November 2013
Complimentary p y
Gò0dNews Christian Magazine
Happy Thanksgiving From The McGowans
Compare apples to apples when making your college decision. The possibilities to do amazing things are endless at Cleveland State! Our students have gone on to become prominent professionals in their ďŹ elds! Don’t you want to be the next in line? Your future is now, so apply today!
November 2013
G ò0 dNews
Christian Magazine
Pg 4 Pg 6
About Us
Pg 8
GoodNews for Kids Thank You For Your Help
Pg 10
GoodNews on Money Matters Social (IN)Security: Can We Talk About This?
Pg 12
GoodNews for Him Turn Off The Screens, Turn On The Love Cleveland Church Directory GoodNews for Her uhn-kom-pli-keyt
Pg 14 Pg 18
GoodNews From the Pastor’s Desk Thankful
The McGowans
Pg 20
GoodNews for Parents To Everything There Is A Season... Whether We Like It Or Not.
Pg 22
GoodNews for your Taste Buds Ribbon Pumpkin Pie
Pg 26
GoodNews for Health & Fitness Finding Balance
Pg 28
GoodNews for Teens Pumpkins & Purpose
Pg 30
Ooltewah/Collegedale Church Directory
Pg 32
GoodNews For the Outdoors Daddy’s Deer
Pg 34
GoodNews For Everyone The Road to ... Restoration
Pg 36
GoodNews For Couples I Can’t Do This Anymore!
Pg 38
GoodNews for Seniors Stay True To Your Roots GoodNews For Everyone The God Parent GoodNews for Writers
Pg 40
Pg 16,17 & 31
Pg 24&25
Pg 42 Pg 44 Pg 46
GoodNews for Everyone Passionate Pursuit: Getting Gods Attention! GoodNews for Missions Thanksgiving Reflections
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.
God Bless You and Thank You! Photographer Melinda Nicodemus
Writers
Pastor Steve Gilbert Pastor Mike Shreve Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow Bethany Ruckman Andrew Lee Esmerelda Lee David Gray Darren Schalk Virginia Estes Rev. Rusty Asble Gayle Cobb Linda Conti Michael McCant John M. Thomas Zamyshia Zoharcheck Joel Rogers
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About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have three beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, and Andrew. We live in Cleveland and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined lives will be changed. GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising. GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!
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G ò0 dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Thankful By Pastor Steve Gilbert Heritage Fellowship Church of God H
A
s we approach the Thanksgiving season I hope you have several things that you are thankful for such as your health, family, job and of course your relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. The Book of James reads, “ Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God...”., James 1:17. So I encourage you to give praise to our heavenly Father this Thanksgiving season for the blessings you enjoy. But I realize that in times of blessings and celebrations there are always situations in our lives that need attention, things we wish we could change or avoid all together. I want to draw you attention to two scriptures that deal with being thankful in the good times and the bad times. The first one is in I Thessalonians 5:18, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus.” Personally I am successful most of the time in practicing this verse of instruction. In the ups
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November 2013
and downs of life I can usually embrace the fact that in all things God is working for my good according to what I read in the Book of Romans. Philippians 2:13 reads, “For God is working with you, giving you the desire and the power to do what please him.” We know that He will not give us more than we can bear if we approach difficult times with grace and faith. Jesus himself was tested in all areas of His life just as we are and He never failed. He chose instead to trust in the Father to guide and provide. So being thankful in all things is something that I can understand. The second verse I want to share that deals with thanksgiving is found in Ephesians 5:20, “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse to me is much more challenging than the one mentioned above found in I Thessalonians 5. The first one instructs us to give thanks in all situations but the verse in Ephesians
5 tells us to give thanks for everything. I find it difficult sometimes to give God praise for everything. Yes, I realize He is sovereign and omnipotent. I believe that He will provide all of my needs because of what Jesus accomplished and the Holy Spirit provides. But I also am keenly aware that although my spirit is willing my flesh is weak especially in times of crisis and devastation. So here is my conclusion, He said He would always be with me and that He would always provide. He has proven Himself faithful and true up to this point and I have no reason to doubt His availability and love now. So I encourage you today to be thankful for all things and in all things. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring glory to God through your blessings and your trials. Be aware that someone is watching your life and they want to see if your God can really be trusted.
Happy Thanksgiving
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G ò0d dNews for Kids
thank
YOU
FOR YOUR HELP
Galatians 6:2 he Barker family took a long trip. They stopped knew he would be OK. for a picnic lunch in a large park. They were all "I want to thank God for saving me," said Alan. tired of sitting in the car, so they ate their lunch "We all do, Alan," said his mother. "Will you say the as they walked around and looked at the park. prayer?" Mrs. Barker took the baby over to the swings. Mr. Barker looked for wild berries. Amy and Alan took some bread "Dear Jesus," said Alan, "thank you for saving me when I fell into the water." to feed the ducks who were swimming on the lake.
T
Suddenly Amy screamed!
"Jesus didn't save you," said Amy. "I did."
Both parents looked toward the lake and saw Alan strug- "Dear Jesus," said Alan, "Thank you for sending Amy to gling in the water. As they both ran over they saw him save me when I fell into the water. Amen." go under the water and then reach up again. Then Amy reached out, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up on the bank. Alan was soaking wet, but safe.
Some Questions
1. Does God answer some of your prayers by sending someone else to help you? "What happened?" his father asked. 2. Does God answer other people’s prayers by sending you to help them? "We were just feeding the ducks," said Amy. "And Alan 3. If someone else helps you in a way that answers a fell in the water." prayer, whom should you thank: God or the person who helped you? "I didn't think it would be so deep by the bank," said Alan. He was shaking, not only because he was wet and cold, but also because he realized what could have happened to him. Thank you, God, for sending many people to help me. And send me to help others too. In Jesus’ name. Amen. The rest of the family rushed Alan back November to the car. Soon he was dry, and everyone 2013
A Prayer
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Taking a look at United Christian Academy
UCA Basketball Team 6 Wins & 2 Losses
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United Christian Academy "Equipping the next generation through the power of education."
G ò0 dNews on Money Matters
“Social (In)Security: Can We Talk About This?” By Andrew Lee ’ve noticed in the past several years many “Letters to the Editor” of our local papers, mostly in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, regarding the myriad problems with Social Security and Medicare. I won’t touch the Medicare funding issue, but I would like to discuss briefly Social Security and its imminent self-destruction. To cut to the chase, there are simply too many people receiving too many benefits from Social Security, and there is more money being taken out of the so-called Social Security trust fund than is being put into it (via taxes). Different experts haggle over just how long it will take for Social Security to “go broke,” but most agree that in its present form, with no changes either to tax rates or to rules for receiving benefits, the program will not be able to pay its full benefits within the next decade (or two). In other words, before I turn 62 or 67 and could be eligible for my Social Security checks, the program will probably have to be “cut” so that I receive substantially less money than I was promised or was expecting. Does this alarm me? Not at all—but more on that in a minute. The typical “Letter to the Editor” of the newspaper looks something like this: “I’m a senior citizen, and I’ve been receiving Social Security checks for X number of years. I’m mad as heck about all this talk about cutting benefits! I’ve worked a steady job since I was ten years old and I’ve paid into the Social Security system my entire life! That’s MY money in those Social Security checks! It’s only right and fair that I should receive back my own money that I paid in over my working lifetime!” How I wish these letters were true and accurate, but that’s not exactly the case. I’ll use myself as an example. From looking at my last paycheck, I’m currently paying about $4,000 per year in Social Security taxes (to say nothing of Medicare). Currently, I’m in my “peak earning years”, so I’m paying more Social Security tax now than I’ve ever paid before. Let’s pretend that I’ve been paying that same $4000 every year for my entire working life till today (from age 16 to 45). That’s not true, of course—I’ve paid much less than that in Social Security taxes during that time, but let’s just round up to the high side for this November example. That would mean I’ve paid $116,000 thus far
I
10 2013
into the Social Security “system.” If I keep it up till age 67 at my full retirement age, I will have paid a total of $204,000 during my life from age 16. But according to my Social Security benefits estimate, I should receive about $2500 every month once I start drawing full benefits, for a total of $30,000 per year. At that rate, I would have received all of “my money that I put in” in less than seven full years, by the time I’m 73 years old. If I live past 73, then I’m living on “someone else’s money,” as it were. The average retiree would reach this point much faster than me, since my example was based on fifty-one years of work paying $4000 every year in Social Security taxes, something virtually no one ever does or ever will do. So the argument in those “Letters to the Editor” is simply disingenuous. I often wonder if the letter writers have really done the math, or if their claims are simply a result of not realizing the truth of the situation. The average retiree would run out of “their money” which they paid in Social Security taxes in about 4 years or less. Am I suggesting that those in need should not receive any help from the tax-funded “system?” Not at all; that’s its purpose, after all. I’m simply saying let’s start being honest about whose “money” it really is—it’s really the taxpayers’ money, those who are younger and still working and whose monthly taxes are actually funding those checks that recipients receive every month. Then, let’s start talking about how to lengthen the life of Social Security, or reform it somehow to be realistic. Ironically, this whole idea of getting out precisely what you pay into the system—a truly “fair” idea—would look a lot like private accounts which were mentioned in a short-lived discussion a few years ago. So back to the other question, why am I not concerned about all of this, personally? I decided long ago that Social Security was probably not going to be around by the time I retired, and I’ve been trying to plan accordingly to rely on my own savings and not the government check. I advise younger workers to do likewise and take the guesswork out of the equation. “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8)
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G ò0 dNews for Men turn off the
screens,
turn on the
love
By Darren Schalk hat would happen if we all turned off our screens for a few hours every night? What if we didn't have Facebook, Twitter, Lego Batman, Disney Channel, and Candy Crush for just a few hours? Would the world stop turning? Would our faces melt? Would we go into withdrawal? My family has been answering this question for a few months now.
