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
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MY<br />
PASSION<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
Cooking<br />
Corner<br />
Recipe Inside!<br />
HENRY | FAYETTE | CLAYTON<br />
Dr. Paulette Stewart<br />
September 2015 - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - Vol. 1<br />
Harvest Happenings
2<br />
| <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
MEDICAL CARE COMES HOME<br />
The House Call is Back in Atlanta Georgia…<br />
Atlanta based, Resurgia Health Solutions is an innovative house call medical practice focused on providing medical<br />
care when and where patients need it. Our visiting house call physicians are able to provide medical care<br />
at home, treating patients in the comfort of their own homes with a suite of mobile medical services that align<br />
closely to the services provided in a typical doctor’s office, yet with more hands-on and in-depth approach to<br />
treating patients that is very differentiated from the traditional doctor’s office visit – our typical visit is 45 to 90<br />
minutes.<br />
Quality house calls in Atlanta Georgia. Nice.<br />
Resurgia’s visiting doctors deliver a high-touch approach to mobile medicine (not TeleMedicine) that is refreshingly<br />
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Visit us at www.resurgia.com or Call 1-84House-Doc or email info@resurgia.com to learn more about<br />
Resurgia House Calls Medical Practice and schedule an appointment with our visiting physicians.
5 Note from the Editor<br />
Dr. Paulette Stewart<br />
6 Motion Picture Geek<br />
Robey Jones<br />
7 The Importance of Prayer<br />
Gwen Johnson<br />
8 The Book Nook<br />
Featuring Published Authors<br />
9 Baby Jack’s Story Part III<br />
Brittany Liberatore<br />
10 Ladies of Grace International<br />
<strong>My</strong>esha Cottom<br />
11 S.S.S. Brigade<br />
Social Security Seniors<br />
MY<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 3<br />
PASSION<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
24 Identity Theft<br />
Mary Lou Kehoe<br />
25 Fayette County Fall Events<br />
28 Henry County Fall Events<br />
31 Clayton County Fall Events<br />
32 Make Each Day Count<br />
Mohammed Bolton<br />
33 Books Are <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong><br />
Special Article<br />
12 Missions at Home and<br />
Around the World<br />
Shana Cheeks<br />
13 From <strong>My</strong> Home to Yours:<br />
Autumn DIY<br />
Dakota Jones<br />
14 Be Intentional! Life Will<br />
Surprise You!<br />
Karla Dennis<br />
15 The Garden Spot<br />
Divas of the Autumn Garden<br />
17 The Flying Goose<br />
Sandra Schock<br />
18 Cooking Corner<br />
Melissa Jones<br />
20 Christ for India<br />
21 Wellness<br />
Dawn Causey<br />
22 A <strong>Passion</strong> for Networking<br />
Chi Chi Okezie<br />
23 Seasons of Life<br />
Cornelia Brown<br />
Harvest Happenings<br />
16 Harvest Happenings<br />
Dr. Henry Jones, Pastor Rob<br />
Jones and Pastor Mike Turner<br />
Editor-In-Chief/Founder: Dr. Paulette Stewart<br />
Marketing Director: Dakota Jones<br />
Creative Director/Designer: Vitos St. Rose<br />
www.<strong>My</strong><strong>Passion</strong>Magazine.com<br />
MPM is published quarterly and will focus on local<br />
writers, but because we have followers in all parts of<br />
the world, you will be able to read articles that will<br />
focus on other cities, states, and nations.
4<br />
| <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
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<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 5<br />
Find Us: www.mypassionmagazine.com<br />
Email: info@mypassionmagazine.com<br />
Blog: http://drpaulettestewart.com/blog/<br />
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mypassionmagazine<br />
Dr. Paulette Stewart<br />
From the Editor's desk:<br />
When we were discussing what would be the theme for<br />
the September issue, of course, we thought of Autumn/<br />
Fall. This is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year.<br />
It is that time of year when the foliage starts to shout out<br />
its colors in beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and<br />
many colors that are indescribable. Autumn/Fall is the<br />
season after summer, when leaves fall from trees. It's also<br />
the season when the days get shorter and colder.<br />
If you live in Georgia (which I do), you can take a drive<br />
up toward north Georgia and experience a “breathtaking”<br />
day because of the beautiful array of colored<br />
trees covering the mountains. It is a spectacular sight to<br />
behold. Even in the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, the<br />
trees are absolutely gorgeous. Even after the leaves fall to<br />
the ground, there is a beautiful golden halo around the<br />
bottom of the tree.<br />
The harvest marks the end of the growing season found in<br />
many regions. We have planted the seed; we have watered<br />
the seed; we have allowed the seed to grow. Now, it is time<br />
to harvest. (I could get real good and spiritual right now,<br />
but I won’t. I will leave that to others.)<br />
Within this issue of <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> Magazine, you will read<br />
articles on the colors of Autumn/Fall, harvest time, foods<br />
to eat, and many more fascinating articles.<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> Magazine now has its own website and all the<br />
other social networks (I am trying to learn all of these networks<br />
…..not completely there yet….but on my way).<br />
Let us know if you are enjoying the magazine and any suggestions<br />
that you might have. Just go to www.mypassionmagazine.com<br />
and leave us a note.<br />
By the way, get your camera, your mobile, or whatever device<br />
you use to take pictures for this most delightful season<br />
of the year is here!<br />
Another thing that we think of during the Autumn/Fall<br />
season is “harvesting.” So, I went to the handy-dandy<br />
internet. Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops<br />
from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse<br />
for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper.
6<br />
| <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Best Of June<br />
Me and Earl<br />
and the Dying Girl Jurassic World<br />
Best Of July<br />
Paper Towns<br />
Best Of August<br />
Cop Car<br />
Southpaw<br />
The Man From<br />
U.N.C.L.E.<br />
MOTION PICTURE GEEK<br />
Whether it’s<br />
preteen emotions,<br />
homicidal dinosaurs, or a dying girl, June had the hook up<br />
for some fantastic films. Jurassic Parks’ comeback to the<br />
screen was enough for<br />
Inside Out<br />
anyone to go to the<br />
movies, and<br />
although Inside Out<br />
isn’t Pixar’s best<br />
movie of all time, it<br />
absolutely stole my<br />
heart. Me and Earl<br />
and the Dying Girl<br />
went under so many<br />
people’s radar, but I<br />
think everyone should<br />
see this touching tale<br />
of friendship . .. Woody Allen is back for another consecutive<br />
year, Jake Gyllenhaal continues to blow me away, and John<br />
Green gives me hope<br />
for Youtubers alike<br />
Irrational Man this past July movie<br />
season. In a time of<br />
amazing superhero<br />
movies, book films,<br />
and remakes, an<br />
original screenplay<br />
is exactly what we<br />
need. And July<br />
delivered. Speaking<br />
of a remake The Man<br />
From U.N.C.L.E. is<br />
filled with action and just works. Superman plus the Lone<br />
Ranger is a recipe for success. Now, Straight Outta<br />
Compton is rated R so<br />
Straight<br />
Outta Compton<br />
by Robey Jones<br />
Ah, film. What a wonderful, wonderful art form. I have loved movies for as long as<br />
I can remember. A lot of people discover passions from their parents, but my film<br />
obsession came from none other then my grandparents. As a kid, my Nana would<br />
buy us VHS’ on a regular basis. Man, oh man, how I loved sitting in my little<br />
recliner (that I would break in an instant now) watching my favorite television<br />
shows, such as Barney, old Disney cartoons, and movies galore. Some of my<br />
earliest memories were going to the movies with my Mimi and Papa. In fact just<br />
recently, I remembered going to a now non-existing movie theatre to see<br />
Mousehunt, which came out in 1997. I would have only been two or three years old<br />
at the time. Motion pictures are undoubtedly my utmost passion. In fact you can ask<br />
anyone close to me and they will most likely say that that’s an understatement. If<br />
you allow me to, I will show you what movies you should be watching from this<br />
year, and from decade’s past. So without further ado, come with me to one of my<br />
places of comfort, where you to can come to appreciate a beautiful medium known<br />
as film. <strong>My</strong> name is Robey Jones and this is Motion Picture Geek.<br />
I advise reading the<br />
parental guide ahead<br />
of time, but it was an<br />
excellent biopic. There<br />
is not much to say<br />
about Cop Car, except<br />
for one thing. Come<br />
on man! It’s Kevin<br />
Bacon! To round<br />
things up Summer was<br />
a success and I cannot<br />
wait for the movies to<br />
come.<br />
Nobody Put’s Classics<br />
in the Corner.....<br />
Except For Me<br />
Director Highlight<br />
Terry Gilliam Alfred Hitchcock<br />
Two of the most influen/al directors of all /me, one s/ll <br />
living and one departed. Hitchcock is said to be the <br />
greatest director of all /me, and Gilliam the most <br />
diverse. I look up to both of these men, and I can’t wait <br />
to see what I can learn from them in the future. <br />
Old School Cinema<br />
Tootsie (1982) <br />
Directed by: Sydney Pollack <br />
“Tootsie is the story of an <br />
unemployed actor with a <br />
reputa/on for being <br />
difficult and who disguises <br />
himself as a woman to get a <br />
role in a soap opera.” It’s full <br />
of heart and down right <br />
hilarious. If you haven’t seen <br />
Dus/n Hoffman in one of his <br />
greatest roles, then you need <br />
to do so immediately.
