My Passion Issue 3 Final

MY 

PASSION 

MAGAZINE 

Cooking 

Corner 

Recipe Inside! 

HENRY | FAYETTE | CLAYTON 

Dr. Paulette Stewart 

September 2015 - Issue 3 - Vol. 1 

Harvest Happenings

2 

| My Passion - Issue 3 - September 2015 

MEDICAL CARE COMES HOME 

The House Call is Back in Atlanta Georgia… 

Atlanta based, Resurgia Health Solutions is an innovative house call medical practice focused on providing medical 

care when and where patients need it. Our visiting house call physicians are able to provide medical care 

at home, treating patients in the comfort of their own homes with a suite of mobile medical services that align 

closely to the services provided in a typical doctor’s office, yet with more hands-on and in-depth approach to 

treating patients that is very differentiated from the traditional doctor’s office visit – our typical visit is 45 to 90 

minutes. 

Quality house calls in Atlanta Georgia. Nice. 

Resurgia’s visiting doctors deliver a high-touch approach to mobile medicine (not TeleMedicine) that is refreshingly 

innovative and highly effective in getting to better patient outcomes and lower overall health care costs. 

Visit us at www.resurgia.com or Call 1-84House-Doc or email info@resurgia.com to learn more about 

Resurgia House Calls Medical Practice and schedule an appointment with our visiting physicians.

5 Note from the Editor 


6 Motion Picture Geek 

Robey Jones 

7 The Importance of Prayer 

Gwen Johnson 

8 The Book Nook 

Featuring Published Authors 

9 Baby Jack’s Story Part III 

Brittany Liberatore 

10 Ladies of Grace International 

Myesha Cottom 

11 S.S.S. Brigade 

Social Security Seniors 

MY 

My Passion - Issue 3 - September 2015 | 3 

PASSION 

MAGAZINE 

24 Identity Theft 

Mary Lou Kehoe 

25 Fayette County Fall Events 

28 Henry County Fall Events 

31 Clayton County Fall Events 

32 Make Each Day Count 

Mohammed Bolton 

33 Books Are My Passion 

Special Article 

12 Missions at Home and 

Around the World 

Shana Cheeks 

13 From My Home to Yours: 

Autumn DIY 

Dakota Jones 

14 Be Intentional! Life Will 

Surprise You! 

Karla Dennis 

15 The Garden Spot 

Divas of the Autumn Garden 

17 The Flying Goose 

Sandra Schock 

18 Cooking Corner 

Melissa Jones 

20 Christ for India 

21 Wellness 

Dawn Causey 

22 A Passion for Networking 

Chi Chi Okezie 

23 Seasons of Life 

Cornelia Brown 

Harvest Happenings 

16 Harvest Happenings 

Dr. Henry Jones, Pastor Rob 

Jones and Pastor Mike Turner 

Editor-In-Chief/Founder: Dr. Paulette Stewart 

Marketing Director: Dakota Jones 

Creative Director/Designer: Vitos St. Rose 

www.MyPassionMagazine.com 

MPM is published quarterly and will focus on local 

writers, but because we have followers in all parts of 

the world, you will be able to read articles that will 

focus on other cities, states, and nations.

4 


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From the Editor's desk: 

When we were discussing what would be the theme for 

the September issue, of course, we thought of Autumn/ 

Fall. This is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. 

It is that time of year when the foliage starts to shout out 

its colors in beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and 

many colors that are indescribable. Autumn/Fall is the 

season after summer, when leaves fall from trees. It's also 

the season when the days get shorter and colder. 

If you live in Georgia (which I do), you can take a drive 

up toward north Georgia and experience a “breathtaking” 

day because of the beautiful array of colored 

trees covering the mountains. It is a spectacular sight to 

behold. Even in the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, the 

trees are absolutely gorgeous. Even after the leaves fall to 

the ground, there is a beautiful golden halo around the 

bottom of the tree. 

The harvest marks the end of the growing season found in 

many regions. We have planted the seed; we have watered 

the seed; we have allowed the seed to grow. Now, it is time 

to harvest. (I could get real good and spiritual right now, 

but I won’t. I will leave that to others.) 

Within this issue of My Passion Magazine, you will read 

articles on the colors of Autumn/Fall, harvest time, foods 

to eat, and many more fascinating articles. 

My Passion Magazine now has its own website and all the 

other social networks (I am trying to learn all of these networks 

…..not completely there yet….but on my way). 

Let us know if you are enjoying the magazine and any suggestions 

that you might have. Just go to www.mypassionmagazine.com 

and leave us a note. 

By the way, get your camera, your mobile, or whatever device 

you use to take pictures for this most delightful season 

of the year is here! 

Another thing that we think of during the Autumn/Fall 

season is “harvesting.” So, I went to the handy-dandy 

internet. Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops 

from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse 

for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper.

6 


Best Of June 

Me and Earl 

and the Dying Girl Jurassic World 

Best Of July 

Paper Towns 

Best Of August 

Cop Car 

Southpaw 

The Man From 

U.N.C.L.E. 

MOTION PICTURE GEEK 

Whether it’s 

preteen emotions, 

homicidal dinosaurs, or a dying girl, June had the hook up 

for some fantastic films. Jurassic Parks’ comeback to the 

screen was enough for 

Inside Out 

anyone to go to the 

movies, and 

although Inside Out 

isn’t Pixar’s best 

movie of all time, it 

absolutely stole my 

heart. Me and Earl 

and the Dying Girl 

went under so many 

people’s radar, but I 

think everyone should 

see this touching tale 

of friendship . .. Woody Allen is back for another consecutive 

year, Jake Gyllenhaal continues to blow me away, and John 

Green gives me hope 

for Youtubers alike 

Irrational Man this past July movie 

season. In a time of 

amazing superhero 

movies, book films, 

and remakes, an 

original screenplay 

is exactly what we 

need. And July 

delivered. Speaking 

of a remake The Man 

From U.N.C.L.E. is 

filled with action and just works. Superman plus the Lone 

Ranger is a recipe for success. Now, Straight Outta 

Compton is rated R so 

Straight 

Outta Compton 

by Robey Jones 

Ah, film. What a wonderful, wonderful art form. I have loved movies for as long as 

I can remember. A lot of people discover passions from their parents, but my film 

obsession came from none other then my grandparents. As a kid, my Nana would 

buy us VHS’ on a regular basis. Man, oh man, how I loved sitting in my little 

recliner (that I would break in an instant now) watching my favorite television 

shows, such as Barney, old Disney cartoons, and movies galore. Some of my 

earliest memories were going to the movies with my Mimi and Papa. In fact just 

recently, I remembered going to a now non-existing movie theatre to see 

Mousehunt, which came out in 1997. I would have only been two or three years old 

at the time. Motion pictures are undoubtedly my utmost passion. In fact you can ask 

anyone close to me and they will most likely say that that’s an understatement. If 

you allow me to, I will show you what movies you should be watching from this 

year, and from decade’s past. So without further ado, come with me to one of my 

places of comfort, where you to can come to appreciate a beautiful medium known 

as film. My name is Robey Jones and this is Motion Picture Geek. 

I advise reading the 

parental guide ahead 

of time, but it was an 

excellent biopic. There 

is not much to say 

about Cop Car, except 

for one thing. Come 

on man! It’s Kevin 

Bacon! To round 

things up Summer was 

a success and I cannot 

wait for the movies to 

come. 

Nobody Put’s Classics 

in the Corner..... 

Except For Me 

Director Highlight 

Terry Gilliam Alfred Hitchcock 

Two of the most influen/al directors of all /me, one s/ll 

living and one departed. Hitchcock is said to be the 

greatest director of all /me, and Gilliam the most 

diverse. I look up to both of these men, and I can’t wait 

to see what I can learn from them in the future. 

Old School Cinema 

Tootsie (1982) 

Directed by: Sydney Pollack 

“Tootsie is the story of an 

unemployed actor with a 

reputa/on for being 

difficult and who disguises 

himself as a woman to get a 

role in a soap opera.” It’s full 

of heart and down right 

hilarious. If you haven’t seen 

Dus/n Hoffman in one of his 

greatest roles, then you need 

to do so immediately.


