November 2022

Christian

DALTON & CHATSWORTH

About Us

WRITERS

Dr. Alan Hix

Beth Penny Brent Goodge David Huff Donald Cantrell Dorothy Teague Granger Hughes Jodi Varnado

Jonathon Wright Judy Hood Karla Smedley Katie Loveless Kaye Stein Kristen West Matt Jensen Regina Law Smith Sandra Gilmore Stephanie Daniels Terrie Ruff Zebbie Brewster

SALES Shane Franks 706-270-2410

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!

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.

GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk

The Family Supper Table by Donald Cantrell

GoodNews for Kids

8 Count Your Blessings by Katie Loveless

GoodNews Money Matters

10 How Long Will My Money Last? by Granger Hughes

GoodNews for Men

12 Did God Really Say...? by Brent Goodge

GoodNews for Women

14 Living Abundantly by Kristen West

GoodNews for Grandparents 18 Thank You Lord by Zebbie Brewster

GoodNews for Everyone

Are You Tilting at Windmills? by Dr. Alan Hix

GoodNews for Everyone 22 PS138V8 by Regina Law Smith

GoodNews for Health

Hamilton Health Care System New Telehealth Service

GoodNews Cover Story

America’s Thrift Stores

GoodNews for Everyone

How Do You Pray? by David Huff

GoodNews for Everyone

30 Forgetting What’s Behind by Jonathon Wright

GoodNews for Everyone

32 Is God One Person? by Matt Jensen

GoodNews for Everyone

34 While He Was Thinking by Sandra Gilmore

GoodNews for Everyone

36 Rejoice In Your Harvest by Stephanie Daniels

GoodNews for Everyone

38 Best Plan: God’s Way by Karla Smedley

GoodNews for Everyone

40 Objects In the Mirror Are Smaller Than They Appear by Beth Penny

GoodNews for your Taste Buds

42 Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole Boats by Jodi Varnado

GoodNews Poetry

44 Thanksgiving Day by Judy Hood

GoodNews for Everyone

46 A Thankful Heart, For Real by Kaye Stein

GoodNews for Everyone

I Finally Got Over Myself! by Terrie Ruff

GoodNews for Everyone

His Story by Dorothy Teague

The Family Supper Table

by Donald Cantrell

Iremember it as if it happened yesterday. My daughter called my wife late at night in November 2019 and told her she felt as though she was going to die if she did not go to the E.R. My wife took her to the E.R., and while there, they treated her for an unknown illness—which would soon be known as Covid-19. After two trips to the doctor’s office and two trips to the E.R., Whitney finally got better, but they still had no clue as to why she was sick. It was during the spring of 2020 that news of the virus began to take hold of the world and life as we knew it seemed to change forever.

Due to the world being on lockdown, something good happened within our family—we were re-introduced to the supper table. As a pastor, I have had the good fortune of being able to work from home for the last twelve years. Because of that, it has been my pleasure to become a “cook.” Since most of the local eating places were off limits, I became the family chef, as I would have supper ready and waiting for everyone to come eat at our house.

Though the world was facing death and danger, our family of five found an oasis within the confines of our house, sitting around the supper table. Once everyone left work, they would arrive at our house one by one until my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were safely and happily eating and laughing at the table.

To be completely honest with you, I am not a chef because my forte is baking bread and crafting sumptuous desserts. During the past few years our family has tried all sorts of beans from the crockpot, pork chops that were baked in the oven, and even a “Tim Tebow Pizza” (although,

only my wife and I were fans of this awesome pizza; some people in my family are not cultured).

The beauty in all of this was simple—it was not about the food. The blessing of the virus driving the world into isolation was that our family became even closer as we would sit down each and every evening and share stories about our day. There was a sense of peace and pleasure in seeing everyone’s car pulling into our driveway because I knew that, once again, they had survived.

It was a blessing to sit around the family supper table watching as everyone set their worries and frustrations aside while eating some “good meals” and some “not so good meals.” One thing that was established within our family was once we sit down to eat, there is to be no talk of the virus. We celebrated another day of living. We live in a world of advanced technology, but one of the greatest inventions known to mankind is the family supper table.

About The Author

Donald Cantrell is a lifelong native of Murray county and has been pastoring and preaching since 1980. He has had the honor of publishing over thirty books and his sermon material is sold all over the world by various online companies. If you visit his house any weekend in the fall you will find them watching the “Florida Gators or the New England Patriots… Chomp Chomp.”

Count Your Blessings

by Katie Loveless

Have you ever heard the expression attitude is everything? Attitude really is important. The Bible says so in Proverbs 23:7, where we gain the phrase adapted from the KJV, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” We can believe the Bible. It tells us what is true about God and ourselves. The Bible tells us that the way we think will shape who we become and what we do. In other words, our thinking steers the direction of our hearts.

My middle son, Sawyer, came into my room with a Scholastic book. The book is written about different types of animal feet and has a very interesting cover of a boy with aardvark feet. Sawyer cannot yet read at four-years-old. He made an assumption about truth based on what he saw on the cover. He pointed at the animal feet, the boy on the cover, and the aardvark. He assumed the boy turned into an aardvark by touching the animal’s feet. That is not at all what the book says.

The book actually presents interesting facts about animal feet and stirs your imagination to think about what it would be like to have animal feet. In the case of the boy with the aardvark feet, he could quickly unearth buried treasure. However, we don’t need animal feet to uncover treasure. We can find it in our hearts by letting Jesus in. We can even find it in our own backyard by taking time to count our blessings.

My prayer for you as you take time to do this is for you to ask God to help you unearth truth. I pray you will dig into the word. I challenge you to learn from the Bible and its teachings so you can read for yourself what is true about God and you. Finding the truth is as simple as 1, 2, 3. If you are ready for adventure, take the 1, 2, 3 challenge below!

Challenge 1 Kids: Explore in your yard, at a park, or help a grown-up tend to a houseplant. As you do, take note of the shapes and edges of the foliage around you. Count your blessings for every point. For a leaf with 3 points, identify 3 things you are grateful for. For a leaf with 5 points, name 5 things you like.

