Volume 18, Issue 11
Feature Articles
MARCH 2 0 1 7 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note
page 14
Faith @ Work
Lt. Col. Travis Zimmer grew up in a Christian home, but as a teenager and young adult found himself fully immersed in the world and all of its socalled pleasures. Learn about his journey back to God and into an authentic relationship with Christ, plus how God is using his family to help restore community in Montgomery.
Jason Watson
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Pastor Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church of Christ
page 12
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 22
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
page 18
He-Man Ministries
page 28
Counselor’s Corner Christy Holding, LPC, RN
A Mission of Eternal Fitness
page 34
Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy
by Ashley Sherlock
Meet Todd Carmichael and learn about his non-profit ministry that is advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe through sports, nutrition, medical and fitness eduction.
page 36
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
In Every Issue
page 24
Beating Bitterness by Victor Parachin
When life is difficult, and it often is, we can be tempted to become bitter and feel as if the world (or even God) is against us. Find help for dealing with the emotions that lead to bitterness, and reprogram your thinking.
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Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 14
Faith @ Work page 30
Support Groups March 2017
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 Scotty Harris Christy Holding, LPC, RN Victor Parachin Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Ashley Sherlock Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson Heather Watts ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Jason Hewer Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell, Manager Manzie Moore Jonathan Robertson Lesa Youngblood
From the Publisher What led you to Christ or to investigate more about Him? Was it because you wanted to get out early on Sunday mornings to attend church? Or maybe you wanted to give more of your money to the church? Maybe you came to Christ because you needed help to stop cussing so much and you knew Christians tended to cuss less. When I yielded to my life’s purpose of honoring Christ, I did get connected with a local church, and my tithe increased while my cussing decreased, but all of those were by-products of my faith in Christ. I’ve been reminded lately that I must be careful to not make my “Christian actions” the basis of my faith, over KNOWING the Author and Perfector of my faith – Jesus. That’s putting the cart before the horse, and I can always tell when I’m in danger of this because being a Christian becomes tiresome. Have you felt this before? The actions of a real faith must be fueled by God’s love for us and His Spirit’s power in us. Apart from this, we are merely being religious like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day whom He rebuked for being white washed tombs. Instead of being like a Pharisee, be like a little child blessed by Jesus. In Mark 10 Jesus welcomed the children, and though they were considered least in that day, verse 16 says: “He (Jesus) took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” This makes me think of the times my father showered me with his unconditional love. Whether it was an uplifting word or a surprise slushy after baseball practice, in that moment I was awash in my father’s love and I desired to please him. Relationship comes first, then honoring actions follow. I hope you’ll read this month’s issue of River Region’s Journey for the purpose of knowing God better. All of our writers have worked hard to bring you specific encouragement for living God-honoring lives, but if we miss knowing God first we’ll miss out on joy in the life God offers us through Jesus His Son. A relationship with God begins in love, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Even while we were sinners against God, He loved us. (Romans 5:8) We must never stray from knowing this loving God of the Bible. He rescues us from sin and death and adopts us as His own. By faith we are the King’s kids, so let’s celebrate our new position and live in a manner worthy of our redemption.
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 2017 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! Founded Upon God’s Word 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.
Warm and Loving
Liturgically Joyful 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!
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, to places like Uganda, Guatemala and Montgomery, proclaiming the good news of Jesus and joyfully serving as His hands and feet!
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Christian Education for All Ages Weekly: Discipleship and fellowship opportunities abound Find us on Facebook and visit us at www.christchurchxp.net 3
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Pastor’s Perspective
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Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church of Christ
An Empty Tomb Means Full Forgiveness A fellow once said to me, “Don’t just tell me that Jesus rose from the grave; tell me why that should matter to me!” I saw his point and began, as best I could, to spell out at least some of the world-shaking implications of the words from the Gospel, “The Lord is risen” (Luke 24:34). For Jesus, his own death was never viewed as “the end” but rather, as fulfillment of his Father’s steadily-unfolding redemptive purpose across centuries of time. Jesus never spoke of his death without adding the words “I will rise again.” Of all the claims Jesus ever made, his claim to rise again was surely the most astounding claim of all. But his resurrection vindicates all else about Jesus, namely, that his claims were real, that life is indeed stronger than death, that the power of God is greater than the power of sin, death, or the Devil, and that death is not final. Indeed, death itself shall one day die. Jesus’ empty tomb holds that much promise, that much power. The resurrection also assures us of God’s forgiving mercy. Forgiveness is one of our basic human needs and one of God’s best gifts through the Gospel. Years ago, the head of one of England’s largest mental hospitals stated, “I could dismiss half of my patients tomorrow if only they could be assured of forgiveness of the things they’ve done.” All of us have a skeleton or two or many more rattling around in some dark closet – memories of things we have thought, said, or done, of which in our better moments we are River Region’s Journey
March 2017
thoroughly ashamed. Our conscience nags, condemns, even torments us. We long to be forgiven. Several times during his public ministry Jesus spoke words of forgiveness and peace, and in the upper room he referred to the cup of communion as his “blood of the covenant … poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). In these words, Jesus linked our forgiveness with his death. This, too, is a stupendous claim of Jesus. But how can we know that his claim was authentic? Did he, in fact, achieve by his death what he said he would achieve, and that God has accepted his death in our place as a full, final, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for our sins? The answer is that, if he had remained dead, we would never have known. Rather, without the resurrection we would have to concede that Jesus’ death was a failure. Paul saw this logic clearly and wrote, “If Christ is not risen, then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, KKJV)! By raising Christ, God has assured us that he approved of his sin-bearing death; that Christ did not die in vain and that those who trust in Him receive a full and free forgiveness. In brief, the resurrection validates the cross and also validates every other claim that Jesus ever made. If Jesus was raised, nothing else matters so much; if Jesus wasn’t raised, nothing else matters at all. But eyewitness accounts; the testimony of sacred scripture and that of men and women who died rather than recant what they knew to be 4
true in point of fact; the abject failure of his enemies to produce the dead body of Jesus following his crucifixion and many other historical realities all point resolutely and resoundingly to the startling truth that “He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6, NKJV). What a thrilling vision to bring to our minds! Christ, on the morning of his resurrection, his heart still since Friday, begins beating again. His chest expands, and then steadily rises and falls with each breath. His eyes open underneath the cloth wrapped around his face. His body passes through the burial wrappings without disturbing them at all. He sits up, removes the wrapping around his head and face, and lays it aside, separate from the full body grave cloth. His knees bend, he rises from the slab of stone, stands for a moment and then walks out of the tomb. He is risen and all who trust him may be risen with him, too. (See Romans 6:1-7) As we draw near to the joys of Easter celebration, and as we share in holy communion on that glad morning, let us break the bread and drink the wine of communion “in remembrance of him” and in gratitude for the forgiveness he makes possible. Let us remember not only his death, but his rising again; not only his cross, but also his empty tomb. And let us eat and drink with the greatest of joy – for his tomb is empty, and our hearts are full.
