October 2022

About

Dr. Alan Hix

Amber West

Angie Bishop-Forsyth

Brenda Dedmon

Chase Holtzclaw

Cheryl L. Dunson

Danette Reeves

Deck Cheatham

Janise Copeman

Jodi Varnado

John Garrod

Judy Hood

Kelly Gonzalez

Kristen West

Phil Wade

Rick Hughes

Susan Lavigne

Matthew Ruckman 423-503-1410

Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

Caleb Prytherch

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

Melanie Abney 706-844-3818

Jodi Varnado

Matthew and Bethany Ruckman 423-503-1410 423-790-5378

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 God’s Unchanging Love: Romans 11:25-29 by Pastor Phil Wade

GoodNews for Kids

8 Birdseed Ornaments by Jodi Varnado

GoodNews Money Matters

10 Could Your Taxes Double Soon? by Rick Hughes

GoodNews for Men

12 You Belong Here. Yes, You. Here. by John Garrod

GoodNews for Women

14 Courageous Women of Scripture by Kelly Gonzalez

GoodNews for Everyone

18 The Trials and Trophies of Hospice by Cheryl L. Dunson

GoodNews for Life

20 Be Like Mark by Kristen West

GoodNews Cover Story

22 Restoring Faith, Building Families, and Impacting Communities: Greater Refuge Ministries

GoodNews for Everyone When Life Gives You a Bag of Rocks by Dr. Alan Hix

GoodNews for Everyone 26 Walker’s Boys by Deck Cheatham

GoodNews Poetry 28 I See Angels by Judy Hood

GoodNews for Parents 30 Instant Parent Success by Brenda Dedmon

GoodNews for Everyone 32 Finding The Call by Chase Holtzclaw

GoodNews for Everyone 34 Seasons of Change by Janise Copeman

GoodNews for Everyone 36 Scaling A Mountain by Susan Lavigne

GoodNews for Everyone He Is Enough by Danette Reeves

GoodNews Business Spotlight 40 Business EXPO is Back! by Amber West

GoodNews for Everyone Unplug by Angie Bishop-Forsyth

God’s Unchanging Love: Romans 11:25-29

by Pastor Phil Wade

God loves man with an infinite love, and God’s love is unchangeable. Therefore, any person can be restored to God if the person will call upon the name of the Lord.

I. The first surety is God’s great revelation about Israel.

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).

This revelation comes from Paul. Let’s note three significant facts.

1. This revelation had been an unknown mystery until Paul. The future of Israel is now revealed and made known to men.

2. Israel’s blindness is only partial, only “in part.” The blindness and hardness of Israel to the Gospel is not total; it is only partial.

3. Israel’s blindness is only temporary. Israel’s blindness is only “until the fullness of the Gentiles come in” and “All Israel will be saved.”

There is hope for every person. A person’s blindness to the Lord Jesus Christ is only partial. As long as a person is alive, he can still turn to Christ. A person’s blindness is temporary only if the person turns to the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless a person believes and commits his life to Christ, his blindness becomes permanent, and he is lost forever.

II. The second surety is the promise of Scripture. God’s great Deliverer, Jesus Christ Himself, shall turn Israel.

“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:26-27).

Scripture gives a glimpse into the future of Israel’s restoration in this verse, but note that it is only a glimpse. Only two major things are given: some great manifestation of Christ the Deliverer will cause Israel to turn to the Gospel and the great Deliverer, Jesus Christ, will do two things for Israel. Jesus Christ will turn away ungodliness from Israel and Jesus Christ will fulfill God’s covenant with Israel—He will take away their sins.

III. The third surety is God’s pleasure with Israel’s forefathers.

“Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the

fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29).

A few Jews did accept Christ as the Messiah, but the number is small. The number is so small that God can say that Israel as a nation has rejected Christ. A far greater number of Gentiles accept Christ as their Savior. The point is that God is speaking nationally, not individually. And we must remember this, for it is absolutely essential for everyone to make a personal decision to receive Christ and to follow Him by living a pure life.

The statement “they [the Jews] are beloved for the sake of the fathers” shows that God still loves Israel. As a people

they are still very precious to Him. How can this be when they have been so hostile to God’s Son, Jesus Christ? There are two reasons why.

The forefathers of Israel were a godly people, a people of unusual faith in God. Godly people are a praying people, a people who pray for their families and neighbors, for their nation and world. And God hears and answers the prayers of His people. God would never turn His back upon Israel for this reason alone. There is a second reason why God still loves Israel: God Himself is unchangeable in His gifts and calling. God called and promised some very special gifts to the forefathers of Israel, and God is unchangeable.

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

Pastor Phil Wade and his wife Keli have two children and five grandchildren. His passion in returning to Rome is to give back to Rome the investment they made in him as he served as lead Pastor of Northside Church since 2012.The Author

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Birdseed Ornaments

by Jodi Varnado

Autumn is my favorite time of year to play outside! I love walking through my neighborhood, collecting leaves on the ground along the way. I enjoy riding my bike around the park, smiling at happy families walking their dogs along the path. But my very favorite thing is admiring all the beautiful birds perched on the tree branches or hopping through the grass. These birds remind me of how generous our God is. He created these birds, with so much variation, for us to enjoy—simply because He loves us! Job 12:7-9 reads, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”

ornaments look charming hanging from the branches in your yard. You can enjoy watching the birds gather while you help your parents rake the leaves or glance at them through your window while enjoying a nice snack. These ornaments also make a thoughtful gift for your grandparents or neighbors!

Materials:

• ¼ cup of unflavored powdered gelatin

• ½ cup of cold water

• ½ cup of boiling water

• 2 ½ cups of birdseed

• Nature-inspired cookie cutters

• 1 straw

• Biodegradable twine

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together ¼ cup of gelatin and ½ cup of cold water. Then, add ½ cup of boiling water and mix together until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Next, add the birdseed (about 1 cup at a time) and mix well until the gelatin coats each seed.

