Poimen and Tekton

by   January 17, 2025 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

            Robert Fitzgerald, the highly regarded translator of Homer, writes in his postscript of The Odyssey: “… It [The Odyssey] can no more be translated into English than rhododendron can be translated into dogwood. You must learn Greek if you want to experience Homer….” Not a reader of any foreign language, I am glad to have such a translator as Fitzgerald who admits that his craft is not sufficient to do justice to the original.  I recently encountered David Bentley Hart’s new translation of the New Testament which I enjoy and use. In our Sunday School, we are reading and studying The Forgotten Jesus by Robby Gallaty to better the Eastern Rabbi, Jesus.

            Reared as a Southern Baptist, I grew up reading or hearing the KJV translation of the Bible. As an adult I wandered– sometimes a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Brethren, and sometimes a none. Yet, as an English teacher, I read and sometimes taught stories from the KJV. No translation I read had its poetry and grace. We memorized the 23rd Psalm and Lord’s Prayer and knew what the archaic words meant. And out of the KJV I held to certain beliefs, such as from Matthew 13:55: “Is not this [Jesus] the carpenter’s son?” Then last week I read in Gallaty this: “Read aloud Matthew 16:18; 21:24; and 1 Peter 2:4-5. If Jesus likely grew up working with stones as His father did, ….” I thought Gallaty had made a huge mistake or the printer did, but when I asked Pastor Steve about the passage, I learned that my understanding of Josephs’ craft was wrong and came to realize that I had been a lazy reader of Scripture who accepted Church tradition. As if to follow that experience, this past week in Wednesday night Bible study, Pastor Jerry taught about sheep and shepherd. Another enlightening followed by my friend Mike who directed me to my favorite commentator, William Barclay, and his view of Mark 6: 1-6.

            I faced my arrogance and re-read and listened. I discovered the various meanings of tekton. I learned about the relationship between a 1st century shepherd {poimen) and his sheep, I felt like some of the disciples who asked Jesus to explain certain parables. For a brief and silly time, I felt as if I had been betrayed by my cherished KJV. But as I listened to my two Pastors, I came to realize that, just as I had told my students of literature, I had to be an active reader of my text and commentaries. I had to see the wisdom of Gallaty and his guidance into the life of an Eastern Rabbi during the 1st Century.  It was then that I came to see Joseph and Jesus as craftsmen (Hart and Barclay’s word) or carpenters, or handymen and could grasp the idea of Jesus as a shepherd over His flock. Then I came to a deeper understanding of foundations and shepherds.

            And perhaps I will try to lean Greek. Then I will not be dependent on any translator.

Stu Stepp Continues His Recovery

by   January 16, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Stu Stepp Continues His Recovery!

      SRR member Stu Stepp grew up in Hendersonville NC where he began his running journey at Flat Rock Jr. High. Stu joined the track team in 9th grade, then as a junior and senior at North Henderson High School he qualified for four state championship events, the open 400, the 4 x400, the 4 x 200, and the 4 x100. Stu said, “I was the anchor on all three relays. We were state runners-up both in ‘95 and ‘96 to North Rowan. I did cross country too, but I was a soccer player and wasn’t good at running distance.”

     Stu stopped running until about 2008, when his doctor said to lose weight or go on Lipitor. He said, “I met some local people and eventually we formed a running group in Salisbury. The madness began as I ran 28 total full marathons from 2012 to 2022 and completed five 100 mile running races, as well as numerous other ultra marathons. It’s hard to explain all of this to my non-running friends but call it a form of healthy coping. Healthy in the fact that if I wasn’t running, I could have been coping another unhealthy way.”

     Having qualified twice for the Boston Marathon and three times for the Western States 100 miler, Stu possessed a good mixture of speed and endurance. He said, “I redefined what an ‘accomplishment’ in running meant to me. To go out and participate and to do the race, the event, is the accomplishment. There is glory for all runners, walkers, adventure seekers in doing the event. Being fast and strong is great but just finishing in my opinion is the greatest accomplishment.”

      Stu completed the Indiana Trail 100 miler in October 2021 and would complete a 5K and two half marathons after it. He completed all three races while not feeling well, then realized he was having trouble breathing when running. At 5:15 am one morning while running from the YMCA, Stu couldn’t breathe and walked back to his car.

      He said, “I’ll never forget that day. A few days later, I had developed a blood clot in my left leg and learned the reason I couldn’t breathe was because of clots in my lungs. While I was having surgery to remove the clots, I unfortunately had a ‘shower of strokes’ and since have been on this new journey of redefining my life.”

     A former teacher at West Rowan Middle School, Stu said, “I am now a tutor at RCCC, which isn’t teaching but is close, and I am the “stroke advocate” for Novant at the hospital, a volunteer position. I speak to as many stroke survivors as I can and tell them my story which hopefully offers them inspiration for their recovery. With the help of Novant, RCCC, and the YMCA I am in the process of starting a stroke support group here in Rowan County. I also have a big goal of going to graduate school with the hope of getting a master’s degree and possibly working full time again. And one day I will run again.”

     With no feeling on his left side, Stu said, “My entire left side is a lot weaker and although I’ve come a long way, I still have a good bit of trouble with my left hand and arm. My walking has slowly improved over time, along with almost everything else. Getting into water was the biggest game changer with my therapy, giving me balance and resistance and making me feel alive.”

