Help Alabama
Shine!
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint research project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its purpose is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not in order to aid in the development and assessment of programs designed to identify high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. New mothers are randomly chosen from the state birth registry to participate in PRAMS. Surveys may be returned by mail or completed over the phone. Let your voice be heard!
“Happy to be part of this survey.”
“Thank you for checking on us!”
Actual comments from survey responses.
Moms who complete the PRAMS survey receive their choice of a cooler bag, diapers, or manicure set! Responses are kept confidential to the extent of the law. For more information, please call us at 334-206-2923 or go to alabamapublichealth.gov/PRAMS ADPH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, genetic information, and other federal, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Civil Rights Coordinator: ADPH CRC, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1010, Montgomery, AL 36104, Tel. 334-206-5226, o r email crcomplaints@adph.state.al.us.
Volume 20, Issue 1
Feature Articles
APRIL 20 1 8 Columns page 2
page 12
Publisher’s Note
Faith @ Work
Jason Watson
Meet Jason Isbell, VP of Legal and Governmental Affairs for the Alabama Bankers Association. In our interview, Jason shares about the many hats he wears in his professional life, why his wife Kim is his best friend, and offers encouragement for living the Christian faith outside the church walls.
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship
page 14
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 20
The Intersection
page 16
Perseverance Wins the Prize in Step Families
Bob Crittenden
Marriage can be a difficult journey even in the best of circumstances. Throw in ex-spouses and trying to blend stepchildren and some couples simply want to give up the fight. You’ll find great advice here for moving through the hard times with patience and hope for a future worth having.
Women Arising
page 22
Counselor’s Corner Sam Belkofer, LPC
by Gayla Grace
page 27
Pastor Kemi Searcy
page 32
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
page 24
First Choice Women’s Medical Center by Angela Hardgrave
Formerly Sav-A-Life, First Choice Women’s Medical Center is a leader in our community in helping women and couples facing unexpected pregnancies. Discover all the services they offer, medically and spiritually, in addition to helping a woman choose life for her baby. Also, if you are looking for a ministry to serve, First Choice has volunteer needs you may be able to meet. 1
In Every Issue page 6
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 12
Faith @ Work page 28
Support Groups April 2018
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
Associate Publisher Gena Hill
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Tim Challies Bob Crittenden Gayla Grace Angela Hardgrave Sam Belkofer, LPC Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Pastor Kyle Searcy Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities
Stephanie Parsons, VP of Client Services ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Digital Manager Scott Davis
From the Publisher What do you do when you face hardships? What if the hardship is your fault? It’s so easy to run and hide, hoping no one will see where you’ve ended up. Pride takes over and we pull the covers up over our heads in hopes that the struggles and embarrassment will disappear. I’ve tried this method and it has never worked. In the darkness of shame we’re imprisoned by our failings and feelings with no way out. Thankfully, God, the Righteous One, invites us out of our sin shame and cleanses us through faith in the work of His Son Jesus. The chains of that guilt and shame are broken by Jesus and we can walk in the light, worshipping our Savior as we walk in freedom! This month’s ministry spotlight, First Choice Women’s Medical Center, offers this hope to women and couples facing an unexpected pregnancy. I remember being a high school senior when a friend shared with me that his girlfriend was pregnant. They both were scared and were looking for a way out. I sadly didn’t offer any hope or direction. I wish I would have been informed enough (and brave enough) to have pointed them to a ministry like First Choice, where they wouldn’t have been judged, but rather loved and supported with the grace of Jesus. Sin struggles and sin shame are everywhere, including our own hearts. No one can escape that fact. The reason we boast in Jesus alone is because He is the only perfect one. Therefore, He is the only one capable of being our Savior. He is our unblemished sacrifice who takes away our sin. So, don’t think you’re all alone in your hardship. Don’t think there’s no way out. Like the woman who was caught in adultery and thrown down at the feet of Jesus awaiting her condemnation, hear the words of Jesus, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8) Take the hand of Jesus and rise up in freedom. Receive His forgiveness and His love. Walk out of the shame of darkness into His light. Cross over from death to life. Trust in Jesus!
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Manager Chris Mitchell
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 2018 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. 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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Come Worship with Us! SUNDAY WORSHIP 9:30 a.m.
Founded Upon God’s Word
Liturgically Joyful
At Christchurch, Holy Scripture serves as the final authority for our teaching and preaching. Indeed, over the course of three years, almost the entire Bible is read aloud and preached upon.
At Christchurch, worship involves the entire congregation, as we offer God praise, thanksgiving and adoration using worship traditions that can be traced back to the earliest days of the Church. Our worship is not designed to entertain us, but to honor the true “audience” of worship, the Lord!
Warm and Loving
Committed to Mission
By God’s grace and through His Spirit, the people of Christchurch enjoy the richness and joy of being a true family. We’d love for you to become a part of us! Regardless of who you are, you will always find a home at Christchurch.
The people of Christchurch respond to God’s Word by going out into the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus, and we joyfully serve as His hands and feet whether in places like Uganda and Guatemala or within Montgomery.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 11:00 a.m. on Sundays 6 p.m. on Wednesdays
AND DON’T MISS... THE CHRISTCHURCH
SATURDAY, MAY 5 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Silent Auction begins at 9 a.m. | Bidding closes at 1:30 p.m.| Pickup items at 2 p.m.
$12 BBQ Plate Lunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 www.christchurchmgm.net 334.387.0566
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Pastor’s Perspective Bishop Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship
Seven Steps to Renewing Your Mind The human brain fascinates me. Its computing power is truly remarkable. Just one brain generates more energy (electrical impulses) in one day than all the cell phones on the planet. An unbelievable amount of activity occurs 24/7 in our brain; most of it is not at the conscious level. In fact about 90 – 99% of all brain activity happens in the non-conscious area of our brain at the speed of four hundred billion actions per second. The conscious level only accounts for about 10% of brain activity at two thousand actions per second. These amazing facts tell us that much of who we are is programmed in our mind. We rarely think consciously about our actions and reactions. They are rote to a certain extent. The question is where does the programming come from that dictates our behavior? The answer: our thoughts. Research shows that 75 – 98% of our mental, physical and behavioral health comes from our own thought life. This means only 2 – 25% of our mental health comes from the environment and genes. So much for blaming our parents for our mental issues! This also proves Proverbs 23:7 is true, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he…” What if the programming loaded by our thoughts is wrong or at least out of date? Can we do anything about it? Absolutely. This is where Paul the Apostle’s valuable wisdom declares, “…Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). The beauty is that we can change the programming of our brains whenever we River Region’s Journey
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want to. Our minds can be renewed. Here is a seven-step process toward mind renewal.
