Crossing Over

by   January 3, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Crossing Over

            We have arrived in 2026! We’ve started to clean up from Christmas…on the outside. I haven’t completed putting everything away. I haven’t even thought about starting the Christmas tree yet. To be honest, I enjoy the tree being up into early January because things are often so rushed on the build up to Christmas that it’s difficult to slow down and enjoy the tree. Besides, it’s a lot of work to take down.

            Once we all put our Christmas lights away, winter settles in for real. The best part about winter is SNOW! I have been watching the models closely and have seen some hints of snow on the horizon, but nothing definite. So I will watch and wait to see what Old Man Winter brings our way. 

People will often make resolutions at this time of year. People join the gym and work out, trying to get the bathing suit body back. The holidays offer us lots of great food, which likes to stick with us as we enter the new year. People make themselves go to the gym to shed some of those unwanted pounds, but the will power to change often runs out.

Our resolutions aren’t just focused on our physical bodies. We want our spirits to be stronger so we will come up with these types of resolutions: “I will read the Bible through twice this year!” “I will pray for an hour every day!” While these sound like great resolutions, they are very difficult to sustain. Life happens and we get busy, and when the pressures overwhelm us, these lofty resolutions become oppressive and strangling, so we give up.

When we strive to do things in our own strength through sheer will power, we often end up failing. Unless there is something driving us to make changes, generally we are going to drift away from our resolutions. Our spirit may desire change, but our flesh is weak. Our flesh will resist and fight the spirit, and unless it is a God thing the flesh will win out.

The way I see it, most resolutions are born out of our desires. So we have to put all the effort in and we know the results of that. We rarely seek God and ask Him what He wants to see different in our lives. The truth is God loves us just the way we are…BUT He wants to mold us and make us into the image of His Son Jesus. He wants to make us into vessels of honor that can carry His Spirit and love to the world around us.

The place we all need to begin the new year is in His presence. We need to rediscover that God loves us – remember, we just celebrated His birth. God likes us – He created us for fellowship and desires to be with us. He accepts us – He calls us His sons and daughters. If we can see God from that perspective then we can understand that the changes He wants to bring in our lives are for our own good. He wants to help us, heal us, restore us, and bless us!

We begin the journey drawing closer to Him. We can ask Him what He wants to do. What does He want to see different in our lives? Then we have to trust Him and work with Him to see the changes develop in our lives. Sometimes He will take us through the refining fire. Sometimes He will take us through challenges and difficulties. Sometimes we are called to go through circumstances to grow a deeper, stronger faith and trust in God.

Do you see the thread in what I wrote? He is working with us. We are working with Him. It’s not our will power or desire that is driving the change. It’s His Spirit that is motivating us, molding us, encouraging us, and helping us to make the changes. These changes will endure. They are motivated by love and filled with grace.

I want to encourage you not to make resolutions this year, but to seek His face for what He wants to do in and through your life this year. God has made good plans for your year. He wants to bless you! He wants to prosper you! He wants your year to be filled with hope, grace, mercy, and His deep everlasting love. The year will have its ups and downs, but you will be secure in His love and peace. His joy will fill your heart. Start the year in His presence and discover a journey you will never forget!

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

Resolutions

by   January 2, 2026 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

            At this time of the year, I cringe a great deal. I cringe at the Christmas cards consisting of too many family photographs. I cringe again because few of these carry any personal note or signature, just the implied message: “Look at how great and happy we are.” After that cringing, I suffer through the overflow of articles and newscasts looking back at the past year (name all who have died the past year) and the insufferable resolutions and advice for the coming new year ranging from a new diet to books that will change everything to ways of gaining a happier life. But while glancing at the New Year’s Day Charlotte Observer’s coverage of another local, random shooting in which an innocent, thirteen-year-old was murdered,  I saw a quarter-page advertisement for a jewelry store. I cringed. Not at the ad, but at the irony of its location. I also took a cell-phone photo of it and sent it to many contacts in my cell phone.

             The ad begins “resolve This Year” and then it lists 29, by my count, suggestions for all of us to do in 2020. And I think the list impressive, not necessarily because of the type of suggestions it makes, but by its language in making them. Strong verbs are used to state the imperatives we need to follow. An example such as  “Deserve confidence” places all the responsibility on the person desiring the confidence of another person . Those two words tell us, in order to have the confidence of others, we must act and do in such a way that another person will be confident about us. That is, we will be trusted because we have demonstrated trust.  

            Another suggestion that resonates is “Forgo a grudge.” I so admire the use of that somewhat archaic word “forgo.” As any poet knows, the perfect word is, well, just right.  I offer that to “forgo” is the perfect command for any of us living with a grudge.  Find “forgo” in your dictionary or cell phone. Learn it, and see for yourself why it is the perfect way to deal with a heavy emotion.

