Guilt-Free Leisure

by   March 30, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

If someone asked you the difference between idle time and leisure time, could you clearly articulate that? I recently read that idle time is stolen time. We should be doing other things during our productive times, but we allow temptations, even shallow, meaningless ones, to captivate our minds and bodies. You are often left feeling guilty as a result of wasting time. On the other hand, leisure time is earned, often after hard work. No guilt needed! Yet, how often do we struggle to fully enjoy leisure?

While we may know the differences and struggle to avoid idleness, we can also be guilty of enjoying leisure time. Productivity and efficiency are the monarchs ruling our time, most often. Accomplishing a task can consume the best of caregivers, and allowing children to enjoy discoveries frequently turns into an organized time of study and lessons. I can be as guilty as the next, especially as a homeschooling mother. 

In our quest to find our purpose and higher meaning (which oftentimes only means getting our never-ending task list done), we often miss the simplicity of basking in the daily delights we rush past to be more productive. Gardening becomes a chore of necessity rather than something to enjoy. Instead of choosing fiction to read, we feel our reading time must be an investment to master doing something.

Rather than further elaborate, I offer a few stanzas from a poem that served as a good reminder in the midst of teaching my children:

“Leisure”                                                                                                                          by W. H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
 We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to see, in broad daylight,
 Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
 And watch her feet, how they can dance:

A poor life this if, full of care,
 We have no time to stand and stare.

I hope you get to enjoy some well-earned leisure time. Did you work hard all week, even if something is unfinished and will still be there next week? Then, make time to enjoy a guilt-free walk after dinner. Do you feel bad for time misspent? Tighten up the reigns on the time you steal this week. Lock yourself out of that app that is a thief to your productivity. Work hard and enjoy guilt-free leisure next weekend. 

Ashlie Miller is preaching to herself on this one. You can send her your own admonishments on how to enjoy guilt-free leisure to mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Teamwork

by   March 29, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Teamwork

            We are in the heart of March Madness. I can’t tell you much about it because I don’t really follow sports. However, if I see a game on TV I will watch it. If it is on at a restaurant, I will pay attention. A game was on the other day when I visited my Mom and I watched it while we were talking. It’s not that I don’t like sports, I just don’t follow them.

            One year for my birthday a neighbor gave me tickets to see the Charlotte Hornets play the Chicago Bulls. I had a great time at the game and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is so much to watch when you go to see a professional game in person. I have been to a variety of sporting events and I have always had a great time.

            When a team pulls together and everyone is playing their best, it can be very exciting to watch the team play. For teams to be successful each player has to give their best. It’s not about an individual member shining like a star. Each member has to pull their weight and do their assigned job for the team to win.

            A coach once explained it to me best by sharing something he overheard one night on a bus. The boys’ and girls’ teams from the school were returning home after their games. The boys lost their game but each of the guys was bragging about what they had done on the court. “I got ten points and six rebounds.” “I made eight points.” Then the boys looked at the girls and asked, “What did you do?” One of the girls looked up and said, “We won!” It’s not about individual performance; it’s about team effort.

            Teams come with a variety of skills and abilities, but each member has to learn how to work with the other members to make the team successful. I’ve seen teams with incredible talent that could not win a game, and other teams with fair talent grow to become undefeated.

            I believe we can look at churches and see the same results. I have seen churches with great talent, good worship, and a welcoming children’s department that closed their doors. But a church that recognizes that they are a team can achieve a level of success that others can’t touch.

            I wonder if there are people in churches who feel undervalued so they find it difficult to contribute to the success of a church. The Bible makes it clear that every member of a church has a vital role in the health and success of that church body. We each contribute in our own unique way. Some people do highly visible things that may garner more attention, while others work quietly behind the scenes…both are very important to make that church work. Neither is more important than the other.

            When Jesus sent the disciples out two-by-two He probably paired some of the guys together who wouldn’t seem like a great match. The disciples, like us, had to learn how to work together, to build unity and trust in each other. When we can form bonds with each other through common goals there is a deeper respect and a greater love that can develop.

