http://eeditions.championcarolinas.com/books/ukbq/

ELIZABETHTOWN – It’s almost time to take your shoes off and get to work as it’s “Grape Stomping” season throughout the world and also here in Southeastern North Carolina.

Lu Mil Vineyard is about to hold its 18^th annual North Carolina Grape Festival in Elizabethtown Oct. 12.

The day kicks off with a pancake breakfast hosted by Emereau Bladen Charter School which will be held at Lu Mil Vineyard’s general store and for $10 you can get a plate of cakes and sausage. They are working on a cash only basis. The proceeds will go toward the Emereau Bladen Charter School’s new athletic/performing arts center.

From breakfast you can tour the grounds and vendors who will be setting up for the event or you can pick up a bucket and pick a bucket of grapes in Lu Mil’s “Muscadine Grapes U-Pick.” You can check in at the gift shop for a bucket. It will cost $1 per person and $1 a pound for your harvest. This is the last day for U-pick for the 2024 season.

“Last year they set up a booth,” Kayla Bridgers, event organizer said. “My sister, Aleigh King does the marketing at Emereau so that’s kind of where the connection came. I told her that I thought it would be a great way for them to raise money. They are going to have parents volunteer to do the cooking.”

According to Lu-Mil co-owner, Denise Bridgers, the vineyard is providing the venue and the people for this very worthwhile event.

The event comes on a type of weekend jamboree in Elizabethtown as almost 1,000 Cyclists from Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast tour hits town, Friday, Oct. 11 and the annual Pink-Out with live band, The Pink Slips will be playing in downtown Elizabethtown. The Grape Festival is Saturday and then out at Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, the first annual Elizabethtown Smithfield Cup barbecue competition will be taking place. While Columbus discovered America on that weekend so long ago, people will be coming to discover all that the grape-rich areas of North Carolina will have to offer.

The vendors will begin setting up for the Grape Festival at 8 a.m. According to Bridgers, there should be in the neighborhood of 150 vendors this year.

“When I talk about the vendors, that is craft vendors, business vendors, nonprofits, schools and boutiques,” Kayla Bridgers said. “There are a lot of local vendors that set up for the day. We got a little bit for everybody. We have face painting, gem mining for kids to bounce houses to decorative art yard creations. We have the live band and the wine tasting for adults, so whatever your tastes, you can find it here on that day. I also have 20 food vendors.”

One of the new food vendors appearing at this year’s festival called “Chocolate and S’more” from Winnabow, North Carolina. Their business features any kind of s’more that you could imagine and so much s’more. Other food vendors include Italian food, returning favorite “Wild Sunflower and Pizza,” “Yummy Hibachi,” “Still Smokin’ barbecue,” kettle corn, brisket, Mexican cuisine, ice cream specialties along with regular fair food such as funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers and foods on sticks.

One of the more popular activities of the day is the “Grape Stomp.”

“Our annual grape stomp is what brings everybody, besides the food and the wine,” she said. “People will take their shoes off and the competition has an adult category and a child’s category and they stomp grapes. They have a certain amount of time when the music plays and they stomp the grapes as fast as they can. We weigh how much juice comes out and whoever has the most, they have first and second place cash prize awards. It starts at 11 a.m. and you register at 10 a.m. After the stomp, we have hoses and clean-off stations. We actually do not use the juice that is stomped in our production.”

At last year’s festival there were approximately 150 stompers who participated.

“They are timed for their stomp,” Denise Bridgers said. “The music is played while they stomp, the stomp is timed and the DJ coordinates with the MC. It is the best entertainment. And then, we’ve had a stomp off before. They were so close in weight for the final that we had to do the stomp off. Sometimes even our Santa shows up to view the stomp.”

According to Wine & Spirit Education Trust, “The image of winemakers stomping grapes with their bare feet might seem like a charming relic of the past. However, foot treading, an ancient technique dating back thousands of years, still holds a special place in the hearts (and practices) of some of the world’s most discerning winemakers. But why do they continue to embrace this traditional method? At the core of winemaking is the process of crushing grapes, a critical step that releases the juice needed for fermentation. This process requires just the right amount of pressure—enough to break the skins without crushing the seeds, which can introduce unwanted bitterness. In regions like the Douro Valley of Portugal, foot treading has always been the gold standard in the production of premium Port wines. Historically, large teams of workers would tread grapes in shallow granite troughs called lagares, a practice that could last for hours. While modern methods have largely taken over, some high-end Port producers continue to use foot treading for their top-quality offerings. This continued use in such a prestigious wine category underscores the enduring value of the technique. Boutique wineries around the world also embrace foot treading, particularly those focused on small-batch production. These producers see foot treading as a way of enhancing the quality of their wines, allowing for gentle extraction and more nuanced control over the fermentation process.”

The festival at Lu Mil Vineyard actually begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. and as always, it’s a free event so that anyone from the community can come and join in the fun. Free to park, free to enter, free to enjoy. It’s also billed as a “rain or shine” event. Umbrellas are not mandatory but may be prudent. One comforting thought is that this event has never been canceled due to inclement weather.

“At 12 we have live music,” Kayla Bridgers said. “North Tower Band is playing in our outdoor natural amphitheater. There will continual music for the entire three hours and an area for dancing will be available in front of the stage.”

North Tower, according to their website “is celebrating 40 years of entertaining throughout the southeast. North Tower has been one of the south’s great party bands for over 40 years, providing the best in Top 40, beach, funk and oldies. Sizzling brass, super vocals and a wide-ranging repertoire all contribute to making your event a night to remember.”

The fishing ponds will also be open for the festival. It’s the last day of fishing for the season. Typically you do have to pay to fish, but the fishing will be free on that day.

The gift shop and wine tasting room will be open during the festival and in addition there will be an outside wine tasting booth that is open. There will be slushies (either wine or regular). This booth will be near where the food trucks are located and in close proximity to the band.

“I just really want to encourage everybody to come out,” Kayla Bridgers said. “We have a lot of people that travel from Robeson County and I would love to have a lot of local people come and enjoy it also. There really is something for everybody.”

ELIZABETHTOWN - Trooper Kevin Conner (B-551) lost his life during a traffic stop October 17, 2018.

Conner was Born in Bladenboro and his life-long dream was to be a state trooper, a dream that came true in 2007. He was assigned to Troop B in Columbus County where he made his home with his wife, Miranda, and his two children, Briley and Braxson.

Connor was a humanitarian and public servant, both on and off the job. He was a wonderful friend to many, and a light to anyone who made his acquaintance. The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Foundation was established in 2019 in an effort to give back and serve the communities that Conner loved and served.

Through the generosity and support of sponsors and fundraising efforts, the Foundation has already given over $10,000 in college scholarships to students in Columbus and Bladen Counties and has plans of expansion in the works. Connor’s legacy of service lives on and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.

On October 19, 2019, the organization held their first annual Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Run. The event was a huge success with over 900 runners participating. It was the largest organized race ever put together in Columbus County. This year, on October 12, 2024, the community will come together for the sixth-annual Trooper Kevin Conner 5K and 1 mile run in memory of his life and his dedication to protecting our community. All proceeds from this event will go into a scholarship fund in memory of Kevin Conner.

The 6th Annual Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Run October 12, 2024 will take place in downtown Whiteville, North Carolina at 8:30 a.m.

Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial $10,000 Scholarship Application information

Check to be sure you meet the Eligibility Criteria

Fill out the attached Scholarship Application Form and submit it online.

You can submit from a phone or a computer. As long as you have the documents uploaded to the form.

Attach your typed, double spaced essay (500-1000 words) on the following prompt:

Describe a meaningful volunteer experience that you have been involved in and how that experience has impacted your community in a positive way. Please do not include your name in the essay.

Attach letters of recommendation- up to two from a community leader (such as a High School principal, elected official, teacher, or executive director of a non-profit organization that has benefited from your volunteerism and service.

Attach a letter of acceptance from college or university.