The Importance of Prayer 

(Part 3) 

By Gwen Johnson 

This quarter we are talking about “Harvest Time”. We all like the sound 

of that, but can we truthfully say we really know what this entails? 

Let’s take a little longer to study the scripture II Chronicles 7:14: “If My 

people who are called by my name would humble themselves…..” This 

statement denotes that there is corresponding action on our part to see the 

harvest. 

Think about it like this, if I were selected to move to another country 

whose language I did not speak, I believe that I would quickly submit or 

“humble” myself to those with the authority to help me be able to live in 

the new land. Whether it meant getting a tutor or any other tools available 

to me. I would not be a know-it-all, because I then, set myself up to 

fall. 

We as Christians, are calling ourselves by the name of Christ, yet we 

choose to live in the law of the “Old Nature” instead of coming into the 

new land under the conviction of the “New Nature,” the Spirit of God living 

in us. He is our Counselor, Director, and Guide on this journey called 

LIFE. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “He knows the thoughts He has for us.” 

We have been blessed with this awesome ability to not only call on the 

Name of the Lord for ourselves, but for others, also. 

When I submit my will to that of the Holy Spirit, I find it easier to get 

into the Word of God and understand. I begin to pray more. I ask questions 

and He answers. I then begin to walk humbly with my God. As I 

seek His face through all avenues (the Word, His people, yes, even through 

His grand works in nature), I stand in awe as the psalmist said, “Who am 

I, that thou art mindful of me.” I get excited. 

I find myself beginning to turn from my wicked ways, in true repentance. 

I sense the Father’s nod of approval, and because I am the “Righteousness 

of Him through the Blood of Jesus His Son, He begins to bring about 

total restoration in my life. This begins my “Harvest Time.” There will be 

many, as long as I continue to participate in the “Relationship.” Not just of 

things, but of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, humility, 

meekness, temperance, faith, and anything else He has for me. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a process. The thing is, I have committed myself 

to the process. I won’t leap off of the “Potter’s Wheel” until He says so. I 

see a life of prayer as a legacy of Love to those who first loved me: Father 

God, Jesus His Son (my eldest brother in the Christian walk), and the 

Holy Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, hovered over the face 

of the waters (in the beginning) and now hovers over me and is in me to 

instruct and keep me. 

Hope you guys are enjoying this prayer journey as much as I am. 

Talk again next issue. Be Blessed!

8 


The Book Nook 

Feature your book here today! 

BABY 

Designed by God 

Dr. Amanda Hess & Dr. Jeremy Hess 

pulls the blinders off and informs any parent who 

dares to know the truth about natural, God-given 

methods of pregnancy, birthing, and raising healthy 

children. 

Order BABY: 

www.designed-by-god.com 

Watch Me Daddy 

The Cry of the Generations 

Michael Turner 

Watch Me Daddy speaks to all those who did not grow up with 

the treasure of a father’s presence in their lives. 

Order Watch Me Daddy: 

www.michaelturner.tv

Baby Jacks’ Story: Part III 

Brittany Liberatore 


After Jackson died, we began our 

journey of trying to figure the whole 

"grief" thing out. I actually tried not 

to label it or define it, and just let it 

come as it did. This was hard for me 

because I like rules and plans. I don't 

think either of those exist within the 

confines of walking through grief. I 

have read and heard that everyone 

grieves differently and that there is 

no "right" way to do it or amount of 

time to do it in. 

At this point, I didn't know what 

or where I was on this journey, but 

I knew that I was not mad. Broken 

seemed to be a more fitting description 

of our time right then. Our 

sweet baby boy was born broken. We 

were left with our hearts broken. But 

it all started at the beginning of time 

when the world was broken. 

When God created the universe, I 

know that He never intended that 

there be heartbreak, that sickness 

would exist, or that newborn babies 

would die. I can confidently believe 

that because I would never want 

my daughter, Emma, to experience 

those things, and as God's children, 

I am sure that he wants the same 

for us. 

“See how very much our 

Father loves us, for he calls us his 

children, and that is what we are! 

But the people who belong to this 

world don't recognize that we are 

God's children because they don't 

know him.” 1 John 3:1 

I believe that all of the bad that 

happens in this crazy world we live 

in is a consequence of sin. It was sin 

that ruined the perfect world God 

had planned for us. When Adam 

and Eve disobeyed God, the world 

was instantly broken. And just like 

a trail of dominoes, that one act of 

sin at the beginning of human existence, 

put into effect a downward 

spiral of brokenness that would 

continue to affect all people for all 

of time on earth. 

But, the one that no one can escape 

is death. We all will die one day, 

and until we do, we will all experience 

the death of someone around 

us. It's a given. No one likes to 

think about that, of course, but it's 

guaranteed to happen. Time, on the 

other hand, is never guaranteed - we 

never know when the lives of those 

around us will be taken. Jackson 

was guaranteed to die, we'd only 

hoped it would have been many, 

many years from now. 

not mean that we are granted a "get 

out of jail free" pass to escape all of 

the hurt in this life. No, that pass 

doesn't come until we experience 

death ourselves and stand before 

the King. Only then, we will be 

granted an eternity with no tears, or 

loss, or sickness. HALLELUJAH. 

Trisomy 13 was our cup of suffering. 

It likely won't be yours. It also 

won't be the last trial of our lives. 

I am sure there are more to come 

our way. But praise our Father in 

heaven that this is not the end. This 

broken world is not the only place 

we will ever know, thanks to Jesus. 

We will see our Baby Jacks again 

one day, and that is something I am 

glad about. 

Can't wait to see his sweet face 

again. Then, nothing will be broken. 

This is why I wasn't mad then or 

now (especially not mad at God). 

I've never questioned why this 

happened to us, because, I know 

Trisomy 13 is an awful side effect 

of living in a broken world. I also 

don't question "Why us?" because 

if it weren't Trisomy 13, it would 

be something else. This life is hard. 

Just because we are believers does

10 | My Passion - Issue 3 - September 2015 

Myesha Cottom 

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of 

love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24 (NLT) 

In the early church, there was a call to action to consider 

the spiritual walk and growth of others and encourage 

them to love and do good works for the Lord. That call 

is still in place today and the founder and members of 

Ladies of Grace take that call seriously. The ladies seek 

to exhort one another so we may all: 

1) uplift the Kingdom and glorify God; 

2) praise God faithfully through any trial and come 

through the other side refined and more prepared; 

3) find our passion and recognize the gifts that will enable 

us to purposefully live this God-given life. 

As evident by the numerous articles in this magazine 

and the touching word of mouth testimonies that I hear 

every month, these ladies are spirit-filled vessels making 

an impact for Jesus. Being around these women and 

being a part of this organization has had an everlasting 

effect on my life. 

Early in my Christian walk, I took a spiritual gifts “assessment” 

at a retreat and I ranked high in the gift of 

administration. I was satisfied with the outcome because 

I felt that I was already good at organizing, planning, 

and focusing on an objective. As I was a young woman 

in my twenties, I knew that I still had room to grow in 

this area. Although I stepped into these qualities in the 

workplace, I felt that the Kingdom required the “best” 

and I was not quite qualified yet. 

additional gifts and a passion to utilize those gifts for 

God. For years, I rejected the notion that I could lead 

a successful small group or be a leader in a ministry. 

But God had a bigger plan for me. He used women 

from Ladies of Grace International to encourage me at 

different points in my spiritual growth. One encouraged 

me and supported me in my desire to start a 

monthly small group for ladies. She and others were 

such advocates that over 60 ladies signed up for the 

small group! 

Dr. P (Dr. Paulette Stewart), the founder of LOG, has 

encouraged me in so many ways, I have lost count. She 

encouraged me in my passion to lead kids to Christ 

and challenged me to take a leadership role in the 

children’s ministry. 

