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in the Frazer Activity Center Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. until 8
Frazer’s Activity centerbegins p.m. & Register Friday 7 a.m.inuntil 5 p.m. Cost is $85. Practice or online the weekatoffrazerumc.org/upward Dec. 6 and the first game is Jan. 8. The end of season celebration is Feb. 26.
For more information please visit
VVV %1 9$14," NQF 5TH ANNUAL
staying on mission
golf tournament MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 WYNLAKES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
proceeds benefit stella’s voice rescuing orphans in moldova
334.495.6325
frazerumc.org/golf
Volume 15, Issue 5
Feature Articles
O CTO BER 2 0 1 3 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note
page 18
Jason Watson
Wonderful Words
page 4
Pastor's Perspective
by Karen Wingate
If you have trouble reading the Bible and truly enjoying it, find help for approaching the Scriptures in a new way.
Pastor Buddy Bell, Landmark Church of Christ
page 14
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
page 16
page 24
Shine Kim Hendrix
Cover Feature:
Meet Ray and Ruth Bozeman by Alan Cross
page 20
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
This local couple has loved and sacrificed for each other, and for those around them, in a way that’s rare in our current day. You’ll be inspired and challenged by their story!
page 22
Grace to You John MacArthur
page 32
page 28
Fall Festival Guide Churches across the River Region offer Halloween alternatives that will give your family a fun (and safe) night out!
Counselor’s Corner Brenda Payne
page 36
Family Teams for Christ Lisa and Mike Conn
page 43
Get the Point? Elaine Britt
On Our Cover . . .
In Every Issue
Ray and Ruth Bozeman have been married for 67 years, have two children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. They were founding members of Gateway Baptist Church in Montgomery where they still attend and serve faithfully. They are loved by all who know them!
page 6
On the Bookshelf page 8
Around Our Community page 38
Event Calendar page 44
Movie Reviews 1
October 2013
River Region’s Journey
Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Pastor Buddy Bell Elaine Britt Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Alan Cross Kim Hendrix John MacArthur Brenda Payne Dave Ramsey Gail Welborn Karen Wingate
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson, Joe Bass ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Cover Photography Lori Mercer Photography www.lorimercerphotography.com
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Kristy Brennan Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2013 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
From the Publisher It happened again this year. It happened to you, too, I bet. I walked outside last week and that’s when I felt it. The cool air landing on my arms and neck gave me the same feeling I get when I smell my wife’s homemade chicken pot pie cooking in the oven. Happiness fills my heart, as memories fill my mind, of year’s past spent enjoying the new season outside with family and friends. October is a beautiful month and the perfect time to enjoy life. Do you have any children or grandchildren? What about your neighbors? I hope you noticed across the bottom of this month’s cover that we’ve spotlighted Fall Festivals hosted by River Region churches in this month’s issue. I’ve heard it said that the River Region has a church on every street corner. That’s not quite true, but there are a large number compared to other parts of the country. I think this is one of the things that makes our area so special. These churches, and their commitment to serve the community, are a tremendous blessing, and they’re doing it once again through their Fall Carnivals, Trunk-or-Treats and Festivals. Take note of all our advertising churches and the listing of page 28, then connect your family and neighbors with a local church to have some fun and experience the fellowship of a church family. This month’s cover feature is about a special couple I’ve come to know over the past few years, Ray and Ruth Bozeman. The Bozeman’s lives share a special story of love and sacrifice. Through the trials of a world war and disease, Ray and Ruth have displayed character that is sadly lacking in modern times. Please read their story on page 24 with your entire family, and discuss it over dinner. Having spoken to the Bozemans, I know that their character is built on God’s Word and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit to help them live out God’s truth. One of my favorite authors recently asked this question, “When you pray, whose kingdom do you really want to come? Yours or your Messiah’s? What would the evidence of your life reveal?” If I’m honest, many times it’s my own kingdom that I pray would come. And each time I find myself taking this destructive path it’s because I have forgotten what is true. On page 18, Karen Wingate shares an article on the wonderful Word of God. When we take delight in God’s Word we find our true selves and our loving Father, Creator and Savior who is worth following and obeying. Look to God’s story to find a life worth living. Thank you for reading this month’s issue! Make sure to share it with a friend so others can come to know the joy of Christ and the fellowship found in His church.
The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
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Pastor’s Perspective
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Pastor Buddy Bell, Landmark Church of Christ
Before and After Pictures I love before and after pictures. Whether it is for a diet program or a work out supplement, it is a great way to advertise a product. It is an even better way to advertise the good news of Jesus. I would love to be an after picture for Jesus! Wouldn’t you? The most dramatic before and after picture in history hands-down is the changed lives of Jesus’ early followers. They moved from doubt to faith, from fear to boldness, and from denying to confessing. What was the cause of such change? Even the nonbelievers recognized the cause, “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Recently, I have been studying through the gospels and asking, what did Jesus do that so marked their lives? Here is what I have discovered:
1. Jesus saw their potential. He looked beyond Peter’s instability and he saw a rock. He looked beyond John’s temper and saw the “apostle of love”. We have all experienced the power of someone seeing in us great qualities we didn’t see in ourselves. It is life changing! 2. Jesus accepted them as is. It always amazes me to see how sinners were so drawn to Jesus and yet so repulsed by the religious leaders. We often communicate to people, “if you behave then you can belong”. Jesus communicated “you belong” and this motivated people to behave! Sinners like you and me felt accepted and loved in his presence. 3. Jesus challenged them. Don’t get the wrong idea- Jesus did want them to change. After he said to the adulterous woman, “I do not condemn you,” he said to her, “go and sin no more!” Wow! What a challenge. In the context of a loving, accepting relationship, people were open to be challenged! 4. Jesus was patient with them. Reading the gospels and seeing how “dull” the disciples were can be very frustrating. They just don’t get it and, more times than not, they say the wrong thing. And yet, Jesus never gave up on them. I grew up with a picture that God would cut me off at my first mistake. It blew my mind and motivated me out of my mind when I saw he was not looking for
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an excuse to condemn me; he was looking for a way to change me. 5. Jesus modeled what he taught. Jesus was so powerful because his life matched his message! I recently attended the funeral of a Godly man who lived a long life. I wrote down the words of the closing prayer, “Bob lived more than four-score years, but the length of his life was not its most significant dimension; rather, the depth of his spirituality, the breadth of his influence, and the height of his ideals.” You call that integrity. Jesus had it. 6. Jesus empowered them. In one of the seemingly riskiest moves in history, Jesus left his cause in the hands of these men. What made the difference is that he not only put his faith in them, he empowered them through the Holy Spirit. Here is the good news from this teaching. God treats us the same way! You want to know how God treats you--watch how Jesus treated his disciples. He is the “exact representation of God. Here is the challenging news from this teaching. This is the way we are to treat people. If we want to witness dramatic change, if we want to transform the direction of our society, then we must learn from Jesus how to treat people. You see, not only do we love before and after pictures, God does, too! And he went to great lengths to prove it! Buddy Bell is the preaching minister at the Landmark Church of Christ located at 1800 Halcyon Blvd. off Taylor Road. He is a Montgomery native and graduate of Lee High School. He and his wife, Stephanie, are blessed with four children, two sons-in-laws, and two recently born grandsons. You may reach him at buddy@landmarkchurch.net.
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one
God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
d *All editorial content published must be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
KNOW S C
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF
USPECTED
ONCUSSION
A concussion is an injury caused by a blow to the head in which the brain moves rapidly and may collide with the inside of the skull. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior.
Any athlete with a suspected concussion: n
Should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY/ACTIVITY
n
Should be urgently assessed medically
n
Should not be left alone
n
Should not drive a motor vehicle
ThinkFirst _____________________________________________
Alabama
CONCUSSION CLINIC 205.934.1041 www.Childrens AL.org/concussion IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR LOCAL ER
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October 2013
River Region’s Journey
On The Bookshelf
by Gail Welborn
Joni & Ken
by Ken Tada, Joni Eareckson Tada & Larry Libby, Hardcover, Zondervan Publishers, 2013, 192 Pages, 978-0310314691, $18.99 Joni Eareckson Tada and Ken Tada’s marriage illustrates issues common to all relationships, though their challenges are complicated by Joni’s paralysis and confinement to a wheelchair since a teen diving accident left her paralyzed. In spite of that, Joni would learn to paint holding a brush between her teeth, write books with voice recognition software and even mentor the disabled. Although she overcame extreme physical challenges she never considered marriage. However, God had other plans. When Joni and Ken recited their wedding vows in 1982 neither one realized how Joni’s basic care requirements would test their vows once romance faded into daily routine. They also couldn’t foresee Joni’s broken leg, her diagnosis of breast cancer or the onset of “…razor-edged…” chronic pain that would stun her paralyzed body. They would call this time “the testing years,” where Ken once said in frustration, “Joni, if I met all your expectations, you wouldn’t need God.” Their tests, trials and challenges could only be worked out through a Christ-centered relationship where they learned to set self aside and give to one another in sacrificial love. Written with raw vulnerability, their untold love story is a must read.
Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
by Eric Metaxas, Thomas Nelson, 2013, 240 Pages, 978-1595554697, $24.99 Eric Metaxas features mini biographies of great heroes and role models of past inspirational and trustworthy men who modeled strength of character, authentic manhood and fatherhood. However, “that has changed in recent years,” writes Metaxas, “with troubling results.” Our culture today is in a “crisis of manhood in the absence of men of virtue and strength.” He believes Americans lost trust and began to question authority in the Vietnam War and Watergate era where they learned to distrust “the official version of things and of our leaders.” That’s when our nation moved from “naïve” to “cynical” where “…no one is believed to be trustworthy.” He argues when all authority is questioned appreciation of real leadership is destroyed with little of the heroic to model. That’s why he penned this book, because it’s time to “reverse that trend.” Inspirational, personable, well-researched and very well-written, Seven Men is a delight to read while at the same time illustrating a stark contrast between the role models of yesteryear and the celebrity-role models of today. Metaxas’s moving profiles of these great men are examples of what God intended man to be.
Appointments with Heaven
by Reggie Anderson w/ Jennifer Schuchmann, Tyndale Momentum, 2013, 336 Pages, 978-1414380452, $15.99 Dr. Reggie Anderson’s visits to the “front porch of Heaven” as “midwife to souls” also include his journey from atheism to faith-filled Christianity after the murders, suicides and massacre of six extended family members. However, the real story is his return to faith after his encounter with Christ, and the souls he then escorted through the valley of the shadow of death. Readers meet patients with severe medical problems, among them Irene, Anderson’s favorite from his “eighties ladies” group. When she arrived at the ER with a heart attack she asked Dr. Anderson to be her “escort to heaven” since she heard “Jesus calling her name.” Anderson sat with her until he smelled a “citrus, lilac” scent, saw a slight glow and felt soft warmth caress his cheek as Irene’s breathing slowed to a stop. Grammy-award winner Steven Curtis Chapman, whose son Caleb married Anderson’s daughter Julie, wrote the foreword and said, “Reggie’s appointments with heaven…provide a glimpse of God’s eternal purposes…that you and I need to hear, know and experience in our own hearts.” The story is a wonderful reminder of what awaits for those who believe. River Region’s Journey book reviewer Gail Welborn lives in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. River Region’s Journey
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New Women’s Ministry, October GODfest
October River GODfest is a ministry both to women and for women. Led by Dr. Tanya Goodson McLemore, October GODfest is to lift Christ up, lift women up, and equip women to help others up. The event will be held every Monday night in October from 6:30 to 8pm at First Baptist Church, located at 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, AL. The studies will address these topics: October 7: Knowing Yourself October 14: Knowing God October 21: Knowing Your Calling October 28: Knowing How to Live Out Your Calling You may register online at www.montgomeryfbc.org/womensrevival. This event is free and open to the public, however, there is a suggested $5 donation for printed materials.
