March 2016
Complimentary
Gò0dNews Christian Magazine
Cleveland
• Telling Your Story p. 12 • Working Together p. 32 • The Pen and the Promise p. 42
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Writers
Alice Marie Abbott Andrew Lee Andrew Shaffer Angie Parris Chris Isbill Danielle Jennings Darlene Lofty Dave Carringer Delaney Walker Deven Wallace Don Smith Esmerelda Lee Greg Kaylor Hannah Davis-Warner J. Edward Whittemore Kelly McDonald Mike Shreve Nathan Long Nicole Wiley Rhiannon Skeen Teresa Mustar William Lamb
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About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have 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!
Letter from the Editor
W
hile listening to a recording of “Through It All,” one of Andrae Crouch’s most beloved songs, I am reminded of the many times I’ve sung this song. Only recently have the words taken on new meaning for me since I have gone through surgery for a paralyzed vocal cord, and just last month, removal of my thyroid that was diseased with a rare and aggressive cancer. This past year, I have learned to commit the full weight of my hopes, my dreams, and my future into God’s hands. The most difficult times to trust is when you don’t have all the answers, and you can’t see what lies in the future. Bad eyesight is something I have struggled with all my life, having had four different types of surgeries on my eyes. During those times when I couldn’t see very well, when I had double vision, or very poor vision, God enabled me to develop a relentless trust, which involves taking time to let my “spiritual pupils” dilate and resist the temptation to doubt His promises. God is teaching some of us to be still and listen, and He’s teaching others to obey His mandate to move—to take a step of faith, even when we aren’t sure of where we’re walking. During those times in life when we can’t see the trail—times when we get sidetracked by a big “bump” in the road, we can rest assured of God’s faithfulness to lead us one step at a time because His compassion never fails, and His mercies are new every morning (see Lam. 3:23). As much as we would like it to be so, there are no magic formulas, no prescribed rules for achieving this relentless trust. What works for me is His design for me. I pray that He will use some of my journey (and my writing) to help guide you on your journey of trust. 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 22
GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk
6 Heirs of the Kingdom by Mike Shreve
GoodNews for Kids
8
Easter Craft for Kids by Danielle Jennings
GoodNews on Money Matters
10 Tilting at Financial Windfalls
by Andrew Lee GoodNews for Men
12 Telling Your Story by Nathan Long
GoodNews for Women
14
A Helping Heart
by Nicole Wiley
GoodNews for Parents
20 A Fearless Generation by Deven Wallace
GoodNews for Life
22 Balance, Balance,
Balance, Balance!
by Delaney Walker
28
GoodNews for Health & Fitness
24 Tips for Achieving Your Fitness Goals
by Hannah Davis-Warner
GoodNews for Teens
52
GoodNews for Everyone
40 Created To Live In God’s Glory
by Dave Carringer
GoodNews for Everyone
26 Let’s Get Down to Busyness! 42 The Pen and the Promise by Andrew Shaffer
GoodNews Cover Story
28 Burris Construction by Greg Kaylor
GoodNews for Daily Living
30 Love Part 3 — Marriage by Alice Marie Abbott
GoodNews for Couples
32 Working Together by Don Smith
GoodNews for Seniors
34 Seventy Years Strong by Esmerelda Lee
GoodNews for Everyone
36 Things I’ve Learned From My Granddaughter by Darlene Lofty
GoodNews from the Tech Shop
38 Technological Distraction & Destruction by Chris Isbill
by William Lamb
GoodNews for your Taste Buds
44 Baked Salmon by Angie Parris
GoodNews for Everyone
46 Living With Purpose by Rhiannon Skeen
GoodNews for Everyone
50 Listening Is a Learned Trait by Kelly McDonald
GoodNews from the Outdoors
52 Daffodil: Trumpet and a Star by Teresa Mustar
GoodNews for Everyone
54 God’s Attributes Are Not Segments
by J. Edward Whittemore
Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Heirs of the Kingdom Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? —James 2:5 NKJV by Mike Shreve
T
he word kingdom simply means “a king’s domain.” God’s kingdom is that over which He rules. It is permeated with His presence and infused with His attributes: His power, love, righteousness, peace, and joy (see 1 Cor. 4:20; Mark 12:32-34; Rom. 14:17). Concisely, the kingdom of God is comprised of all that God has and all that God is. Everything and everyone in heaven and earth submitted to His authority are a part of His kingdom. This theme dominated Jesus’ ministry: • After forty days of fasting, He came out of the wilderness preaching, “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). • His first recorded sermon began with the statement, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). • Many of His parables started with the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven is like” (13:24). • His message was called “the Word of the kingdom” and “the Gospel of the kingdom” (13:19; 24:14). • After He rose from the dead, He spent forty days teaching His disciples things pertaining to “the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). So from the beginning to the end of His earthly sojourn, the establishment of this spiritual kingdom was Jesus’ primary focus. When His disciples asked how they should pray,
6 // March 2016
Jesus offered that their first request should be: “Father . . . Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10 NKJV). Most Israelites thought this prayer would be answered in the manner of former deliverers—that the Messiah would raise up an army, banish the invaders, and restore the Promised Land to them. But the strategy had changed dramatically. Jesus foretold: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Nor will they say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For remember, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21 MEV). They didn’t get it at first. But God had predetermined: this kingdom would not proceed visibly by taking one blood-soaked battlefield after another. It was destined to advance invisibly, from one heart to another as new converts became born again, absorbed into its citizenship, and filled with the love that permeates this supernatural domain (see James 3:1-5; 17:26). This has been God’s method for nearly two millennia. However, it’s about to change again—drastically. On the last day of this age, God’s kingdom will take over the world completely in one blinding flash of glorious power. “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the heavens from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day” (Luke 17:24 MEV). Until that final climax, all true believers, regardless of denominational affiliation, are called to change the world around us by manifesting kingdom-character, kingdom-power and kingdom-influence every single day. Pray for God-authored opportunities.
Mike Shreve and his wife, Elizabeth, pastor The Sanctuary in Cleveland. They also run a Christian publishing company called Deeper Revelation Books. Mike has authored 14 books himself, including a series titled “Our Glorious Inheritance” that reveals over 1,000 names and titles God has given his offspring. www.shreveministries.org
Gò0dNews for Kids Easter Craft for Kids
A
by Danielle Jennings
s we enter into the Easter season, we spend time reflecting on what God has done in our lives. We take time to read about Jesus dying for our sins and the greatest gift of eternal life we have been given because of Him. This craft is a great way to represent Christ taking away our sins and being faithful.
What you’ll need:
• A white canvas in the size of your choice. • Finger paint or craft paint if you wish to use paint brushes. • Paintbrushes (if you opt out of finger painting). • Masking tape the width of your choice. • Parchment or wax paper
Step 1
8 // March 2016
Directions:
• Using two pieces of masking tape, create a cross on your canvas. (see step 1 below) • Allow child to paint over the masking tape with a paintbrush or their fingers until the canvas is covered in their artwork. • Allow the paint to dry completely. (see step 2 below) • Peel off the masking tape. • Voila! A cross will remain on the canvas.
