March 2023

About Us

WRITERS

Beth Penny

Brenda Dedmon

Brent Goodge

Brian Johnson

David Huff

Deck Cheatham

Dorothy Teague

Granger Hughes

Judy Hood

Karla Smedley

Katie Loveless

Kristen West

Lori Sentell

Matt Jensen

Monica Gambrell

Reagan Marsh

Rhonda Beavers

Sandra Gilmore

Sheneka Land

Susan Lavigne

SALES

Austin Calfee

423-650-6565

Email: dalton.goodnews@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Paula Knipp 423-310-4207

FACEBOOK

GoodNews Dalton

DISTRIBUTION

5000 Monthly

EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR

Jodi Varnado

Email: articles.goodnews@gmail.com

PUBLISHER

Matthew and Bethany Ruckman

Cell: 423-503-1410

E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com

OFFICE

423-790-5378

WEBSITE goodnewscm.com issuu.com/goodnewsdalton

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 six beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, Leah Jean, Emma, and Cooper. We live in Cleveland, Tennessee, 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!

Ask the Pastor: Forgiving God?

by Rev. Reagan Marsh

Q.My friend told me that I need to forgive God for something bad that happened in my life. I’ve heard this before, but can’t find it in the Bible. Should Christians forgive God?

A. Great question! In life, plans sputter, hopes crumble, relationships derail, or evil exposes itself. I know I did my part –but it seems like God didn’t come through. Because life is full of disappointments, modern pastors and writers inform us, it must also be full of forgiveness. Their sage advice? Loosely commandeering Psalm 142:2, they urge cultivating a lifestyle of forgiving others, forgiving myself, and forgiving God to move forward. Some go so far as asserting that forgiving God is required – arguing unforgiveness affects my faith, intimacy with God, and eternity.

But what goes unrecognized? Forgiving God is deeply theological in nature. It forges my working confession of faith: shaping my worship, framing my life, and demonstrating my operative approach to Scripture. Consider what is said when I forgive God:

1. God failed; and fundamentally, he failed me. In my disappointment, I realize God made a mistake: this means he was wrong, he erred. This instance may have been something he couldn’t handle, foresee, or accomplish…turns out he’s mostly sovereign, though perhaps not meticulously so.

2. Therefore, God must be somewhat imperfect. Nobody is entirely perfect; limitations and flaws characterize all beings in a fallen world, which necessarily includes God. The Creator is more like his creatures than his word attests; even his wisdom and judgments stumble sometimes.

3. Hence, I must consider God insufficient. I may cast many of my cares upon him, perhaps even most of them; he cares for me, but can’t always do anything about it. I must face facts: sometimes God loses, evil wins, and hope is deferred, awaiting “next time.”

4. Because of this, God might not always be trusted. He means well in Scripture, though he can be a bit unreliable or unrealistic in what he says there. Like a kindly uncle who does his best, he’s usually good for what he promises.

5. Consequently, God isn’t entirely truthful in the Bible. He means most of what he says there, but everyone exaggerates periodically. Most of his ways are just (Ps 18:30); many of his paths are lovingkindness (Ps 25:10); and his mercies are over a majority of his works (Ps 145:9). In quite a few things, he works for my good (Rom 8:28-29); but “all” doesn’t actually mean all in these verses.

6. My conclusion must be, God raised my hopes and handled my situation in a misleading way. He thus wronged me, which means he sinned – and he sinned against me. Since God is a sinner, I must forgive him.

These unspoken assertions may be unconscious, unintended, and unconsidered, but they’re active. Advocates immediately distance themselves from such conclusions, but they ultimately can’t: against the plumbline of God’s word, “forgiving God” exposes utter egocentricity. It smacks of self-realization, not Scripture, anchoring in theories of positive thinking and pop psychology. My final decision clarifies and codifies my functional theology, irrespective of any creedal orthodoxy I may recite at church. It displays human wisdom at its finest, but not the wisdom of the Cross.

God’s answer is to behold his character in his word. He is my Rock, strength, fortress, and deliverer (Ps 18:1-2). He alone is good (Mk 10:18). He has no shadow of turning due to change (Jas 1:17). His faithfulness surrounds him (Ps 89:8); righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne, while steadfast love and faithfulness go before him (Ps 89:14). His wise purposes are infinitely higher than my puny pay grade merits clearance to understand (Isa 55:8). I must humble myself under his mighty hand (1 Pet 5:6), not think of myself more highly than I ought (Rom 12:3), submit myself to his faithful disposal of my life (Isa 64:8), and repent of such shameful pride as to think the thrice-holy Lord (Isa 6:3) needs anything from me – much less my forgiveness.

I always enjoy hearing from readers. Feel free to submit your questions at reformationdalton.com – I’ll do my best to answer from God’s word.

Reagan Marsh, MATS, MDiv (eq.) is husband to Kara, daddy to RG and AG, and founding pastor-teacher to Reformation Baptist Church of Dalton, GA. He contributed to The Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia (Eerdmans), edited The Works of John Flavel (Banner of Truth), writes regularly for The Founders Journal, and is coediting The Works of Hercules Collins (H&E). An SBTS graduate, certified biblical counselor, and Th.D. student in Puritan studies, he has served in gospel ministry since 1998.

I Wish

by Brenda Dedmon

“We all have the power to make wishes come true as long as we keep believing.”—Louisa

May Alcott

Have you ever said to your parents or teachers: I wish I would get an A on this test or I wish I could be a starter on the team? It is good to have wishes about what we want, however, only wishing will not make them happen. The following activities will be a way to help you accomplish your wishes and turn them into achievable goals for you to reach.

It is very important that you ask your parents to help you with these ideas so that you can begin making your wishes happen. Tell your parents that you would like to have family time to talk about the things that you “wish” you could do.

For the family time, have paper and markers to record your ideas. Talk with your parents about what is important to you, for example: sports, dance, school, friends, family, or any ideas in which you are interested. Write down in order of which is the most important to you and what you “wish” you could do in each area.

As you think about these wishes, discuss with your parents what you can do to help make those wishes become real. Remember, this may require you to do things to turn that wish into reality. If you wish you could be in the spelling bee at school, then you will have to set goals. It would be necessary for you to learn ways

that you can learn to be a good speller. You would need to decide how much you were willing to study and spend the time to make sure you were prepared for the spelling bee.

As you continue to work through your list, remember that there is more than one way to make a wish come true. You can make a list of things that you feel would help you reach your goal and a list of things that you feel may make it impossible to reach. Invite your parents to give you suggestions about the things that are most important to you so that you can make your wishes come true. You may choose to invite your teachers at school and church to give you ideas in reaching your goals.

One of the most important things you need to remember in making your wishes come true is that God has a plan for you. I would suggest you learn these verses to help you remember God will take care of you and help to make your wishes come true.

“I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hoped for” (Jeremiah 29:11, MSG).

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, RSV).

“May He grant the dreams of your heart and see your plans through to the end” (Psalm 20:4, The Voice).

Written by Rev. Brenda Dedmon, retired director of Children’s Learning Center, First Baptist of Dalton and an avid Roll Tide fan.

Is An Annuity Right for Me?

Money Matters Granger Hughes with

Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes works with his father to help provide educational opportunities for clients as well as others in the community. He feels a responsibility to help inform those who may otherwise not be aware of strategies, changes, and opportunities available to them when it comes to their financial well-being.

Alot of people ask this question, and as we approach retirement, we probably hear more and more about it. The biggest thing with any retirement tool is understanding if that tool is right for you. We’ve all heard the saying if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. As fiduciaries, this is something we avoid when working with clients, as annuities aren’t as bad as you have heard, and they aren’t the answer to all your financial problems, but they can be a valuable tool for a retiree.

Let’s look at some types of annuities. One of the most common that we use is called a fixed indexed annuity. This means it’s linked to an index such as the S & P, but the fixed component means that the principal (the portion you put in) is safe. Taking that into consideration, the next step is what am I trying to accomplish?

