Gò0dNews August 2014
Complimentary
CHATTANOOGA
Christian Magazine
• WHAT ABOUT HEAVENLY REWARDSp.6 • HELP!p.28 • THEOLOGY BY NIGHTLIGHTp.30
Judy Jacobs Tuttle
God Bless You and Thank You! Writers Pastor Judy Jacobs Tuttle Pastor Steve Smartt Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow Reverend Rusty Asble Andrew Lee Beth Henderson Brian Wetherill Darren Schalk Esmerelda Lee Laswon Bates Melanie Lewis
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About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have three beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, and Andrew. We live in Cleveland 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!
Cover Photo Arlyne VanHook
Design
Matthew Ruckman Caleb Prytherch
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Editors Matthew and Bethany Ruckman
Phone #: 423-503-1410 E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com Website: issuu.com/goodnewscm
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.
August 2014
G ò0 dNews
Christian Magazine
Pg 4 Pg 6
About Us GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk What About Heavenly Rewards? by Pastor Steve Smartt
Pg 8
GoodNews for Kids
Pg 16-18
Something To Give
Pg 10
GoodNews on Money Matters Are You in the “Middle Class”? by Andrew Lee
Pg 12
GoodNews for Men It’s My Way or the Highway; I Know What I’m Doing! by Brian wetherill
Pg 14
GoodNews for Women Live Your Life Like the Diamond That You Are by Melanie Lewis
Pg 18
GoodNews for the Outdoors Always An Adventure by Reverend Rusty Asble
Pg 22
Judy Jacobs Tuttle
GoodNews for Life A Love Story by Beth Henderson
Pg 24
GoodNews for Health & Fitness To Age or Not To Age by Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow
Pg 26
GoodNews for Everyone Lawson Bates by Lawson Bates
Pg 28
GoodNews for Seniors
Pg 19 - 21
Help! by Esmerelda Lee
Pg 30
GoodNews for Everyone Theology by Nightlight by Darren Schalk
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.
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Gò0dNews from the Pastors Desk
What About Heavenly Rewards? By: Steve Smar
A
sincere love for Christ and an awareness of His grace should lead us to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. But let’s not forget that there are rewards for this Kingdom work and we can look forward to receiving them in heaven. While it is certainly virtuous to be diligent in our efforts simply to bring honor and glory to Christ, there is no shame in longing for the final blessings to be granted as a result of our labors. There will be rewards in heaven for faithful service just as there are rewards here today that lead to further opportunities to serve. In Luke 19, Jesus provides an illustration of this promise in the parable of the ten minas. Realizing that the people were expecting God’s kingdom to come at once, Jesus spoke of a nobleman who left his servants to become a king, but with instructions that they should expect his return. The man made it clear that while he was away his wealth should be used properly through their faithfulness (see vv. 12-14). Though the nobleman’s kingship was met with opposition, he was eventually made king. Upon his return home, the servants who had been entrusted with his riches were called to give account of how they had handled his wealth placed in their trust. As they came 6
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forward, the first and second servants reported their success in meeting his expectations, and they were joyfully rewarded. Therein is a picture of joyful reward. Arthur T. Pierson once quoted, “…in the ma er of salvation works are altogether excluded; yet that so far as the rewards of grace are concerned, in the world to come, there is an intimate connection between the life of the Christian here and the enjoyment and the glory in the day of Christ’s appearing.” Jesus is that nobleman and we are His servants. He has entrusted us with the wealth of the Gospel and expects us to invest it generously to allow its bountiful return. As wise stewards of the truth, imagine the excitement of the response, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Ma 25:21 NIV). Thus, our faithfulness will be rewarded, not only in eternity, but also now through opportunities for service, granting additional opportunities for even greater rewards. However, just as faithfulness pleases our King, unfaithfulness brings His disappointment. The parable continues with one servant’s unfaithfulness and we see here that when we are unfaithful
and refuse to seize opportunities of service, we displease our Lord. The reality of this will be witnessed in eternity, the weight of which Martin Luther understood when he said, “I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: ‘O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!’” Who then would have an answer to the devastating question, “Why didn’t you. . . .?” from the one who did not consider His own life when laying it down for your salvation! Just as the unfaithful servant lost his reward to the faithful, so we lose our joyful reward each day as we fail to honor Christ in our lives through service to His name. Judgment awaits those who reject Him, but loss confronts unfaithful Christians each day. Let us, therefore, be found faithful in our Kingdom work that God may be glorified, and we might receive His bountiful reward today and for eternity.
Pastor Steve Smar is the Senior Pastor at Westwood Baptist Church.
Gò0dNews for Kids
Something To Give Luke 21:1-4
“Are you ready for church?” Clark’s mother asked him.
you talking to me about what I give at church?” Clark asked.
“As soon as I tie my shoes,” said Clark, who wanted everyone in the family to know he could do it himself.
“Because you need to learn how to give if you are going to enjoy life,” his mother said.
“Do you have your money for the offering?” his mother asked.
“Those who always put themselves first do not enjoy life.”
“No,” Clark said. “Will you give me some?”
“But I don’t have anything to give today!” said Clark.
“I gave you your allowance yesterday,” said his mother. “You know you are to use part of it for your offering.”
“Then I will lend you 50 cents,” said his mother. “Next Saturday your allowance will be 50 cents less.”
“But I spent it all at the school picnic,” said Clark.
Some Questions 1. What part of your money do you use to help others? 2. Do you enjoy giving to God when you worship? 3. Does even the small amount given by a child help the church?