            Now, we are all busy in our world of convenience. Ask someone to support a good cause with a check and it likely will be given. Ask for an afternoon of labor for the same cause, and you likely will be given excuses of “I don’t have the time,” or “I’m  too busy.” Our time, even with all of it that we have, is guarded. Yet, here is the suggestion, “Find the time.” No explanations of what to find the time for, just find it. Oh, the needs are only limited by my excuses. But “Find the time” for a child, your house of worship, the local library, a soup kitchen, the local center for seniors, or so many other needs. Don’t wait for the time to appear, go out and find it. Once again, the ad gives a command. No wishing or moaning, but active verbs that will give results.

            “ Go to church.” Now, there it is said. Do not attend or visit or some other lesser verb. Go! Your mother may have said that to you long ago. That is strong advice but needed always and especially in our culture. You may easily substitute another word such as temple or mosque or synagogue for church. But, Go. You will feel better, and your world will be better.

            In the current climate, passive verbs relieve the speaker or writer of responsibility. As a teacher for forty years, I heard too many times a whine such as, “She (a teacher) doesn’t like me”, or “That coach likes only certain athletes”, or more and more. Parents, too, spoke in the passive voice to remove any responsibility from their child or even themselves. But this ad uses the active voice and that places all the responsibility on the one doing. Examine the suggestion, “Flount envy.” Once again, the perfect verb, but not one that I would want my students to commit regarding rules. But envy? Exactly. Grow up and be responsible for yourself.

            I wrote earlier that the placement of the ad is ironic. It is because the page it is on has an article about the murder of an innocent thirteen-year-old girl. She was killed by a stray bullet fired by an eighteen-year-old who was angry with someone he had argued with, and he did  not heed the first suggestion: “To mend a quarrel.” Instead of mending, he used a gun to rip at something trivial. Lives torn, including his.

            It is an ad unlike any I have ever read. But it is one I will read each day and follow its words. Strong words to help a weak world.

Vests & Training with Adults

by   January 1, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Vests and Training with Adults

    Walking with a weight vest is a new fitness trend in 2025. If walking is too easy for you, add weight. Or consider the weight vest as alternative training. You will burn more calories than walking and build overall strength by walking with weights. However, is it the same as rucking with a backpack? To some it seems the same, but here is an explanation of the difference.

     The good news is that weight vest rucking will help you develop strength in your upper back, core and legs for when you start training with a backpack. Even weight distribution across the torso with the weight vest enables you to walk more normally (with a natural gait), and if you decide to add exercises such as pushups, pull-ups, squats and lunges, the weight vest is the better option. Most experts suggest not running while wearing the vest. Here are some more advantages to wearing a weight vest:
 

  • Increased calorie burn over walking (up to 12-40% more, depending on weight and time spent walking).
  • Increased strength and endurance compared to walking without a weight vest.
  • Improves bone health, which is excellent for preventing osteoporosis later in life. This is one reason why you see more older men and women walking with weight vests now.
  • Improves the posture muscles of the lower back, upper back and shoulders.
  • Convenient for when you do not have time for both strength training and cardio, as it blends the two elements of fitness nicely.

   Rucking with a backpack is different because it distributes the weight across the shoulders, back and hips and requires a forward lean when walking or rucking, especially when it reaches 25% of your bodyweight or more. In my opinion, use a backpack if your future requires carrying them for military training or hiking long distances with survival/camping gear. Backpacking is just different, but it requires similar strength and endurance to wearing a weight vest.

  You may want to get a loaded backpack and feel the difference. The logical step is to gain strength with the vest; then familiarity with backpacking could come next.

   As we get closer to Christmas, a weight vest would be considered a great gift for an exercise enthusiast. For that really special person, consider matching a vest and gift certificate for a pair of running shoes and accessories. 

     I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in the article about Carson standout Kara Crotts and about how younger runners seldom go racing with the adults. Currently Kara is the fastest 5K female in the county regardless of her age. Most of the time, the fastest male and female runners in the county aren’t still in high school. Kara isn’t afraid to race adults, but that goes against the longtime trend.

    So, what can high school runners like Kara gain from racing against adults? The adults in many cases have years of racing experience and are the best at long-time training. We had a good male high school runner several years ago, Braden Self, who made friends with some of the adults and improved his training and racing so much that he began to win local races. The better he got, the more he wanted to know.

    Though better than it used to be, the accuracy of high school cross-country courses for total distance is still suspect. Adult courses in our area are spot on accurate, something that I feel is a must have. Measuring by wheel is critical as no other method is recognized, while tangents have to be measured accurately. Measuring by tangents means following the way the runners do the course, crossing back and forth to catch the shortest accurate route.

