April 2023

Gò0dNews

About Us

WRITERS

Dr. Alan Hix

Angie Bishop-Forsyth

Brenda Dedmon

Chad Hess

Chris Mullis

David Huff

Deck Cheatham

Janise Copeman

John Garrod

Judy Hood

Matt Jensen

Monica Gambrell

Rick Hughes

Susan Lavigne

Zebbie Brewster

SALES

Matthew Ruckman

423-503-1410

Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Melanie Abney

706-844-3818

FACEBOOK

GoodNews Rome

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/goodnewsrome

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!

Who is Your King?

by Rev. Chris Mullis

“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt” (John 12:15).

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem, riding on the back of a donkey while crowds of people hailed Him as king. I think Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wanted us to honestly consider who really is our king.

The people in Jerusalem wanted Jesus to be the king who would save them. Some wanted to be saved from Roman oppression. Some wanted to be saved from high taxes or poverty or serious health problems. Still, others wanted to be saved from other problems. They “loved” Jesus because they hoped He would be the one who could give them what they wanted and thought they needed. The irony is many who hailed Jesus as king on Palm Sunday were ready to see Him crucified on Good Friday because He didn’t turn out to be the king they wanted.

Is Jesus only your king if He gives you what you want? What if He doesn’t heal you from your sickness? Or what if Jesus doesn’t find you someone to marry and start a family with? What if He wants you to remain single your whole life? What if Jesus doesn’t answer your prayer the way you want Him to or when you want Him to? Would He still be your king?

If Jesus is truly a king, The King, He doesn’t work that way. He is the Sovereign, and we are the subjects. The Good News is The King doesn’t lord it over His people. On the contrary, He showed us the true nature of a real king. The Greatest is the servant of all. Jesus even laid aside His own life for the salvation of the world because what we really need to be saved from is our sins.

Jesus’ message was consistent. He said, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is

near” (Matthew 3:2). And He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). And He said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35). And He said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

So, we have to decide. Who will we welcome as the King of our lives? Will we try to be lord of our own life

or will we let Jesus be Lord? Will we put our hopes in the things and people of this world, or will we see Jesus as our only hope? Will we welcome Jesus as king, just so long as He fixes things the way we think they should be fixed, or will we surrender unconditionally to the One who is Lord of all?

I pray you will truly receive Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords, and give yourself to Him with no reservations. He is worthy and this is the way. If you settle for anything less than full surrender, you will just crucify Jesus again and again whenever He challenges your sin and rebellion.

Rev. Chris Mullis is an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church with a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Pastor Chris’s ministry has spanned twenty years and four different churches in Georgia. Chris is currently serving God as the senior pastor of Pleasant Grove Methodist Church located at 2701 Cleveland Hwy in Dalton, GA.

Springtime Fun

by Brenda Dedmon

One of the most beautiful times of the year for me is spring. It seems after months of winter, when the days are cold, cloudy, and rainy, I sometimes forget how beautiful our world is. When I begin to see the beautiful flowers budding, trees putting back on green leaves, and the birds chirping early in the morning, I am reminded of the Scripture, “God made everything beautiful in its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Spring reminds us that even when we think things are gloomy and sad, God created a beautiful world for us to enjoy. It gives us hope that God will always take care of us. How does spring make you feel? When spring arrives, it seems to brighten up our lives with the arrival of baby animals, pretty flowers, and nature springing to life. It is a great time to enjoy the beautiful world God created and to explore things with your family and friends.

The following ideas are suggestions for how you can re-discover the beautiful world with your friends and family:

• Spring Scavenger Hunt. Take a walk with your family in your neighborhood or a local park to discover what spring looks like in your hometown. Items to look for could include: a flying insect, a flower, new leaves, seeds, twigs, an ant, something red, and something that starts with the first letter of your name.

• Visit a Pet Farm. Ask your parents to find a Pet Farm to visit. You could feed a bottle to a baby goat, cuddle a baby chicken, gather eggs, ride a pony, and do many other fun activities with animals.

• Make a Birdhouse. There are birdhouse kits at your local hobby shops and hardware stores, or you might have items at your home to build one. Discover the type of birds that you might see in your backyard. Explore what kind of bird feed you

would need to place in the birdhouse. Keep a journal of the types of birds you see visiting the birdhouse.

• Draw a Spring Scene. Using neon glitter sidewalk chalk, design a beautiful spring picture to enjoy. You may use items from the Scavenger Hunt to help you decide on the design. Invite your neighbors to join you in creating a beautiful picture for the neighborhood to enjoy.

• Visit a Farmer’s Market. This would be a great time to discover fruits and vegetables that are grown in your town. It would also be a fun time to try out fruits or vegetables you have never eaten.

• Fly Kites. Visit a park to fly kites. You may choose to make your own kite or fly a favorite kite you have. Discover what is the best way to get the wind to pick up the kite and keep it up in the air. Remember to give thanks to God for creating the wind so you can fly a kite.

Remember to give thanks to God for the springtime and the beautiful world He gave us to enjoy!

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

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How to Make Your Money Go Further in 2023

Money Matters Rick Hughes with

Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes founded Hughes Retirement Group in 2007. His main interest is helping his clients in reducing their taxes.

There are about a million reasons to want your money to go further in 2023. Maybe the high inflation throughout 2022 has you feeling like you are paying more for less, or perhaps you took a pay cut that made you feel financially squeezed.

Maybe you received a bonus and you want to make sure it is put to good use. And, let’s not forget that this past year’s stock market performance is making everyone’s net worth drop like a rock.

Whatever your reason, it’s always smart to look ahead to a new year with the goal of doing better if you can. But what are the best ways to make your money go further when it feels like everything at the store costs more each time you go?

1. Ditch High-Interest Credit Card Debt

Rising interest rates were a good thing for savers throughout all of 2022, but they had the opposite effect on households that carry long-term credit card debt. In fact, the average credit card interest rate increased from 18% to 19.5% by December of 2022.

2. Start Budgeting

Begin tracking your spending and using a monthly budget that determines where your money goes each month. Not only is budgeting the most effective way to understand how to stretch your money further, but it also allows you to understand what you have coming in and going out.

3. Automate Your Savings

Begin to put money into savings or investment accounts first, versus waiting until the end of the month and seeing

what you have left. As time goes on, you won’t even miss this money because it’s not money you think you can spend. Make sure to automate so it is not missed and pick a day each month for it to come out of your account.

