Completely a Gift

by   September 20, 2023 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–

  • Salvation – a total gift!  Never deserved.
  • It is by faith that we are saved, not by any effort by our own parts.  It is all a gift from God.
  • We ought to never have to work for our salvation, but receive it with great joy as a gift.

Prayer:  Father how I rejoice in this wonderful salvation and everyday I give thanks.  Help me to share this wonderful message on a daily basis and also to be reminded of Your kindness and salvation towards me.  Amen.
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

The Eyebrow Situation

by   September 19, 2023 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

One of our favorite TV personalities made a remark that caused us to laugh. As the show continued David tipped his head and asked. “What’s goin’ on with her eyebrows?” I looked at him and wondered when he started noticing such things. Turning back to the pretty lady I realized he was right. Her brows were perfectly matched and a bit wider than normal. “Why would she do that?” he asked again. It was almost as if they’d been carefully colored in. The fact that I engaged in this conversation gives you a glimpse into our exciting life.


“Well… when I lost my hair during chemo, I was told there was a stencil I could get to draw in perfect eyebrows. Maybe she got hold of something like that. Although I could never quite get mine to look right. I always came off looking angry. Or shocked.”


He pushed his hair back and raised his eyebrows looking surprised. “Like this?” he asked.


“Yep. Just like that only not as bushy.” I smiled at the man. “I guess I should have splurged on the stencil. I kept thinking I could do it myself. But at the time, eyebrows were the least of my problems. It’s funny how they never grew back.” He leaned forward between our matching* recliners and looked at me closer.


“Hmm. They’re there. They are just very light. I guess you could draw them on. Just remember, ‘Less is more.’ You don’t want to look like the TV lady. That’s just weird.” A small part of me was pleased that he liked what he saw when he looked at me and didn’t want me resembling a celebrity. At least that’s what I heard.


I pulled up a phone picture our youngest daughter had taken of us the day before. As I held it up for him to see, again he considered the eyebrow situation. “Maybe our eldest daughter could draw some on the picture. She’s techno-savvy.”
I looked at the photo we hoped to use later for a family thing. “Yep. She could do that. Back when she was in high school she had big eyebrows, like Brooke Shields. So pretty. If anyone has a good appreciation of eyebrows it would be Stephanie.”
He nodded and I wondered if we should be watching the Braves game instead. Surely none of those guys have stenciled eyebrows. If so they’d be melted off in the Georgia heat. A bit later I dug through my make-up for an eyebrow pencil. As I looked in the mirror I envisioned looking like Sela Ward or that gal that plays in Ant Man. Remembering David’s words I tried to use a light hand. Suddenly I recognized the image in the mirror. It was Mr. Potato Head… using his angry eyes. Sela Ward was nowhere. But I did look expressive. So there was that.


A hot washcloth and a few scrubs later I came to a conclusion. Maybe I’ll be just fine without eyebrows. No more surprised looks or angry eyes. This way I can do what comes natural. Maybe keep people guessing with my blank look. I plan to hold onto my eyebrow pencil though. Considering our life, my confused look will surely come in handy in the future.


*Disclaimer: The mentioning of matching recliners is not intended to sound highfalutin. They DO match because his is brown and mine is orange and blue and brown paisley. However, they were not bought as a set. We are not that sophisticated.
Obviously.

Be Quiet

by   September 18, 2023 with No Comments

Being quiet can be our greatest weapon.

Seems like it should be easy. But… it is always a work in progress.

Teachers have more effective strategies now, but during my earlier years in the classroom, an often used strategy was to give students ‘the look’ followed by the words, “Be quiet.”

I am fairly certain God sometimes gives me ‘the look’ and I’m 100% certain He tells me to be quiet.

Quiet can be defined as a place, time, or situation without much noise, activity, disturbance, or interruption. Finding quiet is easier said than done.

Here’s a way to start:

**Be quiet AND listen. Quiet the mind and the soul will speak. Find private moments in our day – early morning, late night, taking walks, in the yard, on the porch, places in nature… whatever works for you.

I have two favorite quiet spots for listening time. One is early wake up, while the family sleeps. Early mornings are great! The other is alone car time. I can be at home all day trying to figure something out, but when I get in the car to run an errand, it seems that God always pops a much needed idea right into my head.

**Be quiet WHEN we listen. The quieter we are, the more we will hear. Speak only when we have something to say, not because we have to say something. We tend to regret what we say more often than we regret what we don’t say. I like this quote: A wise man once said… nothing.

