Gò0dNews September 2015
Complimentary
Christian Magazine
CHATTANOOGA
• When Discouragement Hits p. 6 • What You Don’t Know p. 12 • Becoming Fearless p. 22
Volunteers in Medicine
Don’t miss the fun! Friday, November 13, 2015
at the chattanoogan – 6:30 pm to Midnight This year, Hospice of Chattanooga’s Holiday Hearts is putting on a black tie to celebrate after dark!
Featuring
The Downtown Band
nashville’s acclaimed showband
While the Meaning and Mission remain the same, this party will be packed with fun, including a live auction of exciting experiences: Soaring in an antique P-51 Mustang war plane, Arkansas duck hunting, your private Brewhaus party, a Ritz Carlton Atlanta package … and more!
Hospice of cHattanooga’s
3-COURSE 3-course DINNER dinner with wine
after Dark
BLACK TIE AFFAIR open bar
COMPLIMENTARY Black tie attire VALET PARKING complimentary valet parking
Tickets–
please call The Hospice of Chattanooga Foundation at 423-892-8309. You may also reserve a table for eight or purchase individual tickets online at www.holidayhearts.org.
That Heartburn Could Be A Heart Attack. Not every heart attack starts with crushing chest pain. Women in particular often have mild symptoms that gradually worsen. They may never feel severe pain. If you’re at risk for heart disease, and experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. The time you spend now could be the difference between life and death. Take a free online heart health assessment to learn the steps you can take now to lesson your risk for a heart attack. Go to heart.memorial.com to learn your risks.
SYMPTOMS
Choose a cardiologist like your life depends on it. The Chattanooga Heart Institute at Memorial. For more information, call 423-697-2000. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, the following: Burning Sensation in Chest Shortness of Breath Pressure/Squeezing Sensation in Chest Discomfort in One or Both Arms Cold Sweat Nausea Lightheadedness Chest Discomfort Back or Jaw Pain
Know the symptoms. Get help before it’s too late.
Writers
Pastor Samuel Burger Alan Smith Andrew Lee Brittany Booher David Gray Derek Welborn Elizabeth Shreve Jeremy Wallace Julius McCarter Karen Brummer Kelly McDonald Kristi Schalk Terrie Ruff
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!
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Charlton & Paulette Lewis
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Aaron White (423) 223-9998
Design
Caleb Prytherch
GoodNews Christian Magazine Chattanooga
Distribution 5000 Monthly
Editor
Wanda Griffith
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Matthew and Bethany Ruckman Phone #: 423-503-1410 E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com
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Letter from the Editor
M
odern technology supposedly makes our lives easier, but in many ways it adds to the frenetic pace of our lives, becoming the source of unhealthy stress. As we rush through the busy days of September with a cell phone or iPad in tow, we cannot afford to allow destructive behaviors into our lifestyles that will make it difficult to see God’s hand at work in our lives. We also experience other distractions—nagging negatives, petty prejudices, exasperating expectations, desperately sought-after desires, and ferocious fears that I call hang-ups. These hang-ups can steal our joy and rob us of peace, weighing us down with a burden too heavy to see beyond ourselves. But God did not create us to become subject to our hang-ups. He wants us to be free—free to be creative, to grow and reach our highest potential in Him by overcoming everyday struggles and living a victorious Christian life. Elizabeth Shreve’s article (p. 22) describes how God gives us grace in this process of “Becoming Fearless.” A tall order? Not for my God. It doesn’t take most of us long to realize we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength. This realization comes early with some, but, sadly, much later with others. Early or late, He promises help with our hang-ups. His Word instructs us: “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us” (Heb. 12:1 NLT). What a great solution to hanging up our hang-ups. I’m running! How about you?
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.
September 2015
Gò0dNews Christian Magazine
Pg 4 Pg 6
About Us GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk When Discouragement Hits by Pastor Samuel Burger Pg 8 GoodNews for Kids Five Ways Parents Can Teach Doctrine to Their Kids by Jeremy Wallace Pg 10 GoodNews on Money Matters The Source of Our Security by Andrew Lee Pg 12 GoodNews for Men What You Don’t Know by Alan Smith Pg 14 GoodNews for Women Baking Bundt Cakes and Building Posses of Poison by Kristi Schalk Pg 20 GoodNews for Parents Finding Family at School by Brittany Booher Pg 22 GoodNews for Everyone Becoming Fearless by Elizabeth Shreve Pg 24 GoodNews for Everyone I’m Happy Even When I’m Not Happy by Terrie Ruff Pg 26 GoodNews for Teens Don’t Cut the Cord by Derek Welborn Pg 28 GoodNews for Seniors Paying for Senior Living—You Have Options by Karen Brummer Pg 30 GoodNews for Everyone The Power of Effective Communication by Kelly McDonald Pg 32 GoodNews for Couples The Secret Marriage Healing Agent by David Gray Pg 34 GoodNews for Everyone The Spiritual Discipline of Listening by Julius McCarter
Volunteers in Medicine
Pg 18-19
Pg 16-17
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.
Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
When Discouragement Hits It’s not about how much you do; it’s about what God has called you to be. by Samuel Burger
W
arren Wiersbe wrote: “Ministers are human beings, made of dust, subject to the same forces that discourage and destroy the men and women who sit in the pews. For some reason, many church members have the idea that their pastor is exempt from personal pressures and problems or that
and the ministry our warfare; be it ours, when we cannot see the face of our God, to trust under the shadow of His wings.”2 As you may already know this very familiar verse of Scripture, I want to give you the formula of success in ministry: “For we live by believing and not by seeing.”3
he has a secret system for overcoming the difficulties of life and ministry. He does not. George Morrison has said,” continues Wiersbe, “that God rarely allows His servants to see how much good they are doing, so you will have to work by faith and leave the results to Him. We’ll get the report and the reward when we stand before Him in glory, not one minute before”.1 Even Charles Spurgeon commented on personal discouragement in his life: “Knowing by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means, being visited therewith at seasons by no means few or far between, I thought it might be consolatory to some of my brethren if I gave my thoughts thereon, that young men might not fancy that some strange thing had happened to them when they become for a season possessed by melancholy. Be not dismayed by soultrouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. . . . Continue with double earnestness to serve the Lord when no visible result is before you. Come fair or come foul, the pulpit is our watchtower
If you measure success in ministry by what you see presently, you are not living by faith. I have found this verse of Scripture to be very helpful as a pastor. I have experienced: • Uncontrollable weeping • Seasons of depression • A feeling of isolation and loneliness • Inability to even concentrate. The list goes on, but the very thing to combat these things we go through is to contrast God’s promises against the enemy’s lies. The devil wants you to keep measuring your progress by what you see, but if you measure your progress by what God has called you to be, you are already successful. It’s not about how much you do; it’s about what He’s called you to be. Whether you are a pastor or not, God wants you to know who you are rather than trying to base your identity by what or how much you do. After all, our success in ministry is based on Jesus’ finished work. We are already successful in Christ Jesus.