Saint James UMC to School Bash and Family Bingo Night!
August was a busy month for everyone, including Saint James United Methodist Church. This year was no different. We celebrated the start of another school year with a Back to School Bash and Family Bingo Night. We wanted to give the families an opportunity to “slowdown” and enjoy spending some quality time of fellowship and fun before the hectic schedules began. On Sunday, August 11th we played Bingo with families and gave away a few prizes. During this time of fellowship we played music to break things up and everyone (including the grownups) sang along to this year’s VBS songs. The following Sunday, August 18th, we kicked off the school year with a Back to School Bash and Mud Pit! The student ministry joined forces with our local, volunteer fire department and played team building games in a mud pit. Ryan Road traffic was definitely slowed down because of the curious onlookers of the community. It was an amazing way to get the kids excited about what God is doing in our ministries and in their lives!
Make a Memory Day-Free Family Outdoor Event
H.A.L.O will hold their 2nd Annual Make A Memory Day, taking place at Union Station Train Shed at 300 Water Street in downtown Montgomery on Sunday, October 20th from 1-4 pm. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, as well as the birth month of Wendy & Nathan Blakley’s baby boy, Owen. Continuing H.A.L.O’s goal of educating and raising public awareness regarding such loss, H.A.L.O’s Make A Memory Day is a free event and everyone is welcome. The event will feature the bands “Fusion” and “Spoken For”, bounce houses, games, a raffle, a pumpkin patch, and Disney characters. Families are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and come out to enjoy a time of togetherness and fun. Please no Halloween costumes or pets. Photography mini session appointments are available for a $50 donation and include: a 20 minute session with one of three H.A.L.O professional photographers & a minimum of five edited images on disk. All donations are tax deductible and go to H.A.L.O. For more information about H.A.L.O., the event, to schedule a mini session, order a t-shirt, sponsor the event or volunteer please visit the organization’s website www.honoringangelslikeowen.org. Honoring Angels Like Owen, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose purpose is to develop, promote, foster, and support the spiritual and emotional needs of families who have lost a child from 20 weeks gestation up to the age of 2 years old. Support for these families is offered to meet their immediate emotional and spiritual needs upon receiving the news of their tragic loss. Family-oriented, Christian-based grief support groups, need-based financial assistance for their child’s burial, and “creating memories portraiture” are available. All services are offered to families at no charge. For more info call 334.328.1202 or visit www.honoringangelslikeowen.org. River Region’s Journey
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CeCe Winans to Headline A Montgomery Family Christmas
Christian recording artist CeCe Winans will headline A Montgomery Family Christmas at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. This fun, family Christmas event is presented by the Baptist Health Care Foundation and benefits Baptist Hospice. Concert tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com or the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, mpaconline.com. Tickets for this event are $35 for theater seats, $25 for balcony seats, and groups of 10 or more receive $5 off of each ticket. CeCe Winans is one of the most prolific artists in Gospel music. If you ask CeCe what drives her, the answer will be far removed from her endless list of accolades, best-selling albums, widespread industry recognition and vast amounts of press coverage. “It’s great to sing songs that help us or that encourage us to live right, or to talk right, or to love each other-and those are all powerful messages, things that God smiles upon,” CeCe says. “But when you just talk about the power of the living God and His awesomeness and His holiness, nothing is more powerful than that. It penetrates the heart more than anything.” A Montgomery Family Christmas benefits Baptist Hospice – the only faithbased, not-for profit hospice in the River Region. Baptist Hospice cares for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses. With the help of the Baptist Health Care Foundation and A Montgomery Family Christmas, Baptist Hospice is able to provide care and accept all qualified patients regardless of their ability to pay. Since the concert’s inception, the Baptist Health Care Foundation has raised more than $180,000 to assist Baptist Hospice patients with hospice care and various needs. 9
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Terrific Tuesdays for Older Adults
Terrific Tuesdays is a program for older adults. They meet every Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park. People begin gathering at 10 A.M. in Room 204 of Wesley Hall for a snack and fellowship. At 10:30 we begin our meeting. October events are: October 1 – We will have a visit with the Easter Seals Dogs. October 8 – Terrific Tuesday’s will not meet. Come and join us for the UMW Bazaar and Barbeque Wednesday from 4 -7 P.M. October 15 – “ Worship the Lord in the Beauty of His Holiness” with Jeff Benton. October 22 – Bingo with Circle 8 October 29 – A Sing Along. At 11:30 we have lunch. The cost of lunch is $2.50. Call Nee Nee Webb at 834-8990 if you have questions.
Chonda Pierce in Concert
Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, Montgomery, AL Saturday, October 5, at 7 pm Visit www.ticketmaster.com.
with Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Twila Paris & Wayne Watson
Sunday, October 20th Time: 6 PM (doors open 5 PM) Venue: First Baptist Church 138 South Washington Street Prattville, AL 36067 For ticket info call: 334-365-0606 or 615-224-3575. You may visit www.itickets.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 4:00-5:30 P.M. First United Methodist Church 2416 West Cloverdale Park Games, family fun, and old favorites!! For children through grade 3 and their parents. Happy costumes are welcome! For more information call 834.8990 or visit www.fumcmontgomery.org
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God of All Glory Tour
First United Methodist Church
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Alabama Christian Miss & Mrs. Open State Pageant
2nd Annual River Region Prayer Walk
Saturday, October 26 at Union Station Train Shed Registration: 7:45 a.m.; Prayer and Praise Concert: 8:30 a.m. 5K Prayer Walk Begins: 9:00 a.m. Registration Fee: $10.00 per person (includes T-shirt) Children under 12 free. Join us as we come together as the citizens of the River Region to pray over our cities, our government leaders, schools and teachers, uniformed heroes and servants, pastors and ministry leaders, and all of the people that make up the River Region. First, we will gather at the Union Station Train Shed for a praise concert and time of preparation for the walk. Next, we will walk a 5K route through downtown Montgomery using guided prayer focused on the groups mentioned above. Finally, we will conclude the prayer walk back at the train shed for a time of refreshments and fellowship. If you are unable to participate in the walk, we invite all River Region prayer warriors to bring a chair and join us under the train shed for prayer. Online Registration: http://riverregionprayerwalk2013.eventbrite.com. Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RiverRegionPrayerWalk. For more information, contact Brooke Freeman at: riverregionprayerwalk@gmail.com or 334-300-5407.
The 2nd annual Alabama Christian Miss & Ms./Mrs. Open State Pageant will be held on Saturday, October 12th, at RiversEdge Church, in Montgomery. Recognized as “The Pageant with a Higher Purpose”, this Christian-themed pageant is open to young girls, ages 6-30 years, who live in the state of Alabama. According to organizers, the pageant focuses on the young lady’s inner beauty, while stressing the importance of modest dress and good moral character. For more information, call (334) 313-5444.
The Gathering 2013...Restoring Hope
His Vessel Ministries is hosting a special teaching event October 18-19, 2013, at the Vessel Room located in the Historic Union Station in downtown Montgomery. The teaching will be conducted by Jo Hancock. Restoring hope and embracing the heart of God in a season of uncertainty will be the focus for the weekend teaching. The event will also offer a time of fellowshipping with other Christian women to be strengthen in the Lord. The Gathering 2013 will begin Friday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude with a Saturday session from 9 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information regarding The Gathering 2013 and to register you may visit the website www.hisvessel.org. You may also inquire at info@ hisvessel.org or by calling 334-356-4478.
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Abby Johnson to Share Her Story at Sav-A-Life Banquet November 7th
Abby Johnson, formerly the abortion center director at the Bryan/College Station Planned Parenthood facility in Texas, will share how she abruptly turned from ‘pro-choice’ to ‘pro-life’ in 2009 and became the founder of ‘And Then There Were None’. Johnson will be the primary speaker at the 2013 Sav-A-Life/First Choice of Montgomery Womens’ Medical Center Banquet at Montgomery’s Frazer Memorial UMC, Thursday evening, November 7th. Sav-A-Life/First Choice Women’s Medical Center provides a number of services for those women experiencing an un-expected pregnancy. Among the free services for the more than 1,700 patients visiting the Center in 2012, the agency provided Pregnancy Testing, Ultrasound Confirmation of Pregnancy, Post Abortion Healing Counseling and a Men’s Fraternity. In addition, Sav-A-Life/First Choice offers the ‘Earn While You Learn’ program which teaches parenting, discipline, Bible Studies and more. With Johnson’s Texas background, the theme of the SAL Banquet will be western with delicious Bar-B-Que and related side dishes. Because of the generosity of underwriters, there is no charge to attend this event. However, reservations are required. Those interested in attending or hosting a table of 8 should contact Melinda@mstewart@firstchoicewmc.com or call 334-8010 no later than October 24th.
For EvEry G E n E r at i o n . Prattville First United Methodist Church 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 TRADI TIO NAL W O RSH I P 8 : 3 0 AM & 11 : 0 0 A M SUNDAY SCH O O L 9 : 4 5 AM TH E W ELL 11 : 0 0 AM
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River Region Pregnancy Center’s Walk for Life
River Region Pregnancy Center invites you to be a partner in saving lives by participating in the annual Walk for Life fund drive. You can help by walking and gathering pledges or being a donor for someone who is walking. No one needs to collect the money before the walk, the center will take care of contacting the donors and collecting the money. The October 12th event will begin and end in the back parking lot of the Prattville Chamber of Commerce at 131 N. Court Street in Historic Downtown Prattville. Call 334-365-8266 to request a brochure and a pledge form. Registration begins at 9 am the day of the walk.
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Q.
Should a budget change every month?
A. Yes, it should. Your life changes every month, and your budget should reflect the ebb and flow of your life. Now, some things will stay the same. Your house payment or rent should fall into this category. If you have a car payment, which I hope you don’t, that would be the same, too. There shouldn’t be a big difference in the amount you spend on food most months though. You might spend more in this category during November and December thanks to the holidays, but overall it should remain pretty steady. The biggest fluctuation you may see is in your utilities. I heat my house with natural gas, so the bill is much higher during the winter months. It’s just the opposite during the summer. We burn electricity to run the air conditioner, so the electric bill is higher in summer. This is part of the reason I urge people to do a budget on paper, on purpose before the next month begins. You may look at the upcoming month
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and realize the kids have soccer pictures scheduled. There may be a school trip planned, or they may need back-toschool clothes and supplies. When it comes to a budget, there’s no easy out. Things change from month to month, and you need to think, plan ahead, and itemize so your budget is an accurate reflection of your life!
Q. How do you make sure you don’t spoil your child when you’re wealthy? A.
I know this will sound mean to some people, but you simply explain to them that they are not wealthy. I remember a time years ago, after we’d gone broke, that we managed to scrimp and save and finally had a little bit of wealth. We bought a nice car and my son piped up from the back seat, all smug and satisfied, “We’re doing pretty good, huh?” I’ll admit it was kind of funny, but it was also a teachable moment. I looked at him and said, “I’m doing pretty good, but you’re broke!” That was a pretty consistent message around the Ramsey household as the
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kids were growing up. If you’re not working and making your own way, you’ve got nothing. The second thing we taught them, from a very young age, was to work. That can start with simple things like kids cleaning up their rooms or doing the dishes after dinner. It should carry over to the teenage years as well. Every able-bodied child should be working and earning money, whether it’s their own entrepreneurial idea, at a store in the mall or babysitting. The third thing we did was based in our faith. As evangelical Christians, we taught our kids that we don’t really own anything. It all belongs to God, and one of our jobs is to wisely manage the things He entrusts to us. The first rule is to take care of your own household— the important stuff. After that, it’s okay to have some nice things, but it’s not all about pleasure. It’s also about giving and extraordinary levels of generosity. Teach them to work. Teach them to be givers. And gently remind them once in a while that they’ve got nothing until they go out and earn it.
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SHINE!
