“You cannot serve both God and money.” “The love of money is the root of all evil.”

I’m sure you’ve heard those before. So what does that mean? What’s the role of money supposed to be?

What do you think? What’s the role of money in your life?

by Staff Writer Matthew VanTryon

“Money makes the world go ’round” is a phrase often uttered, especially in the affluent United States. Though some may scoff at this extreme notion, it is truer than it may seem.

Virtually everything on this earth costs money. Most arguments either involve politics or, you guessed it, money.

Take for instance the current NFL Lockout. I am by no means a football guru, but I do know that as of right now there is no football season because people that already make millions of dollars want even more (I know this isn’t the entire situation, but that’s not the point). According to the NFL Player’s Association, the minimum salary for an NFL player is $295,000 per year. (more…)

by Staff Writer Stephany Mendia

Now this may sound greedy, but let’s be honest: we all want money, we all like walking around with some spending money in our pockets. But summer is for fun not work, at least in my mind it is. So I’ve come up with a solution: jobs we like to do!

In school when picking electives, teachers advise me to pick classes that relate to what I want to grow up to be and major in while in college, but I think that we should have the same attitudes about the jobs we hold. (more…)

by Staff Writer Arianna Zander

“We don’t have any money.”

I was young at the time, so I guess my Dad’s words didn’t sound as serious to my ears as they did to the rest of my family. He showed us the empty folds of his wallet, his face missing his usual smile. “We’ll eat tonight. I don’t know how, but God will find a way,” he said. (more…)

By Staff Writer Arianna Zander

“How could you?” My words are ice. Tears decorate Taylor’s brown eyes, and she backs away two inches. Licks her lips, studying her pink nail polish instead of me. “I… I didn’t mean to. You know I’d never hurt you on purpose. I’m your best friend.”

I shake my head, and reach for the door handle. It’s cold, and I feel the shiver all the way to my toes. “No,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “Ex best friend.” (more…)

By RTF Staff Writer Kalli Simmerman

Ever done one of those trust exercises where you fall back and let a friend catch you?

Well I haven’t. It’s not that I don’t trust my friends. I would trust them wholeheartedly with certain things. Such as taking care of my things if I was gone, or handling my money, or my feelings given a certain situation.

However…

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I never worried about my self-image until I suffered from a severe case of the chicken pox. When the sickness retreated two months later, countless scars remained, and humiliation captured me.

And when I looked at my reflection? I felt ugly. Worthless. Different from anybody I knew.

The discovery of makeup soothed me at first, but soon it became a mask I rarely removed. (more…)

by Assistant Editor Halee Matthews

I know you’ve been there (I definitely have!) – sitting at a desk with only a few pieces of paper and a pencil when your mind goes blank. Everything you ever learned flies right out the window while A, B, C, and D glare at you, daring you to choose the wrong one.

Just one look.. a quick glance right or left could help you think, maybe point you toward the answer you already know but just can’t remember right now.

What could it hurt? (more…)