As a way to nurture God’s Creation, I like to gather my friends or siblings and make birdseed ornaments! These ornaments can help nourish birds during seasons when their natural food sources might be scarce. This craft is a wonderful sensory experience for little hands. It also allows everyone the chance to connect with nature and share a time of thanksgiving for what God has created. Plus, these

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange your cookie cutters on top. Fill each cookie cutter three-quarters of the way with your birdseed mixture. Use your fingers to firmly pressed the mixture into the cookie cutter to fill the shape. Slowly add more birdseed mixture until your cookie cutter is full to the top edge. Next, using your straw, make a hole at the top of your cookie cutter, but be sure to leave a thick edge between the top of the cookie cutter and the hole.

3. Place your baking sheet in the refrigerator for a few hours, until each ornament has hardened. Once they are set, remove the ornaments from the cookie cutters by gently pushing at the edges of the cookie cutters. Finally, thread your twine through the holes and hang the ornaments from the tree branches in your yard!

Could Your Taxes Double Soon?

Money Matters Rick Hugheswith

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

Everyone thinks about taxes because taxes impact everyone’s wallet. But have you thought about the impact an increase in taxes could have on your future?

Slices of the Pie

When I worked at a Fortune 500 company, the CEO told me no matter how we slice it, there are still only 100 pennies in a dollar. What did he mean by this? Everything has limits, including our national economy and debt.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, our nation spends 90% of our annual budget to pay for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the interest on national debt.1

Think about that. If you had 100 pennies representing America’s annual budget, 90 cents would go to just those areas. That’s a pretty big slice of the pie.

As you know, we have many other programs to fund, including the military, food stamps, education, federal pension programs, national parks, and much more. But with only 10% (10 pennies) left, how much can actually get paid?

Something has to give. Choosing to reduce spending translates to cutting programs; instead, history shows that the government typically chooses to either raise taxes or not live within our country’s means. The latter option means operating above budget. If you spent more than you brought in each year, what would happen? That’s right, our national debt is climbing.

Currently, the national debt is $31 trillion and counting.2 We’ve reached the point where we don’t pay much attention to the debt, and we don’t even realize what a trillion means. This must be addressed or our county will be in serious danger. One day, credit will run out, and we as a country will face a crisis we may not be able to handle. I wish I could confidently tell you our leaders will wise up and take a serious look at the budget and program cuts, but I fear their solution will instead be raising taxes.

Could your taxes double or even triple soon? Let’s look at history for our answer. From 1960 to 1963, the tax brackets started at 20% and quickly skyrocketed to a 91% tax rate for the richest. For context, our tax brackets today are between 10% and 37%.3 So how can you prepare for potential tax hikes?

Seed or Harvest?

When I teach financial classes, I talk about three buckets of income: taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free income.

The tax-deferred bucket holds 401(k)s and 403(b)s. We’re encouraged to put money into this bucket because it will reduce our current taxable income. While this is correct, at some point, you will begin to withdraw money from this bucket, especially during retirement, which generates a taxable event. No one can say for sure, but it’s very likely you could fall into a much higher tax bracket by then.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in your 401(k). In fact, if your employer offers a matching program, you should take full advantage of that. But I wouldn’t recommend putting in any more than the match.

I leave you with this question: which would you rather pay taxes on, the seed or the harvest? By seed, I mean the money going into your tax-deferred account, and by harvest, I mean the money you withdraw from it. Your answer will determine where you should invest the most.

It’s reasonable to say taxes will need to increase drastically to continue all our programs. When that happens, will you be ready? If not, start looking for strategies today that will allow you to keep more of your money tomorrow.

1. https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/reports/49892/49892-breakout-Chapter3.pdf

2. https://www.usdebtclock.org/

3. https://taxfoundation.org/historical-income-tax-rates-brackets/

You Belong Here. Yes, You. Here.

by John Garrod

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” (2 Cor. 5:17).

When you come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ after a life spent way outside of it, you bring with you a lot of baggage. Trust me, I know. I got saved at twenty-eight after a dozen years of alcoholism, and I was full of preconceptions about the church. Most of those had to do with Christians, who I had all figured out already. You “church people” as I referred to Christians, well, you’d been all clean and proper all your lives; at the least, you hadn’t done any of the things I had done. I was relatively sure that your diapers didn’t even stink. (Having raised 6 kids as a Christian, I can now verify that this was completely false, by the way.) And I was very sure that you didn’t want the likes of me in your midst. It might have been a sunny Sunday morning in Florida, but I was looking for a lightning-laden cloud to drift over to keep me from entering the church. Because I most certainly did not belong in that church.

The devil, my friends, is a liar. And that lie he told me was and is one of the biggest lies he tells men with pasts: That you don’t belong, that you don’t qualify, that you’re not good enough to be in that house with that God who you know knows what you’re really like. If you’ve been raised in the church, got saved at youth camp at fourteen, and you were a Junior Bible Quiz Champion, then you know all of those verses that debunk his lies, but we men who limped in, scarred, traumatized, shamed by our sin, and fell at the altar in our late 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or later, we don’t come with those words imprinted into our brains.

We don’t know that He says we’re fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). We don’t know

that the sins of our wretched past have been separated from us as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Nobody’s ever explained to us that once we are in Christ, we are a new creation; that old things (our record) have passed away, and that all things (our future) are made new (2 Cor. 5:17). We just know who we were. We need to learn that we belong.

This is why it’s important that we connect new men to the body of Christ. It’s not enough to wait and see if they find their place in the church. We need to go to them and each other as men and say, “Welcome to the family, brother! I’m glad you’re here!” We need to put our arms around shoulders and help them find their place of ministry. God has washed their sins; it’s our job to help them find their place at the table and feed them.

