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Keep reaching for what makes you feel whole.
Surprises. Triumphs. Breakthroughs. For every moment when words just won’t do, we give it our all so you can, too. Because there’s a whole lot of life to love, and the joy’s worth the journey. As you strive for what makes you come alive, we’ll be here — seeing, hearing and helping you feel whole.
About Us
WRITERS
Ande Frazier
Dr. Bobbie Jo Davidson
Brian Johnson
Carl W. Corser
Charles Finney
Garrett Nudd
Hayden Lanier
Dr. Rob Debelak
Spring M. Fricks
Stephanie Evans
Steve Knapp
Tammy Madden
SALES
Matthew Ruckman
423-503-1410
Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com
DESIGN
Caleb Prytherch
Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kate Walton
Email: kate@studio-kate.com
GoodNews Rome
EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR
Sandra Gilmore
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!
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
You Can’t Order Salvation from Amazon
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
by Charles Finney
Beloved, in this digital age we’ve gotten used to ordering everything online. Groceries? Shipped. Shoes? Delivered. A singing trout plaque? Yes, even that. You can get vitamins, vacuums, and vacuum-sealed venison. Some folks don’t even go to the store anymore— just click, swipe, Prime, boom—blessed by Bezos.
I came by to tell somebody: You can’t order salvation from Amazon.
No sir. No free shipping. No “Holy Ghost in two days or less” package. This ain’t something you can put in a cart and track with a code. The only “tracking number” that’ll matter is whether your name’s in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Salvation Ain’t for Sale
Let’s get this straight—salvation is free, but it ain’t cheap. It cost Jesus everything. You can’t pay for it with cash, card, Klarna, or Camel Bucks. You can’t Afterpay your way into heaven. You might be able to buy a treadmill with four easy payments, but grace don’t come in installments.
Jesus didn’t die so you could subscribe. He died so you could be set free.
You can buy a “Jesus is my Co-Pilot” bumper sticker online, but that won’t make Him Lord. You can even order a glow-in-the-dark Bible, but that don’t mean your heart's got any light in it.
You can’t Prime Deliver the Presence. Some folks treat God like He's an Amazon driver: "Drop the blessing on my porch, Lord, and don’t ring the doorbell!"
We want joy, peace, power—but we don’t want prayer, fasting, or surrender. We want two-day shipping on revival but won’t spend ten minutes repenting. Let me tell you, the Holy Ghost ain’t on backorder, He’s just waiting on you to get out of checkout and get into the altar!
Heaven Has No Return Policy
Once you get this salvation, it’s better than new. You won’t want to send it back. Amazon has a 30-day return policy. But God? When He saves you, it’s eternal!
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish...” (John 10:28 KJV).
Ain’t no “Changed my mind, Lord. I’d like to go back to Egypt.” Once you’ve tasted that heavenly gift, once you’ve been washed in the Blood, there ain’t nothing on this earth that compares.
The Narrow Way Ain’t on GPS
Amazon will send a drone to find you. But the Holy Ghost don’t need batteries.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 KJV: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
The way to heaven isn’t “Add to Cart.” It’s take up your cross. You can’t “filter” your way through life like it’s a product search: “Lord, give me blessings, no trials, Prime only, sort by comfort.” No! You’ve got to walk by faith, not five-star reviews. Glory!
Salvation is not a product—it’s a person. His name is Jesus. He doesn’t ship in a box; He stepped out of the tomb. He doesn't arrive in 2–4 business days; He comes when you call Him in faith.
So stop scrolling, child of God. Don’t look for grace in your cart or forgiveness in a coupon code. Get down on your knees, open your heart, and cry out: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!” That’s how you check out of hell and walk into glory.
And let all the saints say: Amen—and don’t forget to leave a heavenly review!
for Everyone
Peace Be With You
by Hayden Lanier
We live in a world starved for peace.
Unfortunately, we have become desensitized to wars, assassinations, and violence. What used to be unthinkable has become expected. We also long for personal, inner peace. We all have anxieties that torment our minds. We have thoughts, concerns, and worries that bother us. We all have destructive habits we want to cease.
Peace seems to be high in demand but low in supply. Regarding the peace the world offers, this is true. But thank God, He has given us a different source of peace: His Son, Jesus.
Shortly after He rose from the dead, Jesus appeared to His disciples. But the disciples were afraid. Their leader had been murdered just days earlier. But what words does the risen Christ speak to His fearful followers?
“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19 ESV). However, the important part of this statement is what immediately follows. The Bible says that after this declaration of peace, “When [Jesus] had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20 ESV).
Jesus showed His disciples where He had been pierced. His hands were nailed to the beams of wood of the cross, and Jesus’ side was pierced after He died to prove that He was truly dead. But what is the correlation between Jesus’ statement of peace and the scars He now bore?
The peace Jesus offers is in His hands and His side. We are freely offered peace because of what Jesus did on the cross. (A dear friend of mine, Owen Lewis, first shared this idea with me, and it has stuck with me ever since. I give full credit to my brother in Christ, Owen, for this thought).
I am an elementary school writing teacher, and one of the main concepts I teach my students is that when we make a statement, we have to back it up with evidence. Jesus made a statement when He said, “Peace be with you,” and He proved that this is trustworthy and true when
He showed the disciples His hands and His side. Isaiah prophesied of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) as well as the servant who would be pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). In this single instance, Jesus proved these prophecies spoken of Him!
The Bible says elsewhere in Romans 5:1, “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” When Jesus took our place on the cross, all of our sin was placed on Him. Now, since He has taken our place, He offers us peace.