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 7<br />
The Importance of Prayer<br />
(Part 3)<br />
By Gwen Johnson<br />
This quarter we are talking about “Harvest Time”. We all like the sound<br />
of that, but can we truthfully say we really know what this entails?<br />
Let’s take a little longer to study the scripture II Chronicles 7:14: “If <strong>My</strong><br />
people who are called by my name would humble themselves…..” This<br />
statement denotes that there is corresponding action on our part to see the<br />
harvest.<br />
Think about it like this, if I were selected to move to another country<br />
whose language I did not speak, I believe that I would quickly submit or<br />
“humble” myself to those with the authority to help me be able to live in<br />
the new land. Whether it meant getting a tutor or any other tools available<br />
to me. I would not be a know-it-all, because I then, set myself up to<br />
fall.<br />
We as Christians, are calling ourselves by the name of Christ, yet we<br />
choose to live in the law of the “Old Nature” instead of coming into the<br />
new land under the conviction of the “New Nature,” the Spirit of God living<br />
in us. He is our Counselor, Director, and Guide on this journey called<br />
LIFE.<br />
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “He knows the thoughts He has for us.”<br />
We have been blessed with this awesome ability to not only call on the<br />
Name of the Lord for ourselves, but for others, also.<br />
When I submit my will to that of the Holy Spirit, I find it easier to get<br />
into the Word of God and understand. I begin to pray more. I ask questions<br />
and He answers. I then begin to walk humbly with my God. As I<br />
seek His face through all avenues (the Word, His people, yes, even through<br />
His grand works in nature), I stand in awe as the psalmist said, “Who am<br />
I, that thou art mindful of me.” I get excited.<br />
I find myself beginning to turn from my wicked ways, in true repentance.<br />
I sense the Father’s nod of approval, and because I am the “Righteousness<br />
of Him through the Blood of Jesus His Son, He begins to bring about<br />
total restoration in my life. This begins my “Harvest Time.” There will be<br />
many, as long as I continue to participate in the “Relationship.” Not just of<br />
things, but of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, humility,<br />
meekness, temperance, faith, and anything else He has for me.<br />
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a process. The thing is, I have committed myself<br />
to the process. I won’t leap off of the “Potter’s Wheel” until He says so. I<br />
see a life of prayer as a legacy of Love to those who first loved me: Father<br />
God, Jesus His Son (my eldest brother in the Christian walk), and the<br />
Holy Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, hovered over the face<br />
of the waters (in the beginning) and now hovers over me and is in me to<br />
instruct and keep me.<br />
Hope you guys are enjoying this prayer journey as much as I am.<br />
Talk again next issue. Be Blessed!
8<br />
| <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
The Book Nook<br />
Feature your book here today!<br />
BABY<br />
Designed by God<br />
Dr. Amanda Hess & Dr. Jeremy Hess<br />
pulls the blinders off and informs any parent who<br />
dares to know the truth about natural, God-given<br />
methods of pregnancy, birthing, and raising healthy<br />
children.<br />
Order BABY:<br />
www.designed-by-god.com<br />
Watch Me Daddy<br />
The Cry of the Generations<br />
Michael Turner<br />
Watch Me Daddy speaks to all those who did not grow up with<br />
the treasure of a father’s presence in their lives.<br />
Order Watch Me Daddy:<br />
www.michaelturner.tv
Baby Jacks’ Story: Part III<br />
Brittany Liberatore<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 9<br />
After Jackson died, we began our<br />
journey of trying to figure the whole<br />
"grief" thing out. I actually tried not<br />
to label it or define it, and just let it<br />
come as it did. This was hard for me<br />
because I like rules and plans. I don't<br />
think either of those exist within the<br />
confines of walking through grief. I<br />
have read and heard that everyone<br />
grieves differently and that there is<br />
no "right" way to do it or amount of<br />
time to do it in.<br />
At this point, I didn't know what<br />
or where I was on this journey, but<br />
I knew that I was not mad. Broken<br />
seemed to be a more fitting description<br />
of our time right then. Our<br />
sweet baby boy was born broken. We<br />
were left with our hearts broken. But<br />
it all started at the beginning of time<br />
when the world was broken.<br />
When God created the universe, I<br />
know that He never intended that<br />
there be heartbreak, that sickness<br />
would exist, or that newborn babies<br />
would die. I can confidently believe<br />
that because I would never want<br />
my daughter, Emma, to experience<br />
those things, and as God's children,<br />
I am sure that he wants the same<br />
for us.<br />
“See how very much our<br />
Father loves us, for he calls us his<br />
children, and that is what we are!<br />
But the people who belong to this<br />
world don't recognize that we are<br />
God's children because they don't<br />
know him.” 1 John 3:1<br />
I believe that all of the bad that<br />
happens in this crazy world we live<br />
in is a consequence of sin. It was sin<br />
that ruined the perfect world God<br />
had planned for us. When Adam<br />
and Eve disobeyed God, the world<br />
was instantly broken. And just like<br />
a trail of dominoes, that one act of<br />
sin at the beginning of human existence,<br />
put into effect a downward<br />
spiral of brokenness that would<br />
continue to affect all people for all<br />
of time on earth.<br />
But, the one that no one can escape<br />
is death. We all will die one day,<br />
and until we do, we will all experience<br />
the death of someone around<br />
us. It's a given. No one likes to<br />
think about that, of course, but it's<br />
guaranteed to happen. Time, on the<br />
other hand, is never guaranteed - we<br />
never know when the lives of those<br />
around us will be taken. Jackson<br />
was guaranteed to die, we'd only<br />
hoped it would have been many,<br />
many years from now.<br />
not mean that we are granted a "get<br />
out of jail free" pass to escape all of<br />
the hurt in this life. No, that pass<br />
doesn't come until we experience<br />
death ourselves and stand before<br />
the King. Only then, we will be<br />
granted an eternity with no tears, or<br />
loss, or sickness. HALLELUJAH.<br />
Trisomy 13 was our cup of suffering.<br />
It likely won't be yours. It also<br />
won't be the last trial of our lives.<br />
I am sure there are more to come<br />
our way. But praise our Father in<br />
heaven that this is not the end. This<br />
broken world is not the only place<br />
we will ever know, thanks to Jesus.<br />
We will see our Baby Jacks again<br />
one day, and that is something I am<br />
glad about.<br />
Can't wait to see his sweet face<br />
again. Then, nothing will be broken.<br />
This is why I wasn't mad then or<br />
now (especially not mad at God).<br />
I've never questioned why this<br />
happened to us, because, I know<br />
Trisomy 13 is an awful side effect<br />
of living in a broken world. I also<br />
don't question "Why us?" because<br />
if it weren't Trisomy 13, it would<br />
be something else. This life is hard.<br />
Just because we are believers does
10 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
<strong>My</strong>esha Cottom<br />
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of<br />
love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)<br />
In the early church, there was a call to action to consider<br />
the spiritual walk and growth of others and encourage<br />
them to love and do good works for the Lord. That call<br />
is still in place today and the founder and members of<br />
Ladies of Grace take that call seriously. The ladies seek<br />
to exhort one another so we may all:<br />
1) uplift the Kingdom and glorify God;<br />
2) praise God faithfully through any trial and come<br />
through the other side refined and more prepared;<br />
3) find our passion and recognize the gifts that will enable<br />
us to purposefully live this God-given life.<br />
As evident by the numerous articles in this magazine<br />
and the touching word of mouth testimonies that I hear<br />
every month, these ladies are spirit-filled vessels making<br />
an impact for Jesus. Being around these women and<br />
being a part of this organization has had an everlasting<br />
effect on my life.<br />
Early in my Christian walk, I took a spiritual gifts “assessment”<br />
at a retreat and I ranked high in the gift of<br />
administration. I was satisfied with the outcome because<br />
I felt that I was already good at organizing, planning,<br />
and focusing on an objective. As I was a young woman<br />
in my twenties, I knew that I still had room to grow in<br />
this area. Although I stepped into these qualities in the<br />
workplace, I felt that the Kingdom required the “best”<br />
and I was not quite qualified yet.<br />
additional gifts and a passion to utilize those gifts for<br />
God. For years, I rejected the notion that I could lead<br />
a successful small group or be a leader in a ministry.<br />
But God had a bigger plan for me. He used women<br />
from Ladies of Grace International to encourage me at<br />
different points in my spiritual growth. One encouraged<br />
me and supported me in my desire to start a<br />
monthly small group for ladies. She and others were<br />
such advocates that over 60 ladies signed up for the<br />
small group!<br />
Dr. P (Dr. Paulette Stewart), the founder of LOG, has<br />
encouraged me in so many ways, I have lost count. She<br />
encouraged me in my passion to lead kids to Christ<br />
and challenged me to take a leadership role in the<br />
children’s ministry.<br />
More recently, I was encouraged to not stand behind<br />
the event table at a LOG retreat and let God use me<br />
at the pulpit to touch dozens of ladies. While speaking,<br />
sharing, and praying over these ladies, I felt God’s<br />
anointing. God had qualified me because I answered<br />
his call. Since answering his call, I walk more boldly<br />
in my gifts and my passions. <strong>My</strong> passion is to encourage<br />
other women in Christ and to plant the seeds of<br />
Christ in young hearts.<br />
As a Lady of Grace, I thank God for his unmerited<br />
favor in my life and for being the ultimate encourager.<br />
At this point, I felt comfortable keeping order in<br />