w
I'm happy to say my face is still intact. About 2 months ago we started a new rule at home: no screens from 5:00-8:00 every night. I thought this would be more akin to my childhood. We only had THREE channels back then (assuming we could dial them in on the tuner and rabbit ears). When I came home from school every afternoon, cartoons were on for one hour and G.I. Joe was a daily indulgence. Once the afternoon hour of cartoons ended, TV was off my radar until Cosby, Silver Spoons, or Small Wonder graced the screen during Prime Time. I wasn’t interested in watching the evening news, so my brother and I did something that’s almost taboo these days…
WE PLAYED OUTSIDE. And (gasp) we liked it. We rode bikes with banana seats. We climbed trees. We played catch (often pretending to be Mike Schmidt). We rounded up all the neighborhood kids and played war with toy guns, stick swords, and pine cones that doubled as hand grenades. We used old mattresses from dumpsters to perfect our back flips. I hypothesized that by turning off all screens for a few hours every evening, we might be able to recapture some semblance of real family life and interaction. Lo and behold, I was right. (I love the sound of that phrase.) Our experiment has been fantastic. My three children (son, 8, twin daughters, 7) have found the joys of imaginative and active play. They ride bikes. They play outside. They perfect their backflips (on our trampoline rather than an old, ratty mattress). Last week we played baseball every night. This week it’s been basketball. By simply shutting off all screens, our family has spent more time together in the last two months than ever before. And the real shocker—we’ve all actually enjoyed it. Our society has slowly been sucked out of this God-made world and placed into a man-made world. The online world is made, kept, and fueled by man. It’s a dangerous, hostile world devoid of all moral guidelines. We were not created to exist in such a man-made world, yet many of us have moved in and settled down there. We were created to exist in God’s world. God’s world is beautiful, and God’s creation can bring us great joy. I’m challenging us all to begin once again living—existing—in God’s world rather than man’s world. So be intentional and DISCONNECT. Your hands might shake for awhile without Facebook or Candy Crush at your fingertips, but I promise your face won't melt. In fact, you might even get a tan. And trust me, you need one. “Turn off the screens and turn on the love.”
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November 2013
(Read that last sentence in your best Barry White voice. It’s more effective that way. And if you find a way to Tweet it in Mr. White’s voice, do share.)
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Cleveland Church Directory Assembly of God
Grace Assembly 1976 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-7729 Triune Assembly of God 3625 Waverly Dr NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-4214
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 Pastor Lake Walker 132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312 Bethel Baptist Tabernacle Pastor John Bivens 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 Pastor Wally Varnell 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936 or clevelandcowboychurch.com Cloverleaf Baptist Church Pastor Johnny Moore 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 Pastor Phil Griffin 2595 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 728-5050 or grace-point.com
November 2013
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 (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 Co-Pastor Allan Lockerman, Co-Pastor-Jim Gibson 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 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 Pastor Dr. Jay Mccluskey 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 Rev. Shane Lawson 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 Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5119 Samples Memorial Baptist Church 371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329 Shenandoah Baptist Church Pastor Brent Coley 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 Pastor David Tuten 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 Pastor Allan Lovelace 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 Pastor Steve Smartt 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534 or www.westwoodlife.org White Oak Baptist Church 2043 WhiteCatholic Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359
St Therese Catholic Church 900 Clingan Ridge Dr NW, Charismatic Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8123
Cleveland Christian Fellowship Pastor Mark Strickland 695 S Ocoee St, of God Church Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-2642 or ccfchurch.us Cornerstone Church of God Pastor Rick and Lori Sentell 2823 Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0006 Church of God Sanctified, Inc. Pastor- Bishop G.R. Hill 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423)479-3895 Destiny Community Fellowship CoG 2611 Blue Springs Road SE Cleveland, TN 37311 East Cleveland Church of God Pastor John A. Lombard Jr. 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389 Fellowship of Praise COG Pastor Selma Hall 931 Inman Street East Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3121 or
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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 International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoración 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 COG Pastor Mitch Maloney 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513 or nccog.org Mt Olive COG 3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381 Mt View COG 210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-6925 South Cleveland COG Pastor Chris Moody 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382 or southcleveland.org Westmore COG Pastor Kelvin Page 2412 Wolfe Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 559-9646 or www.westmorecog.org Zion Assembly COG Pastor Todd Mcdonald 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337 or zionassemblychurchofgod.com/
Church of God of Prophecy Cleveland Spanish Church of God of Prophecy 2610 Grove Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)473-7199 Durkee Road Church of God of Prophecy 201Durkee Rd. Cleveland, TN37312 (423) 472-4384 Keith Street Ministries Church of God of Prophecy 4000 Keith ST. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-2448 Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy 3301 Peerless Rd. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423)303-2680 Spring Place Church of God of
Prophecy 2530 Spring Place Rd. Cleveland, TN37311 (423)476-6414 Wildwood Church of God of Prophecy Bishop Winston Reid 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)479-6584
Episcopal
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 320 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5541
Lutheran
LutheranFirst Lutheran Church 195 McIntire Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6811
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) 476-8742 Tasso United Methodist 1106 Tasso Ln NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4457 Riverston Church 85 Central Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 790-5956 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
15 GoodNews Christian Magazine
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 Pastor BJ Miller 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 Dwelling Place Church International Pastors Jamie and Judy Jacobs Tuttle 523 Urbane Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 423.790.5200 www.iwilldwell.com Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654 God’s Family Fellowship Pastors, Doug & Patsy Bell 197 Neely Circle NE Cleveland, TN 37312 Phone (423) 790-7533 www.godsfamilyfellowship.com Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226 Living Word Church Pastor Larry Cockerham 930 25th Street, NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028 or Thelovingchurch.org Norvel Hayes Ministries 24 155 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 Triumphant Living “The Sanctuary” Pastors Mike & Elizabeth Shreve 1203 Smith Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423)478-2843 / shreveministries.org United Christian Church 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 Church 787 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-9696
Presbyterian Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004 First Cumberland Presbyterian Church 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 St James Cumberland Presbyterian Church 151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762 Trinity Presbyterian Church 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 East Cleveland Seventh-Day 801 Howard Cir SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-9299 Bowman Hills Adventist 300 Westview Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6231
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Adult Groups Cleveland Christian Fellowship -Bible Study Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Heritage Fellowship COG -C.O.R.E- Young adults age 18-30, Single and Married gather together the 1st Tuesday of every month at Panera on Paul Huff Pkwy. -C.O.R.E- Sunday mornings at 9:45. Breakfast is provided. Macedonia Baptist Church -Prayer & bible study Wednesday at 6:30 p.m Parkway Baptist Church -Bible study Wednesday at 6:00 p.m South Cleveland COG Bible studies and WOW worship Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. The Church at GracePoint -LifePoint Small Groups Contact mclark@gracepoint.com Union Grove Church of Christ -Bible study Sundays at 10:00 a.m (All ages) -Bible study Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Westmore COG -“Bridge Builders” Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -“Berean” Bible Study Sundays at 5:00 p.m.” -Sanctuary Bible Class Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -Crossroads Bible Study Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -“Growing in Christ” Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -“Sojourners” Bible Study Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -“Growing in Grace” Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
November 2013
-“The Blessed Life” Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m -Bible study Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Westwood Baptist Church -Bible Study Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Children Living Word Church -Cereal Sunday: Last Sunday of each month beginning at 10am for elementary age children. W.O.W. = Win On Wednesday (Discipleship program) 7-8:15pm every Wed. night For kids infant to 5th grade -Kids Town Sun.&Wed Nights Grace Point - KidStuf Sun. 9 am -C4K Sun. 10 am -UpStreet Sun. 6 pm -GP Kids Sun. 6:30 Heritage Fellowship COG -Royal Rangers/Missionettes: Wednesdays at 7:00p (K-5) Macedonia Baptist Church -Awana Club Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Mt Olive Ministries COG -Childrens Choir (K-2 grade, 3-5 grade) Wednesdays at 7:00-7:30 p.m. -Little Sweethearts (2-5 yrs) -Bluebelles (1st-3rd) -Joybelles (4th-5th) -Royal Rangers (K-5th) Wednesday 7:00 p.m. North Cleveland COG -“e4Kids” Sundays 9:30-10:00 a.m. -Big Breakfast Bonanza Sundays 10:00-10:30 a.m. -Big City Sundays 10:30-12:00 p.m. -Toon Town
Wednesdays 6:30-7:15 Parkway Baptist Church -TeamKIDS(k-5 grade) Wdnesday at 6:00 p.m South Cleveland COG -Little Sweethearts (2-5 yrs) -Bluebelles (1st-3rd) -Joybelles (4th-5th) -Royal Rangers (K-5th) Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Westmore COG -Childrens Choir (K-2 grade, 3-5 grade) Wednesdays at 6:30-7:00 p.m. -Little Sweethearts (2-5 yrs) -Bluebelles (1st-3rd) -Joybelles (4th-5th) -Royal Rangers (K-5th) Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Westwood Baptist Church -“Kid Connection” Sunday School 9:30-10:40 Worship Hour 10:40-12:15 -Story Craft Hour (July) Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 -Awana (Aug-May) Wednesdays 6:00-8:00
Couples Groups North Cleveland COG -“Twenty Something” Couples Fellowship For engaged and married couples in their 20’s. Sundays at 9:30 a.m. -“Covenant Couples” Couples 30’s – 50’s Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Westmore Church of God -“IMarriage” Sundays at 6:00 p.m.