4.

Invest In Yourself

Most of us hear a lot about investing in the stock market, but what about investing in yourself? Consider certain types of self-improvements in 2023. Maybe it should be education or improving a skill. This may enable you to increase your earning potential and improve your financial situation.

5. Take Steps to Improve Your

Credit

If you have had a few credit mishaps over the last few years and your credit score is not as good as it should be, the new year is a good time to turn things around. After all, having good credit can mean paying lower interest rates and fewer fees any time you borrow money, and it can help you qualify for lower car insurance premiums, too.

6. Increase Contributions to Retirement Accounts

Maximizing income in 2023 involves taking advantage of increase on income limits and contribution amounts for tax-advantage retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and Traditional and Roth IRA’s. The contribution limits for 401(k) and similar workplace retirement savings plans are increasing to $22,500 in 2023. If you are 50 years of age or older it is $30,000. Meanwhile, IRA contribution limits increase to $6,500 and the catch up for people 50 or older is $7,500.

I hope this information helps you!

Don’t Forsake It, For Your Sake

by John Garrod

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Three years ago, the world changed, and as much as we like to talk about only being tourists in it, we suddenly found out that “tourism” could end virtually overnight. Suddenly, we were quarantined, set at least 6-feet apart, with no clear idea of when the turmoil would cease. That comfortable pew which had begun to take on the shape of my posterior was exchanged for the front seat of my car during something called “parking lot church.” We honked our amens, beepbeeped our hallelujahs, but it was not the same. Then came online sermons, praise and worship. If God can use a donkey and a whale, He can most assuredly use Wi-Fi, and people were still getting saved through those ministries.

But something was missing, and we all felt it. Separated by a few feet or sitting in our own homes, we lost out on something—a valuable part of being part of a local body of believers. No emoji can replace a hug, and a set of digital hands clasped to pray isn’t the same as having your brothers and sisters lay hands on you and pray you through to the very throne of God. And as appetizing as some of your foodie pictures may be, it’s not the same as breaking bread with each other.

And yet we did the unthinkable: We got used to it. Staying home and “dialing in” (I can’t remember the last time I actually “dialed” anything) to service became… acceptable. Don’t get me wrong: Online ministry can be a tremendous blessing, especially to those who can’t physically be present. But I’ll confess if you won’t: Sometimes it got very convenient to coast a bit. Sleep in. Attend Bedside Assembly. I’m the Dad, the Husband: I should be the spiritual leader, and I’m hugging a pillow at 11:30.

Skipping out on the Body may have become easy, but getting up, getting dressed, and getting to the House of God is worth the effort. In the company of brothers and sisters, you hear the testimonies. Shoulder to shoulder in the altars, you feel the camaraderie: You’re PART of something. You’re not alone. And that sense of belonging becomes even stronger when you get the opportunity to reach out to someone and help them. I don’t know if you’ve read this anywhere before, but that whole “It’s more blessed to give

than to receive” thing is real. Whether we’re laying hands on someone or just resting a hand on a shoulder, sharing a laugh or giving a few words of encouragement, when we’re supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are working as His agent.

So, Dad, go ahead and set that alarm for Sunday morning. For every Sunday morning. Set it early enough that you can get the kids up and stop and get donuts for the Sunday school class. You’ll be glad you did.

John Garrod is father of 6, husband of 1, an ESOL teacher in Dalton, GA, a Lee U graduate (c/o ‘19), a U.S. Army veteran and a member of South Cleveland COG.

Author

Fragrant Friend

by Angie Bishop-Forsyth

Relationships. What comes to your mind when you hear that word? For some, it may look like work. For others, it may look like sacrifice. I’m here to tell you it’s both. Depending on your people, it can be a real task. And, depending on your nature, it may be all about your motives. So, before we go any further, pause for a moment and ask yourself, “What do I bring to the table in my relationships, and what do I seek out of a friend, brother, sister, parent, or spouse?”

As a child, I had two girls I considered my very best friends. The problem was those two did not like each other. They were the type of people who could only have one friend at a time. Therefore, the dislike came from being jealous of each other for having to share that friendship with me. This taught me at a young age how to be a peacekeeper. I did my best to split time between the two and keep the waters calm, but I so desired the three of us to be together, sharing that bond as a whole.

Now, with 760 miles that separate me from them, these women are still my friends today. I can talk to them and it’s like the miles never separated us. I say all this to show you that, even at a young age, I had to work at maintaining these friendships. The two girls didn’t always make it easy, and as a non-believer at the time, I had no idea the importance of the lessons I was learning. There’s been a lot of life lived from then until now. One of the girls suffered abuse at the hand of her

father, which led her down some dark paths for quite a while—drugs, prison, and hard living. But God! The other suffered a nasty divorce that took her to the feet of Jesus. I know as children, none of us were taught about the love of Jesus, but through life’s crazy journey, we all found our place in His arms. We are all now what I desired as a little girl—united! It’s not by our efforts but by the handiwork of God.

The honesty and love we have for each other go way beyond our own doing. It’s a deeper love, as it comes from God. Love like this is unmasked, raw, and covered in truth. We have each other’s best interests at heart. We encourage one another. We offer Godly advice to each other. We see the value in each other. We do what God calls us to do in our relationships, and that is to love without limits, speak in truth and love, build one another up, and freely give our time with no ulterior motives. The Bible tells us that “heartfelt counsel of a friend is sweet like perfume and incense” (Proverbs 27:9). Find fragrant friends and be a fragrant friend! Make your relationships be about the Father’s business, and you will have lasting relationships that bring honor and glory to God for all time!

My name is Angie Bishop-Forsyth. I’m just a simple lady with a heart that chases after God! I love to share about Him anywhere I can. To me, there’s no one or no thing on this earth greater to talk about! God has blessed me in tremendous ways and I not only love to tell about it, but I live to tell about it!