“You should have taken out your offering for God before you went to the picnic,” his mother said. “I only give 50 cents anyway,” Clark said. “It won’t make any difference if I miss this Sunday.” “The amount you give is not as important as why you give it,” said his mother. “Giving shows that God is important in your life.” “God’s important to me. But so was the school picnic.” “We want you to enjoy the picnic and other things,” his mother said. “But we also want you to plan how you spend your money. If you take your offering out of your allowance first, you will be making God a part of all that you do.” “Is God a part of the school picnic?” asked Clark. “Of course!” said his mother. “Jesus is with us all the time. He wants us to enjoy life.” “Then why are
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A Prayer Thank you, God for the money I have. Help me to spend it, give it, and save it in the right way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Gò0dNews on Money Matters
Are You in the “Middle Class”? By: Andrew Lee F
or many Americans, the measuring stick of whether we are doing well financially or not usually has been how we measure up to our notion of the “middle class.” After all, if we’re at least in the middle class, we can’t be doing too shabbily, can we? More often than not, wealth or penury is relative in essence—meaning we tend to compare ourselves to others in order to determine if we’re doing well or not financially. If we sense that we’re doing be er than many or most of our neighbors, coworkers, relatives, and peers, then we’re apt to congratulate ourselves that we are on the right track financially (or at least we’re not doing too badly). On the other hand, if we perceive to be poor compared to our neighbors or other peers, then we are likely to have a great deal of dissatisfaction, feeling financially inferior on the socioeconomic scale. Ironically, some of the criteria we often use to determine our “rung on the financial ladder” may be completely irrelevant or misguided. For instance, if we see what looks to be a new BMW or Mercedes at a traffic light next to us, we
might conclude that the driver is ultra wealthy and financially secure. But we may not realize that according to statistics, the majority of these new luxury cars are leased and not actually owned by their drivers, so there may be very li le correlation between the driver’s car and his or her net worth. What precisely does the middle class look like these days? Here are some statistics from a recent article from money.cnn.com: The middle-class American household in 2012 earned a median annual income of $51, 017. That’s not per worker; that’s per household (probably a married couple jointly). Today the category middle class is further divided into subcategories of “lower middle class” and “upper middle class.” But what about the middle of the middle class? According to the money. cnn.com article, the middle of the middle class earns an annual salary in the range of $39,764 to $64, 582. Beyond annual salary, the median wealth (net worth) of the
American household for 2010 was $77,300. In addition, many readers may find it strange (even absurd) that many couples who earned between $200,000 to $400,000 per year honestly considered themselves middle class. How is this possible? The answer is that they compared their own financial situation to the super rich who have incomes well above a million dollars per year. Compared to those super rich, these lower rich honestly saw themselves as middle class. Again, it’s all relative. Whom are you comparing yourself to? The Bible instructs us to be content with what we have and not to go around disgruntled or envious in an endless pursuit to keep up with the Joneses. Jesus tells us to “seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Ma . 6:33)—meaning our material possessions and needs will follow if we seek God’s will for our lives first and keep that as our focus. Moreover, in Philippians 4:12-13, Paul writes, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” When we’re thinking about our place in relation to the middle class and what we consider to be normal, remember that the average American household has over $16,000 in credit card debt. Do we really want to be like everybody else? Is that the financially wise decision? “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Ecc. 5:10).
Dr. Andrew Lee is Associate Profes-
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sor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.
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Gò0dNews for Men
It’s My Way or the Highway; I Know What I’m Doing! By: Brian Wetherill
W
e’ve all heard this line; perhaps we’ve even said it a few times ourselves. How many times have we witnessed individuals bent on their own ideas or stubbornness in doing something only to see their choices cause damage along the way? In life we face situations that require assistance from others; and the opportunity to choose a different direction than what we had planned is totally up to us to make. Hopefully, you will not be so bullheaded as the fellow in this picture, because his choices right now are going to alter his life in so many ways. Think about what Jesus had to go through with His disciples. Peter, for example, was a mighty man who had a zeal and passion for Christ; yet, he denied Christ three times when faced with choosing to be named as one of the disciples (see Ma . 26:69-74). We can also look at Judas, one whom Jesus called to be a disciple and who experienced the miracles of that day; yet, Judas chose to betray Christ over a few coins (see Ma . 27:3). You may say, “I haven’t denied Christ in ways like those disciples,” but yet you have. There have been opportunities for you to speak a work of encouragement and you didn’t. Or maybe you had a tug of the heart to confess a sin to a brother and chose not to do so
because of what you thought he might think about you afterwards. Perhaps you have been cold and brash in how you talked with your wife or family instead of being understanding and cordial to them. It is important, men, to learn to see the errors of our ways and then learn to change those habits into something productive and glorious for the cause of Christ. If we continue the path of least resistance, the ultimatum is a severe washout in our lives. We will lose more credibility, integrity, and honor than we realize. I urge you to take a step back, evaluate your life, thoughts, and relationships. Ask the hard questions and be real in the answers. • What is it in your life that needs to be changed? • How do you interact with your family, or do you interact with them? • Are you the same guy at church, or do you put on the facade of a stable man? I know this may be a hard devotion, and I’m speaking directly into my life as well on this subject. As men of God, we must make choices that are generational changers, and hopefully the ones we make are great choices! My hope and prayer is that you are willing to open your heart and listen to God and listen to your loved ones.
Brian Wetherill is Married 25 years 12
August 2014
to Michelle Wetherill, 2 sons (Bradley 19 and Blake 14). Members at Westmore COG, Supervisor of Special Projects @ Lee University. Avid bow hunter, enjoy anything outdoors.