We have peace with God. We have peace in that we do not have to strive and work to earn our salvation. We have peace in that our sins are forgiven and forgotten by a merciful God. We have peace in that the one who let His hands be pierced now extends a nail-scarred hand to you, and if you will just reach out and take it, He will hold you securely now and through eternity.
Do you need peace? Look no further than Jesus. The peace is in His hands and His side.
Hayden Lanier is a follower of Jesus, a graduate of Shorter University, and he works as an elementary school teacher.
FRetirement Isn’t a Math Problem. It’s a Life One. Money Moves Ande Frazier with
or years, retirement planning has been marketed like a math competition. Who can get the highest rate of return? Who picked the best fund? Who beat the market this year? But here’s the quiet truth most people don’t discover until they’re standing on the edge of retirement: You don’t retire on a rate of return. You retire on a strategy. And those two things are not the same.
A rate of return looks backward. It tells you how an investment performed in the past. A retirement strategy looks forward. It answers a much harder and far more important question: How will all the pieces of my financial life work together to support the life I want to live?
Retirement isn’t one decision. It’s hundreds of interconnected ones. When should you claim Social Security? How do taxes change once your paycheck stops? Which dollars should be spent first and which should be left alone? How do you protect against health care costs, longevity, or market downturns at the wrong time? What happens if life throws a curveball instead of a cruise brochure? These questions don’t live inside an investment account. They live in real life.
The Risk No One Talks About
One of the biggest risks in retirement isn’t poor performance, it’s poor coordination.
You can have strong returns and still run into trouble if:
• You’re pulling income from the wrong accounts at the wrong time.
• Taxes quietly erode what looked like “good growth.”
• Market volatility hits early in retirement when withdrawals are beginning.
• Insurance, estate plans, and income sources aren’t aligned.
This is what I mean when I say money isn’t math. It’s personal.
Two people can retire with the same portfolio balance and experience very different outcomes depending on how everything is structured, timed, and integrated.
From Accumulation to Distribution: A Different Mindset
Most of our working years are spent accumulating: saving, investing, growing. Retirement flips the script. Now the goal isn’t just growth. It’s reliability, sustainability, and clarity.
You’re no longer asking: “How much can this grow?”
You’re asking: “How does this support my lifestyle?”
“How do I create income without unnecessary stress?”
“How do I stay flexible if plans change?”
“How do I protect what I’ve built while still enjoying it?”
That shift in thinking requires more than picking investments. It requires seeing the whole picture; including cash flow, taxes, protection, timing, values, and yes, investments too.
A Strategy That Looks at Everything
A well-designed retirement strategy connects the dots between:
• Income sources and spending needs.
• Tax efficiency over time, not just this year.
• Market exposure and emotional tolerance for risk.
• Protection planning for health, longevity, and legacy.
• Personal goals, family considerations, and peace of mind.
When everything works together, decisions become clearer. Stress tends to shrink. Confidence grows, not because the market cooperated, but because the plan did.
The Good News
The good news is you don’t need to “win” the market to win at retirement. You need a strategy that reflects your life, your values, and your reality, not just a target return.
Retirement planning works best when it moves beyond performance and into purpose. When it stops asking only how much and starts asking how and why. Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to impress a spreadsheet. It’s to live well, give generously, adapt gracefully, and move forward with confidence knowing your financial life is working in service of your actual life.
And that’s a strategy worth planning for.
OVERALL BALL
Slip on your favorite overalls and join us for a one-of-a-kind evening packed with high-energy entertainment, delicious food, and unbeatable community spirit—all in support of Habitat for Humanity Coosa Valley.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25 6:00PM
Handling Anger with God
by Brian Johnson
Many of us have had times when we’ve been angry with God. I know, for some, that’s taboo to say but it’s real. When was that time for you? Why were you angry? What did you do about it?
First of all, know that you’re not alone. In fact, there are people in the Bible that had their moments of anger towards God. Jeremiah is an example.
Jeremiah got a word from the LORD, a message to give to the children of Israel. He did what God told him to do, but no one listened. Jeremiah 20:7 KJV says, “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.”
When dealing with anger, don’t be afraid to voice it to God. He already knows, and holding it in can lead to bitterness.
Don’t assume that everything should be good in your life because you’re in God’s will. The unexpected can still occur.
Jeremiah accused God of deception, which wasn’t true. Make sure your anger isn’t based on lies. God isn’t the deceiver, Satan is. In John 8:44 KJV, he’s called the father of lies. Revelation 12:9 KJV says that he “deceiveth the whole world.” Jeremiah told God how he felt, eventually got through it, and God continued to use him.
Take the time to honestly evaluate why you’re angry. Jeremiah was prideful. Along with falsely accusing God, he also complained about being mocked. God isn’t unfamiliar
with being mocked and shamed. Jesus “endured the cross despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Christ suffered shame for us so that we can have eternal life and a relationship with God. If we’re going to live for Him, we should expect to be mocked on occasion. That’s an opportunity to identify with Christ, not a time to be angry.
Jeremiah decided he was done. He wasn’t going to say anything else in God’s name, but God’s Word was in his “heart as a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9 KJV) and he couldn’t sit and keep it to himself anymore. The Word of God didn’t just come into his heart at that moment. God’s Word had been in him for a while. This is a good warning for us. None of us are immune to the possibility of something coming into our lives that leads to anger at God. No matter how long you’ve been saved, how well you know your Bible, or how much Scripture you’ve memorized. But it was God’s Word that caused a change in his heart. Continue to fill your heart with His Word, which allows Him to talk to you, and continue speaking to Him through prayer. Doing that— through the anger—will allow you to see God in a new way and will bring you into a closer relationship with Him. When those trying times come, His Word will change you, recharge you, and fuel you to continue to do His will.
