Sojourners

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By Roger Barbee

            In the epic poem,  The Odyssey, Odysseus returns to his home island after being absent for twenty years. Because the suitors have taken possession of his home, he must return unrecognized in order to attack them by surprise. He arrives home disguised by Athena as a beggar, and he goes to the hut of Eumaios, the keeper of pigs, in order to plan his attack on the suitors. Not knowing who the beggar is, Eumaios treats him with courtesy and feeds him and gives him a place to sleep. When the disguised master thanks his servant for being kind, Eumaios responds, “…rudeness to a stranger is not decency.”

            During the years that I taught Homer’s great poem, I required my students to memorize such lines as that of Eumaios and those of other characters from the poem.  The students then had to relate the chosen quotation to their lives by demonstrating a basic understanding of the quotation and explaining how it was still relevant in their post 2000 world. However, my students and I not only discussed what Homer had to say about hospitality to the sojourner, but also what other ancient writers such as Paul meant when they told followers to  “practice hospitality.” In the ancient world, sojourners needed safe and clean places to spend the nights because the few available inns were full of bandits, prostitutes, and vermin. So, for safety, a traveler looked for a kind person such as Eumaios to share the long, dark night. I suppose, as my students will attest,  in some ways we are all sojourners at times. At various moments in our lives, we have been that traveler looking for a haven for a night, a day, an hour even. And, oftentimes, we have looked for that friendly face to offer us warmth and kindness and understanding about our travels.

            Homer’s use of the lowly swineherd as one of two servants to help his long absent master is, I think, a choice of genius. As many readers may know, a pig parlor is not the most elegant place there is. Raven’s Rock, the home of Eumaios, was a smelly and rather vile place a long distance from the manor house. The swineherd undoubtedly would have smelled much like his charges. And, because of his position he would have held a low rung in the social order of his time. Yet, this low-ranking citizen, like the widow in the Gospels, gives out of his poverty, not his wealth. This seemingly low citizen is the one of the two servants who had remained loyal to his master and helps him rid the manor of the selfish suitors.

            All of this and more has been on my mind as I watch many concerned citizens try to build support in our country to help those in the caravan.  These last few days of damp, cold wind have, for me, been a reminder of the need to help. However, I worry that too many church attendees will choose to turn away from this need. I know that some church groups have stepped up and offered to help by word or deed or both.  I appreciate that some church groups are helping the hungry and homeless in other ways. What I can’t understand is how some church groups find reasons not to help.

            Practicing hospitality causes inconvenience. It means changing routines. It means inviting strangers who may be downtrodden into our spaces. It means being empathetic. Practicing hospitality means sharing time and talk with people who are in need of a hand up. Practicing hospitality can cause you to, as I heard a pastor say last June, “think of what you can give instead of what you don’t have.” Practicing hospitality is an opportunity for personal growth in a faith walk. Practicing hospitality means that we Christians step up and take care of the less fortunate. To do otherwise means that we are just “pew sitters” who attend service to feel better about ourselves. Are you the Christian more worried about the new floor in the fellowship hall or the one who cares about some homeless child?

            Early in The Odyssey, the sage Mentor speaks to the citizens of Ithaca (Odysseus’ home island) about the suitors taking over the manor of Odysseus and the injustice of their action. Mentor laments

the violent plundering of the great leader’s home, but he then goes on to say, “What sickens me is to see the whole community/sitting still, and never a voice … raised.” 

            There is a need in our community. If you choose, you can find many reasons not to help end that need. However, I offer you one good reason to step up and help. Again, the answer comes from ancient literature written by a tax collector turned disciple: go read Matthew 25:35-40. Then ask why you should not step up and help.

Winter Flight, Why it Matters to the Community

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By David Freeze

Winter Flight, Why It Matters to the Community

    Several hundred runners and walkers will toe the starting line in one of North Carolina’s most storied races on Sunday afternoon. Olympians have won here and there are great human interest stories each year. It is the only race on the local calendar that attracts people to Salisbury just for the chance to run our most historic event. One year, entrants came from California and Minnesota, as well as five other states.

     But just as important is how this great group of races come together and why it matters so much to our community. As I mentioned last week, the Winter Flight mystique involves a challenging 8K historic course that many runners come back to test themselves on each year. There is an easier 5K course geared toward less competitive runners and walkers. And the fun run, free and open to any age, is a half mile on the Shuford Stadium track.

