Happy Easter!

by   April 11, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            For more years than I can count, the tradition in my family has been to gather at my brother’s house for Easter. Everyone would go to their own church for Easter services, some even venturing out for sunrise services. Then we would all make our way to my brother’s house for a great lunch, followed by an Easter egg hunt.

            I am really going to miss the gathering this year. Mom always brought the ham. Everybody else brought all the trimmings. My favorite was all the different types of salad that were there to enjoy. Naturally, there would be many different kinds of dessert. One thing that was really popular with the kids (when they were younger) was the Jell-O eggs. I never took one because I thought the kids were supposed to get them, but I will miss seeing them this year.

            After the big meal, my brother would look over and nod his head. That meant it was time to go out and hide the Easter eggs. I know we accumulated hundreds of plastic eggs through the years. We would put them out everywhere. As the kids got older, we worked hard to really hide the eggs. I know some of my nieces and nephews were teenagers and still hunting Easter eggs. All the older adults would sit on folding chairs and watch the kids run around collecting eggs.

            There would always be some basketball games, my brother and I would shoot a few games of pool, and there was always plenty of catching up. There would be little conversations here and there, and always plenty of laughter. You can’t get my family together without the prankster coming out in all of us. The laughter would slowly fade as each of us would head our separate ways. Stomachs filled, hearts warmed, and still chuckling as we drove home. 

            Easter will be different for families everywhere. The highways will be less busy. There won’t be as much good food to eat. Easter egg hunts will have to wait, or at least become more creative. The hugging, the family games, but most importantly, the laughter, will all have to wait. It will be alright. I know that in my family we will get together once this stay-at-home order is dropped. The fun and laughter will resume and we will all have stories of what we did during our time of being home.

            There is one thing that this Corona virus can’t stop, and that is the real meaning of Easter. It’s hard to believe that there are still people who don’t know what Easter is all about. I assure you that many churches have launched online and live versions of their services. You can attend Easter Sunday service right from the comfort of your home. I have links to a number of churches that are having live services each Sunday at EncouragingU.com.

            We know the message of Christmas is that Jesus came to earth born to be our savior. The message of Easter is the fulfillment of his mission. Jesus was born to be the sacrificial lamb that would take away our sins and restore a right relationship with God. God’s law required a blood sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price we could not pay.

            His death is not the end of the story. At sunrise on Easter morning, Jesus rose from the dead. No other religious leader did that. He experienced death’s sting but came out the other side a resurrected king. He has all authority and power. He has set us free from sin and death. He has given us forgiveness, joy, and peace.

            You see, the Corona virus can’t stop you from experiencing the true meaning or the true gifts of Easter. All you have to do is open your hearts to the living God. He’s done the rest. He paid the price for your redemption. If you accept Jesus as your savior, you can be assured of your place with Him for all eternity. While you are alive here you can experience His love, joy, peace, forgiveness, and His abiding presence. It’s yours for the asking and receiving.

            I want to encourage you to invite Jesus into your heart. Easter is symbolic of the life-changing power that is available to you. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is now available to you. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. He is awesome at taking broken lives and transforming them into something beautiful. I promise He will do it for you.

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

Time to Dig Deep

by   April 6, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Fitness has gone into a never-before-seen world of no gyms and no group activities, all just as Robin Satterwhite and Isaac Miller should be hitting their stride while participating in the Post wellness program.

I asked them what they miss the most and how they are compensating. Satterwhite, a professor at RCCC, said, “I do miss the variety of having three gyms to choose from. Each gym has a different environment or atmosphere. Regular patrons and staff, particularly at the Forum, seem to be extra supportive. I live on a farm and have a good walking or running trail here, plus we have been able to use the track at Catawba.”

Miller, a Salisbury police officer, had another take. He said, “It really hasn’t changed anything for me. I’m blessed to have a department that believes in physical fitness and we have a good gym. I love going for long runs, so I’m great when we are outside. The gym was always a distraction for me because I’m a people watcher and it’s easy to get lost in thoughts of them. Working out at the police department or on my own gives me the freedom to get lost in the workout itself. Catawba College’s track is still open and there’s plenty of room. I marvel in the fact that I’ve been running for 45 minutes or more.”

Both Satterwhite and Miller have shared comments about eating too much. I asked about other problems that still linger. Robin said, “Believe it or not, I haven’t had the urge to cheat this month. My fat cravings (pizza, cheeseburgers, etc.) seem to have subsided. My heart rate and blood pressure have both dropped. My anxiety levels have improved tremendously each month. I am losing weight, but it seems I lose, then get stuck for a while, then cycle again. I have taken a popular depression and anxiety medication since 1996 with a side effect of weight gain. My doctor said the drug can make weight loss difficult. I want to explore a lower dosage to hopefully boost weight loss. I want to also be off blood pressure meds.  Secondly, persistent knee discomfort has hampered my workouts some. David arranged a physical therapist visit to address this.”

