Gò0dNews Complimentary
August 2016
Christian Magazine
Cleveland
50
TH
EDITION
OF
Gò0dNews
Christian Magazine
• A God of Revival and Restoration p. 8 • Finding Completion in Christ p. 34 • Making God’s Love Credible p. 54
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain... Revelation 21:4
A message of hope from
Funeral Home & Crematory
Writers
Andrew Lee Andrew Shaffer Charles G. Laws Charlton S. Lewis Darlene Lofty Deana Thompson Delaney Walker Don Smith Emily Dawe Esmerelda Lee Glenda Prichard Hannah Davis John Garrod Julius McCarter Kelly McDonald Jr. Kristy Adams Nikki Byrd Paulette Lewis Rusty Asble Samuel Burger Steve Gilbert Wanda Griffith
Sales
Brooke Hale 423-432-6401 brooke.goodnews@gmail.com
Design
Caleb Prytherch Matt Green
Photographer Paula Knipp 423-310-4207
GoodNews CM
Distribution 7500 Monthly
Editor
Emily Dawe Wanda Griffith
Publisher
Matthew and Bethany Ruckman Phone: 423-503-1410 E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com
Website
issuu.com/goodnewscm
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 four beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, and Leah Jean. 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!
Business Index AAA Heating & Air….............………….7 Award Realty…………............………15 Bender Realty....................................33 Best Buy Metals……...........…………..2 Burris Construction……..............……31 Candies Creek…………...........……...23 Center for Cosmetic Dentistry............45 The Chiropractic Center….........…….11 Cleveland Plywood……….......………45 Divine Design………………........……15 Dos Bros Burritos…………........…….27 Faithful Friends……………........…… 41 Family Promise..................................25 First Baptist of Cleveland...................13 Fowler’s Seafood Market...................13 Garden Plaza…………………........…35 Honda of Chattanooga………........…..7 Hospice of Chattanooga....................51 Imperial Bakery..................................11 Jenkins…………………….......………37 Life Care of Athens………......……….23 Life Care of Cleveland……….....……35
McIntire & Associates………......……56 McPherson Builders………....……….53 New Life Bible School……….....…….49 New Hope Pregnancy Care Center...25 Nick’s Pizza and Steaks.....................47 NWGA Healthcare Partnership..........55 OK Maguey……………….......……….27 Owens Construction...........................11 Pathway Press……....................……23 Pediatric Dentistry………...........…....37 Perkit’s...............................................27 Quiznos..............................................25 Ralph Buckner Funeral Home.............3 Senior Insurance................................47 Shelter Insurance…………..........…….7 Simply Chic Boutique……..........……15 Smoothie King…………….......………45 Starr Regional……………….......……43 Surf’s Up Car Wash.............................9 United Christian Academy……...……21 White Wing........................................37 YMCA……………………….....………27
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.
Contents 18
Letter from the Editor
28
GoodNews for Life
6 Change Is Not Your Enemy 20 A Voice for the Unborn by Wanda Griffith
GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk
8
A God of Revival and Restoration by Steve Gilbert
GoodNews for Kids
10 Beating the Back-toSchool Blues by Kristy Adams
GoodNews in Money Matters
12 Five Pivotal Life Stages in Planning for Retirement by Andrew Lee
GoodNews for Men
14 A Few Words on Oral Safety by John Garrod GoodNews for Women
16 To Be or Not to Be by Nikki Byrd GoodNews for Parents
18 School Supply List for Teachers and Parents by Glenda Prichard
by Delaney Walker GoodNews for Health & Fitness
22 Group Fitness
by Hannah Davis GoodNews Cover Story
28 Bender Realty by Emily Dawe GoodNews for Teens
54
GoodNews for Everyone
40 The Triple Braided Cord by Samuel Burger GoodNews from the Outdoors
42 Taking Faith to the Field by Rusty Asble GoodNews for your Taste Buds
44 Yeast Bread
by Deana Thompson GoodNews for Everyone
30 A Mountiantop Experience 46 A Cup of Cold Water by Andrew Shaffer by Charlton S. Lewis
GoodNews for Everyone
32 The Stranger at the Grocery Store by Paulette Lewis GoodNews for Couples
34 Finding Completion in Christ by Don Smith
GoodNews for Seniors
36 Driving Miss Daisy by Esmerelda Lee GoodNews for Everyone
38 The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2) by Kelly McDonald Jr.
GoodNews for Everyone
50 The Parable of the Fig Tree Charles G. Laws
GoodNews for Grandparents
52 When You’re the “Other” Grandmother by Darlene Lofty GoodNews for Everyone
54 Making God’s Love Credible by Julius McCarter
Gò0dNews from the Editor
Change Is Not Your Enemy
This issue of Good News spells out the many changes we face after a long and restful summer break. In her article, Glenda Prichard gives us a list of gifts from A to Z every child needs. Teachers and parents can also benefit by embracing her list of gifts.
O
ften when we do something new, it seems awkward and uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong—just that it’s new. Soon it gets easier. It takes hundreds of blows for a stone-cutter to split a rock. Each stroke combines with those before, building eventual success. Learning to handle change happens the same way. For me, change is familiar—and most of the time exciting. Growing up, I never lived in a house (or parsonage) for more than two or three years because pastors of small churches moved often—sometimes all the way across the state or to another state. Other than missing my old friends, I didn’t resent the change. I just made new friends in a new town and in a new school. (Military families experience the same type of changes in locations.) Those who like change too much may have a tendency to become fickle and unstable. On the other hand, a person who resists change too strongly could become inflexible. It’s important to find the balance between jumping at every new change and digging in your heels with stubborn resistance at any change. The
key is to know the answer to the question, “Is this what the Lord wants me to do?” If it is, embrace the change. He will fill in all the blanks! Whether through a growing sense of discontentment, a fresh clarity of insight, or a providential opportunity, God wants us to recognize the signs of transition and be attentive to them when He is ready for us to make a change in our lives. I’ve learned that change is also a necessary part of the Christian life. Unfortunately, sometimes it throws us out of balance. Instead of being excited by the growth possibilities, we become exasperated at the losses the change represents. Facing unsettling issues forces us to walk by faith and learn to trust the Lord in a new set of circumstances. If you treat change as an enemy, if you try to keep it from touching your life, it will penetrate more and you’ll be under greater pressure. But if you look at change as a friend, as something that’s going to happen to you anyway, things are different. Ask, “How can I make the best of this situation? How can I look at change as an opportunity for improvement?” The good news is that when our conscious beliefs match our unconscious beliefs, there is no stopping us. When this happens, we are living life from the inside out. Put another way, we are living a congruent life. It is this congruency that allows us to fulfill our purpose, achieve our goals, and be our very best. Sometimes the changes that produce stress are the very things that give color and enjoyment to life. The things that have enriched my life are often found in situations I might have avoided if I were afraid of change and challenge. Dealing with the challenges has made me stronger and better able to withstand pressure. Ezekiel 36:26 gives us this promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (NKJV).
Wanda Griffith 6 // August 2016
Wanda is a writer, editor, and conference speaker who works from home. She posts devotions on her Web site: www.wandagriffith.com.
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Gò0dNews from the Pastor's Desk
A God of Revival and Restoration Do Christians have a responsibility and opportunity to facilitate this revival?
I
by Steve Gilbert
believe that I can safely say that everyone in America is deeply concerned about the current events in our homeland, and even around the world. Almost everyday we are affected by hate, murder, and injustice. But the purpose of this article is not to remind you that our world is broken but to remind you that our God is the author of revival and restoration. I am totally convinced that He has not given up on His Creation, and soon all things will be made new. In the beginning of time, everything was good (see Gen. 1:1,2; 31). However, it soon took a terrible turn when Adam and Eve took things into their own hands. They made decisions based on deception and lies (see ch. 3). But our God is a God of revival and restoration, and in Genesis 3:15, a solution to the problem was promised. Then in Matthew 1, we read of the solution coming to dwell among us to redeem us from our fallen state. The Message Bible states in John 1:14: “The Word . . . moved into our neighborhood.” So the payment for the promise made earlier was provided. When we come into covenant with God through His Son Jesus, that revival and restoration happens, and we grow in that new life daily. It’s evident that not everyone in the world has accepted this new way, and we see terrible things happening all around us. But don’t give up hope, because again, our God is a God of revival and restoration. In Acts 2, Peter preached that when the Holy Spirit would be poured out in the last days, a revival is promised. And in Revelation 21, we read of a new heaven and a new earth with no more death or crying; that’s restoration! If you’re a follower of Christ, a believer, a Christian, you have a responsibility and opportunity to facilitate this revival. This world, our children, and our friends need to hear this message of hope.
8 // August 2016
It can happen if we will repent of our sins and pray (see 2 Chron. 7:14). Many people are looking for a political solution to our country’s problems. Others are depending upon military strength for their safety. Sure, our government and elected leaders make promises to us, but I am persuaded that our greatest need and only real fix is a spiritual awakening, a realization and acceptance of Jesus Christ. He is the Author of this revival and restoration I write about today.
Pastor Steve Gilbert and his wife Teresa are the lead pastors at Heritage Fellowship in McDonald, TN. It is their desire to help families connect to God, to the family of God and to their God given purpose.
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Gò0dNews for Kids
Beating the Back-to-School Blues Tips and tricks to help anxiety in both the child and parent.
