wiLlpower
health
decision
frEedom
prevention
eFfective wait
future
smart
abstinence proud
relationship discipline goals security choice
responsible
avoidance self-restraint
safe
behavior
action
trust
confidence
knowledge
dedicated worthwhile
It's your body. Take Control.
Volume 19, Issue 5
Feature Articles
SEPTEMBE R 20 1 7 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note
page 14
Jason Watson
Faith @ Work
Meet Ron Simmons, Vice President of Destination Sales with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. You’ll be inspired by his faith journey, beginning with the strong influence of his parents and leading to how he impacts his community and his own family today.
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Brian Miller, Aldersgate United Methodist Church
page 16
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 22
Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy
page 18
Ministry Spotlight:
page 24
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
by Ashley Sherlock
page 30
With Montgomery being one of this ministry’s newest cites, discover how you can join C.O.T. and volunteer to help adults who want to make the journey out of poverty.
Counselor’s Corner Christy Holding, LPC
page 36
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
page 26
Dear Moms (and Dads) of College Freshmen
In Every Issue
by Brenda Payne
Around Our Community
Many parents find it difficult to launch their children into the “adult world” when first moving them off to college. God can certainly be trusted with their futures, and in this article you’ll find 8 ways to counsel yourself as you love them from afar.
page 6
Books to Read page 8
page 14
Faith @ Work page 32
Support Groups 1
September 2017
River Region’s Journey
CCH Maga
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 Christy Holding, LPC Pastor Brian Miller Brenda Payne Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Ashley Sherlock Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities
Stephanie Parsons, VP of Client Services ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Digital Manager Scott Davis
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Manager
From the Publisher I find it hard to watch the news these days. That includes our country’s most popular news feed – Facebook. The talking heads are all around us expounding their interpretations of life as they see it. If you’re like me, the more these voices speak into your life the more anxious you become. After all, according to the majority of those talking, the sky is falling! Therefore, it’s not hard to allow worry and fear to creep into your thoughts and to begin to direct your words and actions. That’s why I’m thankful for God’s Word, a light unto my path and an anchor in the storm. As I read God’s Word, His Spirit living in me, confirms that I am His child... dearly loved. God, my Father, watches over me. Even numbering the hairs on my head. The Apostle Paul said he had learned to be content in plenty and want. Whatever may come, nothing can separate me from the love of God because He is for me. These facts don’t remove me from life’s struggles. Instead they give me hope and purpose in this life. Christians are God’s called-out ones who have been transformed by His redemption and now reflect His love to the world. We stray from who we are in Christ when we stop listening to His voice through the Scriptures. Anne Graham Lotz encouraged Christians in her book Pursuing More of Jesus to, “Remember Jesus’ promise that He would go ahead of you to guide you in every situation. Learn how to recognize Jesus’ voice by getting to know the Bible well (reading it, studying it, understanding it, applying it, and living by it) and then trust His guidance when making decisions.” My mind goes to Jesus sleeping peacefully in the bottom of a boat during a bad storm (Mark 4:35-41) when His disciples in fear said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” After calming the storm, Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” When the storm grows bigger than Jesus our faith is weak. We publish River Region’s Journey each month because we want to point everyone to Jesus. There are loud voices all around, but there is only One who can calm the storm. I pray as you read through this month’s issue you’ll hear Him speak and you’ll rest in His love and sovereign will.
Chris Mitchell
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 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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CCH Magazine Ad_River Region.qxp_Layout 1 5/17/17 11:08 AM Page 1
Come Worship with Us!
Founded Upon God’s Word
Liturgically Joyful
At Christchurch, Holy Scripture serves as the final authority for our teaching and preaching. Indeed, over the course of three years, almost the entire Bible is read aloud and preached upon.
At Christchurch, worship involves the entire congregation, as we offer God praise, thanksgiving and adoration using worship traditions that can be traced back to the earliest days of the Church. Our worship is not designed to entertain us, but to honor the true “audience” of worship, the Lord!
Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Christian Education: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays
Warm and Loving
Committed to Mission
By God’s grace and through His Spirit, the people of Christchurch enjoy the richness and joy of being a true family. We’d love for you to become a part of us! Regardless of who you are, you will always find a home at Christchurch.
The people of Christchurch respond to God’s Word by going out into the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus, and we joyfully serve as His hands and feet whether in places like Uganda and Guatemala or within Montgomery.
8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 www.christchurchmgm.net 334.387.0566
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Pastor’s Perspective
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Brian Miller, Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Life is Hard, But There is Hope There is hope. Alice Cooper was recently reflecting on the life of his late friend Glen Campbell. Yes, that Alice Cooper, the shock rocker known for dark theatrical rock shows, was a friend with that Glen Campbell, the smooth singing star of radio and television. Cooper said that both he and Campbell battled addictions through their years in Los Angeles. However, both of them found faith in Christ. They became better husbands and fathers, and they overcame the drugs and alcohol. Life isn’t perfect. We experience pains. We find ourselves in trouble. We stumble. This is as true for those who have experienced Jesus as any one. Maybe it’s the addiction that trains our brains in unhealthy ways. Maybe it’s broken relation-
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ships, separation and divorce. Maybe it’s financial instability that causes anxiety and fear. Maybe it’s the breakdown of mental health. Each of us has been affected by these, either personally or through someone we love. I want to invite you today to (1) recognize that difficulties are to be expected, (2) seek help, and (3) know that God is with you. We can’t be sure what exactly was the “thorn in the flesh” that Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 12. It may have been a person who tormented the churches being planted. Another explanation could be that Paul is referring to a physical ailment. We know that his eyesight was worsening. Further, this “thorn” could have been a habit or proclivity that was not God-honoring. If the Apostle Paul experienced hardship, I expect that I will as well. Of course the crucial step in dealing with these things that make life difficult is to get help. I love the story of the friends who brought a man on a mat to Jesus for healing. When they arrived, the room was too crowded. So, they lowered their friend down to Jesus from the roof. Share your struggles with someone. If you don’t know how to get the help you need, tell a few friends. Let them carry you to Jesus. I love the prophet Isaiah. Throughout Isaiah’s words from the Lord, he tells deep truth about us 4
and about God. He shares about the brevity of our lives, that we are like flowers that wither. He makes clear that our lives are not forever and that we will go through difficulties. Yet, throughout the prophecy, he constantly reminds us that God is with us. “When you pass through the waters,” God says through Isaiah, “I will be with you. The waves will not overcome you.” He is with us in the ups. He’s especially with us in the downs. It is tempting when we face hardship, especially when we contributed to our own hardship, to think of God as judgy and angry. Sometimes, sadly, we get that impression from the messages being preached at church or from the response that we might expect from our parents. Yet, Scripture doesn’t reveal that as part of God’s role when his people are in trouble. Not only does God walk with us through the difficulties of our lives, he has compassion upon us. “[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.” This is the best news of all. God is with us. What do Alice Cooper, Glen Campbell, the Apostle Paul, you, and me have in common? We all experience brokenness. So, let’s recognize that only makes us human. Let us look for those who can help us. Let us remember that God is with us, and even in our darkest days, we will never be alone. The perfect life isn’t the one that experiences no trouble. It’s the life where the trouble doesn’t determine the outcome. Brian Miller is pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Visit online at www. aldersgateumc.org.
