Hungry to Help

by   March 16, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Fasting is a term many people are familiar with because it does not always necessitate a religious observance. Intermittent fasting has become a health choice for many. You can fast from certain meals or specific ingredients like sugar or foods like carbs. Cutting out media is often the choice for a mental or emotional fast. 

We are now in the season of Lent, where many do without a vice for 40 days and hopefully commit to prayer to prepare themselves for Easter.

There are many scripture passages Christians consider when fasting. We see Moses fast for 40 days before receiving the 10 Commandments. There is the fast Queen Esther held before approaching King Ahasuerus. Many Christians do a prolonged Daniel Fast, eating only fruits and vegetables. Even Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, enduring temptation from Satan. Jesus also gives guidelines for one’s appearance during a fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Sometimes, as Christians, the goal of fasting can be to have what many call a spiritual breakthrough or pray for specific end results. Perhaps God might act favorably upon one’s request in exchange for denying one’s desires. 

One chapter worth reading on true and false fasting is Isaiah 58. God’s chosen people thought they could pull one over on Him, pretending to worship the Lord and serve Him with delight in hopes of returned favor, but God could see through to their hearts (not that their actions left much to hide). They were guilty of oppressing their own people, for starters, and many more gross atrocities you can study in the Old Testament. They dare to question why God does not seem to hear and respond to them during their fast. 

God explains the type of fast He chooses to see – “loosening bonds of wickedness, letting the oppressed free, sharing bread, clothing the homeless, pouring out oneself for the hungry, satisfying the desire of the afflicted” (Isaiah 58). He promised His people to be their guide and strength during a proper fast and that they would flourish and be called repairers and restorers of their place as a light shining among the nations. 

It’s as though the evidence of self-denial isn’t in an altar show of worship but in sharing among the people, their own people, whom they were overlooking and mistreating horribly. Could it be that pure self-denial is not just doing without for one’s own sake but to bless someone else? I can easily do without cheesecake and deny myself the temptation most of the year. If someone made me a homemade, decadent cheesecake and, as an act of will, I put it in the fridge for a few days and waited, I would justify myself with a reward at the end of the week. But, the real test would be complete self-denial – giving that cheesecake to someone else and maybe even watching them enjoying it. (Don’t get any ideas!)

How does that translate to self-denial in periods of fasting? Would it look like investing your time into prepping a meal for someone else as you pray over their family? Could it be ignoring the distraction at your fingertips to sit quietly on the porch, lifting prayers for your neighbors? Can one prayerfully purge gently worn or excess clothing to donate to the local women and children’s ministry? When hangry pangs come – could one conquer oneself by extending grace, mercy, and hospitality to those trying patience during a fasting period?

While I cannot answer those questions for you, it appears God told His people that the evidence of pure self-denial and worship that pleased Him meant sharing. How could you share during your next period of fasting?

Ashlie Miller does indeed love a good cheesecake but would question whether giving it to a frenemy during a fast was a word from God or just a frenemy. You can email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com with your thoughts.

Gumballs!

by   March 15, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            I live next to some woods, which I enjoy because they provide both privacy and cooling shade in the heat of summer. The woods near my house are mainly pine trees. On the other end of the woods there are mainly hardwood trees. I enjoy the peacefulness of walking through the woods, which reminds me of my days in the Boy Scouts.

            There are several really big trees right on the edge of the woods, including a very old elm, several oaks, a couple of maples, and sadly, some sweetgum trees. The sweetgum trees are large and provide lots of great shade. BUT…they also provide lots of gumballs. They get in the gutters, flowerbeds, vegetable garden, and all over my yard. If I had a dollar for each one I would be very wealthy!

            I hate gumballs. They make walking in the yard difficult. The lawn mower hits them and throws them…sometimes at me! They are problems that get into everything and don’t provide any benefit to me.

            When we get windy storms I lie in bed and listen to them hitting the roof. I hear them rolling down the roof and probably getting stuck in the gutters. I have wondered at times why God created sweetgum trees. My curiosity goes beyond gumballs to include poison ivy and plants that have burrs. My list of questionable things also includes mosquitos, flies, and slugs. Some people might include jellyfish and snakes on the list.

            We need to be careful. There is a huge difference between asking God a question and questioning God. It is okay to ask God a question because you want to learn, grow, and have a better understanding. Are you asking to be teachable? I think it comes down to how you asked the question. Asking God, “Why is the sky blue?” is very different from, “Why did you make the sky blue?” The first sounds more curious while the second sounds more like you are questioning his color choice.