I
by Kristy Adams
s your child stressed about returning to school? Students from preschool to college age commonly dread leaving the relaxation of summer behind for the beginning of another school year. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous. School can be stressful, and beginning a new year is never easy. It brings a lot of uncertainty, which can leave your child unsure and nervous. While it is common to worry about school, it is not always necessary. Here are a few tips and tricks for calming those nerves. Plan your routine in advance. Figure out your back-to-school routine at least two weeks in advance. The last thing your nervous child needs is a stressed-out parent. Figuring out morning and evening routines and starting those before school starts back will help ease anxiety in both your child and you.
10 // August 2016
More Helpful Suggestions • Make sure your child understands that it is normal to feel nervous about starting a new school year. Talk freely and regularly about those feelings. Make it a dinnertime subject, and allow the child to make it a focus during prayer time. • Make a school-day schedule from start to finish. What does your child think a typical school day should look like from waking up to going to bed? Allow your child to take responsibility in mapping that schedule out, including things like homework time, bath time, and prep time for the following school day. • Go shopping for school supplies, and make it fun! Take a day for you and your child to get ready for the first day of school. School supply shopping does not have to be a dread. Allow your child to take part in shopping and picking out her supplies. • Put together a goal board for the new school year. Include anything from grades your child desires to earn, to making new friends. What goals and expectations can your child set that will allow him to take the dread off of the new year? This needs to be your child’s goals and not yours. • Make scripture cards to put in your child’s backpack, books, and lunchboxes. Having a list of your favorite motivating scripture verses on hand when those nerves hit will surely be a welcomed sight to your child. Three of my very favorite scriptures to focus on when dealing with anxiety are Proverb 18:10; Philippians 4:6-7; and 1 Peter 5:6-7. Soothing your child’s worries with these tips and tricks should allow for a very exciting first day of school filled with positive memories and new adventures along with a lot less worry.
Kristy Adams is an Educational Therapist, Dyslexia Specialist, and t h e ow n e r of t h e C e nte r s f or Creative Learning
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5
Pivotal Life Stages in Planning for Retirement MONEY MATTERS WITH DR. ANDREW LEE
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.
N
o matter our current age, as we look back on our lives thus far we can readily identify some key moments when we made decisions that set us on a particular path. Perhaps it was a marriage, birth of a child, accepting a new job or career path, moving to another part of the country, and the most important decision of all— accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Similarly, there are five pivotal stages in our lives when we should make key decisions about securing a comfortable retirement plan for our golden years. These five stages were outlined recently in a radio podcast called “On the Money Radio” by certified financial planner Steve Pomeranz (I highly recommend his show which is available on iHeart Radio app for smartphones). The first pivotal life stage is age twenty-five when most workers are launching their careers. This is the time to sign up for your employer’s retirement plan if one is offered (401k or 403b plan), or to open a Roth IRA account for yourself if no retirement plan is available with your employer. By making the decision to start saving for retirement at age twenty-five (or earlier preferably), you have approximately four decades of compound interest to help you reach your retirement goals. The longer you wait to start saving for retirement, the more you’ll need to save and the harder it will be to reach your goals. So if you didn’t start at twenty-five, start now. The second pivotal life stage for retirement planning is age forty-five. For those who started saving for retirement in their twenties, they’ve had nearly two decades at this point for their retirement savings to grow, and hopefully the financial rewards of saving regularly are by now obvious. But now is the time to “crank it up”. Men’s peak earning years begin around age forty-eight, and women’s peak earning years begin around age thirty-nine according to many studies. By allocating at least ten percent of your income every month for retirement savings, these are the years when you’ll likely be
12 // August 2016
contributing the most money to your retirement plan. With your career at the midway point (assuming another two decades of working and then retirement at approximately age sixty-five), this is the time to sit down with a retirement calculator planning tool to see how much you’ve saved thus far and whether or not you’re on track to meet your desired retirement savings goals by your mid-sixties. If not, you can adjust your spending and saving in order to reach your goals. The third life stage is age sixty when you should think carefully about when you want to start drawing your Social Security check. Choosing to take Social Security at age sixty-two will result in a permanent reduction of your benefit check by approximately thirty percent, as opposed to waiting until your mid to late sixties to reach your normal retirement age, or even waiting until age seventy in order to receive the maximum benefit check. If married, consider when your spouse will begin receiving Social Security and take this into account when making your decision. The final two pivotal life stages are age sixty-five and age seventy. At sixty-five, one should carefully understand how to enroll in MediCare, since you have only three months from the day you turn sixty-five to enroll, or else you begin to pay penalties if you enroll after that time. Finally, at age 70 ½, you must begin to withdraw money from your retirement accounts if you haven’t already begun to do so. Failure to do this will result in a whopping fifty percent penalty on the amount of money you should have withdrawn that year. So, check yourself and examine each of these important milestones along your path to retirement planning. If you “missed” a stage, don’t panic. Just take stock of where you are at this point, and then proceed with the next steps coming up. We know the old adage, “failing to plan is planning to fail”; and as God reminds us in Proverbs 21:5, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
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Gò0dNews for Men
A Few Words on Oral Safety “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” —Matthew 12:34 KJV
I
by John Garrod
’ve been privileged the last few years to help teach Hunter Education as a volunteer for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. We cover many topics, all in the hopes of helping young hunters safely enjoy the outdoors. As I tell them, at the least I want to make sure they don’t shoot me out there. We cram a lot of information in, but there are some things that are very crucial, like firearms safety. We stress the “10 Commandments of Firearms Safety.” Point muzzle in a safe direction—always. Keep finger outside trigger guard until ready to fire. Always check to see that the chamber and magazine are empty. The Bible talks about a deadly weapon, too. It can cause irreversible damage if misused, should be used only with competent guidance, and is easier to operate than a revolver. The Bible cautions about this dangerous tool, and describes what harm comes from wielding it the wrong way. Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (KJV). James 3:8 says “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (KJV) If anything has gotten me in trouble as an adult, nothing has done so more often than my mouth. I have a “gift” for sarcasm, and it is the weapon I go to by default when I am in tense situations. As a man, I tend to be a creature of quick reaction—an eye for an eye, a tooth for
14 // August 2016
a tooth and all that. The problem is: Just as you can’t get toothpaste back into a tube or a bullet back into a gun, words, once spoken, can’t be retracted. With no more thought than a knee-jerk reaction to a reflex test, we can do harm even to those we love, leaving scars that may outlast our own lives. If we need a refresher course on safe handling of a deadly weapon, it is for this formidable tool. Fortunately, some of the same concepts apply. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29 KJV). Keep your finger outside trigger mode until ready to fire. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Ps. 141:3 ESV). Always check to see the chamber and magazine are empty (of sinful thoughts). Keep your heart and spirit empty of all things not of God, and you won’t have anything nasty to fire. Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”(KJV). Like a firearm, the mouth can be used for good or evil. The difference is in the preparation, the training, and the spirit of the person using it. Be sure you’re using yours appropriately.
John Garrod is a father of six, husband of one, Army veteran, and a resident of Tennessee for the past four years. He is a member at South Cleveland Church of God.
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Gò0dNews for Women
To Be or Not to Be
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” —Genesis 17:17 NIV
I
by Nikki Byrd
never knew how much of an impact this verse would have on me. Not only on me, but in my relationship. This verse isn’t only about two famous characters in the Bible, who in their old age were blessed by God with a child. The meaning of these verses has a deeper meaning than this blessing that was given to them, a greater depth that has put a knowledgeable, confirming dent in my life. I recently started dating my boyfriend about a month and a half ago. Before I entered a relationship with him, I had an opportunity to get to know him. I learned a shocking piece of information from him— one I thought would ruin my life forever! Well, maybe not ruin my life forever, but it was enough to have me Bible searching, seeking God for an answer. I was disappointed to learn that my boyfriend is thirty-two years old. You are definitely wondering how old I am, huh? Like Sarah, but off by one year I am nine years younger than my boyfriend. Yes, pull out your thinking caps, calculators, scratch paper, or
whatever you need to do the math. If you did your math correctly, you would find I am twenty-three years old. Who would ever thought those math classes we detested would come in handy? I searched for an answer to my question, “Is it right or wrong for me to date someone nine years older than me?” I always heard the saying, “Age ain’t nothing but a number.” In my case, I wanted to see if this saying was true. The Bible doesn’t say when Abraham and Sarah met each other whether in their twenties or sixties, or any other age for that matter. But the Bible clearly states Abraham was one 100 and Sarah was ninety when God promised they would have a child. I told myself I did not want someone more than seven years older than me. But an interesting note stood out to me: I have a boyfriend who admits his shortcomings, but is striving after God’s heart. I know if he admits that as long as he keeps God first, then I have faith God will align our relationship up to His love. Yes, I feel God has confirmed that I am good to date someone nine years older than me whether we have an extensive or diminutive relationship. But what stands out to me as well is the maturity level of dating someone older or younger. We are of a sound mind, asking God to renew our minds, our thoughts daily. We are running after God and seeking him every day of our lives whether we are apart or together. He is my Abraham and I am his Sarah.
My name is Nikki Byrd. I am from Chattanooga, TN. I graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, with my bachelor of arts in English. Two of my life goals are to become a secondary teacher and an inspirational speaker.
16 // August 2016
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Gò0dNews for Parents School Supply List for Teachers and Parents A bare classroom can be transformed into a room that inspires students to explore, learn, and make friendships.