            The disciples also had to learn to step out and take risks in sharing God’s love with others. This requires faith. God always requires us to have faith. God’s work is far beyond our ability to be able to perform it. We have to depend upon Him to work through us. He is the one who can save a soul. He is the healer. He is the one who can set the captives free. But God chooses to work through people like you and me in and through our churches.

            I want to encourage you to look at your church and its members in a new light. Consider the idea that God looks at you as a team. Teams have to set aside differences and focus on the goals at hand. Is the color of the choir robes or the carpet more important than maintaining unity and reaching the lost? God has given each church an assignment, and that is to be a light in the darkness in their community. To bring His hope and forgiveness to those who are far from God. To help people find healing for their broken lives. To let people know that God loves them in spite of the crazy world we live in. Let’s set aside our differences, join the team, and fulfill God’s purposes in our communities for His glory. 

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

Acting on His Word

by   March 28, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Matthew 14:19  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

  • Jesus initiated the miracle, but –
  • It was the disciples that actually distributed the food and acted out the miracle.
  • Often times it is just us acting on His word to see the miraculous in working.

Prayer:  Lord I surrender to You today that You guide me and instruct me that I can do whatever You say that I can see the miraculous power of God working.  Help me to step out always in faith.  Amen.


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Catawba Athlete & Insurance Ruling on my Back

by   March 27, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Catawba Athletes at Nationals and An Insurance Ruling on My Back

     Two Catawba College athletes have reached the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Miles Stephens and Winfred Porter will both compete in the 60-meter dash prelims on Thursday at 4:30pm.

      Miles, a junior from Bradenton, Florida, and Winfred, from Loxahatchee, Florida, are ranked 4th and 8th going into the prelims with times of 6.65 and 6.67 seconds.  In a race that can be decided by milliseconds, both are hoping to make the final and bring home Catawba’s first NCAA Championship in school history.

    If one or the other, or better yet both finish in the top eight on Thursday, they will make that final Saturday afternoon at 2:55pm.  The event will be streamed on Thursday live on NCAA.com. Look for Dll Indoor Track and Field Day One and then on Saturday, look for Day Three. DII Indoor Track & Field: Day One – DII Men’s Track & Field (I) –

      Also in Indianapolis this week, Catawba Swimming is at the 2025 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Both events are a part of the NCAA Winter Championships Festival that includes Swimming and Diving, Wrestling and Indoor Track and Field. The swim team is represented by 16 men and women in various relay and individual events.  

    My back accident happened on May 15th in a hay field at about 5pm. I was admitted to the Trauma Unit at Atrium Health in Concord shortly after 6pm. I was told just before midnight that I would have rods and pins surgically inserted in and around my spine at 7am the next morning. At about 6:30am, I declined the surgery. What began at that time was one of the most important sagas of my life. What also began was a long battle with Aetna Medicare Insurance.

      I was fitted with a back brace that same morning and had physical therapy twice that afternoon. I could barely walk, and my body was beat up, but that day began what now amounts to a 10-month recovery period through Saturday.

      The battle with insurance started about three months later in late August when Novant sports medicine back specialist Dr. Eugene Eline requested approval for the Kyphoplasty that would rebuild my two most damaged vertebrae. We were denied insurance coverage with Aetna’s scattergun (listing multiple reasons) approach and then two more separate appeals with plenty of documentation supporting Dr. Eline’s recommendation were all denied. Never by a person who could be talked to, but by mail and once by telephone message.

      In the meantime, with all the denials and days passing, I decided to pay for the surgery myself, all the while in hopes that we would eventually win the appeal, and then my down payment would be reimbursed. Novant Health was great and didn’t press me during this appeal and denial process. Dr. Eline and his assistant Erica Martin R.N. repeatedly helped with answering questions and copies of testing.

      Eventually it came down to a final appeal to Federal Health and Human Services. We had an initial court hearing by phone scheduled in January that was continued until February 20th because Aetna didn’t call in. We did have the February hearing even though Aetna still didn’t call, but otherwise it was well done by the judge. Her ruling arrived by fax on March 7th. The ruling—Kyphoplasty costs do not have to reimbursed by Aetna because my reasons for needing the procedure had not been addressed in Medicare rules.