        On New Year’s Day at our Resolution Run 5K, Stu was one of 73 finishers. This Saturday is the 3-year mark since his strokes. Stu said, “Walking the 3.1 today definitely wore me out but it’s something I can do once a month or so. Just like anything else we do, the more repetition the easier it gets. For me and other stroke survivors this is true because it’s just repetition on a much bigger scale. I enjoy being at running events and around those I used to run with. I still have big goals of walking a little faster and going a little further. I will always consider myself a part of the running family regardless of if I run again one day.” 

       He continued as a stroke survivor, “Work on the small goals and have bigger goals that you want to achieve. Everything is therapy. Keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Some of us are made to climb mountains, I truly believe I can, survivors can get back a lot of what we lost but it takes a lot of physical and mental work. One foot after another.” 

      Stu will lead his first stroke support meeting at the Hurley YMCA on Jake at 7 pm, February 3rd.  Lasting for an hour, meetings continue the first Monday of each month at the same time and location. Stu will soon have a Novant email address for those with questions. It’s for survivors and their supporters. We will post it when available.

Gotta’ Run: Stu Stepp continues his recovery

Future Things

by   January 15, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Jeremiah 33:3 NLT Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

  • God is omnipresent.  He is in the past, He is in the future, He is in the present.  He knows all things to come.
  • All we have to do is ask.
  • He will tell us things that are unknown (secrets) but there is a purpose that we may be devoted to Him and full of confidence in Him.

Prayer:  Lord I do ask that You reveal and show me the way and things to come that I can be prepared in my heart.  I am confident in You that You are in control and that I am not to be afraid.  Teach me and show me Your ways.  I belong to You.  Amen.

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Feisty Woman

by   January 13, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

Twenty years ago today, my mama passed from this life to the next. Oh how we miss her. At 72, she was the strongest, healthiest person I knew… until she wasn’t. She died of a rare disease which at the time doctors said affected only 3 in one million. Praise God, her suffering was over within two months. I think of her often.

Sometimes I send her little messages through the Lord. I’m not sure how things like that work. I don’t think she can hear me, but according to our faith, she IS with the Savior. So I ask Him to relay to her things of home and how good the great. grandbabies are doing. Stuff like that. She probably smiles that beautiful smile and hopes I know that her new home is just as wonderful as we thought it would be. She and my mom-in-law Nina are probably yukin’ it up so much that Jesus can’t get a word in edgewise. After she passed, I remembered a verse she sent me in a letter while I was away in college. To me it was perfect. She had been so worried about my finances when I left home. But this verse she copied from Scripture had obviously comforted her.

“In the multitude of my thoughts, Thy comforts delight my soul.” -Psalm 94:19

I love it. Even now, twenty years later, in the middle of all my thoughts, He comforts me. Mama is truly doing just fine. And though I miss her, so am I.

Shared Stories, Changed Lives

by   January 12, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Holidays sometimes provide unique opportunities to hear grand stories of someone’s life. You may have collected some new ones yourself over the past couple of months: things you never knew about a person, hints into mysteries of family ‘lore, retellings of big stories that are almost legendary. But then, there are those important stories that were forever life-changing. 

While visiting my folks’ home on Christmas I happened upon my mom’s devotional books and Bibles resting on a table in the sitting room where she often read. Tucked inside a book, I spied a couple of sheets of lined notebook paper. I fingered the folded sheets, gently opening them, as though I was trespassing upon something sacred. I instantly recognized the handwriting. Though she rarely journaled and only signed her name “Mom” on birthday cards, I remember her handwriting from all those years of notes left conveniently on my bathroom counter reminding me to complete chores that she listed (boy, did I try to avoid going to the bathroom early on a summer morning – ignorance is bliss!). 

Though not a lengthy note, it briefly detailed her life’s story – at least the most significant parts she found worth sharing. It was a story of searching, finding, getting off track, and finally feeling freedom from the chains of sin – freedom still felt even while going through great tragedy and sorrow. The details are private, but the idea of writing out or sharing a testimony is priceless. 

I shared photos of my newly discovered treasure with my son, interning at a retreat and camp center in Western NC. Even through a text, he felt more closely connected to who she was. He felt closer to home. The timing of sending it was divine: he had been dealing with a particularly trying weekend. Sharing testimonies is encouraging. 

Another week, a young missionary shared a brief testimony during our Sunday service. She related an encounter where she had to ask God to move in hearts and open the door for her to speak the gospel when a door seemed almost impossible to maneuver. God answered that prayer. An hour after that service, my son called asking for prayer to connect with a young camper uncertain of his eternity. I shared the missionary’s testimony with him, cautioning him against manipulating moments but rather waiting on the Holy Spirit to do the work He promised to do of convicting. Sharing testimonies is encouraging and can give direction.

It’s not a new story. The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 8 in the Bible, who ministered to Elisha, the Lord’s prophet, and whose son Elisha raised from the dead, had a remarkable testimony. It was so moving that the king of Israel heard about it, met her, and was so astounded that he restored the land and produce she had left while escaping a famine. Testimonies are powerful!

Many years ago, I remember my mom being on a personal mission to gather testimonies from friends – friends whose stories had been forgotten or remained unshared a generation later yet were a big part of who they became. I am so thankful for those stories she shared with me and even more thankful for the one I stumbled upon on Christmas evening.

Testimonies of the Lord’s transformation in lives, His presence and direction, and His mighty power move lives. They are not meant to be kept to ourselves. Sharing them empowers and encourages others, often when we have no idea they need to hear them. Maybe you need to hear one. Ask someone who you see walking in peace and joy. Perhaps you have one that needs to be heard or retold. When you feel a prompting, share it with someone who may not know the path you have walked.

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