Columns & Letters

Last week while many of us were snowed in, Gov. Nikki Haley was signing a document to allow concealed firearms to legally be carried in restaurants and bars without the once required eight hour training and while abstaining from alcohol.

Read Matthew 17:14-21

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. -Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV)

My brother, Matthew, and I are four years apart and we lived together for a brief six years of our lives, and as a result, we’ve always had a strained relationship. Most siblings don’t have to try to be siblings, but we do.

Read Psalm 121:1-8

Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. -Romans 5:3-5 (NRSV)

Read Isaiah 43:15-21

God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Along with the masses, I too gathered with friends around a TV to watch, what I’m led to believe to be, the worst Super Bowl game since 1967. While friends yelled and cheered at the TV during the game, I hushed everyone during the commercials — that’s right, I was in it for the ads and nothing more.

Read Psalm 31:19-24

Be still and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

I don’t believe celebrities are exemplary examples to aspire to, but the presses’ handling of them is unfortunate. It’s never more blatant what a superficial society we are than after the Grammys (or similar awards shows) when we are bogged down by the picking and pulling apart of celebrities.