1. Slow down Our 21st century pace is too hectic and possibly mentally unhealthy. The mind functions best and changes more when it is at rest. When we go into intentional rest we enhance and increase the activity in the non-conscious brain: * Gamma waves increase memory and learning * Coordination between brain networks increases * More activity happens that is linked to happiness Activities such as: meditation, ruminations, imagination, self-perceptions, thinking things through, letting your mind wander in a focused way, sleeping, deep thinking, and prayer all enhance the mind’s ability to change and become healthier. Take a few minutes daily to slow down and allow your mind to “chill.”
2. Gather Information We should now ask some questions about our “chill time.” What has been happening in our mind? What are our thoughts and feelings? Are we tense? Has our breathing been shallow? Has our attitude been poor? Psalm 4:4 says, “Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” As we commune with our own heart we will gather information about ourselves.
3. Reflect with Focus Select one area or one thought, preferably something that needs to be changed or reprogrammed. This is a disciplined way of thinking that silences all the chaotic, com4
peting thoughts. Consider one item and all of its ramifications. This kind of thinking is the beginning of redesigning our brains.
4. Write Now we should write down our thoughts. Writing has profound effect on brain alteration. It also imprints a visual on our brain. Write down negative and positive thoughts. Feel free to be creative in writing. Draw pictures, link word groups, or create “origami” with words. Just let it flow.
5. Revisit We should now read what we have written, paying special attention to the areas that we desire to change. This will alert our brains to areas of focus. This causes our thoughts to become more changeable.
6. Act Exhibit some form of mental or physical action related to the destruction of the old thought and the establishment of a new one. For example, if we have been fearful we might imagine the fear disappearing as a puff of smoke, quoting, “God has not given us the spirit of fear…” (2 Timothy 1:7).
7. Pray Ask God to help with the process. He created the mind so He is capable of helping to reshape it. Use these seven steps for each thought, one at a time, 10 minutes a day, for at least three weeks. If we do, the experts tell us that we will have made great progress to reshape our brains for the better. Kyle Searcy has a passion for developing a new generation of leaders. He is a recognized and highly respected leader, bishop, prayer warrior, teacher, and author. He serves as senior Pastor of Fresh Anointing House of Worship, Montgomery, Alabama. Kyle is married to Kemi and they have four childen and three grandchildren.
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The Incredibles, Cars… and The Pilgrim’s Progress: Interview with a Pixar Artist
Generation after generation, Christians have devoured John Bunyan’s great allegorical work The Pilgrim’s Progress. It remains among the most-read books in all of human history. Among those who have been influenced by it is Garrett Taylor, an artist who works at Pixar Animation Studios and has been involved in some of their most important films. As a side project, he developed some beautiful maps of Christian’s journey to the Celestial City. Here is an interview I recently completed with Garrett in which he tells about his work, his salvation, and his illustrations of Bunyan’s world. Working at Pixar seems like a dream job for people in your line of work? How did you come to work there? Art was always encouraged in my family growing up; my Grandpa was an artist. My Dad worked as a carpenter but is also a very gifted artist. I too worked in carpentry, though I too had a God-given talent for art. Being homeschooled from K-12th grade, my Mom always gave me ample time to spend drawing and being creative. After homeschool I went on to get a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Humboldt State University in our hometown in Northern CA, but the skills I gained at HSU were too broad to warrant a career as an artist, and I continued to make a living in building, remodeling and finish carpentry, supporting my wife and our first baby. My wife encouraged me to continue cultivating my abilities in art. It helped for me to identify that it was illustration in particular that I enjoyed so much, which means artwork that is both imaginative, but also believable, and able to bring a story to life. River Region’s Journey
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We decided to move to San Francisco where I got a Master’s Degree in Traditional Illustration from the Academy of Art University. My time at the Academy brought a huge increase in technical skill and an awareness of what types of companies hire illustrators (not many). Then, with a wife and two children, and a portfolio of artwork geared toward the animation industry (Pixar ideally), I started sending out applications. The year was 2009; the economy was hurting and I got no response to any of my job applications. We moved back to our hometown and I resumed work as a carpenter for a year, doing some art teaching at the local college and university, almost forgetting about one of the applications I had submitted to Pixar for their internship program. I admit I was concerned that with nothing but carpentry on my work resume, it may be hard to land a position in art. Finally, one April afternoon I got an exciting email from Pixar which led to a phone interview, and eventually, by God’s providence, I was given the one open Sketch Artist internship position for the summer of 2010, out of thousands of applicants. To my amazement, the man that chose me for the position said he particularly liked that I had a knowledge of carpentry, and could see that understanding in my portfolio. With our third child on the way, we moved to Emeryville for the internship. It went as well as it possibly could have; I worked on designing sets for Cars 2. However, a full time position didn’t open up until a year later. Now I’ve been working at Pixar for 7 years. 6
Exactly what role do you play there? My current role at Pixar is “Designer.” In an animated film, unlike a live action film, everything that one sees on screen has to be designed. Everything from a small mouse crawling along the street to a full-sized city and everything in between. My focus is usually on sets, which means I design the environment of a film, i.e. all landscape, cityscape, background, props, etc. As set designers, we get to decide what the world looks like, and we draw plans for how to build it in the computer. We can use any medium for this task, from pencil on paper to digital painting on a monitor. What are some of the projects you’ve worked on at Pixar and which is your favorite? I worked on various Toy Story/Cars short films, Cars 2, The Good Dinosaur, Cars 3, Incredibles 2 (out this June), and currently I’m working a couple untitled original films. Getting into the nuances of car design while designing characters for Cars 3 was a highlight. If you could tell people to watch just one Pixar movie, which would it be? It would have to be Up. Very original and sincere. How did the Lord save you? I was blessed to be raised in a Christian family, accepted what I knew of the gospel at an early age and was baptized as a teenager. But I lacked the fear of the Lord. It wasn’t until my late 20’s when, through trials, the Lord opened my eyes to my own sin and therefore a real understanding of salvation. Since then, by His grace, God has continued to prune me and grow my understanding of and affection for Christ. How did you come to have an interest in The Pilgrim’s Progress? What did you make these maps? During grad school, I needed to choose a story to develop for a class called Visual Development for Animation. I knew of The Pilgrim’s Progress, mainly from an illus-
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trated version I had as a child, so I decided to read the full story and spend my semester designing characters and environments for The Pilgrim’s Progress. It proved to be a good choice. After posting some of that work online, I continued to get emails from Christians around the world expressing their love for The Pilgrim’s Progress and asking questions about my work. A few of these inquiries were from people wanting to work together to develop the story into either an animated film or video game. One such collaboration led to the need for an accurate map of Christian’s journey. Such a map, amazingly, had not yet been created. Though the original project was not able to get off the ground, I was able to finish the maps and make them available online. Over the years they have been useful and encouraging to many people. It is amazing to see how God has used what began as a simple school project, and how He guided the whole process of these 4 maps being drawn. I’m very excited for them to now be available on Visual Theology. Do you have more similar art to come? What else are you working on? I’m always taking on side work, and open to what God has next for me. I have actually been thinking about doing more well-designed printable assets based on The Pilgrim’s Progress, maybe stand-alone illustrations of various memorable scenes from Christian’s journey. What advice would you have for other Christians interested in working in a similar field as you? Of course, as Christians, the main thing to remember is that we serve the God that created the universe and though we the make our plans, He directs our steps. Therefore, I encourage each aspiring artist first to be a person of integrity and a hard worker. I worked doing carpentry for around 15 years before and during college until I started to shift over to doing just art/ design. If you are good at mowing lawns and communicating honestly with clients, or being thankful and showing up to work early at the grocery store, then you will be ready to excel in a career in art or anything else. With that said, art is like any trade, and requires a little bit of aptitude and lots of practice to get to a professional level. I always encourage young artists that want to get into the animation industry to look at the “art of” books released with each animated film to see what kind of artwork is being produced at the highest level. This helps demonstrate the level of skill shown by those currently in the field and can help one know what to include in a portfolio. Then it’s just a matter of gaining the technical skills, and there are many options for that. •
www.ChildrensAL.org/concussion
KNOW what to do in case of suspected concussion
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 evaluated right away
SPORTS MEDICINE
by a doctor/healthcare professional n.... Should not be left alone n.....Should not drive a motor vehicle
SPORTS MEDICINE
For a Concussion Clinic appointment, call 205.934.1041 In case of medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to your local ER SPORTS MEDICINE
SPORTS MEDICINE
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David Phelps in Concert Thursday, May 17, at 7:00 pm, Doors at 6:00 pm Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109 Visit itickets.com or call 270-627-0570. Organized by: The Carpenters Son Productions
Women’s Conference April 19-21 at Fresh Anointing House of Worship, 6000 Monticello Drive in Montgomery. To register visit www.AnointedChurch.org. Cost is $35. Guests will be Singer Vicki Yohe, Apostle Sharon Nesbitt and Apostle Jane Hamon. Call 334.613.3363 for more info.
