November 5th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
We have a cat that has lived with us for over sixteen years. He is a great cat, friendly, and loving, and he welcomes us home every day when we return from work. He has enjoyed good health up until May of this year. He had a serious health issue in May, for which we have been treating him, and he has been doing well up until last Tuesday. He went through another health crisis last week for which my vet was able to treat him. It was touch-and-go for a little while, but we think we have finally turned the corner.
Last weekend was a long and emotional weekend as we considered the possibility that he may not be with us forever. He’s a wonderful part of our lives and we want to enjoy every minute God allows us to share. Since our first health crisis back in May we have come to appreciate and savor every moment that God allows. While we realize that each of us is faced with a finite future, we don’t like to think about how things will change when he is not around.
Since May we have both spent extra time with him. We pet him and talk to him often. Since we don’t have children, our pets mean a great deal to us. I think this has caused us both to have a deeper appreciation for many aspects of our lives. We appreciate each other more and think more often about family and friends. I try to savor the time that we share, making each moment an indelible memory.
The truth is no one knows how long they have to live. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if we all savored life and our relationships? Time seems to pass quickly. One minute it’s Halloween and before you know it Christmas will be here and gone. We have to learn to enjoy the moment we are living in right now. It’s good to look forward to things like the holidays, but we have to be careful that we don’t miss the here and now because we are so focused on what will happen down the road.
I think God wants us to appreciate each and every day. How many times have you seen a sunrise and taken even a few seconds to appreciate God’s handiwork? When a rainbow appears in the sky, do you stop and enjoy the beauty? Do you ever sit and listen to it rain? Do you like to watch it snow? Have you told your children or your parents that you love them lately? Do you thank them when they help you with something?
Each of us has people in out lives that make a positive difference for us. When was the last time you savored time with them? We live in a fast-paced world; it’s hard to slow down and appreciate the people who mean so much to us. Instead of focusing on weaknesses or failures in others, shouldn’t we make positive investments into each other? Shouldn’t we let those who mean the most to us know how we feel about them? Your encouragement could change the course of someone’s life.
When it comes to God, we often rush through quiet time with Him because of our busy schedule. We want God to be there for us through the difficult times, but we are often too busy to spend time with Him on a regular basis. We need to learn to savor His presence in our lives. We are going to spend eternity in heaven with Him; don’t we want to get to know Him now? God wants us to know Him intimately. He wants to be involved in every area of our lives. He wants to be invited in the car with us, to go exercising with us, or to go to the store with us. He wants to reveal more of Himself to us, if we will open the doors of our heart to Him.
I want to encourage you to savor life. Embrace it. Life is full of so many wonderful things and we often miss them because we are so busy. Connect with your loved ones before it is too late. Let your family and friends know how much you love and appreciate them. Create memories that will last a lifetime. Life is short but it can be really sweet if you savor the moments, the people, and yes, the pets that give life its special meaning. Most of all savor the time you have to know and be known by your loving Heavenly Father.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
October 28th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
My wife and I drove up to Asheville last weekend. We take an annual trek up to Asheville to attend the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. As a bonus we get to see and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. The mountains were breath-taking. The colors were incredibly beautiful and the sky was wonderfully clear. There was one mountain as we were heading into Asheville that had a streak of color half way up the slope.
While I enjoy seeing all the colors of fall, I especially enjoy the bright reds that some maples turn at this time of year. The bright color almost seems iridescent on a clear sunny day. Dogwoods turn a deeper red that is equally as beautiful. There are a number of big dogwoods that I pass on my way to work that really catch my eye in both the spring and the fall. I have to admit that I am not much of a fan of the leaves once they have fallen, but while they are on the trees, they are spectacular.
I look forward to the drive up to Asheville every year. We normally arrive at the craft fair right after lunch so the crowds are beginning to thin down. These are true craftsmen who make a living from their talents. We look forward to seeing specific people whose work can be found throughout our home. We are excited to see what they are creating now and how they have been doing since last we met.
Being in such a creative environment inspires me as a writer. Each craftsman has a story that is reflected in his or her work. A particular favorite of mine makes pottery and I have a number of her pieces. She has both of my books; a fun exchange between different artists. She was telling me this time that there is a story behind each of the different shapes she uses in her work and that she wants to write a book about them. I talked with her about that process and encouraged her to pursue it.
