Growin' Up Gregory

What gives you a rush?  Makes you feel alive?  Or if you're struggling right now, makes you feel like you can just make it through the day? For some of us, it's the excitement of an extreme sport, a cup of coffee, doing something we love, or the look on a loved one's face when they're filled with joy.  But for some struggling with substance abuse, it may be a drug.  It may be something you can purchase legally (like alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana in some states), something you are prescribed (like painkillers), or something purchased illegally. I believe that we have all had times where we felt like we needed a little 'pick me up,' a boost, or some liquid courage.  Life is hard, I get it.  Unfortunately, too many people try to endure the rigors of life by relying on alcohol and drugs.  This reliance can lead to drunkenness and addiction.  But God has a better plan for our lives, a different "substance" that should be our influence. Unpopul...

If you listen to some news stations and read certain newspapers, studies, and online articles, you may believe that Union County is one of the poorest, most uneducated, drug ridden towns in South Carolina.  They even will often share statistics that support their claims.  I'm not saying that any of these people are lying when they share this info.  But I will state that being a numbers guy who has spent a ton of time doing calculations for many organizations, that numbers don't lie, but they can be calculated and presented in such a way that benefits one party more than another. Numbers don't always paint the whole picture.  No, Union's test scores may not be the highest.  But some places manipulate (that's such an ugly word) their SAT scores by only allowing their smartest students to take it.  Union County Schools prepared me to score the necessary SAT score by my senior year to earn a hefty scholarship by allowing me to take it in the 7th grade for the...