Learning opportunity through this craft.
In our life when sin surrounds us, we can be reminded that Jesus is always there. The cross reminds us that Jesus died to save us from sin. No matter where we are or what we go through, we can always be sure that Jesus is right there with us. The cross remains a symbol of Hope that we can hold onto.
Step 2
Step 3 Danielle Jennings is the director of children’s ministry at Ooltewah United Methodist. She is a graduate of Lee University and is currently working on her master’s degree. Her passion is working with children and helping them succeed.
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Gò0dNews on Money Matters
Tilting at Financial Windfalls by Andrew Lee
The key to managing sudden money is to acknowledge God as the giver of all wealth.
P
lease pardon the title of my article this month which, as you may recognize, is an allusion to the classic novel Don Quixote (it’s the English professor in me coming out; I can’t help myself). In the novel, the main character attempts to assault a windmill by recklessly charging at it with a knight’s lance while on horseback. The result, of course, is disaster. Yet, how often do many people, after receiving some sort of financial windfall, likewise plunge headlong into a financial decision that turns out to be a mistake? Not many of us will ever win a huge lottery jackpot in our lifetimes, and that may be for the best. As I noted in an earlier article, lottery winners are much more likely than the rest of us to go bankrupt within a few years, and the bigger the jackpot won, the faster the winner goes bankrupt! Why? Because they rush heedlessly into poor financial decisions without taking time to educate themselves about investments and personal finance. Perhaps they believe that if they were “lucky” enough to win the lottery, their luck will continue and the money will always be there. Sadly, this is usually not the case. I mention financial windfalls because we are now in the midst of what some people refer to as tax season. Many Americans will receive refunds ranging from a few hundred dollars
10 // March 2016
to a few thousand. What will you do with that money? Some have been planning the answer to this question for many months: a dream vacation, home renovations, a down payment on a new car, and so forth. In the midst of making these plans about what to do with your tax refund windfall, I would like to present a couple of considerations. First, remember that a tax refund is not really a true financial windfall.
This is and always was your money. You simply loaned it to the federal government all year long, and they are returning to you what is rightfully yours, and paying you no interest on the loan. If inflation has risen over the course of the past year, you may have actually lost money since your tax refund won’t buy as many goods and services as the year before while the government was holding it for you. Thinking of your refund in this way may help to alter your plans for spending, saving, or investing this windfall. If you are keeping a written
budget of all of your monthly income and bills and debts, this too may help you view your tax refund in a different light. Examine your current budget, paying attention to your debts and outstanding balances. How many credit cards could you pay off with this tax refund you just received? Could you finally pay off that couch and loveseat, or the flat screen TV? Maybe you’d enjoy watching your favorite shows or games knowing the television and sofa were finally yours! Finally, and certainly not least, remember from Whom you really got that tax refund—the God who made you and who gives you strength to get out of bed and earn that paycheck in the first place. In Genesis 24:35, Abraham’s servant acknowledges God as the giver of all wealth, saying “The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy” (NIV). In 1 Chronicles 29:12, David acknowledges that all wealth comes from God: “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things” (NIV). This knowledge is really the best windfall of all.
Dr. Andrew Lee is professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.
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Gò0dNews for Men
Stop Hiding
A
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony. by Nathan Long
little over a year ago, I had to do the hardest thing I have ever done. I remember sitting on the bed, weeping with my wife as I told her that I had kept part of my life hidden from her and that I was fighting a battle with lust. I was fighting with one eye and an arm tied behind my back; I was too afraid to let go and fully accept that someone could truly love me. Because of that, I have always withheld part of my heart in hopes to present myself as perfect and all together. Thoughts like, I have done too much damage, and if people truly saw me, they would know I was not worth it, would shoot from through my mind like bullets in the night. So I walled part of me up thinking, maybe if I couldn’t see it, it would go away; maybe if I showed my good side and hid the bad, someone could love me. As anyone could expect, my wife was hurt, confused, and angry, but instead of giving me what I deserved, she told me that she loved me. Fast forward a year, and I can say that we have grown more than we ever had before. The small cycles that we once fell into (links to a chain so much bigger than ourselves), have begun to fall apart. There is still much growing to do, but every day we see breakthroughs. I didn’t realize back then that most of my life was lived in a hidden war. I had an army at my disposal but never called them into action. I was trying to take on lust, selfishness, and a host of other enemies alone, and I
12 // March 2016
lost time and time again. In fact, revealing my fears, anxieties, and brokenness actually did the opposite of what I thought: it brought more people into my life. Looking through Scripture, one can see that God used broken people. I worry sometimes that Christians forget that these people had real insecurities, doubts, and failings, but they were willing to have their full story told for the good of all. Can you imagine Scripture without David’s lament in Psalms 51, or Peter’s story of denying Christ? The apostle Paul calls himself the “least of all apostles” (see 1 Cor. 15:912). He could have easily never talked about his persecution of the church and hoped time would forget about what he had done, but he didn’t. Paul used his story, his full story, as fuel to build God’s kingdom. Your story is worth being told—brokenness and all. Hiding part of your story breeds isolation, and isolation is the “wife” of sin. It’s time to stop sitting in the ashes of shame and guilt. Stop fighting battles alone in the dark. Let light shine in you, through you, and around you. It’s time to overcome by telling your story.
Nathan Long graduated from Lee University in 2012 with a bachelor of science degree in pastoral ministries. He is currently the resident director of New Hughes Hall at Lee University while completing a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.
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Gò0dNews for Women
A Helping Heart
by Nicole Wiley This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. —John 15:12 KJV
T
he wind blew fiercely and rain pounded onto the pavement like bullets. An elderly lady sat bundled in a single coat against the sturdy wall of a local grocery store. Stationed beside her frail figure was a sign that expressed her desire for food, and she was without a home to live in. Inside the grocery store, my mom and I grabbed several food items to give to the hungry woman. When we delivered the food to her, my mom offered a solemn, “God bless you.” Never will I forget the surprised and eager expression on the woman’s face and the sound of her voice when she whispered, “Thank you. God bless you.” The second we pulled out of the parking lot, I could not prevent the tears from flowing from my eyes. The emotions I was feeling included sadness, gratefulness, and a love for the Lord that I could not explain.
Matthew 22:36-40 says, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (NKJV).
This small act of kindness and generosity made me realize how large Jesus’ act of kindness and generosity was. In that moment, I became so humbled and so grateful when I realized how good God is. The act of love that Jesus carried out on the cross is the biggest act of service that the world has ever seen. He has so much compassion for us, and in return, we should show compassion to everyone we meet.
Showing acts of kindness to our neighbor is one way we can showcase our love for God, while receiving a feeling of accomplishment as well. Service is also pleasing in the eyes of the Lord for Hebrews 6:10 says, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (NIV).
The Lord tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and in my opinion, the best way to convey that love is by showing a helping hand. In my mind, I associate a helping hand with a helping heart. Jesus told us to love Him with all our hearts, so one can conclude that all love and compassion comes from the heart. In order to lend a helping hand to others, we must first develop a helping heart. A helping heart yearns to assist others in any way possible and spread the Word of God through their service.