t a O i r B l t a a t s t t w i b
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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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A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle
Christians have an interesting relationship with culture. Culture is a word we love to use, but one we rarely pause to define. We speak of culture’s dangerous encroachment on the church, of our need to avoid it, engage it, or redeem it. But what is this culture thing anyway? It happens to be the subject of an excellent new book by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle. A Practical Guide to Culture is meant to help those who are helping the next generation navigate today’s world, and it does its job well. “In its most basic sense, culture refers to what people do with the world: we build, we invent, we imagine, we create, we tear down, we replace, we compose, we design, we emphasize, we dismiss, we embellish, we engineer.” But culture goes deeper than that, and also speaks to our shared beliefs, our “conceptions of God, truth, morality, humanity, and history that shape how we live.” Culture is not people, but what people do. And, of course, culture is always changing because people are always changing. To summarize, “cultures consist of those products of human activity that have collectively taken on a life of their own. The worlds we create powerfully influence our lives by convincing us of what is normal. As we live in a culture, we become committed to its vision of life, unless we’re intentional otherwise. In other words, we make our cultures, and then our cultures shape us.” River Region’s Journey
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It shapes us primarily by what it considers normal and good and worthy of praise. The authors approach the subject in four parts. In the first they introduce the notion of culture and tell why it matters which provides a kind of framework for the rest of the book. In the second they provide a read of the cultural waters, pointing to a number of prominent culture-shaping undercurrents we may take for granted: the Information Age, new notions of identity, technology’s role in allowing us to be alone together, and perpetual adolescence. The third part is the heart of the book, and here they discuss eight of the cultural waves pounding against the church today: pornography, the hookup culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, affluence and consumerism, addiction, entertainment, and racial tension. In every case they identify the cultural lies, compare those lies to biblical truth, offer practical counsel on taking action, and provide a vision for overcoming the challenges they present. The fourth part provides brief primers on worldview essentials, and especially those related to the centrality and trustworthiness of the Bible. I am a father tasked with raising three children in this culture, and a pastor tasked with helping a whole church navigate a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams. I am convinced this book has better equipped me in my tasks. I’m glad I read it and heartily commend it to you.
He Will Hold Me Fast by Connie Dever
This isn’t normally my kind of book, not the type I am typically drawn to. But I thought I might at least read a little bit just to see what it is all about. I read the first few pages, then the first few sections, then the whole thing. It just kind of happened. And I enjoyed it far more than I would have thought.
In 2014, Connie Dever (wife of Mark Dever) was diagnosed with cancer. And, as so many do, she responded by writing. She began a blog to record her experience, her journey. This was not merely a medical journey but, far more importantly and of far greater interest, it was a spiritual journey. He Will Hold Me Fast, then, is a kind of travel-log, a record of her travels and travails. The book has several noteworthy strengths. First is Dever’s honesty. She shares not only her triumphs but also her failures, not only her strengths but also her weaknesses. She is honest with her fears— both her reasonable ones and her sinful ones. She is honest about having good days and bad days, spiritual highs and spiritual lows. Second is her maturity. She began this journey a seasoned Christian, but through her suffering experienced a great growth in maturity. Her suffering drove her deeper and deeper into Scripture and brought her constantly to her knees. Along the way she learned what so many Christians learn—that suffering is a powerful classroom. Third is her faith. While she experiences moments of deep sorrow and crushing lament, her faith does not merely survive, but thrives. She becomes increasingly convinced that God is at work even through this. And then there are her insights. All throughout she shares truth that is challenging, stirring, encouraging, and edifying. “Worry is what we do when we look forward godlessly. Hope is what we have when we look forward god-centeredly.” And “Why is it that this bitterest pill I’ve had to swallow is bringing the sweetest healing I’ve ever known?” And, “God hires no nannies. God is on duty! He stands watch. He knows His plans and He, Himself, brings them about. He is with His people.” Written in an informal tone, even preserving some of the verbiage of an online journal, this is an honest, urgent, encouraging account of loss and gain. I’m so glad I read it.
6
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September 2017
River Region’s Journey
8/3/17 10:36 AM
will be from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aldersgate United Metho Road. Drive thru pick up service is provided at the front of
Tickets can be purchased in advance, or boxes can be bought the barbecue will benefit the Aldersgate Methodist Men’s upcoming year. Projects include Boy Scouts, United Metho and other disaster relief organizations, hunger relief (such aFfi M term mission trips, and assistance for the elderly. For more in ba Methodist Church at 272-6152 or send e-mail to aldersgateu Camp Victory’s 5K Victory Run Obstacle Course Race
Saturday, October 14, 7 am to 1 pm The 5K Victory Run is a race that takes participants in and throughout the pines of Camp Victory with several different obstacles that will test their endurance, balance, and strength. This event is open to individuals ages 13 and up. Cost is $33 (plus fees) until September 15th. After September 15th, price increases to $43 (plus fees). All proceeds from this event will go to benefit our Camper Scholarship Fund. We offer scholarships to campers who complete Bible lessons throughout the year and also provide financial assistance to families who could not otherwise send their children to camp. We will be starting groups in 15 minute intervals. Purchase a ticket for the start time you want! There will be concessions for sale during and after the event. Some of the obstacles you’ll face during the race: 50 Yard Sandbag Carry~Split Track Over/Unders~Mini Wall~100 Yard Sandbag Log Hurdles~Elevated Balance Beam~Stump Jump~50 Yard Crawl~Giant Wall~Monkey Bars~Creek Crossings~Dirt Mound Climb/ Slide~Tire Pulley~Tire Drag & Carry....and more! All participants will be required to sign a waiver before running the race. Those under 18 will need a parent/guardian signature as well. Camp Victory, 363 Victory Circle, Samson, AL Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-victorys-5k-victory-run-obstacle-course-race-tickets-35915475153?aff=efbevent Call (334) 898-7948 or visit www.campvictoryal.org.