The and and the when make a difference. The and is about letting God speak. The when is about letting others speak.

Talk less? Listen more? Why not?

Seek it.

Savor it.

Lamentations 3:26 says that it is good that we both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

*Quiet wait is worth it.

1 Peter 3:4 says that a quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God.

*Quiet spirit is valuable.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 says that it is better to have a handful of quietness than both hands full of travail and vexation of spirit.

*Quiet handful is better.

In case your New Year’s Resolution has fallen by the wayside like mine, let’s try this Mid-Year’s Resolution: I will have a quiet wait, I will have a quiet spirit, and I will be a quiet handful.

Shh….

Overcoming Obstacles

by   September 17, 2023 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

As a teen and young adult, I babysat often. One of the boys I spent time with loved to build obstacle courses through the house – over, under, through, across, around. Challenges like these are fun when you are a child not so much when you are an adult. We see them as impediments and stumbling blocks – sometimes quite literally when our bare feet discover scattered Legos on the floor in the middle of the night!

In the life of a Christian believer, many hindrances can get in the way of doing the things God wants us to do, particularly for others. What obstructs the door of hospitality in our lives?

Anna began hosting within her home with little confidence. Social anxieties can be crippling and feed lies that speak into our hearts – “You are not enough” or “This event will not be impressive.” However, Anna puts faith in who God says she is, leans into what He is asking her to do, and trusts Him to take care of her limitations so that she does not have to rely on herself. She beautifully demonstrates a welcoming atmosphere and engages with each guest, even when there is a houseful, as I have witnessed.

While you, the host, may not be shy, there may be family members in your household who are introverted and can be overwhelmed by too much “peopling” – spending time with people. In Lizzy’s case, one child joins the group for the meal but then is welcome to enjoy the quiet of his room while others receive a dose of hospitality from his Mom. Lizzy still shares hospitality with the child as she takes note of his own needs and addresses and accommodates appropriately, but does not let that obstruct developing this trait in her home.

For some, like Ellie, the hurdle can be fear of lacking the gift of organization and pulling things together just so, though guests do not bear witness to that. The greatest lesson we can learn from our limitations is that simple is better than perfect. Consider that for yourself. When visiting another home, do we truly feel most welcome when everything is ideally in line, or do we feel more like family when flaws are present that we graciously overlook or maybe even embrace? The end goal of hospitality is not to impress but to welcome, include, and have opportunities to express care.

Then, there is the restriction of our personal calendars. Being intentional with hospitality will demand a ready, willing spirit and forethought. Wishful thinking and dreaming of a perfect time and setting can get stuck in a world of intentions. Sometimes, we have to grab life by the calendar, looking at our days, remembering our routines, and scheduling time to connect with others on a specific day. We must also cultivate a life of open hearts and homes to bring people into our routines. We may have to plan preparation or even recovery days if “peopling” drains us (introverts, I’m talking to you…er…us). We may have to push through exhaustion. Still, the end result – sharing the Light of Jesus through personal connection and welcoming others into outlives – is worth it!

What could happen if we looked at our gloriously busy fall and winter seasons ahead of us and planned to include others in our homes? What could change for them, us, our communities, and beyond?

Ashlie Miller navigates literal and figurative obstacles regularly in pursuit of hospitality in her home in Concord. You may contact her at ashliemiller.com.

Remembering Unity

by   September 16, 2023 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Remembering Unity

            Today, as I sit at my computer, it is September 11th. Every reader who is over 30 will remember what they were doing on that day in 2001. We all remember how we first heard the news. We all remember the disbelief. We all remember how the news did not stop for several days. We had to turn it off at some point to allow our minds to rest.

            Every year I have talked with my students about what they experienced. I ask how they felt as they watched the events of that tragic day. I always tell my story and what I experienced. They listen patiently and have always treated the stories and experiences with respect.
            I have also told my students my sister’s story. She was flying back from England and her plane was diverted to Gander, Canada. This little town opened their hearts and homes to people from all over the world while we waited for planes to fly again. If you have never heard or read about it, take some time and research what the little town of Gander did on that terrible day. The story will lift your heart and spirit.

            Recently, I have reflected quite a bit about the days following 9/11. I remember driving to and from work noticing there were no plane trails in the sky. There were no planes flying over our country. I also remember seeing the American flag flying everywhere. People had them in front of their homes and businesses had them flying or displayed in front.