I
by Glenda Prichard
have spent many years in early childhood education. This is an area I love! As we come to this time of year when our attention is on back-to-school I feel excitement as I go into the stores and see school supplies. The pencils, the smell of new crayons, notebooks, construction paper, etc., make my heart smile. I really enjoy going into a bare classroom and transforming it into a room that inspires students to explore, learn, make friendships, and realize the world is full of fun things to learn. I had the privilege of teaching at a private preschool where, at the beginning of the year, our headmaster gave us a list of gifts every child needed. This list changed the way I taught my students, and I want to share this very special list with you.
A: Affirmation—affirm children daily. B: Belief—help children believe in themselves and let them know you believe in them. C: Commitment—let children know you are standing by them. D: Discipline—provide boundaries. Children are happiest when they understand the boundaries. E: Encouragement—be their cheerleader. F: Faith—instill values and help them work through their thoughts without judging. G: Generosity—teach them to give of themselves, their time, money, and talents. H: Happiness—help children learn that true happiness comes when you invest in others. I: Imagination—encourage dreaming and creating. J: Joy—real joy comes from a relationship with Jesus. Let them see Jesus in you. K: Kindness—a little bit of kindness goes a long way. L: Laughter—a sense of humor adds sanity to the day. M: Meekness—let children see the quality of a controlled strength N: Nurturing—children desire to feel loved and valued. O: Opportunities—activities and experiences develop the wellrounded life, but remember moderation is important. P: Praise—keep it short but true! Q: Quietness—help children learn how to calm their heart and
18 // August 2016
spirit by having a quiet time each day. R: Relaxation—on an occasional day, throw the schedule away. S: Success—find ways to accent their strengths so they experience success. T: Time—make a little time each day for each child. U: Understanding—in each situation, remember the child’s personality and family dynamics, and approach every situation bathed in understanding. V: Value—help children identify that true value is found in being created in the image of God. W: Warmth—let your environment be a soft place to fall. X: Expectations—keep expectations high but obtainable. Y: Youth—children want to grow up, but help them enjoy and embrace childhood. Z: Zeal—you can’t relive these years, so live each moment with zeal. Teachers and parents, you are using your heart, your hands, and your voice every day, and with each day you touch a life and change the world! Happy school year!
Glenda Prichard is a preschool and children’s specialist. She is passionate about using her skills and talents with preschoolers and children. Glenda is married to Phil Prichard and they have two sons (and daughters-in-law) and five grandchildren. Glenda and her husband are members of East Athens Baptist Church in Athens, TN. Glenda can be reached at littlehouseinthebigwoods.pg@gmail.com.
Church Activities & Events Broad Street UMC
Pizza, Pool Party, and Top Off Your Summer Ice Cream Sundaes RSVP by August 10, 2016. Ice cream provided; bring a topping to share. $5 donation per family suggested • Date: August 14, 2016 • Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
North Cleveland Church of God WOMEN’S RETREAT
This year’s Women’s retreat will be held in Pigeon Forge at the Music Road Inn, September 23rd-24th. The theme is “Renewed” with Guest Speaker Pastor Rae Orozco. The registration deadline is August 1, 2016, so please contact Angie Rhodes at rttw@bellsouth.net to sign up.
TIM HAWKINS LIVE
Tim’s approach to comedy is best described as one part gifted and two parts twisted. And the three parts set him apart. His stand-up is surgical and honed to perfection, bringing to light the brokenness of human nature while marveling in its hilarity. Join us November 11 at 7PM for a night full of laughter.
First Baptist Cleveland Upward Soccer
$60 Per Child, Includes: Team Jersey, Player Socks, Upward Water Bottle, & Upward Car Magnet. Upward Soccer at First Baptist Cleveland is designed for children age 4 through 8th grade for boys and girls. Children must be 4 years of age by August 8, 2016. Call the Family Life Center today at 423.472.6222!
Living Proof Live with Beth Moore
Friday, August 5 – Saturday, August 6 • $125 Over 2 Million Women Have Been Transformed Over The Last 18 Years! Join best-selling author Beth Moore at Living Proof Live in Nashville and see how one weekend can change your life. No two messages are the same. Worship alongside women of all generations led by Dove Award-winning worship leader Travis Cottrell. Have all the details worked out for you and enjoy the weekend together alongside fellow women of the First Baptist Cleveland family by registering for Living Proof Live through the church. Registering with First Baptist Cleveland keeps friends together and provides admission, lodging, and transportation together at a discounted rate. Register now to be prepared for Living Proof Live with Beth Moore coming this August!
St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church Yard/Bake Sale
Saturday, August 20, 2016, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: St. Therese Church
Cleveland First United Methodist Church
When: Sunday, Aug 7, 2016 Where: Cleveland/Bradley County Schools (map) Description: Join us from 5:00-7:00 PM as we walk through the schools in Cleveland/Bradley County to bless the beginning of a new school year
Gò0dNews for Life
New Hope—A Voice for the Unborn
“You’re off to great places. Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”—Dr. Seuss
A
by Delaney Walker
cross the city and county, students have returned to the hallowed halls of education. Some are excited, some are nervous; some have already started the countdown to summer 2017. All of them have a name, a unique personality, and a history. Some of the elementary, middle, and high school students even have New Hope as a part of their history. Since 1986, we have had the unique opportunity to be a voice for the unborn and a resource for those affected by unplanned pregnancy. Supporters from all walks of life have used our resources to bolster this mission, and in return, the lives of hundreds of babies have been saved. (And those are only the ones we have been able to record.) Due to our commitment to protect the privacy of our clients, it is sometimes difficult to show supporters the impact of their donations. We can give statistics and share a story or two, but there is no way to let them in the counseling room where miracles happen on a daily basis. What we can say is that some of those miracles are sitting beside your child or grandchild in class.
20 // August 2016
These little miracles ranging from five years of age to eighteen are a part of the reason driving through town around 3 p.m. becomes a little more difficult August through June. These New Hope babies, as we like to call them, are a part of the next great generation—an opportunity they almost missed out on experiencing. Here is the kicker: You would not be able to tell the difference between a New Hope baby and another child, teenager, or adult in this community. The reason for this is simple: there is not a difference between the lives aborted, or almost aborted, and the ones who never faced the threat of abortion. The difference lies in the circumstances surrounding a pregnancy. What we have discovered at New Hope is mothers or parents are more likely to choose life when they have support (i.e. someone to talk to, encouragement, education, and help with material goods). Our donors help us provide this support, which in turn means there may be one more smiling face in this year’s class photo. Delaney Walker is the development director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center. She is an avid fan of reading, exercising, and making silly faces at babies in the grocery store.
Challenge! OUR TEACHERS WILL SEE YOUR CHILD FOR WHO THEY ARE AS WELL AS WHAT THEY COULD BE.
An academy of excellence...
UNITED CHRISTIAN ACADEMY United Christian Academy has excellent teachers who care—experienced teachers committed to equipping students with the skills to pursue their dreams and face the challenges of life with confidence. In partnership with parents, we are dedicated to providing a strong academic foundation that recognizes the individual learning style of each child while promoting academic excellence, creativity, independence, and spiritual growth. (423) 478-2500 ucacademyinfo.com
423.478.2500 · ucacademyinfo.com
Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness
Group Fitness
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” —Hebrews 10:2425 NIV
L
by Hannah Davis
ast year I started a group training class where I typically work one-on-one or with two to three at a time in my studio. This has allowed me to be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) about exercise form and maintain the quality of the workout. Instructing a group is definitely a challenge because I only have one set of eyes. However, after seeing a demand for it, I forced myself to put my OCD behind me, knowing how important group fitness can be for a community and realizing that I could still trust myself to do a very good job of directing clients to train, using proper form. I am so glad I moved past those issues, because I am experiencing what I know group fitness can do when executed properly by creating an atmosphere of friendly competitiveness and camaraderie that helps people reach fitness goals faster and in a fun way. Just as daunting as starting a group fitness program was for me, I realize that it can also be extremely difficult to try out group fitness. You might be shy, worried others are judging you, or feel like you’re not in shape enough to participate in group fitness yet. If you have a hard time staying active on your own, here’s why you should put those fears behind you and give group fitness a try. Motivation and Encouragement Having a group of friends you can train with is fun. Time flies when you can laugh or yell together in the midst of a workout. Also, it can help you complete your workout faster! Encouraging one another to get through the
22 // August 2016
exercises is a great bonding experience that builds a special kind of fitness community. I’ve always been impressed with how supportive the participants in my classes are one to another! Accountability In a group fitness class you have other people to offer their perspectives and keep you on track. When you’re dedicated to working out in a group setting, you are more likely to stick with that workout because of those in the group. How many times have you told a friend, “I’ll go if you go!”? Competition can be good; it’s almost like a form of goal-setting. Think about it, when you’re in the middle of a 10K and you think, If I can just pass that person in front of me, that drive helps you push harder and achieve that goal of getting ahead. More Affordable I realize that not everyone can afford personal training. Group fitness is an excellent way to get quality training in a group setting. Just make sure your instructor has solid credentials. I’m convinced you will push yourself further than you ever thought you could when training with a group. Real Results And I can’t say this about all group fitness, but I make a strong effort to make sure that my group fitness class is for all levels. I have had ages from 1970 in my classes. There are always modifications or progressions to make the class appropriate for anyone willing to accept the challenge. This means everyone can progress at his or her own pace and experience real results. Visit BodyByHannah.com to find class days and times! You have nothing to lose except maybe a few pounds.
