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Gò0dNew s

Fill your life with more living .

It’s never too late to break the mold. Erica needed time to realize she already had what it takes to be an artist — and that tapping her creativity could add new color to the rest of her life. The pieces may not always go as planned, but a hobby that boosts body, mind and spirit? That’s a beautiful thing.

About Us

WRITERS

Ande Frazier

Bill Silvers

Chaplain Filip Brunner

Chrissie Joy Jackson

Dorothy Teague

Dr. Bobbye Jo Davidson

Dr. Jeff Dabbs

Garrett Nudd

Hayden Lanier

Heather Harper Medley, LPC

Jan Merop

Katharine Lee Bates

Paula Burgner

Sheila Bird

SALES

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

DESIGNERS

Riley Evans art.goodnews@gmail.com

Caleb Prytherch art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kate Walton kate@studio-kate.com

EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR

Sandra Gilmore articles.goodnews@gmail.com

PUBLISHER

Matthew and Bethany Ruckman goodnewstn@gmail.com 423-503-1410

OFFICE

423-790-5378

WEBSITE goodnewscm.com issuu.com/goodnewsrome

SOCIAL MEDIA

f GoodNews Rome

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.

PenPoints: Do You Saunter?

by Sandra Gilmore

Welcome to our anniversary issue. We’re excited that you’ve joined us.

Tell me, are you a fellow saunterer?

Although John Muir has been credited for connecting the Appalachian Mountains with the Holy Land via the word ‘saunter,’ there’s no evidence in his writings for that specific connection. Since he often used the word and often wrote about these hills, people connected the word with the hills.

I can’t say that I blame them.

Originally, the phrase was à la Sainte Terre (“to the Holy Land”). As with many words and phrases, it was eventually pared down to ‘saunter,’ making it easier to tote along while preserving a sense of savoring the Holy Land, even though the definition no longer carries that direct reference.

These days, ‘saunter’ describes the unhurried trek of someone purposely lingering to absorb a view, take in the surroundings, and savor the experience. From a distance, it might be mislabeled ‘wandering aimlessly.’ That observation would be mistaken.

Similarly, J. R. R. Tolkien’s poem “All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter” holds the phrase often endeared by those trekking about: “Not all those who wander are lost.”

This month, we’re ‘wandering’ as Tolkien would say into the 14th year of GoodNews Christian Magazine. Traditionally, ivory marks the 14th anniversary. In recent years, gold has become the marker. And I agree that there’s “gold in them thar hills” to echo the Gold Rush storytellers. We value these 14 years since the magazine began. We are grateful for the ‘golden’ opportunity to connect our writers and our readers with stories, recipes, Bible studies, and testimonies.

I wonder if Tolkien knew of our Appalachian Mountains? We who saunter do, in fact, wander at times, and yet we’re not the least bit lost. We’re home.

Our writers could be described as those who ‘saunter’ through life and bless others with their insights. They hold dear the scenery of life’s progress between milestones. They mine for the treasured nuggets under the surface of setbacks. They ponder the times to keep trekking onward compared to the times to linger for a bit, maybe panning a while to see what stays on top and what sifts through.

Waiting doesn’t escape them, nor do the lessons it teaches. Seasons of hurry with surges of progress capture their awe the same as seasons of letting go and leaving behind the heavy and the cumbersome. They stand by the water’s edge with its rolling waves of grief, or overwhelm, or confusion, with

the same resolve as when they pause to marvel at the delicate fluttering of hope, or surrender, or whimsy.

The Lord has promised to walk with each of us through life’s journey. The 23rd Psalm describes hills and valleys. Rough terrain does not escape His Presence. And we know from verse six that “goodness and mercy shall follow” us. In Hebrew, that phrase actually means ‘to pursue intentionally.’ As we trace the trails, whether actually on foot or figuratively in our hearts, we are assured that “goodness and mercy” are faithful companions, lovingly sent from the Father, trekking beside us.

The sun has risen over and set behind the hills more than 5,100 days since that morning when GoodNews first hit the trail. The Father’s presence has been as consistent as the sun, guiding the staff, the writers, and the readers onward and upward. With East Tennessee’s foothills and Georgia’s Blue Ridge in the backdrop, we have gratefully sauntered through the joys, woes, chuckles, and wisdom of this publishing journey, knowing that not a moment has been without the presence of the Lord. That truth makes each path holy ground, indeed.

The compass for our sauntering at GoodNews comes from our publishers, Matt and Bethany Ruckman. They point the way: “Our magazine opens the door for Christians

to work together to grow and strengthen our community. GoodNews is written by men and women 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 Good News!”

The rise and fall of the publishing path gives us an opportunity each month to saunter through holy ground. From this 14th anniversary peak, the view is expansive and full of potential. With that in mind, we pause for a moment to share our gratitude for you, our readers, writers, and sponsors, and to give the Lord glory for what He’s done through this magazine.

Today, we bless your path ahead, the holy ground of your sauntering, as you learn and grow in His Presence. We are grateful you have included GoodNews Christian Magazine along your way.

From this vantage point, we can see the peak of our 15th anniversary issue in July 2027. Preparations are already under way. Our writers have graciously supplied articles under the title “Celebrating the Goodness of God.” The July 2027 issue is nearly full, and so are our hearts with anticipation for the coming year.

Until then, we invite you to keep trekking with us. We’ll meet you each month and back at the top again next July. Happy sauntering!

Gò0 dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

Finding Peace in a Chaotic World

by Dr. Jeff Dabbs

Can you hear it? The world seems noisier than ever. Just turn on the news, scroll through social media or sit in traffic and you’ll feel the tension pressing in on every side. Wars, political division, economic stress, family struggles, health scares—it’s enough to make anyone anxious. In fact, anxiety has become one of the defining traits of our time.