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nited Methodist Church, located at 6610 Vaughn he front of the church by Boy Scout Troop 306.
n be bought on the day of the sale. Proceeds from Aldersgate Men Host dist Men’s mission and service projects for the 33rd Annual Barbecue nited Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Saturday, October 21, 2017 For only $8 per box, folks can taste the lief (such as the Society of Saint Andrew), short finest barbecued pork and chicken that Montgomery has to offer on the SAME For more information, contact Aldersgate United PLATE, as well as generous sides of baked beans, slaw and bread. The sale will aldersgateumm@gmail.com.
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be from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, located at 6610 Vaughn Road. Drive thru pick up service is provided at the front of the church by Boy Scout Troop 306.
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Tickets can be purchased in advance, or boxes can be bought on the day of the sale. Proceeds from the barbecue will benefit the Aldersgate Methodist Men’s mission and service projects for the upcoming year. For more information, contact Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 272-6152 or send e-mail to aldersgateumm@gmail.com.
Email your community or ministry news to deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com!
Wetumpka First United Methodist Church House of Holidays
October 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 306 West Tuskeena St., Wetumpka. Arts and crafts, handmade gifts and food for sale, tag sale and much more. Lunch will be served for $5. Something for everyone. Rain or shine. For more info, e-mail rhqmgb@gmail.com. 9
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YouthWorks Serves Elmore County in Summer 2017
Big Church Night Out
September 21 at Garrett Coliseum
with performances by Newsboys, Sidewalk Prophets, 7eventh Time Down, Blanca, Derek Minor and more! Ultimate VIP Experience: $100.00--Includes all of the perks of the Premium Package PLUS a pre-show photo op w/ Newsboys & other Big Church Night Out artists, and coupon for a discount at the Big Church Night Out merchandise table. Premium Package: $45.00--Includes early entrance, best seats, a special tour laminate and a pre-show Q&A with the Newsboys & other Big Church Night Out artists. Reserved: $25.00--Friends & Family 4-Pack: $20.00; Groups of 10+: $18.00, Plus 2 FREE tickets with a group of 10 or more! Charge-by-Phone: 1-800-745-3000; For More Information: Call (334) 356-6866 or support@premierproductions.com or call (855) 484-1991.
This Summer has been filled with community service in Elmore County. YouthWorks is an organization that provides mission trips for students and adult leaders. It exists to connect teenagers to God, each other and communities through life-changing Christ-centered mission trips. Cedarwood Community Church in Wallsboro housed 350 students over an 8 week period. Their focus was to serve others by creating experiences that broaden perspectives, ignite passions, and expose and inspire pursuits.
THE FACE OF A CURE ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure
The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders is committed to finding a cure for Meah, Carson and the more than 1,500 children who come to us for care each year. As a founding member of the Children’s Oncology Group,* Children’s of Alabama and UAB combine research and innovative therapies to help save the lives of children down the street and around the world. *The Children’s Oncology group is a clinical - translational trials organization with more than 9,000 experts worldwide dedicated to finding better cures and improving the outcomes for all children with cancer.
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Although the cancer cure rate has risen from 50 to 84 percent and strokes in patients with sickle cell disease have decreased by 90 percent, we are actively working toward a CURE for children like Meah and Carson.
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Millbrook FUMC Youth Group Helps Flooding Victims Repair Homes
A team of 21 youth and adult volunteers from Millbrook First United Methodist Church recently returned from the Baton Rouge, La., area where they helped victims of flooding there with several different home repair projects. The group was hosted by Broadmoor Methodist Church in Baton Rouge and they interacted with the youth group of Broadmoor. Half of the group worked on a house that was flooded with four feet of water in August last year. The owners had lived there for 45 years and had no flood insurance. The owner was around 70 years old and had been working on the house by himself since the flood. The entire house was gutted and the group finished the sheetrock, mudding the walls, sanding the walls, and painting the walls. “We helped rebuild his home by doing stuff such as mudding, sanding and painting the storage room. He was super thankful which made me and everyone else there feel better about the work we were doing. I was blessed by being able to come on this trip, hang out with my friends and meet some new ones.” Emma Morris. The group also put up all doors in the house including closets. They fixed the storage room and painted it and got his washer and dryer in the storage room working. James was the owner’s
name and he was there every day getting the group what they needed. The second group helped a disabled family by building a deck and stairs on a trailer that they lost during the flood. They also helped another family by fixing their windows and garage and putting two bathtubs in the house. They also built bunk beds for a church being turned into a shelter. Team leaders Mike and Jill West said the group was treated to a trip to New Orleans on the way home and went to the French Market.
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Night of Praise at Lighthouse Church
Lighthouse Church will be hosting “Night of Praise” featuring the dynamic music and singing of the Lighthouse Church praise team. Join us for a night of uplifting, soul stirring, music, devotion, and sweet Christian fellowship in the Lighthouse Church auditorium on Sunday evening, September 10, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. Make a joyful noise to him…
Email church or ministry news to deanne@readjourney magazine.com.
Family and Friends Day
Sunday, September 24th, at 2 pm, 3481 South Court Street, Montgomery As we complete our Week of Kindness and service to the community, the disciples of Community Congregational Church invite you to experience powerful worship and a soul-touching message from our Pastor about “Building Even When the Storms Rage.” Nursery service is available for children under six (6) as well as a free gift for first-time visitors. Call (334) 265-4411 for info.
10•21•17 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
••••••••••••••
Prattville YMCA
Willis Bradford Branch ••••••••••••••
Prattville YMCA
And...
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• Grits Cookoff • Door Prizes • Contests • Giveaways • Arts & Crafts • Bounce Houses • Live Music
The TY 5K NITTY GRIT ••••••••••••
Sponsored by:
Festivities include:
All the grits you can eat for $2.00
5K begins at 8:00 A.M. Register online at active.com or call Cecily Darby at 334-361-0268.
