A Broken Road

by   April 15, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

A couple of friends talked over the events of the last few days as they walked along. Sadness was written across their faces as they admitted, “We had hoped…”

Hoped, past tense.

As in, we used to hope, but not anymore.

Have you been there? Have you gone through something so hard that your soul is crushed beyond repair? Someone you love has suddenly been taken… and way too soon. The spouse you trusted tossed you aside like an old shoe. Something you planned and even dared to dream about died, leaving you…

Hopeless.

That’s the feeling of the friends who traveled down the road together. Having witnessed the horrible death of the Person they had closely followed, their hopes were just as dead.

Where do we go from here? How will we ever recover? Is all we’ve believed in been wrong?

A few miles later, they realized they were in the very presence of the risen Lord!

That first Easter morning changed everything.

The powerful Son of God stepped from the grave to prove the hopeless wrong. Since death cannot defeat Him, how could anything else? What could separate us from the love of God?

Our fears?

Our loss?

Our worries?

Things changed in an instant! The moment He was raised from the dead, hope was forever restored! Do we dare to trust Him?

“O death where is thy victory?! O grave where is thy sting?”

Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ!

All creation shouts with joy on Easter Sunday morning! Our Creator lives, and reigns with power over any circumstance that brings suffering to His beloved ones. With the strong arms of a Shepherd, He reaches out to pull us close to His heart as He gently leads us home. Not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love as we walk in the presence of the risen Lord!

Praise His sweet holy Name! Our conquering King lives!

And there is hope!

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You can read about the friends traveling to Emmaus when Jesus suddenly appeared and walked with them in Luke 24:13-34. Romans 8:1 helps us understand that we are no longer condemned by God when we trust His Son as our sacrifice for sin. There’s more about His great love for you personally in Romans 8:23-39.

Call out to Him. He’s waiting for the time when you and He can walk the broken road of life together. This wonderful God of all creation longs to adopt you as His very own. What a “Blessed Hope!”

Use Your Words

by   April 12, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.

You’ve probably heard something like that, maybe you’ve even quoted it. I did not choose to put it in quotes because it turns out Francis of Assisi did not actually say that. There are plenty of articles and even books on the misattributed quote, so I will not elaborate on its inauthenticity. But, explore the idea of the quote, we will.

Imagine serving in a church all your life. It’s all you’ve ever known. You practically live at church. It is said you even serve before the presence of the Lord. I’m not talking about modern pastors’ kids (PKs), although my kids would probably assume this paragraph is about them. If anyone would know God, you would assume someone serving and growing before God would, well, know Him.

Turns out, when it comes to knowing God, words are necessary. 1 Samuel 3 gives the account of a boy (Samuel) who has been serving in the temple since he was a weaned toddler, along with the priest Eli. He slept near the ark of the covenant, where the Bible tells us God’s presence dwelt. Yet the account tells us that Samuel did not yet know the LORD because God had not yet revealed His Word to him. God’s revealed word (by speaking to Samuel) was necessary for knowing Him intimately.

I love nature and know that God reveals His divine power and attributes through His creation (see Romans 1:20). That may draw me in to seek the Creator and learn the purpose and plan of redemption found only through the revealed word in Scripture, but alone, nature is not enough to learn that.

I love seeing kindness in both public and private settings. When I was younger, I would assume most anyone who was nice was probably a Christian. A very limiting assumption. Worldly kindness does not produce long-lasting, satisfying fruit. It may still be a welcome kindness, but it differs from the kind of kindness that Christians should live out daily. Our actions should back up what we say. But what are we saying? Or are we even saying anything? Would anyone know what motivates a Christian to behave kindly, others-focused, and consistent with their beliefs if they never open their mouths?

“Use your words,” many parents will say as a child works through a whiny tantrum. Their actions are not enough to clearly communicate their need. “Lord, please send somebody to tell my loved one about Jesus,” many a praying Grandmother has cried out over the years. She knows that kind actions won’t be enough for her loved one. He needs words. She knows what Romans 10:14 says, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Preaching is proclaiming. Proclaiming is using words out loud.

To ignore using words for the Gospel is to ignore who the Gospel is about – Jesus, also called the Word. Clearly, as Christians, our words must be backed with action, but there must be words for clarity. Christians, why are you doing the good that you do?  Use your words.

Family Gatherings

by   April 11, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Family Gatherings

            For a number of years my brother has been hosting four holiday gatherings: Easter, July Fourth, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Everyone brings something and there is always more than enough food. These are not just family gatherings; there are many friends and neighbors who join our festivities…but they would be the first to tell you that they are welcomed as if they were family.