Yet in the middle of the chaos, God offers something the world cannot provide: peace. Not a fleeting “everything is fine if I ignore the problems” kind of peace, but a deep and lasting peace that settles the heart. The psalmist David captured this reality in one of the most familiar passages of Scripture:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NASB).

Notice that David doesn’t deny the existence of the valley. He doesn’t pretend life is free of danger, grief, or uncertainty. Instead, he acknowledges it —and then declares that even in that valley, he will not be consumed by fear. Why? Because God is with him.

We often think peace comes when our problems go away. “If I could just pay off the bills, if my health would improve, if my kids would straighten out — then I’d have peace.” But the Bible points us to a deeper truth: peace isn’t tied to circumstances; it’s tied to the presence of God.

Jesus echoed this when He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful” (John 14:27 NASB). His peace is not fragile, depending on perfect conditions. It is strong enough to hold us steady when life is falling apart.

Isaiah 26:3 NASB declares, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because He trusts in You.”

Trusting God doesn’t mean we won’t have questions, and it doesn’t mean we won’t feel the weight of life’s hardships. It does mean we choose to rest in God’s character, His promises, and His faithfulness.

Think of it like sitting in a chair. You don’t spend all your energy wondering if the chair will hold you up — you simply sit down and rest your weight on it. That’s what trust in God looks like: resting the full weight of our lives on Him, confident that He will never fail.

How can we walk in this kind of peace in our everyday lives?

1. Pray first, not last. Philippians 4:6 reminds us to bring everything to God in prayer, Instead of letting worry spiral out of control, pray.

2. Fill your mind with God’s Word. The Bible doesn’t just inform — it transforms. Reading even a short psalm daily can realign our hearts toward peace.

3. Surround yourself with godly community. God often uses His people to speak peace into our lives.

4. Choose gratitude. It’s hard to be anxious and thankful at the same time. Gratitude lifts our eyes to what God has already done.

The valleys of life are real and the chaos around us isn’t going away anytime soon. The good news is this: peace is within reach, available in Christ. When we fix our eyes on Him, we discover the promise of Psalm 29:11 NASB, “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

That’s not wishful thinking — that’s God’s Word. And it’s good news for every anxious heart.

Dr. Jeff Dabbs is the senior pastor at Spring Creek Baptist Church, Rome, Georgia. He has authored Sunday School material and several books.

Brother’s Place

As a transitional housing program, our mission is to empower, equip, and enrich the lives of men through the love of Jesus Christ.

The men in our program live at our facility, work full-time, and attend night classes/meetings that will help them on their path of reentry and stable living in society. Often they are are in recovery from addiction and many come from rehabs, prisons, jails, and other rehabilative programs.

"What I loved about Brothers Place is that they treated me like a grown man. I've been in a lot of programs, and they always made me feel like I was a kid who didn't know any better. Not Brothers Place. They made me feel like a man, like I was capable, and could do this. I really think that is why I made it"

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Your donations will help o set the costs the men need to pay to stay here, which will help them as they save money and work to a nancially independent state.

WThe Most Expensive Financial Mistake Isn’t in Your Portfolio Money Moves

Ande Frazier with

hen people think about financial mistakes, they usually think about investments. Buying at the wrong time. Selling at the wrong time. Picking the wrong stock or missing the right opportunity. They assume the biggest threat to their financial future is hiding somewhere inside their portfolio.

After more than 30 years in financial services, I’ve come to a different conclusion.

The most expensive financial mistakes rarely happen in a portfolio. They happen in the decisions people avoid making altogether. Behavior has always been a greater threat to financial success than market performance. I’ve seen people lose opportunities because they waited too long. I’ve watched families delay estate planning conversations until it was too late, business owners put off succession planning, and retirees so afraid to spend money they couldn’t enjoy what they’d spent a lifetime building. I’ve seen investors abandon carefully designed strategies the moment fear showed up.

None of those mistakes were caused by the market. They were caused by being human.

Money is deeply emotional. It touches our hopes, fears, identity, relationships, and sense of security, yet we keep pretending financial decisions are purely rational. They’re not. Most of us carry a money story that was written long before we ever opened a retirement account. Maybe you grew up in a household where money was scarce, or where it was a constant source of conflict. Maybe success was celebrated in your family, or maybe it made people uncomfortable. Those experiences don’t stay in the past. They follow us into every financial conversation we have today.

The challenge is that most of these beliefs operate below the surface, quietly running the show.

That’s why someone can earn a great income and still feel broke. It’s why a retiree with substantial assets can be terrified to spend them. It’s why smart, capable people sometimes make financial decisions that look completely irrational from the outside. Our behavior is often driven by emotions we don’t even recognize.

Fear tells us to wait. Pride tells us we don’t need help. Shame tells us to avoid the conversation. Overconfidence tells us we’ll figure it out later. And “later” has a habit of becoming too late.

Avoidance is one of the most expensive patterns I see. People avoid creating an estate plan. They avoid reviewing insurance. They avoid talking about money with a spouse. They put off retirement planning because they’re afraid of what they might discover. Avoidance feels safe in the moment because it delays the discomfort. Unfortunately, it also delays the solution.

The people who build real financial security aren’t always the sharpest investors. They’re usually the ones who can manage their own emotions, who stay focused on long-term goals and make thoughtful decisions even when things feel uncertain. They understand that financial planning is as much about behavior as it is about money.

The best financial plans don’t just organize assets. They help people make better decisions. They create clarity, reduce emotional reactions, and provide a framework for moving through uncertainty without losing your footing.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s awareness.

When you understand your tendencies, your fears, and your financial blind spots, you can start making decisions based on intention rather than emotion.

So the next time you find yourself worrying about whether you’re in the right fund or missing the best return, try asking a different question: What financial decision am I avoiding?

That answer may point to a risk far greater than anything happening in the market, because the most expensive mistake usually isn’t in your portfolio.