1). Do I want to protect a portion of my portfolio?

2). Do I need an income stream?

3). Is there a Long-Term Care need?

1). Annuities in today’s day and age can be structured based on the need for protection. For instance, let’s say you want to take some risk out of your portfolio by purchasing an annuity. There are annuities in this current environment that will actually give you a bonus when you purchase one! This is one of the benefits in a rising interest rate environment that is actually a benefit to those who don’t want to risk their money in the market and want to save in a safer environment. In addition, there are no fees with this strategy, and as mentioned before, you would be linked to the S & P, which means if the S & P does x percentage, you would receive a portion, but if the S & P loses money, your principal is still safe. One of the potential drawbacks is liquidity (access to your money). Typically, a lot of carriers will give you 7% to 10% a year penalty free. But if you wanted to take out all your money, you could face a penalty of 10% as well, so you need to make sure that the annuity is a piece of your overall portfolio and not your only option for withdrawals. Contracts also differ on length, though its common to see 7 to 12 years. Some misconceptions could be if I pass away, my beneficiary will have to pay penalties and that is not the case. The annuity would be liquid to them, though tax liability could potentially ensue, as will most accounts. In addition, a lot of annuities will allow a higher percentage of access should you need long term care or have a chronic or terminal illness. Once again, it’s important to know your options and find the annuity that suits your needs the best.

2). Another option is creating an income stream. Let’s say you have a portion of a 401k, for example $300k. The positive about this example is that you are basically going to have two accounts, a lifetime income (LTI) account and a life time income base. The income side will be credited with a bonus up front in a lot of cases. For this example, let’s use 20%. The income side has grown to $360k day one. In addition, every year that we wait to take that income, they would give us an additional 8%. After five years, your income account would be close to $530k. If you decided at that point that you wanted to activate the LTI, the payout would be based on a mortality table at that time. Meaning if you were 70, that percentage would be 6%. This would create $31k of annual income for the rest of your life. If you passed away, your spouse would have the option of taking a lump sum or continuing that stream of income. One common misconception is that if both spouses pass, the money is gone and that isn’t necessarily the case. As mentioned earlier, there are two accounts, the income account and the actual account value. Should both husband and wife pass away, whatever is left in the account value would be distributed to the beneficiaries you had selected.

3). The third option is creating some support for Long Term Care (LTC). This option will piggy back off of option 2. Let’s go back to the previous example and say we have created a stream of income annually of $31k. This strategy would actually double that income to $62K, should you need LTC. The key here is, are you able to perform the activities of daily living (ADL)? If you can’t perform two of the six, for example you can’t feed or bathe yourself, the LTC option would be eligible to be activated. All you would need is a doctor to sign off stating that you can’t perform two of the six ADLs. This can help provide some much-needed support, as the likelihood of us needing some form of LTC as we get older increases drastically. The positive aspect of this strategy is it is your money, and you can use it how you want to. You don’t have to go into a facility, you can make your home handicap accessible, hire a nurse etc., whereas a lot of traditional LTC policies only give you the option to use an actual facility.

The key is to look at what options and tools you have in retirement. An annuity can be a great tool and can be structured in different ways to meet your specific needs. They aren’t going to suit everyone’s needs and desires, but it is important to know what your options are entering into retirement and how each tool can help protect and preserve what you have made throughout your working years.

Stay on the Ride

by Brian Johnson

We don’t like trials. I think that goes without being said, but it’s one of the methods God uses to conform us to the image of Christ James 1:2 says, “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Paul says, in Romans 5:3 that “…we glory in tribulations…” and they eventually end up with hope in verse 4. How can that be? How can a difficult beginning end in hope? Let’s discuss.

I love roller coasters. So, I was excited to take my oldest son on his first roller coaster when he was nine years old. While we waited in line for about an hour, I checked with him frequently to make sure he was still okay with the ride. He assured me he was. As coasters typically do, it started slowly creeping up the first hill, creating anticipation for the first dip. We got over the hill and started to come down when, all of a sudden, the ride stopped. We were stuck on the ride, strapped in our seats in a declined position.

Obviously, I was concerned about my son. A couple of workers walked up the stairs to let us know they were working on the ride. I asked one of them if they wouldn’t mind taking my son back down with them. He said to me, “Once we get the ride going again, it’s actually safer to go through it.” I said okay, and after a few minutes, they got things going, and everything ended up okay.

When difficulty comes into our lives, our natural inclination is to get away from it as quickly as possible. That’s understandable. We want off of the ride. But, if you’ve prayed about it and God still allows it, trust that He knows what He’s doing. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ

Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

God doesn’t promise that we won’t go through suffering. In fact, He tells us we will. But, after that suffering, we gain so much and become more like Christ in the process. That’s why we can have hope. When God continually shows His power in our lives by bringing us through trial after trial as we trust Him, we become

spiritually mature, established, settled, and hopeful regardless of the circumstances. The hope that’s developed gives us the ability to have peace that passes understanding in the midst of the ride and will give us a testimony to share about the power of God in our lives.

The ride that God takes us on isn’t smooth, but if you stay on, He’ll be able to take you to places and work through you in ways you never would’ve imagined. Trust Him in the trial. Stay on the ride. By the way, my son is 22 now and still likes roller coasters.

Brian Edward Johnson is a deacon at his church and a nurse by vocation. He wants to do the best he can to teach people to trust God, for their eternity and for each day.

One Track Mind

by Katie Loveless

Ihave fond memories of my childhood playground on Arista Mountain in West Virginia. My grandparents lived there, and we visited often. The memories are so prominent for me that I can remember the backdrop of the cool blue sky that hovered like a canopy, a dinosaur-like mountainside by the clothesline, and the sounds of singing birds like wallpaper in my mind.

There was ample opportunity to explore and shake hands with nature. Walking to the forks of the road with my siblings and grandfather is one of many fond memories as

that all these years later, I still stand in the flow of His goodness and trust Him to wash me and make me clean. It’s a miracle that He can take the potsherds of my life and make them beautiful and functional again.

I think about Job and how he sat among ash and broken pottery as he was reeling from grief, unspeakable loss, and physical affliction (see Job 2:8). I consider how he lanced his own weeping wounds with shards of broken pottery to bring relief. We are not so different. We try to foster healing in the necrotic places of our hearts by introducing them to the broken places and we marvel why it doesn’t work. Neither one can cure the other. Brokenness alone won’t heal the stench of death in me. I need my brokenness and humility to be coupled with God’s power and grace like a hitch to get anywhere at all.

we interacted with the lush landscape. It is a place where the power to choose is outwardly evident. In fact, it was during one of those walks that my grandfather talked with me about the temporary nature of the human life. He was a new Christian and eagerly commented on how the human life is like vapor that disappears, grass that withers, and a puff of smoke that wafts away. My young mind whirred to connect the dots at the forks of the road in that moment, but the conversation remains with me to this day.

There isn’t time to waste on indecision. Entertaining doubt is an expense much too extravagant. We can’t afford it. With my childhood sprinkled with poverty at times, I understand the importance of making even a little count and stretch. Little is much when God is in it.

As I pray for bystanders refusing grace’s invitation, I consider the frailty of my own decisions. I simply can’t make good ones without God’s continual aid. It’s a miracle I ever chose to surrender my life to God at all. It’s a miracle

As my heart is joined with His, I am in a position to make better choices, more redemptive ones. I begin to meditate on His goodness with the stamina of a one-track mind like a locomotive. And with that, my mind is kept in perfect peace. The peace is not a stagnant pond with life ebbing away. Instead, it is a river that is moving, productive, life-giving, and never will run dry.

I hear a train whistle blaring near my home as I write. Have you ever wondered what it takes for a train to switch tracks or make a turn among two divergent paths? A train conductor cannot make a detour independently. He relies on the flip of a switch to elevate the chosen path. This process means that the old, forgotten path is seemingly recessed in the earth, and the new, chosen path is elevated, making it the only way to go.