      A long-time running friend and ultramarathoner who just happens to teach math and statistics at Catawba College once sent me his breakdown of the costs per mile of multiple brands of running shoes. I thought it was funny at the time.

        Today, I added up all the costs for my lifestyle saving Kyphoplasty and took a similar approach. I’ve had just over 570 miles of running since the procedure, so I added up the costs paid to Novant Health today. Some simple division says each mile has a cost of $27.72 at this point. Another 180 miles gets me to my goal of 100,000 lifetime running miles. At that time, the cost per mile decreases to $21.07. Better yet, after 20,750 post surgery miles over probably the next 15 years, we’re down to 76 cents. I’ll be super happy about that. Another reason to keep running!

     Our next race is the Mt. Hope Run for Missions 5K on March 29th at Salisbury Community Park. Look for this and other events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Catawba athletes at nationals and an insurance ruling on my back

Lynna’s “I” & Let Me Live

by   March 26, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

“I DO believe! But help me overcome my unbelief!” -Mark 9:24

At times it’s hard to get our heart to rest in what we already know. That’s when we ask the Lord for help in our faith journey. How often do I need to cry out to Him, “Help my unbelief!” Comfort comes like a big warm hug as He promises in Hebrews 13:5:

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Then by His grace, “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths bringing honor to His Name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.” -Psalm 23:3,4

Oh dear sweet Lord! I DO believe. Please hold my hand, strengthen and guide me in the days to come.

Let Me Live

Sometimes we get a heaping dose of scary truth; a reality check of large proportion. None of us will live forever. Obviously. Scripture even mentions an age expectancy of three score and ten. That’s seventy if you don’t relate to Abraham Lincoln math. So David and I are there. The past few months have been…. eventful. And a wee bit disconcerting. However! Psalm 119:71 says, “My suffering was good for me; for it taught me to pay attention to Your decrees.”

Yep. Been paying attention all right. Nothing like near death or the near death of a loved one to bring things into focus. Psalm 119:175 closes out with this simple prayer. “Let me live so I can praise You.”

Dear Lord, help us all praise You better than we ever have before. With our actions, our thoughts, with all the life we have left. But thank You for Your sweet promise that “To live is Christ. But to die is gain.” Since I know You, I really can’t lose. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Another beautiful photo by Seabert Pittman. Nobody appreciates the beauty of nature more than my daddy.

Stop Running!

by   March 25, 2025 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Stop Running!

There have been a lot of messages preached about Jonah! There have been a lot of lessons taught about Jonah. Sometimes, we need both.

Can one seek God and run away from God at the same time?

The issue was that in order to get to God, Jonah had to stop running from God.

It sounds so simple, but yet, throughout my life, I have heard many people say they have been running from God for years.

 I know one thing – we can never outrun God because we are on God’s heart,  in God’s thoughts, and created by God – so we will not get too far away before He snatches us back.

Running from God?

Stop running.

We cannot walk away, slip away, or sneak away from God.

Stop trying.

It sure did not work for Jonah.

He did not pray for three days.

He had a bad attitude.

He was rebellious.

He was about to be swallowed by the whale!

Now, even for animal lovers, that sounds a bit tough.

After seeing a whale close up one time, I most certainly now feel a connection with what Jonah may have felt like at that point. Whales are HUGE!

Feel free to take out the word Jonah in the title and insert your own name!

That Jonah –

That Ann Farabee-

She tried but could never outrun God.

God loved and forgave her no matter what!

Jonah ran the opposite direction from God .

Ann ran the opposite direction from God.

God guided Jonah anyway.

God guided Ann anyway.

Jonah was supposed to serve God by preaching to the people of Nineveh – but he was  indifferent and angry about it.

Ann was supposed to serve God in ways that God showed her – but  she was indifferent and  busy doing other things.

Even though Jonah stopped his mission, God showed him great love, patience, and forgiveness.

Even though Ann seemed indifferent to her mission, God shows her love, patience, and forgiveness.

God removes our shame.

God covers us with grace.

Picture that for a second –

God Himself removing our shame –

SHAME REMOVED!

God Himself covering us with grace –

COVERED WITH GRACE!