More recently, I was encouraged to not stand behind 

the event table at a LOG retreat and let God use me 

at the pulpit to touch dozens of ladies. While speaking, 

sharing, and praying over these ladies, I felt God’s 

anointing. God had qualified me because I answered 

his call. Since answering his call, I walk more boldly 

in my gifts and my passions. My passion is to encourage 

other women in Christ and to plant the seeds of 

Christ in young hearts. 

As a Lady of Grace, I thank God for his unmerited 

favor in my life and for being the ultimate encourager. 

At this point, I felt comfortable keeping order in 

the Toddler’s classroom, creating literature for events, 

and literally manning the table for others. I was in my 

comfort zone. 

At this time, I did not see myself doing anything outside 

of my comfort zone. I didn’t dare dream that I had

S.S.S. Brigade 

Social Security Seniors 


You don't mess with seniors. 

A lot of us seniors like to have our doctor appointments 

scheduled early in the mornings because we 

have been up since 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and we are 

ready to get our day started. OR, it is Wednesday 

– double coupon day and also senior citizens 

discount day. (I knew I was getting old when they 

started automatically giving me my senior discount 

without even asking. Oh well, that’s life.) 

So, now that school has officially started for this 

school year, we may have to change our approach 

to our day. The traffic is slower because of school 

buses and children are walking to school. So, 

we have to be very watchful. (We should be all 

the time, but especially since the kids are out in 

droves.) We love our children, so we want to be 

very mindful of them. 

I read a little story the other day that I thought 

would go along very well with this time of year. 

You may want to take a few notes on “how to have 

peace and quiet” in your neighborhood. I think we 

seniors are smarter than the “average bear.” 

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. 

He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The 

very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating 

merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the 

wise old man decided it was time to take some action. 

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. 

Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, 

I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll 

promise to come around every day and do your thing." The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job 

on the trash cans. 

After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. 

"This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay 

you 50 cents to beat on the cans." 

The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. 

A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street. 

"Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more 

than 25 cents. Will that be okay?" 

"A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans 

around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace. 

Compliments of the Internet


MISSIONS 

...at home and around the world 

An 

Unexpected 

Mission 

Field 

Shana Cheeks 

I want to share with you an unexpected mission field 

that I have had the privilege to participate in. In May 

of 2009, I became a grandmother or “Grammy” as I am 

called. My daughter was grown and living her life, going 

to college and working. Now, I believed, was my opportunity 

to do some of the things that were in my heart, 

namely “missions” and other ministry. 

blessings. Later, we added how to ask God to forgive 

us and how to thank God in advance for the things 

we needed in our lives. And just last week, I had the 

honor of leading my grandson in prayer as he gave his 

life to Jesus. What an honor and a blessing it has been 

thus far to answer all the questions my grandson has 

about God and his love for us. 

My idea of missions was going to foreign soil and sharing 

the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who do not 

know him and take them items that they might need. 

I was excited because my first solo mission trip was in 

Markurdi, Nigeria. I know that God made it all happen 

because, trust me, at that time my husband and I were 

still deeply in debt and working at getting debt free. 

People so sweetly gave me funds to purchase my plane 

ticket, visa, and items to take to give to the women and 

children that I would meet. 

What a wonderful mission trip that was, and I came 

home so amazed at all that God had done. Shortly after 

I arrived home, our precious grandson was born. My husband 

and I prayed for a long time about how to help our 

daughter. We made the decision that while she worked 

full time and went to college at night, I would babysit 

and help her so that she could continue to pursue her 

dream career. 

Two years into babysitting, I was talking to our loving 

Father one day and said to him, “I thought this was my 

time to be able to pursue my dreams and the dreams you 

put in my heart. I feel like I am not able to do the things 

I was called to do. I am missing opportunities. When is 

it going to be my turn to do what I want to do?” Well, 

first of all, He told me to listen to what I had just said 

and it was all about me, me, me. I, then, heard Him say, 

“The mission field in front of you is equally as important 

as going abroad to share the gospel of Jesus.” 

Wow, talk about an eye opener, my grandson was my 

mission field too. I didn’t even realize that as I was going 

about my daily life teaching my grandson about Jesus 

and how much he loves us, that I was actually in a mission 

field. I was privileged to teach him how to pray. We 

started out with learning how to thank God for all our 

I want to encourage everyone who thinks that they are 

not doing anything big in their life, that if you are a 

mother, grandmother, father, grandfather, aunt, uncle, 

sister, brother, or someone who has taken on one of 

these roles; and you are sharing the love of Jesus with 

a child, training and teaching them to share God’s 

love, then you are doing something BIG! 

I still have time to do a lot of other ministry things, 

like missions in other lands, conferences, write articles, 

sing, perform weddings, etc. However, I no longer look 

on those things as more important or that I have something 

being taken away from me. The greatest thing I 

can share is love. 

(1) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of 

angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy 

gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I had the gift of 

prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans 

and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith 

that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I 

would be nothing. (3) If I gave everything I have to the 

poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about 

it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

I Corinthians 13:1-3 

It goes on in verse 13 to say that….. faith, hope, and 

love will remain, but the greatest is love. 

I wonder what the world would look like if we all 

began to see the people that God has put in our lives 

as our mission field. How much more would we pour 

into their lives? How much more time would we take to 

explain things they need to learn in life? So, be encouraged 

today if you thought that you were not making 

a difference in the world, your mission field is right in 

front of you and you are making a BIG difference.


From My Home to Yours: 

Autumn DIY 

Dakota Jones 

after those difficult times, she was 

filled with the desire to make the 

holidays a special time for all of her 

kids and grandkids. 

picked up a little metallic brown 

bucket, and ended up making a 

beautiful arrangement of fall flowers 

as a table piece. 

When all of the arts and crafts 

stores started putting out fall décor 

in August, I was more than ready 

to buy my pumpkins and cinnamon 

brooms. Sure, it was still 90 degrees 

outside, but in my heart I could 

feel fall calling! Autumn has always 

been my favorite time of year. To 

me, it puts a freshness into the air 

and an excitement in people because 

with fall comes the holidays! 

Back home in Florida, my family 

doesn't play when it comes to 

decorating. We deck things out with 

wreaths, flowers, bows, and ribbons. 

We fill bowls with candy for passerbys, 

and engulf the house with the 

smell of crisp apples and cinnamon. 

As a kid, I can remember coming 

home from school to find my mom 

transforming the house from her 

summer beach décor to the oranges 

and yellows of fall. Even if it was 

still scorching hot outside, the feeling 

it gave me was great enough to 

make me believe that the air had 

almost instantaneously shifted. 

I am more than willing to carry on 

this tradition! So with thirty dollars 

in my pocket, I set out to buy my 

very own fall decorations! I hopped 

in my car and went to about seven 

different stores to try and find the 

cheapest and cutest deals. Sure, 

Hobby Lobby had good sales, but 

even there, I would only have been 

able to buy two or three things with 

the money I had. So in a last ditch 

effort I stumbled into the Dollar 

Tree and was surprised at the 

inspiration that hit me. They had a 

little section dedicated to fall, and I 

started grabbing supplies like a mad 

woman! 

After borrowing glue from my 

mother-in- law, I got to work. I had 

Here’s how: 

1. From the Dollar Tree, buy about 

5 fake flowers that you think will go 

nicely together. 

2. Get your bucket or container of 

choice and a circular foam ball to 

place in the bottom of the container 

(also at the Dollar Tree). 

3. Cut the stems of your flowers so 

that they don’t stand too tall in 

your container. (My flower stems 

were plastic with a metal wire 

inside. I found it easiest to cut the 

plastic with scissors and then bend 

until the metal gave in.) 

4. Start putting your flowers into the 

bucket, pressing the stem into the 

foam at the bottom. 

5. Arrange however you want! 

I can accredit my grandmother for 

putting the love of the holidays in 

my family. When she was only eight 

years old, my grandmothers’ mom 

passed away from breast cancer. My 

BB was the eldest of three girls, and 

on Christmas Eve they were placed 

into an orphanage. I suppose that 

Continued on Page 27


Be Intentional! 

