Posted on June 11th, 2009 by admin
Last Saturday, I had the joy of speaking to the graduation of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS).
Tiffany Deierlein’s valedictory speech was so impressive, I asked her for permission to post it on our blog.
I know you’ll be as impressed as I was.
Tiffany Deierlein
High School Graduation Speech, 2009
“Friede wenn möglich, Wahrheit auf jeden Fall.”
Peace if possible; truth at all costs.
-Martin Luther
In John 18:37 Jesus declares, “I came that I might testify to the truth.” Likewise, He sends forth his children to proclaim the truth to the ends of the earth. We stand here today solely because of His grace, and we go forth from here in the fear of the Lord to rekindle the Reformation, to proclaim the via, veritas, vita–the way, the truth, and the life. We go forth in the shadow of the Almighty, to reform the culture and reclaim civilization. And we do not go alone.
Our parents gave us life, and then they taught us–trained us–how to sacrifice that life so that it would fulfill its highest, indeed, its only purpose, and that is to glorify the Most High God. Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” I doubt any of us realize what our parents have done on our behalf to sharpen us so that when we leave here today as high school graduates we may leave as men and women of honor, of purity, of humility, and of faith. “Education,” William Butler Yeats said, “is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” We will never be fully ready, and we will certainly never be worthy, but because of our parents’ faithful training we are well-equipped to go forth, and to take the fire they lit within us and to spread it to the ends of the earth. Read more »
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Posted on April 9th, 2009 by admin
Frank Page has had quite a week…and it’s only Thursday.
Dr. Frank Page, immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church, SC, was appointed in February to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Dr. Page flew to Washington this week for the first substantive meetings of the group concerned about where this Council was headed and whether he should stay on. Just looking at the first dozen or so religious leaders appointed earlier this year shows Page had good reason for concern. He may very well be the only pro-life choice…on a faith-based panel. (Fellow panel member Joel Hunter might hold to the biblical view if pressed, but that is another story.)
Dr. Page’s week turned out to be a roller coaster. The initial hope that Super Bowl Champion Coach and devout Christian Tony Dungy would be coming on board the Council for this week’s meeting was dashed. Not only was Dungy not appointed (amid speculation that his opposition to gay marriage may have played a role)—instead, Harry Knox of the Human Rights Campaign (a Washington-based gay rights organization) would be joining the group. Dungy had supported the campaign for traditional marriage in California, Knox had opposed.
But after a few days of the usual Obama Administration party line, a ray of sunshine: the public comment period on healthcare right of conscience had ended and the Administration would not reverse the Bush policy after all. Healthcare providers would still, under Executive Order from the President, be able to refuse to perform procedures or prescribe drugs the physician considered immoral.
On behalf of the people of South Carolina—Thank you, Dr. Page, for your leadership. You are in our prayers.
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Posted on April 9th, 2009 by admin
At the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast a couple of weeks ago, those in attendance had the pleasure of hearing from SC Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. He spoke about the honor and privilege of public service, and the humbling gift of prayer.
You may never have noticed it before, but as Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers’ name is printed on the inspection sticker found on every gas pump in this state. In his talk at the Prayer Breakfast, The Commish told us about the prayers fueled by those stickers:
It’s an honor to offer a few remarks on behalf of the governor and all elected officials. And I will be brief because I’m reminded that it is scriptural to do so: Ecclesiastes 6:11 says, “The more the words, the less the meaning…and how does that profit anyone.”
I firmly believe that any elected official standing before you would say it is a privilege to serve South Carolina. They might also say that sometimes that “privilege” is more of a labor of love. But they would also be quick to thank you for the prayers you offer on their behalf.
In my four and a half years as your commissioner, I have benefited from the efforts of many prayer warriors—first and foremost, my wife Blanche. When I share with her the challenges that confront me, she always promises to pray about it. But then she also adds, “Well, have you prayed about it?”
I have two good friends in town that many of you may know—Dr. Perry Bowers with Focused Living Ministries and Adrian Despres, the chaplain of the USC football team. They will leave me phone messages from time to time to say, “Hey, I was at the gas pump earlier. Saw your name. Praying for you, man.” Read more »
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Posted on March 25th, 2009 by admin
Oran P. Smith
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Columbia, SC
Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for the time we have spent together this day. You have said where two are three are gathered together, you are there. We have felt your presence this morning already and we are grateful.