Warren Wiersbe, “Formula for Frustration,” Prokope, May-June 1987, 1-2 Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972), ch. 11. 3 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) 1 2
6 // September 2015
Samuel Burger is the pastor of Chestuee Baptist Church. Feel free to contact him via email samuelbrgr@yahoo.com.
OCTOBER 6–10, 2015 GET READY FOR THE ULTIMATE REFRESHING!
Perry Stone
Tony Stewart Mark Casto Chris Hill Micah Wood plus Larry and Gina Bean • Lee University’s Campus Choir
You are in for a double portion blessing! You and your entire family are invited to attend the Main Event! Our Annual Fall Festival will be held at the OCI Ranch on Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th. Come and enjoy the craft shows, the Kid’s Corner, and lots of good food from Pam’s Kitchen! Additional events include Preach-A-Mania on Friday, and Gospel Singing under the pavilion on Saturday. Omega Center International • 410 Urbane Road • Cleveland TN 37312
No fee to attend. Registration is required online at perrystone.org.
Gò0dNews for Kids
Five Ways Parents Can Teach Doctrine to Their Kids
Doctrine provides the foundation that helps children understand that the Bible presents one main theme—Jesus Christ. by Jeremy Wallace
C
hristian parents have a responsibility to teach more than just Bible stories and character traits to their children. They also have a responsibility to teach doctrine. Bible stories and character traits are definitely important, but doctrine provides the foundation that can lead to lasting change in a life. While many parents think that doctrine is important, others think their kids aren’t ready for it. The truth is that they are ready for it; parents just have to be intentional about how they teach it. Here are several ideas for teaching doctrine to your kids: 1. Help children understand the doctrine in the songs they sing at church. If your church utilizes doctrinally rich songs, your children are already singing truth, but they might not be thinking about what they are singing. Throughout the week, ask them about a certain song. See if they know what it means. If not, take some time to explain it. The next time they sing that song in church, they will know the importance of its message. 2. Talk about the doctrinal truths in the stories that they already know. If your children have spent any time in church, they are probably familiar with many Bible stories. Each of these stories contain deeper doctrinal truths or themes that are often not taught, however. Bring these topics up and discuss them. For instance, Noah and the ark is not just about the animals, the ark, and the flood. It is about God’s character, His hatred of sin, and His promise of deliverance. Teach truths, not just stories.
8 // September 2015
3. Read through the Jesus Storybook Bible with your children. The Jesus Storybook Bible is a children’s Bible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones. The goal of this Bible is to relate all of the stories it presents to the work of Jesus Christ. This helps children understand that all of the Bible fits together to present one main theme that is connected to one main person—Jesus Christ. 4. Make doctrine practical. Actually, doctrine is already practical. It affects all areas of our lives. The problem is, we are often too busy to think about how. When visiting a widowed grandparent, help your children understand how God’s omnipresence (God is present everywhere) can be a help and an encouragement to your loved one. The next time a storm rolls through, talk to your child about God’s omnipotence (God is all-powerful). Doing this can help them see the practical side of doctrine. 5. Don’t be afraid of developing or using a catechism. While catechisms have received criticism throughout the years, they can be a great help. No catechism replaces Scripture, but it can help children learn important truths in an organized fashion. Find a good one and work through it with your children. While there are many other ways in which to accomplish this, these five ideas are a good place to start. Consider how you can point your children to Christ by teaching doctrine.
Dr. Jeremy Wallace, pastor LifeSpring Baptist Church www.lifespringbaptist.org 423-892-8469
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Gò0dNews on Money Matters
The Source of Our Security The only true source of security lies in our faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ to meet our needs. by Andrew Lee
T
his month, the Social Security program turns eighty years old. Countless news stories have chronicled this historical milestone, and inevitably the stories remind us that Social Security is quickly going broke and likely will be unable in the near future to meet its full obligations to retirees and the disabled. Everywhere we turn, we are reminded that it is our responsibility to plan to save for our own retirement, rather than relying on the government to provide us with enough money to meet our needs after we stop working. I heartily agree with this warning. We are encouraged to invest for retirement using the stock market— and, tellingly, another name for stocks is securities. Think about that. We are encouraged to put our trust and future plans and dreams into pieces of paper known as securities. And these days, we don’t even usually receive the physical piece of paper known as a stock certificate. Rather, those certificates are held by some broker or other custodian, and we have to take the person’s word that we really do own some stock
10 // September 2015
some place, even though we’ve never actually seen or touched our stock certificates. But wait . . . there’s more. How do we know how much money we have in our various retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, checking accounts, or savings accounts? Maybe we have an app on our cell phone that allows us to check our balances at any moment. Maybe we simply log on to the bank’s website to see more numbers on a screen, or perhaps we check the mail every month for a bank statement—another piece of paper. When it’s all said and done, we’re ultimately relying on a computer terminal somewhere to tell us whether or not we have wealth (money) in our accounts. Is that really the source of our security? Should it be? Now don’t get me wrong. Anyone who has read any of my previous columns should know that I advocate investing in the stock markets for the long-term creation of wealth and to plan for retirement and other long-term goals. And I’m certainly not a fear-mongering doomsday prophet telling folks to pull their money out of the bank,
to buy gold, or to dig a bunker in the backyard and stock up on ammunition and firearms. (Frankly, those doomsayers annoy me. I’m an incurable optimist). Rather, the purpose of my column this month is to encourage us to remember that our only true source of security lies in our faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ to meet our needs and to secure our eternal salvation. Only in Christ will we find the surest sense of security and the peace that passes all understanding. Save and invest your money for the future— absolutely. But don’t pin your hopes and dreams on the flickering of numbers on a computer screen if, in the process, you lose sight of what’s truly important. As Jesus reminds us, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20 NIV).