Questions: Contact: trooperkcfoundation@gmail.com

Trooper Kevin Conner Spirit of Community And Leadership Award

Description of Award

This scholarship is given in honor of NCSHP Master Trooper Kevin Keith Conner, who was killed in the line of duty on October 17, 2018. Kevin was a humanitarian and public servant, both on and off of the job. This annual award is given to an eligible High School Senior from Columbus or Bladen County who has made a difference and inspired countless others to consider how they contribute to their communities to make our world a brighter place.

Eligibility Requirements (must meet all of the following criteria) In order to be eligible for this award, the applicant must:

Be a legal resident of the United States

Be a legal resident of Columbus or Bladen County

Be a High School Senior in one of the following School Districts:

Columbus County Schools, Whiteville City Schools, Columbus Christian Academy, or Bladen County Schools

Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

Be a leader in their communities who have participated in community service and/or volunteer activities (emphasis will be placed on this part of the application)

Must have been accepted at an accredited 4-year university for a full-time status of 12 or more credit hours and plan to start school in the fall of the award year.

Review Criteria

Leadership experience, community service, volunteer activities

Academic GPA

Participation in school-related activities

Letters of reference

Essay

Interview (for semi-finalists only)

Submission Requirements include completion of the online applicaton by Monday, April 1, 2024. Additional requirements for semi-finalists will be required, and all semi-finalists will be contacted to be interviewed by members of the selection committee.

Judging:

There will be two rounds of judging. Round 1 is based strictly on the scholarship application. Judging is completed by the appointed scholarship committee. Round 1 is anonymous. The highest scoring applicants will be invited to an interview for Round 2 of the scholarship selection process.

Judging will be done by the Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Scholarship Committee. The decision of the committee is final.

Distribution of Scholarships:

Scholarships will be presented to the winning senior in Columbus and Bladen counties at the awards program at their high school in May. The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Scholarship Foundation will issue a press release and publicize the award via Facebook, local papers, and other relevant publications. Scholarship recipients will be expected to participate in the Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Run which will be held in October as a participant or a volunteer.

Payment of the scholarship funds will be made directly to the school the student is attending, upon presentation of the tuition bill and payment request form to The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees at the beginning of each semester. The student must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher to qualify for payment.

$10,000 scholarship will be spread over the first 2 semesters @ $5,000 per semester. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, books, or other school-related expenses as approved by the committee.

If a student does not complete a semester and/or fails to return to school for the following semester, unused funds are to be returned by the school to The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Any remaining balance of the scholarship will be forfeited by the student unless there are extenuating circumstances explained in writing to the scholarship foundation and accepted by the Scholarship Board of Directors.

If a student changes schools, the student must notify The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Foundation in writing and present the next semester’s bill from the new school with the payment request form.

Payments from The Trooper Kevin Conner Memorial Scholarship Foundation will be made within two weeks of receipt of the bill and payment request form.

The Trooper Kevin Conner Blue Line Legacy Scholarship is also available for two eligible high school seniors graduating from anywhere in the state of North Carolina that are dependents of a North Carolina Law Enforcement Officer.

For more information or to donate to this nonprofit organization, please visit their website at: https://kevinconnermemorial.org/

ELIZABETHTOWN – On a night when everyone was pleasantly surprised at how many people were in attendance, the entire community had a chance to rejoice over how much had been accomplished in the past year and started to celebrate the coming year that Bladen Community College is entering into.

Bladen Community College hosted its biggest event of the year at Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. in the grand ballroom and people began filling the parking lot even before the doors opened with excitement over the night’s schedule that was to come.

Dr. Amanda Lee, President of BCC not only greeted guests arriving, but left in their hands a program with a warm and welcoming message to those who have become friends and family with the college.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation for your attendance and generous support of our Annual Foundation Dinnner,” she said. “Your contributions play a crucial role in sustaining our college’s mission to provide quality education and opportunities for growth. Your steadfast commitment makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, empowering them to pursue their educational goals. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for both our students and our community, and your involvement in tonight’s event reflects your dedication to this important work.”

One of the many highlights of the evening was Dr. Lee addressing the crowd with the special recognition for the college’s Outstanding Partner for the past year.

“Every year in the spring, very close to May, we send out an email to all of our employees – faculty and staff and our students,” Dr. Lee said. “We have several questions that we ask them, but the question that we’re going to focus on tonight is, ‘Who has been a good partner for us? Who in the community has made a difference for us at the college?’ And you may recall that we have recognized in the past Bladen We Care. We’ve recognized in the past Cape Fear Valley Hospital System – Bladen County Hospital. And this year, we’re excited to recognize yet another organization that’s made a significant difference to our employees and to our students.”

With that intro, Dr. Lee then invited Bo and Kelly Barefoot to come to the stage as their community enterprises were a continuing blessing to the college with their support and their time.

Dr. Lee went on to share with the crowd the many reasons why Barefoot Brew and Barefoot’s Sandwich Shoppe including her candid thanks for enabling her caffeine addiction, and went on to mention how many things they did for the college.

“They also employed our students,” she said. “They used our classrooms to train some of their employees, they helped us refine that space so that we could continue offering it to other startups as we expand to other organizations. And they have been wonderful ambassadors and advocates for the community college.”

The Barefoots who were actually ambushed with the wonderful surprise stood before the crowd with tears in their eyes as they offered their response.

“There aren’t many times I get taken aback,” Bo Barefoot said. “I work in the sandwich shop and am there every day and it’s pretty much the greatest ‘barber shop’ there’s ever been for gossip and news. So I usually know everything, so how you pulled this off, I don’t know, but you did a heck of a job and I’ve kinda got tears in my eyes. But I want all of you folks to know how meaningful it is to have a college here in a socioeconomically challenged region like we’re in, to give our kids hope and inspiration and let them know they have the opportunity to move on in life. We love the college and I love the college for loving us back. We kind of think of this (BCC) as a business incubator.”

In addition to this presentation, Hayes Petteway, Chair for the Foundation Board of Directors came to the platform and addressed the crowd with what he called “one of the best turnouts he had ever seen,” and went on to award Barbara Knight with the Foundation Service Recognition.

Sondra Guyton who is the vice president for institutional advancement and community relations has been with BCC for 24 years and has seen a lot of positive change in the college.

“You’re truly amazing,” Guyton said as she addressed the packed venue. “I just want to truly thank you so much.”

According to the BBC website dealing with the foundation, “The college has changed the lives of many of the most disadvantaged. Graduates touch many lives—they become our teachers, our technicians, our nurses and our community leaders. The dollars given to Bladen Community College synergize. It is a great investment that pays dividends forever.

Community colleges in the state were originally funded by public support along with tuition and fees. However, as diminishing government support, changeable student enrollment, and higher operating costs have altered the financial landscape, community colleges have begun adopting a new perspective. More and more, they are turning to their foundations as an important revenue source to offset the impact of budget cuts while sustaining educational excellence and accessibility.”

According to Guyton, there are so many success stories with the graduates of BCC who have gone on to change the world in many different areas of the world as well as right here at home.

“We see graduates in the hospital here,” she said. “I can’t go to a medical appointment without somebody saying, ‘Oh, remember me? I graduated from BCC,’ and we see our students everywhere in our county.”

Guyton has seen firsthand the life-changing power of education and has witnessed it at BCC. Perhaps that is just one of the reasons she works so hard and is extremely passionate about the annual fundraiser.

“Every year we call this our Annual Foundation Dinner,” Guyton said. “This is our annual fundraiser and this is primarily to raise money for students. Student scholarships and support. There are so many things that are not covered under financial aid. We have students that do not qualify for financial aid and this is a way to raise money to help those students to fill the gaps of those things not covered and to help those who have little or no financial assistance.”

This speaks to the very important moral imperative of a community helping to raise a child. It also speaks to her heart that is not accepting of kids not going to school with finances as an excuse. And thus, her extreme passion for the annual dinner.

The dinner was be catered by Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery with the dinner prepared by award winning executive chef Timothy McDowell. The menu for the evening included Marry Me Chicken, potatoes, broccoli and apple crisp a’ la mode for dessert. Both the teacup auction and the live auction were run following the dinner and during the dessert.