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will be faced with in life, but the Christian principles I was taught still help me with those decisions. RRJ: While your father was away during your childhood serving three tours in Vietnam, he still was a strong, male lead in your life. How did his influence grow you as a man? Ron: I can’t tell you how blessed I am to have a father and mother like I had. My dad is retired Air Force. He taught me everything about being a man. He taught me the importance of doing things right… the first time. He taught me there is no such thing as “I can’t.” He taught me how to work with my hands and my brains. He taught me how to love my family and take care of them. He taught me how to support my children and their goals and participate with them. He taught me how to manage stress and trust in God regardless of the task. He allowed me to experience difficulty without always bailing me out. It made me stronger and wiser. He was always there when I needed him. He was TOUGH! REAL TOUGH. At the time, I thought he was mean. Today, he’s 82 years old, and I thank God for him every day! He was and still is a blessing to our family!
RRJ: You mentioned that you were raised in a Christian home. How instrumental do you think that foundation was in who you are today?
RRJ: When you were young, while your father was away in Vietnam, your mother made sure you were in church. How important do you think church involvement is in spiritual growth?
Ron: Being raised in a Christian home was critical to everything I believe today. It was the foundation for my life and lifestyle. I’m by no means perfect! I make mistakes like anyone else. I sin. I’m human. However, when I do make those mistakes, I know God is forgiving, and I ask for his forgiveness. Then I try to change and do better. I try to please God. I try to treat others the way I want to be treated. I learned that as a child. My mother and father were excellent examples of that as they displayed love for us in the home. We were raised in the church and learned the principles of Christian living…LOVE. The Bible doesn’t specifically address every situation we
Ron: I honestly can say, had it not been for my mother and the church, I don’t know where I would be today. Going to church wasn’t an option in our house. We didn’t consider it an option nor a task. We loved it! I was very involved in the youth group ministry, serving in the church. I attended private school first through sixth grades. My first public school experience was at Bellingrath Jr. High. What an experience! That’s where my Christianity was tested for the first time…7th grade! I graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1983, and loved every minute of it. Well, almost every minute. I was a student athlete and was very active in school, but
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being a Christian was very important to me. I didn’t want to let my mother, father, or church members down. I remember I would walk from home to the church in high school to meet my minister on Saturday to study the Bible and practice public speaking. In high school, I was chaplin of the largest club in the school…Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Three students were selected by the club sponsor, Coach John Bricken, to speak to students in Talladega at the Helen Keller School. I was one of the three. This wouldn’t have been possible if it hadn’t been for my church involvement and my mother. My mother is the reason! RRJ: Your job at the Chamber of Commerce has given you opportunities to use the talents God has given you. How has your ability to form relationships been helpful in your profession? Ron: I am very fortunate to work for an organization that still allows us to pray publicly and talk about God. I have the opportunity to meet people from around the country and the world. I have built relationships that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to build otherwise. I get to discuss difficult topics and experiences with them, such as: the South and its history, civil rights and our progression. And through these conversations, I usually get to discuss the goodness of God. I get to share how God has used our city to bring about change to the world for everyone. It’s a blessing to have a passion for this work, but still get to share the good news when appropriate and needed. That’s not usual in today’s society. RRJ: Explain how you get to live out your faith in the workplace? Ron: The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce encourages community service and involvement. It’s a perfect fit for me. Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors for Brantwood Children’s Home, the Montgomery Area Food Bank, and the Montgomery Metro YMCA. All of these organizations make a direct impact and serve our community. Christianity is more than “going to church”. It’s a lifestyle. It’s about what we do Monday
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through Saturday, how we serve others. These groups provide that opportunity for me. RRJ: You created the group D.A.D.S., which meets at the Montgomery Public Library every 2nd Saturday. Can you tell us the goal behind that group? Ron: D.A.D.S. (Dads and Daughters Saturday) is my favorite service organization. My daughter (Erin) and I started D.A.D.S. in 2017, in partnership with the Montgomery City County Public Library and Dreamland BBQ. Approximately 15-20 fathers (or moms) and their daughters (or sons) meet at the downtown library every 2nd Saturday from 11am – 12 noon. We read, play, laugh and do activities together. We build relationships! We discuss life lessons and challenges. We talk about how we can be better people. The older girls have formed a book club and discuss the books together. Watching those dads and daughters bond and have fun is a good feeling! Plus, it provides my daughter with the opportunity to give back and serve. She’s learning how to build relationships with others regardless of their background and how to demonstrate grace and love to others. RRJ: What advice would you share with our readers on living consistently for God in everyday life? Ron: When I was a boy, my minister used to make reference to a TV show called, “Wild Kingdom”. Wild Kingdom was a show that documented wild animal life in Africa. He would ask, “How does a lion determine which gazelle he will attack in the pack?” The answer was, the one that leaves the pack. The pack refers to God’s word. My suggestions: 1. Stay in God’s word! Don’t leave the pack. 2. When you make a mistake, ask God for forgiveness, and forgive yourself. Move on, and look for opportunities to share God’s word with others though your life experiences. 3. Look for the positives in a challenging situation. 4. The more you understand God’s grace and His expectations of us to extend it, the happier you’ll become, regardless of your circumstances. 5. Use your talents to serve. When you fall off track, get back in the pack! 1 Peter 4:10: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Ron lives in Montgomery with his wife, Annette. They have three children: Ron, Jr., Austin, and Erin. Photo by Shelby Berry, ExploreMedia.