Seeing the beauty of fall displayed in such wonder and the gifted craftsmen displaying their work reminds me of God’s creativity. We know he creates the beauty of fall and we know that He is the inspiration behind the artists at the craft show. We serve a mighty and creative God who didn’t stop creating on the sixth day. He continues to produce wonders all around us if only we would slow down long enough to notice.
We work hard in our yard to keep something blooming year round. I try to slow myself down and actually notice and appreciate the beauty we work hard to create. How many times have you driven down the road and noticed a fabulous sunrise or sunset? God is still busy creating beauty for all who would notice His hand at work.
God is not only busy in creation; He is also displaying His creative power in changing people’s lives. God has an amazing ability to change the human condition if people would only call upon Him. He doesn’t work where He is not invited, that’s why some people miss the wonder of His touch in their lives. God can take a seemingly worthless life and turn into something incredibly beautiful. If you stop and think about your life before Christ and what He has done in your life, you will discover a powerful testimony to God’s creativity in your life.
God is a master craftsman at molding the human spirit into a vessel He can use for His purposes. When God’s hands touch our lives it is much like the potter throwing a lump of clay. The potter knows the general shape they desire to create as they begin their work. God sees what we will become long before we arrive. Day by day and through the circumstances, trials, and victories in our lives God is working to make us into the men and women of God He has called us to be. He uses everything in His power to gently mold us into something beautiful.
I want to encourage you to invite God, the Master craftsman, into your life. His touch is amazing because it is filled with love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, peace, and His infinitely creative ability to make you into a beautiful vessel for His glory. God accepts everyone and His touch in your life will change you forever. God has a plan and a unique purpose for you, so place your life in His hands and allow Him to make something beautiful out of your life.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
October 21st 2011 · Read More · No Comments
I really enjoy fall with its cooler days and crisp nights. After a long hot summer, the coolness of fall can feel so refreshing. Fall brings with it many tasks that need to be completed before the arrival of the cold winter nights. Many days in the summer are too hot to be out working in the yard, so the cooler days of fall give me the opportunity to get back outside so I can get some work done.
When we are at risk of some cold nights we have to bring in my wife’s tropical plants. They have had a nice long summer of growth and now we have to squeeze them into the garage where they can stay warm for the winter. Every year it gets harder to get them all in for the winter because they are getting so big. My niece gave us a Norfolk Island Pine many years ago for Christmas. It was about six inches tall. Now it is nearly six feet tall.
Another thing that needs to get done is cleaning out the flower beds. We need to pull up all the annuals and the weeds so we can plant some pansies. Pansies are such wonderful flowers that help to dispel the winter blues. Seeing their beautiful faces can help me be more patient as I wait for the arrival for spring.
We are planning to buy some spring bulbs this year. It seems the blooms on our current bulbs are getting smaller and fewer so we are going to put some fresh bulbs out. I think it is fun to go looking for the bulbs as they peek out in late winter. I can remember daffodils blooming for Valentine’s Day one year. I have some pictures of spring bulbs blooming in the snow. Bulbs and pansies work in tandem to help give us hope that spring is on the way during those cold winter days.
Much of the fall work, which also includes seeding and fertilizing the yard and putting mulch around the flower beds, is done to prepare not only for the winter ahead but for the hope of a fresh new spring. We must prepare the flower beds, sow the bulbs and grass seed if we hope to have good results in the spring. We need to practice these same principles in our spiritual lives if we want spring flowers and a fall harvest.
I believe the seasons are reminders to us that we go through spiritual seasons too. We have times of growth and flowers that lead to a fruitful harvest, which is followed by a season of quiet rejuvenation. We need to recognize the signs in our lives so as we see fall arriving we can prepare our hearts for the winter. We need to understand that quiet times are vitally important in preparing our hearts for new seasons of growth and fruit.
God knows we need to rest and be refreshed so we can prepare our lives for a new harvest. I like the exciting spiritual times and I find it hard to get through the dry winter-like times in my spiritual walk. God designed those times to allow us to rest from our work and to build perseverance in our character.
Another reason God may allow us to walk through winter is that He is jealous. He wants to spend time with us. It may be hard to imagine, but God wants intimate, quality time with us. He wants us to know the depth of His love and to hear His voice, that still whisper that speaks to our hearts. God also wants us to dig into His word to discover fresh new gems, to learn more about Him. We can never totally know God, but He wants to reveal more of Himself to us. Those revelations often come in the quietness that is the winter for our heart.
