One of Us

by   May 30, 2022 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

My husband’s mom is one of the sweetest, funniest, most determined people I have ever met. When her son & I married, she hugged me and called me her “other daughter,” stating matter of fact, that “daughter-in-law” was not a term that fit our relationship. How kind. And she has never treated me less than her very own daughter. Her hugs are like those of her son. She wraps me in her arms and locks down so tightly that I am left breathless; partly because I am overwhelmed with being loved so much, and partly because she is squeezing the life out of me. How rare are hugs like that?

We were in the family car between the funeral home and the cemetery on the way to bury her husband. As we drove by the Krispy Kreme, she noticed the “HOT NOW” light was on. She suggested to the driver that we lead the funeral procession through the drive through. There was no disrespect to her husband of over 50 years. He was certainly used to her off-beat humor. It was her way of making us feel better.

Did I mention that she is stubborn? That is actually an understatement. Because she is in her eighties, we worry that she will do something that will hurt herself, since she doesn’t know she is too old to climb in the attic or down into the creek. She has at least enough wisdom to ask someone to come “watch her” while she puts a ladder on the creek bank so she can climb back up after situating the rocks so that water won’t pool. One spring, her son asked her several times not to climb her rickety attic stairs to retrieve seasonal items. We noticed one day, that Easter had been taken up, and summer was upon us in the decorating sense. So he went over while she was gone and put screws into the attic door so that she could not get the steps down. On the string hanging from the door, he attached a note saying, “Pull all you want. They are not coming down. Call me if you need something.” He is a lot like his mom.

She told us one day, that her favorite word in life is steadfast. She says in that word is expressed all she strives to be. And yes she is, steadfast. Throughout her life of 86 years so far, she has always been faithful, steady, strong, loving, but unwavering on the things that matter. And funny trumps stubborn any day! She goes to a contemporary church on Saturday night. If the band is especially good, they get the OK sign with a little wink that says, “Well done!” Then on Sunday mornings, she attends her traditional church and enjoys their fine choir. She loves both. I respect so much that she is wise enough to understand that we are not in competition. And she never lets age, or the opinions of others hold her back!

You may feel that because of your age, you do not have anything to give. YES YOU DO! YOU MATTER TO THE BODY OF CHRIST! Put your unique background, experience, and expertise to work for Him! And again, someone really needs to hear your story!

Lord, help us look at people like You do, each one having great worth, no matter their stage in life. Help us, no matter our age, health, or background, to realize that You have a job for us to do. Strengthen us to be steadfast, and to faithfully carry out our part in Your great plan!

More: Psalm 92:14; Job 42:12; Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 29:11

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV- “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

PS: Our beloved Nina remained steadfast until she walked right into the arms of her Savior. Though she is no longer my neighbor, I will always think of her as one of my favorite people. She taught me so much about life and love. I miss her every day.

Stepping Back to my Past

by   May 28, 2022 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            I recently received an email from a colleague at East Davidson High School. My colleague informed me that one of my former students had won a scholarship, and had mentioned me as a role model in his life during the interview process for the scholarship. My colleague wondered if I would like to come back to East and present the scholarship to him. How could I turn down that opportunity?

            East Davidson has their awards day in the gym on what is typically the hottest day of the year. I attended 18 of those events, and began to wonder if sitting in that hot gym was actually what I wanted to do. Thankfully, God had mercy on everyone and delivered a cooler day.

            After I arrived and checked in, I started to bump into old friends and colleagues. It was so wonderful to see people who I had worked alongside, and to have a few minutes to catch up. We talked about how things had changed since I retired. Some of my colleagues talked about how COVID had affected them, their families, and how they taught through it. They were all glad that things were settling down some and they were getting back to what we all remember as routines.

            I had the opportunity to personally thank a few people who served as references for my current job. I deeply appreciate their help and have great respect for the role they played in my life. I count it an honor and privilege to be considered their colleague and friend.

