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Faith Blooms in Adversity March 28th, 2020 Fear is a powerful force. It can make us anxious, paralyze us, frustrate us, or harden us against our loved ones and neighbors. But on the other hand, it can shake us into action, teach us, motivate us, and give us occasion to pronounce our loyalties. The difference seems a matter of perception and reception of hardship, hinging on our decisions and attitude. Today’s COVID-19 pandemic presents two grave concerns: first, of course, the disease itself; second, an unprecedented disruption of our society. Obviously there is no lack of information for navigating the...

https://youtu.be/_RqpOFqncJA

A second Republican senator signaled Wednesday she's open to voting for sweeping health care legislation this year, putting President Barack Obama closer to a historic achievement that has eluded generations of Democratic leaders.

Okay: I couldn’t find anything on urban-legend-busting Snopes.com about the letter below. And I can’t seem to track down its origins, whether it was, as purported, written by an American law student named John J. Wall…or not. No matter where it came from, though, it’s funny. First read the letter, then let’s have some fun with it. Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al: We have stuck together since the late 1950’s, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each...

A 10-year-old Westmoreland County boy "playing school" cracked the tight security surrounding Pennsylvania's standardized assessment tests by obtaining the codes to place an online order for a box of the closely guarded exams. State Education Department officials were shocked by the events involving the student, a fifth-grader at Bovard Elementary School in the Hempfield Area School District.

Patrick Swayze is hoping to kickstart the cancer fight in Congress. The stricken star has penned a letter to legislators, pleading with them to increase funding for research into the disease—including helping find a cure for his own pancreatic cancer. "With Congress about to decide how much money to include for medical research as part of the economic stimulus package, the time has come to take my personal fight to a larger stage," Swayze wrote in an open letter published in Sunday's Washington Post.

After all that fuss, the system worked. There was no meltdown, no flurry of lawsuits, no statewide demands for a presidential recount. So does that mean America's voting machinery is finally fixed? And why did it work so well under record-setting turnout? "Panic," said Doug Lewis, who heads Election Center, a nonprofit that works with voting officials across the country. "Everyone involved in conducting elections was just on pins and needles the entire year. Over-planning really helped."

Why Democrats love Big Government...

NEW YORK - The most riveting moment of Barbra Streisand's Madison Square Garden concert was one of the only unscripted ones. Streisand endured jeers as she interjected a political skit into Monday night's show, exchanging zingers with a celebrity impersonator playing George Bush as a bumbling idiot. Though most of the crowd offered polite applause during the slightly humorous routine, it went on a bit too long, especially for those who just wanted to hear Streisand sing. Though most of the crowd offered polite applause during the slightly humorous routine, it went on a bit too long, especially for those...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country singer Tim McGraw says he wants to run for office someday in his adopted home state of Tennessee _ perhaps for governor or U.S. senator _ and he's getting encouragement from a fellow Democrat, former President Clinton. "I think he's got it," Clinton says of McGraw in an Esquire magazine story that hits newsstands Monday. "The Democrats need candidates whom people can relate to in a personal way, people who understand their lives and their concerns and share their values. And I think that's something Tim can do without even pretending."

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Four U.S. soldiers face disciplinary action for burning the bodies of two Taliban rebels _ a videotaped incident that sparked outrage in Afghanistan _ but they will not be prosecuted because their actions were motivated by hygienic concerns, the military said Saturday. TV footage recorded Oct. 1 in a violent part of southern Afghanistan showed American soldiers setting fire to the bodies and then boasting about the act on loudspeakers to taunt insurgents suspected to be hiding in a nearby village.

My daughter needs some good arguments to counter propaganda against school vouchers. She is an elementary education major at St. Francis University and is writing an essay on her chosen topic of school choice.

Parade PicsThe American Sector - Safe Haven for Bush Supporters - No Commies Allowed Buford and two friendly Bush supporters Ironman - on Pajama Patrol A group of Boy Scouts observe the happenings directly behind the American Sector A lurker and a future lurker Unidentified freeper Buford, BlondeKates (daughter of yours truly) and her friends love the color red RaceBannon, PeterKessler, and CongressmanBillyBob - 3 wild and crazy guys kristinn hands out signs Freedom is not free! W2 Inaugural Ball PicsGovernor Huckabee guitar solo SonofHillaryisevil and Sara (friend of BlondeKates) SonofHillaryisevil (a popular guy!) and BlondeKates Me (Shethink13) and my...

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The lawyer for an Army private photographed taunting naked Iraqi prisoners has accused the Pentagon of withholding evidence necessary to her defense. Giorgio Ra'Shadd maintains the Defense Department has denied him access to pictures, names and other information that could help his client, Pfc. Lynndie England. To help prove his point, Ra'Shadd on Wednesday held up nearly black photocopies of images turned over to him by military authorities. Outlines of nude men could be seen in some of the pictures. Some apparently do not include England, a 21-year-old reservist from West Virginia. Ra'Shadd said he cannot issue...

Pittsburgh has a unique link to the past in the judicial nominations wars. And every Republican in America knows that Pennsylvania holds the key to the future in the coming Republican primary that may decide who the next Senate Judiciary Committee chairman is -- or is not.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello on Tuesday defended musicians who speak their minds in these "fairly dangerous times" and warned Americans to guard against "any attempts by people who swindle their way into office."

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republicans were set to pass a welfare bill on Thursday that would impose stricter work rules on welfare recipients and reaffirm the welfare-to-work philosophy that underpinned the landmark 1996 welfare reform.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A routine Senate hearing degenerated into a personal spat on Thursday when a furious Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill sparred with Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, the longest-serving member of Congress, over who grew up poorer. ``I started my life in a house without water or electricity so I don't cede the high moral ground to you of knowing what life was like in a ditch,'' O'Neill said in a tight voice. ``I started out in life without any rungs in the bottom of the ladder...I've had that experience and I can stand toe-to-toe with you,'' Byrd riposted. ...

By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, who hit the national spotlight during last fall's presidential election recount, announced Tuesday she is running for Congress. "In light of the recent tragedy, I am more committed than ever to serving the president and our nation," the Republican said in a statement. "As a nation we have united to overcome this challenge, and the bonds of our courage and strength to do what is right inspires us to succeed." Harris, 44, wants to replace Republican Dan Miller, who represents the 13th congressional ...