Hannah Davis owns Body By Hannah personal training studio in downtown Cleveland, TN. Hannah served on the advisory board as the fitness expert for Cosmopolitan Magazine and has contributed to publications and books including Women’s Health Magazine, SELF, Yahoo Health, Fitness Magazine, and the Rodale published book, Shape Up Shortcuts. She is the author of the Operation Bikini Body series you can find via her website: BodyByHannah.com.
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294 Old Eureka Rd., Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 790-5660 candiescreekacademy.com
Cleveland Church Directory
Assembly of God Grace Assembly 1976 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-7729 Triune Assembly 301 Sunset Drive Cleveland, TN 37312
Baptist
Beacon Baptist Church 505 Corvin Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7056 Big Spring Baptist Church 1415 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1101 Bellefounte Baptist Church 132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312 Bethel Baptist Tabernacle 3165 Buchanan Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5820 Blue Springs Baptist Church 699 Blue Springs Church Rd SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0932F Candies Creek Church 294 Old Eureka Rd Charleston, TN 37310 423-479-3731 candiescreekchurch.com Cedar Springs Baptist Church 723 Cedar Springs Church Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5506 Center Point Baptist Church 1205 Lower River Rd NW Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 336-2133 Cleveland Cowboy Church 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936 or clevelandcowboychurch.com Cloverleaf Baptist Church 2290 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3617 Clingan Ridge Baptist Church 2412 Georgetown Road, NW Cleveland, TN 37312(423) 472-3511 or www.clinganridgebaptist.com Church At Grace Point 2595 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 728-5050 or grace-point.com Covenant Baptist Church 249 Calhoun Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-2653 Dalton Pike Baptist Church 3055 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7606 Elkmont Baptist Church 4030 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312
24 // August 2016
(423) 479-4600 Emmanuel Baptist Church 1227 Powerline Dr NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 East Cleveland Baptist Church 1145 Arnold St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8728 Farmland Community Church Location: YMCA 10:00am Fairview Baptist Church 5545 Runway Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5353 First Baptist Church 1275 Stuart Road Cleveland, Tennessee 37312 (423)709-9100 or clevelandfbc.com Galilee Baptist Church 665 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 496-2019 Henegar Baptist Church 7423 Mouse Creek Rd. Cleveland Tn 37312 Hopewell Baptist Church 188 Old Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3763 The Journey Church 1668 S Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-4100 Lebanon Baptist Church 1411 Old Parksville Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-6700 Macedonia Baptist Church 3119 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-1713 Maple Street Baptist Church 1700 Maple St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-3622 Maranatha Baptist Church 453 Blue Springs Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-8991 Michigan Avenue Baptist Church 2741 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-8891 Mt Carmel Baptist Church 7619 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1620 New Friendship Baptist Church 1344 Chatata Valley Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-6007 North Cleveland Baptist Church 2815 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8524 or northclevelandbaptist.org Oak Grove Baptist Church 4452 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-9125 Old Pathway Baptist Church
224 Rymer Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 Parkway Baptist Church 185 Meadow Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-5522 or www.parkwaybaptist.info Philadelphia Baptist Church 910 30th St SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 Philippi Baptist Church 2325 Old Harrison Pike NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-5385 Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 799 Inman Street East Cleveland, Tennessee 37311 (423) 476-4081 Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5119 Rolling Brook Baptist Church 1675 Greendale Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-0612 Samples Memorial Baptist Church 371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329 Shenandoah Baptist Church 138 Osment Rd Se, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-0103 or www.sbcministries.com Shiloh Baptist Church 3406 Blair Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-5755 Stuart Park Baptist Church 850 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-6741 Tasso Baptist Church 164 Old Charleston Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2114 Temple Baptist Church 3070 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6813 Thompson Spring Baptist Church 5660 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 790-1823 Union Baptist Church 797 Hughes Lake Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-1720 Valley View Baptist Church 4657 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7707 or vvbaptist.org Washington Avenue Baptist Church 1720 Perry St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0489 Waterville Baptist Church 4555 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-5582 or watervillebaptistchurch.org
West Cleveland Baptist Church 1959 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8927 Westwood Baptist Church 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534 or www.westwoodlife.org White Oak Baptist Church 2043 White Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359
Catholic
St Therese Catholic Church 900 Clingan Ridge Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8123
Charismatic
Cleveland Christian Fellowship Pastor Mark Strickland 695 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-2642 or ccfchurch.us
Church of God
Agape Place Church of God Pastor John and Melanie Arias 2611 Blue Springs Road SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-8691 Cornerstone Church of God Pastor Rick and Lori Sentell 2823 Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0006 Church of God Sanctified, Inc. 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423)479-3895 East Cleveland Church of God Pastor John A. Lombard Jr. 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389 Fellowship of Praise Church of God Pastor Selma Hall 931 Inman Street East Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3121 or fellowshipofpraisecog.org Grace Community Church of God Pastor Kevin Mendel 4745 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312. (423) 614-0708 or www.gracecleveland.org Heritage Fellowship Church of God Pastor Steve Gilbert 4635 S Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316 International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoraciรณn 533 Central Ave. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-1977 or www.iwcchurch.com Lakeview Church of God Pastor Dustin Wilds 105 Pound Street S.E.
Cleveland, TN 37323 (423)-790-5805 or lakeviewcog.org North Cleveland Church of God Pastor Mitch Maloney 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513 or nccog.org Michigan Avenue Church of God Rev. David B. Boles 515 Minnis Road N.E (423) 584-3663 Mt Olive Church of God 3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381 Mt View Church of God 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-6925 South Cleveland Church of God Pastor Chris Moody 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382 or southcleveland.org Westmore Church of God Pastor Kelvin Page 2412 Wolfe Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 559-9646 or www.westmorecog.org Zion Assembly Church of God Pastor Kim Erwin 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337 or zionassemblychurchofgod.com
Church of God of Prophecy Cleveland Spanish COGOP 2610 Grove Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)473-7199 Durkee Road COGOP 201Durkee Rd. Cleveland, TN37312 (423) 472-4384 Keith Street Ministries COGOP 4000 Keith ST. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-2448 Peerless Road COGOP 3301 Peerless Rd. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)303-2680 Spring Place COGOP 2530 Spring Place Rd. Cleveland, TN37311 (423)476-6414 Union Grove COGOP 533 Union Grove Rd Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 479-5357 Wildwood COGOP 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)479-6584
Disciples of Christ First Christian Church 3925 N. Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6682
Episcopal
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 320 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311
Lutheran
First Lutheran Church 195 McIntire Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6811
Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4200 Pryor Rd N.E. Cleveland, TN 37312 423-503-6394
Methodist
Big Spring United Methodist 1196 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5242 Black Fox United Methodist 1820 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-1908 Broad Street United Methodist 155 Central Ave NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5586 First United Methodist Church 3425 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-4504 S. Cleveland United Methodist 1165 Church St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 507-5760 Tasso United Methodist 1106 Tasso Ln NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4457 Trinity United Methodist Church 731 1st St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-7900 Valley Head Methodist Church 920 Mouse Creek Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-0575 Wesley Memorial Methodist 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-9578
Pentecostal
Faith Memorial Church 910 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6281 First United Pentecostal Church 4095 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-9436 Full Gospel House of Prayer Pastor Michael Ferree 1500 Wildwood Ave. Cleveland, TN Set Free Christian Fellowship 1175 King Edwards Ave. Cleveland, TN
Nazarene Cleveland First Church Of The Nazarene
2712 Henderson Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312-5225 423-472-7371 New Hope Church of the Nazarene 2018 Washington Ave Cleveland, TN 37364 (423)479-7343
Non-Denominational Christian Fellowship Ctr 895 6th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-9591 Church Alive Ministries Cleveland, TN 37353 (423) 559-1371 Cleveland Community Chapel Pastor Tazz Reid 1823 Forest Ridge Dr. Cleveland, Tn. 37311 Cleveland Cornerstone Church 533 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1775 Cornerstone Family Church 4997 N. Lee Highway Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 380-9160 cfctn.net Community Hall Church 1305 6th Street Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472 2178 Dwelling Place Church Pastors Jamie and Judy Jacobs Tuttle 523 Urbane Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5200 DPCI.TV Evening Light Gospel Dr. Donald E. Smith, Jr. 200 20th St SE Cleveland, TN 37311 Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654 God’s Family Fellowship 197 Neely Circle NE Cleveland, TN 37312 Phone (423) 790-7533 www.godsfamilyfellowship.net Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226 International House of Fire 1701 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 790-0772 Living Word Church Pastor Evan Cockerham 930 25th Street, NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028 or thelovingchurch.com Norvel Hayes Ministries 155 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-3882 Restoration Fellowship 211 Trewhitt Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-4249 The Simple Gospel 850 Elrod St SE Cleveland, TN 37311