Although the gala didn’t open until 6 p.m., people started filling in at 5:30 to see all the auction items and to enjoy the hors d’oeuvres while putting raffle tickets in the teacup set before each silent auction treat.

Raffle tickets for the evening were $5, eight tickets for $25, 15 tickets for $50 and 30 tickets for $100. The tickets for the dinner were set at $60 per person. The auctioneers for the night were Ryan Godwin and Bo Barefoot who thrilled the crowd with their candor and wit causing the audience, many times explode in spontaneous laughter.

“We had some great auction items this year,” Guyton said. “We had over 30 items that have been donated including an original painting from local artist Ed Harris. The funds gathered in this event go directly into our fundraising. Every year our executive committee meets and the decision is made as to how much is to be directed for student scholarships in all program areas.”

This was a night to participate in helping to raise the next generation. It’s served as an investment of time and funds donated by a caring community to develop perhaps that one student who will find the cure for cancer or maybe be a leader of the next generation. It is certainly giving them a chance to change their corner of the world.

2024 sponsors: INSPIRATION – DuPont, VISIONARY – BW Greene Properties, LLC, Campbell Oil Company, Chemours, M&S Landscaping LLC, Smithfield Foods, Smith & Sons Heating & Cooling, HOPE – Cape Fear Valley Health System, Columbus Regional Health System, Institutional Interiors, Mary Greene, Supreme Maintenance Organization, Town of Elizabethtown, Town of White Lake, Turnbull Lumber, OPPORTUNITY – AgCarolina Farm Credit, Bladen Builders, Cain-Lockamy Insurance Group, Inc., DeVane Builders Inc., Darrell & Kathy Page, Dublin Peanut Festival, Farm Bureau, First Bank, First Citizens Bank, Gillespie Farms, Giorgio’s, Hester, Grady & Hester, PLLC, Inman’s IGA, Kuraray America, Lacy West Thomas Insurance, Mac & Sylvia Campbell, McDuffie Pest Control, Melvins’ Hamburgers, Mountaire Farms, Prestage Farms, Sachs Peanuts, Sampson Bladen Oil Company, San Jose Mexican Restaurant, Star Communications, Truist Bank, OTHER GIFTS – Big Blue Store, the Bladen Journal, Bladen Online, Bo Barefoot, Camp Clearwater, Crosse Branch, Dickerson’s Pharmacy, Hayes Petteway, Lamar Advertising, Mark DeLap, Pierce Group Benefits and Ryan Godwin.

Live Aution Donations: White gold diamond & blue topaz ring by Ray’s Furniture & Jewelry (won by Bo & Kelly Barefoot), Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Tickets by Pierce Group Benefits (won by Jerome and Yolanda Smith), 18 holes of golf with cart for 4 by Vineyard Golf at White Lake (won by Ray Britt), Set of two dining chairs by Simple Treasures (won by Denise Bridgers), Wine, Dine & Stay package by Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery (won by Bo & Kelly Barefoot), Original Ed Harris painting by Ed Harris (won by Clark and Sally Valentiner), Swedish Massage by The Vines Day Spa (won by Billy Allen), Derma Peel by Above & Beyond Wellness & MedSpa (Won by Paula Greene), Spray Away Package by Down East Pest Control (won by Teresa Duncan), Overnight Cabin Stay by Lu Mil Vineyard and Winery (won by Bo & Kelly Barefoot), Hydrofacial by Above & Beyond Wellness & MedSpa (won by Bo & Kelly Barefoot) andWhite Lake Canvas Print by Jamie Corbett (won by Cory Nance).

Teacup Auction items: Hair Care Basket by Joseph D. Salon, Set of Coasters by the People’s Emporium, Deer Blind by Tractor Supply Co., Gift Basket by Sweeter Than Hunny, Fall Wreath by Whimsical Florist, Art Lessons by Art Works Teaching Studio, $50 Gift Card by Barking Lot, Sandstone Table Lamp by Kinlaw Furniture, Smithfield Cup Tickets by the Town of Elizabethtown, Gift Basket by the Leake Family, Tool Set by Advance Auto Parts, Lilly Pulitzer Gift Set by Yia Yia’s Gifts & More, Purse by Fisher’s Apparel, Jelly Gift Box by Lu Mil Vineyard & Winery, $50 Gift Card by Bladen Builders Supply, Cow Canvas Print by Traxx Chic Vintiques, Five dozen Cholate Chip Cookies by Sally Valentiner, Gift Basket by Bath Snob, $50 Gift Certificate by Southern Creek Boutique, Cowgirl Coffee by Barefoot Boujee Boutique, Homemade Pound Cake by Faye Hardin, $25 Gift Card by Christopher’s Steakhouse, Hand Cream & Diffuser by Amy’s Boutique, Gift Basket by Houston’s Peanuts, Gift Basket by Barnes & Noble College, Chocolate Chip Cake by Crystal Dowd, $50 Gift Card by Market On Main, Gift Basket by Allen’s Orchard, Yeti Water Bottle by Leinwand’s, Spreader Set & Earrings by Sweet Tea Boutique

Guyton remarked after the event was completed, “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors, those who donated to the event, and everyone who purchased tickets, BBQ sauce, or took part in the teacup and live auctions. Your support plays a crucial role in helping us provide scholarships for students in need. We couldn’t do this without you, and we’re truly grateful for your giving.”

At presstime, all the final numbers were not tallied, but Guyton was confident that this year’s goal was reached.

“I will feel very comfortable saying, after we pay the bills, we raised well over $40,000 (net),” Guyton said. “We have not received final invoices, as well as promised gifts, so it’s too soon to get a final total. We know we will clear over $40,000 which was our goal, and a significant change from last year’s event.”

Additional pictures from the evening can be seen on page 11 of this issue of the Bladen Journal.

Ahhh, we are coming into the Season of Comfort Food and Chicken & Rice just hits the spot. After a long day at work, it is something that can be put together quickly while you still have some “me” time before dinner. The only problem is the hunger pangs that you will get from the delicious aroma that this dish emits while cooking.

Here is your Shopping List:

1. Eight Chicken Thighs (excess skin and fat trimmed)

2. 12 Oz of ‘Long Grain’ Rice.

3. 1- 10.5 oz can of Cream of Chicken Soup

4. 1- 14.5 oz can of Chicken Broth

5. Olive Oil Spray

6. Kosher Salt and Pepper

Heat oven to 405 degrees. In a small mixing bowl take the Rice, Cream of Chicken Soup and Chicken Broth and mix together. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 glass baking pan (at least 2” high) and spread evenly on the bottom. Take the trimmed chicken thighs and place on top and push into the rice mixture. Spray lightly with olive oil and then sprinkle with the Salt and Pepper.

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes. Uncover the dish and lower the heat to 350 and cook for another 20 minutes. The top of the chicken should start to brown at this point. Set the oven to broil for another 3-5 minutes until the chicken has browned to your liking.

This dish goes well with warm rolls and butter and a side of green beans.

Sleep Well!

I am.

I am the voice of those who can not, may not or who are not allowed to speak. I am the eyes of those who have been blinded by injustice or who have their eyes clenched in fear due to intimidation.

I am the ears of those who have lost their will and their heart to hear.

I am the Fourth Estate. I am the thin line between what is right and what is being hushed.

While celebrating the Fourth of July, there is a reminder of the power of the press. During the revolution, the written word was instrumental in our break with the British. Not only in the big cities, but in the small bergs where the war was won. The press was deemed so important that the First Amendment of our Bill of Rights expressly forbids our Government from interfering with the press:

The 1st Amendment of the Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom … of the press.” The Constitution establishes a government with three branches, but it does not establish a press or a media. What it does do is prohibit the government from trying to control what people say, either in the press (and by extension in other forms of media) or outside the press.

When you take an oath as a journalist, it doesn’t matter where you work. Small town or large metropolis. The oath can not and must not change. Some have said that we need to be more positive and shouldn’t have all the bad things in the news. Some even have canceled newspaper subscriptions because journalists have dared to tell the truth without candy coating it.