It’s the one you’ve been putting off.

G

for Men To the Young Men

by Filip Brunner

To the young men from a father who cares about the next generation:

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Word of God. It is divided into sections, each representing one letter of the Hebrew Aleph Beth from which we get the English word alphabet. Beth is the second letter of the Aleph Beth portion of Psalm 119. Verses 9 through 16 are a message to young men.

“BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

You want to live in freedom to do the will of God for your life, cleansed from sin? That is a good goal to have.

The Word of God is a cleansing agent like no other. It is like a powerful torrent underneath a mighty waterfall, cascading over the body and soul. Its pages, word upon word, infuse the hungry human mind with the Spirit’s wisdom.

Reading the Bible is one thing, applying what we read to our daily walk is something else. The question at hand is: “What does this mean to me personally?” This requires some thought.

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”

The more we fall in love with God and His Word, the more we realize that the commandments of God are not killjoys, as some have suggested, but loving reminders

that what God has written to us are reminders that He has our best in mind: “The stovetop is hot, don’t touch it,” for example.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

The benefit of scripture memorization is to provide us with a weapons locker stuffed full of offensive weapons designed by God for our defense.

We need to be ready, proactive, in order to squish the enemy's artillery barrage that he aims at our hearts and minds.

“Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.”

LORD, let me know what you have for me today. What do you want me to do?

“With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.”

When we judge anything, let us use the same judgements that God uses. My opinion on any given subject does not count for much. What does matter is what God already knows and what He has spoken in His Word as truth.

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

What God has testified to be true needs to be our treasure.

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

Our understanding of the Word of God gives us dignity. If you want folks to respect you, then learn, understand, and do what the Word of God says. Respect is a two-way street that begins with “being.” Be respectful and you will be respected. How you and I act in front of others needs to be the same as if we were in the presence of God. You want to be sinless? Then you want to sin less and less. Hide the Word of God in your heart by memorizing it. You want folks to respect you? Live out the Word of God in your life. Don’t just be a Christian. Live Christ. Show that you have a relationship with Jesus.

Filip Brunner is married to his wife, Dr. Kim Brunner and together they have six children. He is a writer, author, and artist.

for Women

The Garden of God

by Chrissie Joy Jackson

Jesus often used agriculture—plants, trees, crops, etc.—to teach us about ourselves. In fact, the Bible is full of similes, painting pictures in our minds to understand the lessons.

Think about your own garden, or nature around you. The colors, the sizes, the shapes, and the weeds! God loves variety and beauty. The earth is like a big garden created and tended by God. People of all sizes, shapes, colors, and purposes. We gently encourage and nourish those around us, supporting, growing, and blooming together.

Sometimes we have to remove the “weeds” out of necessity to thrive. My garden has done better this year than ever. I have, too. As I tend the garden, I find that big blooming irises need support, much like a friend who is going through some tough health problems, yet still has a joyful spirit. The vegetable seeds are thriving because they are planted in good soil and watered well, as some new believers need lots of love and the good ground of God’s Word. I can learn and apply many things observing the ways of nature.

What can we learn from the Bible’s usage of vegetation? Psalm 1:3 NIV describes someone who delights in God like this: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

God sees our faithfulness and enjoys our delight in Him, making us strong and fruitful.

I have met people who bring a fragrance of His presence. As 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says, “…we spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him. We are the fragrance of Christ to God.” Like a gardenia filling the atmosphere with an attraction to be near it. To Christians, we are the aroma of life leading to life.

John 15:5 says we are the branches, Jesus is the vine. To bear spiritual fruit, we must remain in Him. We can’t do anything without Him.

God tends His garden and will deal with the weeds. As Jesus explained: “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the “evil one” (Matthew 13:38). So the wicked (in this context, it was Pharisees), Jesus says, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots” (Matthew 15:13 NIV).

Jesus used a fig tree in Mark 11 to teach us the power of faith; seeds sown in Matthew 13 to show us heart conditions when hearing God’s Word; and in Matthew 6, He uses lilies to remind us how well He takes care of us.

Just as plants have a variety of purposes, each person in life has a destiny too. Some are for healing, some are for fragrance, while others bring spice and fun. Some are beautiful, and others fragile, teaching us mercy.

• 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 emphasizes teamwork.

• Matthew 13:31-32 faith as small as a mustard seed.

• 2 Corinthians 9:6 encourages us to be generous.

Look around you and see if you can see what God is telling you through His creation. It would be fun and interesting also to do a Bible search for all the places that use trees and plants as relating to us humans.

Let’s bloom and grow, water, nourish, and thrive together!

Chrissie Joy Jackson is a retired widow and a member of Living Word Church. Sharing the love and care of the Father through missions is her passion.

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

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 Everyone

I Will Forgive Their Iniquity

by Hayden Lanier

As part of the New Covenant, God made an astounding promise. He declared, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34 ESV).

To forgive is to pardon; it is not holding the wrong someone has done against them. This is what God does for us with our sin—He forgives it.

The Old Covenant dealt with sin temporarily; the New Covenant deals with sin once and for all. The Old Covenant atoned for sin through sacrifices that had to be repeated; in the New Covenant, Jesus has “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26 ESV). The Old Covenant was broken because God’s people disobeyed His law; the New Covenant cannot be broken because in it, sin is forgiven. The Old Covenant looked forward to the day when sin could be fully forgiven; in the New Covenant, God acknowledges that He will forgive and forget the sin of His people.

The forgiveness of sin is the foundation of this entire promise from God (to see the entire New Covenant, read Jeremiah 31:31-34). Sin kept us from being close to God, but now, God removes that barrier, allowing us to know Him. Additionally, this forgiveness we receive is complete, not partial. He forgives all our sin. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Colossians 2:13 ESV).

