January 2023

Gò0dNews

About Us

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 New Year...New Methods by Detrick Redding

GoodNews for Youth

8 Battling Leaves to Share God’s Love by Abdiel Medina

GoodNews Money Matters 10 Taxes in Retirement - It’s Not What You Make, But What You Keep That Counts by Granger Hughes

GoodNews for Men 12 God’s Will by David Beckmann

GoodNews for Women 14 I Am Martha by Dorothy Teague

GoodNews for Everyone 18 Embracing Our Blindness by Kristen West

GoodNews Cover Story 20 Honda of Rome by Stephanie Stewart

GoodNews for Mothers 22 The Importance of a Christian Village by Jessica Mathis

GoodNews for Everyone 24 What’s the Story of Your Life? by Dr. Alan Hix

GoodNews for Life 26 Waiting by Amy Scott

GoodNews Poetry 28 Don’t Ever Doubt by Judy Hood

GoodNews for Everyone 30 Praying for the Impossible by Brent Goodge

GoodNews for Everyone 32 Active Stillness by Greg Grotewold

GoodNews for Everyone 34 Exercise: Here We Go Again! by Karla Smedley

GoodNews for your Taste Buds 36 One Pot Tomato Soup

GoodNews for Everyone 38 Resolutions by Beth Penny

New Year…New Methods

by Detrick Redding

Here’s another New Year’s article, common for this time of year, right! We hear sermons preached about new stuff. Let’s be honest, we’ve all heard of this, and it truly sounds redundant in a lot of our ears. The new year resolutions come rolling in—promises of weight lost, promises of business ventures, promises of better choices. People tend to start something, and by February, we stop and revert to where we were. Why? Because new isn’t always easy, and that makes us uncomfortable.

Kingdom of His Son, Jesus. This will pull us out of comfort in order to legislate for the Kingdom.

Now let’s discuss this new stuff again. The word of God tells us in Isaiah 43:19 that He will do new things for His people. That statement alone requires us to expect new things within our lives. New things are promised to all of us—new creatures in Christ, new and better promises, new Jerusalem, behold I make all things new. God is not stuck to the old and formal way of things; he promises new things. New is not just about times of existence but mainly refers to the “freshness” of something. The things of the past may be stale, outdated and ready to be discarded because God is presenting new things for us. New things that are to replace the old stuff. New ideas that replace old ideas. New plans that replace old plans. New methods that replace old methods. Fresh new things are for us even within this new year. The way you were last time, the methods of last time, the mentality of last time is ready to be exchanged for something new and fresh.

Wow, what a revelation of truth. The new will pull you out of your comfort zone and believe me, we all prefer to be comfortable. Webster’s definition of comfortable is affording or enjoying contentment and security, free from stress or tension. That sounds good to us. We all want that for our lives. However, to be comfortable tends to cause inactivity on our part, and we were not created for that. God created us to be people of action, dominion and order. As representatives of Christ in the earth, Christians are to be people of authority and power. This is for all believers, it’s not a selective calling on some and not others. We, believers, are called to share in the responsibility of Christ. We have been called out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the

As I conclude this article, let me encourage you. This new place that God has for us believers will make our flesh uncomfortable. It will, because He will, challenge us away from the path of our yesteryear. We will be challenged to think differently, to operate differently, even to live differently. If we are willing to go the way of the “New” with God, we qualify for greater manifestation of His Glory. Get ready to challenge your comfort. Remember the challenging of your comfort, when you are heeding to God, is really for your good. The Glory of your latter is greater than the Glory of your former. The squeeze, the readjusting, and relocating from God is really to prepare you for a Greater Manifestation of His Glory! Happy New Year! New Year…New Methods!

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.

Battling Leaves to Share God’s Love

by Abdiel Medina

I, alongside my brothers, Evan and David, were battling against Mother Nature herself. She wielded a countless army of orange and red spiked soldiers, but we were determined not to yield. At last, we reached the point where darkness surrounded us, and the cold stabbed at our flesh. However, we had already sacrificed so much and were fighting for a noble cause, so we knew that we must not give up. So, we fought the good fight, stayed firm, and ultimately, we were victorious.

Alright, I admit that this is a bit of an exaggeration. It was early December, and we were raking leaves for our awesome youth pastors Leah and Spencer Hughes. For the last couple of months, they have been going through a difficult season, and we wanted to do our part to help them out. Thankfully, as Christians, Christ had given us a commandment that fit perfectly for this situation. Jesus Christ had declared, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34, NKJV).