Challenge 2 Jewels: Find a verse in the Bible that mentions counting, thankfulness, or discovery. What treasure did you find? What is the truth you found and want to keep?

Challenge 3 Keepers: Keep it in your heart. Pray about a person or thing you counted as a blessing. Make this month one where you ask God to bless and protect someone or something you discovered is a blessing in your life. Partner with a grown-up to help you pray or to talk about what God has put on your heart in prayer. Consider whether God is prompting you to serve with an act of kindness to keep the blessings coming.

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.

About The Author

How Long Will My Money Last?

Money Matters Granger Hugheswith

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This is a tough question many of us will ask at some point in our lives as we face many obstacles when planning for things like long-term care, taxes, potential market downturns, and even longevity risk.

Men at age 65 today can expect to live until age 84 on average, and women on average, until age 87. About one of every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and one of ten past 95.1

This poses a problem our parents or grandparents didn’t face—it’s a good problem, but a problem nonetheless. Let’s address strategies to combat these realities and work toward making your retirement income last 20 to 30 years!

Long-term care (LTC)

The average annual cost of LTC is $108,405.2 Someone turning 65 today has a 70% chance of needing some type of LTC.3 This means LTC is worth accounting for in our retirement plans. Let’s look at a few ways to do this.

Indexed universal life policy

This allows you to access the death benefit in the event you need LTC and are unable to perform two of the six activities of daily living (ADLs), like feeding, bathing, toileting, etc., and aren’t tied to certain care facilities. This money can also be used to build a handicap accessible home if you’d rather — it’s your choice.

Traditional LTC policy

This is a “use it or lose it” product with the potential of wasting money on something you may never need. A lot of these policies also restrict which care facilities you can use, which might be problematic for some.

LTC-focused financial vehicles

This would be utilizing an annuity with an LTC rider. This is a good option for someone who doesn’t want the “use it or lose it” strategy.

The key here is you aren’t qualifying from a health standpoint; however, if you tried to purchase an annuity and couldn’t perform two of the six aforementioned ADLs before you purchased it, the LTC rider wouldn’t be an option.

For example, let’s say you invested $300,000 that generated a lifetime income check of $2,000 a month. In the event you couldn’t

in the

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perform two of those six ADLs, your check would double to $4,000 a month for up to five years.

Taxes

We’ve been hardwired to reduce taxable income by loading our 401(k)s and other tax-deferred accounts, forgetting about our silent partner: the IRS. We must realize the risk of future tax hikes we may encounter with deferred funds due to outstanding and ever-increasing national debt. Here are some brief solutions.

Roth Conversion

You can convert money in a deferred account to pay the taxes now rather than later. There are no income limits to do this, but remember, you have to pay these taxes eventually!

Roth IRA

This takes a while to build up at $7,000 a year for those over 50 and comes with income limitations, which could be difficult for highincome earners.

Life Insurance Retirement Plan

This can be indexed and there are no contribution or income limits. Also, when you need the money, it can be withdrawn tax-free, if done correctly.

Market downturn

If you’ve been contributing to your retirement income for any amount of time, you know market downturn is always a risk. To better create a retirement income plan, it’s important to assess your risk tolerance by having your portfolio tested to discover your statistical risk versus reward. If you haven’t tested your portfolio, now is the time to do it. Many of us could be positioning ourselves to experience another 2008 and don’t even know it.

These are three key components to help ensure that we don’t run out of money. I urge you to take all into consideration when developing your retirement plan. Working alongside an experienced financial professional can help you explore your options and develop a plan that works for your retirement needs.

Remember: It’s not what we make, it’s what we keep that counts!

Did God Really Say…?

by Brent Goodge

There’s a story at the end of the book of Jeremiah that doesn’t often make it to the Bible bedtime storybooks. The story is touched on in five verses of 2 Kings (2 Kings 25:22-26), and the Chronicles don’t mention it. It’s the story of the “fortunate” Jews who survived the siege of Nebuchadnezzar and were not carried off to Babylon.

By direct order of Nebuchadnezzar himself, Jeremiah was released from prison after the Babylonian army took Jerusalem. Given the choice to travel to Babylon as a guest of Nebuchadnezzar or to stay behind with the other remaining Jews, Jeremiah chose to remain in Judah. He moved to Mizpah to live. There he joined Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed governor of the remaining people.

Read Jeremiah chapters 40-45 to get the entire story. In short, Gedaliah was murdered and the Jews remaining were at a loss for what to do. Some favored staying in Judah. Others favored escaping to Egypt in fear that Babylon would come to destroy them for the murder of Gedaliah.

Thankfully, Jeremiah was yet among them, and he could relate God’s instructions to them. Their request to Jeremiah could hardly have been more respectful. “Please let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God… that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do” (Jeremiah 42:2,3). When

Jeremiah promised to bring them God’s word, they added, “Let the Lord be a true and faithful Witness between us… whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 42:5,6).

Ten days later, Jeremiah brought them the word of the Lord. God instructed that the people stay in the land of Judah. God would move the heart of Nebuchadnezzar to spare them. Conversely, if they chose to go to Egypt, hardly any of them would survive to return. The devastation they were desperate to escape would find them in Egypt.

The leaders of the people, having already made up their minds to go to Egypt, proclaimed, “You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go into Egypt’” (Jeremiah 43:2). Having already promised to accept the word of the Lord through Jeremiah, they denied that God actually inspired the words His prophet was sharing with them.

There is a much older story that reveals where this attitude originated. About 3,500 years before Jeremiah, a snake waited in a tree. The snake was eating fruit that Adam and Eve had been forbidden to partake of. His conversation began with “Did God really say…?” and quickly moved to “You shall not surely die,” in direct contradiction to the word of God. Then he added that, through disobedience, Eve could become like God (Genesis 3:15). Satan inspired the Jews who rejected the word of Jeremiah.

Satan inspires all those today who, by their words and deeds implies the question, “Did God REALLY say…?”

Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County, and he wants the quote of his life to be like Jesus, “It is written…” rather than “Did God REALLY say…?”

About The Author

Living Abundantly

by Kristen West

Once upon a time, I was a single mother. Living paycheck to paycheck was the norm, ramen noodles was a gourmet meal, and thrift store clothing filled our closets. Taking care of my children’s basic necessities was my sole focus. I didn’t have the margin to lavish them with the hottest toys, coolest snacks, or nicest clothes. Our needs were always met.

The abundance Jesus is referring to here is the abundant life that can be found in Him. Abundant joy, abundant peace, abundant wisdom, and an abundance of God’s Spirit dwelling in us as we believe in Him.

And, herein lies the secret of how a single mother on welfare or a family living below the poverty line can have joy unspeakable and live from a spiritual place that surpasses the amassed prosperity of those on the Fortune 500’s Most Wealthy People in the World list.

Abundant life comes as we learn there is no worry He cannot carry, no heartache He cannot mend, and no fear He cannot handle. Yet, how often do we find ourselves acting like He’s the God of scarcity? The God of barely enough and meager handouts? The God who has control of the faucet but only turns it on enough to give us a trickle?

We just didn’t have the extra. It was during this season, though, when God taught us about abundance. It seems contradictory to the natural mind, I know, but with God all things are possible, right?

In John 10:10, Jesus proclaims that He came to give us life. He didn’t stop there, though. He went on to add that He would give us “…life more abundantly.”

So often, American Christianity has interpreted this verse to mean stacks of cash, the finest of clothes, and Car of the Year’s most trendy vehicle. But this promise goes so much deeper than the external abundance of possessions.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “…to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think…” Don’t settle for scarcity of peace, joy, or hope today, friend, when we serve a God who came to give us life more abundantly! Your bank account will never give you that. Doctor’s reports can never give you that. The newest, nicest, and best can never give you that. Only Jesus Christ can give you that.

About The Author

Kristen West works at Rock Bridge Community Church with a heart for staff leadership, development, and care. She is a communicator with a passion to inspire, encourage, and challenge others in their daily walk with Christ. She writes and publishes weekly content on her blog at kristen-west.com.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Tunnel Hill UMC

706-673-4022

121 North Varnell Road

Tunnel Hill, GA 30755

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

879 College Dr, 30720 Conference Room 3 706-313-1129

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

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

for

Grandparents

Thank You Lord

by Zebbie Brewster

Ihad gone to my husband’s doctor’s appointment with him. As I followed behind him, trying to find his doctor’s office, a sign in another doctor’s office caught my eye. It was a simple sign, but to me, it spoke volumes. It said, “Work Hard, Stay Humble, Be Kind.” I thought to myself, is that the secret to a successful life? I knew in my heart that I had fallen way behind in following those simple directions. The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Seeking God’s way for my life was always the right road to travel on, even though I knew there had been times I had veered off that path. My grandfather set the example for me as a child for how to walk with God and be successful for God.

My grandfather was always working hard at whatever job he was doing. From working in the hay field, to cutting fire wood, he worked hard at it. He was no shirker and got the job done. I loved to listen to him talk to God in prayer. He always said, “Thank You Lord, that everything is as well with us as it is.” As a child, hearing him say that in his prayers, I never fully understood the meaning behind it.

Life was not always easy, yet God was real in my grandfather’s life. He loved God and his family, and stayed faithful to the God who was faithful to him.

I remember how he would often visit my family after I had a family of my own. It seems that he would often forget his hat, which he always wore. That gave him an excuse to come back to get it and visit again. My mom told me that she and her dad were prayer partners. They would meet and have

prayer together. What a blessing that was to hear about! Praying for them was important. It also helped increase our faith as we saw their prayers come to fruition.

I am thankful God blessed me and allowed me to be born into a Christian home. Thank You Lord, that everything is as well with us as it is. For Lord, You truly are worthy of all our love and praise.

About The Author

Zebbie Brewster resides in Summerville, Georgia. She is an active member at Perennial Springs Baptist Church.

Church Activities & Events

Murray County Saddle Club

Relay For Life

Saturday, November 5 572 GA-52, Chatsworth, GA

New Life Baptist Church Appointed Quartet

Sunday, November 6 | 10:30AM

2620 Old Grade Rd, Dalton, GA

Carolyn Baptist Church Karen Peck & New River

Sunday, November 13 | 6PM

2305 Cleveland Hwy, Dalton, GA

Alder Way House of Prayer

Faithful Promise

Sunday, November 20 | 4PM

115 Alder Way, Resaca, GA

for Everyone

Are You Tilting at Windmills?

by Dr. Alan Hix

As we approach Thanksgiving, are the day-to-day challenges of life making it hard for you to get in a thankful mood? Let me tell you a story.

Don Quixote is a novel written by Miguel Cervantes in the early 17th century. In the story Alonso Quixano is a lowranking member of the Spanish nobility. As he approaches middle age, he imagines a life far more exciting than his mundane existence. Alonso dons a suit of armor and takes up a lance. In his new imagined life, he is a knight errant in search of adventure and glory.

In his quest for meaning and purpose, Alonso challenges peasants to duels and views inns as castles. In one of the more well-known parts of his story, he comes upon a group of windmills. However, for Alonso, they are giants that need vanquishing, so he charges them with his lance. You can imagine the outcome was not what he intended. Having been unhorsed, he believes that magicians changed windmills into giants to thwart his noble quest.

While we smile and chuckle at Alonso’s passion for a noble quest that exists only in his imagination, I wonder if sometimes we might find ourselves on an imagined quest of our own. I recently read a blog in which the author proposed that many Christians prefer a “comfortable” Christianity. He went on to argue that this longing for “comfort” can result in believers not being particularly excited about heaven or seeing God face to face.

I found myself saying, “Wait a minute; you can’t be serious?” However, the author argued that many Church members are too busy setting up their own “heaven on earth,” that they don’t have time to think about eternity. They busy themselves trying to check all the boxes on what they want out of life—impressive career, great marriage, good kids, perfect home, and countless other things. They find themselves imagining this is what life is all about.

