Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

Planning Ahead

            Every year about this time many of us receive packets of information to help us choose a health care plan—it’s open enrollment season. Besides a main insurance plan, there are extra benefits available at an additional cost. We have to choose which plans will work best for our health care needs.

            My wife and I are working to get some other plans in place, too. No one really likes to think about it, but it is important to set up a will. The old adage says there are only two sure things in life… death and taxes. We want to make sure that we have plans in place for the inevitable. In North Carolina if one passes without a will then the state will decide what happens to your estate. Passing without a will could really leave your spouse in a bind. Neither of us wants that to happen.

            Sometimes I wish that the DeLorean from Back to the Future was available so I could go back and talk to my younger self about financial planning. I recently spent time with two financial planners who opened my eyes to a number of things I should have done and that I can still do to have better plans in place for our future. One pointed out that we are going to have more health issues as we age. I can put some plans in place now that could help me then. He also had plans on how we could take our nest egg and make it into a much more substantial nest egg.

            I am beginning to realize I have much to learn about the Golden Years of our lives. I learned it’s not too late and that I better get busy and make some decisions sooner rather than later. The data and choices are sitting on my desk waiting for me. Once the decisions are made, I will need to execute them. Some of these decisions are unpleasant, especially those about the end, but if I don’t make them they will be made for me and I may not like what is decided.

            While planning ahead in this life is very important, planning ahead in our spiritual lives is much more important. Many people are under the false impression that God decides our eternal destination. They believe that they will walk up to God who will decide if they are “good enough” to get into heaven. The reality is that none of us is good enough to get into heaven. Even people we believe are good, kind, and spend their lives helping others are not good enough to get into heaven.

            The Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned and fallen short of what God expects to let us into heaven. We can’t do enough good stuff to erase the bad. We also can’t hope that God will just let us in. The decision about where we will spend eternity is entirely in our courts. God has made a provision; He has made a way for each one of us to make it into heaven. We have to choose before we die to follow His plan.

            God made the plan simple. We don’t have to jump through hoops or complete some rigorous task. We simply have to turn to Jesus and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior. It’s that simple. Anyone can do it, including the worst person you know. God is full of grace and mercy. We can see proof of that when Jesus was dying on the cross. One of the thieves who was crucified alongside Jesus asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus told the man that they would be together that day in heaven. The man didn’t have time to do any good works for God yet he will be there in heaven and we will get to meet him one day.

            I want to encourage you to plan ahead for your eternal destination. You don’t want to miss heaven and being with Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. The place has got to be spectacular because it’s going to make this world seem pale in comparison. The other benefit will be that we will be surrounded by God’s perfect love and peace. I hope your plans include going there and that you have made that all important decision. I look forward to meeting you in heaven one day!  Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

Serving is not a Duty

            It seems like we aren’t getting as much mail lately. The trip to the mailbox is often fruitless. The bill collectors regularly keep in contact with us, though. I don’t mind because I like having power, water, and all the other services they provide. Every once in a while, you will find a letter in your box that you wish had gotten lost in the mail. I received one of those letters recently. It was a thin letter. In the upper left hand corner I saw it was from the Clerk of Superior Court. I knew without opening it that I had jury duty. I stood in my driveway and opened the letter to see when I would have to serve. I, like anyone else who receives such a letter, was frustrated and wished I could make it go away. I took a few breaths and let the frustration go.

            I love our country. One of the responsibilities of living in this great land is that sometimes our country needs our help dealing with legal issues. Someone needs us to listen objectively to their situation and determine whether they are innocent or guilty. Any one of us could find ourselves in that situation one day. We would need twelve people plus two alternates to listen to our story and determine our destiny.

            We all might consider jury duty an inconvenience and we may wish we were somewhere else, but for a period of time our country and an individual needs us to help bring about justice. When you consider all the cases that come before our court system and all the people who have served on jury duty to help bring about justice…it is truly amazing. Our system of justice works better than many other places around the world.

            Serving is actually quite interesting. They show you a video explaining how the jury process works. That video should be required viewing for every high school student before they graduate. They explain that we don’t have jury duty, but rather jury service. It is each citizen’s opportunity to serve our country so we can have a fair and equitable legal system. I understand that it is something that we would prefer not to do. However, if we want our system to work, each of us has to be available to serve.