As disciples of Christ, we carried the desire and responsibility to exemplify love towards our youth pastors, especially with the tough season they were experiencing. Although we could not change the source of their ongoing struggles, we desired to support them in whatever means we could. For that reason, when David, one my brothers from church, informed me that the leaves needed to be raked at our youth pastors’ house, I called up my brother Evan, and the three of us got to work. Consequently, we were able to express God’s love to the Hughes family by fulfilling one of their housekeeping needs. Furthermore, I have been in awe of how the rest of my church, Keith Street Ministries, has been an outpouring of God’s love by taking the initiative spiritually and emotionally in prayer and financially

through donations to support their family. This has helped the Hughes family to focus on what’s important.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NKJV). We have the opportunity and responsibility as the children and army of God to share God’s joy and love into the world. Specifically, you can start to do so in your community by using the gifts, talents, and time God has given you to work alongside fellow Christian brothers and sisters to support the needs of the community around you. Afterall, God can even use the mundane task of raking leaves to be a blessing to those who are going through a tough season.

So, I encourage you to share God’s love in your community by serving the needs of those around you. Finally, a special thank you to Spencer and Leah for continuing to trust God and being an inspiration and source of God’s love to those in your community.

Abdiel Medina is a young writer, member of Keith Street Ministries, maker of KSM Youth memes, and Sophomore at Lee University.

About The Author

Hearts • Sharpening Minds

Taxes in Retirement - It’s Not What You Make, But What You Keep That Counts

with

Money Matters Granger Hughes

We spend our lives worrying about accumulation in our retirement accounts. In fact, many of us have probably been courted by an advisor stating they can get us more growth than our current one. Growth in our retirements is important, however, it’s not the only concern we face. Others, for example, are rising healthcare, long-term care, volatile markets, and the ever-growing concern of future tax rates. So, how can we begin to shift our thought process from just growth to these other important aspects of retirement? After all, it’s not what we make, but what we keep that counts.

Many retirees are unaware of potential tax hurdles in their retirement, and understanding a few can go a long way to ensure we keep as many of our hard-earned dollars as possible. Let’s start with Social Security – did you know that at your full retirement age, your Social Security may still be taxed? For example, if you are a married couple earning more than $44K a year in provisional income, your Social Security could be taxed up to 85%. This means if you are bringing home $40K in Social Security income taxed at 85% (which would be $34K), that has become taxable at your marginal rate. At a basic level, most people are counting on their Social Security income, and having a tax bill like that could greatly affect the retirement they had planned for.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) play a large role in this as well. Many people are not aware that at age 70½ our government mandates we take out 3.65% from our Qualified plans (401K, 403B, Traditional IRA, etc..). When we factor in RMDs, pensions, taxable accounts (brokerage, etc.), and Social Security, we could be setting ourselves up for a big tax bill we may not have been expecting. For our entire lives, we have been trained to load up our tax-deferred buckets because we don’t have to pay taxes on that money. In all reality, we are doing just that – deferring taxes – and we don’t know whether we will find ourselves in a lower tax bracket in retirement or not. All of a sudden, we may be looking at a big loss, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the markets.

When we tack on a potential market decline, things can really begin to get messy. So, what can we do? We can start shifting our minds to a new way of looking at things: preparing for the potential tax increases. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that if the spending in our country goes unchanged, the new tax rates will be 25%, 63%, and 88% respectively. What could this do to our retirements when we have for so many years deferred those taxes? With the 2018 Trump tax cuts, this may present a great opportunity for many retirees. It is going to allow many people to get their taxes at a discount. After all, it’s either “pay me now, or pay me later.”

As I mentioned earlier about provisional income being a key factor to our tax bill, what if the income we took was tax-free? There is a way to accomplish this. The key in retirement is to pull our money from the right buckets. So, if we are distributing money from our Roth IRAs, then this income doesn’t show up on the IRS’ radar. However, Roth IRAs may not be for everyone. There are income threshold restrictions, as well as the requirement to have earned income to qualify. So, what if you find yourself in that situation? You can opt for a Roth conversion – this is where you would take a specified portion each year from a Qualified account such as a Traditional IRA, and move it into a Roth. It is important to note, be careful, and do not attempt this on your own, because it could generate a large tax bill. However, systematically moving funds to a Roth can generate tax-free income in retirement, so if taxes go to 66% or 100%, zero is always zero.

Another tool you could look at using is a properly structured life policy. This can help generate tax-free income, as well as provide a death benefit that doubles as long-term care protection in the event the need arises. This will function much like a Roth, though it is important to note that it is a life insurance vehicle and there is a cost of insurance associated with it. This vehicle is linked to an index such as the S&P, so the gains will be tax-free so long as it remains in the right structure. The important thing is to realize that long-term care or a death benefit is needed, and to conduct adequate research as not all LIRPs are created equal.

