People Need the Lord

by   May 9, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

People Need the Lord

            When I walk out to my garden I can’t believe how great it looks this year. I don’t have everything in, but what’s in is doing well. One thing I am doing differently this year is leaving the leaves from last fall on the beds and just pushing them back to plant the vegetables. My hope is that the leaves will keep the weeds down.

            After a very warm April, I am enjoying the cooler start to May. The long-term forecast is suggesting that we might enjoy a cooler than average May before a hot summer kicks off. It makes for nice gardening and walking weather. I know the hot weather is on the way, but I am going to enjoy the relatively nice weather for now.

            I helped my Mom plant some vegetables and flowers last week. We had fun working in her backyard. My brother and I created some raised beds for her that we planted with vegetables. We enjoyed getting our hands in the dirt and planting things. I think I got my love of gardening from my Mom. She has always loved growing flowers and vegetables.

            While I enjoy vegetable gardening immensely, I appreciate the beauty of flowers and the awakening of spring each year. Growing vegetables and flowers stirs me up spiritually. I love seeing people grow spiritually. I guess that is why I love teaching Sunday school.

            I did a three-week series in our Sunday school class about sowing seeds in various types of soil. I encouraged my class to remember the correlation between gardening and spiritual growth. We need to prepare hearts to hear the gospel message so they can receive the seeds of faith that will grow and produce a harvest.

            We know that God’s Word is the seed from the parable of the sower. God’s seed is alive and active and ready to produce a harvest if it lands in good soil. People’s hearts are in all kinds of conditions. Some are as hard as concrete. They won’t hear anything from God. Others have some soil mixed with all kinds of hard places that will keep the seeds from growing. Others have too many cares choking out whatever God wants to do in their lives. Finally, we have those whose hearts are ready to receive God’s Word and produce a harvest for Him.

            Every person needs the Lord no matter what the condition of their heart. We all have pain in our lives and we need God’s healing. The problem is that people’s hearts are in different places. Part of our job is to pray and ask God to guide us in helping people receive Him.

            Sometimes we have to break up the hard soil, remove rocks, and pull weeds to help prepare the hearts that are far from God. We also have to be patient and allow God to work. We want to plant a seed today and go harvest a crop tomorrow. It doesn’t work that way. We have to give the Holy Spirit time and space to work. That’s why it is critical for us to be sensitive to God’s Spirit as we reach out to others. We don’t know where they are or how receptive their hearts are to the Lord.

            We all know people who are distant from God. Hurting and broken people are all around us. People need the Lord. Our hearts need to be tender towards the people and sensitive to hear God. What He wants us to do is different for each person. Everyone can pray for those who are far from God. Our prayers make a big difference and can change circumstances. People who need the Lord need us to be sensitive, available, tender, and compassionate. People will open their hearts if they know that we love them just like God loves them.

            I want to encourage you to pray for those in your life who need to open their hearts to God. Pray that God will work on their soil and prepare a place for His Word and love to land. Ask God what your role is in that process. How can He use you to help draw the person closer? Remember God is patient with each one of us and that it is His Spirit that draws a person into a relationship with the Father and Jesus. Often He will use us, but we need to be humble and available. People need the Lord and God will use you to help plant the seeds of love and hope in the hearts of those who don’t know Him.

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

Our God Given Authority

by   May 8, 2026 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

  • The devil has worked very hard to withhold understanding from us; that we have complete authority over him.
  • This authority is given purely by faith in Jesus and because He said so.
  • We can put into reality and action that the enemy can not harm us in any way.

Prayer:  Lord, I do confess and believe these words that I have authority over the enemy and all the attacks of the enemy and that by Your command he has to obey and submit and be yielded to the authority that You have given me.  Help me Lord to exercise it.  Holy Spirit direct me I pray in Jesus name.  Amen.


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Bible Teachers Run a 5K

by   May 7, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Bible Teachers 5K Is a Big Success!