Ready? Let’s practice!

Declare these words –

SHAME REMOVED!  (Cast that shame away!)

COVERED WITH GRACE! (Close your eyes. Envision God covering you with grace!)

A little louder:

SHAME REMOVED!

COVERED WITH GRACE!

Got it?

We sure do.

That Time the World Shut Down

by   March 23, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Sometimes, the daily memories feature on Facebook catches me off guard. Does that ever happen to you? You post something of great importance, worthy of sharing with the world, or at least your “friends,” and when it pops up later as a memory, you say, “Oh yeah, I forgot all about when my cat did that, or I had that burger at that one place.”

Sunday morning, I was surprised when I noticed my memory feed featured a video I had shared a few years ago. A video of me. I am not an influencer nor share home videos, but something happened five years ago on that day that made me stop. Made me want to share something encouraging and hopeful. By now, if you rewind the tape in your own mind, you are having that “a-ha!” moment of March 16, 2020 – the day the world shut down. I was not fearful, but I knew many families would be distressed over being at home for two weeks (well, that is what they told us, anyway); I longed to encourage them and share helpful tools to thrive while surviving.

You may have that date etched in your mind for all eternity. But, for a moment, it took me a second to reconcile that it has been five full years since that fateful day. 

A lot has happened since half a decade ago in my life, your life, and our world. But we made it. We may have suffered great loss. I would have to sit and think long and hard to find anyone who has not in the last few years. Some have significantly suffered physically, emotionally, and financially, to say the least. But we made it.

When all my children were much younger, I can remember it took a herculean effort to get them all ready and out the door to arrive someplace on time with smiles on our faces. When someone at church would say, “You made it!”, I would often jokingly quote the end of Acts 27:44 – “some swam and the rest on planks or pieces of the ship!” It is not my life verse, but I pulled a lot of life from it. 

This verse comes from a gripping account of Paul surviving one of the few shipwrecks he endured. Paul is on a ship set for Rome along with other prisoners and a centurion. A few chapters before, in Acts 23, God had told Paul that part of his purpose was to spread the gospel to the Jews and then the Gentiles in Rome, specifically. But, the course to that end was not smooth sailing or even to make it to safe harbor. What a sail that was! On this voyage, there was much reason to fear as a south wind violently blew the ship into a raging storm!

But Paul remembered the words of the Lord to him, that he must stand before Caesar. Paul was certain of God’s word, so Paul told the men to “take heart, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island” (verses 25-26). At least he was both certain and honest about the reality of the matter. 

A fortnight after embarking, Paul encouraged the shipmates in peril to take sustenance and give thanks to God. They lightened the ship and braced for the worst. After striking a reef and running aground, and prisoners avoiding being killed by the soldiers (thanks to Paul), they were ordered to jump in and swim or find something to float on. Amazingly, they all arrived safely, even if “the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship” (verse 44).  But they made it. 

As a mom of small children, I have often felt that I have barely made it or made it on “pieces of the ship.” It is not smooth sailing all the time, is it? 

We may feel entitled to complain. We may have endured struggles that have changed us in the last five years – wrecked us, even. But, we are here. We can offer gratitude and worship, complain and feel discontent, or be driven to ask the great question – “Why?”. Where have the last five years left you?

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Walking With Him

by   March 22, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Walking with Him

            I stepped out the door for my walk today and was surprised by the nip in the air. I turned around and grabbed a warmer jacket. The cool spring breeze reminded me that winter hasn’t quite lost its grip. Winter can try to hold on, but spring is proudly displaying her colors. Trees and shrubs are blooming, not mention lots of bulbs, pansies, and violas. I try to catch each sign of spring in my neighborhood as I walk.

            About halfway through my walk something drew my eye up. The sight of the incredibly blue sky took my breath away. We don’t get that crystal clear blue sky here that often because of humidity or the clouds. When we get lucky enough to get one of those days in the spring, fall, or after a winter storm has passed I could stand and just get lost in the beauty.

