Have you ever smoked weed on your way to church?

For some odd reason, I thought it would be cool to be intoxicated in the body of Christ. When I was 16-years old, I smoked a joint before I went to church with my mother. What a mistake! As soon as I breached the premises of St. Paul, shame cultivated my soul like a demon possession. It was the beginning of a long beat down.

Because I always hid in the balcony of the church’s sanctuary, I was able to avoid suspicion from my mother – and other members of the congregation. As I sat on the bench stoned with two red eyes, I suddenly thought everybody knew I was under the influence. “They know I’m high,” I thought out of paranoia.

Guest writer: David Butts

We cannot harness the true power of life. We can’t experience the true beauty of life until we are freed from control.

What if you thought you were free, but realized you aren’t?! What if you realized your thoughts and ideologies were specifically curated by people whose interests you intend to unwittingly serve?!

Everyone else might be controlled, or most people but not you, right?!!! What if you and everybody else were controlled and it was only a few who actually own their opinions?!!!! What if your dreams weren’t truly yours, and that is why you can’t find purpose, understanding or even love?!!!!!

“Why are we hungry?” is what a struggling sector of society wants to know.

“If it was up to me, the United States of America wouldn’t have hungry households,” a taxpaying, middle-class man said. There are some, of course, who don’t feel the same as I do. For example, John Langford – a devoted father and husband – is a retired criminal prosecutor. Before he became Senator of his poor hometown, John’s campaign ads focused on the hunger crisis in America. John made good on his promise. During his tenure as a state legislator, he proposed multiple bills that would’ve drawn in nonprofits and organizations to help feed hungry people. As lead patron of the “No Child Left To Starve” Act, he fought tirelessly to pass a bipartisan bill that increased single mothers financial assistance.

No Trespassing!

How imperative is it that we respect our neighbors’ rights, privacy and property? When I was a boy, I knew better than to go beyond a no trespassing sign. Unfortunately, some kids don’t feel the same way. 14-year old La’Karr learned the hard way.

Eager to meet up with his friend after school, La’Karr went inside of Thompson Junior High School without permission. He was not a student at Thompson, but his friend was. After the duo facilitated a foolish prank, La’Karr was caught by school staff.

War on Drugs

Last week in California, a 12-year old girl died from an opioid overdose. According to the Los Angeles police department, a minor was criminally charged after selling Fentenyal – a lethal pain reliever that’s caused many drug overdoses – to the pre-teenager.

What a sad lost for two families. Further details have not been released; however, lawmakers, nonprofits and associated organizations have been working together to implement prevention measures, declaring a war on drugs.

As I was reading the first chapter of Donald miller’s Hero on a Mission book, I paused for a second to reflect on something the author wrote:

“… even before we ask ourselves what our story is about, we have to ask ourselves what character we are playing within that story.” 

–Donald Miller,

Support Your Children

Not to throw shade at my mother, but she never supported me. For example, I wanted to play football in high school. When I was younger, I played recreational football. I was a great wide-receiver and my team won the 2000 Junior League Football Championship. I wanted to relive that joyful moment, and further my success in the sport I love, second behind soccer.

Unfortunately my mother refused to sign the school’s consent form. “I don’t want you to play football,” she said.

The incident was one of my many positive, fun desires that my mother didn’t support. As a result, I had developed an unhealthy attitude: “I don’t need anyone; I can do it by myself.”

Secure Your Guns

According to a Virginia Chief of Police, there was an alarming rise in gun thefts in 2021. Richmond police chief said that out of all the firearms seized, half of them were reported stolen. However, the most disturbing news isn’t the increase in gun thefts; it’s the people who are getting caught with these stolen firearms–minors.

In the capital of Virginia, minors were the primary suspects in the gun theft. Most of those guns were used in violent crimes. Is it true that our kids are behind the gun violence in our community?

Whether you want to beieve it or not, our youth are stealing guns and using them in acts of violence. This is not good and it has to stop. If you own a gun, please keep it in a secured location. A safe, for example, is a great place. The more your firearm is secured, the less access gun thieves have to it.

The goal is to prevent future gun thefts which will help decrease gun violence. We all have a role to play; do your part!

Prison is a dark place filled with negativity. Because of the world’s general perception of criminals, most belittled prisoners are insecure and full of doubt. With a mentality like that, the idea of a convicted felon trying to become a politician is impossible.

Once I am released and my civil rights are restored, I plan to run for city council.

In short, I want to lead my community and make it a greater sector of the United States of America. After learning from my reckless mistakes and investing in myself, I know I have what it takes to help protect and benefit citizens. I understand what the people want–security, peace, and happiness.

Sex Ed

When I was a child, I was more sexually advanced than my peers. With late night access to HBO/Cinemax, the exposure of pornography and sex fed my curiosity. At 12-yeard old, the only things my friends and I talked about was girls and sex. By the time I was 15-years old, I was a father.

The authority in my life–who were mostly women–didn’t really have much to say to me about my inappropriate actions. I guess they didn’t know what to say. “If you get a girl pregnant, the money I care of you with is going to that baby,” was what my mother repeated. Other than that, my sex life began way too early with no sense of responsibility.