6337 East Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 855-2001
Gò0dNews for Women
Live Your Life Like the Diamond That You Are H ow many times have you glanced in the mirror this week, only to find every wrinkle or blemish on your face or what you think is a flaw on your body? The world tries to tell us that our values and self-worth are based strictly on our outward appearance and has nothing to do with our heart. This implies that we are only desirable if we are sexy, skinny, rich, and successful.
This image is spewing from every television commercial and is plastered across magazine covers at retail establishments across the world. With our heads down and struggling with self-worth, we carry our purchased items out to our car feeling insecure and focusing on all our imperfections. By the time we arrive home, we’ve already searched out the cost of evasive surgeries and beauty enhancements on our smart phones. Am I right? God, however, has placed a standard in our lives that is the right way to value ourselves. When we don’t truly understand our worth and value, we live a life that is not only unpleasant, but also is displeasing to God. God compares the Proverbs 31 Woman to a beautiful, sparkling diamond. I find it interesting that diamonds are one of the most sought-after commodities on earth. They are precious, costly, valuable, cherished, pure, and durable. The word diamond is derived from the Greek word Adamas, which means invincible. As one of the hardest minerals in the world, a diamond is made up of a single element called carbon. They are dazzling and have always fascinated women. Many express
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By: Melanie Lewis
great love for someone by gifting that person with a diamond. It also teaches us that a virtuous woman is most desired and sought after by a real man of God¾just like a treasured diamond.
Just as we polish and care for the diamonds we own, God takes care of us and polishes our lives for His service. We are valuable, beautiful, and spotless in God’s eyes. Just as a gemologist painstakingly picks out the beautiful gemstones and the jeweler creates a unique piece of each one, we were created uniquely and designed specifically for a special purpose that only we can fulfill. When you’re in God’s presence, acknowledging, worshiping and praising Him, He whispers sweet nothings in your ears. He tells you how much He loves you and how special you are in His eyes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made just as His Word tells us. With Jesus, you don’t have to look like a Victoria’s Secret model. He sees the beauty in every freckle, blemish, and whatever blemish you think is a flaw. He painstakingly thought out every intricate cell in your body even before He formed you in your mother’s womb, and He thinks that you are absolutely breathtaking. How will you live out your worth starting today and continuing for the rest of your life? Sparkle and shine like the DAZZLING DIAMOND you are!
Melanie Lewis is the author of numerous articles written for a variety of Christian publications. A native of Tennessee she has worked in the fields of both newspaper and radio and is currently writing her first non-fiction.
FEATURED COVER STORY
Judy Jacobs Tuttle 16
August 2014
Photo by Arlyne VanHook
Pressing & Pursuing God’s Presence
I
love to worship. At a very early age, I was taught to give God all my worship. I saw my mom worship in all sorts of scenarios; her life was consumed with two things: children and worship.
My Background Being the baby of twelve, I realized early that worship was everything to her. She knew that worshiping God would get her through whatever came her way. My father, a very robust and hardworking farmer, would get up every morning before sunrise in order to spend time with God in prayer and worship. I saw my siblings spend regular time with God-especially my sisters. Nothing was more important in our home when we were growing up than serving and worshiping God. Coming from that culture of prayer, praise, and worship, it was natural for me, as the youngest of twelve siblings, to be greatly influenced by a lifestyle of devotion to God. He was all that we had and all we needed. When I look back on those early days in North Carolina working on the farm with my siblings, I am astounded at what God has done in my life. At eight years old, I began traveling with my sisters singing in churches in the surrounding area and having no idea what God had in store for me. One night during a heavily anointed prayer service, I encountered the power of God that literally knocked me off my feet. The presence of God was so strong that they physically had to carry my limp body out of the building and bring me home. As a preteen, my shyness was infused with a supernatural boldness in Christ that has never left me and has impacted my life forever.
My Training Ground While I was in college, I began traveling with the recruiting group, Harvest, from Lee University. This is where I met my future husband, Jamie Tu le. I stepped out in faith in 1989, established His Song Ministries, and began traveling and ministering in song and Word around the world proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. My mother was one of the godliest people I have ever known. She, along with my sisters, really spoke into my life and helped to mold me into the Christian wife and mother I am today. For many years, outside of my family, there really wasn’t a mentor in my life. The International Institute of Mentoring was birthed out of a passion to bring women together who are interested in pursuing the call of God upon their lives. As training ground for Christian leaders, IIOM offers relevant mentoring for those serving in churches, ministries, marketplace, government, service industries, and other pillars of society. Over the last ten years, we have mentored more than 600 women. Utilizing a team approach, we make it our goal to come alongside each mentee with God’s love, encouraging and
instructing them in spiritual truth. At IIOM, mentees can receive answers to questions and guidance for a godly life through authentic conversations, supportive relationships, and spiritual accountability. My latest book titled You Are Anointed for This, reminds me of the anointing that God has placed inside all of us. Whatever gift you have and whatever God has called you to do, you need to know that you are anointed for it!
