Free Republic

Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception In February 2008, Christianity Today ran a glowing cover story about Evangelicalism's recent embrace of medieval Roman Catholic mysticism entitled The Future lies in the Past.1 The article traced the beginning of the movement as follows: "The movement seems to have exploded in a 24-month period in 1977-1978, which saw the publication of Richard Foster's bestselling Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth and Robert Webber's Common Roots: A Call to Evangelical Maturity."2 The article views Foster as one who continues to guide the movement: "From Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and living practicing monks and...

It was meant to be a show case for healthy living, with the first lady, Michelle Obama, personally putting hand to pitch fork in a crowd of school children to dig up the first White House vegetable garden in more than 50 years It was meant to be a show case for healthy living, with the first lady, Michelle Obama, personally putting hand to pitch fork in a crowd of school children to dig up the first White House vegetable garden in more than 50 years. Instead, an embarrassed White House admitted today that the plot - whose lettuce, herbs...

As the Obama administration finalizes its preparations for the Obama-Medvedev summit next week, their vaunted "reset" of U.S. relations with Russia is experiencing some technical difficulties. With negotiators meeting to work on a follow-on agreement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires at the end of this year, the administration is reportedly exploring all options to assuage Moscow's concerns about America's planned foray into its backyard in the form of planned U.S. missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. Secretary Gates spoke recently of his hope that Russia might still cooperate with the United States, Poland,...

JUNEAU, Alaska – Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a "higher calling" with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines. A day after surprising even her closest friends by announcing she would step down as Alaska governor more than a year before her term was up, the controversial hockey mom was still keeping details of her future plans under wrap. But in a statement posted on Palin's Facebook account, she suggested that she had bigger plans and a national agenda she planned...

Childhood obesity revealed in fat map One in six children are obese by the time they start school in some parts of the country, a new "fat map" of Britain has revealed. By Laura Donnelly, Health Correspondent 04 Jul 2009 The findings highlight the contrast between areas, with under-fives in the worst-affected districts four times more likely to be obese as those in the districts with the best records. One in six children in Stockton-on-Tees, in north-east England, is so overweight that their health is endangered by the time they start school. Four-year-olds in North East England four times as...

For a fellow who claims to have invented the concept of transparency in American politics and government, Barack Obama's behavior is most peculiar, especially when it comes to his birth certificate. Obama claims that he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961, has released his birth certificate, and that the matter is closed. Furthermore, when asked about the controversy during a recent news briefing, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs broke down into hysterical laughter and answered by saying, "We won!" Thanks for that professional insight, Mr. Gibbs. Campaigning to be Obama's Transparency Czar are you? Although Barack Obama's...

Albuquerque Tea Party was due to start at 4 pm and run until 6. By 2 pm we had lots of people there signing petitions, filling out postcards and 'notices of termination' to their elected officials and waving homemade signs! We had a few speeches - nothing major (no big names were on hand). There was a band, some lively music, many renditions of the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless the USA, some good barbecue and fun had by all. Not sure how many people showed up but there were large crowds for most of the time we were...

It's been about a month since I started a Bing experiment, and it's gone pretty well. Search results are about as good as Google , sometimes better. After a month, though, I've decided to go back to Google. The problem isn't with the search results quality; it's all the other things that Bing doesn't do -- and some things it does that I wish it wouldn't. I do at least a dozen searches a day. The Google page is no-nonsense and boring, with nothing there to distract you from your goal of entering the search terms and getting on with...

Paul West paint the scene from the Obama's backyard bash in this pool report: Shortly after 7 p.m., the president spoke for about 7 or 8 minutes. He thanked American servicemen and women for the job they do for the country, and paid special attention to the recent handover of security in Iraq's cities. "Because of what you did," he said, "a sovereign and united Iraq has taken control of its own destiny." Obama cautioned that there would be more violence ahead, which, he said, is why U.S. forces were still needed there, but he again made the point that...

Republican Sen. Richard G. Lugar, one of the deans of Congress, and his junior colleague, Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, have been leading the charge to secure federal money for a company that wants to build the next generation of advanced lithium-ion batteries. The Indiana lawmakers have secured $6.5 million in congressional earmarks for Ener1, Inc., and have talked up the company's efforts to secure a slice of nearly $3 billion in two Energy Department programs offering grants and loans as part of President Obama's stimulus package. Their pitch sounds as American as apple pie: The New York-based company would create...