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

God’s Will

by David Beckmann

All sincere believers want to do God’s will. We pray for it all the time: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Consequently, it can be pretty frustrating when you are not sure what you are supposed to do. It’s easy to wish God would just talk to you, like he did to Noah (“Build an ark”), or Abraham (“Go somewhere else”) or Moses (“Lead my people out of Egypt”). But, when you look at those occasions in light of the sweep of history, they are at very important points in God’s plan of salvation and rather rare. So, if God doesn’t talk to us like that, what are we to do?

Lots of people today talk about “having peace” about doing something. If they refer to the Bible at all, it’s likely to be Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” However, that verse doesn’t have anything to do with a feeling you have. It’s not about “guidance.” It’s about getting along with folks at church, “in one body.” I’m pretty sure if you asked Moses, walking away from the burning bush, if he “had peace” about going back to Egypt, he’d think you were nuts.

It seems the basic way we do God’s will is to look for what the Bible says about our situation (Psalm 119:105), and ask for wisdom to understand what’s best (James 1:5). We get counsel, of course (Proverbs 11:14), and we watch out for our conscience (Hebrews 13:18). Otherwise, we step out trusting God to lead us in the right path (Psalm 23). Recognize that you are a sheep and stay close to your shepherd. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.”

Of course, one way God can lead us into things is by letting stuff happen to us. Remember Joseph? People talk about “having a call” from God: how about being thrown in a pit and sold into slavery? That’s some way to get called by God! I wonder if he “had peace” about it.

But, he did the right thing in a situation like that: he stayed faithful (remember Potiphar’s wife). When you cannot understand what the devil is going on, you at least know that God is still good, he’s still in control, and you need to stay faithful to him and give him time. Eventually, you’ll look back and see God’s will was done, like Joseph did (Genesis 50:20). Neither our mistakes nor evil people can mess up God’s will for us (Romans 8:28). Thank God for that!

How are we to have confidence? We trust in God’s faithfulness to his promises. He gave his only Son for us, how will he not with him freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)? Just keep looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1,2). It’s harder for a child of God to get out of God’s will than we think—or than the devil wants us to think!

About The Author

The Rev. David Beckmann is an Anglican priest and Moderator of the C.S. Lewis Society of Chattanooga. Recently, he was director of the C. S. Lewis Study Centre at The Kilns, Oxford, UK. He blogs at revbeckmann.com.

I Am Martha

by Dorothy Teague

There are a lot of theories on different personality types. I am what I would call a “Type A” personality. That is, I am competitive, organized, impatient, and highly aware of time management (Wikipedia). I am always making lists and if I don’t accomplish my set of tasks for the day, I can really get down on myself. I like things done in a certain order and when they aren’t, it throws me off. We all have different personalities and our own special quirkiness.

In the Bible, we find the story of Mary and Martha of Bethany, who were sisters with very different personalities. They were close friends of Jesus, as well as their famous brother, Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11). Luke 10 tells us that Jesus was welcomed into the home by Martha, which would indicate she was the older of the two sisters and ran the household. We are told that Mary sat at Jesus’ feet while He was teaching, along with the other men of the community who had come to listen to Jesus. Martha, on the other hand, was busy preparing the meal for Jesus and was frustrated that Mary wasn’t getting up to help her. She finally complained to Jesus about Mary, saying, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But Jesus’ answer wasn’t what Martha expected. Instead of saying that He would speak to Mary and encourage her to help out with the meal preparation, He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

I can just imagine what Martha must have felt like, because I am Martha. I get distracted by the many things I have to do. I worry more than I should about the tangible, everyday mechanics of life, rather than sitting still and listening to the voice of the Lord. While Martha was working within her gifting of a servant’s heart, not only preparing the meal but, no doubt, cleaning the house beforehand to make everything nice for her special visitor, she got so busy she missed out on listening to Jesus. Mary broke cultural norms of the time by sitting with the men listening to Jesus teach. Her place truly should have been in the kitchen but she wanted to sit at His feet and soak up all that He had to say. Both Mary and Martha were passionate about Jesus, but showed it in different ways. There’s so much to learn from this story!

As Christians, we are supposed to “do good.” Psalm 37:3 says to “trust in the Lord and do good…” while Matthew 5:16 reminds us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So, while we know we should perform good works in Jesus’ name, we must not get so distracted by those works that we miss Jesus! The work and the serving must not take precedence over sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him.

So, what is the “one thing” that Jesus was talking about? It is Him! He is what should come first in our hearts and minds and

everything else will follow. (“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33) As with all things in life, it is a matter of prioritizing, putting God first, and having our ears attuned to hear what He is telling us each day.