I want to encourage you no matter what season you find yourself in to press into God. He wants to show you more about Himself than you could ever imagine. If you feel winter coming on, don’t panic. He wants more intimacy with you. Dust off your Bible and read more about Him. Find a quiet place where you can talk with Him. Draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you. The seasons of life will change with time, but God’s desire to reveal Himself to you never does. Draw close to Him and be refreshed by His love, grace, and mercy, and then share that with the world around you.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
October 14th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
I took my DECA students to the State DECA Leadership Conference last weekend. We stayed in a hotel in downtown Raleigh with about two hundred students from across the state. The workshops offered team-building activities, leadership skill training, and gave the students ideas on how to build the local DECA chapter.
I like taking the students to this conference because they come back excited about DECA and ready to get involved in the other activities. I also enjoy going because there is not very much expected from the teachers. I took this opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues about the new Marketing curriculum, which is difficult. Many of us talked about what was working in our classrooms and we shared some good ideas.
DECA, like most school clubs, offers students so many opportunities to experience real life in a competitive environment. There are leadership opportunities on the local, state, and national levels. Students who decide to get involved in state and national leadership opportunities often find that their career path has been enhanced by their experiences. Many big corporations seek out students who fill leadership roles in student run organizations like DECA.
There are so many opportunities in high school for students to gain leadership skills. Every organization on campus, including the band, student government, athletics, and school clubs, give students the opportunity to build the necessary leadership skills in order to excel and accomplish great things in life. The training students will gain through taking on the challenge of leadership will propel them into leadership opportunities in their professional life and within their communities.
I believe the church has the responsibility to raise up the next generation. Specifically, I believe the leaders within a church have the calling to train younger Christians in God’s ways. God tells us in the scripture that His ways are not our ways so the older and more experienced leaders in the church need to teach the younger people how they have experienced God in their personal lives. Experience is a profound and powerful teacher, especially in God’s ways.
It’s my personal opinion that pastors, elders, and deacons need to be working and training the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, I believe if they are really doing their job right, they will work themselves right out of a job. Pastors should be grooming and training new pastors to take over the leadership roles. Elders need to help young men and women understand what it takes to be an effective leader in the body of Christ.
In essence, the leaders of today should be preparing the leaders of tomorrow for their jobs. One of the best ways to train future leaders is to give them responsibility and expect them to rise to the occasion. If they stumble, the seasoned leaders can gather around and support the budding leader in training so they can learn from their mistakes.
Jesus modeled this by taking twelve guys and pouring His life into them. Granted, Jesus lost one, but the other eleven rose to the challenge of growing the church. Jesus sent them out at least twice to practice what they had been learning. A good leader will train those under his charge and give them leadership and management opportunities. One of the best ways to learn something is by doing it. Jesus trained His disciples so they would be doing the work while He was with them. That way when He was gone, they would know what to do. They would know how to lead because they had experience leading.
I want to encourage you to look for opportunities within your church to gain some leadership training. I don’t mean that you need to attend some seminar on how to lead. I am suggesting to you that you need to step up for a leadership role within your church. God needs willing and able people to help lead the church into the future. I understand that everyone is not cut out for leadership, but everyone can find something to do to make our churches run better. You have gifts and talents that God can use to strengthen and equip the younger saints. So get involved and be a part of the process of helping the next generation take the reins of the church.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
October 3rd 2011 · Read More · No Comments
We had homecoming at East Davidson last week. It can be a wild and fun week. There are theme dress up days, a huge pep rally, and the big football game. It is fun to go to the game and see the guys try to win the victory. It is also fun to see who will be elected homecoming queen. I like to stand in the crowd and see my former students. This year I watched a great performance by the band for the half-time show. After it ended they crowned this year’s homecoming king and queen. It was an all around great day.
One of the really fun parts of the day is during the pep rally when the teachers put on a faculty skit. I am not sure why I did not get involved prior to this year, but this year I jumped in with both feet. The teacher who organizes the skit decided that we would do a superhero theme this year. The idea was that an evil villain would come in and capture the homecoming court. Then there would be a need for some superheroes to come free the young ladies from the villain.