Advancing the Kingdom Jamie and I believe that the urgency on our hearts to bring people together for training, equipping, imparting into them and sending them forth . . . is NOW! Our mo o is Empowering People to Change the World. We cannot delay. We must do our part to advance the kingdom of God through the International Institute of Mentoring. In addition to the IIOM, the Pursuit Women’s Conference 2014 is my annual conference that will be held on October 30-November 1 in Cleveland, Ttennessee. I would love for all the women and young ladies to join me this year as we are expecting a powerful outpouring! We have added a new addition this year and want to include all the college and young ladies to our “Midnight Praise Party” on Friday, October 31 from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. You can register at www.pursuitwomensconference.com. I have been grateful for the opportunities and open “God doors” in my life that continue to allow me to travel and minister around the world. One of the greatest honors is now I get to come home to our church family, Dwelling Place Church International. Pastor Jamie and I, and our two daughters, Kaylee and Erica, embraced the call of God to begin this amazing journey almost four years ago. At Dwelling Place Church, we are about giving, loving and leading. It is a life-giving, multicultural, and multigenerational church. There are a lot of families moving here all the time, because they want to be around people of like faith that want to change the world. We are having a blast! At DPCI, you will experience a powerful worship and a prophetic environment that will stir your hunger to seek the face of God. Our goal is to open our doors. as well as our hearts, to everyone. Our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. No ma er what their story is, we are loving and training them while teaching them the Word of God. It is truly a Place to Belong. Our position as the body of Christ is to stand before Him in faith, boldness, determination, authority, worship, and praise. That is our posture, position, and stance: like faith . . . like spirit . . . like destiny . . . like anointing. Keep pressing and pursuing God and His presence. It won’t be long before we hear, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”
issuu.com/goodnewschatt
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Gò0dNews from the Outdoors
Always An Adventure By: Rusty Asble
I
was a boy on a mission. My mission was to experience, be involved in, seek out and find a daily adventure. It did not ma er what it consisted of, but it needed to be an adventure. I am like that with my kids. I want them to wonder, experience, and gain insights about life through their own adventures, but sometimes I have to help them along the way. While on vacation in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, I had multiple adventures planned for each of the kids, but one in particular I wanted both boys to accomplish was to have the fishing experience of ba ling a shark. So off we went. On the last day of vacation, after many failed a empts on my part, I hired a guide and we went just about a mile off the coast of New Smyrna and Daytona. We were in eyeshot of both beaches¾and people. Si ing in about 50 feet of water, our captain let the boat motor run for about 15 minutes. He shared that it would get the sharks’ a ention. Sure enough about the 10-minute mark, here came the first Blacktip circling the boat. In about 10 minutes, Garre had his first of three sharks for the afternoon. About 30 minutes later, Ridge received a major slam on his rod. Diving deep, we immediately knew it was a big one for this area. It took about 20 minutes and we received our first glimpse. It was a 5 and half-foot 110-pound 18
August 2014
Bull Shark that was not happy he was being pulled up to the surface. After a great ba le, finally it was on board and secured safely. Standing back and watching both boys have this experience was thrilling and exciting. Seeing their strength matched for strength are dreams boys (and men) have. After many congratulations and highfives, both of their faces had great grins. It was a great accomplishment but also one in conquering their hardfought foes in their own adventures. What adventures have you done? What adventures do you dream of doing? There is still time. Go ahead and do it. You have to try. Many things in life are left undone because people have the fear of trying or doing. Get past that. Pray about it and ask Christ for the understanding, knowledge, and wisdom in the steps you can take. Remember, steps in faith are always an adventure. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Reverend Rusty Asble is the associate pastor of Recreation Administration at First Baptist Church Cleveland, TN. He and his wife Stacy have three children Ridge, Garrett and Susie. They reside in Cleveland.
LIST YOUR
Church Activities & Events Help us get our communities connected. We offer Free Church listings, and monthly activities and event listings.
Special Events:
Please submit events for September by August 15th. -Revival -Cook Outs -Concerts -Fundraisers And anything else you have during the month.