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DROP THE MIC Tour
Christian Singer/ Songwriter Ross King Live in Concert
An Evening of Music, Comedy and Uncompromising Truth
Rick Burgess, Jason Crabb, Brad Stine Friday, April 27, at 7:30 pm; Doors at 6:30 pm
Davis Theater for Performing Arts 251 Montgomery Street Visit itickets.com or order by phone at 800-965-9324.
at “Broken” Worship Gathering Tuesday night, April 10, at 7 p.m. Grandview YMCA, Millbrook, AL Ross has written songs for the Newsboys, Carrollton, Jason Gray, Shenandoah, Austin Stone Worship, The Village Church, and Todd Agnew. Concert is free. A love offering will be taken. For more info, call Robert Barge at 432-249-0743.
2600 Bell Road Montgomery, Alabama 334.277.6690
460 McQueen Smith Road Prattville, Alabama 334.358.6411
Dr. John H. Payne IV • Dr. David Stanley • Dr. Davis Denney • Dr. Rob Owen 9
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Agape 8th Annual Run for a Mom 5K and Fun Run
GracePoint Community Church in Wetumpka Doors will open at 8 am with simulcast beginning at 9 am through 4:30 pm. Lunch and snacks will be served and cost is $25. Register through the church by emailing info@gracepoint.info.
Agape of Central Alabama will hold its 8th annual Run for a Mom 5k and Fun Run on May 12th at Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Road in Montgomery. This event is an effort to bring people together to honor the role of mom, featuring family friendly entertainment, food, and games. All proceeds from Run for a Mom will directly benefit Agape of Central Alabama and its mission to support women, children, and families through foster care, adoption, and crisis pregnancy counseling. Please go to www.runforamom.org to register, volunteer, or to get more information.
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SILENT AUCTION BENEFITING YOUTH & CHILDREN’S MISSIONS @ SAINT JAMES UMC
Auction: Saturday, April 21, 4-6pm Live Preview: Friday, April 20, 4-6pm Online Preview: sjlifeauction.com Free Admission Antique Furniture Home Goods Gift cards Trips & Vacations And much more! Rd .
saint james united methodist church
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NINTH ANNUAL
sjlifeauction.com | 334.481.0735 | 9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 11
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Jason: For the Christian, verses like Jeremiah 29:11 provide an unspeakable amount of comfort. Even if I didn’t necessarily know the next step in God’s plans for my life, the fact that He loves me enough to give me “hope and a future” gives me such a peace. My entire career path can be traced to a campus-wide email that I received 20 years ago as a college sophomore. And from then until now, every stop along the way has been a wonderful place to work: great bosses, hard-working co-workers, and office cultures that didn’t require your character to be compromised. Equally as important, any career transition that I’ve gone through has been on my own terms and has been a positive development. I can’t help but see God’s hand at work in my professional path. RRJ: You are a talented orator and gifted in building relationships. What opportunities has God placed in your life to be able to use your gifts? RRJ: Jason, you have worn many hats in your professional career… from being a lawyer for politicians to being a lobbyist for bankers. What is one standard you live by no matter what “hat” you are wearing? Jason: The phrase “honesty is the best policy” might sound like an old cliché, but it’s a statement that has served me well. If the general public made a list of trustworthy professions, chances are high that “attorney” and “lobbyist” would not be near the top. Knowing that, I’ve worked especially hard to try and cultivate a reputation of being an honest broker. To me, that means not only telling the truth but also presenting the opposing viewpoints so that folks can see all sides of the issue. There are times when that standard might cause you to lose a battle, but it will never cause you to lose the war. RRJ: In regard to the path you’ve been on professionally, how does Jeremiah 29:11 speak to you? River Region’s Journey
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Jason: I’m blessed to serve on the board of directors of the agency my parents used when adopting me in 1980, Agape of Central Alabama, as well as my college alma mater, Faulkner University. There’s nothing in my life that doesn’t point back to one or both of those entities, so it’s incredibly humbling to now have a role in their futures. Music has been a part of my life for many years, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to lead worship at my church. And I thoroughly enjoy public speaking, whether it’s emceeing charity events or serving as an announcer for sporting events. You don’t earn certificates or diplomas in “building relationships,” but I firmly believe it is an innate skillset that to some degree all of us have. I’m thankful that God has given me ample opportunities to use my talents, and hope He’ll continue to keep my eyes open for future chances, too. RRJ: Having been adopted at 3 months old, you must have a deeper under12
standing of how precious adoption is. Romans 8:14-17 speaks of us, believers in Christ, as adopted by God. Can you shed some light on how wonderful that news really is? Jason: There’s no such thing as an unwanted adoption. In any situation involving an adoption, you have a parent eager to give love and an adoptee eager to accept that love. No caveats. No exceptions. In the same way, a Christian is wanted. God the Father has chosen us, and we belong to Him. He pours out His love on us without limitation, our flaws notwithstanding. What could be better than that? RRJ: What do you feel is the most important part in sharing your faith with others? Jason: Authenticity. There’s not an aspect of our lives where we don’t come into contact with people who could use our help. Even at church. Our preacher routinely says, “There’s a heartache on every pew.” And he’s exactly right. Christ compels us to try and help the hurting, wherever they may be. But if that person believes you’re just “going through the motions” and don’t genuinely care about them, you’ll never be able to take the next step and form a solid relationship with them. RRJ: You mentioned that your wife, Kim, is your best friend. How do you encourage each other to be the best versions of yourselves? How important do you think it is for children to see their parents getting along in a loving relationship? Jason: My wife is genuinely my favorite person to be around. She’s funny and personable. And when she wants to light up a room, I’m thankful to have a front-row seat. There’s no one on Earth I want to impress more than Kim. Since we became parents, it’s always been important for us to be “on the same team” in front of the boys. And
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we’re very protective of each other when dealing with our children. But Maddox and Griffin will never, ever wonder if they grew up in a home where Mom and Dad loved each other and cared for each other. We work to say it and show it every day. Like everyone, Kim and I fail each other at times, but thankfully as Christians we know what grace and mercy look like and feel like. And we know the value of extending it to each other when we need it, even if we don’t deserve it.