Heaven and an eternity with God seem so distant that the issues of the moment take center stage in our lives.

As I sat down to write about Thanksgiving, this blog came to mind. When we focus on getting through the

challenges of a stressful work environment, difficult family situations, unrealized expectations, and a host of other things we pursue as we search for meaning and purpose in life, we imagine that this is what brings meaning and purpose to life, and we lose sight of God’s blessings and provisions. And like Alonso, we end up tilting at the windmills of earthly things that have no eternal value. No wonder we feel unfulfilled.

However, a thankful heart has a whole new set of priorities. When the Apostle Paul writes to the Colossian believers, he gives them—and us—a picture of what a life focused on eternal things looks like:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col. 3:15-17).

Now are you in the mood for Thanksgiving?

About The Author

Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.

for Everyone

PS138V8

by Regina Law Smith

Ihave always believed that God provides everything we need. He may not answer our prayers in the ways we want or on the timelines we expect, but He does answer. And every now and then, in the midst of daily living, we are allowed a powerful glimpse of our Father’s hand at work.

I’ve certainly seen His hand in my life. One morning on my way to work, I was troubled and crying so hard I was heaving. Suddenly, a car swerved in front of me. I can’t tell you the make, model, or color of the car, but I’ll never forget the license plate: PS138V8—Psalm 138, Verse 8—which says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me” (KJV). Well, what else could I do but dry my eyes, blow my nose, and give a prayer of thanks to God?

ways,” he said. “I had been praying for some extra money for my business license and insurance, with no idea where it was going to come from. Today, I went to the mailbox and found a check for $2,000 from online classes I had dropped weeks after the refund date. But somehow, someway, the refund was processed and sent to me. Prayer is an amazing, amazing thing!” The assurance that your children know God is priceless.

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He is present in the workplace, too. My niece, a single mother of two, arrived at work not long ago with her gas tank on empty. “Okay, God,” she prayed at her desk. “You promised to take care of my needs, and I need gas!” Before my niece could complete her prayer, a coworker asked for a lift home that entire week. In exchange? The co-worker offered to fill up the gas tank.

God has been active in my co-workers’ lives as well. When I was on an out-of-town training assignment, a colleague became disoriented. Two other co-workers took her to the emergency room. One co-worker recognized her symptoms as those of a stroke, and the other knew just where to find the nearest hospital. My ailing colleague made a full recovery, and says we were her “angel family” placed by God in her path that day.

It warmed my heart recently to receive this voice message from my grown son: “God works in mysterious

I was most aware of God providing for my needs one December long ago. It was one of those months when there was more month than money, and I knew with Christmas just a week away, I wouldn’t have the means to buy presents for my young sons. I spent the night pondering ways to help them understand that the birth of Jesus Christ is the true meaning of Christmas and the only gift we need. The next morning, a friend from church called and said, “Just hear me out. My husband and I want to give you $250 to help with Christmas for your boys.” Through my tears, I whispered, “Thank you” to my friend—and to my Father.

It was I, not my sons, who needed to understand the true meaning of Christmas that year. I was reminded in a powerful way that God knows our needs more than we do.

And, through the birth of Jesus Christ, He has a divine plan to provide for all of them—in ways that are beautifully clear to our humble human hearts.

About The Author

Regina Law Smith is presently married and God blessed her with the opportunity to raise six sons and one daughter. Her life experiences are of immeasurable value to this world and her community. It is no surprise that her favorite quote is, “Believe what you want to believe, but know the Truth.”

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Hamilton Health Care System New Telehealth Service

Hamilton Heath Care System recently introduced Hamilton Community Health, a new way to connect with a healthcare provider through a smartphone, wherever they are.

for appropriate services, and the telehealth providers and support team will follow up with the patients.

Providers include Jessica Sanders, NP; Sherri Brooks, NP; Nancy Giammarella, NP; Kim Standefer, NP; and Amy Garner, NP. The Community Health Support team includes Kelly Smith, Bella Resendiz, and Yajaira Barrera.

“This new health option is designed to provide the right care at the right time, wherever you are,” said Tom Bledsoe, Jr., MD, Population Health medical director.

The hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year. Same-day appointments are available.

When patients need laboratory or imaging services following a telehealth encounter, they will be referred to the patient’s most convenient Hamilton location

Most health insurance plans are accepted, and self-pay options are available for those without insurance.

The service is available for new and established patients, and they may schedule their own appointments at their convenience online at HamiltonHealth.com/365telehealth. For more information, call 706-529-8862.

Tom Bledsoe, Jr.

America’s Thrift Stores

Known for its community support, America’s Thrift Stores celebrates its newest opening in the Northside Shopping Center on North Glenwood Ave in Dalton.

America’s Thrift Stores announces the third store opening in Georgia, located at 1287 N Glenwood Ave in the Northside Shopping Center. The Grand Opening is Thursday, November 17th and the grand opening celebration will continue into the weekend with music, giveaways, and a live DJ on Saturday, November 19th.

Founded in 1984, America’s Thrift Stores is a for-profit company that supports numerous children’s health and addiction recovery charities. With every donation made to America’s Thrift Stores, they give back to six charity partners across the five states in which they operate. In addition to the charities America’s Thrift Stores supports, they also provide over 1,500 jobs across their other 24 locations. Through customer donations, America’s

Thrift Stores helps to keep 50 million pounds out of landfills each year.

In Dalton, for every pound of goods donated, America’s Thrift Stores will make a cash donation to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to help provide for kids with critical illnesses. Last year, they donated nearly $400,000 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta through their other two locations in Georgia—Marietta and Athens. With the new store opening in Dalton, they are looking forward to raising even more to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta this year. As you can see, America’s Thrift Stores believes in making a difference in the communities where they operate. Their goal is to donate $100 million to charity over the next 10 years.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been dedicated to kids for over 100 years. A not-for-profit organization, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Their care helps children get better faster and live healthier lives. Managing more than 920,000 patient visits annually at three hospitals and 27 neighborhood locations, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia and one of the country’s largest pediatric clinical care providers. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta offers access to more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country. America’s Thrift Stores is proud to be partnered with an organization so focused on improving kids’ health. If you are interested in making a difference with kids in Dalton, America’s Thrift Stores is now accepting donations at its Dalton location. Simply drive up to its store donation center and they will take it from there.

