February 2023

ò0dNew s

About Us

WRITERS

Dr. Alan Hix

Arietta Grimmett

Brenda Dedmon

Dr. Bobby Sneed

Chad Hess

David Huff

Detrick Redding

Dorothy Teague

Donna Swann

Donald Cantrell

Greg Grotewold

Kristen West

Rick Hughes

Sandra Gilmore

SALES

Matthew Ruckman 423-503-1410 Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Abney

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!

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

6 I Want To, I Do, I Did by Detrick Redding

GoodNews for Kids

8 Who Needs a Friend? by Brenda Dedmon

GoodNews Money Matters 10 Understanding Fixed Index Annuities by Rick Hughes

GoodNews for Men 12 Friendship for Men by Chad Hess

GoodNews for Women 14 Hope in Motion by Sandra Gilmore

GoodNews for Everyone 18 A Broken Heart by Dorothy Teague

GoodNews Cover Story 20 Salmon Funeral Home and Cremation Services

GoodNews for Everyone 22 How Well Do You Understand Love? by Dr. Alan Hix

GoodNews for Everyone 24 Choosing to Love by Kristen West

GoodNews for Grandparents 26 Iron Sharpens Iron by Donald Cantrell

GoodNews Poetry 28 Not Yet by Arietta Grimmett

GoodNews for Everyone 30 Trust: Even When God Seems Silent by Donna Swann

GoodNews for Everyone 32 Sovereign Goodness by Greg Grotewold

GoodNews for Everyone 34 I Love You Most by Dr. Bobby Sneed

GoodNews for Everyone 36 The Value of Relationships by David Huff

GoodNews for your Taste Buds 38 Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cake Pops

I Want To, I Do, I Did

by Detrick Redding

Relationships, relationships, oh my relationships! We have a society of mixed emotions about relationships. Relationships are truly powerful if you will embrace them properly. We must admit that the improper ideologies of today’s relationship have clouded the judgment of many concerning the idea of marriage. Traumatic encounters and misguided men and women cause wrestling within, hindering even the desire of a relationship. Is there even any comfort in a relationship? Do I even want to get in a relationship now? Do I really want to say I do? Will I regret that I did? We need to discover the joy in relationship!

finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Now, that scripture was a great one. However, God challenged me, and “find a wife” was imprinted on my heart. This meant not finding a woman to marry, but finding a woman who was already a wife. Wow! God said to me, “Find someone that’s married to me!” A person that’s already in love and married to God will, in return, be committed to love and be committed to you!

The life of being with someone who is committed to God is so rewarding. The Apostle Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. The union of marriage is a blessing, especially when you’re committed to God. Even in creation, God stated that Eve was to be a suitable helper to Adam. To be on the same page in life doesn’t eliminate problems or challenges within the union, and it doesn’t mean that everyone will do everything right. But unity of mind and heart provides the proper foundation to overcome obstacles and all hurdles. My wife Toris and I are an example of this truth. We have not had things go perfectly. However, this foundation of commitment to God keeps us committed to each other.

Over 18 years ago, I said, “I do,” and I don’t regret it at all. Before I married, I was your typical single fellow in the church. Marriage was really all that I had to look forward to. I saw marriage—my mom and dad exemplified it before me. I saw it in my church with several couples. I was always on the lookout to find “the future lady” of my life. So, one day in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord moved upon my heart and said to look at Proverbs 18:22, which says, “He who

For existing couples, commit yourself to God and receive the strength of His love for your marriage. For those who are single, fall in love with God and commit yourself to Him, and His love in your heart will build the foundation for joy and endurance. Keep your “want to” and your time to say “I do” will come, and then you will never regret that “you did!”

About The Author

Detrick Redding, born and raised in Rome, Georgia, is a husband to Toris and father to 4 children. Called to pastor at an early age, he currently pastors at Rally Up International Ministries in Rome, Georgia. Detrick has a deep passion for not only seeing people born again, but knowing their true identity and what is made available to all in Jesus Christ.

Who Needs a Friend?

by Brenda Dedmon

Ibelieve having friends and being a friend is an important part of our lives. I have friends today that I made when I was a child, and we still enjoy doing things together. It is important to remember the friends we have made, but it is also important that we continue to make new friends.