Family Groups Living Word Church - Living Word Church Family Life Groups (Call 423.339-3028 for more information) - Thursdays, 1:30pm - Thursdays, 6:30pm - Sundays, 5pm
Westmore Church of God -Visionary Parenting Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -“Secrets of Your Family Tree” Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Food Ministries Macedonia Baptist Church -Living Bread- gives out non-perishables first Friday of each month 12 - 1 p.m.
Men’s Groups First United Methodist Church -Men’s Breakfast 1st Saturday Morning at 8:00 a.m. Living Word Church - Living Word Church Men’s Life Groups (Call 423.3393028 for more information) - Sunday 6pm - Monday 7pm - Saturday 8am Mt. Olive Ministries -Men’s Ministries Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m The Church at GracePoint -Men’s Breakfast at 8:00 a.m First Saturday of the month in the Grace Point Café. Westmore COG -Wednesday Morning Prayer 6:00 a.m.
Prayer Groups Cleveland Christian Fellowship -Prayer meeting) Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. Living Word Church Pre-Service Prayer Sunday Mornings. 9:30-10:20am. Prayer Room. God-Seekers (Noon Prayer). Freedom Prayer Room. M-Th 12:00 - 1pm City-Wide Prayer. Every
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Friday. 12:00 - 1 (Calendar available at www.clevelandnet.org) House of Prayer. 1st and 3rd Fridays each month. 7-9pm. East Wing Go Prayer / Evangelism. Every Friday. 7pm. East Wing Fast Lane (Prayer and Fasting) 1st Mon, Tue, Wed of each month. 12 Noon. Sanctuary Healing Rooms (Healing Prayer Ministry). Thursdays 1-3pm. (By Appointment 423.339.3028) 1st and 3rd Fridays 7pm The Church at GracePoint -Prayer Service Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Westmore COG -Missions Prayer Movement Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Senior Adult Living Word Church Embers (Senior Adult Ministries) Sept. 30, 1pm. Picnic at Fletcher Park Call 423.330.3028 for more information Macedonia Baptist Church -Fellowship Lunchon-Every 3rd tuesday -Quilters groups that meets ever 2nd. & 4th. Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m North Cleveland COG -“Peacemakers” Senior adult ministries Contact Travis Porter (423) 476-5513 South Cleveland COG -“Prime Timers” 1 Friday a month
SingleAdult Groups North Cleveland COG -“Oasis Singles Ministry”
Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Westmore Church of God -“Single Friends” Meet the second and forth Saturdays of each month for a variety of events. Contact Tammy Taylor at (865)617-7715.
Support Groups Westmore COG -“DivorceCare” Thursdays Contact Rick and Rhonda McClure (423)596-1003 -Grief Care Mondays at 6:00 p.m.
Womens Groups Living Word Church Life Groups (Call 423.3393028 for more information) - Sunday 5pm, -Sunday 6pm, -Thursday11:30am - Thursday 6pm - Friday 10:30am Mt. Olive Ministries -Women’s Ministries Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m North Cleveland COG -Women’s Ministries Contact Nelda at (423)4765513 ngeorge@nccog.org The Church at GracePoint -Women group meets weekly For more info contact mclark@grace-point.com Westmore Church of God -Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. -Yada Yada Book Club Third Thursday of each month 7:30-9:00 p.m Contact Emily Stone at (423)331-1474 Westwood Baptist Church -“Sisters Inc.”
17 GoodNews Christian Magazine
For more info contact Terry Johnson (423)4721534 tjohnson@westwoodlife.org
Youth Cleveland Christian Fellowship -CCF Jr. Youth(10-12) Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. -CCF Teens(13-18) Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Grace Point -IGNITE Youth Ministries Wednesday The U. 6:30pm Sunday Verticle Café 7pm Heritage Fellowship COG-ROOTS Student Ministry: Wednesdays at 7:00p and Sundays at 9:45a.m. (breakfast provided!) International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoración -Youth Ministries Wednesday 7pm Friday 7pm Living Word Church -IGNITE Youth Ministries Wednesday IGNITE U. 7pm Sunday IGNITE Service 6:30pm -Fuel: Ages 18-29 Thursday Nights at 8pm Macedonia Baptist Church -Y4C Youth Group Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Mt. Olive Ministries COG -LH2O Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. North Cleveland COG -“Altitude Middle School Ministires” Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. -“Elevation” Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Parkway Baptist Church
-Student Ministries(6-12 grade) Wdnesday at 6:00 p.m South Cleveland COG -“Fusion” Youth Group Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Westmore COG -The Element Root work Electives Sundays at 6:00 p.m. -The Element Service Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Westwood Baptist Church -“Refuge” Youth Group Wednesday nights at 6:00 p.m.
Call to have your CHURCH ACTIVITIES and EVENTS listed for free in our next issue.
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G ò0 dNews for Women
{ } uhn-kom-pli-keyt By Virginia Estes
A
fter a recent purchase at a clothing store, I noticed the word “uncomplicate” printed inside the shopping bag. I pondered many things that complicate my life. There are some things God specifically tells us to have nothing to do with. Today we will take a look at only two, the avoidance of which will greatly uncomplicate our lives. The first has to do ¬with our actions. In Psalm 101:4, God says He will have nothing to do with evil. If we desire to follow and love Him, then we should have nothing to do with evil lest He have nothing to do with us. If Jesus is Lord of your life, then your heart is blameless (as opposed to “perverse” in this verse) but regardless you should steer clear of evil because “just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:3) Paul speaks about uncomplicating our actions in Ephesians 5:11: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. You can look through Paul’s writings to see various lists of the “fruitless deeds of darkness” but by simply scanning some of the verses around this particular one, we can get the idea of things to avoid: bitterness, rage, anger, pride, slander, malice, sexual immorality, any kind of impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, course joking, unwholesome talk, drunkenness. You probably already know deep down which of these is an issue with you. Commit that area to God and begin to uncomplicate in that way. Let’s look at a second thing God said to have nothing to do with. This overlaps with the first but focuses in on words (spoken and received). As you consider this lesson from God, think not only about your face-toface conversations but also your interactions with others on the phone, via email, through social media, etc. or the words you receive through various types of mass media. In addition to avoiding foolish or unwholesome talk, obscenity and course joking, I Timothy 4:7 tells us to stay away from godless myths and old wives tales. Exodus 23:7 advises us to avoid false charges. There are many great things about living in the “information age”, but this is one area where we must be diligent about keeping a guard on the things we hear, read, and say. There is much false teaching in the world today, perpetuated by chain emails, blogs, Facebook postings and tweets along with “respectable” respectable news and information networks. Exaggerated or false claims
November UPCOMING EVENTS
{
}
Complicate:
to make difficu lt, a mess of, tangled, mixed up, confused.
are touted as the truth. These wrong ong thoughts get into our minds and can become the poison that we then offer to others. Our role in this arena may be willful or it could be unintentional, but the affects are just as destructive. This is why the Bible so often talks about guarding your mind and your heart. Be diligent to pass these thoughts and ideas through the filter of God’s word. Dismiss those things that are not of Him. Better than that, fight for the truth and be a light that dispels the darkness of lies. There is Good News in avoiding these things that God teaches us to have nothing to do with. But that’s not the end of the story. The word complicate comes from a root word meaning “intertwine.” We’ve already explored some things we should not be complicated by, but if we look at this word intertwine in a positive light, it can also mean things like associate, connect, link, network, or relate. There are a number of things God desires for us to be intertwined with based on these synonyms. First, He wants us to be completely connected to Him. Our relationship with God should be our number one priority. There is no way to guard your mind and heart apart from a growing and vibrant relationship with God, nurtured through reading His Word and prayer. Next, God wants us to have relationships with other people. He desires for us to be His light in this world. He wants us to encourage those around us, share the hope that we have through Jesus Christ, and provide for those in need (widows and orphans are mentioned more than any other groups). In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus speaks to the uncomplicated nature of our responsibility here on the earth: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Application: In what specific ways do you need to uncomplicate yourself? Are there actions you need to refrain from or poisonous media/ people you need to avoid or guard yourself against? What do you need to do to connect in positive ways? Do you need to spend more time in God’s word? Can you be a better encourager to those around you? Are there people in need of a Savior or help whom you can serve?
Pursuit Women’s Conference - Dwelling Place Nov. 7th, Register @ https://pursuitwomensconference.eventbrite.com/
Girls Night Out - North Cleveland CoG Nov. 21st, Call Carol or Nelda at (423) 476-5513 for more details.