            This year for Easter we had three babies in attendance, all the way up to my mother who is in her nineties. The three babies were my sister’s grandchildren, and boy was she happy. The rain tried to put a damper on the fun but leave it to my brother’s son to amp it up. We had the Easter egg hunt inside. For a number of years it has not been limited to children. Everyone gets to hunt for eggs. There is nothing like seeing seniors getting excited over finding hidden Easter eggs.

            The plastic eggs contain candy and play money. The play money is used to buy prizes. The prize table included candy, golf balls, jewelry, flashlights, coloring books, Lego toys, toy planes, and more. My sister-in-law and I are always in competition for the Junior Mints. Last year she won. This year I won and I shared some with her.

            Several of the adults wondered if Easter was more fun than Christmas as we watched the little kids having a blast. I brought some plastic eggs and put some real money in them. One of the adults found one of my eggs and had more fun showing people that she had found “real” money in one of her eggs. The joy and laughter were contagious.

            As things were beginning to wind down, one of my late father’s friends who has joined us recently for our gatherings said he wanted to make an announcement. Naturally, we all suspected he was going to say something about Dad. He said he couldn’t think of a more joyful moment to do something special. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring he had “bought” from the prize table with his play money and asked his lady friend if she would marry him. He promised her a real ring if she agreed. She said “yes” and the place erupted with cheers! What a special day!

            Easter is a wonderful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. We have to remember that the resurrection couldn’t have happened unless He died on the cross for us. Jesus paid the highest price to pay a debt we could not pay so we could be in His family. Everyone is welcome in the family of God. All you have to do is open your heart and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

            When we accept Jesus it’s like we enter an engagement period. We wait here for Him to come back for us or we go to Him. One day our whole family will gather for a great feast and we will be together forever. I am not exactly sure what that will feel like or how it will look, but if it has any comparison to family gatherings at my brother’s house then count me in.

            The engagement time in a relationship is a special time when you get to know each other in a deeper and more meaningful way. Many churches encourage you to participate in some marriage counseling. We had a wonderful couple that spent time with us and it helped prepare us for married life. In the same way, this is our time to get to know Jesus, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. We can spend time in His word, His love letter to us, in prayer, having conversations with Him, and being connected and involved with our brothers and sisters in Christ through joining a local church. We need to prepare for the big wedding day!

            I want to encourage you to let your love grow deeper as you build your relationship with Jesus. He is working to prepare your beautiful home and a great feast for your arrival. I think that spring and the awakening of Mother Nature can be breath-taking at times, but it is nothing compared to the wonder and beauty that awaits us in heaven. Don’t miss out on the great gathering in heaven. Accept Jesus’ invitation, receive Him in your heart, and learn to walk by faith with Him. Come just as you are…He loves and accepts all who will turn to Him. Happy Belated Easter! He has risen indeed!

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

Do It This Way

by   April 10, 2026 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

Pastor Clarence Jordan showed us how.

In November 1942 he and Martin England, a Baptist missionary to Burma, placed a $2,500 down payment on a run-down farm eight miles southwest of Americus, Georgia. They named the scarred and eroded acres Koinonia Farm and began living the Sermon on the Mount as they worked to turn their purchase into a place guided by Jesus’ message in Matthew 5-7.

As a doctoral student in Greek at Louisville Seminary, Jordan did not just read the words of Jesus, but he began to use them as his guide for living each day. It was his firm  belief in those words that guided him to begin Koinonia Farm as a place for justice and equality during the days of a world war, the Ku Klux Klan, Senator Joe McCarthy, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, civil rights struggles, and more. His world, like ours, was divided. However, he remained loyal to the best sermon ever spoken and withstood attacks by the KKK and harassment by the FBI and local churches. In fact, because he brought a black man to a Christmas Eve service at his own Baptist church, the church told him not to return.

Pastor Jordan lived the words of Matthew 5:44 that tell us to love our enemies and at Koinonia Farm he showed us that it is not only possible, but better for us, to follow the Sermon on the Mount.

Koinonia Farm still operates today, and many scrumptious food items may be ordered from its website. I recommend Clarence Jordan, Essential Writings, edited by Joyce Hollyday, (Orbis publication) as a good primer on this man who showed us how to live during difficult times.