We find examples in the Bible of people who were friends. We find in 1 Samuel 1:18 the friendship of David and Jonathan. David said his friendship with Jonathan was as if he was his brother. In the New Testament, in John 15:15, Jesus said to His followers, “You are my friends.” In the book of Acts, we read about Paul, Silas, and Timothy as friends. Paul was also friends with Lydia and the women she had church with by the river. When Paul wrote letters to the churches in the New Testament, he always called them his friends.

We also read in the Bible reminders of things we need to do to be a friend and what we should do for our friends: “Be kind and compassionate” (Eph. 4:32 ) and “Pray one for another” (James 5:16). What do you think you have to do to make friends and be a friend? It may be hard to make new friends when you move to a new neighborhood or move to a new school. So where do you start?

You will discover on this page four suggestions that could help you with making friends. Ask your parents to help you develop a plan using these ideas.

• Learning how to meet friends by asking questions. Start with asking simple questions such as their name, their favorite food, game, movie, and how old they are. Explore other ideas you might want to ask.

• Make a storyboard of action steps. Using the questions you decided on, make a storyboard of “how” to put those steps into action. You may want

to explore what to do if someone answers no to answering questions.

• Play a game of “What If?” Think about the best or worse thing that could happen if you are fearful about making new friends. For example, “What if you ask others to play and they do not respond like you think they would? Sometimes talking about what could happen and sharing ideas of how to deal with it in a variety of ways could give you confidence in making friends. You will also realize that it is not a big deal if things do not go perfectly every time.

• Read books. Using books is a fantastic way to help you realize how to make friends, be a friend, and that making friends is a natural part of life. The following books are part of my favorite books about making friends: How to be a Friend by Laurie Krasay Brown, Will you be friends with Me? by Kathleen Long Bostrom, and The Kids Book of Friends by Catherine Stephens.

About The Author

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

Hearts • Sharpening Minds

Understanding Fixed Index Annuities

Money Matters Rick Hughes

with

Fixed Index Annuities can be confusing. For one thing, they are not fixed annuities, which have been around for a long time. FIAS, which came about in 1995, guarantees a set interest rate. Usually, the rate is fairly low, such as 2.5%, but guaranteed no matter what the economic conditions. The major question is whether FIAS are good for your portfolio.

An FIA is an insurance contract between you and the issuing insurance company. The insurance company is guaranteeing your principal and backing your principal payments with their assets. They make these guarantees based upon the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company.

In an FIA, during the accumulation phase, your contact growth potential is linked to an index, such as the S&P 500, but not directly invested in the index. The insurance company has guaranteed that if the linked index is positive, you will receive interest credits to your account, but if the linked index is negative, your contract value will not be negatively impacted. Remember, you are not directly buying a stock—instead, your contact value is only linked to the index you have chosen.

Many insurance companies offer a bonus for your principal purchase. Let’s say you make a principal payment of $100,000 and receive a 10% bonus, which would increase your contract value to a theoretical value of $110,000. Why would an insurance company be willing to do that? It’s very simple, they have plans to make money from your money, in the same way, banks loan out your money for profit.

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.

Most FIAS have two phases, the first phase being your accumulation phase. This includes your principal payment(s) and bonus that you may have received, plus any credited interest rates you received as well. Most insurance companies will allow you to withdraw up to 10% a year without a surrender penalty. Be sure to review your specific insurance contract for certain conditions, exceptions, and limitations that may apply. The insurance company only allows you to take up to a 10% surrender penalty-free withdrawal. If you take more than 10%, a surrender penalty is assessed and you may lose any potential credited interest rate that could have occurred.

The second phase would be the distribution phase. Purchasers receive a percentage of income depending on their age, and if a spouse is involved, it will be a percentage based on the youngest spouse. Again, be sure to review your specific insurance contract for certain conditions, exceptions, and limitations that may apply. The owner can choose to receive a monthly check. If the policy owner dies, the spouse can continue to receive the monthly check until they die. If there is still money in the account when the policyholder dies, their beneficiaries can typically receive the remaining funds in a lump sum.

One of the biggest fears most seniors have is outliving their money. Including an FIA as part of your retirement strategy can help prevent that from happening.

Friendship for Men

by Chad Hess

Godly friendships between men based on a shared love of Jesus Christ are a true blessing. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” There are numerous examples of friendship in the Bible, but perhaps my favorite is the bond that existed between David and Jonathan. It is perhaps the best example of friendship ever recorded.