Life Will Surprise You! 

Karla Dennis 

Hello, Friend! I hope you got a chance to read my last article, 

but if not, here is a quick recap! In my article on crutches and 

hurdles, we talked about what holds us back from living life 

to the fullest! For me, it’s being single. Instead of going out 

and trying new things, I have allowed singleness to inhibit my 

life instead of living in the freedom that singleness gives me. 

I hope that as a reader you did some soul searching and discovered 

for yourself what you use as a crutch to inhibit your 

life. Maybe it’s being single, being married, being old, being 

overweight, or a personal fear. Now that you have discovered 

these crutches, next comes the difficult part; doing something 

about it. I want to share with you in this article about an opportunity 

I had this summer to put my crutches down and try 

something new! 

This summer I decided to go with the youth group to Camp 

Grace, which should be renamed Camp Amazing! It was awesome! 

This camp had everything: rock wall, zip line, ropes 

course, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, wet zip, giant 

water slide, lake trampolines, and swimming. When we got to 

camp, I started to encourage the teens to try new things and 

meet new people. I realized that these teenagers had crutches 

of their own. It was a joy to encourage them to step out of 

their box and do something different. The next couple of days 

I heard so many stories about fishing, the rock climbing wall, 

and so much more. One thing that I will always remember 

is the teens’ sense of wonderment when they did something 

new, and they could actually do it. But this is not a one-sided 

story. The teens started asking me what I planned to try, and 

I began to feel those old crutches trying to get in the way! I 

don’t want to be one of those people who says one thing, but 

does another. 

As leaders at the camp, we did not have as much time as 

the kids to try everything. So, I made a decision to try a few 

things that looked really exciting and appealing to me. 

(1) I was going canoeing; (2) I was going to go horseback riding; 

and (3) I was going to try all the lake activities (both 

lake trampolines and cross walk, the giant slide, and the 

paddle board). I didn’t wait to see what the other leaders 

were going to do. I had a plan! I loved everything. To be 

honest, I more than loved it once I realized that I could 

do it. I also realized that these things could be more than 

a onetime experience. I needed and wanted to do these 

things again. One of the other leaders said to me that being 

at camp made her realize how much she missed being 

outside and doing outside activities. I felt the same way. 

Which brings me to my next big task, live life intentionally! 

Camp Grace and my teens encouraged me to realize that 

there are a lot of things in life that I love to do! It reminded 

me of things that I loved doing, but I’ve forgotten 

about. It gave me the courage to put my crutches down 

and experience life. In essence, Camp Grace changed my 

life. Here’s the thing, I don’t want this experience to be 

one great moment in my life, but many. To make that 

happen I have to be intentional about life. 

If I love canoeing, I need to make time and find a place to 

canoe. If I love horseback riding, I need to find a place to 

take lessons and start riding. Life does not just happen by 

accident. I need to live it on purpose with intentions. 

As you are reading this article I want you to make a plan! 

Plan out some of the things that you did before all the 

crutches got in the way. What did you love to do? Also 

put on that list some things that you have never done 

before to discover new things you might like doing! I hate 

to say it, but if you are waiting for life to happen, you will 

be waiting for a long time. 

Just like the title of this article: Life is going to surprise 

you when you get intentional about it!


The Garden Spot 

Divas 

of the 

Autumn Garden 

You can't go wrong with fall mums for the perfect lateseason 

bloomer. 

When fall arrives, we do not have to regret the passing of 

all the summer blooms we love so much: pompon dahlias, 

Shasta daisies, African daisies, little zinnias, asters, etc. 

But, be of good cheer, the fall garden offers all these 

flower shapes from just one plant, the chrysanthemum 

(I just say “mums”). There are hundreds of hardy cultivated 

plants that provide an array of colors and bloom 

shapes, making mums the divas of the autumn garden. 

The blooms last for weeks, not days, and the sheer number 

of flowers per plant will convince anyone that this 

flower really likes to show off. Add the mum's impressionistic 

abilities to its longevity, and you have a plant 

that pulls its weight in the garden. 

Because of their tight, mounded habit and stunning 

bloom cover, garden mums are perfect for mass 

plantings. To get the maximum effect from far away, 

stick to only one or two colors. Another possibility 

is to arrange a gradual transition of related colors. 

Look around your yard to see what colors would best 

complement the existing landscape. 

If you decorate for fall with pumpkins and gourds, 

choose orange, bronze, yellow, and creamy white 

mums. If you have a lot of evergreen plants that 

provide a backdrop of varying shades of green foliage, 

try bright pinks, lavenders, pure whites, or reds. With 

such bold colors, a large grouping of mums can excite 

even the most drab of fall landscapes. 

Garden mums also make great container plants. 

They're just right for popping into a clay pot, lining 

up in a row in a window box, or placing in the center 

of a mixed container with trailing foliage plants all 

around. Many landscape plants can provide a backdrop 

for groupings of mums.


Harvest Happenings 

We are entering the fall of the year 

and we tend to look at the fall as a 

time of harvesting, but of course, we 

have to plant before we can harvest. 

So, I wanted to show you how the 

planting of one seed can turn into a 

wonderful harvest field. 

In 1979 a young couple came to the 

Clayton County area with their two 

small children to plant a church. As 

they were driving down Tara Boulevard 

in Jonesboro, Georgia, this 

young man, Henry Jones (at that 

time was 32 years of age), pointed 

to a piece of property and said, 

“One day I will build a church on 

that property.” It was a few years 

later that he had a beautiful church 

sitting on the property. That was 

36 years ago. 

For this article, he was asked, “How 

long have you been in the ministry?” 

He responded, “It’s been 

a long time. When I was about 

15 years of age, I would get on a 

greyhound bus on Friday and travel 

about 100 miles to preach, and 

then, I would get back on the bus 

on Sunday night to go home so that 

I could go to school on Monday.” 

He was the Senior Pastor at Church 

of the Harvest International in 

Jonesboro, Georgia, for 18 years, 

when he and his wife, Ann, went 

on the mission field to Indonesia. 

They were very successful in this 

mission venture. They preached to 

thousands in auditoriums, stadiums, 

large churches, businesses, etc. They 

have even been asked to pray over 

malls, homes, and families. When 

they are in the nation of Indonesia, 

they try to do as much as they can 

in the time they have. 

But here on the home front, they 

had to leave the church in good 

hands. They resigned as the Senior 

Pastors and appointed their son and 

daughter-in-law (Rob and Melissa 

Jones) to become the senior pastors. 

Rob was 27 at this time. Dr. Jones 

said that he was not worried about 

Rob’s age because he had been on 

staff for four years and was already 

the assistant pastor. He had served 

in all the areas of the church and 

he would do whatever was asked of 

him. Dr. Jones said, “I knew that 

Rob was ready.” 

Pastor Rob was asked how he felt 

when his dad announced that he 

was going on the mission field and 

leaving him with the church as 

senior pastor. His response was, 

"It was surreal. He had gone to 

Indonesia and I had been preaching 

while he was gone. The church had 

actually grown some while he was 

gone. They had been gone seven 

weeks and I had been preaching and 

the church was doing great. But I 

had no clue, no hint, not idea that 

he was actually was going to give 

me the church at the age of 27. I 

didn’t think I was old enough. It 

was unreal. It was a little overwhelming. 

I was scared out of my 

mind that it had happen.” 

Dr. Jones planted the seed in 

Jonesboro, Georgia, and the seed 

grew when Pastor Rob took over 

the church. The church has grown 

tremendously since the transition 

of pastors. The seed was planted, 

watered, being harvested and it is 

doing well – still growing and ministering 

to hundreds of people in multiple 

services on the weekend with 

approximately 1000 people that call 

COTHI their home church. 