Dr. Andrew Lee is professor 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
No Matter the Weather Be thankful and teach gratitude to your children for the little things. by Chris Moser
M
an, it is just too hot out there! I would
be thankful for the heat, the rain, the cold. All the
be so happy if it wasn’t so cold. Can you
elements that make up our beautiful and magnificent
believe all this rain we have been getting?
world should be seen as wonderful, and we should
I can’t wait until spring; I can’t wait until fall, or I
show gratitude. These lessons are mostly caught and
can’t wait until summer. When was the last time you
not taught, though.
were thankful? When was the
The next time you are
last time you said “Man, it is
about to complain about some
just beautiful out here today.
aspect of the weather, why not
Thank you, Lord, for this
ask yourself: Do I want to teach
wonderful day!”
negativity to my children about
Raising two boys comes
something I have no control
with all sorts of worries and
over? Or do I want to show my
stress. You are, on one hand,
child that I can be as the apostle
drudging through the long
Paul said in Philippians 4:12:
days of soccer practice, music
“I have learned the secret of
lessons, and homework. While
being content in any and every
on the other hand, you are
situation. . . .” (NIV).
working to teach them about
Men, let’s lead by
life and how to be the man
example. The next time your
God wants each one to be.
golf game gets canceled by
One of those things
rain or the fish aren’t biting
we should be teaching
because of the heat, find
our children is how to be
something about that day to
thankful—not just teaching
be thankful for. Let’s teach
them to thank God for their
our children that no matter
food before they eat or be glad that they have a roof
the weather, we will praise the Lord for another day
over their head. Those things are important, but what
to live—especially here in the Southeast Tennessee
about the little things? What about being thankful for
Valley. We have so much beauty around us to praise
the break in 90 degree heat, or thankful for the rain
our Creator for. Τhank Him for the magnificent
when it comes instead of cursing it for the plans that
mountains, the rivers, and the rolling hills of East
it may have ruined? Weather is one thing that we all
Tennessee. Even in the rain, fog, heat, and the cold,
complain about; yet, it is something that no one can
this is a wonderful place to live. So be thankful and
do a single thing about by complaining.
teach gratitude to your children today.
This is not an article about climate change or some political call to fix the environment. This is a simple call to all men to teach your children to
12 // September 2015
Chris Moser is a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Lee University graduate and Court Liaison Team Leader at The State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Service.
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Gò0dNews for Women
Baking Bundt Cakes and Building Posses of Poison
R
When life treats you unfairly, make a choice to look beyond your mistreatment and sing a song to Jesus. by Kristi Schalk
ecently I attended a seminar
her life, when her phone suddenly
those government officials were wrong.
where the speaker was
plays your ringer (likely “Every
I would have been whining about how
discussing negativity in the
Rose Has Its Thorn”), giving her the
I’d been treated unfairly. I would have
workplace. He spoke of a former
warning she doesn’t need to answer.
thrown as much negativity around the
colleague who would prey upon new
She answers nonetheless—because
prison as I could! But that’s not what
employees by bringing him or her a
she’s a good friend. Then we inject our
they did.
Bundt cake, coaxing the person into
poison as we dive into all the horrible
relaxation and security, and then
things that have happened, or been
around them with negativity, they did
spreading her negativity to this sad
done to us.
just the opposite—no complaining,
soul. He stated that she had built her own “Posse of Poison.” Poison can be lethal. It spreads
I have always been a positive
Instead of injecting everyone
no grumbling, and no venting. They
person and tried to be a cheerleader
found the willpower to ignore their
for those around me. Last year, I
mistreatment and simply sing a song
throughout the body, quickly
had a rough few months. I drank the
to Jesus. In the end, God miraculously
damaging internal organs. As women,
poison and began to allow it to seep
freed them. But perhaps the greater
we carry a deadly poison, and all
out of me into others. At some point, I
miracle was that the jailer who wanted
too often, we inject our friends and
apparently made a choice to run with
to kill himself, decided instead to give
colleagues. The poison we often spread
my negativity and spread it to anyone
his life to Jesus. Do you think he could
faster than 4G is negativity.
who would listen. It made
have made that decision if Paul and
for a rough few months.
Silas had mumbled and complained
we call when in need of some good
And while I tried to blame
rather than praised?
ole commiserating. The poor friend,
everybody else; the truth is, I
If you’re having a bad day, the
made a choice to focus on and
Enemy expects you to gripe, moan, and
We all have one or more friends
though, could be having the greatest day of
spread my negativity. I could have chosen to do otherwise. And as I ponder this poor choice from many moons ago, I
listen. Instead, do what Paul and Silas did: sing praises. Bake your friend a Bundt cake,
consider the Biblical story of Paul
and then, instead of venting about
and Silas as they were locked-up in
how horrible your day/friend/boss/
prison in Acts 16. What if Paul and
coworker/spouse (fill-in-the-blank)
Silas had made the same choice as I
treated you yesterday, tell them how
had made? What if they began to tell
great God’s been this week. Rather than
everyone the negative side of their
injecting a lethal dose of negativity,
story? If it had been me, I’m pretty
maybe we can inject a healthy dose of
sure I would have been telling all my
“How Great Is Our God.”
fellow inmates about how I had been treated unjustly, how I was right and
14 // September 2015
spread your poison to anyone who will
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Chattanooga Church Directory Anglican
Anglican Church of the Redeemer 423.892.1101 104 McBrien Rd, 37411
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 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
16 // September 2015
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 Church of the Highlands 423.493.4111 6621 Hunter Road, Harrison, TN 37341 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 LifeSpring Baptist Church 423.892.8469 1701 Hickory Valley Road, 3742 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, 374081 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 Silverdale Baptist Church 423.892.2173 7236 Bonny Oaks Dr, 37421 Standifer Gap Baptist Church 423.892.8596 8159 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421 Stanley Heights Baptist Church 423.867.8060 1512 Mcbrien Rd, 37412 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 6735 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 The Crossing Church 423.867.7287 7501 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421 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 Redemption Point 423-855-7321 3831 Ooltewah-Ringgold Rd. Ooltewah, TN 37363 Redemption Point Highland Park 423.855.7321 1907 Bailey Ave, 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
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 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 Tyner UMC 423.892-0444 6805 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421
Non-Denominational
Celebration Church 423.892.8979 6425 Lee Highway, 37421 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 New Covenant Fellowship Church 423.899.8001 1326 North Moore Road, 37411 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 5952 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN 37412 (423)521-4440 www.virtuouschurch.org Word of Pentecost Church 423.624.2620 1722 Newton St, 37406
Presbyterian
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
Vineyard Vineyard Christian Fellowship 423.704.2188 10615 London Ln, 37302
Seventh-Day
Collegedale Community 4995 Swinyar Dr. Ooltewah, TN 37363 Hamilton County Church 7997 Shallowford Rd Chattanooga, TN 37421
Wesleyan
Faith Community Wesleyan 7725 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN 37421
issuu.com/goodnewschatt // 17
FEATURED COVER STORY
Volunteers in Medicine: A Culture of Caring
V
Despite the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, there are still many people who can't get insurance. by Ashley Wolfe Evans
olunteers in Medicine exists because a group of people had a vision—a vision in which people with no health insurance or sufficient income to pay for medical services, could receive help in a caring environment. Armed with vision and a dedicated group of volunteers, the Chattanooga Clinic began seeing patients more than ten years ago. The success is obvious: 52,770 patient visits, $74 million-plus in medical care delivered, and 134,054 hours of volunteer service valued at more than $6 million. For anyone who has ever spent any amount of time without health insurance, it can be a discouraging time. For those who also have no safety net such as savings, families who are able to make a loan, or have just been let go from a job, life can be frightening.