Jonathan was the son of Israel’s first king Saul and a warrior of great renown. When David was the only one willing to stand against Goliath (and, with the power of God, defeat the giant), Jonathan made a covenant with David, stripped himself of his armor and robe “because he loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1-4). We read further in 1 and 2 Samuel how their relationship becomes one of love, admiration, respect and character as they protect and defend one another through the many perils faced, mainly arising from King Saul himself. They endured much together and were only separated by death.

This biblical story from over one thousand years prior to Christ, remains for men today a perfect example of how men in the 21st century should strive to be friends and brothers. We should love, stand by, and stand up for our friends: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). We should spend time together as friends in work, play, conversation and prayer: “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man

speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). We should choose our friends wisely, and then as Jonathan and David, remain steadfast in our friendship: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Friendship, true friendship, is a rare and beautiful thing. It is something to be sought and closely guarded. In the modern world, we are often isolated from others because of technology and the norms (not necessarily good ones) that surround us. Time spent with a friend should be something that we make an honest effort to achieve. A true Christian friendship is one that aids both members of the friendship to live a life of discipleship, love, giving, responsibility and commitment. Of course, we have no greater friend than our Lord Jesus, but a friend in times of joy and trouble is a gift from God.

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.

About The Author

Hope in Motion

by Sandra Gilmore

Are you busy making New Year’s resolutions? Let me guess: one of them has to do with getting organized. Besides losing weight, getting organized is a top goal early in a new year. Americans are fascinated with clutter and organizing. Have you noticed all the shows dedicated to this one topic? Have you noticed all the gadgets and even rising careers associated with household and office organization? The Proverbs 31 Woman had it covered long before plastic was even mentioned! Proverbs 31:27 says, “She watches how things go in her house” (The Complete Jewish Bible translation). Do you know how things go in your house? Or even how they come? Research through the years finds a deep connection between clutter and hopelessness. Let’s start this new year off right!

Through the years of being a mom with a career outside the home, then years of being a stay-at-home mom, I collected and developed a list that helped keep me organized and focused. Listed here are just a few. Pick one that resonates with you. Put it into motion soon. Where confusion and clutter once grew, you’ll see hope take root!

*Make several sets of keys. Place them strategically at home, at work, or at the neighbors if need be.

*Keep multiple hair dryers in the house. The Bible says a woman’s hair is her glory. It is terrible to have the hair dryer die when you are not quite “glorified!”

*Make copies of important papers, including digital copies. Secure a safe box at your financial institution. Put anything you deem important in your box with an inventory list of its contents. Keep an extra inventory list at home too.

*Keep a calendar with big boxes for each day visually handy to record family events. You could quickly jot down milestones, whether it’s the last time you had your oil changed or your baby’s first sentence. When you

have time, you can easily scrapbook or journal these milestones. Encourage your children to log items. It will be even more special in years to come to see their own handwriting.

*When possible, put the kids to bed in their clothes. Summer short sets or winter stockings and turtlenecks are often as soft and flexible as pajamas. Come morning, you and your children will be glad for the extra winks!

*Keep a 3x5 card with important information secured to the visor of your car. Cell phones lose their charge or hit dead zones. A simple card can save the day.

*When you are working on an important document or want to archive important information, email it to yourself. If your computer is inaccessible or you lose a flash drive, you can usually access accounts in libraries or other public places. Your information is now available to you 24/7, anywhere in the world.

*Pray Proverbs 8:12, “I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” When we are in a tight spot, Holy Spirit will send wisdom when we ask. Wisdom can reveal “witty inventions,” meaning new ways of doing things, effective time management methods or ways to multiply effectiveness.

*Keep prayer a priority. Redeem time to spend with the Father. He loves you. He created you. He is especially proud of you. Spend time with Him as your source of strength and growth. His unconditional love will sustain hope for you like nothing else!

You’ve probably got some of your own tips for watching how things go in your house. Share those in a conversation, on a blog, or even a post. Pass on hope!