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RRJ: In the Gospels, Jesus mentions how important it is for believers to have a child-like faith. How have you seen your childrens’ faith in action? Jason: Even at a young age, our boys have unfortunately dealt with several deaths, not only in our family but also at their school. It’s been such a faith-builder to see how they’ve reacted to those tragedies, especially when my grandmother passed away. Their words and thoughts during that heartbreak were as comforting to me as anyone’s. It’s also wonderful to see them interact with other children. Unlike adults, they look past race, age, socio-economic issues, handicaps – if you want to be their friend, they want to be your friend. Maddox and Griffin are such great examples to their parents; we’re blessed they’re ours. RRJ: What encouragement would you offer Journey readers who are struggling to live out their faith beyond church walls? Jason: Two things. First, don’t do it alone. Kim and I have a great group of friends who hold us up and keep us accountable. We constantly see how they are able to live out their faith at home, at work, in their families, and in the world. They’re such an encouragement to us, and I hope we are to them. So, if you’ve already got a core group of people in your life, don’t just make sure they know how you feel about them, make clear that you expect them to lean on you and that you expect to lean on them, too. It’s Solomon’s three-fold cord approach from Ecclesiastes. Second, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re not doing it wrong; being a Christian in this world, much less a Christian parent, is supposed to be hard! Even when you might think differently, know that you ARE worthy enough to share your faith with others.
Jason Isbell has been married to Kim for almost 14 years and they have two sons: Maddox, 9, and Griffin, 6.
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Sunlight and Butterfly Dust Butterflies are beautiful, but fragile. In fact, it has been said that if you touch a butterfly’s wings the creature may actually die. In the past few years, biologists have discovered why that’s true. If you catch a butterfly and release it, you will see a bright yellow or green iridescent dust on your hand. That shining dust is critical to the butterfly’s ability to fly. Without it, it cannot live. What scientists in California and Germany discovered in 2017 was that this dust is not really dust at all, but thousands upon thousands of thin, microscopic solar cells. The ribs in each butterfly’s wings are really elaborate solar panels that provide radiant heat to the creature
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and dazzling color to our world. And within every panel, each cell is different in size, shape, and angle to maximize the absorption of light. But wait, solar panels? Why solar panels? Butterflies only fly when their body temperature is at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But, being cold-blooded animals, their internal temperature corresponds to the air above them. Thus, the need for external heat. When a butterfly hangs onto a leaf with its wings outstretched, it is storing up energy. It is stoking its internal furnace and fueling up for flight. So, even if it is only 70 degrees on a spring day, you may still see a butterfly pollinating from flower to flower on energy harvested from the sun. It reminds me of a passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:24) NIV. None of us can fully comprehend the intricate design of the butterfly or any of the thousands of species around us. But if we look closely at ourselves or any other creature, we have no excuse for not worshipping the God who created us. How can we ever doubt that God designs, maintains, and cares for us all? One would think scientists, of all people, would be the most devout followers of Christ. 14
Butterflies are beautiful, but they are not just for show. While those little wispy creatures shimmer in the sunlight and decorate our gardens with color, they are pollinating our flowers and crops. They are literally spreading life everywhere they go. And so should we. God has put within those of us who have placed our faith in Him, hope, love, peace, joy and a thousand other blessings that reflect the glow of His love. As we spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word, we store up the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We then have the energy to reflect that radiance to everyone around us. We can bring hope and love to people in a dark and lonely world, where everyone needs Someone to believe in. Paul said it this way to the church in Philippi: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:14 – 16) NIV. That’s our job, to bring light and hope to our little corner of God’s garden. He has made each of us differently and yet we all have a place in His plan. And He provides the strength, patience, and courage we need to reach those around us. Our Creator is the Light of the world. We can choose to reflect that Light in our daily lives, not in our own power, but in the power of His Spirit. In the words of the psalmist: “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:4-5) NIV. What a joy to be part of God’s creation. What a joy to join with Christ in bringing light and life to our world. And to think we could learn all this from a butterfly. **Sam Whatley’s latest book, Ponder Anew, is now available at the Frazer Bookstore located inside Frazer Memorial UMC.
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In the early years of our marriage, I wondered if we would make it to our next anniversary. Blending four children, grappling with our stepparent roles while learning to parent together, combating ex-spouses, and trying to stay afloat with job, church and community obligations seemed impossible. As we celebrated 21 years of marriage recently, I’m thankful we never quit.