There is not one news outlet in America that is worth it’s salt that paints roses in the battlefield or covers the grimace of life when it’s cruel. At the same time, that same press relishes in printing the picture of the sailor kissing the nurse when the battle is over.

When you become a journalist, you make promises to your audience. You pull back the blankets to uncover the bedbugs – no matter how big the bed or how popular the venue. The promises are made to protect the credibility of the fabric of our life. It’s to earn the trust by telling the whole truth, no matter how stark it may be.

When you pick up a newspaper or turn into the true journalists of our age, although few and far between, you may not realize that there is a code that stands behind each word. As artists, journalists paint images with their words and unfortunately, as in every profession there are those who try to suppress, dilute and taint for personal gain.

With each decision to “make everyone happy” or “let’s not rock the boat” or “let’s paint this deceiver in a positive light,” it can undermine and erode the standards that have been established for ethical and truthful reporting.

Journalists who write to protect their own popularity are as dangerous as the ones who write to line their own pockets. There remains in the midst of the unpopular – an oath. Some do not have the stomach for it.

It isn’t about where you write your story – it’s about how you write your story. If it is altered in any way shape or form, you have truly been misinformed as to the role of a journalist.

Does a doctor in a small town need to be any less caring and careful when dealing with a patient? When cancer is diagnosed, would the doctor not want to share the diagnosis to spare the feelings of the family? Absolutely not. Because of his oath.

A journalist’s oath is best outlined in its creed, and when there is no creed, there is damage done to the Fourth Estate.

I believe in the profession of Journalism. I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of responsibility, trustees for the public; that all acceptance of lesser service than the public service is a betrayal of this trust. I believe that clear thinking, clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one’s own pocket book is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another’s instructions or another’s dividends.I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.I believe that the journalism which succeeds the best-and best deserves success-fears God and honors man; is stoutly independent; unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power; constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of the privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance, and as far as law, an honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship, is a journalism of humanity, of and for today’s world.

I am a journalist. I am going to continue to reveal truth to the best of my ability, from city hall to the back alley. I am. The newspaper.

“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” – Evelyn Beatrice Hall

A newspaper must be careful not to censor the voice of the people. That being said, the “fourth estate,” or, the voice of the people may at times be unpopular because of the stories we run or the advertisers we sell to.

Just because we do not agree with everything going on in the world, it is still our responsibility as journalists to report those things. The good, the bad, the ugly and topics that may even split a community.

There are many passions, gripes and criticisms that come in on a weekly basis. For a newspaper to do a story so that you don’t have to divulge your name which would associate you to the passions you endorse or you expect us to endorse you, and automatically stand behind you against another individual or party within our community that would be wrong on our part.

Letters to the editor are great way to voice your community passions and most likely you may be able to express your concern or anger or joy in a much more powerful way since it is, your passion.

At this time of year, it is especially challenging to cover the new politicians who are in office. At our publication we choose not to endorse candidates or views or take sides. It is simply quite enough of a task to report as fairly and as objectively as possible, making sure that the words that are spoken, are published.

As to the placement of stories in our newspaper, it is ludicrous to say that because we place one story on Page 3 instead of Page 4 means that we are endorsing, condoning or agreeing with a particular view, opinion or candidate.

Page placement in a newspaper reflects many factors such as space, readability, content and human interest. It does not necessarily mean an endorsement.

Running stories is much like adjusting the temperature in a crowded meeting room. One-third of the people will say it’s too hot, one-third will say it’s too cold and the final third will say, “If you touch that thermostat, we’re leaving.”

That is the risk we run in the business that we are in. People may not agree with all stories written. There may be feeling in your “thoughts out loud” that a story is biased or pointed in some way. The realization is that there is another faction that is really, quite pleased with the story. So… in essence, the anger comes because we have chosen to be impartial and set a goal to let all voices be heard.

It’s misplaced anger. They are not mad at us. They are mad at those with opinions and throw stones at because we have defended a right to have a “say” in matters concerning our community. Just as we would defend anyone’s right to let a voice be heard. Even if it’s a word of disapproval.

The good thing about true journalists is that they are not swayed by the voices of disapproval. They are not influenced by the amount of money invested or threats to take a non-supportive stand. Truth in journalism is the heart of the issue that runs parallel with honoring and upholding free speech. It is, or is supposed to be “the thin black print of integrity.”

Some day we all may need defending. We may need to have someone hear our voice through publication. We would defend that right as we do all others. Whether there is support for us or not. Whether there is an agreement with us or not. We may not agree with a particular stand or for what is stood for, but we do and always will, honor the right to free speech. That thin black line is spelled t-r-u-t-h.

We are heading toward a dangerous time in all things published. People will be personally flooding publications and social media with lies and slander. Some know what they’re doing, others are just lazy journalists who are too lazy to check the authenticity of information before publication.

Now, more than ever, free speech remains a right. Yes, that means people have their own right to say what they want. Lies or truth. It is imperative that what is read, what is heard and what is repeated are verified facts. But only if a level of credibility and integrity still mean something in this country.

http://eeditions.championcarolinas.com/books/vfza/

ELIZABETHTOWN – The rosters have been finalized for the inaugural Smithfield Cup in mid-October, pitting barbecue teams from North Carolina and South Carolina against each other in a battle of state barbecue supremacy.

The new event will be staged Sunday, Oct. 13 from noon-5 p.m. on the grounds of Cape Fear Distillery as a select group of pitmasters from the Carolinas will prepare pork samplings from title sponsor Smithfield Foods, which operates the world’s largest pork processing plant in the world in nearby Tar Heel.

Tickets to the unique culinary sampling experience can be purchased online at www.smithfieldcup.com.

Kids 14-and-under are free with a paying adult, military (active and retired) discounted tickets are just $15 and an Early Entry Pig Out ticket gains entry to the event at 11 a.m. (one hour prior to general admission) and provides patrons with additional samples. Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s barbecue in Charlotte, North Carolina, will captain the North Carolina team and will be joined by Matthew Register of Southern Smoke barbecue in Garland, North Carolina, and Walt Munroe of Cruzers restaurant in Whiteville, North Carolina

Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbecue in Columbia, South Carolina, will captain the South Carolina team and be joined by Dylan Cooke of Fork Grove Barbecue in Anderson, South Carolina, and Marvin Ross of Peculiar Pig Eats in Charleston, South Carolina

Each team will prepare chopped pork barbecue, ribs and burnt pork belly ends in their own barbecue style and sauce, along with a Southern side for patrons to sample.

A People’s Choice vote will determine who takes home the coveted crystal Smithfield Cup trophy and state barbecue bragging rights for a year.

“We’re thrilled to open our doors to Elizabethtown and share our rich heritage through one of our top attractions,” said Elizabethtown Town Manager Dane Rideout. “What better way to celebrate than with a showdown between barbecue masters from North Carolina and South Carolina? No matter who claims victory, attendees are in for a mouthwatering experience.”

Donald of the North Carolina team is founder of the Carolina barbecue Festival in Charlotte and has been a pitmaster for the last three years at the prestigious Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Donald’s 450-square-foot smokehouse is home to the only true smoker in all of Charlotte. It serves as the basis for Sweet Lew’s motto: “Cooked With Wood.”

Register has appeared in publications such as Southern Living, Cast Iron Cooking, USA Today, Field & Family, Garden & Gun and Men’s Journal. In 2020, Saveur Magazine named Register’s Collard Chowder one of the 100 best recipes in America. Register has appeared on TV numerous times, including a cooking segment on The Today Show.

Munroe brings local Columbus County flavor to the competition as co-founder of White Dog Barbecue Sauce, which has two versions — Moonshine and Bourbon.

On the South Carolina side, Robinson acquired his first Texas-style offset wood smoker in Houston in the early 2000s and began his journey to unlock the subtle mysteries of smoking meats. Robinson’s all-wood smoked, handcrafted Texas and Carolina barbecue and artisan quality sides have been served to the South Carolina masses since 2015.

Cooke, once a traveling musician, opened Fork Grove Barbecue in 2023, which is known for its celebration of Texas-style barbecue. While Cooke, for the most part, has traded his guitar for a smoker, you can still find the pitmaster traveling to food festivals and events near and far to share the gospel of Southern-style barbecue. His motto is “Salt, Pepper, Smoke.”