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

About The Author

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 Church of the Transfiguration 304 Coker Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-0197

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

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 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

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

Covenant Presbyterian Church EPC 1645 Cartersville Hwy. Rome, GA 30161 706-767-8373

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

A Broken Heart

by Dorothy Teague

Just mention February, and people automatically think of Valentine’s Day. For most people, images of flowers, chocolates, cards, and the whole romantic Hallmark scene is what we think of and aspire to. Being in love is a wonderful feeling, but as we surrender our hearts and open ourselves up to love someone, we become vulnerable and risk being hurt. As a matter of fact, chances are one hundred percent that we will have a broken heart several times in our lives. People will hurt us, and we will hurt others because we are human. The only one who will not fail us is Christ. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love…” Jesus, Himself, knows quite a lot about having a broken heart.

Jesus died of a broken heart when He hung on the cross and died for all mankind. As He hung there, with all the sin of the world upon Him, He was in such physical, mental and emotional distress that His heart burst open and spilled out for us. There is a condition known as Broken Heart Syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, which occurs when a person experiences sudden acute stress that can rapidly weaken the heart muscle. Two kinds of stressors, emotional or physical, often cause this. Emotional stressors include grief, while physical stressors such as significant bleeding, difficulty breathing, and chest pain can result in this (www.hopkinsmedicine.org).

Jesus had been beaten and wounded repeatedly before He ever got to the cross and endured the physical trauma that hanging there put on His heart. But, more than this, He was experiencing grief from being separated from His Father. God could not look upon sin, so He had to turn away. Even though Jesus knew He must finish the work on the cross for our redemption, the agony He felt being apart from His Father must have been unbearable! Yes, Jesus knows all about a broken heart in every sense of the word. He knows us and understands us better than we know ourselves. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin.” He “knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). We were designed to love and be loved. But, when we get hurt along the way, we can find solace in the Word of God. He reminds us that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18), and that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Your Valentine’s Day may not be like a Hallmark movie where everything turns out perfectly in the end, but there is One you can depend on to always love you perfectly; His name is Jesus!

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.

About The Author

Salmon Funeral Home and Cremation Services: Here For Families When They Need Us Most

When the most difficult seasons of life find us, it can be confusing to know who or where to turn. When the inevitable or unexpected happens, it is a great comfort to call someone who can be trusted and transparent. That’s why families have been calling Salmon Funeral Home and Cremation Services for years. Salmon Funeral Home has served families throughout West Georgia and East Alabama with compassion and integrity. As an established business in the Rome community, Salmon Funeral Home is here to help you and your family honor your loved one through professional, personal services.

“We are here to help families during the most difficult times. It is our honor to serve and build a relationship with each and every family we meet,” said Kyle Kiser, owner of Salmon Funeral Home.

Kiser and his wife, Tabor, purchased Salmon Funeral Home in April 2022 after working at the

location for several years. Together, they share a heart for community service. As a family-owned and operation business, Salmon Funeral Home values their connection to their clients. “We place a high importance on our services because they honor and celebrate individuals and their connections to the ones they loved,” said Kiser. No matter the style, direction or environment you choose to honor your loved one, the professional staff at Salmon Funeral Home is able to assist you in creating a service that reflects your

loved one’s unique life story. Salmon Funeral Home offers burial, cremation and green burial services, including visitations at the funeral home or your church, memorial services at your chosen location, and graveside and chapel services. Salmon Funeral Home offer services any time of the day and week, anywhere you choose. So, whether you are planning an elaborate service with many guests or a simple gathering with family members, Salmon Funeral Home is here to stand alongside you.

“We offer professional services at a reasonable price. We publish our service prices on our website because we believe that trust is built on a relationship of openness and honesty and firmly believe in transparency. No matter a family’s financial status, we never turn a family away from our business. We believe in helping people and always will. We also have a beautiful facility, including a beautiful chapel, a large lounge area for gatherings and meals, and ample parking availability,” said Kiser.

Salmon Funeral Home are proud leaders in the industry, utilizing the latest technology and personalization available. If your family and friends are scattered across the country or simply unable to attend a service, Salmon Funeral Home offers Live Funeral Webcasting. Webcasting your loved one’s service gives those who are unable

to travel the ability to see the service live or watch it later at their convenience. This can be a meaningful solution for those who are elderly or serving overseas. Along with webcasting, Salmon Funeral Home provides a Virtual Guestbook, so those attending remotely are able to sign and leave their condolences.

