Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

           Most of my readers know that I have a fascination with storms. I love winter snowstorms but hate ice storms. I love to see pictures of tornadoes. I have never seen one, but would like to see one if I knew I would be safe. It is amazing what storms can do. I love reading about all kinds of storms.           

I am currently watching Hurricane Ian. I have been looking at the models each time they come out, and watching the track and strength of the storm change with each passing model run. I don’t watch the major news stations to hear weather news. I will occasionally watch the local weathermen or the Weather Channel, but I will catch most of their broadcasts on the web. I have a number of websites that will feed this weather habit sufficiently. I also listen to a weather vlogger who loves to talk about storms and their impacts. There are plenty of sources of information without having to turn on the television.

            I am very concerned for the people living in Florida and take seriously the need to pray for their well-being. There will be suffering for the people in the path of this monster storm. As of this writing, Hurricane Ian is on track to come in around the Sarasota, Florida area, which is about 675 miles away. When you can look up and see clouds from a storm that is that far away it a huge, monster storm.

            I will be following the storm as it tracks to the north into our neck of the woods. There are some models that show the storm crossing Florida and then getting invigorated in the Atlantic before coming inland again through South Carolina and eventually up here into North Carolina. That is a track that I hope does not come true. That track could bring us some stronger winds with the heavy rain that we are currently expecting.

            One thing I do know is that a lot of good people are going to become very busy trying to get the electricity and other services back up for the good folks in Florida. By the time you read this column there will be all kinds of humanitarian aid flooding into affected areas. Americans have this wonderful quality that we put our differences aside to help those who have suffered a tragedy. It is something that I love about our country.

            This storm will have some long lasting impacts on the areas affected by its wrath. But given enough time, people will recover and get back on their feet. The question I am pondering is what type of storm are you facing? We all have them. There are things in all our lives that come roaring at us like hurricanes, wreaking havoc on our peaceful existence. What are we going to do? How are we going to face those trials and tribulations?

            It’s not easy. Storms are hard to endure. The first decision we need to make is to run into our Father’s arms. He saw the storm before it formed and knows the path through to the other side. Next, we need to get the folks around us who will help and support us while the storm is raging. This is not a time to do it alone; it’s the time to call in the troops. It’s also the time where we have to dig deep to the reserves of our faith to find the strength to carry on.

            Storms come at us with many names, like health issues, loss of loved ones, financial strife, loss of a job, a relationship that has fallen apart, and for the people in Florida…the loss of their homes. DON’T lose heart. Cry out to God, who cares more than you will ever know. Lean on your family and friends. Don’t lose faith in yourself because of your circumstances…you will make it to the other side. You God will carry you.

            I want to encourage you to stir your faith. If it is quiet and sunny in your spiritual life, enjoy it. If the storm clouds are moving in, lean on the Lord and your good friends. When you call out to God you can be sure that help is on the way. God is for you in spite of how the circumstances may appear at the moment. You will make it. You will see sunny skies before you know it. For the moment, hang on! You are not alone. Before you go to sleep tonight, please say a prayer for all those suffering from Hurricane Ian.

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

By Doug Creamer

            When spring rolled around this year I thought I would change the oil in my lawn mower. Each week, I thought I would do it next week. Spring melted into summer, and here we are on the cusp of fall. I finally made time to change the oil; it was way past due. I read that an engine can overheat if you don’t keep the oil changed. I know better and usually do better.

            Engines need maintenance, as do so many other things. Bushes need trimming. Grass needs to be cut. Houses need maintenance, too. There is some painting that needs to be done around my house. I normally like to paint, and can’t figure out why I can’t seem to motivate myself to get started. Maybe part of the reason is that I am not a fan of all the prep work that goes into a paint job.

            Even relationships need to be maintained. How can a friendship thrive if the two people don’t spend time together? There is a need to share and talk in order to keep the relationship alive. Two people become best friends because they spend quality and a certain quantity of time together. Relationships don’t just happen; they require an investment from each person. You build a strong relationship, which means you have developed strong connections.