The Holy Spirit will do that for you. He will be your switch operator if you allow it. He will elevate righteousness for you and make that path the only way to go. He will give you a one-track mind. “Righteousness shall go before him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway,” (Psalm 85:13, NKJV).

Katie Loveless is a social worker, wife, and mother of five boys. She is a student of grace who enjoys writing, gardening, and empowering others to pursue stability.

Dalton Church Directory

Assembly of God

Christian Fellowship Assembly

3656 Chattanooga Road, 30755

706-280-7594

The Sanctuary

515 Reed Rd NW, 30720

706-270-2088

The Healing Center Church

515 Reed Road, 30720

706-229-9456

Good Samaritan Baptist Church

3137 Cleveland Rd, 30721

706-259-7239

Gospelway Baptist Church

336 Jupiter Cir, 30721

706-278-1424

Grace Baptist Church

2049 Lower Kings Bridge Rd, 30721

706-537-6884

Harmony Baptist Church

187 Lower Dawnville Rd, 30721

Baptist

Abundant Life Baptist Church

811 J and J, 30721

706-278-5289

Antioch Baptist Church

1205 Antioch Road, 30720

706-278-1305

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

Centerpoint Baptist Church

420 Centerpoint Drive SE, 30721

706-277-2100

Christ Reformed Baptist Church

1378 Dug Gap Rd, 30720

706-226-3026

Concord Baptist Church

1054 Hopewell Rd, Cohutta 30710

706-694-8618

Cove Baptist Fellowship Church

461 Carbondale Rd SW, 30721

706-277-3484

Crown View Baptist Church

502 West Tyler St, 30720

706-278-7422

Deep Springs Baptist Church

1660 Beaverdale Rd NE, 30721

706-259-3255

Dug Gap Baptist Church

2031 Dug Gap Rd, 30720

706-278-2377

Eastbrook Baptist Church

204 Hill Rd, 30720

Eastside Baptist Church

913 East Morris St, 30721

706-278-8553

Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church

2550 South Dalton Bypass, 30722

706-278-7020

Emmaus Baptist Church

4268 S. Dixie Rd, 30735

706-483-5251

First Baptist Church

802 Kenner St, 30721

706-226-9681

First Baptist Church of Dalton

311 North Thornton Ave, 30720

706-278-2911

Grace Baptist Church

2049 Lower Kings Bridge Rd, 30721

706-537-6884

Good Hope Baptist Church

2525 Lake Francis Rd, 30721

706-259-3719

Grove Level Baptist Church

2802 Cleveland Highway, 30721

706-259-8519

706-226-5521

Harvest Baptist Church

3986 Cleveland Hwy, 30721

706-694-8951

Hill Crest Baptist Church

1901 Cityview St, 30720

706-279-1267

Hopewell Baptist Church

3527 Airport Rd, 30721

706-226-5987

Kinsey Drive Baptist Church

2626 Kinsey Drive,30720

706-277-3505

Lakeshore Park Baptist Church

12 Crescent St, 30720

706-275-6050

Liberty Baptist Church

506 South Pentz St, 30720

706-226-5535

Lindsey Memorial Baptist

706-673-7650

3503 Lindsey Memorial Rd.

Rocky Face, Ga. 30740

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

1401 M L King, Jr. Blvd, 30721

706-278-0335

New Hope Baptist Church

900 Roan St, 30721

706-226-2093

New Hope Baptist Church

706-673-8050

2105 Tunnel Hill-Varnell Road

Tunnel Hill, GA 30755

New Life Baptist Church

2620 Old Grade Rd, 30721

Northwest Georgia Baptist Church

222 North Pentz St, 30720

706-463-3490

Olivia Baptist Church

1817 Guy St, 30720

706-278-3507

Pine Grove Baptist Church

4004 Airport Road, 30721

706-264-8630

Poplar Springs Baptist Church

897 Poplar Springs Rd, 30720

706-259-8727

Reformation Baptist Church

244 N. Hamilton St, 30720

706-314-8711

Rocky Face Baptist Church

1544 Rocky Face Railroad St, 30740

706- 226-5751

Salem Baptist Church

1448 Pleasant Grove Dr, 30721

706-259-7045

South Dalton Baptist Church

498 Lakemont Drive, 30720

706-278-4946

Shiloh Baptist Church

2014 East Waugh St, 30721

706-226-5981

Temple Baptist Church

2310 South Dixie Hwy, 30720

706-226-6785

Valley Baptist Church

2907 Old Rome, 30720

Welcome Hill Baptist Church

2772 E Welcome Hill Circle, 30721

706-278-0368

Whitfield Baptist Church

2134 Dug Gap Rd, 30721

706-278-6776

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

901 West Emory St, 30720

706-278-8857

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

610 Shugart Rd, 30720

706-278-5295

Lutheran

Christ the King Lutheran Church

623 S Thornton Ave, 30720

706-278-3979

Methodist

Bethel AME Church

620 Spring Street, 30720

706-226-2714

Bethel UMC

123 Bethel Church Rd, 30721

706-278-3309

Dalton First UMC

Bible

Fellowship Bible Church

2044 Dug Gap Rd, 30720

706-278-6269

Catholic

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church

968 Haig Mill Lake Rd, 30720

706-278-3107

Christian

First Christian Church

1506 Dug Gap Rd, 30720

706-278-7244

Church of Christ

Central Church of Christ

515 N. Tibbs Rd, 30720

706-278-8051

Riverbend Church of Christ

2218 S Riverbend Rd, 30721

706-226-0819

Church of God

Church of God of Union Assembly

2311 South Dixie Rd, 30720

706-275-0510

City View Church of God

3688 Chatsworth Hwy, 30721

706-226-6686

Crosspointe

2681 Underwood Street 30721

706-278-2649

Lifegate Church

2744 Cleveland Highway, 30721

706-259-0016

Valley Brook Church of God

1474 Mineral Springs Rd, 30720

706-279-3296

Community

Church on the Hill

1035 Abutment Rd, 30721

706-278-9208

Community Fellowship Church

409 North Fredrick St, 30721

706-278-3204

Freedom Community Church

908 Elk Street, 30720

706-463-2690

Rock Bridge Community Church 121 W Crawford St, 30720

Episcopal

500 South Thornton Ave, 30720

706-278-8494

Dawnville UMC

1529 Spring Ln NE, 30721 706-259-5342

Fairview UMC

735 Riverbend Rd, 30721

706-996-5057

Five Springs UMC

2823 Five Springs Rd, 30720

706-277-3928

Mineral Springs UMC

4079 Airport Road, 30721

706-517-0200

Mt. Vernon UMC

597 Lafayette Road

Rocky Face, GA 30740 706-673-4667

New Haven UMC

4040 South Dixie Highway, 30721 706-217-1879

Pleasant Grove UMC 2701 Cleveland Highway, 30721 Sugar Valley UMC 503 Murry Hill Dr, 30720 706-280-9112

Trinity UMC 901 Veterans Dr, 30721 706-278-4042

Varnell United Methodist Church 3485 Highway 2 Cohutta, 30710 706-694-8023

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 Abundant Life Bible Church 901 Chester Road, 30721 706-270-9733

Bridging the Gap Ministries 514 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 30721 706-277-7575