When you are in need of a support network, Salmon Funeral Home’s program, Circle of Friends, provides quarterly grief support meetings, including guest speakers, creative activities, and shared meals. These group meetings allow a time of uplifting fellowship and support. When you choose a Salmon Funeral Home service, you become a member of a lasting community.

Salmon Funeral Home and Cremation Services is located at 2516 New Calhoun Highway Northwest, Rome, GA. You can visit Salmon Funeral Home’s website, www.salmonfh.com, for more information and resources. When you find yourself in need, call Kyle and Tabor Kiser and their compassionate staff at (706)-291-9472.

How Well Do You Understand Love?

by Dr. Alan Hix

When people think of February, many immediately think of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is often viewed as a time to express one’s love for another. However, what we mean when we say we love someone is conditioned by our definition of love. How would you define “love?”

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists three aspects of its primary definition of love.

a. Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

b. Attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers

c. Affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests However, for human beings, “love” is an emotional word that cries for expression beyond a simple definition. Let’s return to the question above: How would you define love? My suspicion is that your definition would come from your own emotional connection to the concept of love.

Poetry is a common place to find expressions of love. In Hartley Coleridge’s Sonnet VII, he begins his poem with, “Is love a fancy, or a feeling? No. It is immortal as immaculate Truth.” In his Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare echoes a similar expression of the lasting nature of love: “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks but bears it out even to the edge of doom.”

From these lofty expressions by classic poets, the definition of “love” finds it poorest expression in the 1970 movie Love Story. After a lovers’ quarrel, Jenny reveals to Oliver that she is dying of leukemia. Heartbroken, he begs her forgiveness. Her response has found a continuing life in popular culture: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” This definition is a far cry from the one expressed by Coleridge and Shakespeare.

Country music fans may be familiar with Clint Black’s “Something That We Do.” He closes his song with:

I remember well the day we wed I can see that picture in my head Love isn't just those words we said It's somethin' that we do

This description of love as not just a feeling but as an action goes far beyond Jenny’s definition above. However, is this definition sufficient? Defining love only within the context of human relationships will always fall short, because a complete definition of love must include the source of love—which is God.

The Apostle John approaches the subject of love in this way: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. . .. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another (1 John 4:7–8, 10-11).

John helps us to see that true love is not simply a feeling or an action. True love is a person God. Genesis 1:26 declares that we are made in the image of God. Part of that image is loving as God loves. This rich understanding of love is the basis for the Apostle Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Here we see that love is feeling, doing, giving, sacrificing, enduring, and much more. In this moving passage, Paul gives us a picture of what it looks like to love as God loves.

On this Valentine’s Day, let us as believers in Christ commit to reflecting his image by loving as he loves.

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.

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Kingdom

Choosing to Love

by Kristen West

Storefronts and florists are awash with red and pink décor this month as they promote Valentine’s Day. And many people are looking for a feeling that is as ooey-gooey as the centers of those gourmet chocolates they hope to get.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Valentine’s Day, and I certainly love getting flowers and chocolates as much as the next person, but how often do we stop there—at the superficial level—and never really learn to love.

I can attest that after 19 years of marriage now, on MOST days, there are no “butterflies in my stomach” feelings or tingly puppy love rush of emotions. There are choices…intentional, deliberate, thoughtful choices.

While that may sound boring to some, those of us who buckled up for life understand that this is where the rubber meets the road. When Anthony and I married, I vowed to love him, “for better or worse; in sickness and in health; for richer or poorer…”

Choosing to love each other—in all of our broken, imperfect “humanness”—is what love is all about. It’s what God modeled for us in hopes that we would follow His example. “We love because He first loved us…” (1 John 4:19). God’s love is always anchored in choices. According to John 3:16, God “so loved” the world that He gave His only Son. That choice wasn’t founded on a good feeling. Jesus knew He was being sent down a path that would end in brutality, public humiliation, and a tortured criminal’s death. There was nothing “lovey-dovey” about it. It was love in its rawest form—a choice to do good to another human being; to put their interests first; to consider and honor them as the valuable individual that God created them to be.

Every day I wake up, I choose to love my husband— even on those days when our brokenness bubbles to the surface and we’d like to have “time-out” chairs for each other. The choice to ask God to continually make me a better wife is love. The choice to stay “till death do us part” is love. The choice to work hard on my marriage so that those around us have a picture of what God’s heart looks like for His Bride is love.