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

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A good neighbor has your back.

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Some things in life just go together. Like home and auto insurance from State Farm®. And you with a good neighbor to help life go right. Save time and money.

Some things in life just go together. Like home and auto insurance from State Farm®. And you with a good neighbor to help life go right. Save time and money.

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Melissa Eldridge, Agent

415 Shorter Ave SW Rome, GA 30165

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415 Shorter Ave SW Rome, GA 30165

415 Shorter Ave SW GA 30165

Melissa Shorter GA 30165 706-234-5333 W Belmont Calhoun, 30701 706-383-8787

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Courageous Women of Scripture

by Kelly Gonzalez

Following the birth of my son six months ago, I could not shake the story of a courageous, yet little talked about woman from Scripture. You’ll find her story in Exodus 2:1-10. Yep, it is Moses’ mother.

You probably know the story—the Israelites were becoming so numerous in their captivity that Pharaoh, as well as the Egyptian people, were in dread of them. So, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the sons once they were born, but out of their fear of the Lord they did not obey. So, he ordered the people to kill them by throwing them in the Nile River.

What did his mama do? She hid him as long as she could. When she could no longer keep Moses safely a secret, she made him a basket of papyrus reeds, tar and pitch, laid him inside, and set him amongst the reeds of the Nile River. He was just three months old and she put him on the very surface meant to kill him.

This was only her first act of courage and bravery. In an attempt to save his life, she did something that seemed crazy. She had no idea how long he would float, if he would survive, if he would be found and by whom, no idea if placing her sweet babe in that basket would truly save his life. She just knew that she wasn’t just going to sit by while her son was taken from her.

Her second, very courageous act is found in verses 7-10 of this chapter. We know that Pharaoh’s daughter found him, had compassion on him, and that Miriam, Moses’ sister, offered to take him to someone to nurse him. His own mama of course. She nursed him until he grew and then brought him to Pharaoh to become her son.

How bitterly sweet and heartbreaking to be able to hold your son in your arms again, probably for a couple of years, have that sweet bond, but knowing the entire time you have to let him go. Truthfully, this story has been heartbreaking to think about as of late because of the birth of my son. Even now I cry reading it.

These are the questions that rise up in me…

What kind of prayers did she pray over Moses while she had him in her arms?

Did she know he would bring their people to freedom?

Why didn’t other mamas rise up? Or fathers, for that matter, to protect their children?

What if other mamas DID have the courage to do ANYTHING to save their children?

I know we can easily say, “Well, Moses was chosen by the Lord to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery.” Yet, again I ask, what if more mamas stood up?

We are women, and we have a unique ability and destiny to carry and birth something that only we can. Are we hiding in fear, which allows the enemy to win, or are we rising up, daring to do something that looks ridiculous, because in it we become world changers? Are we willing to fight for the dreams and things God has entrusted to us, even if that fight looks like letting go into the unknown? Will we be courageous enough to stand right smack in the threat of the enemy and do the opposite of what he is taunting us with? Rise up sisters and friends. You were born to be courageous; you were born to stand bravely in faith and to change the world.

My name is Kelly Gonzalez I’ve been married to my amazing husband, Jay, for almost 4 years and we have 2 beautiful kids. We attend Living Word in Cleveland, TN. We both have a heart to see cities transformed through prayer and evangelism.The Author

Rome Church Directory

African Methodist Episcopal

Bethel AME Church 22 Nichols Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-0019

St. James AME Zion Church 3 Maxwell Lane Rome, GA 30165 404-307-7396

Summer Hill AME Church 1981 Kingston Hwy NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-7113

Anglican

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church 42 Ash Street Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-5892

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church of Rome 3213 Cave Spring Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-9551

Assembly of God

Redemption Church 105 Broadus Road NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-0277

Baptist

Antioch Baptist Church 4526 Big Texas Valley Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-7248

Armuchee Baptist Church 6648 Big Texas Valley Rd NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-3169

Berean Baptist Church 8 Skyline Dr Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-9832

Blue Pond Baptist Church 1291 Morrison Campground Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-3296

Bryant Chapel Baptist Church 24 Shady Lane Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-9768

Bush Arbor Baptist Church3290 Black Bluff Rd Rome, Ga. 30161 770-885-0779

Calhoun Avenue Baptist Church1021 Calhoun Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-4431

Calvary Baptist Church101 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 Church3733 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 Church601 Cedar Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-8553

East View Baptist Church 901 Kingston Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8250

Emmanuel Baptist Church1414 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 Church100 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 Church2283 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-4803

Garden Lakes Baptist Church2200 Redmond Cir Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-6615

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist445 East 14th St Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-5047

Hill Crest Baptist Church2202 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 Church80 Salem Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-2149

Lovejoy Baptist Church436 Branham Ave Rome, Ga 30171 706-232-1917

McFall Baptist Church3011 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 ChurchE 20th St Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-8777

Mount Olive Baptist Church 17 E Pennington Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-6413

New Antioch Baptist Church4553 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-2248

New Bethel Baptist Church Weathington Dr Rome, Ga 30161 706, 291-8939

New Canaan Baptist Church3 Excelsior St Rome, Ga 30165 706-291-1984

New Hope Baptist Church Hwy 156 Rome, Ga 706-235-0250

New Hope Baptist Church399 Moran Lake Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-290-0507

North Broad Baptist Church1309 N Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-2100

Northwood Missionary Baptist4076 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161

Park Ave Baptist Church531 Park Ave SE Lindale, GA 30147

Parkview Baptist Church 4 Wesley Drive Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-4431

PisGah Baptist ChurchAlabama Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-4431

Pleasant Hope Baptist Church5935 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 Baptist735 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 Church48 Ash Street Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8114

State Line Baptist Church8536 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 Baptist823 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 Church1 Goodman Rd Rome, Ga 30161

706-291-6174

Shorter Avenue Baptist Church1410 Shorter Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-8266

