How to share your faith

by   March 17, 2024 with No Comments

A few weeks ago, my pastor asked if I might kick off a series he was beginning about how to share our faith. It was a crazy morning at our church. We didn’t have heat in the sanctuary, the mike gave out on the pastor, and our video feed wasn’t working properly. We have a tech genius in our church who got the electronics to work. We came back online late but before I took the stage. You can advance about 15 – 20 minutes and join me for the message. Thank you for watching and enjoy!

God is a Writer

by   March 16, 2024 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            Someone recently asked me if I enjoy writing. Writing my column is enjoyable most days, as I am relating how I see God in my everyday life. Then there are times that I stare at the computer hoping something will magically appear on the screen. Those are tough days but I always enjoy the process and knowing I am reaching my readers.  

My students asked me if I prefer writing fiction or non-fiction. I told them that I enjoy writing both but that it is more fun to create fiction. When I write fiction I get to create the characters. They asked if the characters were based on real people or on me. I told them that the characters are developed from a mixture of the people I know. As far as basing a character on myself, I couldn’t deny that there might be a little piece of me in the characters I create.  

I think it is fun and interesting to put my characters in situations and see what happens. Sometimes I am surprised by what a character says and does in a specific situation. I also explained to my students that my characters are real to me. I feel like I interact with my characters in my mind. It is fun to think about the imaginary world of my characters and to create their lives.

            I taught Sunday school last week and taught my class about God as the author of our lives. There are several places in scripture that talk about God as our author. In Revelation, it talks about God bringing all the people of the world together for judgement day. On that day He will open the books of our lives and we will be judged according to what we have done. In another place it talks about us receiving rewards for all the good things we have done.

            In Psalms 139 it says God knitted us together in our mother’s womb. In that same Psalm it says that He saw my unformed body and that all my days were written in His book. It says he ordained my birth and He knows when I will die. Because God is omniscient and not bound by time as we are, He knows every detail of our lives. What is interesting about that to me is that in spite of all the bad stuff in my life, He still loves me.

            I told my Sunday school class that they didn’t need to worry about God knowing all the details in their lives, because there was something else that I learned about Him that would help for all the bad or sinful stuff that we have all done. In I John 1:9 we are promised that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us. That means we have to own up to our sins and shortcomings. Then Jeremiah 31:34 promises us that if we confess our sins to God He will not only forgive us but that he will not remember them anymore. In fact, in Micah 7 we are told that he will throw the memory of our sins into the sea where it will be forgotten forever! That is such great news, that in God’s omniscience He will purposefully forgive and forget our confessed sins.

            The other great thing the Bible tells us about God is that He plans good things for our lives; in fact, He has filled our future with hope. You may wonder why bad things happen in our lives. There is still a devil and he is up to no good. Even when we go through bad times we can trust God because He promises us that He can bring good things out of every situation we face if we will trust Him. Remember, He is the author of our lives, who is constantly looking for ways to bless us and He allows His favor to rest upon our lives.

            No matter what challenges you might be facing, I want to encourage you to turn to God and put your faith and trust in Him. He wrote your story and He has some great things planned for you. You are promised that He is looking out for you and that He will never leave nor forsake you. There is an exciting future waiting to unfold right before your eyes. Yes, there will be tough days, but you can be assured that you will never walk alone. The God of the entire universe is watching out for you, promising great things are planned for you and your life is encased in His unfathomable love.   

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

Hardships Offer Opportunities

by   March 15, 2024 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

Times of hardship offer opportunity. The trials may allow our best qualities to shine, or they may let our lower selves emerge. The writer Seneca wrote, “It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.”

During the present COVID-19 crises, I so appreciate the action of such people as Mark Cuban, Anthony Fauci, Yamiche Alcindor, and Peter Cancro. These four and many more folks have stepped up and led in their own way during the pandemic. They each are successful in their professional arenas, but their success has not kept them from sharing it with the nation when it is most needed.