            I had a few days off work and had a list that would take a month to complete. The first day felt overwhelming as I tried to figure out how to get the whole list done. I rushed around the whole day feeling exhausted when I went to bed. The second day I decided I was not going to let my list overwhelm me. I was going to get done what I could and allow myself to be satisfied.

            I made a few more decisions. I was going to get some much needed rest. I had allowed myself to get a little run down and I needed to catch up on sleep. I also wanted to escape into a good book, which I did. I wanted to have lunch with a good friend. Finally, I wanted to do some work in my garden. I know it is early to start, but I was able to get some potatoes and peas planted. They can take any cold that Old Man Winter tries to send our way.

            One of the things I had to work on while I was off was an upcoming sermon for church. My pastor asked if I would like to teach one Sunday and I agreed. I team teach our adult Sunday school class and it’s my turn to teach Sunday school. I had extra time in the mornings when I could study and prepare for the sermon and the lessons. Some of the things were coming together nicely, while I was struggling with other parts. When I sought the Lord as to why things were not all falling into place, He told me I would have what I need when I needed it.

            I wanted everything to come to me while I had the time off. He wanted me to walk with Him and trust Him to meet my needs. He wanted me to spend time with Him and allow Him to reveal to me what I needed in the moment. It is hard to wait on God, especially when it takes time to create lessons and the sermon. When I expressed my concern about needing time to prepare, He reminded me of times when columns flowed through me like a river. He assured me that He is more than able to help me with the sermon and lessons if I will trust and seek Him.

            Walking with God is not easy. His timetables rarely line up with ours. Whoever said that the Christian walk is easy and carefree really missed it. Following Jesus requires us to sacrifice our will for God’s will. His ways are not our ways, nor is His will our will. His ways often lead us down paths which are challenging. Jesus wants us to live up to God’s plans for our lives. That involves walking by faith, trusting Him for everything, and making difficult choices.

            Sometimes it comes down to our focus. We live in the here and now. God is looking at the big picture. He wants us to develop character and perseverance. He wants to see us grow and mature in our Christian faith. God, who is not limited by time, is focused on preparing us for things that lie ahead. He knows the challenges and difficulties and what we will need to make it through. He is focused on giving us the strength so we can find the victory.           

            I want to encourage you to walk with Him through whatever you are facing in life. You can and will overcome the challenge that feels impossible. You have to trust Him and know that He is walking with you. He is closely watching you and helping to guide you as you take steps of faith. He is a GOOD Father, provider, and protector. He has your best interest at heart even as you walk through challenging and difficult times. He loves you! You can trust Him!

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

The Red Maple

by   March 21, 2025 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

Death is all around us, but the death happening as I type these lowly words this early spring morning is unnecessary. It is happening because a neighbor is inconvenienced and has the power to create a patio with fire pit and grill less troubled by the roots and seed pods and leaves of a magnificent red maple tree. The man high in the bucket cuts with his chain saw and drops limbs that have taken perhaps thirty or more years to grow, and the modern machine grinds them into a mulch that will leave no history of their shade and vibrant fall colors. As Hopkins wrote of the Binsey Poplars-“Felled, all felled….” The crew of men will be gone in a few hours after removing what took years to become, but no matter-the tree, as my neighbor said, was messy and in the way. In our modern Lake Norman manner, we remove any in our way because we have the resources.

I understand that there are times that trees must be removed because, for instance, they pose a danger to a house foundation or septic system. However, it seems to me that on Isle of Pines Road, many owners are willing to cut any bush or tree that is, in their eyes, a hinderance of some sort. And, the reader may say, the tree belongs to the homeowner, and that is true, but in some way, if we are community, each tree belongs to all of us. In a community, what I do on my little postage stamp of land affects the community, and since that is true, I have an obligation to honor that commitment.

But for me, there is another commitment besides the one to my community on Isle of Pines Road. In my favorite story of creation, it is written: “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.” No words such as cut, remove, destroy are here, but words that imply stewardship are.

In 1879 Hopkins wrote these words in his poem Binsey Poplars,  “ O if we but knew what we do/ When we delve or hew —/Hack and rack the growing green!”

To answer Hopkins, yes we think we know what we are doing because in our short sighted decisions, we are believing in the myth that man is in and can control.

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 186