South Broad Baptist Church508 South Broad St Rome, Ga 30161

Spring Creek Baptist Church2636 Chulio Rd SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-1220

Springfield Baptist Church113 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 Church1728 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 Church914 Shorter Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-9722

Wilkerson Road Baptist ChurchWilkerson Rd Rome, Ga 30161

Woodlawn Baptist Church 1649 Cartersville Hwy SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-4171

Word & Way Baptist ChurchNew 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 Prophecy94 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 Transfiguration304 Coker Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-0197

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church101 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

Chapel Hill UMC 1818 Kingston Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-9177

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 UMC21 E Lakeshore Dr SE Rome, Ga 30161

Metropolitan UMC700 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 UMC3 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 UMC606 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 Church6 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 Joy118 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 EPC101 E 3rd Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-6033

Seven Hills Fellowship530 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 706-530-1630

Silver Creek Presbyterian Church6 Old Rockmart Road Silver Creek, Ga 30173 706-234-6862

Westminster Presbyterian Church1941 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

The Trials and Trophies of Hospice

by Cheryl L. Dunson

It wasn’t until my father was diagnosed with incurable cancer and delivered into the gentle-but-capable hands of Suncoast Hospice in St. Petersburg, Fla., that I truly understood and appreciated what this organization accomplishes on a daily basis.

I remember the day my father passed away. We made the call to hospice’s Purple Team to inform them Dad was gone. Renee, his nurse, and Steve, his social worker, arrived at my parents’ condo to prepare Dad for his journey to the funeral home. Wearing a compassionate smile, Renee tenderly bathed my father and, then, dressed him in one of his beloved Florida Gator outfits. As we waited for representatives of the funeral home to arrive, Steve sat among us, readily available to listen, to share a word of comfort, and to be a supportive presence in a time of great loss and sorrow.

Throughout the four-month ordeal leading up to my dad’s demise, Renee patiently accepted his stubborn resistance to use a walker and exchanged playful banter with him when he told her he didn’t need her medical attention. (My father was so proud and independent.) I wondered at the time, “How do these people do what they do, day in and day out, knowing the end of life is imminent?”

Two years following my father’s passing, and after much prayer and careful contemplation, I took the steps to become a hospice volunteer. I entered a world many people only see from the periphery. During my two-anda-half years as a volunteer, I met benevolent caregivers whose faces lit up when they spotted me at their loved ones’ funerals. Unaware at the time, I had the privilege of

comforting a legend among Lee University’s faculty during the final weeks of her life. I delivered meals to appreciative family members and patients. I had the honor of praying with terminal patients and their roommates, and I had the pleasure of forming new friendships with hospice staff members and volunteers. And, yes, I’ve watched life slip away slowly, cruelly, and unforgivingly.

October 8th is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, a day when hospice encourages people who have the time and believe they could be of service to sign up to train as hospice volunteers. The Hospice of Chattanooga Cleveland Team is a staff of friendly and compassionate nurses, volunteers, chaplains, and social workers. Volunteering is a great way to learn about hospice and palliative care and to accompany patients and families through the most difficult stage of life.

During a challenging time with a particular patient, I sought some Godly counsel from my pastor. He told me, “Volunteering is not for everyone, but it’s needed and it’s necessary.” Yes, you’ll be tested, but you’ll also reap some sweet and lasting rewards.

Be Like Mark

by Kristen West

Ihave a friend named Mark. Mark has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. This is the third time in his young 48-year-old life that he has wrestled with some form of cancer. But, here’s the thing. Mark is, hands down, the most inspiring person I know.

He lives in the moment. His joy is overflowing. His outlook is positive. His words are full of hope. He

life is ablaze with one mission—to love his Maker, his Best Friend, and King with every minute he’s been gifted and to tell as many other “terminals” about Jesus.

Mark knows that this diagnosis is not the end. It’s temporary. It’s earthly. He has complete confidence in the certainty that Heaven will bring fullness of healing, joy unspeakable, and eternal fellowship with his God. That is his hope and future, and because of that, Mark walks out his temporary existence knowing his eternal future is secure. Mark has no clue when God will call him home. Do any of us?

purposefully uses every minute. He understands he’s terminal. But, more importantly, he understands we ALL are terminal.

From the time we were born, the countdown began. Our days are numbered (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16), and our life is like a vapor (James 4:14; Psalm 144:4). Most of us don’t want to think about that. We certainly don’t want to talk about it.

Not Mark. He walks in the undeniable truth that to live is Christ, but to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Mark has a clear and deep understanding of his purpose. His

In the meantime, God encourages all of us to make the most of our time and to redeem it (Ephesians 5:16). Temporary pain can’t stop us. Physical discomfort can’t stop us. Dismal circumstances can’t stop us. We serve a God who endured all of those things and so much more in order to have fellowship with us, so that we could spend forever with Him.

Mark embodies Paul’s command to, “follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Today, I pray that your heart and soul would be on fire for Jesus and that you would know, like Mark, that nothing can separate you from Him (Romans 8:38-39).