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tell you he is an imperfect stepfather. Although his stepdaughters now love him dearly, it hasn’t always been that way. Jodi was almost three when we married and my oldest daughter, Jamie, was five. Randy had a difficult time with Jamie from the beginning. She didn’t want another dad in her life and she made that clear to him. He overheard a conversation between the two girls one night during our first year of marriage. “I hate him too, I can’t believe Mom married him,” Jamie told Jodi. There was little love, or even like, between Randy and the girls in the beginning. During our second year of marriage, Randy left the house one evening and called from a nearby hotel. “I’m not coming home tonight. I’m not sure I’m coming home again. I can’t cope with the ongoing conflict between me and you and the kids.” It was a tough season. Randy brought two children to the marriage also and attempting to blend our four kids, ages 3-10, while learning how to stepparent and parent together, proved harder than we anticipated. But neither of us wanted to endure another divorce. Randy and I began counseling that year to work through the bumps. Jamie challenged us on every turn during her teenage years. If Randy punished her in the slightest, she threatened to call Child Protective Services. She ran away more times than I can remember (but thankfully never went far). After one particularly difficult day with defiant behavior, Randy took Jamie’s cell phone and threw it to the ground. As it busted into several pieces, Jamie began yelling at us both. The night didn’t end well. And I wasn’t sure the sun would come up the next day. But it did. And Randy didn’t give up on his stepparenting journey with Jamie. When she came into driving age, Randy wanted to teach her to drive. She tested every ounce of his patience. They would come in from a driving session hardly talking to one another—Ja-
Randy and I lead an ongoing stepfamily class at our church and often counsel other step couples. One day I asked him why he thinks the divorce rate of remarried couples is so high. His answer was simple: they quit too soon. Yes, there are struggles with ex-spouses, a complicated schedule, bickering kids, financial concerns, and on and on. But the reason most remarriages fail is because step couples don’t devote enough time to work through the kinks and find success in their relationships. Perseverance is a foreign word in too many homes. Stepparenting should be viewed as a marathon, not a sprint. If a marathoner begins a race with even a small consideration to quit when it gets hard, he won’t finish. When the muscle cramps slow his gait, when the road stretches endlessly, when his breathing labors under the hot sun, as others stumble along the way, he has to decide he won’t give in to the temptation to stop. The choice is daunting. It’s no different as a stepparent. Without a firm commitment to trudge through the challenges that come your way, you won’t make it. It’s tough. Very few stepfamilies escape what stepfamily expert Ron Deal calls the “wilderness wanderings.” The wanderings will look and feel differently for every stepfamily, but just as the Israelites wandered aimlessly through the wilderness for 40 years, most stepfamilies endure days, and possibly years, of hardship and suffering. If you don’t determine ahead of time that you will persevere when it gets tough, you will turn back. You won’t find the blessings that accompany your journey in the end. Stepfamily statistics confirm that. Randy recently experienced the privilege of walking his youngest stepdaughter, Jodi, down the aisle. His face radiated with the joy of the moment. Tears welled in my eyes as I recounted his 20 years of commitment to my girls. But Randy will be the first to
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mie’s anger brewing over. But Why? How did that Stepparenting should be viewed as a marathon, not a the next day, they were at it happen? Randy never quit. He sprint. If a marathoner begins a race with even a small got up when he fell down. He again. During her high school sought help when he needed consideration to quit when it gets hard, he won’t finish. answers. years, Jamie participated in He cried. He prayed. competitive cheerleading. When the muscle cramps slow his gait, when the road He struggled. He fought. He Randy would jokingly say, apologized. He forgave. He stretches endlessly, when his breathing labors under smiled with gritted teeth. But “Do you call cheerleading a sport?” The ongoing drama with quit. the hot sun, as others stumble along the way, he has he never other cheerleaders, out-of-town Is it a cycle? Yes. You competitions, and continuous to decide he won’t give in to the temptation to stop. take one step forward and two suction cup to his wallet threw steps backward. You celRandy into stress overdrive. His ebrate a season of growth and grumpiness overshadowed his joy at times. But he didn’t quit supportthen start a season of despair. You gain the insider status one day and feel ing Jamie and the things that made her tick. like an outcast the next. As Jamie left for college, I’ll never forget her words to him. Stepparenting is tough. Mistakes are made. Perseverance in With a wrap-around hug and a smile on her face she said, “Thank the midst of it requires an intentional choice. But with that choice you for being such a great dad to me. I love you!” comes reward. I love the promise of Galatians 6:9, “Let us not Jamie traveled to Mozambique, Africa for an eight-month become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap missionary journey after she graduated from college. She left in a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV). James 1:12 offers another early summer, and we knew it would be hard to communicate with promise: “A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he her while she was gone. As I suspected, though, she made sure to passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promcall on Father’s Day despite the seven-hour time difference. When ised to those who love Him” (HCSB). Randy answered the phone, I saw tears in his eyes as he listened to If you’re trudging through difficult days in your stepfamily, Jamie recount life-changing experiences. He knew he had condon’t give up. Rely on God’s strength and power to sustain you— tributed to her stability and maturity that enabled her young life He will see you through to better days ahead. to now make a difference with others. She closed with the words every stepfather loves to hear, “Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love Gayla Grace writes, speaks, and coaches on family and stepfamily issues. She is a wife, mom to three and stepmom to two, ages 16-31. She holds a master’s you. I miss you.” degree in Psychology and Counseling and founded stepparentingwithgrace. Do you have to be a perfect stepparent to have a meaningful com to offer coaching, resources and other support to stepfamilies. She corelationship with your stepchildren? No! Randy’s stepdaughters, authored Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul and resides in Shreveport, LA. Jodi, now 24, and Jamie, now 27, love their imperfect stepdad.
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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. *All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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april 201
All Lives Should Shine A few years ago, Joni Eareckson Tada shared a radio commentary which encouraged listeners to allow the light of Christ to shine even through hardships. She included a reference to a passage in Philippians 2. She writes: The apostle Paul is writing from a dark prison cell and he tells his friends: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...” For years, the Gerber company has been displaying the famous baby picture on its products. And, now, each year, the company, according to Bill Partyka, chief executive and president of Gerber, “...we choose the baby who best exemplifies Gerber’s long-standing heritage of recognizing that every baby is a Gerber baby...” That quote is from a Townhall.com story about the latest Gerber Spokesbaby, Lucas Warren, who was selected from 140,000 entrants. Lucas is very unique - he has Down Syndrome. Writer Leah Barkoukis states: In a world where far too many people and countries (like Iceland) don’t believe in the value of every human life, Gerber’s decision should be celebrated. Many parents, particularly those who have children with Down syndrome, did just that. Lucas is from Dalton, GA, and his dad, Jason Warren, told the Today show: “We’re hoping this will impact everyone — that it will shed a little bit of light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs River Region’s Journey
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be accepted and not limited,” adding, “They have the potential to change the world, just like everybody else.” The DailyWire website reported that the state of Utah is considering a ban on the abortion of pre-born babies with Down Syndrome, joining Indiana, Ohio, and North Dakota. An article on the site quoted from the LifeNews website: Unborn babies with Down syndrome and other disabilities are discriminated against at astronomical rates. Parents whose unborn babies have Down syndrome or other disabilities frequently report feeling pressure to abort them by doctors and genetic counselors. Earlier this year, a CBS News report shocked the nation with its exposure of the discriminatory abortion trend. According to the report, nearly 100 percent of unborn babies who test positive for Down syndrome are aborted in Iceland. The rate in France was 77 percent in 2015, 90 percent in the United Kingdom and 67 percent in the United States between 1995 and 2011, according to CBS. This is totally unacceptable, and completely ignores that every life is a creation of God, special, unique, reflecting His image. Tim Tebow is devoted to showing teens and adults with disabilities that they are special by sponsoring a series of proms called the Night to Shine. Last Friday, CBN News ran a story about the concept: The event is called “Night to Shine” and it was created by the Tim Tebow Foundation to share the love of God in a practical way. “Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older. On 20
one night, February 9, 2018, more than 540 churches from around the world came together to host Night to Shine for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers!” the foundation says on its website. The article continues: Each special needs youth invited to the prom is called a “king” or “queen” and the whole community gathers to treat them like royalty for the entire evening. “We get to celebrate a lot of people with special needs and hopefully change a lot of lives,” Tebow said in a video Friday. Just Google, “Night to Shine,” and you will see extensive local press coverage. This is a great example of the Church being the Church and shows how Christians value every life, and in unselfish acts of love, make people with special needs truly feel special please notice that the anticipated number of volunteers was almost twice the number of guests expected. The takeaways are simple - one, is that we should always come to the defense of life - in the womb, throughout a person’s life, and even until the end-of-life. God is the author of life, and as humans, we are not authorized to take life. We also can be grateful for what people with special needs, who struggle with disabilities, can teach us. You hear inspiring stories of people who are disabled who provide an example of determination against sometimes overwhelming odds. The Church has a special opportunity to speak and to act on behalf of the vulnerable. There are excellent ministries, such as Joni and Friends, Hope Heals, Rooftop Friends, and others who are dedicated to making communities and churches more aware of the needs of those who are challenged.