He ho l u ha a
by Kim Hendrix
A New Season Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Here in the Deep South we’re never quite sure when the fall season will truly find us. We’re always hopeful for a day where the stifling humidity breaks and the temperature stays out of the 90s, maybe even the 80s, but we’re never quite sure when it will hit. When it comes, we’re thankful. Just like with the calendar and the temperatures, seasons of life change, too, but many times we don’t see that change coming. Even when we do, we’re not always fully prepared for what that change will bring. I have a dear Aunt in Texas who’s experiencing a new season, one without
River Region’s Journey
October 2013
the presence of her husband. My Uncle Glenn died in early August, one day shy of their 57th wedding anniversary. How do you move forward without someone you’ve known and loved most of your life? We, along with their only child (my cousin), are trying to provide comfort and company, but she’s still sad and will be for sometime I’m sure. Her son, who was adopted as a baby, shared these words in eulogizing his Dad: “He had success on the court, playing basketball at Rice University, and in business and he chose to take in a little baby boy and save him from an uncertain future. He loved and encouraged me, bought me a car, sent me to college-I’m so thankful to call him Dad.” My Uncle Glenn offered his son unconditional love. As I thought about
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the lon He tha fat the tur tak my cousin’s words, “he chose to take in a little boy and save him from an uncertain future...,” I thought about how we’ve all received that gift, being saved from an uncertain future by a Father who pours unconditional love into our lives every single day! He saved us from an uncertain future when He died on the cross to take away our sins and when we receive him into our hearts as our Savior, our future is certain.
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Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” That’s what we must hold onto as the seasons of life change. It may be lonely and hard and yes, sad...but our Heavenly Father who loves us more than anyone on this earth could possibly fathom has secured our future. So when the season seems uncertain and the future unclear, we can trust He has already taken away the doubt and fear. A sweet friend I’ve known for more than 20 years has also entered a new season, moving into assisted living. This loving grandmother has always been a go-getter, but she realized she was slowing down and needed a little help from time to time. She loves her new home, but said she recently had a long conversation with the Lord about “not rusting away in this place.” She said He answered with a call to write and share a devotional every Monday morning with
her new neighbors. Now she’s going through clippings and quotes she has saved over the years and is interviewing new friends about their life experiences and then praying to God about how to share this information through a devotional. Her new season isn’t so uncertain anymore. Hebrews 10:35-36: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he was promised.” Another friend, who’s also a grandmother and slowing down a bit, told me recently that even with recent sickness and concerns for her children and grandchildren, she is abundantly blessed. She said, “Oh my goodness, I am so blessed, I would have to pray all day and night to be able to thank God enough!” I love that. She’s in a new season...it’s not easy and she didn’t really see it coming...but she’s thankful. She’s hopeful. When your new season comes, and it will, be hopeful, trusting the one who
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is faithful. Let’s live by the words in Hebrews, encouraging one another so even when life is different and hard, we will know His strength and be thankful. Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for choosing us and saving us from an uncertain future. May we live with the hope we profess, trusting you, knowing you are faithful! When we see friends in a new season, help us to encourage and meet with them, allowing your strength and peace to flood their lives through us. We love you, Dear Lord, and remain thankful for the ever changing seasons, those we feel when we step outside each morning and those we experience standing on your strength and promises. In the name of your precious son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Kim Hendrix is the Director of Development at Saint James School in Montgomery. She leads the Shine Your Light ministry at Frazer Memorial U.M.C. and recently ended a 26 year career in television news. Kim and her husband Scott, have a 13-year-old daughter, Annie, who brings them great joy.
October 2013
River Region’s Journey
The Intersection:
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Christian Cultural Commentary by Bob Crittenden
Honest Tea is the Best Policy Honest Tea is a company that sells organic bottled tea, and has established an annual ritual to determine how well people demonstrate the quality described by its company name. According to USA Today, the company scored honesty by setting up unattended kiosks in 61 cities, where its beverages were available for $1. A clear, locked box was left for people to make payments. Honest Tea employees observed from nearby. This is not the first time that Honest has attempted to measure honesty - and gained some attention in the process. In 2009, two Honest employees left a rolling cooler filled with Honest Tea in a public square in San Francisco with a sign that read “Please Don’t Touch; Back in 15
Minutes.” They watched from across the street, and within 15 minutes the entire cooler was emptied. Honest Tea said that this prompted them to wonder about the honesty of people in other areas of the country. In 2010, they brought unmanned racks to eight cities and discovered 89% of people were honest and paid for beverages, and in 2011, they focused on 12 cities in one day and 94% of people were honest. In 2012, the National Honesty Index was born, based on tests in 35 cities over the course of one week and discovering 93% of people were honest overall. This year, the research was expanded even further, and the results are in. Using
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River Region’s Journey
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data gathered from experiments conducted in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the National Honesty Index found that overall, Americans were honest 92% of the time. The states deemed to be “most honest”, according to the index, with people being honest 100% of the time: Hawaii and… (yes!) Alabama! Seth Goldman, co-founder and CEO of Honest Tea, said, “We’ve conducted our experiment in different cities over the past
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few years, but this is the first time we’ve conducted the experiment on a national scale...Even though my bicycle was stolen the same day as our D.C. experiment, it’s reassuring to know that 92% of Americans will do the right thing even when it seems no one is watching.” Washington, D.C., received the lowest ranking, with participants being honest 80% of the time. Honesty is a virtue to be celebrated, and a recent example of honesty made news. According to BreakingChristianNews.com, there were four young men in New Jersey who entered a store called Buddy’s Small Lots, where the lights were on and door unlocked, but no clerk was on duty. The store had mistakenly been left open. The young men called out for a clerk, but finally - after finding what they needed: headphones, sunglasses and batteries - they counted out the exact amount of money they owed and left it on the counter, signaling to the security camera that they were doing so. They even figured in the correct amount needed for tax.
After being alerted to the unlocked doors of her store by a neighboring pharmacy, the director of store operations reviewed the security footage and saw the four shoppers’ honest actions caught on tape. She told reporters, “I thought, ‘Wow, really, do kids do this?’…I thought it was an awesome thing and I wanted to recognize them and thank them.” She did thank them each with a $50 shopping spree to their store and they appeared on NBC’s “Today” show. The practice of truth-telling pleases God and has many benefits for us. At home, we expect our children to give us accurate reports and to be forthright in coming forward when they have done something wrong, rather than try to cover it up. Once a mistake is made, to confess and apologize is an admirable quality that we should expect our kids to develop (and even model ourselves). In our marriages, we are not called to live secret or separate lives from our spouses, constructing scenarios where we have private endeavors that we don’t want them to know about.
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In the workplace, making sure our company’s resources are properly accounted for is critical in practicing the fine art of truth-telling. Keeping an accurate tally of expenses is an example. Spending time for which your employer is paying you doing other activities is a subtle form of stealing. Often, no one will ever know if we’re not being totally honest. But, the ultimate Judge will and there may be consequences for our lack of integrity. It’s been said that integrity is something that we do when no one’s looking. If we’re growing in Christ and desiring to obey Him, we recognize that He wants us to be people who are truthful in thought and deed. We depend on the Holy Spirit to show us where we are falling short and to mold us into the people of honesty that He desires us to be.
Bob Crittenden is host of “The Meeting House”, heard weekday afternoons from 4-6pm on Faith Radio, 89.1FM in Montgomery. Described as “the intersection of faith and culture”, the program features Christian music and conversation about a variety of topics. Learn more by visiting www. meetinghouseonline.info.
October 17-19, 2013 Montgomery’s Multiplex at Cramton Bowl Presented by Junior League of Montgomery
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October 2013
River Region’s Journey
Wonderful Words by Karen Wingate
“Oh how I love your law!” Committed to reading through the Bible in one year, my speed reading skidded to a screeching halt one hot July morning when my eyes caught Psalm 119:97. Did the writer say love? Wasn’t affection for law an emotion reserved only for law students and political science majors? Desperate to catch up on my reading assignment for that day, I revved my reading motor into third gear, only to put the brakes on at v. 129: “Your statutes are wonderful.” There it was again. Whoever wrote the Psalm didn’t have merely a duty-bound, intellectual love for the law. He found delight in it, longed for it and didn’t want to neglect it. What would it take for me to view God’s words as wonderful? In my desire to “get through the Bible,” I couldn’t say I was reading for the delight of meditating on God’s law. It had become another item on my daily to-do list, something I was supposed to accomplish each day. Why did the Psalmist love God’s law so much? More importantly, how could I fall in love with God’s Word?
An Authentic Author
Develop a Real Love for GOD’S WORD River Region’s Journey
October 2013
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At one time, I viewed Psalm 119 as 176 ways to say, “God’s Word is awesome.” As I looked closer, the Psalm reminded me that God’s law is worth loving because the Author is trustworthy, good and righteous. It reveals a God who can be trusted, a God
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who knows what He is talking about. God is faithful throughout all generations (v. 90). He is good and does what is good (v. 68). His righteousness shows He is worth following and obeying (vv. 9-11). Throughout generations, believers have found strength and comfort in passages that reminded them of God’s faithfulness, care and goodness. Psalm 23 is often quoted at funerals because its visual imagery portrays God’s compassion for his people. J. Russell Morse, a missionary to the Chinese during the first half of the twentieth century, remained strong and sane due to his memorization of long passages of Scripture. God’s Word, hidden in his heart, helped him survive long hours of solitary confinement and brutal beatings. You have probably seen the cartoon sentiment, “I’m married to Mr. Right and even when he is wrong, he is Right.” Fortunately, God is never wrong. His way is always best. When we surrender our will to follow his system of law, we discover His way as expressed in the Bible is always right. If my mother makes the best bread in the world, I would be wise to follow her methods - otherwise, I would have no business whining that I can’t make high, tender-crusted loaves like hers. If, after listening to her advice, the resulting bread was worthy of a State Fair blue ribbon, I would agree (unless I’m proud and stubborn) that, indeed, Mom knew what she was talking about. I would want to continue to make bread the way she does so that, like her, I could be known for my awesome bread. The Psalmist found God’s way was best. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word (v. 9).” The poet’s regard for God’s law became an upward spiral of success; by obeying it, he discovered it was the best way, no, the only way, upon which to pattern his life. Success led him to want to obey God’s law more and more (v. 29). We cannot put our trust in a God we do not know nor can we apply His principles if we are not familiar with them. So where do we start? How can we, like the Psalmist, fall in love with God’s Word?
As you read your Bible, ask yourself:
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How does this passage describe what God has done for me? What does this passage instruct me to do for God? What do other Bible passages say about this topic? What do I need to do today to live out this passage? Savoring the Scriptures
One year Bible reading plans are a great tool for grasping the big picture of God’s redemptive plan. If you find yourself not absorbing what you read, here are some ideas to help you find pleasure in God’s Word. Start simple. Read the action packed book of Mark that depicts the life of Jesus, the story of the church through the book of Acts or the practical book of James where you can easily find a application to daily life. Read only a few verses a day until you reach a complete thought and then stop. Reread the passage if needed. Read with purpose. A great study tool for college students is to ask questions before reading the weekly assignment. This is a good principle to apply when reading the Bible as well. While preparing for this article, I approached Psalm 119 with three questions: 1) What was the author’s attitude toward God’s Word? 2) Why did he feel that way? 3) What did he do to attain that attitude? Develop the art of meditation. Take God’s Word with you wherever you go by memorizing verses like J. Russell Morse did. If memorization is a challenge for you, memorize one verse at a time or write a short passage on an index card. Think about the verse throughout the day. Pull it apart word by word. Mull over it, ruminate over it, like a cow chewing its cud. Like 21
any new learning experience, we retain best when we repeat something over and over again (v. 13).
Pray. Psalm 119 is one long prayer to God. The poet implores God to “teach me your decrees (v. 12),” “let me understand the teaching of your precepts (v. 27),” and “direct my footsteps according to your word (v. 133).” If you don’t understand what a particular passage means, ask God for help! He delights to have his children ask for wisdom (James 1:6).
