Have you ever thought that maybe you went too far from God? Maybe you think God has given up on you. The Good News God never gives up on us. Listen as Max Lucado shares the Good News for you.
By Ashlie Miller
This time of year inspires many writing prompts – harvest, the changing of leaves, reflections on shorter days and longer nights, to name a few. These beautiful images contrast with the prevalence of darker things that abound, from chaos across the globe to the tensions of election season. Some dark lessons are even closer. For me, a lesson awaited on a walk through a nearby neighborhood.
On the evening walk, I pass a home adding Halloween decor that becomes more gruesome each week. Another house warns of fictional danger with crime tape as though something tragic has occurred. Yet another wards off guests with a very creepy clown in a lurching position on the garage door. As unsettling as those can be, one home has gone the extra mile. Its display stops me in my tracks: a dozen skeletons dressed as fairy-tale princesses, missing any true signs of life. The girls are fooling no one (though they may horrify real toddling princesses).
It may seem laughable. “How silly,” we say, but it reflects a much bigger message. Fairy-tale promises lurk around every corner – stories of grander existence but lacking hope and life. Whispers of a better path, a more enlightened way.
Every day, we pass people on the street, work alongside them, or scroll through their social media posts, which seem to show well-lived lives. They fool us for a long time until a bombshell drops, exposing who they truly are or revealing they are not as happy as they present. We may be left feeling betrayed, confused, or deeply saddened. Perhaps the hope we placed in them and in the lives they portrayed has vanished.
We have to ask ourselves, “What is real life with true meaning, hope, and joy?”
Or maybe we are chasing a fairy-tale existence and trying to pass it off to others – or even to ourselves. Sure, from a distance, it looks like a dream come true. We know it’s a mirage, conjured in a dry desert of discouragement as we seek acceptance, try to impress others, or convince ourselves and others we can have everything we want while missing what truly brings fullness to life.
Scripture describes a significant difference between those who are alive in Christ and those who have not yet come to Christ on His terms. What makes a Christian so different from those who reject Christ? You may be able to come up with your own list based on anecdotal reflections or your personal experiences. Some may be valid observations, others based on prejudices. But what is the common standard across history and lands? Through Christ, believers receive spiritual life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Scripture describes those apart from Christ as spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5). One truly has real life, and the other is just bare bones.
Thankfully, we don’t have to put out lawn displays that reflect the true nature of our spiritual lives, but if we did, would they look like skeletons in costume or more like a living nativity?
By Doug Creamer
The Church as a Hospital
There are some things that I love about fall. First, I am thankful that the hot, humid days of summer have finally come to an end. You can go outside without coming in soaking wet in sweat. I love the beauty of fall leaves. I love planting violas and seeing them bloom. I like the pumpkins and some of the fall decorations.
There are some things that I do not like about fall. I don’t like the shorter days. I hate getting up in the dark and coming home from work in the dark. I do not like clearing up all those beautiful fall leaves when they land in my yard. I also struggle with some fall allergies.
Each season has some good things and some things that are less pleasant. I try to focus on the things that I enjoy and endure the things I do not. When I reflect back on my life, I think that churches have some things in common with the seasons. What I mean is that in each of the churches that I have attended I found things that I really liked and some things that I had to endure.
For the most part, I have been blessed to have some good pastors. Most had a positive influence on my life and both challenged and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. They were there when I needed to talk and for many of them, we became friends.
The church buildings varied greatly through the years. One was a barn. A couple of them were store fronts. I attended several traditional churches with stained glass windows. I have always found them to be beautiful. Several churches I attended met in non-traditional buildings.
Some of the churches I attended offered small groups. It is nice to develop tight-knit relationships with some brothers and sisters. A couple of the churches had men’s meetings where issues that we face as men were discussed. When we get into smaller groups outside of the regular church service there are opportunities to connect on a deeper level.