            Some people believe that they can have a strong relationship with God simply by attending church a couple of times a month. If you rarely make time to feed your spirit it won’t remain alive and vibrant. I read that marriages last an average of eight years now in America. If two people will not invest in staying together, they will ultimately drift apart. This same principle applies to our spiritual lives.

            We need to be in church or attending virtually so we can hear God’s word from our pastors. Hearing what God is telling your pastor is so important to knowing what the Spirit is doing in your church and community. The pandemic has driven us from church and each other, which are two critical things we all need for spiritual growth. There are ways we can safely engage again with our church and church family and we need to do that if we want to remain spiritually strong.

            Whether you attend church virtually or in person, you need to connect with your church family on a regular basis if you want to build a strong relationship with God. It is also critical to have a daily intake of God’s word. The Bible is God’s love story with mankind. It tells us of His character, His great love for us, and the many ways He interacts with us. It also tells us many stories of how people have interacted with God. It gives us example after example of how faith and trust in God can change circumstances.

            Reading the stories in the Bible will give us a strong foundation for our faith. Next, we have to learn how to apply the principles in the scriptures to our own lives. God wants us to grow our faith so that means He will allow challenges to come our way. These challenges will cause us look for God’s promises in the Bible that apply to our situation. Then we have to hold onto those promises and trust in God to see us through our circumstances. That’s building faith.

            No matter how strong we are spiritually we are going to get knocked down. Sometimes we will be able to pull ourselves up, but sometimes we are going to need the help of some good friends. If we want to grow strong spiritually we are going to have to connect on a deeper level with friends who will pray for us, stand with us, and lift us up when we have fallen. We also need to be there for others when they are going through difficult times. Good friends are critical for spiritual growth. We need to mutually encourage and support each other.

            I want to encourage you to maintain your spiritual life. Digging into God’s word is the first step to spiritual growth and maintenance. Being connected and committed to our brothers and sisters, whether in person or virtually provides the support system that is critical to keeping our spirits refreshed. God never intended for us to walk alone spiritually. Life will have its ups and downs, but our church family will be there to help us through the dark days. Walking with God requires us to put our hand in His, doing our part to maintain our faith, and trusting Him with the rest.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I have always been an active person, especially in the spring and the fall. When the weather is good, I want to be outside doing something. In the fall, there will be leaves to get up and the garden will need to be put to bed for winter. In the spring, I can’t wait to plant my garden and to clean things up from winter. Naturally, the grass needs cutting, which is good exercise.

            The trouble, according to my doctor, is that I am less active in the winter, and especially during the hot summer days around here. My physical is in August every year and the need to be active year around always comes up. Something clicked when I was in his office last year and I decided that it was time to find a way to remain active.

            I considered my options. I know I am not a runner unless there is a dog, lion, or bear chasing me. I don’t have a bike so that was out. We don’t have any fancy indoor equipment. I am not big on sit-ups, jumping jacks, or push-ups. Walking seemed to be the most appealing.

            I live in a nice neighborhood and we have lots of people who walk. My first day out was a very warm afternoon and I didn’t make it very far. I realized that I was out of shape. As the weather cooled, my distance improved. I was out there walking and improving almost every day. I was consistent and improving right into the heart of winter. I don’t mind the cold as much as I mind the heat. I even walked in the snow.

            When I started my job in January I worked hard to learn the new curriculum. I walked less. Then I took an online class to help in the new job. There were lots of excuses for not taking my daily walks. It is hard to start a good habit, and easy to give it up. Soon it was summer and I don’t even like walking to the mailbox in the heat and humidity, so walking was definitely out.

            I went for my annual physical this year and had to fess up to giving up this good habit. He reminded me that walking is not only good for your physical body but for your mental and spiritual health, too. I am back to walking again. I am gradually building back to the same distance I was walking when I gave it up.

            Walking is better than running for someone of my age, says the doctor. When I walk my mind is free to think about things. This could be bad if I spend my walk worrying. We live in a day and time where there are lots of things that can fill our minds with worry. I won’t bother list them as I am sure you have your own list of things that can pull you down. We need to train our minds to think on good things. Philippians 4:8 and 9 give us a great list of things to think about as we walk. It also promises that if we meditate on this good list of things, that our minds will be filled with the peace of God.

