Don’t Miss It

by   April 4, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            I was driving out of town the other morning, along a familiar route. It was the route I took every day for work. My mind was on other things, and my car was on autopilot. Then something snapped my attention back to the present. That’s when I looked at my surroundings.

            Every house on that road has dogwoods in their front yards. The dogwoods were coming out, their white and pink blooms exploding. It was a sight that renewed my soul. I loved seeing the dogwoods every spring on this road. I don’t drive down that road everyday now, so I didn’t realize that I was missing this wonderful sight.

            I drove down another road and saw several yards full of azaleas in every imaginable color. I wish somehow that my camera could capture the wonder and beauty of nature as she begins to wake up each spring. We have several Japanese maples in our yard and they are wonderful to watch as they put out their first leaves.

            There are pansies, violas, daffodils, and tulips, all of which can be seen from my front porch. While out driving I’ve seen iris blooming, too. I have seen a few neighbors putting out their annuals. It is so good to see everything coming back to life.

            That’s the point of what I am writing. With all that is happening in the news, I mean with the corona virus, I am afraid we will miss what is happening right outside our windows. Maybe God is allowing us to have such an early spring to help us. He knew that we were going to need some hope, so He sent an early spring.

            I went for a walk the other evening, and besides taking in all the spring beauty I noticed something else. I heard so many birds singing. It actually made me stop for a moment to take in all the different songs I was hearing. As I began to look around, I saw the birds in the trees.

            As I continued my walk, I saw more and more signs of spring that literally surrounded me. The more I looked upon the beauty, the more my soul felt refreshed. My spirit was renewed as I shed off my worldly concerns and immersed myself in the beauty of His creation. In doing so, I felt the joy of the Lord deep down in my soul.

            It is so easy to allow the cares of the world to squash the joy and the presence of the Lord right out of our spirits. When you think about it, it comes down to a choice. We choose how much news we watch and when we turn it on and off. I believe it is important to be aware of what is happening. But we are choosing to take in less. The little bit we take in can still feel overwhelming, so we have to work at thinking about other things.

            I have consciously chosen to think about good things. I love to work in my yard. I am going to start planning and working on my garden. I am going to look for good news, like the fact that some of the schools in China are beginning to open again. I am going to read and watch some funny things; we all need to laugh. I started a novel the other day. I need to think about the author’s created world.

            My pastor talked about another choice. I am going to choose to live by faith, not in fear. The facts in the news can create a sense of fear. I want to be up-to-date with the facts, but I don’t want them to imprison me in fear. I want to live wise, like washing my hands and practicing social distancing, but not afraid, because God is with me and protecting me. I want to meditate on the goodness and faithfulness of God. I want to pray for family, friends, and fellow church members for more things than protection from the virus.

            I want to encourage you to let your light shine during this dark time. People need to see the difference that Christ makes in our lives. People need to see the hope and faith that is in our soul. We have the answer. I encourage you to make choices that will help your head and heart be firmly planted on the Rock of Jesus Christ. He is our hope and in Him there is no reason to be afraid. Don’t miss that.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Bless You

by   March 31, 2020 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

We say it in daily conversation. We say it in the church. We say it to those grieving or suffering.

We often say it lightly, to let someone know we see that they are busy busy busy — or perhaps overwhelmed with something.

The most popular ‘bless you’ may be when someone sneezes. This began when it was believed that as you sneeze, your heart stops — and that the ‘bless you’ could set your heart back to go.

We say it often — but maybe not often enough.

In Numbers 6:22-26, the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons that they should bless the children of Israel with these words:

The Lord bless you.

This is asking God to show favor.

And keep you.

This is asking God to give protection.

The Lord make his face shine upon you.

This is asking God to be pleased.

And be gracious to you.

This is asking God to be compassionate and show mercy.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you.

This is asking God to give his approval.

And give you peace.

This is asking God to bring quiet, calm and serenity.

Bless you.

The Hebrew for ‘bless you’ is on bended knee.

It is a prayer.

It is a prayer worth praying.

Pray it for someone you love — now.

Pray it for someone who needs encouragement — now.

Pray it for yourself — now.

