Steve Harvey explains that we have to ask God, believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, and THEN we have to WORK! It takes hard work… His work… Listen and let Steve explain it to you….
By David Freeze
Stephens is First Ever National Champ at Catawba College
Miles Stephens, a senior from Bradenton, Florida, became the first national champion, either team or individual, in any sport at Catawba College. On March 14th. he won the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.76 seconds in the Division ll Indoor Meet at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Catawba Track and Cross-Country Coach Jason Bryan said, “Miles was ranked 10th going into the meet and had only finished fourth at the SAC Conference Meet two weeks prior to this performance. This shows just how strong our conference is, yet Miles’ time was the eighth fastest in Dll history. Cheerleading did win a national meet back in 2000, but it was an unofficial and non-sanctioned meet.”
Stephens said, “Going into the competition I knew I had an opportunity to win based off my progression and training the past few weeks. Despite the results of our conference championship, I knew I could still win on the biggest stage of the season no matter what had happened previously. After advancing through the prelims with the third best time, I knew I could run much faster in the final. Ultimately, the next day all I needed to do was execute by trusting in my body and my coach to finish what I set out to do. After winning my heat, I knew I had to wait for the finishing times from the second heat to see whether I won overall, so I couldn’t celebrate too much yet. I was excited with the time that I ran! Finally, after seeing the second heat wasn’t as fast and that my time had won, I was ecstatic and didn’t know what to think! It didn’t really hit me for a couple days that I had won a national championship, but it got me even more excited for our outdoor season and so on. Going into this year, I didn’t have the same expectations that I do now for myself. I’m excited to continue competing for Catawba college, my coaches, and my teammates.”
Stephens credits his mom as his main support person and knows he wouldn’t be where he is now without her. Stephens started running track as a senior in high school at Braden River High School after playing soccer earlier.
Stephens added, “The greatest takeaway from my experiences at Catawba is that everything happens for a reason. I ended up at Catawba after Coach Bryan took notice of me at the Last Chance Track Meet before the 2024 Outdoor National Championship. After my last race, I entered the portal, and he reached out to me almost immediately to let me know more about Catawba and the program. After going on visits and talking to several schools, I ended up going with Catawba for both academic and athletic reasons. I’ve enjoyed my experience so far at Catawba, even through the adversity and change I had to experience.”
The sprint coach that Stephens was training under ended up leaving during his first semester at Catawba. Going into his first competition, Stephens didn’t know what to expect. He said, “In that first race, I ran the #1 time in the country in the 60 meter and set a personal best and school record, which helped me know I was on the right path and that coming to Catawba was worth it. I’ve learned at Catawba that there are several ups and downs in a journey towards my goal, but ultimately, anything is possible. I’m glad to be able to give back to the coaches, teammates, and program that helped lift me up and give me this opportunity to compete on the biggest stage and win our school’s first national championship.”
Stephens plans to graduate this spring after completing his bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and afterwards, he would like to work here in North Carolina. Stephens added, “It would be a luxury to run after college and continue competing, but I also want to give back to my mom and also venture into the next path in my life outside of track. I’d like to work in either banking or financial management. If I could, I would also be interested in coaching youth, not only as a coach but as someone who can share similar experiences in this world that’s changing so fast.”
Our next local event is the West Rowan Bible Teachers 5K at Cleveland on April 18th. Look for this and other events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
By Lynna Clark
He looked through the woods as we drove. “Easter comes early this year. I wonder if the dogwoods will be ready?”
Like him I hoped so. They are such a beautiful picture of grace.
Have you noticed how much Jesus loved visuals? As He spoke of worry, He pointed to wildflowers. Instead of just saying that God would provide, He referred to the birds. I bet it gave Him much pleasure to create the dogwood.
Look at this stunning visual of His sacrifice. Each cross shaped blossom displays blood stained “wounds.” Each center exhibits a “crown of thorns” as if the very heart of God shouts, “This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!”
Let’s fall to our knees and worship this God Who draws us to Himself.
All heaven and nature point to Him.
How can we do less?
“For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” -2Corinthians5:21
“O God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.“
Praise God for His beautiful Son!
Steve Hartman tells the story of a school that had compassion on a deaf student. It took one friend and it took off. We can all learn a valuable lesson from this one little boy who changed….everything! ENJOY!!!
Max Lucado shares a difficult story about forgiveness. We all need it… We have all messed up…. Max tells us how to find it… Listen… Learn…. Thanks Max!
I gave the sermon on Palm Sunday and it was about developing your quiet time. I present a simple plan that anyone can follow to develop a deeper relationship with God. Okay… I will confess that my pastor gave me the plan to share, and I firmly believe it is a great and simple plan. Listen and enjoy!
By Ashlie Miller
What a week. If you follow Holy Week readings and mark the days, the end of the past week was heavy. Judas, one of the 12, has betrayed Jesus by a very intimate sign. When Jesus asks those coming for Him whom they seek, and they say “Jesus of Nazareth,”He replies, “I am He.” He discloses His identity to the soldiers, religious officers, and Pharisees, who respond by falling, certainly not in worship, but perhaps in fear or overwhelmed by His power (though they do not recognize Him as God). Yet, all of them proceed after this powerful display with business as usual.
Then, Peter, slices off the ear of Malchus (servant of the high priest), nearly missing his neck, possibly. Jesus heals him instantly. Pilate later questions truth, not realizing he is questioning the Person of Truth (Jesus Christ). So many Divine encounters, yet we have no record that the nameless soldiers who fell down at Jesus’ power, nor Malchus, who had a direct encounter, nor Pilate questioning and having the Answer before him, submitted to Jesus.
This wasn’t new, even for God’s people. One could choose most any Old Testament book and find similar intimate encounters with God that were ignored, misunderstood, disobeyed, or rejected – pick a negative response.
Today, many remain in doubt, or worse, disbelief. You have likely heard or said yourself, “If I had an unmistakable encounter with God, then I would change.” But, deep down, don’t we know better? History and Scripture tell us otherwise. What a dangerously sad position to be in – to be the presence of the great “I AM,” dismiss an intimate encounter, and continue living unchanged.
It is easy to dismiss what we cannot see. Without a relationship with the Divine, how would we expect to see Him? We can hear truth, see truth, even be touched (or healed in some way) by it, but unless we know Truth as a Person, a Divine encounter can just seem like a coincidence, the universe following a path, medical intervention working, enlightenment, or worse, a lie. It can even look like someone living the church life, but never truly knowing the One who is the Sacrifice and Atonement, the Resurrection, the Life now, and the Promise of Eternal Life. How could we miss seeing it? We all walk in blindness without the merciful sight received upon salvation.
How close have you been? It could be that you’ve blindly missed the countless encounters or have chosen to continue on your own path. It is the grace of God that would ever give us even one display of His greatness.
If you are looking for a close encounter of the Divine kind, can I suggest that you attend an Easter service at a church that proclaims the transformative power of the resurrection? God has given us His Word – that we can read! He offers His Spirit to dwell in us! How much closer can we get this side of Heaven?
Ashlie Miller responded to close encounters while growing up in China Grove with her family. You may share your own with her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.