Kristen West works at Rock Bridge Community Church with a heart for staff leadership, development, and care. She is a communicator with a passion to inspire, encourage, and challenge others in their daily walk with Christ. She writes and publishes weekly content on her blog at kristen-west.com. The Author

Restoring Faith, Building Families, and Impacting Communities: Greater Refuge Ministries

Pastor Terri Mayes

Dr. Terri L. Mayes is the daughter of Rosa and the late Joe Ragland. She is the wife of John Mayes and the mother of Russell, Tiffany, Taylor, and the late Taurance Hurst. She is also the bonus mother of Johnny, Chad, and Shane. Following a near death experience in 1994, Dr. Mayes committed her life to Christ and became what she likes to call “saved for real.” Dr. Mayes became an active member and leader of several different ministries and organizations under the leadership of Pastor James B. Jewell. After years of dedicated service to the ministry, and upon the acceptance of the call on her life to preach the Gospel, Dr. Mayes became a Licensed Minister in 1999, a Youth Pastor in 2003, an Assistant Pastor in 2005, and an Ordained Evangelist in September 2009. Dr. Mayes received her Master’s degrees in the areas of Theology and Sacred Studies, followed by her Doctorate of Theology in 2012 from Christian

Life Educational Network in Columbus, Georgia. She was called as interim Pastor to A Place of Refuge in October 2009 and was installed as Senior Pastor and Founder of Greater Refuge Ministries in April 2010. Greater Refuge Ministries

Greater Refuge Ministries follows a threefold vision— restoring faith, building families, and impacting communities through worship services and outreach. Greater Refuge Ministries fosters family relationships through their Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Counseling Services, and Youth and Teen Ministries, including North Broad Youth Center. North Broad Youth Center is an afterschool program that operates as an extended day learning center for students. They are supported by Berry College and student volunteers, along with individuals in the community. The students are called Rising Stars because the programming is centered around Science, Technology, Arts, Reading, and Social Skills. Along with academic programming, the center also provides Spiritual, Mental, Physical, Social, and

Emotional instruction and support. Although Dr. Mayes and the congregation of Greater Refuge Ministries is rooted in the Rome community, they strive to reach communities near and far through international programs.

International Ministry: Ghana, West Africa

In 1999, Dr. Mayes traveled to Ghana, West Africa, for her first international missionary journey. The needs of the people were so overwhelming and convicting that Dr. Mayes returned home to co-found Mission 2000: An African Relief Project with her Senior Pastor James B. Jewell. The following year she returned with a team of fourteen so that they too could experience true ministry for themselves. After being offered a bucket of contaminated water to bathe with each morning, Dr. Mayes was heartbroken, and came home more determined than ever to see the vision of Mission 2000 fulfilled. Dr. Mayes and Greater Refuge Ministries has successfully ministered to, fed monthly, and built wells in 17 villages. Each village population ranges from 900-2,800 people each.

needs, and monetary donations. But most importantly, they are taught the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Following the opening of their seventeenth well, Missionary Boakye contacted Dr. Mayes to allow her to speak with one of the Elders that was almost 90 years old in the Northern Villages. The women simply wanted to know why God loved her enough to answer the prayers that her village had been praying for her entire life. All they desired was clean water and to not have to drink the water along with the animals. For all those years, this village had never had access to clean water. Facts such as these can be echoed throughout the Northern regions of Ghana. They call Dr. Mayes an angel sent by God. “Their struggles are more devastating than I could have ever imagined. Had I not seen it for myself, it would have been hard to believe that they are still living in mud huts with thatched roofs. But through it all, our ministry work has made them believe and understand how much God truly loves them,” said Dr. Mayes.

Giving Thanks

After two decades of solely sustaining this program, Greater Refuge Ministries is excited that other local churches and individuals have seen and now understand the desperation of our international Christ-loving brothers and sisters. To see the faces and praises of thankfulness to God generated by the people in these villages makes it very difficult not to do all that can be done to provide as many water wells as possible! Along with providing ministry for her church for the past twelve years and heading their international ministry, Dr. Mayes has not forgotten that there is still much work to do at home.

The initial thought was to return every year to offer outreach and ministry opportunities to the natives by hosting revivals and feeding programs. But in wisdom and through divine inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, Dr. Mayes fine tuned the vision. Thus, redefining the goals of the organization. Dr. Mayes decided that the $3,000 used per person for travel, lodging, food, and vaccinations would be better suited to serve the people. As a result, Mission 2000 has partnered with Missionary Kofi Boakye and a team of faithful members from their partner church Come Preach Christ Fellowship stationed in Kumasi, Ghana. This team travels to the Northern regions monthly to provide necessary food, clothing, medical supplies, construction

Dr. Mayes understands that it truly takes a village. Not only would she like to mention her loving husband—a 16-year County Commissioner, entrepreneur, and church leader—but also their children who have supported her. “They have been so loving and patient. I thank God for each of them. They all hold a special place in my heart, and they have truly helped to make me the woman of God that I am today,” said Dr. Mayes.

Dr. Mayes’ passion is to reach out and encourage individuals to move beyond their past and present problems and realize that as long as there is Life, there is Hope. If you would like to get involved or learn more about Greater Refuge Ministries, check out their website at greaterrefuge.org or call Dr. Mayes at (706)-346-0378.

When Life Gives You a Bag of Rocks

One of our family’s October traditions is to watch the classic Peanuts show “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” during Halloween week. As I was only six years old when it was first broadcast in 1966, I have literally grown up with this yearly visit with Charlie Brown and his friends as they navigate another Halloween. As the children go out trick-ortreating, they periodically stop and take stock of their “treats.” Each child celebrates the candy they received until we get to Charlie Brown. No matter how many houses they visit, poor Charlie Brown laments that all he got was a bag of rocks. For him, trick-or-treating was only a “trick.”

Have you had a time in your life where you felt like Charlie Brown—that all life has given you is a bag of rocks? How did that impact your faith? Did you ask God “why”? Did you find yourself questioning His goodness? Did you wonder if He understood the depth of your pain? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone.

To understand how we, as believers in Christ, should respond to these difficult times, we can look to the Psalms of lament. Here we can see how David and the other writers wrestled with the question: “Where is God in the midst of my pain?” In these psalms, we can find how to pose these questions through our faith.

The typical lament psalm begins with questions like, “Where are you God?” or “How could you let this happen to me?” Sound familiar? As we read through these cries of ancient Israelites, we follow them as they move from expressing their pain and feelings of being surrounded by enemies and feeling alone to a declaration of trust in God—on the basis of His character as loving, just, and compassionate. The psalmists can look past their pain and

by Dr. Alan Hix The Author

despair and cast themselves in the loving arms of a God who can sustain them through all of their travails.