The problem was each superhero had flaws. Superman and Wonder Woman had become overweight and were unable to free the girls. Each of the other heroes was…different. I played a character from a Saturday Night Live skit that plays a cowbell. My character is just plain annoying and the hope was that I would annoy the villain and earn the release of the homecoming queens. As you can imagine, I was not successful at earning their freedom. It took the football team to come out and save the day.
The skit was fun and the students enjoyed their teachers acting crazy. Even though the superheroes were not successful in their task of saving the homecoming court, the skit provides a great backdrop for an important lesson. The superheroes were not perfect, they had weaknesses and flaws. They are much like you and me. While each one of us has ways in which we are strong and invincible, we also have flaws and weaknesses.
I believe it was God’s original plan that we be created without imperfections, weaknesses, and a vulnerability to sin. When man fell because of the lack of obedience in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the picture. Our disobedience led to the development of weaknesses in our character. Each of us has areas in our lives that are broken and we need the grace and mercy of God.
What I find to be my kryptonite might be something that you can easily defeat. Does that make you a better person than me? No. It proves that I am a sinner struggling to walk and live out my faith. That is what God expects me to do. He wants me to put on the armor of God, to take the tempting thoughts captive, and to work to gain victory in my life. He wants the same thing for you in your areas of weakness.
We all have our own faults and weaknesses. We need to recognize them and avoid situations where they can gain the victory in our lives. We need to recognize our own kryptonite, know how the enemy wants to use it against us, and look for ways to avoid it. I believe that with God’s help we can even find victory and freedom from the things that easily tripped us up in the past. But we must remain vigilant and careful so we do not fall prey to our own evil desires.
Sin and temptation are all around us, kryptonite waiting for our moment of weakness. But God is stronger and will help us escape the temptations of life if we will call upon Him. It helps to memorize His word because that is the sword we can use to put the enemy on the run. Peace and victory are available to each one of us through the Spirit of God. If we will walk by the Spirit we can overcome.
I want to encourage you to believe that God intends for you to overcome and find true victory in your life. There is no kryptonite too strong for you, but there is also grace, mercy, and forgiveness available for you when you make the wrong choice. I believe it is God’s plan for the New Testament Christian to be whole, healed, forgiven, and righteous because Jesus paid the price for each one of us. So go and be a superhero to the people you know and be a beacon of hope in a dark world.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
September 26th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
Last week I decided that I wanted to go through the process of renewing my National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. It is not an easy process and the decision to put myself through the process again did not come easily. I want to go through this process so I can maintain my certification and because it is one of the best professional development opportunities available to teachers.
I remember going through my initial certification process. It was a very time- consuming and difficult process. Teachers are required to videotape themselves and demonstrate specific skills. After watching the video, teachers must write a lengthy reflective paper about what took place and honestly evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Other sections didn’t require the videotapes but did expect the teacher to evaluate various aspects of their own ability as a teacher and their impact on their classroom, school, and professional community.
There was also a day of writing timed essays that was incorporated into the process. There was a general idea of what might be asked, but nothing could prepare you for that long day of writing. I remember finishing and wondering if I would be able to drive myself home. After all this effort and countless evenings and weekends working on the huge project, I did not achieve my goal. I cannot describe to you the disappointment and heartbreak I felt when I learned the news. I had to make up a couple sections of the process the following school year to earn my certification.
While I believe the reflective process is very good in all areas of our lives, I am not looking forward to all the work that I have to do in order to renew my certification. I have been assured by some colleagues that it will not be quite as difficult to renew my certification. It will still require a good bit of effort to complete the process, but it is one that I hope will cause me to become a better teacher for my students. If they can benefit because I improve my skill as a teacher, then it will be worth the blood, sweat, and tears.
Spending time reflecting on our lives, especially spiritually, is a very good exercise. Some people write and journal daily about their personal lives. That is a great exercise for our spiritual lives. Some people read and reflect on the scriptures every day. That is an excellent habit to develop in your personal quiet time. Reflecting and evaluating your own spiritual journey challenges and encourages you to a deeper and more intimate walk with God.
No one likes to consider their personal weaknesses. I like to think about where I am spiritually strong and build on those areas. I really don’t like to admit that I have weaknesses, but inwardly I know they exist. I know that some of my spiritual muscles need some exercise. Exercise implies work, effort, change, sweat, and meeting resistance with deliberate force. I have to make a determination of my will and follow through on a consistent basis if I hope to see some improvement.