Every church I attended had opportunities to eat food together. Pot lucks were common and offered an opportunity to share some great food and fellowship. Several of the small groups I attended would either go out to eat or we would bring food and enjoy a meal at someone’s house. Christmas parties were a common thread in most churches.
I also attended several retreats at a number of the churches. That can be an interesting experience, especially when you have to share a room with someone who snores. I often enjoyed the retreats as it offered some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord.
The people are what make a church, the gathering of the men, women, and children who have a heart for God. People come from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s that unique group that meets in that unique space that creates the environment for that church. What we all have to keep in mind is that no church is perfect. Each church has good things and things that need to be worked on. The question is will you make the effort to fit into your church?
The physical building is a convenient location where the local sinners can come find a place to call home. The reality is that we are all broken people who are seeking a Savior who will redeem and forgive us. Ultimately, we hope to be healed and set free from our past. That makes the church like a spiritual hospital.
Our goal should be to not leave anyone in their broken, sinful state. We should point them to Jesus where they can find forgiveness and the will to change so they can leave behind the old way of life and discover their new life through Christ. We are called to bandage wounds and help them to take steps on the new path of righteousness.
I want to encourage you to see your church as a spiritual hospital. Jesus came to save the lost and all of us have lost people in our communities. They may never find Jesus unless we invite them into our churches. I am not suggesting that we endorse sinful lifestyles. We can love the sinner and hate the sin. We don’t want them to stay lost in their sinful lifestyle but to be set free and to find the forgiveness and love that will melt and change their hearts. The real church is a hospital that points the way to Jesus.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
My pastor invented a new word…Praise-giving! I gave the sermon last week at church and I shared the story of the 10 lepers who were healed and only one returned to thank Jesus. We call is “Praise-giving” I hope you enjoy our service…
By Roger Barbee
Mill Workers
They emerge from the mist of cotton spun,
pale cheeked, hungry eyed souls staring ahead.
Spent men in mended bibs and misshaped shoes
rushing from what was, not to what should be,
followed by women in worn-thin dresses,
too tired to rush for what waited at home.
All carry the burden of too little
and the responsibility of too much
as they trudge from their lint-filled stations
only to return in two-thirds of day
to burden the owner’s load like his mule,
each breath filled with fibers of work and death.
By David Freeze
Testosterone and Doing the Double
As most men age, their testosterone levels go down. Some of the effects of low testosterone include the expected decreased libido, increased abdominal fat, weight gain, weakened bone density, reduced muscle mass, less strength and lower energy levels. Women require testosterone too and can experience the very same symptoms.
Testosterone levels are checked with a simple blood test, but it must be done twice, two weeks apart. Testosterone is a buzzword heard on the Frank Thomas and Doug Flutie and other health commercials asking men to buy their product endlessly. It may be just me, but they make their products sound like they have testosterone in it and anyone who uses the product will be instantly healed, wiping out all the issues listed in my first paragraph. They offer the first bottle of pills for free if you sign up to get another bottle each month endlessly.
The truth is that testosterone is only available legally by prescription. There are some side effects that need to be considered before starting the regimen. Talk with your doctor or primary health care provider to see if it works for you.
Many people with low testosterone decide to try to raise their level naturally, which is the same thing that Thomas and Flutie are pushing but they don’t say it that way. There are many factors when trying to take the natural route, including diet and lifestyle changes that include common and not so commonly known methods.
Regular exercise and good sleep are two key factors. Weight-lifting for large muscle groups releases testosterone, and so does high intensity interval training that includes running, Yet too much endurance training for marathons can actually lower testosterone.
Getting adequate sleep is important. We know that when men are sleep-deprived, this can make a big difference in their testosterone production. We particularly see problems in people who have shift work, where they work at night and their circadian rhythm gets all flipped around. Typically, testosterone peaks at about 4:00 a.m. along with cortisol. So that’s all tied to your body’s rhythms. And the amount of testosterone you have varies minute-to-minute and hour-to-hour. And day to day, thus the reason for the two-week follow-up on testing.