            Serving is a vital part of every organization. We all know that it is normally a handful of people who do the majority of the work within most organizations. Sadly, the same thing applies to most churches. The majority of the church’s work is done by a handful of people. Many people do very little to help build, grow, or encourage the church.

            Many people think it is the pastor’s and staff’s job to take care of everything at the church. The Bible teaches us that it is the pastor’s job to equip the church to do the work of the church. Pastors are supposed to be the mentors and trainers in the church and the members are called to do the work within the church. The members are also called to do the evangelical outreach of the church. It’s the members’ job to reach out and help in our communities.  

            There is a place for everyone to serve in the church. If you are musically inclined, not me, there is the choir and musicians. Churches need Sunday school teachers. Churches need greeters to welcome people. Churches need ushers to help people find seats and collect the offering. Churches need people to love the babies in the nurseries. Churches need creative people to help with the arts and crafts in the children’s area. Churches need people to pay the bills, run the office and create and manage the budget. Churches need people who love to cook for the meals we enjoy at church. Every church needs people to clean and maintain our facilities

            I want to encourage you to use your talents, skills, and abilities to serve in your church. God needs each one of us to do our part to help advance and grow His kingdom. It takes all of us, not just the pastor and church staff, to make a difference in our world. The church needs you! Jesus wants you to contribute and make your church a better place. No job is too small. There are plenty of behind the scenes jobs if you don’t want to get noticed. Find your place. Do your part! Let your light shine by serving God.

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

By Doug Creamer

Finding God in the Everyday

            I like going for walks, working in my garden, and reading on my front porch. These are peaceful activities that allow me to quiet my mind, spirit, and soul. The world is loud. The world is crazy and getting crazier all the time. The news is mostly negative. Some people can be angry and impatient. Worldly pressures push me towards being quiet. It all seems counter to my personality, which is more outgoing and positive.

            When I meet someone new, I always seek to find the good in them. I believe that there is good or at least the capacity for it deep inside each one of us. Sometimes life struggles and circumstances have caused people to bury the goodness. It’s there waiting to be called out. We are created in the image of God and He places the seed of His goodness inside each one of us. We have to choose to let that seed grow within us.

            I think it comes back to what we are feeding ourselves. If we listen to the news all day long we are going to struggle with depression because the news is depressing. If we listen to music with angry lyrics then we are going to be angry. If we spend hours scrolling through social media and see how perfect everyone’s life appears compared to ours, then we are going to be discouraged. We tend to forget that people only post their best moments.

            If we feed our hearts and minds these false impressions of the world around us then it’s going to give us a negative outlook on life. True, there really are some bad things going on in our world. True, some people may get to take great vacations. True, we might need to examine our choice of music and not allow the negativity to infect our spirit. We need to stop and consider what we are feeding ourselves.

            When I go for a walk I can see and appreciate the beauty God created. I can also stop and meet my neighbors. We have great neighbors who are kind, friendly, like to laugh, and are real people with joys and sorrows. Meeting the neighbors removes the mystery and helps me discover the goodness of God in their lives and gives me the opportunity to be a blessing or sometimes to be blessed.  

            I believe the goodness of God is just waiting to be discovered in our neighbors, in the beauty of nature around us, and even in the mundane things of everyday life. Many people see the goodness of God in the beauty of fall as trees put on their magnificent show of color. People will travel long distances to drive through the mountains and take in the beauty. It is hard to deny the creativity and majesty of God when spring begins to wake up in all of its splendor. Most of us can see God’s fingerprints in nature.

            How do you find God during the mundane moments of life? I think God is with us all the time; the problem is that we are unaware of His presence. I like to talk with Him while I am washing the dishes or cutting the grass. I believe He is with us when we are cleaning the house, doing laundry, pulling weeds, washing the car, and driving to work. The Bible tells us that He will never leave or forsake us, so He must be there but we just aren’t paying attention.

            Some people might say we need to tune our spirit to His so we can receive His presence. I believe God wants to draw close to us and in fact He is very close to us. We are simply too distracted by our daily tasks to realize He is right there with us. He cares about us and for us. Recognizing His presence and opening our hearts to Him can turn the mundane tasks into a time of sweet fellowship with Him.