Relentless Worship Center

210 Robinwood Dr, 30721

706-313-1129

Cornerstone Family Church

1240 Dawnville Rd, 30721

706-259-8509

Dalton House Of Prayer

897 College Dr, Conference Rm 3, 30720

706-915-6545

Good Neighbors Church

910 South Thornton Ave, 30720

706-226-0846

Gospel Light Tabernacle

804 Sheridan Ave, 30721

Grace Fellowship Ministries

620 N Glenwood Ave 2&3, 30721

706-280-1375

Northwest Christian Fellowship

272 Main St, Varnell, GA 30756

706-694-9830

River of Life Church of Dalton

2919 East Walnut Ave, 30721

706-965-6683

Saint James Overcoming Church

400 North Fredrick St, 30721

706-278-0319

Tunnel Hill Community Church

706-673-4022

121 North Varnell Road

Tunnel Hill, GA 30755

Pentecostal

Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Fuente de Agua Viva

1007 Underwood St, 30721

706-278-4963

La Senda Antigua

308 East Matilda St, 30720

706-270-8826

True Gospel Pentecostal Church

109 South Henderson St, 30721

706-278-5696

Shadow Ridge Worship Center

122 Wheat Drive

Varnell, GA 30721

706-280-4546

Presbyterian

ChristChurch Presbyterian

510 South Tibbs Rd, 30720

706-529-2911

First Presbyterian Church

101 S. Selvidge St, 30720

706-278-8161

Grace Presbyterian Church

2107 Threadmill Rd, 30720

706-226-6344

Salvationalist

Salvation Army

1109 N. Thornton Ave, 30722

706-278-3966

Seventh Day Adventist

3 Angels Hispanic SDA

701 E Morris St, 30721

706-618-1182

Dalton Hispanic SDA

112 W Long St, 30720

706-275-0523

Dalton SDA Church

300 South Tibbs Rd, 30720

706-226-2166

Chatsworth Church Directory

Baptist

Blue Ridge Primitive Baptist Church

706-517-9849

134 Hyden Tyler Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Calvary Baptist Church

706-695-7747

Highway 225 North

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Center Hill Baptist Church

706-695-7988

65 Berry Bennett Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Cisco Baptist Church

706-695-9270

Highway 411 North

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Cool Springs Baptist Church

706-517-5388

Holly Creek Cool

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Fellowship Baptist Church

706-695-2626

4396 Highway 52

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

First Baptist Church

706-695-2112

121 West Market Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Flat Branch Baptist Church

706-695-2663

3443 Highway 286

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Free Hope Baptist Church

706-695-3717

4176 Highway 76

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Holly Creek Baptist Church

706-695-8522

422 Holly Creek

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Liberty Baptist Church

4221 US-76,

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Little Consauga Baptist Church

706-517-5733

1100 Sugar Creek

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Maranatha Baptist Church

706-695-6330

Highway 225 South

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Mount Pisgah Baptist Church

706-517-8944

2309 Old Highway 411

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Murray Baptist Church

706-695-9712

508 West Peachtree Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

New Hope Baptist Church

706-517-3089

1273 New Hope Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

New Prospect Baptist Church

706-629-9521

7629 Highway 225

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Old Fashion Baptist Church

706-695-5420

885 Ben Adams Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Open Air Ministries

706-386-484

1058 Mtn Crest Dr.

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Prayer Baptist Church

706-624-9216

10859 Hwy. 225 South

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Shinning Light Baptist Church

706-517-1739

801 North 5th Avenue

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Smyrna Baptist Church

706-695-5815

1913 Smyrna Church Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Spring Place Baptist Church

706-695-5532

441 Highway 225 South

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Strait Way Baptist Church

706-517-2861

508 West Peachtree Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Total Praise Baptist Church

706-695-6441

1461 Greeson Bend Rd,

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Zion Hill Baptist Church

706-517-5913

Highway 225 North

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Bible

Grace Bible Church

2599 Leonard Bridge Rd.

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Church of Christ

Woodhaven Church of Christ

706-847-7400

508 West Peachtree Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Church of God

Chatsworth Church of God

706-695-9388

Highway 411 South

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Central Community Church

706-695-4242

60 Pine Hills Drive

Chatsworth, GA 30705

Spring Place Church of God

706-695-8000

717 Tibbs Bridge Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Full Gospel

Faith Worship Center

706-695-6866

189 Hyden Tyler Road

Chatsworth GA 30705

House Of Prayer

616 Jenkins Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Methodist

Casey Springs UMC

7250 Chastworth Highway South

Chastworth, GA 30705

Center Valley UMC

706-971-4646

5394 Highway 225 North

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

First United Methodist Church

706-695-3211

107 W Cherokee Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Fullers Chapel UMC

532 Cook Drive

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Mineral Springs UMC

71 North Way St

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Spring Place UMC

706-695-5143

Po Box 248

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Non-Denominational

God’s Light House

784 Smyrna Church Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705

The Church of God of the Union Assembly at Chatsworth, GA

706-695-7335

Highway 52 Alternate

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Liberty Tabernacle

706-517-3140

2196 Smyrna Church Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Living Word Christian Fellowship

706-695-5005

960 Cherokee Drive

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

New Beginnings Ministries

706-695-6067

646 Floodtown Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

North Gate Church

706-548-4967

7727 Highway 225 South

Chatsworth, GA 30755 US

Tabernacle of Praise

706-517-0377

1435 Leonard Bridge Road

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Wings Of Faith Ministries

706-695-1527

1122 North Holly Drive

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Pentecostal

Victory Tabernacle

706-517-1458

355 Ellijay Street

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

A Place to Worship

706-517-8568

259 Old Landfill Rd

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Presbyterian

Sumach Presbyterian Church

706-695-4773

2089 Sumach Church

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

Seventh Day Adventist

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

706-517-5124

1115 Highway 52

Chatsworth, GA 30705 US

All Things Are Possible

by Kristen West

Have you ever noticed that the Bible is full of “impossible” stories? Had they been published in an ancient newspaper, I can imagine some of the bold headlines reading:

Noah and His Family Survive Destructive Worldwide Flood!

Puny Shepherd Boy Annihilates Battle-Hardened Giant!

Man Trapped Overnight with Lions Lives to Tell About It!

EMPTY Tomb Discovered?!?

You’d be hard pressed to find a story in the Bible where a country, a people, or an individual wasn’t boxed in at one time or another. Solutions proved to be out of their reach. Their circumstances seemed bleak. It always appeared like the end was near, unavoidable, and without hope.

Yet, time after time, these stories get to a point where all the struggles, white-knuckle moments, and intense perplexity and pain is turned on its head as God moves, intervenes, and does the impossible.

The Bible—God’s incredible written Word to us—is a faithbuilding book. From cover to cover, it is packed with stories intentionally meant to grow and challenge us in our daily spiritual walk. The crux of every impossible story, when believed, continually reminds us that in our own strength, we are powerless. But God is not. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Maybe you feel like you’re drowning in your own personal flood right now, unable to see how things will ever get better. Perhaps you are facing your own personal giant who challenges you with taunts, guilt, and ridicule as he tempts you to think you’ll never get passed him. God knew we would need those faithboosting stories (and promises) about the impossible to spur us on in our own lives.

What is your “impossible” today, friend? Whatever it is, He already sees, cares, and is there with you. Roll

up your sleeves and dig in to some of those incredible faith-boosting stories so that just like Noah, David, Daniel, and Jesus, you can face your impossible with utter dependency on God as you believe today that with Him all things ARE possible!

Church Activities & Events

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Music at St. Paul’s: Seth Parker Woods

Friday, March 3 | 7:30PM - 9PM

305 W 7 th St, Chattanooga, TN

Parkway Baptist Temple

Primitive Quartet Farewell Tour

Saturday, March 4 | 6:30PM - 7:30PM

65 Stuart Rd, Fort Oglethorpe, GA

Christ the King Lutheran Church

La Leche League of Dalton

Tuesday, March 14

623 S Thornton Ave, Dalton, GA

Christ First Church

C1 Youth Meeting

Wednesday, March 15 | 6:30PM - 8PM

5994 Martha Berry Hwy, LaFayette, GA

Marriage—A Profound Mystery

by Matt Jensen

“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Family is the most important unit in society and the Church. Societies and churches are made up of families. Marriage—the covenant bond between one man and one woman until death—is the most important unit of the family. Without biblical marriage, families derail from God’s good

Women have an indispensable role in this task (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Finally, marriage is a supremely intimate relationship. It’s described as being naked and unashamed (Genesis 2:25). To know and love another completely in a physical and spiritual sense. To be one in communion even as you are one in union. This is the marvelous intimacy of a godly marriage. Paul can only call it a mystery! This mystery calls us to action.