In a Sunday sermon, one of our pastors, Jim Gibson, explained the two most important commandments that Jesus spoke.
14 // March 2016
Nicole Wiley is a sophomore at Cleveland High School who attends First Baptist Church.
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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 167 Monza Ln NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (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
16 // March 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 Adoraci贸n 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 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 // 17
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
18 // March 2016
423-744-0940 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
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 Freedom Chapel 815 Cleveland Ave. Athens, TN 37303 423-745-8079 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 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
Church Activities & Events Living Word Church Worship Arts Night
Monday, March 7th, 5:30-9:30pm, in the West Wing.
There will be live music and the atmosphere of creativity! Come for as long are you are able; drop-ins are welcome.
Broad Street United Methodist Church No. 1 Boys Night
Friday, March 18th, 2016. 3YO - 5th Grade. 5 - 8 PM. Superhero Costumes Encouraged!
First Presbyterian Church Easter Community Celebration!
March 19th 10:00am - 1:00pm • Kids of All Ages
Join us for lunch, an Easter egg hunt, crafts, games, the Easter Story, and more!
GracePoint Church of God Easter Sunday Service at 10:00 AM
Immediately followed by an egg hunt at 11:15 for all kids!
Peerless Road Church Easter Sunday • March 27th
10:45 AM Encounter Service • 3:00 PM Egg Hunt for Peerless Kids
South Cleveland Church of God Easter Sunday Service • 10:00 AM
North Cleveland Baptist Church Palm Sunday • March 20th
Sanctuary Choir will present “The Wondrous Cross” in both services 8:30 and 11am
Easterfest • March 23rd
Preschool to 5th grade 6:00pm - 7:30 pm in the north parking lot
Good Friday Service • March 25th At 6:30pm in sanctuary
Easter Service • March 27th • 8:30am & 11am
We will also be having a sunrise service, please call for more information!
Westmore Church of God
Gò0dNews for Parents
A Fearless Generation Parents should help our children learn to overcome their fears—even the fear of terror attacks or shootings at their school.
F
by Deven Wallace
irst Timothy may say that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but our culture seems to be working overtime to inject us with its venom of terror. One of the greatest challenges for parents raising children in this culture and season in the kingdom of God is determining how to address this assignment of fear. Unfortunately, our natural instincts as parents of hiding our children from what’s happening in the world is not always possible, and it is certainly not always best. When dealing with fear, running or hiding only feeds the emotion! There is only one true way to manhandle fear: We must confront it! I once had a fear of spiders—genuine arachnophobia, until one day a spider was crawling on the floor of my son’s room where he was playing! The mommy in me rose up, and I squished that little eight-legged devil before I could even think about it. Since that day, the fear of spiders has never imprisoned me again. Once I faced it, I found I was more equipped to deal with it than I realized. The love and passion for my son was greater than my fear of spiders. He was worth the risk, and this made the fear worth facing. We must raise a generation that can face its fears. We must show them the God who is worth the risk and that their passion for Him can overcome any fear the Enemy would bring their way. We must teach our children that if God is before them, they have no reason to fear. They are equipped and anointed for this
20 // March 2016
season in the Kingdom, and there is no weapon formed against them that can prosper. They may wrestle fear as they see the weapon form, but it cannot work. It starts with the little things, like the fear of spiders. However, by the time our children are teenagers and young adults, we should help them overcome bigger fears, even ones such as the fear of terror attacks or shootings at their school. How do we help them overcome it? Not by false promises that they may never find themselves in that situation. We help them face it by removing the fear of death itself. That is why the radical terrorists are so effective in their cause. They fear no one and nothing—not even death! Just a few people with no fear of death can cause significant damage. We should use this same principle for the kingdom of God. Paul said it like this: “. . . to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21 NIV). He also said do not fear the one who can destroy the body, but the one who can destroy both the body and soul (see 1 Thess. 5:23). We should raise a generation of Kingdom-minded believers who fear no one and nothing, not even death. If the church would grab hold of that one scripture, terrorism would fail in its efforts. I pray for parents, that will train a fearless generation that can inflict a tremendous amount of damage to the Enemy’s territory! Deven Wallace and her husband Bishop Kevin Wallace, co-pastor Redemption Point Church (RPC) based in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Under their leadership, RPC has grown from a single location in Ooltewah with 34 attendees in its first service, to over 1200 with multiple locations in just 11 years.
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Gò0dNews for Life
Balance, Balance, Balance, Balance!
I
by Delaney Walker
t turns out repeating a word over and over again does not automatically apply it to your life— which given our propensity as human beings to utter any number of words repeatedly is probably for the best. Even knowing this, I can’t help but think life would be easier, at least in this instance, if I could merely utter the word once, twice, three hundred, two thousand times and make it stick. Pinterest is filled to the brim with quotes like, “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go” and “Balance is not something you find. It is something you create.” This tells me that I am not alone in my quest for (the ever elusive) balance. Most of us carry out a delicate juggling act like we are trying out for “America’s Got Talent.” Each day we get up and quickly pray we won’t drop anything (or any-thing too important) as we load up our various commitments into our arms. Goodness, but it is tiring. I don’t know about you, but I am developing some metaphorical backaches. I’m nowhere near to figuring it out, but I do see a glimmer of light ahead. Here are three things I know to be true (well, one I know to be true and two I am fairly confident about).
1. Put God first
We have all heard this one while in the pews on Sunday, in church on Wednesday, in fellowship with friends, in personal devotions, and in small
22 // March 2016
group discussions. Honestly, it is great we hear it so much, because we are clearly prone to forgetfulness. Spend time with the Lord: pray; sing songs of worship; seek his will; read his word. You’ll be amazed at the difference. “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” Proverbs 3:6
2. Prioritize
It’s always easier to prioritize someone else’s life than our own. If asked what we could cut out, we would immediately say nothing. However, if a friend had a similar schedule to ours, I am confident we would find a way to help her break free of something. There are reasons behind the commitments we have made, but we need to know when enough is enough.
3. Cut yourself some slack
We are going to be on the ugly side of balance more than any of us want to admit. Why add to your stress by becoming angry with yourself? Instead, choose to be honest. When you notice everything is in disarray, say a prayer, pick up the pieces, figure out what needs to go, and carry on with your life. Balancing life is just as difficult as it is in the physical sense. Our muscles adapt and so we challenge ourselves even more. I think this is healthy…but I am also interested in hearing from anyone who learns how to apply balance to their life just by repeating the word three or four thousand times.
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.
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Life from a new perspective
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Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness Tips for Achieving Your Fitness Goals by Hannah Davis
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. —1 Corinthians 6: 1920 (ESV)
I
t’s March, and if you made New Year’s health/ fitness resolutions, now is when you might be getting frustrated and contemplate giving up. You may think it’s been too hard or that you have already failed. There is good reason why you should not give up. You are worth it to your Maker and those around you. The following tips will help you get over the hump of selfdoubt and achieve lasting results this year.