18 // September 2015
The Clinic
VIM Chattanooga is a faith-based primary health clinic for low income, uninsured adults in the Greater Chattanooga area, including North Georgia. The Clinic was organized in 2005 by a multi-denominational group of churches. Dr. Robert Bowers, former chief of staff for Memorial Hospital, volunteers as the medical director for the clinic. The scriptural mandate for VIM is based in Matthew 25: “I was sick and you cared for me. . . . Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, you did it to me” (v. 45). The mission is: “To understand and serve the health and wellness needs of the medically underserved in our community by providing
quality, compassionate, and personalized care in a faith-based caring environment.” “The access to care that VIM provides is essential not only to our patients but in reducing Hamilton County taxpayer costs,” says Ashley Evans, executive director for VIM Chattanooga. The misconception that free clinics will have no place post-Affordable Care Act is simply not true. Our patients fall through the cracks between TennCare and ACA premium subsidy eligibility.” VIM Chattanooga is based on a model created by Dr. Jack B. McConnell in Hilton Head, South Carolina, which includes volunteer doctors and nurses with the Culture of Caring. The Culture of Caring is a two-part philosophy. The first is the belief that healing does not begin with a pill or therapy. Healing begins when you greet patients at the door, invite them in, take an interest in their lives, and give them some of the dignity and respect that they often don’t get anywhere else. The second part of the philosophy is the belief that the greatest healing does not go to the people who come to the clinic to receive care, but rather to the volunteers who go there to give it. “I volunteered at VIM as I knew it was a worthy cause and I needed to be active. Since doing this for three years, I realize more each day how fortunate I am to be healthy enough to help others.”
Specialties
Specialties that VIM provides are gynecology, gastroenterology, neurology, optometry, physical therapy, nutrition counseling, life-issues counseling, cardiology, and a children’s reading room. The reading room is stocked with many books and children are encouraged to take a book (or two) home with them. The clinic has six paid staff members to coordinate care, and it is served additionally by over 200 volunteers who include physicians, nurses, technicians, and a host of nonmedically trained individuals. Dr. Robert Bowers says, "Patients come here for care and often get their medication at no cost. If the medications aren’t available through Prescription Assistance programs, we find the least
costly alternative. We see a lot of patients who have been without any of their medication for weeks to months, such as diabetics without insulin, and they are in a semi-crisis.” For patients who are diagnosed at the clinic with something that needs advanced specialized care, Hamilton County residents can be referred to Project Access, a referral network under the leadership of the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga and in partnership with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society. Most care delivered through Project Access is provided at no cost to the patient.
Other Partners
Other partners include the Mary Ellen Locher Breast Center which provides mammograms and follow up care if needed, Memorial Hospital processes all labs, and Parkridge Hospital provides disposal of bioharzardous waste—all at no charge to the clinic or the patient. Being faith based, the clinic takes no government funds. It is funded by compassionate foundations, individuals, churches, and businesses. Exceptional stewardship and transparency are major tenets of the clinic. These are borne out in the fact that for every $1 donated, VIM is able to provide more than $4 of medical service at clinic rates and more than $20 of medical service at conservative emergency-room rates. “VIM gave me peace of mind at a time when it was needed most. It is so hard when you know you are sick and are worried about the cost of exams and medications. They gave me the medical attention I could never have paid for and kept me out of the emergency room.”
issuu.com/goodnewschatt // 19
Gò0dNews for Parents
Finding Family at School
We didn’t know how much our lives would change when we found our children’s school and discovered the love the teachers have for what they do. by Brittany Booher
W
e moved from Ft. Pierce,
following Monday. Whew! We knew
never expected. Our children blossomed
Florida, to Cleveland,
that it was only possible because of God
and made friends. My husband knew no
Tennessee, in the summer of
Instantly, we fell in love with
one, but because of UCA, we now have
2012. The only person we knew here was
Cleveland! The first year here I
people we can count on. This school
my husband’s boss. We are asked often
home-schooled our oldest son as we
gave our family so much more than we
why we would move from the beach
researched different schools and got to
can ever give them!
to here. Cleveland has been a breath of
know our new town. We wanted to keep
fresh air. Little did we know how much
our children in a Christian school. After
my children asked when they could see
our lived would change when we found
that first year, we toured our first and
their teachers again. Why? It’s because
our school.
only choice—United Christian Academy.
the teachers developed a relationship
We worked for a Christian school in
By the third week of summer break,
I had no idea how much my
of nurture and care. They encouraged
Florida. My husband taught the youth,
children would bloom! My oldest son
them, set goals, and helped to see that
and I taught for nine years when we felt
was an average student and kept to
the goals were met. It’s not only the
God leading us in another direction. The
himself, but he was terrified of being on
education that is great, it’s the love the
ministry we worked for could not afford
stage. Our second son was outgoing and
teachers have for what they do. The
to have a school. We knew the door was
had lots of energy. This was his first year
principal knows each child. She looks
closing, but where would we move? We
to be in a school environment. Within
for ways to praise the students.
have three precious children. Having a
one month, we knew we had made
If you are new to Cleveland—
life-altering conversation is very hard
the right choice! Our oldest son was
welcome. You are going to love it here!
with three little ones around. God was
transformed before our eyes. The next
There are many schools here to choose
going to do big things in our lives in
report card, he had straight A’s. Our
from. Our family found ours. May
unexpected ways.
second son started maturing more. The
you be blessed to find a great school
next year our daughter joined UCA’s
“family” like we did!