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Giving Shelter When a wildfire sweeps across the scrub oak, sandy land of north Florida, south Alabama, and south Georgia many small animals find a place to hide, thanks to a creature called the gopher tortoise. This tortoise, about fifteen inches long and weighing eight to fifteen pounds, loves to dig in the sand. His front feet are like shovels. His back feet are strong and sturdy. Consequently, he can create large burrows. One in north Florida left a burrow that was 26 feet deep and 65 feet long. But that project was huge. You would think the tortoise would dig just to create a home to protect himself from predators and the cold of winter. But there is
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more to it than that. You see, once each tortoise has dug a tunnel to his satisfaction, he leaves it to start digging a new one. Each one leaves several burrows vacant every year. That’s when the mice, fox, raccoons, opossums, and any of 350 other species of mammals move in, along with reptiles and insects. Whether he intended to or not, he has left behind an underground village of life. This is why the gopher tortoise is called a keystone species, defined as a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend. If it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically, which reminds me of what our Lord is and what He calls each of us to be. Isaiah describes our Lord like this: You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat (Isaiah 35:4, NIV). Jesus speaks of this as he mourns the faithlessness of Jerusalem. He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:32 NIV). Isaiah describes a future time when we will share this sheltering responsibility with Christ. He writes: See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each 16
man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land (Isaiah 32:1-2, NIV). But, we don’t have to wait for the Second Coming to start being a shelter to those around us. We can be with them in their trials. We can listen. We can share our blessings. We can show that we care for them. How that is lived out will be different for each of us. God has not made us all the same. One family that I know has been willing to share their home with teen-aged boys who are no longer welcome in their own homes. This family is not officially in the foster care system, but on a temporary basis, young men sometimes stay overnight. Some have stayed much longer. But the goal is to help them get their lives together and get right with the Lord. Most of us are not called to offer that literal kind of shelter, but thank God for those who are. You may represent a shelter you have not considered. Your church may be the spiritual shelter that someone you know really needs. Life can be harsh, confusing, and cruel. Many people don’t know which way to turn or whether anything is really true. You could be that connection between a hurting soul and the comforting presence of God. Sometimes what people need when fire rages around them is someone like you, someone who is willing to admit they have had the same struggles, and they understand the pain. Share with them the hope you have in Christ, that things will not be this bad forever. You may not know you are being someone’s shelter. Consider that gopher tortoise. Does he really know the impact he is having on those around him? The important thing is for us to continue living out the calling God has placed on our lives. When the fire of life threatens those around us, let us be their shelter. **Sam Whatley’s latest book, Ponder Anew, is now available at the Frazer Bookstore located inside Frazer Memorial UMC.
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by Ashley Sherlock
“Families in poverty need much more than money or tangible resources,” says Laurel, “What they need most are healthy, nurturing relationships. Isolation is perhaps the greatest problem for those who live “without enough.” They live without enough hope, enough encouragement and love, enough positive role models. They do not live a healthy lifestyle, nor do they work to develop their skills and abilities.”
Communities of Transformation is an organization lead by Laurel and Fred Blackwell and dedicated to guiding families toward selfsufficiency while focusing on reconciliation, restoration and healing. Communities of Transformation is a collaborative initiative of the United Methodist Church. Other denominations and agencies are welcome to partner with C.O.T. to work with the poor. This collaborative approach pairs community volunteers with adults seeking to reverse their own poverty. A support system is created by matching participants with volunteers who will provide support and guidance.
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The participating families or individuals in poverty spend twelve weeks in a training class with their peers to learn about budgeting, goal setting and relationship building. Community volunteers also go through an extensive training. For eight weeks, they prepare to use the Communities of Transformation method of building structured friendships that are designed to encourage and support. Once the participants are paired with their volunteers, together they will attend weekly meetings that include dinner, child care and hopefilled experiences. These meetings help each Communities of TransRev. Mark Osgood, Rev. Jackie Slaughter, Ms. Clare Watson, Rev. Richard Carter, Ms. Jennifer Lancaster, Rev. Michael Cobb, Mr. Dennis Charlesworth, and Rev. Brian formation site to identify systemic Miller. (Not pictured is Ms. Peggy Spaeth, Ms. Beth Biggs, and Rev. Nancy Pugh) issues that are holding families back from their potential and to formucommunity together for a common goal. That is what we late strategies that will help volundo in Communities of Transformation – bring people from teers and participants break down those barriers together. throughout the community together for a common goal - to “Evergreen, Alabama has established a community garbuild better lives for all. The garden is now full of vegetables, den as a precursor to establishing a Communities of Transas well as people working across all demographics that have formation site. A government/community/church partnership historically divided us.” has been developed, bringing people from all parts of the
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Dr. John H. Payne IV • Dr. David Stanley • Dr. Davis Denney • Dr. Rob Owen 19
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B A P T I S T FA M I LY M E D I C I N E The physicians and staff at Baptist Family Medicine are honored to meet the healthcare needs of our central Alabama communities. From routine needs to urgent concerns, we look forward to building a warm, dependable and lasting relationship with you and your entire family.
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C.O.T. allows time for intentional friendships to develop in a safe and nurturing environment. This place allows participants to dream about and create a better future for themselves and their families. “Our primary goals have been to help adults prepare for meaningful and stable employment through helping them acquire a GED, enroll in skills training, to assist others in attending college to improve the opportunity to do life-changing work, to get fulltime jobs and jobs with benefits. Many individuals have taken these steps and made other progress which has been more than we could have imagined.” In the future, Laurel hopes to assist churches that have the desire to work with the poor as they establish local C.O.T. sites. She also wants to “assist the church as it reaches outside its walls to minister to those who will never enter our sanctuaries, not by giving tangible goods, but by giving of ourselves.” Originally launched in Dothan, Communities of Transformation now has sites in Brewton, Eufaula, Mobile, Phenix City and Selma, with new cites in Montgomery, Union Springs, Evergreen, Baldwin County and the Demopolis District. Each site is coordinated by a Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) member. VISTAs develop initiatives that enable individuals to become self-sufficient and secure. Communities of Transformation currently has twelve VISTAs. Volunteers help coordinate and serve meals, provide weekly support for participants, donate money and supplies, and lead studies in their churches and homes. To learn more about Communities of Transportation or to volunteer, contact Laurel and Fred Blackwell at 334-524-3652, email laurel@awfumc.org or visit their website at www. communitiesoftransformation.org. A Florida native, Ashley Sherlock moved to Montgomery to pursue a degree in English. She now coordinates events for an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. She enjoys books, the outdoors, and all things whimsical.
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Stop Procrastinating... Get On With It! Maybe you can relate to Craig from the UK. He wrote in a blog, “I bought a book called 52 Steps To Defeating Procrastination. I’ve still never read it - it was over 10 years ago, and I’m not even sure where it is now.” Almost everyone will choose to procrastinate about something sometime, for various reasons. Some of these reasons may be things beyond our control; some may come out of forgetfulness; other times we just simply don’t want to tackle the issue at that time. All of these reasons demonstrate just how human we are. Chronic procrastinators habitually put off what needs to be done today for tomorrow, and when tomorrow comes, they again determine to put the same task off for the next tomorrow. Even if they accomplish the assignment on one of those tomorrows, it merely means that the task finally took precedence over what might have been accomplished on that day. No one succeeds or progresses if they are a habitual procrastinator. Kathleen J. Shields said, “Tomorrow is a mystical land where 99% of all human achievement is stored.” This is a strong indictment against procrastination! Another poignant quote, “Tomorrow is a place in the sky where wishes and dreams go to die.” I wonder how many dreams we have had over our lifetime that never came to life because we pushed the cost of engaging them from today to tomorrow. River Region’s Journey
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To maximize our potential in life we must see procrastination as a formidable enemy “of whom you cannot fellowship.” We must war against it vehemently. What would you do if someone approached you on an alley and tried to snatch your purse, yet you know you are capable of tackling and stopping the perpetrator from robbing you? I believe you will put on the fight of your life to foil the robber’s assault. Why, then, do we sit by addled and do nothing with procrastination? We must realize procrastination is a subtle thief that robs us of our greatness. With your eyes closed, think about the promotion you missed because you put off making an important call, or delayed delivering a report. How different might life have been for you, if you had taken ample time to do the business plan, or to write the book that needs written? You may have blamed others for your lack of progress, but in your heart of hearts, you know it was you who didn’t deliver. God has invested greatly in you, and He’s expecting you to do and be so much. Yet there is a time limit to see the opportunity accomplished. So kick procrastination to the curb and get on with it!
