General Assembly, Cream churn, Families behind calling, the real Jesus | Eastern NC Now

General Assembly Adjourns with Important Business Unfinished

The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on July 2 and is scheduled to reconvene at noon on Monday, July 27. During that session, lawmakers may address vetoes, budget-related legislation, conference reports, and certain other unfinished matters before eventually adjourning sine die – bringing the 2025 – 2026 legislative session to its formal conclusion.

Before leaving Raleigh, lawmakers completed several significant veto overrides. Other important bills remain unresolved and will require continued attention from Return America.  Read rest here.

Papa’s Lesson at the Ice Cream Churn

by Michelle Lonenberger
Guest Columnist
RevMarkCreech.org

“Papa, how much longer?”

“Punkin’, you know it’s gonna take some time. You’ve got to be patient.”

“But my arm is so tired! I can’t crank this thing anymore… You’re gonna have to do it! I can’t anymore!”

“I’ve been waiting on you to let me take a turn, silly girl. All you had to do was ask.”

My papa scooted the old wooden ice cream maker a couple of feet across the old cement porch, pulling it to where he sat, and started turning the metal crank.

I carefully slipped my finger along the rim of the wooden bucket, pulled out a sliver of ice, and dropped it down the back of my shirt. That was the closest it came to air conditioning for that 1790s log house in the heat of summer.  Read rest here.

The Families Behind the Calling

I once read a saying that has stayed with me, though I no longer remember its source or exact wording:

“God help the spouse of the one who has a calling on their life, for the calling will place great demands on both of them.”

There is considerable truth to that observation. A genuine calling seldom costs only the person who receives it. Its burdens often extend across the marriage, into the home, and into the children’s lives.  Read rest here.

The Real Jesus in an Age of Reinvention

Sandy Bottom Baptist Church is a small congregation on the outskirts of Kinston, North Carolina, in Lenoir County. The quaint, white-framed building where they worship is beautiful and picturesque. More importantly, the people who make up the congregation are, I believe, genuinely committed followers of Christ who take their faith seriously. They are salt-of-the-earth people – God-fearing, Christ-centered, warm, gracious, and patriotic.

Their pastor, Rick Mondell, asked me to preach at two services during their Revival this week, on Sunday and Monday evenings. The Sunday evening service was well attended. On Monday evening, Gray Branch Free Will Baptist Church of Deep Run brought its choir. With members of both congregations present, the sanctuary was filled to capacity.

The music was stupendous—at least it was to me. They sang many of the old Gospel songs I had not heard in years. Much of it was the music I was raised on. Though I would never wish to be regarded as a critic of other forms of Christian music, what struck me most about those old songs was their happy, joyous spirit and lyrics bathed in an eternal perspective.  Read rest here.