Rome Church Directory

African Methodist Episcopal

Bethel AME Church

22 Nichols Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-0019

St. James AME Zion Church

3 Maxwell Lane

Rome, GA 30165

404-307-7396

Summer Hill AME Church

1981 Kingston Hwy NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-7113

Anglican

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church

42 Ash Street

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-5892

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church of Rome

3213 Cave Spring Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-9551

Assembly of God

Redemption Church

105 Broadus Road NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-0277

Baptist

Antioch Baptist Church

4526 Big Texas Valley

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-7248

Armuchee Baptist Church

6648 Big Texas Valley Rd NW

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-3169

Berean Baptist Church

8 Skyline Dr

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-9832

Blue Pond Baptist Church

1291 Morrison Campground

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-3296

Bryant Chapel Baptist Church

24 Shady Lane

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-9768

Bush Arbor Baptist Church

3290 Black Bluff Rd

Rome, Ga. 30161

770-885-0779

Calhoun Avenue Baptist Church

1021 Calhoun Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-4431

Calvary Baptist Church

101 Broadus Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-1461

Cedar Valley Baptist Church

3024 Cedartown Hwy SW

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-0978

Community Chapel Baptist Church

3733 Black Bluff Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-4070

Desoto Park Baptist Church

1107 Cave Spring Rd.

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-6207

Dykes Creek Baptist Church

3181 Kingston Hwy NE

Rome Ga, 30161

706-291-7790

East Rome Baptist Church

601 Cedar Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-8553

East View Baptist Church

901 Kingston Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8250

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1414 Old Dalton Rd

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-3939

Enon Baptist Church

3105 Turkey Mountain

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-5052

Fairview Baptist Church

2348 Old Cedartown Hwy SE

Lindale, Ga 30147

Fellowship Rome Baptist Church

314 Burnett Ferry Rd

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-9416

First Baptist Church

100 E 4th Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-6850

Flatrock Baptist Church

848 Cunningham Rd SW

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-9976

Flint Hill Baptist Church

3578 Wax Rd SE,

Aragon, GA 30104

706-232-8121

Friendship Baptist Church

2283 Calhoun Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-4803

Garden Lakes Baptist Church

2200 Redmond Cir

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-6615

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist

445 East 14th St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-5047

Hill Crest Baptist Church

2202 N Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8806

Hollywood Baptist Church

112 Lombardy Way

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-6642

In Focus Baptist Church

12 N Hughes

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-8963

Lakeview Baptist Church

80 Salem Dr

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-2149

Lovejoy Baptist Church

436 Branham Ave

Rome, Ga 30171

706-232-1917

McFall Baptist Church

3011 Rockmart Rd SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-5673

Mount Alto Church

1915 Huffaker Rd NW

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-6222

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

E 20th St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-8777

Mount Olive Baptist Church

17 E Pennington

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-6413

New Antioch Baptist Church

4553 Calhoun Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-2248

New Bethel Baptist Church

Weathington Dr

Rome, Ga 30161

706, 291-8939

New Canaan Baptist Church

3 Excelsior St

Rome, Ga 30165

706-291-1984

New Hope Baptist Church

Hwy 156

Rome, Ga

706-235-0250

New Hope Baptist Church

399 Moran Lake Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-290-0507

North Broad Baptist Church

1309 N Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-2100

Northwood Missionary Baptist

4076 Calhoun Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30161

Park Ave Baptist Church

531 Park Ave SE

Lindale, GA 30147

Parkview Baptist Church

4 Wesley Drive

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-4431

PisGah Baptist Church

Alabama Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-4431

Pleasant Hope Baptist Church

5935 Rockmart Road SE

Silver Creek, Ga

706-235-2800

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

500 N Division St

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-0731

Pleasant Valley North Baptist

735 Old Summerville Road NW

Rome, GA 30165

706-232-6426

Pleasant Valley South Baptist

702 Pleasant Valley Rd SE

Silver Creek, Ga 30173

706-234-1841

Providence Baptist Church

17 Burnett Ferry Road SW

Rome, Ga 30165

706-291-0689

Riverside Baptist Church

48 Ash Street

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8114

State Line Baptist Church

8536 Black Bluff Road

Cave Spring, Ga 30124

678-988-0339

Saint Paul Baptist Church

Pleasant Valley Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-5037

Second Avenue Baptist

823 E 2nd Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-3663

Shannon First Baptist Church

400 Fourth Street, PO Box 997,

Shannon, GA 30172

Sherwood Forest Baptist Church

1 Goodman Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-6174

Shorter Avenue Baptist Church

1410 Shorter Ave

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-8266

South Broad Baptist Church

508 South Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

Spring Creek Baptist Church

2636 Chulio Rd SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-1220

Springfield Baptist Church

113 Smith St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-7217

Thankful Baptist Church

935 Spider Webb Dr

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8132

Three Rivers Church

2960 New Calhoun Highway NE

Rome, Ga

706-766-0942

Trinity Baptist Church

1728 Calhoun Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-3368

Turner Chapel Baptist Church

756 Turner Chapel Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-8682

Unity Baptist Church

2261 Pleasant Valley Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-2184

West End Baptist Church

107 Mississippi Dr

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-1971

West Rome Baptist Church

914 Shorter Ave

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-9722

Wilkerson Road Baptist Church

Wilkerson Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

Woodlawn Baptist Church

1649 Cartersville Hwy SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-4171

Word & Way Baptist Church

New Rocketmart Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-8729

Catholic

Saint Mary Catholic Church

911 N Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-7014

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Missionary Alliance

306 Coker Dr

Rome, Ga 20165

706-235-9190

Church of Christ

Church of Christ

108 E Callahan St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-0675

Lindale Church of Christ

3035 Maple Road

Lindale, Ga 30147

706-234-3027

Oak Hill Church of Christ