            Inviting God on walks or whatever exercise you do is probably a good plan. God wants to talk with us, and inviting Him into our exercise routine is the perfect opportunity to talk with Him. Praying for others is great. Praying about situations instead of worrying about them is excellent. Casting all your worries upon God is something God encourages us to do. Asking for His wisdom and guidance is great too because you are in a place where you can hear Him better. Spending time with God builds your friendship and trust with Him. Allowing His love to invade your heart and His peace to invade your mind will change your perspective on life.

            I want to encourage you to do the things that are necessary to maintain your body, mind, and spirit. Taking care of yourself physically by getting proper rest and exercise can make for a healthier and happier body. Casting all your worry and anxiety on God will free your mind to think about good things and make you feel happier and more at peace. And doing the things that I always encourage: spending time in God’s word and praying will strengthen your spirit. I believe God wants you to be strong physically, mentally, and spiritually, so take good care of yourself. I need to go; it’s time for my walk.     

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

By Doug Creamer

            I went to write down the date the other day and it hit me—it’s September! What happened to this year? It’s been a busy year. I have to admit that I have been noticing signs that the year is moving along. The days are getting shorter, which I don’t like. The other thing I noticed is that certain constellations that I look for in the night’s sky have gone out of view.

            I do like the change in seasons. I never tire of fall and spring, but I do get tired of the relentless heat of summer and the chill of winter. Spring and fall bring lots of outside work, which I love. When the weather is cool, I can work outside all day long. So, as the temperature starts to come down, I look forward to spending more time outside.

            One of my favorite parts of spring and fall is eating lunch on the front porch. I will grab a book, my lunch, and travel to someplace with the characters in the story. We live in a peaceful neighborhood and it is so nice to enjoy the quiet outside. In fact, I enjoy sitting out there quietly late at night. It gives me time to think and to pray. I miss those quiet moments in the middle of a hot and humid summer or the bone chilling days of winter.

            The students and teachers have returned to their classrooms. I remember starting back each fall and getting the routines of school life going again. I always loved my job and still love being a teacher. I would encourage you to pray for teachers. They need wisdom on how to instruct their students and help prepare them for life. They also need to know how to deal with all the problems students bring with them to school.

            The students need your prayers, too. They need the right attitude about learning. They need help to stay focused on learning. We live in a very distracting world. Besides their classmates, their phones can cause their focus to be elsewhere. For many students, schools are the safest place they will be all day. So we need to pray that God will keep our schools safe. If the past is any indication, we need to pray hard for His protection.

            I just looked at the calendar again. This weekend will mark the 21^st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Every one of us can remember exactly what we were doing when we first heard the news. I was teaching, and couldn’t believe the rumors as they started to circulate. I remember getting out of class and going to a history teacher’s room asking, “What is going on?” It took seeing it on the TV to convince me of what had happened.

            One of the many things that I remember in the days that followed was how united we were as a country. We were Americans. We all flew our American flags. It didn’t matter if you looked different or were from a different political party, we stood shoulder to shoulder as Americans. We were united.

            What happened to that unity? The answer is the politicians have taught us to hate people from “the other” political party. The media reinforces this division and distrust as it feeds us what we want to hear. Finally, social media allows us to express our feelings of distrust and anger for anyone who thinks differently.

            Jesus died to break down the walls of division and hate. He sought unity for His followers. Jesus came to bring people together from different backgrounds and political philosophies. Jesus’ goal was not political, it was spiritual. Jesus wants every person to have a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Jesus wants every person in heaven, regardless of political beliefs. We have allowed the enemy to divide us from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus came so we would love each other and build unity throughout the body of Christ. Whether we are from Russia, Ukraine, China, Mexico, or America, we are the body of Christ and we should live in unity.

            I want to encourage you to look for ways we can be united. Jesus loves all people from every background and nation of the world. He wants everyone to know Him and the Father. We need to turn our hearts away from division and back to a place where we can seek the unity that He desires. Let’s stop trying to tear each other apart and listen to the Spirit, who is trying to draw us together. United we stand together in faith.