This is good news for us because we are all sinners. It is good news for the gossiper, because God will forgive your iniquity. It is good news for the person who lacks selfcontrol, because God will forgive your sin. It is good news for the hateful, because God will forgive your wrongdoing. It is good news for all of us because, no matter how we may sin specifically, we all have a sinful nature. However, God redeems what is broken and forgives the endless list of ways we have sinned against Him.

Jeremiah, the prophets, and the people who read these words before Jesus looked forward to the New Covenant,

but we see it fully realized in Christ. Our sins are forgiven by God through Jesus and because of His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 ESV).

As if that wasn’t enough, God not only forgives our sin, but promises to remember it no more. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12 ESV).

Even when we forgive someone completely, we still remember what they have done. We may not hold their actions against them, but in many cases, we simply can’t forget what they have done.

However, God is different. When He justifies us, in His eyes, it is just as if we had never sinned.

The forgiveness we receive from God is so full that God forgets our sin. It is not held against us and cannot be brought up again. Praise Him for the great forgiveness we have been given!

See www.setyourmindabove.com for more from Hayden Lanier.

Hayden Lanier is a follower of Jesus, a graduate of Shorter University, and he works as an elementary school teacher.

Gò0 dNews for Hikers The Way Up is Down

by Jan Merop

With lights secured around their foreheads, spelunkers are outfitted with the equipment to explore caves. They welcome the darkness, dirt, dank coolness, and adventure of finding their own way.

I've done some caving myself, but of a much tamer variety. The caves are open to the public for guided tours. The dankly cool atmosphere and darkness are relieved by dim electric lighting. Nor did I have to get dirty crawling through narrow crevices or a muddy place that may be a dead-end.

As fascinating as caves are, I prefer blue skies overhead and the sounds of nature surrounding me. But once while exploring a cave in Colorado, I was in for a surprise.

Following our guide, we descended into the bowels of the earth. He alerted us to points of interest as we kept moving along. Then he directed us to an opening and invited us to step through. I was amazed.

Above and around me, the skies, trees, birds, and refreshing mountain air contrasted markedly with the caves' earthy closeness. We had traveled down, yet stepped out on a high ledge overlooking the city.

Sometimes the way up is down. Life's situations may have us on our faces with no blue sky in sight. Getting down on our knees may be the only way up.

It's in trials that we learn to see from the perspective of bent knees. We're low with no place to look but up. Amazingly, we find that our cave wanderings have actually led us to the light and a view from a mountain top. It's what we can expect from God who loves us so much.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness

will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you”(Psalm 139: 7-12 NIV).

What if a man loses everything, including his family and health? Like Job in the Bible, he may enter a cave of despair and even take several wrong turns that lead to dead end traps of wrong thinking.

However, if in the darkness he reaches for God, the only glimmer of light he knows, God will use his trials to give him a heavenly perspective.

Down? Reach for that heavenly perspective. Sometimes the way up is down. Selah.

dNews for Seniors

When God Has Other Plans

by Dr. Bobbye Jo Davidson

Igrew up in Trion, GA, a textile mill town in a Christian family. My maternal grandmother thought God sent me to her and greatly influenced my life. She had not healed from losing a child who was only three months old.

My family took care of themselves and others. That was nearly 90 years ago. My dad was a quiet man. He instilled in me, “Pretty is as pretty does.” It gave me confidence since I was teased and called “four eyes.” That made me focus on my attitude and academics.

Today, I am 89, love music, and I am a Georgia Bulldog and an Atlanta Braves fan.

By the time I was 31 years of age, I earned a PhD from The Ohio State University, had a successful teaching career at the University of Georgia, and had become a pianist and organist at our church out of necessity. After 50 years of marriage, I became a widow. Taking care of myself and taking care of others as much as I can is a theme of my days in this season of life and my neighbors are important to me.

I taught school from 8th grade through graduate school as God opened doors for me to go back to school and then to teach routinely until I finished my PhD at The Ohio State University. I retired early from the University of Georgia.

I recall in fifth grade, thanks to our music teacher and two classroom teachers, we performed the Minuet and a Scottish dance in authentic costumes prepared by anyone who could sew in the community. We went to the state competition at Georgia State College for Women and we took first place! This was the college that I was going to because they had a strong two year program with a certificate.

I remember a time when our high school graduation was just a few days away for the Class of ‘54. We were a very close knit class and we had ambivalent feelings. The Korean War was going on and four classmates were leaving within two days to join the Armed Forces. Others would join later. Praise God: they all returned home safely.

My plans were settled. In the ‘50s, the job opportunities for women were limited to secretary, teacher, employment at the mill, and marriage. Since I had done well in my business classes, I chose secretary. I certainly would not become a teacher!

“When God shuts a door, He opens a window” is my belief. Teaching was the last thing I was going to ever do and it turned out to be the first because God had other plans for me.

On a beautiful sunny April day, I smiled as I drove the 75 miles to a teaching interview. Yes, the very one who had said she would never be a teacher was going to an interview for a teaching position!

I often remember the day of my interview and how God had changed my plan. It was for good just as He had said!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).

Do you remember learning about Jonah in the Bible and how God changed his plans? Can you remember plans you had and how God had changed them for the good?

Dr. Bobbye Jo Davidson, known to most as Jo, lives in Rome, Georgia. She enjoys writing and sharing about Jesus. She became a teacher without intending to be. She’ll write about that adventure soon. Stay tuned for

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.

Realty ONE Group, Edge: Meet Ivy Holt Morris

This REALTOR® has many roles in her life and in her community. When asked “How do you manage to do it all?” Ivy Holt Morris’ response comes easily: “When your life is driven by purpose, you will have constant growth and longevity in it. I believe that truly, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. It's my purpose and passion to help empower others to believe that about themselves also.”

This recent Agent of the Month is the go-to for first-time buyers, seasoned flippers, or area newcomers who are looking for a place to put down roots. Ivy’s knowledge of local inventory, considerations such as commutes to work, school, or activities, and price points marries well with her goal of seeing clients find their perfect properties.