1. Be specific. If your goal is weight loss, I encourage you to attach a reasonable timeline. For example, if your end goal is to lose 50 pounds by August, your weekly goal could be to lose one to two pounds each week. These smaller increments are realistic and will encourage you to stay on track. 2. Have a plan. Schedule your workouts and meal plan just like you do other appointments. It helps to go to the gym or workout at home with a written plan. If you’re a member of a gym, ask the desk staff if one of their best trainers can show you how to use the equipment properly. 3. Prioritize. I hear the excuse that “I just don’t have the time or money to get healthier and more fit.” You can’t afford not to! Out-of-pocket healthcare costs continue to rise. You can either spend less money on a gym membership, a personal trainer, and healthier foods now, or you can spend even more money down
24 // March 2016
the road to treat major health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Your health should be a priority because your family needs you. 4. Be accountable. The importance of having someone to report to is priceless. Create a reward system together. For example, if you lose 8 pounds by the end of the month, you get a spa treatment, or you treat yourself to a sporting event. Using a tracking app or fitness device like MyFitnessPal or FitBit can be an excellent motivator. 5. Focus on today. Finally, be encouraged by achieving small daily goals. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park away from a store’s entrance. Eat a healthy dinner. Go for a walk. Over time, these small feats add up and have a huge impact! Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Trust the process! Improving your health is a daily journey. Focus on physiological improvements that can happen with just one workout and a week of healthier eating. Reduced stress, better sleep, and more energy will be quickly achieved. Good habits on a consistent basis will help you achieve a healthier mind and body. For more fitness tips, find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram@bodybyhannah.
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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Gò0dNews for Teens
Let’s Get Down to Busyness! Spending time with God will calm the anxiety of our overscheduled, overworked life. by Andrew Schaffer
W
e are overwhelmed. We are overburdened. We are overscheduled. Fancy science people have conducted countless conflicting studies on what, if any, lasting effects this has on us. It seems like the general consensus is that if you don’t have too much going on, then you aren’t doing enough. We wear busyness like a badge of honor. Our students are in the same boat: multiple sports, arts, drama, debate, academic clubs, robot fighting, homework, and there is always more to be involved in. With psychological effects aside, only so many hours exist, and at some point, one activity will suffer or get dropped completely at the expense of another. “I can’t drop a sport mid-season, and homework is too important.” “Student government looks great on my college resume, and this play is the biggest thing happening right now.” “Our plate is full, we’re booked solid.” What are we missing? In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses this same kind of frenetic preparation and worry about the future. The people around him are caught up in getting ahead, making sure they have one up on their competitors. Always trying to get the jump on what’s next. Jesus simply says, “Hey, check yourself.” Step back and look around. When things get crazy, our faith seems to be the first casualty. But if we claim to follow Christ, our overscheduled, overworked life should not only have room to spend time with God, it should be built around spending time with Him. If we try to fit God in the spaces, we’re going to have a bad time. Justifying absence will only prolong the
26 // March 2016
inevitable. “We’ll get more involved when the season is over, but we pray at every event.” Following God or something else—one will win out in the end. Luckily, Jesus has the answer. His solution? Relax. Quit being so focused on getting, and pay attention to God first, and your worries won’t seem as daunting. Perhaps we’re more familiar with, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33 NIV). Step back. Breathe. Spend time with God first, then build from there. Working hard is to be commended. Being well rounded and preparing for the future are good things. But when time with God suffers at the expense of something else, we need to reevaluate our framework. Too often we get caught up worrying that we’ll miss out on an opportunity, but we could be missing out on God. Beginning with God can be difficult when we’re so accustomed to going full tilt all the time, but that’s the beauty of it. We adopt a Kingdom point of view. It can be unsettling. The busyness probably won’t disappear, but we find out what really matters and push more into a God-oriented point of view. Rather than wearing a badge of busyness, we find ourselves putting on the person of Christ.
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.
Have YOU heard...? 1st Fridays are
FREE Fitness @ the Y Fridays!
Let the bros cater your next event
The Cleveland YMCA is now open FREE to our community the 1st Friday of every month! Come walk or run our indoor & outdoor tracks, play or swim laps in our heated pool, kids have fun in our Youth Activity Center & ChildWatch areas, learn to play Pickleball, work up a sweat in our Wellness Center and try out any of the 15 fitness & aquatic classes held each Friday. All guests must present photo ID and complete a waiver at the Front Desk each visit. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday Hours: 5am till 9:30pm ChildWatch Hours: 7:50am-1pm & 3:30-8:30pm Youth Center Hours: 3:30-8:30pm For more information, contact: Princess Snyder, Membership Director at 423.805.3366, or psnyder@ymcachattanooga.org
Call 423.367.9282
CLEVELAND FAmiLY YmCA
220 Urbane Road, Cleveland, TN 37312
ymcachattanooga.org
60 25th Street Suite 2 • Cleveland Hamilton Place Mall • Chattanooga
423.473.2788
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FEATURED COVER STORY
A
Burris Construction by Greg Kaylor
s a child, Dee Burris, owner of Burris
commercially, as well as single-family residential
Construction, played with Legos and built
homes, condominiums, and duplexes.
dams with piles of dirt. He has it in his DNA
"We just completed Frontage Village, which is
to be constructive. He typically oversees several
a small community located just off Frontage Road,"
building, reconstruction, preservation, or remodeling
Burris said. The community project was so popular
projects simultaneously. His resume is filled with
that once Burris and venture capitalist, friend, and
past projects he has worked on. "I have taken photos
partner, Ted Moss, got involved in the project began
of every project," Burris explained. He learned at
building the homes, sales were outrunning the
an early age what he wanted to do with his life.
building process.
Working with his uncle, he began to learn the basics
"We naturally want to build quality homes and be
of carpentry, subcontracting, and general business
able to perform all the other services we offer, but at
principles. "I began working with my uncle Joe
reasonable costs. We feel successful with the outcome
Ownby when I was 15 years old," said Burris.
of the Frontage Village community because of our
Ownby, who is also a musician, still dabbles
approach to providing affordable construction,"
in the construction industry, but he mainly
Burris explained. "We hope to continue with the
concentrates on his family and music during his
success at Ocoee Landing," one of his latest ventures.
latter years, passing on a part of his legacy to Burris.
Burris has held an unlimited commercial and
Burris took on smaller projects during his days of
residential license since 1988. He is past president
learning, leading him into major developments both
of the Bradley County Home Builder's Association,
28 // March 2016
as well as a past recipient of the "Builder of the Year" distinction. Jim Sharp, John Paul Douglas, and especially Gene Officer have guided and worked with Burris throughout his career who said he get his work ethic from his father, Bob Burris. Some of the larger projects Burris has been responsible for are Ocoee Regional Health Center in Benton, Reverend T.L. Lowery's Global Foundation Center, Dr. Brenda Snowman's complex, and Douglas Inns and Suites both in Cleveland and Blue Ridge, Georgia. Burris has has been involved in more than fifteen subdivision projects in this area. The most recent is Henegar Farms on Mouse Creek Road, which involves larger acreage tracts. He somewhat specializes in medical offices, having completed over twenty-one—his most recent Chattanooga Skin and Cancer Clinic, which is located on Adkisson Drive for Drs. Banks and Andrews.