A man must leave his father and mother. Not in an absolute sense, as if he can’t have anything to do with them anymore. It means that he leaves the authority of his parents’ house to become the head of a new family. This doesn’t exclude seeking advice, but much damage is done when a man slavishly follows the wishes of his parents to the detriment of his own family. Likewise, a woman is to leave her parents, and the two are to hold fast to one another. The moment you say, “I do,” your relationship with your spouse becomes your highest priority, second only to your relationship with God. It’s more important than your relationship with your work, parents, or even your kids. This is what it means to leave and hold fast to your spouse.

design. When families derail, societies and churches derail. There is much at stake here!

Not unhitching himself from the Old Testament, Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, saying, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The context of Genesis 2:24 reveals some important things about marriage.

First, God made man and woman in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Maleness and femaleness are not fluid. They’re not socially constructed. Maleness and femaleness are God’s chosen way of manifesting His own glory in and upon human beings. Secondly, woman was created as a suitable helper for man (Genesis 2:23). The task of filling and subduing the earth was primarily given to man; thus, the responsibility falls more heavily upon his shoulders. However, man can’t do it alone.

The staggering mystery and dignity of marriage is that it “refers to Christ and the Church.” It’s not merely for human flourishing. It’s a picture or living representation of the relationship between Christ and his Church. Christ was born, lived, died, and rose again for his Church. He enters an unbreakable covenant with Her sealed with His own blood and merit. The marriage has been established (union), and life with Christ has begun (communion). Christian, Christ knows everything about you and loves you! You may be reading this because you’re interested in marriage, but if you don’t know Christ, that needs to be your top priority. Knowing Christ is not the means to a good marriage. Marriage—as wonderful as it is—points to something greater than itself—a union and communion with God that is not ‘til death do us part. Death only ushers in the eternal celebration (Revelation 19:6-9)! Repent and believe the gospel.

Matt Jensen is a missionary from Reformation Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia. He and his wife, Danielle, are preparing to move to Thailand soon with their son, Judah. They are also anticipating the birth of another son, Gabriel.

onate today at our store donation center at our Dalton located at the old Food City on Cleveland Hwy!

America's Thrift Stores makes it convenient to clean out your closet and gives you a great reason to do it! Feel good about having a clean closet and helping kids!

Good or Best?

by Monica Gambrell

As a businesswoman and parent of more than a few children, I am constantly performing cost-benefit analyses. My husband used to poke fun at me for creating a spreadsheet to keep track of Christmas spending for each child; I wanted to make sure everyone was treated fairly! Life in this world is not necessarily fair. But as Christians, we know our corporeal existence is not to be used as a measure of fairness. We sometimes have multiple options for the solution to a challenge. There are times when options present themselves in such rapid succession that all we can do is hang on and hope we made the right decision in the moment.

Our backyard was completely wooded, and my sons stayed outdoors most of the time, weather permitting. There was a particular time that I remember having to make a split-second decision that my children still laugh at even now. My kitchen window faced the backyard, and I watched pretty intently as Daniel and David played, digging with sticks in the dirt. Unfortunately, Daniel stirred-up a nest of yellow-jackets. He ran full throttle toward the back door away from the bees, but they were angrily swarming all around him as he ran. I saw him coming and met him at the door. When my children are telling this story, they say I, “Sparta-kicked Daniel out the back door.” It could be that they are dramatizing the story a bit—maybe. But I absolutely did get Daniel out the door. My instantaneous reasoning was that I had several other children in the house I did not want exposed to that swarm of bees, so I felt justified to

do whatever was needed to protect as many of them as possible. Right?

Were there other, maybe more gentle ways of approaching this problem? Most likely, yes. But don’t we all make decisions we can more fully judge when we have different circumstances: more time, less stressed, less pressured, etc.? We sometimes agree to do very good things, but they are not necessarily the best things. Can I send a check to many ministries with worthy causes? Maybe, but is that the best use of my resources? Maybe not. We are so scattered, allowing life to take us on a ride. But if we live our lives with purpose for Christ, we end up taking life for a ride instead. How do we determine what is best rather than just good? God never wastes a hurt, so take your pain, experiences, and joy, and think through how God has uniquely created you and led you in specific ways. You may find that you have a burden for: single mothers, children, the aged, or any other myriad of people-groups. Following God in my purpose is always initiated by God but ignited by my obedience. Don’t go your own way asking God to join you. Find where God has gifted you and is leading you, and join Him there! That is truly what’s best!

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

Father God, we are a lazy people. It is so much easier to sit back and deal with things as they come. We put out a fire, and another one pops up. It is an overwhelming joy to work for Your kingdom within the path You set for us. May we always choose what is best over what is good.

What Are You Thinking?

by Susan Lavigne

Maybe you are like me and have a hard time anticipating a positive outcome to an event. My mind can easily lapse into negative thinking. While I was teaching a conflict management class, I learned that actions are rooted in thoughts that happen so quickly that we sometimes act “without thinking” or analyzing our thoughts. I realized that if I could consciously change my negative thoughts to positive ones, my actions and reactions would also be more optimistic. When we slow down our thinking, there are basically three steps that lead to our actions.

Step by Step:

1. Facts: We see and hear what is going on.

2. Story: Then, we tell ourselves a story about the facts based on our beliefs.

3. Action: Then, based on our story, we respond.

Of these three, the key step is the story we tell ourselves. Our story is influenced either positively or negatively by our prior experiences or our beliefs. However, I have discovered that I can tell myself a different story if I choose. Here’s an example from my own life.

Presently, I am a member of the Rome Toastmasters group. In 2000, the group encouraged and selected me to participate in a speech contest. There were two other competitors from different Toastmaster’s clubs also participating. When the winners were announced, I came in third out of the three participants. My step-by-step reaction was:

1. Facts: I came in third with three competitors.

2. My Story: “I am a total loser and terrible speaker.” (Negative view)

3. My Action: I was discouraged and didn’t compete in another speech contest for four years.

Now, I could have told myself a more positive story from the same set of facts. I could have encouraged myself

knowing that my club selected me to represent them at this contest because they had confidence in my ability. I could have further built myself up by realizing that each person competing came from clubs comprised of 25 members like my club, so that I actually came in third out of 75 members. That is a much more positive perspective! Also, I could have commended myself for even having the courage to compete in my very first speech contest.

Maybe it’s time to pause and think about what we are thinking. When I came in third at the speech contest, I initially told myself that I was a loser, but today I will follow Paul’s instructions in Romans and tell myself a different story. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (NKJV). God desires for us to examine our thoughts and tell ourselves a positive story based on “His good and perfect will” for our lives.

Susan Lavigne attends Cornerstone Church. She is a Christian speaker and songwriter. Feel free to contact her at susanclavigne@gmail.com.

Blanca’s Appliances and Furniture

Shopping for new furniture is not something that is always easy or fun. In fact, it can be stressful at times when trying to figure out what you want and what seems comfortable, not to mention being constantly interrupted by multiple salespeople! At Blanca’s Appliances and Furniture, you will not only find everything you are looking for but you will also be greeted by wonderful employees who are there to help you with all of your questions and furniture needs.

Blanca’s Appliances and Furniture is a locally owned family business. They take pride in everything that they sell, and they are here to serve their customers. They offer great prices on good furniture and appliances that will serve you and your family well for years to come. In addition to selling nice furniture

and appliances at good prices, they also offer financing for those who may need to finance their next purchase.

They offer a variety of furniture and appliances, so Blanca’s can be your one-stop shop. They sell beds, bedroom sets, living room sets, recliners, coffee tables, dining room sets, mattresses and more. In addition to all of the furniture that they offer, they also sell various appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, freezers and more! If you are looking for something specific, be sure to stop by frequently, as their inventory is constantly changing, and they get new items in often.