Scotty Harris has served 15 years as Senior Minister of Grace Pointe Church of Christ, 1565 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery, AL. He has preached throughout the US and in several countries abroad in evangelism, leadership, marriage, and spiritual renewal events. Learn more by visiting www.grace-pointe.com.
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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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Adorned
by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth This book begins with a wedding. It kind of has to, doesn’t it? After writing so many books as a single woman, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth (formerly Nancy Leigh DeMoss) has now written her first major work as a married woman. Not that it’s a book about marriage, of course. Not yet. Rather, it’s about adornment, about living out the beauty of the gospel. Adorned is a lengthy exposition and application of the second chapter of Titus and, in particular, the verses where Paul provides Titus with instruction in godly living intended to encourage the women of his church. He makes it clear that older women are to accept the responsibility of teaching and training the younger women in Christian living. The great goal and purpose of such godly living is “that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Women (and men, for that) are to adorn the gospel, to display its beauty and reality in their lives, in their character and conduct. Wolgemuth’s focus is women, of course, and the responsibility they have toward one another. “When older women and younger women support each other in living out God’s transforming love, the entire body of Christ—the bride of Christ—grows more beautiful.” This book is for both the older and the younger. “It’s for all of us—because each of us is an older woman to somebody and each of us is a younger woman to someone else. And each of us, in different ways, in River Region’s Journey
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different seasons, can be on both the giving and receiving end of this life-tolife process.” The book is structured around three parts. The first part considers “A Woman under God.” Before a woman can address her behavior, she must address her beliefs for these two can never be separated. Thus, Titus is to “teach what accords with sound doctrine”—first the doctrine and then what accords to it or the practices that flow naturally out of it. The godly woman is to heed this doctrine and to structure her life around it. She is also to understand her position in relation to others as either an older or younger woman, one who must teach or be taught; she must accept her God-given responsibility of being involved with others; she must learn to be reverent, to be one whose demeanor is consistent with her profession. The second part considers “A Woman under Control.” Many of Paul’s commands to women pertain to a life that is joyfully submitted to the control of the Holy Spirit. Thus a godly woman is to refrain from all gossip and slander and to speak only what is true and delightful; she is to be at liberty from alcohol or anything else that might enslave; she is to develop and display self-restraint over all evil passions and all temptations to excess; she is to be pure, to refrain from any appearance of evil and to instead value purity and propriety. The third part considers “A Woman Under her Roof.” Paul expects 6
that women will accept a particular responsibility for the home. Thus, a godly woman is to cultivate a joyful and godly atmosphere in her home; she is to love and treasure her husband; she is to display godly submission to her husband’s leadership; she is to embrace the gift of motherhood; she is to display that rare but beautiful quality of kindness. I have always appreciated DeMoss’s Wolgemuth’s books, and found this one as enjoyable as any. She pushes hard to understand doctrine before suggesting applications. She avoids the lure of legalism, of commands or strictures that might be preferential but which are not biblical. She avoids the triteness that marks too many books on this subject. And, having lived so much of her life as a single woman, she avoids teaching as if her readers are all married with perfect homes, perfect marriages, perfect families. God desires that women created in his image and forgiven by his Son will adorn the gospel in their lives. “This is God’s good and beautiful plan. The biblical model of older women living out the gospel and training younger women to do the same, of younger women recognizing the value of older women in their lives—of women adorning the gospel together—is vital for all of us to thrive. Living our lives as Titus 2 women enables us to fulfill the purpose for which we were created. It helps our families and churches to flourish and the beauty of the gospel to shine forth in our world.” Adorned is an excellent and deeply biblical work. It is fitting, then, that as a book, a physical object, it is nearly a work of art. The typography and page layout wonderfully complement the contents. It is a rich study of a rich passage full of rich truths, and I give it my highest recommendation.
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ply as a e Sunday Morning Small Groups - 9:15 a.m. it
Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m.
7505 Wares Ferry Road Montgomery, Alabama 36117 334.396.9811 7
March 2017
easternoaks.org River Region’s Journey
Communities of Transformation
Yard Sale at Church of the Holy Comforter
COT is a new way for Montgomery churches to work together WITH the poor in our city. It partner low-income families with community volunteers and provides them with the tools and support they need for a more stable future. Learn more at the “Taste and See” on Tuesday, March 14, 5:30-8:00 pm at Perry Hill United Methodist Church, 910 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery. For information, visit www.communitiesoftransformation.org or call (334)590-5005.
2911 Woodley Road, Montgomery, AL Saturday, April 1st, 2017, 6:30 am until 11:30 am All items sold INSIDE. No clothing or books will be sold.
Spring Revival 2017
Big Daddy Weave, March 17
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 1550 E Washington St. March 15-17, 7 pm nightly Guest Speaker: Kris Erskine, Operations Pastor, at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City, Alabama
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Plus We Are Messengers, Zach Williams 7:00 pm, Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway Call for more info at: 334-277-6300.
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Post-Abortion Support Group Do you have a secret you have promised yourself “you are taking to the grave”? It takes courage to take that first step to come to a group where you don’t know anyone. We know what you might be thinking,“What if they judge me?”, “What if someone recognizes me?” We know, just come and listen. Come and listen to stories of others who were scared to surrender their secret. Come and find healing and peace that you never even knew you needed. Come to a safe place where you can just listen and hear the GOOD NEWS… that you are forgiven. Come and learn about the One who came to set you free. No matter your story, wherever you’ve been, whatever you’ve done, just come. Join us in a journey of “Surrendering the Secret” and know that you are not alone! Study: “Surrendering the Secret”, by Pat Layton (learner guide and digital download sessions) Location: Saint James United Methodist Church, Meeting time: 6:00-8:30 pm Meeting date: 2nd and Last Thursdays of the month (March-May 2017) Upcoming Group (6 sessions): March 9th, March 30th, April 13th, April 27th, May 11th, May 25th Sign up: Email annpemberton@charter.net to sign up for our upcoming group. saint james united methodist church
How To Raise Spiritual Champions Sundays in the Fellowship Hall from 11 a.m.-noon Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery Monthly coaching for Christian parenting. The best ideas from over 12 top parenting studies and the best teachers and mentors from across Frazer to give you the tools you need to help your children grow into the best version of themselves in Christ.