(423) 650-9572 www.pointing2jesus.com Shema Israel Ministry 850 Elrod St SE Cleveland, TN 37311 423-994-8553 Tasso Christian Church 1135 Tasso Lane, Cleveland, Tn. 37312 (423) 479-2705 The Sanctuary Pastors Mike & Elizabeth Shreve 1203 Smith Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)478-2843 / shreveministries.org United Christian Church Pastors Charles and Margie Poteat 2200 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-4277 Unity Christian Ministries Pastor Aubrey Ector 2419 Georgetown RD NW 37312 423-473-9338 Walker Valley Community 787 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-9696
Presbyterian
Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004 First Cumberland Presbyterian 161 2nd St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6751 First Presbyterian Church 433 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5584 Flint Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church Rev. Kevin Wilson 515 Flint Springs Rd Cleveland TN. 37323 423-284-6397 or Facebook Prospect United Cumberland Presbyterian Church 310 New Murraytown Rd., NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-6181 St James Cumberland Presbyterian 151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762 Trinity Presbyterian PCA 1780 Stuart Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-9595
Seventh Day Adventist
Ladd Springs Seventh-Day 5860 Bates Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-1889 Bowman Hills Adventist 300 Westview Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37312 East Cleveland Seventh-Day 801 Howard Circle SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-9299
issuu.com/goodnewscm // 25
Athens Church Directory
Assembly of God
Abundant Blessing 2613 Cardinal St Athens, TN 37303 423-435-5867
Baptist
Antioch Baptist Church 218 Canal St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3332 Central Baptist 13 Nash Dr. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0400 Clearwater Baptist 964 County Rd. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-7147 Covenant Baptist 241 County Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-263-1569 East Athens Baptist 301 Central Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1394 Fairview Baptist 251 County Rd. 128 Athens, TN 37303 423-649-0346 First Baptist 305 Ingleside Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5441 First Bible Baptist 1819 Old Niota Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0765 Freedom Baptist 2207 Velma Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-746-0193 Mount Pleasant Baptist 414 Chester St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-6510 Idelwild Baptist 118 county rd Athens, TN 37303 423-746-0002 Lakeview Baptist 182 County rd. 126 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0451 Mount Pleasant Baptist 414 Chester St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-6510 Mount Verd Baptist 251 County Rd 249 Athens, TN 37303 423-507-1286 New Hopewell Baptist 197 County Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-744-0940
26 // August 2016
New Zion Baptist 393 County Rd 616 Athens, TN 37303 423-263-9841 North Athens Baptist 402 Tellico Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3813 Oak Grove Baptist 1212 County Rd. 100 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-9986 Parkway Baptist 1701 Velma Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9709 Rocky Mount Baptist 1002 Rocky Mount Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8758 Rogers Creek Baptist 510 County Rd 180 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-0295 Short Creek Baptist 892 County Rd. 50 Athens, TN 37303 423-336-5089 South Liberty Baptist 505 County Rd 655 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5124 Union Hill Baptist 258 County Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1241 Unity Baptist 162 County Rd 750 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-0420 Valley View Baptist 323 County Rd 370 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5159 West End Baptist 803 Clark St. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-8274 West View Baptist 2707 Highway 39 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2193
Catholic St. Mary Catholic Church 1291 E. Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-4277
Christian
Athens Christian Church 802 S Matlock Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-5791
Church of God
Aoh Church Of God 501 Ohio St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1279 First Church of God 200 Fisher St. Athens, TN 37303 423-887-5855 Woodward Church of God 507 Woodward Ave Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1618
Community
Christ Community Church 14 Congress PRKY S. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8185
Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) 508 Cedar Springs Rd Athens, TN 373 423-745-0102
Nazarene
Athens Church of the Nazarene 1908 W. Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-744-3017
Episcopal
St Paul Episcopal Church 123 S. Jackson ST. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2224
Lutheran
Athens Lutheran Church 710 Forrest Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9419
Methodist
Allen Memorial UMC 800 Decatur Pike Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1560 Keith Memorial UMC 600 W Madison Ave. Athens, TN 37371 423-745-2612 Piney Grove UMC 767 County Rd. 750 423-462-2130 Athens, TN 37303 Riceville 2519 Cindy St Athens, TN 37303 423-462-2130 St. Mark Ame Zion Methodist 707 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 Tranquility UMC 135 County Rd. 177 Athens, TN 37303 423-334-3062 Trinity UMC 100 E. College St
Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0452 Vine Grove UMC 517 County Rd. 778 Athens, Tn 37303 423-507-5760
Non- Denominational
Ascension Life 935 Rocky Mount Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-829-5102 Christian Freedom Worship Center 109 Cherry St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8999 Calvary Tabernacle of God 2820 Hwy 11 Athens, TN 37303 423-744-7159 Emmanuel Church 1905 Congress Parkway S. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-0851 Great Deliverance Ministries 2329 Clearwater Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-7575 Liberty Church 3328 Hwy 11 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-9248 Overcoming Faith Christian 14 Carter Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-3105 Restoration Church 3115 Hwy 39 Athens, TN 37303 423-745-7777 Sanctury 9 S. Kilgore St. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8900
Pentecostal
Crosslife Ministries 817 S. White St Athens, TN 37313 423-368-7197
Presbyterian
First United Presbyterian Church 321 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 423-744-9073 Freedman Chapel C.P.C.A. 415 Cleveland Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-252-0159 Mars Hill Presbyterian 205 N. Jackson St Athens, TN 37303 423-745-1403
Seveth-Day Adventist
Seveth-Day Adventist 230 New Englewood Rd Athens, TN 37303 423-745-2335
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FEATURED COVER STORY
Bender Realty Bender Realty is where customers send their friends.
I
by Emily Dawe n 1969, Bender Realty opened their doors to the
make money, while not keeping the customer’s interest
Cleveland and Bradley County communities. For
and relationship in the forefront. Bender Realty’s goal
more than forty-seven years, Bender Realty has
is to make lifelong customers and friends out of every
helped both individuals and families find homes and businesses. Their mission has always been to “treat
transaction, and serve the customer for life.” Workman is the owner and broker of Bender Realty
people the way you want to be treated.” Their missional
and works in all areas of the real estate market with
statement of the golden rule has served Bender Realty
a focus on commercial sales and development. He
well over the last forty-seven years, making them the
has played a vital role in bringing many businesses
largest independent, full-service, real estate company in
and industries to the Cleveland and Bradley County
the Cleveland area.
area and has worked with multiple developers in
Jim Workman, the current owner of Bender
the residential, commercial, and professional real
Realty, acquired Bender Realty from its founder, the
estate arenas. Workman has continued to serve this
late Bill Bender, in the early 1980s. Bender Realty is
community in his continuous work on numerous
Cleveland and Bradley County’s largest independent,
boards, both civic and philanthropic.
locally owned and operated, non-franchise, real-estate
Even though the franchise real estate competition is
company. Bill Bender’s philosophy for the business
strong, Bender Realty has continued to be instrumental
matches Workman’s approach; their ideology has
in the growth and support of Cleveland and Bradley
always been that their job is to help people while
County. This business offers the services of more than
maintaining trust, honesty, and integrity. Workman
38 licensed and fully trained agents in residential sales.
says, “Today, so many business people are working to
Their current managing broker, Robert Bradney, has
28 // August 2016
been with Bender Realty since 1997 when he worked
Our goal is to exceed our clients’ and customers’
as an agent. The employees at Bender Realty are well-
expectations, treat people the way they want to be
trained, some being new to the business and some with
treated, and build lifelong relationships with our
more than thirty years of experience.
community and neighbors.”
The sales team is involved in different areas of
Bender Realty continues to support and be involved
the community, and all are dedicated to outstanding
in the area. They support the American Cancer Society,
customer service, creating relationships with clients, and
American Heart Association, United Way, Caring Place,
keeping up with knowledge, statistics, and trends. All
CASA, Southern Heritage Food Drive, Cleveland and
of the agents at Bender Realty have access to continuous
Bradley Chamber of Commerce, BEST Partner with
and up-to-date training on real estate technology, trends,
Stuart Elementary, Habitat for Humanity, Cleveland
and changes affecting today’s real estate market. They
and Bradley Community Concert Association, Allied
have services and tools they provide to their customers
Arts in Education, Chairrees-Jubilee, Newspapers in
and clients including Centralized Showing Service, Visual
School- Cleveland Daily Banner, Empty Stocking Fund,
Tours, and Showcase Realtor.com. All Bender Realty
Creating Christmas Memories, Museum Center at Five
agents have the support of a full-time, experienced staff
Points, and many others.
that assists them with marketing, paperwork, follow-up,
Bender Realty continues to build traditions of family
and technology services, keeping them up-to-date in the
and home from the smallest to the largest transaction.
marketing of homes and property for sellers, as well as
The consistency, dependability, loyalty, and honesty,
the needs of today’s homebuyers.
are always in the forefront of everything Bender Realty
Bender Realty offers and full-service Residential Property Management division managing more than four hundred units in the Cleveland and Bradley
does. That is why, for more than forty-seven years, Bender Realty is where customers send their friends. There is an agent in the office to assist customers six
County area; this includes rentals from apartments,
days a week. They are located at 425 25th Street N.W. in
duplexes, triplexes, and single-family homes. They also
Cleveland and are open Monday through Friday, 8:30
offer internet-based software that allows for internet
AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday 9AM to noon. An agent is
payments, applications, and maintenance features
also available after hours by phoning 423-472-2173. You
for tenants and an owner’s portal that offers internet
can also visit their website at benderrealty.com.
reporting and payments. These features, along with training courses for the staff, protect and enhances the real estate experience for both the owners and the tenants. The Property Management team seeks to stay up-to-date on policies and state laws concerning Tennessee Landlord Tenant Law and policies and to do so, they offer education and training courses for the staff and they have a corporate attorney to advise and guide the staff as well. Jim Workman says, “Our strength for success continues to be our Bender Realty family worker together, where experience and knowledge, together with teamwork, professionalism, and building relationships with our clients, customers, and our community, sets us apart from our competitors.
