Amaral Competes in an Ultra Marathon

by   April 17, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Amaral Completes 100 Mile Ultra Marathon

    Jim Amaral is 37 years old and has always been passionate about physical activities and competing in sports. He said, “As a kid, running was a form of discipline or conditioning by my coaches, so it was a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. In my early twenties, I sustained a serious knee injury that involved the separation of my quadriceps from my kneecap and even exposed my kneecap. This injury limited my physical ability at the time and ended sports participation.”

     But in his mid-twenties, Jim discovered yoga which helped him regain strength and flexibility in his knee joint. He moved to Rowan County in 2016 and joined a workout group at the South Rowan YMCA. He ran with some of the group members, and from there, things snowballed. A half marathon led to a full, which then led to a half-Ironman, and eventually, he completed a couple full Ironmans. An Ironman includes a 2.4 mile deep swim, 112 mile bike and full marathon of 26.2 miles to finish up.

     After completing both Ironmans, Jim found himself wondering, “What’s next? Why not an ultra?” In December 2024, he ran his first 40-mile ultra, followed by a 50-mile ultra in January 2025. Both were part of his training and preparation for Blackbeard’s Revenge 100-mile ultra on the Outer Banks.

     Jim said, “I simply enjoy the challenge. Physical fitness and achievements through races are earned through hard work and sheer willpower. There’s no shortcut. No flattery to get ahead, no financial advantages, and little to no luck involved. Privilege doesn’t play a part (aside from having a capable body). There’s something pure and incredibly fulfilling about that.”

     No ultras are easy, but this one was extreme.  Jim said, “The wind made the experience very challenging. While crossing two bridges, at times the wind would push me into the concrete barrier. I quickly realized that running was not an option on the bridges; I made more progress by staying low, shielded by the concrete barriers, and power walking. In some sections, when exposed to the sand dunes the combination of wind and sand was so fierce that it felt as if my skin was being sandblasted.”

     Jim had a support team of four, including his wife. He said, “They were there for me every step of the way. At times they paced me, gave me pep talks, waited for me at exchange points for sock and shoe changes, and always had my favorite fuel ready. Having four people that dedicated an entire weekend to support me was truly special. There’s no way I could have achieved the success I did without them.”

      While growing up in New England, specifically in southeastern Massachusetts, the beach was a regular part of Jim’s life. OBX and its scenery reminded him of home. He said, “I’ve lived in North Carolina since 2008, and I’m proud to say that I finished 6th overall in the Blackbeard’s Revenge, and the first person from North Carolina to finish this North Carolina race.”

     Jim is the Assistant Director for Salisbury Rowan Utilities where he takes pride in serving the community by overseeing their most vital resource, water. His wife of 15 years, Heather, is from Stanly County and is a nurse practitioner at Rowan Diagnostic Center.

     The couple is in the process of adopting a little 3-year-old girl named Aubrey. Aubrey was brought into the practice where Heather then worked in very poor physical condition. Jim and Heather believe she was approximately 10 days old as she was not born in a medical facility. Jim added, “Aubrey was rushed to Presbyterian in Charlotte where we received approval to stay with her, and she has been with us ever since! We received guardianship of her December 2022 and hope to adopt her soon!”

     Jim’s plan is to lay-low and enjoy the summer, run around the county but most importantly stay healthy and active for his two girls. Heather and Jim plan a trail ultra together soon but haven’t decided on the race yet.

        Next Saturday’s race locally is the One in 5K and Fun Run at Salisbury Community Park. Look for more details on this and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Amaral completes 100-mile ultra marathon

Lynna’s “L” & That’s my Donkey

by   April 16, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

We love Him because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

The worship leaders at our church have written a new song based on this verse. It goes like this: ” I love how He loved me first. He called me from the grave, pulled me from the dirt, I love how He loved me first.” *

I wish you could hear me sing it. Talk about a joyful noise! After a recent surgery, I wondered if I’d live to tell about it. And frankly, I didn’t much care. But you know what? God called me from the grave, pulled me from the dirt; all because He loved me first.