Ross is renowned for his expertise in whole hog barbecue, using traditional techniques passed down through five generations. His passion for authentic Southern barbecue and sustainable farming has made him a sought-after caterer, and his Charleston farm supplies meat to over 40 restaurants across Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The barbecue competition will also feature live music and entertainment, a vintage car display, a Kids Zone, presenting sponsor Carolina CoPacking barbecue sauce and rub vendor sampling and competition, along with a selection of local craft beer, wine and spirits.

Cape Fear Distillery, one of the event’s presenting sponsors, is now one of North Carolina’s leading distilleries, with 13 different liquor options in addition to an array of wine selections.

Elizabethtown, with a charming downtown area, celebrated its 250^th anniversary in 2023. The Bladen County town is located about an hour northwest of Wilmington and 35 miles south of Fayetteville and 20 minutes from Lumberton.

The Smithfield Cup will be operated by Tarheel Festivals, who also recently staged the fourth annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival over Labor Day weekend in the Village of Pinehurst.

About Tarheel Festivals:

Tarheel Festivals, LLC is a full-service event management and production company headquartered in Pinehurst. With over 40 years of producing signature events its team of professionals build festival experiences from inspiration to integration.

The official event partner for the Pinehurst- Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Tarheel Festivals LLC also staged the fourth annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival over Labor Day weekend and the sixth annual Festival D’Avion at the Moore Country Airport Oct. 26, 2024.

Contact Information:

Dave Droschak, Droschak Communications,

919-630-6656, ddroschak@earthlink.net

Peter Stilwell, Tarheel Communications Solutions,

910-528-7101, peterstilwell@tarheelcommunications.com

ELIZABETHTOWN – Bladen Community College is set to host its biggest event of the year at Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. in the grand ballroom.

Sondra Guyton who is the vice president for institutional advancement and community relations has been with BCC for 24 years and has seen a lot of positive change in the college.

According to the BBC website dealing with the foundation, “The college has changed the lives of many of the most disadvantaged. Graduates touch many lives - they become our teachers, our technicians, our nurses and our community leaders. The dollars given to Bladen Community College synergize. It is a great investment that pays dividends forever.

“Community colleges in the state were originally funded by public support along with tuition and fees. However, as diminishing government support, changeable student enrollment, and higher operating costs have altered the financial landscape, community colleges have begun adopting a new perspective. More and more, they are turning to their foundations as an important revenue source to offset the impact of budget cuts while sustaining educational excellence and accessibility.”

According to Guyton, there are so many success stories with the graduates of BCC who have gone on to change the world in many different areas of the world as well as right here at home.

“We see graduates in the hospital here,” she said. “I can’t go to a medical appointment without somebody saying, ‘Oh, remember me? I graduated from BCC,’ and we see our students everywhere in our county.”

Guyton has seen firsthand the life-changing power of education and has witnessed it at BCC. Perhaps that is just one of the reasons she works so hard and is extremely passionate about the annual fundraiser.

“Every year we call it our annual dinner,” Guyton said. “It’s typically in the fall. This is our annual fundraiser and this is primarily to raise money for students. Student scholarships and support. There are so many things that are not covered under financial aid. We have students that do not qualify for financial aid and this is a way to raise money to help those students to fill the gaps of those things not covered and to help those who have little or no financial assistance.”

This speaks to the very important moral imperative of a community helping to raise a child. It also speaks to her heart that is not accepting of kids not going to school with finances as an excuse. And thus, her extreme passion for the annual dinner.

The dinner will be catered by Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery with the dinner prepared by award winning executive chef Timothy McDowell. The menu for the evening includes Marry Me Chicken, potatoes, broccoli and apple crisp a’ la mode for dessert.

The gala officially opens at 6 p.m., but Guyton said that they encourage people to come early to see all the auction items and to enjoy the hors d’oeuvres put one of their raffle tickets in the cup.

Raffle tickets for the evening are $5, eight tickets for $25, 15 tickets for $50 and 30 tickets for $100. The tickets for the dinner can be purchased from BCC at $60 per person. The actual live auction will be exciting and Guyton said that there are a lot of fine items up for bid. All you need to participate is a paddle (provided by BCC) and a checkbook (provided by the bidder).

“We have some great auction items this year,” Guyton said. “We have 30 or more items that have been donated including an original painting from local artist Ed Harris. The funds gathered in this event go directly into our fundraising. Every year our executive committee meets and the decision is made as to how much is to be directed for student scholarships in all program areas. This year we are hoping to raise $40,000.”

This is a night to participate in raising our next generation. It’s an investment of time and funds donated by a caring community to develop perhaps that one student who will find the cure for cancer or maybe be a leader of the next generation. It is certainly giving them a chance to change their corner of the world.

“Philanthropy is a critically important part of any free society. It focuses on the elimination of social problems at the source, rather than addressing the symptoms of those problems alone. Philanthropy provides opportunities for education, relief, growth and success that may never have been available otherwise.” – National Philanthropic Trust

As Dana and I were traveling home from New Mexico and Arizona (which trip I may write about next week), the news came down of a very well-known preacher in evangelical circles being fired from his church for committing adultery. He has been married for forty years, preaching for that long or longer, and rather ironically, had recently preached on sin, temptation, and the need to guard against our flesh.

My heart broke; it always does when I hear something like this. Anyone who takes joy in a man’s fall and the devastation it wreaks on a marriage, a family, and a church is a sick, twisted individual.

The preacher in question (I will call him Bob) is a very prominent Calvinist, sometimes referred to as Reformed Theology. I thoroughly disagree with that belief system—always have. Among other reasons for that disagreement is the way that it makes God responsible for a lot of horrible things, all while denying that it makes God responsible for all of those horrible things. And the fall of this prominent preacher exposed that practice yet again. Another reasonably well-known pastor of Reformed persuasion, debating with a prominent non-Calvinist over what happened, tweeted, “You first have to assume God decreeing (planning) adultery somehow impugns God’s character. Without that assumption, there’s no need to assume the character of God is impugned. And we, too, who affirm the sin of Bob was in fact decreed by God, completely agree that the responsibility of the sin lies in Bob and not God.”

Let that sink in, and try to wrap your mind around it. We are supposed to believe that God plainly and vehemently commanded against anyone, anywhere, ever committing adultery, and that he was so serious about how awful it was that he commanded the death penalty for anyone who did it. We are then supposed to believe that the God who commanded against anyone ever committing adultery has sovereignly decreed every single act of adultery, thereby making it impossible for those adulterers to avoid committing adultery. We are then supposed to believe that the person whom God gave no choice but to commit that adultery is absolutely responsible for doing what he had no choice but to do. We are then supposed to glorify God for the judgment that falls on a person for doing what God gave him no choice but to do. Finally, we are to believe that, in the words of the Reformed tweeter above, God decreeing, planning the very sin he commanded against, making sure that sin happens, does not impugn his character in any way.

Extra Strength Tylenol, please, and make it a double.

This is not an aberration. It took less than five minutes after posting about this online for a Reformed pastor in my area to back up the belief of the tweeter I quoted and then comment, “God ordains whatsoever he wills, and holds those who rebel against him accountable for their sin.” But if you have the slightest ability to think clearly, you have already seen the tractor-trailer-sized hole in his reasoning. How does one write “God ordains whatsoever he wills,” and then one phrase later write the words “those who rebel against him”? Which is it? Does God ordain everything, in which case no one has the ability to rebel against him, or do people rebel against him, in which case he clearly does not ordain everything? No amount of polysyllabic babble can make such a logical absurdity any less absurd; it can only make it eloquent sounding absurdity.

The truth is the sovereign God made a sovereign choice to give mankind a free will. Fifty-nine times in Scripture, he gave man this simple, one-word instruction: “choose.” And that included this choice as found in Joshua 24:15, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

All of our sin is known by God from before the foundation of time. But not a single one of those sins is decreed by God. Our sin is on us, not him. God does not like sin, God does not tolerate sin, and God certainly does not cause sin. Even in Acts 2:23, a favorite proof text of Calvinism, God determined that Jesus would die on the cross, but he did not decree that those particular men who put him to death make the choice that they made. He simply determined for Jesus to die for our sins and then put him in the place where he knew men would make the choice to do that very thing, as the last half of the verse makes abundantly clear.