Calhoun. "I attribute success in the work that I do to several things. Loyalty of my subcontractors who work with me and business partners who have mentored me through the years," Burris said. "No job is too big or too small. We want to do the job right because there is always someone who has a vested interest and cares about it." Burris is also a member of the "Liars Table" at the Old Fort Inn. That is where he attempts to keep up with local news, opinions, and information relevant to business within the community. "That's where I tend to get all the 'wrong' information," he quipped. With more than 320 homes constructed during his career and the multitude of other types of projects completed, Burris feels there is still a great deal of dirt to move around and concrete blocks to lay. That was the beginning of his foundation for his life and business. The members of the Burris family also share their lives with members of Central Church of Christ.
"When I was a child, I built club houses complete with showers. I feel privileged to still be doing that each every work day," Burris said. Burris typically works twelve-plus hours a day, six days a week. His wife Tamela, and sons, Cole and Dee Burris III, support his business and work ethics. "Dee works with me when he's not in school and in the evenings," Burris said. Johnny Heifner and Sabrena Park are in charge of Burris rental ventures, taking care of more than 200 rental units. Burris works to stay healthy by cycling, usually three days a week with his good friend, Alvin
Burris Construction is located at 4060 Ocoee Street North, in Cleveland.
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I
Greg Kaylor retired from the Cleveland Daily Banner as the longtime police reporter and photojournalist. He is also a retired professional photographer and has been involved in the communications profession for over thirty years.
issuu.com/goodnewscm // 29
Gò0dNews for Daily Living
Love Part 3—Marriage Understanding how to show and respond to love
I
by Alice Marie Abbott
n parts 1 and 2 of love, we learned what love is and how we are to love God and love others. I would like to continue our study in part one of marital love. To get a better understanding of marital love, we need to look at the ways men and women display and show love differently. To a man, love is being honored and respected by his wife. When he receives this type of love, it is easy for him to love his wife the way she needs to be loved. However, if the wife is constantly nagging, belittling, and criticizing her husband, he is going to withdraw and not be able to show her the love she desires or needs. To a woman, love means something entirely different. Women like to be nurtured and cared for. They respond to how they are treated. They like to be spoken to kindly, shown that her husband has an interest in the things she likes. She likes to be appreciated and taken care of by a godly man, knowing at the end of the work day that he is coming home to be with her—not out with his buddies or the recliner watching TV. If you look close enough, you will see how honor and respect and nurture and caring actually work together to form a strong loving marriage relationship. Ephesians 5:21-32 gives a good foundation on how to have a strong and healthy marriage. For this study, will focus on verses 22 and 25. A lot of times Christians put more focus on verse 22, which says, “Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord,” and forget about verse 21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (NIV). Let’s look at what the word submit really means. Submit means to surrender, or yield
30 // March 2016
willingly. Therefore, verse 21 teaches that the husband and the wife should both be surrendering and yielding to one another. This will make for a beautiful relationship. Verse 25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her” (KJV). Christ loves us with a sacrificial love, and this is how the husband should love his wife. He should love her in such a way that he surrenders his own will and desires to serve and meet her needs. And according to verse 22, the wife is to do the same. Submission is not about authority one over the other, but it is about loving and serving one another in sacrificial love. The only authority that should be in the marriage relationship is that of Jesus Christ. True submission does not mean that a woman is a doormat, and a man is to lord over his wife. It isn’t about telling each other what to do. A right understanding of submission will liberate both husband and wife, and it all starts with treating each other with love, honor, and respect. Submission never means inferiority, but it will liberate a godly man and woman like no other principle. Men, if you want to be seen as a great man, love that woman of yours according to God’s Word. Women, if you want to be seen as a godly woman and a crowning glory to your husband, love that man of yours according to God’s Word. Only then will we see marriages and homes the way God intended for them to be—a bit of heaven on earth. Alice Abbott is a licensed ordained minister with an honorary doctorate of divinity degree through World Christianship Ministries. Also a certified crisis pregnancy counselor through the AACC. She is an office manager for At Home Health Care and attends church at The Sanctuary.
B C &
4060 N. Ocoee Street
423.593.5275
HENEGAR FARMS
Call us about the available site’s of small acreage farms in Henegar Farms on Mouse Creek Rd. This is a residential community.
TRAY CEILING
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R4
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PANTRY
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LAUNDRY LAUNDRY LINEN
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B C &
Burris Construction
Henegar Farms
R4
Dee Burris
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Burris Construction
Gò0dNews for Couples
Working Together
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would no be so welcome.” —Anne Bardstreet
I
by Don Smith
n Ephesians 4:2 we read, “Be completely humble and gentle: be patient, bearing with one another in love.” As couples, it is vital that we understand these two principle: bear with one another and work through adversity. I am 59 years old. I was born when “Howdy Doody” was the big kids’ TV show in 1957. I grew up seeing my friends live through the divorce culture that hit during the ‘60s and ‘70s. It seems as if we have moved past that phase now, and in this culture, we just don’t make the commitment, thinking that is the best solution. It is not. In any relationship, we should understand that both parties are human. Each one is vulnerable, fallible, and most of all, unpredictable. We have lost the sense of community with each other. We can’t all be the same, and we can’t expect that our partner will be our all. Only Jesus can be that! Look at the other person in your life as just that—another person with a distinct fingerprint, outlook, personality, and an individual relationship with Jesus Christ. In our Christian world, we have the expectation that God has that special one, that perfect piece of the puzzle that fits just right into our master
32 // March 2016
puzzle. Can I say this? That person does not exist. No one will fit perfectly into your life. If we examine the two sexes, we will see so many differences, not to mention the obvious one: we are different. We are unique, and we should celebrate that difference and accommodate it into our lives. When God created Adam, He created a perfect specimen, but God said that was not the best, so He caused a deep sleep to come over Adam and did some surgery. He removed most the of the feminine from him and placed it in Eve. Now the one is two, and the two need to become one. But they become one only through the adversity of life and the struggle of relationship. This experiment is worked out in the lab we call life. This is a warning! The person you become one with is a human just like you. Treat each other in the manner you would like to be treated by always remembering the Golden Rule.
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
Seventy Years Strong Staying involved with their church, their work in the community, and their family has kept this couple’s love strong!