My love for Him will never match His great lovingkindness toward me. But I can sure appreciate how much He cares. When I think about all the ways He loves me, worship comes easy. Thank You Lord.

*What a Miracle,” featuring Chris Brown and Elevation Worship

“Hey man! Don’t be takin’ my donkey!”

That’s what I would’ve said if a couple of strangers came up to my house and started untying the family beast of burden. I mean, how will we get the firewood home, or take grandma to prayer meeting? You can’t just go around taking people’s donkeys.

“The Lord needs it.”

That’s what Jesus told his friends to say when He sent them to fetch the donkey. Apparently that’s all it took. The owner had no problem sending his valuable property with strangers. He wasn’t promised a great return on his investment. He wasn’t promised the donkey would be brought back fed and watered… or even returned at all.

All he knew was that the Lord needed something he had.

If I had a donkey, I can hear myself reasoning…

“Sorry guys. It’s the only donkey I’ve got. You’re gonna have to find yourself another mode of transportation. I just made the last payment. Had to finance it for six years, but finally it’s all mine.”

“What? The Lord needs it? The Lord has everything. What does He need MY donkey for?”

I’m afraid me and my donkey would’ve missed the Jesus parade… the only one He ever had.

In fact, I think I would’ve missed a lot of things.

I don’t believe I would’ve climbed a tree to get a better look. People would surely laugh at a grown woman in a tree.

I wouldn’t have called Him up for a night time meeting so He could answer my questions. Folks might talk.

I doubt I would have given my lunch to Him when everyone realized it was time to eat and there was no food. What good would my little pitiful sack lunch do?

And I KNOW I would not have stepped out of a perfectly good boat to go traipsing across the water. Who would take such a risk?

Not me.

In fact, everything is just fine the way it is. So Lord, I’m here for You… right here in my cozy house, with plenty to eat, and my nice warm bed, surrounded by things and people I love, with my precious donkey safely tied outside.

Hmmm… Sounds like a parade off in the distance.

I wonder if I’m missing something.

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A Lesson in Listening

by   April 15, 2025 with No Comments

Steve Hartman teaches a lesson on listening. We all have lots to say, but the question is do we have time to listen? I mean really listen to someone else. Here is a story about listening… Hope you listen! ENJOY!!!

Teamwork!

by   April 14, 2025 with No Comments

I gave the sermon at our church a few weeks ago. I taught on teamwork. It is not your conventional sermon. We were preparing to launch a new vision for our church and my Pastor wanted me to introduce the new series with a focus on the idea that we need everyone to help fulfill our new mission. You can skip forward until you see me come on stage. ENJOY!!!

Why Are These Frogs on this Table?

by   April 13, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Do you remember object lessons in school or, better yet, volunteering as a participant? What are some of your most memorable ones?

If you were to visit our home over the coming week, you would see us preparing for our family’s favorite object lesson and tradition –  a Christian observance of Passover Seder as we approach Resurrection Sunday (Easter). It is a tradition my family began enjoying when our older children were much younger, and many are celebrating this weekend through April 20. While we are not Jewish, a study on Biblical Feasts as part of our homeschool journey opened our eyes to the beauty of this celebration that we implement in our own way.

Growing up in the South, I knew the importance of Easter Sunday. However, we did not observe a traditional or liturgical Holy Week. So, as you can imagine, I always wondered why “The Ten Commandments” would air each year at that time. “Why aren’t they showing a film on the crucifixion instead?” I would ask.

It would be young adulthood before I realized the significance of the Passover, even for the Christian. The sacrifice of the Holy One Incarnate – Jesus Christ – epitomizes the importance of Passover for us. The Spotless Lamb who took our sin upon Himself. The one who set us free from the bondage of slavery to sin (and ourselves) and brings us into a land of hope and promise.

While many will have had their feast this weekend, we usually reserve our Passover remembrance for the Saturday before Resurrection Sunday. It is a time to invite other families or individuals to join us.

We will cover our table with a dark blue cloth divided by a white runner to symbolize the parting of the Red Sea as the children of Israel escaped from Egypt. Scattered across the table, you may see small drawings, Lego figures, or other small toys presenting the 10 plagues (I promise it will not look as graphic as it may sound!). We thoughtfully make our way through symbolic elements of a meal reminding us of the Passover. Rather than alluding only to the freedom and deliverance of the bondage of slavery in Egypt and the hope of an Elijah to come prepare the way for a Messiah, as Christians, we save a seat for the promised return of a Messiah who has already come.

We also included once-a-year treats like matzah ball soup, potato latkes (a favorite around here), and chocolate-covered matzah crackers. My local Publix and Harris Teeter take out the guesswork and hunt for recipes thanks to boxed varieties of soup and latkes.

Why do we focus on Passover during this time if we are not Jewish? Our senses of smell and taste serve our memories well. We long for our children, friends, and neighbors to experience the lesson of Jesus as Messiah and our Passover Sacrifice. With a few modifications, Passover Seder becomes pivotal to our experience for Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.

Can someone pass the latkes and chocolate matzah?

Ashlie Miller and her family celebrate this season with Passover Seder and delicious Resurrection Rolls. You can contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Spring Spruce Up

by   April 12, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Spring Spruce Up

            Our church has two Saturdays each spring when we get our members together to do some spring cleaning and sprucing up. There is usually a crew that works inside the building and then a crew that works outside. I am always on the outside crew. We will weed, trim bushes, plant flowers, blow off the parking lot, and put some fresh pine needles down. We share a good time of fellowship while we work together.

            I prefer to work outside, weather permitting. A few years ago, we replaced all the landscaping out front and planted new foundation shrubs. It was a big project and the new shrubs looked so small. They are growing well and needed some trimming this year. We shaped them up nicely. There is still some more to do for the next workday, but things look so much nicer outside.  

            We normally schedule our two workdays before Easter. We want to make a positive impression on our guests. The inside crew is doing the same thing for the inside of our church as the outside group is doing for the outside. They are working to make our church feel warm and inviting.

            Making a positive first impression is important for every church. Sometimes we get used to how things look and forget that guests might notice things if they appear a little less than inviting. It is important to make the parking lot, shrubs, and flower beds look attractive. Then you have to think about the foyer, Sunday school classrooms, bathrooms, and the sanctuary. We all want visitors to feel like they are being welcomed into the family of God.

            While making a positive impression inside and out is important to making guests feel welcomed to our churches, there is something else that I feel is important. There was a time when I was looking for a new church. I visited a number of churches that looked attractive. But the big thing that kept me from going back was the simple fact that NO ONE spoke to me. No one greeted me. No one shook my hand. No one made me feel welcomed. It was like they didn’t care if I was there or not, so I decided I didn’t want to go back again.

            I know we all like to see our friends at church, and that is great. We should spend time in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But when we see an unfamiliar face in the crowd we ALL have the responsibility to speak to them and make them feel welcome. If someone sits on your row that you don’t know, speak to them and let them know you are glad that they came to your church. Let them know they are welcome in the family.

            To my readers who are looking for a church home, please remember there is no perfect church. In our church, many of our members have a T-shirt with these letters printed really big on the front: PBPWMGINFWMY. Those letters mean: Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet! No one is perfect. We all need the grace of God. My church is full of wonderful, loving, God fearing people…but we are all far from perfect. So guess what? You can fit right in with us! Most churches are that way. You will discover imperfect people.

            I think of it this way. I believe it is important to make a positive impression with the outside and inside of our churches. Our churches should be clean and inviting for everyone, members and guests. But churches are really spiritual hospitals. Churches are places where broken people can come and find healing and restoration through a relationship with a loving God who sent His only Son to die for us. The Good News of Easter is that He rose from the grave! He stands ready to welcome all who will receive His free gift of love, hope, and a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

            I want to encourage you to welcome people who visit your church on Easter Sunday and every Sunday. They may not look or act perfect, but that’s okay because God’s not finished with you yet, either. He can do amazing things in people’s lives if we open the doors to our hearts and our churches to them. He will use you and me to make them feel welcome into His family. I believe people will visit our churches on Easter Sunday. I hope they find a place that makes them feel welcome so they can receive the grace, mercy, and love of God. 

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

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