Brian Edward Johnson is a pastor at his church, nurse and author of Behaving Wisely, One Man’s Journey from Betrayal to Blessing. He longs for Christians to trust God for every aspect of their lives.
dNews for Women
Finding Debbie: A Dragonfly Day
“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10 KJV).
by Stephanie Evans
Ihad gone to the ladies’ room at the big Walmart store on Keith Street. That's where I learned God cares not only about sparrows that fall to the ground, but about dragonflies that fall to the floor.
Since the ladies’ room was empty, I went into the biggest stall. I spotted a dragonfly on the floor, upside down, so completely still I thought it was dead. I felt sorry for this dragonfly. I later learned that these double-winged insects eat mosquitoes, which the United States Center for Disease Control calls the World's Deadliest Animal. The mosquito causes injury and death worldwide, with damage ranging from pesky bites at picnics to serious diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, Zika, Dengue, West Nile and the list goes on. (Information courtesy of AI; Smithsonian Magazine; Pfizer; Wikipedia; and other websites).
However, the dragonfly is God's fighter jet/helicopter/ Harrier jet against the tiny deadly mosquito. One dragonfly can eat up to 100 mosquitoes a day. Dragonflies can fly up to 35 miles per hour, hover, and fly backward. Some migrate thousands of miles.
Dragonflies and damselflies can dazzle with color—like the Blue Dasher. But the one (maybe a damselfly?) I saw on the floor wore classic brown, black, and tan, with a small yellow-looking center.
I bent down to check for movement when I saw the insect's distinctive double wings. The tiny legs moved just a little, very slowly.
I wonder if I can get it outside, I thought. What am I going to use? I knew my bare hands would hurt this injured insect. I knew a paper towel was too coarse for delicate wings.
A tissue! I carry small packs of facial tissues in my purse, so I got one out. The dragonfly (or damselfly) barely moved. Still, I put the tissue as close to the creature's wings as I could.
That half-dead insect struggled, with one slow scoot, onto that tissue! My heart melted on the spot. Okay, crawl yourself on up, I thought quietly, willing life, teaming up with
my amazing friend. And she did it! (I don't know much about insects, but I decided this one was female).
I strapped my purse on one shoulder and walked carefully to the Walmart exit. Just outside the lobby door, I saw bright pink Island blooms on sale in neat black plastic containers. I set the tissue cradling the insect on one plant's dirt and leaves. Would you believe it? That determined creature refused to give up! She crept off the tissue and onto the dirt and leaves. I took the tissue away and left the dragonfly in the plant's shade.
I finished shopping and started to my car. But suddenly I stopped. I had to go see if our precious ecosystem helper made it. I searched that sheltering plant thoroughly. But that girl had flown! The next day, I named that dragonfly Debbie. Even now, Debbie zooms around destroying death in mid-air and on the wing, with God's own smile like a mighty lifting wind.
Stephanie Evans is a retired newspaper reporter/ library clerk. She is a mother and grandmother, She enjoys semi-sweet iced tea with just about everything! One of her favorite verses is John 3:16-17.
Our first priority is helping you take care of yourself and your
We want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Long-term relationships that encourage open and honest communication have been the cornerstone of our foundation of success. It’s about empowering people to create generational impact.
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
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 Creek Baptist Church 3219 Fosters Mill Rd SW Rome, GA 30161
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
Eden Valley Baptist Church
348 Eden Valley Rd Rome, Ga 30161
770-608-8168
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
Church of God in Christ
Great Joy Church of God in Christ
60 Shorter Industrial Blvd Rome, Ga 30161
706-766-6148
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
Ministerios El Vino Nuevo
4216 Alabama Hwy NW
Rome, Ga 30165
706-291-0500
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
Beech Creek Methodist
2972 Alabama Hwy, Rome, Ga 30165
706-506-8980
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
Metropolitan UMC
700 Broad St Rome, Ga 30161
706-291-8660
Mt Pleasant Church 4782 Alabama Hwy Rome, Ga 30165
706-232-4350
New Bethel Methodist Church Reeceburg Rd Rome, Ga 30161
706-235-9700
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
Silver Creek UMC
36 Reeceburg Rd SE Silver Creek, GA 30173
706-234-2518
Trinity By The River, Global Methodist 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
Messianic
Congregation Hallelu HaShem 1869 Floyd Springs Rd NE, Armuchee, GA 3105
706-936-6711
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
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
Shannon Community Church
600 First Street Shannon, GA 30172
706-491-7112
Solid Holy Rock Deliverance Tabernacle
700 Kingston Ave Rome, Ga 30161
706-291-8948
The Church at Rome 1649 Cartersville Hwy SE Rome, Ga 30161
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
Wilderness Church Rome 2730 Martha Berry Highway NE Rome, Ga 30165
706-237-6395
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
Grace Fellowship Baptist Church
6635 Blacks Bluff Rd SW
Cave Spring Ga 30124
706-346-9786
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
Gò0 dNews for Men
The Firewall
by Carl W. Corser
How important is our personal information that is stored on electronic devices and computers to us these days? If the information is destroyed, can it be retrieved?
Everyone has a computer these days. We all have very important and private information stored on them with the ability to retrieve that information in a usable form quickly. We have become very comfortable in trusting the firewall to protect our information from viruses.