We all get busy with the business of life. As Christians, we try to follow the precepts of scripture and do good works. However, sometimes we get caught up in doing too much and lose sight of what or who is most important. When we get overwhelmed with all that we are tasked to do, that is when we need to shut out the noise of other voices, both cultural mores and religious expectations, and listen only to Him. (“…when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Psalm 61:2) Like Mary, we must choose that one thing that is needful— sitting at His feet, basking in His presence, becoming refreshed to continue our journey.

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

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

Embracing Our Blindness

by Kristen West

Growing up in Upper Michigan, I learned to drive on snowy roads. Blizzards were the most nerve-racking of road conditions to navigate, as they brought complete whiteout conditions in which you literally couldn’t see anything beyond the windshield.

I remember having to slow my car to a crawl of 1 mph and pray that nothing was on the road ahead of me. On top of that, I was also praying to stay on the road as

One of the most comforting things to turn to in moments (or seasons) like that is God’s Word. It is overflowing with promises to anchor our hearts and souls as we find ourselves in the middle of blind conditions. Learning to believe God’s promises, pray them over our lives, and stand on them is part of our continual growing and maturing in the faith.

“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them” (Isaiah 42:16).

The promises in that beautiful passage apply specifically to those who find themselves in a place of blindness, uncertainty, turbulence, and uncharted paths. It gives us hope to embrace our blindness and look to God to help us as only He can.

every painted line, road marker, and cautionary sign was gone, engulfed in the heavy white snowstorm. Visibility was severely limited. It was like driving blind.

I have lost count of how many times in my life I have felt like I’m spiritually navigating a blizzard. Times when I absolutely cannot see where I am going, what my next step should be, and where the road is I need to be on. On top of that, those times tend to make me feel like I’m alone, disconnected, and in a place where no one else can really help. Can you relate?

Do you feel like you’re in the dark today, friend? Navigating a spiritual blizzard? Blind as to which way to turn, what choice to make, and how to move on? Let Isaiah 42:16 breathe hope, peace, and comfort into your heart today. Blizzards are temporary. They don’t last forever. Neither do the seasons of blindness we find ourselves in from time to time. May God help us to embrace our blindness as we wholly depend on Him to guide us!

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

Honda of Rome

by Stephanie Stewart

In September 2023, Honda of Rome will celebrate its 44th year in business. Founded in 1979, our motorcycle dealership continues to be a family-owned and operated business located in Rome, Georgia.

Although we remain competitive with large powerhouse dealerships regarding inventory and pricing, our main goal is to provide a much more personalized customer service experience. We enjoy spending time getting to know our customers and their families so that we fully understand their wants and needs when it comes to choosing their perfect vehicle. We offer new and used street and dirt bikes, ATVs, and the wildly popular Honda side-by-sides, the Pioneer and Talon.

Customer safety and education are high priorities for us. We always recommend motorcycle safety and training courses for first-time riders, and we help parents choose the appropriate dirt bike or ATV for their child based on the child’s needs while also adhering to strict federal regulations and age restrictions on ATVs for children.

We can provide information about off-road riding parks and motocross tracks, and we can put you in touch with many local riding groups if you’re looking for others to ride with.

Our sales and finance department works with various lenders to provide you with the best

financing options for your budget. In addition, we have an in-house insurance agent who can make sure your new vehicle is well-protected before you leave the dealership. We are always here to answer questions and take care of your finance and insurance needs before, during, and after the sale.

We have a fully stocked parts, accessory, and riding apparel department with a knowledgeable parts manager who can answer any question you have about motorcycles. He can also recommend some of the best safety gear and apparel, and help you choose the best accessories available to customize your bike, ATV, or side-by-side.

We have a highly experienced service department. Our certified technicians attend advanced technical training classes each year to stay up to date on the latest technology related to microcomputers, suspensions, engines, transmissions, electrical systems, and more. Our technicians are also experienced in the service and repair of other brands, so even if your vehicle is something other than a Honda, we are more than capable of taking care of your maintenance needs.

We enjoy serving multiple generations of families who have shopped with us for decades. Parents who grew up riding tend to start their children riding at a young age, which teaches the child personal responsibility and safety. We believe that families who ride together stay together, so it’s no surprise that these families tend to be happier because they spend more time together outdoors and less time isolated on their smartphones or in front of the TV.

We feel blessed to have a successful business and enjoy giving back to the community. Each December, we proudly support our local Toys for Tots group by holding a toy drive. When weather permits, a local riding group also holds a motorcycle ride that benefits the toy drive.

We pledge to use our best efforts to make your experience at Honda of Rome both beneficial and enjoyable. Once you get to know us, we’re sure you’ll stop by to visit us again. You can find us online at www.hondaofrome.com or give us a call at 706-232-2624. We’d love to help you choose the motorcycle, ATV, or side-by-side you’ve been dreaming of!