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

By Doug Creamer

How Do You Handle Problems?

            Life has good days and bad days. If you are experiencing the steadiness of life…enjoy it. Don’t be surprised when something wonderful comes along and takes you to cloud nine. Then there might be that sudden dip in your pleasant road. Life is always interesting and ever-changing.

            When life takes a little dip, we all adjust and life soon returns to its normal routine. We might get frustrated and even mad at the circumstances, but given time our emotions will return to their normal levels. Someone cuts you off, the light catches you, or the toilet overflows…life’s bumps come at all of us. We yell at the driver or light that messed us up or clean up the mess and move on.

            Then we come to those dips that throw us for a loop. Your child has to go to the hospital for a broken bone or illness. You or a family member gets COVID. Your parents encounter a health issue that is going to impact your life. You were involved in a minor wreck that means your car is going to be in the shop for a week. These events bring with them changes in our routines that will over time smooth out and allow us to return to normal or even a new and slightly different normal.

            Then there comes those days when the dip drops out of sight. The phone rings and your world falls apart. You are driving along and in a split second everything changes. You are at the doctor’s office and receive news that you don’t want to hear. However the news arrives, a rollercoaster ride takes you through many ups and downs. There will be some long nights and terrible days. You find yourself longing, hoping, for some type of return to normal life, which eludes you for a long time.  

            What do we do when life hits us hard and unexpectedly? I feel bad for those who do not believe in God. They can’t run into the Father’s arms, where believers need to go when the bottom falls out in life. The trouble is that sometimes in those terrible moments we blame God for whatever trial we are facing. So we trade the comfort of our Father’s arms for the emotions that we feel justified in having and expressing.

            Another mistake we make is facing trials alone. We think we are strong and can push through a health crisis without letting anyone know. We lose our job and our finances are a mess, but we try to make it through without the love and support of family and friends. We have been at the hospital for a week sitting with a family member without telling anyone. Our child has become addicted to drugs, but no one knows.

            Your trial was never meant for you to experience alone or to be shared on social media. I believe you need to find a few friends who will support you and pray for you. Prayer is powerful and changes circumstances far greater than any of us understand. I believe it is those prayers that can sustain us and help us make it to the other side. There are also many practical things that friends and family can do to help if only they know what to do. People want to be there for you!

            I understand the problem is being open and vulnerable. Letting people see into your life can be very difficult. They discover you aren’t perfect. They learn that you have doubts, fears, and that you worry. They may see that your armor of faith has some cracks. They might see that you fell down, but they can be there to help pick you up. They can hold you and comfort you. They can encourage you and stand with you in faith believing that God is going to pull through for you. They can remind you of the goodness and the love of God.

            I want to encourage you to connect with some brothers and sisters in Christ and allow them to see behind the curtain in your life. It’s okay when they discover you are human. You have struggles and problems, good days and bad days. Let them encourage you, support you, even carry you if necessary. You know you would and have done it for them; let them do the same thing for you. Life is so much better when we allow people to love us, pray for us, and be there for us. It’s powerful when the family of God comes together to share God’s love and to pray.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I drove down into the heart of Stanly County the other day. A former colleague is working on her first book and wanted some help submitting it to Amazon for publication. I drove down after work and enjoyed seeing some old familiar sights. There were also some new sights, as some new businesses have sprung up.

            I had to get on a rolling country road to get to my friend’s house. She lives out in the country, where she has some beautiful horses and donkeys. I saw some cornfields that looked a little thirsty. I saw some other fields that looked lush and green that I thought could have been soybeans. My friend said that there were some cotton fields that I passed, but the cotton wasn’t blooming yet. It was a peaceful drive.

            My friend and I haven’t seen each other in several years. We are both retired teachers. We knew each other when we both taught at North Stanly. She retired from there and I left to teach in some other places. We were a close-knit family at North Stanly. I stay in contact with a number of my colleagues and think of them often.

            My friend and I talked about our aging parents and the health problems they face. We talked about how our own bodies have aged and the health problems we have encountered. We talked about old friends from North Stanly and a few that have gone on to their heavenly home. It reminded us of the preciousness of life.

