Pushing Back the Darkness

In a very moving post, former Greensboro resident and blogger The Dawn Treader reflects on the life of Clete Childs, who died a little over a week ago following a head-on collision with a drunk driver. The Dawn Treader notes how distinctive Clete's funeral was, writing ... "Clete, at age sixteen, had thought through his funeral quite carefully. He expressed his wishes clearly to his parents and his friends." (Hat tip: Joe Guarino)

On Monday night, Clete's school, Caldwell Academy, will honor him with a memorial service in the gym, where 24 hours later his basketball teammates will play their first home game of the season.
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We Gather Together

This morning - a bitterly cold morning, I might add - students, parents, teachers and staff from Caldwell Academy gathered together at a beautiful farm just north of Greensboro for the school's annual Thanksgiving in the Meadow celebration. The children, and some of the adults, dress in Pilgrim and Indian attire. There's hot chocolate, baked goods and Brunswick stew. During a time of worship, we all reflect on what we are thankful for through prayer, recitations, sharing and songs, including the hymn "We Gather Together."

If you've always assumed that the hymn was written about the Pilgrims' success in finding religious freedom in the New World ... you're wrong. So where did it come from? In yesterday's Wall Street Journal, Melanie Kirkpatrick sheds light on the "surprising origins" of this Thanksgiving standard.

(Hat tip: Marvin Olasky at World Magazine Blog).
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CSI: Mayberry

Taking down your fishin' pole and meeting Dad at the fishin' hole has become an ominous pastime, at least according to those at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Fox News reported last night that PETA has published an anti-fishing comic book titled "Your Daddy Kills Animals!" and would like to distribute it to kids in schools.

Shamelessly designed to pit children against their fishermen fathers and their "violent," "bloody" outdoor activity, the comic book informs youngsters: ... "Everyone knows that killing is wrong - but some people forget about that when the victims look a little bit different from us. Since your daddy is teaching you the wrong lessons about right and wrong, you should teach him that fishing is killing and killing is wrong." The "pro-fish" organization goes on to warn: "Until your daddy learns that it's not 'fun' to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals that they could be next!"

It's obvious that the next, most logical step for PETA would be to call for an all-out boycott of "The Andy Griffith Show." After all, every single episode begins with Andy and Opie heading off for another gruesome, murderous adventure at Myers Lake.
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Where Have I Been?

For those of you who frequent this blog, I'm sure you've noticed that my posts have been few and far between for the past month or so. In mid-October I decided to take a step back in order to reassess what I was doing and how I was doing it. I also needed to take time to concentrate more on God, my family, my friends, my church responsibilities and my job. I'm still not sure what the future holds for Carolina Christian Conservative, but for the time being, I plan to . . . keep it active and continue to post items as I feel led.

Another reason I haven't been posting much here is because I have been writing items for WORLD Magazine's blog instead, and was just named a permanent contributor earlier this week. I feel extremely blessed and honored to have this opportunity. So if you don't see much action here, head on over to Worldmagblog.com, where there's always something going on.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Alexander Samuels for his contributions to this blog. A little over a month ago, Alex decided to stop writing for Carolina Christian Conservative and turn his attention to other, more important things in his life. However, I hope he will return to the blogosphere someday and once again share with us his godly wisdom.

To my readers, I want to thank you all for your support and prayers. This blog has been an incredible experience for me so far, and I look forward to seeing where God leads me next. Take care.
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A Sad Day

Yesterday was an extremely sad day for those of us with ties to Caldwell Academy here in Greensboro. We lost a wonderful young man in a horrible auto accident Thursday night. I happened to be driving home from a meeting shortly after it happened, and I recall seeing two highway patrolmen racing north toward Bryan Boulevard. I wondered at the time where they were headed in such a hurry . . . now I know.

I did not personally know Clete Childs or his family, but when you have such a close-knit school like Caldwell and the common bonds that we share, we all feel the loss. And as a parent, my heart goes out to Craig and Jamie Childs. It is so difficult to try and understand why things like this have to happen to someone so young and full of life. Joe Guarino, who is also a Caldwell parent, points out on his blog: "It was a sobering reminder of every parent's nightmare. Clete's death speaks to us the transitory nature of our own existence. We are, in fact, merely dust even as we inflate the significance of our momentary circumstances." However, as Christians, it is incredibly reassuring for us to know that despite all that can go horribly wrong in our lives, God is in control. As Caldwell Head of School Mark Guthrie said in this morning's News & Record, "I trust the Lord, and I don't understand Him at times, but that's OK."

Please pray for Clete's family at home, as well as his family at school and at his church, where his father is senior pastor. And let us not forget to pray for the man who caused the accident - may God do an incredible work in his life. Thank you.
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Alex McFarland Book Signing

Former Greensboro resident Alex McFarland returns to the Triad next week to sign copies of his new book, Stand: Core Truths You Must Know for an Unshakeable Faith, at Logos Book Store (2709 Battleground Avenue, across from Rice Toyota, Greensboro, 336-282-3339), Thursday, November 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Alex headed up . . . Greensboro's Faith in Focus ministries and is currently the director of teen apologetics for Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Alex also hosts the "Truth Talk Live" radio program on Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. (EST) on AM 830 WTRU The Truth. Be sure to stop by Logos Thursday night, buy Alex's book and tell him hi.

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