The Importance of a Christian Village

by Jessica Mathis

Motherhood can be described in a variety of ways— exciting, stressful, full of love, upsetting, covered in grace—the list goes on. What I have come to realize is that without a village to walk alongside us during this phase of our lives, motherhood may be described with more bad adjectives than good.

Let me be honest and say that when I first became a mother, life was lonely, and I’ve heard firsthand that a lot of mothers have felt that way at some point in time. It was so lonely, in fact, that I was searching for any type of friendship—even if it was a relationship that negatively effected my relationship with Christ. Nine times out of ten, a Christian is more easily swayed to do wrong than a non-believer is swayed to do right. Being lonely is more beneficial than being unequally yoked in friendships. That is a hard pill to swallow. God said in His word, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18). Doesn’t this mean that God never intends for us to be lonely? Shouldn’t we avoid it at all costs? If we keep reading in Genesis, we find that Adam’s helper, Eve, was the person who encouraged Adam to disobey God, which led to the “fall of mankind.” Not all company is good company.

A Christian village—where do I find one of those? That was a question that I had for years and that I’m sure many women have. Career changes, family relationships, simply a need for a fresh start…these are just a few things that might lead to a place and a time where friendship is simply not easy but crucial. At times, church relationships are simply not enough. Around six years ago, I discovered a group for local Christian mothers called MOPS (“Mothers of Preschoolers”). Did I join? No. Here I was praying for Christian friendship, and I ran from it. I was too anxiety-ridden to try something new.

Fast forward a few years later, and a friend who was very active in that same MOPS group told me they were in dire need and asked if I would consider joining MOPS leadership. My first thought was probably something like,

“No way! I’ve been running from this group for years. I’m not a social butterfly. I can’t be a leader.” Looking back, I think this friend asked me because she knew I wasn’t one to typically say no to a need. Fast forward, I’m extremely thankful for that friend that knew I couldn’t say no because it was God’s way of showing me who my “Christian village” was.

This “Christian village” and group of close-knit friendships I have found has been something I’ve always longed for. There’s something about friends who will be honest about the valleys of motherhood but will pray about them with you. Those who understand how lonely the everyday chores of motherhood can be and that a simple cup of homemade coffee and conversation with a friend can make all the difference in the day.

Motherhood was never meant to be lonely. Although it might not seem like it now, there is a group of God-fearing friends waiting for you to join them. The Lord is wanting us to pray to and trust Him. He is waiting for us to step out of our comfort zone, as Peter walked onto the water, and find our “Christian village.”

About The Author

My name is Jessica Mathis and I am from Rome, Georgia. I am a blessed Christian, wife, stay-at-home mama, and part-time women’s advocate. I am just trying to raise a tiny human, one day at a time.

Church Activities & Events

Euharlee

Resolution Run 5K

Saturday, January 7 | 2:00PM - 3:30PM 1103 Euharlee Rd SW, Euharlee, GA

Carolyn Baptist Church Karen Peck & New River

Sunday, January 15 | 6PM 2305 Cleveland Hwy, Dalton, GA

Unity Worship

Return To God: Prayer Conference

January 20 - 21 214 Nelson St, Cartersville, GA

The Refuge Church Bible Study

Wednesday, January 25 1771 Wax Rd SE, Silver Creek, GA

What’s the Story of Your Life?

by Dr. Alan Hix

What is on your mind as we start this new year? Some people choose to look forward and imagine all the possibilities that lie ahead. Others breathe a sigh of relief in hopes that this new year will be better than the last. And still others look back upon the year just past to celebrate their successes or to mourn their failures. All three approaches have something in common. They each are the results of the human struggle to discover the meaning of life.

Before we can seek to discover life’s meaning, we must first address the question: Does life have meaning? Toward the close of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the title character reflects on the meaning of a life marred by betrayal, murder, war, and loss. He murdered his king to become a king, and he has fought to maintain that position of power. A victim’s ghost is haunting him, his guilt is torturing him, his enemies are closing in on him, his wife has lost her sanity, and now he’s just heard that she’s killed herself.

In this soliloquy Macbeth is a man for whom life has ceased to have meaning.

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

In this moment, Macbeth is feeling that life is absurd and devoid of purpose or meaning. Everything he did to become king will soon be erased by his story coming to an end.

Have you ever had one of those moments in which you wondered if there is a purpose for your life? Have you ever felt like all you can do is to put one foot in front of another with no real sense of where your life was going? When you think about the story of your life, do the seasons of pain stand out more than the seasons of blessing?

In Psalms 2-7, David has been crying out to God for deliverance from his enemies and relief from his distress. If this were all we had from David, we might suspect that his life story reflects a life without meaning or purpose. But

David doesn’t stop on this somber note. In Psalm 8, David declares that our value and purpose as human beings comes from being the pinnacle of God’s creation.