            I am afraid that my questions about gumballs and poison ivy might fall in the wrong category of questions. I want to be careful to not cross the line with God. We are never in a position to question God. When Job went to God with his questions, God confronted him. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?” I hope I never find myself in that place.

            In one hour Job lost all his children and his wealth. It is a very natural reaction for him to say, “God, why weren’t you watching over my children? Don’t you care that my wealth was stolen from me?” In this case, Job is accusing God of something He didn’t do. The Bible makes it clear that Satan is the accuser, destroyer, and thief. Job’s frustration with his situation was aimed in the wrong direction.

            When we are facing trials and challenges we can easily find ourselves just like Job. We raise our voices towards heaven and ask, “Where were you, God?” Think of the people in California who lost their homes to the fires or the people in our mountains who lost their homes to the flooding; it’s easy to understand why they might question God. I can understand why the parents of a little child who has cancer or the husband of a wife who was in a terrible car wreck might find themselves questioning God.

            First, we have to remember that God is NOT the author of the tragic situation. He is our GOOD Father who heals, restores, and rights the wrongs. He is the one who will send His children to help the one in need. He is the rescuer and the redeemer. God does allow our faith to be tested to see if we will trust Him in the darkest of times. But He is also the one who will come through for us in our difficult moments.

            I want to encourage you to bring your difficult things to God. Be careful not to question Him, but seek His wisdom, guidance, and comfort. Ask Him for help because you know He is a good Father and you can trust that He will see you through your situation. There is nothing too difficult for God. Nothing is impossible for Him. His love for you is deeper than you can ever understand. Put your hand in His. Follow Him. Trust Him. Believe in His goodness. He will see you through to the other side. This storm will pass. You can trust that the SON will shine on you.

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

Remembering All He Has Done

by   March 14, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Psalms 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

  • We remind ourselves continually of all the things He has done!
  • We do not forget from where we have come and how He has delivered us and done great things for us.  We allow no pride or confidence of our own achievements
  • We recognize that He has given us a place to stand firmly in Him.

Prayer:  Lord it is all because of You.  I have nothing to boast in, but Your goodness and what You have done for me.  I rejoice in the fact that I stand firm and it is all in You.  Amen.
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Joe Harris Has Found His Sport

by   March 13, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Gotta’ Run

Joe Harris Has Found His Sport

    I can’t remember meeting Joe Harris for the first time, but he no doubt is a pleasure to have around the running and racing scene. Always upbeat, smiles just seem to follow along in Joe’s wake.

    Joe started running in 2013. He said, “My great friend, Terry Smith, was in charge of the Firefighter 5K at the Salisbury Y. He told me to come run in it. I downloaded a 5K app and started slowly. I had never been a runner, though I have always loved sports. I have had torn patella tendon surgery on both knees, so I was very cautious at first.’

     While trying to find something to do beside his son, Joe thought maybe running 5K events was something they could do together. Joe’s first 5K goal was to finish the race without stopping, which he did by finishing in a little over 36 minutes. Joe said. “When I got near the finish line, Ester Marsh was there cheering for everyone as we crossed the line, and I felt like I had won the race. At that point, I was hooked!”

      From then on, Joe was determined to finish races faster, racing only against himself. Joe added, “As I ran more, I started to lose weight. I have always enjoyed lifting weights, but cardio was not something I liked. For most of my life, my weight has gone up and down while topping out at close to 350 pounds. I would try every fad diet, with some success. But then the weight would come back. Even after I started running, I would lose some weight and then gain it back. In 2018, I lost my father to pancreatic cancer. At that point, I decided I had to get healthy. I might not be able to avoid getting cancer, but I could do better to keep from getting heart disease, or diabetes, among other issues.”

     Joe also started noticing the weekly Gotta’ Run articles in the paper. Joe said, “Those articles motivated me to start working harder at running. I began a routine where I would run every other day, and lift weights the in-between days. Thanks to my incredible wife, we started eating healthier as well. Since 2018 and hovering around 290 pounds, I have lost almost 120 pounds. I have stayed between 175-185 pounds for four years now. My best 5k time is 26:03 on the course that runs through my neighborhood. Still not a fast time, but my knees hurt when I try to run faster, so I am happy where I am.”