Once a virus breaks through the firewall, the precious, private, and valued information is gone, destroyed, and lost forever.
Who is responsible for keeping the computer safe? Who has the choice of opening up a file on the computer? Who is responsible for determining if that file is filled with a malicious and destructive virus? Who is responsible for keeping the firewall up to date, and ready to stop any and all malicious viruses? Is it the computer owner?
Then, what institution in our society desperately needs the firewall for its protection? What about our marriages? Our homes, families, or communities? Aren't these more precious than computers with the precious and private information on them?
God created the institution of marriage. Man was created to be the head of that institution, the one responsible for its success. God gave man a helpmate for the blessing of His marriage institution. God gave children to become a blessing to the marriage institution.
Just as the firewall was created and intended to be maintained for the protection of valuable information on our computers, so are men given the responsibility of creating and maintaining The Firewall for the protection of the marriage, the family, and the home, which directly affects our society.
Men carry a huge responsibility of protecting their families from Satan's relentless attack upon them. If we let down The Firewall just for a moment, Satan’s marriage virus comes in and does so much damage in moments that it might take a lifetime to repair. His virus has the capability of completely destroying the marriage, home, and family.
Men, weren't we created to be the head of the family? Aren't we responsible for what goes on inside of our homes?
Isn’t Satan so desperate to destroy every marriage, home, and family, that he constantly endeavors to break through The Firewall?
Men, maybe we need to step up The Firewall maintenance and preparation to stop the attack of Satan’s viruses that destroy our marriages. As men, this maintenance and preparation should include our need to draw closer to God and pay more attention to His still small voice as we strengthen our families’ protection, The Firewall. We need to allow Him to guide our maintenance and strengthening plan for our families’ protection. Healthy firewalls protect great families. Great families are a wonderful blessing to God, family, and communities.
Men, the greatest firewall protection that we can design against Satan’s malicious virus is spending our precious time connecting with our Heavenly Father. There’s absolutely no substitute for you – saint, husband, and father – for defending and protecting the institution that God gave you the responsibility to be a good steward over. Also, we need to protect our hearts from all of the tricks that Satan would just love to trip us up with as we fulfill our responsibility in marriage.
Men, God has not called us to accomplish the impossible. If we depend upon Him, we will be successful in keeping our families safe from Satan’s destruction of The Firewall. May God bless our men in this huge task in these days and times. May we all pray for each other for strong families.
Carl Corser is an ordained bishop, author of a devotion book, “Living Past Sunday,” business owner, farmer, author of a devotion website, carlcorser.com. Carl has pastored several churches.
Out with the Old, In with the
Bold: Clayton Homes of Rome, GA
As this new year unfolds, are you looking for something fresh, new, different? A new home could be the opportunity you are looking for! At Clayton Homes of Rome, GA, you can find opportunities with options that will set apart 2026 as a milestone year for you!
Start Smart
Clayton Homes is truly a smart option. With these features, you can rest assured you are making a wise investment. See www.claytonhomesofrome.com for even more information about these smart options. A few are highlighted here:
“BuiltSmart®
We use quality products from the world’s most trusted brands, so with proper home maintenance, your home is built to last*. We’re also building a better tomorrow through environmental management, renewable energy and waste reduction, which can lower costs for you.”
“DesignSmart®
Smart design features are the difference between a house and a dream home. It’s open spaces that inspire togetherness, storage solutions to make life easier, stylish exterior options and spa bathrooms, all designed with you in mind.”
“BudgetSmart®
We’re working to make the dream of homeownership possible for everyone. Our precise building process and energy efficient features can save you money so you can open doors to a better life.”
“Energy Smart®
All Clayton homes have an ecobee smart thermostat® , Low-E windows, Rheem® dual element water heater and quality insulation. These Energy Smart features help keep your home comfortable and potentially reduce your energy bills.”
Expect Excellence
Strength and Durability—Clayton Built® homes are carefully constructed in indoor building facilities using
quality materials and streamlined processes. It all comes together on a foundation of strength and durability, for a home you can enjoy for years to come.
Beautiful Styles—The beauty of Clayton Built® homes is in the details. From stainless steel appliances and colorful kitchen islands to open floor plans, soaker tubs and fireplaces, you’re sure to find the features and customization options you’ve been dreaming of.
Step Up with a Trade In
Maybe you’re looking for more space in a home with modern, energy efficient features. Or maybe you’re planning to move to a new location. Whatever your needs are, Clayton Homes of Rome makes it easy with the option to trade-in your current manufactured home. Welcome In!
Home Center Manager, Tyler Kirkland, cordially invites you to come visit the Clayton team at 3074 Cave Spring Rd SW, Rome, GA 30161. Or call (706) 295-3773. The website, www.claytonhomeofrome.com, shows all sorts of options including upcoming specials, designs, and FAQs.
Tyler adds, “Seeing is believing. The best way to find your new home is to step inside. At Clayton Homes, we’re ready when you are to explore the quality options and features that turn your ideas into a place you’ll love coming home to. Come visit and we’ll show you why so many families chose Clayton Homes with confidence.
“This year is a perfect year to celebrate our 70th Anniversary with homes starting at $70,000 dollars. Come in for more details on this unique offer. We can explore the options from financing to finishes for the house that you can call home.
“And, there’s no need to become overwhelmed by all the options. You’ll find support, information, and guidance every step of the way, whether its design choices, financial processing or terms and lingo. You’ll have expert input to rely on. Clayton Homes has been a trusted name for 70 years now. Clayton Homes began with a commitment to quality and expertise. You'll find that same quality and expertise in 2026 too! Come see us and give your new year a smart start!”