            I want to encourage you to open your hearts and minds to God’s presence in the midst of everyday tasks. He doesn’t live in your church; He lives in your heart. He is as close as your every breath. When you begin to look for Him, I believe you are going to find Him. Look for His hand as you watch the leaves turning. See his handiwork in the next sunrise or sunset. See if you can find Him the next time you wash the dishes or cut the grass. He is waiting to be discovered in the wonders of nature and in the everyday activities of your life.

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

By Doug Creamer

Seeking Wisdom

            Have you ever needed help to figure out something in life? Most people Google the question and find the answer. You might turn to AI to generate a solution. Would you consider a computer-generated answer wisdom? It’s nice to get the answer to questions or help on how to repair something, but I am not convinced that the internet can give me wisdom.

            I believe that wisdom comes from life experience. If you are having a relationship issue, I don’t believe that Google is going to be able to help you solve your problem. You need the wisdom of someone who has been through similar situations. While the internet may be able to offer you insights and symptoms for your medical condition, it’s the doctors who are going to be able to offer you wisdom. The same thing applies if you find yourself in some legal problems. It’s best to seek the wise counsel of a good lawyer rather than the internet. Wisdom comes through people and friends who care about you.

            I found myself seeking wisdom recently. I was talking to a friend, seeking his wisdom, when he told me that he knew I would find the wisdom I needed. He said that when you seek the advice of many counselors the scriptures say you will discover wisdom. He said that after I had gathered all this advice I knew the next step, seek the Lord in prayer. He said that God will show me the right path forward.

            I find that I am a little anxious as I walk on this new and unfamiliar path. The more I have learned and the more notes I have taken from wise people, the better I understand the decisions I have to make. I also realize that I can take a little more time making the decisions. Becoming more informed helps to bring a peace. I also know better how to pray for His guidance and wisdom.  

            As a teacher, I realize that this is a good life lesson. I can apply what I am learning now and what I have learned in the past to make the best decision for my situation. I think back to when I was considering retiring from teaching. I remember seeking out people I trusted and asking about that process. With each conversation came a deeper understanding and a stronger peace. When I finally made that decision, I knew I made the right decision. 

            The more I think about this new path the more I realize that life is full of big changes for all of us. Choosing where to go to college. The stages of life. Starting families. Changing employment places or careers. Moving. Retirement. Each of us approaches big decisions in different ways. We each process and consider them uniquely. Hopefully, we seek the wisdom and guidance from those who have our best interests at heart. We can take each of their perspectives, insights, and wisdom and apply them to our decisions.

            All this gathering of information does not complete the process, we must take the knowledge we have gained and ask God for His wisdom and guidance. God is not bound by time and He can see the outcome of our decisions. He knows which paths will lead us in the right direction and which will bring about bad results. He knows each one of us individually. He knows what is best for us and the long-term results. I have heard friends say that God was leading them to make a decision that didn’t look like the best one on the surface, but several years down the road ended up being the best thing in their lives. That’s why we have to trust Him, not our feelings, or what looks like a good thing at the moment. Prayer works. Getting others to pray for and with us in the midst of our big decisions can point us in the right direction.

            I want to encourage you to take your big life decisions (and your small ones, too) to God, your Heavenly Father, who will help you choose the best thing for you in your situation. Be willing to give up what you think because there are always things down the road you can’t see. He is watching out for you and wants the very best for you. It requires faith. It requires trust. You have to believe that He loves you and cares about each decision that you face. Seeking wisdom is important but nowhere near as important as seeking the Lord in prayer.

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

By Doug Creamer

A Breath of Fresh Air

            When I went off to college in the Shenandoah Valley many years ago, my parents helped me move in. They stayed overnight, and one thing we all noticed was the temperature really dropped that night and the next morning was quite cool. I remember putting on some jeans. It was August and I wanted a pair of jeans. That didn’t happen on the coast where I grew up. There were some warm nights later on, but that particular morning was cool, much like we are experiencing right now.

            I am used to the dog days of August that are unbearably hot and humid. The end of this August and the first week of September are a welcome change. I have been enjoying eating my lunch and reading on the front porch. I know this is not the perfect weather for those going to the beach, but for those of us who are home, it’s wonderful!