Then one night a young man, 

named Mike Turner, visited the 

church and heard Pastor Rob 

preach. He turned his life over to 

the Lord that night. When ask 

of Pastor Mike, “When you surrendered 

to Lord, did you know at 

that moment in time you wanted 

to be a pastor or a preacher?” His 

response was, “No, I just wanted to 

be forgiven of my sins and be able 

to go to heaven. That was it. That 

was my goal.” 

Pastor Mike stated that he really 

did not have a vision or career. He 

said, “I had no vision. I was just 

making it like most people, week to 

week. I was wrestling with God, 

trying to come out of a lifestyle of 

addiction. I finally walked away 

from that lifestyle, was water baptized 

and started to Bible College 

just because I wanted to know the 

Bible not so much to preach. I 

didn’t know a lot of the stories in 

Continued on page 29


The Flying Goose 

Sandra Schock 

First of all, if it had to happen, I’m 

thankful that this “goose” flew into 

the passenger’s side of the windshield 

and not on the driver’s side. 

If it had hit the driver’s side, my 

husband would have swerved the car 

(on an impulse) to keep from hitting 

the goose and we could have had a 

serious accident. 

One Sunday morning, my husband 

and I were driving home from 

Sunday service, minding our own 

business, and driving no more than 

30-35 mph. All of a sudden this 

thing came out of nowhere. It was 

flying towards us about 30 mph and 

it crashed into our windshield. IT 

WAS A GOOSE! 

Scared us to death. I screamed! 

Needless to say, it shattered the 

top right corner of the windshield 

on the passenger’s side (of course, 

this was my side). Not only did 

all of the glass fall out, but, it put 

a hole in the windshield and tiny 

slivers of glass fell all in the car 

and in my lap. When the goose hit 

the car, his body was sliced in half. 

The top half of this goose flew over 

our car leaving the rest of it lodged 

in the windshield. Many feathers 

flew inside and outside of the car. I 

guess we could say, “his goose was 

cooked.” 

We saw a parked police officer, so 

we turned around and went back to 

advise him as to our problem. He 

said he saw us as we passed by seconds 

earlier and he wondered what 

in the world that was hanging out 

of our windshield. IT WAS THE 

REMAINDER OF THE GOOSE! 

He made a police report of this 

incident (not knowing for sure if we 

needed one for insurances purposes 

or not.) 

In the meantime, the police officer 

went back to where the goose 

landed and picked him up off the 

street. They have to tag the birds 

when ‘things like this happen.’ I 

told the police officer that this was 

the biggest goose I had ever seen (of 

course, I had not seen many anyway). 

This is just an example of how 

quickly freak accidents can happen. 

Some are worse than others. 

God just spared us from the bad. 

So……………..what does it matter 

that I was a little inconvenienced 

without my car. Thankfully I can 

say, we were not hurt, just a little 

shaken up. 

After this incident, it made me 

thankful for things that I sometimes 

took for granted. Before when 

I would get into my car, I didn’t 

think about anything happening. 

But after this incident, I try to pray 

and ask God to protect me. Thank 

God He did that day. 

Second, I’m thankful that I had my 

sun visor down and I had on my 

sunglasses, because all of these tiny 

slivers of glass would have hit me in 

the face. Most of the time, I do not 

wear sunglasses. Because the sun 

visor was down, all of the glass went 

into my lap. 

Third, I’m thankful that the goose 

did not hit the windshield even an 

inch lower, because I could have 

been seriously hurt. Flying as fast 

as he was, his beak could have gone 

right through my chest. Now, that 

would have hurt! 

Fourth, I’m thankful that God was 

watching over me and my husband 

on that day. 

Watch out for flying objects, 

you never know 

what’s coming at 

you……………………it might just 

be a flying GOOSE!

Cooking 


18 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love the weather, I love the clothes, and most of all, I love 

the food. The meals that I crave during this time of year are hearty, warm, easy to prepare, and 

they have to be delicious. “Lighter Lasagna” allows you to experience the Autumn time bounty 

without so much of the guilt. You will not be sorry! 

"LIGHTER" LASAGNA 

INGREDIENTS 

1 lb. ground turkey (or beef) 

1 jar (16 ounces) salsa 

1 can (16 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained 

1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn 

1 large onion, chopped 

1 medium green pepper, chopped 

1 celery rib, chopped 

3 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tbsp fresh basil, minced or 1 tsp dried basil 

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp chili powder 

12 whole-wheat lasagna noodles, cooked, rinsed, and drained 

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese 

½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated


Corner 

with Melissa Jones 

1. In a large skillet, cook turkey (or beef) over medium heat until no longer 

pink; drain. Add the salsa, beans, vegetables, garlic and seasonings. 

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 

2. Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated 

with cooking spray; top with four noodles. Repeat layers once. Top with 

half of the remaining sauce; sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Layer with 

remaining noodles, sauce and cheeses. 

3. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 

minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 15 minutes before 

cutting. 

Makes 12 serving 

***This lasagna is even better the next day! It can also be prepared in advance (BUT NOT COOKED) and then 

freeze it for up to 3 months. 

3 “SAVE TIME” TIPS: 

1. PLAN OUT YOUR MEALS FOR THE WEEK 

Sit down, look at your week, and list what nights you will be eating at home. Write it down and keep it 

in the kitchen so everyone can see what the next few meals will be. They’ll look forward to it all week. 

2. MAKE A THOROUGH GROCERY LIST 

When you have a detailed grocery list, you only have to go to the store one time. Make your list at the 

same time you make your weekly meal-plan. This way you will ensure that you have every ingredient 

for every meal. 

3. ALWAYS HAVE BACK-UP CONDIMENTS AND SPICES 

There is nothing worse than needing an ingredient for a meal and not having it! Start stocking up on 

your favorite condiments and spices so you never run out.


Last year I was introduced to an organization 

(not only a ministry, but 

a humanitarian organization) called 

Christ For India. I met Jameson 

Titus who serves as President of 

Christ for India, and immediately 

could feel his passion for India. His 

parents, Dr. P.J. and Mary Titus, 

had a great vision to not only win 

India for Christ, but to help improve 

formal and vocational education, 

and provide jobs, food, and 

shelter. 

In 1984 Mary Titus started a school 

with 50 children. Initially, their 

education was conducted under the 

mango trees which necessitated the 

start of Nava Jeevan Public School 

in the same year. Children from 

all over Andhra Pradesh and other 

states attended the school. 

A children’s home (New Life Children’s 

Home) was built in 1986, 

1989, and 2007 for boys and girls. It 

is comprised of three hostels and accommodates 

more than 400 resident 

children, house parents, and child 

helpers. In 1990, a 400 seat dining 

hall, kitchen, and storeroom were 

built. By God’s grace, their dedicated 

catering team provides nutritious 

meals for the students, children, 

and campus faculty every day. Also, 

buses are used for bringing children 

to school from the surrounding villages 

and for ministry outreaches. 

Junior College was started. Many 

of the graduates of this institution 

are enrolled in engineering and 

medical colleges. 

Jyothi Hospital was built in 1990 

with the aim of serving all those 

on the Christ For India campus as 

well as the poor villagers neighboring 

the campus. In 1998 the facility 

became a full-fledged 30 bed general 

hospital with all facilities. Remote 

Medical Camps are set up in local 

villages at least twice a month. A 

medical team consisting of a doctor, 

nurse, pharmacist, and helper provide 

free first aid and consultation 

to the poor and needy. If a medical 

case cannot be treated at the remote 

location, patients are referred 

to the Joythi Hospital where they 

receive free treatment. Medical staff 

are able not only to attend to the 

physical needs of patients, but also 

to their spiritual needs. 

A Women’s Vocational College provides 

underprivileged women with 

one year’s training in computers 

with job placement. Without this 

training these women would face 

an uncertain life. Training in other 

vocational skills such as sewing, machine 

repair, plumbing, and electrial 

repair are also offered on campus. 

COTR Theological Seminary 

opened in 1983 with 30 students. 

Over 2000 students have completed 

training since the inception of the 

seminary. It offers Bachelor of Theology, 

Master of Divinity, and Master 

of Theology in Missiology and 

Church History degrees, accredited 

by Asia Theological Association. 