Memoir to Memories: A Pearl of Great Price
by Spring M. Fricks
“Where’s my Piglet?” asked my son. On any given day, Piglet can be found resting on the pillow at the head of my son’s bed, a position he’s held for twenty-one years. Today, however, I’ve decided to wash him. Why? Because Piglet is no longer the cute plush toy we placed in my child’s crib all those years ago. Now he is a biohazard evidenced by baldness, depleted stuffing, scratched eyes and a color best described as murky gray.
abuse, medical diagnosis and poor choices, my life was disposable. Love was untrustworthy and my future wasn’t worth pursuing. I understood Romans 6:23a BSB: “for the wages of sin is death…”
However, in Matthew 13:44, Jesus taught about a pearl hidden in a field. A man found the pearl and, deeming it valuable, sold all he had to buy the field and gain the pearl.
The value of anything is determined through the eye of the beholder. The one who is willing to pay the price.
If you saw our son’s Piglet, you wouldn’t touch it and you’d be right in suggesting it be relinquished to the nearest landfill for quarantine.
Thankfully for Piglet, his inadequacies aren’t what make him loved or not loved. My son loves him just because. Piglet has become a memoir to the memories of my child’s life. Some not even I have witnessed as they were too personal and needed only the most trusted of confidants. The majority would look at Piglet, and think “that’s trash.” My son looks at Piglet and sees a “pearl of great price.” A life of sin left me looking a lot like Piglet. I was used up, worn out, tattered and empty. Through trauma and
I don’t set the value of my life because I’m not the one who paid for it.
Romans 5:8 BSB: “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Just like my son went looking for Piglet, Jesus went looking for me. He found me trapped, alone, and defeated. Through the sacrifice on the cross, He dripped blood from His hands and feet upon my soul and paid the price for my life. When He did this, He whispered my name into the winds of eternity completing Romans 6:23(b): “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In doing so, He set my value as being worthy of His blood. Afterall, if He didn’t want to buy me, He wouldn’t have paid the price.
Through the eyes of Jesus, my life holds a value that doesn’t depreciate. In Him, I am deemed worthy to love and be loved. I’m restored in mind, body, and soul. My heart is made new, and my future is worth living.
Make no mistake, Jesus is my pearl of great price. I would lay anything and everything down for Him.
But I am His Piglet.
Fricks
for Everyone
Do Your Best!
by Dr. Bobbie Jo Davidson
There was a particular lad born in my hometown. He was born in 1905, one of five children. Wil had osteomyelitis (bone marrow infection) as a child, and was on a pallet from the time he was in fifth grade until he was 15 years old. In the early 1900s, there was no penicillin and nothing effective, except to scrape the bone. Even as an adult, Wil had holes in his legs where the skin grew back to the bone.
He did not go back to school, but went to work in the mill. Whatever job Wil had, he always did his best and he did not complain. He helped his mother with most of his salary every week. By the time Wil was a teen, there were eight children in the family.
Wil watched others work near him, and he was given a chance to learn the machines. He excelled and eventually became the head loom fixer. He trained others. After about 60 years, Wil retired.
Wil married the girl he met at church after a “supervised courtship.” In 1930, the country was dealing with a depression.
In 1977, the company needed someone to go to Ivory Coast in Africa to straighten the company's problems with the equipment. The company called Wil and asked him to come in. They wanted to talk to him. They explained the situation and told him that he could choose someone to go help him, and his wife could also go for the week in Switzerland where they would train. He chose Lee, whom he had worked with and knew well. Wil’s wife, Evie, was excited to go! The company knew the choices would make Wil feel more comfortable.
None of the three had ever flown. Their flight to Zürich was exciting! They would begin an intense week of study the next morning after arriving.
The driver picked them up each morning and brought them back to their apartment in the evening. Evie shopped and cooked dinner for them each night. She met an ambassador while shopping and made friends. During the daytime, for two or three days, Evie’s new acquaintance showed Zürich to Evie.
I still marvel that anyone could change tools and equipment to the metric system from the current system and use it with no errors in just one week! The week ended well. Wil and Lee went on to Ivory Coast, and Evie went home.
Wil and Lee were met by a young couple who were company liaisons, and, of all places, they were from their home town!
A young boy was appointed to Wil and one to Lee to take them to their location each morning. During the day, Wil would have a Coke, just like he did back home, and he would give one to this young boy. Eventually, the French owners of the mill told Wil to stop giving the young boy a Coke when he had one. Wil explained that he couldn’t have one and not give the young boy one.
Wil and Lee were close to being through and that incident probably added impetus to get finished and go home. They finished their assignment very successfully and flew home. A constant effort to do his best had singled Wil out, even in retirement!
Scripture says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This verse is in both Matthew and Luke (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). Remember: Do your best!
Dr. Bobbie Jo Davidson, known to most as Jo, lives in Rome, Georgia.
Just Like Snowflakes—
You Are One of a Kind
Have you ever caught a snowflake on your glove and looked at it closely? If you have, you might have noticed something amazing—no two snowflakes are exactly the same! Scientists have studied snowflakes for years, and even though they all start the same way, each one forms its own unique pattern. God designed them that way on purpose.
The Bible tells us that God is a Creator who loves detail. He didn’t make the world rushed or careless. He made it with beauty, creativity, and intention. Snowflakes are tiny reminders of that. They fall quietly, sparkle in the light, and never look exactly like the one next to them.
Here’s the wonderful part: God made you with the same care.