Chattanooga Church Directory Assembly of God Calvary Church 423.629.1200 1212 South Seminole Drive, 37412 Fresh Fire Awakening 423.255.3103 Chattanooga, 37421
Baptist Bayside Baptist Church 423-344-8327 6100 Hwy 58 Harrison, TN 37416 Covenant Baptist Church 423.892.5542 1640 N. Joiner Rd, 37421 Duncan Park Baptist Church 706.899.3707 1609 Glowmont Dr, 37412 New Haven Baptist Church 423.855.4910 1058 Graysville Rd, 37421 Middle Cross Baptist Church 423.877.5742 4009 Norcross Rd, 37343 Heritage Baptist Church 423.499.5060 2934 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Ridgeview Baptist Church 423.899.1530 6 Moore Rd, 37411 Spring Creek Road Baptist 423.894.0700 1312 Spring Creek Rd, 37412 Silverdale Baptist Church 423.892.2173 7236 Bonny Oaks Dr, 37421 Alpine Baptist Church 423.875.3522 4720 Stagg Rd, 37415 Ashland Terrace Baptist Church 423.877.4392 906 Ashland Terrace, 37415 Avondale Baptist Church 423.344.2208 5479 Hwy 58, 37416 Bartle Baugh Baptist Church 423.344.5207 6129 Champion Rd, 37416 Berean Baptist Church 423.629.1634 1614 Kirby Ave, 37404 Bethel Baptist Church 423.875.9107 632 Lullwater Rd, 37405 Bethlehem Baptist Church 423.266.5484 101 Lawn St, 37405 Bible Way Baptist Church 423.624.2149 2003 Elmendorf St, 37406
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Brainerd Baptist Church 423.624.2606 300 Brookfield Ave, 37411 Brainerd Hills Baptist Church 423.892.6645 6611 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 Calvary Baptist Church 423.875.8154 5201 Dayton Blvd, 37415 Central Baptist Church 423.624.4678 901 Woodmore Ln, 37411 Charity Baptist Church 423.267.6576 2340 Rossville Blvd, 37408 Clifton Hill Baptist Church 423.867.4887 3616 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Concord Baptist Church 423.892.9313 7025 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Brainerd Baptist Church 423.892.4235 1047 Graysville Rd, 37421 East Lake Baptist Church 423.698.1597 3315 12th Ave, 37407 East Ridge Baptist Church 423.698.2421 4201 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Edgewood Baptist Church 423.629.5821 2007 East 27th, 37407 Empowerment Church 423.355.5576 1203 Blocker Lane, 37412 Faith Baptist Church 423.344.9712 8834 North Hickory Valley, 37416 Fellowship Baptist Church 423.894.8080 5335 Clemons Rd, 37412 First Baptist Church 423.265.2257 401 Gateway Ave, 37402 First Baptist Church 423.629.1950 1228 Latta St, 37406 First Baptist Church 423.265.3229 506 East 8th St., 37403 First Calvary Baptist Church 423.267.5159 300 Bell Ave, 37405 Grace Baptist Church 423.892.4869 7815 Shallowford Rd, 37421 Greater Beulah Baptist Church 423.624.0418 1301 Commerce St, 37404 Harmony Baptist Church 423.629.9660
3832 Youngstown Rd, 37406 Hickory Valley Baptist Church 423.892.1916 2320 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Highland Park Baptist Church 423.493.4111 1907 Bailey Ave, 37404 Hillcrest Baptist Church 423.867.2812 3300 East 42nd St, 37407 Independent Baptist Church 423.875.3054 2624 Lyndon Ave, 37412 International Baptist Church 423.624.8638 1512 Old Ringgold Rd, 37404 Kings Point Baptist Church 423.624.5202 2834 Harrison Pike, 37403 Kingwood Baptist Church 423.624.7301 3522 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Lighthouse Baptist Church 423.624.4125 3777 Wilcox Blvd, 37411 Lookout Valley Baptist Church 423.825.5335 23 Lilac Ave, 37419 Macedonia Baptist Church 423.267.6915 1156 East Main St, 37408 Maranatha Baptist Church 423.899.0571 1701 Hickory Valley Road, 37421 Mission Ridge Baptist Church 423.624.0424 302 Shallowford Rd, 37411 Morris Hill Baptist Church 423.892.2071 1804 Morris Hill Rd, 37421 Mount Paran Baptist Church 423.629.2377 1319 Moss Dr, 37411 New Grace Baptist Church 423.899.5510 7861 Lee Hwy, 37421 Orchard Knob Baptist Church 423.629.6115 1734 East 3rd St, 37404 Philadelphia Baptist Church 423.629.5786 2230 East 18th St, 37404 Pilgrim Rock Baptist Church 423.894.7548 1726 Church Rd, 37421 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 423.892.0237 1441 Crawford Rd, 37421 Prospect Baptist Church 423.698.4149 734 Dodson Ave, 37404 Resurrected Reformed Baptist 423.698.8086
2230 East 18th Street, 37404 Rose of Sharon Baptist Church 423.629.9534 2001 Blackford St, 37404 Second Baptist Church 423.629.6039 1619 East Main St, 37404 Shiloh Baptist Church 423.267.3131 1708 Carr St, 37408 Standifer Gap Baptist Church 423.892.8596 8159 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421 Temple Baptist Church 423.622.1913 3200 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Terra Vista Baptist Church 423.892.3879 4412 Oakwood Dr, 37416 Tucker Baptist Church 423.510.9684 1115 North Moore Rd, 37411 Washington Park Baptist 423.899.9408 1823 Shepherd Rd, 37421 Westview Baptist Church 423.899.0127 9516 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 Woodland Park Baptist Church 423.899.9185 7501 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421
Church of God East Chattanooga COG 423.894.7926 4924 Hwy 58, 37416 East Lake Church of God 423.698.6522 2949 East 29th St, 37407 Brainerd Hills Church of God 423.892.2092 410 Friar Rd, 37421 City Church of Chattanooga 423.894.6982 7122 Lee Hwy, 37421 Church of God of Prophecy 423.899.4074 3927 Webb Rd, 37416 Church of God of Prophecy 423.894.0597 2201 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Church of God Seventh Day 423.899.5490 7504 Old Lee Hwy, 37421 East Brainerd Church of God 423.899.4755 8312 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Church of God 423.867.7287 1512 McBrien Rd, 37412 East Side Church of God 423.624.8797 2105 Citico Ave, 37404