issuu.com/goodnewscm // 29
Gò0dNews for Teens
A Mountaintop Experience
In the climb between mountains, God helps us grow by molding us into who we are meant to be.
by Andrew Shaffer
A
h . . . the mountaintop experience. You know, that revelatory moment that leaves you feeling like you’ve rediscovered your faith or renewed your passion, or maybe truly encountered God for the first time. Mountaintop experiences speak for themselves—on top of the world, all is well, a moment of clarity. Odds are this summer you’ve sat around a campfire, lit candles on a beach, or climbed a literal mountaintop. You walked away with a new kind of energy. You feel especially “Mosesy” as your face glows from your encounter with God, and people notice. Eventually, that will fade, and it should. Mountaintops are pivotal moments that remind us why our faith is important, sink the anchors into memory, and keep us in place when life gets crazy and things happen that make us question everything. But they can’t and don’t last forever. It’s okay, it’s good news. So as you return from your mountaintops, keep these things in mind. 1. Mountaintop experiences aren’t sustainable. They’re great, but they are spiritually and emotionally draining. Why do you think you’re so tired afterward? It’s not just because you inexplicably stayed up until 4 a.m. every night or kayaked 12 hours straight. Yes, you’re physically tired, but you need to recharge after intense spiritual and emotional experiences too. Look at the disciples. After Jesus’ Transfiguration, Scripture tells us that they needed time to process and
30 // August 2016
didn’t talk to anyone for a while afterward. 2. Mountaintop experiences are limited time offers. There’s only so much room on a mountain, and only so much we can handle. At the Transfiguration, Peter wanted to set up camp and settle in, but Jesus channeled his inner GEICO lady, “That’s not how this works.” Jesus knew they couldn’t and shouldn’t stay. When we encounter God, we’re called to come down from the mountain and share with others. 3. Mountaintop experiences can’t be forced. There’s no way to incite an encounter with God, we can only prepare our hearts and minds. Just as you can’t recreate that amazing family vacation last year. You might get close, but it just has to happen. The real experiences are organic, occur without warning, and are worth looking forward to. This brings us to the valleys, the swamps, and the forests. This is where the real work and growth happens—where the rubber meets the road. It’s less magical, but it’s where God shows up and sinks in. So enjoy the valleys. Appreciate the climb. Feel the burn as you slog up hillsides and wade through swamps, knowing that God is reminding you of where you’ve been and showing you where you’re going. You’ll begin to see even the hardest times as opportunities to let the love you know shine through you and point others toward Christ. And remember, as long as we’re moving in the right direction, another mountaintop is never too far away.
Andrew Shaffer is the minister to youth and their families at First Baptist Dalton, GA. He is a graduate of Mississippi State, Samford and Truett Seminary. He has worked in youth ministry one way or another since 2000, and has been bitten by an otter.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Stranger at the Grocery Store May we see through the eyes of Jesus and love as He loves.
A
by Paulette Lewis
few days ago, my husband and I stopped by a local grocery store to pick up a few items. We chose a line where there was no one waiting, but the cashier didn’t seem to notice our items ready for checkout. We waited, my husband waiting patiently, and me—not too patiently. Finally, one of the managers asked the cashier if everything was all right. That’s when she said she was checking out a customer who had dashed back to pick up a couple more items, but it was taking a long time. About that time, she came around the corner and laid a few more items on the belt. When the order was almost complete, the cashier asked her if she would like to make a donation to a charity. After hesitating, she tried to explain why she couldn’t afford to give. She told how she had been taking care of her brother who had brain damage for fourteen years. I really couldn’t understand her other explanation, but I could relate with not feeling like she could contribute. Trying to ease the situation, I said, “Actually she has been giving for fourteen years as she takes care of her brother in need.” That small statement seem to lift a load from the stranger’s shoulders. Her face brightened up and she thanked me several times. Then before she picked up her groceries to leave, she gave me a huge hug. I had never seen this person before or since, but I embraced her also and thanked her for her service to her brother. In the short time it took us to check out, that total stranger gave me several more hugs. Since
32 // August 2016
that time I have prayed for her and her brother many times. This morning while reading my devotions I came across the scripture that says, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). In the explanation of the scripture the devotion said in part that Jesus brings many people across our paths. We are to love them as He has loved us. It isn’t to be a patronizing love. It is to be His love loving through us (My Utmost For His Highest – May 11). My prayer is that I will see through the eyes of Jesus and love as He loves. It is so easy for me to say “I love you,” or “I am praying for you,” but do I really see the value of the soul of each person I meet? May the Lord help me to love everyone as He loves. His love is perfect for each of us. I pray my love will be more like His love.
Paulette Lewis and her husband, Charlie, have been married for forty-five years. They have three daughters, seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Gò0dNews for Couples
Finding Completion in Christ
Unless our relationship with our Creator is secure, any relationship we engage in here will end up on the rubbish heap.
A
by Don Smith
s I engage on this topic of couples, I am conflicted. We think as humans that we can grasp the concept of love, respect, and the common good. But the Apostle of Love, John, in 1 John 4:10 defines love: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (NIV). What does that mean? What does God mean when He instructs this man to write these words? When couples come together they seek for love?the problem is they don’t know the definition of the word love. Our concept of love is a goofy feeling, an emotional high, a sense of euphoria, all of which lead us nowhere. Love is sacrifice?a sacrifice of our will to His will. Love is surrendering to a plan we can’t see, can’t comprehend, and surely have no clue of its destination. Love is sacrifice?something few want, and even fewer seek. Rather than seeking someone who can complete you; how about finding completion is Christ and Him crucified. Rather than finding a soul mate; how about sanctifying your mind in the One who has redeemed you. Rather than looking over the horizon for your knight in shining armor, you prince charming, your damsel in distress, what about allowing the King of kings to sweep you off your feet and give you eternal life.
34 // August 2016
We are going to enter into relationships with broken people, sinful people, those who think they’re redeemed, but in reality they have only hinted at the thought of Jesus as Lord, not the knowledge that He is Lord. Don’t worry, I’m broken too. We are all broken, living in our own delusion. My goal here is to speak some thought into your psyche that will allow you to open up and first allow God to sanctify you, and then allow Him to bring you to a person with whom you can engage life.
First things first:
Secure your relationship with Christ in God. Seek His will for your mission in life. Sit down in His presence and rest. Satisfy yourself with the person He has for you.
Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Our challenge is in securing our relationship with Him. We have been taught, or at least I have been taught, that God is pleased with us only when we are obedient. While that is correct, we leave out a large portion of God’s nature. An old gospel song says the nature of Him is to “bring us up out of the miry clay and set us on the Rock to stay” That is what God desires to do. He wants to redeem us, teach us, and help us lean on Him in ways we can’t even imagine Donald E. Smith, Jr. and his wife, Deborah are cofounders of Hearts Set Free in Cleveland, TN of which he is also the Executive Director.
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Gò0dNews for Seniors
“Driving Miss Daisy”
Ongoing and candid conversations are recommended in order to establish a pattern of open dialogue about driving.
O
by Esmerelda Lee
ur teenage son has been driving for a year. After purchasing his own car, experiencing the onus of an abnormally high insurance premium, and discovering the pangs of fluctuating gas prices, his earnings from a part time job only go so far. Only days ago, he said, “I have got to get a job that I love and pays well after college, or else I will only be able to drive my car and do nothing else.” “Welcome, to the real world, son,” his father was quick to offer. Having our son on the roads has changed how I view the road and has me looking at drivers with a fresh lens. Statistics show that the rate of fatalities involving drivers over seventy-five is about the same as teenage drivers. According to recent articles, seniors have a higher risk of being involved in an accident for every mile they drive. Many have difficulty walking, but they often insist that their decreased mobility does not impact their ability to drive. For most seniors, giving up driving means a tremendous loss of independence and freedom. To a person losing his or her health, it’s a time where we are adding more restrictions and limitations on them. It’s a complicated decision to request your loved one to give up driving, especially when one experiences a disease such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, where the signs of giving up driving may occur slowly. I have heard it said, “Growing old is not for sissies!” Not everyone relishes giving up control to take up the baton of “Driving Miss Daisy” by having a chauffeur. The time to begin discussing the issue of driving is as early as possible. Experts believe that while any discussions on driving are likely to be emotional for all parties, they should not be delayed.
• • • • •
Forgetting where one is going Getting in accidents or “fender benders” Missing exits or turns Changing lanes without signaling Moving among lanes without fully scoping out surrounding traffic • Going through stop signs without stopping • Forgetting directions to a commonly known place. Here are some helpful tips: Begin by first including your loved one in the decision. Take it from me, there are some crazy drivers out there, and most times, I wish I had the life of “Driving Miss Daisy,” especially when it comes to passing trucks on the interstate. Be prepared to have multiple conversations. Always display patience and understanding. It may irritate and exacerbate their emotions if you bluntly tell someone, “You need to stop driving.” It is more effective to begin by talking about the importance of safety and health, the dangers of certain road conditions, and so on. Offer alternatives. Giving up driving will not be nearly as difficult if there is an appealing alternative. Offer family members the opportunity to take turns driving their senior relative. Most active senior-living communities offer transportation as part of their amenities, so look at these as an option. At the end of the day, it’s often not about giving up driving as much as giving up the feeling of independence that comes with driving. Driving for most people is stressful in itself. Teenagers, mothers involved in multiple picks/drop-offs, and older adults all feel the anxiety of driving. The Bible says it best in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind” (NIV). This is especially true when driving whether you are seventeen or seventy.