Several years ago, I sat at my wife’s bedside in ICU, listening to the rhythm of the ventilator and wondering with some trepidation what the future might hold for us. Would there be future adventures that we would share, or would I carry on alone?

It was in these dark moments I found comfort and encouragement in Psalm 13. David begins this psalm by crying out, “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” This cry echoes the cry of all those who have found themselves wondering if God cared about their situation. David continues by pleading with God to respond to his anguish. The psalm then turns from a cry of despair to an expression of hope. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

David helped me to see that our hope is not to be based on what God does, but on who God is. No circumstance, no matter how dark, can alter the character of God. That truth allowed me to trust my wife to God’s unfailing love. That understanding can turn our bag of rocks into a precious treasure.

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.

We are Walker’s boys.

Walker’s Boys

by Deck Cheatham

We came, embarking upon careers, searching for a foothold in golf, in the world. We are the golf professionals hired by Walker Inman, Jr., the once Head Golf Professional at Scioto Country Club, home course to Jack Nicklaus, a Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, U.S. Amateur, a U.S. Open and two Senior U.S. Opens. Each of us passed through, taking what we could of wisdom and learning, each receiving the lessons needed in those early years when upward filled our vision.

On June 23, 2022, Walker Inman passed from this life into the life eternal.

And here we are, crossing a bridge we knew we would cross, but one none of us wished to cross. And so, on July 23rd, we gathered to honor a life well-lived, to carry on, to pass on the same love shared by Walker and say the words Jesus spoke, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

It all started with those words, “Pro, you’ve got the job.” And in hearing those words, life opened to us, trajectories changed, dreams blossomed into realities, new possibilities unfettered before life’s quagmires would come. We began, some naïve, uninitiated, not yet baptized by the world, and some, a bit more worldly, ready and willing. Each came to seize an opportunity, to take the brass ring and claim it as his own. Quarried from worlds apart—South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and more— each offering our rearing, our unique personalities and yetto-be-widened perspective. And in the taking, we received so much more.

When we heard those words, we did not know we would become part of a family. Yes, the Scioto family, but also adopted as an Inman. Walker, Georgia, Lisa, Natalie, Walker III, and Cara were as much father and mother, brother and sister to each of us as our own parents and siblings. Unrealized at the time, Walker chose us, as Jesus

chooses us, to enter this new beginning, loved and cherished in the same way parents love their children, as God loves us. Walker and Georgia knew no other way.

“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, ‘There she goes!’

Gone where? Gone from my sight—that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the places of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone says, ‘There she goes!’ there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, ‘Here she comes!’”

Gullah believe when someone passes, their soul goes to heaven but their spirit lives on. Walker’s spirit lives on through each of us.

We are Walker’s boys.

Deck Cheatham has been a golf professional for some 40 years. He lives with his family in Dalton. He is a guest columnist for the Rome News Tribune, The Daily Citizen, and the Calhoun Times. Email him at pgadeacon@gmail.com.

The Reverend Luther Beecher wrote these words:

I See Angels

by Judy Hood

As I stand on the hilltop

Looking out over the sea

I see a band of angels

Coming after you and me

They are clad in garments white as snow

As the angelic music flows

Gabriel’s trumpet soon will sound We will all leave the ground

At the twinkling of an eye

We will fly through the sky

On heavens shore we will rest

Yes, we gave him our very best

Don’t slow down now

Just make a solemn vow

To always stand strong and true

One day he’ll come back for me and you

You can get Judy Hood’s newly released book, But For The Grace Of God Go I, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ebooks.

Instant Parent Success

by Brenda Dedmon

There are so many resources available on “How To Do” most anything you could ever imagine. I was in a conversation with friends recently, and the question came up about the best way to choose paint colors. It was less than a minute when one friend had found ten best ways on her phone.

seems “everyone is doing it.” To avoid this situation, do not compare your family life to others. You have no idea what their journey is about, and you need to spend your time looking at what is best for your family.

Where do you find help for this awesome and daunting task of being a parent? The best starting place is in the Bible. We are reminded in Proverbs how teaching children leads to a productive life. “Teach a child how to follow the right way; even when he is old, he will stay on course” (Proverbs 22:6).

The following are simple suggestions to begin this teaching process, but it is not instant and will involve an important word, TIME.

• Spend time in prayer asking God to guide you in discovering His plan for your family

• Create a family-safe place where a child is loved, valued, and accepted for who they are

• Develop a positive environment where every day your family is giving something good to others

I find this true with parents searching for the best way to be great parents. However, when it comes to parenting skills, there are no quick or easy answers. There is an abundance of ideas offering the perfect way. I hate to disappoint you, but there is not an instant way. This article will not give you instant answers either, but it will give ideas for what the child needs most from parents.

Children always need to feel loved and spend quality time with parents. If you stop and look at the actual waking hours spent with your child, would you be surprised at the number? Children are so involved in activities which require lessons, practices, and performances that it limits parent/ child interaction. I believe children should be involved in activities, but not so many that it takes away from your family time.

Parents often feel “parental peer pressure” to have their children involved in numerous activities because it

• Protect family time by learning to set boundaries for yourself and children

• Lead your family to process energy, enthusiasm, and empathy for life

• Involve your family in discovering their best selves and develop dreams and plans to accomplish those goals

• Practice living the motto, “The Best is Yet to Come” and “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up”

As you continue in your parent journey, remember God has given you the best gift ever, your child. Psalms 127:3, “Children are a gift from God, they are his reward.” He will guide you in your journey to take care of His gift.

About The Author

Written by Rev. Brenda Dedmon, retired director of the CLC, First Baptist of Dalton and an avid BAMA fan.