the Toddler’s classroom, creating literature for events,<br />
and literally manning the table for others. I was in my<br />
comfort zone.<br />
At this time, I did not see myself doing anything outside<br />
of my comfort zone. I didn’t dare dream that I had
S.S.S. Brigade<br />
Social Security Seniors<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 11<br />
You don't mess with seniors.<br />
A lot of us seniors like to have our doctor appointments<br />
scheduled early in the mornings because we<br />
have been up since 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and we are<br />
ready to get our day started. OR, it is Wednesday<br />
– double coupon day and also senior citizens<br />
discount day. (I knew I was getting old when they<br />
started automatically giving me my senior discount<br />
without even asking. Oh well, that’s life.)<br />
So, now that school has officially started for this<br />
school year, we may have to change our approach<br />
to our day. The traffic is slower because of school<br />
buses and children are walking to school. So,<br />
we have to be very watchful. (We should be all<br />
the time, but especially since the kids are out in<br />
droves.) We love our children, so we want to be<br />
very mindful of them.<br />
I read a little story the other day that I thought<br />
would go along very well with this time of year.<br />
You may want to take a few notes on “how to have<br />
peace and quiet” in your neighborhood. I think we<br />
seniors are smarter than the “average bear.”<br />
A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school.<br />
He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The<br />
very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating<br />
merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the<br />
wise old man decided it was time to take some action.<br />
The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street.<br />
Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact,<br />
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<br />
promise to come around every day and do your thing." The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job<br />
on the trash cans.<br />
After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face.<br />
"This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay<br />
you 50 cents to beat on the cans."<br />
The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus.<br />
A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.<br />
"Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more<br />
than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"<br />
"A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans<br />
around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace.<br />
Compliments of the Internet
12 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
MISSIONS<br />
...at home and around the world<br />
An<br />
Unexpected<br />
Mission<br />
Field<br />
Shana Cheeks<br />
I want to share with you an unexpected mission field<br />
that I have had the privilege to participate in. In May<br />
of 2009, I became a grandmother or “Grammy” as I am<br />
called. <strong>My</strong> daughter was grown and living her life, going<br />
to college and working. Now, I believed, was my opportunity<br />
to do some of the things that were in my heart,<br />
namely “missions” and other ministry.<br />
blessings. Later, we added how to ask God to forgive<br />
us and how to thank God in advance for the things<br />
we needed in our lives. And just last week, I had the<br />
honor of leading my grandson in prayer as he gave his<br />
life to Jesus. What an honor and a blessing it has been<br />
thus far to answer all the questions my grandson has<br />
about God and his love for us.<br />
<strong>My</strong> idea of missions was going to foreign soil and sharing<br />
the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who do not<br />
know him and take them items that they might need.<br />
I was excited because my first solo mission trip was in<br />
Markurdi, Nigeria. I know that God made it all happen<br />
because, trust me, at that time my husband and I were<br />
still deeply in debt and working at getting debt free.<br />
People so sweetly gave me funds to purchase my plane<br />
ticket, visa, and items to take to give to the women and<br />
children that I would meet.<br />
What a wonderful mission trip that was, and I came<br />
home so amazed at all that God had done. Shortly after<br />
I arrived home, our precious grandson was born. <strong>My</strong> husband<br />
and I prayed for a long time about how to help our<br />
daughter. We made the decision that while she worked<br />
full time and went to college at night, I would babysit<br />
and help her so that she could continue to pursue her<br />
dream career.<br />
Two years into babysitting, I was talking to our loving<br />
Father one day and said to him, “I thought this was my<br />
time to be able to pursue my dreams and the dreams you<br />
put in my heart. I feel like I am not able to do the things<br />
I was called to do. I am missing opportunities. When is<br />
it going to be my turn to do what I want to do?” Well,<br />
first of all, He told me to listen to what I had just said<br />
and it was all about me, me, me. I, then, heard Him say,<br />
“The mission field in front of you is equally as important<br />
as going abroad to share the gospel of Jesus.”<br />
Wow, talk about an eye opener, my grandson was my<br />
mission field too. I didn’t even realize that as I was going<br />
about my daily life teaching my grandson about Jesus<br />
and how much he loves us, that I was actually in a mission<br />
field. I was privileged to teach him how to pray. We<br />
started out with learning how to thank God for all our<br />
I want to encourage everyone who thinks that they are<br />
not doing anything big in their life, that if you are a<br />
mother, grandmother, father, grandfather, aunt, uncle,<br />
sister, brother, or someone who has taken on one of<br />
these roles; and you are sharing the love of Jesus with<br />
a child, training and teaching them to share God’s<br />
love, then you are doing something BIG!<br />
I still have time to do a lot of other ministry things,<br />
like missions in other lands, conferences, write articles,<br />
sing, perform weddings, etc. However, I no longer look<br />
on those things as more important or that I have something<br />
being taken away from me. The greatest thing I<br />
can share is love.<br />
(1) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of<br />
angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy<br />
gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I had the gift of<br />
prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans<br />
and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith<br />
that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I<br />
would be nothing. (3) If I gave everything I have to the<br />
poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about<br />
it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.<br />
I Corinthians 13:1-3<br />
It goes on in verse 13 to say that….. faith, hope, and<br />
love will remain, but the greatest is love.<br />
I wonder what the world would look like if we all<br />
began to see the people that God has put in our lives<br />
as our mission field. How much more would we pour<br />
into their lives? How much more time would we take to<br />
explain things they need to learn in life? So, be encouraged<br />
today if you thought that you were not making<br />
a difference in the world, your mission field is right in<br />
front of you and you are making a BIG difference.
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 13<br />
From <strong>My</strong> Home to Yours:<br />
Autumn DIY<br />
Dakota Jones<br />
after those difficult times, she was<br />
filled with the desire to make the<br />
holidays a special time for all of her<br />
kids and grandkids.<br />
picked up a little metallic brown<br />
bucket, and ended up making a<br />
beautiful arrangement of fall flowers<br />
as a table piece.<br />
When all of the arts and crafts<br />
stores started putting out fall décor<br />
in August, I was more than ready<br />
to buy my pumpkins and cinnamon<br />
brooms. Sure, it was still 90 degrees<br />
outside, but in my heart I could<br />
feel fall calling! Autumn has always<br />
been my favorite time of year. To<br />
me, it puts a freshness into the air<br />
and an excitement in people because<br />
with fall comes the holidays!<br />
Back home in Florida, my family<br />
doesn't play when it comes to<br />
decorating. We deck things out with<br />
wreaths, flowers, bows, and ribbons.<br />
We fill bowls with candy for passerbys,<br />
and engulf the house with the<br />
smell of crisp apples and cinnamon.<br />
As a kid, I can remember coming<br />
home from school to find my mom<br />
transforming the house from her<br />
summer beach décor to the oranges<br />
and yellows of fall. Even if it was<br />
still scorching hot outside, the feeling<br />
it gave me was great enough to<br />
make me believe that the air had<br />
almost instantaneously shifted.<br />
I am more than willing to carry on<br />
this tradition! So with thirty dollars<br />
in my pocket, I set out to buy my<br />
very own fall decorations! I hopped<br />
in my car and went to about seven<br />
different stores to try and find the<br />
cheapest and cutest deals. Sure,<br />
Hobby Lobby had good sales, but<br />
even there, I would only have been<br />
able to buy two or three things with<br />
the money I had. So in a last ditch<br />
effort I stumbled into the Dollar<br />
Tree and was surprised at the<br />
inspiration that hit me. They had a<br />
little section dedicated to fall, and I<br />
started grabbing supplies like a mad<br />
woman!<br />
After borrowing glue from my<br />
mother-in- law, I got to work. I had<br />
Here’s how:<br />
1. From the Dollar Tree, buy about<br />
5 fake flowers that you think will go<br />
nicely together.<br />
2. Get your bucket or container of<br />
choice and a circular foam ball to<br />
place in the bottom of the container<br />
(also at the Dollar Tree).<br />
3. Cut the stems of your flowers so<br />
that they don’t stand too tall in<br />
your container. (<strong>My</strong> flower stems<br />
were plastic with a metal wire<br />
inside. I found it easiest to cut the<br />
plastic with scissors and then bend<br />
until the metal gave in.)<br />
4. Start putting your flowers into the<br />
bucket, pressing the stem into the<br />
foam at the bottom.<br />
5. Arrange however you want!<br />
I can accredit my grandmother for<br />
putting the love of the holidays in<br />