Beginning when our daughter was three weeks old, my husband underwent
preschool where she matured greatly!
cancer testing and had many medical
My oldest son went from
procedures. Six months later, we learned
stage fright to having a
that he has a severe allergy to dairy that
small solo in the Easter
goes way beyond lactose intolerance,
program. Our second son
sometimes requiring hospitalization.
graduated kindergarten
During these three-hour trips to the
with a maturity I
hospital, my husband and I prayed. This was a rare time God gave us to be alone to talk about our future.
The Move
In July of 2012, my husband had
an interview. By the end of that week, our house in Florida was packed, we had a house in Cleveland, and he started his job the
20 // September 2015
Brittany Booher is the wife of Rich and mother to Joshua, Lee, and Madison. She loves taking care of her family, organizing, natural recipes, essential oils, and living each moment that God has given her.
Church Activities & Events Rock Point Community Church Night of Worship
The Gathering
September 4, 2015 - 7:00pm
September 30th ________________________________________
The Gathering - Great Commission Cafe 4445 Hixson Pike
Hamilton Community Church
This network of evangelical churches in Hamilton County is working to combat human trafficking while bringing love and hope to survivors. For more information or to find out how your church can be involved, visit the Know Love website.
Biker Day & Bar-B-Que September 12, 2015 at 11am
Hixson, Tn 37343
_________________________________________
Woodland Park Baptist Church Sunday, September 6
We WILL have connections classes and a NORMAL AM schedule that morning. Where: Outdoors on the playground side of the building at Woodland Park What: A Fall Round-Up with Baptisms, Hot-Dog Lunch (includes chips, drinks, and Little Debbies), Ministry Info Tables, Games, Inflatables, Volleyball Tournament, and Line-Dancing.
Gò0dNews for Everyone
Becoming Fearless
Almost every Christian has heard 2 Timothy 1:7 quoted: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV). by Elizabeth Shreve courage to do what you already know you can do.
G
journey toward perfection. The problem is, demons know it too,
True courage is displayed when you're afraid to do
and they do their best to remind us of our imperfections every
percent “not fearful.” It might mean being terrified, but jumping
We can be going along, serving God, doing good, stepping
in anyway, going forward when you would rather turn and run,
out in faith, then all of a sudden, without a reason, we'll have a
or holding on when you would rather let go.
day when a “fear attack” hits our minds. That's when we need
od really wants you to use that power! It doesn't take
something, but you do it anyway. Being fearless is not being 100
So many people are so afraid of making a mistake that they
God knows we aren't perfect, so He gives us grace as we
step of the way!
to echo the following passage:
don't do anything. Instead, they sit around saying, “What if I
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty
mess up? What if no one likes me? What if I fail?” Well, we're
through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting
human. We're going to make mistakes; however . . . • Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker.
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
• Failure is delay, not defeat.
thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:4-5 KJV).
• Failure is a small detour—not a dead end.
If there ever was a scripture that promotes bravery, it's
A common mistake we make is thinking we must be
this one. If we are truly going to be fearless, we must realize
perfect all the time. You should say this out loud, “If I fall seven
we have weapons that are mighty. God has not left us on the
times, I will stand up eight.”
battlefield with nothing to protect ourselves. We must take
We can be so afraid of being judged, criticized, or laughed at that we become completely paralyzed. The main thing fear
control of our minds. That's where victory begins. What you give power to, has
does in our lives is hinder our progress. Everything we want is
power over you. Take control of your thoughts by speaking
on the other side of fear. Fear appears like a big, dark wall, but
words of faith. Dare to declare, “I am powerful in Christ! I am full
when we walk through it, we find out it was only a dark curtain.
of faith! I cannot be stopped! I am FEARLESS!”
We must learn to stand before the people we fear and speak our minds, even if our voices tremble. This is called overcoming.
22 // September 2015
Elizabeth Shreve is the wife of Mike Shreve. She has a bachelor’s degree in theology from Beacon School and is an effective speaker and singer and has been ministering primarily in various women's groups.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
I’m Happy Even When I’m Not Happy by Terrie Ruff
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11, NKJV).
I
t was lunchtime and I was ready to eat! It had been a
here for others.” Wow! Being happy even when you’re not
busy morning and I was highly engaged in my work
happy, I told Karen that was a beautiful sign of spiritual
when the loud growling sounds from my stomach
maturity, not to allow feelings to control her life, but in-
reminded me that it was time to take a break. As I entered the cafeteria, I greeted coworkers and the cafeteria crew
stead to be controlled by the Spirit. What a wonderful example Karen is of depending on
and gave Karen her usual hug. As I did, she gave me her
God and allowing her life to be a reflection of His good
usual smile. I sat down and began eating lunch and reflect-
work in her. While I do not believe she is promoting others
ing on an article I glanced at before leaving my office. The
to ignore or discourage their true feelings and emotions,
article’s focus was on knowing God’s will for your life. As I
she has simply reached a point in her experience with God
thought about the key points, I felt impressed to ask Karen
where she has given even her emotions to His care.
how she knew God’s will for her life. She smiled and told me, “I feel it. Sometimes I dream
Karen, you are a beautiful example of the contentment that is promised in God’s Word. You are at peace
about things, like when my mother was sick, I dreamed
and no matter what your situation is, you trust God’s will
she would be healed. I was so excited to tell her that I
for your life and the outcome you have left in His hands.
couldn’t sleep that night and she was healed!” We were
Thank you for sharing with me what contentment means
both laughing and affirming each other’s experiences of
to you. Thank you for being a woman of contentment.
God’s various ways of speaking to His children when I felt
It should be our goal to learn that whatever state we are
impressed to ask her another question. “Karen how do you
in, to be content, and like Karen, to be happy even when
stay content?”
we’re not happy.
Without hesitation, she came over to my table and
Challenge yourself today to NOT be controlled by
told me, “I’m happy even when I’m not happy. That’s my
your feelings or your situation; instead, allow God to con-
ministry to others, that’s the promise I made to God. There
trol your affairs and determine to be content! Be like Karen,
are plenty of times I’m not happy, but I don’t show it. I’m
learn to be happy even when you are NOT happy!
24 // September 2015
Terrie Ruff is originally from South Carolina, but has been in Tennessee for approximately 23 years. She is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker (LMSW). You can email her at Terrieruff@yahoo.com.