1500 Martha Berry Hwy

Rome, Ga 20165

706-291-0351

Rome Church of Christ

121 Primrose Road

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-4444

Church of God

Armuchee Church of God

4974 Martha Berry Hwy

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-4414

Church of God of Prophecy

94 Huffaker Rd.

Rome, GA 30165

706-528-4225

Lindale Church of God

585 Park Ave

Lindale, Ga 30147

706-232-5676

New Life Church of God

210 E 18th St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-232-0704

New Hope Overcoming Church of God

200 Nixon Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-4695

North Rome Church of God

1929 N Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-6687

Rome AOH Church of God

504 Decatur St

Rome, Ga 30165

706-295-2999

West Rome Church of God UA

2827 Alabama Hwy

Rome, Ga 30165

706-880-6895

Disciples of Christ

First Christian Church

209 E. Second Ave,

Rome, Ga 30161

Episcopal

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church

101 E 4th Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-9111

Foursquare

Rome Foursquare Church

308 Reservoir St NE

Rome, Ga 30161

Full Gospel

Christ Gospel Church

619 Chulio Rd SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-7744

Independent Bible

Grace Bible Church

614 Dalton Rd NE

Rome, Ga 30165

Interdenominational

Cornerstone Church

324 Mathis Dr

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-4923

Renovation Church

13 Redmond Ct.

Rome GA 30165

706-314-9084

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

3300 Garden Lakes Pkwy

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-2281

Lutheran

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

3000 Garden Lakes Blvd

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-7257

706-232-5230

Trinity UMC

606 Turner McCall Blvd SW

Rome, Ga 30165

706-291-0033

Wesley Chapel UMC

9 College Park Dr SW

Rome, Ga 30161

West Rome UMC

1003 Shorter Ave

PO Box 2247

Rome, GA 30164

706-234-6214

Methodist

GracePoint Rome

43 Chateau Court

Rome, Ga 30161

Holsey Sinai CME Church

1233 Martin L King

Rome, Ga 30161

706-295-7265

Lindsay Chapel UMC

9 College Park Dr SW

Rome, Ga 30161

Livingston UMC

21 E Lakeshore Dr SE

Rome, Ga 30161

Metropolitan UMC

700 Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8660

Mt Pleasant UMC

4782 Alabama Hwy

Rome, Ga 30165

706-232-4350

New Bethel Methodist Church

Reeceburg Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-9700

North Rome UMC

706-291-6704

Oostanaula UMC

74 Battey Farm Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-292-0084

Rome First UMC

202 E 3rd Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8590

Rush Chapel UMC

1225 Rush Chapel Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-7986

Scott Chapel UMC

3 Chambers St NE

Rome, Ga 30161

Second Avenue UMC

801 E Second Ave SW

Rome, GA 30161

Shannon UMC

600 First Street

Shannon, GA 30172

706-491-7112

Silver Creek UMC

36 Reeceburg Rd SE

Silver Creek, GA 30173

706-234-2518

South Broad UMC

546 S Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161

Nazarene

Rome First Church of the Nazarene

20 Glenda Dr

Rome, Ga 30165

706-234-5023

Non-Denominational

Access Church

1905 Calhoun Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

705-584-7497

Beech Creek Church

2972 Alabama Hwy, Rome, Ga 30165

706-346-1018

Christian Church at Rome

2417 Shorter Ave

Rome, GA 30165

706-235-0501

Glorious New Jerusalem Church

537 W 12th St

Rome, Ga 30165

706-295-2045

Glory Tabernacle Church

300 Watson St

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-0888

Gospel Harvester Church

1246 Cartersville Hwy SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-290-9858

Greater Refuge Ministries

1604 North Broad St

Rome, GA 30161

706-622-2448

Legacy Church

524 Avenue A SW

Rome, GA 30165

LIFE Church of Rome

19 John Davenport Drive

Rome GA 30165

706-728-3166

Lighthouse Church of Rome

Lighthouse Dr SE

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-0864

New and Living Way Bible Church

59 Dykes Creek Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-233-9200

Northside Church

75 N. Floyd Park Rd.

Rome, Ga 30165

706-233-9896

Rally Up International Ministries

2460 Shorter Avenue

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-8561

Solid Holy Rock Deliverance Tabernacle

700 Kingston Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-8948

The Church at Rome

246 North 5th Avenue

Rome, Ga 30165

706-346-2733

Trinity United Christian Church

6 Deer Run Trail

Rome, Ga 30165

706-204-8270

We The Church

1818 Kingston Hwy

Rome, Ga 30161

Words of Faith Tabernacle

3134 Rockmart Rd

Rome, Ga 30161

706-314-9158

Orthodox

All Saints Church

615 Cleveland Ave

Rome, Ga 30165

706-378-4474

Pentecostal

Cannon Temple Holiness Church

308 Porter St

Rome, Ga 20161

706-233-9001

Christ Temple Holiness Church

1321 Martin L King

Rome, Ga 30161

706-235-3787

Victory Temple Of Joy

118 Williamson St.

Rome, Ga 30165

706-766-3865

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church EPC 101 E 3rd Ave

Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-6033

Seven Hills Fellowship

530 Broad Street

Rome, GA 30161

706-530-1630

Silver Creek Presbyterian Church

6 Old Rockmart Road

Silver Creek, Ga 30173

706-234-6862

Westminster Presbyterian Church 1941 Shorter Ave

Rome, Ga 30165

706-235-8561

Seventh-Day Adventist

Rome Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Church 307 E 14th St SW

Rome, Ga 30161

706-292-0067

Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2526 Cedartown Hwy SW

Rome, Ga 30161

706-234-4117

Cave Spring Church Directory

Cave Spring Church of God

19 Mill Street

Cave Spring, GA 30124

706-777-8348

Cedar Creek Baptist Church

5440 Black Buff Rd Rome, Ga 30161

706-777-8360

Live Oak Baptist Church

5506 GA-100

Cave Spring, GA 30124

706-777-8566

The Empty Tomb

5630 Fosters Mill Rd SW

Cave Spring, GA 30124

Rehoboth Missionary Baptist

6 Rehoboth Rd SW

Cave Spring, GA 30124

706-777-3313

First Baptist Church

4 Old Cedartown Rd.

Cave Spring, GA 30124

706-777-3566

Cave Spring UMC

30 Alabama Street

Cave Spring, GA 30124

706-777-8624

Jackson Chapel UMC

301 Jackson Chapel Rd

Cave Spring, GA 30125

706-777-3750

He Is Alive!

by David Huff

He has risen! He is alive! All four Gospels have the resurrection story in them. Each holds its own account of the events as the Apostles saw or heard them. Personally, I like the story found in Matthew best, but I like portions of all. In Matthew 28, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are walking to the tomb when suddenly an earthquake happens, the stone is rolled away, and an angel appears before them. How much fear did the two women have when, suddenly, they face an angel in front of them? Can you imagine what they were thinking about when they saw the angel? The story says that the guards were paralyzed with fear, almost like they were dead.

I wonder how the two women felt when they heard the angel say, “I know you are looking for Jesus, but He is not here. He has risen.” I like to think about this moment. They just watched Jesus die a horrible death three days before, and now they hear an angel tell them that He is alive. Can you imagine the confusion that is raging on the inside of them? We are fortunate we have the Bible with us to tells us what happened, but back in the women’s day the New Testament was being written. The story continues by saying that the two women ran away with fear and great joy. I can hear them running along the path and shouting to each other. He is alive! He is alive! Jesus then appears to the ladies. They fall to His feet and worship Him.