Fellowship Church of God 423.867.3194 3426 Clio Ave, 37407 Fourth Avenie Church of God 423.867.4545 3912 4th Ave, 37407 Holy Temple Church of God 423.629.2649 2311 Bliss St, 37406 Joyful Noise Church of God 423.698.1813 1614 Foust St, 37404 Pure Holiness Church of God 423.622.4667 420 North Holly St, 37404 Temple of Faith Church of God 423.698.2700 2139 East 27th 37407 United Temple Church of God 423.624.1037 2418 Dodson Ave, 37406 Vision Church of God 423.624.7170 4901 Midland Pike, 37411 Woodmore Church of God 423.899.0827 1115 North Moore Rd, 37411 Word Center Church of God 423.867.3330 4803 13th Ave, 37407 Church of God in Christ New Hope Church of God in Christ 423.698.4115 1725 Dodson Ave, 37406
Nazarene Alton Park Church of the Nazarene 423.756.2468 4004 Dorris St, 37410 Nazarene Calvary Church of the Nazarene 423.892.5771 4400 Bonny Oaks Dr, 37416 East Brainerd Church of the Nazarene 423.499.8643 8101 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Church of the Nazarene 423.894.8656 1202 Spring Creek Rd, 37412 First Church of the Nazarene 423.624.2679 2099 East Main St, 37404
Community Church Cosmopolitan Community Church 423.622.3217 3031 Wilcox Blvd, 37411 Friendship Community Church 423.698.3471 7 North Tuxedo Dr, 37411
Metropolitan Community Church 423.629.2737 1601 Foust St, 37404
Lutheran Ascension Lutheran Church 423.698.5047 720 South Germantown Rd, 37412 First Lutheran Church Pastor Mark McCrory 423-629-5990; www.first4u.org 2800 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404 Good Shepherd Lutheran Rev. H. Christopher Sheets 423.629.4661 www.gslcflock.org 822 Belvoir Ave, 37412 Saint Phillip Lutheran Church 423.267.1475 51 West 25th St, 37408
Methodist Jones Memorial UMC 423.624.6073 4131 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Mount Crest UMC 423.881.4165 8206 Cicero Tr, 37421 St John UMC 423.892.2257 3921 Murray Hills Dr, 37416 Wesley Memorial UMC 423.892.6446 6314 E. Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge UMC Pastor Ken Sauer 423-892-8451; eastridgeumc.org 1601 Prater Road, East Ridge, TN 37412 Faith Community Wesleyan 7725 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN 37421 Stanley UMC 423.624.6729 501 Dodson Ave, 37404 Washington Hills UMC 423.892.8050 6216 Hadley Dr, 37416 Cleveland Trinity UMC 423.892.6926 9028 Warbler Ln, 37421 East Lake UMC 423.624.4921 2903 East 37th St, 37407 St Elmo UMC 423.855.0807 3030 Towerway Dr, 37406 Lake Vista UMC 423.892.4941 6216 Hadley Dr, 37416 Saint Mary CME Church 423.622.2742 1417 Wheeler Ave, 37406 Sheares Memorial UMC
423.855.2004 515 Airport Rd, 37421 Sheares Memorial UMC 423.698.4114 400 Glenwood Dr, 37404
1722 Newton St, 37406
Presbyterian
Non-Denominational The Sacred Heart Mission of Chattanooga 423.238.3835 3914 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Faith Connection Church 423.933.6986 7312 Shallowford Rd, 37421 Metropolitan Tabernacle 423.894.3377 2101 West Shepherd Rd, 37422 Carpenters Cowboy Church 423.867.4232 3616 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Brainerd Hills Chapel Church 423.899.3098 5931 Pinegrove Tr, 37421 Chattanooga Church 423.892.2888 6188 Adamson Circle, 37416 Christian Church of Hope 423.855.0767 2330 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Church of Jesus 423.629.5051 2118 Wilson St, 37406 Church of the First Born 423.756.0704 3418 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Church of the Lord Jesus 423.265.8235 200 West 19th St, 37408 Mount Summit of Peace Church 423.899.0434 6925 Shallowford Rd, 37421 New Covenant Church 423.867.2121 3700 Clio Ave, 37407 Walker Avenue First Church 423.622.2982 2101 Walker St, 37404 Worlds Church of the Living God 423.622.2992 2110 Glass St, 37406 Pentecostal Emanuel Pentecostal Church 423.821.5261 4204 Ohls Ave, 37410 Sharon Pentecostal Church 423.867.7088 1400 East 48th St, 37407 Virtuous Church Pastor Richard O. Smith 4204 Ohls Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37410 (423)521-4440 www.virtuouschurch.org Word of Pentecost Church 423.624.2620
First Cumberland Presbyterian 423.698.2556 1505 North Moore Rd, 37411 Central Presbyterian Church 423.629.1401 1815 McCallie Ave, 37404 Covenant Presbyterian Church 423.899.5377 8451 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Presbyterian Church 423.867.2717 4919 Court Dr, 37412 First Presbyterian Church 423.267.1206 554 McCallie Ave, 37402 New Hope Presbyterian Church 423.892.0853 7301 Shallowford Rd, 37421 North Minster Presbyterian 423.894.3773 4791 Hal Dr, 37416 St Elmo Presbyterian Church 423.821.1424 4400 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Second Presbyterian Church 423.266.2828 700 Pine St, 37402 Trinity Presbyterian Church 423.899.9586 104 McBrien Rd, 37411
Vineyard Vineyard Christian Fellowship 423.704.2188 10615 London Ln, 37302
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Gò0dNews for Life
A Love Story
by: Beth Henderson
(A young boy shares his perspective on being adopted.)