From a thrift shopping experience in Dalton, America’s Thrift Stores is proud of their tag line “Not Your Mama’s Thrift Store.” What you will find when the store opens is a clean, organized shopping experience where “It’s a New Store Every Day.” America’s Thrift Stores is able to make this claim because the location in Dalton will restock more

than 10,000 items every day. With up to 70% off retail pricing of name-brand clothing and household goods, America’s Thrift Stores is confident you will find great values for you and for your entire family.

for Everyone

How Do You Pray?

by David Huff

Many people answer the question how do you pray like this: “I talk to God,” and that is exactly what we are called to do. How serious do you get with God? Do you talk to God as you would the person next to you, or do you talk to God as if you are hiding the ugliness that is inside of you? Exodus 33:11 says that Moses spoke with the Lord face to face and just as a man speaks to a friend. Let that sink in for a moment. Can we learn to speak with the Lord face to face? When we go into our prayer closets, do we pour our hearts out to the Lord, or do we check a box off the list—Okay, I prayed today?

When I was learning to pray, I thought you always had to bow down and get on your knees in a particular manner or fashion. I would hold back on the things I would say because I did not want to say anything offensive to the Lord. The truth is God already knows what is in our hearts. When we are spilling out all the thoughts that we have to Him, He will take those thoughts and work with them. God wants us to talk to Him as if He is our best friend, and He should be. If we are willing to spill out all the ugly details to our earthly best friend, why

would we not spill out the details to the one who can help us the most—God alone? If we were to approach God and tell Him everything that is in our hearts, how much healing could we receive?

In Matthew 18:3-4, we are told to become like little children and to humble ourselves like a child. Why would God want us to be like a child? The answer is that children are honest. They will tell you anything and everything, and the faith that a child has is unquestionable. Yet that is how we are called to talk to God: with child-like faith, where we are willing to talk to God about every aspect and every fear inside of us. God wants to be that intimate with each of us. When we tell our friends, family, spouses, or whoever we are close to the hidden secret fears or things that are hurting us, we feel a relief come over us. Jesus says, “Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28). In these words, God is telling us to come to Him and to release everything that is on our minds or hearts. God loves it when we tell Him everything, and He wants us to be so comfortable talking to Him that we will tell Him everything.

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 and production team. I am also a senior at Liberty University.

About The Author

for Everyone

Forgetting What’s Behind

by Jonathon Wright

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV).

In the first part of this chapter, Paul talks about his old way of life, his days when he was a Pharisee and keeper of the law. The days when he persecuted the church. Paul used to think a relationship with God meant keeping all the rules and relying on his strength alone. Now he knew Christ and His power to change a person’s life. Because of this, his former way of life does not begin to compare with his new life in Christ. His former life was rubbish when compared to knowing Christ. And he had a long list of credentials. Paul wanted to encourage the Philippian church and those struggling against Jewish influences. These influences were trying to nullify and put down their Christian faith. He told them to beware of those dogs. Paul knew what he was talking about because he was one before he met Christ.

Paul also expresses his deep desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. In other places, Paul describes this power as being able to do above and beyond anything we ask, think, or imagine. See Ephesians 3:20. Paul wanted to see God’s power in his life and the church. He also wanted to follow God in times of suffering like Christ. Paul wanted to be faithful to the end. He wanted to be perfect but was not. But he did this one thing. The fact that the apostle Paul singles out this one thing makes it very important. He forgot those things in the past and continued to press forward in his goal to be more like Christ. He wanted to put the past behind him.

There was a time in my life when I greatly struggled in a particular area. God’s word in Isaiah 54:4 told me that I should forget the shame of my youth. Something about that passage just gave me peace. It helped me to move forward in my Christian life. And eventually, I was able to overcome it. Paul struggled with similar feelings about his past. He even called himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). However, Paul understood that we are powerless to change mistakes in our past. We can try to learn from them and make things better. But at the end of the day, we need God’s forgiveness and mercy, found at the cross. We need to start each day by forgetting the past. When we do this, it helps us make the most of our today. We place our trust in the promise of Christ and keep moving forward to become the people God wants us to be, which helps us move toward spiritual maturity and more success in life.

About The Author

Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer.

Jonathon hopes to encourage people to read the Bible and take notes. You can find more from Jonathon at amazon.com/author/everydaynotes.

for Everyone

Is God One Person?

by Matt Jensen

Monotheism–the belief that there is only one God–has always been essential to the Christian faith. The early church steadfastly defended monotheism but ran into a difficulty–Jesus is equated with God in the New Testament. In fact, the deity of Jesus was a major reason that people wanted to kill Him (John 5:18; 8:58-59; 10:30-31). Desiring to hold to monotheism, some denied the full deity of Jesus. However, others desired to hold to monotheism and the full deity of Jesus. One solution proposed by men like Sabellius, Noetus, and Praxeas, was to say that the Father and the Son are actually not distinct persons. Like an actor playing different characters, God plays Father and then Son. This became known as the heresy of Sabellianism. Many strains of this error have surfaced over time, but its distinctive feature is that God is unipersonal. In other words, God is one God existing as one person, sometimes acting as different persons. Against this, orthodoxy confesses one God eternally existing in three persons. Here is what orthodoxy confesses. God is one divine nature.

• The divine nature is not shared by anything in creation.

• The divine nature is not divided among the persons (like three pieces of the same pie).

• The divine nature is not cloned three times (like three copies of the same picture). God eternally exists in three persons.