Pray that God show you how to apply His precepts to everyday matters. Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” If your understanding makes you squirm, ask for help. The Holy Spirit living inside you will enable you to act upon what you have read. Just do it. That’s the biggest lesson I derive when reading Psalm 119. Love for God’s Word came after - not before the Psalmist obeyed it. That makes sense to me. When I read passages against the backdrop of my life experiences, I find myself nodding in agreement. Been there, done that, yes it’s true. The school of hard knocks has shown me God’s way is the only way; life doesn’t work otherwise. I resonate with the words because they ring true. And it makes me want more. As Peter said to Jesus in John 6:68 after the multitudes left him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” God’s words really are wonderful! Karen Wingate, an award winning bread baker because she listened to her mother, is a Christian educator, speaker, and freelance writer. Visit her website at www.graceonparade.com. October 2013
River Region’s Journey
Grace to You
reg the in me an 3:5 re– in thi ha wo (E Ch
by John MacArthur
Hope for Sinners Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–11) And such were some of you. The Corinthian church, as churches today, had ex–fornicators, ex–adulterers, ex–
thieves, and so on. Though many Christians have never been guilty of the particular sins just discussed, every Christian was sinful before he was saved. Every Christian is an ex–sinner. Christ came for the purpose of saving sinners (Matt. 9:13). That is the great truth of Christianity: no person has sinned too deeply or too long to be saved. “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20). But some had ceased to be like that for a while, and were reverting to their old behavior. Paul uses but (alla, the strongest Greek adversative particle) three times to indicate the contrast of the Christian life with the worldly life he has just
been describing. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified. It made no difference what they were before they were saved. God can save a sinner from any sin and all sin. But it makes a great deal of difference what a believer is like after salvation. He is to live a life that corresponds to his cleansing, his sanctification, and his justification. His Christian life is to be pure, holy, and righteous. The new life produces and requires a new kind of living.
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Wi to t gen enc Gra sin gro pul thr River Region’s Journey
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Washed speaks of new life, of regeneration. Jesus “saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). Regeneration is God’s work of re–creation. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10). When a person is washed by Christ he is born again (John 3:3–8). Sanctified speaks of new behavior. To be sanctified is to be made holy inwardly and to be able, in the Spirit’s power, to live a righteous life outwardly. Before a person is saved he has no holy nature and no capacity for holy living. But in Christ we are given a new nature and can live out the new kind of life. Sin’s total domination is broken and is replaced by a life of holiness. By their fleshly sinfulness the Corinthians were interrupting that divine work. Justified speaks of new standing before God. In Christ we are clothed in His righteousness and God now sees in us His Son’s righteousness instead of our sin. Christ’s righteousness is credited to our account (Rom. 4:22–25). We are declared and made in the new nature righteous, holy, innocent, and guiltless because God is “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). The Corinthian believers had experienced transformation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. God’s name represents His will, His power, and His work. Because of Jesus’ willing submission to the Father’s will, His death on the cross in our behalf, and His resurrection from the dead, He has provided our washing, our sanctification, and our justification.
Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God’s Word, John MacArthur is a fifthgeneration pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fifteen grandchildren. John’s pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You. 23
October 2013
River Region’s Journey
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Meet Ray and Ruth Bozeman
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by Pastor Alan Cross Gateway Baptist Church, Montgomery
An Inspiring Story of Sacrificial & Lasting Love River Region’s Journey
October 2013
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When the Bozemans came in the gym recently, a buzz rustled through the folks from our church, Gateway Baptist. We were watching an Eastwood Christian School volleyball game and some of our girls were playing with a good number of parents and youth there to cheer the girls on. Ruth was in her motorized wheel chair, as she has been in one form or another for over 60 years since she was struck with polio as a 25-year-old wife and mother of two young children. Ray was by her side, as he has been for 67 years. You cannot say the name of one without the other. It is always “Ray and Ruth.” They are one. The effect that they had on all of us that evening just by showing up was palpable. In an age of excuses and busyness, Ray and Ruth, 87 and 85 years old, just keep going and giving and loving and supporting. They finally retired from their business less than two years ago. They show up for prayer, for church gatherings, to visit people in the hospital, to attend funerals and ballgames and to support and love families and children that they have just met. Ruth’s eyesight and hearing are growing poor and she barely has use of one arm, but she, along with Ray, keeps smiling and loving and giving wisdom and time and energy. Together. I have been one of their pastors for almost 14 years now and I am more amazed by them every day. What they have sown into their life in love for God and other people bears a harvest of faithfulness and righteousness for all of us every day. They have faced many trials and much adversity over the years, but their testimony is that God has sustained them and strengthened them and that He has been good. They have seen their trials as a blessing. Their story needs to be heard by this generation. Ray Bozeman is a World War II veteran. He served in the Navy in the South Pacific and once spent 3 1/2 days in a life raft after his patrol boat was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Ray was also a scout who was one of the first Americans on Okinawa before the invasion and spent a night hiding from a Japanese patrol looking for him. The next morning when he climbed out of the ditch that he had been hiding in, all of his hair had fallen out during the night from fear of being captured. As far as Ray knows, he was also the first American to set foot on Japanese soil as he was a machinist’s mate who helped get the first dignitaries to Japan on a small boat called a Captain’s Gig. When it hit the dock in Tokyo harbor, Ray was the one who jumped off to help tie the little boat up so the dignitaries could begin to negotiate Japan’s surrender. Sitting and talking with
Ray about his life, his experiences in World War II, and his faith in Christ through all of it is a history lover’s dream. Ray returned home to Montgomery from the war in 1946 and met Ruth Greene. He says that he went all over the world and ended up marrying the girl next door, as Ruth lived next door to his parents. Like Ray, Ruth was a Christian and cannot remember a time when she did not love Jesus. They married in 1947 after Ray returned from another six months of ferrying troops back home from the Pacific and after Ruth completed a year of college at Huntingdon in Montgomery. They had a daughter, Barbara, in 1949, and a son, Mike, in 1951. They were a happy little family who were active in their church, Forest Avenue Baptist, and who enjoyed being together. In September of 1952, however, tragedy struck. I’ll let Ruth tell it: We had just purchased a lot down on Fleming Road in South Montgomery. We had gone down there on a Sunday afternoon to show it to my mother and daddy and we took a picnic lunch to eat. I didn’t feel good that day and thought I was coming down with the flu. I felt terrible all night so the next day, we called the doctor who came out to the house and he immediately knew what was happening. He didn’t tell me but called an ambulance and had me taken to the hospital. I was there a couple of days and had not seen my children. On Wednesday night, I was laying in bed and was praying and not feeling like my prayers were getting past the ceiling. All of a sudden, I sensed a presence in the room and was able to start praying like I never have before. I told the Lord that if he was ready to take me, then I was ready to go. But, if I was going to stay here, then the rest of my life, I wanted to serve Him. I experienced peace at that moment like someone had pulled a blanket over me - it was the peace that surpasses all understanding. I didn’t know when I fell asleep that night that when I woke up, I would be completely paralyzed. When I woke up the next morning, I could only move my eyes. But, the peace was still there and it has never left me. I still didn’t know what was going on. It wasn’t until the doctor came in later in the day that I found out I had polio. 25
Ruth stayed in the hospital until November, 1952, and when she returned home she was on a stretcher for several months. But her and Ray’s spirit was indefatigable. Clinging to the Lord and each other, they began to face the hard reality of what their new life was going to be like. But, they were not going to give up. Ray took Ruth to vote in the 1952 presidential election in a stretcher. She wouldn’t be denied. She went to church in that stretcher as soon as she was released from the hospital. She was going to keep living and loving and serving God and Ray was determined to help her and live on and love with her. After receiving treatment for eight months in Warm Springs, Georgia, Ruth regained use of her right arm and was able to sit up in a wheel chair and resume her role as a wife and mother upon her return home. She and Ray have since traveled all over America (even going camping regularly during the 1960s and 70s), gone on mission trips, taught Sunday School, helped start Gateway Baptist, raised their own children and cared for their parents in their later years, and blessed and served and encouraged thousands of people. Ray became an insurance salesman and Ruth later worked for an air conditioning and heating company and helped design the air conditioning system for Eastdale Mall. They decided that they were not going to let polio and being in a wheel chair be an excuse or be something that kept them from living the life October 2013
River Region’s Journey
that God had for them. Instead of it being a curse, Ruth has described polio as a blessing because it taught her to depend upon God.
Whether you are young or old, there is much to be learned from Ray and Ruth. They are praying people. They constantly point to Jesus. They are humble and they are learners. When a lot of people would have given up or given in to bitterness, Ray and Ruth continued on and thrived. I asked them why they were able to overcome and Ruth responded by saying, “Our sole intent is to share what God’s love has meant to us with other people... None of what our life has been would have been possible without the Lord and our relationship with the Lord. We have sought every day for our life to be a blessing to others and to show forth the Lord to them.” Ray included that the Lord has always been faithful to bless them in return and that God has been everything to them. One of the things that sticks out most is their love for one another. Ruth told me, “I cannot remember a night when the last thing I didn’t hear before I went to bed was ‘I love you’ from Ray.” Ray added that the most important thing in a marriage is to always tell your wife that you love her, lest she forget. He also said, “We never let polio keep Ruth from doing what she wanted to do. We found a way to do it somehow.” Ray and Ruth Bozeman are one of those all-time great love stories of sacrifice, perseverance in the midst of great trial, and incredible beauty and blessing. In an age when marriage is often thrown away when it becomes hard, Ray and Ruth have proven that, with God as the foundation, difficulties can turn into victories and joy. With God, all things are possible! Alan Cross is pastor of Gateway Baptist Church and an avid writer. Check out his blog at www. downshoredrift.com. Photographs of Ray and Ruth by Lori Mercer. River Region’s Journey
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THINK FAST AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A
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River Region’s Journey
Fall Festivals Fall Festival at Alabama Christian Academy
Thursday, November 7th, from 3-6 p.m. Inflatables, Pony rides, games and more. They will have a silent auction and Country Kitchen, chili cook off and photo booth. Each class sponsors games for children of all ages. Concessions will be available. Admission is $5. Please call 277.1985 ext. 221 for more information.
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Fall Festival Aldersgate UMC
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Wednesday, October 31st from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. 6610 Vaughn Road Trunk or Treat, games, prizes, crafts, hayride, inflatables. A fun-filled family night open to everyone free of charge. Call 272.6152.
Christ Community Church Fall Festival
October 27, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. 8285 Ryan Rd. Join us as we come together to enjoy some great food, fun, and fellowship at our annual fall festival. There will be games, a cakewalk, and sure to be plenty of candy! Free and open to the entire public. Kids are welcome to dress up, if they would like. No scary costumes, please. Call 273.8110.
Annual Family Fall Festival Dalraida Baptist Church
Sunday, October 27, 5:00 until 7:30 p.m.. 3838 Wares Ferry Road Games, Prizes, Food, Hayride, Inflatables and More! Call 272.2412.
Fall Festival Dalraida UMC
Saturday, October 26, 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.. River Region’s Journey
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3817 Atlanta Highway Games, food, prizes, costume contest and other surprises. Please Call 272.2190.
Family Fun Fall Festival East Memorial Baptist Church
includes hotdog, chips, cookie and drink. Please, no scary costumes. Call 272.0604.
Family Fall Festival First Baptist Church, Prattville
Thursday, October 31st, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville, AL Games, Candy, Balloon Animals, and all sorts of fun for the whole family! FREE! For more info call 334.365.7500 or visit us at www.eastmemorial.org.
Thursday, October 31, 5:00-7:00 p.m. 138 S. Washington Street Candy, prizes, games, rides, live entertainment and more. Fun for the whole family. No scary costumes, please. Free admission. Ages preschool through 6th grade. For more information, call 365.0606.