            When I walked into the gym to find my seat a former student waved me over to sit with him. David was also a DECA member who did very well at both the district and State DECA competitions. He graduated and is now attending N.C. State. It was wonderful to talk with him and to hear about his hopes and dreams…another Golden Eagle who is soaring.

            As David and I talked, we realized that we were both there to honor the same student. I taught Matthew when he was a freshman. He was in my Principles of Business class. His grades were outstanding, just like I heard from other teachers about his character. He always worked hard in my classroom and was a very respectful young man. Matthew stayed in contact with me after I retired because he has a dream to publish a book.

            After the ceremony I got the opportunity to talk with him. He has his college and career plans firmly in place. We shared about our lives since I retired. He is still the same respectful young man I knew when I taught him. By the time you read this in the paper, He will be another Golden Eagle soaring from the nest at East Davidson.

            Several colleagues asked if I missed East Davidson. I miss seeing my colleagues and teaching students like Matthew and David, but that chapter of my life has come to a close. I am thankful for the experiences, opportunities, and the memories that will never fade. Now I find myself on a new adventure, a new chapter that I am thoroughly enjoying.

            I think it is important for us to look back at our past. We have learned so much in our spiritual journey, and we need to remind ourselves of our victories. God wants us to have a strong faith, so He will allow us to face challenges. Our job is to remember how God helped us in the past and know and trust that He will help us through our current trials.

            It is also good to reflect back on our prayers and see the many ways and times that God has answered our prayers. Our prayers change situations and circumstances. Why? Because we have a God who delights to answer our prayers. Battles are won in prayer through persistence and perseverance. It is good to review our victories and refresh our faith in troubled times.

            I want to encourage you to look back on your life and look for the many times and ways God has come through for you in critical moments. Looking back, we can often see God’s hand guiding us through the difficult times. He is always with us. He promises never to leave or forsake us. He is always making good plans for our future. God wants us to have a good trip through life, but He knows that there will be some bumps along the way. Looking back we can see His faithfulness and that will help us trust Him as we move forward into our future.

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

Open Caskets

by   May 27, 2022 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

In 1955 when the body of 14-year-old Emmett Till arrived home to Chicago, the only thing that identified him was a ring. His swollen body was missing teeth, an ear was severed, and an eye hung out after he had been kidnapped, tortured, shot, wrapped in barbed wire attached to a heavy fan, and dumped into the Tallahatchie River by two white men in Money, Mississippi.

His mother, Ms. Elizabeth Till-Mobley, saw the body of her only child and made a courageous decision. She told the mortician to leave her son as he was and insisted on an open casket so that all the world could see the horrific acts committed against her son by white men.

            Now, here we are all these years later and more children and their teachers have again been brutally murdered. Young, small, precious bodies in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas so mangled by bullets that DNA is needed to identify some of them. Mutilated like the body of Emmett Till.

            The photographs we see of the victims are ones made in happier times like when a 10-year-old holds a certificate for making his school’s honor roll. Or a photograph of a smiling teacher likely taken for the school web page. Happy faces. Clean clothes. Life at its fullest. No photographs of mutilated bodies, body parts separated from their body, blood, and gore.

            Open caskets! Awful and even grotesque when they show the result of the carnage caused  against a 75-pound body by an AR-15 rifle.

            Perhaps it is time for another brave decision such as the one made by Ms. Till.

Acting on His Word

by   May 25, 2022 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Matthew 14:19  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

  • Jesus initiated the miracle, but –
  • It was the disciples that actually distributed the food and acted out the miracle.
  • Often times it is just us acting on His word to see the miraculous in working.

Prayer:  Lord I surrender to You today that You guide me and instruct me that I can do whatever You say that I can see the miraculous power of God working.  Help me to step out always in faith.  Amen.