my family. When she was only eight<br />
years old, my grandmothers’ mom<br />
passed away from breast cancer. <strong>My</strong><br />
BB was the eldest of three girls, and<br />
on Christmas Eve they were placed<br />
into an orphanage. I suppose that<br />
Continued on Page 27
14 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Be Intentional!<br />
Life Will Surprise You!<br />
Karla Dennis<br />
Hello, Friend! I hope you got a chance to read my last article,<br />
but if not, here is a quick recap! In my article on crutches and<br />
hurdles, we talked about what holds us back from living life<br />
to the fullest! For me, it’s being single. Instead of going out<br />
and trying new things, I have allowed singleness to inhibit my<br />
life instead of living in the freedom that singleness gives me.<br />
I hope that as a reader you did some soul searching and discovered<br />
for yourself what you use as a crutch to inhibit your<br />
life. Maybe it’s being single, being married, being old, being<br />
overweight, or a personal fear. Now that you have discovered<br />
these crutches, next comes the difficult part; doing something<br />
about it. I want to share with you in this article about an opportunity<br />
I had this summer to put my crutches down and try<br />
something new!<br />
This summer I decided to go with the youth group to Camp<br />
Grace, which should be renamed Camp Amazing! It was awesome!<br />
This camp had everything: rock wall, zip line, ropes<br />
course, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, wet zip, giant<br />
water slide, lake trampolines, and swimming. When we got to<br />
camp, I started to encourage the teens to try new things and<br />
meet new people. I realized that these teenagers had crutches<br />
of their own. It was a joy to encourage them to step out of<br />
their box and do something different. The next couple of days<br />
I heard so many stories about fishing, the rock climbing wall,<br />
and so much more. One thing that I will always remember<br />
is the teens’ sense of wonderment when they did something<br />
new, and they could actually do it. But this is not a one-sided<br />
story. The teens started asking me what I planned to try, and<br />
I began to feel those old crutches trying to get in the way! I<br />
don’t want to be one of those people who says one thing, but<br />
does another.<br />
As leaders at the camp, we did not have as much time as<br />
the kids to try everything. So, I made a decision to try a few<br />
things that looked really exciting and appealing to me.<br />
(1) I was going canoeing; (2) I was going to go horseback riding;<br />
and (3) I was going to try all the lake activities (both<br />
lake trampolines and cross walk, the giant slide, and the<br />
paddle board). I didn’t wait to see what the other leaders<br />
were going to do. I had a plan! I loved everything. To be<br />
honest, I more than loved it once I realized that I could<br />
do it. I also realized that these things could be more than<br />
a onetime experience. I needed and wanted to do these<br />
things again. One of the other leaders said to me that being<br />
at camp made her realize how much she missed being<br />
outside and doing outside activities. I felt the same way.<br />
Which brings me to my next big task, live life intentionally!<br />
Camp Grace and my teens encouraged me to realize that<br />
there are a lot of things in life that I love to do! It reminded<br />
me of things that I loved doing, but I’ve forgotten<br />
about. It gave me the courage to put my crutches down<br />
and experience life. In essence, Camp Grace changed my<br />
life. Here’s the thing, I don’t want this experience to be<br />
one great moment in my life, but many. To make that<br />
happen I have to be intentional about life.<br />
If I love canoeing, I need to make time and find a place to<br />
canoe. If I love horseback riding, I need to find a place to<br />
take lessons and start riding. Life does not just happen by<br />
accident. I need to live it on purpose with intentions.<br />
As you are reading this article I want you to make a plan!<br />
Plan out some of the things that you did before all the<br />
crutches got in the way. What did you love to do? Also<br />
put on that list some things that you have never done<br />
before to discover new things you might like doing! I hate<br />
to say it, but if you are waiting for life to happen, you will<br />
be waiting for a long time.<br />
Just like the title of this article: Life is going to surprise<br />
you when you get intentional about it!
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 15<br />
The Garden Spot<br />
Divas<br />
of the<br />
Autumn Garden<br />
You can't go wrong with fall mums for the perfect lateseason<br />
bloomer.<br />
When fall arrives, we do not have to regret the passing of<br />
all the summer blooms we love so much: pompon dahlias,<br />
Shasta daisies, African daisies, little zinnias, asters, etc.<br />
But, be of good cheer, the fall garden offers all these<br />
flower shapes from just one plant, the chrysanthemum<br />
(I just say “mums”). There are hundreds of hardy cultivated<br />
plants that provide an array of colors and bloom<br />
shapes, making mums the divas of the autumn garden.<br />
The blooms last for weeks, not days, and the sheer number<br />
of flowers per plant will convince anyone that this<br />
flower really likes to show off. Add the mum's impressionistic<br />
abilities to its longevity, and you have a plant<br />
that pulls its weight in the garden.<br />
Because of their tight, mounded habit and stunning<br />
bloom cover, garden mums are perfect for mass<br />
plantings. To get the maximum effect from far away,<br />
stick to only one or two colors. Another possibility<br />
is to arrange a gradual transition of related colors.<br />
Look around your yard to see what colors would best<br />
complement the existing landscape.<br />
If you decorate for fall with pumpkins and gourds,<br />
choose orange, bronze, yellow, and creamy white<br />
mums. If you have a lot of evergreen plants that<br />
provide a backdrop of varying shades of green foliage,<br />
try bright pinks, lavenders, pure whites, or reds. With<br />
such bold colors, a large grouping of mums can excite<br />
even the most drab of fall landscapes.<br />
Garden mums also make great container plants.<br />
They're just right for popping into a clay pot, lining<br />
up in a row in a window box, or placing in the center<br />
of a mixed container with trailing foliage plants all<br />
around. Many landscape plants can provide a backdrop<br />
for groupings of mums.
16 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Harvest Happenings<br />
We are entering the fall of the year<br />
and we tend to look at the fall as a<br />
time of harvesting, but of course, we<br />
have to plant before we can harvest.<br />
So, I wanted to show you how the<br />
planting of one seed can turn into a<br />
wonderful harvest field.<br />
In 1979 a young couple came to the<br />
Clayton County area with their two<br />
small children to plant a church. As<br />
they were driving down Tara Boulevard<br />
in Jonesboro, Georgia, this<br />
young man, Henry Jones (at that<br />
time was 32 years of age), pointed<br />
to a piece of property and said,<br />
“One day I will build a church on<br />
that property.” It was a few years<br />
later that he had a beautiful church<br />
sitting on the property. That was<br />
36 years ago.<br />
For this article, he was asked, “How<br />
long have you been in the ministry?”<br />
He responded, “It’s been<br />
a long time. When I was about<br />
15 years of age, I would get on a<br />
greyhound bus on Friday and travel<br />
about 100 miles to preach, and<br />
then, I would get back on the bus<br />
on Sunday night to go home so that<br />
I could go to school on Monday.”<br />
He was the Senior Pastor at Church<br />
of the Harvest International in<br />
Jonesboro, Georgia, for 18 years,<br />
when he and his wife, Ann, went<br />
on the mission field to Indonesia.<br />
They were very successful in this<br />
mission venture. They preached to<br />
thousands in auditoriums, stadiums,<br />
large churches, businesses, etc. They<br />
have even been asked to pray over<br />
malls, homes, and families. When<br />
they are in the nation of Indonesia,<br />
they try to do as much as they can<br />
in the time they have.<br />
But here on the home front, they<br />
had to leave the church in good<br />
hands. They resigned as the Senior<br />
Pastors and appointed their son and<br />
daughter-in-law (Rob and Melissa<br />
Jones) to become the senior pastors.<br />
Rob was 27 at this time. Dr. Jones<br />
said that he was not worried about<br />
Rob’s age because he had been on<br />
staff for four years and was already<br />
the assistant pastor. He had served<br />
in all the areas of the church and<br />
he would do whatever was asked of<br />
him. Dr. Jones said, “I knew that<br />
Rob was ready.”<br />
Pastor Rob was asked how he felt<br />
when his dad announced that he<br />
was going on the mission field and<br />
leaving him with the church as<br />
senior pastor. His response was,<br />
"It was surreal. He had gone to<br />
Indonesia and I had been preaching<br />
while he was gone. The church had<br />
actually grown some while he was<br />
gone. They had been gone seven<br />
weeks and I had been preaching and<br />
the church was doing great. But I<br />
had no clue, no hint, not idea that<br />
he was actually was going to give<br />
me the church at the age of 27. I<br />
didn’t think I was old enough. It<br />
was unreal. It was a little overwhelming.<br />
I was scared out of my<br />
mind that it had happen.”<br />
Dr. Jones planted the seed in<br />
Jonesboro, Georgia, and the seed<br />
grew when Pastor Rob took over<br />
the church. The church has grown<br />
tremendously since the transition<br />
of pastors. The seed was planted,<br />
watered, being harvested and it is<br />
doing well – still growing and ministering<br />
to hundreds of people in multiple<br />
services on the weekend with<br />
approximately 1000 people that call<br />
COTHI their home church.<br />
Then one night a young man,<br />
named Mike Turner, visited the<br />
church and heard Pastor Rob<br />
preach. He turned his life over to<br />
the Lord that night. When ask<br />
of Pastor Mike, “When you surrendered<br />
to Lord, did you know at<br />
that moment in time you wanted<br />
to be a pastor or a preacher?” His<br />
response was, “No, I just wanted to<br />
be forgiven of my sins and be able<br />
to go to heaven. That was it. That<br />
was my goal.”<br />
Pastor Mike stated that he really<br />
did not have a vision or career. He<br />