The Bible says, “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). That means God didn’t copy and paste when He made you. He chose your smile, your laugh, your talents, and even the things that make you different. Just like snowflakes, no one else in the whole world is exactly like you.
Sometimes kids feel pressure to fit in or be like everyone else. You might think, I wish I were better at sports, or I wish I were more like my friend. But God never asked you to be someone else. He asked you to be you.
Jesus showed us how much every person matters. He cared for children, listened to them, and welcomed them. The Bible tells us, “Let the little children come to Me” (Matthew 19:14 NIV). That shows us something important— Jesus sees kids as valuable, important, and loved, just as they are.
Think about a snowstorm. If every snowflake were the same, it wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful. The beauty comes from the variety. God’s world works the same way. Each person brings something special that no one else can bring.
God also has plans for your life. The Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). Those plans are made just for you—not your best friend, not your sibling, not anyone else.
Even when you make mistakes or feel unsure, God doesn’t stop loving you. Snowflakes may melt, but God’s love never does. He is always with you, guiding you and cheering you on. “The Lord your God is with you… He will rejoice over you with gladness” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).
So the next time snow falls from the sky, remember this: each snowflake is different, and each one has a purpose. And so do you.
You don’t have to be anyone else. God already decided—you are wonderfully made, deeply loved, and completely one of a kind!
Explore:
If you can’t find snowflakes to examine, what about finding several leaves? Are they exactly the same?
Look up at the clouds. Are the clouds all the same?
Look for some pebbles and rocks. Are they all the same?
You see, God made each of those and He made each person unique too!
Family, Faith, and the Father’s Business Gò0 dNews for Seniors
by Tammy Madden
Recently, my mind took me to a simpler time back in the 1980’s. We used to drink from a garden hose, and play outside all day long. We ran the neighborhood. My parents always knew we were safe.
I remember walking to school with my brothers and my big brother being 10 feet ahead of us because his legs were so long! When school was out, if we stopped by the park or the library or to see a friend, Mom didn't need to come looking for us. All the neighbors watched out for each other and 75% of them were relatives.
We didn't worry about "where" we were going to eat because that was never a question. We ate at home, every single day. The food was on the table. When we saw what Mom or Grandma had cooked, we ate it and we liked it. I remember getting oranges, apples, and candy canes in our stockings at Christmas. We thought we were rich!
I remember waking on Thanksgiving morning and smelling that turkey. I remember Dad and my Uncle Junior getting up early Thanksgiving morning to go hunting, while Mom and Grandma would cook all day. My favorite part was "helping" Mom make her banana pudding in that great big yellow bowl. We couldn't wait to have that after dinner!
I remember going every weekend to visit relatives, and Dad carrying me in the house late at night when we got home because I would pretend to be asleep. He just seemed
like the strongest man in the world to me back then, but in reality he probably was about 5' 6" and might have weighed 150 if he was lucky!
We didn't hear anyone talk about who voted for whom or what the government was doing. We just lived life to the fullest.
We had three TV channels. We got up to change them and we didn't complain. I remember you could only watch The Wizard of Oz once a year, and it was such a big deal when it came on. We would all have to get our bath so we could go to bed right after. We would all gather around the TV and take it in!
Where did these simpler times go?
I know it's the signs of the times, but oh how I wish my daughter could have been a part of these things. She doesn't know the meaning of stringing popcorn or making homemade puppets with a sandwich bag. I can try to recreate these memories for her, but that time will never return. It's a part of history now and we must move forward.
God has been so good to us. No matter what is thrown our way, He cares for us and He helps us hold onto precious memories. I sure miss Mom, Dad, and Grandma. One day, we will see them again.
Are y'all ready for that day? I believe the time is near. The signs are everywhere. Soon and very soon, He will split that eastern sky. Please, people, don't be left behind. Get on fire for God TODAY! Just ask Him today to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior. I don't know why God put this on my heart today, but I believe someone needed it. Someone is lukewarm and you need to get on fire for the Lord! Be about your Father's business. Listen to His still small voice and obey. I pray you have a blessed day and I'm sorry if I was rambling. I gave you what God gave me. Amen!
My name is Tammy Madden. I live in the beautiful foothills of North Georgia in Chatsworth. I am married to my amazing husband, Gene and we have a beautiful daughter named Megan.
for Discovering More
Wheels and Deals
by Garrett Nudd
One morning when I was a youngster, I was riding my blue BMX bicycle and my chain came off. I rolled it into the garage and told my mother about my misfortune. When she called my father, he suggested I wait until that evening, and we’d fix it together.
It was a great offer, but I was impatient. I grabbed a few tools from my father’s toolbox and began pulling apart the rear wheel that was connected to the chain. Before I knew it, bearings were rolling all over the floor, I was covered in grease, and I had made quite a mess!
When my father returned home from work that evening, he told me how disappointed he was that I hadn’t followed his instructions.
After he assessed the situation, he determined I had done so much damage that it was beyond repair. Rather than fixing my wheel at home, we had to take it to the local bike shop.
I loved visiting Scott’s Bicycle Shop in Cleveland, but not under these circumstances. We walked into the store with the wheel and all its components in a greasy plastic bag.
“Well, hello there, Garry and Garrett!” Mr. Scott Coulter welcomed us with his irresistibly charming Irish accent. “What do we have here?”
My father shared the story of how my chain came off, how he had asked me to wait until he returned from work, but I had been impatient. Mr Coulter asked for a week and he’d have it ready.
A week later, we returned to Scott’s Bicycle Shop. He gave us the repaired wheel and a bill for $15 plus tax.