      Originally using 5k races to motivate himself to run, Joe now actually LOVES running! He said, “No matter how I feel when I start, I always feel great after I finish. Running is the best stress reliever since I have to unwind before I come home from work. The Y is great for me, as I can run on the track if it is too cold or wet to run outside.” 

     Joe grew up in Spencer, graduating from North Rowan in 1986. He has been local since age four and will be fifty-seven in August. Joe’s wife, Annette Harris, also grew up in Spencer. Their son Jake recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and is heading to grad school. 

     For years, Joe’s ultimate health goal was to get to “ONEderland”, anything under two hundred pounds, and in the healthy weight range according to doctors. Joe added, “Once there, I just wanted to maintain, and I am doing it. In fact, at my recent physical, my doctor actually asked how I lost all the weight. I laughed and told her that I just did what docs have been saying for years, to maintain.healthy eating and working out.”

     Joe continued, “I sincerely owe my life to Terry Smith, David Freeze, my wife Annette, son Jake, and my Y people- Aaron Crowe, Ester Marsh, and Sara Noble-Phillips. These people have provided support and the encouragement I used to transform my body. I truly believe I would not have survived the pandemic years had I weighed 300 pounds. So, yes, these amazing people saved my life!” 

     Look for Joe at the upcoming races by checking the SRR calendar at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Lynna’s Letter “G”

by   March 12, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

“Great is His faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh every morning.”

This sweet hopeful verse is found in the midst of a the sorrowful book of Lamentations chapter 3:23. Just before it, the author says, “I will never forget this awful time.”

We’ve been there. I bet you have too. Yet in the midst of it all, God’s faithfulness is greater than all our suffering. Our strength, our plans, our resources will fail. Hold tightly to the One Who is trustworthy. Not only is His faithfulness great, it along with His mercy is fresh and new every single morning!

Bonus verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9- “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

Praise God! When I am weak, He is strong. He is enough.

Negative Space

by   March 10, 2025 with No Comments

By Ronda Sassano

Negative Space.  Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?  Anything that starts with “negative” gets such a bad rap these days.  But to an artist (😇) negative space is an important part of the design and can be extremely valuable to the composition.  Negative space, in case you aren’t sure, refers to the “blank” space on the canvas or paper.  Negative space is the unpainted, untainted white area that gives the eye a chance to rest as it processes a busy piece. Without a blank area or two, a work of art could become overwhelming and the beauty, lost.  Negative space increases the power of the colors, just as the quiet of night emphasizes the volume of the day.  

Negative space isn’t found only on paper or canvas.  It can also be found in a moment of rest when a long day has come to an end.  When a day off happens unexpectedly.  When that appointment I was running to suddenly cancelled.  Or in the moment of something simple, like putting toothpaste on the brush, or stirring a boiling pot of pasta to keep the noodles from sticking together.   Yes.  Negative space can definitely be found IF I look for it, if I seek it out, if I’m aware and watching for it. 

Recently, I added a layer to looking for negative space.  I began to practice being open to the Lord during any negative space I happened to recognize.  At one of these points, I was musing about some negative circumstances and how valuable they can be to make my heart more sensitive to the Spirit and what He’s trying to do in my life.  Of course, that’s not what always happens when challenging circumstances arise, and probably not even what usually happens.  What usually happens is that I get angry and blame and accuse the Father and hide my heart from Him.  But, this time  heard Him say, “Yes.  When negative circumstances arise, many times, I use them to answer your prayers for a sensitive heart, the prayers for a deeper intimacy with Me.   It’s in the valley of the shadow that you have greatest opportunity to discover who I really am and how much I really do love you.  Yes.  I allow challenges,  I allow pain and grief and even emotions that are so big and intense and heavy that you don’t know what to do with them.  But I never leave you hurting or angry,  I never want you to stay in the tragedy and trauma.  But sometimes you walk away.  Or push Me away.  Or hide from Me.  In My infinite knowledge of you and your heart, I desire for your circumstances to be the catalyst to seek Me out. To want more of Me.  If you will trust that I have purpose for every hurt, every wound, every trial, nothing will be wasted.  Not even one tear goes unnoticed…they are so precious to Me.  They are a sign of a humble heart realizing a need for help that only I can give.  A bruised reed I will not break.  A crushed heart I will not abuse or manipulate or scorn or despise.  Come to Me all you who are heavy hearted.  And I will give you rest. I am in the negative space.”

if you are in a spot like that, pushing the Lord away or angry or just holding your heart back from Him, He invites you to release your anger.  Release your heart to trust Him. He never fails.  Even when I fail to trust Him, He never walks away.  Never rolls his eyes in disgust or sighs in disappointment.  He only longs for me (and for you) to press into Him in the pain.  And He waits. In the negative space.  