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Jesse Weber Chooses a different type Marathon

by   May 24, 2022 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Most runners want to run regular marathons, 26.2 miles on roads with reasonable courses. Jasen Weber goes a different way. Both of his marathons were unusual, and he said, “Probably because there seems to be an extra bit of adventure with the ‘unusual,’ they take place on paths less traveled. They’ve taken me to places even folks that live close by have never seen. Taking in the secluded nature is just wonderful!” 

I met Jasen when he showed up for one of our COVID pandemic prediction 5K runs at City Park last year. He said, “I was born in Virginia, but I bounced around quite a bit as a military brat. I lived mostly in Washington state and Maryland.  I’ve lived on both sides of the country and seen just about every state…just not on foot! I came to Salisbury shortly after my mother, Maria, and younger sister, Shaina, died in 2017 in separate incidents, I came out here to be closer to living relatives and explore where my mom grew up. Life has been good here.” 

Jasen started pursuing a healthier lifestyle at 30 years old when his doctor suggested adding some cardio regularly or his cholesterol would require medication. Jasen said, “So I started running on January 26th of 2021. Shortly after that I was all in!” 

He’s 31 years old and works in food service for Levy Restaurants, usually at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jasen has called Salisbury home for five years.

Jasen’s most recent marathon was extremely unusual at  Pandora’s Box of Rox in Burnet, Texas. Packet pick-up had to happen within 30 minutes of start time and runners could begin the race whenever they wanted.  With no crowd of spectators, just a man and his cow bell sent each runner off into the dust. The terrain was brutal, running up, down, and around rock faces. Some areas were marked exceptionally well, others, not so. Jasen said, “I ended up off course a couple times and accumulated almost 2 more miles. It was so hard, but I loved every moment of it — so much that I plan on doing the race again next year with my brother.”

There were 53 total marathon finishers, male and female, and 10 DNFs. Jasen said, “I finished 19th overall on another multi-loop course.  My time does not reflect my typical marathon time, finishing at a whopping 5 hours 53 minutes. There were printed signs on some trees during the last couple miles and my favorite one read, ‘It’s OK to feel like quitting, just don’t.’ My brother was going to meet me back at the start line for the second loop to hand off my hydration pack so I could run ‘naked’ the first loop. He wasn’t there, so I just had to press on and rely on the aid stations. That was interesting because I had my pack set, planned, organized and ready for me after that first loop.” 

At an aid station called “Rock,” one of the only aid stations with a person present, Jasen met a guy who said he’d been guarding that aid station for the last eight years. Up in those rocks was his happy place, and he pointed out that he owned the giant boulder that sat in front of his canopy. 

Jasen’s first marathon was also pretty interesting. It was a 2.62 mile loop course mixed with trail and road. There was a 45-minute cut-off time for each of the 10 loops. Everyone joined in to start each consecutive loop together. Cumulative running time was tracked, not the waiting for others. This one is called The Carolina Reaper Challenge and takes place in Seneca, S.C., on a very hot July course.

Running goals include Jasen’s first ultra, a 50K in October. He plans to complete his SRR mileage club goal of 1,500 miles for the year before attempting his biggest, and wildest goal to run to the state of Maryland.

Jasen’s family members are his dogs, Sam and King. He has a cousin, Jana, a brother, Bobby, plus all the kids that surround them provide many second cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jasen remains very active with Rowan County running.

The next race locally is the Bare Bones 5K at Knox Middle School. It benefits Relay for Life.You can visit www.
salisburyrowanrunners.org for more information.

I’m With Him

by   May 24, 2022 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

Do you have a Charlie in your church? Charlie in our church faithfully made coffee for every service. And he’d be on a mower in the heat of summer, taking care of the church yard, no matter how bad his health got. We had a week-end message where no volunteers were used, except for kids club, just to show how much we need each other. Charlie was all in a tither because he did not want us going without coffee.

Nehemiah 7:2 says “I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani,… for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.”