I
by Esmerelda Lee
enjoy an inspiring old love stories. Favorites like An Affair to Remember, Love is a Many Splendid Thing, and others move me more than some of the modern-day love stories on the Hallmark Channel. There is something to be said about the purity and innocence of the courtship and love depicted through old movies. I am also honored to see these love stories played out in real life through older adults. Couples that fell in love and stayed in love through a world war, the Depression, life challenges, raising and burying loved ones are couples that loved for life. Betty and Mitchell Lyle are a local Cleveland couple that met in the first grade at Arnold Memorial School. For Mitchell it was love at first sight. Betty believes that the grinning first-grader grew on her over time. According to Mitchell, they were “sweet” on each other but did not get serious until after World War II. Mitchell enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and stayed out to sea for most of that time. He remembers a year and half going by before his feet even touched dry land. But each week when mail was delivered to his aircraft carrier, Betty’s unrelenting letters and her faith that he would return home kept their love strong. When Mitchell and Betty were finally reunited after the war, they dated for eight short months before they were married. After graduating college, Betty became a school teacher with Cleveland City Schools, and Mitchell went to work for the railroad. Later he became one of the members of our City Council. When asked what was the secret to loving each other through sixty-nine years of marriage, they both stated, “Stay busy so you don’t get into trouble!” Betty and Mitchell were married at First Baptist Church in 1946, and were always involved in their church, work, and family. They had two sons. Both Tony and David were strong boys, raised by a strong, no-nonsense working mother. Betty was loving, but she always made it clear that her sons would love education like she did, and they would
34 // March 2016
adhere to a strong work ethic. Mitchell attributes his sons’ successes to their mother. He did say that he and Betty believed in giving their children “some good lickings,” that helped too. In a world where so many people focus on their own happiness and make life-altering decisions based on these motives, I asked Betty and Mitchell if they were happy throughout the sixty-nine years of marriage. “We always worked it out, and if we didn’t laugh at each other, we found someone or something to laugh about. You’ll have problems in marriage, but who doesn’t? You just have to talk it out,” Mitch replied. When I asked if they ever fought, they looked puzzled. “Who doesn’t fight? We are both so different, and we like different things. When we fought, the one with the strongest case won.” Mitchell also added, “We compromised, but Betty made the most compromises. I am still surprised that she chose me.”In Betty’s much softer voice, she said, “If there is something to fight about, there is something worth saving.” On August 22, 2016, Betty and Mitchell Lyle will celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary. Today, these lifelong Cleveland residents live at Garden Plaza at Cleveland Senior Living. Their apartment has little awards they won from serving in their vocations and in their community, war-torn photographs of family members, and beside each recliner is a tattered and worn Bible. They still laugh at each other and with each other. There are also days where the laughter and the talking are silent. On those days, Fox News anchors are the only voices heard in the apartment. Mitchell said it best, “What she forgets, I can remember. When she laughs, I am happy, and even though there were days she didn’t like me, she always loved me.” 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
Things I’ve Learned From My Granddaughter Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. —Pslams 118:1
O
by Darleen Lofty
n April 1, 2010, my husband and I were blessed
doesn’t fuss about which shoes she has on or if her bow
with our first granddaughter. Kinley was a little
isn’t perfect. She’s content with whatever she has in most
one, weighing in at less than five pounds, but she
situations. She has learned Paul’s lesson at an early age:
was absolutely perfect! When Kinley was 19 months old,
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be
she had an accident that almost took her life (another story
content with whatever I have” (see Phil. 4:10).
for another day). She suffered an anoxic brain injury. After almost two months in Egleston and Scottish Rite hospitals,
BE PERSISTENT
she was released. What a wonderful day that was! Kinley
Kinley has overcome so much in her five short years. Only
was coming home, but she was not the same little girl that
God knows how many times she fell as she was learning to
had left back in November. She could no longer crawl,
walk, but she would get right back up and take off again.
walk, talk, or feed herself. Doctors
She sounds out her words carefully
were uncertain of her the future.
until she gets it right. She wants to
A brain injury heals differently
succeed in whatever she is doing.
than a broken bone. However,
Kinley doesn’t quit! God has answered so many
we trusted God to bring her to complete healing. These
prayers since Kinle y h a d
last four years have brought
her accident. Watching the miracles unfold as He has
tremendous progress. Kinley has
healed her body has strengthened
relearned many things, but
my faith in ways that I can’t put into
she has also taught me a few things in the process.
words. He has been faithful during the
BE JOYFUL
of days.
darkest of nights and the brightest
Kinley has a smile for everyone,
I began by saying that Kinley
and you can’t help but smile back when you see the pure
came into this world perfect. She’s almost six years old
joy on her face. A smile is probably one of the easiest
now. She started Pre-K this year and is doing very well,
things to share, and sometimes your smile may be the only
but due to her injury, she still has some problems. She
one that someone sees that day. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us
struggles with things that other children accomplish easily.
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your
She is strong-willed, opinionated, and stubborn. But she
strength!”( NLT).
is exactly the way God wants her, and that’s my idea of
BE CONTENT
perfection!
Kinley doesn’t care if she has the newest toy on the market or if her coloring book has her markings on every page. She
36 // March 2016
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 from the Tech Shop
Technological Distraction & Destruction
A
by Chris Isbill
fter a long day, all I want to do is to sit down in my big comfy chair. For you, maybe it is a shower or bath that you desire after a long, hard day. For others, it may be a couch, a blanket, or a beanbag. One thing is for sure, though, my days rarely end with a big comfy chair and a blanket. To be truthful, it ends with me sitting down with a computer on my lap, a phone and controller on the chair arm, and me strolling through emails or Facebook. I would be willing to take a chance and say that for the average person, it is about the same, minus or add a TV guide in there somewhere. For myself, I find it harder and harder to pull away from the digital world that we have created for ourselves. I am constantly checking the time on my smart watch or pushing the button on my cell phone to see what my agenda holds for that day. What about you? Do you have this problem, too? Think about it…think of the last time when you used one of these: the TV, Xbox, PlayStation, IPhone, computers, tablets, or any other devices that consume a majority of your time. I am as guilty as they come! There are days I just want to lay it all down and go back in time to where all the technology we have now could only be found in an episode of the Jetsons. Unfortunately, that is not how this world is going, and the busier we get, the easier it is to slip further and further into a virtual world because of our dependence on
38 // March 2016
technology. Oops! There we go again, as a society, putting our trust in digital idols! Technology isn’t bad, but I do think sometimes it can be used for bad purposes. Not just by hackers, but also by the devil. The Bible says in John 10:10 (HCSB): “A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” You see, the busier we become the more distracted we become, and the less aware we are of the real world. The enemy loves to steal your time, kill your sense of focus, and destroy your life through this process. If this wasn’t the case, then there would be no divorces over video games, nor would workaholics exist. This is a growing problem for us because we have to grow with the times of the world while we live in it. It even seems more overwhelming when holidays roll around. On March 27th, 2016, we will be celebrating Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord and King Jesus Christ. Do yourself a favor this special holiday, and put down any distractions and allow Him to work on renewing your mind and bringing your focus back to His purpose and will for your life. The only way that any of us can truly start living life in the abundance of His favor and love is by removing our technological distractions and putting God first. It is important that we use our digital tools in a responsible fashion in which we allow ourselves to not forget to make time for the One who loves us most!