There have been many times in my life when I have failed to fall to Jesus’ feet to worship Him. There have been many times that I have forgotten that my Savior is alive and working in the world around me. Yet, Jesus says, I forgive you. It is never too late to start over. Jesus wants us to know that He is alive. Jesus is still at work in the world today. He is still proving

that He wants to help us. We all get lost and ask, “If Jesus is alive, then why is He not helping me with this situation?” When the reality is that He is. We get blinded by the enemy of our souls telling us that our Savior is disappointed in us because we continue to sin. But the Bible says that we all fall short of His glory. Every one of us sins, not just you. Jesus loves us with a passion that took Him to the grave so that we would not have to pay a price that we could never pay, and He asks for us to give our lives to Him. This Easter, allow the Savior to open your eyes to where He is working in your time of need.

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.

Hearth Hospice

When some people hear the word hospice, they think of dying. While that is not wrong, it is not the whole truth. Hospice care is about the quality of life you or a loved one has during their end-of-life journey. It is generally for patients who, with a normal progression of a terminal illness, have a prognosis of six months or less of life. The dying process can be scary, unknown, and painful, both physically and mentally. Hospice is a way to allow the dying process to be peaceful, planned for, and pain-free.

It is hard to understand the transition from curative care to Hospice care. Here is a checklist to help you know what to expect with hospice services.

1. Help. The hospice team will be there at every step of the transition to make things easier for the patient and family members. We are there from the start of the hospice journey, through the end-of-life transition, and for loved ones up to 13 months after the patient has passed.

2. Simplify. One physician’s order will start the hospice care journey. You will not be buried in a mountain of paperwork. The goal is to simplify the paperwork so that you can focus on you or your loved one’s comfort.

3. Team. The hospice team consists of Physician, Nurse, Social Worker, Chaplain, Aide, Bereavement Support, and Volunteers.

4. Comfort. Our job is to make sure the patient and family are getting the services, supplies, and information needed to feel comfortable, calm, and confident.

Hospice comes with a lot of misconceptions. It is not just about death and dying. Hospice is about quality of life at the end of life. Living life to the fullest for whatever amount of time you have left. Here are a few common misunderstandings and the reality of what hospice means.

Myth: Hospice is a facility you go to for medical care.

Fact: Hospice is a service, not a building. The hospice team will come to you in the comfort of wherever you call home – whether that is a personal home, assisted living community, or skilled nursing facility. Hospice is about comfort. A patient is the most comfortable surrounded by the faces of people and things they know and love.

Myth: If I am in hospice service, I cannot go to the hospital.

Fact: While hospice strives to manage pain and symptoms outside of the hospital setting, a hospice patient always has the choice of whether to go to the hospital. The Medicare Hospice benefit covers short-term general inpatient care in the hospital when a patient’s symptoms cannot be managed in another care setting.

Myth: Hospice is about helping a patient die.

Fact: While hospice provides comfort care while a patient is dying, the service is there to care for a patient emotionally, mentally, and spiritually while providing medical comfort care. But also, to make sure that a patient’s loved ones are fully supported during this difficult transition as well. Grief and bereavement support is available for up to 13 months after a patient has passed if and when loved ones need that support.

Hospice is about comfort care and choosing your path during the end-of-life journey. Hospice service is generally for patients who, with a normal progression of a terminal illness, have a prognosis of six months or less of life. But that does not mean that the diagnosis and prognosis are the end-of-life. While the focus shifts from curative care to comfort care, there are a lot of memories that can be made.

Myth: Hospice is for the last few days of life.

Fact: There is no limit to the amount of time a patient can be on hospice services. Hospice is for patients with a terminal illness that have a prognosis of six months or less of life. Hospice will continue to provide the same care for you as long as you remain hospice eligible. Some people live longer than their original prognosis once their pain and symptoms are under control. If the prognosis remains the same, the hospice patient will remain eligible for hospice services. This is called a recertification period and is collectively managed by the hospice medical director, the patient’s physician, and the hospice team.

Myth: I cannot get better on hospice.

Fact: If a hospice patient shows signs of improvement and the illness seems to be in remission, the patient can be discharged from hospice services. If a discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and other insurance providers will allow for this.

Myth: Hospice is expensive.

Fact: Hospice services are fully covered under the Medicare Hospice benefit. Medical equipment, care, medication, and supplies related to the admitting hospice diagnosis are fully covered under Medicare Part A. This includes shower chairs, oxygen tanks, hospital beds, toileting supplies, and more. In fact, most hospice patients do not have any out-of-pocket expenses.

Myth: Hospice is for patients with cancer.

Fact: Not at all! More than 60% of hospice patients nationwide have a diagnosis other than cancer. Many patients have other diagnoses or advanced stages of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s disease, renal disease, or neuromuscular disease.

Myth: I must switch to the hospice doctor.

Fact: Your primary care physician will remain an integral part of your care. The hospice team will collaborate and communicate with your physician while you receive hospice care. Essentially, your physician will join your care team, not be replaced by it.

Myth: You cannot take medicine while in hospice.

Fact: Patients can keep taking some medications while in hospice. Hospice patients are prescribed medicines that manage the symptoms of their terminal illness and improve their quality of life.

Medicine is given as needed and physicians try to give just enough medicine to manage symptoms and ease pain.

Myth: I must stay with the patient 24/7.

Fact: In the early weeks of care, it is not usually necessary to be always with the patient. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, we generally recommend that someone be there continuously. While family and friends do deliver most of the care, the hospice team can provide volunteers to assist with errands and to provide a break and time away for primary caregivers. While no one from the hospice team will move into your home, they will work with you to establish a frequency of visits that meet your unique needs. In some circumstances, caregiver respite is available. Individualized plans of care are created unique to each patient and will help to determine the needs of both the patient and the caregiver(s).

We realize that the word and idea of hospice are scary. Nobody wants to die or wants their loved one to no longer be here. Neither do we as hospice providers. We do want our patients to live comfortably for as long as possible, and we want the family members to be supported during and after the end-of-life transition. Hospice is about quality of life at the end of life. Hospice is about how you live.