WHY WE PROCRASTINATE
1. Learned behavior. No one was born a procrastinator. For the most part, it is a 22
learned behavior derived from an undisciplined, relaxed upbringing, or bucking authority from a strong, authoritarian parent or tutors. 2. Fear of failure. Anxiety to take on a task can make us want to put a task off to another time. One type of anxiety is the fear that we may not succeed. 3. Feeling of being overwhelmed. Chronic procrastinators become drained quickly by the size of a project, and their natural inclination is to put it off. 4. Laziness. Laziness is synonymous with procrastination, and is the leading cause of it. Laziness is so detrimental to our progress that God has much to say about it. See Proverbs 6:6-11; Ecclesiastes 11:4; Proverbs 26:13-15; or Proverbs 12:24. 5. Indecision. If you have developed a habit for this trait, you need to wage war, not with the devil, but with your own self to shed this harmful behavior. Indecisiveness about life, and the path and purposes for success could have you going in circles. When you finally get to the goal, you might not know where you are.
HOW TO BEAT PROCRASTINATION 1. Keep Destiny in View. As Christians we must live God-focused lives, being aware that we are here for a specific assignment with an expiration date attached. Knowing this will help us get on task quickly and with the precision that destiny demands of us. Study the life of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. 2. Plan Things Out. Approach life with ease. Work out your daily plan in bite-sized pieces, refusing to be stressed, and trusting God for fruitful results. 3. Don’t Live in Denial. Seeing the problem, accepting responsibility, taking the steps necessary for change, and asking God for help in overcoming is the way to go. Beloved, you are destined for something grand. Stop procrastinating and get on with it!
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Microchips...and the Return of Jesus A Wisconsin company announced its offering of a microchip to its employees to enable them to enter the building, as well as to purchase food on-site. That’s the word from Three Square Market, according to a USA Today story, which reported that the rice-sized chip would be implanted between the thumb and forefinger. Company CEO Todd Westby is quoted here: “We foresee the use of RFID technology to drive everything from making purchases in our office break room market, opening doors, use of copy machines, logging into our office computers, unlocking phones, sharing business cards, storing medical/health information, and used as payment at other RFID terminals...” (RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification.) Westby added, “Eventually, this technology will become standardized allowing you to use this as your passport, public transit, all purchasing opportunities, etc.” Three Square is partnering with a Swedish company with a number of employees who are “chipped.” The story notes that Westby says there is no GPS tracking with the chip. NBC News pointed out: Privacy protections were among the concerns when it was first rolled out, and fundamentalist religious groups publicly objected to the tiny tags as being the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Revelation. NBC did not quote one of these “fundamentalist” believers, but CBN News rightly stated: Many Christians express concerns about microchip implants because they see the idea River Region’s Journey
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as a prelude to “the mark of the Beast” as described in the book of Revelation. Here’s that verse about the End Times from Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV): “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” When Apple Pay technology came out a few years ago, consumer privacy expert and bestselling author Dr. Katherine Albrecht told CBN News, “We’re kind of moving closer and closer to that ‘right hand’ and closer and closer to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy about the mark of the Beast.” Jerry Newcombe, writing at WND.com, indicates that people believing in the return of Jesus by the year 2050 comprise over one-third of the population. He referred to a July 2010 Pew poll that shows a total of 41 percent of Americans believe Jesus definitely (23 percent) or probably (18 percent) will have returned to earth by that time. Newcombe does caution against what he calls “newspaper exegesis,” and writes: Regardless of whether this story on buying a bag of chips in a break room in Wisconsin by means of a microchip planted in the hand has anything to do with the return of Christ, I take great comfort in knowing that one day Jesus will come back. Radio preacher Chuck Swindoll gives us great insight for living, on keeping the return of Christ in perspective: “There’s something about Christ’s soon return that stirs up our urgency and keeps us involved. … What we 24
need is balance. We need to be informed and aware, thinking it could occur at any moment, but carrying out our lives as responsibly as if His return would not be for another two or three generations.” Here are some points to consider: Microchip and RFID technology are certainly available, and, while convenience is a factor, privacy and moral concerns abound. Scripture teaches that what is called the “mark of the beast” in Revelation will become a mandatory element, without which no one can buy and sell; so, it’s not too much of a stretch to see how implanted technology could lead to a fulfillment of prophecy. The “mark” is a tool that will be used by the Antichrist. The Bible teaches that those loyal to him will take the mark, those who are not will reject it. So, there is the question of methodology, but there is also the matter of meaning. And, to whom will people on the earth swear their allegiance? Of course, for those who believe that Jesus will take His Church to be with Him in the rapture, that event would predate the distribution of the “mark.” But, these technological developments can help us to see how that man of perdition could actually control the lives of people by regulating their ability to buy and sell. Finally, we have to make sure that we are ready when Jesus comes to receive His Church. The Bible teaches us that we are to strive to be found faithful. There is certainly a sense of urgency - we need to make sure that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of our lives and that we are walking in obedience to His Word. 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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I dropped my youngest child off at college this week. I can definitely tell you it was NOT the experience I had six years ago when I took my first child. I chuckled as I recounted our first odyssey: all the months of preparation, all the stuff we moved into that tiny dorm room, all the pictures we took and posted on social media, and all the tears we shed as we said our goodbyes. For goodness sakes, we lived 40 miles down the road! This time, there was no fanfare AT ALL. We ordered just about everything we needed online the week before move in day. We unloaded and set up in under an hour. And, after a sweet prayer, a few hugs, and a last-minute photo op (which I nearly forgot) we were on our way. So what made the difference? Me. I am different. I am not the same mom. By God’s grace, I have grown to steward my children and relinquish “ownership.” I have grown in humble dependence on Him, recognizing His limitless abilities in parenting and embracing my limits! Here are a just a few ways I have learned (and still) counsel myself.