            We talked about how things have changed in the teaching profession that we both love. We talked about how COVID has changed the way students are taught. We are both hands-on teachers and find teaching over the computer to be a bit challenging. We both know teachers who tell us that the classroom has changed since returning from COVID. I think we were both pining for “the good-old days.”

            We focused on our work: getting her book ready for publication. Her computer skills are going to help her see her dream turn into a reality. I can’t wait for her to experience the joy and pride of completing her first novel.

            When we were done, I had the opportunity to meet her four-footed family members. We greeted her furry family members and talked more about teaching. The afternoon was waning and I needed to head for home. There is one thing I thought about on my journey home. We both were born to be teachers, we love teaching, and we both hope to continue finding ways we can share that love with students.

            I am lucky that my part-time job is teaching in the adult basic education program. I love my job and enjoy working with my students. I can’t explain the joy a teacher feels when a student learns something new. I have had the pleasure of watching my students grow, blossom, and achieve success. I see their potential and love having the opportunity to encourage them to reach for the stars.

            Jesus was many things, but one of them was teacher. He knew there was a better way to live. People didn’t know how to live to please God, but Jesus came to demonstrate how each one of us can do just that. Jesus gave each one of us unique talents, skills, and abilities, and He wants us to use those to be a blessing to people around us. We are not all called to be pastors, but we can fulfill God’s purposes by doing what we were made to do. When we are a blessing to others by being a plumber, mechanic, or teacher, we are fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for our lives.

            I want to encourage you to do your occupation to the best of your ability. When you give all of yourself to being a janitor, bus driver, doctor, lawyer, or teacher, you are fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. God needs you to be His light in this dark world. He needs you to bring hope, grace, mercy, and God’s love to the people you encounter where you work. I believe He put you there to represent Him. I believe He can use your hands to lift someone’s load, and your lips to speak faith, hope, and love to people who are desperate to hear such good news. God needs each of us to do what He made us to do. For me, that means being a teacher and a writer, because that is what I love to do and was made to do.

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

By Doug Creamer

            All Christians should look forward to the time when we will be in heaven with Jesus. The trouble with getting there is that we have to take that big step between here and eternity. It’s the mystery of the unknown that keeps us here; besides, God has a very important purpose for us while we are still alive.

            Our purpose is to know Him and tell others about God’s love. I personally believe that God calls every person into a relationship with Him. Many people turn away from God. So God, not wanting to give up on anyone, wants to use you and me to reach out to them. God persistently keeps trying to reach everyone because He doesn’t want anyone to miss heaven.

            When God first found us, we were a mess. The good news for us is that we heard His voice and responded to His call. We ran into God’s arms and accepted His love. We needed to be cleaned up so He washed us in the blood of Jesus. The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus can wash away every wrong-doing that we have ever done. Even the best people you know need the blood of Jesus to find forgiveness. No one can do enough good to wash away the bad that we are all guilty of committing.

            Once we are clean, God can begin the process of healing our broken hearts and lives. If you live in this world your heart has been damaged by the people in your life. Damaged hearts create ruined lives. God can heal all the brokenness in our lives if we will turn to Him for help. It’s hard to expose your sin and brokenness to God, but that is the path to healing.

            God has seen everything you have ever done. The good news is once you turn and confess your sins and failures to God, He promises to forgive you and to forget you ever did those things. He wipes them from His memory. We can remember them so we have to forgive ourselves. It’s very hard to forgive ourselves, but if God forgives you then you can forgive yourself. You are a broken human being that needs God’s love, forgiveness, and healing.

            We have two main purposes once we accept all that God has done for us. Our first purpose is to spend time getting to know God. How do you get to know an invisible God? He wrote you a love letter: the Bible. That’s His story. There is so much in the Bible about who God is and how He interacts with people. You can learn about His love, mercy, and character. The Bible is God’s story.

            We can also learn about Him when we pray and talk with Him. Some people think that prayer is only a one-way conversation. We go to God and tell Him all our concerns. Well, He does want to hear our concerns, but He also wants to talk with us. He talks to us through the Bible, but He also wants to talk to us directly. He speaks to our spirits to guide and encourage us through life. We need to turn off all the noise of this world so that we can hear Him.

            Our second purpose is to tell others about what God has done for us. Remember, I said that there were many people who chose not to listen and respond to God’s call to them. He’s hoping that they might listen to our story. There are many people in the world who have been broken by the world in the same way we were broken. When they hear our story of how God healed, forgave, and restored us then they might turn to God and discover those same things for themselves. God wants to speak through us. I promise there are people in your life who will respond to your story of forgiveness, healing, and hope.

            I want to encourage you to share your story. God has done a miraculous thing in your life and people need to hear about it from you. God has interacted with you in a unique way and the people in your life will see the evidence of the goodness of God. That evidence, a changed life, may cause them to finally find the courage in themselves to turn to God. Your Father is hoping you will share your story so those who are lost and still searching will find Him. Then they will be forgiven, healed, and have their own story. To know Him and share our story, that’s our purpose.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I went to my mom’s recently and she had a box of old photographs for us to look through. There were many family pictures from when my siblings and I were little and all at home. There were many pictures of relatives that I didn’t know or had only met a few times. Mom told me who they were and how I was related to them.

            There was a picture of my mother as a child with a small dog, but she said she couldn’t remember ever having a dog. There were other pictures of my mother and her brother when they were teenagers. It is hard to imagine your parents were ever teenagers.

            My mom and dad were high school sweethearts. There were pictures of them together and it was interesting to see them. There was a picture of Mom and Dad on the night of a big dance they attended. Mom described her dress in detail. My dad was a good-looking young man, especially in the suit he wore that night.

            There were pictures of my parents as young parents. There weren’t as many pictures taken back in those days because you had to pay to develop the film. Most of the pictures of the four kids were taken at Christmas, birthday celebrations, or when we were on vacation. I did find some pictures of the first day of school. Those were required photos when we were wearing our new “back to school” outfits.

            Most of the pictures had dates, so we could figure out how old we were in them. The ones that didn’t required extra thought to determine our ages. There were pictures of some of our houses through the years, which brought back memories from living in those places. We talked about how some of our houses were laid out. We also talked about when I shared my bedroom and when I got my own room.

            It was fun to walk down memory lane with my mom. It was really fun to hear her tell stories of when she was young and the fun she had growing up. I know my parents grew up during some very difficult times. They didn’t have all the possessions we have but they were able to find pleasure in the simplest of things. It was fun to listen to Mom’s perspective on her youth and on our family. There were some old classic stories and many new ones that I hope I can remember and treasure the rest of my life.

            There are many things that we treasure. I think about all the special things we have for the holidays. We have some very special Christmas ornaments that are real treasures. I consider my books to be treasures. I own beautiful pieces of pottery. I also have wood turnings that were made by my best friend, which are treasures. Naturally, our own pictures are treasures.   

            While we all treasure things mainly because they trigger good memories, we need to consider where our most precious treasures are stored. All of our earthly treasures are wearing out. But if we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven we are promised that those treasures will never rot, spoil, or wear out. Those are the kinds of treasures that I want build up.

            How do we build treasures for heaven? When we support our local church by bringing our tithes and offerings, we are building treasure in heaven. When we serve others in the church, God promises to reward us in heaven. When we give in any capacity to those in need, we are building treasures in heaven. When we find ways of serving and helping the elderly, you can be assured that God notices. When we plant seeds of faith in children and help to train them in the way that they should go, we are doing God’s work. When we reach out to the lost with God’s love He will help us and remember our work.

            I want to encourage you to build a great retirement in heaven where the value of what you have will not depend on the stock market. Investing in the Kingdom of God pays out-of-this-world dividends. God remembers everything you do for Him. Be diligent to invest in your heavenly destination. Your devotion and hard work here will pay incredible eternal treasures for you to enjoy for all eternity. Where are you most precious treasures? I hope in heaven!

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

Here is a video from the beach about shells. Okay it’s about us and God…. Enjoy!