Meet Ivy

When you think about the definition of renaissance person, or someone who always seems to be able to figure things out, Ivy Holt Morris comes to mind. When you ask those closest around her each day how to describe her, they will say: “She's able to make anyone feel comfortable in any situation, even where they may feel very vulnerable,” and that “She can help put you at ease through something that often feels very overwhelming.” Ivy simply describes this trait with the mindset that “Everything has an answer. We just have to find the right one." Ivy's cheery disposition and informative approach to her clients makes the often daunting task of real estate transactions feel a bit brighter and lighter. Her experience, knowledge, and passion for helping others makes her one of the best.

Mission: Possible

Ivy describes her mission as a REALTOR® to empower and educate others, not just to sell houses or properties. This mission compels her to partner with clients, empowering them to feel as though they can conquer and achieve any real estate goal they have, whether their first primary home, a firsttime residential investment, conquering their first commercial real estate deal, downsizing, moving from their current home to their “dream” home, and everything in between.

She explains, “For me, real estate comes naturally. I've been around it all my life. It feels like piecing together a puzzle. I don't care how many pieces there are or how complicated or how simple the puzzle is. I'm excited to help others figure out how to put those pieces together and see a beautiful picture form. Real estate for me is more than a career. It's a calling and a passion. It comes with a very solid purpose: to educate others and to empower them.”

Up to Now

Ivy started watching and learning real estate and business as a child, with her parents' and grandparents' personal investments in both residential and commercial real estate, and also as entrepreneurial business owners. At the sweet yet savvy age of eight, she began her career as a businesswoman. She used the summer to operate a lemonade stand.

She describes, “I had figured out the cost of lemonade in bulk, in addition to my cups and ice cubes, and realized the price that truckers who came through my parents' communications business were willing to pay for a cold drink on a hot day. I made a perfect business plan and presented this plan to my dad. He agreed to fund my first batch of lemonade as long as I gave him some return on investment with my first profits. I was making $100+ a day in the 90s -- which was really great money and a good lesson in business and budgets -- for a kid back in the day!”

She spent her childhood years learning rental management and painting walls in commercial properties on Rome's historic Broad Street with her parents. She later realized with humility and gratitude that not everyone around her had received such a valuable education.

She bought her first home on her own at the age of 22, when others around her were saying “You have your priorities misaligned” because she was in college. Her naysayers thought she should have focused strictly on her degree. With that as the beginning of many future real estate purchases, flips, and investments, it didn’t take much to convince her future husband to invest in and update houses as they discussed their upcoming marriage.

“It seemed like a no-brainer to me,” she shares. “If you are getting married, you’ll need somewhere to live. You will find a house to purchase and live in even if you have a limited budget. So, we did it. We scrubbed filth off the walls of the little two-bedroom farmhouse that we later made into our first lovely little home together. To this day, we both have many great memories and lessons we learned together from that experience, and it set our marriage and our future on the right track from the start.”

She later earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration while putting her husband through anesthesia school and running their farm with their one-year-old. She realized then that she had skill, knowledge, and experience in real estate and business that others truly needed and could benefit from. She took the risk, leaving a promised corporate income for hopes and dreams, and began her career as a REALTOR® with hopes of helping and serving others where she felt truly called.

“I haven't looked back once,” she confirmed. “Well sure, when real estate gets really hard sometimes, I may question myself. But then I realize that people need help from a good, ethical, honest Realtor even more in the tough times. And that makes me realize that I'm truly fulfilling a calling.”

Ivy and You

With so many things in motion, Ivy is often asked what keeps her going and delivering the excellent results those around her have come to expect. “Synergy! When clients with specific needs and goals become paired with properties that meet those needs, there’s nothing like it. Everybody gets energized. That keeps me going!”

for Marriage The Heart of a Rose

by Sheila Bird

It has been said that a rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart. I found this to be true with my late husband who often expressed his feelings to me with roses. He knew how much I adored them. So whether he was celebrating a happy occasion or smoothing things over after an unhappy one, much to my pleasure it always involved the gift of lovely, long-stem roses.

His offering of roses never lost its meaning. With wide-eyed enthusiasm and a smile to match, I would put them on display so I could watch each tiny bud magically transform into breathtaking full bloom. But sometimes, a flower forgets its purpose and fails to find its way to the sun.

In many ways people are a lot like roses. They are the handiwork of God. Beautifully crafted and placed on this earth to bloom where they are planted. But life is not that simple, is it? Hard times often creep in like stubborn pestilence, eating away at our hopes and dreams.

It takes tenacity to bloom in a world full of hardship and disappointments. And yet we must. God, our strong and mighty creator, knows us by name and loves us thorns and all. He meticulously tends the garden of our hearts, pulling weeds and lovingly tilling its soil. He patiently awaits the outcome of His effort, and is faithful to see it through.

I imagine that if I were a rosebud, I would hold my head up high and reach for heaven with all my might. I would fearlessly unfold each of my delicate petals to reveal the wonder of my maker. I would strive to fill the atmosphere around me with sweet fragrance and I would persevere come rain or shine knowing that my days are numbered.

Full disclosure, I sometimes see myself more like a dandelion than a rose. One of those simple little yellow weeds that gets frequently stepped on or mowed down and never, ever cherished like a rose. Then I remember that even a prize winning rose is not exempt from suffering.

A prize-winning rose requires the tender care of a master gardener, but also the cold blade of His pruning shears. He knows that harsh winters result in dead leaves and broken branches. He knows! So in due season, He strives to eliminate disease and harmful overgrowth. He makes way for sunlight to nourish deep within and assures that the heart is pure and healthy.