    Many high school cross country runners lose interest in racing after graduation, and connecting with the adults will hopefully inspire them to keep racing and continue a lifetime of running.

   Just ahead is the Resolution 5K at The Forum on January 1st. All proceeds go to Rowan Helping Ministries. Look for this and more upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Vests and training with adults

Tis the Season

by   December 31, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

I have a framed sign in my house that I love. It has held true for many years. Come to think of it, I probably should dust that thing. I love it even more especially now. It simply says, “He is faithful in every season.”

Nearly everything in my life changed the day I lost David. No longer do I hang the stockings while thinking of how to get the Zero candy bars he loved so much. In fact, for the first time ever, there was no reason to hang stockings. He sure isn’t out hunting down all the chocolate covered pretzels he can find for me. Last year I found the last bag in the pantry in April. Praise God for airtight packaging! What a treat. I even shared them with him though his appetite was already failing.

Thankfully we stopped putting up a Christmas tree several years back. We decided long ago we’d need that space for people instead. Last Christmas he bought me an obelisk; a pretty wooden pyramid structure that fits well in the flowerbed by the door. The kids twisted bright colored bulbs around it and it works just fine in lieu of a tree. And David used to grill steaks on Christmas Eve for the whole family. This year Shane is smoking pork in his new smoker. Just another sign of the new season. David also used to make a foot tub of Scrabble as his mother would say. I found his recipe for Chex Mix the other day and hope to do the same. But there’s no way it will be as good as his. He’d also make white chocolate clusters with pretzels then give me the speech about how he couldn’t get real white chocolate anymore, only the candy coating. Our Christmas experience was always enhanced by the speech. I won’t hear it this year, but it’s okay. I’ve got it memorized. His other Christmas speech involved something about not touching my gifts from him until Christmas morning. I’ve got it memorized too but this year it doesn’t apply.

The point is I’m in a new season. It truly feels like everything has changed. I’ve never in my life lived alone. It’s so weird. I think of things I need to ask him, then realize… he’s not here to tell me the guy’s name who does the Salsa in the endzone. I wonder about our year-end offering that we used to pray about and always, without fail, came up with the same number. I reach for him at night, but he is not there. The light I left on for him in the bathroom stays on all night just so I feel like he’ll be to bed soon. Everything has changed.

Except this.

The Lord is faithful in every season. As the old hymn says, “Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness!” His mercies are new every single morning. For many years I’ve enjoyed the fact that the Lord gives so abundantly. Now He has taken away. Dare I say it? Yes I will. For He is ALWAYS faithful!

“He gives and takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.”

Last year.

PS: If you are grieving this Christmas, try reading A Decembered Grief by Harold Ivan Smith. My kind friend Karen gave me a copy and it has been such a help. Also, the verses I quoted above are found in Lamentations 3:23, Hebrews 13:8, and Job 1:21. The angels called Him Emmanuel, because He is with us, no matter how alone we feel.

The Year That Didn’t go as Planned

by   December 28, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Looking back at a year can be bittersweet, holding regrets and disappointment. We enter January with anticipation of a new start, a list of goals, and maybe even a punch list. Twelve months later, these goals are buried deep in our smartphone notes and reminders or literally under piles of papers. Where did I put that notebook I bought to keep a list and manage goals?

We did not schedule something with those friends we saw during the holidays of 2024 and longed to reconnect with this year. The project(s) around the house that we knew would increase the resale value or improve our daily life were neglected or too expensive because other things popped up. The decluttering plan we had, along with the new organizers for the closet or attic, was abandoned and (let’s be honest) is also probably buried under more clutter. Other life-giving goals for our health are still on a checklist to schedule, for maybe the 4th year in a row, and we know we aren’t getting any younger. The new hobby we wanted to attempt was trickier than we thought, and scrolling on the phone was far easier. All things that did not happen. It is enough to make one think, “Did another wasted year go by?”

But, for your consideration, what things did not happen in your life that actually contributed to a better year? What things did you fear, catastrophize, and become anxious about that did not end up nearly as you anticipated – an encounter, a confrontation, an interview? Were there events that you missed, sadly, because of sickness or other cancellations, that either gave you some much-needed rest time or enabled you to enjoy something else? Did any relationships change as perhaps children move out, friends move away, or even the passing of a loved one that caused you to reinvest in family or friendships differently?