Faithful. Do you know someone like that, always faithful, no matter what? Some people you can just count on. Like the one who sets up tables and cleans up after a meeting; others work on making the sound the best it can be; some keep the nursery or work with kids club; [there’s a golden crown in Heaven for those brave souls!] Some practice hard to make the music just right; and then there are those who smile a big ol’ smile and greet you like you are somebody. You always feel better when they’re around! Are you looking for your name in that list? Consider it there! Your church is full of faithful people just like you.

Where was Charlie before church? If I remember correctly, he was outside one day at his house. Not a lot of good going on in his life. A faithful man stopped by and talked to him about mowing the church yard… and about eternity. From then on Charlie was the Lord’s, and ours. When he died, I remember the sadness and grief and the realization he would no longer be puttering around fixing things. Since Charlie is with the Lord now, I wonder if they sit and chat about our church. The book of Job shows a scene from Heaven where God asks Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job: He is the finest man in all the earth- a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.” And then the crud really did hit the fan. But God knew that it would. And He knew that He would still have bragging rights on His boy Job in the end.

Once when we were going through a particularly rough patch, I said to my husband, “Why in the world do you think the Lord is allowing us to go through all this at once?” He replied something I will never forget. “If the only reason is so God can brag on us a little, that is enough.” What a beautiful image, God bragging on us. I wonder if He speaks with those gone before us, proud of the people at our church. I wonder if He says to Charlie, “Don’t worry. Scott’s making coffee.”

Today our simple prayer is that God will keep us faithful. Although it is a simple prayer, it is vital to our ministry. Pray for us all to be [as the verse says] “faithful, fearing God more than most.”

More: Proverbs 28:20; Matthew 25:20-22; Job 1

A verse I think of as my Charlie verse is Acts 4:13 that says in part, “for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”

It was easy to see that Charlie had been with Jesus.

Get To Work

by   May 23, 2022 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Get to work!

It was 1972. I had just graduated from high school and had been offered summer employment at Cannon Mills. I would be a twister in #7 Spin. I was ecstatic!

The fact that it was 3rd shift did not deter me. I was going to be earning a ton of money that summer – or at least it felt that way.

Shortly before the 11pm mill whistle would blow, I would find a parking spot, take a deep breath, and head in through the guarded gate that would soon shut behind me.

For five nights a week, I would remain there until 7am. My days were short. My nights were long. Summer break was definitely not a break. The twister room ‘loomed’ large with row after row of huge, loud machines. The sound was deafening, but it was muffled by my required earplugs.

For the entire 8 hours, I focused on my work, although I knew the rest of Kannapolis, NC was sleeping. My role was to tie up threads that broke and to replace spools that needed to be replaced. I loved the challenge of walking up and down the rows, keeping my machines running at 100% efficiency.

As daylight arrived, the mill whistle would blow again and I would walk out through that same gate, happily passing by those who were heading into work to begin their shift. I knew it was time for me to rest.

It was one of my most eye-opening and meaningful life experiences.

Little did I know it was also a foreshadowing of the rest of my lifeI

During college, the jobs changed, but I still worked. Flipping burgers at the Snack Shack, cashier at Rose’s, a waitress at the Pizza Inn, and as an employee who knew how to do it all at McDonald’s.

Then, one day, I graduated from college and began my teaching career.

The next 40 years sure did fly by.

Work – whether for a salary or not – is a beautiful thing.

Should we work? Did God work?

Of course! God created all things! That was definitely work! 

But remember this – on the seventh day – he rested.

What does the Bible say about work?

*Genesis 2:15 tells us that God created man, put him in the garden of Eden, and told him to work.

*2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 tells us that if we are not willing to work, neither should we eat. It also tells us that we are to work quietly and earn our own living.

*Colossians 3:23 says that we need to work heartily, as for the Lord.

To work heartily means to work zealously, sincerely, earnestly, cordially, and warmly.

Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful way to approach work?

And – since we are doing it as unto the Lord – that makes God our boss.

Our work is of God.

It is a privilege, an honor, and a blessing.

So – keep working – because work is worth it!

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