husband has never met and doesn’t care to know.

32 // March 2015

by David Gray

All seems well and good until you realize, these are happening at the exact same time. Husband gets frustrated because wife talks over the TV. Suddenly, he feels his wife doesn’t respect him or doesn’t care that he’s had a long day. Simultaneously, wife assumes he is selfish, especially when he doesn’t even turn his head to look in her direction. She feels ignored, uncared for, and unimportant. How does a couple solve this great dilemma? Enter the DVR? Οne of the greatest things that has ever happened in our home was the first day that I simply paused the TV when my wife wanted to unload. Now I can give her my full attention without feeling like I am losing anything. But, the DVR is not even the point. The truth is that my wife is far more important than whatever is on the TV. She is the most important person in my world, the one I’m committed to spending the rest of my life with. She deserves my undivided attention. The point is that listening communicates value, comfort,

affirmation, and understanding. Paul Tillich mused, “The first duty of love is to listen.” James put it like this, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19). Our spouses deserve our best. Listening isn't necessarily about agreeing with the other person, it is about understanding them emotionally. Listening might be the most powerful way to say, “I believe in you!” Listening is the best way to get your spouse to open his or her heart and be vulnerable. The opposite is also true: Not listening is the quickest way to get your spouse to close off emotionally. So I challenge you today, pause the TV, maybe even shut it off. Put the kids to bed. Put away the smartphones. And listen—really listen. Listening communicates value, love, and care far more than a few flowers or a box of chocolates. Taking the time to simply listen, might be the most important thing you can do for your relationship.

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4/1/15

GoodNews Christian Magazine

4/1/15

GoodNews Christian Magazine

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Gò0dNews for Everyone

God Wants the Best for You D

id you know God wants you to succeed in life? You may say, “I’m not sure about that. If you knew the bad things I have done, you wouldn’t say such a thing.” Actually, I would say such a thing because where sin increases, grace increases much more! (see Rom. 5:20) Friends, God wants you to succeed in your relationships, finances, family, and career. What if you made the decision to start believing God’s definition about you? I know what would happen! You would experience the goodness of God in your life. See, when it comes to God, you have to believe how He really sees you! You don’t have to work your way up the ladder with God. Jesus did that for you! What you do will never obtain God’s best for you. Only what Jesus has done will release the best God has for you. Did you know that if you try to get God’s best with your works, you will become tired mentally and physically? In your effort to get God’s best, you will fall short every time. God judges you based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. You need to realize that God’s best is so valuable; He doesn’t want you working for it! Hallelujah! You may say, “Isn’t what I do important?” Of course it is! But did you also know that works are the opposite of God’s best? Romans 11:6 reminds us, “But if it is by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no

34 // March 2015

by Samuel Burger

longer grace” (11:6 NKJV). God’s best is not about what you do, it’s about Jesus and the free gift of His over-abundant favor! God does not deﬁne you by what you do; He deﬁnes you through what Jesus has done. I know it may be hard for some of you to grasp this point, but God looks at you just like He looks at Jesus. That’s why the work of Jesus is so powerful! We don’t need to work harder, we need to have greater gratitude of God’s over-abundant favor which is God’s best! You can be at ease because as Jesus is, so are we in this world! (see 1 John 4:17) I have three questions for you:

Do you get God’s best by what you do before you get saved?

Do you get God’s best by what you did when you got saved?

3. Do you get God’s best by what you do after you get saved? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have missed God’s desire for you. God’s best for you is received by faith alone. His best is Jesus, and Jesus wants to have a relationship with us and make us a success! So what’s the application?

Believe how God deﬁnes you without your works.

2. Confess God’s opinion of you. 3. Feed on God’s promises instead of negative self-talk Samuel Burger is the pastor of Chestuee Baptist Church. Feel free to contact him via email samuelbrgr@yahoo.com.

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