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:3-5).

In these verses, David shares his amazement at the value God places on mankind. God created us as beings with both value and purpose. David helps us to see ourselves from God’s perspective without all the emotional baggage that often blurs our vision.

Macbeth found his life hollow and empty because he was focused on himself and the power he craved. His story signified nothing because he had no place for God in his life. What David does is to help us see the story of our life from God’s perspective. God sees us as created in his own image, with a purpose to reflect his glory.

At the beginning of this new year, let us commit to a life that signifies something—reflecting God’s glory in every aspect of our story!

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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Waiting

by Amy Scott

What are you waiting for? Is it an important phone call, a job change, a loved one to get well, an upcoming vacation, a positive pregnancy test, a marriage proposal, a break—what is it?

We recently found ourselves in a season of intense waiting. My husband became ill quite suddenly, and over the course of 18 months we waited. We waited for a liver to become available for transplant. Once the transplant occurred, we waited to see if his kidneys would start to function. Once it was determined that they would not

for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

This verse caused me to reflect on my faith. How do I wait upon the Lord? Am I complacent in my waiting?

Do I look for the ways that He is active and alive and seek opportunities to share about Him with those around me? Or do I feel offended by day-to-day life and flippantly proclaim that all will be better when Jesus returns?

Truthfully, I am guilty of both. Waiting on the Lord may mean spending time in prayer, seeking God, and standing firm in what He has declared. It also means sharing with Him about the longings of our heart and trusting Him to sculpt them and fulfill them according to His plan.

function, we waited for him to get listed for a kidney transplant. We then waited for a kidney to become available. Once the kidney transplant occurred, we waited for the organ to begin functioning. I could go on and on. It was an exhausting journey.

The largest part of any of our existence involves waiting. There is an obsession in creating a false sense of control by doing all “the things” to bring about a desired outcome. It is easy to become fixated on what we seem to be lacking and hyper-focused on the longing for the next thing that we miss the beauty of the journey, and thus we can become weakened by waiting. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that we are strengthened as we wait for the Lord, “But they who wait

Henri Nowen states, “We can learn to be obedient people who do not always try to go back to the action but recognize the fulfillment of our deepest humanity in passion, in waiting. If we can do this, I am convinced that we will come in touch with the power and the glory of God and our own new life. Our service to others will include our helping them see the glory breaking through—not only where they are active but also where they are being acted upon. And so, the spirituality of waiting is not simply our waiting for God. It is also participating in God’s own waiting for us and in that way coming to share in the deepest love, which is God’s love.”

My challenge to myself and for you for the coming year is to cultivate a life where we live in a way that seeking the Lord—waiting for Him—is our go-to for waiting for life circumstances to change. And in our waiting, I hope we will connect more deeply with our Heavenly Father on our journey and that those around us will be drawn to Him. Amen.

Amy Scott is the Executive Director of Bethany Christian Services of Greater Chattanooga. She is an adoptee who passionately serves the adoption community for over ten years. Amy resides in North Georgia with her husband and three daughters.

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.

Don’t Ever Doubt

by Judy Hood

Our Lord is so wonderful, so true

If you will yield, he will make you brand new

He sends his spirit to seek those who can be found Makes them royalty while preparing their robe and crown

He loves his children, oh yes, he does He always has, just because He sent his Only begotten Son To bring salvation, the victory won He’s calling out to you and me Wanting to know if we can really see Into his world that he’s talking about Before long he will come back with a shout So look up my friend, stay on the right route Don’t hesitate, don’t ever doubt

Praying for the Impossible

by Brent Goodge

As the days of Passover went by, the church members came together for a round-the-clock prayer service. These Christians were no strangers to suffering and persecution. Many had been imprisoned or seen their family members killed because they refused to deny the Name of Jesus. But this was different.

James, who had been among the first disciples called by Jesus; James, who had been one of only three to witness the glory of the Transfiguration and the agony of Gethsemane; James, who had rashly assured Jesus that he too could drink whatever cup of suffering was coming Jesus’ way…had just been killed by King Herod. Many Christians had already given their lives for the cause of Christ, but the leadership of the church had previously been spared.

Now, Peter was in prison awaiting execution. Chains hanging from each extremity, multiple iron doors separating him from freedom, and sixteen Roman soldiers guarding him on pain of their own deaths if he escaped prevented any hope of human rescue. The heartless King Herod, bereft of the character of Heaven, gave no hope of clemency. Unless God stopped the evil work, the human instruments Christ has chosen to lead His church would all soon be dead. Tirelessly, the church prayed.