Fall Family Festival Eastern Hills Baptist Church
First Baptist Church Fall Family Festival
Thursday, October 31st, 4-6 p.m. 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road Trunk or Treat in back parking lot. Candy, free popcorn and games, games, games! Hot dog supper for $2.00 which 28
305 South Perry Street, Perry Street Lot Sunday, October 27, 4:00-6:00 p.m. FREE! Games, Fun and prizes. Hot dog dinner with chips and drink for $3 per Person. Call 834.6310.
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Pumpkinfest First UMC, Montgomery
Sunday, October 27, 4 p.m. until 5:30 2416 W. Cloverdale Park For children of all ages - Front lawn of the church. Fun, games, horse-drawn hayride, moonwalk, refreshments and more! Happy costumes are welcome! Come join the fun! In the event of rain, the Pumpkinfest will be moved indoors. For children age toddler through 3rd grade! Call 834.8990. Also, FUMC Fall Bazaar 2013 Wednesday, October 9th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Fall Bazaar will offer heavenly baked goodies, delicious frozen casseroles and soups, pre-loved children’s clothing, and a gift shop with items for every occasion. Please call 834.8990 for more information. Tickets can be purchased for $10 by calling the church. Fall Barbeque at FUMC October 9 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., First United Methodist Church, Montgomery. Fun for the whole family! A real picnic with great barbeque and all the fixins. Jazz music, pony rides, rock wall, dunking booth and moonwalks for the kids. Bring family and friends for food, fun and fellowship! For more information, call 834.8990.
Hallow-Him Festivities First UMC, Wetumpka
Sunday, October 27, 4p.m.until 7 p.m. 306 W. Tuskeena Street Contest, games, concessions, inflatables, dunking booth and treats for all ages. Tasteful, non-scary costumes are optional. Parents are encouraged to attend with child. Call 567.7865, email: sean.eiland@gmail. com or visit www.fumcwetumpka.com.
Fall Family Festival Gateway Baptist Church
Thursday, October 31st from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. 3300 Bell Road Free admission. Games, inflatables and trunk or treat. Little bit of something for everyone. Call 272.9494 for more information.
Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch
Opens October 1 until October 31 Monday thru Saturday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Sunday 1p.m. until dark Alabama’s Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch is located just off of Interstate 65 in Clanton, Alabama. The Alabama Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch has more entertainment than you can shake a stick at. From the acres of fresh-off-the-vine pumpkins, pony rides,
face painting and hay rides, all the way to helicopter rides and funnel cakes, we have something for each member of the family. We’re sure you’ll have a memorable adventure each time you visit the Alabama’s Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch in Clanton, Alabama. Call (205) 755.4553 or visit www. alabamagrandolepumpkinpatch.com.
Judgement House
Atlanta Highway in The Shopping Center were Hardee’s, Marco’s Pizza and Sunday Dinner. It is on the far right next door to Sunday Dinner. The dates are Weds, Oct 17th from 6 until 9 p.m., Saturday, October 27 from 6 until 10 p.m., Sunday, October 28 from 6 until 9 p.m., Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 From 6 until 9 p.m., Halloween Night, October 31 from 6 until 10 p.m.. Many churches have taken part in R.R. Judgement house to make it a success. Visit www.judgment-house.com.
Trunk or Treat Mulder UMC
Thursday, October 31, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. 3454 Firetower Road, Wetumpka Fun for the whole family. There will be inflatables, games, trunks of treats, hayrides, face painting,
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Trunk or Treat Saint James UMC
Live music and more. No scary costumes please. For more info call 567.4225.
New Testament Christian Center’s Fall Festival
Saturday, October 26, at 2 pm Activities include hay rids, games, food, inflatables, a potatoe pie contest and more. Located at 10300 Hwy 80 East next to Jenkins Brick and Buck Master. For more info call 215-7215.
Fall Festival Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist
October 19, 6 p.m. 1436 East Washington Street Family fun: We welcome the entire family to come and enjoy the fun. Call 265.1807.
Fall Festival Ridgecrest Baptist Church
Sunday, October 27 from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. 5260 Vaughn Road There will be games, food & drink, Trunk or Treat. Activities will be both inside and out. For more info call 277.0011.
Sunday, October 27, 5 to 6:30 p.m. 9045 Vaughn Road Parking lot at back of church. Hayride, inflatables, games, candy, and much more! Wear your costume, but please nothing scary. For more info, call Jennifer at 277.3037.
Angel Fest Arts & Crafts Festival St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
Saturday, October 19, 8a.m. to 2 p.m. 5941 Main Street in Millbrook, AL Located just south of Hwy. 14 on Main Street at Robinson Springs. Come enjoy the entertainment while you browse the scores of vendors, bid on amazing items for an unbeatable price at the silent auction, and let the children enjoy the kid’s carnival. Also, do not miss out on all the great food! You can buy mouthwatering homemade goods at the bake sale, Boston butts, and grab a tasty lunch. The proceeds from Angel Fest are put back into caring for the community and it’s fun for the whole family! Contact the church at 285.3905.
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Taylor Road Treats the Town Taylor Road Baptist Church
Thursday, October 31st, Gates open at 6 pm 1685 Taylor Road FREE FOOD! Hot dogs, drinks, popcorn, peanuts, cookies, candy, inflatables, games, Treat Street, hayrides, family pictures. Family atmosphere. NO scary costumes please. Call 271.3363. .
Fall Festival Thorington Road Baptist Church Sunday, October 20th, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. 450 Ray Thorington Road Come join us for Inflatables, games, and fun for the entire family. Free! Rain or shine! Call 396.9376.
Vaughn Park Church Trunk-or-Treat
Sunday, October 27, 5:30-7 pm 3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. A safe Halloween alternative; please no scary costumes. Cake walk, bouncy house, plus much more.
Fa w O G m to w an
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Proverbs 22:6
334-272-3882 ecalions.org Evangel Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, gender and national or ethnic origin.
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Evangel Christian Academy is a ministry of Evangel Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
October 2013
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“Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Accredited AISA Blue Ribbon School
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October Paster Appreciaton 2013_Layout 1 9/20/13 11:33 AM Page 1
October...
is Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month! Do not forget to honor your pastor and the staff of your church or ministry this October.
Faith Radio team members want to have lunch with members of your church staff during October! Go to FaithRadio.org and share how God is working through your pastor or church staff member. Listen for your words of appreciation to be shared on the air. Throughout the month, we will choose churches to receive lunch from us and Chick-fil-A! Another effective way to show thanks to your pastor or staff member is by sharing a gift to the ministry of Faith Radio in his or her honor.
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. - 1 Timothy 5:17
89
.1 FM
WLBF
Montgomery
800.239.8900 • www.faithradio.org Listen LIVE Now at www.faithradio.org | Montgomery WLBF 89.1FM | Andalusia WSTF 91.5FM October 2013 River Region’s Journey 31 Dothan WDYF 90.3FM | Eufaula 91.9FM | Alexander City 94.1FM | Sylacauga 94.1FM | Thorsby/Jemison 96.9FM
Counselor’s Corner
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by Brenda Payne, Eastwood Counseling Center
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Wives, Do You Pray? “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” These words by the great reformer Martin Luther both encourage me and slay me! I’ve been married almost 23 years and a Christian much longer than that, and yet my prayer life seems as though it’s still in it’s infancy compared to great men of God who devoted hours to it. I am called to be my husband’s helper and arguably the greatest help I can be is when I am on my knees. I don’t go there often enough because I would rather “do” and “talk” and “work” and make things happen than sit and pray! I often put more confidence
River Region’s Journey
October 2013
in my flesh than in the work of the Spirit. What about you? In his work, A Call to Prayer,19th century Anglican Bishop JC Ryle challenged his readers, “I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY? The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers or not your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God.” Ryle goes on to explain why the question is so important. Read the section headings and then I would encourage you to go purchase a copy of this booklet for further mediation.
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I. I ask whether you pray, because prayer is absolutely needful to a person’s salvation. II. I ask again whether you pray, because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian. III. I ask whether you pray, because there is no duty in religion so neglected as private prayer. IV. I ask whether your pray, because prayer is an act of religion to which there is great encouragement. V. I ask whether you pray, because diligence in prayers is the secret of eminent holiness.
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VI. I ask whether you pray, because neglect of prayer is one of the great causes of backsliding. VII. I ask, lastly, whether you pray, because prayer is one of the best means of happiness and contentment. So, I ask you DO YOU PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBAND? I confess that I have not prayed for my husband as often as I should or pleaded his case as passionately as I should before the throne of grace. I relate well to the disciples who excitedly ask Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1) and then later when Jesus asks them to pray the most important prayer of their lives they fall asleep (Luke 22:39-46)! Prayer is hard work. It’s a labor of love. And, it is one of the greatest privileges we have as “helpers”. Prayer not only is a means by which you cooperate with God in your husband’s life, but it changes you. A simple method of prayer is the “ACTS” prayer. It is an acronym to lead you through prayer and looks like this. Begin your prayer time with adoration. Lift your gaze to God and remember His character and promises. Next, confess your sins
to the Lord. You will have an entirely different view of your husband once you have dealt honestly with your own shortcomings and see your need for grace. Then, move to thanksgiving. Give him thanks for all the ways your husband is a blessing to you and for all the things you are not having to deal with! Finally, make supplication. Ask the Lord to work in your husband’s heart and life. Pray portions of Scripture for him. Don’t pray primarily for what you want from him, but pray for what God wants! Here are a few questions to consider about praying for your husband: • Do you acknowledge your need for the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray and do you ask Him to teach you to pray for your husband? • Do you pray to be a wife that honors the Lord? Do you acknowledge and confess your sins? • Do you pray for him regularly? Or, do you only pray in times of crisis? • Do you persist in prayer or do you grow weary, lazy or forgetful? • Do you thank God for your husband, in all things? Remember, God is even using the bad for good (Romans 8:28).
• Do you pray God will change him for your own benefit or for His own glory? • Do you pray mostly for temporal blessings or do you focus on spiritual blessings? At reviveourhearts.com, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, has a wonderful plan called “31 Days of Prayer for Your Husband”. I challenge you to print if off and make it a jumping off point this month to pray for your husband daily. Pray expectantly for the Lord to answer your prayers and rejoice in the privilege you have exclusively as a Christian wife to make intercession on behalf of your husband to the God of the Universe! Now, that’s powerful help! **If you would like to get in touch with this or any counselor at Eastwood Counseling Center, please call 334-386-2384.
Brenda is a certified counselor through the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. She counsels part time at Eastwood Presbyterian Church where she is a member. She and her husband Paul have three children--Kadie Allen, Rome, and John Clark. Brenda is active in teaching women’s Bible studies and discipleship. She has taught a number of seminars on issues related to women.
Open House
for Prospective Families, Sunday, December 15th at 2:00 p.m.
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October 2013
River Region’s Journey
River Region Support Groups Adoption
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Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Chad & Betsy Emerson (334) 201-5241 Wednesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 116. The Orphan Care Group will focus on God’s call to help orphans through adoption, foster care, and missions work. The group will share experiences, study and Biblical themes regarding orphan care, and provide a support and interest network for individuals who want to support orphans.
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Alcoholic / Addict
Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and follows a Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949.
Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: Grace @ Bell Road, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. Location: Journey Church, group meets in Fellowship Hall at Coosada Baptist Church, Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 6pm (meal), 7pm (large group), 8pm (small group). Childcare available. Call Chuck at 850-723-9705. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the FellowRiver Region’s Journey
October 2013
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Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer UMC. For information, call Hannah Taylor at 409-9477 or the church office at 272-8622. Autauga/ Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For more info, call 409-9477 or e-mail htaylor@childrensaid.org.
Location: Cloverdale Baptist, 608 E. Fairview Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hangups, meets Friday nights, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m., Praise and worship, 6:30, Open Share Small Groups, 7:30, and Solid Rock Cafe, at 8:30. Call 265-9223.
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ship Hall. This is a Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 567-2364. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427.
