United States Archive

  • No Turning Back

    No Turning Back

    Sitting in a house-church in Burshtyn, Ukraine, I heard a familiar song. It was the only one my new friends knew in three languages. First they sang it in Ukrainian, then in Russian, and finally in English.

    Full Story

  • Grapes have seeds and other revelations

    Grapes have seeds and other revelations

    I'm fond of saying that I've learned a lot in my short time in Peace Corps Ukraine. And one of the more tangible things is a proverb: краше пізно ніж ніколі. It means "better late than never."

    Full Story

  • Live from Ukraine

    Live from Ukraine

    There is so much in life you can’t predict, and in the Peace Corps, there is even more. I have been in Ukraine for nearly a month, and I am already starting to look fondly upon the fluid life I’m living. For example, I can...

    Full Story

  • Forget the war on drugs. Let’s have a war on corporate greed.

    Forget the war on drugs. Let’s have a war on corporate greed.

    While it’s against my peace-loving nature, I honestly believe the time has come to go to war.

    Full Story

  • And who is my neighbor?

    And who is my neighbor?

    Yesterday, a friend of mine with a pretty popular blog asked me to write a guest column. Naturally, I was thrilled. Jenny Simmons, lead singer of Addison Road and fellow Baylor grad, had written a post about the largest illegal immigration raid in history when a robust debate broke out. When she asked me to write a post addressing the question, “What should we as Christians do?” there were 9 comments. Just 24 hours later there were 18. Enter my column, reposted here.

    Full Story

  • I spent my 23rd birthday in jail

    I spent my 23rd birthday in jail

    OK. So technically it was the day after my birthday, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it.

    Full Story

  • The false hope of the death penalty

    The false hope of the death penalty

    Pop Quiz: What do Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and the United States have in common?

    Full Story

  • Better sex education should be a family value

    Better sex education should be a family value

    Despite the controversy surrounding the 17 pregnant girls at a Massachusetts high school, both sides of the political spectrum agree it’s a tragedy.

    Full Story

  • Let's put the next refinery in Crawford…

    Let's put the next refinery in Crawford…

    President Bush has called for more domestic oil exploration, asking congress to allow drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Preserve and off the coasts. While some, including the president, say this will drive the cost of gas down, it isn’t exactly the golden ticket to the energy crisis.

    Full Story

  • The bright side to rising gas prices

    The bright side to rising gas prices

    I’m really not a “the glass is half full” kind of girl. I don’t like to pretend things are great when they aren’t. But there is a bright spot to rising gas prices. Two, actually.

    Full Story