And this means that we need to give practical attention to not sinning. This is why Scripture instructs us to make this choice as well, Romans 13:14, “Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust therefore.” Simply put, refuse to give yourself the opportunity to sin. In the case of Bob, a young preacher in my church asked me why I thought he fell, and my answer was immediate: “Do you know anything at all about his wife?”

He shook his head. Neither he nor I nor anyone else I know knows her name, or what she looks like, or anything about her. I have seen his picture a million times; hers, never. And this is a huge mistake for a preacher. On every social media site I have and on every book I write, the picture is of Dana and me together. We travel together. We work at the church together. I constantly mention her in my messages and in my writings. It is pretty hard to do something stupid when there is not any space between you and your spouse.

I could still fall. So could you. And if any of us do, it will break the heart of the God who neither wanted it to happen nor decreed it to happen. So, let’s all make the right choices.

We are just 36 days away from a new year and a new era that will be decided by voters in perhaps the most important election that this country has ever faced.

Times have been dire before. World War I elections, WWII elections, Pandemic elections. But this one seems different somehow. The patriotism-meter has changed. Is this one really for the people or for the government. Do we really want the America that is proud, hard-working and strong in the eyes of our enemies?

There are so many politicians running to the finish line who have vowed to champion America, our state and our communities. Are you ready?

Attitude going in means everything.

We have choices to encourage or to discourage. We can roll up our sleeves and be part of the solution or we can sit back and remain part of the problem.

Looking forward to Nov. 6 – the day after the decisions. We have a character to test. We can push to help our elected leaders succeed or we can cross our arms and our fingers and secretly hope that they fail. Just so you will appear “righteous.” Whatever you do, though, it will affect the generation to come. The generation that’s watching. The generation that needs you more than you need to be right in your predictions.

For the common good. For the bigger picture. For the sake of all concerned. A sacrifice must be made this year. A new commitment to helping, cheering and doing.

Change comes in many forms. And it starts by looking in the mirror. It starts by teaching your children that there is “no give up” in you. No “give up” in helping to paint the bigger picture. A consensus of give and take to make things work.

How we handle adversity speaks volumes to the future. We are so concerned with the environment and how our grandchildren will fare 50 years from now, but what about the environment of their mind. And what about today?

Do you plant poison so that the tree that bears fruit 50 years from now is tainted, or are we planting good seeds into the hearts and minds of our children? I read something that a very wise man published. It was writing for his “now.”

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. How can we speak of such things when we must remain angry and hateful to get our points across? And again… someone’s watching.

“Love is for the journey. It’s borrowed, and entrusted to you so that you may keep it alive, so that at your passing, it will live and bring strength for the ones you leave behind. For those who inevitably will learn to carry this torch to the next generation. We know that love is many things. It is patient. It’s kind. It can withstand suffering and injustice, and it’s gentle. It waits and hopes when others give up, it does not envy, and it’s not proud. It’s mature. Its wisdom comes from years of experience. it will not its own horn, it will not lift a hand in anger, it does not judge. It does not cheer on iniquity, but rejoices in truth. It is said to bear all things, it believes all things, it hopes all things, and endures all things. You cannot have faith without its working power. I do know this; that love cries, and it smiles out loud. It hurts, and it heals. It drives men to the very brink of disaster as easily as it can guide them through a stormy sea.” From the novel “In The Always”

Sitting back and waiting for failures to happen cannot be our option in 2025. Ask yourself this question. Do you really want things to change for the better or do you just want everyone to glorify you because you predicted doom?

With your actions, you answer your own question. If you want to bring change to your elected officials in this country, this state, this community, you can be a doer. If you want to cause rebellion and strife, sit back and be a pacifist – or worse, be a naysayer.

Many people are purchasing “Fitbits” this year. It helps to mark their steps and their actions. It’s too bad they can’t purchase an additional unit for their tongues. Ultimately it’s your choice. Run your race with patience, with hope and with love, or, run your mouth.

The old adage, “many hands make light work” certainly applies as you make a new commitment this year. It is a new start for all. When you lay your head on your pillow each night, check to see how many miles you’ve walked and compare it to how many miles you’ve talked.

And the bottom line in the rant is, “let not your hearts be troubled.” You must not let the circumstances of the world make you so crazy that you forget your life. Your everyday life. Loving your family. Doing your job. Taking care of an elderly neighbor. Taking your wife out on a date night. Planning that family movie night or summer vacation.

If circumstance can make you alter who you’ve been and what you do in your everyday life, or if it can so consume you that you change so much that even your children don’t recognize you anymore, then perhaps the price of the circumstances you are buying into are just too expensive.

John Lennon said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Life is still going to happen. Learn from it. Let it teach you. Let it give you wisdom. But don’t let it change who you are on the inside.

Let’s press on – through the adversity, through the heartaches into a new place where we teach our future generations a better way. As we head to the polls this November, vote your conscience, hope for the best, brace for the worst but in either the exuberance of joy or the heartbreak of defeat, teach your children how to get through it.

If we’ve learned anything since the 2020 elections, it’s how we are coping with extreme adversity and no matter how bad it’s gotten, we always find a way through it. As Americans, let our spirit of “never giving up or giving in” be loud and proud not in only what we say, but what we do.

And don’t forget to love.

I have been once again in the third chapter of Genesis this morning and in prayer, I feel that The Lord gave me some powerful insights.

Now… the enemy came in a time when Adam and Eve did not sense the presence of God. He’s very good at picking times when we are not singing in church or praying at an altar or feeling the presence of God. He comes in times when the human spirit does not retain God. (Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;)

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

The main thing I want to bring forth today is the timing between verses 7 and verses 8. At times, in scripture one verse can be written minutes, hours, days or years between verses. Ecclesiastes tells us that a wise man discerns both the timing and the purpose.

That being said and knowing that God is “omnipresent” – or “ever present” or “always present” – this is very important to the timing of what happened here. I believe personally that before the fall, God was just a heartbeat away and always within earshot of Adam and Eve. All they had to do was whisper and He would answer.

After the sin we see a separation. The sin didn’t make God deaf. It didn’t make Him run away. It didn’t make Him stupid or naïve. It didn’t make Him no longer care. It didn’t make Him hate. Sin doesn’t change the immutable characteristics or virtues of God change.

Sin changes us. It makes us deaf. It makes us run. It makes us very stupid. It causes us to lose the ability to care. It makes us hate. It changes the immutability or the virtues of our soul. We are living in a fleshly body that still… even after salvation can be “shaped in iniquity.” Depending on which potter’s hands we put ourselves into.

Sin opens our eyes to the world and causes fleshly reactions to the problems, the crisis, the storms, the poverty… and mostly… it opens our eyes to the frailty of our fellow man. For the first time… Adam was going to hide himself from his wife and he WANTED her to hide herself from him. When a man sins, he cannot bear to look at another person without judgment and criticism. That breeds misery, anger, guilt and a mirror to one’s own sin.

Sin also does something else that causes us to “steal” from God. It keeps us busy. It keeps us from our calling. It keeps us from our destiny. It keeps us from our maker.

Now look again at verse 7. Immediately after the fruit had been bitten into, the matrix of sin was opened and birthed in man. As they digested, the infection began to become a part of their bodies. Also… Immediately after that first bite, God didn’t come down and slap that fruit out of their hands. He didn’t reach down their throats and take the fruit out before digestion. He didn’t Heimlich maneuver them as they choked on the sin. He was there… but He didn’t speak. He didn’t rebuke. He didn’t scream or shout or chastise. He was silent.

He was waiting for an apology. He was waiting for a confession. He waited with a broken heart for His creation to “fess up.” And as He waited, they ran farther from Him.