said, “I had no vision. I was just<br />
making it like most people, week to<br />
week. I was wrestling with God,<br />
trying to come out of a lifestyle of<br />
addiction. I finally walked away<br />
from that lifestyle, was water baptized<br />
and started to Bible College<br />
just because I wanted to know the<br />
Bible not so much to preach. I<br />
didn’t know a lot of the stories in<br />
Continued on page 29
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 17<br />
The Flying Goose<br />
Sandra Schock<br />
First of all, if it had to happen, I’m<br />
thankful that this “goose” flew into<br />
the passenger’s side of the windshield<br />
and not on the driver’s side.<br />
If it had hit the driver’s side, my<br />
husband would have swerved the car<br />
(on an impulse) to keep from hitting<br />
the goose and we could have had a<br />
serious accident.<br />
One Sunday morning, my husband<br />
and I were driving home from<br />
Sunday service, minding our own<br />
business, and driving no more than<br />
30-35 mph. All of a sudden this<br />
thing came out of nowhere. It was<br />
flying towards us about 30 mph and<br />
it crashed into our windshield. IT<br />
WAS A GOOSE!<br />
Scared us to death. I screamed!<br />
Needless to say, it shattered the<br />
top right corner of the windshield<br />
on the passenger’s side (of course,<br />
this was my side). Not only did<br />
all of the glass fall out, but, it put<br />
a hole in the windshield and tiny<br />
slivers of glass fell all in the car<br />
and in my lap. When the goose hit<br />
the car, his body was sliced in half.<br />
The top half of this goose flew over<br />
our car leaving the rest of it lodged<br />
in the windshield. Many feathers<br />
flew inside and outside of the car. I<br />
guess we could say, “his goose was<br />
cooked.”<br />
We saw a parked police officer, so<br />
we turned around and went back to<br />
advise him as to our problem. He<br />
said he saw us as we passed by seconds<br />
earlier and he wondered what<br />
in the world that was hanging out<br />
of our windshield. IT WAS THE<br />
REMAINDER OF THE GOOSE!<br />
He made a police report of this<br />
incident (not knowing for sure if we<br />
needed one for insurances purposes<br />
or not.)<br />
In the meantime, the police officer<br />
went back to where the goose<br />
landed and picked him up off the<br />
street. They have to tag the birds<br />
when ‘things like this happen.’ I<br />
told the police officer that this was<br />
the biggest goose I had ever seen (of<br />
course, I had not seen many anyway).<br />
This is just an example of how<br />
quickly freak accidents can happen.<br />
Some are worse than others.<br />
God just spared us from the bad.<br />
So……………..what does it matter<br />
that I was a little inconvenienced<br />
without my car. Thankfully I can<br />
say, we were not hurt, just a little<br />
shaken up.<br />
After this incident, it made me<br />
thankful for things that I sometimes<br />
took for granted. Before when<br />
I would get into my car, I didn’t<br />
think about anything happening.<br />
But after this incident, I try to pray<br />
and ask God to protect me. Thank<br />
God He did that day.<br />
Second, I’m thankful that I had my<br />
sun visor down and I had on my<br />
sunglasses, because all of these tiny<br />
slivers of glass would have hit me in<br />
the face. Most of the time, I do not<br />
wear sunglasses. Because the sun<br />
visor was down, all of the glass went<br />
into my lap.<br />
Third, I’m thankful that the goose<br />
did not hit the windshield even an<br />
inch lower, because I could have<br />
been seriously hurt. Flying as fast<br />
as he was, his beak could have gone<br />
right through my chest. Now, that<br />
would have hurt!<br />
Fourth, I’m thankful that God was<br />
watching over me and my husband<br />
on that day.<br />
Watch out for flying objects,<br />
you never know<br />
what’s coming at<br />
you……………………it might just<br />
be a flying GOOSE!
Cooking<br />
| <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
18<br />
Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love the weather, I love the clothes, and most of all, I love<br />
the food. The meals that I crave during this time of year are hearty, warm, easy to prepare, and<br />
they have to be delicious. “Lighter Lasagna” allows you to experience the Autumn time bounty<br />
without so much of the guilt. You will not be sorry!<br />
"LIGHTER" LASAGNA<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
1 lb. ground turkey (or beef)<br />
1 jar (16 ounces) salsa<br />
1 can (16 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn<br />
1 large onion, chopped<br />
1 medium green pepper, chopped<br />
1 celery rib, chopped<br />
3 garlic cloves, minced<br />
1 tbsp fresh basil, minced or 1 tsp dried basil<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp chili powder<br />
12 whole-wheat lasagna noodles, cooked, rinsed, and drained<br />
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese<br />
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 19<br />
Corner<br />
with Melissa Jones<br />
1. In a large skillet, cook turkey (or beef) over medium heat until no longer<br />
pink; drain. Add the salsa, beans, vegetables, garlic and seasonings.<br />
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.<br />
2. Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated<br />
with cooking spray; top with four noodles. Repeat layers once. Top with<br />
half of the remaining sauce; sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Layer with<br />
remaining noodles, sauce and cheeses.<br />
3. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20<br />
minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 15 minutes before<br />
cutting.<br />
Makes 12 serving<br />
***This lasagna is even better the next day! It can also be prepared in advance (BUT NOT COOKED) and then<br />
freeze it for up to 3 months.<br />
3 “SAVE TIME” TIPS:<br />
1. PLAN OUT YOUR MEALS FOR THE WEEK<br />
Sit down, look at your week, and list what nights you will be eating at home. Write it down and keep it<br />
in the kitchen so everyone can see what the next few meals will be. They’ll look forward to it all week.<br />
2. MAKE A THOROUGH GROCERY LIST<br />
When you have a detailed grocery list, you only have to go to the store one time. Make your list at the<br />
same time you make your weekly meal-plan. This way you will ensure that you have every ingredient<br />
for every meal.<br />
3. ALWAYS HAVE BACK-UP CONDIMENTS AND SPICES<br />
There is nothing worse than needing an ingredient for a meal and not having it! Start stocking up on<br />
your favorite condiments and spices so you never run out.
20 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Last year I was introduced to an organization<br />
(not only a ministry, but<br />
a humanitarian organization) called<br />
Christ For India. I met Jameson<br />
Titus who serves as President of<br />
Christ for India, and immediately<br />
could feel his passion for India. His<br />
parents, Dr. P.J. and Mary Titus,<br />
had a great vision to not only win<br />
India for Christ, but to help improve<br />
formal and vocational education,<br />
and provide jobs, food, and<br />
shelter.<br />
In 1984 Mary Titus started a school<br />
with 50 children. Initially, their<br />
education was conducted under the<br />
mango trees which necessitated the<br />
start of Nava Jeevan Public School<br />
in the same year. Children from<br />
all over Andhra Pradesh and other<br />
states attended the school.<br />
A children’s home (New Life Children’s<br />
Home) was built in 1986,<br />
1989, and 2007 for boys and girls. It<br />
is comprised of three hostels and accommodates<br />
more than 400 resident<br />
children, house parents, and child<br />
helpers. In 1990, a 400 seat dining<br />
hall, kitchen, and storeroom were<br />
built. By God’s grace, their dedicated<br />
catering team provides nutritious<br />
meals for the students, children,<br />
and campus faculty every day. Also,<br />
buses are used for bringing children<br />
to school from the surrounding villages<br />
and for ministry outreaches.<br />
Junior College was started. Many<br />
of the graduates of this institution<br />
are enrolled in engineering and<br />
medical colleges.<br />
Jyothi Hospital was built in 1990<br />
with the aim of serving all those<br />
on the Christ For India campus as<br />
well as the poor villagers neighboring<br />
the campus. In 1998 the facility<br />
became a full-fledged 30 bed general<br />
hospital with all facilities. Remote<br />
Medical Camps are set up in local<br />
villages at least twice a month. A<br />
medical team consisting of a doctor,<br />
nurse, pharmacist, and helper provide<br />
free first aid and consultation<br />
to the poor and needy. If a medical<br />
case cannot be treated at the remote<br />
location, patients are referred<br />
to the Joythi Hospital where they<br />
receive free treatment. Medical staff<br />
are able not only to attend to the<br />
physical needs of patients, but also<br />
to their spiritual needs.<br />
A Women’s Vocational College provides<br />
underprivileged women with<br />
one year’s training in computers<br />
with job placement. Without this<br />
training these women would face<br />
an uncertain life. Training in other<br />
vocational skills such as sewing, machine<br />
repair, plumbing, and electrial<br />
repair are also offered on campus.<br />
COTR Theological Seminary<br />
opened in 1983 with 30 students.<br />
Over 2000 students have completed<br />
training since the inception of the<br />
seminary. It offers Bachelor of Theology,<br />
Master of Divinity, and Master<br />
of Theology in Missiology and<br />
Church History degrees, accredited<br />
by Asia Theological Association.<br />
They are also planning for a Doctoral<br />
program in the near future.<br />
Christ for India is doing a great<br />
and awesome work. In October of<br />
2014 a Cyclone hit the campus and<br />
did over a million dollars in damage<br />
and destruction, but not one<br />
child, student, or staff member was<br />
injured during the storm. That was<br />
a miracle in itself.<br />
If you would like to sponsor a child,<br />
student, help with the re-building,<br />
or just make a donation, please go<br />
to www.christforindia.org. You will<br />
find so many opportunities to serve.<br />
In the midst of all that is being<br />
done, President Jameson Titus<br />
makes the statement, “Training<br />
thousands to reach the millions.”<br />
In 2001, The Nava Jeevan Christian
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 21<br />
WELLNESS<br />
Everyday people battle with stress or anxieties of<br />
