So Simple, A Child Can Get It

by   August 25, 2024 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Believe it or not, there was a time when the education system’s goal was to mold its students into contributing members of society. Much of the focus was on developing good moral citizens. Early primers combined proverbs and other Bible passages with fables, ancient stories, poems, and songs. As a homeschooling mom, I still look to teach virtues to my children. While they are not immune from being consumer-driven like many of us today, my hope and prayer is to give them a buffet of good teachings to remind them of their purpose – to glorify their Creator while also caring for others. 

I recently found a used copy of the thick volume of The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett while shopping at Goldberry Books in Concord. This particular copy came out before I completed high school (no, I won’t say when that was), but as I am reading aloud from it daily, the lessons are still relevant. Consider this lovely poem on compassion by M. Bentham-Edwards:

A Child’s Prayer

God make my life a little light,

   Wishing the world to glow; 

A tiny flame that burneth bright

   Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower,

   That giveth joy to all,

Content to bloom in native bower, 

   Although its place be small.

God make my life a little song,

   That comforters the sad;

That helpeth others to be strong,

   And makes the singer glad.

God make my life a little staff,

   Whereon the weak may rest,

That so what health and strength I have

   May serve my neighbors best. 

As we pondered this poem together, even my 9-year-old could see something deeper for us as a Christian family. Jesus is our light, and we should be His light to others. Like a flower, He puts us in places to share His joy. When others are going through hard times, even if we are as well, we can carry a song and bring encouragement. If someone is humble enough to admit they are weak, or if we can see that they are in need, we can both provide refreshment and point them to a Sustainer (God) who can do even more than we are able.

As you send off your little lights, flowers, songs, and staffs into the school year, read them this poem to remind them to contribute more than they consume in a relationship and their community. Maybe it’s a good time for those of us in the school of life to read it to ourselves as well.

Ashlie Miller homeschools 4 of her 5 children in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Open Doors

by   August 24, 2024 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            How many of you struggle with left and right? It has always been a challenge for me. If you tell me to turn right, there is a reflexive action that will happen. My fingers will move to pick up an imaginary pen. I am right-handed and I will pick up the imaginary pen with my right hand. 

            When it comes to following directions, I am proficient. I have friends who struggle to get from place to place. If I go someplace one time, I can pretty much get there again. My best friend lived out in the middle of nowhere that required many turns on twisty roads, but I was always able to find my way there.

            Google Maps helps us find our way. If I am going someplace new, I will look at Google Maps and then bring up street view so I can see what corners and turns look like in real life. I am a very visual person and these aids can make a big difference.

            Doors can pose the same challenge as directions: “Should I go through that open door?” Open doors are inviting, but they are not always inviting us through them. Many people keep their doors open on a nice, sunny day, but that does not mean it’s an invitation to enter. Doors in many ways represent choices that we have to make in life. Do we go through the door, take advantage of the opportunity, or do we walk past the door?

            I think that many people believe that when God opens a door for us it will mean we are heading down easy street. They believe that everything is going to work well and that there will be no problems. While I firmly believe that when God opens a door for us it is intended as a blessing, I also believe that open doors often equate to growth opportunities. The blessing comes with challenges that will grow our faith and trust in God. An open door means that God wants to bring us into a deeper, more mature relationship with Him.

            An open door often means that God is giving us an opportunity to develop skills and abilities that He sees in us. That implies that we will have to work hard and push ourselves in order to grow into the opportunity. As we grow and improve our skills and abilities we will discover the many blessings God intended for us.

            I ran the cooperative education program for most of my career. I placed students on jobs and had a training plan for their growth and development as student workers. Maybe it is because of this background that I firmly believe that God has a training plan for us. He wants to develop our character. He wants us to know we can trust Him. He wants our faith muscles to grow strong.

            Think about King David’s training plan. He fought the lion and bear long before he defeated Goliath. After Samuel anointed him as king, his father sent him back to watch the sheep. He served King Saul by playing music for him. He also served Saul as a military leader long before he was in charge of the entire military. Some of David’s earliest followers were thieves, thugs, and the rejects of society, who he trained to become his mighty men. All of these combined to train David into a great king.

            If God has opened a door for you then I want to encourage you to be strong and courageous as you walk through that door of opportunity. This door does not lead to easy street. God is going to require you to step up into this opportunity, to grow, to mature, to build skills and hidden abilities, to overcome, and to work really hard. You will have to depend on God and build those faith muscles. But I firmly believe that God has hidden some wonderful blessings for you along the way. He sees great things in your future, but some of those things are going to require you give it all you’ve got. I believe you can do it. Take God’s hand and head on through that door, that opportunity, God has for you.

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

Dean, David, Jimmy, & Coach

by   August 23, 2024 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

A local writer shared a story recently about his first year of playing organized football. He writes how miserable his first game as a 7th grader was and that the coach kept him after practice to make him do extra drills as punishment because he failed to successfully block an opponent. As if that were not enough, two teammates who played in the backfield were waiting for him and used their superior physical powers to demonstrate what it felt like when tackled by the opponent he kept missing to block. And finally, at the entrance of the locker room stood two hefty linemen to teach him one more lesson. However, the writer went on to explain how he used those experiences for life lessons on getting along with people and being a team player. I am glad he manages to gauge the experience as he does.

However, I see so much wrong with the tale he shared. In no words does he write of his coach or teammates taking the time to teach him how to correct what he was doing wrong. He was just plummeted for his mistakes in blocking. The coach and players seem to be first-class bullies in my opinion.