Hearth Hospice was founded in 2011 by Dr. Deanna Duncan. Hearth Hospice has six locations serving Georgia and Tennessee. Hearth Hospice’s newest location opened in January and is located at 901 North Broad Street, Suite 220 in Rome, Georgia.

Hearth Hospice is a local hospice serving our local community with providers that live in and work in our community here in Rome. If you would like more information about how you or your loved one can benefit from hospice services, please contact Hearth Hospice at (762)-253-0510 or visit their website at www.hearthhospice.com.

Caught, Not Taught

by Monica Gambrell

As parents, my husband and I worked hard to impart godly values to our children. We verbalized it, and we tried to be cognizant of teachable moments, but the bulk of what our children learned was caught, not taught. Our family had a few traditions and activities designed to draw our family closer together. One of those activities was time in the mountains—mostly Fort Mountain State Park. Many times, the focus was a leisurely hike, sometimes minigolf or paddleboats,

his hours were, and whether or not he found the work fulfilling.

He seemed fascinated by the man’s responses. I believe he would have talked indefinitely with the stranger if work hadn’t called the man away. For days afterward, David spoke of the man. Years later, my children’s choice for bedtime reading was Gary Paulson’s book The Hatchet. It is more or less a wilderness survival book. This book also stirred David’s fascination with living in the wild. At 30, David’s long-range plan is to homestead. And he’s successfully working toward that goal.

Years of my teaching may not have accomplished as much as just a few moments with this stranger. Our teaching is incredibly important, and should not be ignored. But equally important is the example we live before those whom God has placed in our lives. Without that example our words are hollow and valueless. Who is watching you needing an example of what it means to be a true Christian—to be Christ-like? Someone is. I guarantee it.

sometimes a relaxing picnic. We loved our time in the mountains.

There was a chance meeting on one of those trips that truly impacted my youngest son, David. I can’t remember how old he was—I don’t think he was in middle school yet—when we had the opportunity to speak with a park worker. He didn’t don the typical brown uniform of a ranger, but he was most definitely doing that type of work. David approached the stranger and asked him tons of questions about his work: how varied it was, what

“For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you” (John 13:15).

“Nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

Father God, as parents, we desperately hope to produce children who are not only productive contributors to society, but souls ready to face eternity. Due to this desperation, we sometimes talk too much, and do too little. May our lives be shining examples to our children and others. And may we look to You as the foremost example.

Church Activities & Events

First United Pentecostal Church

He’s ALIVE News Play

Saturday, April 1 | 6PM

114 Legion Dr, Lindale, GA

The Refuge Church

Bible Study

Wednesday, April 5 | 2:30PM - 3:30PM

1771 Wax Rd SE, Silver Creek, GA

Bush Arbor Church

Darrell & Dawn Ritchie

Sunday, April 9 | 11AM Rome, GA

Calvary Baptist Church

Disney’s Aristocats Kids

Tuesday, April 25 | 7:30PM

101 Broadus Rd NE, Rome, GA

The Darkness of Discouragement

by Dr. Alan Hix

Have you ever had one of those days when everything seemed to be going right? It seems that the sun is shining bright in every area of your life, and you think to yourself, “This just can’t get any better!” Then at the close of the day, someone complains or criticizes you about something. All of a sudden, your world is turned into darkness, and the multiple successes of the day are lost in the shadow of one cross word or mistake.

Matthew 3:13-17 tells us that when Jesus emerges from the water at his baptism, a voice from heaven proclaims, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This is surely what prompts John the Baptist to declare, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

We see a different side of John in Matthew 11:2-3. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

This question is a far cry from the confident declaration John made earlier. We might wonder what caused John to entertain questions about Jesus’ identity? The answer is found at the beginning of verse 2: “Now when John heard in prison. . .”

Back in Chapter 3, John was at the height of his popularity as crowds were coming to hear his message and be baptized. However, John’s criticism of Herod’s marriage to his brother’s wife eventually resulted in his being thrown in prison. Now alone in a dark cell, John begins to look back and wonder if he missed something. Needing reassurance, he sends disciples to Jesus to ask him if he is “the one who is to come.”

Nothing has changed about Jesus since his baptism. What has changed is John’s perspective. There are no crowds filled with joyous excitement in his prison cell. Alone and facing an uncertain future, John is discouraged.

I came across an article that identifies three underlying causes that lead to discouragement: 1) a lack of confidence in ourselves, 2) a lack of confidence in God, and 3) a lack of hope for the future. All three of these appear to be present in John’s situation.

Let’s look at Jesus’ response. 4 Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.

Here, and in the verses that follow, Jesus does two things in response to John’s question. He first reassures John that he was right in recognizing Jesus as the “Lamb of God” by describing the works he has been doing. He then goes on to praise John to the crowd. There is no censure or criticism of John because of his doubts. What Jesus does is reorient John’s viewpoint. John was looking at things from the context of a prison cell. Jesus responds by showing him God’s perspective. While the darkness of John’s cell caused him to wonder about both himself and Jesus, Jesus shines his light upon the situation by declaring that both he and John are doing exactly what God sent them to do.

So, the next time the darkness of discouragement comes knocking at your door, ask God to shine his light on your situation, so that you can see through his eyes and not your own.

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.

Hope Springs Eternal

by Chad Hess

Almost everyone has heard the phrase, “Hope springs eternal.” It is a phrase from Alexander Pope’s early eighteenth-century poem “An Essay on Man.” It is a phrase that was popularized as a part of the optimistic philosophy of the 1700s and is still used in our modern era.

Let us think of this expression today as we near another Easter and spring equinox; another celebration of the hope we have in a risen Christ, and the promise of a new spring with its rebirth, warmth, and all the other wonders of the season.

It is no accident that springtime is the season of new beginnings, new life, and optimism. Our God is not a God of accidents, but a God of purpose and order. The seasons have come on earth since the beginning of time, one after the other, without fail. After a winter of cold, ice, bleakness, and lack of light, each year comes

spring—a spring that renews our hope. As humans, we tend to allow our circumstances to dictate our mood and our outlook. Even as Christians, who have our hope in Jesus, we are impacted by the seasons and the bleakness and darkness we see in the world.

But, hope springs eternal! Through the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a hope that not only will spring follow winter, but that as believers, it will be eternal. Jesus entered into the world during the coldness and darkness of winter and rose from the dead with the bursting of spring. Again, we have a God of purpose and promise.