Start discussions when you begin to notice things such as: • Hitting curbs when turning
36 // August 2016
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
The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing . . . This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”—John 15:5,8 NIV
T
by Kelly McDonald Jr.
o pick up our discussion of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, we will start with the fifth fruit called kindness in the NIV. It can also be translated as gentleness or moral integrity. This word has a connotation of usefulness, being employed, or benevolence. Once a believer has character built within, he or she can now be employed for Kingdom matters. The next fruit is goodness. Like kindness, it has a connotation of usefulness and excellence. Goodness means doing the right thing, but also the manner in which something is carried out. A believer operating in this fruit will display excellence and zeal in doing the work of God. The seventh fruit is translated as faithfulness or faith. There is a common faith we must all have to be saved (see Rom. 10:9-11). This is different. It refers to a continued confidence in the promises and leading of God. This fruit reflects the character of an individual who is reliable and consistent. We must be reliable or our useful zeal goes to waste. The next fruit is gentleness. It can also be translated as meekness or humility. Gentleness is typically confused with a lowly countenance, like being softhearted or even martyrdom. It is being strong in the Lord but refusing to flaunt such power. This fruit is visible when we choose the right time and situation to
38 // August 2016
exercise God’s power. Jesus had the opportunity to call forth twelve legions of angels to rescue Him, but He refrained. The final fruit of the Spirit is self-control or temperance. This virtue was held by the Greeks to be the foundational virtue. They defined it as the moderation of human desires. Paul makes it the last virtue. In Christ, human desires must be conquered through the first fruit of love. Gentleness was properly displaying power at the right time; self-control is when the Spirit of God turns a situation into your advantage. God masters the situation. We can see a steady progression as we look at all nine aspects of fruits. It starts as we fall in love with our Savior. We then experience joy from being part of God’s plan. Our radically changed lifestyle brings conflict from others but peace within. As we endure trials, we do not lash out. At this point, our character is prepared for Kingdom work. We have the integrity to be trusted with more. As we are used by God, we develop greater zeal for Him. Our zeal then becomes channeled into reliability. This develops into humility as God teaches us the proper way to exert Kingdom authority. Lastly, God turns disadvantages to advantages as He is in complete control.
Kelly McDonald, Jr. is an ordained evangelist with Hungry Hearts Ministries. He has written 15 books and booklets on Christian Living. www.hungryheartsministry.com
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Triple-Braided Cord Be open and true to God, yourself, and others.
E
by Samuel Burger
cclesiastes 4:9-12 reads, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand backto-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triplebraided cord is not easily broken” (NLT). There are a number of things that can make us feel alone such as guilt and shame. Maybe you’re not happy with yourself or what you have done. However, you can still be with people and be lonely. We must understand that accepting the love others offer to us is the way to knock down the walls of loneliness. You need: 1. Support 2. Friendship 3. Love 4. Community 5. Advice As Solomon indicated, “If you fall alone, you are in real trouble.” Your loneliness may be something you have become used to, but it’s depriving you of the life God meant for you. As a result, misery sets in and you become angry and bitter. You can’t let how you’ve been mistreated lead you into ungodly
40 // August 2016
behavior. You’ve got to start fresh. You have to believe in the love others have for you. This “triple-braided cord” are your friends and God joining together to form a community that glorifies God. This community is not easily broken and will speed up the healing you need in your life. As one writer said, “To love is to be vulnerable.” Your vulnerability doesn’t make you weak. It means you find your security in Christ. While we think we are protecting ourselves, we can miss the total will of God. If we don’t think in terms of community, we will end up on the train to nowhere. We end up hurting ourselves while we think we are protecting ourselves. Transparency and honesty is the path to humility. Humility is the key to lasting relationships and the best God has for you. You are meant to be connected to community. Community is a representation of the Triune God. We are made for authentic community and not isolation. We aren’t meant for mere existence but to exemplify the relational design God gifted for humanity. People matter. I matter. You matter. We matter. Community matters.
Samuel Burger is pastor of C h e s t u e e Wor ship C e nte r . Athens Rd Calhoun, TN 37309
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Gò0dNews for Outdoors
Taking Faith to the Field The planning of a new season
T
by Rusty Asble
he desire, the heart, the passion to be in the woods begins to stir strong emotions this time of year. It is due to hope, anticipation, unknown possibilities, and just a primal instinct as a hunter-gatherer. It is respect for God’s Creation, enjoyment in His blessing, and just being thankful for possible future experiences. It soon will be time. Time to go, time to be, time to partake, time to share, time to sit, time to watch, and time to do. Think about it for a minute. Is it almost time? I would have not ever imagined what the outdoors could do, would do, have the possibility to do in someone’s life spirituality, let alone my life. It has changed mine forever. Spiritually, I always say that it is the same powerful message (God’s Word) being used in powerful different methods (outdoor opportunities). Really! Have you ever thought
42 // August 2016
of using your gift this way with your family and colleagues? Facilitating ministry like this changes how I think about it, how I utilize it, and how I build upon it with ethics and integrity. It motivates my relationships with my children, my family at-large, and my friends. It is my ministry, not because I am a vocational minister, but because I am a minister . . . just like you. God has gifted me and I need to use it for Him. How has He gifted you? Would you have ever imagined that just maybe, just maybe, Christ is calling you to do the same in using your giftedness for Him? You can change the world. I know if I can do it, you can do it, and we all can do it. Change can happen as you prepare for a new season. 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.
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Gò0dNews for your Tastebuds
Loaf Bread by Deanna Thompson
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6:35). Bread is our staple of life, eaten in more places and in greater amounts than any other food in the world. Just as we need bread for our physical life, Jesus is what we need for our spiritual life. When we choose to follow Him, He will stop the spiritual hunger gnawing on the inside and will fill us up with Himself. He is our spiritual staple—He is all we need. Without Him we cannot live, without Him we cannot truly exist. So as you munch on a slice of bread,
Yeast Bread
remember to also “feed” on God’s Word.
(Yield: 3 loaves)
½ c. warm water (100-115°F) 1 Tbsp. yeast (or 1 pkg.) Dab (about ¼ tsp.) of honey 1 egg ½ c. wheat gluten * 3 Tbsp. soy lecithin granules * 1/3 c. olive oil ¼ c. honey 2¼ c. warm water (100-115°F) 6-7 c. freshly-milled hard white wheat flour, or 5-6 c. all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. salt 1. In a mug, combine the one-half cup warm water, yeast, and dab of honey. Let it set for five minutes. The mixture will begin to swell and small bubbles will appear on the surface. 2. In a large bowl, beat the egg with an electric mixer until frothy. Add the gluten, soy lecithin, oil, the one-fourth cup honey, the two and one-fourth cups warm water, and 2 cups of the flour. Add the yeast mixture. Mix on low until thoroughly combined. Let it set for ten minutes. 3. Add the salt and mix on low until combined. 4. Using a wooden spoon, add in the remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky and forms a ball that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. The amount of flour is only a guideline because many factors determine how much flour you will actually use. You may have to use less or more than the amount listed. 5. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead** the dough for ten minutes until it no longer feels sticky and has a smooth, shiny and elastic texture. Add small amounts of flour to the dough as you knead it when it begins to become too sticky. At the end of ten minutes, test whether the dough is kneaded enough by making a slight indention in it with two fingers; it should spring back.
44 // August 2016
6. Grease a large bowl with softened butter. Place the dough ball in it and roll it around to grease the surface. Cover the bowl with a towel, and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for one hour, or until doubled in bulk. To test if it is finished rising, make an indentation in it with two fingers; it should not spring back. 7. Punch down the dough with your fist. Turn it onto a work surface and divide it into three equal portions. Shape into loaves by rolling up each portion into three buttered loaf pans. 8. Cover the pans with a towel and let the loaves rise in a warm, draft-free area for forty-five minutes, or until doubled in bulk. 9. Place the pans in a preheated 400°F oven and bake for ten minutes. If you are using glass pans, reduce the temperature 25°F. Reduce the temperature to 300°F and bake for another 23-25 minutes, or until the loaves are a rich, golden color and make a hollow sound when you tap the crust, top and bottom, with your knuckles. 10. Immediately remove the loaves from the pans and place onto a cooling rack. In next month’s issue, we will be giving recipes for a variety of bread goods you can make using this one basic bread recipe. So keep this issue handy!