Pray it for our country — now.

Put it to use.

God desires to bless us.

You never know — The ‘bless you’ may change a heart that has stopped — and set it back to go!

Bless you!

Prayers Answered

by   March 30, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

China Grove First Baptist Church began the process of looking for a new pastor in November 2018 and entered into a month of prayer. The conclusion of that month began a journey that nobody saw coming and can only be explained by the direct involvement of an incredible God.  

The prayer ministry at First Baptist is available to everyone, with requests often coming through their website, sidewalk prayer box or their Facebook page. A new journey began when an indigenous pastor and missionary in Tanzania simply asked, “Please pray for my ministry.” Pastor Emmanuel simply said, “We need Bibles. Please pray that God will send us some Bibles.”  

When Chad Lewis, a China Grove First Baptist Church member, asked the pastor how he found the church in China Grove, North Carolina, the answer was that “he was praying one night, asking God to lead him to people who would partner with him in prayer.”

“As we began to pray, we also began to research how to send Bibles to Tanzania,” Lewis said. “The Baptist State Convention, the Bible Society and other African missionaries all said that costs for shipping and risk for theft were both too high.”

Even though others were saying “don’t do it,” church members continued to pray and moved forward. After finding several options on Amazon for purchasing Swahili Bibles, Lewis said, “We picked a random Amazon vendor and inquired about bulk pricing. This was no random choice. God was at work in the smallest of details.”

The vendor selected, World Books and Records, wanted to help — but not through Amazon. The goal was to send 50 Bibles, with a stretch goal of 100, dreading the expected high shipping cost. 

World Books responded with, “Yes, we can we accommodate that quantity and we can ship it for free.”  

World Books owner Nderitu Kanyogoro shared how he grew up in Kenya and now has a distribution warehouse close enough to Tanzania for shipping Bibles, saying that when he committed himself to Christ he didn’t have a Bible and could not afford one.

“The student who witnessed to me gave me his only Bible as he came from a very poor family as well,” Nderitu said “I felt the love and the pain of receiving the word of God from my brother. Three weeks later, I witnessed to another student who received Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

“He too had no Bible and then it was my turn to give up mine. I can’t start to explain the joy I felt but even more so, the pain of not having what had become my sword and my shield.”

Nderitu continued, saying his mother visited him at a boarding school and gave him the equivalent of about $2 for pocket money.

“The following weekend, I walked a whole 40 miles to the nearest bookstore to buy a Bible, never mind that I had no more money, he said. “My mom had told me that the 20 shillings would be my bus fare to go back home when the school closed. After school closed, I had no bus fare, but I had myself a Bible. God provided me strength and grace to walk a whole 50 miles back home. I was tired but I had a wonderful time to converse with him.”

After moving to the U.S. as an adult and becoming a successful scientist, Nderitu asked only for the opportunity to help provide God’s word to more people. World Books and Records was born.

“That is why I spend my resources. I have donated to many, and the vast majority do not even know about,” Nderitu said. “It means so much to me to know that a Bible is going to someone who couldn’t possibly afford one, and for that one person, it is nothing short of a miracle.”

With something amazing in the works, China Grove First Baptist Church agreed to collect money during the month of December and watch God work. The church was able to purchase 246 Bibles instead of the original 50.

“God was certainly up to something big,” Lewis said. “Nderitu was so moved that he personally contributed 54 more Bibles so that 300 shipped.” 

Pastor Emmanuel was beyond ecstatic. With most villagers unable to afford a Bible, his church and the village came together for an entire day of worship and celebration to thank God for answering their prayers. Many now had their very own copy of God’s word.  

World Books and China Grove First Baptist Church continued to get updates from Pastor Emmanuel on how the Bibles were making a difference. 

China Grove First Baptist Church continued to pray. Church members have been involved with mission work in Vermont and New Hampshire for over seven years. One of those partner churches, Crossroads Community Church, joined in as did non-church members in the community. 

From the time the first Bible was shipped to Tanzania, a little over a year ago, there have been over 2,000 people in the Tanzanian villages who now have a personal relationship with Christ. Many of those are still without a Bible, but recently, China Grove First Baptist Church sent more than 250 additional Bibles. 