Ask, Believe, Work!

by   April 9, 2026 with No Comments

Steve Harvey explains that we have to ask God, believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, and THEN we have to WORK! It takes hard work… His work… Listen and let Steve explain it to you….

National Champ at Catawba

by   April 9, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Stephens is First Ever National Champ at Catawba College

  Miles Stephens, a senior from Bradenton, Florida, became the first national champion, either team or individual, in any sport at Catawba College. On March 14th. he won the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.76 seconds in the Division ll Indoor Meet at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Catawba Track and Cross-Country Coach Jason Bryan said, “Miles was ranked 10th going into the meet and had only finished fourth at the SAC Conference Meet two weeks prior to this performance. This shows just how strong our conference is, yet Miles’ time was the eighth fastest in Dll history. Cheerleading did win a national meet back in 2000, but it was an unofficial and non-sanctioned meet.”

     Stephens said, “Going into the competition I knew I had an opportunity to win based off my progression and training the past few weeks. Despite the results of our conference championship, I knew I could still win on the biggest stage of the season no matter what had happened previously.  After advancing through the prelims with the third best time, I knew I could run much faster in the final. Ultimately, the next day all I needed to do was execute by trusting in my body and my coach to finish what I set out to do. After winning my heat, I knew I had to wait for the finishing times from the second heat to see whether I won overall, so I couldn’t celebrate too much yet. I was excited with the time that I ran!  Finally, after seeing the second heat wasn’t as fast and that my time had won, I was ecstatic and didn’t know what to think! It didn’t really hit me for a couple days that I had won a national championship, but it got me even more excited for our outdoor season and so on. Going into this year, I didn’t have the same expectations that I do now for myself. I’m excited to continue competing for Catawba college, my coaches, and my teammates.”

     Stephens credits his mom as his main support person and knows he wouldn’t be where he is now without her. Stephens started running track as a senior in high school at Braden River High School after playing soccer earlier.

     Stephens added, “The greatest takeaway from my experiences at Catawba is that everything happens for a reason. I ended up at Catawba after Coach Bryan took notice of me at the Last Chance Track Meet before the 2024 Outdoor National Championship. After my last race, I entered the portal, and he reached out to me almost immediately to let me know more about Catawba and the program. After going on visits and talking to several schools, I ended up going with Catawba for both academic and athletic reasons. I’ve enjoyed my experience so far at Catawba, even through the adversity and change I had to experience.”

     The sprint coach that Stephens was training under ended up leaving during his first semester at Catawba. Going into his first competition, Stephens didn’t know what to expect. He said, “In that first race, I ran the #1 time in the country in the 60 meter and set a personal best and school record, which helped me know I was on the right path and that coming to Catawba was worth it. I’ve learned at Catawba that there are several ups and downs in a journey towards my goal, but ultimately, anything is possible.  I’m glad to be able to give back to the coaches, teammates, and program that helped lift me up and give me this opportunity to compete on the biggest stage and win our school’s first national championship.”

    Stephens plans to graduate this spring after completing his bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and afterwards, he would like to work here in North Carolina. Stephens added, “It would be a luxury to run after college and continue competing, but I also want to give back to my mom and also venture into the next path in my life outside of track. I’d like to work in either banking or financial management. If I could, I would also be interested in coaching youth, not only as a coach but as someone who can share similar experiences in this world that’s changing so fast.”

     Our next local event is the West Rowan Bible Teachers 5K at Cleveland on April 18th. Look for this and other events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Stephens is first national champ at Catawba College

A Picture of Grace

by   April 8, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

He looked through the woods as we drove. “Easter comes early this year. I wonder if the dogwoods will be ready?”

Like him I hoped so. They are such a beautiful picture of grace.

Have you noticed how much Jesus loved visuals? As He spoke of worry, He pointed to wildflowers. Instead of just saying that God would provide, He referred to the birds. I bet it gave Him much pleasure to create the dogwood.

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Look at this stunning visual of His sacrifice. Each cross shaped blossom displays blood stained “wounds.” Each center exhibits a “crown of thorns” as if the very heart of God shouts, “This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!”

Let’s fall to our knees and worship this God Who draws us to Himself.

All heaven and nature point to Him.

How can we do less?

“For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” -2Corinthians5:21

“O God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.“

Praise God for His beautiful Son!

Compassion

by   April 7, 2026 with No Comments

Steve Hartman tells the story of a school that had compassion on a deaf student. It took one friend and it took off. We can all learn a valuable lesson from this one little boy who changed….everything! ENJOY!!!

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