Are You Infectious?

by   February 22, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

                There have been a number of people I know who have been suffering from flu, RSV, or Covid. I have also heard people coughing in stores. I find myself wondering, “are you contagious?” I don’t want to get sick. I don’t have two weeks of my life to spend in bed getting over whatever it is that someone else is dealing with right now. I try to be careful and wash my hands and stay away from people who appear to be fighting some kind of illness.

                I struggle all year long with allergies, which are different from being sick. I don’t need to add sickness to my allergies. I went for my semi-annual check up with my doctor the other day. There was a woman in the waiting area who appeared to be sick. Another woman came out of the office who was obviously sick. The woman in the waiting area asked, “Have you got it, too?” I thought about what I observed. Both women, who knew they were sick, were considerate enough to have been wearing masks to protect others from whatever infectious thing they had.

                When I was a kid chickenpox was making the rounds. At the time, doctors told parents to expose their other children and go ahead and get it over with in their household. It is very contagious and kids passed it around like candy. We know now that was not a good idea because the chickenpox virus is what can cause us to get shingles later in life. Thanks, Doc!

                Our knowledge about infectious viruses grows as time moves on. We do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. We hope that most people will be considerate of others when they are contagious to stay home and try to get better before being around others and sharing their germs.

                The idea of being infectious or contagious has been tumbling around in my mind. I have been wondering if we have the kind of faith that is infectious or contagious. Do we live our lives in such a way that those around us could “catch it?” Are we living so others are attracted to our faith?

                The Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season to give the reason for our hope. Our hope comes through our faith in God. We have a relationship with the living God and we can’t stop talking about it. Have you ever been around a newlywed couple? They can’t keep their hands off each other. They look like their eyes are glazed over. No one in the world exists besides their new spouse. That’s how it should be with our faith in God. Sickeningly contagious!

                I understand the reality of life. We all walk through trials and difficulties, but does that have to keep us from having a contagious faith? Imagine Paul and Silas; they are beaten and whipped, then put in a dungeon with their feet in stocks. They are hurting physically without pain meds. What do they do? They pray and sing hymns to God. WHAT? Guess what happens. The jailer and his entire family came to believe in Jesus. Why? Because in spite of unbearable circumstances their faith in God shone brightly. It was desirable to the jailer. He wanted what they had!

                When we find ourselves in the middle of difficulties we can’t walk around defeated. We can acknowledge the facts but we need to express our faith in God who we know and believe will come through for us. That kind of faith is contagious. It’s easy to have faith when everything is going great, but can we express our faith in God when things are not going our way? Do we believe that He can work all things out for us in a favorable way? When the doctor report isn’t great or circumstances are challenging us at every turn, can we and do we depend on God to help us overcome our circumstances?

                I want to encourage you to remember that God is on your side. He sees your problems and difficulties and knows the path to a better place. I know you trust Him because He has come through for you in the past. Express your faith in Him for your current situation because He will be faithful to you. When we can live expressing our faith during the trials of life we will have a contagious faith. We will have the kind of faith that others desire for themselves. The world around us needs to be infected; are you contagious? 

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

Everybody’s Doing It

by   February 21, 2025 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

The ride on the stationary bike was damp and chilly this mid-February morning. However, what I saw in the world of birds on and around the feeders in our back yard confirmed a suspicion of mine formed last week.

Riding along, I saw more than one bird fussing with another, and not always for the sunflower seeds in the feeders and on the ground underneath them. It seemed that everywhere in the back-yard birds were glaring at each other or chasing another of the same breed or carrying on in a frenzy of, yes, spring. Perhaps the most dramatic display was by two brown thrashers: One would chase the other until the chased thrasher turned as if to scold the chaser who retreated a few paces. Then they would individually hunt for seeds, then the chase would begin anew. I finally lost sight of them when they disappeared into one of the large azaleas. The morning ride was easier because I watched the birds instead of the bike odometer, and the time of exercise was past.

However, as I later thought of the birds’ display of early mating, I thought of how the important cycles of the world go on, often without our noticing. We get so captivated by secular happenings we lose sight of the ageless cycles of life of our only planet. But the words of Solomon should be remembered and appreciated each day: “To everything there is a season….”

The natural world has much to offer. Yes, it is violent and harsh at times. Yes, it is beautiful and refreshing at times. But we are to be its stewards “to dress it and to keep it.” Yet, when we get too obsessed with the secular world we have made, such as the political one, we lose sight and appreciation of the natural world that surrounds us. When we become too self-important, we forget that we are just one of the many creations of Him. We are made in His image, yes, but if we allow that fact to “go to our heads” we run the risk of losing sight of our place in the totality of life.