Location: Memorial Presbyterian, 2130 Bell Road A Dementia Morning Out for caregivers is offered each Tuesday from 8:45-noon. There is no charge. Each participant may bring a sack lunch (juice provided). Registration is required by calling 274-1018.
Cancer
Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Montgomery’s first and only faith based cancer support group for men is intent on providing information, Christian fellowship, and helping turn adversity into prosperity. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference center. Please call 272-2412 email stan.hurst@knology.net.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Dementia Daycare is held each Thursday in Rm. 3101 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each participant may bring a sack lunch. There is no charge. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. For info, call the LifeCare office at 272-8622.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family, friends or anyone interested in becoming a part of this compassionate journey, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net.
Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 272.8622.
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Depression
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Mike & Suzanne Greene (334-271-3331) Every other Tuesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 117. Goal is to create an atmosphere of acceptance and trust, where people can feel free and safe to discuss their feelings and thoughts without shame or embarrassment. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Depression/Bipolar Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm in Room 3101. This group also meets on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, 12-2 pm, Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway in Church Annex. For more info, call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@ yahoo.com.
Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care and Divorce Care 4 Kids, Wednesdays starting August 22, 6:30 pm. Cost $15.00 (scholarships available) Contact Kathy Cooper at kcooper@ montgomeryfbc.org or 334-241-5125. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Divorce Recovery meets Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m., Bldg. 101. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Divorce Recovery Support Group meets each Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m., in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272-8622. Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Divorce Care Support Group meetings are held Sundays at 6:15 p.m. Divorce Care for Children also at this time. Call 279.9976. Grief Share groups are held each Sunday at 5 p.m. Call 279.9976.
Gambling
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 5375 US HWY 231 (Across from the Winn-Dixie shopping center) Wetumpka. Saturdays @ 7pm. 334-567-7534 Location: Mental Health Association, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline number: 334-541-5420
Grief
Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. We have an annual special event on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We will hold a Candlelight Ceremony in memory of our children at 7 p.m. at Eastmont Baptist Church. Registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (334) 2842721. We will also collect Toys for Tots. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Recovery, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., in Wesley Hall Room 104. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays
at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief Ministry is a grief recovery support group that meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M. The ministry is designed to help anyone through the hurt of losing a loved one by successfully traveling the journey from mourning to joy. Alicia Glover is the coordinator. For more information contact Glover at 334-2812754.
Homosexuality
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. The Barnabas Group, created to address the needs of those in conflict with homosexual thoughts and feelings meets first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., in the library at the Life Center. 277.5800.
Mental Illness
Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway 1. NAMI Montgomery will host General Membership meetings on the 4th Monday of the month at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested in issues concerning mental health. 2. The NAMI Montgomery Family Member Support Group continues to meet on the 2nd Monday of the month, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) for directions/details. 3. NAMI Montgomery will offer the 12 week NAMI FAMILY TO FAMILY education program (free) on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Bell Road Lowder Regional Library. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) to register for the course.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (living in faith everyday) Meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug - May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. For more info and to reserve your spot, call Kelley Manning at 361-7919. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For information e-mail VFCMOPS@ gmail.com. Location: First Baptist Church, Montgomery 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) If you are a woman who is pregnant or has a child birth through kindergarten, desires to make new friends, wants to share the challenges and joys of motherhood, is looking for opportunities for personal growth through trusted resources,then MOPS is for you. Call Kristi Gay at (334) 233-8989 for more information. 35
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence by providing access to valuable information and spiritual support. Call Aldersgate UMC 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Fibromyaligia Support Group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm in room 8114. Call 272-8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An MDA/ALS Support Group will meet Tuesday August 10 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in room 3101. Anyone who is affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected are encouraged to attend. To receive information, please call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 4th Thursday at 6 p.m., in room 8114 at Frazer UMC. This group is for those who have Parkinson’s disease and the family members. 272-8622. Location: Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1785 Taylor Rd., Montgomery Gluten Intolerance Group of Montgomery meets on 2nd Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings and other info at www.glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot.com.
Pregnancy Loss / Infertility
Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Hannah’s Prayer--for women dealing with pregnancy loss/infertility issues. Meeting 2nd Thursday and 3rd Sunday of each month. Call 365.5977.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Singles’ Small Groups meet each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy T.N.T. (Tuesday Night Together) for Singles meets Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, bldg. 7000. A meal ($5.00) and program are provided. For reservations, call the Singles office at 272-8622. Location: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Rd. Unavoidably Single Again (USA) Fellowship, a support group for widows and widowers. Informal meetings for fellowship and fun are held on the third Saturday of each month starting at 10 AM. Contact Lynda at farauthor@aol.com or 354-8869.
Veterans
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Highway Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday from 11am-1pm in Room 3108. Contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350. October 2013
River Region’s Journey
Family Teams for Christ
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by Lisa and Mike Conn
Is Busyness Threatening Your Marriage? Recently, a friend shared that her family was caught up in the trap of being BUSY. “Being Under Satan’s Yoke” is how she put it. Kind of gets your attention, doesn’t it? She shared, “With all good intentions, we have allowed our family to become way too busy.” We talked about the busy schedules our families keep each week—the children’s activities, homework, volunteering at church and school, helping our husbands, housework, jobs, and the list goes on and on. Our daily lives leave little room for anything unexpected—we have very little “white space” on our pages. If you place two documents on the table before you—one page crowded with many words and very little white space between paragraphs or in the margins—and the other document showing wide margins and lots of white space—which page would
you choose to reflect your life? Do you need to build in more “white space”? Then, my friend went from preaching to meddling! She suggested we have idols in our lives because of this busyness. “Whatever keeps us from being in God’s word and prayer is an idol,” she said. “We have allowed our priorities to get all out of whack because of what we have perceived as necessary, although we know in intellect that nothing is necessary outside of what God calls us to do.” What idols prevent me from spending time each day with God? I confess the computer is an idol that robs me of time to do the things God would have me do. How do we determine what God would have us do? In his book, A Man’s Priorities: How to Decide What’s Important, Patrick Morley
identifies five areas of importance to God that form the foundation upon which we are to prioritize our lives: To love God, To love others, To rest, To work, To do good works. How do our activities, hobbies, and pastimes line up under these five priorities? Our conversation turned to marriage. Being too busy is bound to affect the marriage relationship in a negative way, and this was really what my friend needed to talk about. She stated a problem that is common to man, however, I had never heard it phrased so well: “My husband and I know the spiri-
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New friends are now best friends. New experiences are now the best times ever. No wonder it’s so easy to tell others about it and include them in the fun.
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Only 1 /Mountain 2 hours from Huntsville Located on top of Lookout in Mentone, AL. Only a 3 hr drive.
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Dr. Larry & Susan Hooks, Owners/Directors • Donna Bares,Asst. Director
1 & 2Week Sessions for Ages 6-16
C RAFTS • C HORUS
first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,
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FLAG TWIRLING • CHEERLEADING • RIFLERY • ARCHERY • TRIP DAY • GOLF
We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.
B ASKETBALL • S OCCER • A RTS
• H ORSEBACK R IDING • S WIMMING • T ENNIS • C ANOEING • D ANCE • A EROBICS • G YMNASTICS • B EACH V OLLEYBALL •
• R OPES C OURSE • C LIMBING T OWER • O UTDOOR L IVING S KILLS • C AMPFIRE F UN • C OUNSELOR -I N -T RAINING •
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tual foundations for life and godliness, for marriage and family. However, we are not building on that foundation. We laid it, but abandoned it at some point along the way. I don’t believe a storm will wash us away, because the foundation is still there. But, we are not building the house. It’s like we went bankrupt and never completed the work. As a result, we not only have personal issues, but family issues due to this shift.” Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” How do we align our lives according to the 5 foundational priorities listed above? Certainly we cannot do it by ourselves. First, ask God to help. Both spouses make a list of all you value. (Ex: “I value my relationship with my spouse.”) Share your list with your spouse, but don’t judge each other’s list. Next, prioritize your own list to reflect your top five values. Finally, create a “joint” list which states your family’s core values. Then, make a new list of all activities each family member participates in. Compare what’s keeping you busy to your list of core values. Decide together what changes need to be made. Together, share your convictions with a trusted couple, and ask for their help in holding you accountable to make the changes you desire. Pray together, seeking God’s wisdom always! My wise friend concluded, “God is able to help us build this house for Him. I believe that with all my heart. But, it will take work. It will take commitment. It will be hard. But, it will be so worth every bit of effort.”
Coming This Month!
A New Indoor Facility Offering 2 Private Party rooms!