I
thought I was going to be telling you the second part of an adoption story this month, but I was wrong. Last month I wrote about the events that led to a local woman adopting her son who was born to a 14-yearold Cleveland girl. I had the opportunity to interview that child this month. He is 11 years old now, and in the few minutes I spent with him, he helped me realize that his story is not an adoption story; it’s a love story. It’s not the kind of love story we see in the movies, but the kind of love story that should take us all back to the moment that¾if we are believers¾we were adopted into the family of God. Once that happens, we do not continue to define or identify ourselves by where we came from, but by where we are now¾members of a family, safe and secure, not looking back. Douglas* is like any other 11-year-old boy. He plays basketball every time the weather permits or his school team is playing. He watches professional basketball with his eye on becoming a professional himself some day, although he knows many others have that dream as well. He’s tall, handsome, and intelligent. He loves his family, and he a ends a local church. But unlike most other boys his age, Douglas knows
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August 2014
that he has a unique family history. He knows that his birth mother was only three years older than he is now when she gave birth to him, and he knows that his mother, Jo*, brought him home through the miracle of adoption. But he understands, perhaps be er than most, that he is a part of his family by God’s design and that’s enough. According to Douglas, his mother told him when he was really young that he was adopted, and he said that made him feel both happy and weird. “It made me feel
happy that I have the mom that I have, and just weird because I didn’t know that I was adopted until she told me.” But being adopted is just part of his story, and it’s not something he really thinks about. And while he said it’s weird that people say he looks like his mother Jo, at least right now, he doesn’t wonder if he looks like his birth mother or even about meeting his birth parents. “I don’t really think about this,” he said. But he does consider the loving words his mother Jo has spoken to him, and they have made a significant impact on his life. She said, “It’s a miracle and stuff like that. She said that she was happy that she got me.” He said that makes him feel good, and that being part of his family now has far more to do with who he is than knowing he was adopted. In fact, he said being adopted is just a fact of his life. “I’m not happy, but I’m not sad. I mean it doesn’t really bother me. I just like to think I never was adopted,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine living without the family that I have.” Amen, Douglas, amen! *Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Beth Henderson is the
Development Director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center
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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness
To Age Or Not To Age By:Zona Hayes-Morrow
W
hen we were young, we all dreamed of growing up and doing all the wonderful things we would finally be able to do. As time went on, we grew up and realized that “growing up” is not all that it’s cracked up to be. We long for the time when our joints didn’t crackle or pop and the only wrinkles we worried about were in our clothes. Whether we like it or not, time has crept up on us and now we have to face the consequences of how we treat our bodies. While this may not be too bad for some people, for others, it can be a daunting experience. For the younger among us, you may be able to slow significantly and maybe even stop some of the health issues that arise as we age. For others, there are things you can do to slow down and even improve some of the symptoms of aging you are dealing with. Your diet is the first thing you need to work on. I realize that this may be harder for some than for others, but all of us can do something in our diet to improve our health. For instance, there are numerous cases of people who have stopped and even reversed Type 2 diabetes through dietary changes. You have to make a choice: Would you rather be healthy or eat whatever you want whenever you want to? I’m not saying that you have to completely avoid certain foods that are bad for you. The biggest thing that most people need in regard to their diet is moderation. If you could learn to control your portion 24
August 2014
size and avoid processed foods, these two things alone would make a remarkable change in your health and well-being. Next, stay active. One of the most basic laws of physics is that it is easier for an object in motion to stay in motion than it is to move a stationary object. This means that it is easier and be er for you to stay active than it would be to become active after a lifestyle of inactivity. In other words: use it or lose it. Physical activity benefits every part of your body, so when your activity levels slows down, so do the health benefits you gain from the activity. You may not be able to regain your former mobility, but any activity can greatly improve your overall health. Finally, know what’s going on in your body. Many people avoid going to the doctor because they’re afraid of what the doctor will say. Avoiding a diagnosis will not make it go away; it just hinders ge ing the treatment you need to recover. No one would expect a car to work if it wasn’t serviced and taken care of. The same thing applies to your body. If you want it to last, then you need to take care of it. You can’t stop the aging process, but you can decide how you will age. Choose wisely!
Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow is
a successful business woman, mother, bible teacher and Executive Director of Norvel Hayes Ministries.
The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? is alive and strong in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s YMCA The Young Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Association is a communitybased organization with roots in a worldwide movement involving boys, girls, men and women of all ages, races and faiths. It is an organization where human needs are met... where the spirit of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for all is shown through thought, word and deed. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? in the YMCA has been the foundation of the organization since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founding in 1844. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? in the YMCA can be seen in action in Y pools, wellness centers, camps, parent-child activities and other programs that are designed to strengthen family life and provide for the development of the whole person. Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
M
y name is Lawson B Bates. ates Most peop at people know me and my family from TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting” and “The United Bates of America.” I am the fourth in a family of nineteen children. People often ask what it has been like to grow up in such a large family. My parents have tried to instill character and Christian values at a young age and have tried to create a wholesome and happy environment for us. Though, as you can imagine, times are sometimes hectic or chaotic in our family. This foundation has helped us to draw strength from God and each other in any circumstance. Thus, we have become a very close-knit family. I surrendered my life to the Lord when I was eleven years old at a church revival meeting. Growing up in East Tennessee, I developed a love for horses, farm life, and bluegrass/Gospel music. My family often travels to churches to sing and preach, so I began singing with my siblings at an early age. I picked up playing the guitar and mandolin when I was twelve or thirteen and started writing music at eighteen. I recently released my first solo album, “Freedom Sure Ain’t Free.” It is an acoustic leaning country/ Gospel album. It features a variety of styles and songs from patriotic to bluegrass Gospel, and even Western yodeling. I was privileged to work with some of Nashville’s top talent including: Brian Su on, Ben Isaacs, Darrin Vincent, Andy Leftwich, the Whites, and many others. The title track, “Freedom Sure Ain’t Free,” was inspired by a military veteran who shared a testimony about his sergeant who lost his life serving in Iraq. I was deeply moved by the story about this man’s sacrifice and began to work on the lyrics for the song. My goal in writing the last track, “The End Down Here,” is to show a Christian’s perspective of death and to show there is hope and peace for those who place their trust in Christ. It is a song to offer encouragement in a seemingly dark hour. My ultimate goal for this album is to present meaningful songs that touch and inspire others in their walk with the Lord. You can keep up with new projects and updates through my web site at lawsonbates.com or Twi er and Instagram @lawbates. 26
August 2014
Norvel Hayes
ATLANTA SEPT. 29th-OCT. 3rd Campmeeting DR. NORVEL HAYES ZONA HAYES-MORROW JOHN BEVERE CRAIG JONES ELAINE HOLLMER
World Harvest Church 320 Hardscrabble rd. Roswell, GA 30075
10:00am 7:00pm
Gò0dNews for Seniors
HELP! By: Esmerelda
W
hen babies are born, they are totally dependent on their parents or caregivers to meet their needs. And (perhaps ironically) as babies grow, parents are instructed to teach their children to be independent. This summer, Andrew and I have been working diligently, teaching our boys how to cook. It has taken several burned grilled cheese sandwiches, a bruised spatula, and two frying pans to achieve a decent result and an edible meal. But this is a necessary step in the “growing pains” of parenting. Furthermore, this summer our eldest son hopefully will receive his learner’s permit to learn how to drive a car. I hope all the drivers in Cleveland are aware and alert to keep a watchout for our young man! His father and I have been showing him proper driving protocol, all in the hope that he will one day be a conscientious driver. Just like the birds of the field, our goal as parents is to teach our children to fly, and pray that the love and parenting we have rendered through the years sustains an independent mindset within them.