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#1 - Your Child is Going to College to Live. Grieve appropriately but not disproportionately. One of my sweet friends who lost her child as a junior in high school found it difficult to endure the laments of mothers two years later who would “lose” their children to college. Grief is a feeling of sadness we experience with loss. Admittedly, there are some losses for moms when our children leave the home (mostly for us not for them)! But there are also many gains. I have enjoyed parenting my adult children beyond what I could have imagined. Dependency does not make a relationship close. In fact, the choice our children make to be our friends is a reward and gift from God. The harder it is for you to let go of your child, the greater the indication it is time for him/her to go.
#2 - God is in Control. He always has been. I know, like me, you thought that you were keeping your child’s life orbiting. But reality check,
you are not in control now and you never really were. Now that the illusion is gone, you must find comfort in trusting the allknowing God!
He is the Savior. Your adult child needs to have an accurate view of him or herself, a sinner in need of a Savior before he/she will embrace Jesus.
#3 - It is God’s Design for Children to Grow Up and Move Onto Independence and Interdependence on God and Others.
#5 - God is Everywhere, Even When You Are Not.
One of my friends used to say, “There are Little House on the Prairie families and Cape Canaveral families. We are raising our children to launch!” Encouraging “Kidulting” (adults who act like kids) is damaging to our children’s maturity and to our relationship.
#4 - Your Child Will Fail. He/she is a maturing sinner. The less inclined to Christ, the more your child is apt to stumble and fall. But God is Sovereign (ruling) over his/her failures. Your child needs to fail. Jesus is not a “self-help” guru, a “genie in a bottle,” or a therapist.
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God’s omnipresence is another comforting characteristic that I cling to. The realization that there is nowhere my child is that God is not can arrest my anxiety when I don’t hear from him/her or cannot get in touch.
#6 - Freedom Will Reveal Much About Your Child’s True Heart Orientation. Your child will live out of his heart. This is an opportunity to pray fervently, and as the opportunity arises to counsel wisely. Don’t give your child false assurances of faith to make yourself feel better. But don’t be afraid to hold a professing child accountable to consider his/her faith in decision-making. But remember, whether your child is lost or
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saved, he/she needs to be gently reminded of the comfort and call of the gospel.
#7 - Prayer Is Not Your Last Resort, But Your First Call to Battle for the Good of Your Child. The old adage “The fiercest battles are won on our knees” rings truer when personal influence is diminished. Praying for temporal issues is certainly normal and necessary, but be challenged to spend your prayer energy on the weightier soul matters.
#8 - I Am Still Growing Up. One of my older sweet friends is always referring to her adult life as “when I
was a mere child of 30, 40, 50, etc.” In light of eternity, we are all mere children no matter how many candles on the birthday cake. It is easy to place all my focus on my child and his/her personal and spiritual growth. But God is not done with me yet! As my home
empties of children, God intends to fill it with greater opportunities to know Him and to make Him known. I pray you will trust God in this new season of life. I pray you will let go and rejoice with your child as he/ she transitions to adulthood. Your relationship is not ending; it is changing. And God willing, for the better!
Contributed by Brenda Payne, COPYRIGHT© 2017 KNOWN Ministries, Inc. All website content at KNOWNMinistries.org is provided by multiple contributors who write based on their personal opinion & life experience. We are not medical professionals and none of our opinions should be taken as medical or professional advice.
Teaching Series Sundays Sept. 10–Oct. 1
Contemporary & Traditional Sunday Worship 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. A family of faith for everyone • Spanish, Korean & Chinese Services 6000 Atlanta Hwy. in Montgomery 334.272.8622 www.frazer.church River Region’s Journey
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Listening as a Lifestyle “Ms. Christy, you just don’t get it. You don’t understand.” My client, a feisty, brave and loveable 19-year-old female was telling me about a difficult situation that she had been involved with at work. And this was her response to me. The sad part about it is that I thought I was really listening! Her words were sobering and so I paused for reflection. What occurred to me was that in my desire to “help her”, I also had an agenda for her: what I thought she “needed” to do. I so desperately wanted this young lady to have a good and productive life that I missed out on the opportunity to really hear her, hear her heart, to hear what is important to her and what it is like to daily live her life. When we have an agenda for another person, it keeps us from hearing them, really hearing them. She was right that day when she called me out. I didn’t understand what her world was like because I thought I had a solution for what she should do. I missed a great opportunity that day. This experience was a wake up call for me. I mean after all, I am supposed to be a professional listener. Right? So what about you? Maybe you want to brush up on your listening skills along with me. Professor David Benner says “a major obstacle to growth in listening abilities is that most us already think we are good listeners.” Hmm…sounds too familiar. In this article, we will look at listening as a lifestyle, not just a set of prescribed listening skills. The first thing that seems obvious is that in order to really listen we have to be quiet and settle in. We hear all day long from the time we get up until the time we go to bed. Very few of us work on cultivating quiet. Quiet is almost River Region’s Journey
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uncomfortable for a lot of us these days, so we keep the noise turned up. What would happen if we were still and sat in our quiet for even a little while each day? We might have more peace and a better sense of ourselves, God and the world around us. We might be quiet long enough to hear the deeper longings of our heart. What if we listened to our emotions before we preached to them? God is always speaking to us through His spirit, creation, others, and of course through His written word. We are so concerned with our beliefs, point of view, and rights that we talk over each other, ever growing louder and louder. Rarely are we willing to show the courage to listen, especially if it is uncomfortable. Just watch any talk show on TV and this will be displayed for you right in your living room. No one listening, but everyone talking! How about each one of us? I have often said that one of the hardest jobs of a parent is to listen to your child when he or she is saying something that you are uncomfortable with or that goes against your own personal beliefs. But parents, be encouraged that your child is talking to you! There are so many other people they could be talking to about this particular issue. How might you listen in a way that welcomes them to continue to share with you? Can we, as parents, ask God for the courage to press deeper into the conversation, deeper into the heart of our child to really hear the story underneath the story! Winston Churchhill said “courage is what takes to stand up and speak and courage is what it takes to listen. “ Let’s be diligent to be courageous parents in this area of our child’s life. All of creation listens. Think about it - the world was created out of chaos when the Lord spoke. All of creation is as a response to listening to God speak. The earth and the entirety of creation listens better than most of us. The Bible repeatedly encourages us to have ears that hear. Not only do we get to listen to God, but He also listens to us. That the God of the universe would take the time to listen to us 30
is pretty astounding. We know that God heard the cries of the slaves in Egypt and He delivered them. The psalms are full of the Lord hearing our cries for help. When Jesus was on the earth, He certainly listened and listened well. Because of His intent listening, He heard “ the story beneath the story” of those He encountered. The woman at the well is a perfect example. Jesus listened and He was able to discern that her greatest need was not just water, but to be heard, seen, understood, and forgiven. The woman at the well represents each one of us. We go to the “well” to get what we need to make it through a particular day. Yes, water is necessary, good, and refreshing. We would never argue about that being an essential part of life. But just like the woman at the well, we need so much more. Each of us longs and needs to be heard, seen, and known for who we really are. Then once that happens, we are in a better position to receive the water that is eternal. So, I have apologized to my client for trying to “shove a cup of water into her hands.” In essence I was saying, “Here, I know what is best for you, drink this!” This 19 year old taught me a great lesson that day. Before we can “take water” from someone, we really need to be heard and seen. She has been gracious, has forgiven me, and now I look forward to listening to her...really listening.