saint james united methodist church
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9045 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 sjlife.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Aughtman, Director of Children’s Ministry (334) 481-0735 jen@sjlife.com
Saint James United Methodist Church to host Benefit Auction
8th Annual Silent Auction for Youth and Children’s Missions
Beyond Ordinary Marriage Conference
(Montgomery, AL) Saint James United Methodist Church is set to host its 8th Annual Silent Auction to benefit youth and children’s missions. There is no cost for admission to the auction. 9045 Vaughn Road Montgomery presented by www.sjlife.com Centerpoint Fellowship Church Saint James United MethodFriday, March 3rd & Saturday, ist Church is set to host its 8th March 4th at Hunter Hills Church Annual Silent Auction to benefit of Christ in Prattville youth and children’s missions. Cost is $100 per couple. Childcare is There is no cost for admission to available for additional cost of $25 for the auction. first child, $15 for each additional child. Saturday, April 1; 4 to 6 p.m. Conference fee includes conference, Saturday, April 1; 4 to 6 p.m. 9045 Vaughn Road (corner of Vaughn and Ryan) Visitors may preview items on breaks, continental breakfast, dinner and Roadat(corner of Vaughn and Ryan) Friday, March 31;9045 5 to 7 Vaughn p.m. or online sjlifeauction.com. $5 off coupon for the Davis’ book Beyond Featured items includeVisitors antique furniture from Pickwick Antiques, original artwork, may preview items on Friday, March 31; 5 to 7 p.m.Ordinary. Registration is required. jewelry, salon and boutique certificates, cardsatfrom local businesses and For more information and to register or gift online sjlifeauction.com. vacation home rentals. online, visit centeringlives.com. Proceeds from the 2017 auction will provide financial assistance for youth and chilCENTERPOINT HALF MARATHON dren’s summer trips and benefit localantique missionfurniture projects from such Pickwick as Mission Montgomery and Featured items include Antiques, original artwork, jewelry, AND 5K RACE Georgia Washington Middle School. Proceeds will also benefit an international mission Saturday, April 1 in Prattville salon and boutique certificates, gift cards from local businesses and vacation home rentals. partner in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and enable many youth to participate in an internaFor more information or to register ontional Belize.financial assistance for youth and children’s Proceeds from the 2017mission auctiontrip willtoprovide line, visit centerpointhalf.com. summer trips and benefit local mission projects such as Mission Montgomery and Georgia Washington Middle School. Proceeds will also benefit an international mission partner in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and enable many youth to participate in an international mission trip to Belize. In 2016, auction proceeds helped send youth on mission trips to Green Lake, Wisconsin, and Chemax, Mexico. Locally, youth and children worked with neighboring churches and ministries including Brantwood Children’s Home, Wesley Gardens Retirement Community and Common Ground. ##
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2017 Spring Break Jam Praise N Da Park
Personal Discipleship
Beginning March 15 at His Vessel Ministries
A 6-week Personal Discipleship is being offered at His Vessel Ministries beginning March 15 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Vessel Room located in the Historic Union Station in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. Personal Discipleship is purposed to teach women the principles of prayer, living a life of purity, and walking in your purpose bringing God glory. For more information regarding Personal Discipleship or to register, e-mail info@hisvessel.org or call 334-356-4478.
March 25, 11 am to 4 pm, at Pratt Park Amphitheater, 460 Doster Road, Prattville Visit www.CWGministry.org. Sponsored by Crowned with Glory Ministries
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Calling All Youth Ages 13 & Up
Rend Collective at Frazer UMC
The new Fountain City Community Choir is seeking singers, musicians, worshippers and dancers. Call or text: 334.219.7729 or email worshipflow334@gmail.com. Visit www.CWGministry. org for more info.
Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 7:00 pm Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway For more information, call 334-272-8622.
PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN
welcomes
DR. KAREN DOLES Now accepting new patients ages newborn to 18 years
PH Y S IC IAN S TO C H ILDR E N Taylor Medical Complex 470 Taylor Rd, Suite 210 Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 293-5033
PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN ChildrensAL.org/physicianstochildren
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Detours: Part of God’s Provision We have all had to deal with detours in our lives, and not just on the highway. Detours are usually unexpected, unavoidable, and inconvenient. They are situations or events that take us in a different direction than the route we had planned. They can send us miles away from our goals and completely derail our time schedules. But sometimes they are a blessing, the means of God’s grace. Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-46. Let’s recap the events. Ten of Joseph’s brothers hate him, throw him in a pit, and then sell him into slavery to a caravan heading from Canaan to Egypt. They tell their father, Jacob, that Joseph is dead and then basi-
Because growing up to be just like me should be a good thing.
At Frazer, we know that participating in a community of faith isn’t just something you do for yourself. It would be easy to sleep in on Sundays—or catch up on the million other things on your plate. But making space to encounter God in worship might just be worth the effort—for yourself, and for the people in your life who are watching you. Why not check us out this Sunday? FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN’S, STUDENTS’ AND FAMIILY MINISTRIES AT WWW.FRAZER.CHURCH.
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cally forget him. Joseph endures thirteen years without much hope. He starts off as a slave and then finds himself in prison, serving time for something he did not do. Ironically, he is there for refusing to do wrong. Most of us would be pretty bitter at this point. We might resent everyone and be the last person you would want to be around. But not Joseph. He didn’t just do a good job, he showed everyone that he liked additional responsibility. He used his detour in life to develop real administrative skills. He was put in charge, first of his master’s household and, when incarcerated, the prison, itself. But he knew his limits. He knew only God can see the future. When asked to interpret prophetic dreams, he relied on God to reveal to him future events and their significance. Pharaoh was impressed that Joseph could pronounce the coming of seven good years and then seven years of famine. He recognized that someone was needed with knowledge, administrative skills, and a connection with Joseph’s God. So, after thirteen years at the bottom, Joseph found himself promoted to the number two posiWORSHIP TIMES tion in Egypt, in charge (two locations) of all agriculture and 8, 9:30, 11am on labor. His detour had Atlanta Highway become the foundation 9 & 10:30am in the of his provision from Pike Road School God. What about you? Are you on a detour today? Were you headed in one direction, when 12
something happened, and now you seem to be going the opposite way? Are you moving away from all those plans and dreams you once felt so sure about? Detours can happen many ways. Joseph was a favored son in a large family of men. He lost his status and the support of a loving father. He lost his freedom. He lost all of his possessions. But it did not make him resentful. Years after Joseph had gained such wealth and power, he found a way to provide for and elevate all of his extended family. He found peace and reconciliation with those who had rejected him completely. You see, Joseph was more than the man running the most prosperous nation in the known world. He was a man who showed others the love of God. When the brothers eventually sought his forgiveness, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV). God intends to use your detour for your good and for the good of others, if you will let Him. He may send you the long way around to bring you back home. But, your detour may be teaching you skills that you will need to become the person the Lord intends you to be. God’s provision may appear to you as a block in the road. You may be scared of the future; you may face hardship. Joseph spent many years in servitude and imprisonment before he saw better days. But God had reserved ample provision for him, his family, and millions of other people. Just as Joseph redeemed his people, God has redeemed us. He has the perfect provision for you and me, and not just for our physical needs. He cares about our hurts and our hearts. But most of all, He invites us to live with Him forever. His greatest provision is our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, His only Son. So, when you see the detour sign, be ready to seek the Lord. When you accept His way, you will find His provision.