They are also planning for a Doctoral 

program in the near future. 

Christ for India is doing a great 

and awesome work. In October of 

2014 a Cyclone hit the campus and 

did over a million dollars in damage 

and destruction, but not one 

child, student, or staff member was 

injured during the storm. That was 

a miracle in itself. 

If you would like to sponsor a child, 

student, help with the re-building, 

or just make a donation, please go 

to www.christforindia.org. You will 

find so many opportunities to serve. 

In the midst of all that is being 

done, President Jameson Titus 

makes the statement, “Training 

thousands to reach the millions.” 

In 2001, The Nava Jeevan Christian


WELLNESS 

Everyday people battle with stress or anxieties of 

life. They are trying to balance family, work, school, 

activities, ministry, and more! We live in a fast paced 

society where sleep deprivation is on the rise. The 

question is, do you know how to "quiet your mind"? 

(That's what my meditation coach says.) 

• Getting caught up on sleep may be an all-time favorite. 

It will increase alertness, improve your memory, and 

you will feel relaxed. 

Some other ideas to consider increasing mental health 

are: 

Why do we need a mental break? What can we do? 

Take a mental health day! That's right. Actually, take 

a day off to rest your mind. When you find yourself 

losing patience or find it hard to focus or think 

clearly, it could be time for a mental health day. 

Of course, if you're in the middle of a major project at 

work, it may not be the best time to take off. 

Usually our bodies will tell us when it is time to take 

a break. We should not wait until we're worn down 

to do this. Mental health days can help rejuvenate, 

recharge, and refocus our perspective, which in turn 

helps us to be more productive. 

• Evaluate your faith and beliefs. 

• Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. 

• Overall activities that have positive effects on your 

mood can soothe anxiety and help you during your 

mental health day! 

Note: Mental disease and disorder effects many people in 

America. 

If you find yourself or someone you know needing assistance 

with mental disorder, go to: www.mentalhealth.gov 

What should you do on your mental health day? 

• Think of activities that will help relax your mind. 

Turning on the TV to catch up on your shows is 

not the way to go. I personally like to listen to 

meditation music and perform breathing exercises. 

This helps to calm your mind and develop inner 

peace. 

• Spending time with family and/or friends and 

having a good laugh is a plus! This increases the 

serotonin levels that make you feel good. 

• Doing some outside activities or exercise can benefit 

your mind, body and spirit. 

Dawn Causey 

Host of Remarkable Essence WebTV & Radio Show 

Founder of The Essence of a Woman: Health, 

Wellness & Empowerment Conference


“A Passion for Networking" 

Chi Chi Okezie 

Passion is such a strong word which carries a lot of weight. Honestly, it is more than a word or a noun. It is an 

action word. It involves dedication, sacrifice, strength, endurance, willpower, vision (insight), hope, patience, etc. 

The list can go on and on. One thing passion requires is a willingness to persevere. It requires a willingness to go 

against the odds and fulfill its purpose or mission. 

People can be passionate about their loved ones, family, friends, spiritual beliefs, core values, work, civic charities, 

desires etc. And yes, people can also be passionate about networking. They can be devoted to developing socially 

or professionally, and creating a strong network of trusted advisers to help them along the way. 

With that being said, how can people show and live out their passion for networking? How can they reach their 

goals and make significant accomplishments to change their lives and the lives of others? Listed below are some 

practical tips on how people can show the right passion for networking for success. 

In order to be passionate about networking, I must: 

1. Have a plan or a purpose for networking. 

2. Want to succeed and devote time to making this a priority. 

3. Join a professional group or association for accountability. 

4. Sharpen my communication skills and talents for my desired objectives. 

5. Be networking minded and focused on building quality and lasting relationships. 

6. Link up with like-minded people who can add value to my networks. 

7. Invest in myself and learn the importance and benefits of networking for overall advancement. 

8. Show consistency in my endeavors and follow up to show credibility and professionalism. 

9. Demonstrate a genuine character and be willing to help others along the way. 

10. Use networking as a source of leadership and direction for continual growth. 

Hopefully, these tips, as well as this article, can give you insight on how to show your passion for networking. Being 

able to demonstrate this action can lead you to greater success than you could ever imagine! 

Contact: 

Chi Chi Okezie, cokezie@snseminars.com, http://www.snseminars.com


Season of Life 

There is a time and a season for everything under heaven! 

Autumn is here! 


Life and death are exchanging 

seasons. The trees are changing and 

the leaves begin their transition. 

They have no choice. The command 

is given from heaven that it is time 

for “autumn.” 

There is life deep within the branches; 

buds and seeds are safely tucked 

away, asleep like little sweet babies 

in their mother's womb! A heavenly 

force will re-awaken the sleeping 

tiny foliage in spring. Once again 

the tree will reveal the new leaves 

and blooms, the fruit of a healthy 

root system and branches. 

But for now, this is the season 

where God colors nature in every 

vivid bright color you can ever 

imagine. No painter or artist can 

copy the rainbow of deep earthy 

reds, glowing oranges, the color of 

fire, the suns deep vibrant yellow, 

and of course, all the colors of the 

earth. Fruit has developed in the 

trees. Nuts, apples, pears and other 

morsels are the gift to humanity! 

Like we, the human beings walking 

this earth, we have been uniquely 

designed and re-designed over and 

over in our own earthy shades of 

milky white to cinnamon browns to 

deep pecan tones, every shade more 

beautiful in its own way. Nature 

is changing right before us and we 

all should realize only a heavenly 

being can create such a magnificent 

artistry just for us to enjoy! Isn't 

it so very amazing that the leaves 

are actually dying, but are at their 

most beautiful as their lives come to 

the end. 

Well, you know nature is the perfect 

example of how we need to be. The 

older we get, and as our life gets 

closer and closer to our final destination 

to our heavenly home, we 

should shine brighter and brighter. 

We should be full of life and love 

and glowing of wisdom and honor 

just like the autumn leaves. I am 

so sad when I see older people slip 

into deep depression because they 

have lost their purpose and zeal for 

life. There is no anti-depressant nor 

medication that can bring happiness 

and purpose back. We need to 

understand that God wants us to 

be engaged in a loving way, enjoy 

life and be the givers of wisdom and 

understanding to a world that is 

hurting and longing for more. 

We are the root system and we 

must make sure that we are deeply 

rooted in God's word, promises, and 

teach our children. If we, the root 

system, allow our lives to rot, we 

will allow great harm to enter our 

future generations’ life. 

So, walk through the fall forest, let 

the leaves rustle under your feet, 

Continued on 

Page 26


Mary Lou Kehoe 

We have all heard many, many 

reports of “hacking” in the news 

lately. It ranges from security 

breaches at Target to the so called 

Chinese hacking into the Office of 

Personnel Management and stealing 

the Social Security numbers of 

countless numbers of people who 

had applied for a Security Clearance. 

Every day it seems that there 

is someone out there who wants to 

take our personal information for 

their own gain. It positively makes 

me nervous every time I use a debit 

or credit card. 

We spend all this time protecting 

our information, our credit score, 

and our money. Yet, how much time 

do we spend protecting our “identity” 

in Christ? What steps do we 

take to make sure that the enemy 

or even our own feelings don’t take 

away what we are in Him? We are 

the Lord’s person and possession. 

He has made us and He has ownership 

of us through creation and 

redemption. If we don’t know who 

we really are in Christ, we might let 

the devil try to tag us with a false 

identity. 

In response to this threat, no matter 

how small or big it may seem, 

we take countless steps to prevent 

our identity from being stolen. We 

monitor our credit card and bank 

statements. We shred anything with 

personal information such as account 

numbers and Social Security 

numbers. We check that no one is 

too close when entering our bank 

information and PIN at the ATM 

or checkout line. We sign up for 

bank alerts if a withdrawal is more 

than a certain amount, and when 

notified, try to remember what it 

was for and if it was an authorized 

deduction, at least I know that I do. 

There are even countless other agencies 

out there who try to get you to 

order their protection such as Life 

Lock. 

