Tim Sweetman, Guest RTF writer
Regenerate Our Culture

I stood on the Supreme Court steps in downtown Louisville at 12:02 PM shivering in the cold. All around me were people gathered around a huge statue at the foot of the steps. They were all listening to a speaker who stood at a black podium in between the huge columns at the top of the steps. These were people from all backgrounds – little children, businessmen, mothers, fathers, politicians, doctors, teenagers, and college students.

We were all gathered because abortion was legalized 36 years ago.

As I looked around at the faces, I realized that most of us were survivors of a genocide. A genocide that has taken almost 45 million lives away from our nation. A genocide that was taking a life every 20 seconds. A genocide that could have taken me.

But I was not aborted.

A few kids were holding signs that said “Stop Abortion Now” and “Abortion Kills.” I wasn’t holding anything, but I wish I was – I wish I could hold a sign up, wave a flag, yell, scream, or do anything to stop what was going on at that very minute. (more…)

From Raleigh to Russia: With Love

by Lynn Cowell, RTF Guest Writer

Sunday morning church can be predictable in many churches in American.

Music. Announcements. Sermon.

But on one Sunday, the announcements caught the ear and heart of Jordan Water’s mom. Their church was hosting children from countries with extreme poverty and they were looking for one more family to step up. Jordan’s mom, Pam, knew they were that family.

That summer with Artem was just the beginning of a new passion for Jordan and her family. After weeks of loving on this little boy and experiencing the heart break of sending him back home, Jordan and her father, Keith, decided to visit Russia on Jordan’s Christmas break.

She spent two weeks in Belarus visiting four orphanages that were so cold inside she never took her coat off!

“The children were dressed in rags; the boys often in girl’s clothes and vice versa. The smells of the orphanage were overpowering; the children smelled so untaken care of,” says Jordan, “but they were desperate to be touched, to be hugged, to be kissed, to be loved that it brought me to my knees in tears as I hugged them 10 at a time.” (more…)

Crawl

By Derrick Hanisch, Guest Writer, 21

One of my favorite bands is Superchick. Sad, but true. One of my highlights of Sonshine was seeing them perform. I even stood in line to get a poster autographed. It was really cool. Yes, while Superchick does sing about being a one girl revolution, and about how every girl is beautiful, they have some really cool lyrics.

I was listening to their newest CD today. I’ve listened to it a lot, and there’s one song that really stands out to me. It’s called “Crawl”:

How long will this take?
How much can I go through?
My heart, my soul aches
I don’t know what to do
I bend but don’t break
And somehow I’ll get through
’cause I have you (more…)

Heartache

by Judi Weiss, Guest Writer

Something fragile, something broken

Hurt

Kind words which were never spoken

Sadness

A deep ache for something lost

Loneliness

It never comes without a cost

Love

Something to make you feel secure

Trust

Something that is pure

Kindness

Something that will brighten someoneʼs day

Happiness

Everyone needs it along the way

 

He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (The Message)

This is for you, Mr. Yost

by Willie Collins, RTF Guest Writer 

I came to school
Ready to work
When I got there I saw
Not a smile or a smirk
Everyone was sad
Some people were crying
Then I heard them speak
Of somebody dying (more…)

Forgiveness in a word

In the midst of all the heartache in the world,

I need something that is real

Something to hold on to

Something I can feel

Forgiveness in a word is Grace,

Love and Peace

Happiness

That never ceased

Forgiveness

A state of mind

Forgiveness

Everyone needs it at times

 

Bio: Judi Lauren is a S.C. teen writer. She has written two novels and is working on her third.

Miss Match by Erynn Mangum

Review by Maddee Schrader, RTF Staff Writer, 16 

Erynn Mangum published Miss Match when she was twenty-three, and calls it semi-autobiographical. I’m always cautious of first-time authors, but in several cases have felt shamed afterward for doubting. Enough said.

Lauren Holbrook is twenty-four, living at home and working at a photography studio owned by her best friend from first grade. Besides being alarmingly addicted to coffee (“liquid candy bars”) and Milky Way bars, she might be considered normal save for her unusual hobby.

She is a matchmaker. (more…)

The Cross by Lawrana M., 14

(Excerpted from Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life)

The cross that hangs from my neck
is a symbol of who I am

What I hold close to my heart
some people will never understand

He died for them, too,
not just for me

If they knew someone died
on Calvary

Would they wear this cross
like me?

Or is this a secret that everyone knows
and chooses not to believe

Not comprehending it comes with love
and forgiveness for eternity