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co an tive the Id pe in
RR wa had lived with me over the previous six months. It ended terribly, but during that year, I was constantly living with an ever-growing void in my heart and an anxiety that I couldn’t understand. I had also been rejected in an assessment (job interview) for an elite Army Unit I had determined was my “life-goal”. (Notice I said my life goal and not just a professional goal). My identity was in my profession and in being admired and respected. My desire for women and their affection had grown into a habit of one-night stands, unfaithful and unholy dating relationships, and an addiction to pornography. I simply could not fill the void in my heart. I was being led by my fleshly desires, and my Spirit had withered and was almost dead. When my relationship ended, and I was not selected for my dream job, my identity at the time took a massive hit. I was lonely, depressed, defeated, and I felt like a slave to my lustful desires. I hit my knees in desperation and I cried out to God for help. I was led by the Holy Spirit to a Bible in the night stand. I started reading the New Testament. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I felt the warm embrace of our Abba Father. That afternoon, I knew that God loved me and I recommitted my life to Jesus Christ. I believe the following quote sums up nicely what I experienced that day: “Do you believe that the God of Jesus loves you beyond worthiness and unworthiness, beyond fidelity and infidelity—that he loves you in the morning sun and in the evening rain—that he loves you when your intellect denies it, your emotions refuse it, your whole being rejects it? Do you believe that God loves without condition or reservation and loves you this moment as you are and not as you should be?” Brennan Manning, All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir
RRJ: You grew up around a family and church that celebrated and explained the Good News of Jesus, yet when you left home and headed to West Point, you drifted from following Christ. What was the cause?
So, in view of God’s unfathomable love and mercy, my paradigm was shattered. My false identity was broken off, and I completely embraced Jesus Christ. My “fire-insurance religion” was replaced with a true relationship with The Almighty Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Travis: I believe the parable of the sower told by Jesus in Mark 4:18-29 describes my situation at the time. I chose the cares and pleasures of “The World”. Starting in high school, I chose to follow what I considered the “in-crowd”. I became increasingly concerned with being popular, especially with women. I was influenced not only by popular culture, but also by the friends I chose to hang out with. The message I was receiving from these sources oftentimes conflicted with the message being poured into me at home, by my pastors, my Sunday School teacher, close family friends, and in youth groups. I understood Christian values, but I started giving into the instant gratification I experienced with alcohol, women, and pride of life. I also bought into the “American Dream” and became materialistic and focused on personal achievement. I bought into the lies that God may not be real, that I am here by chance, and that success is defined by my accomplishments, wealth, a beautiful family, and my ability to support my own desires. I felt it was culturally normal (even other “Christians” were living this way), and I felt entitled and justified to take care of my desires, no matter what that meant. I was living a self-centered life.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) RRJ: In hearing your story, God clearly used your uncles-in-law Kevin and David as instruments to help rescue your wandering soul. As you’ve thought back over those years, how do you now try to emulate Kevin or David when ministering to others? Travis: Kevin and David were bold in their faith! I also saw an authenticity in them that seemed to be a rare commodity and was the best counterpoint to the hypocrisy I saw elsewhere. They weren’t afraid to suffer or sacrifice some of “The American Dream” as they lived out their faith. Furthermore, I saw that they were humble and had compassion for the unborn, the poor, the homeless, the immigrant, the hurting, the addict, the handicapped, the outcast, the defenseless...the “least of these”. They didn’t hesitate to clothe, feed, minister to, or even house strangers. They also never stopped reaching out to me and professing the Gospel of Jesus. They reminded me that I was created by God in His Image, loved unconditionally, adopted into Sonship through Jesus Christ, created to fulfill His purpose, and called to make an eternal difference for His Kingdom.
RRJ: It’s been said that “coming to Christ” is coming to the end of yourself. Is that what happened to you? Travis: My story of salvation happened at Fort Campbell, KY in 1999. I had just ended a long term relationship with a girlfriend who River Region’s Journey
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As I think about those two heroes of mine, a few scriptures come to mind - (Matthew 25:34-40, James 2:14-19 NIV, Philippians 1:21 NIV). I need to come humbly to my fellow man, irrespective of race or religion, from a point of empathy and grace. I am then able to speak the truth of God’s Word boldly into their reality. I don’t need to worry about having the “right words to say”. If people can see Christ’s love in me, then the Holy Spirit will move in and through me.
I have also lost friends, and I have had many opportunities to be a friend or a mentor to people who have been marginalized or who struggle with depression or PTSD. One example that comes to mind was a man who was constantly ridiculed, his wife left him, his job performance was marginal and he was on the brink of suicide. He suffered with PTSD and depression. I was moved in my Spirit and believe I truly saw him the way our Abba Father sees every person. After that, I met with him often (sometimes just popping in to say hello), but each time I listened to his hurt and his hopes with compassion and empathy. This man not only decided not to commit suicide, but he ended up finding a local church family and found Christ!
RRJ: Serving as a pilot in the Air Force has it challenges and rewards. How does your faith show up in that calling? Travis: I am a work in progress. I would like to echo what Paul said to the Philippians:
RRJ: You have a heart for your fellow soldiers and for your community. Ten years ago when you moved to Montgomery, you sensed God calling you here to “restore community”. Why do you think that matters to God and how has He worked that out through you and your family?
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV)
Travis: I believe two key verses (among many others) speak to God’s heart for restoring our communities: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” (Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV)
As I reflect back on my Air Force and Army career over the past 23 years, I hope that my faith has shown up in the routine “day-today” operations as well as the most complex, high risk missions I have participated in. Some of the more spiritually challenging circumstances I’ve faced over the years of my career have been what I imagine many people face: office politics, conflicts, a difficult boss, career disappointment, etc. I’ve had to respond to all of these and acknowledge that each presents opportunity for sanctification and to live out the Gospel. Can I be humble and accept correction? Can I forgive others as Christ has forgiven me? Can I boldly stand up for what is right and pray for the wisdom, strength, and stamina to make and implement good decisions?
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was that I thought I knew myself, and I knew that I had limitations and sin. But God saw something else:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” (Isaiah 58:6-12, NIV)
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV) God saw me (and us) as holy, set apart, a participant in His divine nature, created with a specific purpose to do His will. His will for our family was to be a part of His restoration of downtown and the near West Side of Montgomery. We began to embrace these truths: God sets sinners free and uses them to lead others to freedom (Psalm 51); and “(His) grace is sufficient for (me), and (His) power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV) God is sovereign and the job he gave me in the Air Force Reserves has afforded us a unique opportunity to serve our country and our community. Because we have lived in this neighborhood for so long, we have been able to establish roots and grow authentic relationships that are the foundation of restoration. We have been a part of building the “Beloved Community”.
When Amy and I moved to Cottage Hill more than 10 years ago from Destin, FL, we were warned by well-meaning acquaintances to avoid Downtown Montgomery. However, we felt a calling. A close friend and builder came from Destin to inspect our house and spoke a Word from God over us: “You will be a part of a community restoration. I don’t know if you will restore old homes,” he said, “but you will be a part of restoring people’s lives to wholeness in Jesus Christ. And, when people are restored, a community is restored.” This was not an easy step for me, but I felt a conviction from the Holy Spirit. As my faith grew, God was revealing to me (and us) His will and our purpose. Now we were in a spiritual position to make a difference for God’s kingdom. Part of my trepidation
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RRJ: No Christian can do God’s will apart from faith and the Holy Spirit’s power. After that what are three specific things that equip and strengthen your faith to confidently proclaim God’s glory in the world? Travis: Prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word. I dedicate the first part of my day, and the first part of my year, to spending intentional time with God. Can I add one more? Accountability! Life change happens in the context of authentic relationships. Travis and his wife, Amy, have two children and attend Church of the Highlands.