With the stress of living in the 

world, not to mention our family 

members, it is easy to forget what 

wonderful gifts are ours as a result 

of our giving our lives to Christ. We 

can easily become focused on what 

is going on around us, whether positive 

or negative, and forget to focus 

on our relationship with our Savior. 

Our own thought patterns and feelings 

can also rob us of this identity. 

Shame, guilt, depression, and other 

wrong feelings can rob us of our 

peace and joy. We can soon get in 

a place of forgetting what God has 

given us and start believing what 

the world around us says we are. 

We need to make every effort to 

remember what the Word tells us in 

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen 

race, a royal priesthood, a holy 

nation, a people for His own possessions, 

that you may proclaim the 

excellence of Him who called you 

out of darkness into His marvelous 

light.” This is an identity we should 

protect at all cost.


October Events 2015 

Tri-Counties 

Henry, Clayton, Fayette 

Fayette County 

Fayette Market Day & Trick Or Treat on Main Street on Saturday, October 24th, 2015 

from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Enjoy the jack-o-lanterns around the Fayetteville square and the Fayette Family Market Day around the gazebo. 

The traditional Trick-or-Treat on Main Street at participating businesses and around the gazebo to all the vendors 

will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

New this year and sponsored by Main Street Fayetteville and Spina Bifida Association of Georgia will be the introduction 

of the Wheelchair & Walkers Halloween Costume Contest - starts at 4:00 p.m. Children 13 and under! 

Immediately after the Wheelchair & Walkers Contest, Children 13 and under will participate in the kids costume 

contest beginning with age group 4 and under, 5 - 8; and 9-13. The contest will end at 5:00. Location for both 

contests will take place at the fountain area near the stage. Call 770-719-4173 for more information. 

Fayette County page 28


pick some up and throw them in 

the air and dance and live and 

enjoy! Stop for a moment, be quiet, 

listen to the birds, take in a deep 

breath and smell the earthy aroma 

of fall. 

Listen.......can you hear it...... the 

trees are whispering and as the 

leaves are dancing in the wind 

like little tiny fall angels, you can 

almost hear them sing "Thanksgiving 

is coming, Christmas is coming!" 

Aahhh you are still here on this 

earth to enjoy this beautiful moment. 

It's a gift. It is a very special 

gift. 

This is truly my favorite time of the 

year. 

I think I am going home to bake an 

apple pie and make some hazelnut 

coffee. I suddenly want to smell the 

aroma of autumn and the winter to 

come! 

www.yahoo.com to order books by 

Cornelia Brown Black and white 

makes brown, "I love it" thoughts 

on marriage by a Christian woman. 


Have the time of your Life! 

A cruise! A Resort! A Hotel! 

PAYCATION TRAVEL 

Earn As You Travel 

Elaine Tinsley 

Travel Agent 

elaineti@bellsouth.net 

www.islandschoals.paycation.com 

770-710-3866


Once that little project was done, I 

still had a glass bowl, some left over 

flowers, and a bag of fall leaves. So 

I decided to make a candle-holder! I 

had seen this idea on Pinterest before 

and it looked like a lot of fun. 

For my next project, I spent a little more money. I bought a circular wood 

plaque from Michaels for $6 and a small plank (no more than three inches 

long) for $.99. Again, I borrowed some supplies from my fantastic motherin-law 

(paints, glue, etc.) With all of these supplies, I decided to make a 

pumpkin that I could hang on the wall! 

Here’s how: 

1. Take your glass bowl and set it on 

a towel so that you won’t get glue 

on any counter tops. 

2. With your leaves, use Modge 

Podge glue to stick them to the 

glass bowl until they cover the entire 

surface. 

3. For mine, I used some little beads 

that were on some of my leftover 

flowers and hot glued them in the 

spaces that my leaves left empty. 

Then I glued some around the top 

rim of the bowl. 

4. Put a small candle into the bowl 

and watch as it illuminates the 

pretty leaves! 

Here’s how: 

1. Decide what colors you want to paint your wood. For simplicity, you can 

paint your circular plaque a white color with a grey or brown stem. Or 

you can go for an exciting pop of orange. 

2. After painting your wood, let it sit until dry. Now it’s time to personalize! 

Add a cute message like “Happy Harvest” or “Thankful” in a fun font. 

If you’re brave, you can paint the words your-self, but I decided to play it 

safe and use some inexpensive letter stencils. 

3. Once the wording has dried, it is time to glue your stem to your pumpkin! 

I used a hot glue gun and stuck it to the back high enough that it 

shows well! 

Not only am I filling my home up with inexpensive decorations, but I’m 

also having a ton of fun crafting. The bottom line is, this time of year 

should bring out the kid in all of us. In fact, if you have kids, these are all 

great crafts to enjoy with them now! I was able to buy quite a few more 

little things just by looking at the Dollar Tree store. Now my house smells 

like cinnamon and looks like fall. 

From my home to yours, happy harvest! 

Dakota Jones


Henry County 

Yule Forest Hwy. 155 is a great farm full of fun for all. Children can have the opportunity to explore the environment 

in the new outdoor classroom and to see what it's like to be a farmer. Have fun with your family on 

a hayride around the farm traveling through the cartoon forest and visiting the animals that live there! Take a 

seat under the shade trees as your children play in the fun zone on a giant jumping pillow and other inflatables! 

Seasonal events include: The Pumpkin Patch, Haunted House, Haunted Hayride, Trail, Zombie Paintball Hayride, 

and of course, Christmas trees! Farm tours available. For more information about the haunted hayride and trail 

visit www.fearthewoods.com. 

Clayton County page 31


the Bible that were referred to, so, 

it was hard for me to connect or 

understand some of the teachings. 

I started working with the singles 

ministry and helping out with the 

youth. I knew that I could help 

teenagers, and eventually, I became 

the Youth Pastor at Church of the 

Harvest International. 

County, GA. He started with 17 

adults (that included himself, his 

wife, in-laws and parents) and 

today, they probably have about 

2,000 members. On Easter of this 

year they had 3,000 in attendance. 

Their weekly average is about 1,400 

to 1,500 per Sunday and they have 

four services. “Outreach Magazine” 

said that they were the 48th fastest 

growing church in the nation in the 

top 100 in 2014 and 5th in Georgia. 

The average age for their membership 

is 25-30. 

people who need direction, so that 

always burns on the inside of me 

– that we are never finished. So, 

yes, constantly dreaming planting, 

strategizing on being bigger. It is 

never enough. I am content, but 

never satisfied.” 

Pastor Rob and Pastor Mike 

became very good friends. When 

Dr. Jones appointed Pastor Rob 

as senior pastor, Pastor Rob would 

eventually appoint Pastor Mike as 

the associate pastor. 

After five years of serving as an 

Associate Pastor, it was determined 

through prayer and confirmation 

that Pastor Mike would start his 

own church. Within a few months 

Pastor Mike would be launched out 

in this new endeavor. Pastor Mike 

said, “I began to survey Henry 

County and it was the 4th fastest 

growing county in the nation at 

that time and 85% of the county 

was unchurched. I knew that this 

was where the Lord wanted me.” 

Another seed was starting to 

sprout! 

In January of 2004 Pastor Rob 

and Church of the Harvest International 

planted Pastor Mike as a 

Senior Pastor in his own church, 

Turning Point Church, in Henry 

And now another seed is about to 

start sprouting in Coweta County, 

Georgia. Pastor Mike is getting 

ready to plant a seed (a church). 

Pastor Rob said that he was super 

proud each time he hears a story or 

a record is set or when he goes to 

preach for Pastor Mike. He said, “I 

am just proud of him. Just super 

excited and thankful that we were 

a part of that seed. It is like taking 

a seed from an oak tree, planting it 

and watching is sprout and grow. I 

really feel that that is what he has 

done.” 

“But let’s go back to my dad, the 

history of the church is ‘church 

planting organization,’” said Pastor 

Rob. Not just planting churches, 

but we have sent out many ministers 

that pastor all over the United 

States because of my father’s 

influence, and I hope, a little of my 

influence. I think that we have seen 

a lot of success through that. 