God may be asking you to work on the basics, like developing your personal quiet time with him everyday. He could also be encouraging you to become more involved in your local church. Maybe God has been pushing you to consider taking a short-term mission trip to experience some new growth. Whatever area God is touching in you is an area where He wants to see you grow and mature in your spiritual life. Spiritual growth will require self-discipline, determination, and being honest with yourself. God will help you, especially if He is calling you to grow. Reflecting and journaling can improve and document your growth.
I want to encourage you to reflect and honestly evaluate your spiritual health. Where do you think God wants you to grow, to improve your spiritual habits? Begin by setting yourself some obtainable goals and reward yourself when you achieve success. God doesn’t expect instant growth or perfection; He wants progress. Remember that God is on your side and He wants you to grow and become strong. So go ahead and raise the bar in your spiritual life and watch those muscles grow.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
September 23rd 2011 · Read More · No Comments
My church spends one month annually focused on missions. We hang flags from other countries in our sanctuary; have special programs and speakers to help us maintain our vision to reach out to the lost. Some may argue that there is plenty of work that needs to be done right here in the United States. It is true, there are people in each of our communities and even where we work and go to school that need to hear the gospel message. There is a need for us to go to other nations and share the good news with the lost and hopeless in those nations as well.
This year our pastor invited a group that reaches out to Nicaragua. The missionaries told us that Nicaragua used to be one of the wealthiest nations in Central America and now it one of the poorest nations. They have plenty of resources so the country could be rich, but the rulers have horded all the wealth for themselves, making the people destitute.
The missionaries that came to our church are reaching out to the children and trying to make a difference in their lives. They are feeding and educating the children in hopes of raising up the next generation who can turn the country around and get it going in the right direction. By touching and blessing the children, they will naturally bless the parents. The hope is that the seeds of change that come with the gospel of Jesus Christ can put the nation on a better course.
I have great respect for missionaries who are willing to give up the comforts that we enjoy to take the gospel to unreached people. My sister and brother both have children who have taken short-term mission trips around the globe. I have some good friends in Argentina. I supported a couple who helped the orphans in Romania for a number of years. I believe in the work of missionaries and have supported them both prayerfully and financially. I love to hear the stories of how my prayers and support have helped to change and improve the lives of people around the world.
I really like the fact that our church takes a whole month to remind us of the fact that we should be looking outside the building. So many people like things the way they are at church, and I have to admit I enjoy routines as much as the next guy. Churches have never been designed for us to focus solely inside the building. God calls us to be a light in a community, which implies that we need to be helping the community. We have to reach outside the four walls of our buildings to help and share the gospel with those in need.
I know that all the churches in our community have open doors and we all make a big effort to welcome visitors. That’s wonderful and very important to those who have the courage to come to church. The trouble is that many people won’t visit a church. Some have had bad experiences or make negative associations because of the way they see some Christians act. We need to think about how we act and what we say when we are in the public eye, especially if we profess our faith.
The people who really need us to carry our message outside the church building are those who believe they are unworthy of God’s love. Many people believe they have committed some terrible sin and that God could never love them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The world needs to know about God’s mercy and forgiveness and how deeply He loves each and every one of them. How will they ever know unless you and I tell them? They will listen to you because they know you. They will believe you because they trust you. They can accept God’s love because of your love and acceptance of them. Your neighbors and associates need you.
I want to encourage you to open your eyes and look around you, to the people you know who don’t know the love of God. Begin to pray for them, that their hearts and eyes would open to God’s love. Be a beacon of light to their dark world. Be ready to offer hope when they feel hopeless. Share your peace for their troubled hearts. Bless them especially if they don’t deserve it. You have the power to make a difference in at least one life and that could change the world.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
September 18th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
I asked my students what they remembered about September 11, 2001. They were between the ages of five and eight back then. The youngest ones remember very little other than seeing the images over and over again. The ones who were older remember watching the events on TV at school that day. The memories for my students become less and less as time passes. I expect before long I will teach students who will think of these events as ancient history.
The memories for me are etched powerfully in my memory. It’s like the memory of Hurricane Hugo or the Challenger explosion; these events are perfectly preserved in my memories. I can recall what I was doing and how I heard the news of these kinds of events in my life. I remember my initial disbelief even after seeing it with my own eyes. I remember watching it on the news night after night until we finally had to turn it off so we could try to get some sleep.