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In 2013, HE-man Ministries founder Todd Carmichael felt like it was time to leave his restaurant career and pursue international and domestic missions, ultimately leading to the creation of HE-man Ministries. Todd didn’t want to leave his successful career without being “all in” to start HE-man Ministries. Once he decided that he couldn’t do this with “one foot in the boat and the other out,” he felt like God had given him peace to go ahead and begin this journey. Part of this calling that Todd felt meant that he would need to go back to school. He wanted to be as equipped as possible before going into sports and nutrition ministry. So, at the age of 47, Todd registered for classes to become a certified fitness trainer through International Sports Sciences Association. He then enrolled in Samford Ministry Training Institute from which he received a diploma in Biblical Studies. He is scheduled to complete the rest of his
classes and graduate this summer. Todd’s passion for missions began in 2002 during his first mission trip. In the eleven years following that trip, Todd grew his passion for international missions by going on short term trips to places like Brazil, India and Nepal. HE-man Ministries uses sports and fitness as universal languages that help break down cultural, social, religious and economic differences between the volunteers and the natives of the countries they visit. Building relationships with and speaking the truth to unengaged and unreached groups of people on HE-man Ministries’ mission trips is made possible through sports and fitness.
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Todd came up with the HE-man platform during his morning workouts at the gym. He would ask other gentlemen if they would be interested in an early-morning Bible study, but most of them worked out in the mornings, which prevented the study from happening. This is what inspired the bridge between the gap. HE-man Ministries would be a ministry that would provide both spiritual and physical fitness opportunities. “We desire to be an Acts 1:8 ministry, glorifying God in all we do, going and meeting physical needs while always praying for the Holy Spirit to draw the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sports provide the opportunity to build relationships in areas
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that are otherwise difficult to engage, allowing us a viable platform to speak truth into people’s lives through the Gospel.” In September 2013 Todd went to Cerquilho, Brazil to teach American Football Clinics. When he arrived in Cerquiho he learned that the government officials he worked with to set up his trip had been removed from their offices. Despite this, Todd and a local pastor went to a public junior high school where Todd spoke to the principal about his mission to teach American football and to share Jesus. Even though the original government
officials were no longer in office, the principal agreed to let Todd conduct Physical Education classes all day long and at more than one school. Todd says if he had not been teaching American football, if he had even
been teaching soccer or basketball, he would not have been allowed to teach anything in the schools. “Through the sport of American football I taught 530 junior high kids the basic fundamentals on concrete in a public school setting with the opportunity to share Jesus with these amazing kids after each class.” Todd was so successful in teaching American football during P.E. that the English teachers began bringing their students to listen to him. Their assignment was to ask him a question in English the next day. At the end of his time in Cerquilho, each school Todd had been working
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with had a pep rally. The city superintendent came and said that the week Todd had spent with them was one of the best weeks the students and teachers had ever had and that he would be welcome back anytime. “During this week I was able to teach American football, build lasting relationships with these kids, pray with them, and most importantly speak truth to them through the Gospel. Twenty students between the schools accepted Jesus that week as their Lord, Savior, best friend, and teammate!”
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y. ho, HE-man Ministries mission trips are typically ten-day trips. They are currently active in South Africa, Brazil and Puerto Rico. To learn more about HE-man Ministries, the mission trips and ways you can be a partner, visit www.hemanministries.org or find the HE-man Ministries Facebook page. Not everyone can go on mission trips, but there are other ways to help. There are four different levels of monetary giving on the HE-man Ministries website. Each one is per month, but they also welcome one-time donations. HE-man Ministries also encourages you to pray continuously, give till it hurts and go often. HE-man Ministries, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit ministry operated under the accountability of a Board of Directors comprised of Christian men and women with the passion to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ advanced around the globe through sports, nutrition, medical and fitness education. A Florida native, Ashley Sherlock made the transition to Alabama to pursue a degree in English. She has a passion for the written word, an affinity for the outdoors, a love for people, and a desire for the Lord.
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January 2
Choosing to Be “Constructive” In a time in which awards shows have become politicized, it seems that those responsible for the Academy Awards had become concerned, according to a piece on the Deadline Hollywood website. After the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony became open season on President Trump, and specifically his refugee policy, it seemed that the Oscars might have been taking a second look. The article poses the question: “In the current atmosphere, how can the Academy deliver an even remotely relevant show without alienating viewers on one side or another of the political equation–and without curtailing the presumed right of every honoree and presenter to speak his or her mind on-camera?” While stopping short of censorship, the Academy was said to have been “looking for ways to remind presenters and honorees in coming weeks that movies, at their best, tend to be a unifying medium.” Well, actor Matthew McConaughey is perhaps saying, “enough already” on Hollywood forcing its politics on people. A Fox News story says that actor has said “it’s time for Hollywood to ‘embrace’ Trump and get over it.” The story says that McConaughey told ChannelFI that: “...anyone, even those who may strongly disagree with his principles or things he’s said and done — and that’s another thing, we’ll see what he does compares to what he has said — no matter how much you even disagreed along the way, it’s time to think about how constructive can you be...” Oh, by the way, that ChannelFI is a YouTube channel that has been terminated. River Region’s Journey
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Constructive - that’s a great word, and at first glance, it seemed to describe what actor Taraji P. Henson was calling for. She is in the movie, Hidden Figures, which won the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The movie is about three African-American women who played pivotal roles in the space program in the 60’s. The Huffington Post reported on Henson’s acceptance speech for the award, in which she said: “These women did not complain about the problems, the circumstances, the issues,” adding, “They focused on solutions. Therefore, these brave women helped put men into space.” I appreciated reading about her restraint of politicallycharged language in that setting; I could even say the same for Lady Gaga, who chose to shun making overt political pronouncements in her Super Bowl halftime performance. John Stonestreet, in a Breakpoint commentary, said this about the movie, Hidden Figures: “Hidden Figures” is a wonderfully inspiring movie and it couldn’t come at a better time for our culture. On one hand, this increasingly racially divided land of ours badly needs to see a way forward, including the responsibility we all have to recognize, acknowledge, and enable the dignity of others. On the other hand, in an age where so many claim to be victims of oppression for not having free birth control or not having everyone endorse their lifestyle choices, we can learn from those who faced and overcame real oppression, and how we can help. I want to go back to actor McConaughey’s word, “constructive.” I think we can be chal22
lenged to consider how we are being constructive as the body of Christ. In a tense political climate, how can we be the hands, the feet, and the voice of Jesus? I think there is a real human tendency to complain - it manifests itself so often in the political realm, but it can also infiltrate the personal. We can choose to experience real, spiritual satisfaction - godly contentment as it’s called in 1st Timothy 6 - or we can weigh our spirits down and water down our witness by complaining. I would hope that we want to be known by how we build people up and not tear them down. And, the Bible says to build ourselves up in our “most holy faith.” Recently on my radio program, The Meeting House, I featured several people in one day who are speaking spiritual truth into mainstream culture. Filmmaker Devon Franklin worked with Dr. Oz to develop a spiritually-based series of programs during February - the Doctor recognizes people need spiritual mechanisms to cope with the challenges of our culture, and he and Devon joined me to discuss how the concept would be communicated on the shows. I also spoke with Kutter Callaway of Fuller Theological Seminary, who related to me about his opportunity to build a bridge through an interview with director Martin Scorsese, who deals with matters of faith in his latest film, Silence. Craig DeRoche of Prison Fellowship injected a Biblical perspective into issues concerning race and justice into a film by director Ava DuVernay (Selma), called 13th. We can be reminded that solutions to our culture’s dilemmas can be found as we seek opportunities for God to use us to represent truth. 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.