Nutritional sources that help testosterone production are fatty fish for vitamin D, shellfish for zinc, and dark leafy greens for magnesium. Supplements work here too. Whole eggs and natural raw honey, dark chocolate also make the list. Prioritizing whole, unprocessed foods is an important way to help with production also.
Fenugreek seed extracts have been highlighted in research reviews for their potential to significantly increase testosterone levels over several weeks of supplementation. Also important is to avoid highly processed foods and those high in refined sugars and some breads. Fenugreek is an active ingredient in products purchased to help increase testosterone production.
I find this all fascinating and am currently using a GNC product called ‘N Test 600’ and modifying my diet to support the effort. For more information, ask your medical professional for advice if you are experiencing any of the symptoms and remember that a simple blood test is available.
“Doing the Double” used to be a fad with dedicated runners, and some still look to challenge themselves by running two races on the same day. A morning/late afternoon or evening combination is optimal. One chance for the double exists in Rowan County annually, and it all happens next weekend on Saturday, October 17th.
First up is the Race to the River 5K in Spencer at 9am. The course is rolling for a mile, then a fast 2.1 mile downhill to the Yadkin River. The Town of Spencer hosts the race, and the fun run and awards will take place near the stage beside the town offices.
The second race, the Rotary Fall Crawl, is set for a 4:30pm fun run and 5pm 5K at the Landis Ridge Business Park on Old Beatty Ford Road. There will be no traffic issues in the park. Awards will be presented inside the park, and the fun run will happen near the 5K finish line.
Look for more information on both of these races and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
Today marks a very special season. No, not Autumn… though as I write it is September 22. Now is also the time when all things pumpkin arrive. A Facebook friend of mine posted a picture of pumpkin baloney. Ewwww…
No thanks.
However, I do have an awesome recipe for Cranberry Pumpkin Bread. Along with it comes a bit of advice for those of us moving into the “What was I doing?” phase of life. Thankfully, the burning questions that haunt me no longer involve life changing decisions. I picked my handsome man about a hundred years ago. We didn’t decide to have kids. We just had them, one right after another until my kind neighbor, JT asked me one day. “Don’t y’all know what causes that?” By the age of twenty five all that was settled.
We still wonder sometimes where we’re supposed to land in our golden years. We’re not quite into golden yet. I think we’re closer to the Rust-Oleum years: that magical time when everything we own could use a good coat of paint. Honestly I don’t care where we land, just so it’s together. No, the burning questions that haunt me are more like, “Did I add baking soda and salt to the batter yet?”
I find myself counting egg shells to figure out if I finished what I started. Just because my beloved calls me from the other room to observe the replay of a fantastic tackle by my favorite linebacker Luke Kuechly, doesn’t mean the pumpkin bread should go without eggs. One cannot go leaving stuff out all willy-nilly and expect proper results.
So I’ve found a solution. It’s as good as having a dish by the door for your keys. That way you can always find them. You’re gonna love this.
Spread all the ingredients in the recipe to the left of the mixer. As you add them to the batter, move them to the right. Seriously, it’s the only way I can keep up anymore.
I remember one time when we were out of black pepper. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember to buy it. When finally I did, I went to put it away and found two other boxes. Apparently I had remembered it three trips ago but forgot I remembered.
I’ve learned not to interrupt David in the middle of a story. If I do, he forgets what he was saying and I don’t get to hear the rest of it.
Bless our hearts.
The other night I woke up and thought, “Denzel Washington!” I couldn’t wait to tell David the next morning. His excited reply was, “Huh?”
“Denzel Washington. You know… we were trying to remember who played the guy in the movie.”
His eyes glazed over. “Movie?”
“Yes! Remember the new Equalizer movie we saw on television? That was Denzel Washington.”
He nodded. “Yep. Glad you cleared that up. I was pretty worried about it.”
Apparently things do not bother him as much as they do me.
Of course he’s never experienced Cranberry Pumpkin Bread without the eggs.