            One of the things I especially remember in the days following 9/11 was the unity in our country. We were Americans and that spirit that unites us rose up in such a powerful and profound way. I imagined it was the same thing that our country felt during the World Wars. People came together. We didn’t see the differences. It didn’t matter which political party you were in, we were Americans.

            Americans always pull together to help in times of need. When Americans put their mind to accomplish something, everything is possible. Nothing is impossible. After 9/11, everyone wanted to do their part to help those in need. Firefighters, EMS workers, and rescue workers were our heroes. People were voluntarily signing up to join the military. We, as a country, wanted to fight for our honor and integrity. We stood shoulder to shoulder and were willing to do whatever it took to recover from that tragic day.

            We were unified, the United States of America! United! Nothing could separate us. Yet…here we are twenty-plus years later living in a very divided country. Politicians lead the way in dividing us into two camps. The major media no longer deliver unbiased news but their own flavor of commentary on the events of the day. Social media tracks the things we like to see and only delivers information that fits with our point of view.

            We are living in a very fractured country. Even in our churches, we are divided. I do believe that many churches have unity within their own walls, but there are others that are divided. Certainly there are divisions between churches. If a church down the street is struggling or has been through a tragic event, other local churches rarely step up to help. Shouldn’t other local churches, other brothers and sisters in Christ, be there to help in times of need?

            I believe that we as THE CHURCH need to demonstrate unity to our country. We can stand up and demonstrate to the world through love, kindness, generosity, caring, and being there for each other how unity of the spirit looks. I believe we can turn the tide on division and help heal the brokenness in our country. I believe when we become shining examples of love and unity we will change our communities and the world around us.

            I want to encourage you to pray for the unity of THE CHURCH. Pray that we become united in heart, mind, and spirit. Our nation and the church need a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. God can heal our differences and restore our unity. God can help us find ways to help our neighbors whether they are families or churches. When any kind of tragedy strikes Americans come together. I hope THE CHURCH can come together without a tragedy to move us and develop a unity that is infectious. I pray that the unity will exemplify the love in our hearts, the compassion through our actions, and a kindness that comes from the heart of God. Father, help us to love and live in unity.

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

Our Dogs

by   September 15, 2023 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

Our dogs– Nolan the Shenandoah Honey hound and Mickey and Callie the beagles, have gotten serious about treeing the squirrels that come into their acre of yard to raid the bird feeders. I encourage them and have offered bounty for any caught raider of the bird feeders. It is apparent that the female, Callie, is more serious about this venture. She sits under the hackberry trees, patient as a sphinx, waiting for a raider of seeds to venture forth. Her pack mates are content to wander about the yard, or sleep in a comfortable place, as she does the work. However, as soon as her distinctive call of alarm rolls over their acre, they both arrive quickly to help in the making of noise. Fortunately, or not, depending if you are a tree rodent or the feeder of birds, none have been caught as yet,  but several have been treed in one of the hackberry trees or adjoining maples. Like all well-bred hunting dogs, Nolan, Mickey, and Callie bay deeply, make a big fuss while looking up the trees, and jump higher than either Mary Ann or I thought they could. All of this goes on as I keep hoping for some payment for the gluttonous consumption of my sun flower seeds.

So, it was no surprise on  a past summer night,  that we had a difficult time getting the dogs to come in at dusk. They had treed one of the thieving tree rodents and were running from maple to hackberry to maple, all the time barking, baying, jumping, and getting more and more excited by their self-imposed frenzy.  After much calling and even threating, the males came in through the dog door, but only after Mary Ann went out with dog treats. Now all that was left was Callie, the little female who was sitting under one of the trees looking up as far as her small bent neck would allow. MaryAnn went out and tried to catch her by the collar, but each time Mary Ann got near, Callie would bounce away and sit under another tree. Slowly the summer light dimmed, and soon Mary Ann was chasing not only the beagle, but the darkness. Mary Ann came in exasperated, and in my sternest, male voice, I said, “Let

her sleep outside. She’s a dog.” Yet, no sooner had I uttered these empty words, than I was outside in the summer darkness trying to coax the little beagle to come inside. I cooed, I promised, I cursed, but Callie was intent on the thief in the tree. While sitting under the trees talking softly to her,  I saw on the corner of my vision what I thought was a low flying airplane or some other skyward object, coming over Short Mountain.  Startled  by the brightness of the unknown light, I turned to look directly at a small, bright spot of reddish-orange appearing to sit on  the mountain as it was crossing over it. I called out to Mary Ann. She, frightened that I had fallen out of my wheelchair or maybe something worse, came running to my side. I pointed to the spot of flame on the mountain and said, “Look.”