Think today about the phrase “Hope springs eternal.” Thank God the Father for the grace bestowed through God the Son, and rejoice this springtime in the promise of eternity.

As the Book of Common Prayer states in the General Thanksgiving to God: “We bless You for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.”

Hope does indeed spring eternal.

Chad Hess is a husband, father and Army Veteran. He is a parishioner at Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Rome, where he is involved in lay ministries.

He Rose

by Judy Hood

I don’t know how you did it

I don’t know how you felt

But when I think about it

My heart just wants to melt

So tortured sliced you paid the price

The guards didn’t even think twice

They just tortured some more and laughed with glee

And to think you did it all for me

You carried that cross up Calvary’s hill

To think what you went through gives me a chill

They drove those nails through your hands and feet

You looked at them lovingly with eyes so sweet

They thought they had killed you as the thunder roared

They were not aware of what was in store

They laid you in a tomb as they made fun

Three days later Satan cringed as you rose from the dead and won

A New Life is Here for You!

A Lifelong Relationship

by Janise Copeman

Every day when we read God’s Word, it can be a love letter to us as He talks with us and shares special moments. The spoken Word becomes alive and a daily, intimate walk with our savior! Those precious times are priceless. Our relationship with the Lord is an ongoing love story that if not nurtured, can become stagnant, just like our relationships or friendships can become. The Lord cares and is so involved with every aspect of our lives if only we allow Him to be the center of each and every one of them. That is the key!

A Lifelong Relationship: Marriage

Marriage for example, is a covenant that is not to be taken lightly. The Lord takes it seriously and it should not be rushed into hurriedly. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

Since we live in such a physical world, we are constantly bombarded by what the world thinks the perfect mate should be—money, looks, compatibility, etc.—that we may leave out the main ingredient of seeking the Lord first. We need to pray for Him to lead and guide us to who He desires for us, to be a team with and glorify the Lord in it all.

He has the big picture, plan, and purpose to serve the Lord together. That’s why it is vital to be led by the Spirit in all things, especially lifelong decisions. The Spirit will help us find the one to walk together with, work together for God’s kingdom, raise a Godly family together, etc. When the foundation is not stable or built on the Lord, it is never a wise choice.

To Be Equally Yoked: Believer’s Together vs. Nonbelievers

The Lord knows us intricately, and the one He has for us will partner with our own strengths and weaknesses to complement and work together for the kingdom and His divine purpose.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Cor. 15:33).

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4).

“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet” (Amos 3:3).

Building a Godly Marriage

• Build on the Word of God

• Spiritual fellowship

• Pray together

• Be thankful

• Understand it is okay to disagree

• Learn to forgive

• Understand flaws and all (unconditional love)

• Develop good communication skills

• Compliment and build-up, edify each other

• Cultivate intimacy, date nights, nurture

Let us, with the Lord’s help, treat each other the way we would want to be treated. Be the person you would want to be married to.

Janise Copeman lives in Trion,Georgia and she is blessed to be married to her soulmate. She enjoys reading, writing, and encouraging others by spreading joy and love in the Lord.

Be Kind

by Zebbie Brewster

How wonderful it is to receive an act of kindness or a kind word. Recently, I was trying to get help with medical care for my mom. She needed wound care. She would have to get a referral from her doctor, but first, she would need to be seen by her doctor. She did not even feel like going in to see her doctor.

The lady who took my call at Wound Care took the time to listen to my plea for help and showed compassion. I am pretty sure I asked for her name, for in such a busy world, for a stranger to take time is a God send! I feel like she was meant to answer that phone call that day, and I am thankful for how God sends people into my life when I need them the most. That was not the first time God had sent someone in my path. Dear Lord, I hope that I will be that smile or that kind word to someone You have allowed me to come in contact with. I never know what they might be going through in their life.

As I sit and write this, I remember two weeks ago tonight, some people helped to rescue me. My car’s alternator failed coming home from church. I was stranded in the middle of a busy highway. Thank God for the caring individuals who acted quickly, got me out of the road, and

safely home. I don’t know their names, just that they acted courageously in a time of trouble. I owed them a heart full of gratefulness. I thank the law enforcement who made sure I got home safe. I remember it was a cold night, but the hearts of those helping were warm and caring.

When I got home, I was praising God once again for the people He sent in my path when I needed them most.

Psalm 91 talks about how God protects us.

Verse 11 says, “For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” That night, I feel like I saw angels in real life, and I thank God again for sending them into my pathway.

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

MAKING A DIFFERENCE, JUDE 1:22

Eradicating poverty involves an integrated approach, which Community Share Ministries is committed to providing for our local communities. It isn't enough to simply provide food and clothing to people during difficult times, but is essential to tackle all of the core issues impacting families. We believe in doing our part to make the world a better place for all within our community and the communities surrounding. We do this through feeding, clothing, and housing people in need. We exist to make a difference. helpcommunityshare.com

There Was a Time

by Deck Cheatham

There may have been a time in a person’s willful life, a time before he believed, when the whole of the Christian story seemed improbable. There may have been an inkling it was true but thought allowed it not because only the eyes filled belief. Each day focused on the matters demanding attention, each spent on judging others as different or worse or as gain or detriment. Nothing in his nature suggested wrong rested within unless gain could be achieved by admitting it. Each effort satisfying his want was good and noble, his persona perfect in pursuit of ambition.

In his first believing, in the joy accompanying the grace allowing him the story’s truth, he was presented with a problem. At first, he was unaware. Only in time, when he began to regress toward his habitual nature, when that nature confronted him, did another truth arise. When mercy and forgiveness toward others began to enter thought and heart, did this truth swing the pendulum. Now, as he saw the good in others, even believed the worst of men were subject to God’s grace, did God turn his attention toward his own failings. Before, he understood truth only when it applied outside of him. But when truth’s light turned onto him, it became painful. But it was a holy pain he experienced. It was God’s light calling him to seek Him first in all things, to see as He sees, to love as He loves, to walk through regret and atonement, repentance and redemption. The willful self suffers his darkness before he suffers his light. But it is an assuring light from above he suffers gladly.

My own journey to understanding God’s light has not been so easy. I am a willful creature. I wish to prove my worth. If Blythe Daniel is right, that “extending yourself to others requires thinking about what the other needs, not what you’re comfortable giving,” I resisted God’s every urging to do so. For it is in relationship where the willed self fails to see the need in others, where darkness finds its soil.

