Henry County Times

Shake it off In the words of the singer, Taylor Swift: “Cause the players gonna play, And the haters gonna hate, Baby, I’m just gonna shake it off, Heart-breakers gonna break, And the fakers gonna fake, Baby, I’m just gonna shake it off.” (“1989,” Swift, Martin, and Shellback. 2014) In the words of an unknown writer: “One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that since the animal was old, and the well needed to be cov- ered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and began to bray loudly, and then he quiet- ed down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. The donkey would shake the dirt off his back and take a step up. As the farmer continued to shovel in the dirt, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, to the farmer’s astonishment, the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off.” Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the hole is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is just a stepping stone and we can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, never giving up. Shake it off and take a step up. •Free your heart from hatred. •Free your mind from worries. •Live simply. •Give more. •Expect less. The news these days are full of crime … shootings, drugs, abductions, home invasions, international turmoil, and on and on. We feel discouraged about trying to share the message of Christ and His Love because the nonbelievers seem more intent on not believing and aren’t afraid to blast you away with their words or the slam of the door. So, we begin to wonder “what is the use? It’s so discouraging!” Our world recently lost a pow- erful voice for the Christian peo- ple in the Rev. Billy Graham. He spoke unapologetically and pow- erfully about the simple message that “God Loves You.” I’m sure Dr. Graham was rejected many times, but he did not ever give up until the day he passed into his new life in heaven. So, why are we so afraid when we are reject- ed for sharing God? When we allow ourselves to get stuck in that deep well and can’t get out? Well, we need to do what the donkey did. Shake it off and take another step up. The writer Timothy wrote that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 2:7) So, then, why do we act so timid and shy about telling others? We have the best news in the world and don’t boldly share it? Sure, you may be rejected, made fun of, laughed at, but you are doing what Christ commanded us to do. I’m tired of quietly disagreeing with distortions of the Bible and message of God. God is not my heavenly Mother, God is not a “She, Dude, or Bro,” God is not going to welcome you into heav- en if you’ve simply been good (and not truly accepted Him in your heart and live for Him), God wants us to regularly fel- lowship with other believers in a Christ-honoring place, God does not like foul language and behav- ior. I’m shaking it off and step- ping up. Jesus said, “And whoever will not accept you or your message, then depart and shake the dust from your feet.” (Matthew 10:14 NKJ) Shake it off and step up and keep going. Time is short, folks, and from this point on, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” and will do my part to spread His Word and His Love wherever I go and I encourage you to take this journey with me. And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy. Jimmy Cochran is a resident of McDonough, a musician, a min- ister and the author of Being God’s and Staying God’s, both available at Amazon.com. Being God’s is also available at Moye’s Pharmacy in McDonough. JIMMY COCHRAN Columnist The Henry County Times Page 13 March 21, 2018 R ELIGION • Henry Happenings • Henry Happenings • Henry Happenings • Henry Happenings • Henry Happenings Republican Women of Henry Offering Scholarship The Republican Women of Henry County are once again offering a $1,000 college schol- arship to a high school female graduating by spring of 2018 in a Henry County, public, private or home school. See application and criteria at www.republican womeno f hen r ycoun t y. o rg . Applications must be post- marked by Friday, April 13. For more information, contact Kappy Morris at kappybmorris @gmail.com or by phone at 770- 402-7930. Heritage Writers Group The Heritage Writers Group (THWG) meets the second and fourth Sundays of each month at the McDonough Public Library at 1001 Florence McGarity Boulevard. Interested parties can attend and meet serious writers and published authors. For more information, visit https://heri tagewritersga.weebly.com/ Fairview Library Offering English as a Second Language Classes The Fairview Public Library holds free Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes each week. ESL Beginner class- es are held on Thursdays at 5 p.m. ESL Intermediate classes are held on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ESL Advanced classes are held on Wednesdays at 12:20 p.m. The Fairview Public Library is located at 28 Austin Road in Stockbridge. For more information, call the library at 678-432-5353 ext. 3. Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous meets Monday-Saturday at noon at McDonough First UMC, 151 Macon Street in McDonough. For more information, call 678- 972-9029 or visit aa.atlanta.org to find meeting locations. Free GED Classes from Connecting Henry Connecting Henry is offering free General Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes for eli- gible Henry County youth ages 16-24. Classes are held Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon. For more information, call them at 770-288-6230. Henry County Retired Educators Offer Annual Scholarship Each year the Henry County Retired Educators Association funds two scholarships: A $750 Scholarship is available to assist the advanced college student seeking initial teacher certifica- tion. Applicants must be resi- dents of Henry County and cur- rently enrolled in an approved teacher certification program. The deadline for submitting an application is May 1. A $500 Scholarship is available to a deserving high school senior planning to pursue a college career in education. Applicants must be residents of Henry County and attend a Henry County High School. For more information, application forms, deadlines and eligibility require- ments on both scholarships visit www.hc-rea.org Pinwheel Vigil March 29 April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and local organization, Prevent Child Abuse Henry County, is helping raise awareness with a Pinwheel Vigil on Thursday, March 29 at the McDonough Municipal Courthouse at 40 Lawrenceville Street. A meet and greet will be held from 6:30-7 p.m. with the program going on from 7-8 p.m. There will be music, survivor stories and information to share. More Success Stories Would You Like To Become The Next Success Story? •Protecting your Home & Family•Protecting your Business•Protecting your Lifestyle Strawn & Co., Insurance is an Independent Insurance Agency representing over 50 insurance companies. We have saved many of our clients hundreds of dollars on their automobile and homeowners insurance. Please take a look at just a few of our recent success stories... Customer Matthew of McDonough... 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No one insurer is more or less expensive for everyone, so we work hard representing you to find the best rate for you from our wide variety of insurance partners. Your individual savings may be greater or smaller than the ones above. Call us, without obligation, to see how much you can save! S TRAWN & C O ., I NSURANCE 770-957-9005 16 Hampton St. • McDonough • www.strawninsurance.com Send your Henry Happenings to editor@henry countytimes.com