The night before Peter’s execution finally arrived. In answer to the prayers of His people, Christ sent an angel to the lonely prison cell. Peter’s chains fell off. Unhindered by locks and soldiers, the angel led Peter through the prison gates to freedom and then disappeared. Peter gathered himself and went to the house where the believers were praying. Knocking on the door and trying to keep his voice low enough not to waken the neighbors, Peter requested entrance.

Rhoda’s heart leaped for joy when she heard Peter’s voice, and she went to tell the praying church that God

had answered their prayers. But nobody believed her. They basically told her it was impossible for Peter to be released and would she please be quiet and reverent so they could resume asking God to do what they were insisting that God could not have done. Finally, they agreed to go check and see who was still knocking at the door.

How often do we plead with God to free those we know and love, not from earthly chains, but from bondage to sin? For most of us, the answer is likely “not nearly enough.”

But when we do pray those prayers, we need to believe God can and will work miracles in the lives of those we pray for. It is so easy to pray for our friends and family day after day and year after year while honestly expecting no real change. When God, in His perfect timing, works the miracle of deliverance in their lives, may we be sure we do not leave them outside knocking while we try to move to a quieter area to keep praying for God to do something He has already done.

Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County. He doesn’t understand how prayer works, but he trusts the God who gave us the gift of prayer. Brent is praying that this message was a blessing.

About The Author

“B

Active Stillness

by Greg Grotewold

e still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

In an age where we are incessantly targeted for demands on our time, it’s easy to read this verse and release a long sigh. How can we possibly afford to be still when the world around us requires that we be in constant motion? Life is so busy that many struggle just to make it through the day without losing their sanity. I look at how hard my wife and I run during the course of the week and can understand the level of anxiousness many Christians carry as they scurry from one obligation to the next.

One of the first casualties of this war on time is intimacy with God. While our visceral reaction to the psalmist may be one of exasperation, we know deep down we can’t afford not to be still. To do so would only invite more anxiousness and an ever-escalating guilt. And yet, we don’t jump off the hamster wheel; in fact, we run faster.

Psalm 46:10 was written, it is thought, in the context of great calamity for Jerusalem and the people of God. In the midst of this great turmoil, Israel needed to stop and contemplate the power of the God they worship. They needed to be reminded of two things: one, God will ultimately prevail; and two, there is great safety under His protective wing. There was no need to fret.

The Lord has the exact same message for us today. In our calamity, however we choose to define it, we, too, need to be still and contemplate His sovereign presence. We need to stop and, if you will, reacquaint ourselves with the glorious attributes of our Creator. We need Him to remind us of His great care. We need Him to remind us of His unending, never-changing love. We need Him to remind us that He is superintending every hour of our day. He is in control, and we need not fret. The Lord, and those who He has called, will be victorious in the end.

When we go to this well of boundless grace and drink our fill of His wonders, we will be refreshed. We will gain

not only perspective on our obligations but also a peace as we go about fulfilling such obligations. This peace will allow us to more consistently display Christ to those whose paths we cross throughout the day.

Go daily, go hourly, go minute-by-minute if necessary. But go. Well drinking won’t just fall into our lap. It takes great action to be still. It takes real intentionality to carve out

time daily to stop and let the Lord minister to us. It takes real intentionality to say “no” to the demands of loved ones for ten minutes in the morning so we can quicken our hearts before God. It takes real intentionality to let the dirty dishes sit in the sink overnight so that we can surrender the day’s concerns to Him before bedtime. It takes real intentionality to pull over—literally if need be—and petition the Lord for help as we are about to face a particular adversity.

The world won’t come to a crashing halt while we take the time to be still. In fact, it is one of the most unselfish things we can do for those that depend upon us. A refreshed Christian is a mercy and grace-filled Christian.

Be still and be emboldened by the supreme glory of your God.

Greg Grotewold lives in Oakdale, MN, 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

Exercise: Here We Go Again!

by Karla Smedley

Well, it is January. A time for new declarations and new promises. Time to clean up our act. Eat less, exercise more. Perhaps, even a new gym membership. I have vowed to jump on the exercise bandwagon so many times over the few years. However, often as the days press on, that same wagon’s wooden wheels run over me as it rolls out of town.

The Flesh

My flesh is strong, and frankly, larger than I desire. Oh, the excuses! I can eat this one more cookie. I am a little too tired to exercise today. I’ll start eating better or exercising next week. The temptations are great while my willpower is weak.

The Battle for Staying Healthy

I know what to do. I have read the latest tricks and enduring tips to help myself. But I get weak. The fight to shed a few pounds, keep a healthy heart, and lower my cholesterol require exercise, not only physically, but mentally as well. Whether it takes 30 days to create a new habit (or as newer research suggests up to 200 days for some people), it’s a mindset of perseverance that I need.