When I was a 10th grader (high school was 10-12 grades), I so  wanted to play football. One hot, August practice of 1961 the coach had be line up to catch punts. The  first one that came  to me somehow landed in my arms and as the rumbling herd approached me I threw the ball to a coach. I was then moved to the sideline to watch. Later, as we were all taking showers, a senior named Dale yelled at me in a mocking tone, “There’s I don’t want the ball Barbee.” No soap or water could remove that stinging stain. Somehow I remained on the team only managing to hold blocking dummies during practices.

That winter I joined the wrestling team and was the 13th member of a team of twelve varsity wrestlers. I wrestled some “preliminary” matches and won some but lost many. Twelve wrestlers received varsity letters; I got the experience.

But there was the baseball team in the spring. In tryouts I was in the batter’s box taking my swings to show the coach that I could hit. I  kept trying to hit the ball, but it kept being somewhere my bat was not. Then Jimmy the varsity catcher said, “Don’t try so hard.” What kid would not follow the words of a varsity player, but it was to no avail, and I was cut from the team.

The next year, my 11th grade year, I knew my career as a football player was suspect and after one of the summer scrimmages I was one of a small group cut from the team. But an assistant coach, Bob Mauldin, told me as I was turning in my gear that he needed me on the wrestling team. Because of the Cuban Missile Crisis the year before he had been away on duty, but this year he was back. And he “needed me.”

Winter came and so did wrestling season. But by then I was madly in love with a  girl and at an early practice I told the team captain David that I was quitting the team to get a job for money to woo my new love. Like Coach Mauldin earlier that school year, David talked with me telling me how much the team needed me. Those words again!

The writer’s story last week  brought these memories back. My experience was not, fortunately, like his except for Dale, the older player who ridiculed me instead of helping me. I fear that too many older players are like Dale, but I am so glad that Jimmy the catcher, Coach Mauldin, and David our  team captain were kind. I did not play on the baseball team as I said, but I still hear Jimmy’s words of encouragement, not scorn. Coach Mauldin and David needed me, so I stayed  and as Robert Frost writes, “ And that has made all the difference.”

God’s Timing

by   August 21, 2024 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

  • So often we are in a hurry for God to do things and answer our prayer, but God has a certain time.
  • God is timeless and omni present.  We feel the pressure of every second ticking by, but let us trust Him that His timing is always perfect.
  • God is patient and wants us all to be saved and not anyone lost. 

Prayer:  Lord I yield to Your timing and Your purpose and Your plan. Forgive me Lord for being in a hurry in anyway.  Help me to trust You for Your timing and not be stressed in any way.  I yield to You and I praise Your blessed name today.  Amen.  
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

A Pair of Shoes

by   August 20, 2024 with No Comments

I can’t imagine what it must be like to be homeless. I have been approached by the professional beggars. Many I do not help, some I have, but this story will grab your attention. Could you help a homeless person in this way? Here is Steve Hartman’s story of a bus driver who goes above and beyond to help a homeless stranger… Enjoy!

It’s Our Friendiversary!

by   August 20, 2024 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

On July 4, 2015 – a little over four years ago -I remember standing on a balcony overlooking the ocean – well, sort of overlooking the ocean – if I leaned forward and peeked between the two buildings across the street and squinted a bit.  Fireworks were scheduled for later that day, obviously because it would be the anniversary date of my first column, The Children, published in the Salisbury Post.

Not only my column, but my picture was there, as well. Yes, one day I had been asked to send in a headshot for them to use. I felt like a professional.

It was good to get away on that beach trip, although I have learned that vacation does not free one’s mind from the struggles and issues in life. Only Jesus can do that.

But, on that day, I remember being so excited, standing on that balcony thinking about my column being in print. Yes, I was a columnist!

After it was published, I was hooked.

Sharing my heart with you – my readers – over and over – week after week – is amazing!

I have written about love, life, addiction, prison,  fruit, brokenness, school, darkness, heartburn, the pledge, dessert, encouragement, death, holidays, emotions, popcorn, refrigerators, family, armor, beauty, waiting rooms, but God. And… those are just a few of my columns.

I feel like I know you personally. Isn’t that strange? Most of you I don’t, but somehow through the power of words, I do.

As I sit with my laptop, my Bible, my pencil, my notebook – and if it’s early morning – a cup of coffee – I often pray, “Lord, I know You gave me these words for someone. May they be  encouraged by them.”

You – my readers –  are always in my thoughts as I write – and sharing with you strengthens – and sometimes – heals – my heart.

I pray for my readers every day – all of you. And for those who have sent requests through email or have told me in person, I have not forgotten.

For you all, I am so thankful. I love meeting you. I love reading your emails. I love your encouragement. I love to encourage you.

An email I received this week says it best:

When the newspaper arrives, I sit down with it and a cup of coffee, and am ready to see what my friend has to say about life and living. We may have never met, but reading your column makes me feel that we are friends.

Isn’t that what friends are for? Going through life together? Sharing our hearts? Going through the good – and the bad – together?  Solomon said in Proverbs 25:11 that words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 

Words from a friend can make a world of difference – thank you for your words to me – and it is my prayer that my words to you be fitly spoken.

Most of you, I do not know. We are yet to meet. But I call you friend.

*If you see me, tell me who you are. I’ll be the one that looks 4 years older than my headshot.

*And, for those who watch my video, you will probably recognize me immediately when you see me!

*See you next week, my friends!

*Happy 4th Friendiversary to us!

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