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Gò0dNews for Teens
Sometimes Funny Isn’t Fun
A
Youth Counseling Service announces Chonda Pierce, a top-selling female Christian comedienne, as benefit entertainer. by John and Su Vining
ll of us have experienced those “blue” days. For
Switch, Tennessee, and for six years, I impersonated Minnie
many of us, we watch a funny movie or tune into our
Pearl. I still love singing and I still try dancing—but comedy is
favorite comedian/comedienne. What if the person
my first love.”
experiencing a blue day is the comedienne? Chonda Pierce is
Growing up as a preacher’s kid in a Southern church
just such a person. Her real life experience with the dark side
provided Pierce with an arsenal of material that both church-
of depression would seem to be in stark contrast to the image
goers, and those who had never sat in a pew, found hilarious.
of being the top-selling female comedian.
“I come straight from the world of wooden pews and hell-
What makes Chonda Pierce the best-selling female
fire preaching. Some of it probably did a little damage (that’s
comedian ever? It could be her
where I get my warped sense of
hilarious insights on marriage and
humor), but most of those days gave
the unending trials of parenthood,
me solid roots,” she says.
modern life, and aging. Chonda
Despite her popularity as a top-
draws us close as she relates tender
selling comedienne, Chonda knows
stories of loss, depression, and
all too well the pain of loss. After
an amazing God who pulled her
losing her two sisters at an early
through the darkness. She endears
age, watching the breakup of her
herself to audiences everywhere
parents, and most recently losing
as she opens up and publicly deals
her husband of thirty-one years,
with real life—our life. Whether she
Chonda has a deep understanding
performs to thousands in arenas or
of emotional trauma. “You learn a
hundreds in more intimate settings,
lot from your past—what to weed
Chonda always delivers comical
through and throw out and what
and heartwarming tales that has
to hold onto forever.” Sometimes,
audiences laughing so hard their
funny isn’t fun.
faces hurt!
Chonda will appear in
Armed with an abundance
Cleveland as the headliner for this
of unpretentious Southern charm
year’s benefit fundraiser for Youth
and laser-sharp wit, Chonda Pierce has been entertaining
Counseling Service (YCS), a non-profit, licensed mental health
audiences from coast to coast for more than a decade. She has
counseling agency serving the Ocoee region of Southeast
authored eight books and numerous DVD’s. She continues as
Tennessee. Counseling services are provided for children,
a frequent guest at the Grand Ole Opry and has received five
youth, and adults.
Daytime Emmy nominations. Pierce got her first break working at a theme park in
Tickets are available at www.chonda.org or by calling YCS at 423-476-1933. General admission is $22.00. Groups of ten or
Nashville where she performed as Grand Ole Opry star
more are $20. Limited VIP tickets for a special preshow meet-
Minnie Pearl. “I was a college student when I auditioned
and-greet and reserved seating are $50.
at Opryland USA and was cast in a music and dance show called Country Music USA. Trouble is, I was a terrible dancer! Southern preacher’s kids can’t dance. My boss told me I had better come up with another talent. ” She laughs. “In order to keep my job, I memorized three pages of jokes from Grinders
26 // September 2015
Dr. John Kie Vining is the director of Youth Counseling Service, a non-profit, licensed mental health counseling agency located in Cleveland, TN. He is the author, editor, or contributor to more than 20 books. He and his wife, Dr. Su Vining, conduct marriage and family seminars as an extension of their counseling center. He can be reached at 423-476-1933 or johnkvining@gmail.com.
9th Annual VIM Golf Classic September 11, 2015
Brown Acres Golf Course
Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga, serving low income, uninsured friends and neighbors for more than 10 years!
Join Us! Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga invites you and your colleagues to join us on Friday, September 11, 2015 for the 9th Annual VIM Golf Classic, to be held at Brown Acres Golf Course. Thanks to presenting sponsors Capital Toyota, Christ United Methodist Church, Warren & Griffin P.C. and WRCB Channel 3, 100% of the proceeds raised will go to help our low income, uninsured friends and neighbors receiving life saving health care at the VIM Clinic. The tournament format is Captain’s Choice and will offer shotgun starts at 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. Prizes await all contest winners, as well as coveted awards in multiple flighted divisions. All players will receive a player gift package upon registration.
Presented by
As a sponsor, your company can participate in a golf event that saves lives. Last year, more than $500,000 in care was delivered to VIM patients with the proceeds from this tournament. This is an exciting opportunity to support our community with a measureable impact.
Warren & Griffin, P.C.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We are happy to assist you and your organization in any way to aid in your participation. You can register for this tournament online at www.vim-chatt.org.We look forward to seeing you on the course!
HIGHLIGHTS Participants will be treated to breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, golfer skill contests, prizes and more! EVENT SCHEDULE 7:00 AM Registration, Check-in & Complimentary Breakfast 8:00 AM Shotgun start for AM players Noon
Lunch for both AM and PM players
1:00 PM Registration for PM players 2:00 PM Shotgun start for PM players 6:00 PM Dinner and Tournament Awards DURING THE ROUND On Course Contests Beverages & Snacks REGISTRATION
Sincerely, Gene Williford Tournament Chair
Ashley W. Evans VIM Executive Director
Deadline to register is September 9, 2015. Online registration at: www.vim-chatt.org
Comfort. Freedom. Peace of Mind. While growing older can allow for a more relaxed lifestyle, it can also present new obstacles and challenges. Maxim Healthcare Services can help you or your loved one take the first step towards finding the support needed at home to continue to maintain a safe, independent, and enjoyable lifestyle.
Why Choose Maxim?
24-hour availability, including holidays and weekends Flexible payment options Acceptance of most major insurances, workers’ compensation, long-term care, and private pay Trained, screened, and credentialed caregivers Free, comprehensive in-home evaluation Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) A dependable nationwide provider of skilled homecare and companion services
Contact Us Today for More Information! A representative is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions.