Much like the human life, a rose in full bloom holds within its heart a legacy that remains unseen until the end. When each velvety petal slowly opens in splendor and in time drifts to the ground, the only thing that remains is its heart. Botanists refer to this as the fruit of a rose.

The heart of the matter is God’s heart and His heart longs for yours. All of it. Don’t let the devil convince you that you are a weed when you were born to live like a blueribbon winner.

Yes, it has been said that a rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart. But God was not subtle nor silent when He sent Jesus to this broken world. My prayer is that you give Him full occupancy to the garden of your heart, even when it hurts to go on. In doing so, you will be fully nourished by Him and you will abundantly flourish for Him.

Running by the Book

by Bill Silvers

Does God really care about the details of our lives? Is He interested in what we’re interested in? My answer is a resounding “Yes!”

At the age of 81, the Lord called me to run. I consider it a special assignment from Him.

I’ll be honest: I don’t even like to walk. It didn’t make much sense then, and some days it still doesn’t. I’ve learned that when God calls, the best response isn’t understanding but obedience.

What started with 5K races has turned into something far greater than I ever imagined!

It didn’t happen overnight. I committed six days a week to preparation, at the gym, on the basketball court, and walking through the North Georgia mountains. Those walks became more than exercise; they became encounters with God.

Somewhere along those quiet paths, my prayer life changed. When you spend hours alone with God, surrounded by His creation, you begin to listen. I found strength, not just for running, but for life.

Running, for me, is no longer just physical. It’s spiritual.

Running reflects the Scriptural call to aim for more than just earthly achievements. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NIV, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

That Scripture reshaped how I see every race. I am not just training my body, but I’m also cultivating spiritual virtues like self-control and determination, aiming for an imperishable reward in heaven.

When the races get hard, and they do, I hold on to the promise of Isaiah 40:31 NIV: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.”

I’ve felt that renewal. There have been moments when my body said stop, but God said keep going.

Running has become a ministry for me—a way to encourage others and share God’s goodness. This Scripture beautifully captures the essence of why I run: to foster a

disciplined life that mirrors the steadfastness of Christ, constantly looking to Him as the ultimate guide and motivator.

The vitality and endurance found in Isaiah 40:31 NIV inspire my running journey: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This promise of divine empowerment sustains me, even through fatigue and challenges.

In July 2026, I turned 88 years old. I’ve been running for seven years now with medals to mark the progress.

People sometimes look at what I’ve accomplished and focus on the medals. The real victory isn’t in what I’ve won. It’s in what I’ve learned:

• It’s never too late to start something new.

• Obedience can lead you places you never planned to go.

• What feels impossible in your own strength becomes possible when you trust God.

James 1:12 NIV reminds us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

That promise keeps me moving forward, both on the track and in life. At 88, I’m still running. Not because I have to, but because I’m called to. And He leads me by the Book.

Bill Silvers from Ellijay, Georgia, began running competitively at age 81. He runs to the glory of God!

Dark (Room) to Light

by Garrett Nudd

As a journalism and communications major in college, I was required to take a photography class. I borrowed a Minolta camera from a generous friend and gave it a try. In a matter of hours, I fell in love with creating images, and even more, conceptualizing the images before I actually pressed the shutter. Then I’d go into the dark room and process the film. It was magical—using the enlarger and submerging the paper through the different steps—developer, stop bath, fixer, and other chemicals to make the image come to life.

The dark room itself had an odd allure. Dramatically low lights, tinted red, put out just enough light to find your way around the room. Together, the chemicals created a smell so strange it’s hard to describe, but twenty-five years later, I’d recognize it anywhere. And dark rooms always had the moodiest music playing. I’ve heard that some college students found the atmosphere romantic, but I found it eerily ominous, like the laboratory of a mad scientist. I loved the process.

The biggest payoff, however, was walking out of the dark room and hanging my photographs to dry, then taking the print in my hands a few minutes later, holding it against the light, and looking at it from all angles to make sure it passed my inspection. I was tough on myself. If something was too light or too dark, or if it had a dust spot, I always reprinted it. And then the entire process repeated.

Today’s digital photography has so many advantages, and the images we can create are exceptional, but there was a magic and authenticity about the dark room missing from photography today.

Each week when I turned in my photography assignments, my goal was to win the anonymous vote among my classmates. And if I didn’t win the vote, I wanted my photographs to at least be selected for the gallery showcase in the hallway where hundreds of my fellow students passed each day. That experience fed my creative spirit and competitive nature, and I was hooked.

Not long after college, I was stuck with the notion that I should put myself out there for hire and see what happens. I was working in marketing and communications at Southern Adventist University just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and I had the opportunity to do a little bit of photography for my job. I absolutely loved it, and I just couldn’t shake the notion to give professional photography a try. I’ve come to understand anytime you can’t shake a notion that’s a major MORE THAN.

Over the next three years, I worked and hustled nearly every night on my budding photography business. It was a rollercoaster of emotions as I expanded my marketing efforts and hoped for what someday could be. I was beginning to get a taste of what the future could look like if I continued my efforts toward MORE THAN.

The psalmist wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4). I saw that promise as an invitation for MORE THAN and I claimed that promise regularly. I didn’t know what I’d do if God made good on His promise, but I thought it sure would be fun to find out.

Are you ready to find out about your MORE THAN? He is inviting you too!

Gò0 dNews for your Taste Buds

dNews for your Taste Buds

Independence Day in the Mountains: Firecracker

Cornbread Salad

Independence Day in the Mountains: Firecracker

Cornbread Salad

IIn the Smoky Mountains, the Fourth of July is more than fireworks and flags—it’s a time when front porches overflow with laughter, picnic tables groan under the weight of home-cooked dishes, and the scent of smoky barbecue drifts through the hollers like a hymn. It’s a day when families gather, friends drop by, and strangers become neighbors over a shared plate of food.

n the Smoky Mountains, the Fourth of July is more than fireworks and flags—it’s a time when front porches overflow with laughter, picnic tables groan under the weight of home-cooked dishes, and the scent of smoky barbecue drifts through the hollers like a hymn. It’s a day when families gather, friends drop by, and strangers become neighbors over a shared plate of food.