• The person of the Father:

Is unbegotten – He has His person from none

Is neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit

Therefore, He is truly the Father

• The person of the Son:

Is eternally begotten – He has His person from the Father alone

Is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit

Therefore, He is truly the Son

• The person of the Holy Spirit:

Is eternally proceeding – He has His person from the Father and the Son

◦ Is neither the Father nor the Son ◦ Therefore, He is truly the Holy Spirit

It’s terribly important to confess that God is one God, but it’s vitally important to confess that this one God eternally exists in three persons, too. Here are a few reasons why:

It’s biblical – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Sabellianism and orthodoxy agree that the Word was God (i.e. the one divine nature). However, Sabellianism can’t explain how the Word was with God. They must say something like “The Word appeared to be with God.” Orthodoxy can say that the Word was God (divine nature) and with God (person). Sabellianism also can’t account for passages such as Matthew 3:16-17. Orthodoxy can say that Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke. Sabellianism turns the events of this passage into a charade.

God’s worship – This is the greatest reason. God has revealed Himself as one God eternally existing in three persons. Therefore, we must worship Him as one God eternally existing in three persons. The most serious theological errors we can possibly make concern God. He is not the unipersonal God of Islam, but the blessed Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity.

Our salvation and communion with God – Was it really the Son who came to save us? Was it really the Father who gave a people to His Son? Is it really the Holy Spirit who applies Christ’s redemptive work? Sabellianism must say, “No.” Can we really believe in Jesus (John 6:29)? Can we really pray to our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9)? Can we really walk by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16)? Sabellianism must again say, “No.” If Sabellianism is true, our salvation and communion with God cannot be Trinitarian. We would be saved and commune with a God who is one person having multiple personalities. Thankfully, that is not the God who reveals Himself to us in the Bible. The one true God eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Author

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.

for Everyone

While He Was Thinking

by Sandra Gilmore

Have you been following this series? Check each month as we explore often-overlooked connections to Christmas and wind our way back to this sacred event.

His mind was anywhere but there. What was he going to do? How could he get out of this pickle?

He was a craftsman. Years of working with resistant materials had taught him a few things. He envisioned a use for a material that the material couldn’t even see for itself. He shaped the stone. He carved the wood. He avoided the delicate areas that could crack later, relying on the strength around it to achieve the goal, which was to transition something typically left alone or behind into something that would serve, something that would become a part of daily life. His work would bear his mark. His design and years of training, planning, working, and re-working would all be reflected in the craftsmanship of the final product.

Still, his day was ordinary. To a casual onlooker, his day would have seemed routine, no fuss, nothing unusual, until that evening. During the day, his hands were busy with the wood. He was carving, pounding, shaving, clearing shavings, staining, expertly crafting a resistant material into what he envisioned it to be. After years of honing his trade, his hands could maneuver without his mind engaged. And on that day, his thoughts took the focus while his craftsmanship ebbed out on autopilot.

Joseph had questions, sticky questions directed by society’s mores and religious considerations. He just couldn’t see a way out or a way in, for that matter. He was stuck with an urgent desire to run. He was running with a sincere desire to stay committed. What should he do? Everyone would know the baby wasn’t his. But he didn’t do anything wrong. And this girl genuinely believed God gave her this baby!

That evening The Master Craftsman worked with an immalleable material. The Lord expertly crafted the heart of a man who could have possibly been left behind by history into a role that would enter daily life for centuries to come. According to Matthew Chapter 1, the Lord sent an angel to Joseph in a

dream. This messenger delivered stout answers to Joseph’s sticky questions.

Matthew 1:20 states, “But while he thought on these things, behold an angel appeared unto him in a dream.” The angel assured Joseph about following through with his marriage to Mary, even affirming the child was indeed the Son of God.

The original language gives us insight into Joseph’s ponderings. This verb can be translated ponder, deliberate, and revolve in the mind. Another passage in the book of Acts describes, “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him…” These two examples highlight the promise in Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you.”

Do you ever ponder with your mind stayed on the Lord? Does your heart yield to The Master Craftsman? Or do you worry with your mind focused on other things with a heart resistant and stiff? With our minds stayed on the Lord, we can invite the Holy Spirit to give us insight, answers, and direction. He brings peace. When we worry, we give the enemy of our souls an invitation to weigh us down, confuse us, or stagnate us. As we enter this season of thanksgiving soon followed by Christmas, the Lord is indeed our Immanuel, God with us. We can ponder, wonder, and even question with renewed hope and peace!

About The Author

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

for Everyone

Rejoice In Your Harvest

by Stephanie Daniels

Farmers are intentional about the seed they sow and the harvest they reap. They don’t plant apple seeds and expect cabbage. They put a specific seed in the ground and patiently wait for harvest season. They nurture and water the seed, then at the right time, a harvest grows up out of the fertile soil. Many people don’t realize how much our lives are like farming. Seed time and harvest time are a part of life. We sow seeds daily. The harvest we receive is based on what was sown.

As we reflect on our lives over the course of the year, we can anticipate a harvest of all we have done. The greatest harvest of all is a harvest of souls into the kingdom of God. Jesus sowed His life so that anyone who calls on His name shall be saved. We can play a part in that wonderful harvest by simply sharing our faith. Sowing seeds of faith can be one of the most rewarding things a person can do in their lifetime. Matthew 9:37-38 tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Another way to sow seed is

to give monetary gifts to your local churches, charities, or alms, giving wherever you see a need. Everything we do is a seed sown. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). One of the wisest things we can do is sow good seeds. Sowing seeds of faith into the lives of others not only blesses them but it impacts us as well. Psalms 107:37 reminds us, “They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest.” We can ensure a good crop of favor and blessings in our lives by simply being intentional about what we say, do, and think. The word of God says, “As a man thinks so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). When we continuously think negative thoughts, it is just a matter of time before we speak negative things, which can result in negative actions. Negative thoughts, words, and actions can produce bad fruit in your life. Speak life over yourself and others, and meditate on the word of God to help keep your thoughts pure. These are just some of the things that can help produce a good harvest in your life.