Princess Parlor Parent's Night Out
Ages 5+
PJ Party December 20-22 To Schedule: Call 423-339-9648 Email: clevelandprincessparlor@yahoo.com website: http://www.clevelandprincessparlor.com or on FB 2 hour blocks available $20 Per child
$10 OFF Additional Siblings
CRABTREE & EVELYN
The Accent Mark Gifts 423-479-7737 2435 Spring Creek Blvd - Cleveland Store Hours: Tues - Fri: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat: 10a.m. - 4p.m. Closed on Sunday and Monday
Beautiful Gifts... Beautiful YOU
$10 $25 OFF OFF
Purchase of $50 or more
Purchase of $100 or more
Off regular prices items only.
EXP. 12/24/2013
G ò0 dNews for Parents
to everything there is a season… whether we like it or not. by gayle cobb
remember as an eleven year old peering out the picture window of our formal living room. I was witnessing the season change in southern Indiana. It was cold and dreary, and I was resistant to the idea of fall fading far from my reach. Trust me, it wasn’t that I loved fall. I loved summer! I still do. As I’m writing this article the leaves are changing colors, cooler mornings greet us, crisp air surrounds us, the aromas of fall awaken our senses, and all the activities escorted in with the season wait to break through the steel door I’ve created in my mind. I never want it to arrive. I’ve resisted this season change since I was that child at the window. My heels are dug into the idea of sleeping in, waking up to warm weather that will be sweltering by early afternoon, playing in a pool, smelling fresh-cut grass, lying still in the sun until my skin warms, grilling out, and spending extra time with friends and family. With much resistance, I’m pulled along every year making tracks behind me as I’m dragged along for the ride. And every year the summer escapes me and I’m thrown into this season of fall. Thankfully I’ve stopped crying about it—for the most part anyway. By mid-October I finally drop my fists and try to embrace it for what it is...inevitable. Unfortunately, by then I’ve missed out on several weeks of this temporary season. They’ll only be a short time to enjoy bonfires and s’mores. The opportunity to get lost in a corn maze and choose a pumpkin from the patch will disappear with the daylight. Time runs out. I suspect most people don’t battle the literal season changes like I do, but every one of all ages has resisted the very seasons in their lives changing. Many of us parents have cried in anticipation as our babies start kindergarten, and wailed with internal chaos when middle school arrives. I know young people that have more apprehension about learning to drive a car than their own parents have for them. What about starting a new job or when we move to a new town? How about when our kids go to college or when they marry? What about the season when we realize enough time has passed that our own bodies won’t do what they used to. A local pastor taught me that many times the physical happenings in the life of a believer are a reflection of spiritual changes also occurring. Since that idea was suggested, I’ve become aware of its truth. At least one consistent spiritual change seems to be happening to us collectively during our physical life changes. It’s that
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uncomfortable, vulnerable, growing, stretching act of trusting our God. It happens deep within us and at times it’s downright grueling. It feels a lot like being out of control. The author of the Bible’s Ecclesiastes tells us there’s a season for everything. A few verses later Solomon goes on to tell us, “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13 NIV) As I see it, there are two options for believers as we experience changes. We can resist them and miss out on ever-fleeting opportunities to enjoy life, or we can jump in with both feet “doing good and being happy” knowing God is sovereign over change and trusting Him as he waits anxiously to offer his gift of satisfaction in our toil. It is to our benefit to remember the very one who created us also maintains us and sustains us. As our own worlds change like spinning kaleidoscopes, there is only one unchanging source of stability. Our foundation, our rest can be found solely in the fact that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Finally, something that will not only be whatever we need when we need it, but will always remain the same! No changing! I feel like I can take a deep breath with something like that to hold on to. I’ve heard scripture called spiritual oxygen before. I can see why--we take it in (inhale) as we read it (or hear it) and it breaths life into our spirits. In turn, we speak it out (exhale) and it gives life to those listening. Now take a deep breath and let Hebrews 13:8 penetrate your spiritual lungs. Yes, seasons change, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
2 Can Dine for $12.00 2 ADULT BUFFETS AND 2 DRINKS
Family is the foundation for all things Children are in need of Counselors too. Hearts Set Free has counseling techniques designed just for children; such as play therapy. Give us a call and we’ll tailor a plan and goal specifically for your child’s needs. Evening & Saturday Appointments Available.
423-544-3059 http://www.heartssetfreecounselingcenter.org
Not valid with any other offer. Valid at Paul Huff Pkwy location. Limit 1 offer per coupon, per visit. Expires 4.30.13 11/30/13
$10
Not valid with any other offer. Valid at Paul Huff Pkwy location. 11/30/13 Limit 1 offer per coupon, per visit. Expires 4.30.13
Cleveland, Tennessee 355 Paul Huff Parkway Hickory Grove Shopping Center 423-473-9550 11-10 Sun-Thur, 11-10 Fri-Sat
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In-ground & Above-ground Containers, Installed to meet all zoning Specifications.
2798 APD 40 Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-7569
G ò0 dNews for your Taste Buds
Ribbon Pumpkin Pie By linda Conti
Ingredients 1 Box Ginger snap cookies 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1/4 C. cold water 3 eggs, separated Sugar (see below) 1 1/4 C. cooked or canned pumpkin 1/2 C. sour cream 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 C. chopped pecans 1 C. heavy whipping cream Powdered sugar
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Instructions
Prepare crust and set aside. Gingersnap crust: Mix well with fork - 1 1/2 C. (3 C.) fine gingersnap crumbs and 1/4 C. (1/2 C.) melted butter or margarine. Press on bottom and sides of 9” or 10” (9” for 2 pies) pie pan and bake in preheated 375 degree over for 5 mins. Cool. Soften gelatin in cold water. In mediam saucepan, beat egg yolks and 1/3 C. (2/3 C.) sugar well with fork. Add pumpkin, sour cream, salt and spices. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; reduce heat and simmer si 2 mins., stirring constantly. Remove from and stir in softened gelatin until dissolved. Cool. Stir heat an pecans. Beat egg whites until fluffy; gradually add 1/4 in pec C. (1/2 C.) sugar, continue to beat until stiff peaks form; into pumpkin mixture. Spoon half into crust fold gently ge chill in refrigerator until almost set. Beat cream with and ch mixer and add powedered sugar to taste. Spread half over pumpkin filling in crust, top with remaining pumpkin pumpk mixture and chill in refrigerator until set. Garnish with mixtur remaining whipped cream. remain
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When Trust Matters Most Grissom Funeral Home has been serving the needs of Cleveland and Bradley County for 25 years, and we humbly thank you for your faith in us. This is a great community and we’re blessed to be a part of it. Thank you for trusting us with your loved ones care. We pledge to continue to serve you for the next 25 years. Celebrating our 25 years in business is really celebrating you! Grissom Funeral Home–When Trust Matters Most.
Grissom Funeral Home & Cremation Services
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1959
McGowans By Bethany Ruckman
W
e recently took our family to lunch at Old Fort Restaurant and were able to have a talk with some of the McGowan family. Although, I feel like I already know the whole family. This is because as we walked through the restaurant I was able to see portraits of their beautiful family throughout the whole place. Also on the walls are words of encouragement and quotes from the Bible. It truly feels like we had just stepped into their home. Not to mention the food is absolutely delicious. Corky and Pat are the owners of Old Fort and together they have raised a lovely family. This is what they shared with us:
GNCM- How many children and grandchildren do you have? Corky and Pat- We have two sons, Scott, and Dax. Scott’s wife Amy, who is a basketball coach at Cleveland middle and Dax’s wife Brittany, who is an office manager at the dentist office of Dr. DeArmond. We have seven grandchildren: Walker (17), Baylor (15), Knox (12), Kley (11), Jaxson (10), Kinslee (7), Kason (5). GNCM- What family members work at Old Fort and what are their duties? Corky and Pat- Walker and Baylor work as cashier or waiter, when sports allow. Everyone plays sports from Golf, to any kind of ball. I’m sure the others will when they are old enough. A strong work ethic is very important to us. Scott works at the restaurant full time. He does about everything from catering, cooking, and working at the front as host
and cashier. Dax can do all that as well. Both are great cooks, but he loves law enforcement. He worked for Cleveland Police for 7 Years and now works for the DTW( Drug Task Force). GNCM- When did Old Fort open and who originally opened it? Corky and Pat- Old Fort originally opened in 1959 by Flavis and Dottie Casson, both were from Old Fort, TN. We bought the restaurant in 1991. It was on First Street and seated 40 people. It has only had 5 owners, and never closed its doors. We are one of the few restaurants that have operated that long without closing its doors at sometime. The owners have been: the Cassons, the Goins, the Dixsons , the Lees & now McGowans. One thing we never want to get away from is focusing on family and providing an “at home” feeling from the moment you step through the door. When we bought it we put so much hard work in it and
still do, but at that time Corky and I both cooked, washed dishes and basically did whatever we had to do. Scott and Dax both washed dishes, made biscuits and banana pudding, and watched their dad cook on the grill. My sister Luv has worked at Old Fort for 38 years. We owe her a lot of credit. I think Luv would also agree that she has been blessed working at the restaurant for all these years. We have wonderful help; some have been with us for almost 20 years. We are also blessed with the most wonderful customers that have supported us through the years. We also owe a lot to Scott and Dax along with their families. The boy’s have been with us the whole time GOOD and BAD. I’m sure they will carry on when, or if Corky steps down. He can’t imagine stepping down because he feels so blessed to have thae opportunity to go there every day.