Miller added, “My problem is saying no to a good dessert, which I am better at. Sugar is still a weakness of mine. And tacos! My wife is Hispanic and some foods we eat are really heavy, but we’ve gotten a lot better at steering away from unhealthy foods.”

The program is goal driven and March wasn’t the best month. Satterwhite said, “I have not met my goals for March but I won’t give up. I am using 1,510 calories daily and monitoring it on Myfitnesspal as well as doing my six days of workouts weekly. The stationary bike or elliptical trainer for aerobic activity are easier on the knee. I am looking forward to getting to the bottom of that issue.”

I think Miller is turning the corner. He said, “I’ve seen the most improvement in my calorie discipline. I typically only eat sweets when they fall within my calorie limits. Also, I find that I really want to work out. Missing a run makes me feel empty. I associate a day of not running like a day without kissing my wife before going to work. The day just isn’t right if I miss either.”

Neither Satterwhite or Miller is consistently on track right now. Robin said, “I am not where I want to be, but I will get better.”

Goals for April are important to Satterwhite. She said, “I want to see more weight loss. I hope to reduce medications with my doctor’s supervision since I have taken them for over 20 years.

Miller said, “Honestly, I’m not on track with where I want to be. Going into April, I should have already been under 300 pounds. I take full responsibility for every pound gained and lost. I often visited the taco truck knowing I shouldn’t. Results on the scale are a must for me. Multiple strangers tell me they’re rooting for me and others are keeping up with my progress. I’ve recently began multiple runs a day or a run and strength training combo (2-a-days). I want to smash realistic goals. I can put up double digits weight loss every month and I’m going to do it. Next month I will be at 295 or less!”

Miller is at 308 right now and has lost 16 pounds since Jan. 1. Satterwhite is down 6.5.

It’s a long process. See you at the end of April. Stay safe and active!

What’s Wrong With Your Hands?

by   April 5, 2020 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

I remember the moment vividly. After retiring from 30 years of teaching, I worked part time as a math coach in elementary schools. Sitting alongside a young student one day, my focus was to help him discover subtraction. But his focus went elsewhere, as he said, “What’s wrong with your hands?”

I looked.

I saw nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He kept staring. Then he said, “They have lines in them.”

I looked. They did have lines in them. A lot of lines.

I stared at them.

For I began to remember:

They were the hands that I used as a little girl — climbing trees, playing school, playing games in the back yard.

They were the hands that I used to learn to write with — and began to understand the power in knowledge.

They were the hands that were guided by others throughout my childhood years. Parents, teachers, mentors, friends, those in the church. I learned to do things. I learned about life. I learned about love.

They were the hands that worked tirelessly since I was 16: Roses, McDonalds, Pizza Inn, a cafeteria, and have taught thousands during my years as a teacher.

They have cooked, cleaned, done laundry, made needed purchases — and a whole lot more — so that my home could be a place of love, life, comfort, and joy for my family.

They were the hands that I reached out with to minister to others.

And the hands that I held out as others ministered to me.

They were the hands that held onto some things I did not want to let go — but knew I must.

They were the hands with which I have turned the pages of my Bible.

I feel with them. Touch with them. I give and accept with them.

Grab things with them — sometimes just in the nick of time.

They are hands I held out as I made commitments. Some were kept. Some were not.

Hands that held my baby girl. Hands that held my baby boy. Hands that changed diapers. Hands that reached out to my babies as they learned to walk — and comforted them when they fell.

Hands that wiped away their tears of sadness, failure, disappointments, and joy as my children began their own journeys through life.

The same hands that held my children then became hands that held their children.

The hands that now are used in raising my grandsons as my own.

They are the hands that held onto family members and loved ones that I watched slip away into eternity.

They are the hands that I have lifted in prayer and praise to God.

The word hand or hands is in the Bible almost 2,000 times.

The mind and the heart get much attention — but the hands — should not be overlooked.

For they do the work.

Some day, these hands will be held by a ‘carpenter’ named Jesus, who has nail prints in His hands. The hands that He held out willingly as he offered them to die on the cross for my sins.

What’s wrong with my hands?

I am not sure how I responded to the little guy that day, but his words sure have filled my heart with joy as I ponder that question on this day.

I now have an answer for him:

Nothing, buddy. As a a matter of fact, there is a whole lot right with my hands.

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

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