            I spent Labor Day weekend catching up on some sleep and working on some chores. I pulled several wheelbarrows full of weeds. I was able to mulch some garden beds and they look great. The plans for a fall harvest were messed up. The beans and peas were looking great until the deer wiped out everything in one night. I replanted, but am not confident I will get a harvest due to the late date.

            While I am really enjoying the cool days, I am not fond of the thought that fall is on the way. I have noticed that the days are getting shorter. I worked outside until after eight and it was quite dim before I got inside. I have also noticed that I am getting up in the dark. While the cooler weather is welcome, I am not quite ready for the full onset of fall.

            There are a number of fall chores that I want to get done this year. For example, my raspberry bed needs to be cleaned out, fresh soil brought in, and new plants put out. I love my raspberries and have missed them the last couple of years.

While I need to pull weeds in the natural, there are some things that probably need attention in my spiritual life, too. Have you ever spent more time thinking than praying during your quiet time? Have you ever been worried about a conversation that needed to take place and practiced it instead of praying about it? Have you ever sat down to read some scripture and you read it but your mind was far away thinking about something else? Have you ever missed quiet time with God?

            I went for a walk the other day and I was part way through my walk before I realized He was walking with me. I have been so distracted by all that has been going on in my life that I haven’t noticed that He’s been with me. One thing I have noticed is that my heart and mind have been encased with His peace. For that I must thank all those who have been keeping me and my family in your prayers, because it is unusual for me to be walking in this kind of peace.

            I look around my spiritual garden and see it needs attention. I feel this abundant grace that God understands and He is filled with compassion and love. He has sent friends who will share their stories and listen patiently to mine. Friends have stood with me and held me up. Spiritually I feel that I have been granted a breath of fresh air. A moment to rest. A moment to catch my breath. A moment to realize that life has changed and it will be okay. A moment to receive from others when I would much prefer to be the giver. A moment to see a new and different future. A moment to see God in a new way and know we are going on a new journey.

            If you feel life has been moving too fast or you have been overwhelmed by some circumstances, then I want to encourage you to stop and take a deep breath. Pull out of the fast lane and breath. Sometimes we need perspective and to know that God is not in a hurry. He is there and been there all the time. He is waiting for you to take your eyes off the craziness of your life and to put them on Him. He knows the way. He is the peace you need. He provides the joy that will ease your tension. It requires you to slow down, breath, and turn your eyes upon Him. It’s like…a breath of fresh air. 

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

By Doug Creamer

Sometimes it’s too Much       

            What did you do last weekend? I went to two funerals. The first was for my brother’s mother-in-law. The second was for my Dad. It was a tough and long weekend. I am glad they are behind me, but there are still feelings that I need to process. There is my own pain and loss, and then I think about my brother’s family, who lost two parents in a matter of days. About a month ago, my sister lost her father-in-law, so her family has also had to deal with two losses very close together. To say that we are tired and weary is an understatement.

            My brother hosts most of the holiday gatherings at his house. The main ones are Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Every one of those gatherings included my brother’s mother-in-law. She had a laugh and a hug for everyone. She wanted to make sure that everyone was included in family gatherings.

            Her memorial service on Saturday was a great reflection on her family life. Several family members shared great stories. I really enjoyed the music. We sang a hymn I have never heard, I Danced in the Morning. It’s a great old hymn. They ended the service by singing Silent Night while we all held candles. It was beautiful.

            My Dad’s memorial service was on Sunday. I thought we would have a small service with mainly family members. I walked into a full room. There were people there from his church, community, bridge club, and his golfing buddies. I was impressed by the big turnout. Everyone was kind and supportive.

            I spoke about how one life can have a huge impact. My Dad had been to 15 different countries in his lifetime. His children and grandchildren have lived in 18 states and the territory of Puerto Rico. There were over 26 different careers represented between the children, grandchildren, and their spouses. That created quite an impact on our world. I ended my portion of the memorial sharing the fact that his children and grandchildren have been on mission trips or supported missionaries in 14 different countries. That means his legacy includes missionary work on 6 of the 7 continents.

            One other interesting thing my brother thought of for our dad’s service was an opportunity for people to share why they came to his service. We gathered and read what people wrote after the service. Some people wrote funny things, others were heartfelt, and still others were words of comfort and support. It was very comforting to our family.