GNCM- What is the best thing about running your business? Corky and Pat- We have been blessed by owning Old Fort. God has always been a part of it, because He opened that door. Our grandchildren know how blessed we are, and how God has blessed us. Being able to help other people is has been such a blessing. As parents and grandparents it is important for us to lead by example. The restaurant has given us the opportunity to talk about our beliefs and encourage others not only by words, but by putting into action the way God wants us to. Our desire is to serve the Lord by feeding others both physically and spiritually. GNCM- I know I love coming to Old Fort for biscuits and gravy. What are some of your family’s favorite meals? Corky and Pat- My Grand Children love steak that’s why I always say I’m glad we own a restaurant. They eat very well. We are known and built around business on being a meat and three, but of course have lots more on the menu. We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One thing we never want to get away from is family and feeling at home when you come in. Not to mention all of the homemade desserts. GNCM- What church do you attend? Corky and Pat- We attend Mt. Olive Church. GNCM- We love that you have Bible verses on your walls in the restaurant; do you have a favorite Bible verse or passage? Why? Corky and Pat- I love sharing bible verses in the restaurant. And hope to do more. I hope customers enjoy them along with the
grandchildren’s pictures. One of my favorite is Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 4:6. My son Scott likes Philippians 4:13. Dax says he like proverbs. He tries to live by Proverbs daily, but doesn’t always succeed. I think we all like Proverbs. I’m stuck on Proverbs 3 it has a lot of information. As you read this I hope you don’t think our life is perfect and we are perfect because it would be so far from the truth. If you have a family, work, and all else that life brings, you will know it’s not possible. We try hard. I like to say it’s not WHAT we go through, it is HOW we get through it. GNCM-Do you have any family holiday traditions? Corky and Pat- We love the holidays. Scott and Dax built their homes beside each other so all the grandchildren can play. We go to their homes for the holidays and on Christmas Eve we spend the night and wake up with all of them being excited. We enjoy looking at the mountains and watching them ride 4 wheelers and enjoying their gifts. We finally get to watch a girl play with her dolls. It was a long time before a girl was in the family. Again, we are so blessed and thanksgiving is always with us. GNCM- What are you especially grateful for this Thanksgiving? Corky and Pat- The things I’m grateful for are my family, my work place, and my health but the most thing I’m grateful for is my personal relationship with my Lord Jesus. My prayer is that my children, grandchildren & generations to come will love and serve him all the days of their life. We pray that Corky and I will be that example to them. They will not have a chance in life if they do not serve and rely on the Lord. Serving him has blessed me and my family with not only the peace and love that He gives, but with all that we need. Matthew 6:33, that’s why it is one of my favorites.
Old Fort Restaurant 1422 25th St NW Cleveland, TN 37311
Hours: Monday - Saturday. 6 A.M. - 9 P.M.
G ò0 dNews for Health & Fitness
FINDING BALANCE
By Pastor Zona Hayes-Morrow New Life Bible Church
In a perfect world we should sleep eight hours a night, we should carry a reasonable load of responsibility, enjoy the things you have to do and have plenty to of time to do the things you love to do. The world would be calm and you would have enough “space” so that you could be energetic. However, the world is far from perfect. There’s office work, computer work, paper work, children, parents, friends, enemies, cooking, cleaning, scheduling and coping. These are just some of the tasks of everyday life of a woman today. This probably describes your life. To say you can get “frazzled” is an understatement. Many of us blame low energy on bad sleep, stress, poor food choices or not enough exercise but the real cause is may be your psychological state. You want to enjoy life and have a life full of energy but you can’t put a bubble around yourself and expect everything else to just “melt away”. Instead you have to take charge and re-write your life story. The story you’re living right now in which you don’t have time or energy and you fell utterly exhausted is the one that you have allowed yourself to get in. And as harsh as that sounds, you can re-write your story so that you can be “present in the moment”. You need to create boundaries around what you hold sacred. You need to “act” with intention. You need to realize that you have more control over your energy than you think you do. And the more responsibility you take for creating your own energy the more productive you will become. It might seem like an impossible task but there are those like professional athletes, business men and women and even stay-at-home moms who have done this successfully for years! Next, stop waiting for life to happen to you and make life happen around you. Too many people sit around waiting for their luck to change or for their life to get better but they never realize that what is November
26 2013
confused as luck is often years of preparation, hard work and dedication. If you want things in your life to change, then every day make a step in that direction. Every day do something to make your life better or that makes you happy. Any movement towards a goal will get you that much closer to where you want your life to be but only you can do it. One thing I have learned is that people are multi-dimensional. This means that you can’t just talk about physical energy without talking mental, emotional and spiritual energy. Something that affects you in one area of your life will usually effect you in another as well. For instance, if you’re overtired then you are more easily frustrated and have trouble focusing. Too much conflict in your life leads to lack of sleep as well as physical wear and tear on your body. To re-write your life story, you have to acquire certain behaviors that will support all of these areas. The pay-off will be great and will free you up from negative thinking and feelings. You will feel happier, more balanced and more alive as you re-create yourself. Your life can only be as good as you make it. Balance can only happen when you work to get and stay balanced in every area of your life. The moment your priorities get out of whack or if you don’t set boundaries to protect what is precious to you it will cause you to go through life in a blur and you lose your capacity to experience joy or live in the moment. And this state will cause you to stop taking care of your natural needs like enough sleep, good nutrition or taking time with the things and people that you love. And it’s no wonder that your tank of energy will be running on empty. You will have to make vital choices about what is important and where you want your life to be. So decide today to make the choices necessary that will result in a happier and more balanced you!
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G ò0 dNews for Teens
Pumpkins & Purpose By Joel Rogers
I
absolutely love the fall: the chill in the air, leaves turning colors, and the sudden onslaught of all things pumpkin flavored. One of myy absolute favorite parts of fall is carving the pumpkins, and that brings me to today. As I write this, I am puttting the finishing touches on myy pumpkin carvings: this year requested by my baby girl, who wanted “Scooby”; so I am cranking out the entire mystery gang on a pumpkin. Pumpkins are a really interesting medium to do any-thing with. No two pumpkins look ook the same; some have thick skins, some are misshaped, some are scarred.. A lot like us, I think. Especially as a younger person trying to find who you are and how you fit, it can be very difficult to look at yourself and not be disappointed. We see our past, our mistakes, our hurts and our scars, and wonder, “What good am I?”. Looking back on your mistakes can be suffocating. You can be so swamped with the
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“then” that your “now” seems improbable, if not completely impossible. Back to my pumpkins: when I was with my family picking out pumpkins fa to carve, carve it didn’t matter if it was shaped shape funny, didn’t look perfect, or had h scarring. The only thing that tha mattered was that we saw something in them. It is the so same way with God- regardsa less le of the decisions you have made m in the past, what matters most is that you give yourself to mo Master Carver to carve away the M until He H brings out what He saw in you- what He created you for. We like to dwell on our ou mistakes and even attempt to punish ourselves for our choices in the past, but you know what? Your choices aren’t what make the outcome- the process determines the outcome! You can be scarred, misshapen and discolored, but in the hands of the Master Carver, become a Masterpiece! God wants to pull out your purpose: what only He sees in you. Will you let Him start carving?
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Ooltewah, Collegedale, & McDonald Church Directory Baptist Christ Way Community Church 6201 Mountain View Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-7677 Cross Roads Baptist Church 9122 Ooltewah Georgetown Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 344-2371 Eastwood Baptist Church 4300 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 396-2177 Hilltop Baptist Church 8900 Bill Reed Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 499-6120 Honestville Baptist Church 8526 Ooltewah Harrison Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-3705 Fairview Baptist Church 6807 Snow Hill Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-9910 First Baptist Church 5425 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-5743 Greenwood Baptist Church 8529 Snow Hill Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 344-8566 Old Rugged Cross Baptist Church 8900 Bill Reed Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 499-6120 Ooltewah Baptist Church Pastor Chris Gaither 5514 Main st, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423)238-4831 or www.ooltewahbaptist.org Pathway Baptist Church 9754 E Brainerd Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 892-8121
November 2013
Pine Ridge Baptist Church 9109 Pine Ridge Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 855-0752 Providence Baptist Church 8523 Providence Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-4363 Savannah Bay Baptist Church 8018 Ooltewah Georgetown Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-9497 St Peter Missionary Baptist Church 8120 Old Cleveland Pike, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 892-2533 Straightway Church of Ooltewah 10301 Lee Hwy, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-7792
Church of Christ Ooltewah Church of Christ 3206 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 499-8080
Church of God
Church of God Good Samaritan (Spanish) 5032 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd. Suite 3 Ooltewah, TN., 37363 (423) 284-2117 Heritage Fellowship COG Pastor Steve Gilbert 4635 S Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316 Ooltewah Church Of God 9320 Lee Hwy, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-3728 Redemption Point Church 3831 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 855-7321
Christian
Mountain View Christian Church 9118 Snow Hill Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 344-7849
Lutheran
Resurrection Lutheran Church 4309 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 396-3497
Methodist
Lighthouse United Methodist Church
9125 Snow Hill Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 344-4399 Ooltewah United Methodist Church
Pastor Richard Edwards 6131 Relocation Way, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-9216
Non-Denominational
Eastwood Church 4300 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 396-2177
Seventh-Day Adventist
Collegedale Community Church 4995 Swinyar Dr, Collegedale, TN 37315 (423) 396-5464 Korean Seventh Day Adventist 4717 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 396-2242 Seventh-Day Adventist Church 9209 Amos Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363 (423) 238-4619
FREE Add/Update Church Directory Listings Today!