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Dark Night of the Soul In Christian theology, there is something called “dark night of the soul”. This refers to a feeling of despair and no known way to end suffering. This term is also used in in the world of psychological dynamics seen as depression, despair and anxiety when they become so severe that they interfere with having a life that has moments of joy as well as difficulties. There are many perspectives of “a dark night of the soul,” but as a therapist and a Christian, I have come to view a feeling of separation from God as a “dark night of the soul”. As Christians, we have recently observed Lent and celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Lent, we prepare for Easter. We do this by giving up something, praying, adding a spiritual ritual to our daily lives or spending time daily contemplating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His Father. Years ago, I focused on giving up certain foods or habits during Lent. As time passed, I began adding a service to others rather than some type of fasting. What I finally realized is that the blessing in observing Lent and becoming self-disciplined was that in doing so, I was closer to God. I felt more connected to Him, and this was comforting to me. It remains so. River Region’s Journey
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It is my observation that when we are in despair, we “feel” separated from God. I have great respect for the power and importance of feelings. They teach us things that we need to know. They awaken in us needs, losses and joy. However, it is important, in my view, that we move out of feelings into our thinking in order to understand them and facilitate change or accept something wonderful. If I “feel” separated from God, I must remind myself that He is never separated from me. I am experiencing a feeling that is not based in reality. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31) And… “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am sure that neither death or life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 37-39) We all experience “dark nights of the soul”. It is unavoidable on this earth. In order to survive and thrive, we have the choice to identify our fears of separation from God. When we do so, it is again our choice to realize His love for us and His 22
desire for us to be well and whole. When we are able to have insight into our fear and hopelessness, we are able to work to connect with God and His love. Lent gives us the opportunity to actively work for an awareness of our connection with God every year during the 40 days before Easter. Unfortunately, “dark nights of the soul” come far more often than during those 40 days. The gifts of Lent are many fold. We are given the opportunity to sacrifice in recognition of Jesus Christ’s giving of His life for us. We are able to incorporate spiritual regimens into our daily life that we don’t employ during the remaining days of the year. We are given the choice to prepare for the joy of Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are also given the choice to strengthen our spiritual muscles so that we are more able to move beyond a “dark night of the soul” by strengthening our understanding of God’s connection to us through his abiding love.
Saralu (Sam) Belkofer is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is a 1969 graduate of Auburn University with a BA in Education and graduated from Georgia State University with an MA in Counseling in 1988. Prior to coming to The Samaritan Counseling Center, Sam counseled adults at Chemical Addictions Program from 1994 until 1999; Therapeutic Programs, Inc., where she worked with children and foster parents of children in need of therapeutic foster care; and at Helping Montgomery Families Initiative, sponsored by Ellen Brooks and the District Attorney’s office, assisting troubled children/youth in Montgomery Public Schools and their families; and as the Montgomery County Director of Adult Outpatient Services with Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority until November 2013. Sam counsels adolescents, young adults and adults, employing psychotherapy to gain insight into problems to develop needed strategies for life transitions, survivors of abuse and neglect, addictions, forgiveness, ADHD, anxiety and depression, issues of abandonment, attachment and development of life skills.
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by Angela Hardgrave
The most important need for someone going through a hard or life-changing time in his or her life is to know, without a doubt, that they are not alone. For women or couples facing an unexpected pregnancy, First Choice Women’s Medical Center of Montgomery gives the comfort and assurance that is so critical during this time. According to their mission statement, First Choice provides “Christ-centered medical, parenting, and life-skill services to extend help, offer hope, and promote healing.” First Choice Women’s Medical Center began in 1982 as Sav-A-Life Montgomery, a crisis pregnancy center with the vision of reaching “abortion-vulnerable members of our community in the name of Christ to make life their first choice.” Sav-A-Life offered free pregnancy tests as a means to give “positive alternatives to women considering abortion.” In 2007, they transitioned into a medical clinic and began providing ultrasounds as well as pregnancy tests.
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In 2018, Sav-A-Life Montgomery officially changed its name to First Choice Women’s Medical Center, Inc. Throughout the changes over the years, the goals of the staff have stayed consistent—to provide support and education to those facing a crisis pregnancy and to share the message of life. Executive Director Bethany Garth said, “We come alongside, giving hope, help, and compassion. We ask women, ‘What can we do to empower you to make a decision?’ A client advocate talks them through the dynamics of their decisions. We educate them without using scare tactics. They need to know exactly what they are getting into. The advocate also shares the Gospel with them, sowing the seed of the Word of God and showing the truth: that life begins at conception.” In addition to client advocates, First Choice has licensed nurses who administer free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. In 2017, they had 2,306 client visits and gave 970 pregnancy tests and 562 ultrasounds. Because the transition to a medical center in 2007 allowed them to offer ultrasounds, it has made a impact on women who were considering abortion. Because of these tests, more women are choosing life. Of women who were planning to have an abortion, or who were in a situation vulnerable to abortion, about 68% of those who had an ultrasound at First Choice
left saying they would choose life for their unborn baby. In the case of a positive pregnancy test, the client advocate will discuss adoption as an option and can refer women or couples to local adoption agencies. They also offer parenting classes as a means of support. Garth said, “We show them what it is like to parent or co-parent. We educate them on the reality of their pregnancy and offer long-term support. In addition to our regular parenting classes, we just began fatherhood classes as well.” Besides education, First Choice’s parenting classes have an added bonus—the Earn While You Learn program. Their weekly classes are video based, which means appointments are at the clients’ convenience to allow for more flexibility. They cover everything from pregnancy to parenting—conception to two years old. Clients meet regularly with a volunteer who checks their progress on the videos and workbooks. For participation, clients earn “Mommy Money” and “Daddy Dollars” to spend in First Choice’s baby store, a boutique-style store with everything from baby clothes and diapers to toys and strollers. Garth said, “It’s not a handout. The clients earn the money through watching the videos, completing the workbooks, and Bible study. We set up the store like a boutique with all these wonderful donated items so that our clients wouldn’t feel like they were digging through cast offs in someone’s basement.”