For more information on the Bible program or to send your prayer request, contact China Grove First Baptist at 704-857-5415 or at pray@chinagrovefbc.com  

Neighbors

by   March 28, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            We tend to be behind the curve on movies. It has been a long time since we went to the movie theater. We wait for them to come out on DVD or our streaming service. Current movies to us are actually ones that have been out for a while.

            Last week we watched Tom Hanks in, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Neither of us grew up watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.” We were both aware of the show and have seen bits and pieces but it wasn’t one we watched. We both watched “Captain Kangaroo.” I am not sure that these two shows would work with today’s shortened-attention-span kids.

            Naturally, we like to watch Tom Hanks in about anything he does. He has the powerful ability to disappear into the character he is playing. Since neither of us watched Mr. Rogers, we weren’t busy trying to comparing the two of them. We just enjoyed the movie.

            The movie is really about a journalist who is assigned the task of writing a story about Mr. Rogers. The journalist asks Mr. Rogers at one point why he is attracted to broken people. Mr. Rogers smiles and tells him that he isn’t broken. He then reminds him of several very critical things that are building blocks to help this character turn around.

            As I watched the movie, I couldn’t help but think that we all need a Mr. Rogers in our corner. We all need to be reminded that we are loved and appreciated. Sometimes the circumstances of life can blind us with pain, suffering, and loss. I also think that worry and anxiety can keep us from seeing the world and those around us.

            We are all destined to walk through difficult things in life. We have a choice. We can walk through them alone or we can lean on friends and loved ones to help us see more clearly who we are and how much we mean to those around us.

            In the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Baily doesn’t understand the impact he’s had on the world around him until the angel shows him. Each of us is broken in some way, and we need friends or an angel to help us see ourselves and our little corner of the world from a fresh perspective.

            We need our friends and our family when our minds feel overwhelmed by all that is going on in the world around us. This Corona virus has shaken all of our worlds. So I need you and you need me.

            Maybe the best thing we can all do is watch a little less news and spend a little more time with each other…as long as we stay at least 6 feet apart. We can watch a movie, play a game, or maybe go for a walk. We need to engage with each other, help each other to laugh, encourage one another, and help to lift this heavy burden we are all carrying.

            We need family. We need friends. We also need to check on our neighbors. In our country we have seen hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, ice storms, fires, earthquakes and many other tragedies…and what happens? We come together for each other. It doesn’t matter who we are, we are there for each other.

            I saw in one of the memorials for Kenny Rogers that he was a part of the song, “We are the World.” We need to come together like that again. We may come from different backgrounds, but we are all brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors in this world. In moments like this we have learned how to put down our differences and come together as one.

            I strongly believe that everything the enemy intended for evil through the Corona virus, God can turn into something good. We will be there for our neighbors, friends, and family. We will come together in unity to discover the victory and overcome this evil with good. I believe that love triumphs over all sorts of evil.

            I want to encourage you to check on your family, friends, and neighbors. Help in any way that you are able. We are all able to pray, so lift us those who are suffering whether it is from health or economic issues. We serve a God who is more than able to meet our needs. I need you to make it through these troubled times, and somehow I believe that you need me, too. If we can act like good neighbors to each other we will overcome and come out better on the other side.  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Blooms From the Old

by   March 27, 2020 with No Comments

(for Gail who asked how we are)

By Roger Barbee

Several flowering plants form new blooms from the dead wood of a previous season’s cycle. Next to our screened-in porch is one such plant—a dwarf, lime hydrangea which we planted two years ago. Since I have yet to move my stationary bike out to the elements and continue to ride in the dry of the porch, I have been watching this shrub for several weeks and it has, like all plants, taught me a lesson.

Although the browned and dead flowers from last summer are not attractive, Mary Ann prefers to leave them attached to the stems even though they could be snipped off. Thus, as I have been riding each morning, I sort of wished that she had removed the unsightly, spent blooms. However, I now understand that her decision has helped me see the cycle of nature.