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November Events! Farmland Community Church Special Ladies' Event Saturday, November 9, 11:30-1:30 "Making Holidays HOLY Days Workshop" Location: Farmland Chapel 852 Urbane Rd. - Cleveland, TN For more information, please call the church office at 423/473-9891
Nov. 15, 6:00 www.clevelandfbc.com/GBP
McDonald November 11 . . . EMPOWER YOUR HEALTH! 6 pm - Meal - Try foods that will help you to stay well 7 pm - "WHY Do We Get Sick?" and "8 KEYS to Living Well" - Mike Hollie, MD Pre-registered guests receive a gift. Call 615-9580 or email Newstart4Health@gmail.com. Hosted by Village Chapel, 131 McDonald School Rd, SW, McDonald, TN.
North Cleveland CoG Couples Night Out Nov. 16, 6:00-10:00pm $5/Child; First Time - FREE
Wesley Memorial UMC Spice of Life (Senior Adult Ministry) Covered dish luncheon – November 5
Wesley Memorial UMC Morning Light Ladies Bible Study November 12 at 9:30 am
Peerless Road Church Nov 9 : Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner 4:00 p.m. in the Hospitality Room
North Cleveland CoG Register by Nov. 11
G ò0 dNews from the Outddooors
Daddy’s Deer By Rev. R.G.O. (Rusty) Asble
t was a phone call like no other. I knew when the phone rang that it was not good. I did not want to answer. It was about 9:00 pm on October 15, 2007. It had been a long day at church, and I was trying to settle down for the evening. As I pulled the covers up to my chin and let out a big breath of air, the feeling of relaxation overcame me. I thought about the day and thanked Christ for allowing me to serve faithfully the best I could. It was in that moment of peace that the house phone rang. It was my sister. She was extremely upset and almost impossible to understand. She had just gotten a phone call that something bad had happen to Dad and our step-mom. I told her I would find out and call her back. I called my uncle. He was on his way to the scene of the vehicle accident. It was confirmed that both Dad and our step-mom were tragically killed in a one-car accident about a quarter-mile from their home. I was numb. About two days earlier, I had just talked and made plans to hunt with dad on the second weekend on November. His words were, “Get here quick…I have seen good deer.” When I inquired about what “good deer” meant, I could feel his smile over the phone as he said, “I’ve got a good one for you.” On Wednesday, October 17, my sister and I stood before both caskets and a large group of people in
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November 2013
Bishopville, SC. It was a great emotional mix for both families and a great loss. God carried us through that difficult time, and I was given the chance to share with them ‘Seven Things Daddy Taught Me From A Deer Stand’.
Seven Things Daddy Taught Me From A Deer Stand 1. Find Your Passion And Make It Your Purpose. Whatever You Do Make a Difference! 2. Use and Share Words of Affirmation…With Everyone. 3. Family Is Important…No Matter The Circumstance. 4. Don’t Be Afraid To Say I Love You….Multiple Times. 5. Enjoy The Differences In Everyone. 6. Invest In People. 7. Enjoy Yourself And Have Fun…Remember To Laugh.
On Wednesday, October 24, I had to go back to South Carolina to deal with my Dad and my step-mom’s estate. It quickly became very overwhelming, going through personal possessions and paperwork at an empty house. With 30 minutes left of day light, I went behind the house to the farm field that Daddy and I owned
together. I sat in Daddy's deer stand. As it began to pour down rain, I broke down. Daddy and I had planned to hunt that next week together. He had taken the time to prepare the stands with camo cloth and cut shooting lanes from the new growth of limbs that came up from last year. As I looked up, there standing in the raging rain was a 4-point buck about 70 yards. As I began to laugh through tears in the humor of the situation, I heard a stick crack behind me. The 4-point buck walked out of the field and out stepped a doe right under the stand. She fed in the rain for about 10 minutes and then grew extremely nervous. As I scanned the growing gray edges of the corner of the field she was looking at, out stepped what I thought was another small buck...until he raised his head. All I could think about was Daddy telling me on the phone two days before his death that I needed to get there because he had seen some good deer. This was most likely one of the many he had seen. Through tears, I raised my gun and found him in my scope at 210 yards. I was not even planning on shooting. I don't even remember pulling the trigger. All I saw was the deer turn and run back in the woods. I knew my responsibility. With rain pouring down, I flew down the stand and went to look for blood. Fear began to creep in that I had either just badly wounded a deer or missed completely. Man, I couldn't deal with another miss, especially in this situation. When I got there, all I saw was two big dig marks from his hoofs and one drop of blood that quickly disappeared with the rain. I scanned the woods with my Q-bean light and saw nothing. Dishearten, I went back to my Uncle’s house where I was staying. After explaining the situation, he called a friend who had a dog that tracked wounded deer. He followed us to the property where I explained the situation. Still pouring down rain, we went to
the spot where I had seen the blood. He looked around for the dog, and it was gone. He turned to me and said he had found my deer. Puzzled, we walked to the edge of the woods, he called the dog, and it came back. In about 3 minutes the dog led us into a thicket where the deer was laying. It was overwhelming. I fell at the deer and with cousins piling on top me - all crying like a babies. I had harvested Daddy's deer. It was officially my first BIG deer. All those years, all those hours, and all those miles driving, it came down to 30 minutes before dark, in the rain, one week after Daddy's death, in his stand. There before me was a 185 lb, symmetrical 8 point with a 19 3/4" inside spread. When times seem heavy and everything around seems disastrous, remember that God says "Be still and know that I am God." Thanks Daddy for the love of hunting and desire to share that with people through Jesus Christ. Thanks God for a memory and confidence knowing you are there in all situations.
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G ò0 dNews for Everyone
By Zamyshia Koharcheck
I
am writing this h article l because b this month is National Adoption Month, and I personally know what it is like to place a child up for adoption. Though a tough decision, it was by far the best decision I have ever made and without the leading of Christ little Micah would not be the little boy he is today. In order to tell you about my adoption process there are a few things leading up to that that you need to know. As a young teen I really struggled in middle school and high school, like most young girls I just wanted to “fit in”. I had no relationship with my family and definitely never wanted to attend church with them, though I knew that I needed to be following Christ I just chose not to. I can remember telling my parents I want to do whatever I want and don’t want anyone to tell me otherwise. I look back now, and realize all my parents wanted to do was save me from living a destructive life. At the age of 19 I got married, which turned into an abusive marriage, and with a child on the way it was so difficult knowing that my son would not be in a healthy home. In April 2010 I had my first child Andrew, and 5 weeks later I found out that I was yet pregnant again. The devastation and panic set in and I had no idea what I was going to do. I couldn’t even provide for the child I had now, how in the world was I going to raise 2, basically on my own. Right after I found out I was pregnant I started using prescription medication which soon turned into buying, and selling anything and everything to get high. Digging in dumpsters for things to sell, picking up railroad spikes on the side of the road for money to support my habit. Meanwhile my son Andrew was having to suffer immeasurably more than he ever should have and my family had no idea what was going on. So you can imagine their surprise when I went to them 2 weeks before my second son was born and told them I couldn’t have another baby. I begged them to tell me what to do…do I keep the baby or place him up for adoption, my parents though could not make that decision for me. November
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Four days before I had this precious child I decided to go to New Hope Pregnancy Center and they gave me the guidance and spiritual advice I needed. The director referred me to Bethany Christian services and I met with the director. I thumbed through a few photos and found Josh and Denise Browns beautiful pictures. I knew in my heart this was the couple that I was supposed to choose. I met with them the next day and was a hundred percent sure that God was lining this up for me, for them, and for this unborn child. The next day I went into labor. It’s amazing even in my sin and destructive life God still chose to bless me with an open adoption. Josh and Denise are my second family!! In December of 2011 I finally got to the point where I had nothing left in me. The things I was doing was sucking the life out of me. I started doing harsher drugs and my marriage was getting worse. So I decided to leave everything I knew to go to rehab. With the help of Anchorpoint Foundation a local Christian support group here in Cleveland, I was able to go to a faith based rehab in Abilene, TX where Jesus Christ radically changed my life. It’s been almost two years now and I am a changed women. I am no longer in that abusive marriage and I am finally the mommy that my 3 year old Andrew deserves. I am in school full time and am very involved at Westwood (my church family), Anchorpoint, and the jail ministry. I also am now part of the Emmaus community which has been a huge blessing to me. I have an amazing relationship with my family, and I see my second son Micah all the time. I share all this to give hope to the addict, to the parent with a child struggling, to the woman who is considering abortion or adoption, or to just the lost soul who needs an encouraging word. Christ will change your life, and he will continue to pursue you even if you think you’re not worthy. I am a living testimony that Christ can set you free. I am redeemed! Saved. Honored to say I am a daughter of Jesus Christ.