Hmmm, I think I’ll be on the lookout this week for a conversational heart that says, “Choosing to Love!”

Kristen West recently published a book of 40 devotions called He’s an Everyday God. About The Author

Iron Sharpens Iron

by Donald Cantrell

Those of you that follow my articles know that I often write about life events that occur between my granddaughter and myself. Kinsley will be ten years old in a few weeks, and I have been her primary babysitter since she was four weeks old. It has been lifechanging for me to watch her grow up from a baby to a “tween” as she calls it.

Throughout the years, we have had some awesome excursions as we went on our weekly trips to the Chattanooga Zoo, the Tennessee Aquarium, various jump parks, petting zoos, or eating maple flavored ice cream with chunks of bacon in it at a working farm over in Ellijay. I have watched her learn to eat everything from sardines, mayo and honey sandwiches to chomping down on gator tail or Alaskan crab legs.

Our journey has been much tighter than merely being her “poppy” or her “babysitter” because I have had the joy of also

being her pastor, literally since birth. During the past ten years, I have watched her grow up singing “Jesus Loves” to singing “Christian Songs” during karaoke on a cruise ship and bringing the house down as everyone applauded and hugged her for singing songs about her faith and her relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Pro 27:17, KJV).

You might think that I am always the teacher, but as I have watched her grow up, Kinsley has taught me some wonderful things about life. In watching her, I have learned that it is okay to make yourself vulnerable and put yourself out there in the forefront. It has been a joy to see her grow up and grow into a young girl that not only listens to my sermons, but tries to live by them and then calls me out when I don’t.

One day, I preached on never taking “tomorrow” for granted and that we ought to never put stuff off for tomorrow if we can do it today. The next week, I heard some people in our family saying they would get to some things “tomorrow” and Kinsley told them they should never say “tomorrow.” I find great joy in knowing that she is listening to my messages, but on the other hand, I find it very gripping to know that I better live what I preach.

I have developed a relationship with this girl that is sincere, it is brutally honest, and I can honestly say that she has made me a better preacher, because I see that the words I say are literally taken to heart and that I need to be very careful in how I present the “word of God.” I have enjoyed the last ten years of this relationship and look forward to the coming years. God has blessed me mightily by placing this “fireball” into my life, and I will not take any day for granted.

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.”

Not Yet

by Arietta Grimmett

Do I know Yeshuaq (Jesus) as He knows me, Have I seen the nail prints in His hands and His feet, The scars on His brow from the crown of thorns, The wounds on His back from the blows of a whip? Not Yet

Have I seen the One who died for me, The One who saved me to the uttermost, The One who healed my body too numerous to mention, The One who truly gives life after death? Not Yet

But one of these days I will see Him. I will see Him as He sees me now. I will know Him as He knows me now. No, not yet. Still waiting! But by His grace, I Shall.

Arietta Grimmett, D. Min. is a Retired Minister and Sunday School Teacher and attends Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.

About The Author

Trust: Even When God Seems Silent

by Donna Swann

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, I sat drinking my coffee and reflecting on the past year. So many changes have occurred in my life. Many changes were small, like getting a cat, while others were huge, liking getting a husband. As always, some were wanted, like a new house, and some less desirable, like my best friend moving further away. Many blessings were a surprise, while others were answered prayers. God answers all prayers. He may

possibilities. Then I began viewing houses with the agent. It was so exciting to see all the potential homes. However, each time I found one and put in a bid, poof! It was gone. Someone got it before me. House after house, after house. Then the loan officer I was working with left the company she worked with, and I was told I was no longer eligible for a loan. This went on for two years. I could not understand why God was not answering my prayer. Well, here I sit in my new home. My prayer wasn’t answered because it wasn’t to be my new home, but our new home. God had the man, the gold band, and the home already planned.

not give the answer we wanted, or He might take a while. Of all the prayers that were answered in 2022, two really stood out to me. One being my quest for a house.

About five years ago, after unfortunate circumstances, my credit score was bottomed out, and I was barely surviving financially. I rented a small house in which, at times, four of us lived. My goal was to become a homeowner again. I worked diligently to raise my credit score and save for a down payment. About three years ago I reached the desired goal, and the search began.