Forgetting the little female huntress, the squirrels, the lost sunflower seeds, the frustration, we watched with wonder as the August moon rose in full splendor over Massanutten Mountain, slowly flooding the Valley with sun-like light.   Watching  that moon-rise in the warm, summer night, everything else became insignificant and small as the flame-filled moon took dominion over the Mountain, the Valley, and us. Even Callie watched with us. Afterwards, we three went in to bed, privileged and content.   To have seen such a miracle of His work.

September Running News

by   September 14, 2023 with No Comments

By David Freeze

I am still working to get caught up with various things following my bike ride and we’ll spend a few minutes on them in this column. It is great to be home, another wonderful cycling adventure complete and the book underway.

Last Saturday, Catawba College Cross Country hosted the Fleet Invitational at Salisbury Community Park. Both the Catawba men’s and women’s teams had dominating performances with the top five women and top 10 men leading the field. The women were led by Madi Clay from Morganton who posted 18 minutes and 24.8 seconds for the 5K as the top five women garnered a perfect score of 15. Lowest scores win in cross country.

The men took the top 10 spots, all within 52 seconds. Sophomore Tanner Smith took first place in the 8K with a time of 26 minutes, 28.4 seconds. The Catawba men also had a perfect score of 15 on the very pleasant, sunny morning.

Jason Bryan, Catawba cross country coach, said, “We are very excited about both the men’s and women’s teams this year and the talent that this team has. We have never had the depth on both sides like we have this season and it showed at our first meet. We have a lot of work still to do in order to reach our team goals, but these students are ready to get after it each week and continue to build this program into one of the best in the Southeast! Our women’s team will have to contend with some very talented programs within our conference and region that have been good for a while. In order to have a chance to win against those teams, we will need to stay healthy and hungry. On the men’s side, we have one of the best teams in the country in our conference in Wingate (National Runner-up last season). In order to continue to build the men’s team into a perennial NCAA qualifier, the culture of team first will be most important. We hope to get both teams to the NCAA Championship meet in Joplin, Missouri, on Nov. 18 — and have fun along the way!”

One of the most interesting events in Rowan County is coming up next weekend. The Race to the River 5K will take off from Spencer at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, and run down Salisbury Avenue to the Yadkin River Park and the Wilcox Bridge. The 5K proceeds go to Rowan Creek Week. In addition, there is quality entertainment scheduled at the new Yadkin Park after the race. The new 5K course is very fast, with the last two miles a steady downhill to the river. All abilities of runners and walkers are encouraged to participate, with great shirts, awards and refreshments at the completion. There is also a fun run for kids, 12 and under.

Creek Week is a week-long celebration of local waters throughout North Carolina. This year, Rowan Creek Week will be Sept. 16-23. In conjunction with multiple organizations and local municipal departments, Creek Week offers recreational, educational, and volunteer opportunities to allow everyone to enjoy and contribute to healthy waters in our area.

Join the Pedal Factory for a bike ride from downtown Salisbury to Spencer (Leg 1) and/or from Spencer to the Yadkin River Park (Leg 2). Leg 1 departs The Pedal Factory bike shop (311 E Council St., Salisbury) at 2 p.m. Leg 2 departs Spencer Town Hall (460 S. Salisbury Avenue, Spencer) in Park Plaza at 2:45 p.m. Participants must BYO bikes and helmets, or rentals are available. Advance signup is required. For more information, contact the Pedal Factory at 704-870-7145.

Join Row Co River Adventures for a guided group sunset paddle along the Yadkin River. The group will meet and launch at the York Hill Boat Access at Yadkin River Park at 6 p.m. The approximate trip is a one-hour, easy paddle. Row Co River Adventures will be providing kayak rentals for the event. Participants can rent a single or double kayak for a nominal fee. Have your own equipment? Join us at no cost. Advance signup is required. To book a rental please contact Nicky at Row Co River Adventures at 704-433-1066 or email rowco@rowcoriveradventures.com.

To keep our waterways clean, the Town of Spencer, Spencer Police Department, Rowan County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Rowan County Public Health will be hosting a Medication Take-Back event for citizens to dispose of unused or expired medications from 1-2:30 p.m. at Spencer Town Hall (460 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer). The 5K and fun run registration will be held at the same location from 1:30-2:45 p.m.