They hid themselves in the forests of Eden and opened up a clothing store. The time between the initiation of sin and of the “cool of the day” may have been a longer time than we realize, knowing that God is LONG suffering. The “cool of the day” might have even meant a change of seasons – or could represent a changing of the hearts of Adam and Eve.

In any event, they sewed leaves together and made aprons. They had never done this before and I’m sure as with any business “startup” it was most likely a lesson in frustration. It may have taken quite a while for them to realize HOW to cover their sin, and when they had perfected it, they most likely realized that they were still very much “out of place” as a couple dying in a garden that would never die.

They took leaves from the beauty of Eden – but taking and putting on the perfection externally could not cover or change the sin inside. (Another message, another time). The thing I see today is the message of just one of the things sin caused.

It caused them to become VERY busy. Sin steals your time with God. It makes you busy doing the mundane and the impractical to keep your journey moving. Sin creates a market for things that are not of God – and the supply and demand that sin creates are very tiring elements. It’s like a hamster on a wheel or getting to the next level of “Donkey Kong.” You think it’s so important and life changing. But it’s not. It IS, though, life altering. That supply and demand for what sin creates can keep you busy… all your life. All that wasted time.

Did you hear me?

All that wasted time… sewing and inventing and perfecting. Occupying in a profession that they were not called to. Perfection surrounding them and never being able to appreciate or enjoy one moment of it. (Mat 6:27 “Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?)

Oh, there are some things in this life that are not sin and that are NOT unto death that can also be great time wasters, but today I am dealing with sin. Sin steals the very life within you – and tries to make you too busy covering it… so, you cannot get to God who is the only one who can reverse that curse.

Whether it’s anger or malice or worrying or lust or gossip or backbiting. It keeps you busy, keeps you from God and alienates you from those around you. The moment you sin… He comes looking for you and waits for you to face Him and confess. He may follow a long time waiting for your confession.

The bad news is that God DOES have a timetable and will eventually confront you. I always find it a better policy to find Him first.

Mat 21:44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken. If the stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person.”

Want to have more time? Want to feel beautiful in the midst of perfection? Want to quit “wasting” time on sin’s supply and demand?

Get off the wheel my fellow hamsters. Run to God. Run to His arms. Start all over again.

1Jn 2:1 My dear children, I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father.

The original fettuccine Alfredo (called ‘fettuccine Al Burro’ in Italy) is a pasta dish consisting of fettuccine tossed with lots of butter and Parmesan cheese. This recipe is the Italian way and quite different from the American style where you would add cream to the pasta. But with only 4 ingredients this authentic recipe is ready in only 15 minutes. If all you know is the American version of Alfredo, I strongly suggest you try this (Caution: Extremely Addictive!).

Here is your shopping list:

1. 1 lb. Fettuccini (I suggest dried pasta rather than refrigerated or frozen)

2. 1 stick salted butter

3. 1 Cup good quality grated Parmesan cheese

4. 2 Cups hot reserved pasta water

Take a large pot with water and season heavily with salt. Bring to a boil. Add the pasta. Make sure to constantly stir the pasta for the first 3-4 minutes as fettuccini tends to stick due its shape. Stirring for the first few minutes will keep this from sticking together. Then continue to stir occasionally. Cook for about 12 – 13 minutes (al dente). While the pasta is cooking, take a large frying pan and on low heat melt the butter (cut them into 8 pieces so it melts evenly without burning).

Once the pasta is cooked, remove 2 cups of the pasta water then drain the pasta (do not rinse!). Add the pasta to the frying pan with the melted butter and toss with two large forks, pasta scoop or thongs until coated. Sprinkle the cup of Parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta and start to mix together. Immediately add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and continue to toss until the butter, cheese and water make a nice light sauce. The trick to a successful dish is to keep the pasta warm while mixing. You may want to add additional water as you want to keep the Parmesan cheese from curdling. Continue to toss and add water as needed. Serve on warm plates (I kept mine next to the heat of the stove). Sprinkle with pepper and garnish with parsley.

If there are any left-overs, put in a container and pour the remaining pasta water over it and store in the refrigerator. The pasta water will help to keep it creamy when you reheat it over the stove or in the microwave.

You may wonder how Alfredo become part of the pasta name? Legend has it that a restaurant owner, Alfredo di Lelio came up with this dish around 1907 or 1908. His wife, Ines, had lost her appetite after giving birth to their first child. To make it more appetizing, he added 3 times the amount of butter than he normally would use and named it “Fettuccine al Triplo Burro.” It was after this that the name fettuccine Alfredo soon spread. Somewhere along the way in the U.S. fettuccini Alfredo transformed into a version by using heavy cream.

(I found a little Fun Fact… In the 1920s, Douglas Fairbanks & Mary Pickford dined at Alfredo’s restaurant during their honeymoon. They had this dish and asked him for the recipe. As soon as they got back to the U.S., they spread the word and Alfredo became a celebrity stop when visiting Italy. Fairbanks & Pickford sent a set of golden forks to Alfredo engraved with “To Alfredo, the King of the Noodles” along with their name and the date of July 1927. This alone should give you good reason to try this recipe!)

ELIZABETHTOWN - Cycle North Carolina “Mountains to Coast” Tour Arrives in Elizabethtown Oct. 11.

Cycle North Carolina will begin an all-new route for the 2024 “Mountains to Coast” tour of scenic North Carolina, spending their last night in the Town of Elizabethtown. This is the 25th anniversary of the first Mountains to Coast Ride held back in 1999, running from Murphy to Manteo.

This year’s event is scheduled for a Spruce Pine to Ocean Isle Beach trek from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12. With beautiful tourist stops along scenic back roads, the “Mountains to Coast” ride is the highlight of the year for many cyclists from across the nation.

Elizabethtown will host the last overnight with bikers traveling over the HWY 701 bridge, making a right onto King Street and arriving at the soccer field behind Town Hall.

“We want to give them a warm welcome,” Terri Dennison, Elizabethtown Director of Communications and Marketing said, “We are encouraging residents to come out and cheer on the bicyclists as they cross the day’s finish line at King and Moorehead Street.”

When they reach Elizabethtown, the 900-plus bicyclists will have completed 355 miles across North Carolina, starting Oct. 6 from Riverside Park in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

The next day, they will finish the last 63 miles ending at the Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach. During the week, riders will bike an average of 62 miles per day. The majority of the cyclists will tent camp behind Town Hall. Hotel accommodations are being provided at the Grand Regal, Melwood Court and Knights Inn. The Town has arranged a shuttle loop that will transport the cyclist from base camp at Town Hall or their hotel to local restaurants and points of interest.

The cyclists can also visit downtown and participate in the Pink Out with the Pink Slips at the Farmers Market Friday evening from 6-9 p.m.

The cyclists represent 42 states plus the District of Columbia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The youngest cyclist to ride for the entire week is 10 years old, while the oldest participant is 87 years old.

In this year’s tour, bicyclists will experience numerous instances of North Carolina’s unique topography including mountains, ample farmland, several lakes, creeks and winding rivers. Three to four rest stops are scheduled daily to break up the ride and allow riders an opportunity to take a break from pedaling. Some of the featured rest stops that are planned for the ride include Linville Lodge, Traveler’s Rest, Hiddenite Heritage and Arts Center, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, Cleveland Town Hall and World’s Smallest Library, Short Circuit Arcade Bar, Richard Petty Museum, Liberty Patterson Cottage, Jordan Dam Visitors Center, Kidd’s Place Sporting Clay/Pistol Range, Angier Depot, Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire Department, Downtown Roseboro and the George Henry White Memorial Health and Education Center.

The Cycle North Carolina “Mountains to Coast” Tour is the state’s only fully-supported ride. Luggage is transported in vehicles from one overnight host community to the next; rider support vehicles are available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical trouble; outdoor camping areas with amenities are set up in overnight host communities; and rest stops will be available every 15-20 miles along the route, with beverages and snacks for all participants. Riders can register for the entire distance, three-day options or first-day & last-day only options. Online registration is still open at www.ncsports.org!