Then there are things that took us down different journeys or kept us from other endeavors. Maybe you went to the doctor for one thing, but it led to a discovery that otherwise would not have been immediately recognized. You did not want bad news; you wanted good health, but this discovery is helping you get to that path of wellness. Or perhaps you remember the day you just couldn’t get it all together before you headed out the door to your destination. One thing after another was going wrong; things were misplaced, you spilled hot coffee, and the baby, of course, had a blowout as you were putting him into his car seat. But as you hit the highway or made your way across the intersection, you looked to the side of the road and saw the car that could have easily been yours smashed and ruined. Maybe you passionately longed for a reassignment at your job because the other option looked like it checked all the boxes, but you were passed over for it. Come to find out, that option would have been the wrong option for you. God’s “no” was for your good.

Yes, counting our blessings is a wonderful way to cap off the year. Maybe we get stuck on finding positives. When we struggle to think of the things we are thankful for in a difficult year, maybe a lean year, we can likely look back at the things that did not happen. They were not losses. They were not necessarily negatives. They were withholdings that brought peace, stillness, refocus, contentment, protection, and wellness. Glory be to God!

Ashlie Miller lives in Concord, NC with her biggest blessings. You may share yours with her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Preparing for the New Year

by   December 27, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Preparing for the New Year

            The packages have been unwrapped. The ribbons and bows are now toys for the cat and dog. We’ve eaten the food that we so anxiously anticipated. The kids are off playing with their new toys. We are off to the stores once again with our returns to exchange. We are shopping online with our new gift cards.

            This is the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Some can slow down while others have to make trips to grandma’s or maybe the in-laws’. So, the Christmas celebration may continue, but hopefully with a little less stress. There is less rushing around and maybe more time to enjoy…all of it; the lights, family, friends, music, food, the gifts we anticipated, and the down time away from it all.

            Unless you are in retail, this is a slow week. We can take a breath and enjoy the things we so eagerly anticipated. Leftovers taste great with a whole lot less work. The tasty pies, cakes, and cookies are there for the enjoyment. We worked hard to get here, now let’s soak it in. Don’t rush, just amble along…

            Allow your mind to reflect on the year that is quickly coming to an end. There have been some good moments and some hard ones. There have been joys and sorrows. There have been victories and moments of defeat. Allow the joys of the good moments to flood your soul. Savor them. Revel in those special memories.

            For the other moments, let’s imagine three buckets. The first, we’ll call loss. These are the memories of lost loved ones, jobs, relationships, etc. These memories come with pain and must be treated delicately. You must cherish the good, especially the people in your life. Hold those memories dear to your heart and allow grief to run its course. Give yourself permission and time to walk through the losses, but do not allow them to control you or keep you from moving forward…one step at a time, one day at a time.

            The second bucket we will call regrets. These are disappointments and we all have them. We might have disappointments over things that did or did not happen. These cause our hearts to be heavy. The deep longing over what you missed or the pain over what happened that you wish hadn’t. This bucket is extremely heavy and a burden that God does not want you to carry into the New Year. We must seek forgiveness from God and then we must agree with Him that we are forgiven, drop the bucket, and move forward into the future.

            The third bucket is our sins and failures. We all sin, from the nicest person to the vilest person you know…we are all sinners. We fail to meet God’s standard of holiness. We can try to always make the right choice and do the right thing, but we are going to fail and fall short of perfection. We should strive to keep our sin bucket empty by repenting and turning from those sins that so easily entangle us. God provided a way and He wants us to ask for and receive forgiveness for our sins. Then we can walk into this New Year that is set before us with clean hands and a pure heart.

            We are cleansed from sin, released from regrets, and have savored the special memories. Now we are ready to enter a new year and a new adventure with God. We know the year will come with challenges and opportunities. We know there will good moments to savor and hard ones to persevere. We can be assured that God will walk with us through the new year. We know it will require faith in our God, who always comes to our aid. We must stir up hope because we know He has made good plans for our lives. Why do we know that? He loves us beyond words and our understanding.

            I want to encourage you to enter the new year without carrying the three buckets, but rather with faith, hope, and love. God sees you and knows you intimately. He is working in your life to mold you into the image of Jesus so you can be a light and hope to those in your life. He has great things planned for you. There will be challenges, but He has made you an overcomer. You are so greatly loved by God AND He likes you too! This is going to be a great year for you and me as we walk in faith, hope, and His unrelenting love. Happy 2026!

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

Salvation is REAL

by   December 26, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

2 Thessalonians 1:8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

  • Certainly there is an end coming – the whole world agrees.
  • Those that do not accept this wonderful salvation gospel, which is a simple gift, will be punished and receive God’s judgement for it.
  • If we don’t know Him through salvation and relationship, then we are lost.  It is a free gift.  All are welcome.  

Prayer:  Lord, I thank You for saving my soul and showing me and my household grace.  I ask You to help me to reach out to the lost and not keep this message to myself, that they may have a chance, and hear and turn and get to know You I pray.  Amen.
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

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