life. They are trying to balance family, work, school,<br />
activities, ministry, and more! We live in a fast paced<br />
society where sleep deprivation is on the rise. The<br />
question is, do you know how to "quiet your mind"?<br />
(That's what my meditation coach says.)<br />
• Getting caught up on sleep may be an all-time favorite.<br />
It will increase alertness, improve your memory, and<br />
you will feel relaxed.<br />
Some other ideas to consider increasing mental health<br />
are:<br />
Why do we need a mental break? What can we do?<br />
Take a mental health day! That's right. Actually, take<br />
a day off to rest your mind. When you find yourself<br />
losing patience or find it hard to focus or think<br />
clearly, it could be time for a mental health day.<br />
Of course, if you're in the middle of a major project at<br />
work, it may not be the best time to take off.<br />
Usually our bodies will tell us when it is time to take<br />
a break. We should not wait until we're worn down<br />
to do this. Mental health days can help rejuvenate,<br />
recharge, and refocus our perspective, which in turn<br />
helps us to be more productive.<br />
• Evaluate your faith and beliefs.<br />
• Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.<br />
• Overall activities that have positive effects on your<br />
mood can soothe anxiety and help you during your<br />
mental health day!<br />
Note: Mental disease and disorder effects many people in<br />
America.<br />
If you find yourself or someone you know needing assistance<br />
with mental disorder, go to: www.mentalhealth.gov<br />
What should you do on your mental health day?<br />
• Think of activities that will help relax your mind.<br />
Turning on the TV to catch up on your shows is<br />
not the way to go. I personally like to listen to<br />
meditation music and perform breathing exercises.<br />
This helps to calm your mind and develop inner<br />
peace.<br />
• Spending time with family and/or friends and<br />
having a good laugh is a plus! This increases the<br />
serotonin levels that make you feel good.<br />
• Doing some outside activities or exercise can benefit<br />
your mind, body and spirit.<br />
Dawn Causey<br />
Host of Remarkable Essence WebTV & Radio Show<br />
Founder of The Essence of a Woman: Health,<br />
Wellness & Empowerment Conference
22 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
“A <strong>Passion</strong> for Networking"<br />
Chi Chi Okezie<br />
<strong>Passion</strong> is such a strong word which carries a lot of weight. Honestly, it is more than a word or a noun. It is an<br />
action word. It involves dedication, sacrifice, strength, endurance, willpower, vision (insight), hope, patience, etc.<br />
The list can go on and on. One thing passion requires is a willingness to persevere. It requires a willingness to go<br />
against the odds and fulfill its purpose or mission.<br />
People can be passionate about their loved ones, family, friends, spiritual beliefs, core values, work, civic charities,<br />
desires etc. And yes, people can also be passionate about networking. They can be devoted to developing socially<br />
or professionally, and creating a strong network of trusted advisers to help them along the way.<br />
With that being said, how can people show and live out their passion for networking? How can they reach their<br />
goals and make significant accomplishments to change their lives and the lives of others? Listed below are some<br />
practical tips on how people can show the right passion for networking for success.<br />
In order to be passionate about networking, I must:<br />
1. Have a plan or a purpose for networking.<br />
2. Want to succeed and devote time to making this a priority.<br />
3. Join a professional group or association for accountability.<br />
4. Sharpen my communication skills and talents for my desired objectives.<br />
5. Be networking minded and focused on building quality and lasting relationships.<br />
6. Link up with like-minded people who can add value to my networks.<br />
7. Invest in myself and learn the importance and benefits of networking for overall advancement.<br />
8. Show consistency in my endeavors and follow up to show credibility and professionalism.<br />
9. Demonstrate a genuine character and be willing to help others along the way.<br />
10. Use networking as a source of leadership and direction for continual growth.<br />
Hopefully, these tips, as well as this article, can give you insight on how to show your passion for networking. Being<br />
able to demonstrate this action can lead you to greater success than you could ever imagine!<br />
Contact:<br />
Chi Chi Okezie, cokezie@snseminars.com, http://www.snseminars.com
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 23<br />
Season of Life<br />
There is a time and a season for everything under heaven!<br />
Autumn is here!<br />
Cornelia Brown<br />
Life and death are exchanging<br />
seasons. The trees are changing and<br />
the leaves begin their transition.<br />
They have no choice. The command<br />
is given from heaven that it is time<br />
for “autumn.”<br />
There is life deep within the branches;<br />
buds and seeds are safely tucked<br />
away, asleep like little sweet babies<br />
in their mother's womb! A heavenly<br />
force will re-awaken the sleeping<br />
tiny foliage in spring. Once again<br />
the tree will reveal the new leaves<br />
and blooms, the fruit of a healthy<br />
root system and branches.<br />
But for now, this is the season<br />
where God colors nature in every<br />
vivid bright color you can ever<br />
imagine. No painter or artist can<br />
copy the rainbow of deep earthy<br />
reds, glowing oranges, the color of<br />
fire, the suns deep vibrant yellow,<br />
and of course, all the colors of the<br />
earth. Fruit has developed in the<br />
trees. Nuts, apples, pears and other<br />
morsels are the gift to humanity!<br />
Like we, the human beings walking<br />
this earth, we have been uniquely<br />
designed and re-designed over and<br />
over in our own earthy shades of<br />
milky white to cinnamon browns to<br />
deep pecan tones, every shade more<br />
beautiful in its own way. Nature<br />
is changing right before us and we<br />
all should realize only a heavenly<br />
being can create such a magnificent<br />
artistry just for us to enjoy! Isn't<br />
it so very amazing that the leaves<br />
are actually dying, but are at their<br />
most beautiful as their lives come to<br />
the end.<br />
Well, you know nature is the perfect<br />
example of how we need to be. The<br />
older we get, and as our life gets<br />
closer and closer to our final destination<br />
to our heavenly home, we<br />
should shine brighter and brighter.<br />
We should be full of life and love<br />
and glowing of wisdom and honor<br />
just like the autumn leaves. I am<br />
so sad when I see older people slip<br />
into deep depression because they<br />
have lost their purpose and zeal for<br />
life. There is no anti-depressant nor<br />
medication that can bring happiness<br />
and purpose back. We need to<br />
understand that God wants us to<br />
be engaged in a loving way, enjoy<br />
life and be the givers of wisdom and<br />
understanding to a world that is<br />
hurting and longing for more.<br />
We are the root system and we<br />
must make sure that we are deeply<br />
rooted in God's word, promises, and<br />
teach our children. If we, the root<br />
system, allow our lives to rot, we<br />
will allow great harm to enter our<br />
future generations’ life.<br />
So, walk through the fall forest, let<br />
the leaves rustle under your feet,<br />
Continued on<br />
Page 26
24 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Mary Lou Kehoe<br />
We have all heard many, many<br />
reports of “hacking” in the news<br />
lately. It ranges from security<br />
breaches at Target to the so called<br />
Chinese hacking into the Office of<br />
Personnel Management and stealing<br />
the Social Security numbers of<br />
countless numbers of people who<br />
had applied for a Security Clearance.<br />
Every day it seems that there<br />
is someone out there who wants to<br />
take our personal information for<br />
their own gain. It positively makes<br />
me nervous every time I use a debit<br />
or credit card.<br />
We spend all this time protecting<br />
our information, our credit score,<br />
and our money. Yet, how much time<br />
do we spend protecting our “identity”<br />
in Christ? What steps do we<br />
take to make sure that the enemy<br />
or even our own feelings don’t take<br />
away what we are in Him? We are<br />
the Lord’s person and possession.<br />
He has made us and He has ownership<br />
of us through creation and<br />
redemption. If we don’t know who<br />
we really are in Christ, we might let<br />
the devil try to tag us with a false<br />
identity.<br />
In response to this threat, no matter<br />
how small or big it may seem,<br />
we take countless steps to prevent<br />
our identity from being stolen. We<br />
monitor our credit card and bank<br />
statements. We shred anything with<br />
personal information such as account<br />
numbers and Social Security<br />
numbers. We check that no one is<br />
too close when entering our bank<br />
information and PIN at the ATM<br />
or checkout line. We sign up for<br />
bank alerts if a withdrawal is more<br />
than a certain amount, and when<br />
notified, try to remember what it<br />
was for and if it was an authorized<br />
deduction, at least I know that I do.<br />
There are even countless other agencies<br />
out there who try to get you to<br />
order their protection such as Life<br />
Lock.<br />
With the stress of living in the<br />
world, not to mention our family<br />
members, it is easy to forget what<br />
wonderful gifts are ours as a result<br />
of our giving our lives to Christ. We<br />
can easily become focused on what<br />
is going on around us, whether positive<br />
or negative, and forget to focus<br />
on our relationship with our Savior.<br />
Our own thought patterns and feelings<br />
can also rob us of this identity.<br />
Shame, guilt, depression, and other<br />
wrong feelings can rob us of our<br />
peace and joy. We can soon get in<br />
a place of forgetting what God has<br />
given us and start believing what<br />
the world around us says we are.<br />
We need to make every effort to<br />
remember what the Word tells us in<br />
1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen<br />
race, a royal priesthood, a holy<br />
nation, a people for His own possessions,<br />
that you may proclaim the<br />
excellence of Him who called you<br />
out of darkness into His marvelous<br />
light.” This is an identity we should<br />
protect at all cost.