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
A Cup of Cold Water
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?—James 2:15-16 NIV
A
by Charlton S. Lewis
n unmistakable tap, tap, tap broke the quietness of my early morning walk. Putting
my prayer and meditation on hold, I looked around for the source of the staccato sounds. In the front yard of a duplex in my neighborhood, I saw a man on his knees. This Hispanic man was tapping on the valve of his water meter while next to him, giving him moral support, stood a woman (his wife, I assumed). I asked the obvious, “Are you having water problems?” The man glanced up briefly and returned to his tapping as his wife, with eyes pleading for help, she explained the situation. Although she spoke English, I did not hear her well. But reading her hand motions that appeared to be turning a faucet, I decided that water was not cutting off somewhere in their house. At a minimum, I pictured water running down
a sink taking dollar signs with it—or worse, water running out from under the floor or from behind a wall. “I’m so sorry,” I offered lamely. Having never been good at home repairs, I felt helpless in being able to solve the problem. Again, I apologized, “I’m so sorry. I’m not good with plumbing.” Smiling weakly, I continued my prayer walk, but I did not feel very victorious. Flooded with guilt and remorse, I thought about James’ exhortation in chapter 2, (my wording): “What good is it, if someone has a need and you send them away without helping and say, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled’?” (see vv. 2:15-16 NIV). I knew I couldn’t solve the plumbing problem, but I did have a tool to shut off the valve. However, I surmised that by the time I got home, picked it up and returned, my neighbor would have cut the water off. When I got home, I shared with Paulette the situation. After further internal debate, I told her I was going to return with the tool. Upon arriving, I spotted the meter cover still on the ground. Before I reached the door, it was as if the wife was expecting me, because she immediately came out with a smile on her face as she saw what was in my hand. She explained that someone had worked on the plumbing problem earlier, but the water was not flowing now. Aha, the need was to open the valve, not close it! And I had the tool to do it! When I opened the valve, water flowed through the pipe and her daughter verified it. The woman’s eyes now portrayed gratitude for this simple deed. I was thankful I responded to the urging of the Spirit to return. By simply using what was in my hands for “ . . . one of the least of these . . . ,” I was doing it for Him (see Matt. 25:40 NIV). Now the family could enjoy
a shower or a cup of cold water (see Matt. 10:42 NIV).
46 // August 2016
Charlton S. Lewis is a retired civil engineer from the USDA Forest Service. He and his wife Paulette have 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren
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Gò0dNews Christian Magazine
Family Night At Nick's Pizza & Steaks
• • • •
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2016
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Life presents problems, which are sometimes mountains, but a miracle begins with a problem!
A
by Charles G. Laws
ccording to Mark 11:11-14 (also see Matt. 21:18-19), Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt and went into the Temple. Since it was late, He looked around and went to Bethany with the disciples for the night. The next day as they left Bethany on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus became hungry and saw a distant fig tree that was in leaf. Jesus went to see if it had any fruit on it. When He got to the fig tree, He obviously found no figs, because it was not the season for figs. He said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:14 NASB) He literally put a curse on the fig tree! And the Scripture makes it clear that the disciples heard him speak to the fig tree. On the surface, this is a very simple story about a fig tree with no fruit, but it is a story with much more meaning to it. After cursing the fig tree, Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the Temple. In verse 15, we find that buying and selling were taking place in the Temple. Moneychangers were working and doves were being sold to be offered as sacrifices. Jesus became angry and threw them out of the Temple. He went through the Temple and overthrew the seats of the moneychangers and did not allow anyone to carry vessels through the
50 // August 2016
Temple. Then He says with authority in verse 17: “Is it not written, my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves?” (KJV). He again identifies Himself as God by saying “My house.” At this, the scribes and chief priests became infuriated and sought how they might destroy Him. They did this because the people were astonished at His doctrine. Here was a man who claimed to be God and referred to the Temple as “My house”! In the evening, they departed the city. From the above, we observe that . . . 1. Jesus became hungry indicating that He was 100 percent man and 2. When Jesus spoke to the fig tree, it withered at the roots, indicating that Jesus was 100 percent God! He was God incarnate. In the morning on their way to Jerusalem, they passed by the fig tree and it was totally withered from the roots. In verse 21, Peter says “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered !” In verses 22-24 we see the meaning of the parable: “Have faith in God.” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer , believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:23-24 NIV) Whatever you ask, believe that you will receive! Expect fruit out of season! Whatever you expect, you will receive.
Charles G. Laws is a member of Cleveland First Church of the Nazarene. He has a B.A. degree in Mathematics and minors in Physics and Education from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and a M.A. degree in mathematics from The University of Tennessee (UTK). He enjoys reading, chess, walking and listening to music.
We are pleased to welcome... Dr. Johnnie Carter As the new Physician for Hospice of Chattanooga/Athens, Dr. Carter will direct the care plan for Hospice of Chattanooga patients in McMinn and Meigs counties. Dr. Carter is supported by a wonderful team of professional hospice-trained Nurses, CNAs, Social Workers, Chaplains and Bereavement Counselors who are dedicated to providing the highest-quality hospice care for your loved ones. The new hospice office is at 403 West Madison Avenue, Unit 2, in Athens, Tennessee. A referral to Hospice of Chattanooga can be made with one call to our referral line at (423) 333-0220.
RefeRRal fax: (423) 333-0038
www.hospiceofchattanooga.org
Gò0dNews for Grandparents
When You’re the “Other” Grandmother “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” —Romans 12:18
I
by Darlene Lofty
f someone asks me about the number of grandchildren I have, my answer is six. Three of them belong to my husband’s oldest son from his first marriage. Recently I read an article that stated that one-third of all grandparents will eventually be in the role of a stepgrandparent either by marrying someone who already has grandchildren, by having your child’s marriage to someone who has children from a previous relationship, or marrying someone who has children who will eventually have children of their own. All three of my stepson’s children were born after our marriage, so I have been around them since their birth. I’m sure it would be more difficult to form a relationship with them if I’d come along later in their life, but there are a few things to remember no matter what your situation. Nurture the relationship you have with your stepchildren. My stepsons were fifteen and seventeen when I married their dad, so I’ve had a few years to develop these relationships. They know without a doubt that I love them and that I pray for them daily. They know they can count on me and that I will always have their back.
52 // August 2016
Show respect to the biological grandparents. When there are children and grandchildren, you will inevitably be in situations where you will be with the biological grandparents. There will be ballgames, concerts, birthday parties, and other activities. No matter what your relationship may be with your spouse’s ex, remember that the grandchildren love both of you. The grandchildren should never be forced to witness animosity between you. Treat the grandchildren fairly. I think this comes easier for some people than others, but it is essential to building strong relationships with your grandchildren. Children are very perceptive, and they will notice if you lavish attention and/or gifts on one child and not another. I would venture to say that if someone watched my husband and me with our grandchildren, they wouldn’t be able to pick which ones were biological. That’s exactly how it should be. Be present in their lives. I spend as much time as possible with our grandchildren. I go to ballgames, school activities, church events, and so forth. You will never form a relationship if you are not around. Whether you realize it or not, they will notice when you’re not there. Don’t make your relationship with your grandchildren a competition. You may not be able to control how someone else will react, but you can refrain from doing things to purposely provoke the biological grandparent. Keep your motives in check. Blended family relationships are difficult at times, but with a little work and lots of prayer you can have a successful one. Remember that children don’t know or care whose blood runs through their veins. All they know is who loves them, and children can never be loved too much.
Darlene and John Lofty have been married for 16 years. Together they have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren. They are members of Salem Baptist Church in Dalton where they work in the youth ministry.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
Making God’s Love Credible
Live in such a way that makes the love and grace of God credible and believable.
I
by Julius McCarter
n a recent Bible study I was talking about the love of God. Steve raised his hand. “How can I believe,” he asked, “that God loves me when no one in my life has ever told me that they loved me?” I listened as Steve continued. “My father never told me that he loved me. My mother never told that me she loved me. No one has ever told me that they loved me.” I don’t think Steve is alone. I think many people struggle to believe that God loves them. The love of God in Christ tragically isn’t believable, isn’t credible. Usually, like Steve, because we’ve been emotionally wounded in the past. Believing that God loves us is very hard. I’m reminded of this famous text about the love of God: “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3.18-19 NASB). I pray that you may have the power to comprehend. Comprehend what? How deep and wide and high is the love of God for us. What’s interesting here is that the prayer is for the
54 // August 2016
power of comprehension—the power to understand something, the power to know something. The power to know, deep in your bones, just how much God loves you. That was a power that Steve lacked. Steve couldn’t comprehend the love of God. So what do you do for someone like Steve? I think you have to live in such a way that makes the love and grace of God credible and believable to others. How can we Christians begin to make God’s love more credible? I think it happens in a simple way. If you ask Christians to succinctly define God’s agape, my guess is that the most common definition would be unconditional love. Consequently, Christians feel called to live out this unconditional love for the world. As the Bible says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 KJV) We didn’t have to get it all right before Christ, the Incarnation of God’s love, would embrace us and forgive us. As Jesus prayed on the cross for those who killed Him: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34 KJV) I think, though, that we’ve put so much weight on the word love in our culture that we should send it out to the laundry and start using the word like. The word love is easy to twist into a lie, but like isn’t. We can tell because they enjoy being with us, alongside us, and they want to share our time and company. I would like to suggest that if our understanding of being loved doesn’t include being liked, or at least being prepared to learn to be liked, then there’s a good chance that we’re talking about the sort of love that can slip a double bind over us, that is saying to us “My love for you means that I like you if you become someone else.” For people to know God’s love, I think, they need to know they’re liked, enjoyed, understood, delighted in. God’s love will be most credible when they know God likes them. The Reverend Julius McCarter, Ph.D., is a minister and spiritual director who lives in Loudon, TN. He is the author of eleven books—most recently a theological commentary on the Book of Revelation. His ministry, Sunergoi Ministries, maintains a blog at www.the-little-friar.blogspot.com.
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