Recommended Resources: www.familylife.com Visit Healthy Marriage/Challenges/ Busyness & Stress Lt. Col Mike Conn and wife, Lisa, founded Covenant Family Ministries when Mike retired from the Air Force in 1997. CFM is an independent marriage and family education ministry committed to partnering with churches, organizations, and individuals in Montgomery and across Alabama to build Family Teams for Christ. Married for over 30 years, Mike and Lisa have three wonderful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and two precious grandchildren. 37
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Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian Ongoing Happenings
AGLOW International meets every third Thursday, 9:30 at the Montgomery House of Prayer. All women welcome to join together for praise, prayer and an anointed message. Contact mboudousquie@yahoo.com. Bridge of Life Assembly of God, 9000 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. each week. Sunday school classes meet at 9:30 a.m. We offer classes for all age groups and childcare is provided. Our goal is to build bridges...not walls. We invite you to come join us if you need to learn how to build those bridges. For directions or information call 334-396-0208. Email jon@bridgeoflife.tv or visit www.bridgeoflife.tv. Central Community Christian Church, 981 South Perry Street, Montgomery, holds new members training classes on Sundays at 9 a.m. Sunday School (9:30), morning worship (11:00), Tuesday night Bible study (6:30). Every fourth Sunday of the month is our youth Sunday. For more information please call (334) 269-0457 or by email at centralccchurch1@ gmail.com. We are a church where you can be you, you can be loved and where you can grow! Christchurch, 8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, offers a Women’s Enrichment Bible Study led by Jeanne Dean on Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in Canterbury Hall. All women are welcome. Childcare for ages birth-4 years is provided. Call 387-0566 x 201 for more info. Christchurch offers a men’s Bible study led by Fr. John-Michael van Dyke, on Thursday mornings on the 11th floor of Goode Medical Bldg, Jackson Hospital. Breakfast is served beginning at 6:45 a.m. and teaching begins at 7:15 a.m. Call 387-0566 x 201. Church of the Highlands meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. downtown Montgomery in the MPAC theater located in the Renaissance Hotel, 201 Tallapoosa Street. Visit churchofthehighlands.com or call 1-205-9805577. Chisholm Baptist Church, 2938 Lower Wetumpka Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning Bible study (9:30), Morning worship (10:45), Tuesday prayer breakfast (8:30) Wednesday evening prayer service (6 pm) and Senior Body and Soul Group (every 1st Tuesday at 1 pm). Email jbass9784@charter.net or call 262-6437. Christ Center Church, 1324 Airbase Blvd, Montgomery. Preparing Christians to be Spiritual Soldiers for the Lord. Sunday School 9 am, Sunday Worship 10:15 am, and Wed. night Bible Study at 7pm. Path to Renewed Strength, a Christ centered recovery meeting is Thursdays 6-7pm, Clothes Closet is every 3rd Saturday from 8am-12pm. For more information, call 334-239-8603. First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts Family Night every Wednesday beginning at 5:20 p.m. with supper, followed River Region’s Journey
October 2013
by a study on prayer. Everyone is welcome. For more information call (279-1372). First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts a Men’s Prayer Breakfast every Friday morning, 6 a.m. The Youth of First United Methodist Church, Montgomery every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. for Wednesday Night Live, a time of praise and worship in “the attic”. Also, every Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. is MYF which includes a snack supper $3.00 followed by activities, small groups and lots of fun! Visit www.fumcmontgomery.org or call 334-8348990. First United Methodist Church will host Terrific Tuesdays. Please come and join us for fellowship, a program and lunch. Terrific Tuesdays will meet each Tuesday in room 204 of Wesley Hall. Fellowship time will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a program at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. The cost of lunch is $2.00. Every fourth Tuesday the time will extend until 3:00 p.m. for bridge, games, and other activities in room 203 in Wesley Hall. For additional information please contact NeeNee Webb at 834-8990. Good News @ Noon is an interdenominational Bible study, held at the First Baptist Community Ministries Building on Adams Street, Thursdays, at noon. Small cost for hot lunch. Call 272.1133. Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery, offers Bible Study Tuesdays at 5:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 6: 30 P.M. For directions or information call 334-288-0577. Email HallMemorialCME1@ aol.com or visit www.HallMemorialCME. blogspot.com. Hall Memorial CME Church says: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Tutors, prayer-warriors, and office/clerical volunteers needed for the Montgomery City Jail Ministry & G.E.D program. Opportunities are ongoing. No experience or certification necessary. Contact Pastor Anderson T. Graves II, at hallmemorialcme1@ aol.com. Call 334-288-0577. The City Jail ministry is an in-reach ministry of Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery. www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com. iConnect.coffeehouse provides a place for women to experience meaningful fellowship with women seeking genuine connection. Meetings will be held in the Atrium at Frazer UMC 3rd Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. For more info, call Frazer’s Women’s Ministry at 495-6391. Macedonia Miracle Kingdom & Worship Center (MMKWC), 3070 Selma Highway, Montgomery, services are Sunday School and New Members Class, 9:00 a.m., Morning Worship, 10:45 a.m.; Tuesday Night Bible Class, 7:00 p.m. and Friday Night Prayer, 6:00 p.m. (BOTH at The Pattern-Mt Meigs Road) Messiah Lutheran Church, 6670 Vaughn Road, invites all to Wonderful Wednesdays starting with a $3-5 meal at 5:30 pm (RSVP 277-4213 by Monday noon), worship with 38
eucharist 6:15-7:00 pm, and adult choir rehearsal and Catechism class for 7th-9th graders at 7:00 pm. Please call for Wednesday schedule due to seasonal breaks. For information, call 277-4213. Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, 3323 Day Street, holds Wednesday Bible Study in the church Fellowship Hall and lasts for one hour. Please come and participate in roaming the Bible learning God’s word through teaching. The Rev. Henry M. Carnegie, Jr. is the teacher and pastor. Mid-day Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Evening Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Call 233-8750. New Freedom Worship Center, 6004 –A East Shirley Lane, Apostle T. Briggs~ Pastor; Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Open Door Christian Faith Church, 1601 Dewey St. Montgomery, offers Women’s Prayer Mondays at 5:00, Men’s prayer Wednesday at 5:00, followed by bible study at 6:00. Couples ministry held every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00. Pastor William Cromblin, and the Open Door Church family invites you to “come experience the move of God. For more info, call the church at 334-269-6498. Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, sponsors a Bluegrass Jam in the Church Fellowship Hall on the third Saturday of each month from 9AM - 12AM. All Bluegrass Artist plus Fans are invited to attend. Attendance is FREE. For information call Kathy@ 272-3174. Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, hosts a Wednesday Night Supper and Revive! program each week from 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Reservations are required by noon on the Monday prior to the supper. Cost is $4 per person or $12 per family. Call 334-272-3174 for more information. River City Church, 301 Dexter Avenue, offers a Friday Christian Night Club (free of alcohol and smoking) with Ballroom Dancing every Friday at 6:30 P.M. Cost is $10 for a one hour lesson, devotional, and 3 hours of DJ music. People of all denominations are welcome. 7:30-10:30 open dance floor. The River of Life Church, located at 116 County Road 40 E (in the Pine Level Community Center) Prattville. Pastor Nick Edwards invites you to a “Place of New Beginnings”, where families come and grow together. Church Service Schedule: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Sunday School; 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship; 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship. Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Teens (Genesis Project), Jr. High (Limitless), Royal Rangers, MPact Girls, Rainbow’s/Noah’s Zoo Club. Thursday 9:00 a.m.Women of Grace Bible Study. Nursery provided. We invite you to”come experience God in a personal way, feel loved by all and know that you belong”. Office 334-657-0392 or visit www.theriveroflifechurch.net. River Region Contra Dancing-Everyone
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Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian school-age through adult is invited for a little exercise and a lot of fun. Singles, couples, and families are welcome. All levels of experience – including no experience. Dancing is on the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 5260 Vaughn Road. For more information check out the website: www.riverregioncontradance.com or call Katherine Thomas at 334-361-6572. Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, offers S.N.A.G. (Sunday Nights About God!) This program starts at 5:00p.m. and ends at 6:30p.m. Childcare is provided for small groups until 7:00p.m. Don’t forget this program is available for all children! Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, offers Wild & Wacky Wednesdays! Wednesday night supper starts at 5:15p.m. We will start checking children in at 6:00p.m. This program ends at 7:30p.m. and childcare is provided until 8:00p.m. for small group participants. Call 277.3037 for more info. Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 706 E. Patton Avenue, “Clothes Closet” is open to the public each Thursday morning from 10 a.m. – Noon. The Men of Saint Paul host a free Men’s Prayer Breakfast the Third Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. in the Church Fellowship Hall. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast is open to all men of all ages. Come
and share your concerns and needs of our Men of today. For more information, please contact (334) 354-1897. Bible Study is held each Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Farrell J. Duncombe is the teacher and Senior Pastor of the church. Come and join us for Sunday School each Sunday at 9 a.m. and Morning Worship at 10 a.m. Need transportation, call (334) 264-7618. For info call 286.8577 or www.saintpaulamemontgomery.com. S-STOP, a commUNITY Bible study for Singles. Souls Strengthened Together for One Purpose. Psalm 46:10 “BE STILL and know that I am God.” Meets at Prattville Christian Academy on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. For info email sstop04@gmail.com. Vision Full Gospel Ministries, 163 Rifle Range Road, Montgomery, holds Bible Study Tues. Night 7:00 p.m., Pray & Praise 2nd & 4th Thurs. Night 7:00 p.m., Sunday School 9:30 am, Sunday Worship Service 10:45 a.m., Internet radio-homecominggospel.com Sunday 3:00p.m. Central & 4:00 p.m. Eastern. and Satellite Radio -wlsg 1340am Sunday 3:00p.m. Women at The Well Ministry invites you to attend its women’s fellowship at 1 pm every 1st and 3rd Saturday. We are women who desire and have a heart to see broken, crushed, hurting women be transformed through the one man who can fulfill their every need... JESUS...THE
POTTER. All women of all denominations or race are welcome. This ministry is available to teenagers as well. Come join us as we lift, encourage and build each other up through the Word of God and the words of our testimonies. For more information contact Evangelist Dr. Linda McCall, 334-220-1924. Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road, invites you to attend its Sunday Respite Care Program on 1st Sundays from 4-6 pm. Children with physical and cognitive disabilities (and their siblings) ages 6-18 are invited for a time of activities and a light dinner so parents can have a night out. Call Susan Clements at 301-0355 for information and to make a reservation, or email rooftopfriends@gmail.com.
This Month Thursday, October 3
Local realtor, artist and breast cancer survivor Martha Bell will be the featured speaker at the 8th Annual Women of Hope Signature Luncheon at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery. The luncheon is the major fundraiser for Women of Hope, which promotes breast cancer awareness and education and provides support and encouragement for patients and families with the disease. The lun-
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October 2013
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Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian cheon begins at 11:30 a.m. in Wesley Hall at and includes tasty cuisine from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, as well as a fashion show by Focus on Fashion. Tickets are $30, with $25 being tax deductible. For more information, visit www.thewomenofhope. org, email womenofhope@charter.net or call 334220-4599.
Friday, October 4
Macedonia Miracle Kingdom and Worship Center, 3070 Selma Highway, would like to invite you to fellowship with them for another Theatrical Performance and Liturgical Dance from their “Lord, Save the Black Seed!” Conference at 7 pm today and tomorrow. For information, contact the church Monday-Thursday at 334-284-8535.
Saturday, October 5
Chonda Pierce will be in concert at 7 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Visit www. ticketmaster.com for tickets details.
Saturday, October 12
River Region Pregnancy Center invites you to be a partner in saving lives by participating in the annual Walk for Life fund drive. You can help by walking and gathering pledges or being a donor for someone who is walking. The event will begin and end in the back parking lot of the Prattville Chamber of Commerce at 131 N. Court Street in
Historic Downtown Prattville. Call 334-365-8266 to request a brochure and a pledge form. Registration begins at 9 am the day of the walk. The 2nd annual Alabama Christian Miss & Ms./Mrs. Open State Pageant will be held at RiversEdge Church, in Montgomery. This Christian-themed pageant is open to young girls, ages 6-30 years, who live in the state of Alabama. For information, call (334) 313-5444.
Sunday, October 13
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 1550 East Washington Street, will celebrate their 89th Church Anniversary. Come worship with them at 9:30 A.M. The guest speaker will be Rev. James E. Turner of Victory through Faith Worship Center in Montgomery, Alabama. October 18-19 The Gathering 2013...Restoring Hope is a special teaching event hosted by His Vessel Ministries is hosting a special teaching event at the Vessel Room located in the Historic Union Station in downtown Montgomery. The teaching will be conducted by Jo Hancock. Restoring hope and embracing the heart of God in a season of uncertainty will be the focus for the weekend teaching. The event will also offer a time of fellowshipping with other Christian women to be strengthen in the Lord. The Gathering 2013 will begin Friday,
October 18 at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude with a Saturday session from 9 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information and to register visit www.hisvessel.org. You may also inquire at info@hisvessel. org or by calling 334-356-4478. Saturday, October 19 The 29th Annual Aldersgate BBQ Sale to benefit local and international missions and ministries will be held at 6610 Vaughn Road. Boxes are $8 and include both pulled pork and a chicken quarter, plus beans, slaw, and bread. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the church, or boxes can be bought the day of sale. Drive thru service is provided at the front of the church. Call 272-6152 or email aldersgateumm@gmail.com. Angel Fest will be held from 9am-2pm at St. Michael and All Angels Church, 5941 Main Street, Millbrook, Alabama. We are celebrating 16 years of Angel Fest with a bake sale, silent auction, children’s carnival, great concessions, entertainment, and loads of vendors selling unique wares, and the sale of the best cooked Boston Butts in the River Region. Family fun, no admission charged. Come out and help us celebrate Angel Fest. All proceeds go to outreach for the church!
Sunday, October 20
God of All Glory Tour with Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Twila Paris & Wayne Watson at
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT® FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
LET YOUR BODY RaisE YOUR sPiRiT EasT YMCa aND BELL ROaD YMCa
JOiN YOUR FRiENDs
At the Y, there is a group of neighbors getting together this week to enjoy a cup of coffee and a stretch or two! Yes, they are exercising together! The Y has saved a spot just for you in their water and group exercise classes! Sign up today! MakE THE Y’s CHOiCE JOiN ONE LOCaTiON aND ENJOY aLL 13. FOR MORE iNFORMaTiON CONTaCT East YMCa p 334 272 3390 Bell Road YMCa p 334 271 4343 ymcamontgomery.org
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Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian First Baptist Church, 138 South Washington Street, Prattville. Begins at 6 pm. For ticket info call: 334365-0606 or 615-224-3575. You may also visit www.itickets.com. H.A.L.O will hold their 2nd Annual Make A Memory Day, taking place at Union Station Train Shed at 300 Water Street in downtown Montgomery from 1-4 pm. The event will feature the bands “Fusion” and “Spoken For”, bounce houses, games, a raffle, a pumpkin patch, and Disney characters. Families are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and come out to enjoy a time of togetherness and fun. Please no Halloween costumes or pets. For more info call 334.328.1202 or visit www. honoringangelslikeowen.org.
