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by Bill Fortenberry

The Bible is God talking to me personally. I will, therefore, listen to it carefully and obey it fully. And I will endeavor to internalize it in my life by doing four things: I will know it in my head by diligent study; I will stow it in my heart by memorization and meditation; I will show it in my life by obeying its teachings; and I will sow it in my world by witnessing.

I have recited those words almost weekly for more than five years, but I don’t think I truly understood them until this year.

Each year, I read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation or chronologically. Last year, I added journaling to that daily discipline, underlining and writing notes in the margin of a new Bible with the idea that I would give it to my son at Christmas. I wanted him to have God’s Word in his hand with notes and prayers that I had made in my handwriting.

The idea came when I found some old recipes that my sweet mama had copied into a notebook and onto index cards. I immediately recognized her handwriting, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Thanks to today’s digital world, my kids don’t have many things in my handwriting. What better way to give them something than to journal in a Bible just for them? This year, I’m doing the same for my daughter.

But this year brought an unexpected bonus: God pointed out themes in the Old Testament that kept resurfacing. I told others about them. Those same themes showed up in the sermon podcasts I listen to. God was telling me something.

To make sure I didn’t miss it, I took my journaling up a notch. I went back through my notes and wrote down the recurring themes. From there, I rewrote the Scripture in 20 // September 2020

second person as if God were talking to me personally: Bill, I want you to pay attention to your gates. You are a gatekeeper.

Then, I made a third pass at my journal and extracted the thoughts into first-person action points. I will not watch television, movies, or videos that cause me to think negatively, to fear, or pull me away from God. I will not listen to music or podcasts or read articles or books that do those things.

It took me a few days to go back over what I had already journaled, but God’s voice was loud and clear. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is God talking to me personally. He wants me to listen and take action.

About The Author

Bill Fortenberry worked 17 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, and has worked in healthcare communications since 2001. Bill serves as the chairman of the board of managers of Haven Health Clinic for Women and is a men’s ministry leader and small group facilitator at his church, HBC Rome. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Ethan and Autumn. A storyteller at heart, Bill writes an occasional blog at kudzudad.blogspot.com.

770.540.0088 | brantley.wilson@gmail.com

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CRETED, LLC.

Since 2005, Brantley Wilson, friend. Together, each with unique Serena happily helps with the Founder and President skills, they established and built a business while caring for their four of Creted, LLC, has been successful business. During this time, children and working shifts at the delighting clients with beautiful they both married their sweethearts hospital when needed, albeit the concrete designs - transforming and began their beautiful families. hospital shifts have become fewer with ordinary concrete surfaces into Then, after eight years together, the the birth of each precious baby over the artistic masterpieces using a variety partners decided to part ways so that years. As you can imagine, it’s a busy, of decorative methods to achieve they could pursue their own business and fulfilling life for the young family. each client’s vision. Creted provides and career goals. In addition to Brantley’s “daymany types of professional design, Brantley was immediately job,” Brantley is an ordained minister installation, and finishing services for recruited by a family-owned tractor and part-time pastor. In 2018, he and commercial and residential concrete sales and rental company where Serena, along with his brother, Chad, spaces using state-of-the-art processes, he gained further experience and and father, Oley, renovated the Three materials, tools, and machinery. knowledge about market-leading Rivers Nursery into what is now

Brantley began his career as a machinery for each type of job. After “Access Church,” where Brantley and concrete craftsman’s apprentice while two years of establishing business his family are active members, with he was in college. During this time, he relationships with hundreds of Serena heading the children’s ministry learned the trade that he would later clients across northwest Georgia and Brantley pastoring with his perfect as an entrepreneur and artisan. and consistently overachieving sales brother, father, and Elders. Upon graduating from Kennesaw State quotas, Brantley’s entrepreneurial Over the years, Brantley has also University with a bachelor’s degree spirit, along with the devotion of his purchased, lived in, remodeled, and in Business Management in 2006, he wife, Serena, a part-time RN at Floyd “flipped,” numerous houses in the co-founded a concrete design and Medical Center, led him to establish Rome area. Serena says that life with installation company with a long-time Creted, LLC in 2017. Brantley and their four children, ages

nine months to eight years, “is always an adventure,” and loves how Brantley makes their visions come to life with each new home project.

The full-time crew is as busy as ever as they serve businesses and homeowners throughout Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina. Today all the company’s business comes from client referrals and a facebook page, and there are plans to build a company web site this year.

The types of residential, commercial, and industrial concrete projects Creted specializes in are design, decorative finishing, hardscaping, installation, overlays, removal, replacement, and resurfacing. The various techniques used are metallic epoxy coating, epoxy with broadcasting flakes or quartz, acidetching, coloring, engraving, forming, polishing, pouring, sealing, staining, and stamping as well as urethane cement application which is ideal for commercial kitchens, bathrooms and/ or animal clinics. Surfaces include commercial retail spaces, warehouses, basements, countertops, driveways,

garages, indoor flooring, outdoor plazas, patios, pool decks, and retaining walls.

God has continued to bless the Creted business even amid uncertain times and difficult challenges. Creted has learned through the hardships that even if or when things don’t go as planned, the “good news” is that with hard work, patience, and an open mind to continue to learn, you will get through it and you can overcome through the Lord’s strength. Brantley and the crew try to start each day with gratitude and a clean canvas as everyone knows there will be an adventure of some sort awaiting them. Through the ups and downs having a small business brings, Creted remains humble and understands that the best learning and creativity occur in the midst of challenges.

Brantley’s passion for people makes him a great listener who seeks to understand exactly what his client’s expectations are, then exceed them. Under Brantley’s leadership, the Creted team, is energetic, reliable, detail-oriented, and dedicated to high quality craftsmanship. Whether it is installing a pool deck, replacing a driveway, polishing a basement floor, or acid-etching an outdoor plaza, Brantley’s artistic ability, attention to detail, strong work ethic, natural leadership, industry knowledge, and experience gained from hundreds of successful projects ensure that each Creted client is truly delighted.

Creted, LLC is honored to be voted Best of Rome by readers of Rome News-Tribune for the past two years, and Brantley, along with his family and the “crete crew” hope to be able to continue serving the community in positive, fearless ways in the years to come. To view the company’s photo gallery, check out www.facebook.com/ cretedconcrete, and call (770) 540-0088 if you would like a free estimate. At Creted are artisans who take pride in their craftsmanship, quality, and reputation and who are dedicated to helping clients achieve their vision for each unique project.