       While the races are exciting, the biggest victory comes from what Winter Flight makes possible for our neighbors in need. Thanks to events like this, in fiscal year 2023-2024, Rowan Helping Ministries was able to provide:

🍽️ 80,730 meals served to our community in Jeannie’s Kitchen

🛒 1,107,700 pounds of food distributed to 4,235 households in need

🎒 30,469 weekend food bags given to over 900 food-insecure Rowan-Salisbury Schools students

🏠 Homelessness prevention for 944 Rowan County households, totaling $440,192 in financial assistance

🛏️ Shelter and shelter services for 668 men, women, and children

🩺 Medical, mental health, and behavioral health support for 302 guests

📚 Life skills education for 415 guests, including resume building, financial planning, and stress reduction

    Rowan Helping Ministries Executive Director Kyna Grubb shared, “Winter Flight is a lifeline for so many in our community. The proceeds help families keep the heat on during the coldest months and ensure that our community’s children have food on their tables. We are grateful for the Salisbury Rowan Runners, whose dedication and generosity make this event such a success year after year. By participating or donating, you’re helping us provide warmth, shelter, and hope to those in need.”

    The 2025 event is officially called The Forum Fitness Winter Flight 8K/5K and Fun Run. The Forum is the title sponsor among 50 total sponsors. Other major sponsors include the City of Salisbury, Debbie Suggs Catering, The Trophy House, First Horizon Bank, David Post Law, Global Contact Services and Millbridge Ruritans. Catawba College has hosted the event for 36 of the 42 years and offers the perfect setting. The gym will be the center of activity until race time and offers race day registration, pre-registered packet pickup along with several vendor exhibits. Among those vendors planning to be on hand will be Skinny Wheels Pedals and Pints, Rowan Moves and GNC.

    Each participant in the 8K and 5K gets a wonderful commemorative hoodie and fantastic refreshments.  About 180 awards will be given over the three races in the post-race ceremony.  The 8K is the North Carolina State Championship at that distance and separate awards will be given to the major winners in that race. The top male and female finisher in the 8K will get $100 each while the first Rowan County male and female finisher will get $50. The first runner to the mile, male and female, gets $25. Should a new male or female course record be set, that winner would get $750.

    While the accomplished runner has plenty of reasons to chase overall and age group records, the real heart of the race is the regular runner and walker who takes on the distances to challenge themselves. The weather forecast looks great and what better way to spend a wonderful Sunday afternoon of exercise with a bunch of new friends while benefiting Rowan Helping Ministries. If you’ve never walked in one of these events, come see us in Goodman Gym on Sunday from noon to 1:50 pm and we’ll get you signed up. Runsignup.com will offer online registration through the morning. Donations can be made at runsignup or at the event.

     If you have further questions, go to www.salisburyrowanrunners.org or call me at 704-310-6741.I hope to see you at Winter Flight.

Things Without the Lord is a Waste

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By Ed Traut

Ecclesiastes 5:19  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.

  • The persual of contentment or happiness – so many of us search for it.
  • True happiness comes only from God whether we have or don’t have.  Sometimes we can have and not have the ability to enjoy.
  • When we can accept and be grateful for which boundary God has given us and what He has allotted to us, true contentment comes.

Prayer:  I praise Your holy name for Your goodness and Your provision, I am content and I say with David that Your boundaries have fallen in lovely places.  Amen. 


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Sleepless in Salisbury C

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By Lynna Clark

Today is brought to us by the letter C. And also by the Creator of the Universe Who has this to say.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

What a peaceful thought to dwell on tonight. Jesus actually extends an invitation to us and offers rest from our weariness. It will take a conscious effort on our part to shut down our mental list making. But His offer stands.

Here’s a bonus verse found in Psalm 27: 8. It is also my prayer for you.

“My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”

The Road to Big Rock

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By Ashlie Miller

If you listen closely, you will likely hear something beckoning you outdoors after a long, cold winter (for us anyway). It may be birds chirping a song, anticipating their fellow fowl friends returning from migration. Perhaps the whispers of daffodils are summoning you to the dirt, spade and seeds in hand. Or, in the case of some of my children, it may be a call to an adventure in the woods to “Big Rock.” 

It may not be an original name, but many of us had our own trips to “Big Rock” as children. It had been some time since my last trip, but when my youngest lost something special to him, I knew it was time to venture back. One morning before church, I promised him I would look for his lost treasure – an owl-shaped pendant souvenir from a trip to the zoo perfectly camouflaged for leaf-hiding. I allowed him and his big sister to lead the way. They took me through their path to reach the mountainous boulder – over banks of rocks, through the outer rims of neighbor’s yards (sorry, neighbors!), and up an imposing bank of more rocks covered in ivy. Don’t worry; we did not trek up the ivy-covered stones. Instead, we walked across a rotting beam nestled by a storage building. OOF!