So, whether you have sown time, money, shared your faith or planted a garden, expect God to give you a bountiful harvest. The apostle Paul explains that our righteousness comes from God, and He is faithful to provide seed to the sower. “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). It is never too late to sow seed with intention and purpose. In this harvest season, expect God’s goodness and mercy to overtake you.

for Everyone

Best Plan: God’s Way

by Karla Smedley

Ilike to be in the know! I dream of my future, whether it be the events of the current day or the upcoming years. I enjoy designing what’s to come.

Plan A: My Plan, Ideal Target

In my mind’s eye, I see how my day will play out. I rise, I dress, I forge ahead. I strive to move toward my target. Then life happens. When I am distracted and forcefully navigated in a different direction with the world’s twists and turns, I am left frustrated and confused because my mental perception of what I wanted gets delayed.

Plan B: My Back-Up Plan, Let Down, but Keep Trucking

I tweak my course of action for a better chance of success, beginning to diagram long-term details for my life, desiring to be in control of my future. The day is foggy with interruptions, so I visualize the month, the year, and even decades ahead. And without even realizing, I have created an expectation of what lies ahead. At times, I act like a fortune teller in my own life, creating and forecasting through my own crystal ball. I know that life takes perseverance, so I press on. Again, developing my idea of what is to come. Wouldn’t you know it, life happens again. I seem to be even further from my goals. The envisioned masterpiece in my mind becomes dented all the more. Tired and a bit weary, I pick up a hammer and try to bump the indentions back in place.

Plan C: My Back-Up for the Back-Up Plan, Deflated and Struggling to Survive

I now handle my quest with tunnel vision. Droning forward, I have become obsessed with acquiring my desired vision into reality. All the while, the uncompromising stomps towards my target may cause me to miss something around me.

Plan D: I Give, Simply Flailing in the Wind

It’s time to wave the white flag. Throw in the towel. The uncontrollable is too much. It’s time to climb in

the bed and pull the covers over my head. Life can just happen to me; I am too tired to try anymore. That is my Plan D—no plan at all! Que Sera Sera; whatever will be will be. The world is in control of my life. Like a sky dance, that inflatable tube advertising wacky waving thing, I will just flail around, getting slapped in the face as life comes at me! What’s the point? Then suddenly as I am flailing . . . God allows a wind of wisdom to slap me across the face! I remember . . .

God’s Plan: Thriving, Not Just Surviving

What am I trying to do? Live my life – doing it my way? Don’t misconstrue my words, I believe it is actually good to think ahead, to be prepared. However, we must

stay in fellowship with God and allow Him to guide us with His intentions for our life. How do we do this? Prayer. Ask for forgiveness of sins and guidance. He will take us by the hand and lead us through life, if we will allow Him. “Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow” (Psalm 5:8).

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.

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Everyone

Objects In the Mirror Are Smaller Than They Appear

by Beth Penny

There are so many pivotal moments in our lives that imprint on our memories. One of those for me will always be the day I turned sixteen and got my driver’s license. For me, as for so many others, being able to drive alone was the first step in young freedom and independence. It signified so much more than that little piece of paper you receive that says you passed a test. But learning to drive, on the other hand, was full of so many more issues. Learning to be totally aware of your surroundings proves difficult until it becomes second nature. One of the first driving lessons my dad gave me was learning to use the mirrors. The side mirrors and rearview mirror have their own purpose, and we have to learn to use them to aid the process of driving. However, they aren’t the most important thing to help us drive.

As we drive, we glance in the mirrors to look for things beside us, right behind us, or even further behind us. We use those to help us know our surroundings or potential dangers. We don’t, however, continuously drive while looking through the rearview mirror. There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview. We always have to look forward to where we are going and be aware but not focused on what is behind us.

In life, we have to remember the same lessons. We have to be aware of what is behind us but not let it control what is in front of us. We have to continue to look

forward and move forward as we understand that the past has a presence in our future but does not control it. My advice is to live life as you would drive a car. Look forward and move on from what mistakes or errors you have made in the past. Look forward and remember that God is always above. An old adage says, “If what is ahead scares you and what’s behind hurts you, just look up. He never fails to help you.”

Those words ring true. Just as the words in Psalm 121, “Look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth…The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade” (1-2, 5). Don’t let mistakes of the past guide what you can accomplish in the present. Remember that the windshield is bigger than the rearview.

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.

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Buds

Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole Boats

by Jodi Varnado

Ilove gathering around a table with good food and good company. The Thanksgiving holiday grants us the perfect opportunity to foster this connection and fellowship. This twist on the classic sweet potato casserole only enhances the experience! This recipe is sure to bring comfort to your friends and family this Thanksgiving dinner. With only eight ingredients and one pan, you can present this sweet side dish and leave your guests impressed. (And don’t worry, they won’t know how easy it was it prepare. Your secret’s safe with me. )

Ingredients

• 4 medium-large sweet potatoes or yams

• 1 tablespoon of neutral oil

Toppings

• 2 tablespoons of butter

• ¾ teaspoon of ground cinnamon

• 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar

• 1 cup of raw pecans, roughly chopped

• 2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup

• 1 cup of mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Slice the sweet potatoes in half, but leave the skin on. Rub both sides with oil and arrange cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Use a fork to poke holes in the back sides of the potatoes, then bake for 25-35 minutes.

4. Once tender, remove potatoes from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Then carefully flip the potatoes over. Use a fork to gently mash the insides of the potatoes until they are slightly pressed down and the surface is flat.

5. Swipe the top of each potato with butter. Then, shake a light dusting of cinnamon on each potato, followed by brown sugar, pecans, and maple syrup. Top with mini marshmallows.