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169 Stuart Rd. NE Cleveland, TN 37312 Tel:423-479-8888
G ò0 dNews for Couples
“i can’t do this anymore!” by david gray
I
t was a pretty normal day for us. What transpired that night had almost become … routine. I had only been home for a few minutes when the usual fight broke out. Yelling, cussing, crying, and slamming doors quickly ensued. I don’t remember what the fight was about that day. It never mattered what the fight was about or how it started, because they all ended the same. But, I remember this night because what happened next changed the direction of our marriage.
My wife and I had been married for almost three years. I spent the majority of my waking hours managing a restaurant, six, sometimes seven, days a week, 12 to 13 hour days. Meanwhile, my wife stayed at home raising our two small children, and she had few outside relationships. When I was home I had little patience with the kids, and was almost no help around the house. For all practical purposes I was an absentee husband and father, married to an emotionally abused, neglected wife and over-worked mother. My wife has said that she didn’t feel like I was even a part of our family. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t all bad. I loved my wife and my children. November We had good times, too.
36 2013
It’s just that the bad, the evenings like this one, was a lot more frequent and often outweighed the good. As our argument escalated I resorted to my usual tactic of slamming the front door as I exited the house, getting in the car, and peeling out of the driveway. In the process I left my emotionally-destroyed wife feeling abandoned once again, trapped at home to handle the kids alone. My usual course of action as I took these frequent angry drives down random roads was to vent to God, begging Him for change. I would rant to God about the list of complaints I had against my young wife until I eventually ran out of breath or calmed down. Roughly an hour later when I returned home I would either pretend like nothing happened, or make sure she felt
that h she h was to bl blame ffor my outbursts. b However, this night was different. I was at the end of my rope. I had simply had enough. Instead of my normal rant, I made a declaration to God: I could not take one more day of this stress. I just could not live this way any longer. Period. I remember screaming, “I can’t do this anymore!” But, it’s not what you think. Even in our worst moments neither of us ever used the word “divorce.” Divorce was simply was not an option. In my desperation instead of asking God to “fix” my wife, I begged God to change … me. In that moment I began to realize my many failures as a husband, and as a father. The moment I began to repent God’s presence came rushing into the car assuring me that this was not the end, that there was hope, and that He was with us. I was wrecked. It is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we find God. It’s only after we release control that God can take control. God’s message to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, like Paul, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor 12:9 – NIV). It is in our weakness that Christ can show His strength. When we recognize that we cannot do it on our own is when Christ can finally lead the way. When I got to the point of desperation I knew there was only one place I could turn. Later I returned home to my distraught wife. Rather than attempting to make her feel she was somehow at fault, I repented to my bride and told her about my sobering encounter with God. Thankfully, she responded with openness and forgiveness. To my surprise, she had a similar encounter with God in my absence. We both mark this night as the night that our marriage began to turn around. I won’t tell you that our lives were perfect after that. But, releasing my wife to God and focusing my attention on becoming the man God has called me to be was the beginning of healing that has led to more than 26 years of happy marriage. God revealed that I had enough logs in my own eye, I didn’t need to worry about the speck in my wife’s. It is not our responsibility to change our spouses. When we do we set ourselves up as judge, jury, and even as God. By so doing, we assume our standard is the right one and our mate’s job is to measure up. It’s easier to point out the shortcomings of our mate than it is to look in the mirror. But, it’s not helpful. God’s concern is with our own growth. I am not suggesting that we stop communicating our hurts, hopes, or desires with each other. I’m simply saying, first cry out to God. He’s waiting for us to declare, “I can’t do this anymore!” When we personally surrender to God and allow Him to begin a work in in us, He will begin to transform our marriages.
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leveland- Relief may be in sight for those suffering from back pain or neck pain due to herniated or degenerative discs, joint problems, arthritis and sciatica. Dr.Bodkin is using a new machine, the DRX9000, a breakthrough in the treatment of back pain. They are one of the first doctors in Tennessee to use this state-of-the art technology. The DRX-9000 enables the discs in the spine to be gently decompressed, relieving pressure on pain producing nerves in the low back. Each pa-
tient’s treatment program is specific for his or her condition. Removing the pressure not only allows the discs to reposition themselves, but also to regain fluid and become healthy and pain free again. The treatment for the patient is extremely comfortable and most patients fall asleep during the session. In most cases, pain in the back, neck, and/or leg and arm pain resolves after the first few minutes of being on the machine.
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423-544-3059 REBUILD A MARRIAGE THAT IS JOYFUL, HEALTHY, AND STRONG. Is Your Marriage Drifting? Perhaps your marriage isn’t in crisis, but it isn’t very exciting either. Picture your mate and you in a boat leisurely drifting down the river. Where are you going? Will you reach your destination and achieve your goals if you just keep drifting? Couples in a drifting marriage feel bored, dissatisfied, and unhappy. There’s no vitality and excitement in the marriage.
G ò0 dNews for Seniors
Stay True to Your Roots By Esmerelda Lee
D
uring this time of Thanksgiving, when people tend to celebrate their plenty, I am recently reminded of an elderly man that is close to losing his “plenty”, all because of financial fraud. Financial crimes committed against the elderly are a reality. They are committed by strangers, caregivers and family memmbers. Fraud by definition usually involves deliberate deception with the promise to deliver a service, goods or some other form of benefit that is never realized. My friend fell prey to this kind of fraud when he opened up his mail, and saw the opportunity to increase his limmited income. By answering this form of mail, and giviving people access to his email, he was caught in a web of deception. I intercepted a phone call he received on his cell telephone. A man with a foreign accent utilized da bank account in Texas to extort almost $30,000 in money ney orders from my friend. His promise, “I can turn your our $10,000 to $1,000,000 in three months.” Most seniors who are wealthy have become that hat way by hard work and sacrifice; however as they age, the promise of leaving a legacy, and assuring their long term care, becomes paramount , to the point that some forget their “grass root thinking”. Strangers that prey on seniors have charisma, and give the impression that these people are “lucky” and “chosen”, and combined with a sturdy business front, many succumb. When seniors finally realize that they have been exploited, they are so ashamed. They feel November 2013
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that if they admit to their loved ones their position, this will be a sign that they no longer can care for themselves, which may trigger placement in a nursing home or long term care facility. One of the reasons seniors are a target is that they are poorly informed. Many of them watch the same channels that they love and feel comfortable with. They very rarely use the internet, and when they do, they are not accustomed to the disguises misrepresented on the social media scene. However, recently a study performed on behalf of the AARP noted that it was NOT the uninformed senior that fell prey to financial fraud, but the educated, affluent, and senior with a large network of friends and family.
to make These are a ffew warning i signs i k you more aware: • Stacks of unsolicited mail claiming that you are “a winner!” • Excessive numbers of magazine subscriptions • Unsolicited phone calls from solicitors offering “fantas tic opportunities”
My advice: If it’s too good to be true, it really is…
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THE PARENT By John M. Thomas
M
y wife and I have entered into the fun and fascinating stage of grand parenting. Alora is 3 years old and her baby sister Roselyn is 4 months. Our daughter Hailey and son-in-law Dan are the proud parents. Hailey is an ER nurse so that means we have the task of being weekend warriors; reviving our parenting skills. Each visit is a walk down memory lane when our own three children were just so young. However, I should add that there is a vast difference in the rules for grandchildren than they were for our own; and WE LOVE IT; but the common denominator is unconditional love. This new phase in our life has caused me to think a lot about how we relate to our children and our relationship to our heavenly father. We have three adult children. Stephen is our oldest. After his stint in the Air Force, he began his undergraduate degree in fine arts and cinematography. Hailey is our middle daughter that is well into her career in medicine. Allison is our baby. She’s approaching her senior year in college. All three bring us immense joy. They love the Lord and their mom and dad. The way in which we relate to them is unique for each one. They’re so different in their personalities it’s funny. Stephen can go weeks without calling; which is not a bad thing. If he’s calling…often it means he needs something or has a problem. He’s fiercely independent and persistent. When he hits an unscalable wall or impenetrable problem…he calls pop and we spring into action. He never questions my love for him. He’s my son and it’s my responsibility to love, guide, and care for him with all November
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the power and resource I have available. The God parent is about a deep understanding of our relationship with our Heavenly Father through Christ. Many of us have a skewed understanding of God's relationship with us and it keeps us from a multitude of gifts, favor, and blessing. To be born into God's family means that through Christ; we have a right to be called children of God. You belong to Him; you are His responsibility to nurture, care, and guide through life and eternity. That is His promise to you. He promises to never leave or forsake you. With an inappropriate Old Testament view of God mixed in with an unpleasant life experience and upbringing can leave one estranged from a Heavenly Father that desires blessing and grace for us… each hour of every day. My father was a Baptist Minister that held to a strict code. Being the youngest of nine, I often thought he was tired of being a dad by the time I came along. He was often agitated with a quick temper. I feared him in the worst way. He would act loving toward us at times but it would be brief. My mother was the nurturer and the source of most information; however there were times that it was unavoidable; I had to go through my father for favor or permission. I would spend hours buttering him up so I could ask him for something. I had the impression that he was already irritated with me and it was my job to make amends before seeking his help. Sin separates us from God undoubtedly; but you must read on. Because of this Christ came into the world to reconcile us. Once redeemed, we belong to Him. Colossians 1:20 (NIV) and through him to
reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Nothing can separate me from the love of God through Christ Jesus. Failure is a part of life, but for every failure, sin, transgression, or anything else… His grace is greater. Oftentimes we have the notion that because we haven't prayed enough; gone to church enough; made good choices; the way back to God is too difficult. Its the idea that He’s unhappy with me making it impossible to reconcile. But Christ has made reconciliation possible by bringing peace to what was once a wall of hostility. He removed in heaven and on earth all that separated us from the ultimate God parent. Now we can boldly approach His throne and seek His help and grace. He wants you to know He’s an awesome Heavenly Father like you have never dreamed. No buttering Him up or anything like that. He’s there to sustain and strengthen; to comfort and console; to guide and restore. Our failure to enjoy His care is our failure to seek and ask. Matthew 7: 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Your amazing God parent covers you each day with His grace; caring, loving, and providing for you. As a good Father, your God parent is keeping up with you; loving you every step of the way. Open the eyes of your heart to see Him…speak to Him. It’s easier than texting; it’s more fun than Facebook.