There were several things I remember afterwards that I find interesting. I remember driving back and forth to work and looking in the sky and not seeing any airplanes. I never realized how much I paid attention to them prior to those days. Another thing I remember was that local restaurants started to have TVs in them so they could get their customers back. We ate several meals in front of the TV during those early days. When we finally decided to go out to dinner it was with the hope of escaping the onslaught of images and information on the news. Sadly, we were greeted with what we hoped to escape for a few hours.
The tragedy that occurred in three places changed our nation and the world. We no longer felt protected by two large oceans. Terrorists could strike us here at home. But what the terrorists didn’t count on was the unity the events of that terrible day brought to our nation. People reached out to their neighbors and reconnected with their families. Some turned to faith to find the comfort and peace they needed.
The act of terrorism is designed to steal our peace and sense of security. Terrorism is born in hatred, anger, bitterness, resentment, and a sense that the group committing the terrorist acts are in some way superior. All these characteristics are the heart of darkness. None of these characteristics come from God.
God is all about grace, mercy, hope, peace, joy, faith, and most of all love. These qualities are full of life and light. As children of God, these qualities should be increasing in us as we mature in our faith. In fact, these qualities should be welling up within us and flowing out of us like streams of living water. The world is a dry and thirsty place and we have the privilege of being a source of living water and hope.
Some people believe that we should be praying against the authors of terrorism, hoping they will fail and retreat back into their darkness. Recently someone has suggested to me that a better plan of action would be for us to pray that God will raise up someone who will take the light and hope of salvation to those lost in the darkness of terrorism. While the leaders may be stuck in the darkness, many of the followers just need to see and be touched by the light and hope that we have in our hearts. One small light can dispel a great deal of darkness.
Light is always greater than darkness. Darkness can not quench light, but light always overcomes darkness. The love of God through Jesus is stronger than the hate that engulfs terrorism. God’s love trumps all. So maybe our prayers should be that the eyes of their hearts may be opened to the love, mercy, and peace of God.
I want to encourage you to let your light shine in this dark world. Whenever the power goes out I am always amazed by how much light one candle gives off. Once your eyes adjust, it can light up the whole room. God has put that kind of light in you. God’s light in you can help lead the lost to His love. Remember that all light, no matter how small, dispels the darkness and offers hope in this dark world. Light the candle of your faith and hold is up high so all who know you may see its light and respond to His love.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
September 10th 2011 · Read More · No Comments
One of the shows I remember watching when I was a kid was the Jetsons. I wasn’t a big fan but I did like all the technology I saw in the show. They talked to each other through what looked like a TV. They flew around in space. They had robots that interacted with the family members. The future of technology looked attractive.
In my teenage years, I was introduced to Star Wars. There were powerful computers everywhere that aided in all aspects of life. Their robots were almost life-like and seemed to have distinct personalities. The technology and where it might take us sure seemed appealing to me. I wanted that kind of technology in my life.
As an adult, I enjoy watching the Star Trek Next Generation series. The idea of space travel is very appealing. There is plenty of wonderful technology to enjoy. Food is prepared when you walk up to a replicator and tell it what you want to eat. The dishes are done when you place them back on the replicator and they are dissolved. There is the holodeck, a vacation from life at any time. The crew of the ship use tablet computers for everything. Computers talk and interact with people. If that is the future, I think I am ready for it.
I gave Skype a try recently. I talked with my uncle and it was really cool to see him while we chatted. It gives me hope that what was once science fiction might just become reality. It seems more and more likely that we could actually enjoy that kind of technology in my lifetime. We have made such huge strides in computer and medical technology. I wonder if I will get to witness and experience commercial space travel.
As technology changes, it needs to be updated. Very few people use VCRs anymore. Many of my students don’t use CDs either. They download their music and movies. We hope to be streaming videos soon at my house; it is the way of the future.
Our faith needs similar upgrades. When you were a child, your faith was simple. As an adult, your faith should be deeper and stronger. I am not suggesting that you won’t have times of doubt or struggle with your faith, but experience with God should help you believe in Him and His faithfulness to you. As you grow older, you should feel more secure in God’s love for you, which in turn should strengthen your faith in God.
While God wants you to have simple, child-like faith in Him, He also expects you to grow and mature in your faith. He expects you to stretch yourself spiritually. God wants you to have a bigger faith in Him. He wants you to believe for things that you couldn’t imagine three or four years ago. He’s hoping that as you see Him move faithfully in your life that you will trust Him for even greater things.