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August 2014
Lee
Helping Each Other Today I sat across the table from a beautiful young lady and her father who were contemplating a move to Garden Plaza. One of my goals was to educate this special senior gentleman that he should be comfortable asking others for help. Being independent, he has sustained several falls, bumps and bruises, and his physician has requested that he consider seeking help¾especially to be driven by someone else. If he refuses, no ma er how well-intentioned, his independence may prove harmful to himself and perhaps to others as well. This strong, yet stubborn older gentleman, seemed to understand the request made by his children; however, I could definitely see that he was totally against asking for help. To many people asking for help means accepting their own limitations, which hurts their pride and strong sense of independence. In many cultures around the world, multiple families living together and helping each other is the only way they survive. Helping one another in these countries is a way of life. Our culture in America focuses on independence, but when independence is no longer an option, we feel like we are failing.
A Lesson from the Sequoia Trees In a recent sermon, Jonathon Stone, pastor of discipleship at Westmore, related an amazing story of the giant sequoia trees in California that can grow to be over 300 feet tall. The bark on these trees is three feet deep, and the trunks can be 100 feet around. However, these massive trees do not have a tap root; they grow in clusters with their roots interconnected to each other. Sequoia trees have stood for centuries through insurmountable weather conditions with their strength interdependent on each other. They stand tall because of the interdependence of each other. Asking for help is not always negative-sometimes it’s the only way for us to stand strong and tall!
Esmerelda Lee is campus manager for Garden Plaza of Cleveland, an independent and assisted living facility for seniors. She and her husband Andrew have three children.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
By: Darren Schalk
Theology by Nightlight
O
ne of the things that bugs me most about “You know how when you draw me a picture, you theologians is, well, how theological they are, can tell me every last detail of that picture?” particularly when they try to explain things. “Uh huh.” I was pu ing my five-year-old daughters (yes, “You can do that because you created that picture, plural, I have identical twin girls) to bed recently and, and that means you know everything about it down to after prayer time, Abby looked up and, out of the blue, the smallest detail. Right?” asked, “Daddy, how can God know everything?” “Uh huh.” WHOA! Where did that come from? I tried to “That’s how God knows everything because He flip the neon sign of theology in my head to the “on” drew it all.” position, and began forming my response: “God’s As I finished speaking, the angelic choir of omnipotence is directly related to His omniscience and children’s voices faded into the distance, and as they omnipresence. The sovereignty of the Godhead over faded, I’m sure I heard a still, small voice say, “This is all creation comes from His foreknowledge . . .” Darren in whom I am well pleased.” Wait a minute, Darren, that’s not going to work We seem to think theology is complicated with a five year old. This one needed to be as simple and incomprehensible, but the truth is we are all as possible. I couldn’t use the “neon light of theology,” theologians, and we theologize (yup, just made that I needed more of a theological nightlight—simple word up) every single day, even when we don’t know and subtle. I would not be able to tell her about it. When the opportunity presents itself, don’t avoid it; sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence. Can’t tackle it head on. God will help you. Otherwise, you possibly use those terms until at least six years old,” I may hear that angelic choir singing in false o: “It’s too thought to myself. late to theologize, it’s too laaaaaaate.” I fumbled for words. “Well, baby, uhhh, I guess, And as the picture below illustrates, we can be God knows everything because He made everything.” thankful that God drew it all, and I did not. I was pleased with my simple and deeply über Darren Schalk is author of the book Dear God We theological response, but Abby was still staring at Need To Talk from Charisma House and me blankly. I realized she needed more. Then all at serves as Curriculum Editor for White once it happened. The heavens parted and the Spirit Wing Publishing. He has appeared on television and radio shows across the descended on me like a dove of intelligence. I heard an nation discussing faith and discipleship. angelic choir of a thousand children’s voices singing He considers himself a promoter of disin perfect twelve-part harmony as I relayed this cipleship, progenitor of humor, preacher of Pentecost, and theological nightlight. potential possessor of a platypus. Find out more at www. 30 August 2014 DarrensChalk.com.
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