Finding The Call

by Chase Holtzclaw

Have you felt the calling from God on your life? If so, what did you do when you knew what God wanted you to do? Did you listen to what the Holy Spirit was telling you, or did you turn the other way and keep going your way? Many times, we find ourselves at a crossroad looking down both paths, not knowing what these paths will intel. It can be easy to look at the path we want and say it will be simple if I do it my way, after all, I know what I want to do and how to do it. When we look down the path that God has for us, we must understand the fact that we will have to let go of our own will and give that to God. Yes, we can continue to have hopes and dreams, but we also must pray that our hopes and dreams will line up with God’s plan and calling on our lives.

Yes, I can see it is not that simple. We can’t just flip a switch and say we will jump up and follow just like that. This process will take time to let the Holy Spirit change how we look at things. This is the renewing of the mind to the ways of the Lord. This is when we learn to trust God the Father in a much more intimate way. Looking into our calling is, for some of us, so easy and for others, it can be very hard to find our calling. In the case where we cannot quite find our calling, it can be for many different reasons. One of the reasons could be that we have already heard the Holy Spirit tell us, but we fear what we are called to or know it will keep us from doing things we want to do. Another reason for not hearing our calling could be that it is not time for us to work in the specific calling we are made for. God could be working on you to build you up in faith to be ready for your calling. God has a way of preparing us for our future and for the job He has for us.

Listening to the Holy Spirit is going to be the only way for us to fully walk in our calling. We must always keep an eye on the Kingdom in order for us to walk the way God has

called us to walk. It is so easy to lose sight of what we are doing and get caught up trying to please everyone else but the Lord. When we are unsure and waiting on the Lord to confirm our calling or our assignment, we can always look to the word of God for instructions. You will never go wrong in studying the word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to show us the way and teach us. Allow Him to move in your everyday life and

you will be shocked at how you will interact with people around you. Next thing you know, you will be glorifying God and telling people about the good news of Jesus.

A Calling/Kingdom Assignment does not have to be scary; it can be wonderful. The calling on your life will start a journey like no other for you. It will feel like the thing you were meant to do. It is like a void was filled with the call of God inside you. When we have found our assignment from God, our lives do not always get better, but it does become more meaningful. God bless, and I pray you learn to walk in your calling from God.

About The Author

Chase Holtzclaw has three wonderful kids. God saved Chase’s life by showing him He has a better way. Chase prays that he can show his children how to love God above everything and to love their neighbor as themselves.

Seasons of Change

by Janise Copeman

Many of us this time of year daydream of cooler nights, campfires, smores, fuzzy socks, pumpkineverything, and colors exploding and popping. The scents and tastes of fall are upon us. There are pictures of everything from décor to recipes, to cabins in the mountains to get us swept away like a Hallmark movie. The Lord brought to mind not only the beauty of what He paints as His artwork enfolds with each season as it changes, but the times and seasons in our lives. These Scriptures address trusting in God’s timing.

Seasons: God’s Calendar

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14).

Only He Is in Control and Guides Us: That Is Trust

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Daniel 2:21).

Blessings That Come with Waiting on God’s Timing of Seasons

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

A Period of a Destined Appointed Time Frame

“And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid” (2 Kings 4:16).

“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever” (Philemon 15).

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).

God had a perfect plan when He created the earth and everything in it. Just like before you were even born, He

knew you and the plans He has for you. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5).

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Time and seasons are in God’s hands, we just need to trust that He knows when and what is best. We have to trust Him and the process. Times may be uncertain or unfamiliar, perhaps even painful, but He loves us so much. He is using all the seasons in our lives to melt and mold us. Just like a

diamond, the finished product is beautiful, sparkling and radiant, but the process is hard.

So, I encourage you to grasp every season in your life and trust the process. Capture the beauty of what each season paints in your life. Remember, something as beautiful as the fall foliage are actually leaves going through the life cycle. While leaves change color in the fall, they are dying, but they are not dead. It cannot take the beauty away. Enjoy and savor the process. I encourage you, if you are going through a rough season of your life right now, reach out to the Master Painter and Potter of your soul. He is not finished with you yet. He is still working on His masterpiece in you. Surrender to Him and allow Him to create in you a one of a kind, rare, and priceless work of art.

Janise Copeman lives in Trion,Georgia, is 49 years old, and she is blessed to be married to her soulmate for 26 years. She enjoys reading, writing, and encouraging others by spreading joy and love in the Lord.

Scaling A Mountain

by Susan Lavigne

Ienjoyed a variety of sports, including soccer, until I hurt my back at the young age of twenty-nine. It was then that I realized I needed to try some “less dangerous” sports, so I took up rock climbing. That may not sound “less dangerous” to some, but with the proper equipment, good safety instruction, and trustworthy people on your safety line, rock climbing is a very safe sport. There are four key components of rock climbing that relate to our everyday lives.

Balance

Rock climbing is more the art of balancing than climbing. Our lives are meant to be lived in balance too. As a physical therapist and wellness instructor, balance is an essential skill I teach, especially to my older clients, to keep them from falling. There must be a balance

in the muscle strength of opposing muscle groups as well as flexibility for good posture. We are told to eat a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat for a healthy diet, and we are told to balance our activities with sleep, work, and play for a healthy lifestyle.

Support

Another essential part of rock climbing is having a person whom you can trust on your safety line. Everyone needs trustworthy people for those times when you feel like you are “hanging on by a thread.” Do you have people in your life readily available to help when you need them? Are you that person in someone else’s life? Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Communication

A good rock climbing experience also relies on good communication. You must communicate with your climbing partner when you are climbing, and you need his/her full attention and knowledge of safety skills. Open and honest communication is essential for every type of relationship. Anchor

Finally, with life and rock climbing, it is important to have a secure anchor. In the case of rock climbing, you make sure that your rope is secured to the rock you are scaling. Anything less than a secure anchor and you can fall, really hurting yourself or the people in your climbing group. For Christians, that anchor should be none other than Jesus Christ. Isaiah 26:4, “Trust in the Lord always for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”

So, the next time you feel like you are scaling a mountain in your life, check to see if you have proper balance, strong support, good communication, and a strong anchor in place. When your faith and hope are anchored firmly in Christ, you will increase your chance of surmounting any of life’s challenges.

