Wisdom from the Year

by   April 18, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Wisdom from the Year

            I made it around the sun one more time. I turned another year older and I am okay with that. I really don’t mind adding another year to my life except for those zero years… when I change decades. I had a good birthday weekend. I appreciate all the well wishes from my family and friends.

            My brother asked me if I had gained any wisdom on this last trip around the sun. Initially, I drew a blank, but upon further reflection, maybe I did learn a few lessons on this trip. I think one of the most important things I learned was to appreciate every moment you get with those that you love. My Dad typically called me on my birthday, but this year he wasn’t here to call me. The last time I saw him in relatively good health was on July 4th. I remember we shared a fun memory and a good laugh. We all lead busy lives, making it hard to slow down and be present. It’s important to be together and connect with those you love. Our family has suffered a number of losses in the last year and a half.

            I’ve been reminded that it is important to celebrate others’ joys. My family has grown by three nieces. It was a great blessing to get the three of them together on Easter Sunday. New babies represent new hope in families and we need an infusion of hope in our family after our losses. The babies are cute and the excitement about them is contagious. We also had a wedding in our family. That was a special day. It was also another way our family grew.

            One lesson I am struggling to learn is asking for help. I’ve had to ask for help multiple times this year and I really appreciate those who have offered their service. Lifting heavy things can cause my back some trouble. Climbing on the roof is probably off my list, too. I’ve had to ask friends for help with things around the house. I realize that as I make more trips around the sun that I am going to have to ask for help more often. That’s a tough lesson, but I hope I can bless those who offer their kindness and service to me.

            One of the tougher lessons I am still learning is that I can’t be at everything. I don’t like missing gatherings and disappointing people, but I can’t attend every gathering. A friend recently reminded me that we all need some down time. I am finding that I really enjoy days when I don’t have things on my calendar. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy gathering with friends and family tremendously, but I enjoy some quiet moments equally as well.

            Another important lesson has been learning to take care of myself. It takes longer to recover from sickness and injuries as I age. Taking walks is good for my physical body but also for my mental health. Eating good food and avoiding foods that bother me is becoming more important. Taking my vitamins and getting proper rest is very important. We have to focus on taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually as we grow older.

            Some lessons I learned in my garden. Last year I added some soil to help my vegetables grow and I worked hard at getting things planted. Even though I got a late start, I expected a nice harvest. We had a hot growing season last year which reduced my harvest. Critters also helped themselves before I could benefit from the garden. Life is like that. We can do and say all the right things but life might give us a gut punch. We can think that everything is working against us and discover rewards we never expected. Life and gardening are full of surprises, some warmly welcomed and some difficult and challenging.

            Those are some of the lessons from this journey around the sun. I want to encourage you to reflect back on your trip and consider the lessons you learned and relive the joys that brought a smile to your face. Life has many ups and downs offering us lessons each step of the way. Remember to hug those you love and let them know how much they mean to you. Embrace the challenges to grow and become a better you. Don’t forget to slow down and smell the flowers, live in the moment, and love those near and dear to your heart. Remember to never stop learning. There are many lessons ahead for each one of us.

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

A Watch Over Our Mouths

by   April 17, 2026 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

  • Life and death is certainly in the tongue and what comes out defiles rather than what goes in.
  • So much has been done in years gone by with what was said or not said.
  • The godly wise person watches carefully what comes out of the mouth and takes great care with words.

Prayer:  Lord I ask You to help me and put a watch in front of my mouth that I will not speak quickly or irrationally or impulsively or foolishly, but to be very wise with the words that I use that they will glorify You and bring life to me rather than ruin to me or my household.  Teach me Your ways Lord.  Amen. 

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Special Olympics Torch Run

by   April 16, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Special Olympics Torch Run

    Once a year, the Special Olympics Torch Run crosses North Carolina on the way to the state games. North Carolina’s Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest year-round fundraising campaign for Special Olympics in the state, with nearly 2,000 law enforcement personnel participating annually. The 2026 season features multiple events leading up to the Final Leg on May 29, when the Flame of Hope culminates at the Special Olympics NC Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Raleigh.

    One of my favorite days of the year is when the torch passes through Salisbury and continues to Spencer. Not only has it been one of my favorite days, but May 15th, 2024, was one of the most important days of my life. I didn’t run first thing that Thursday morning because it was Torch Run day, meaning just over six miles waited for me later during a humid mid-morning.

    I had a breakfast event and then headed to Airport Road and Main Street, next to the Speedway convenience store and joined good friends Adalie Harrison, Joel Whittington and about 50 others with law enforcement or government ties to start our part of the Torch Run just after 10am. We stopped at Stallings Baptist for water and a bathroom break, then on to Bell Tower Green to meet some Special Olympics athletes and greet several local dignitaries near the stage.

    Then came the rest of the run on to my favorite car wash in Spencer where we finish each year. Nothing about this run is a race because the pace is held to about 12-minute miles. There are a few hills, but just as much downhill as uphill. The torch is only carried by the law enforcement personnel, and they are usually just behind the lead vehicle. Salisbury Police and Fire keep the runners safe along with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department while many of them participate in the run too.

     Lots of photos are made before, along the way and at the end, in fact running with the torch is a big celebration and a fantastic memory. Any running event is good for me, but the best occur when the funds raised are headed toward a great cause, as certainly this one is.

      This year, Salisbury PD Sgt. Adam Bouk and Sgt. Meredith Walker, who coordinate the NCLETR, have opened the event to other runners. The only requirement is to purchase an LETR shirt for $25 and run a 12-minute pace. Transportation will be provided back to your vehicle, which will be left at the starting point, new this year at The Forum. Commemorative performance and trucker hats are also available at $25 and $30.

     The Torch Run is just one of many events that Bouk and Walker have planned for Special Olympics fundraising. Bouk said, “Our fundraising goal is a big one this year! Our goal last year was $15,000 and we hit $24,600. So, we will push for $35,000 this year, Aim high, hit high, I hope!”

    Bouk continued, “There are several of the Rowan County athletes that go to the state games. That is the weekend of May 29-31 this year. We went last year and ran the final leg of the Torch Run, did the opening ceremony and then hung the medals around the athletes’ necks after the games the following day. About 1500 athletes compete free of charge in eight sports. We are going again for the final leg this year as well. All of this has been the highlight of my law enforcement career.”

    During the late afternoon after the Torch Run of May 24th, 2024, I fell in a farming accident and broke my back. A long recovery after that day allowed me the privilege of running again at the Torch Run in May 2025 and I look forward to May 7th to do it again.

    To join in the upcoming Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, call Sgt. Bouk’s office at 704-216-7556 or email him at abouk@salisburync.gov or Sgt. Walker at 704-638-2127 and mwalk@salisburync.gov

     Our next local race is the West Rowan Bible Teachers 5K and Fun Run on April 18th. Look for this, and more upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Special Olympics Torch Run

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.

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