      The WRBTA 5K and Fun Run on April 18th in Cleveland was even better than expected! Race director Deb Gusler said, “Planning and preparations for this year’s race began shortly after last year’s event. We created a 5K board this year which made the planning process more organized and efficient. Each year, we take time to evaluate what worked well and explore new ways to enhance the overall race experience.”

     More than 560 runners registered for the races and 466 finished. Overall winner was Cody McNeely with a time of 20 minutes and one second. He was followed by Isaac McLauglin in 20:12 and David Shields with 21:30. Top female was Colette Conway with a time of 23:18. Second was Jessica King in 23:30 and third went to Dilsa Calderon in 24:40. Tops in the fun run was Rames Morris. By my memory, this is the largest Rowan County race in the last decade.

       Gusler continued, “Some of the biggest highlights of preparing for the race are reaching out to sponsors and sharing the impact that WRBTA has for our public school Bible classes. It’s always encouraging to see how willing our community is to support what we’re doing. Another highlight is the excitement in our schools. Activities like our 5K pep rally help students understand what the race is all about, and seeing their energy and enthusiasm makes all the hard work leading up to trace day even more meaningful.”

      There are so many people who deserve credit that Gusler didn’t want to name them for fear of leaving someone out. She said, “This event is truly a community effort. From our generous sponsors to the participants, volunteers, and the support of our local fire and police departments, every single person plays an important role. It’s the coming together of all these groups that makes the WRBTA 5K such a successful event each year. I am happy to share that the race raised $52,000.”

       One of the biggest highlights of race day was the spectacular fun run. With 60 entries and most of them kids, the finish was hectic and simply added to the feeling of positive energy all around. Gusler closed by saying, “There was excitement everywhere! From seeing the kids eager to participate in the fun run to celebrating runners as they finished and received their medals. It was a great day! We heard first-time participants say they were already excited to come back next year. The planning process has begun. I’ve taken notes and feedback from volunteers and participants and am thinking through ideas for next year’s race. It’s really something that stays on my mind year-round, because we’re always looking for ways to make our race better!”

      May has four SRR events and races and all are interesting! First up is the Girls on the Run 5K on May 2nd. This isn’t in fact a race at all for most participants, but a celebration of the end of the GOTR spring session.

      Next up is the China Grove Challenge on May 8th, a special Friday evening on Main Street for runners, walkers and residents. There is a Tot Trot run for small kids, a half-mile fun run for older kids and the big event, a 5K dash out and back on Main Street.

      On May 16th, the Ed Dupree 5K takes place at East Rowan High School. Dupree was a well-known runner, coach, sportswriter and a popular advocate of all things exercise. He inspired me to run across North Caroline during the winter of 2018. The race benefits Hospice and the Ed Dupree Scholarship program.

     And for the final race of a very busy month, May 23rd is the Chillin’ to the Bare Bones 5K at Overton Elementary School. Proceeds go to Relay for Life.

     Still one more event in May is the Special Olympics Torch Run, this year on Friday May 7th and open to any runner capable of 12-minute miles on a 5-mile course. This isn’t a race either, but a wonderful celebration that serves as a fundraiser for this program. Cost is $25. Contact Adam Bouk at abouk@salisburync.gov for entry.

    More information on all these events can be found at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Bible Teachers 5K Is a big success

Always Lost

by   May 6, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

If you are one of those people who gets into their vehicle and heads out all willy-nilly without first considering very deliberately which route you will be taking, this will make no sense at all to you. Stop reading here.

However if you tend to contemplate the desired destination and with great effort calculate every turn betwixt where you are and where you’re going, then you may understand when I admit the following. You see… I am directionally challenged. In fact my condition is quite severe.

Even around Salisbury where I grew up… I can’t find my way. Very few things look familiar as I travel. In fact it’s all new to me. Like Jake Alexander Boulevard where I have recently discovered that if I pass Life Church and the Goodwill and Harris Teeter and Aldi’s and keep traveling I shall eventually wind up near the mall. Who knew? When I expressed my excitement over this well-kept secret to my beloved David he nodded his head with great joy at my sudden understanding. “Yep,” he said sweetly. “And you could go bowling…”

The man has patiently given me directions to the hospital and the doctor’s office and the drugstore for years… every single time I leave without him.

“Sooo… will I pass the Dairy Queen?” I ask without a clue.

“Yep. It will be on your right. Keep going but slow down so you don’t miss the turn and our drugstore is on the right before Statesville Boulevard in the Ketner Center.”

“No wait wait wait… too much information. Okay I pass the Dairy Queen… will I see Sonic?”

“Yes… just keep going. You’ll pass Krispy Kreme. If the hot light is on you have to stop. It’s the law.”

“So then Innes Street Drug is next?”

“Soon after… but don’t get turned around when you stop for hot doughnuts. Keep Krispy Kreme on your right and keep going til you pass the barbecue joint with the pink pig. Turn on the right side of the median into the Ketner Center where the florist is. You’ll see our drugstore on the left.”

“Pink pig… hot doughnuts… flowers… drugs… good grief… Statesville Boulevard… got it. Have your phone handy. Hey if I keep going will I be at the mall?”

“Nooo….” He looked at me and cocked his head sideways. “Do you need to go to the mall or is this just a happy conversation we’re having for no apparent reason?” His eyes betrayed him as they shifted past my lovely face to the football game before him.

“NO WAY!!! THAT WAS PASS INTERFERENCE REF! HOW DID YOU NOT SEE THAT?!!!”

Once the disputed play was reviewed to our satisfaction I inquired again of my beloved, “Hey honey… is there still a Cato’s in the mall?”

“I don’t think so… but there’s one over by…” He stopped for fear that he was about to undo the drugstore directions thereby missing hot doughnuts as well as his ballgame. But because he’s a patient man who adores the wife of his youth he tried again. My heart did a little happy dance because he muted the commercial. If you thought I was going to say muted the ballgame sorry to disappoint. He’s a saint but he is not Jesus. He did however look at me with love and understanding.

“When you come out of the drugstore parking lot take a left. You will be on Innes Street.”

“Hey! That’s good because it eventually crosses the square, right?”

“Yep. Keep going and you’ll pass Romo’s where we got the pizza that was so good… remember where Uncle Buck’s used to be?”

“Don’t tell me about what used to be somewhere. That doesn’t help. Pizza… with the white sauce? Yes! On the right! Okay so… keep going. Then what?”

“You’ll come to a stoplight just before the interstate. Stay in the right lane and turn like you’re going to Walmart. Get into the left lane past Bojangles and turn left at the light. Go to the end where they’ve made that little circle thing that you always turn in front of the wrong way and go toward Cracker Barrel. Cato’s will be on the left. You’ll see it.”

“Cool! So all that stuff runs together? Awesome! I can do this!” As I headed out the door I was happy to spot a Kohl’s $10 coupon card beside my keys. “This is gonna work out great. While I’m there I’ll just run into Kohl’s too. Now how do I get to Jake Alexander from here?”

Gazing toward the wife of his youth once again with lovingkindness, he rose from his favorite Saturday spot, turned off the television, and walked toward me. “I’ll take you honey.”

“NO no noooo… I can totally do this!” I exclaimed with great bravery.

He kissed me sweetly then added, “Maybe you should bring the doughnuts back here before you try to find Kohl’s.”

“Good plan darlin’! Jake Alexander here I come!”

“Innes Street honey… the one that crosses Main Street but you can’t turn left at the square so…”

We sighed simultaneously. Bless his heart.

So if you happen to see an old chick pausing longer than you prefer at an intersection please don’t honk unless of course you are expressing your love for Jesus. I will as usual be invoking the Almighty for help as I navigate my way home with doughnuts which may be stale by the time I get there.

Well that’s just pretty! I wonder when they had that done?
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