The More Important Exercise

The truth is physical needs are not the only area in which my flesh wins out. My actions are way too fleshly. I find myself joining in with our wicked world more often than setting myself apart for God. In 1 John 2:15, the Bible says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” God calls us to be the light of the world. As you well know, this is a very dark world we are living in. To shine for Jesus, I must love Him more than I love the things of this world.

The Battle to Be the Light

Again, I know what to do, but I get weak. I begin exercising the mindset that I can do this, live a Godly life. But then I fail. I backslide. I begin to fall out of fellowship with Jesus. I get overwhelmed. It is then when I realize I am trying on my own to be like Jesus, amid our sinful world. My actions cannot simply rest in the thought that I need to be stronger. I forget too often that I am not asked to live like Jesus without guidance. Staying connected with God and yielding to the Holy Spirit, that’s the answer! “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, NASB).

The Battle for God in our Daily Lives Staying connected to God is not a bandwagon to jump on. He is always there and desires us to lean into Him. If we desire to love Him more than the things of this world, we must yield to the Holy Spirit, not our fleshly desires. We will not find the Holy Spirit in the world, rather we will find the Holy Spirit when we fellowship with God: worship in a church that encourages discipleship, ask God for a thirst of His Word and meditate on it daily, surround ourselves with other Christians who inspire our growth in the Lord and our choices that honor God. Make a resolution this year to live less for the world and more for God by following the words in Galatians 5:16, “Walk by the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”

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

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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.

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for your Taste Buds

One Pot Tomato Soup

There is nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day!

This tomato soup recipe is a family favorite—both delicious and nutritious. What’s even better? It’s so easy to prepare, only one pot and 30 minutes needed. If you try out this recipe at home, tag us on Facebook at Goodnews CM and let us know your thoughts!

Instructions Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil

• 1 cup of diced yellow onion

• 1 clove of garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon of dried basil

• 1 (28-ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes

• 1 (6-ounce) can of tomato paste

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes

• 1 cup of vegetable broth

• 1 (14-ounce) can of coconut milk

• ¾ teaspoon of sea salt

• ¾ teaspoon of black pepper

• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and dried basil.

2. Add the tomatoes and their juices, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, coconut milk, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Cover the pot and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 15-20 minutes.

3. Turn off the heat and let the soup cool. Then, puree in a blender.

4. Transfer the soup back to the pot and bring soup back to a simmer over medium heat until warmed. Simmer uncovered until desired consistency is reached.

5. Serve with homemade croutons or pair with a grilled cheese!

Resolutions

by Beth Penny

The holidays are over; now what? Dark mornings, earlier evenings, gray days. The winter blues have set in. Time for a new start? Why do we set January as a time for a fresh beginning?

Over 4,000 years ago the ancient Babylonians were the first to have celebrated the “New Year.” However, the Babylonian new year was in March as the crops were planted. The people reaffirmed their loyalties to the king and their gods and made promises to pay their debts and return borrowed items. In turn they expected the gods to provide a bountiful harvest. Later around 46 BC, Julius Caesar moved the “New Year” to January. January, named for Janus, paid homage to the god of arches and doorways. Janus symbolically looked backwards into the prior year and forward into the upcoming year. The Romans made promises of good behavior for the upcoming year to Janus. Thus began our custom of New Year’s resolutions.

Fast forward to 2022. Research shows that between 38 and 48 percent of adults between 18 and 35 make New Year’s resolutions. Forty-eight percent of those resolutions are health-related. Yet, only eight to nine percent of people report actually keeping their resolutions. So, where does that leave the 92 percent that did not keep their promises? Feelings of failure, inadequacy, and depression can make the long, cold, and dark winters seem that much more somber.

I stopped making resolutions years ago when I realized I was only setting myself up for failure with unattainable expectations. Cue more of the winter doldrums. Here’s how I look at it. Small goals are attainable. When a child is learning to walk, those shaky, wobbly, teetering first steps have to come before training for a marathon. Players don’t go straight to the NFL without playing peewee ball. We can’t win a gold medal in swimming without first learning

how to hold our breath. The list could go on and on. Reach for small goals and feel successes rather than failures.

Here is my goal: to be the best me I can be. I don’t have to, want to, or even try to be better than anyone else. My goal is to be better than I was yesterday. Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. Strength comes from doing the things you thought you couldn’t. That feeling of accomplishment starts with reaching the small goals that you set for yourself.

While he was in prison Paul wrote his letters to the church at Philippi to thank them and encourage them to

continue in their Christian walk. He gives encouragement in Chapter 3 Verses 13 and 14 by saying, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Reading Paul’s words reminds us that our goal isn’t accomplished here in life. Daily we keep working towards the small steps that lead us to become our best selves.

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