Full of grace and compassion but also with the wisdom to make this a teachable moment, my parents told me that they’d help me out by paying half the cost, but I’d have to pay the rest. Now I know it doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but to an eight-year old in 1985, $7.50 was a fortune. Not to mention, at that point, I was living paycheck to paycheck, so the implications of my indiscretion would be long-lasting.
When we returned home, I gave my parents some of my allowance, erasing about half of my debt. Fortunately,
at the same time I was learning how to mow the lawn. So, I worked off the balance a dollar every time I mowed.
“I’ll help you fix it, but you’re going to take responsibility.” There’s a cost. That wasn’t just my parents’ approach, it’s God’s approach too. And that’s MORE THAN. That’s God’s approach to MORE THAN.
What’s the cost? Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death...”
Death, that sounds pretty severe! But keep reading because the rest of the verse is the payoff: “…but the gift of God is eternal life.” The cost is death, and it was paid by God through His Son, Jesus. And the gift is the MORE THAN.
Our sins—toward God and each other—are a lot bigger than bicycle chains. The apostle Paul wrote that we deserve death, but God decided to pay the price by sending His Son—the Gift of God.
How accessible does God’s gift feel to you? Does it feel close enough to reach out and touch it? Because it is.
In Romans 8:39, we read: “Neither height nor depth.... Can separate us from the love of God.”
And Psalm 103:12 tells us: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions.”
From top to bottom, left to right, that covers it. There you have it, God’s gift of MORE THAN.
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Gò0 dNews for your Taste Buds
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
A perfect Valentine’s Day treat—bite-sized, creamy cheesecake coated in rich chocolate and topped with fresh strawberries!
Ingredients:
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup powdered sweetener (or sugar)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup crushed graham crackers (or almond flour for keto)
• 6 oz dark chocolate, melted
• 6 fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sweetener, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Stir in crushed graham crackers until combined.
3. Roll into small balls and place on a lined tray. Freeze for 30 minutes.
4. Dip each cheesecake bite into melted chocolate, then top with a strawberry slice.
5. Chill until set, then enjoy!
Little Brown Bird
by Hayden Lanier
Rocking back and forth in the white chair on my front porch, I spot a little brown bird trotting along in the green grass without a care or a worry in the whole wide world
He does not fear He does not fret
Anxiety is foreign to the little brown bird
Not a single concern weighs him down
He does not know where he will go or where his meal will be found
He simply hops along
in the green grass knowing it will be provided him
He flitters through the sky, sailing above the tops of the green trees, singing a delightful whistle as he ascends for all below to hear
This little brown bird knows nothing of the worldly worries that consume us The creature is joyful He is content For God cares even for this little brown bird
Hayden Lanier is a follower of Jesus, a graduate of Shorter University, and he works as an elementary school teacher.
dNews for Everyone
He’s Just Getting Started! (Luke 5:1-11)
At the end of human effort, God is just getting started!
by Dr. Rob Debelak
The banks of Lake Galilee were teeming with activity. It was early, but a crowd was already forming on the shoreline; Jesus had caught their attention, and they were ready for His teaching (Luke 5:1). The assembly seemed oblivious to the business matters around them.
Crews of fishermen are also on shore but preoccupied with their nets (v 2) – not with fish (v 5). The scene is a subtle mix of priorities and concerns as the night gives way to a new day (v 5) – a day filled with new potential as Jesus engages an eager audience and exhausted laborers.
Tell-tale signals of finality initiate the setting where a trio of fishermen are forever changed. They had worked all night, catching nothing (v 5). They are spent, like their vacant vessels and unfilled nets (v 2). They do not comment on Jesus successfully netting an abundant number of listeners—so many that this setting by the sea did not have enough room.
Appropriating one of Peter's unused boats (v 3), the Master seats Himself. Putting out just offshore, He continues teaching (v 3). Peter is concluding a long night of fruitless labor; Jesus is just beginning His day's work, and the multitude is evidence that He is off to a good start! When finishing His message to the crowd, He initiates a private lesson, calling Peter to head for open water (v 4). There is something to do, and Jesus invites a tired mariner to participate.
“Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing...” Peter's response to Jesus emphasizes his depletion. The time he invested has produced nothing (v 5). Diligently applying his craft only resulted in empty nets (v 5). The futility in the experienced angler's remarks betrayed his perception that burning more calories was a worthless expenditure of energy and a waste of time. Though the very human Peter is at the end of himself (v 5), Jesus is just getting started.
He skeptically obeys Jesus’ request (v 5) and sails toward the deep water. Only hours before, he caught
nothing. Now, miraculously, Peter caught so many fish that the nets began to break (v 6)! Signaling for help, co-workers fill two boats beyond capacity, each nearly capsizing before reaching shore (v 7). In response, Peter falls to his knees in repentance (v 8). His confession and testimony equally expressed the amazement and humility of two other fishermen, James and John (vv 8-10).
Teaching a large assembly the shore could not contain was mirrored by a catch of fish the nets could not hold. Peter's petition for additional fishing partners to help haul in the catch finds parallel in Jesus’ call for Peter to join Him in ministry. Jesus had set the example for three mariners and called them to follow Him. Reassuring Peter of his value and calling to reach people, he and his two fishing partners— tired from a long night of empty labor – were renewed. They maneuvered overloaded vessels to shore, pulled the heavy boats with their abundant catch on land, and, at the end of themselves, found a fresh beginning in the Master's service. When we find ourselves overwhelmed with burdens, pressures, and responsibilities, it’s encouraging to recall that at the end of ourselves...He is just getting started!