October 20-23
The Christian Life Convention will be held at McGehee Road Baptist Church, 2877 McGehee Road, Montgomery, with Revivalist Don Graham and Guest Worship Leader Jeff Bush. Schedule: Sunday Night, Oct. 20 - 4:30 to 5 pm Prayer, Worship & Teaching 5 to 6 pm; Monday thru Wednesday; Oct. 21-23, 5:30 to 6 pm Prayer, Worship & Teaching 6 to 7 pm. Call 262-6722. The Christian Life Convention leads in the revival of the local church by focusing on rekindling the fire of the saved, encouraging them to repent and to return to their first Love.
Saturday, October 26
2nd Annual River Region Prayer Walk begins at Union Station Train Shed. Registration: 7:45 a.m.; Prayer and Praise Concert: 8:30 a.m.;5K Prayer Walk Begins: 9 a.m.; Registration Fee: $10 per person (includes T-shirt) Children under 12 free. Join us as we come together as the citizens of the River Region to pray over our cities, our government leaders, schools and teachers, uniformed heroes and servants, pastors and ministry leaders, and all of the people that make up the River Region. Online Registration: http://riverregionprayerwalk2013.eventbrite.com. For information, contact Brooke Freeman at: riverregionprayerwalk@ gmail.com or 334-300-5407.
Saturday, November 2
Agape’s 5th Annual Adoption Celebration will be held at the Dreamfield Farms and Pumpkin Patch in Union Springs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The community event provides an opportunity for adoptive families to come together, build relationships and celebrate God’s unique plan for their family. The celebratory event is free and lunch will be provided. To register for the event, email info@ agapeforchildren.org or call 334-272-9466.
Thursday, November 7
Abby Johnson will be the primary speaker at the
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2013 Sav-A-Life/First Choice of Montgomery Womens’ Medical Center Banquet at Montgomery’s Frazer Memorial UMC. Because of the generosity of underwriters, there is no charge to attend this event, but reservations are required. Those interested in attending or hosting a table of 8 should contact Melinda@mstewart@firstchoicewmc.com or call 334-8010 by October 24th.
Monday, November 11
Golf for a cause at the 8th Annual Agape of Central Alabama Golf Tournament at the Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. Taking part in this event will help support Agape in finding Christian homes for foster children and orphans, as well as helping women through a crisis pregnancy. The annual golf tournament is more than just a great day of golfing—it’s an opportunity to be part of a ministry that serves neglected and abused children, families who want to share their love with a child, and pregnant women in need of assistance. Special military discounts for veterans and active military are available for individuals and teams in honor of Veterans Day. For registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.agapeforchildren.org/golf.
Please send your calendar events to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com by the 18th of the month for FREE print.
October 2013
River Region’s Journey
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Get the Point?
by Elaine Britt
The Point of the Passage:
Light Into Darkness …God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1: 5-7 Close your eyes and recall the last time that you were excited about a new idea, prospect, or possibility in your life. Return to those emotions. Are you ‘pumped,’ albeit dealing with lingering questions…? Fresh out of college and ready to conquer the world, Interior Design degree in hand and job waiting, I moved to Mississippi. The high-brow shop, housed in a rambling historical mansion and offering only the best – including antiques – held great promise. Within nine months it became clear why, with ten designers on staff, few remained longer than a year, my ‘lampshade scenario’ a fit explanation. Lampshades often arrive wrapped around and around in a long, continuous strip of plastic. Walking by as I ‘unwrapped’ a lampshade for display, my boss snidely commented, “That would be a lot easier if you used scissors,” the unspoken end of his sentence being, ‘dummy.’ The next shipment of lamps arrived and I, the obedient employee, began clipping across the lampshade plastic with scissors. Happening by, my boss glanced over and bellowed, “BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE SCISSORS - DON’T CUT THE LAMPSHADE!!” Startled, I came close to doing exactly that! This same no-win attitude was prevalent in Jesus’ day as he declares in Luke 7:33-35, “…For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” God IS
wisdom, and Jesus triumphs over our human tendencies with a ‘but’ and words of hope, here speaking of ‘wisdom’ winning the day regardless of our negativity. Victory is consistently available to us but, as in Jesus’ day, it is a choice we make continually. Surrounded by ‘bad news’, our attitudes and actions can yet be guided by Scripture, Hebrews 3:1 offering, “…encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today”… suggesting an urgency in doing so. We cannot control others’ actions or choices, but we can control our reactions to them. In Mississippi, my tenure was average, around one year, at which time I chose to disconnect from the authority of one who thrived on deriding others, thereby fleeing darkness and seeking light. When deliberately seeking evidence of positive progress, we find it, one example being the extensive resources available through local churches, agencies, and organizations to help those in need. Conversing recently on this subject, my mom, herself a wealth of wisdom, commented regarding all the good that is done for others, “Why isn’t any of that ever reported in the news? Good things are going on around us all the time but we never hear about them.” At that juncture, my thoughts wandered to River Region’s Journey magazine, pleased that, indeed, there is a place where ‘good’ is reported locally! A.W. Tozer, anointed by God’s wisdom, ‘reported’ it - a blessed legacy of over 50 books including That Incredible Christian - and there asserts, “He loves supremely One whom he has never seen, and though himself poor and lowly he talks familiarly with One who is King of all kings and Lord of all lords, and is aware of no incongruity in so doing. He feels that he is in his own right altogether less than nothing, yet he believes without question that he is the apple of God’s eye and that for him the Eternal Son became flesh and died on the cross of shame… 43
The … Christian, furthermore, is both a confirmed pessimist and an optimist… When he looks at the cross he is a pessimist, for he knows that the same judgment that fell on the Lord of glory condemns in that one act all nature and all the world of men. He rejects every human hope out of Christ because he knows that man’s noblest effort is only dust building on dust. Yet he is calmly, restfully optimistic. If the cross condemns the world, the resurrection of Christ guarantees the ultimate triumph of good throughout the universe. Through Christ all will be well at last and the Christian waits the consummation. Incredible Christian!” Yes, there is the unyielding parent who, seeing all As and one B on the report card, rails against the B rather than rejoicing in the As. And yes, there is inevitably a ‘glass half-empty’ attitude. BUT, as the passage from 1 John reminds us, …God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. In Jesus, light consistently prevails over darkness and God has the last word. Let us choose daily, … as long as it is called Today…, to spread God’s light while focusing on the positive. In so doing, God’s light shines into the darkness, we experience rich fellowship with others, and we rejoice in the promise that … the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Elaine Britt and her husband, Tim, reside in Montgomery, with son Bryan at UAH in Huntsville and son Kevin at the University of Montevallo. She counts her family as a great blessing. By profession, Elaine is a 33 year veteran Interior Decorator and owner of Carriage House Interiors, now freelancing from home. By God’s calling and to her great joy, she is a writer, whose published works include stories in A Cup of Comfort Devotionals; Lord, I Was Happy Shallow; and Heavenly Patchwork; one book, Messages, as well as various e-zine and magazine articles. October 2013
River Region’s Journey
Movie Reviews Reviews provided by MovieGuide: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment Ratings are based on production quality and moral acceptability. See details below. ***Reviews do not necessarily reflect views of the publishers of River Region’s Journey.
Unstoppable
The Ultimate Life
Production Quality: *** Moral Acceptability: +2 (Good) Starring: Kirk Cameron Genre: Documentary Audience: Older children to adults Rating: Not Rated Content: Very strong Christian and Biblical worldview that explores themes like providence, grace, redemption, and why God allows bad things to happen to good people, and much of the movie is about Scripture; the “d” word is heard in a song, though not as a cuss word; reenactments show Cain chasing down Abel and killing him, the killing takes place out of frame, but the camera lingers on a stream of blood that flows from Abel’s body; no sexuality; reenactments of Adam and Eve show upper male nudity and shows just enough female skin to imply she’s naked, though little is shown; no alcohol; no drugs; nothing else objectionable. UNSTOPPABLE is a documentary hosted by Kirk Cameron, who also brought us MONUMENTAL in 2012. The movie addresses some of life’s most difficult questions. Questions like: Where is God in the midst of tragedy; and: Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? UNSTOPPABLE begins with Kirk talking about the loss of their friend Matt, a young teenage boy struggling with cancer. Kirk recounts his conversation with Matt’s father, who couldn’t explain to his son why God wasn’t healing him. It sends Kirk on a journey to revisit Scripture, to discover the character of God and to understand how and why He does what He does. Kirk then takes the audience to the beginning of history; the creation of man, the fall of Adam, and the first murder. By understanding God’s story in the Bible, we can better understand our story today, and God’s sovereign hand in it. UNSTOPPABLE is an important message, though told in a unique way. It plays more like a sermon than an actual documentary or story. As Kirk explains Adam and Eve from Genesis, reenactments are played out for dramatic effect, though they don’t add much. In fact, the reenactments are distracting and draw attention from the actual story. By itself, however, UNSTOPPABLE contains a very important Christian message reminding us of God’s love and His grand plan for the human race. Kirk Cameron’s message will encourage many people who are struggling with loss or pain. Some of the reenactments do contain heavier elements that parents should be aware of before taking younger children to see this movie.
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: +4 (Exemplary) Starring: Peter Fonda, Bill Cobbs, Lee Meriwether, Ali Hillis, Logan Bartholomew, Drew Waters, David Mann, Brett Rice, Abigail Mavity, Jack DePew, Elizabeth Ann Bennett, David Carpenter, Austin James, Brian Patrick Walsh, Abigale Corrigan, Jennifer Leigh Mann Genre: Family, Drama Audience: Older children to adults Rating: PG Content: Very strong moral worldview with strong Christian values extols the idea that family is the most important legacy, with very strong capitalist and free market content promoting hard work, leadership and building a business that can use wealth to do good, plus other values include sacrifice, forgiveness, patriotism, and putting loved ones before work; no foul language; light violence includes a World War II battle scene in which a young boy gets hit by some shrapnel, and some blood is seen; no sexual content, light kissing; no nudity; light alcohol consumption; no smoking or drug use; and, protagonist pursues wealth and success at the expense of his family, but he repents at the end. THE ULTIMATE LIFE takes place right after the events of THE ULTIMATE GIFT. Jason Stevens tries to balance life as a billionaire and his relationship with his girlfriend Alexia. Making matters worse, his greedy extended family sues him. Trying to find guidance dealing with his family and a strained relationship, Jason starts reading his grandfather’s journal. THE ULTIMATE LIFE is a well-made, fun, heartwarming sequel to the beloved movie THE ULTIMATE GIFT. Though the quality doesn’t quite live up to the first movie, it has positive values and an uplifting message for the whole family. The movie gives a lot more background to THE ULTIMATE GIFT. It depicts how Jason’s grandfather developed his friendships, his business and the “Twelve Gifts” he passes onto Jason. The strong moral worldview upholds values like capitalism. The grandfather learns that success comes from hard work and being a leader of men. Most importantly, the movie teaches that family is the greatest legacy you leave behind when you leave this world. THE ULTIMATE LIFE has no objectionable content, though a brief battle scene might scare young children.
The previous reviews are a selected sample of informative reviews from MOVIEGUIDE: A FAMILY GUIDE TO MOVIES AND ENTERTAINMENT, a syndicated feature of Good News Communications, Inc. To subscribe to MOVIEGUIDE which includes a complete set of at least 10 reviews of the latest movies as well as many informative articles, please visit our web site at www.movieguide.org or write or call:”MOVIEGUIDE,” P.O. Box 190010, Atlanta, GA 31119 (800) 899-6684. What the ratings mean: Production Quality: (1 to 4 stars) Moral Acceptability: -4 (Abhorrent), -3 (Excessive), -2 (Extreme Caution), -1 (Caution), +1 (Wholesome), +2 (Good), +3 (Moral), +4 (Exemplary) River Region’s Journey
October 2013
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