Recently, I found myself in conflict with someone. I admit I failed to see his worth. I found him to be a disruptive individual who wished to create conflict. After praying, I one day realized his need. My attitude toward him changed. Mercy filled my perspective. I became confident in my wrong.

Often, without God, we fail in relationships. When relationship with God becomes as intended through creation, the creaturely in response to the Creator, those ties we have with others along our walk become ordained by truth. Yes, we might have to walk yet again through regret and atonement, through repentance and redemption, but in doing so, we admit to God the truth of our own nature and our dependence on Him. In His abundance, we are created again. To God, we can prove nothing. In light, He proves His love. “For those who have ears to hear, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15, NKJV).

Overcoming Fear

by Susan Lavigne

When I worked as an orthopedic physical therapist, the patients I saw were experiencing pain in their muscles or joints. Although my job was to treat the physical symptoms of their bodies, I often encountered another barrier that was more difficult to address. Due to their injury/pain, the person hesitated in doing any movement that might cause them to hurt again. They stop doing the activities they once enjoyed more out of fear than the possibility of re-injury. The way I helped these patients overcome their fear was to constantly encourage them to keep moving and remind them that it would be alright.

Everyone today needs encouragement to help us overcome our fears in this sin-wrecked world. All of us will experience fears of some kind, whether it’s worries in our daily life or phobias of a deeper nature. We all experience fear because we all have been hurt in one way or another. The greatest enemy in fear is that it keeps us from doing the things God has called us to do. However, the truth of God’s word says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”

In what ways has fear been affecting you? The statements below may be an indicator of some of the ways fear is keeping you from God’s plan.

• Fear of failure…so you don’t try new activities

• Fear of relationships…so you don’t take the risk to meet new people

• Fear of abandonment … so you leave them before they can leave you

• Fear of rejection…so you isolate yourself

• Fear of success…so you don’t risk sharing your ideas

• Fear for the well-being of your children…so you become over-protective and never let them become independent and experience the world for themselves

If any of these statements seem to resonate with what is happening in your life right now, then I want to encourage you to take the following steps.

• First, take your fear to God and ask Him to help you. We need to remember that God cares for us deeply and wants to help us. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your cares upon Him (God) for He cares for you.” Then, we can see our fears in light of His greater power.

• Second, make a plan to change. Try some new activities or plan to meet new people and share your ideas. So instead of being stuck in fear, take a risk and anticipate a positive outcome.

• Finally, share your concerns with your family and among the fellowship of believers. This will not only provide support but also accountability to try new things.

Although I am no longer working as a physical therapist, I still want to encourage everyone to enjoy their life fully and walk in the truth of God’s word. The best way to do that is to fear-less!

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

God’s Plan and the Single Christian

by Matt Jensen

Singleness is hard. There’s the pain of not knowing if you’ll ever meet someone or be content with singleness. There’s the pain of many unmet desires, maybe even the pain of confusion. Afterall, if marriage is a godly desire, why would God not fulfill it? Then there’s the pain of not knowing how singleness fits into God’s plan. You’ve heard sermons about God’s task for humanity—be fruitful and multiply. “How, then, can I glorify God as a single? Where may I find comfort?” The Bible answers these two questions. Let’s consider mankind’s task in light of the first and last Adam (1 Cor. 15:44-49; cf. Rom. 5:12-21).

Adam and Eve were given a task which can be summed up as filling and ruling the earth (Gen. 1:28). God made man and woman as sexual beings. In the context of marriage, man and woman were created to come together and bear children, filling the earth with other image bearers. Man and woman were created to rule the earth, subduing it for the glory of God. Had they obeyed God, “the earth would be full of the glory of God as waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). Adam and Eve disobeyed God, however, bringing sin into the world instead. Consequently, this task is fundamentally changed. No longer can procreation fulfill this task, for we are all born in sin (Rom. 5:12-21). We must be born again (Jn. 3:3-8). This brings us to the last Adam.

Jesus is referred to as the last Adam for good reason (1 Cor. 15:44-49). Jesus became true man, sin excepted. As sinless man, he is the perfect image bearer (Heb. 2:17; 4:15). He lived, died, and rose again to represent his people before a holy God. God’s people participate in his life, death, and resurrection through faith. Christ purifies his bride, the church, making her a suitable helper for the glorious task of filling and subduing the earth. Before the fall, Adam and Eve’s children would have been image bearers who properly reflected God. Since the fall, however, everyone is born in sin. There is only one way for sinful man to begin properly reflecting the glory of God—the reconciling and transforming grace of God. Christ is on a global mission to “bring many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10) through new birth (Jn. 3:3-8). He is adding to, sanctifying, and equipping his church to “proclaim his excellencies” among the nations (1 Pet. 2:9). The task moves forward through proclamation rather than procreation. We are not co-redeemers and Jesus doesn’t need

a helper, but he has freely chosen to include us in this glorious task (Matt. 28:19-21).

“How can I glorify God?” Dear single Christian, know that you don’t need a spouse to glorify God. You can glorify God in your singleness. You are participating in the glorious task of filling the world with those who properly reflect God’s image. That task belongs to the last Adam, and he has freely chosen a helper. Every time someone is born into the kingdom of God, or you witness someone grow in holiness, you are witnessing the last Adam fulfilling the first Adam’s task. As you join, participate, and serve in a biblical, missions-minded church, you are involved in this task.

“Where can I find comfort?” Until Christ comes back, God’s people will suffer (Job 14:1; Lk. 13:1-5; Rom. 8:16-18). Singleness can be unspeakably painful. It’s often a pain that you think others don’t understand. You feel alone. As to his divinity, Christ is your rock (Ps. 18:1-3). As to his humanity, he knows human suffering to a degree that you will never know (Heb. 2:17; 4:18; Gal. 3:13). You are not alone, and you are heading to a land without marriage (Matt. 22:30). The joys of marriage in this life can’t be compared to the joys of the next (1 Cor. 2:9). Marriage in this life is only a small sample of “joy forevermore” in the presence of God (Ps. 16:11), a joy that will be shared by all believers, married or single.

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.

“WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU, AND GUIDE YOU AS TO YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION.” —MICHAEL MINTER

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