            It was a long weekend for our family. I really feel for my brother and his wife who were dealing with two losses. The stress level has been high for about a month now for all of us. I hope things will gradually quiet down into a normal routine soon.

            I have heard the old expression that God never gives us more than we can handle. A friend said that they heard it differently. They heard that God WILL give us more than we can handle so we will turn to Him for the help and guidance we need. I am not sure I like that, but I have found myself turning to Him often over this last month. There have been a number of sleepless nights over the past month. My body is exhausted but my mind is racing.

            I have been pressing in to get closer to God because I am desperate to know Him in the middle of this difficult time. I talk to Him while I am lying awake in bed. I am thinking about and meditating on His Word and His promises to me. I am worshipping Him in the midst of the questions and struggles. He has been drawing close to me. He has given me His peace and comfort. He is my ever present help. He is my peace. He is my joy. He loves me.

            If you feel like you are struggling with “too much” right now, then I want to encourage you to draw closer to God. Push yourself closer. Seek Him in His Word and in your prayers. Worship Him because of who He is in spite of your circumstances. Trust Him even through you don’t know the way He is leading you. Open your heart to Him. Expose the pain and hurt and allow Him to lift you up and bring healing and peace. I do know it is a process and I believe He will help you and me through it. I bid you His peace, grace, and love.

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

By Doug Creamer

Memories

            Many years ago when I was a young teenager, my sister worked as a lifeguard for the National Park Service near Nags Head. I think she did it for a couple of summers. My family would rent a cottage in Nags Head for a week and we would spend time on the beach with my sister as our lifeguard. It was a great week and we had some great family time together.

            My sister was living in a trailer provided for the workers in the National Park Service. One time she invited me to come down and stay with her while her roommate was away. I couldn’t believe my luck. My sister made it a very special time together. I was staying at the beach, who could ask for anything more?

            One night my sister said we were going to get up in the middle of the night and go outside to watch a meteor shower. I thought she was crazy. But she woke me up and we went out and lay on the picnic table and watched the sky. The first thing that caught my attention was how many stars were visible. I don’t remember ever having seen that many stars before. We could also see the Milky Way, which was incredible.

            We talked, watched the sky, and saw many meteors that night. There was one I will never forget, right over our heads. It was a brilliant, bright meteor. We looked up about thirty seconds later and could still see the smoke floating in the sky. We have talked about that night watching the meteors many times over the years.

            There are several times a year that we will get meteor showers. I will almost always go out and see how many shooting stars I can see. I have seen some great shows over the years, but nothing compares to that night with my sister.

            I went out several evenings over the past week to watch for a meteor shower. It’s quiet in my neighborhood late at night. The peacefulness snuggled into my soul. I watched the night sky hoping to catch a glimpse of a shooting star, and I wasn’t disappointed.

            What I found on my trips outside was not the excitement of catching a shooting star but the satisfaction of finding a few quiet moments. I made myself slow down and take some deep breaths. It’s been a bit crazy lately trying to do life, deal with a few minor health issues, and trying to navigate my emotions over the loss of my father. In the stillness I sighed a few quiet prayers and talked with my Heavenly Father.

            It’s hard to find peace in some moments of life. Revisiting great memories with my sister helped. There have been times of insomnia in recent weeks and I find myself revisiting other memories with my family. Some of the stories I wrote about in last week’s column, others are more for our family. I have tried to remember good times spent together and moments of laughter and cheer. The memories bring a sense of comfort, familiarity, and peace…like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night.

            Some friends have reached out and offered comfort and words of encouragement, which have been much appreciated. Some have shared their path through this process. While it is comforting and helpful to hear the stories, I am learning a new lesson. I think that this path is one that I must create on my own. I must sort through the memories and learn to cherish the good ones and forgive for those that aren’t so good. I have to learn to let go of the pain and find the peace and comfort that only my Heavenly Father can bring. These are not easy lessons and I am figuring out that this process is going to take some time.

            I want to encourage you if you find yourself on a similar path as me to open the boxes of memories, sort them, discard those that are filled with pain, and cherish the ones that bring joy. It’s good to review the good ones, like watching reruns of your favorite TV shows. Give the bad ones to Jesus and ask Him for peace in return. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His job as the comforter. Spend some time with your Father talking things through and allow Him to lead you down the path. Trust Him because He knows the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and He offers you the Life filled with His presence and peace.