Blanca’s top priority is to please their customers. They won’t be happy unless you’re completely satisfied with your purchase! They offer 100 days same as cash with only $39.00 down for many of their items, with no credit needed and no interest fees. So, the next time you are looking for new furniture or appliances, be sure to stop by Blanca’s Appliances and Furniture.

They have three convenient locations to serve you and your family in Dalton, Georgia (406 4th Ave, Dalton, GA, and 224 N Glenwood Avenue, Dalton, GA), and East Ridge,

Also, be sure to check out their business on Facebook as well, where they will respond to your questions and give you any information you may need!

’ s APPLIANCES & FURNITURE

Tennessee (5736 Ringgold Rd, East Ridge, TN).

Blanca

The Gentle Giant

by Rhonda Beavers

Iwas recently privileged to witness an act of a husband’s love for his wife. A young married couple who lived next door to me were expecting their third child who was due in one of the hottest months of the year, and was coincidentally my birthday.

One warm summer day after the husband returned home from work, instead of resting from his labors, he joined his small wife in her walk around the oval shaped walkway in the courtyard of our apartment complex. He towered over her, not in a threatening way, but as her protector. The wife had been doing a lot of these walks recently, probably having been prescribed by her doctor.

On this occasion, the couple strolled leisurely around the oval with her small hand tenderly tucked into her husband’s folded arm to steady her gait, which was affected by the weight of their unborn son. She would gaze up into his eyes and he into hers as they joined in deep conversation. Who knows about what they spoke—plans for the

new baby, discussions about the older children’s school performance, or even their plans for a home of their own. Maybe they discussed how to bear the weight of the responsibility of being good parents.

I watched them unobserved for quite a while, drinking in the sweetness of the moment. This walk was a reminder of how Christ loves us.

Ephesians 5:25 states, “Husbands love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Although He is much bigger than us in every way, He is a gentle giant. He gazes down to look into our hearts, to listen to our every word, to our every problem, and steady us when we stumble. All we need to do is to take His arm.

H.O.P.E. Helps

by Sandra Gilmore

Where do I start? Are you feeling overwhelmed, a bit beat down, somewhat stagnant? Let’s find some HOPE.

Have you ever heard of “Heed Other People’s Experiences”? It’s a quick acronym to get motivated, to get moving forward. Life comes at us fast. Other times, it comes very slowly. Some days we are ready for progress. Yet, opportunities seem distant and difficult to reach. Other days, life comes crashing on our heads like we’ve opened a closet that’s too full and unorganized. We need HOPE.

lost battles, and won battles that didn’t even feel like victories. He kept praising! (See the Psalms)

*Deborah charged forth into battle as a leader when others disregarded her expertise simply because of her gender (Judges 4-5).

*Early in his relationship with Jesus, Peter bragged about his loyalty then buckled under the pressure within hours. Later, his loyalty was exemplary (Matthew 26:69-75).

*Saul—who was later known as Paul—thought he knew it all, until his experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Humility underscored the rest of his life. Yet, the Lord wrote much of the New Testament through Paul’s letters to encourage Christians.

This same Saul who persecuted Christians later mentored them, including one young man named Timothy. Paul writes to his young friend in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

We don’t have to make all the mistakes to learn. We don’t have to struggle all the struggles to know what happens on the other side. We can look to others who have blazed trails. But I don’t have time to listen to all those inspirational podcasts. I don’t have funds to attend all those workshops or seminars.

Flip a light switch. Remember scientists and inventors who developed lightbulbs and harnessed electricity? Crank a vehicle. Recall the early pioneers of “horseless carriages”? Hear a few bars of graduation theme music? Honor those who have passed all the courses in a program. They kept at it until the goal was reached. We can too.

So, who do I look to? Lots of examples of Heeding Other People’s Experiences can be found in the Bible. The Bible records fellow strugglers who kept focused on the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27).

*David kept praising God in the tough times. He lost a child, had marital troubles, struggled through family dynamics,

Paul was particularly selective in his word choice. The word “timidity” (deilia in the Greek) implies an insecurity. Apparently, Timothy (which means “honoring God”) had let fear and insecurity slip in his thoughts, holding back his gifts. “Timothy” and “timidity” start the same, but they don’t end the same! Paul’s encouragement spurred Timothy to keep honoring God by releasing the gifts inside him.

Has insecurity tied the bow too tightly on your gifts too? Are you struggling to unwrap your talents and pursuits? Take HOPE (Heed Other People’s Experiences). Study how other folks pushed through to build their businesses. Investigate how they overcame hurdles. Search out ways to break down projects into manageable portions. As you work through your goals and challenges, remember His step-by-step promise:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Sandra Gilmore serves the Lord as wife, mom, and encourager, mostly through writing and speaking, occasionally through cooking, rarely through anything athletic and only because of the mercy and grace of Jesus. You can reach her by email: tandsgilmore@yahoo.com or her website: www.sandragilmore.org

A New Heart

by David Huff

Ilove springtime; birds start chirping and frolicking in the yard, grass turns green, and trees start blooming again. New life begins to spring up everywhere. For many plants, animals, and humans, it is a fresh beginning and an opportunity for something new. Spring often makes me think of the creation story. God is creating everything from nothing. There is a part of the creation story that I am afraid many of us have forgotten.

3, He calls out, “Where are you?” Firstly, this lets us know that Adam and Eve were used to communing with God in the garden because they hid when they head His footsteps. Secondly, this tells us that even though God knew what had happened, He still went looking for His creation. That is the beauty of the creation story that is still present today.

God looked at everything that He had just created: water, land, trees, animals, man and woman, and He pronounced, “It is good.” God was well pleased with what He had created. Every time I see new life forming in the springtime, I wonder what Eden was like when God finished creating the Earth. We know He said, “It is good,” but how peaceful was it for Adam and Eve communing with the living God?

In the Genesis account, we are given a sample of what Eden felt like. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God walked through the garden to look for them. In Genesis

God, in all His glory, knows each of us sins and falls short of His glory. Yet He still seeks us, He still searches for us, and He still wants to heal us. Are we like Adam and Eve and try to hide from God’s presence because of our sin? He already knows them. Do you remember the story of Jonah, who tried to run away from God and found himself in the stomach of a great fish? King David was not a perfect king by any means. He had a sin problem, and yet David is known as a man after God’s own heart. Why? King David cried out to God, “Search me and create a new heart in me.” He also asked God to seek him.

It is never too late to start over, and it is never too late to ask forgiveness as long as you are still alive. The very God that created each one of us is waiting on us, seeking us, and is calling us to Himself. May we stop hiding from the God who loves us so much, open our hearts, and allow God to create a new heart in each one of us.

My name is David Huff, and I am married to Brittany and together we have five wonderful kids. We attend Rock Bridge Community Church Calhoun where I serve on the prayer team, host team, and production team. I am also a senior at Liberty University.

No Man Is an Island

by Beth Penny

The phrase “No man is an island” was coined by scholar and poet turned church cleric, John Donne, in his poem: “No man is an island; entire of itself. Every man is a piece of a continent; a part of the main…” His argument is people are at their best when working with others rather than in isolation. Every person is an individual piece of humanity. Look ahead 200 years to 1816, and 18-year-old Mary Shelley pens Frankenstein, which is not the story of an iconic horror monster who has bolts in his neck and walks stiff-legged with outstretched arms. It is a classic story of companionship versus isolation. Stories of friendship and camaraderie are as old at time…for a reason.

Companionship is a basic human need right behind food, water, and shelter. God perfectly designed us that way. In the very beginning, Genesis

2:18 reminds us that God created woman as a companion for man. “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” God created Eve not only as a wife for Adam but also as a companion. There are so many sociological theories on the importance of relationships. Helen Fien, a sociologist specializing in human rights and genocide relating to the Holocaust, put forth a theory of human behavior called The Universe of Obligation. This describes a hierarchy of caring. Who belongs in your “inner circle,” and who do we have a responsibility to in our ranked circles?