6142 Shallowford Road, Suite 103 Chattanooga, TN 37421 Phone: 423-553-5530 • Fax: 423-553-5558; chattanoogaoffice@maxhealth.com
w w w. m ax i m ho m e c a r e . c o m
EOE
Gò0dNews for Seniors Paying for Senior Living—You Have Options Explore your options and learn how to make the best choice for your needs. by Karen Brummer
H
ave you been wondering how
2. Wartime veterans or their
as collateral. Some life insurance
you might pay for senior
surviving spouses may be eligible to
companies offer a Life Settlement
living? Since Medicare does not
receive up to $2000 per month through
product, which in effect, liquidates a
cover senior living expenses, personal
the Veterans’ Administration to help
“whole” life policy, providing funds to
savings and investment income most
defray the cost of assisted living or
be used for living expenses.
often provide the funding to cover the
memory care through the VA Aid
monthly expenses. However, here are
and Attendance Pension Benefit. This
income or who may benefit from more
some additional resources to explore
pension is unrelated to any disability
companionship may choose to share
with a professional.
pension. For more information, contact
an apartment. This option provides
the Veterans’ Affairs office.
all the features and benefits of the
1. Always talk with a trusted financial advisor with a reputable
5. A retiree on a more limited
3. The sale of real estate is a
community only at a more affordable
company about the options appropriate
common source of funding. Some
monthly rate by sharing the expense
for your situation. If Long Term Care
retirees prefer to retain the property but
with a roommate—a great option for
insurance has been purchased and
choose to borrow against the equity in
siblings or longtime friends. A sudden
maintained, monthly benefits will
the home or create a reverse mortgage
decline in health may create a more
generally be paid to a resident requiring
to provide income. With the assistance
immediate need to relocate. In such
assisted living after a waiting period
of a property management service,
cases, The Terrace at Mountain Creek
(typically 60-90 days). A few policies pay
retirees may choose to create an income
has partnered with Elderlife Financial.
stream by leasing their home. For those
This company provides extremely
with a nest egg who are concerned
affordable interest-only “bridge loans”
about outliving those resources, an
to people who need to move in before
annuity may be a good option. When
they receive the funds from selling a
you purchase an annuity, you pay a
home or perhaps securing VA benefits.
for independent living apartments, as well.
lump sum up front and receive regular
Family members can help with
payments back over a promised period
the costs of a loved one's senior living
of time—usually the rest of your life.
expenses by taking advantage of the
4. The major wire houses have
IRS gift tax exemption. Individuals can
investment portfolio credit lines
provide gifts of up to $14,000 per person,
available to clients trying to sell a
per year possibly without paying gift
house and who don't wish to sell their
tax. And be sure to investigate tax
securities in the meantime. These loans
deductions on medical costs related to
allow a retiree to borrow money using eligible
senior living for both the senior and the supporting family member.
marketable securities
28 // September 2015
Karen Brummer is the community relations liaison at The Terrace at Mountain Creek, where she can show her passion for seniors. She not only educates the public on the many aspects of senior living, but she also has a rich history of face-to-face contact with prospects, residents, and their families. This experience, combined with her real-life role of daughter to parents in their 80s, gives her firsthand understanding of seniors and the challenges they face.
Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Power of Effective Communication by Kelly McDonald
C
Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. Genesis 11:1 (NKJV) ommunication can be complicated. In fact,
the believers were one in heart and mind” (4:32 NIV).
human conflict can easily originate with
The Lord united mankind through the Holy Spirit. The
the inability to properly communicate our
Holy Spirit allows us to communicate spiritual truths
thoughts and feelings. This has a great influence on our
to others. Consider the great miracles that happened in
relationships. When we speak, we understand what we
Acts. The Gospel went forth with speed and efficiency.
mean, but does the other person interpret our message
They had effective communication that united them,
the way that we intended?
which came through God’s Spirit.
In Genesis 11:1, the Bible tells us that “The whole earth had one language and one speech.” At this time, the entire world not only had the same language;
This requires humility on our part. There is a temptation to rely on human understanding to figure everything out. Consider
they had a similar culture.
the church at Corinth. It
People understood each
was a church divided
other better. In verse 6,
on many issues.
the Lord said, “Indeed
Personal agendas
the people are one
quenched the
and they all have one
Spirit of God from
language, and this
allowing effective
is what they begin to
communication among
do; now nothing that
the members. The
they propose to do will be withheld from them.” At this point, God confounded language and speech. He confounded not just the words humans
problem in this particular church goes back to Genesis 11. People were trying to build a tower that reached up to heaven. Paul told the Corinthians to be
use (denotation), but the way they would perceive the
in agreement in speech, mind, and thought (see 1 Cor.
use of words (connotation).
1:10). Personal motives had to be sacrificed.
It is astonishing that people could reach such
Believers can come together in unity. The same
a unity that the God of the universe would say,
Jesus died for us all. God desires to see the unity
“. . . now nothing that they purpose to do will be
that was exhibited in Acts. With this unity will come
withheld from them” (Gen. 11:6 NKJV). What if we
miraculous events from God and true revival. The goal
could communicate clearly today? Would not human
is not to come together and build up toward heaven as
relations worldwide be better off? What could the body
in Genesis 11. Instead, we should come together and
of Christ accomplish if we effectively communicated
humble ourselves so that the Kingdom of heaven comes
with one another?
down as in the Book of Acts.
In Acts 2:1, the Bible informs us that “When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (KJV). Later we read, “All
30 // September 2015
Kelly McDonald, Jr. is an ordained evangelist with Hungry Hearts Ministries. He has written 15 books and booklets on Christian Living. www.hungryheartsministry.com
In 1973, Don Britton quit his job at the dealership as a Certified Master Technician and went in business for himself. The main motivation was the lack of future to provide for his family and the lack of integrity at the dealerships where he had worked at. Don was tired of seeing customers sold things they did not need and being overcharged for work they did need. That was 41 years ago. Over the last 41 years, Don has built the business into a well known and well respected auto repair facility, specializing in all types of auto repair, scheduled maintenance, preventative maintenance and especially automatic transmissions on all makes/models of vehicles. East Ridge Transmission & Total Car Care is a large shop with 9 technicians, 2 service advisors, a customer service receptionist, a full time bookkeeper, a maintenance technician and two customer care drivers to pick up and deliver customers and vehicles. And of course Don is there every day to makes sure everything goes well for everyone, especially the customer. If you have not been satisfied with your vehicle service at other shops, please consider ERT as your one stop shop. We do everything from oil changes, to tires, to engines, to transmissions, to brakes, to tune ups, to electronic problems, to emissions and much, much more. We take care of our customers and everything concerning their vehicles! Our specialty is customer service-‐-‐-‐-‐We care about how you feel and what you really need! Don has built this business on integrity, quality work and exceptional customer care. If you begin a relationship with ERT, you will never have to go the dealership or any other shop again for scheduled maintenance or after warranty repairs. Our Google rating is virtually a 5 star and our BBB rating is an A+. Don has built ERT and his life on the principles of God.