All the birds are doing it—preparing for a new cycle of life. They, like the lily of the field, do what they do. Perhaps if we each got out more, leaving the cell phone in the house, and walk around our block, seeing the world as it is and not as some news channel reports it, we would see that we only have each other, all of us made by Him, who does not make trash.

Closing Out Winter Flight

by   February 20, 2025 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Closing Out Winter Flight!

    A chilly and cloudy morning became a sunny afternoon in the mid-50s with little wind, a perfect day for runners and walkers. Registration was down some for the 42nd Annual Forum Fitness Winter Flight 8K/5K and Fun Run but the event still had plenty of energy. Five states were represented and one special participant, David Rushe, came from Ireland.

   Rushe works for the Magellan Aviation Group, an aircraft parts firm based between North Carolina and the West of Ireland. He said, “I am in the process of relocating to Charlotte for a time. and my colleague, Amanda Dunn, who is a keen runner, recommended I come to Salisbury with her and her daughter Morgan, for the 8K. I have run a few Dublin marathons in the past, but never an organized race in the USA. It was a great experience and a fast course!  Also, as a train nerd, I managed to take a spin around the NC Transportation Museum in nearby East Spencer.”

     A fast half mile fun run on the track, free and open to all ages, was won easily by Drew Adams of Salisbury in 2:58. The top female was Hadley Bryan in 3:34. The wheelchair race was next with five participants from Ainsley’s Angels, regular participants with handicapped riders pushed by able bodied runners. 60-year-old Bill Johncock pushed his son, Logan Johncock, to a fantastic wheelchair time of 37:37 over the 8K course. Johncock thanked race organizers for providing the Angels the no-charge opportunity to compete each year at Winter Flight.

      Just before the start of the 8K/5K race, Neil Wilkinson, who has traveled America doing the National Anthem, once again wowed the participants and spectators with his rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. With that, the 8K and 5K runners and walkers soon hit the pavement. Blowing Rock’s Daniel Shaffer was the class of the field as he took a quick lead in time to capture cash for the first male to the mile on the way to a sizzling 8K winning time of 24 minutes and 15 seconds, a 4:52 per mile average.

       Tristin Van Ord and Ann Marie Tuxbury, both also of Blowing Rock, had a close battle for the female 8K win until Van Ord pulled away for a 27:17 win. Tuxbury took the first to the mile award.

       Top Rowan County 8K runners were Brad Mueller of Salisbury with a time of 27:50 and Rebekah Julian of China Grove who clocked at 39:02. The 8K was the NC State Championship event, with Shaffer and Van Ord taking those honors.

     Jacob Willis of Manassas, Virginia, won the 5K in 17:33, while Elizabeth Taylor of Salisbury was the top female with her finish time of 24:42.

     As Kyna Grubb, Executive Director of Rowan Helping Ministries says, “The real winners were the clients of Rowan Helping Ministries.” All proceeds for the event went to Rowan Helping Ministries, just as they have for many years. In addition to The Forum, other primary sponsors were Catawba College, host for the event, the City of Salisbury, Global Contact Services, David Post Law, The Trophy House, Debbie Suggs Catering, Millbridge Ruritans and First Horizon Bank. Over 50 sponsors supported the event.

       Speaking of winners, Grubb won the Skinny Wheels Pedals and Pints gravel bike raffle, a first for Winter Flight and with 643 tickets sold. Winter Flight commemorative hoodies are available at The Forum for $15 and two for $25, with every dollar of those sales also going to Rowan Helping Ministries. Besides the City of Salisbury, which provided police and fire coverage for the historic event, other communities supplying police coverage were Faith, Granite Quarry, Landis and Rockwell.

     With experienced planning, good work and good fortune, race day came together extremely well. 11 cases of water were left at the finish line, and all but two bottles were used. Those went to the timing team after all the runners had left for the gym and the real refreshment area, where more than 160 awards were given out. Next year’s tentative date for Winter Flight is February 1st. Thanks to all who participated, volunteered and sponsored!

    From a previous column, you can now contact Stu Stepp’s stroke support group at Stu.stepp@rccc.edu

     Our next race locally is the ‘Will Run for Food’ 5K and Fun Run at Centenary Methodist Church on Saturday, February 22nd. This and other upcoming events are listed on the race calendar at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Closing out Winter Flight

Staggering Like a Drunk

by   February 19, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

“‘Lord help!’ they cried in their trouble and He saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as He bought them safely into harbor!”