About The Author

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

He Is Enough

by Danette Reeves

You are enough. These words are everywhere: jewelry, billboards, bumper stickers, counseling sessions, songs, and even Bible studies. Believe in yourself because you are enough. You can do anything because you are enough. Don’t compare yourself to the world’s standards because you are enough. Be content with who you are because you are enough.

I understand the sentiment behind the words, but it is a lie. You are not enough. This flies in the face of everything culture is telling us today. Culture does not want us to feel wrong about anything we think or sin we commit. Culture teaches us there are no sins; we are free to act as we please. Why? Because we are right in our own eyes. Judges 21:25 states, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This might be said about today’s culture. We have set “self” up as king? Why? Because you are enough (the lie culture sells to us).

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (I’m not enough).

Psalm 118:8, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (I’m not enough).

John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (I’m not enough).

John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (I’m not enough).

Paul shared a great secret with us in Philippians 4. He is explaining that he learned to be content when he had abundance or little. In every circumstance, Paul had learned that he was not enough. He shared the truth in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Paul was not enough, but Jesus is. I’m not enough to get into heaven, but Jesus is enough when He covers me with His blood, death, and resurrection.

John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that you may have life

and have it abundantly.” I’m not enough to give myself abundant life. Jesus is enough.

I’m not enough to provide myself with peace. Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Jesus is enough.

Brothers, sisters, and seeking friends, do not fall into the trap of independence this world tries to sell us. Proverbs 26:12, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Without Jesus, you are not enough. With Jesus, you have everything you need because He is enough.

Danette Reeves and her husband, Charlie, live in Cleveland, Tennessee. They attend The Church at Grace Point. One of their joys is being Oma and Opa to four grandchildren. Her heart’s desire is to be a student and a teacher of the Word, and a consistent follower of Jesus.The Author

MAKING A DIFFERENCE, JUDE

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.

Business EXPO is Back!

by Amber West, Director of Communications

The Rome Floyd Chamber is excited to announce the return of the in-person Business EXPO. Business EXPO is a long-standing event in the Rome and Floyd County community. This event offers businesses an opportunity to display their goods and services to the entire community during a oneday event held at the Forum River Center. This year businesses will be selling their goods and services, and some vendors will even be

accepting job applications. The chamber invites job seekers to visit the EXPO to network and learn about job openings in the community.

“We are excited to bring back this fun event,” said Pam Powers-Smith, President of Rome Floyd Chamber. “It is the first time in years that we have been able to gather on this scale, and we are thrilled to see everyone together again.”

This event is open to the public, and the Rome Floyd Chamber invites everyone to attend on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from noon (12) until 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door. The Business EXPO is a wonderful way for

community members to see what all Rome and Floyd County businesses have to offer, and a great reminder for everyone to shop locally. There will be demonstrations, holiday shopping, and opportunities to talk to staff members of many great businesses.

All chamber members and their staff members are invited to the Business After Hours event at 5:00 p.m. on November 3rd. Registration is required for Business After Hours. Please visit www.romega.com to register.

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Unplug

by Angie Bishop-Forsyth

Would you agree that we mostly live entirely way too busy and too involved in insignificant things? Seriously, how much time do we offer to social media, trash TV, and browsing the internet for this and that, etc.? Way too much I say!

I’m guilty, I admit it. Recently, I took on the challenge to let all that go for 40 days. No social media, no trash

I unplugged and cleansed my soul, and it was GOOD! Was it hard? Sure, some days it was, but it was worth it. It taught me the importance of relying on God to fill me up, rather than comfort in my own pleasures. The longer I journeyed through my 40 days, the more excited I became. I knew going in with the expectation to meet God and grow closer to Him was way better than all that other stuff!

Friends, we need to unplug from the world sometimes, and plug into God on a much deeper level. It is sweet! It is essential! This world beats us down. God builds us up! What I learned was how irrelevant things we think are of importance really are. God is relevant, Facebook and Instagram are not! God is useful, trash TV is inappropriate and useless. God is of great significance, and most internet searches for entertainment purposes can be somewhat senseless and meaningless.

TV, no secular music, and no internet searches for useless information and things. Here’s what I discovered when I replaced all that with time with God. Growth!

The social media anxiety was replaced with a peaceful atmosphere of being still in God’s Word, alone with Him. It’s lovely there. Trash TV was replaced with Godly programs and movies that blessed my soul, full of encouraging lessons and uplifting and inspiring messages. Secular music was replaced with nothing but praise and worship music. I lifted my praises to our King through songs that filled me up and gave glory to Him! Oh, how I loved that! The internet searches were replaced with Bible reading and faith-based Bible study books, which fed my hungry soul!

As believers, we should long for a meaningful relationship on a deep level with our Creator. We should not only long for it, we should run after it! Meet God halfway. He’s there holding out His arms, waiting for you to dive deep! Go! I truly believe it’s like a cup of cold water on a hot day—refreshing, invigorating, and electrifying to one’s soul! Our innocent earthly pleasures are not all forbidden, but should be done in moderation. They can become robbers of the time God deserves and we so desperately need with Him. But if you haven’t, let me encourage you to sometimes unplug from it all! That quiet break with God is a gift to recharge your body and soul.

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” (Psalm 116:7).

Angie Bishop-Forsyth is a resident of Rome, GA. She is blessed with great family and friends. Angie is a member & attends church at Calvary Baptist. She yearns to share God’s message in hopes to encourage, speak God’s Truths, and point people to Jesus!