6. Return to the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the toppings are slightly toasty!

7. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Thanksgiving Day

by Judy Hood

On this day of Thanksgiving

I thank you Lord for all you have been giving I thank you for the air I breathe

That gives life in and through me

If you had not given your life for me I would cease to exist, you see

I know my mom gave me birth

But you gave me rebirth

To save my soul

And make me whole

I wish everyone would give their life to you

But some people act like they don’t want any part of you

I’m glad we have a Thanksgiving Day

To thank you for each and every day

As I look up into the sky to praise you for being so good to me I honor you, for without you, I don’t know where I would be I know I have made many mistakes along the way

But I serve a big God that forgives me and brightens my day So, “Happy Thanksgiving,” Lord, thank you, for all you do Remind us before we judge people to try our foot in their shoe

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A Thankful Heart, For Real

by Kaye Stein

November—the month we are most thankful in! Raise your hand if you’re guilty. Can you see mine? My hand is up. At my age, I’ve celebrated so many Thanksgiving meals in so many different homes, and with so many different people, that I can’t say I have a tradition. But that’s okay. I moved around, living in several different states and I wasn’t always able to get back home. So, I guess my tradition is that I don’t have a tradition. Don’t get me wrong, I do have a meal with family, but it’s been a changing dynamic. I’m sure there are plenty of you who have been in the same place in life. Dynamics change for different reasons, and we could go on and on listing them, but that’s not the point we need to dwell on. The point is, are we thankful and ministering to the ones God gives us during the time we have?

Jesus’s ministry took Him to many places, but His focus stayed the same. Everywhere He went He ministered to people and was focused on His Father’s work. All throughout the New Testament, there are stories of His love for us! Are we following in His steps

and loving on our people? Are we showing a thankful heart towards the people God has put in our lives? It’s okay to start with small steps, maybe even better. Try listing your gratitude. Or when you sit down at the table with others, have everyone say something they are thankful for.

Being thankful is an action and showing thankfulness can be a little difficult or even scary at times. Letting go of bad history can possibly require much more effort, so start small. Say like, learning to be thankful for yourself! Be thankful for the way God made you—all the way down to your nose hairs! I’m sure you have heard the saying, “you must learn to love yourself before you can love someone else!” It is very true. Your nose hairs have a job to do even though it’s not a major part of you. But just the same, they have a purpose. It may not be as significant as the iris in your eye, but every part of you is made to perfection to do your Lord’s work. I know it’s kind of a funny analogy, and not too glamorous to think about nose hairs, yet every part of you is put together by God. Likewise, He put together each one of us to fulfill His purpose and bring Him glory!

Ephesians 3:19, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” So, shout your praises to the God almighty and be thankful for His love for you! Let that joy and peace permeate your being, and that joy will spread to the people in your life!

Kaye Stein lives with her amazing husband, Mike, in Rome, Georgia, and attends Pleasant Valley North. She loves learning about God in Bible Study Groups and Sunday School in the Woman’s Class. She loves her family, especially her grands! She is retired and is starting her bucket list travels.

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I Finally Got Over Myself!

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

by Terrie Ruff

Iwas so happy to see my friend Trish today! Her bright and cheerful smile is such a refreshing greeting as I pass by her department or as she enters my office. The joy of the Lord is all over her! As we made plans for lunch, I was excited because whenever I spend time with her, I always walk away with food for thought, and today would be no exception. In a timely manner, I completed my morning tasks and hurriedly gathered my lunch bag and headed towards Trish’s office. From there, we made our way to a quiet spot in the cafeteria.

As we sat down, she began sharing how God had been blessing her and her husband. He had been leading and guiding them as they were making life-changing decisions. She talked about wanting to do more for God and how she was more ready now to do whatever He asked of her, to go wherever He asked her to go, and to be bold for Him and not concerned with what others thought. Wow! I look at her enthusiasm with amazement, and before I could ask her the “how” question, she answered my silent questioning. “Terrie, I finally got over myself. Now I can really serve God.” Her laugh was evidence of the new found freedom and joy she had in emptying herself completely for God to fill her to overflow, so that she could be His vessel and used as He pleased.

Wow! Like Trish, I want to follow the example that Jesus left for us. He gave all as He poured out His life to fulfill God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. He got over Himself and His sole purpose was to glorify His Father and edify others. I, too, have determined to get over myself in surrender to God’s purpose for my life. Daily, I give Him all. Daily, I die so that I can live for Him. Trish, I get it, and like you, I finally got over myself too!

Humility! What does it look like in your life? Do you think of others before yourself? Do you serve, pray or worship in a spirit of humility? Reflect on ways that you can develop a humble spirit in practical, everyday ways.

Terrie E. Ruff is a public speaker, soloist and inspirational author. She is an active member of the Orchard Park SDA Church in Chattanooga. Terrie can be contacted at Terrie.Ruff@lpnt.net.

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His Story

by Dorothy Teague

It seems like everyone is writing a book these days! Some people are writing about their own life and all of their adventures. I often get envious when I hear about how full their lives have been and all the far off, exotic places they have visited. They do have quite an interesting tale to tell! But my story is wrapped up in “His” story, interwoven into the fabric of His making. All of history is His from beginning to end. Our lives are a thread in the tapestry of time. Our purpose should be to reflect His story and His glory.

My birth, while unremarkable to the world, was my beginning and could only be my beginning, just the way He planned it. It was on purpose for a purpose.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you…” Here He is talking about Jeremiah’s purpose of being a prophet. But we have all been born with our own purpose and destiny. None of us are here by accident. It is by God’s design that each of us has been born into this world. In Psalm 139:16, David says, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Ironically, when we are born into this world, we are born as innocent babes, but we instantly become sinners because we are born into a sinful world.

During childhood, I went to church and learned about who Jesus was and that He died on the cross for my sins. I accepted Him at the early age of eight. I discovered my gift

of singing and have sung the entirely of my life thus far. I believe it was in His plan for my life to receive Him and to use these gifts to lead others to Him. “The Lord has made everything for its purpose…” (Proverbs 16:4). Now, while I know I have a purpose from God to be here, I haven’t always kept to His plan. I am a planner and a list-maker, and get very upset when my plans go awry. But I am reminded in Proverbs 19:21 that “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

We are not here to live unto ourselves. Our life is a gift from God! James 1:17 tells us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of lights.”

It has been said that our lives are a gift from God and what we do with our lives to honor Him is our gift to God.

I haven’t reached the end of my story yet, so I haven’t completed my purpose from God. But until I reach my end date, my prayer is that I will be like a mirror reflecting His glory and His story. After all, His story is the best one of all!

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.

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