The lime hydrangea does what it is designed to do. It grows by feeding from the past cycles of its life. As I look each morning at the brown and dead blooms, I also can see small, green leaves emerging on the stems that hold those dead blooms. Soon those small green leaves will be in full splendor and new, deliciously lime colored blooms will emerge. The old will be gone, and the new celebrated. Soon.

Living under self-quarantine because of the COVID-19 virus, I think of the lime hydrangea and it’s gaining the new from the old. So often in our belief that we, mere humans, are in control because of our 401k’s, our superhighways with fast cars, our 10,000 square foot houses, and more, we lose our way. We lose sight of how frail we really are- think of the TB sanitariums of the 1930’s, and other examples besides this virus which is just beginning for us.

Yet if we accept the fact that we need to come together and “be our brother’s keeper”, we will continue.  Like the simple plant that makes new by using all its parts and history, we need to band, to do what is best for the tribe, not any individual. This is not the time to think individually, but the time to think together. And when we think of the tribe, we each will give up some things or many things. So be it. To bloom again. Gloriously.

Bike Rental

by   March 23, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

I had been curious for the last two nights about a bunch of tall palm trees with Christmas lights wrapped around them.

After dark last night (Friday) and in the drizzling rain, I went for a closer look today (Saturday).

Apparently a local sleep doctor has his office and house together, and decorated the biggest trees in his yard. I walked up and tried to take a few good pictures and a woman came out to say, “How can I help you?” I told her I was admiring the trees and lights. She responded, “Oh, no problem, please enjoy.”

Hawaii seems full of this attitude. So friendly and happy! I am finishing this day while having a blast. A lot of good things fell into place today and I will recap them.

Back from a much-better-than-yesterday early run, I saw another runner coming in and he wanted to know the time. I told him and he said, “I’ve got to hurry to meet the bus.” I did also and told him so. About 45 minutes later, after packing and leaving Arnott’s Lodging and Adventure, I was at the bus stop and my new friend was already inside when it stopped.

These are big city buses with cool bike racks on the front. After a little coaching, I learned how to mount mine and got on the bus. My fare was $2 to take me, two big bags and the bicycle to the other side of the island, probably about 85 miles on the route we took. If I lived on the Big Island, I wouldn’t use a vehicle much. The bus is so convenient and amazingly cheap.

Once loaded, I talked with Ben, the runner from this morning. He’s into martial arts and is an actor, but he’s spending multiple weeks in Hawaii to finish a book. We parted ways at the bus exchange, promising to keep in touch.

Next came the bus ride over some of the same area that I cycled and then the “Saddle Road” back to Kona. I had been told not to ride it because of tight turns, little shoulders on occasion and high traffic. Crossing the center of the island, I was amazed at all the higher altitude grasslands and then more lava fields. Beautiful but barren, it was the shortest way to Kona and I’m glad we saw it by bus. That bus driver used to drive a truck in Charlotte.

First and most important when back to Kona was to return my rented bike to Bike Works. The fee came out $10 cheaper than I expected because I kept it for an extra two days, meaning the per day rate was lowered. My pedals and I are headed home, but I hope to never see that seat again.

The bike did a great job and I didn’t have to pay the $2,800 credit card bill for not returning the bike.

By this time, the rain was falling pretty well, but I had some shopping to do: a few gifts for home and some food for the evening.

While shopping in the ABC store for both things, I didn’t see any liquor. I think its a convenience store chain that doesn’t sell hard alcohol. There are at least three of these stores within about a half-mile walk in downtown Kona. They are packed every time I go in.

Next came the farmers market where I bought the smallest bananas and some fresh pineapple, plenty of each for $4. I wanted one of those miniature teak surfboards but passed this time.

With all this done, I had a mile more to walk to my home for the evening, Kona Tiki Hotel. I am directly on the ocean, listening to the waves crash against a rock wall about 30 feet from the patio area of my room. This is so cool! I even saw a humpback whale surface a couple of times as he or she passed by, remembering from Captain Dan’s Whale Watch that humpbacks like to cruise close in.

Small boats keep passing by, too, and it could rain again soon.

I will have one more update from Sunday after my last morning here.

David Freeze is a Salisbury Post contributor who is biking in his 50th state, Hawaii.

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