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 25<br />
October Events 2015<br />
Tri-Counties<br />
Henry, Clayton, Fayette<br />
Fayette County<br />
Fayette Market Day & Trick Or Treat on Main Street on Saturday, October 24th, 2015<br />
from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.<br />
Enjoy the jack-o-lanterns around the Fayetteville square and the Fayette Family Market Day around the gazebo.<br />
The traditional Trick-or-Treat on Main Street at participating businesses and around the gazebo to all the vendors<br />
will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.<br />
New this year and sponsored by Main Street Fayetteville and Spina Bifida Association of Georgia will be the introduction<br />
of the Wheelchair & Walkers Halloween Costume Contest - starts at 4:00 p.m. Children 13 and under!<br />
Immediately after the Wheelchair & Walkers Contest, Children 13 and under will participate in the kids costume<br />
contest beginning with age group 4 and under, 5 - 8; and 9-13. The contest will end at 5:00. Location for both<br />
contests will take place at the fountain area near the stage. Call 770-719-4173 for more information.<br />
Fayette County page 28
26 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
pick some up and throw them in<br />
the air and dance and live and<br />
enjoy! Stop for a moment, be quiet,<br />
listen to the birds, take in a deep<br />
breath and smell the earthy aroma<br />
of fall.<br />
Listen.......can you hear it...... the<br />
trees are whispering and as the<br />
leaves are dancing in the wind<br />
like little tiny fall angels, you can<br />
almost hear them sing "Thanksgiving<br />
is coming, Christmas is coming!"<br />
Aahhh you are still here on this<br />
earth to enjoy this beautiful moment.<br />
It's a gift. It is a very special<br />
gift.<br />
This is truly my favorite time of the<br />
year.<br />
I think I am going home to bake an<br />
apple pie and make some hazelnut<br />
coffee. I suddenly want to smell the<br />
aroma of autumn and the winter to<br />
come!<br />
www.yahoo.com to order books by<br />
Cornelia Brown Black and white<br />
makes brown, "I love it" thoughts<br />
on marriage by a Christian woman.<br />
Cornelia Brown<br />
Have the time of your Life!<br />
A cruise! A Resort! A Hotel!<br />
PAYCATION TRAVEL<br />
Earn As You Travel<br />
Elaine Tinsley<br />
Travel Agent<br />
elaineti@bellsouth.net<br />
www.islandschoals.paycation.com<br />
770-710-3866
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 27<br />
Once that little project was done, I<br />
still had a glass bowl, some left over<br />
flowers, and a bag of fall leaves. So<br />
I decided to make a candle-holder! I<br />
had seen this idea on Pinterest before<br />
and it looked like a lot of fun.<br />
For my next project, I spent a little more money. I bought a circular wood<br />
plaque from Michaels for $6 and a small plank (no more than three inches<br />
long) for $.99. Again, I borrowed some supplies from my fantastic motherin-law<br />
(paints, glue, etc.) With all of these supplies, I decided to make a<br />
pumpkin that I could hang on the wall!<br />
Here’s how:<br />
1. Take your glass bowl and set it on<br />
a towel so that you won’t get glue<br />
on any counter tops.<br />
2. With your leaves, use Modge<br />
Podge glue to stick them to the<br />
glass bowl until they cover the entire<br />
surface.<br />
3. For mine, I used some little beads<br />
that were on some of my leftover<br />
flowers and hot glued them in the<br />
spaces that my leaves left empty.<br />
Then I glued some around the top<br />
rim of the bowl.<br />
4. Put a small candle into the bowl<br />
and watch as it illuminates the<br />
pretty leaves!<br />
Here’s how:<br />
1. Decide what colors you want to paint your wood. For simplicity, you can<br />
paint your circular plaque a white color with a grey or brown stem. Or<br />
you can go for an exciting pop of orange.<br />
2. After painting your wood, let it sit until dry. Now it’s time to personalize!<br />
Add a cute message like “Happy Harvest” or “Thankful” in a fun font.<br />
If you’re brave, you can paint the words your-self, but I decided to play it<br />
safe and use some inexpensive letter stencils.<br />
3. Once the wording has dried, it is time to glue your stem to your pumpkin!<br />
I used a hot glue gun and stuck it to the back high enough that it<br />
shows well!<br />
Not only am I filling my home up with inexpensive decorations, but I’m<br />
also having a ton of fun crafting. The bottom line is, this time of year<br />
should bring out the kid in all of us. In fact, if you have kids, these are all<br />
great crafts to enjoy with them now! I was able to buy quite a few more<br />
little things just by looking at the Dollar Tree store. Now my house smells<br />
like cinnamon and looks like fall.<br />
From my home to yours, happy harvest!<br />
Dakota Jones
28 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
Henry County<br />
Yule Forest Hwy. 155 is a great farm full of fun for all. Children can have the opportunity to explore the environment<br />
in the new outdoor classroom and to see what it's like to be a farmer. Have fun with your family on<br />
a hayride around the farm traveling through the cartoon forest and visiting the animals that live there! Take a<br />
seat under the shade trees as your children play in the fun zone on a giant jumping pillow and other inflatables!<br />
Seasonal events include: The Pumpkin Patch, Haunted House, Haunted Hayride, Trail, Zombie Paintball Hayride,<br />
and of course, Christmas trees! Farm tours available. For more information about the haunted hayride and trail<br />
visit www.fearthewoods.com.<br />
Clayton County page 31
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 29<br />
the Bible that were referred to, so,<br />
it was hard for me to connect or<br />
understand some of the teachings.<br />
I started working with the singles<br />
ministry and helping out with the<br />
youth. I knew that I could help<br />
teenagers, and eventually, I became<br />
the Youth Pastor at Church of the<br />
Harvest International.<br />
County, GA. He started with 17<br />
adults (that included himself, his<br />
wife, in-laws and parents) and<br />
today, they probably have about<br />
2,000 members. On Easter of this<br />
year they had 3,000 in attendance.<br />
Their weekly average is about 1,400<br />
to 1,500 per Sunday and they have<br />
four services. “Outreach Magazine”<br />
said that they were the 48th fastest<br />
growing church in the nation in the<br />
top 100 in 2014 and 5th in Georgia.<br />
The average age for their membership<br />
is 25-30.<br />
people who need direction, so that<br />
always burns on the inside of me<br />
– that we are never finished. So,<br />
yes, constantly dreaming planting,<br />
strategizing on being bigger. It is<br />
never enough. I am content, but<br />
never satisfied.”<br />
Pastor Rob and Pastor Mike<br />
became very good friends. When<br />
Dr. Jones appointed Pastor Rob<br />
as senior pastor, Pastor Rob would<br />
eventually appoint Pastor Mike as<br />
the associate pastor.<br />
After five years of serving as an<br />
Associate Pastor, it was determined<br />
through prayer and confirmation<br />
that Pastor Mike would start his<br />
own church. Within a few months<br />
Pastor Mike would be launched out<br />
in this new endeavor. Pastor Mike<br />
said, “I began to survey Henry<br />
County and it was the 4th fastest<br />
growing county in the nation at<br />
that time and 85% of the county<br />
was unchurched. I knew that this<br />
was where the Lord wanted me.”<br />
Another seed was starting to<br />
sprout!<br />
In January of 2004 Pastor Rob<br />
and Church of the Harvest International<br />
planted Pastor Mike as a<br />
Senior Pastor in his own church,<br />
Turning Point Church, in Henry<br />
And now another seed is about to<br />
start sprouting in Coweta County,<br />
Georgia. Pastor Mike is getting<br />
ready to plant a seed (a church).<br />
Pastor Rob said that he was super<br />
proud each time he hears a story or<br />
a record is set or when he goes to<br />
preach for Pastor Mike. He said, “I<br />
am just proud of him. Just super<br />
excited and thankful that we were<br />
a part of that seed. It is like taking<br />
a seed from an oak tree, planting it<br />
and watching is sprout and grow. I<br />
really feel that that is what he has<br />
done.”<br />
“But let’s go back to my dad, the<br />
history of the church is ‘church<br />
planting organization,’” said Pastor<br />
Rob. Not just planting churches,<br />
but we have sent out many ministers<br />
that pastor all over the United<br />
States because of my father’s<br />
influence, and I hope, a little of my<br />
influence. I think that we have seen<br />
a lot of success through that.<br />
Pastor Rob stated that he was<br />
never satisfied and he constantly<br />
plants and harvests. He said, “I<br />
am content in what God has done,<br />
but I am never satisfied. Because<br />
I believe there is more. As long<br />
as I am alive, breathing and above<br />
ground, there are people who need<br />
Jesus, lives that need changed,<br />
marriages that need healing, young<br />
And neither is his father, Dr. Jones.<br />
In 2010 Dr. Jones and his wife<br />
started another church in Fayetteville,<br />
Georgia. They have been the<br />
senior pastors for five years. They<br />
will be leaving in October of this<br />
year to go back for 3-4 weeks to<br />
Indonesia with a side stop in Bali<br />
to preach at a large church there.<br />
So, as we end this interview with<br />
these three men, three churches and<br />
three counties (Clayton, Henry and<br />
Fayette) that have been impacted,<br />
we can truly say that we have been<br />
BLESSED by the planting and<br />
harvesting of these seeds for the<br />
Kingdom of God.