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

By Doug Creamer

Dad Creamer

            The last two weeks have been quite long. Two weeks ago on a Monday evening my brother called to tell me that my Dad had had two strokes and things were not looking good. The hospital spent several days running extensive tests on him, which provided evidence that he was not going to recover. It was decided mid-week to move him to hospice care, and he passed on last Monday.

            My dad was always very athletic. He played baseball and basketball when he was in high school. He played tennis, racquetball, and golf in his adult life. He enjoyed running, walking, and riding his bike. He also enjoyed watching sports on TV. He was an avid Red Sox fan. My brother and I took him to Atlanta to see the Red Sox play the Braves, a memory I will treasure.  By far, my Dad’s favorite sport to watch was golf.

            When I was a kid we had a professional golf tournament come to the course that was in our backyard. Dad was a Marshall and my brother and I set up a soda stand. One exciting moment from the tournament came when one of the golfers hit his ball along the edge of the woods and my black cat ran out and lay on his ball. We panicked, but the golfer was good natured and picked up our cat and petted it.

            My favorite memory of golf is when the country club was having a father/son tournament. Dad had to play twice. He and my brother were in the running to win a trophy but they came up a little short. My Dad and I were surprised when we won a second place trophy. I remind my brother about it as often as possible.

            One of my Dad’s favorite golfing memories came when I was a kid. We would often go out after dinner and look for golf balls. Then we would chip and putt around the greens. One evening a neighbor was walking with us and I wanted to show them how good I could hit the ball. They were engrossed in a conversation and not paying attention. I finally got their attention and gave it my biggest swing. I twirled around twice and fell on my bottom. The two of them laughed so hard, but they did try to comfort me. I can now look back and laugh.

            Professionally, my Dad climbed the corporate ladder. I used to tease him that he would mail new resumes out on the first day of his new job. At one point he was a vice-president of a car company, at another point he franchised a pizza chain – Milton’s Pizza. No pizza could compare. My Dad worked into his 80’s, even being an Uber driver. He was a man of integrity on his job and I admired him for it.

            If you ever met my Dad you know he liked to talk about politics. He liked to find out where you stood on an issue and he would always take the opposing view. I asked him once why he would argue with someone who held his point of view. He said that he would attack the weaknesses in what he believed and see how the person defended their position. He said he could learn a lot on how to build a stronger position.

            My Dad always liked to meet new people from different places. He treated everyone with dignity and respect. He enjoyed learning about them and their culture. He taught me that everyone should be treated equally. It didn’t matter what gender, race, national origin, religion, or any other difference there might be between us, we should treat people with kindness and listen to what they think. My Dad hired Iranian college students in the early 80’s when no one else would give them a chance. He invited people of different ethnic backgrounds into our home at a time when society was more segregated. I learned a lot about how to treat people fairly from my Dad.  

            My Dad really enjoyed the lessons of a university professor who taught Sunday school classes for a few churches in Greensboro. He would find out where she was teaching and show up for Sunday school. She said he would ask questions in class and often emailed additional questions to her through the week. She told me that she will miss him walking her to her car after class. She will be speaking at his Memorial Service. My Dad’s curiosity, questioning, and debating invaded all areas of his life. I hope I will carry on his curiosity for life, his kindness and respect for others, and his work ethic in all that I do. He will be missed.

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

By Doug Creamer

Back to School

            It is time for students to head back to school. I remember as a kid that the first day of school was the day after Labor Day and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Sadly, Jerry Lewis has passed away. Many of today’s youth have no idea of what a wonderful thing he did each year for Muscular Dystrophy. When I was growing up, we used to watch parts of his marathon show every year, mainly to see all the stars who would stop by and offer their support.

            The next day was always the first day of school. Did your Mom make you take first day of school pictures? We always got some new clothes for the first day of school. We would stand on our front steps and hope our mother would include our heads in the picture. Most years we had good first day of school pictures.

            Then it was off to the bus stop, where eight to ten kids gathered. Buses did not stop at every kid’s house. We had to walk to specific places and wait. On rainy days, the mother closest to the stop would open her garage door and we waited there for the bus. On cold winter days, we just stood out there and froze. Things have really changed.  