I wish the owner of the shuttered Hahneman Hospital in Philadelphia was able to “step up” and give to the community. It seems, according to news’ reports, that Joel Freedman, the owner of the closed hospital, wanted to charge the city $400,000 per month to rent the space during this COVID-19 crisis. The city, in desperate need for additional hospital beds, turned to Temple University for space. The leaders of Temple, unlike Freedman, rose to the occasion and stepped in.

It is encouraging to witness so many folks being active supporters for the good of all. They are following the words of Seneca quoted above. But for some, like Freedman, their only desire is to act selfishly. Those people are missing a great opportunity to do a good and to grow as a person.

Spring Beginning Runners Class

by   March 14, 2024 with No Comments

By David Freeze

A few warmer days have a lot of folks starting to think about getting in shape for the beach and other warm weather pursuits. The 18th annual spring beginning runners class will kick off on Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m., again at the Salisbury Police Station at 130 Liberty Street.

The spring class will continue for eight weeks of Tuesday meetings, each time beginning with a 30-minute classroom session. Topics for these sessions include shoes and equipment, stretching and strengthening, running form, injury prevention, nutrition and safety.

Each participant gets a training schedule, a dri-fit training shirt, membership in the Salisbury Rowan Runners for a year and entry into the May 25 Bare Bones 5K. They will also get individual coaching and encouragement throughout the program and should come prepared to run/walk a half mile on the first night on the way to 3.1 miles during week 8. Classes are held regardless of the weather.

Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or with special permission. Cost remains $65 per person. Registration is live at runsignup.com

Next up locally are three interesting races. A new race, the Wipe Out Colorectal Cancer 5K and Fun Run for Rowan Diagnostic Clinic is set for March 9. The 5K will start at the Catawba College softball field, then will use the greenway and a portion of the Crescent area on an out and back course. After the run, the scene will shift to the Rowan Diagnostic Clinic at 611 Mocksville Avenue for a block party and fun run. All runners and walkers will get a food truck voucher and commemorative t-shirt. Proceeds will provide free colonoscopies for those in need.

On March 16, the Love Thy Neighbor 5K/10K/ Fun Run will all be held as part of the 8th Annual Fundraiser at Concordia Lutheran Church. Both the 5K and 10K courses are rural near the church and will be protected by Atwell Fire Department. The scenery itself may be the prettiest for any race in the county. Participants, both runners and walkers, get a free country breakfast and shirt. All proceeds will be used to help with medical expenses for Kassidy Sechler, the South Rowan High School softball player who experienced a cardiac arrest at a tournament in 2021. Kassidy has experienced multiple hospital stays and visits since that time. A detailed story about Kassidy and the Love Thy Neighbor event is in today’s Post.

The last race of the month is the Mt. Hope Church 5K and Fun Run at Salisbury Community Park on March 23. All proceeds are used for missions, locally and abroad. The course uses pavement and hard-packed gravel surfaces.

All three races have refreshments, many overall and age group awards and are open to runners and walkers.

My latest book is just out and available locally at Father and Son Produce. It’s entitled “River Ride” and is a recounting of my bicycle journeys during the summer of 2022 and 2023. It encompasses my journey along the complete Mississippi River from the source at Lake Itasca State Park, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana, and covering more than 2,500 miles. Additionally, I pedaled from Lake Itasca to Duluth, Minnesota, to jump into a new journey along the North Shore of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes and the largest body of fresh water by area in the world.

Unusual to this book were a large group of people who I met along the way and were actively involved in the journey. Never before during any of the long-distance trips had so much of this happened. I am still in touch with a dozen or so of them and all will receive a copy of the book for their efforts.

Also included in this journey is the recounting of a 20-hour train trip back to Salisbury from New Orleans and a visit to the “Field of Dreams” movie site, where I got to run the bases and walk out of the corn just as the old-time baseball players did.

Look for more information on running and walking events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org.

Remembering All He Has Done

by   March 13, 2024 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Psalms 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

  • We remind ourselves continually of all the things He has done!
  • We do not forget from where we have come and how He has delivered us and done great things for us.  We allow no pride or confidence of our own achievements
  • We recognize that He has given us a place to stand firmly in Him.

Prayer:  Lord it is all because of You.  I have nothing to boast in, but Your goodness and what You have done for me.  I rejoice in the fact that I stand firm and it is all in You.  Amen.
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Words Wisely Spoken

by   March 12, 2024 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

How are you?