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her [Babylon the Great], my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.’”  Revelation 18:4-5.               At present, it appears that the infernal conspiracy to establish a socialist global empire, or, to quote Barack Obama, a ‘new global regime’, is nearly realized.  Engaged in this plot are communists, radical Moslems, and occultists who desire the slaughter of Christians and Jews (contrary to the allegations of some...

Had a good turnout for the ultimate backwoods teaparty. It's raining right now in Indy and we had our teaparty/gun shoot yesterday. We knew it would be raining today so we had our event yesterday. Made some noise, shot some guns, set off some explosives in celebration of the the 4th at an undisclosed location in Indiana. Heard the news about Gov. Palin resigning, coupled with the Gov. Sanford self destruction, we feel there is no hope left. Powder is dry. For those who feel the need to point out that we are now on the DHS most wanted list...

July 2, 2009Exclusive: The General who Invented Baseball William R. Hawkins The 4th of July is celebrated for the Declaration of Independence, and the birth of the United States. Many people will spend the day watching baseball, either major league games or a trip to a local minor league park for a taste of true Americana. This is appropriate because there is a connection between the date and the sport that stems from the fact that the 4th of July is famous for other reasons beyond what happened in 1776.July 4, 1863 was the turning point in the Civil...

A report says the first family had settled on Evergreen Chapel at Camp David. A White House spokeswoman says that's not the case. "The president and first family continue to look for a church home," White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said. "They have enjoyed worshiping at Camp David and several other congregations over the months, and will choose a church at the time that is best for their family."

... Despite budget cuts, many schools and community groups are expanding their efforts to feed children from poor and struggling families this summer as the lingering recession deepens longstanding concerns that those who qualify for free meals go hungry once classes end. The number of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches was up about 5 percent nationwide this spring, to nearly 19.4 million from 18.4 million the previous year, according to federal officials. These new programs extend beyond school hours to feed children on weekends and in the summer, and they have spread from impoverished urban areas to suburban...

Thunderous Okla. Applause Greets Bush on July 4 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: July 4, 2009 WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) -- Former President George W. Bush spoke amid thunderous applause in a rural Oklahoma town to celebrate the Fourth of July, calling the U.S. the ''greatest nation on the face of the earth.'' Bush was given six standing ovations as he spoke Saturday inside a remodeled rodeo arena in Woodward, a town of about 12,000 residents in northwest Oklahoma. About 9,200 tickets were sold for the event, which would be the biggest crowd for Bush since he left office in January....

GAFFNEY, S.C. – A teenage girl shot while helping her father in their family's small furniture and appliance store died Saturday, becoming the fifth victim of a suspected serial killer terrorizing a small South Carolina community, authorities said. Abby Tyler, 15, died about 11:15 a.m. at a Spartanburg hospital after fighting for her life for two days, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said. Tyler was wounded and her father was killed Thursday as they worked to close the Tyler Home Center near downtown Gaffney. County Sheriff Bill Blanton said investigators believe the killings are linked and the search is on...

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, driven by a thirst for revenge, is preparing a wave of show trials, public confessions and executions to crush the opposition which dared to refute the legitimacy of his election. The West, especially the Obama administration, hoping the bloody crackdown was over, can forget about re-engaging Tehran in talks on the nuclear controversy any time soon, when Mir Hossein Mousavi and the reformist ex-president Mohammed Khatami are denounced for "acting as America's fifth column." Hossein Shariatmadari, writing in the conservative Kayhan daily Saturday, July 4, said Mousavi must be put on trial as a "US agent" who...

Representative John A. Boehner came to Washington in 1991 as a rabble-rousing Republican willing to disrupt the House to score points against powerful Democrats. Now, as the House Republican leader in a town again dominated by Democrats, the Ohioan is back to his old tricks. Trying to build opposition to a climate change measure being considered as the Fourth of July recess loomed, Mr. Boehner commandeered the floor for an hour to mount an unofficial filibuster and ridicule the legislation. He has sanctioned efforts by rank-and-file Republicans to tie up the House with dozens of procedural votes. During the debate...

There’s been an enormous amount of speculation from all corners as the the motivation behind Sarah Palin’s resignation as Governor of Alaska. The speculation has covered the full spectrum from the leftist talking points that she can’t take political heat to her supporters declaring that she’s preparing for national office. Her detractors have pretty much stayed on message, repeating over and over again that she’s weak, can’t take the heat and is deserting her post. However today a new twist has been revealed via Obama propagandist. The new twist is that the resignation came just before a Sarah Palin federal...