First Choice has made a huge impact on the surrounding community, helping thousands of women during very difficult times in their lives. Sometimes the impact is not seen until years later. “We had one client who came to the clinic and had a positive pregnancy test. We counseled her, but she left abortion-minded. We never knew what happened to her until two years later. She came back with her two year old child and thanked us. She chose life,” said Garth. First Choice Women’s Medical Center is on the front lines in the River Region, fighting against abortion, shining the light of the gospel, and sharing truth about choosing life. They can’t do it alone—they need your help. Their ministry is 100% privately funded, and a large portion of their services are provided by volunteers. They always have a need for more volunteers, especially for receptionists to work the front desk and answer phones. They also need financial support from individuals, businesses, and churches. If you would like more information on how to volunteer or give, you can contact Bethany Garth at (334) 260-8010 or bethany@firstchoicewmc.com. Angela Hardgrave is a graduate of the University of Mobile with a degree in journalism and currently works in the Marketing Department of Faulkner University as a graphic designer. Angela is also a freelance writer for several publications in the River Region. She resides in Wetumpka, Alabama, with her three awesome daughters and her dog, Emmy.
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First Choice Women’s Medical Center - Personal Story My name is Chrystal. I’m 22 years old, and this is my story... I met Nicholas, my soon-to-be husband, in high two weeks after our initial doctor’s appointment, it school. I was in a grade higher than he was, so we was confirmed by home pregnancy test that I was didn’t have any classes together. We mostly saw each pregnant. Still in disbelief, we looked online and other in the hallways and at our school functions. Neifound First Choice Women’s Medical Center. On ther of us had the courage to say hi to the other person. our first visit we were greeted by friendly staff. They We went our separate ways after graduating from the gave me another pregnancy test, which came back same high school. Me, off to my dream college, AUM, positive as well. We were thrilled and scared at the to pursue my career in Elementary Education; him, same time. What would my parents think about finding work at our local Wal-Mart. Who would have me having a baby out wedlock with them being known after nearly two years that our paths would Christians? How could two kids themselves care for cross again? another kid? Before I start, let’s get this clear. It was Nicholas The ladies at First Choice Women’s Medical who contacted me first. He will tell anybody who will Center prayed with us, which no other doctor’s office listen it was the other way around. I turned him down did. They encouraged us. We left feeling like we had after just ending a toxic relationship of three years, to go back. We returned a week or so later and had which ended in a miscarriage. I wasn’t looking for our first ultrasound. We were already eight weeks anything serious at the time. I had a lot going on, living pregnant. Again they prayed with us. We left with a Chrystal and Nicholas’ on my own, work, school, and a dog. After a few failed bag full of informational books and also monetary little girl. attempts, I gave him a chance. On our first date, we hit vouchers to come back and go shopping in their store. it off—him shy and timid, and me loud and outgoing. Again we felt the need, more like a pull, to come After a few months of being together, we knew we back. We came back almost every week and would have come twice were right for each other. We’ve been through a lot together, both of a week if they’d let us. They grew on us. They became our second us losing our jobs at the same time, the stress of college, and trying family. We talked about everything with them. From the growth of to be adults. our baby, my fears of becoming a mom, and our relationship. We In the middle of our mess, I realized I had missed my cycle. So considered going to class as our therapy. We’d go to a class where we together we went to my OB-GYN. After what felt like hours waiting would learn different things each week about the baby and about each for the test to come back, we secretly wished that we were indeed other as a couple. pregnant. But as the doctor entered our room, our hearts sank. The Over the course of my pregnancy, we became close to Jenna, a test was negative. It’s especially hard after losing a child that you’ve godsend. She was the first to know about the gender of our baby, a always dreamed of having with the perfect guy. We went home girl, to our low when we had to stop coming to classes due to health upset, thinking I could never get pregnant again. I blamed myself. reasons. She continued to call just to check on us and to see when Maybe if I didn’t work so hard. My head filled with thousands of we were coming back to classes, and to invite us to Bible study. Our maybe this and maybe that’s. I cried in his arms night after night. whole experience with First Choice Women’s Medical Center was We stopped using protection, thinking I couldn’t bear kids, only great from the first day, and though we don’t go as often as we want to find out I was already pregnant. On February 14, 2017, exactly to, I tell every young mom to go and experience what we did.
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God is in Your Pain I have been greatly perplexed lately, in need of a six-figure financial miracle. I had no idea of any possible source of that amount of money. It all came crashing down on me last weekend when I realized that the deadline for the money was quickly approaching. I couldn’t sleep well and woke up with a bad headache. As a distraction to my turmoil, I decided to clean out the drawers in my computer desk. As I pulled opened the first drawer, my eye caught a small red booklet with the inscription, “Keep Calm and Trust God.” The words seemed to jump off the page. I was in awe. Where did this booklet come from? Why am I just seeing it? What are the odds that I find it today when I really needed the message it conveys? That tiny booklet may have been there for many weeks and possibly months, but just as I needed to see it God highlighted and used it to speak to my heart. God will use any means possible to get His message across to you, because He loves you ever so passionately. God is in the pain you are experiencing. The Bible tells God’s people that in all their affliction, He was afflicted (see Isaiah 63:9). Never think for a minute that you are alone in what you are facing. Jesus is always with you. He is the silent listener to every prayer. He collects the tears of His saints into a bottle (see Psalm 56:8). “For
we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15). That little red book encouraged me to: Keep Calm and Trust God. Does this sound a little too simple for your situation? You may be going through the harsh reality of divorce. Perhaps the doctor has given negative health news to you. Maybe you have a child that could be facing jail time, if convicted. You may be crushed by news of a family member’s choice to live an alternative lifestyle. Perhaps, like me, you have a financial challenge. Trouble finds us all. It’s an equal opportunity stalker. When trouble hits, relax, calm down, and consider the answers to these questions:
1. How can worry help my situation? Worry can never help. Worry leads to fear, fear escorts us to anxiety, and anxiety releases a high stress hormone that is detrimental to your physical wellbeing. The Apostle Paul understood this: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. 27
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Corrie Ten Boom, prisoner of a German death camp, understood how to live in what appeared to be a hopeless situation saying: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empty today of it’s strength.”
2. Is it possible to hear God’s voice in the midst of my anxiety? You could be an idea away from your breakthrough, but that idea may elude you while you remain fretful. Have you ever searched frantically for a key or other necessary item and someone behind you points at it right in front of you? This happens because you were so frantic in your mind, your eyes glazed over it. God has been itching to give you a solution to your problem. You must calm down long enough to hear His voice.