Pastor Rob stated that he was 

never satisfied and he constantly 

plants and harvests. He said, “I 

am content in what God has done, 

but I am never satisfied. Because 

I believe there is more. As long 

as I am alive, breathing and above 

ground, there are people who need 

Jesus, lives that need changed, 

marriages that need healing, young 

And neither is his father, Dr. Jones. 

In 2010 Dr. Jones and his wife 

started another church in Fayetteville, 

Georgia. They have been the 

senior pastors for five years. They 

will be leaving in October of this 

year to go back for 3-4 weeks to 

Indonesia with a side stop in Bali 

to preach at a large church there. 

So, as we end this interview with 

these three men, three churches and 

three counties (Clayton, Henry and 

Fayette) that have been impacted, 

we can truly say that we have been 

BLESSED by the planting and 

harvesting of these seeds for the 

Kingdom of God.

30 | My Passion - Issue 3 - September 2015


Clayton County 

FALL FESTIVAL: On October 17, 2015, come out and enjoy Arts & Crafts, Food, Music, and a Costume Contest 

at our Annual Fall Festival! FREE event from 2:00 - 6:00pm at Flat Shoals Park. In addition to the Fall Festival, 

join in on this Nationally Recognized "Lights on Afterschool Rally" to support after school programs. This 

event encourages parents to allow their kids to participate in after school activities and programs. 

MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: On October 17, 2015 bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks to our FREE 

Event. Movie will begin at dusk (9:00pm). Call 770-477-3766 for more information. Movie: Rise of the Guardians 

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WORKSHOP: On October 20, 2015 an educational workshop that will have 

guest speakers, light refreshments, and information that will educate the community on early detection and possible 

prevention of breast cancer. FREE event from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center. 

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: On October 30, 2015, have fun in costumes collecting candy while enjoying the Halloween 

experience in a safe environment at Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center from 6-8pm. 

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN NIGHT: On October 30, 2015, this program is put together to give the residents of 

Clayton County and others around the metro Atlanta area an opportunity to come out and fellowship with each 

other while enjoying face painting, cotton candy, Halloween candy, and games. 6:00pm - 8:00pm / Virginia Burton 

Gray Recreation Center.


MAKE 

EACH DAY 

COUNT 

Mohammed Bolton 

You did it! One full month of 

exercise. If you stuck to your goal, 

you would have exercised 15 days 

out of the month. Did you know 

that’s half of the month? What’s 

more, you gave your heart and your 

lungs the ability to get stronger and 

become more efficient. 

Here’s a quick story to further 

motivate you towards total physical 

health: 

There was a man who lived in a 

small town. Every day citizens 

watched as this man sat on his 

front porch eyeing the street which 

meandered its way through the 

neighborhood. Without fail, no matter 

how hot or cold, sunny or rainy 

the weather or conditions, he sat 

on that porch. There was a young 

boy, (Mo) who grew up just down 

the street from the man’s home, 

and year after year he wondered 

why this man sat on his porch every 

morning. Once the young man 

graduated high school, he fulfilled 

one of his curiosities and went to 

visit the, now, old man. He said, 

“Mr. Walker, I’ve lived on this 

street my whole life and I’ve always 

seen you sitting on this porch, 

every morning, no matter what. For 

the longest time I’ve wanted to ask 

you why. Can you do me the honor 

of explaining,” Mo said. Mr. Walker 

started laughing, then rolled up his 

pants legs, to show Mo his prosthetic 

legs. He looked Mo square in the 

eyes, “You see these Mo? 

They were taken from me due to 

diabetes. I sit on this porch every 

day to see how many people take 

their health for granted, but I also 

get joy out of watching you kids 

run and play at the bus stop and 

watching your parents jog or bike 

through the neighborhood. It warms 

my heart to see the mothers walking 

with their children in those new 

state-of-the-art strollers. I can’t run 

like I used to. I have to use crutches 

to get to this chair. So I sit here, 

because the efforts of others gives 

me the strength to keep fighting.” 

The reality of Mr. Walker’s condition 

had a huge impact on the 

young man. He walked away both 

saddened and enlightened. 

Make each day count! 

Continue your one mile a day, three 

days a week, with all of the exercises 

in Issue 1. If you don’t have 

the issue, find it fast! Now add one 

more day, where you stretch for at 

least 30 minutes and introduce abs. 

If you have a back or abdominal injury, 

please consult your physician. 

If you feel any discomfort other 

than usual discomfort from exerting 

effort, consult your physician. 

Get a thick yoga mat, then lay it 

flat. With your feet and back flat 

on the mat, your legs should be at 

a 90 degree angle. Without pulling 

on your head and neck, curl your 

back upward until your shoulders 

rise off the mat, then return back 

down for one repetition. Try only 10 

repetitions then rest for one minute. 

Make an attempt to do 3 sets of 10 

repetitions. 

I can’t wait until the next article. 

Once you get the hang of it, first 

increase your reps then increase 

your sets. If you want to challenge 

yourself even more, decrease your 

rest time. Have fun getting WELL! 

*remember to have your physician 

clear you for exercise*


Books are My Passion 

One of my most favorite spots to visit in Georgia is St. 

Simons Island. I try to visit at least a couple of times a 

year, and for the last ten years, I have taken my grandsons 

on a “Nana Vacation” and we explore the island. 

St. Simons Island is the largest of the Golden Isles 

along Georgia’s southern Atlantic coast. At 18 square 

miles in size, it is accessible by car via the F.J. Torras 

Causeway. The Island has many lodging choices ranging 

from stately hotels to comfy B & B’s, golf resorts, 

condo rentals and vacation homes. You can rent bikes 

or take your own so that you can explore the beauty of 

this island. 

store. There are old comfy couches and chairs setting 

around just in case you want to relax for a while and 

read a book. 

I talked with the owner, Nancy Thomason, and she 

stated that she moved from New York to St. Simons 

Island. In 1976 she decided to open a used bookstore 

on the island. In 1985 she moved to her current location 

on Mallery Street. She sells to the islanders, 

as well as the tourists. She stated that her passion 

was the love of old and used books. So, her passion 

became her reality. She made it clear that she was not 

a writer, but just enjoyed the books. 

She wanted to encourage anyone who reads this article 

and their passion is books and they want to open a 

used bookstore, to do it. She said that she was not 

an expert when she opened the shop, but whatever 

she did, it worked. She further stated, that books are 

not dying. People still love to hold the books as they 

read. 

My grandsons and I decided to rent bikes one day and 

took off for the other side of the island. And of course, 

it started to rain. Being the oldest of the four, I was 

always looking at their backside (which was not always 

a pleasant sight). We peddled so fast and so hard that 

we had to stop periodically to rest or at least one of 

us had to (I will not say which one). We laughed; we 

turned our bikes over in an ant bed; you name it, we 

did it that day. But, oh what fun, what memories! 

Fall is a great time to visit St. Simons Island. Why 

not plan a little week-end trip and visit the island, 

and if you do, make sure you go and visit Nancy at 

her Beachview Books. 

The village on the Island is so quaint. We just walk 

from our hotel (St. Simon’s Lighthouse Inn) to all the 

shops, the lighthouse, the pier, the ice cream parlors, 

the hamburger joints -- we do it all. We have so much 

fun. 

But there is one place that the boys and I enjoy more 

than anything else the Beachview Books, a bookstore 

that sits right in the middle of the village. Even when 

the boys were very young, they loved this place. It 

carries used books, 1st editions, books that have been 

signed by authors, antique post cards from Georgia, 

antique prints and maps. We could spend hours in this


LawnCare 

David Buckner 

770-710-9962 

Visit us on the web at: www.pawsandsmiles.com


The Hair Studio At Eagles Landing 

LIZ 

909 Eagles Landing Pkwy 

Suite 150 

Stockbridge, GA 30281 

770-474-3335

404-919-9422 

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