            Today, many parents or grandparents drop off and pick up their children from school. Naturally, many of the high school students drive themselves to school. I remember driving to school. There was a church in front of our school that allowed students to get parking permits. I always chose to park my car down there. It was just about a block walk and much better for getting in and out of school.

            Regardless of how kids arrive, it is time to crank back up and begin the process of educating students once again. At the community college, we work year around. We have a nice break around the 4^th of July and a great break at Christmas. I can relate to back to school a little as we just got a new batch of students a couple of weeks ago. When we start over with a new group there is lots of planning that goes into preparing for the new group of students. For 34 years I worked hard to make my classroom inviting and welcoming to students.

            The real power to affect and change a student’s destiny doesn’t come through inspiring speakers, quotes, Power Points, or all the good planning that teachers will do. The real power comes through prayer. I have always prayed for schools, teachers, staff, and administrators. I want to encourage you to join me in praying for our school systems, including colleges. Your prayers can and will make the difference in whether the schools in your area will have a successful school year or one where teachers fail to reach students and change lives.

            I believe in education. I believe teachers can help students understand the past so we won’t repeat the same mistakes again. I believe teachers can help students realize that math is vital to surviving in our society. I believe teachers can inspire minds to imagine where technology can take us. I believe teachers can help students discover the exciting world of science and how good health is within their reach. I believe teachers can help students discover outstanding writers who will take students on wild adventures. Every occupation in the world requires teachers to lead the way.

            So I petition and ask you once again for your prayers. Your prayers can help students focus on learning. Your prayers can help to keep our schools safe. Your prayers can open students’ eyes to possibilities they never imagined. Your prayers and encouragement will keep students in school and engaged in the learning process. Your prayers will strengthen teachers as we endeavor to impart our knowledge. Your prayers make a difference.

            I want to encourage you to pray for everyone in your educational system. Pray for the bus drivers and cafeteria workers all the way up to the superintendent. Pray for your kids, the neighborhood kids, your grandkids, for all the students who will be returning to schools…including private and home-schoolers. Teachers need your prayers if we hope to have a positive influence on the students who will fill our classrooms. I love being a teacher and the opportunity it gives me to influence lives. Let’s all hope and pray it will be a great year!

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

Personal note: My Dad passed away and I wanted to share his obit with you….

Dennis Joseph Creamer

November 22, 1932 to August 5, 2025

Dennis was a man with a slow smile who liked to debate the tough questions in life.  He found many amazing people that would tolerate his persistence.

Dennis was an Army veteran that served in Korea.  He was deeply moved by the respect that he was shown as a veteran  when he took the Triad Honor Flight to Washington DC.

Having worked ever since he was a young boy delivering papers to the neighbors in Scranton, working his way up in the auto industry, and going into business for himself; Dennis was not prepared to give up meaningful employment when he retired from Nypro Carolina and just play golf. He enjoyed a variety of second careers that allowed time for golf and travel; bus driver and then Head of Transportation at Greensboro Day, Uber Driver and Valet car parker at the airport. He enjoyed traveling and experiencing new places.  Morocco, Moscow and Leningrad Russia (in the winter), Mexico, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, New England and a Holiday Tours Bus trip all the way to Deadwood, South Dakota and back. His favorite trip was to Boston where he saw his beloved Red Sox play two games in Fenway Park. He also enjoyed cruising and people-watching on the ships. One of the special cruises was around Cape Horn from Chile to Argentina and another included Canada, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and Norway. He also cruised the Mediterranean and the Caribbean Seas and traversed the Panama Canal. During one trip he and Linda snuck on the famed Pebble Beach golf course.  When he wasn’t working or traveling, you could find him playing Senior golf at Iron Play and kibbitzing with his buddies.  He managed to hit a hole in one at the age of 90. Retirement turned out to be enjoyable.

Dennis is survived by his beautiful partner Linda Branch, children Denise (Tucker) Ritner, Dennis (Beth) Creamer, Doug (Marissa) Creamer, and Deborah (Jon) Hall, 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday August 24 at 1:00 pm at Hanes Lineberry 515 N Elm Street, Greensboro, NC.  If you plan to attend the service, come prepared to explain why.

In lieu of flowers or gifts please consider a donation to Triad Honor Flight https://www.triadhonorflight.org/donate/