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how proud I am of him. In the four years since his release, he has ended his parole and is completing his college degree. We have gotten married and just purchased our first home. These are accomplishments he never believed possible when he was first locked up.” The lesson from that inmate’s transformation is a basic one: he chose not to indulge in the emotional poison of bitterness about himself, his life, his circumstances. Whenever we make poor decisions, commit costly errors, or become the object of gossip, slander and betrayal, we must be careful not to become bitter. Bitter people are at war with the world because they are convinced that life is cheating them. Their negativity only intensifies their hostility and anger. On the other hand, a healthy attitude leads to a healthier outcome. “It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves,” noted Carl Jung. Likewise, John Milton wrote: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” For that reason, the bible commands us: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage anger, harsh words . . . as well as all types of malicious behavior.” (Ephesians 4:31, New Living Translation). Here are some ways to beat bitterness.
Recently a convicted felon wrote advice an columnist lamenting he was “on a one-way trip down a road that leads nowhere.” The man said he felt hopeless about his future behind bars and signed his name “Inmate on a Dead End.” A few weeks later another reader of the column wrote to say: “I want ‘Inmate’ to know that one is never beyond hope. Prison may be the best thing that ever happened to him - it was for my husband.” She signed off as “Proud Wife in New Jersey.” That proud wife explained her husband is “living proof that you don’t have to be stuck on a dead end.” As an 18 year old he made some unfortunate decisions, got mixed up with drugs and the wrong group. As a result he was tried on 15 counts of armed robbery and convicted on two of them. The youth was sentenced to prison for fifteen years. He too gave up hope for ever having a different life. After two years into his sentence, the man realized that self-pity and hopelessness were not helpful. He gave up drugs and began taking classes offered at the prison. After six years of model behavior he was released on parole. That was when his future wife met him. “After getting to know this man and finding out who he once was, compared to who he has become in the past 10 years, I cannot say enough about River Region’s Journey
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Recognize and respond to helpers. Even if those closest to you have abandoned you and you are left feeling completely deserted, understand that there are others who will come into your life bringing the gifts of hope and help. Recognize 24
could have turned out completely differently had she chosen to ignore Ruth Graham’s overtures.
and respond to helpers when they appear. Consider the life of Patricia Cornwell, the best selling author of medical thrillers such as The Last Precinct. She grew up in the tiny town of Montreat, North Carolina. She painfully recalls the Christmas of her ninth year. Her mother, a single parent, was struggling to take care of Patricia and her two brothers, aged 6 and 10. As Christmas approached, there was no family money for gifts or food or heating oil. In complete despair, the mother walked her three children to the place where Ruth and Billy Graham lived. The mother did not know the Graham’s personally. There Patricia’s mother handed Ruth a note saying she was giving the three children to the Grahams. Within hours, the mother was checked into a hospital where she remained for several months. Ruth Graham greeted the children warmly and fed them a meal of spaghetti. Of course, she could not keep the children and they were placed into a foster home. As Patricia continued to live and grow up in Montreat, she would see Ruth Graham from time to time “but it wasn’t until I was 19 and had dropped out of college that she and I became friends. At the time, I had a severe eating disorder, was depressed and believed I was utterly worthless,” Cornwell explains. Gently Ruth Graham “began to bring me back to life by making me feel I must be special...she encouraged my writing and told me I was talented. When I returned to college, she visited me, sent money and wrote to me. If any single person in this world made a difference in my life she did.” The lesson: while Ruth Graham was undoubtedly a powerful aid for the young Cornwall, it was only because Cornwall recognized and responded to a helper sent her way. Her life and story
Seek strength in faith. No matter what has happened to you, no matter how great the crisis, no matter what has come crashing into your life, remember that God will never abandon you. The Bible says: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). Tap into your faith and trust in God to protect and preserve you. Focus upon encouraging, faith building, bitterness destroying scriptures such as these: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience god’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Respond proactively to a crisis. When life delivers an unsettling blow, you don’t have to be a passive victim. Be proactive when you are impacted by a decision or an event. When you do so, you become instrumental in creating another opportunity. Consider this lesson learned by television star and karate champion Chuck Norris. When he was young, his family moved to Southern California from the small prairie town of
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• Can I ask others for feedback and will I listen carefully? • What spiritual lessons can I learn from this experience?
Wilson, Oklahoma. Shortly after arriving in the new state, the father abandoned the family. They lived off government aid until Norris’ mother landed at job at an aircraft plant where she worked from three until midnight. “With no money for babysitters, I rushed home from school every day to care for my two younger brothers,” Norris recalls. By the time he was 16, his mother remarried and his baby sitting job ended. So he found a job packing groceries at a market in Gardena, a Los Angeles suburb. “I thought everything was fine, until the end of the first day, when the manager told me not to return. I wasn’t sacking fast enough,” Norris explains. A painfully shy youth, he surprised even himself when he blurted out, “Let me come back tomorrow and try one more time. I know I’ll do better,” he pleaded. The manager agreed and Norris returned doing better. The manager retained Norris as an employee. “That moment when I spoke up is burned in my memory, and so is the lesson: If you want to accomplish anything in life, you can’t just sit back and hope it will happen. You’ve got to make it happen.” Take an honest look at yourself. Do some self examination. Ask yourself these kinds of hard questions:
Extend compassion toward those who have hurt you or disappointed you. The pain of betrayal, rejection, abandonment by a friend or colleague cuts deeply into our psyche. It’s easy to dislike and even hate the person who has wounded us. Yet, beating bitterness means forgiving and extending compassion toward such individuals. Here is a simple exercise or spiritual meditation which can free us to do this. It involves three steps: First, hold in your mind the image of a person you love very much and who loves you back. Think how you wish only the best for that person - good health, contentment and to be free of suffering. Secondly, hold in your mind the image of a person toward whom you have neutral feelings. Extend the same feelings of love, warmth and compassion toward them for a few moments. Thirdly, place in your mind the person who has hurt you. Expand your feelings of warmth and compassion to include that individual. Try to think of that person the same way you do about the person you love.
Finally, reprogram your thinking. Change your thoughts and your words concerning your situation. Rather than saying This is the worst thing that could have happened to me, try saying it this way: This is painful, stressful and difficult, but I am confident that I will overcome and be better for the experience. Changing your thoughts and words will prevent you from becoming paralyzed by the situation.