Meeting Needs & Sharing Hope

by   March 9, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

The remarkable thing about reading God’s Word daily is that you never know when your surroundings or current events will align with the passages. More than serendipity, it is like a tactile learning opportunity God ordains to deepen the lesson. 

Last week, my husband and I attended a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse event in Colorado called “Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name.” While there, my Bible reading plan had me in Isaiah 55:1:  “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” Then verse 6-7: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” 

The ESV Study Bible notes point to the “urgent tone and universal scope of the invitation.” What hit me most was the comment, “Thirst is not a problem but an opportunity.”

You likely have lived in North Carolina long enough to know that these organizations operate in this way. Both are often first on the disaster scene. The “orange shirts,” as Samaritan’s Purse trained volunteers are called, arrive early on the scene. Meeting physical needs is a conduit for them to bring the hope of the gospel of Jesus. “Blue shirt” chaplains from Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team connect with people to meet spiritual and emotional needs.

It opens my eyes to how I teach my children what helping our immediate community should look like. Yes, we can and should deliver meals, help our neighbor pick up limbs after the windy storm, and step in in numerous ways. But do we ever share the “why” behind the actions? What moves Christians to do these things as compared to just another NGO? Offering water to the thirsty is a nice action that can refresh temporarily, but Jesus offers water that quenches an eternal thirst (John 4:14), and Christians alone are those water-bearers. 

 Helping during the aftermath of a disaster makes us feel good and does a great deal of good. The days and weeks after Hurricane Helene were evidence of that. With that adrenaline, we can all do hard things. It’s rewarding. But if Christians miss the open door that God presents to them, it’s just another need someone else can meet.

God calls the thirsty, “Come.” Christians have access to the soul-quenching water that many do not quite realize they also need. Physical needs, moments of crisis, and disaster provide needs to meet but often expose deeper anxiety that a person has spent a lifetime trying to self-soothe unsuccessfully. The crisis is not a problem to solve; it is an opportunity for something more.

The next time a neighbor has a crisis or a disaster hits close to home, will you be able to see the difference between the need and the opportunity?

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

My DECA Students

by   March 8, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            Last week started out great. My supervisor asked me if I would do a presentation for our precollege students. She wanted me to teach them how to present themselves when they go into a group setting. We called it, “how to work the room.” It was a lesson on how to dress, smile, shake someone’s hand, and participate in a conversation. I had a great time presenting to the students.

            I left that presentation and went to Greensboro, where I helped with the officer elections at the State DECA competition. There were 37 students running for 6 offices. The competition was going to be intense. Each year when it is over my hope is always renewed in our future. These students demonstrate an understanding of the responsibility of leadership. They know that true leaders are called to serve, not be served.

            I am always given an opportunity to talk with the candidates for a few minutes. I tell them about my experience running one of my students for state office. My student was edged out in one of the closest races I know about in NC DECA history. I also share a story that I am familiar with of a young man who ran for a National DECA office and won.

            I help with administering the test and the interview process. A committee of about 8 students interviews the candidates to determine if they will be eligible to be on the final ballot for their office. It is a tough interview and the students on the committee give each candidate a fair evaluation of their performance. Seeing both the candidates and the committee members, who are all students, acting so maturely strengthens my faith in the future of our country.

            I came home riding on the clouds. I shared the evening and my special day with my wife. I had plans to retire early after such a full day. I took a moment to check my social media, only to discover that a former student had posted that he had said good-bye to his cousin. I became alarmed because I taught his cousin earlier in my career. I desperately looked through the posts for some confirmation about the meaning of his post. Sadly, I discovered that his cousin, my former student Chad Winebarger, had passed away. My heart was broken! I wrote a note expressing my sorrow to my former student.

            Chad and his cousin Ike were both in my class at Elkin High School. They were active members in my DECA Club and competed in competitions.  Chad, Ike, and four of their friends made it to the National Competition in Denver, Colorado. My wife and I chaperoned these six guys on one of the best trips I have ever taken.

            The six guys pulled a number of great pranks on my wife and me. They gave us memories for a lifetime. They were the most respectful & polite group of guys, who kept us laughing the whole trip. They all won proficiencies at the National competition.

