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The Body of Christ at Work

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Few of us expected Hurricane Helene to be as destructive as it turned out to be when it hit on Friday, September 27.  In rural upstate South Carolina, many homes and businesses are still without power. There was a serious rush for gasoline for the next three days immediately following the storm. Trees lay across the roofs of some houses, and I’ve seen one house completely split down the middle by fallen timber. Those who weren’t prepared found themselves in long, wending lines for fast food at the few restaurants open. People need help. And in this unforeseen situation, it has been an unexpected joy to watch my community pull together.  Perhaps you’ve heard about how rude, selfish, and sometimes violent people have been at grocery stores and gas pumps.  After a natural disaster, when we feel desperate, it’s instinctive for us to only look out for “me and mine.” But there is a force of people determined to stay cheerful in adversity and to help others. This is known as the Body of Chris
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Declaration

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By June 1776, the American colonies were thoroughly agitated by the overbearing presence and oppression of the British. Thomas Paine’s  Common Sense  had been published in January, and further cemented the people’s indignation. On June 7, Richard Henry Lee introduced a statement to the Continental Congress:  “ That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."   On the same day, Congress appointed the Five Man Committee to draft a resolution that would state their motives and intentions regarding independence. These men were Thomas Jefferson, who was the chairman, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. After conferring with the committee, Jefferson began writing the first draft on June 11, 1776. On July 2, Congress reconvened. It of
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Memorial Day 2024

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 I have had grand intentions of writing and publishing a well-timed Memorial Day piece since the inception of this blog. At last, here it is.  This is the first year in my memory that Greenville, SC has not held a ceremony at County Square to memorialize all those who have died defending our nation. Why is that? Because this year, after spending millions of dollars on city projects, including Unity Park and a shiny new county square, the government decided it wasn't worth it to pay for a Memorial Day ceremony. Since government employees are off today, it would cost extra to have a few open and close the building. Volunteers do the rest of the work.  Greenville, while rising in national acclaim, is currently unable to respect the thousands who have died for our country.  Greenville, what is wrong with you?  Now, today isn't about calling out this fallible city. It is a day set aside to remember, to reminisce, and to renew our shared patriotism, sorrow, and determination to prese
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Teenage Citizens

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Teenagers are dumb because that’s what is expected of us. Society is stuck in a reciprocal echo chamber, where low expectations lead to corresponding behavior. The remedy has the capacity to come from either side, but it would be better for us to take initiative and pull ourselves up rather than be brusquely yanked up into competence. What keeps us from doing this?    In ancient Rome, the Andabata were gladiators that fought blindfolded. If they wandered too far away from each other, they would be prodded with spears and poles until they ran into each other again. While it is an unrealistic correlation, some days my peers and I may feel like gladiators in an educational arena where scholarships and Grade Point Averages push us back into combat. In short, the modern education system is flawed and unnecessarily complicated, which leads to stress for all parties involved.    The world ping-pongs between two approaches to our unsteady generation. We receive big helpings of sappy mantras su
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Girls Shouldn't Play Football

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A buff chick Since Shenandoah University played Juniata College on September 23, there's been a big hullabaloo about women in football.  Liberal news sources hail Haley Van Voorhis of Shenandoah University as the first female non-kicker football player, a warrior for equality, and a pillar of feminism.  Before we address the blatant misreporting of the whole story, let's go over how wonderful an idea it is to put a nineteen-year-old girl on a NCAA football field with twenty-one exceptionally strong men. Van Voorhis is exceptionally strong herself, but she cannot possibly be as strong as male college football players. Additionally, standing at a respectable height of 5'6", weighing 145 pounds, she is not small for a woman, but she is small for a  man.  College football players are at the peak of athleticism. They are drafted at the age when they are most fit and booted when their skills start to dull. They are in better shape than the general public. So, even if Van Voo
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"The American Privelege" [sic]

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I wrote this essay in 2019, before I knew how to spell the word "privilege." “…to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This is a powerful statement written in the Declaration of Independence. All the citizens still have this power, because this country is built upon the fact that all of mankind are created equal. We can do many things in our government, but in this essay, I’ll only be talking about our involvement in the legislative branch, which is the branch that makes the laws. We can write letters, make phone calls, send e-mails, etc.  We can encourage, inform, and discourage our legislators respectfully. The republic style of government is one of many in the world, and it is the benefit of living in America. I have sent a letter about homeschool and one about farming and have found it becomes easier after every time.               A few days before I visited the SC State House my mom gave
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