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James 1:19 So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Christy Holding, LPC is a long time resident of Montgomery. She 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 self-harming 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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Tuition assistance available. Discount offered to military families.
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
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trinitywildcats.com M O N T G O M E R Y, A L A B A M A |
334.213.2100
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.
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LOWER SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
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September 2017 UPPER SCHOOL
River Region’s Journey
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Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and First UMC, Millbrook APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. 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
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.
River Region’s Journey
September 2017
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 Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info.
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Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available. Call 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. Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 East Main St. RSVP - 12 step (Christians Against Substance AbuseCASA) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for addition information.
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Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Christ centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For locations, please visit- https://saa-recovery.org/ or please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Meetings are held: every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m, men only. Every Monday night - 7:30 p.m, men and women. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m. Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For any info contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: 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 220-4599 or visit womenofhope@ charter.net.
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. The Montgomery Area 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 Joe and Tricia Crowley at 264-7586 or jpcrowl46@yahoo.com.
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 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.
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. 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.
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Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care Wednesday nights @6:30-8:00 pm in Room 405B. Child care is available. Contact Kathy Cooper at 241-5125 for further information. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Also, DivorceCare for Kids is available. Call 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org. 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.
September 2017
River Region’s Journey
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: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. This is an open group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com with questions or for more information. Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call (334) 284-2721 for info. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church parlor. Call 365-5977.
Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief 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. 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.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the
Church from Aug - May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. Call April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.
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Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of ages birth to 5 at Frazer UMC to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For information call 277-5800. Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174. Location: Redland Baptist, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are
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River Region’s Journey
September 2017
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lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com . Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com.
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy 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 info, call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Parkinson’s Support meets 4th Thursdays at 6pm in room 8114. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Ostomy Support meets every other month on the 2nd Sunday at 2:30 pm in room 3101. In 2017; August, October & December. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group meets 2nd Friday of each month from 6:30- 8 PM. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare is provided. Please visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com or our Facebook page (MADSOG) for information. Please contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com.
Same Sex Attraction
Location: 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.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Boundaries study for singles meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. This study will help singles learn to set boundaries with emotions and help avoid the harmful behavior of others. For information, call 495-6386 or email singles@ frazerumc.org. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Single and Parenting! A New Group for Single Mom’s. This group meets every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm for hope & encouragement & guidance & parenting ideas. For information, call 495-6386 or email singles@frazerumc.org.
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September 2017
River Region’s Journey
Using the Grandchild for Money Q.
My wife and I have been helping our adopted daughter financially for some time. She’s 25, has been married for three years, and we don’t see this cycle stopping anytime soon. The worst part is, they will often throw in that our grandchild will go without something unless we help. We’re certain this isn’t teaching them to stand on their own feet, but we don’t know what else to do.
A. You’re right about one thing. It’s time they both learned how to handle money like mature, responsible adults. I don’t know how much your tried to teach her about finances when she was growing up, but it sounds like this “needing help” thing is turning into an endless cycle. You’re giving them money left and right, and it’s not working. You’re giving them fish, and you’ve heard that whole saying. You could also teach them to fish and then not give them any fish, but I like a third choice in this scenario — give them
River Region’s Journey
September 2017
fish only if they take fishing lessons. They get no more money from you unless they get financial counseling together and make a serious move toward straightening up their lives. If they try to play on your feelings by saying your grandchild is hungry, tell them to send the child over for a meal. If they run out of money until payday, tell them to go to their financial counseling session to find answers. Right now, every time they have a problem they call mom and dad. Guess what? They don’t have any problems as long as you’re doing what you’re doing. Love them well. Hold their hands and say, “When I was your age, I wish someone had done this for me. I’m not going to give you any more money unless you go to financial counseling sessions regularly and together. If you do this, turn in a budget to us and let us coach you on how to be adults and handle your own money well, we’ll help and set up a matching system. If you don’t do the matching part though, you won’t see anything from us.”
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They’ve figured out if they hold your feet to the fire when it comes to this grandbaby, you’re going to open the wallet. They’re playing you right now, and it’s not to their benefit — or yours!
Borrow against retirement? Q.
I have an opportunity to take a loan against my 401(k) retirement, and pay myself interest. Is this a good idea?
A.
Actually, you’ll end up costing yourself interest. Never take a loan against your retirement! When you pay interest against your retirement, you cost yourself interest. If you leave the company — which you will someday — the loan against the 401(k) is due within 60 days. If you don’t pay it off, they consider it an early withdrawal and you’ll get taxed and penalized big-time. If you have a certifiable emergency, like owing the IRS or facing a foreclosure, you may have to withdraw some. You’ll still get taxed, but please don’t ever borrow against retirement!
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how them that you care. 1. S u.” “I’m really worried about yo t sk if they are thinking abou 2. A suicide. “I can imagine how tough this must be for you. Have you been thinking about suicide?” 3. Get Help. n’t “Maybe there’s a chance you wo help.” feel this way forever. I can icide, If you are thinking about su are worried about a friend or ional loved one, or would like emot support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7. Just Talk About It.
Call 1-800-2 73-8255 Available 24 hours every day alabamapublichealth.gov/suicide
Join us for these events plus many more! 305 South Perry Street | 334.834.6310
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