Call Today For An Appointment!
$50 OFF for any first time customer! It can be used for anything on any vehicle!
1409 Altamaha Street Chattanooga, TN 37412
$50 OFF
For Any First Time Customer Used For Anything, On Any Vehicle!
Call Today for an Appointment! 899-‐7790
423-899-7790
East Ridge Transmission & Total Car Care 1409 Altamaha Street Chattanooga, TN 37412
Gò0dNews for Couples
The Secret Marriage Healing Agent
R
The Bible instructs the husband to care for, attend to, and bring healing to his mate just as Christ does the church. by David Gray
ecently I was rewiring a new outlet in our house. I realize that for many, this may seem like a simple assignment. However, I am certainly no professional electrician. So this little job was more of an adventure than it was a routine task. First step: remove the outlet cover. Simple enough. Next, I removed the screws that held the outlet inside the electric box. Done. At this point, I was feeling pretty confident. The next step was to pull the outlet out far enough from the wall to loosen the screws that held the electrical wires to the outlet. So I did the obvious: I used my index finger and my thumb to grab each side of the outlet. Not thinking, I placed them squarely on the wires on either side of the outlet. Zap! A jolt blasted through my hand! I immediately jerked my hand back, and without thinking, I jammed my fingers into my mouth to sooth the instantaneous tingling, burning sensation. Surprise! I forgot to flip the breaker that supplied power to the outlet. Whoops . . .lesson learned! Here’s the real lesson: It is a natural response to sooth and heal wounds within our own body. Wounds almost never heal without some intentional attention and care—especially deep wounds. The deeper or more severe the wound, the more care it needs. In the midst of his exposé concerning the relationship between husbands and wives, the apostle Paul made an amazing statement that often may be overlooked. He explains: “Husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife
32 // September 2015
loves himself. No one ever hates his own body, but provides for and takes care of it” (Eph 5:28-29). The reality is all of us are broken. All of us are wounded in some way. The way I read this passage is that it is our job to care for, attend to, and minister to our spouse’s woundedness. It is our responsibility to attempt to sooth and bring healing to our mate. It might even be possible that the reason the Lord put us in their lives is to attend to their healing. Unfortunately, many times we respond to our spouses out of our own woundedness. We tend to react out of self-preservation rather than service. As a result, instead of healing, we often cause further damage and deepen the wound. We know he needs affirmation but instead we criticize, further damaging his ego. We know she needs understanding, but instead we snap, further damaging her self-esteem. But I believe part of God’s call on my life is to recognize my wife’s woundedness and respond and react to her in a way that brings healing—not further damage. Imagine how different our households would be if we actually did what Jesus said we should be doing, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:35 NIV). Jesus came to “bind up the brokenhearted.” If we are truly to love one another as Christ, then attending to one another’s healing might be a top priority. Things to think about.
David Gray is the store manager at Habitat Restore on Grove Ave. He and his wife Kendra have four children and two grandchildren.
Eugene Pike, President • Stephen Pike, Vice President
82 Years of Service 1933-2015
Adding And Organizing Space One Room At A Time We’re celebrating 15 years.
Since 1998
Thank you for your business and support over the years!
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: 1901 BROAD STREET MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-5, SATURDAY 10-2 CALL US OR VISIT US ONLINE: PHONE: 423.517.7190 WWW.CHATTANOOGACLOSET.COM
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Gò0dNews for Seniors
Fit for a Bit or Fit for Life
R
Today mature adults can access information that tracks their personal lifestyle goals and progress, applauds their success, and gives them answers. by Esmerelda Lee
ecently, I noticed many people around me wearing what is called a Fit Bit. They come in several colors and look like a slim hightech watch that tracks a person’s sleep pattern, number of calories burned, activity, and alerts cell phone messages received. A friend proudly displayed her sleep pattern to a group and demonstrated that she was able to sleep deeply for merely four hours during the night; the rest was spent burning calories as she tossed and turned in a
34 // September 2015
restless sleep. Since active, mature adults are part of my life, this started me thinking that seniors could benefit from a Fit Bit or similar application. My research led me to several smart phone apps. The iPhone has an app called Argus, which is free for iPhone users that serves as their own personal trainer. Argus tracks every move—including meals and sleep patterns—by creating a health chart that tracks personal health goals. In addition to these apps, mature adults can also monitor their daily routines to assist them in improving their health. When my children were younger, my husband and I purchased a Noise Maker that mimicked my heartbeat. Since babies become familiar with their mother’s heartbeat during gestation, it stands to reason that hearing the soothing sounds of her heartbeat would relax them and give them a deep, restful sleep. Smart phone Apps similar to Relax Melodies, and many others, do the same thing—only adults get to create their own mix of soothing melodies. There are now applications for brain games that exercise and stimulate the brain. For example, Luminosity is free for the iPhone, as well as medical apps that can access health information. Urgent Care and MedCoach (free for iPhone and Android), apps track your medical symptoms, and others assist you in meditation—all serving as a lifestyle coach. While giving power and control to the individual, these applications are
only as good as the data input by the user. Fit Bits and smart phones are very useful, but the responsibility still lies with each individual. Those who spend the day watching television until late at night will find that no amount of soothing melodies will allow them to enter into restful sleep. Choices are still ours to make. Bob Sliger, a ninety-year-old resident at Garden Plaza, walks three miles a day on our community Greenway. During inclement weather, he walks the hallways of Garden Plaza Cleveland to meet his goal. While we cannot all be like Bob, we can choose our own goals. I know friends who use their weekly game of Bridge to exercise their minds; others that use their Wii Fit to play tennis, and many who continue with Pickle Ball at the local YMCA. I love the idea that I really don’t need to pay for a sleep study to tell me that my sleep patterns are irregular or pay for a personal trainer or personal chef. Applications through smart phones, iPads, and the Fit Bit can track and assist throughout this journey. While I personally do not enjoy being hooked to my smart phone and have no plans of purchasing a Fit Bit, I believe that whether you use a good oldfashioned journal and a great friend as your personal lifestyle coach, an app, or a Fit Bit, you can be your own version of fit for life. It’s your journey . . . if only for a bit!
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.
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s not too late to chase your dreams. Love, Your kids
FINISH YOUR
RACE
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Bill Stafford
Doug Janeway
Please join us in welcoming our newest agents, Bill Stafford and Doug Janeway. Call 423.875.0949 or visit gossinsurance.com