Hosted by North Carolina Amateur Sports (NCAS), Cycle North Carolina was developed to promote North Carolina’s scenic beauty, heritage tourism, visitor attractions, historic sites, state parks, fitness, healthy lifestyles, and the benefits of bicycling to individuals and our state. During the past 24 years, Cycle North Carolina has stopped overnight in more than 100 North Carolina towns and visited over 800 North Carolina communities.

Cycle North Carolina is presented by Retire NC. Partner organizations of Cycle North Carolina include: BODYARMOR, Truist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Harris Teeter, Fat Tire and the N.C. Department of Transportation.

http://eeditions.championcarolinas.com/books/fuap/

Does this sound redundant? Good. Then you’ve read it before. Doesn’t sound familiar? Good. Then that is why I beat this dead horse.

Likening the political campaigns in America to a sickness in the stomach or a flu virus is pretty much an understatement. Now as that sickness is passing, it has left most of us with an emotional dehydration, weakness and the feeling that we may never want to eat again. And the big election is still somewhere around 42 days away.

But in every recovery, there is a point where a body needs to get up and begin to function again. It is first a matter of the mind. You must decide in your heart that you want to get better. You must fight the battle that pits your comfort of a warm bed and no activity against the need to put that body into motion so that it stays in motion. Normal and healthy come only with great effort.

We are now way past the minor elections and still the vomiting continues in this county. The fallout from a debilitating family feud is now upon us. We have choices to make. It’s the candidate that takes a higher road and calls for “healing” and an “open mind” that impresses me.

Scenarios like this happening all over America.

The losing candidate becomes mellow and suddenly supportive and called for the same thing. Here were two candidates locked in death-grips just days before the election and now it was like… everything had miraculously changed.

And that is what healing is all about. Miraculous change. If the candidates we loved and supported are calling for this healing, then why do we as Americans step out into our own land of protesting and/or gloating. I haven’t talked to the candidates today. But I would hope that they are concerned with going forth for the greater good.

The fight is over. The last bell has rung. The 15 rounds have been accomplished and the prizefighters are hugging in the middle of the canvas. Some are disappointed, some are angry, some are prideful, but your continuing the fight in the cheap seats is not the heart of the boxers. At least… I hope not. Not here in such an incredible place like Platte County.

If you gloat. If you protest. If you continue to raise your fists and utter your threats, you are in essence, going your own way to prolong a fight that is now over. You are doing damage to the land we are all fighting to preserve. You are throwing stones at the gaping wound that Lady Liberty has acquired.

You would rather be right in your own mind than see a nation healed and strengthened, because, God forbid, what if you were wrong? Did you really support your candidates? Did you honestly follow them faithfully? Did you believe in what they said? Or was it all a lie?

Your actions after the fight is over, will speak louder than your words or your “politicians promises.” If you obeyed your candidate and respected them while the fight was going on, then your choosing to abandon their post-fight wishes is nothing short of hypocrisy. We must move forward. Together. On the same page.

America is recovering from this political sickness and the Kangaroo courts that will continue to the big November Tuesday, and most likely long after. It’s certainly easier to remain comfortable in your anger and your pride and your bed of bitterness. But if this body is ever going to get up and be put again into motion, then we must resolve to drop the stones – on both sides, and come together for the common good.

“We are all just a car crash, a diagnosis, an unexpected phone call, a newfound love, or a broken heart away from becoming a completely different person. How beautifully fragile are we that so many things can take but a moment to alter who we are forever?” – Samuel Decker Thompson.

Our moments can alter our tomorrows. Choose to walk within them wisely. Onward Bladen County. Onward.

In part two we will deal with dealing with defeat. A lost battle. A bad day.

That is really the bottom line to what I am speaking today. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DEFEAT?

In my book, “A Warrior’s Heart” that I wrote as encouragement and motivation for athletes, I had the following entry:

We need to learn how to miss our free throws. Not from a technical aspect… but rather, the reaction to the reality that you DO miss, you HAVE missed, and you WILL miss again in the future. It’s not THAT you missed your shot, but HOW you missed it… With what emotion do you treat a missed free throw… a missed shot… a missed opportunity? With anger or understanding? Swearing or silent contemplation? Depression or determination? And remember… Your next shot may be determined by which emotion you choose… and so it is with life.

It is the footsteps you take after the crisis hits. And you can’t leave footprints to victory as your legacy when you are lying down. You need to get up and walk. BACK to the lover of your soul.

Peter. Judas. Both were disciples, appointed by the Father, called to greatness. Here are some of the things these men BOTH did:

Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the 12, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Mar 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Peter. Judas. They both had the power of the Holy Spirit upon them. They both were preachers – leading people to Christ and to repentance. They preached REPENTENCE. They delivered those in bondage and healed the sick. They bound up the hearts of those who were broken.

And these two great men. Both of them. Went to the crusades at Jerusalem… The battle of the Passion. Both of them were wounded and knocked down in the battle. Only one survived. How?

It deals here with relationship. Peter had been the one who was broken in prayer, had transcended the realm of earth and had sat at the feet of His heavenly father. He had Jesus revealed to him.

Judas, on the other hand, had a religious relationship with the church leaders. He sat at the feet of the Pharisees and listened as they revealed Jesus to him. If you only know Jesus by what people or pastors or religious leaders tell you – that is not a revealing and you will have no confidence in the Spirit when the crisis hits. And trust me… YOUR CRISIS WILL HIT HARD.

Peter sinned. He went back to His revealer. He learned how to go the Father before the fall and thus… during the crisis – he knew His way back home. Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Judas sinned. He went back to his revealers. He repented to them. They could NOT nor would NOT grant him absolution. He could not find his way back home in the crisis because he had never been there. If you look at the phrase “repented himself” the word there translates out to “a less intimate repenting.” It could not come from his heart because his heart had not been broken. It could not come from his heart… because his heart was selfish. Selfish spirits of self-condemnation, self-pity and self-serving suicide. The ultimate destruction… he hung himself and gave away any chance for God to continue to call him to greatness. He threw away his calling. He threw away a chance for salvation. He made it very clear that he aligned his heart with Satan who screams out to God… “I hate you. I hate your gifts. I hate your gift of LIFE. I HATE YOU.”

Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? see thou to that. Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Sin is evidence of a lost battle. Regression is evidence of condemnation. Condemnation is evidence of a faulty or flawed relationship with your Heavenly Father. We are again wise to look at Judges 20 and the battles lost by the children of Israel to reveal to them their true heart. When they lost in the same battle twice, they did not give up. They moved closer to the heart of God. Now… you do you just sit back and continue to live in sin? That is foolishness, and if you are reading that into this message, you need to adjust your focus. We Battle. If we lose “hamburger hill” 20 times… we go the 21^st time… and we fight again. Until we have the victory.

And finally… two thoughts written by John the beloved. Once as he quoted Jesus and the second as he continued in God’s love:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart,

and knows all things.

1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart (does not have the power to condemn us),

then have we confidence toward God.

1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1Jn 3:24 And he that keeps his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

I am going to draw this all together with the same conclusion that Solomon gave us back in Ecclesiastes:

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Get up. Arise. Shine. Your light is come. Battles will be won and battles will be lost in the days ahead… your response, your reaction and your resolve will determine your next steps. The life you save may be your own.

From the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department:

“It is with great sadness that we post the passing of long term County Commissioner Deliah Blanks. Mrs. Deliah served as a Bladen County Commissioner for almost 30 years. She was a great friend and supporter of the Sheriff’s Office. Her Funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation: will be at Pleasant Union Baptist Church Wednesday September 25th, 2024 from 4-6p.m.”

RIEGELWOOD, NC—Dr. Delilah Lunette Bowen Blanks, 88, of Riegelwood, NC, died Sunday, September 15, 2024, at home.

She was a former Bladen County Commissioner and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The funeral will be 1:00 PM Thursday, September 26, at Pleasant Union Baptist Church, 1437 East Arcadia Road, Riegelwood, NC. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Viewing will be at the church Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM and Thursday 30 minutes prior to and following the service

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Hall of the home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to East Arcadia Senior Citizens Corporation, 1472 East Arcadia Road, Riegelwood, NC 28456.

A service of Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville