Spring Spruce Up

by   April 12, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Spring Spruce Up

            Our church has two Saturdays each spring when we get our members together to do some spring cleaning and sprucing up. There is usually a crew that works inside the building and then a crew that works outside. I am always on the outside crew. We will weed, trim bushes, plant flowers, blow off the parking lot, and put some fresh pine needles down. We share a good time of fellowship while we work together.

            I prefer to work outside, weather permitting. A few years ago, we replaced all the landscaping out front and planted new foundation shrubs. It was a big project and the new shrubs looked so small. They are growing well and needed some trimming this year. We shaped them up nicely. There is still some more to do for the next workday, but things look so much nicer outside.  

            We normally schedule our two workdays before Easter. We want to make a positive impression on our guests. The inside crew is doing the same thing for the inside of our church as the outside group is doing for the outside. They are working to make our church feel warm and inviting.

            Making a positive first impression is important for every church. Sometimes we get used to how things look and forget that guests might notice things if they appear a little less than inviting. It is important to make the parking lot, shrubs, and flower beds look attractive. Then you have to think about the foyer, Sunday school classrooms, bathrooms, and the sanctuary. We all want visitors to feel like they are being welcomed into the family of God.

            While making a positive impression inside and out is important to making guests feel welcomed to our churches, there is something else that I feel is important. There was a time when I was looking for a new church. I visited a number of churches that looked attractive. But the big thing that kept me from going back was the simple fact that NO ONE spoke to me. No one greeted me. No one shook my hand. No one made me feel welcomed. It was like they didn’t care if I was there or not, so I decided I didn’t want to go back again.

            I know we all like to see our friends at church, and that is great. We should spend time in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But when we see an unfamiliar face in the crowd we ALL have the responsibility to speak to them and make them feel welcome. If someone sits on your row that you don’t know, speak to them and let them know you are glad that they came to your church. Let them know they are welcome in the family.

            To my readers who are looking for a church home, please remember there is no perfect church. In our church, many of our members have a T-shirt with these letters printed really big on the front: PBPWMGINFWMY. Those letters mean: Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet! No one is perfect. We all need the grace of God. My church is full of wonderful, loving, God fearing people…but we are all far from perfect. So guess what? You can fit right in with us! Most churches are that way. You will discover imperfect people.

            I think of it this way. I believe it is important to make a positive impression with the outside and inside of our churches. Our churches should be clean and inviting for everyone, members and guests. But churches are really spiritual hospitals. Churches are places where broken people can come and find healing and restoration through a relationship with a loving God who sent His only Son to die for us. The Good News of Easter is that He rose from the grave! He stands ready to welcome all who will receive His free gift of love, hope, and a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

            I want to encourage you to welcome people who visit your church on Easter Sunday and every Sunday. They may not look or act perfect, but that’s okay because God’s not finished with you yet, either. He can do amazing things in people’s lives if we open the doors to our hearts and our churches to them. He will use you and me to make them feel welcome into His family. I believe people will visit our churches on Easter Sunday. I hope they find a place that makes them feel welcome so they can receive the grace, mercy, and love of God. 

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

God Will Strengthen & Protect You

by   April 11, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut


2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

  • Everyone goes through challenges and storms.
  • We can be sure that God is faithful in all things and that He will strengthen us.
  • We have this confidence that He shields and protects us that the devil can do us no harm.  God is our fortress. 

Prayer:  My Father today, regardless of what I am going through, I look to You because I know that You are faithful and that You will strengthen me and I will not be focussed on the difficulty but on Your goodness.  Amen. 


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

What if your Training isn’t Going Well?

by   April 10, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

What if your training isn’t going well?

    Not seeing results in your efforts toward any health and fitness goal is frustrating, especially if you have been diligently working to get faster, lose weight, gain muscle or work toward any other health-related goal. Before you give up, consider the following areas of concern.

   Sleep is our best recovery tool. If you miss out on good and consistent sleep, you could sabotage your results and not even know it. I struggled for years with this one, and oddly after my accident sleep has improved.

    My best learned tips include winding down an hour before your projected bedtime. Things not done can be listed to be completed the next day. Stay away from caffeine and eating too much too late. Make your sleeping area comfortable, cool and dark. Put a pad beside bed if you often awake thinking of things to be done. Write them down and go back to sleep. Shoot for eight hours but strive at least for more than you did previously.  

    Are you working out without food being eaten overnight, first thing in the morning or without a small amount of good carbs, fat and protein 60 minutes before training? You can still train some while in a fasted state, but likely it won’t be fun.

    Hydration is key as well. Replacing sweat means you need to add water and electrolytes, or you will see a significant drop in performance during your workout and feel horrible afterward. A good sign of hydration loss is an easily recovered weight loss upon rehydrating.

   Make sure you are also eating well after the workout session. You need protein to help your muscles recover, but you also need carbs to rebuild glycogen stores to be ready for the next workout.

   Are you working as hard as you had planned each day? Make sure you have a plan, so you don’t wonder what to do next. Sometimes a trainer or coach can help. Technique matters whether you’re running, swimming, lifting or other workouts. A coach can assess your form and technique.

    A lower-intensity workout may be the best answer for a day or two. When training hard, there will be a top end limit that will require a rest or cross training. Sometimes as soon as I made it to the end of the driveway early in the morning, I knew it was time for a rest day. Pay attention to a sudden increased heart rate as a good sign of the body needing a rest.  

     There are good days and bad days when it comes to training. Instead of evaluating your performance daily, consider longer-term periods such as weeks, months or even years. Note the pattern instead of the daily spikes or dips. Keep a journal of how you eat, sleep and train each day. When you have a perfect workout day filled with new personal records and other progress, look back at the previous 24-36 hours, as you may find a blueprint to repeat your performance. When I hit a hot streak, I often mimic what might be working.

   Good performances are usually tied to how you slept, ate, hydrated, worked or rested the day prior and how you feel. You may also find what not to do if you have one bad day that makes you question yourself and your routine.

    But the best thing to do is to keep at it. I heard a radio pastor last week say something that has settled with me since. We have about 4,000 weeks on earth. Let’s make good use of them.

     April 5th brings the West Rowan Bible Teachers Association 5K which is developing as one of the largest 5K’s and Fun Runs in Rowan County in recent years. The race starts and finishes at West Rowan Elementary School. Bible teachers aren’t funded by the state but the proceeds from this event all go to that purpose. The race course arguably might just be the fastest in the county.

    Look for this event and others at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: What if your training isn’t going well?

Lynna’s “K” & What a Fellowship

by   April 9, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” -Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace…. complete trust…. a mind set on the truth of His Word…

What a gift!

Bonus verse: “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.” -Deut. 7:9

Oh what a wonderful God we serve!

Back in October when I had emergency surgery I fell into a deep dark hole. It was a hard place to dig out of. I think the combination of pain, drugs and election coverage sent me to a very bad place. Sheesh. It was not a happy field trip. This time I was determined to think of things the Lord advised as I slipped off to sleep. Apparently someone needed to check a vital and I startled from my happy slumber. No more lambs carried by Jesus. But somewhere in the background, guitar music played old familiar hymns and my heart sang along. The Savior led me like a Shepherd and my heart was tuned to sing His praises. What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on those everlasting arms. The light went off, the nurse left, but the music continued.

“Is this too loud mama?” my sweet daughter asked. That would be Stephanie. She plays guitar and had found a playlist to drown out some of the commotion that comes with every hospital room. “No honey. It’s good. I thought I’d died and gone to Hobby Lobby.”

After that, we made it a habit to play old hymns during the night. I know it made a significant difference. Right now, I’ve got a lot of things to worry about. I won’t list them here. God knows what they are. Instead, I’ll do my best to think on these things: “Whatever is pure, lovely, of good report…” check out the list in Philippians 4:8,9. Apparently it’s the way to fix my thoughts. May the Lord give you strength to do the same with the things you carry as well. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Photo by my daddy, Seabert Pittman, back when sailing was a little smoother.

A Unique Talent

by   April 8, 2025 with No Comments

Everyone has some talent or gift they can offer the world. When I say that some people doubt it. I believe that God makes every person and He gives each one a special something to make the world a better place. Steve Hartman tells the story of one such boy. You are going to love it. ENJOY!

Very Good

by   April 7, 2025 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

 Very good

Recipes? Where do you keep yours? Only in your mind? Or do you have a recipe box or recipe drawer or recipe book? I have all those!

In the 1960’s when I was growing up, our kitchen in our mill house was loaded with cabinets and drawers. My favorite was the recipe drawer.

My dad cooked a lot, but he was not a believer in recipes. He just kept tasting what he was cooking to see if it met his expectations. If not, he added something – I think he referred to it as a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Does anyone remember a grease can?

Yes, he had one where he saved grease for the next scrumptious delicacy he prepared.

Making gravy was his specialty.

I am fairly certain we had gravy most days.

No special food was necessary to put the gravy on – any food would work.

Potatoes and gravy.

Meat and gravy.

Eggs and gravy.

You get the idea.

Cook it – put some gravy on it.

I have saved quite a few recipes, and I have a recipe box that definitely includes some memorabilia.

Recipes were written down – often in different places:

*Carolina Special Convention -Jamestown NC notepad

*Tithing envelope from church

*Cannon Mills note pads -Daily Cutting Production- from the Dye Department- in my mom or dad’s handwriting

*Note cards

*White’s Office Supplies note pad

*Post-its

*On the back of a bill from the Animal Hospital is a recipe for a casserole and a great dessert

*Index cards with recipes from coworkers, churchgoers, and friends

Some are in my handwriting, my mother’s handwriting, my mother in laws handwriting, my sister’s handwriting, and in the handwriting of my coworkers, and friends.

Some of the recipe cards were official since they were cut off the back of a box of food.

That recipe box! It holds more memories than it holds recipes!

The additions to the recipe box continue even today.

I did not know it at the time, but not only was I getting recipes, I was also making memories.

Even today, my adult children ask to look at my recipes.

We must admit – food is very good!

To me – the recipe matters.

The recipes came from coworkers, family members, and church friends.

So, when the recipe card is given, it also includes the name of the one who took the time to write it on a card for me. The recipe box has become worn and torn, but so have I!

It sure holds great memories – and great recipes!

My mother saved her recipes in the 3rd drawer in the kitchen.

I save my recipes in a box in the cabinet.

A few weeks ago, my adult daughter asked me if she could have my recipe box when I died. It made me smile. I had asked my mother the same thing.

My daughter really did not have to ask me that. It would have gone to her anyway.

Food is a gift from God. It strengthens our body, nourishes us, brings people around a table to eat together, and it gives us happiness.

Food is mentioned in the first chapter in the Bible in Genesis 1:29-30. It says, “Then God said, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the earth and every tree has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air, and everything that creeps on the earth, where there is life, I have given every green herb for meat; and it was so.”

Remember this account about food in the Bible? If you ever went to Sunday School, you probably heard it there –

Jesus had a recipe to share with 5000 people:

He took five loaves and two fishes. He looked up to heaven.

He blessed it.

He broke it.

He gave the loaves to his disciples.

The disciples gave it to the multitude.

They ate. They were full.

Jesus  multiplied it – and it was enough.

Genesis 1:31 says that God saw everything He had made and it was VERY GOOD.

No matter what we give to Jesus – time, talent, treasure – He can multiply it!

And He has the recipe to make it VERY GOOD!

When Doors Left Ajar

by   April 6, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

What is on your honey-do list? In our area, keeping heat out or in, depending on the season, is usually on the checklist. Last year, on the honey-do list, my husband and sons worked on replacing the seal around our front door to better prevent drafts (and insects) from coming in. While it does seal very well, we must intentionally pull the door completely when shutting. Careless closing results in a door left ajar.

One morning in late fall, my son left for his welding class early. I was occupying my usual morning spot on the couch, enjoying some quiet time reading. Early as it was, I had no need to go towards that door, which is by the staircase leading to the children’s rooms, for about an hour. Once I did, however, I noticed a draft and light coming from the door. Eek! Thankfully, it was not standing wide open; no birds flew in. But it was an open door – one I assumed would be closed.

Later, I thought about how often we pass open doors in people’s lives. As a Christian, my eyes and heart should regularly think about open hearts for the gospel – that is, to be evangelistic. My husband often reminds the congregation at church to pray for God to open our eyes to such open doors and then to open our mouths to share. It is easy to assume that people who are currently closed to discussing the hope we have in Jesus will always be closed to such discussions. Sometimes they are. Sometimes, a heart is so hardened that its door is vaulted and sealed with a “no trespassing/no soliciting” sign on the door. Those are very sad and discouraging relationships. 

However, sometimes, doors that were once thought to be irrevocably closed become ajar, much like my front door. Often, a tragedy or deep sense of dismay cracks the door of a heart, allowing a little light to trickle in. While we may normally pass by a literal door like that and close it, assuming it is not an invitation for us to enter, doors ajar in hearts are another matter. A watchful eye may be gazing through the crack with a heart silently begging for someone to walk by and notice. We cautiously push the door slightly wider, beckoning them to join us or let us in. 

People, like nature, go through seasons regularly. What is true and steady in a person’s life in one month may vastly differ in three months. As one who can be shy to warm up to invitations, I have also learned that a firm no does not necessarily mean a final no. Growing up, I often waited on a sideline or against a wall to assess situations and people before jumping in. 

We will undoubtedly see such hearts come to church on Resurrection Day in a few weeks, along with many other “Chreasters” (those who only visit the church on Christmas and Easter). We can ignore them, say, “See you next holiday!” or engage them in a relationship. Ask them how life has been, and look into their eyes to see if there is a longing for something more. Has a door been left slightly opened?

Maybe seasons in life have you longing for something more; perhaps you have questions about that one thing you vowed you would never consider. You may not have intentionally left a door open, but could circumstances have been divinely aligned to bring you to another point in life? Are you willing to open that door wider to a relationship with the Creator and Savior?

Following Jesus Costs

by   April 5, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Following Jesus Costs

            Have you ever been mistreated by someone? If you have been alive for any length of time, you have probably been mistreated by someone. It could be a sibling, a friend, a co-worker, a supervisor, an employee at a business… and the list goes on. There are so many opportunities to be mistreated and we are all mistreated at times.

            Sometimes the mistreatment comes from the person having a bad day. Something happened that put them in a bad way and that individual turns around and takes it out on you. You happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Depending on the severity of the mistreatment, most of us can understand and forgive the one who mistreated us.

            Other times the mistreatment is perpetrated by a bully. The bully mistreats everyone in his or her path. You were just the next victim. This type of mistreatment can often create lifelong memories. Most of us have probably been the victim of a bully and we would rather not remember it. I can name a few from my childhood.

            I remember once playing with some friends in this girl’s yard. Her father had a reputation for being pretty tough. A bully came around on his bike and started to harass me. The father heard it and came out and confronted the boy. He made the boy get on his knees and apologize to me. The bully was crying but he apologized. The father told the boy to never show his face in our area again and he never did.

            We have all been mistreated many times in life and that is simply a part of living in a fallen world. A couple of years ago, I was at a business and found myself being mistreated by an employee. I spoke to the manager at a later time about the incident and she obviously talked to the employee. The employee continued to mistreat me when I frequented the business, so I decided to stop being a customer.

            The other evening the Lord asked me to pray for this employee. I told Him I would prefer to not pray for the employee. God asked what I wanted Him to do with the employee. I told Him I didn’t care. Then He asked if I wanted this employee to be sent to hell. I quickly responded, absolutely not! I don’t want ANYONE to be sent to hell. Then God reminded me that disrespectful employees need prayer and that I might be the only one praying for this person. It was hard, but I prayed for the employee, and have continued to do so.  

            I taught Sunday school last week and my lesson included Matthew 5:43 – 48 where Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray for those who persecute you. He wanted to make sure that I could apply the lesson before I taught the lesson. I admitted to my Sunday school class that it was difficult because the Lord brought others to mind that had mistreated me through the years who needed prayer, too.

            Following Jesus is not easy. The Bible is full of people who did hard things for God. Noah spent about 100 years building an ark. Moses led over a million people from slavery to freedom. Think about Queen Esther, who risked her life to go to the king when it was strictly forbidden. Ananias was sent to pray for Saul, who had put many Christians in prison. Imagine being Mary, who agreed to be the mother of Jesus and yet was accused of pre-marital sex. She could have been stoned for it. Joseph’s life was no picnic either, being given the charge of raising God’s son. The Bible is full of people who paid a high price to follow and obey God.

            I want to encourage you to make the tough choices that keep you on God’s path. He never said it would be easy. Following God involves difficult choices. Following God involves being obedient. Following God involves faith and trust. Following God will cost you, BUT the rewards are worth it. He promises to never leave you. He promises to provide for your needs. He promises to forgive your sins. He promises to love and accept you. Best of all, He promises you a special place with Him for all eternity. God will ask you to do some challenging things, but He promises to help you through whatever you have to endure for making the right choice. God’s path is not easy but it is the best and most rewarding path you will ever choose.  

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

Pleasuring Herself

by   April 4, 2025 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

                                                Pleasuring Herself

In his fine memoir, The Old Man and the Boy, Robert Ruark recounts his grandfather’s explanation of aging: “ A man don’t start to learn until he’s about forty; and when he hits fifty, he’s learned all he’s going to learn. After that he can sort of lay back and enjoy what he’s learned, and maybe pass a little bit of it on. His appetites have thinned down, and he’s done most of his suffering, and yet he still got plenty of time to pleasure himself before he peters out entirely. That’s why I like November. November is a man past fifty who reckons he’ll live to be seventy or so, which is old enough for anybody….”       An admirer of Ruark and his two books about the older men in his life, I am reluctant to disagree with his grandfather, but I must because of Florence (not her real name).

The first time I met Florence was when my wife introduced us. She was a new member of a support group for widows in which my wife assisted. When we were introduced, Florence held her Bible close to her chest but could not hide the hollowness in her eyes. Her soft voice and softer demeanor caused me to think that she was having a most difficult time concerning her husband’s recent death. Her disheveled dress spoke of her emotional state. Over time, however, as Florence and I established our own friendship through church and our writing group, she shared much of her earlier life and of her marriage to her deceased husband, who was highly regarded in our small community.  She had lived in his shadow, known as “Lou’s wife.” (not his name) I watched as she struggled with the issues concerning a spouse’s death and admired her grit as she sold the house they had shared, donated his tools and clothes, and all the other things that must be done following a death. My wife and I were elated when she found an apartment in a modern complex of homes, restaurants, shops, and that was near her children and us. Florence settled into her life, but she did not stop growing. In fact, she bloomed.

According to the web site Grammarist, the phrase time heals all wounds may be first attributed to the Greek poet Menander, who lived around 300 B.C. and said, “Time is the healer of all necessary evils.” Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem, Troilus and Criseyde, written in the 1380s contains the phrase: “As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure.” However, no matter how the sentiment is expressed, the pain of a deep wound never disappears, but time and life may lessen the sadness of past pain. And Florence, as she embraced her new surroundings to create a new, full life, contradicted  Ruark’s grandfather’s observation about being seventy.

Florence is no longer any man’s wife, pushed back into the shadows. She is known in her community through her part time work in a shop, for being encountered during her early morning walks around the complex, for her group that meets weekly to share conversation on a veranda, and her patronage to a cigar bar. Into her seventh decade, she is now herself. Yes, she is still a mother and grandmother, but she also has a life in her community that is hers, and not one that she shares with her family. Her family knows of that life’s existence, but Florence denies them entry because it is hers and not one to be shared with them.

Florence shares her new life with my wife and me, and we are happy for her. She told us not long ago how she was planning to smoke a cigar in the near future in the cigar bar and might even get a small tattoo. Not bad for a past seventy-year-old grandmother whose hands still bear the creases from work as a young girl on a North Carolina tobacco farm.

Florence, like all of us, carries certain sadness. But unlike so many folks, she took stock of where she found herself and decided for life. Much like the Phoenix, Florence rose from the ashes of her former life– to smoke a cigar, to get a tattoo, to build her own nest.

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