This little passage is from Psalm 107: 27. It’s about men caught in a storm on the sea. Some of my family went deep sea fishing and got caught in a similar situation. Not knowing they’d spent the day tossing their cookies, I called out as they returned. “Y’all wash up. We’ve got lasagna for supper!” A collective moan went out from the group. A good time was not had by all.

Are you caught in a storm? Are you staggering from the waves that just won’t quit? Currently we are too. But that’s a story for another day. Sometimes all we CAN do is call out “Lord help!” and beg for a little stillness. Soon, child of God. He will bring us safely into harbor.

Can’t Be Afraid

by   February 19, 2025 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  • Challenges there will always be.  Varied, more intense and less intense, but troubles are not uncommon.
  • The Lord has us covered and expects us to not react or be anxious about them because where fear and panic is faith is gone.
  • It is for us to give thanks and to pray and to ask God what we need so that we may have His peace in the midst of any storm. 

Prayer: Lord I do receive Your peace and thank You that You have paid the price for me to have the fullness of that peace and I will focus and give You thanks and tell You of my needs trusting that You will take care of me.  Amen. 
 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

More

by   February 18, 2025 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

MORE

Happy New Year!

We all say it.

We all hope for it.

As one year ends and another begins, we tend to take a look back and also take a look forward to our future.

No matter what we are or no matter where we are, God has more in store for us.

A career in education left me acknowledging and celebrating pretty much every special occasion listed on a calendar, along with student birthdays. Special days were always talked about within my classroom, and were also celebrated whenever and however possible. My intake of cupcakes with my students to celebrate events was quite large – and quite enjoyable.

The special days in life are often anticipated far ahead of time and celebrated to a great degree.

The older I get, special occasions still rise to the top of my list. The New Year has never been a favorite, because it mostly has reminded me that Christmas is over and it is time to get back to work. Also, the requirement to stay up until past 12am has never been of interest to me, other than the year 2000, when we all waited up to see if the world was going to end.

I have always had friends who insist that we all pick a WORD for the new year.

Last year, my word was REST.

Of course that was a failure. I did not rest. I tried out the concept the first weekend, and even tried to take a nap, but it did not happen. Napping, apparently, is not a concept I understand.

So, I am giving the concept of a word for the year one more chance.

 My word for 2025 is MORE.

That is because there is MORE in store for us:

Look back –  to where God brought you from.

Look ahead  – to what God will do for you.

Look within – to who you really are.

Look up – to who God really is.

God supplies bread for our daily needs, forgiveness for our daily sins, and strength for our daily burdens. What a mighty God we serve!

Lord, help us in every circumstance to be content with that which comes every day from Your Merciful Hand.

My MORE in 2025 is to trust Jesus MORE!

To do MORE for Jesus!

To be MORE for Jesus!

Will you join me?

 For we are MORE than conquerors through HIM that loves us!

Let me know your word for 2025 at annfarabee@gmail.com.

Sleepless in Salisbury – D

by   February 17, 2025 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

“Delight thyself also in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4

When the Lord and His goodness becomes our joy, our mindset changes. Instead of toddlers begging for new toys, we become more interested in what God’s very best entails. Things like strength for the day, the ability to love others in all their messiness; and best of all, the grace to forgive ourselves as we draw near to our God. Bonus verse: James 4:8 invites us to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Think on these things as you dwell in His care tonight.

Godsmacked

by   February 16, 2025 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

When was the last time you were gobsmacked by love as a recipient or by learning of someone else’s love for another? I’m not talking about another predictable Hallmark love story or a fictional reel on social media created for views. I mean a genuine love story that defies all reason and logic – someone expressing utterly selfless love, and perhaps the recipient doesn’t reciprocate, seems aloof to it, or flat-out rejects it (and no, I’m not alluding to parents and teens).

Our congregation at Mission Bible Church has been reading through Hosea in our reading plan and learning more through a sermon series. The gripping story of Hosea and Gomer is one for the ages. While that is an intriguing story (I would love to have dinner with Gomer as one of my “who would you like to have dinner with from the past?” hypotheticals), it pales in comparison to the greater story God wanted His children to see. 

The divided nations of Israel and Judah both fell into rejecting God (one had a few better kings, but both nations had real issues). Hearts were prone to wickedness. They combined forms of true worship with wicked, pagan worship – child sacrifice, for example. The spiritual leaders of the temples built for their own God were either drunk or bought out for money to do the bidding of wicked kings. When God would woo them, they would put out a stiff hand of rejection. When He would allow them to fall into the hands of pagans they admired as a way to discipline them and give them what they thought they wanted, they still would not return fully to Him in humility. Hosea 11:4 says God “bent down to them to them and fed them”, but verse 7 shows that the people were “bent on turning away from [Him].”