Chris Isbill is the owner of Isbill Tech Services and enjoys spending time with his wife Chelsie and their dog Maggie.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
CREATED TO LIVE IN GOD’S GLORY
T
by Dave Carringer
he age-old questions of mankind have been, “Why am I here? Why was I created?” Just before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed a special prayer of agreement with His Father’s heart, revealing the very reason He had come to earth to begin with. Look at a few of Jesus’ words in John 17:21-23: That they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I’m in You; that they also might be one in Us, that the world may believe You sent Me. And the glory You gave Me, I have given them, so they can be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know You sent Me, and have loved them even as You have loved Me (NKJV). This Gift was purposed, planned, and paid for by heaven before the foundation of the world. Let’s look at just a few of the attributes of who we were made “ONE” with. ♥ God the Father—the Originator, the heart and soul of the Kingdom. Everything ever discovered about truth, love, and goodness, originates from His thoughts, His plans, His emotions, His character and personality. He is the Divine Architect and the source of all masterful creation. ♥ God the Son—The actual embodiment of God revealing the heart, nature, and character of the Father; the literal voice of God. He is the Activator of all the Father’s thoughts, plans and ideas. He is the exact reflection and representation of God the Father’s love, and all
40 // March 2016
that He is. His name is Jesus; for He is the Beginning and the Finishing Perfecter of our faith and redemption! ♥ God the Holy Spirit—the Facilitator of all the Son activates and sets into motion. He is the One sent to help and comfort us, teach us and guide us, to enable and empower us. He is the One through whom we have constant, unbroken fellowship with heaven, never pointing at Himself or speaking on His own, but always pointing back to the source through the Activator, Jesus. While this world could never contain enough books to accurately and completely describe them, this provides us with a small glimpse of the Community of God. Three distinct functions never working independently of the other. They perform as One always, like a symphonic arrangement, beautifully in tune with the Father’s heart. You can never enjoy the benefits of one without the others; for ONE they have always been and ONE they will always be! From within God’s original thought of creating man in His image came this divine dream of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all working together to bring us into their heavenly Community, joining us together as one with them for all eternity. Your enemy, the devil, does everything in his power to keep you, as a believer, from knowing this powerful truth of why you were really created. Now, you know: You were created to live in God’s glory and be one with Him. Now…don’t ever forget who you are.
Dave Carringer is a minister of the Gospel. He owns Abundant Living Organic Foods, and enjoys an amazing life of marriage and ministry with his beautiful wife, Kay.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Pen and the Promise
I
by William Lamb
was stressed. Life seemed to be closing in from every side. My doctoral coursework was complete and I was in the middle of writing a dissertation. For some, writing a dissertation may seem easy, but for me it was a mountain that looked un-scalable. At times, I felt everything that mattered to me was falling second to the demands of completing the PhD. My work was hindered, my family was suffering, I was losing my zeal to volunteer, and it seemed that I was about to crash. The window to complete the dissertation was closing and I was experiencing writer’s block—a dreaded disease for those who craft words. When the pressure i n c r e a s e d , I f e l t helpless. Even paralyzed. I suppose the next step was depression, but thankfully, my faith kicked in! If you have faith you always have hope. I will never forget it. I remember saying audibly “God, who can help me?” Immediately, the name Rickie Moore flashed in my mind. Rickie Moore is a professor at Lee and a trusted friend. Without hesitation, I hurriedly made my way to Dr. Moore’s office. As is common for Dr. Moore, he welcomed me into his office and listened intently to me as I talked. I kept talking and he kept listening. Then, while I was in mid sentence, Rickie Moore got up from his chair at the table and walked to his desk. He opened the desk drawer, grabbed a little wooden box and returned to the table. He waited until I finished talking and then he gave me
42 // March 2016
a hand crafted wooden pen with the inscription Lee University on it. When he placed the pen in my hand he also put anointing oil (a tradition of our Christian faith) on my hands and prayed a simple prayer asking God to open my mind to write well. After a flow of tears and some words of affirmation, I returned to my keyboard to write. Dr. Moore’s prayer worked! The days ahead were still long but the finish was near and eventually I received my Doctorate in Philosophy. You may be facing a mountain that seems un-scalable, pain which seems it can’t be healed, disappointment or even feel empty and think you cannot finish well. If so, there is good news. At the moment you cry out to God for help, He will begin the process to help you. Here are three simple steps to help you finish well in scaling the mountains of life. • Be honest with yourself. You are not a super hero. You need others. • Cry out to God. He already knows, but He wants you to know you need Him. • Defeat is the result of disobedience. God’s promises are true and sometimes he may use a pen to prove it. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power” (James 5:16 ESV). Dr. William Lamb is a member of the administrative
staff at Lee University (Cleveland, Tennessee) where he leads a diverse and global “service-learning” program for college students. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. William and his wife Angela, along with their children Tyler and Megan, Nick, and Ben, reside in Cleveland, TN.
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Gò0dNews for your Taste Buds
Baked Salmon Ingredients
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 6 tbsps. olive oil • 1 tsp dried basil • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp black pepper • 1 tbsp. lemon juice • 1 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped • 2 (6 oz) salmon fillets
by Angie Parris
Instructions
In a bowl, mix garlic, olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley. Place fillets in a Ziploc bag and pour marinade over them. Marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place fillets and marinade on a foil covered pan or dish. Cover and seal with foil. Bake 25-35 minutes or until easily flaked with a fork. Enjoy!
Angie Parris is director of food services at Broad Street Methodist Church and has been with BSUMC for 21 years. She is Mom of 4, Nana of 9. Angie and Jackie Parris have been married 35 years and are active members of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church in Cleveland.
44 // March 2016
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
Living With Purpose
N
What is stopping you from fulfilling your dreams? by Rhiannon Skeen
o matter what era you grew up in, at some point in your life you have probably heard the phrase, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” This phrase has been on my mind since the beginning of the year. This year I believe God is teaching me about dreams. Not like Joseph understood dreams, but the type of dreams you hold in your heart and only wish they could come to pass. You know the big dreams. When I was young, people would ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up? I never really had a good answer for them. Most of the time I said, “I don’t know; whatever God wants me to be, I guess.” That might seem like a spiritual answer, but really it is an answer without vision. I never allowed myself to dream of what I could be because I did not have enough faith that I could be anything. I had no vision because I had no confidence in who I was. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV). When we have no vision or dream for our lives, we live without purpose. This was how I lived most of my life. I went through life letting life happen to me instead of me happening to life. Why? What was stopping me from finding a dream or setting goals? In truth, I was. When we are young, we have so much creativity and confidence. When asked what we want to be, we never stop to consider limitations; we simply
46 // March 2016
believe everything is possible. God gives us that confidence as His children, and as we get older, the world tries to strip it away. We begin to be weighed down by doubts, limitations, expectations, and peer pressure. Many of us lose our confidence and become our own worst enemy. In the midst of the lies of the world, we lose our identity as a child of God. In Luke when Jesus was baptized, God makes a public proclamation that “This is My Son.” Once this has taken place Jesus goes to the wilderness for forty days. As He is there, Satan comes to tempt Him, but the first thing he does is question His identity. “If you are the Son of God . . . (4:3).” Satan knew if he could get Jesus to question His identity, he could destroy His purpose. Jesus never gives in. His purpose and vision are clear, and because of that, nothing could stop Him. What is stopping us from our purpose? What holds us back? Do we understand we are children of God? Or do we allow Satan to fill us with doubt? God plants a seed of potential in all of us—a dream to do great things for His kingdom. We just have to determine that nothing is going to stop us. With God it is possible!