We see many times throughout the Bible how all different relationships are so important. We see not only examples of marriage relationships but also familial and friend relationships: Ruth and Naomi, David and

Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, Moses and Aaron; the list goes on and on. Lasting bonds in all relationships are created through trust and loyalty. Proverbs 17:17 advises us, “A friend loves us at all times; and a brother is born for times of need.”

That’s companionship in the condensed version. We need a circle of friends, family, and loved ones around us to share in times of joy and need. There are always both happiness and struggles, and having more than one

person to share a burden lightens the load and allows more for a joyful celebration.

Remember how important all your relationships are in your everyday lives. Take care of your circle and treasure those around you. “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-38).

Beth Penny has taught English at Model High School since 1997. There she is also the Yearbook adviser and the Special Education Department Chair. She and her husband, Chad, have four children.

Sitting Duck

by Karla Smedley

How ignorant are we to simply sit stagnant, making us an easy target to be tempted by Satan? God’s Holy Word states no one is immune to the temptations of Satan, and yet, we often sit still, like a duck waiting for the hunter to take his shot. Will you sit like a dumb duck, or will you take action and protect yourself?

Take A Page from Dobson’s Book

Have you ever read a line that sticks with you forever? I gleaned one such thought that has resonated with me for over twenty years. In James Dobson’s book, Coming Home: Timeless Wisdom, he creates the image of a couple sitting on a lake in separate row boats. As the title indicates, he shares wise words, hoping the reader will apply them to his/her own life. He draws the picture of the separate boats drifting apart because neither of the rowers are willing to put in the effort to move toward one another—just sitting like ducks with a target on their backs. While motionless, Satan will tempt them, and if they act upon these temptations, they will actually shift further away in the opposite direction. He suggests that both are in control of their boat and should pursue action, intentionally rowing to one another.

Applying to My Relationship with God

What a wonderful comparison for a stagnant marriage. However, couldn’t this be said about our relationship with God? God does pursue us. In the book of Matthew, he shares the parable that Jesus told concerning the shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine, seeking to gather the one sheep that is lost! Yes, God would row towards me while I chase after a temptation that Satan has baited me with. Sometimes, I fall for his methods: hook, line, and sinker. More often though,

I find myself just sitting there like that ignorant duck resisting Satan’s blatant temptations, but making no movement toward God. Thus, I drift away from Him whenever Satan tosses a pebble, one of his less subtle allures, in the pond, causing me to drift with the ripples. When I give in to his coaxing, my boat weighs more, producing increased difficulties in managing the oars to draw closer to Him.

The Good News

There is a way to find my way back to God. Dump the contents of my sin out of my boat, and turn toward Him.

• Ask for forgiveness and repent

• Know that God forgives as far as the East is to the West

• Remember God loves me

• Pray, asking God to help me feel His presence

• Read His word and seek His wise ways

• Apply this wisdom to my life, overcoming my consequences

• Learn from my mistakes and strive to live like Jesus more each day

Ditch that sitting duck attitude and migrate towards the Lord. You will be surprised by the peace you will find when you cultivate your relationship, rowing toward God every day.

Karla Smedley lives in Dalton, Georgia, where she has taught 5th through 8th grade for the past twenty-four years. She is a member of Emmaus Baptist Church and has two grown children. She enjoys singing with the praise team at church, and she writes a Christian blog, Smorgasbord of Sisterhood, with her cousin Donna. About The Author

The Master’s Voice

by Brent Goodge

Have you ever ridden the emotional roller coaster? It seems we all experience the feeling sometimes. One moment life is great. The next, the entire world seems to come caving in around us. As Christians, we all want to put on good faces. We polish up our testimony of broken lives before we met Christ and how everything is different now. And in the best sense, that is, or at least should be, true. If the peace offered to us in Christ doesn’t change the entire outlook of our existence, there’s a serious problem.

But often in our quiet moments, when we don’t have to be strong, how often do we see the waves of life crashing around us and wonder, “Why?” Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6 tell a story to remind us this question is not new.

Almost a year earlier, Jesus had angered the religious leaders by clearing the temple of their profiteering (John 2). Jesus had recently been rejected by his childhood friends and neighbors (Mark 6). John the Baptist had just been beheaded (Matthew 14). And of the relatively few who believed in Jesus, many would be turning against Him within 24 hours (John 6).

In the midst of all the failures to obtain popular support to make Jesus king, the feeding of the five thousand seemed to the disciples to be the perfect opportunity. Jesus took a small boy’s lunch and fed close to twenty thousand people. A leader who could feed vast armies, heal the wounded, and even raise the dead was a leader who could restore Israel to the top of the Mediterranean food chain.

The disciples’ hopes rose to a fevered pitch. This was the moment! Their dreams were coming true. They were no longer following a no-name. They were going to be the cabinet for the new King of Israel.

And then Jesus messed everything up. He told the disciples to take a boat across the lake. Jesus dispersed

the crowd. And then He disappeared up the hill to pray alone. The disciples were crushed. The opportunity had vanished. They sullenly left the dock for the opposite shore. A terrible storm arose. The storm was so severe that even these seasoned sailors were sure all hope was lost. They were going to die. And then they saw it. They weren’t sure what it was, but Something or Someone was walking on the water. Then It spoke. “Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Inside the boat, Jesus asked, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

From the pride and jubilation of the afternoon, to the sullen disappointment of the evening, to utter despair of life itself in the storm, to solemn awe in the presence of the Master. The disciples had been through it all. When all hope had died, the voice of the Master changed their world. Will we, of little faith, allow His voice to change ours?

Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County and prays for focus to listen for the Master’s voice rather than staring at the surrounding waves.

Fear Not?...Not!

by Lori Sentell

We are reminded in Isaiah 41:10 that we are not to fear. This Scripture tells us that He is with us, yet, in our present world, we see ourselves and others around us experiencing fear. What can we do when everything we see and hear wants to evoke fear into our lives? We need to take a closer look at the Scriptures that can help us overcome fear in ourselves and others. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you: Be ye not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous hand.”

Our Heavenly Father does not want us to live in fear. He assures us that no matter the circumstance, He is ever present. He wants us to know that in the moments and times when fear tries to grip us, we are not to be consumed by it. He desires for us to realize that He is God and that we can cast every fear (care) upon Him. We cannot overcome it alone but can make it because of His promises. Knowing that He will help and strengthen us is so encouraging!

In Isaiah 43:1, the Word tells us, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

He reminds us so many times not to fear. He felt it was important and necessary to tell us so because

He knew that we would experience stress, worry, and even terror. Our life experiences can be treacherous and unpredictable. We all go through difficult times that are overwhelming. I think David understood this when he stood in front of Goliath that day. He knew that Jehovah God was with him. Others were in terror and fear as Goliath ridiculed them, yet he chose to fear not! David slew the giant that day because of his faith and trust in God.

We can see the giant of fear in our lives fall. Do not allow fear, worry, and anxiety to taunt you any longer. Refuse to give in, stand up in faith, and trust God to bring you through. Realize that you are His child, and He cares about every detail of your life. Share with others around you how the Lord has helped you trust more in Him. Fear not!

Lori Sentell is the pastor’s wife of Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, and she is a teacher at Hopewell Elementary School.

Springtime Lemon Cookies

Lemon cookies are the perfect treat to celebrate a spring day! We recommend sharing these cookies with a friend during your mid-afternoon coffee date, popping one in your child’s lunchbox for a mid-day surprise, or treating yourself to one (or maybe two) after a long day! If you try out this recipe at home, tag us on Facebook at Goodnews CM and let us know your thoughts!

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• ½ cup of all-purpose flour

• ½ cup of almond flour

• ¼ cup of tapioca flour

• ¼ cup of cane sugar

• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt

• ¼ cup of coconut oil

• 2 teaspoons of lemon zest

• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon of milk (or dairy-free milk alternative)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cane sugar, lemon zest, salt, and flour. Then, stir in coconut oil, lemon juice, and milk. Combine until all ingredients form a dough.