The point for personal tutoring dawns (vv 10b-11).
There’s a dusty dirt road off in some fields that looks like any other road of its kind in the South. But, it’s truly not the same. It’s not the length or the condition or the age of this road that makes the difference, it’s the destination. This road leads to hope. There’s hope along that dusty dirt road because Safe Haven Ranch for Boys is waiting at the end of it.
Jason Slaughter of Community Share Ministries describes the road building, “We are building roads to make room for what God’s got coming. We don’t know just who or just when but we know the children are coming. We know God’s got something He’s working on and we’re making room for it.”
The Safe Haven Boys Ranch is nestled in the former Corn family farm. The Corn family never raised children there. They raised animals and vegetables and eventually, they’ve raised hopes. The Corn family bestowed the farm into the care of Jason and Ginger Slaughter of Community Share Ministries who saw a vision for helping boys on a working farm throughout their childhood by providing a caring environment, a sound education both academic and practical, and a sense of true belonging in a community through a family both at home and a welcoming church family.
Jason continues, “We have been called by God to take care of the children who have known great suffering and
have no place to call home. Safe Haven Ranch is dedicated to demonstrating Christ's love by creating a nurturing environment for children who have known great suffering. Our mission is to address both the physical and spiritual needs of these children, providing them with the tools to overcome emotional and mental health challenges while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We aim to inspire and instill hope in the children we serve, empowering them to grow and heal despite their difficult circumstances. Our organization believes in building a strong sense of community and providing a safe haven for children in need. Through our efforts, we strive to make a positive change in the lives of the children and families we serve, embodying the love of Christ in all that we do.”
Making a Difference
The Safe Haven Boys Ranch has plans to provide a long-term home to more than 70 children over its course, not including nine children who have already found their forever homes.
What Role Do You Play in Making a Difference?
Are you ready to make room, make a way, and make a difference? When you take the journey down the dusty dirt road to Safe Haven Boys Ranch you are immediately impacting children and nurturing not only the lives of these young people but the life of the community as well.
for Health & Fitness
Two Simple Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
by Steve Knapp
In my lifetime as a millennial, I have noticed a significant increase in our culture’s interest in mental health. I cannot remember hearing the phrase “mental health” until I was in college and even then I was completely unaware whether my university had any mental health resources available. I contrast this with my past employment at a university counseling center where the demand for students seeking counseling annually increased. Mental health was a regular part of conversations for the average student. Mental health was a prominent part of the conversation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how access to mental health counselors has significantly increased since that time.
With this increase, so have proposed solutions: counseling/ therapy, medication, diet, improving gut health, meditation, positive thinking, spiritual practices. While I believe each of these areas could be helpful in their own way, I want to highlight two ways to improve mental health that we often undervalue even if we know they are both helpful: exercise and being outdoors. Each has been demonstrated to generally improve our mental health, yet they do not have to cost money nor require any advanced skill to mentally benefit from them. These activities appear to be woven into the design of how God created us, so we will benefit in some way when we lean into them. (To be clear, please reach out for professional assistance if you are having concerns about your own safety, are in the midst of a psychological crisis, and/or experiencing difficulty functioning).
In our Western culture, we often have this implied separation between the brain and the body. The brain is a physical organ and the relationship between the body and the brain are intertwined. One outworking of this is how our brain needs regular exercise to function optimally. In an article from the National Institute of Health, we read “exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function.” And it does not require much exercise to receive these benefits: a moderate amount of exercise (such as a brisk walk) for as little as 30 minutes and three times a week can produce these psychological benefits. It also does not seem to matter what kind
of exercise, as any kind of aerobic exercise that increases the heart rate appears sufficient. Personally, I notice the difference in my stress levels and mood when I am regularly exercising compared to when I am not, which makes it the first place I generally start when I try to improve my mental health.
I am someone who enjoys being indoors, and the positive impact of being outdoors is undeniable for anyone. Sunlight is associated with improved mood due to its role with serotonin (which helps regulate our mood) and alleviates stress due to the releasing endorphins. A Stanford study showed that being in more natural environments promotes better mood outcomes compared to urban environments. Even during winter with less sunlight and colder weather, the colder weather can also boost our mood through the production of norepinephrine, which is important for mood regulation. Finally, the use of light therapy lamps has been shown to help supplement natural sunlight when it proves challenging to get outdoors.
As previously mentioned, do not delay seeking help if you are having concerns about your own safety, are in the midst of a psychological crisis, and/or experiencing difficulty functioning. But otherwise, a good place to start to improve your mental health is simply opening up your front door, going outside, and moving your body.
Steve Knapp is a licensed professional counselor and the manager and therapist at Resilient Therapy, LLC in Cleveland, TN. Through his work as a therapist, he seeks to help transform stories of suffering into narratives of hope, healing, and growth. He is married to Kellie, and they have a five-year-old daughter named Eliana.
Five years of extraordinary senior living.
There’s no shortage of energy and excitement when you live at The Spires at Berry College — whether hiking around our scenic lakeside location, raising a glass at our pub for happy hour or exploring Rome’s charming attractions with friends. While immersed in Berry’s lively campus culture, residents have countless opportunities to attend university athletic events, arts performances and even lectures — not to mention form meaningful relationships with students. At the heart of it all, you’ll find the spirit of togetherness that makes our community one of a kind.
See why The Spires is not just a place to live — but a better way to live. Call 706-524-0600 or visit RetireAtBerry.com to schedule a personal tour.