God has perfect feelings. He expresses further in chapter 11, “Though they call out to the Most High, He shall not raise them up at all.” He follows that immediately with, “How can I give you up…How can I hand you over…? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.” God had every right to reject them as His people, or at least in the eyes of modern man. But God says, “I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath” (Hosea 11:9).

Imagine the modern-day advice if you were in a similar situation. You may have experienced someone taking advantage of you, not appreciating all you selflessly do, or turning on you to pursue something or someone contrary to all you hold dear in your life with them. The modern advice: “cut them out” or “cancel them.” In our imperfect human forms, sometimes that is the best way to survive in our broken world. But God can take it because His goal is to have His children back. 

How can He do this? Why doesn’t He wipe us off the face of the earth when we betray Him and reject His love for us?  Because God is faithful to His promises, to His divine character, and to what He reveals about Himself: “The Lord, our Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (fun scavenger hunt – look up this phrase or derivatives of it throughout the Bible).

The holy, perfect nature of God is merciful and patient. It flows from Him effortlessly. Wow, what an unbelievable love – one that pursues us in various ways, sometimes allows us to be left to our own devices, and is faithful in His love towards us! Have you been gobsmacked by it yet?

Ashlie Miller writes from Concord, NC. You can email her at: mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Unforgettable

by   February 15, 2025 with No Comments

Steve Hartman shares a Valentine’s Story that is truly unforgettable. How do you keep a marriage together to almost 70 years…. Watch and learn! Enjoy!

Being There

by   February 15, 2025 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Since I retired I have attended many funerals. Friends and several church members have gone home to be with the Lord. Being retired gives me the opportunity to be there for my friends and family during their time of need. I never know what to say to the family other than I am sorry for their loss. 

I went to a funeral this week for my Sunday school teacher’s husband. I have been to their home several times as they hosted Christmas parties for our class. He always made me feel so welcome to their home. He served in many different diplomatic positions for our government here at home and abroad. He and his wife have served and traveled to many nations around the world.

His experience gave him a great understanding of politics. He personally knew many politicians, and served in multiple administrations including President Ford’s administration. He had insights about where our country is and where we are going. I enjoyed the opportunities to talk with him and get his perspective on current events, issues, and politics. He was a man who had great insight into how our country works and I know he will be greatly missed.  

I think funerals can be very insightful. I love to hear the speakers as they share stories and reflect on the individual being honored. It’s okay to laugh at a funeral if someone shares a humorous story. It’s good to share the pain of the family as they deal with the loss of their loved one. Today my heart was moved by the passionate singing of an old friend who has the voice of an angel.

It’s hard to understand the impact your presence brings at funerals for the family who is struggling with their loss. While I am a writer and I work with words all the time, I struggle to find the right words of comfort to offer families who have lost loved ones. I have come to understand that words are not necessary, it’s the love and support we bring that makes all the difference. I am always glad that I went to the funeral so the family knows my heart is with them. Someday we are all going to find ourselves standing in their place and we will be glad when others show up for us.

When it comes down to it, it’s not just funerals when we find ourselves in need of people’s love and support. We might be struggling with depression, anxiety, health issues, loss of a job, or some other difficult situations where we need our brothers and sisters in Christ to stand with us. God did not intend for us to make our life’s journey alone. We were created to be together, to come together, to stand together, and sometimes to sit and cry together as we experience the challenges life brings our way.

I like praying alone and with others. When we pray, we hope God will intervene in our situation and keep us from having to walk through the trials and challenges of life. I have witnessed firsthand how God can heal and deliver someone. What a great celebration that brings when we see God’s miraculous hand at work in our lives.

But what happens when God doesn’t move, doesn’t heal, or doesn’t deliver us? We are forced to go THROUGH the challenge. We don’t want to go through, we want to be delivered. Sometimes when we go through we learn so much about God and His incredible love for us. It also reveals the depth of love and support from our spiritual families, which means so much.

That’s what being there is all about. I need you during my challenging times to be there encouraging and challenging me to press on, to keep going, to not give up, to believe God’s promises are for me, and to trust Him when I can’t feel or see Him. Your presence with me can give me the courage to take the next step, to keep moving forward when I want to give up.

I want to encourage you to be there for the people in your life when they are facing difficult and challenging times. I need you and you need me to be there for each other. Your experiences with God can help others who are facing the same challenges you have lived through. Be there. Share your story of hope. Pray and encourage those in need. Let’s take each other’s hand and be there to help each other through life’s challenges. We are not alone and we will get through this thing together.  Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

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