Look for more information on the Race to the River and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org or call 704-310-6741.

Nothing…nothing

by   September 13, 2023 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

  • When facing obstacles and there seems no way out, God has a way.
  • No matter how hard it is or how hard it seems, God is genuinely able, regardless of how frustrated we might feel.
  • We can always turn to Him, depend upon Him, expect Him to make a way when we ask.

Prayer:  Hallelujah!  I am so grateful that there is nothing to hard for You that I can ask You anything. I turn to You today to make my request known to You and I have an expectancy that You will do miracles for me.  Amen.
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Back in the Day

by   September 12, 2023 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

My daddy turns ninety this year. To say he’s been through some things is quite the understatement. I love it when he talks about growing up. Today when we visited by phone he mentioned that he had loved playing football in school. This was news to me and I could not imagine. As an adult he’s always been a short wiry fellow; strong as an ox and as smart as anyone I’ve ever met. But football? I guess he heard my doubts as he went on to explain. “I’m small now and was probably shorter then, but I could run. Everybody said I was fast. Of course all us Pittman boys were fast.” I laughed and said, “You were probably trying to stay two steps ahead of grandpaw.” He paused at the thought and added. ” Yep, some other people too.” I wondered what he meant. I know he and some of his brothers had been caught swimming in the old Cannon Mills cement pond at night on several occasions. I think they received a free escort home by the cops at some point. Since both his parents worked in the cotton mill, that probably ended those late night shenanigans. But who knows? I do know daddy has always loved to swim. However he did not get to play football because it fell to him to milk the family cow. With a family having twelve kids it was a necessity. Apparently the milking could not wait til after football practice. Daddy went on to say that growing up back then was not the same as how kids grow up today. I smiled at another giant understatement.


That lead me to mention the power outage and how hot it was in our house. “I guess I’m just spoiled. I can’t imaging how folks used to live without air conditioning.” He paused to think for a minute. “Yep, I slept with my head on the windowsill many a night, just begging for a breeze. And flies were awful. Nowadays if we get a fly in the house it’s unusual. Back in the day they were everywhere. Did you ever see those yellow strips of flypaper? Everybody had those hangin’ in the doorways. Flies were so much worse back then. They came in swarms. Of course everybody had an outhouse in their backyard.” I shuddered at the thought. “And a cow,” I added.


“Yep… that didn’t help much either.” He paused and thought for a while. I waited and hoped he’d tell me more. But I was careful not to ask because if daddy thinks you’re trying to get him to talk about the past he shuts down. Inside I knew this was a rare visit. I know the man won’t live forever. Eventually he began talking again. I listened as he recalled a time when he was around eight years old. As he walked down the dirt road past houses in his neighborhood, he kept hearing mournful crying. He had no idea what all the sadness was about. Later he found out Pearl Harbor had been bombed. My soul grieved at the thought of his little boy heart. How terribly sad to live through such a horrible time. I also knew he would grow up to join the Navy during the Korean war. In the past when we’ve asked about those years in uniform he’d just shrug and say, “Aw, I didn’t really do anything. Sailed around the world a couple times. Swam in a lot of places I weren’t supposed to. Married your mama one Labor Day weekend. The brass revoked my shore leave at the last minute and I had to go AWOL to meet up with her. Spent two weeks with your mama. Did hard time for ninety days once I got back. But it was worth it.”


I can’t imagine ninety days of hard labor in the confines of an aircraft carrier. I knew from stories past that his sentence started in September of 1953 while his ship was docked in Jacksonville, Florida. The first time he had shore leave was in January the next year. By then they were in the Philippines.


Ninety years. He and mama raised three daughters. Mama passed away at only 72; a very young 72. We miss her still. But daddy! Still here and sharp enough to talk about “back in the day.” When I start to worry about our current times it helps to recall just a few of the things my daddy lived through. In fact I feel spoiled completely rotten. Praise God my life does not include an outhouse or yellow fly paper.

Kindness on Sept 11th

by   September 11, 2023 with No Comments

Today is a tough day if you are old enough to remember what happened on 9/11. While there are many stories I could post today, I thought we could change things for the better if we thought of ways to share kindness today. If we did, maybe 9/11 could be a day to do kind things for others. Here is a story to inspire you…. by Steve Hartman….

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