Oh Creator, we praise and adore you. We know that with your very Word you spoke our universe into existence. And now by your grace, you sustain us.
But as we exalt your name and celebrate your light, You know the darkness of our hearts. We confess our sins to you now and ask for your forgiveness.
We are thankful… Read more »
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Posted on March 16th, 2009 by admin
by Bill Connor, guest blogger
The often controversial Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston recently announced that he will run for governor in 2010 on a platform centered on bringing back video poker.
Sen. Ford has said that his gubernatorial bid would be different because he believes bringing back and taxing video poker will provide South Carolina with the money it needs to serve the state’s neediest while keeping taxes low.
Sen. Ford claims video poker will solve South Carolina’s woeful financial situation, generating $750 million by taxing the industry that was outlawed here nearly a decade ago. After reviewing Sen. Ford’s appeal for video poker, I had to ask myself: How can a State Senator be so passionate about a quick, yet ultimately detrimental, short-term gimmick? Leadership means looking beyond the “now” of the superficial gains to the “future” of second and third order effects. This includes economic leadership. Read more »
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 by admin
“I am deeply disappointed in the decision to rescind the policy forbidding organizations from using federal funding to perform or promote abortions. These organizations are not accountable to the American people, and yet they will have the authority to use taxpayer dollars for this type of activity. Every human life is precious, and we should be doing all we can to protect and defend it.”
-U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC, 2nd District) Read more »
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Posted on February 26th, 2009 by admin
Several weeks ago I reported on some of the Bad and Ugly legislation that had been introduced for the new legislative session that began January 13. I promised at that time that I would shortly provide some Good News.
Then, two of the Good pieces of legislation started to move and we needed your help with them:
Extension of Abortion Waiting Period (H.3245: Rep. Delleney). This bill extends the reflection period from 1 hour to 24 hours. Twenty four hours is the national standard.
Born Alive Infant Protection Act. (H. 3342: Rep. Delleney). This is already on the books at the federal level, but a state law is needed for non-federal property.
With both of those bills now out of the House and on the way to the Senate, I call your attention again to The Good.
Read more »
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Posted on February 4th, 2009 by admin
Thanks to the strong leadership of Rep. Greg Delleney (Chester) the bill changing South Carolina’s abortion reflection period from ONE HOUR to TWENTY-FOUR HOURS cleared an important hurdle yesterday.
After an hour or so of debate, the SC House Judiciary Committee passed H.3245 on a voice vote without amendment.
The debate was not without fireworks, as freshman pro-life Rep. Wendy Nanney (Greenville) stood tall for the bill in the face of cross-examination by pro-abortion Rep. Todd Rutherford (Richland).
The legislation now moves to the House floor, where it will be up for a vote soon.
Please watch for instructions from Palmetto Family Alliance on how you can help with that key roll call.
If you made a call or sent an email, thank you! If you didn’t, we will need you on the next vote.
Note: At ONE HOUR, South Carolina’s reflection period is the shortest in the country among states with waiting periods. TWENTY-FOUR hours is the national standard.
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Posted on January 19th, 2009 by admin
A quick review of the prefile list for 2009 reveals some great ideas…and some really poor ones.
Part I: The Bad
Every other year about this time, legislators “prefile” bills. That means they put a few ideas in the hopper in advance of the legislature’s actual meeting so they will have some work to do the first few weeks of the session.
A Senator from Charleston gets the prize this year for really bad proposals. His list of prefiles reads like a propaganda tract for those who want to radically change South Carolina’s family friendly culture.
South Carolina would be a very different place if the Senator from District 42 were to get his way:
- people of the same gender would be getting married (“civil unions”);
- hotels, hospitals and employers would be giving special protection based on a person’s “actual or perceived” sexual identity;
- video poker would back on every corner;
- riverboat casinos would operate along the coast; and
- local governments would be prevented from restricting Sunday alcohol sales.
Read more »
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Posted on January 6th, 2009 by admin
The days immediately following Christmas are generally a contemplative time. As we leave the tinsel and lights behind and face the New Year, it is a time for both recovery and preparation.
Apparently, this is not only the case for the Christian, but for the unbeliever as well.
In two unlikely articles published last week, two self-described atheists took time to consider the positive impact that a belief in God has upon the world.
In one of the articles, John Tierney of the New York Times asks:
If I’m serious about keeping my New Year’s resolutions in 2009, should I add another one? Should the to-do list include, “Start going to church”?
Read more »
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