• What actions did I take or fail to take which contribute my dilemma? • Am I guilty of blaming others for something which was my fault? • What can I learn from this experience? • What steps can I now take to emerge better, not bitter from this? • Have I been a good listener? • Did I respond appropriately to criticism and warnings?
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Victor Parachin is a writer and a pastor.
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How to Keep Hope Alive In Seemingly Hopeless Times How do we as Christians keep hope alive when things in our world, our communities, our families, and perhaps even our own lives are not looking very hopeful? This is a question that many believers struggle with and I count myself among them. It is worth thinking about and struggling with because a person without hope can quickly fall into feelings of resignation and despair. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” So in the above verse it seems to be referring back to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The tree represents the life that God had originally intended us to have before sin came into the world. It represents full life, life abundant, peace with God, perfect communion with Him...knowing that He has our best interests at heart. So what is hope? Hope by definition is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. So what happens when “that” certain thing does not happen? When it does not happen the way we want it to and we do not see that prayer answered in the way we so desire, it becomes easy to lose hope. The first thing that comes to my mind is, what are we hoping for? We are usually hoping for a certain thing to happen and it is certainly not wrong to hope for certain River Region’s Journey
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things. The Bible tells us that we have not because we ask not. But when we ask and our answer doesn’t come, how do we hold on to hope? Is it possible that my hope is more in the fulfillment of my desire than simply in God alone? That is a hard concept to hold on to because it is hard to separate what a person does from who they are. I want to be able to hope in God even when things are not going in a way that I pray. The best example of this in Scripture is when Jesus prayed in the garden in Matthew 26:39, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” Jesus had hope in the fact that there would be another way to redeem mankind than perhaps having to face such a cruel and gruesome death. However, His greater HOPE was in knowing the character of His Father and being able to trust in Him. Jesus, the only son of God, did not get the answer that He asked for on that lonely night in Gethsemane. We know that was a difficult night for Jesus. I would imagine He might have dealt with some feelings of hopelessness. But because He knew His Father well, He was able to hope in Him... not in the outcome of the prayer, but in the character of the one to whom He prayed. Hope knows that sometimes things look awfully hard and hopeless, but even with circumstances looking bad hope believes it must be this way in order for God’s perfect will to be accomplished. Brennan Manning said so beautifully, “Hope knows that if great trials are avoided, great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth to greatness of soul is aborted.” So being able to believe that there is hope, hope in God, is hope in the fact that all things will one day be redeemed. 28
Hope is in things we cannot see, not the things we can see. Romans 8:24 says, “Now hope that is seen is not hope at all, for who hopes for what is already seen.” So hope is something in the future and we do not know how far into the future. But again, more than hope is an outcome of a desire we might have, hope is in a Person. In fact, hope is a Person. God is hope. The Bible is chocked full of verses on hope. In fact the Bible uses the word about 130 times. So hope is an important part of the Christian life and we are a people that need constant reminders about it. So how are we to manage feelings of hopelessness and despair? Here are a few things that are helpful for me. One, is to be honest with myself, God and at least one other person. Secondly, gratitude seems to be closely related to hope. Take a minute and look back over your life and see the things you have to be grateful for and that will give you some hope. Thirdly, know that there are many things in the Christian life that are a mystery and that hope in the unseen is one of them. We can enter into that mystery with a childlike heart asking Him to give us hope, not just for the desired outcome but, more than that, for a heart to hope in Him. In closing, I pray this prayer for you… Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen! Christy Holding, LPC is a long time resident of Montgomery. She is a graduate of Trinity Presbyterian School. She received her undergraduate degree at Liberty University in 1976 and obtained her master’s degree in Counseling from Georgia State University in 1984. She graduated a BS in nursing in 1996 and has worked in hospice dealing with grief and loss. Christy’s practice at The Samaritan Counseling Center is primarily with those struggling with depression, anxiety disorders, and selfharming behaviors including eating disorders. Christy has a passion to see people walk in wholeness and freedom and experience the life they were created to live.
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2017 AISA 2A State Champions!
Get in the Game They know the extra effort they make today will help them do even bigger things in life tomorrow. Athletics play a big part on campus at Macon East with over 80% of upper school students participating in one or more inter-scholastic team sports. Team sports at MEA include: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Beginning in 3rd grade, elementary boys may participate in interscholastic football, and all elementary girls K3 - 6 may participate in cheerleading. Macon East has won numerous regional and state championships, and our coaches have received local and state recognition for excellence in coaching. We pride ourselves with an athletic program with a long-standing tradition of championship-level teams.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: A WINNING PART OF A COMPLETE EDUCATION. Summer Educational and Sports Camps will be offered this summer. Contact the school for more information.
Macon East acadEMy Knights 15396 Vaughn Road Cecil, Alabama 36013 Telephone: 334.277.6566 Web: maconeast.net l
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March 2017 Leadership scholarship29opportunities are available.
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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. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer. For more information call Sonia Martin at 409-9477 or she can be reached by email at smartin@childrensaid.org. For information on the Birth Parent and Adult Adoptee Support group please contact Kathy King 205-943-5331 or email kking@childrensaid.org 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 network.
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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 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: First Baptist Church (Huff Community Ministries Bldg., 200 S. Perry Street) Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, from 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jane Ferguson at 241.5141. 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.
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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, 2960 East Cobbs Ford Road across from The Catfish House in Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 5:30pm (meal-CrossTalk Cafe), 6-6:55 pm (large group), 6:55-7:45 (small group). Childcare available. Call Larry at 334-832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com. 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.
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Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 East Main St. RSVP - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse-CASA) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334365-4201 for addition 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 Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. 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 visithttps://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 lifechallenging 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 meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990. 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. 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. Call the LifeCare office at 272-8622. 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.
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: 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 Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. The Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided.. Contact Lorenzo and Elaine Duncan at 334-281-8158, or at duncan6563@gmail.com.
Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care is held Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm. Childcare available. $15 for workbook. Dinner at 4:45 ($5 adults, $3 kids). Call Kathy Cooper at 241-5125.
Cancer
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery 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.
2600 Bell Road Montgomery, Alabama 334.277.6690
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm. in the
460 McQueen Smith Road Prattville, Alabama 334.358.6411
Dr. John H. Payne IV • Dr. David Stanley • Dr. Davis Denney • Dr. Rob Owen 31
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Fellowship Hall Lobby. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Also, are you stuck in a pattern of going back to the same relationships or situations hoping for or expecting different results? In this new study “Never Go Back”, you will recognize and truly change those life patterns that hold you back and keep you from your goals. Call 495-6368 or e-mail singles@frazerumc.org.
Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church parlor. Call 365-5977.
Miscellaneous
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: 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: 5500 Ash Grove Circle, Montgomery. OCD Support Group (obsessive- Compulsive Disorder) Long showers, multiple hand washing, rituals, checking stove, hoarding and symmetry. This support group is open to anyone who has struggled with OCD. You’re not alone anymore. Call Donald: 220-7555.
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--Mourning to Morning Group.
Gambling
Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. 567-0476 Location: Mental Health of America Bldg, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline: 334-541-5420 or you can call 2-1-1 and ask for meeting information. Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling: 277-5100
Grief Location: Eastmont Baptist,
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Location: First Baptist Prattville, 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 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 information contact Glover at 334-281-2754.