3. Place your mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes. This will help you roll out the dough easier!

4. Then, roll out your dough and use cookie-cutters to cut out as many cookies as possible. Place cookies on the parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes.

On My Mind

by Judy Hood

I woke up this morning with you on my mind

My feelings for you I just cannot hide

My faith grows stronger with each passing day

From your word, it’s my manna, you made a way

I look to the heavens looking for you

But there you are right beside me in everything I do

I will not fear as I walk through this life on earth

What can man do to me? You knew me before birth

Lord, you have loved me with an everlasting love

I can’t wait to get to heaven to give you a long-lasting hug

My love for you I’ll not be able to control as we stroll down those streets of gold

And I look upon your face your radiance to behold

Mission Statement:

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

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

Writer Guidelines:

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

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

Where: Please send submissions to articles.goodnews@gmail.com

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

More Than a Symbol

by Deck Cheatham

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry” (Matthew 4:1-2, NKJV).

The son, startled by the familiar voice, turned and locked eyes with his father. He had not known the father was watching. The father, ever concerned to ensure his son’s good comport, gestured toward the son with a seriousness demanding the son’s attention.

And isn’t this what God wishes from His children, to keep the focus on the Father? Isn’t this the Christian observance of Lent, to yield to the Father? Isn’t this what Jesus did in the wilderness, fast and pray and yield to His Father? Three times the devil tempted Jesus. Three times Jesus refused and spoke of the Father by what is written.

Lent is the time Christians remember Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Some remember their own wilderness. Some have yet to experience one. All are asked to remember their temptations and seek forgiveness for their sins. Lent is when Christians pause from the all-too-easy rote recitation of faith and daily living and are called to a deeper faith beyond the symbolic gestures of fasting. Facing God during Lent with anything less than earnest attention to my weakness and God’s grace suggests a falseness remains inside me. Redemption (the whole of Lent) demands a permanent fast from this falseness.

But I notice more. Jesus was obedient to God with every temptation. I get it was Jesus. If He had succumbed to the perceived human good Satan offered him, He would not be Jesus. But in the more, in the being of His life and in His obedience, I see the lesson I am to learn. The lesson calls me to more. Faith calls me beyond symbolism and rote recitation and child’s play. I am called to live a changed life.

But there is still more. “It is written,” Jesus repeated with each temptation. And here the Scripture tells me our Lord was prepared and possessed a foreknowledge that when temptation came, He could in all human weakness and spiritual strength say, “Away with you, Satan!” This is the strength I pray for in my weakness, the reason for daily devotion and preparation. Lent asks me to lock my eyes on the Father and to prepare for the temptation that

comes. And it always comes. And should not my fast, my dependence on God, my redemption, find permanence in my life?

George MacDonald wrote, “A man may see visions manifold, and believe them all…something more is needed—he must have that presence of God in his soul of which the Son of Man spoke, saying, ‘If a man loved me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’”

“For those who have ears to hear, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15, NKJV).

Deck Cheatham has been a golf professional for some 40 years. He lives with his family in Dalton. He is a guest columnist for the Rome News Tribune, The Daily Citizen, and the Calhoun Times. Email him at pgadeacon@gmail.com.

A Dead Heart Revived

by Sheneka Land

Irecognized the symptoms of my dying heart long before it hammered out what felt like its final beat. But I pushed on. Secretly I would tell myself, I don’t think I can take another rejective blow to my heart. One day I will no longer be able to hide the pain, and my heart will die.

No, I was not to die physically, but my wellspring of life seemed dried up, leaving me hopeless and disconsolate. Past trials can lead us in a struggle to please others, to fix ourselves so that our hearts and minds won’t continue to suffer abuse as in the past. We work hard to be liked, to

In fact, they may say something opposite or, even more painful, they may say nothing at all. We allow people to become the stronger voice in our lives, and we become discouraged and hopeless, maybe even questioning our very existence.

The road to discovering our identity in Christ is full of hills and valleys, and we will sometimes suffer injury. It may feel as if God has forgotten us, and we wonder why He does not rescue us or at least attend to our wounds. During a particularly difficult season in my life, I came close to giving up everything I had been working towards for years. I no longer desired to be a part of any faith community, and I began to find excuses to stay home from church each Sunday. It felt safer to exclude myself from the spiritual family so that I would not longer feel the pain of rejection and betrayal. I had been faithful in church attendance for many years, but I was exhausted, with no desire to do anything except to stay home to read, garden and enjoy my pets and family. My wellspring of life seemed to be dried beyond any hope of redemption or life.

make people laugh, and to be told that we are doing a good job. We long for others to affirm what God has already said.

As we age, we begin to view milestone events and chapters of transition to measure our worth, value, and success. Have we done well? What do others think of us?

Is what God said about me really true? We may draw an imaginary box in our minds, place those questions inside, and hope for certain answers to those questions that will meet our expectations—expectations that will finally bring us affirmation and acceptance that we have been searching for all our lives.

And then it happens…or maybe it’s better to say it does not happen. People do not say the same things God says.

I did indeed isolate for nearly three months, but eventually, I began to hear a gentle voice whisper: See Me. See My fingerprints on the canvas of your life. You are not who they say you are. Listen to Me. During this season, I prayed tearful and sometimes angry prayers, but eventually I began to feel the smile of God upon me, and I discovered hope and faith again.

Job 5:18 says, “For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole” (NKJV). May our futures not be shaped by our hurts but rather by our hope in God who desires to make us whole.

Sheneka Land is an ordained minister, community service chaplain, and a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary where she earned her MDiv. She is co-author of 8(pathwaybookstore.com). She and her husband, Jon, currently reside in Cleveland, TN. Sheneka can be found on Facebook at Strokes of Hope.

Beauty for Ashes

by Dorothy Teague

In January 2014, my oldest son passed on to Heaven due to a lengthy illness. In February, I was still reeling from losing him even though I knew he was with the Lord. I was up late one cold night and went to the fireplace to warm up. But I found only embers barely alive from the fire that had so recently burned bright and hot. As I stirred the dying embers, I heard God speak in my spirit clearly. He said, “Stir up the gift that is in you!” (2 Timothy 1:6). You see, I had spent many years caring for my son, especially the last year, and I had to put my singing and writing on hold. The Holy Spirit spoke to me in my time of mourning and gave me not only permission, but a directive to start using my gifts again for His glory. With each song I sang, my joy in the Lord returned.

Sometimes a crisis or tragedy happens in our lives, and it seems like God couldn’t possibly use us anymore to do His will. But God comes and stirs the ashes of our lives and creates new life within us. Isaiah 61:3 says, “To appoint unto them who mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah was delivering a message of hope to the nation of Israel. We, too, have that hope because we know that God never leaves us or

forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Psalm 147:3 tells us that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

I believe the gifts He endows us with at conception go with us throughout our lives so that we might point others to Him. People can be cruel to those who have slipped and fallen into sin or those they suspect have sinned. For some reason, they suddenly think that God doesn’t forgive and that a person shouldn’t work within their gifting anymore. Jesus had something to say about this in John 8:7. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” People are quick to judge, it’s in our own sinful nature to do so, but God’s opinion is really the only one that counts! He takes the messiness of our lives and turns it into beauty for our good and His glory. Ashes, like trials, are useful. Ashes can be put in a garden to make the soil fertile to bring on new growth and life. That’s what God does with our tragedies; He uses them to help us grow in Him, though the growth does not feel very good at the time.

When you’re standing with the ashes of your life all around your feet, just remember that God can turn what looks like defeat into a triumph! He can give you a new beginning (Isaiah 43:19). God told me to stir up my dormant gifts, and then He ignited the fire, giving me new opportunities to share about what a good God He is! He can give you a beautiful new beginning too!

Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.