After overcoming my initial embarrassment of minor trespassing and gingerly walking over dangerous terrain, I reassessed our path. After scouring the leafy forest debris for the little owl – which I did find – I suggested a new route to and from the boulder. It was easier to navigate, had less danger potential, and was more beautiful to hike through.

I later thought about how that was a good metaphor for the Christian life:  the grief to be spared if we had counsel from others who had trekked similar paths. Who could benefit from the wisdom of our own experience, both successes and failures? What encouragement could we give or need through shared experiences? It is very against the grain: appearing vulnerable as if needing input or offering helpful advice. Many want to ride out their Christian journey on their own merit and discoveries. While the idea of discipleship is not new, many push back on the idea as though it were condescending. I’m not the first nor the last Christian told they did not need to be discipled by anyone. 

Why am I so resistant to letting others share the journey with me? Do I want to hide the struggles that others could help me overcome or at least pray through? Could they have known something similar to what I am facing? Are those things in my past that I have overcome not worth sharing with others to speak life into the darkness of their lives?

The journey brings much joy and plenty of rough hills we must climb. However, there are many obstacles we do not have to run into and can avoid if we know they are ahead of us and encouragement to receive in the unavoidable.

How are you helping someone new to the journey of faith in Jesus or simply immature after years of following Christ? If you are new to Jesus, how are you allowing yourself to be discipled by an experienced believer?

Ashlie Miller writes from many adventures in her backyard of Concord. You may connect at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

A Closer Walk

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By Doug Creamer

            I was out walking the other day thinking about my Sunday school lesson. I wanted to teach about the importance of having a closer walk with God. I started to hum while I was enjoying the beautiful day. After having such a cold spell, it was nice to enjoy some warmer weather. The humming led me to question what song was running through my mind.

            “Just a closer walk with thee…” The words to an old hymn were tumbling around in my head. The refrain from that song was definitely going into my Sunday school lesson. I am still humming that song. I wonder if it is just a really good song or something that we all desire.

            If we truly desire a closer walk with God, then who has to change to make it happen? Has God pulled away from us or have we pulled away from Him? God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him through Jesus His Son. The invitation is available to every human being to have a closer walk with God. This leads to a tough question: If He is available and made the way for us to develop a closer relationship with Him, why don’t we all have a close relationship with Him?

            The choice and responsibility for a closer walk falls on us. God has done His part, now it is up to us. What is keeping us from having a closer walk with Him? My pastor mentioned a few weeks ago that everyone is given the same amount of time, the same 24 hours in a day. We choose how we will spend that time. The difference between someone with a close walk with God and someone who is distant from Him is how each person chooses to spend their time. The song says, “Just a closer walk with thee, grant it Jesus is my plea…” It seems that God has granted it, we just aren’t drawing closer to Him. 

            Each of us must look at how we spend our time. Many years ago I was trying to drive a point home to my students that they had time to pursue interests in their lives if they were willing to give up something else. When I said that to my students I heard God whisper in my spirit, “You have this desire to write, could you give up watching some TV so you can do it?” His question took my breath away in front of my students.

            I pondered that question for several days until I made a decision. It was a small but difficult sacrifice to give up watching shows I liked to pursue my dream to write. That was over 30 years ago and I am so glad I made that choice. I enjoy the creative process of writing my weekly column and wish I could find the time to write more books that are swirling in my head.   We’re all busy, even overwhelmed; how do we add more of God to our lives? Some people’s lives are filled with being a caregiver to children or their aging parents. Some people are like my current students who are going to school, working, and trying to be there for their family. Some people have demanding jobs or are overwhelmed by the challenges of everyday life. There aren’t enough hours in a day to get it all done. Believe me; I understand every one of those and many other situations.

            The question still lingers: do we want a closer walk with Him? How can we make room for Him? How can we change? What can we do to invite Him in more? Could we give up some of our social media time? Could we watch a little less TV? Could we turn off the music for just a little while and make room for Him? Could we say a prayer while we are waiting for the light to turn green? Can we invite God with us while we exercise? Can we choose to talk with Him while we wash the dishes or fold the laundry?

            I want to encourage you to consider how you might make room for God in your life. We want a closer walk with Him and He is waiting for us to invite Him into our daily routines. It will be tough because the enemy to your soul will do everything to stop you from getting closer to God, but it will be a change that you will be glad you made. How do I know that? Because you will have a closer walk with Him!

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

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