Fine.

Your call is important to us.

Really?

Why am I on hold for so long?

I hate to interrupt you.

No, you don’t or you wouldn’t have.

I am on my way.

This does not necessarily mean they are in the car yet.

This is the truth.

So, everything you tell me is not the truth?

Just forget about it.

This rarely means you should forget about it.

Be there in a minute.

It probably will be more than a minute.

I may be wrong but…

Well, why say it then?

Let me see what I can do.

I am not always hopeful when hearing this.

No worries.

For some reason, this comment worries me.

I will let you know.

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t.

That is a short list of things we say that we often give little thought to as we say them.

And how about these oxymorons?

Alone together. Civil war. Crash landing. Deafening silence. Found missing. Paper tablecloth. Sad smile. Freezer burn. Good grief. Only choice. Pretty ugly.

During my teaching career, many of my students slipped me notes. On some of those notes were these words: Your the best teacher!

Yes, I knew your should have been you’re.

But those notes were perfect and priceless as penned. No corrections needed!

There are approximately 170,000 words in the English language. Connecting and communicating with others matters.

If not, God would not have given us the ability to construct or concoct that many words.

But our tone and our tongue can sometimes be tragic, even if we intend for it to be timely.

Perhaps with 170,000 word choices, we should always try to think before we speak.

Yes, I may make a blooper, a blunder, or even a boo-boo when speaking to someone.

And when I do, I always have regret, remorse and repentance take place in my heart.

Words can inspire or destroy. Words wisely spoken are winners!

Why is this Happening to me?

by   March 11, 2024 with No Comments

By Rhonda Sassano

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?  WHY DOES THIS  K E E P  HAPPENING TO ME?

We often wonder “Why, Lord, am I going thru this?”  The next divine encounter might be the reason why.  This is a small example, but maybe you can relate:  Last year, Victor had 3 flat tires in less than 14 days.  He was like, God, what is going on?!?!  He “got real” with the Lord for a minute.  Then, when Victor gets into the tow truck, he asks the driver, “How can I help you?” And based on the conversation, Victor shares his testimony with the guy.   Later, Victor’s father-in-law also had a conversation with the same guy about the Lord.  He didn’t know that Victor had already plowed the ground a bit.  And, no. No harvest that day.  But seeds went out or hardened dirt was tilled or fertilizer was mixed in.  Maybe it was just a little water to promote growth.   Either way, the Father has need of your story to draw in the next tow-truck driver.  Or the StarBucks barista or customer.  Or the impatient bank teller.  The careless buggy-collecting teen in the Harris Teeter parking lot.  Am I saying you should tell your story to every person you meet?  No.  I’m saying you need to be WILLING to share it with anyone you meet.  Am I saying that the Lord allows us to experience brokenness so someone else can get saved?  

Yup.  Not usually for that purpose alone, but yes.  And you need to get ready.

 1 Peter 3:15 “Worship Christ with your life. And be ready to tell anyone who asks about the hope that lies within you.”  Sometimes people ask without asking.  They’ll broach a subject or tell you something personal, and then they wait for your response.  That is STILL asking, even if it isn’t phrased as a question.  

 You need to be willing to face your area of brokenness and recognize it for what it is:  normal.  Not embarrassing or showing weakness or sharing TMI or any other lie the enemy wants you to believe.  It is NORMAL to be broken.  To have addictive behaviors.  Don’t misunderstand me here.  I am not saying it is ok to engage in addictive behaviors.  I’m saying we need to recognize them, understand what area of brokenness we are trying to cope with, and ask the Lord to forgive us for believing the lie there and replace it with His truth instead.  (A less offensive term for addictive behaviors is “coping mechanisms.)

You need to understand that God has a purpose for the brokenness He has allowed into your life.   He always has a plan.  A plan for your GOOD.  A plan for your GROWTH.  When you really consider all that has happened in your life: the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful, isn’t that exact conglomeration exactly what has perpetuated your closeness to Jesus?  Aren’t all the circumstances, challenging, easy, difficult, painful, joyful what brought you to where you are today?  Where else might you be except for the Lord intervening in one inconvenient way after another?