Rhiannon Skeen is a recent Lee University graduate, a wife, a new mother, and the creator/administrator of www.whatsoeverislovelyliving.com. She and her husband are in full-time ministry with Global Apostolic Revival Network (www.GARN.tv). They are passionate about spreading the love of God and seeing heaven invade earth.
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ò0 Mission Statement:
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e believe when people are equipped, motivated, and passionately engaged in living out their faith in Jesus Christ they have the potential to be world changers. Our mission is to bring people into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ—a relationship that empowers them to see how God can work through individual personalities, situations, and talents. Christ was an activist, he did not neglect the needs of the people as He brought His message. We strive to encourage everyone to look more like Christ by reaching outside of themselves to serve the needs of others—at home, at school, in communities, and across the world.
Christian Magazine
Writer Guidelines: Who: Our writers range from pastors,
professors, and professional writers to stay at home moms and dads, business professionals, and others who have a desire to reach out to people through words of encouragement.
What: We believe that it is important to laugh
together, praise each other, encourage one another, and to offer biblical advice. Articles can be directed toward everyone, or from woman to woman, or man to man. We love to share recipes and family traditions as well. We ask that articles be kept to a 500 word maximum. We’d love to hear from you!
Where: Please send submissions to brooke.goodnews@gmail.com
Why: Because God has not intended for us to
just survive. We believe that we are intended to reach out to love and encourage each other. God has brought each of us through tough times, blessed us, and made the “impossible” possible. Let’s, together, share the love of Jesus Christ.
issuu.com/goodnewscm Phone: 423.503.1410
48 // March 2016
Gò0dNews for Everyone
Listening Is a Learned Trait by Kelly McDonald Jr.
T
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. —James 1:19-20 NIV
here is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is just allowing words to go through your ears. Listening is an active process where you are considering the words being spoken and taking them to heart. Your response should be geared toward the message that another person is conveying to you. A conversation is defined as a message received. That message is processed, and an appropriate response is issued. In a world of texting, emails, and cell phones, we want instant gratification. We want to say what we want our way, but this is not God’s way. God wants us to be good listeners. He wants us to listen to others and to Him. Everyone has something to contribute in a conversation. Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us that there is “A time to be silent and a time to speak” (NIV). In the process of listening, we must guard ourselves against anger. James mentions this in the verses above. Often we hear about things in the world or in church, and we get angry. This anger brings us to the brink of actions that are contrary to God’s purpose in the world. In our premature anger, we can say or do things that we later regret. We should be quick to listen to the entire matter that is
50 // March 2016
presented by other people. Even more so, we should be quick to listen to the voice and discernment of God so that we can properly respond. A wise man once said, “If you are always talking, then you will only repeat what you already know. But if you listen, you will have everything you currently know and learn what someone else knows at the same time.” One time in particular when we want to guard our words is when we are in the presence of God. Solomon wrote, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few” (Eccl. 5:1-2 NIV). Sometimes we are so busy talking that we miss God’s voice. We can miss His written Word as well. In Job 34:3-4, Elihu said, “For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good” (NIV). Let’s listen, taste the words given, and give a proper response from God. Let’s listen to others, so we can listen to God and be used of God.
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 from the Outdoors
Daffodil: Trumpet and a Star The daffodil tells the story of Jesus’ triumphant return to collect His bride. by Teresa Mustar
D
affodils are the evidence that spring has sprung! Winter is soon behind and the newness of spring awaits. There is deliverance from the cold, starkness; and now, green is at hand. There are at least fifty species of daffodils and more than 13,000 hybrids? All daffodils have a center that looks like a trumpet. Daffodils have a ring of six petals around the trumpet that is referred to as a star. The natural daffodil is golden yellow, while the trumpet may be a contrasting color. There are numerous color combinations including yellow and white, yellow and orange, white and orange, pink, red, and even lime green. Take time to examine a daffodil. Notice the texture of the crown in the center. Touch the beautifully ruffled filigree rim of the trumpet. Look into the eye of the bowl; the cup-shaped part of the flower. Here in the corona (Latin for crown) you will find the pollen, stigma, style, ovary, anther, and filament. The center of the daffodil is known by all these names: the crown (corona), the trumpet, the bowl, and the cup. All are found in the Book of Revelation.
52 // March 2016
The Crown. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (2:10 KJV). The Trumpet. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (4:1 KJV). The Bowl. “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (5:8 NIV). The Cup. “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb” (14:10 KJV). The Star. Now examine the star. There are three supporting petal-like sepals supporting three other petals; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit supporting mankind, creation, and eternity. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (22:16 KJV). God has heard the prayers of His people and will give the crown of life to the faithful. Sound your trumpet! The Bright and Morning Star will utterly destroy the Enemy!
Teresa Mustar is the founder of www. personalvictory.org, a web site where Christians can share God’s good news of spiritual, physical, and financial victories with the world. Also, download teachings, videos, and submit prayer requests.
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
God’s Attributes Are Not Segments
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God’s attributes are intrinsically woven through the whole constancy of God. by J. Edward Whittemore
e humans ascribe to God qualities we call attributes. Our use of this word is limited because we cannot come anywhere close to ascertaining the immeasurable superiority of God. When ascribed to God, we understand the word attributes, although due to the inadequacy of our minds, we sense it means a vigorous fashion of righteous morals and incomparable multi-supernatural strengths. These righteous morals are only illustrative of God, and by His sovereignty gives quality characteristics that should be an inseparable part of the Christian’s makeup. The word attributes is an associational word, which gives witness to our responding relationship with God whom we accept without knowing what He is. The idea that we might come to know what God is goes too far. We cannot know what God is, but we can know what He is like. Jesus Christ came to show us what God is like. Jesus is the Word; He is the living Word. He is the revelation of God as recorded in a supreme documentation He allowed Holy Spirit-inspired men to record as the Bible. God in His essence is one, but inexplicably exists as a unity in three persons. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is divine and each person is God. No correct step can be taken toward God without first realizing the three great “O’s.” They are God’s omnipresence, His omniscience, and His omnipotence. They are environs of His sovereignty, which is the attribute where He rules
54 // March 2016
His entire creation. Like His three persons, they are inseparable from His essence. Sometimes we erroneously think His attributes are segmented into God. We need to understand God’s attributes are intrinsically woven through the whole constancy of God, and each are always collectively present without segregation. His attributes are not isolated from one another and are mingled in the person of God perfectly. There are no places where God is not present, and in His omnipresence, there is no place God’s love is absent. As omnipotent, His love is over the entire earth; it reaches to heaven from where the angels bask and go forward in loving service to Him. His love goes beyond darkness and presides over hell, for without His love, hell would be unjust and God is the loving God of justice. The one immeasurable extreme outside of God is man’s soul. The soul of man can only be measured and valued through God’s attribute of values. Man’s soul is exclusively God’s predetermined creation that He constantly measures from its beginning to its end. By His holy attributes, God will pursue the soul, for God does not choose that any should perish but all should come to repentance. God gave His only Son, Jesus, the price incomparable, that whosoever will believe in Him shall not perish but will receive the everlasting attribute of His eternal life (see John 3:16).
J. Edward Whittemore and wife Jeannie reside in Bradley county. He is a Bible teacher, evangelist and published author. They are members of Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland.
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