This dish won’t make it to the leftovers—it will disappear as soon as it hits the table. Layered like a trifle but made with humble Appalachian ingredients, cornbread salad is tangy, hearty, cool, and colorful—perfect for a hot July day.

It’s rumored that the name “Firecracker Cornbread Salad” came from those who used to say the flavors "popped in your mouth like fireworks." Between the savory cornbread, the crunch of fresh vegetables, the creaminess of the dressing, and the sharp bite of bacon and cheese—it’s a celebration in a bowl.

This dish is best made ahead, giving the flavors time to mingle. Served cold, it’s as much a relief as a treat when the summer heat sets in. Whether you’re bringing it to a potluck, church picnic, or backyard cookout, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

For the cornbread:

Ingredients:

For the cornbread:

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-inch) pan of cornbread, cooled and crumbled (boxed mix or homemade)

• Optional: bake your cornbread with a diced jalapeño for extra “spark”

For the salad layers:

• 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained

• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper

• 1 cup chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• ½ cup chopped green onions

• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

For the dressing:

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dressing by mixing the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

2. In a clear trifle bowl or large glass dish, begin layering:

• Half of the crumbled cornbread

• Half of the beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cheese

• Spoon and spread half of the dressing

• Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients

• Spoon and spread half of the dressing

• Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients

• Top with crumbled bacon

3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, ideally overnight.

America the Beautiful

Lyrics: Katharine Lee Bates, Music: Samuel A. Ward (“Materna”) Public Domain

Obeautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom be Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine ev’ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America!

May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And ev’ry gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Business Spotlight

Adult Prom: A Night to Remember Foundation, Inc.

The 2026 A Night to Remember: An Adult Prom theme is The Royal Encore. This is a gala event supporting the local grant program and has raised over $200,000.00 since inception (average of 85% net each year). On Saturday, August 22, 2026, the evening will feature a local celebrity Prom Court that competitively raises funds to be crowned Prom King and Queen. This year's local celebrities are competing for a chance to be crowned for a second time. Bringing back some of the best celebrities to date, the 2026 Prom Court Queen celebrities are Mindy Tavares, Amber Taylor, and Jessica Harper. The King celebrities are Jeremy Salter (in memory of his wife, Jill), Stephen Taylor, and Terry Clift. Each member of the Prom Court will raise funds right up until the big night to see who raises the most and earns the crown.

As a 501(c)(3), tax deductible donations go to a great cause while enjoying the party of the year. Each ticket, sponsorship, and donation will go toward the court member of your choice, advancing them closer to the crown. Themes from prior years have included celebrating Rome, GA, Las Vegas style, The Wild West, and a tribute to the Roaring Twenties complete with era fashions.

Executive board member Elizabeth Huff explains: “In 2019, we began and completed the process of becoming our own non-profit, moving from under the Alzheimer’s Association to become a self-governing 501(c)(3). This implemented our monetary grant program aimed at financially assisting families in Floyd County and surrounding areas. We also support a local Care Closet that supplies incontinence products to low-income seniors in Floyd and surrounding counties.

“We also support the Alzheimer's Association through funds raised during our Heroes Run 5K and Health Walk. The 6th annual 5K and 1 mile Health Walk was held Saturday, June 27, 2026, starting and ending at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Rome, Georgia. This runs along the Oostanaula River. It is a flat, fast, and fun race. All ages are welcome. For more information and registration for future events, please visit Wire2Wire at https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/GA/Rome/ ARace2Remember5K.”

Executive board member Lamante Attaud shares, “In 2021, we organized our first Race to Remember called the Heroes Run 5K and 1 mile Health Walk. We work with a professional race organizer, Wire2Wire, and our numbers increase each year.”

Since inception, ANTR has raised over $200,000.00 (as of 2025) from the three branches of service:

ANTR Grant Program, which are monetary grants supporting dementia families caring for loved ones. Community Care Closet, which provides incontinence supplies free-of-charge.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association as an independent entity, to date, just over $125,000.

These events are truly memorable. With decoration themes, lighting, music, food, and competitions, attendees are sure to enjoy the moments and make lasting memories. Please consider attending the 6th annual Heroes Run or 10th annual A Night to Remember: An Adult Prom The Royal Encore.

You can support by visiting the website: anighttorememberromega.com and click the purple button in the upper right corner for prom tickets.

For more information on sponsorships, tickets, and donations, call or email Lamante Attaud at 706-4092765 or Info@ANightToRememberRomeGA.com.

dNews for Health & Fitness

Finding Steadiness: A Gentle Guide to Nervous System Regulation

by Heather Harper Medley, LPC

There are times when life feels too heavy, when everything inside you wants to pull away from the world. This feeling is not a sign of failure. It is your nervous system trying to protect you. When life feels overwhelming, your body may enter a state called dorsal vagal shutdown. This can feel like numbness, exhaustion, or disconnection. It is not brokenness. It is your body’s way of saying, “This is too much, I need to feel safe.”

Scripture speaks tenderly into these moments: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, ESV). Notice it does not say we need to fix ourselves first. God meets us right where we are, especially in the spaces where we feel overwhelmed and disconnected.

Here are gentle practices that may help when your nervous system feels stuck:

1. Notice What You Feel

Instead of pushing feelings away, name them softly: “I feel overwhelmed” or “I feel distant.” Naming helps create space for compassion.

2. Move with Kindness

Small, gentle movements can help. Stretch your arms, rock slightly, or press your feet into the floor. This is not about fixing yourself. It is about reminding your body that you are here.

3. Ground Yourself in the Present

Look around and notice five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, and one you taste. This helps bring your attention back to the present moment.

4. Reach for Connection

Connection helps regulate the nervous system. This could be sitting quietly next to someone, texting a friend, or holding a comforting object. Remind your body that you are not alone in this.

5. Breathe with Intention

Breathe in slowly for four counts, hold for four, then breathe out for six. Let your breath be a gentle prayer. You do not have to force yourself to feel better. There is no timeline for healing. Peace and safety come in small ways. A deep breath, a kind word, a moment of warmth can help restore what feels stuck. Even when you feel far from steady, you are held by a God whose love never wavers. Resting in unconditional love can be very healing to the nervous system.

Closing Thoughts: Verses to Encourage You

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Heather Medley is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and published author. She loves neuroscience research papers, bargain shopping, and laughter. She resides in Rome with her delightful kiddos and steady husband.

Gò0 dNews for Everyone Never Walk Alone

by Paula Burgner

Imagine yourself with one foot in front of the other as your feet are tapping the pavement, carrying yourself along. You are blocking out any other noise and only hearing the clatter of your shoes as you take each step, all the while lost in thought. Often, this describes how most of us walk when we are walking and getting groceries or walking for exercise. This is how we walk before we learn to walk with Jesus. The Bible tells us this in John 8:12 KJV: “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

When you feel as though nothing ever goes right for you, don’t let that fear keep you from accepting God into your life. In Psalm 9:10 KJV, we read: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

However, when you are walking with God, you have the knowledge and understanding that you need to reach your destination. When you are running beside someone, it is called a race, but when you run toward God, that is called grace. Therefore, when you feel alone, always remember that God is always with us. Just as the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee.”

When you give your life to God and study the Word, you will begin to hear God's voice more and you’ll want to continue to follow his Word. The Bible tells us this in John 10:27 KJV: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” When you are walking with God, you can move the mountains that are before you, but when you are walking out of God’s will you will end up nowhere. Those times when you feel as though you are alone, just always remember that you are never truly alone. When you accept Jesus into your heart, He will always be there, laying out the path that we should take. You just have to stay rooted in his Word to know the right steps to take. The Bible tells us this in 1 Peter 2:21 KJV: “Leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” Just keep

walking, praying, and seeking God's Word so that others may see His love through us. The Bible tells us in 1 John 2:6 KJV: “to walk, even as He walked.”

The more you learn about the Word of God, the more you will understand. God will open your eyes to things around you. Jeremiah 33:3 KJV reads: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” God’s voice is louder and more powerful than anything in this life, and His voice will make the fears run when we speak the name of God over our situation.

At the same time, God’s voice can be as sweet as honey. All you have to do is listen for His voice when you are praying. When you accept God into your heart, you will hear Him clearer than you ever have before. The Bible tells us this in John 8:47 KJV: “He that is of God heareth God's words.” When you have those days when you don't know which way to go, ask God to help you and He will. See Psalm 32:8 KJV: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.”

Paula Burgner is a strong-willed, outgoing girl who loves spending time with her husband and working out. She believes in her heart that you can do anything you put your mind to. Paula is the author of a new book, Grounded by God’s Grace.

for Seniors Freedom Isn’t Free

by Dorothy Teague

We, as a nation, just celebrated July 4th. Because we are free, we had the choice of celebrating it the way we chose. Most families celebrate it by watching firework displays and eating a meal together. Others go to a graveyard to visit their loved one at their marker where it indicates that they fought and died for their country, fighting for freedom. Someone had to pay the price for freedom so that we could enjoy our day in the good old USA.

inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These are but two of the great men that shaped the framework of government for our country.

The word “freedom” comes from the same root as “friend,” an Indo-European word that meant “dear” or “beloved” (Fischer NY Times, 2005). Freedom’s definition is to be at liberty rather than confined or under physical restraint. Liberty has always been important to the leaders of our country. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry gave his speech before the Virginia Assembly with the famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death!” which became the cry of the Revolution (www.loc.gov.library of Congress). Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote that “all men are endowed by their creator with certain

Not only are liberty and freedom important to all people in the world; it’s important to our Creator too. It was so important that Jesus went to the cross to buy our freedom, to take on our sin, so that we could have a choice between Heaven or Hell! He covered my sin with His blood so that I might be counted worthy to accept salvation and appear before God as blameless! John 8:36 NIV says: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” He frees us from the bondage of sin and frees us to live life abundantly and have peace and joy! Jesus gave up His life for His “beloved,” His Bride. He took the punishment for our sin so that we could go free! No, freedom isn’t free. Someone had to pay the price. But we must be diligent lest we step back into sin. Galatians 5:1 NIV reminds us that we should stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (to sin). 1 Peter 2:16-17 NIV admonishes us that we not use our liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. Further, we are advised to honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king.

Freedom isn’t free! For our country to be free, many of our men and women had to die. Our freedom rests on their sacrifice. Our salvation and deliverance from the chains of sin was also bought at a great price – the blood of Christ at Calvary. He was the only One who could pay the tremendous price to save us so that we might go free!

Dorothy Teague

Mission Statement:

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

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

Writer Guidelines:

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

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

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

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

Memory Care at The Spires at Berry College has been intentionally designed to provide a specialized, secure and supportive environment for those with memory loss. Every day is full of opportunities for a more connected, more purposeful way of life — not to mention expert caregivers and a progressive care curriculum.

Discover the many ways your loved one can benefit from Memory Care at The Spires:

• Family-style dining featuring multiple entrée selections with fresh, wholesome ingredients

• Dedicated horticulture therapist–led gardening programs with hands-on activities in the courtyard

• Emphasis on individualized attention and family involvement

• Secure outdoor courtyard featuring winding paths, raised garden beds and inviting seating areas

• Purposeful programming that incorporates art, music and personal interaction

• Intuitive neighborhood design promoting safety, comfort and easy navigation