I prayed that God would help me find the perfect house. First, I located a real estate agent and found a loan officer that would give me the benefit of the doubt. Spending hours on the internet, I looked at houses and made lists of

Also, this year God answered another prayer. This particular prayer had been going up for four years. At one point, I remember sitting in my car, literally crying out to God with tears streaming down my face, begging for Him to help my loved one. Watching this person struggle was heart-wrenching at times. I think God was working out the pieces slowly, and finally my prayer was answered this year. Sometimes God’s plan and timing don’t make sense to us. Imagine being an Israelite at the Battle of Jericho. I might have said, “He wants us to do what? Walk around Jericho for six days? We can easily circle the city in one day! And we will be sitting ducks walking around and around out here in the open! God said he would make it collapse. Why doesn’t he just do it the first time we circle?”

Even though the Israelites did not understand the process, they trusted God. They endured six days of silence and circling, just as God instructed. We must pray with endurance and faith. Believe in God’s promises, even when it seems like nothing is happening. In the silence, God is at work.

Donna Swann is a second-grade teacher in Rome, Georgia. She attends Grace Faith Bible Study where her husband Jack is the pastor. She coauthors a Christian blog, Smorgasbord of Sisterhood, with her cousin. About The Author

Sovereign Goodness

by Greg Grotewold

Life is full of sad stories. Like this one. A medical examiner’s office in upstate New York recently concluded its investigation of a two-year-old boy’s death earlier in the year. It was determined that the toddler had died of starvation after his father (the only other person living in the house) had died of a heart ailment. By the time a welfare check was performed, it was too late. The two bodies were found in the father’s bedroom.

This is not the way things are supposed to be. It’s becoming clear that the world is categorically broken, perhaps irreversibly so. And for those like me who lack a certain intestinal fortitude, the prevalence of such suffering can cause deep sadness.

But feeling sad, as a blood-bought believer, is okay, I’ve learned. Sadness need not be the antithesis of hope. The two emotions can coexist, for the former clings to that which can be seen and the latter to that which can’t. “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for which he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24-25, ESV). One is today’s reality, and the other tomorrow’s. Someday my faith will become sight, and I will be in the glorious presence of Jesus. Until then, Paul tells me to wait patiently. Easier said than done, though. What do I do with my growing angst over disease and death, a culture hellbent on its own moral destruction, my own sinful contributions? Paul provides that guidance, too:

May [the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory] give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:17-21, ESV, bracketed language rearranged).

I grow my ability to endure the sickness when I grow my understanding of the One who will eventually deliver me

from it. In other words, I need to enlighten my heart with a clearer view of Jesus’s sovereign goodness. He makes colossal promises throughout Scripture, but none more seemingly outlandish than the gift of a glorious inheritance for all who trust and obey Him. In any other sphere of life, it would be lunacy to hope in such things. Not Jesus. Not Heaven. Glorious promises are only fulfilled by glorious sources of power. And His prowess is both immeasurable and unparalleled. Nothing— no rule, authority, power, or dominion—will preclude Jesus from delivering His children into Glory. Nothing. Colossians 1 provides even greater illumination as to His power.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (15-18, ESV)

These four verses are very dear to me. I go to them when the world gets me down, which means I frequent this passage often. Jesus Christ creates all things, holds all things together, and is before all things. These facts tell me He is able to keep His promises. Such assurance regarding the future is what allows me to face the present. May His sovereign goodness do the same for you.

Greg Grotewold lives with his wife, Sandi, and their two sons, Luke and Eli. He is a deacon in his local church and greatly enjoys serving in this capacity.

About The Author

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.

I Love You Most

by Dr. Bobby Sneed

Aparent’s love for their child is a uniquely powerful thing. I am fortunate to have a daughter who is now in her 30’s, but some of my fondest memories of her growing up are the “I Love You” exchanges we had. I have no idea where or when it started but one of us would say to the other, “I love you,” to which the reply was “I love you more,” followed by the one who initiated, “I love you most.” It sounds simple and perhaps to some “silly,” but it was a sweet exchange of affection that defined our commitment to one another as father and child. As the years have gone by and my walk with the Lord has grown nearer and sweeter, I have come to the realization that this exchange epitomizes God’s affection for us.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The gift of the Son to a lost and dying world was, and still is, God saying, I love you! There is no other way to describe this singular act of grace and mercy than to say it was born out of love and devotion to His creation (us), which we know based on scripture is truth because God doesn’t just love; God is love (1 John 4:16).