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: 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.
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Location: Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway Take Heart is for women dealing with infertility and/or miscarriage. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 6 pm in room 116. Contact Melissa at (205) 9132667 for more information.
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 April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Moms, need a little break? MOPS 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 United Methodist Church 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 more information call 277-5800.
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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 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.
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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 272-6152. 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 affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected. To receive information, call 3964534. 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 our website at www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome. com or visit our Facebook page (MADSOG) for more information. Please contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com for more information.
Same Sex Attraction
Location: Huff Community Ministry Building of First Baptist Church at 200 S. Perry Street 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 334.452.0620.
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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 more 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. 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 Hwy 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.
Email your support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com!
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Celebrating Your Femininity Today’s woman faces a tremendous identity crisis. Many want to be something other than what they are. In my years of ministry I have encountered a fair number of people who are women biologically but desire to be men. Others don’t want to be men necessarily, but do not embrace their femininity. I have a burden for women to learn how very valuable and astounding the qualities are that God has placed within them. When the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made as humans, it’s quite evident that God took ample time creating His baby girls! We are the last born of His creation, made beautiful with all the right curves in all the right places. He graced us with intelligence, sensitivity, radiance, and elegance. It is imperative that we celebrate our unique qualities and rejoice in who we are as women, showing appreciation to our creator God. We should cherish the work of His hands, and be thankful for the many attributes He placed in us. Each one of us are one of a kind, a masterpiece. No one has another woman’s DNA, making you unique in all of creation. These facts alone call for a celebration! While it may be true that you may have a thing or two to improve on for the future, that does not diminish your current worth. While you move forward, you should concentrate on the countless blessings you bring to the world around you. If you don’t accept who God says you are, the enemy and society will tell you who you are not. Some of the lies we have believed about ourselves are: “You are too emotional;” “You are the weaker sex;” ”You must appear to be more in control and masculine.” River Region’s Journey
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Do you stop to consider that God may have made you more emotional than your male counterpart for a reason? Your emotional disposition is one of the major attributes that make you tick. With it, you feel, emote, connect, and are able to foster intimate relationships, as the relational being God wired you to be.
Yes, emotions can get out of control. Whenever you feel this may be true, work to bring it into proper alignment, but do not try to be who you weren’t meant to be.
Here are Some Ways to Overcome Identity Crisis: 1. Embrace God’s work of grace in your life. When you agree with God as to who you are, you begin to get acquainted with yourself, and are then empowered by that knowledge to overcome the attacks that aim at your identity. 2. Capitalize on your positive qualities. Be comfortable in who you are and your 34
particular qualities, If you do not, when you are challenged or faced with discrimination in the workplace, you will quickly exchange your femininity – your greatest asset encapsulated within you – for masculinity, in an attempt to gain respect and success. 3. Do things in your unique way. In the Old Testament, there are many instances where women used their God-given gifts to affect not only their own lives, but the lives of many others. Let’s look at two: Judge Deborah succeeded in leading an entire nation to victory by tapping into God’s gifts and grace in her life. While she accomplished these feats, she remained herself, performing her duties in the way she knew to be best for the way God had made her. What Queen Esther did to obtain victory for her people was nothing short of spiritual warfare! She had to face a king who hadn’t been welcoming to her for a season. She could have chosen to approach him in all kinds of ways and demeanor, but she knew she and her people faced a real enemy and a real threat of annihilation. She knew how spiritual battles were waged, and could have used all types of methods. She chose to be herself – the way God had made her. After she had fasted and prayed, she used her feminine grace, intuition, and wisdom to bring down the most dangerous man in that realm. You don’t have to become someone else to reach your goal. Allow your feminine self to shine. Use the tools God has given to you. They are readily available and will bring Him glory as you do!
ACCREDITED K4 THROUGH 12TH GRADE INDEPENDENT COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL
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INVESTING IN A LIFETIME
Shaping Leaders that Change the World If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Director of Admission Jenny McClinton
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at 334.213.2213 or jmcclinton@trinitywildcats.com
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334.213.2100
n Trinity graduates have received over $35 million in merit-based scholarships over the last 5 years n The vast majority of Trinity’s AP students score between a 3 and a 5 on their exams, with many students nearly completing their freshman college studies before graduating from Trinity n Trinity’s EnviroBowl Team won the 2016 State Championship—Trinity’s 10th EnviroBowl championship since 2001 n Partnering with a local elementary school, Trinity students serve as “Study Buddies,” as well as provide food to 85 children weekly through “Feeding America’s BackPack Program” n Trinity’s Change 4 Change project has donated over $70,000 in the past three years to charitable organizations in Montgomery and throughout the world Trinity admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Trinity does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origins in any of the educational policies, scholarship programs and athletics, and other school-administered programs.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
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UPPER SCHOOL 35
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Q. My husband and I have four kids, and I make $50,000 a year. He runs a small business that has been floundering for a while now, so we’re basically living off my income. Part of that income is going into the business. Plus, we don’t have much in savings, and we’re behind on our house payments. Do you have any advice?
A. First of all, you and your husband have to get on the same page financially. Sit down together, and do a household budget and a profit and loss statement on the business. A profit and loss statement will tell you the money that comes in minus the money that goes out. Here’s the thing. If you’re putting other money into a business account, that’s a clue that you’re not making money on the business. Put his rent, supplies and any other business expenses on the profit and
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loss list, and write out — step by step — what it will take for you to break even in the business each month. If you don’t at least break even, then it’s time for him to do something else for a living. I’m an entrepreneur and a business owner. I get the allure and excitement that goes along with running your own business. But family and your financial responsibilities come first. You don’t need to put any money into the business account, except for the income he creates. And while you two are sorting this out, use your income to get current on your house payments and attack any other debt!
Q. I’m 37 years old, married with two great kids, and I was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I’m trying to plan for the future, and I was wondering if you
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have any suggestions for work at home or self-employment ideas for people with disabilities.
A. I’m really sorry to hear you’re facing
this. You’re a smart, brave young woman to be looking ahead and making plans for the coming years. I suggest you read a book by Dan Miller called 48 Days to Creative Income. Dan is a friend of mine, and he also wrote a popular book titled 48 Days to the Work You Love. The issue you’re talking about is very close to his heart, and I think his books will be a great help to you. There’s also a book by Richard Bolles. It’s called Job Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities, and it’s full of ideas to help you work around the issues you’ll be facing. There are lots of people out there — well-known, highly successful folks — who have disabilities and still make good money and have rewarding lives using the principles found in these books. Another great piece of news is it sounds like you have a wonderful support system around you.
one test two lives
Get tested for HIV. For you and baby. for more information, call 1-800-228-0469 www.adph.org/hiv
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Programs offered for all ages and stages of life. Sunday 8:30 am 9:45 am 11:00 am 5:00 pm 6:15 pm
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Bring them in... Build them up... Send them out... 305 South Perry Street | Montgomery, AL 36104 334.834.6310 | www.montgomeryfbc.org
Jay Wolf, pastor