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Passionate Pursuit: Getting Gods Attention! Mark 5:25-34 By Michael McCant B
Passion: “There are many things that will catch your eye, but only few will catch your heart… pursue those”. Author Unknown he writer here tells what we call a story in a story; something big happened in these verses however it is not the reason Jesus was walking down the street this day. A few verses prior to the passage introduces us to Jarius who was a synagogue ruler and after seeing Jesus was there fell at his feet pleading for him to come to his home and heal his dying daughter. In the crowd described by Mark was another person, however unlike Jarius this was one not recognized as important, in fact we are not even given her name only the issue she was having for 12 years. The woman with an issue of bleeding was in the crowd on this day; did she see the synagogue ruler fall at Jesus feet causing the desperation to rise up more or had she made the decision already to get to Jesus only to follow through when Jesus changed direction to follow Jarius? We are not sure but one thing we are sure of, this woman who was considered unclean by cultural standards and in effect should not have been in public was among the crowd and making her way to Jesus. The people were swarming around Jesus pressing in and brushing against him but November only one TOUCHED HIM! Who touched 2013
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me? Jesus’ question in first reading seems crazy, especially to the disciples who were walking with him who essentially responded with “are you serious? What do you mean who touched you, everyone is touching you;” but Jesus knew only one person had touched him with faith that was able to draw power from him and this person got his attention! She comes with a greater purpose, not just to see him work miracles or stir up the town, she came with a faith believing he could heal her and desperately seeking her own miracle. She wasn’t there to be entertained; she wasn’t drawn by the crowds to see a show; this unnamed had become desperate for a healing that no doctor she had spent all of her money to visit could give; so she thought “if I can just touch the hem of his garment” not his hand or have him touch her; remember she is unclean, this woman is essentially an outcast in her society, however she knew Jewish law and culture so she was not planning to touch him but she understood his miraculous power and knew even the clothes he wore could give her the healing; we know it was faith she approached him out of desperation which allowed the healing to flow from Jesus not just the clothes He wore.
Power left his body in a way no other rubbing against him experienced in the crowd and Jesus knew someone had come close to be with him and not just see him from a distance. She broke every Jewish law pertaining to being a woman but more than those laws were the laws of uncleanliness (1) she was out in town (2) she positioned herself close enough to a Rabbi (teacher of the law) to touch him and then (3) she reached through the crowd and touched his tassels. I picture her crawling on the ground around the feet of all the others and reaching out to touch the strings at the bottom of the cloak; either way she gets in behind Jesus and in a desperate act of faith she receives a healing from the son of God. This one simple touch caught the attention of Jesus and grabbed his heart. Her faith turned his head and he stopped walking to Jarius’ house and said “who touched me?” I think we often hope to see Jesus as we walk in a crowd but we are unwilling to be seen by him; we desire to be near but not to close, we want to see but live unseen and to hear but not to listen. Until we come to a place in our lives of great desperation and passion for the things of God, we will miss out on the fullness God has for us! Jesus has come to give us life and the best possible life filled with hope, however until
we are willing and ready to reach through the crowd to touch him and be touched by him, we cannot live in this fullness. Jesus saw one person in this moment when possibly hundreds were seeing him; not to say He didn’t care for the others who had needs there that day but something about her desire to risk everything (possibly even her own life) and throw herself at the mercy of Jesus got God’s attention. Desperation leads us to a place where the only thing that matters is touching Jesus, regardless of what others think about us. Let’s not forget Jarius, he too had a desperation; being a man of authority among those who were often against Jesus, he came and fell at His feet, pleading for help; not easy for a man then or now to do and before Jesus reached his home the daughter died. The desperate man saw a miracle later as his sleeping daughter was given new breath and her life back at the words of Jesus. We see two stories of desperation, both ending with a touch from Jesus because they were willing to risk it all! Have we become desperate enough not only to get a touch from Jesus but to touch also touch Him with our faith and love from our hearts? Desperation often arises out of hardship(s) but the end result can be life lived in fullness and wholeness!
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tuous feast. But everything stalled, when a plate was placed before each of the pilgrims containing only five kernels of corn. Reverently, worshipfully, thankfully—the Puritans ate those kernels one by one—in the remembrance of the difficult place from which God had rescued them and in honor of those who perished. We should do something very similar this Thanksgiving. Before rushing into the time of feasting we should enumerate all the ways God’s grace has “brought us safe thus far.” A year later came the first Thanksgiving with its abundant provision. The table was spread with a sumptuous feast. But everything stalled, when a plate was placed before each of the pilgrims containing only five kernels of corn. Reverently, worshipfully, thankfully—the Puritans ate those kernels one by one—in the remembrance of the difficult place from which God had rescued them and in honor of those who perished. We should do something very similar this Thanksgiving. Before rushing into the time of feasting we should enumerate all the ways God’s grace has “brought us safe thus far.”
And we should consider the following truths: • The value of pressure—The reason the pilgrims came to the new world was an attempt to escape the persecution they were suffering against their faith. Pressure like this is often used by God to push us into taking bold and innovative steps we otherwise might never make. • The power of divine involvement—Looking at the huge population of the United States now and its influence in the world, it is hardly believable that all of this began with a handful of committed Christians in Massachusetts and a few other colonies. Great things often have small beginnings, for “Little is much if God is in it.”
When our pilgrim forefathers stepped off the Mayflower onto American soil, little did they realize the greatness of what would result from their efforts. They were committed to a dream: establishing a land of religious freedom in a world far too prone to religious intolerance, but one day that dream would far surpass their initial expectations. Their bravery and commitment should awaken within us the passion to dream for even greater things in our day—lifting this nation to the next level of purpose and destiny. Whenever God stirs vision in the hearts of His people, there is always a price to pay for its fulfillment—and sometimes, that involves far more than anyone would expect. So it was with the pilgrims. At one point, their rations got so low, they were reduced to eating five kernels of corn a day. But when many of them were dying from malnutrition and the cold, the dream was kept alive in their hearts, fueled by prayerfulness and passion for the purpose of God. The rest of the story shows how God got in the details—in amazing ways. Many years prior, Squanto the Indian had been taken to England as a slave. There he learned the English language and culture and was introduced to the Gospel (a classic example of how all things work together for good). Though he surely did not understand the importance of this phase of his life, later on, by divine intervention, he would be positioned at the right place at the right time to rescue God’s people. He befriended the pilgrims, taught them the ways of the land, and introduced them to Samoset, the local Indian chief. A year later came the first Thanksgiving with its abundant provision. The table was spread with a sumpNovember
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• The subtlety of divine guidance—Few know that the pilgrims were initially headed for Virginia where they had already contracted for a tract of land. But a fierce storm drove them ‘off-course,’ many miles up the Eastern seaboard. Little did they know, however, that the Indian tribes in Virginia had made up their minds to slaughter any settlers that set foot on their soil (understandably). Furthermore, the tribes up and down the coast had agreed to do the same. A plague had recently struck down the Indian tribe in the Plymouth Bay area, that was so swift and severe, other tribes felt it was the curse of God and would not re-inhabit the land. When the Plymouth Bay Company landed, unknown to them, they were settling in the only area on the coast where they could escape an Indian attack. Sometimes when we think we are ‘off-course,’ we may very well be ‘on-course,’ for there is a divine hand guiding us. • The danger of becoming comfortable in former victories—As the Plymouth Bay Colony developed, an unsettling event happened. The elected officials of the community decided to use some of their funds to build a road three miles west into the wilderness. The people angrily rose up against this decision and almost dismissed their leaders. They felt it would be a senseless waste. Besides, they felt would never need a road going three miles into the woods. Little did they know that one day there would be paved, asphalt roads stretching three thousand miles to the west. After having such a bold vision to cross an entire ocean on an unseaworthy vessel, they had no zeal to go a few miles further. They lost their vision to advance to greater things. May that never happen to us! Think about these things as you chart your journey through life! God is with you! He still moves in miraculous and mysterious ways! Be thankful for breaths you took while reading this article and give praise to the Breathgiver for another day!
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