In response to God telling us, “I love you,” if we receive this love and understand that God is love, then our response is to love Him back. The entirety of the verse listed above (1 John 4:16) states, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” We didn’t initiate the “love,” God did! Nevertheless, having known and believed the love that God has for us, we learn to love Him more and more, thus “I love you more.”

The love that God has for us will never be outdone! Coming to the earth in human form is an “I love you” from Heaven. Giving us the gift of grace by faith in Jesus to understand and accept this love is “I love you more” as we grow in our relationship with Him; but God finishes the exchange with “I love you most” by dying on the cross for our sins. He became sin that we might live forever with Him. He overcame death so we would have life. Jesus says to us all today, “I love you,” “I love you more,” and “I love you most.” His love will never be outdone!

As we celebrate love, be reminded of this, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). The people in our lives may come to know God’s love by how we love them. Take the time today to say, “I love you!”

About The Author

Dr. Bobby Sneed is the pastor of Deep Springs Baptist Church. His greatest desire is that all will experience the peace, hope and love of the Father made possible by faith in the Son, Jesus Christ.

Mission Statement:

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

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

Writer Guidelines:

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

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

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

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

The Value of Relationships

by David Huff

One of the greatest aspects that come from being in a relationship with someone is the unity and love that is created. For this reason, it hurts when we become separated from someone we truly care for. A friend can become a family member and sometimes even closer than our real family. This is the beauty of walking in a relationship with someone.

So many times, the word relationship is taken to believe that it is a “couples-only” word. Boy, girl, or man and woman in a romantic bond. In reality, relationships as a whole are so much more. Dictionary. com describes the word relationship as the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected or the state of being connected. Being in a relationship with someone does not mean that we are romantically involved with them; it can also mean we are in a deep friendship with them.

In Proverbs 27:17, we are told that iron sharpens iron. When we join a group of friends, we are allowing ourselves to be sharpened by someone else. This is not always easy because that also involves us having to look deep within ourselves to answer some questions that are laid out before us. A relationship is also where we find the true definition of who someone is and how much love they show to the people around them.

God calls each and every one of us to first be in a relationship with Him and then second to be in a relationship with those around us. How we are changed and influenced by these relationships is completely up to us. The value of being

in a relationship with someone is that we grow in Godly grace and love. Jesus tells us to love each other as He loves us. That is a tall order because what happens if we have never had an opportunity to see true Biblical love in our lives? However, when we are in a relationship with the Father, we are also allowing the Father to show us how to love as Jesus did.

We have to make a conscious choice to not walk life alone and enter into a relationship with someone. In the most volatile moments of my life, when I needed to feel love at its deepest level, God led me to people that I needed to be in a relationship with. Some of these relationships were only for a season, and they were with brothers that I will forever be thankful to for walking with me in the most distressful moments of life. Through these small group relationships, bonds were formed that allowed me to become a better person, but also a better Christian. In these relationships, I had to face the reality of being called out by brothers and sisters who genuinely loved me and wanted the best for me. These relationships also led me to be a better husband and father in my personal relationships as well.

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.

About The Author

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Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cake Pops

Sometimes, nothing says I love you more than a freshly baked cake—or in this case, a no-bake cake pop! This twist on the classic red velvet cake is the perfect sweet treat to make this Valentine’s Day. With only eight ingredients, and a quick, no-bake preparation, you can spoil your loved ones without spending too much time in the kitchen. If you try this recipe at home, tag us on Facebook at GoodNews CM and let us know your thoughts!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of medjool dates • ¼ cup of almond flour • 1 tablespoon of coconut flour • ¼ cup of cacao powder • 2 tablespoons of beetroot powder • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup • 1 tablespoon of coconut cream

Instructions

1. Remove the pits from the medjool dates. Then, add the pitted dates to a food processor and blend until a ball forms.

2. Add almond flour, coconut flour, cacao powder, beetroot powder, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Blend until a dough is formed. Add coconut cream and blend again.

3. Scoop out a tablespoon amount of dough at a time and roll into balls.

4. Roll balls in cacao powder and add a cake-pop stick to one end.

5. Store cake pops in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!