God is bigger than we can imagine and more powerful than our minds can conceive. God likes when we find ourselves in situations that are overwhelming. That means we have to turn to Him as our source of strength to overcome. When we overcome then we will have a bigger testimony to God’s faithfulness. Hopefully when we find ourselves in another overwhelming situation we will immediately trust in God instead of submitting to fear. We’ll remember that God helped us overcome before and believe in His ability to help us overcome again.
God likes overwhelming odds so we can see Him come to our defense. If we only knew how much God wants to fight for us, we would believe God for more and more. God wants us to expand our territory, to reach beyond our current self-imposed limits. God is limitless in what He will do for people who believe and trust Him for great things.
I want to encourage you to upgrade your faith. I am not suggesting unwise things, but believing that He wants you to fulfill your dreams and your heart’s desire. I am suggesting that your influence can increase in your workplace and personal life. You are God’s secret agent sent to do greater things than you imagined in the place He has you right now. So put God to the test in some small ways to see if He will be faithful to you in your circumstances. God has faith in you, have faith in Him.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com
August 31st 2011 · Read More · No Comments
Anyone who knows me knows that I love watching and following the weather. I enjoy a warm sunny day just as much as anyone, but in the weather department of my life that’s not very interesting. I love watching snowstorms, cold fronts that generate big thunderstorms, severe weather, and hurricanes. I have links to many interesting weather sites on the internet. I spend many hours following and tracking weather events.
You can easily imagine my fascination with Hurricane Irene. Many of you may not realize that some forecasts existed that had Irene coming inland much like Hurricane Hugo. I watched the updates carefully as the track for the storm got moved farther and farther east. Some of the models predicted that Irene would stay out over the Atlantic and have minimal impact on the US coast.
Ultimately Irene hit NC and ran up the US east coast. She did not arrive as a category three, but as a category one. Even though she had weakened substantially before coming inland, she still caused an enormous amount of damage. Sadly, over thirty people lost their lives and over four million people have been left without power. The flooding up in the northeast created nightmares for many residents and businesses. Irene’s impact will not only be felt in the damage she caused but also in all the lost sales for the hotels and restaurants. Last weekend was a bust because of the evacuations and some fear Labor Day weekend could suffer too.
As I watched this storm and talked with family who were directly impacted by Irene, I can’t help reflect on Hugo. Hugo was our storm with its strong hurricane force winds this far inland. I have talked with several people and reflected on his impact on our lives. For my students at school Hugo is ancient history because it occurred before they were born. But for those of us who lived through it, it gave us much more respect for the power of nature.
Hurricanes can dramatically change lives in a short period of time. Sometimes our lives can change quickly and without warning. It’s in those moments that we have a choice; we can choose to turn to God for His comfort and guidance or we can turn our backs on God. People who choose to turn their backs on God want to blame Him and are angry at Him for the situation they find themselves in.
Anger is a natural reaction to bad situations, but living in anger and bitterness is a choice. We don’t have the luxury of understanding why God allowed a terrible situation to occur, but we can know that God wants to draw close to us, to comfort us in our hour of need. He will actually send His angels to comfort and encourage us. God wants to take away the sorrow, anger, bitterness and pain. He wants to give us peace, mercy, and grace, like the tranquility found in the eye of a hurricane.
When we see someone going through tragedies and difficult times, it should be a signal for us to rise up and be there. We can be God’s hands and feet and His shoulder for them to cry upon. We can offer comfort and support in tangible and practical ways. If we are walking by the Spirit then we are ready to be used by God to help people who may believe that God has turned His back on them.
When we are led by the Spirit of God, we will find opportunities to help people through the storms of life. For some, they may be real storms like Irene, but for others the storms might be the depths of bitterness, sorrow, and deep personal pain. God wants to reach out to people who are suffering and He might want to use you. You may feel inadequate, but God is looking for a willing vessel to offer hope and encouragement. It is hard to imagine how much strength someone can draw from a simple word, a pat on the back, or by your presence in a difficult moment.
I want to encourage you to look, I mean really look, at the people in your life and see if you might be God’s vessel for some encouragement. God can use you in a very profound way in someone else’s life if you will allow Him to use you. God’s not looking for perfection, just a willing and obedient spirit. God’s comfort can come in simple and practical ways through someone like you. Be willing and discover the blessing of being a blessing to someone else.
Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com