30 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 31<br />
Clayton County<br />
FALL FESTIVAL: On October 17, 2015, come out and enjoy Arts & Crafts, Food, Music, and a Costume Contest<br />
at our Annual Fall Festival! FREE event from 2:00 - 6:00pm at Flat Shoals Park. In addition to the Fall Festival,<br />
join in on this Nationally Recognized "Lights on Afterschool Rally" to support after school programs. This<br />
event encourages parents to allow their kids to participate in after school activities and programs.<br />
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: On October 17, 2015 bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks to our FREE<br />
Event. Movie will begin at dusk (9:00pm). Call 770-477-3766 for more information. Movie: Rise of the Guardians<br />
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WORKSHOP: On October 20, 2015 an educational workshop that will have<br />
guest speakers, light refreshments, and information that will educate the community on early detection and possible<br />
prevention of breast cancer. FREE event from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center.<br />
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: On October 30, 2015, have fun in costumes collecting candy while enjoying the Halloween<br />
experience in a safe environment at Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center from 6-8pm.<br />
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN NIGHT: On October 30, 2015, this program is put together to give the residents of<br />
Clayton County and others around the metro Atlanta area an opportunity to come out and fellowship with each<br />
other while enjoying face painting, cotton candy, Halloween candy, and games. 6:00pm - 8:00pm / Virginia Burton<br />
Gray Recreation Center.
32 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
MAKE<br />
EACH DAY<br />
COUNT<br />
Mohammed Bolton<br />
You did it! One full month of<br />
exercise. If you stuck to your goal,<br />
you would have exercised 15 days<br />
out of the month. Did you know<br />
that’s half of the month? What’s<br />
more, you gave your heart and your<br />
lungs the ability to get stronger and<br />
become more efficient.<br />
Here’s a quick story to further<br />
motivate you towards total physical<br />
health:<br />
There was a man who lived in a<br />
small town. Every day citizens<br />
watched as this man sat on his<br />
front porch eyeing the street which<br />
meandered its way through the<br />
neighborhood. Without fail, no matter<br />
how hot or cold, sunny or rainy<br />
the weather or conditions, he sat<br />
on that porch. There was a young<br />
boy, (Mo) who grew up just down<br />
the street from the man’s home,<br />
and year after year he wondered<br />
why this man sat on his porch every<br />
morning. Once the young man<br />
graduated high school, he fulfilled<br />
one of his curiosities and went to<br />
visit the, now, old man. He said,<br />
“Mr. Walker, I’ve lived on this<br />
street my whole life and I’ve always<br />
seen you sitting on this porch,<br />
every morning, no matter what. For<br />
the longest time I’ve wanted to ask<br />
you why. Can you do me the honor<br />
of explaining,” Mo said. Mr. Walker<br />
started laughing, then rolled up his<br />
pants legs, to show Mo his prosthetic<br />
legs. He looked Mo square in the<br />
eyes, “You see these Mo?<br />
They were taken from me due to<br />
diabetes. I sit on this porch every<br />
day to see how many people take<br />
their health for granted, but I also<br />
get joy out of watching you kids<br />
run and play at the bus stop and<br />
watching your parents jog or bike<br />
through the neighborhood. It warms<br />
my heart to see the mothers walking<br />
with their children in those new<br />
state-of-the-art strollers. I can’t run<br />
like I used to. I have to use crutches<br />
to get to this chair. So I sit here,<br />
because the efforts of others gives<br />
me the strength to keep fighting.”<br />
The reality of Mr. Walker’s condition<br />
had a huge impact on the<br />
young man. He walked away both<br />
saddened and enlightened.<br />
Make each day count!<br />
Continue your one mile a day, three<br />
days a week, with all of the exercises<br />
in <strong>Issue</strong> 1. If you don’t have<br />
the issue, find it fast! Now add one<br />
more day, where you stretch for at<br />
least 30 minutes and introduce abs.<br />
If you have a back or abdominal injury,<br />
please consult your physician.<br />
If you feel any discomfort other<br />
than usual discomfort from exerting<br />
effort, consult your physician.<br />
Get a thick yoga mat, then lay it<br />
flat. With your feet and back flat<br />
on the mat, your legs should be at<br />
a 90 degree angle. Without pulling<br />
on your head and neck, curl your<br />
back upward until your shoulders<br />
rise off the mat, then return back<br />
down for one repetition. Try only 10<br />
repetitions then rest for one minute.<br />
Make an attempt to do 3 sets of 10<br />
repetitions.<br />
I can’t wait until the next article.<br />
Once you get the hang of it, first<br />
increase your reps then increase<br />
your sets. If you want to challenge<br />
yourself even more, decrease your<br />
rest time. Have fun getting WELL!<br />
*remember to have your physician<br />
clear you for exercise*
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 33<br />
Books are <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong><br />
One of my most favorite spots to visit in Georgia is St.<br />
Simons Island. I try to visit at least a couple of times a<br />
year, and for the last ten years, I have taken my grandsons<br />
on a “Nana Vacation” and we explore the island.<br />
St. Simons Island is the largest of the Golden Isles<br />
along Georgia’s southern Atlantic coast. At 18 square<br />
miles in size, it is accessible by car via the F.J. Torras<br />
Causeway. The Island has many lodging choices ranging<br />
from stately hotels to comfy B & B’s, golf resorts,<br />
condo rentals and vacation homes. You can rent bikes<br />
or take your own so that you can explore the beauty of<br />
this island.<br />
store. There are old comfy couches and chairs setting<br />
around just in case you want to relax for a while and<br />
read a book.<br />
I talked with the owner, Nancy Thomason, and she<br />
stated that she moved from New York to St. Simons<br />
Island. In 1976 she decided to open a used bookstore<br />
on the island. In 1985 she moved to her current location<br />
on Mallery Street. She sells to the islanders,<br />
as well as the tourists. She stated that her passion<br />
was the love of old and used books. So, her passion<br />
became her reality. She made it clear that she was not<br />
a writer, but just enjoyed the books.<br />
She wanted to encourage anyone who reads this article<br />
and their passion is books and they want to open a<br />
used bookstore, to do it. She said that she was not<br />
an expert when she opened the shop, but whatever<br />
she did, it worked. She further stated, that books are<br />
not dying. People still love to hold the books as they<br />
read.<br />
<strong>My</strong> grandsons and I decided to rent bikes one day and<br />
took off for the other side of the island. And of course,<br />
it started to rain. Being the oldest of the four, I was<br />
always looking at their backside (which was not always<br />
a pleasant sight). We peddled so fast and so hard that<br />
we had to stop periodically to rest or at least one of<br />
us had to (I will not say which one). We laughed; we<br />
turned our bikes over in an ant bed; you name it, we<br />
did it that day. But, oh what fun, what memories!<br />
Fall is a great time to visit St. Simons Island. Why<br />
not plan a little week-end trip and visit the island,<br />
and if you do, make sure you go and visit Nancy at<br />
her Beachview Books.<br />
The village on the Island is so quaint. We just walk<br />
from our hotel (St. Simon’s Lighthouse Inn) to all the<br />
shops, the lighthouse, the pier, the ice cream parlors,<br />
the hamburger joints -- we do it all. We have so much<br />
fun.<br />
But there is one place that the boys and I enjoy more<br />
than anything else the Beachview Books, a bookstore<br />
that sits right in the middle of the village. Even when<br />
the boys were very young, they loved this place. It<br />
carries used books, 1st editions, books that have been<br />
signed by authors, antique post cards from Georgia,<br />
antique prints and maps. We could spend hours in this
34 | <strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015<br />
LawnCare<br />
David Buckner<br />
770-710-9962<br />
Visit us on the web at: www.pawsandsmiles.com
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Passion</strong> - <strong>Issue</strong> 3 - September 2015 | 35<br />
The Hair Studio At Eagles Landing<br />
LIZ<br />
909 Eagles Landing Pkwy<br />
Suite 150<br />
Stockbridge, GA 30281<br />
770-474-3335
404-919-9422<br />
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