3. But can God really be trusted? If I were to release my worries in the hands of the Lord I want to know He will not let me down... if this is your fear I challenge you to look back through times past when you have struggled. How far has God brought you through until now? From what kinds of problems has He delivered you? How has He sustained your health? How many times have you blundered and He pulled you up, unscathed? While it is true, you may have bumps, bruises, debt or circumstances that may remind you of your problems long term, you are still a living proof of His goodness…you are alive! Your situations shall pass, no matter how bad it looks. Keep calm and trust God! He is faithful! April 2018
River Region’s Journey
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Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and First UMC, Millbrook APAC, Alabama Pre/ Post Adoption Connection Support Group: This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.
Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, 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: 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: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available. Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com.
Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible
Alcoholic / Addiction
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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: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for additional information. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Christ centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364.
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Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For locations, please visit- https://saa-recovery.org/ or please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Meetings are held: every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m, men only. Every Monday night - 7:30 p.m, men and women. 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: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m. Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For any info contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Wesley Hall Bldg. An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry
Divorce
meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990.
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care Wednesday nights @6:30-8:00 pm in Room 405B. Child care is available. Contact Kathy Cooper at 241-5125 for
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 495-6350 for more info.
Cancer
further information.
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at 467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Come to the Library area. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Also, Divorce for Kids is available. Call 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org. January 9 - April 3, 2018
Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Faith based cancer support group for men. 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.
Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road DivorceCare fosters a weekly supportive and caring environment to heal the hurt of separation and divorce. Call 279-5433.
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. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 8114. Call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@charter.net
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Gambling
Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community. The church is 1 1/2 miles past Tutweiler prison. Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. and Mondays at 6:30 pm. Call 567-0476. Location: Mental Health of America, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. For more information about the GA meetings call 334399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at 334-277-5100.
April 2018
River Region’s Journey
Grief
Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. This is an open group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail. com with questions or for more information. 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. Call (334) 284-2721 for info. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church parlor. Call 365-5977. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more
information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief support group meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M- 7:00 P.M. For additional information, please contact Alice Glover at (334)281-2754. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road GriefShare is a support group that meets Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. This program is non-denominational and features biblical concepts for healing your grief. GriefShare will be led by Howard and Carol Payne and Jim Williams. Call 279-5433 for more information.
Mental Health
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy NAMI Montgomery (National Alliance on Mental Illness) meets 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Room 7205. Group provides understanding, education, & information to family members & friends of those who suffer mental illness. Call Mary Jo Logan at 271-2280 for more info. NAMI Connection (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support group for individuals with mental illness. Meets every Thursday. 6-7:30 p.m., Room 3103. Call Mary Jo Logan at 271-2280 for more info.
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. Call April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.
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Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of ages birth to 5 at Frazer UMC to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For information call 277-5800. Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174. Location: Redland Baptist, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer
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and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@ yahoo.com. 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 info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com.
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. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Parkinson’s Support meets 4th Thursdays at 6 pm in Room 8114. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Ostomy Support meets every other month on the 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in room 3101. In 2018: Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., Dec. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group meets 2nd Friday of each month from 6:30- 8 PM. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare is provided. Please visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com or our Facebook page (MADSOG) for information. Please contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com.
Same Sex Attraction
Location: : Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Upstream Support Group for those dealing with unwanted same sex attraction and family members or loved ones of those who are gay identified. The group meets at 6:30 pm every first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings. For more information call 334.244.1385.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Boundaries study for singles meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. This study will help singles learn to set boundaries with emotions and help avoid the harmful behavior of others. For information, call 495-6386 or email singles@ frazerumc.org. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Single and Parenting! A New Group for Single Mom’s. This group meets every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm for hope & encouragement & guidance & parenting ideas. For information, call 495-6386 or email singles@frazerumc.org.
Send support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com 31
April 2018
River Region’s Journey
Keep Your Money in Your Own Pocket Q. I just filed taxes, and it looks like I’ll get a pretty big refund this year. A friend of mine told me I should adjust my withholding, so I don’t get a refund. This seems pretty dumb to me. Why would I change my withholdings when I’m getting money back? A. The only reason you’re getting a refund is because you had too much taken out of your paychecks in 2017. Let’s say your refund is $3,500. Basically, you loaned the government $3,500 of your own money, interest-free. A refund isn’t a gift or reward, James. It’s your own cash that you get back because you paid in too much during the previous year. In
River Region’s Journey
April 2018
your case, that adds up to almost $300 a month! Instead of loaning the government money that you worked hard to earn, wouldn’t it be better to keep it in your pocket?
Debt and Income Crisis Q. I received a call the other day from a company saying it could negotiate the balance on my credit cards to a lesser amount. The caller also said they could get me a zero-percent interest rate until the debts were paid off, and then the accounts would be closed. I’m kind of starting over again financially, because I sold a company I had run for almost 15 years, then got into real estate and lost almost everything. I’m making just enough to squeeze by, and my credit card debt totals $40,000. Would this be a good idea? A. No, this is not a good idea. You’re looking at two major problems with a company
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such as this one. One, they will absolutely destroy whatever credit you may have. Their plan is to take your cash, and spend some time beating down the credit card companies until they agree to accept a lesser amount. Then, they use your cash to settle loans you will have — by that time — defaulted on. This will put you in a situation very similar to if you had filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Stay away from these people. You have an income crisis, in addition to a debt crisis, at this point. For starters, I want you to start living on a tight, written, monthly budget. I’m talking rice and beans, no vacations, and no eating out until you pay off this debt. Where your income is concerned, maybe you should consider getting back into the kind of business you ran previously for a while. Look for a managerial or supervisory position in that area, at least until you’re able to get back on your feet and save some cash. Finally, cut up the credit cards, close the accounts, and put as much money as you can spare toward paying off that debt using the debt snowball system. Never go back into debt again!
You have enough on your plate without
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334-293-6825 334-293-6741
Join us for these exciting events in April! — April 4 — War Room Corporate Prayer Time 12:10 PM // Main Sanctuary
— April 8 — Children’s Sunday 6:15 PM // Main Sanctuary Our guest, Mark Lippard, will deliver a fast paced, high-energy performance full of clean laughs, juggling, trick unicycling, balance and surprising fun-filled audience participation.
— April 23-25 — Senior Adult VBS 10 AM to Noon // 413 Grab your megaphones, lace up your cleats and find out that God has given us His ultimate playbook. He wants us to join His team, train hard, celebrate salvation, and encourage one another. Get in the spirit with Game On!
— April 29 — Sanctuary Orchestra Worship Concert 6:15 PM // Main Sanctuary
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONTGOMERY JAY WOLF, PASTOR / 305 S PERRY STREET / MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 334.834.6310 :: MONTGOMERYFBC.ORG