Listen.  Let me be really real with you right now.  It IS very difficult to be transparent.  It’s a huge risk to share your story and make yourself vulnerable.  It feels like one of those dreams in which you went to school not completely dressed.  And you don’t need to have the same level of transparency with every person you meet.  But you DO need to admit that you have brokenness.  That you are broken. That you have weathered some terrifying storms in your lifetime.  Earthquakes, even.  And each one of those experiences has changed you.  For better or for worser, you are not the same.

 When I am getting my heart ready for Sunday, every week, it’s tough.  I have to continually submit my will to the Lord.  I have to find the courage again to be vulnerable, to let you in to my pain. Every week, in the words I pray before the message, I intentionally lay my heart bare.  I remove all the covers from my life. In the prayers I pray, you can see all my struggles.  You can hear all my desires.  You can gain a sense of my failures and despairings.  I hope you realize that all I am, my whole life, is on the altar, but I’m still struggling to be still and trust Him when all I really want to do is crawl away and hide.  But you need to know that those prayers are birthed in the secret place where no one is allowed but Jesus.  Sometimes, when I start to write out what’s on my heart to say, words are just…too insufficient.  So I find a passage or a Psalm that communicates the love I want to feel from Him, the faithful kindness I want to experience, and all those things I’m only believing because I know God’s word is true, not because I’m feeling any of it.  So here’s the challenge.  Follow me as I follow Christ.  Take the risk to recognize the brokenness, recognize the goodness of God in it, and be willing to share it.  It could change someone’s life.

Would you spend some time asking the Father for His perspective on the circumstances of your life? Is there something you need to learn, to do, or to change?  Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any coping mechanisms that have slipped in.  Ask Him to bring into the light any lies you are believing that are perpetuating that coping mechanism.   Ask Him to replace it with His truth and set you free.  Consider the grace the Father has extended to you.  How can we withhold that precious, life-changing grace from others?  

If you have the courage, here’s a prayer:  Father, I acknowledge my brokenness.  And I acknowledge that You have allowed it into my life.  Not for my hurt or for my pain, but to draw me closer to You, to push me to seek Your face more than ever before.  To honor me with a deeper understanding of Who You are.  So I receive all the brokenness from Your hand.  I let go of all the blame.  I forgive the one who has hurt me the most.  You allowed this, all of this, for my good.  So I would choose You.  Help me now to dig deeper, to discover the well of refreshing, the spring of rejuvenation that is found only in Your presence.  Help me hear the lies I speak to myself.  Give me courage to believe Your truth and be free of addictive behaviors.  I can endure pain without coping.  I lean into You.  You promised that when I am weak, then I am strong with YOUR strength.  

In Jesus’ name, amen. 

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, discouragement, or disappointment, please reach me here:  sunnyshade13@gmail.com.  I am a certified mental health coach and work with those who are fellow-strugglers to find health and healing through creative experiences and expression.

With joy,

Rhonda 

Promises of Spring

by   March 10, 2024 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

The signs of spring are peeking through. The daffodils have already trumpeted their readiness for the new season. Wow, they have been everywhere lately – such joyful heralds of a coming season!

My iPhone plant identifier tells me that bird’s-eye speedwell, dead-nettles, henbits, and dandelions are trying to take over my yard. My husband calls our yard a “lawn” and tries to care for it accordingly, so I guess I better not let the kids blow the dandelions on it.

The children point out that the robins have returned to visit the birdhouse on the back of the mailbox. I notice a small cup in a tree made from pine needles, leaves, and other organic material, hoping to host another family of hatchlings soon.

Then, there is the overabundance of skunks, mainly on the side or in the middle of the road. Is this a sign of spring or evidence that land development has pushed away their predators? My son tells me he has already seen – and accidentally killed with a weedeater – some snakes in and near our backyard.

All these signs are whispers – or shouts! – that something good indeed is coming. We can trust that spring will again arrive because it always has.

We can also believe that the things God has spoken and promised in His Word to us through the Bible will also come to pass. I can look at promises made and prophecies pronounced to see a literal fulfillment timeline. It enables me to trust that those promises which have not yet come to pass also will.

That speaks peace to my heart, not only concerning world events but also to my personal needs. Many Christians have been reading an annual Bible reading plan that has led them through Genesis and Exodus early this year. There, we read of some of the covenants and promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Promises to make their small family into a great nation, even with wives who suffered from barrenness for a time. Promises to give them their own land, even when famine and slavery in a foreign land stood in the way. Yet, as we approach Exodus and look further down the horizon past Israel’s good kings – and not-so-good kings – and to the New Testament for The Great King (Jesus), we see the fulfillment of promises. Israel indeed became a great nation, settling in a promised land with the most excellent King that enabled the ultimate promise – hope for all nations and all souls.

Then, I can look at the precision and care for the small intrinsic details of my life and see God’s involvement as I look at the past patterns of His love. You may have your own stories of evidence of His sovereignty and care.

Observing the little sprouts on my lawn, birds chirping in the trees, and even skunks or snakes out and about, we can remember God is working as He always has to fulfill His plan in our lives.

Ashlie Miller refreshes her spirit by taking nature walks with her family, finding glimpses of grace and promise along the way. You may email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Hope in the Future

by   March 9, 2024 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            Last week was the annual State DECA Competition. DECA is an association of marketing students. You may be wondering how I know that since I have been retired for five years. I still love DECA and I continue to return each year to help with the conference.

            Several thousand students show up each year in Greensboro to determine who will attend the International DECA Conference. Students compete in a variety of role-play events which also contain a written test component. Some students write research papers and then present their results as their competition. There are both team and individual events. Probably the best part is seeing high school students dressed up like professionals for the competitions.

            I attended the state conference every year except for the year we got snowed out. I always looked forward to going to the conference, even though it was a big responsibility to take students away for several days. They always had a positive competitive experience and a wonderful time away from home. I have tons of great stories, including many pranks the students pulled on me. There are so many memories that I plan to treasure for the rest of my life.

I help with the state officer elections each year. The election process determines who will lead the student organization for the upcoming school year. These are the best of the best students, and wow, do they make a big impression on me. These students must complete an application, take a written test, pass an interview with a nomination committee, and finally, win the electoral votes to become the state officers.

            I administer the test and help supervise one of the nominating committees. The committee is made up of students from across the state who take their responsibility to select the best candidates for their positions very seriously. It is a very interesting process to observe. The students act in a professional and mature manner. When they are done, I believe they have chosen the best candidates to be the next state officers.

            When I have all the candidates together to give them their test, I tell them a couple of stories about previous officer candidates. I hope my stories encourage the students and help them to relax before their test. This year I told the students why I continue to come back and work at the conference each year since I retired. I told them that I come to see the hope for the future in their eyes. I told them that I see the future leaders of our country in that room. I see incredible potential in their eyes. I feel peace in my soul because I know our country is in good hands. The news discourages me, but when I look into their eyes my hope is restored that everything will work out. That’s why I come back year after year.

            When I turned to pick up the test to be distributed I was caught off guard by their response; they applauded me. I couldn’t hide the tear that escaped my eye, which only elicited more cheers. I encourage you to turn off the news and look around you at today’s youth. I know they aren’t perfect, but neither are we. There are some young people with some bright ideas, strong moral values, and a faith that is surprisingly refreshing.

            Some people believe the politicians are going to help turn things around. Some trust in the stock market and believe its success will transform the world. Some hope that social reform will change the world. There is only one thing that can turn our world around. While I find hope in our youth, I know that the only way to change is through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the one who holds our future in His hands. He is the one who will guide us and protect us. He is our provider. Our only hope for the future is for us to turn our eyes back to God and to lean on His wisdom and direction.

            I want to encourage you to turn your eyes and keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the author and perfector of our faith. The world may appear grim, but He is still in control. He loves us and has good things planned for our future. We must put our faith and trust in Him for all circumstances. He is the source of our Hope. He is the Prince of Peace. He loves us far more than we can understand. The future remains bright when we look into God’s eyes.

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

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