            Chad was a tennis star in high school who continued his winning streak in college. He was a smart and respectful young man. He went on to become an attorney in Charlotte, fighting for people who had been hurt on their jobs. He was a young man of strong moral character. He leaves behind a wife, two children, a loving family, and at least one proud teacher.

            My supervisor asked me if I would do the presentation I mentioned earlier for our evening precollege students. I hit on two things heavily: character and kindness. When we consider our legacy and how people will remember us, people will remember how we treated them. People will remember the way we acted and our behavior. They will remember if our words were kind and filled with compassion and understanding. People never forget those who are kind and generous. Generosity can include our money, our kind choice of words, our time, our attention, which includes listening, and our warm smile.

            I want to encourage you to live each day as if it were your last. Treat people in your life with love and dignity. Make sure your family and friends know how much you love and appreciate them. Remember that kindness is worth more than money. I want to be remembered as someone who cared about the people in my life and that people knew that I was there for them. If the world had more Chad Winebargers, more DECA State officers, more people who were filled with love and kindness it would be a wonderful world. Rest in peace, Chad.

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

Reading Old Reading New

by   March 7, 2025 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

When younger, I never paused long enough to re-read a book because, charged by my youthful ignorance, I felt the need to rush on in an attempt to learn as much as possible. After all, as a child from the Mill Hills of North Carolina, I was a late starter and felt a strong need to catch up;  but recently I decided, for some unknown reason,  to re-visit some of my earlier, favorite reads. The first one that I removed from my library shelf holding special books was, All the Strange Hours, The Excavation of a Life, the autobiography of Loren Eiseley.  I was not disappointed in my re-reading and found much that I had forgotten and late in the book I read  Eiseley’s words that caused me to feel better about my decision. He writes in Chapter 23, The Coming of the Giant Wasps, “I  was getting old enough to want to rethink what I had learned when I was younger,” and “I have come to believe that in the world there is nothing to explain the world.” Perhaps those words resonate because they are late in the book, as I write, but nevertheless, I felt a bit of validation, and no less from such an intellect.

Having finished Eiseley’s great book, I must choose my next re-discovery. The  paperback copy of Parallel Lives, Phyllis Rose’s grand examination of five Victorian marriages draws my attention, and I note that this copy is one purchased to replace the fine hardback that has gone the way of several books-given away or loaned to a forgetful friend. It carries no marks of mine, so it sits, waiting to be read as a new copy and studied.

However, because a sister and dear friend are engulfed in their own choice—how to live as they fight their personal cancers- I wonder if I should explore once more a well-worn hard back, Intoxicated by my Illness, which was published two years after the death of its author, Anatole Broyard. I thumb through the copy, seeing my margin tics and underlining and wonder if examining Broyard’s words will enable me better help my sister and friend? I think it may when I read this un-marked sentence of Broyard: “The important thing is the patient, not the treatment.” I may not re-read the book just now, but I’ll remember his wisdom as I try to form feeble words for her and him as poison cocktails are pumped into their bodies.

While Broyard writes of life and its shared end, Patrick Lane in What the Stones Remember, writes in this memoir how he, at the age of sixty,  spent his first sober year in his British Columbia garden. It would be easy to write that Lane’s garden is simply metaphor, but he writes, “My garden is a living place, not just a showroom for flowers and plants.” His memoir offers a poet’s prose examining life and how it should be lived. A good re-read for sure.

Yet across the room are two shelves from which several books, fiction and non-fiction, call. One that I used to teach to high school juniors and seniors is A Gathering of Old Men, by Ernest Gaines. The novel recounts the story of a sheriff who, upon arriving at the murder of a white farmer at his father’s Louisiana sugar plantation, encounters a young white girl, over a dozen old, Black men holding ancient shotguns, and a murder to solve. Over the course of the novel the reader hears the story of each of those old men that explains why he is the one who shot the young overseer. In an era when White Privilege is denied, it seems like a good time to re-visit Gaines’ searing story.

Not wanting to seem like a literary prize that publishes a long or short list, I will cease my ramble around my modest shelves. However, this musing has helped my decision. Eiseley gives good advice, and I will heed his words. I will, for the first time in my reading life, read two books simultaneously—one an old favorite and a few ones that are unexplored. Well, simultaneously is not quite correct: I will spend most of my time with the favorites and sprinkle in the new ones. After all, Eiseley warns that no explanation is to be found here, but I will enjoy the journey into what Rufus Jones describes as “the awe and the wonder of the beyond.”

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