Free Republic

DON'T LOOK BACK AT 'SODOM' ONCE WHAT YOU'VE DONE HAS BEEN CONFESSED, CLEARED When we convert -- when we actively go to Jesus -- we leave worldliness.  We leave transgressions. The spiritual blinders lift. We see "backstage" in the dynamics of life and there is no going back -- or shouldn't be. Too often, however, a part of us remains stuck in history. Are you hung up on the past? Do you spend time hovering over what you once did (before conversion) -- past mistakes? Do you have trouble forgiving yourself (even after correcting the impulse that led to...

Bernard Madoff hires help to survive hard time (Bob Daemmrich/Polaris/eyevine) The 'Supermax' jail in Colorado where Madoff could find himself James Bone in New York Bernard Madoff has hired a veteran prison consultant to help him to find the best possible jail in which to serve his 150-year sentence for Wall Street’s biggest fraud. After his sentencing this week Madoff, now Prisoner No 1727-054, met Herb Hoelter, of the National Centre for Institutions and Alternatives, whose previous clients include the jailed Sotheby’s chairman Alfred Taubman and the financiers Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky. The draconian maximum sentence imposed by the...

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MAY EXERCISE THE SAME VIRTUE ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN A PRECEDING CHAPTER it was said that application to a particular virtue is preferable to embracing the practice of many at the same time; and it was said that the particular virtue upon which we have concentrated our energies must be cultivated on all occasions. Next to be presented is the manner in which this may be done with great facility. It is possible that on the same day, perhaps in the same hour, you are reprimanded severely for some action, in itself commendable,...

Even for a nonconformist, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin defies political logic with her sudden, stunning announcement to leave office more than a year early. Supporters and critics alike say the former GOP vice presidential candidate’s resignation, announced Friday afternoon and effective July 26, is an inexplicable move for a high profile Republican widely seen as a contender for a White House run in 2012. A half-term governor campaigning for president? --snip-- Pam Pryor, a spokeswoman for Palin’s political action committee, said the group continues to accept donations on its Web site, which saw an uptick in contributions Friday afternoon.(continued at...

Indefectibility 530. You have often hinted that the Catholic Church is indefectible, and that she will last forever. Is she not rather in her death-throes? No. She has scarcely ever been in a stronger position, and she will last till the end of the world. Even then, instead of going into oblivion, she will merge into the Church-Triumphant in Heaven. 531. You cannot know that the Church will last till the end of time! If I relied solely upon my finite intelligence as you do, I would not know. But I know precisely because the Eternal and Omniscient God who...

TOPEKA, Ind. -- Dan Bontrager is a 54-year-old Amish man with flecks of gray in his long beard. He's also treasurer of the Tri-County Land Trust, an Amish lending cooperative created to support the Amish maxim that community enhances faith in God. This past spring, Mr. Bontrager was startled when a number of men he has known most of his life tied their horses to the hitching post outside his office and came inside to withdraw their money from the Land Trust. "We had a run," Mr. Bontrager says. "I don't know if you know anything about the Amish grapevine,...

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Pratt shared some controversial views on a radio show earlier this week. In a Monday appearance on Alex Jones' radio show, Infowars, the couple revealed they feel 9/11 was an "inside job," say the idea that global warming exists is "mind boggling" and lament the "end of humanity." The Pratts told Jones -- who is known for his conspiracy theories of a "New World Order" (or, as he feels, code for "totalitarian world government") -- they found out about him after a music producer gave them a copy of Jones' movie, The Obama Deception. "I...

WASHINGTON — With concerns rising about a possible North Korean long-range missile test this weekend, two independent scientists say the regime may be using an old Soviet ballistic missile to boost a rocket capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published Sunday that the United States must compromise on plans for a missile defense system in Europe to get a deal on cutting back nuclear warheads. U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Moscow Monday to meet Medvedev and discuss ways to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) before it expires on December 5. Russia says a deal on START is possible but has linked any agreement with Washington's plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe that Moscow says is a threat to its national...

SNIPPET: "British militants are pushing for the overthrow of the Pakistani state. Followers of the fundamentalist group Hizb ut-Tahrir have called for a “bloodless military coup” in Islamabad and the creation of the caliphate in which strict Islamic laws would be rigorously enforced. Members of the group, which describes itself as the Liberation party in Britain but is banned in Pakistan, revealed last week that it had targeted the country as a base from which to spread Islamic rule across the world. The Sunday Times has obtained the names of a dozen British Hizb ut-Tahrir activists based in Lahore and...

Today Fort Payne had a nice gathering of concerned citizens come together in heart and mind in defense of America and it's citizens. A wonderful group of locals spoke from about noon to 2pm at the city park (formally known as Union Park). Fort Payne with a population of about 12,000 put together a nice T.E.A. party and had 200 (+/- 50) people attend. It was a pleasant day with a nice breeze to help with the low 90's temperature.

A Letter from Honduras Posted on Friday 3 July 2009 Our friend, Ana Lucía Lardizabal de Hawit, 2008 Barista Champion of Honduras, wrote me an email today regarding Ken’s post about the coup in Honduras from a few days ago. Here is what she has to say about the situation from an on-the-ground perspective… photo snagged from S. James on Flickr Hello Sarah. I hope you are well! I am sending a message because I couldn´t figure out how to post a comment on Barista Magazine´s blog! I saw your post regarding the “coup” in our country, and wanted to...

Washington -- President Barack Obama's landmark bill on energy and global warming squeaked through the House this week only after the White House made dozens of concessions to coal, manufacturing and other interests. As the battle moves to the Senate, Obama faces demands for more concessions, including to open the coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling. The Senate will take up issues that were glossed over or omitted from the House bill. Among them is giving the government sweeping new powers to overcome local objections and approve thousands of miles of new transmission lines to carry electricity to coastal...

Now, Sarah’s Folly By MAUREEN DOWD Published: July 4, 2009 WASHINGTON Sarah Palin showed on Friday that in one respect at least, she is qualified to be president. Caribou Barbie is one nutty puppy. Usually we don’t find that exquisite battiness in our leaders until they’ve been battered by sordid scandals like Watergate (Nixon), gnawing problems like Vietnam (L.B.J.), or scary threats like biological terrorism (Cheney). When Lyndon Johnson was president, some of his staff began to think of him as “a sick man,” as Bill Moyers told Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Moyers and his fellow Johnson aide Dick Goodwin even...

Portugal’s economy minister has resigned after making an insulting gesture during a parliamentary debate, damaging the image of the Socialist government three months before a general election. Manuel Pinho held his two index fingers to his forehead, suggesting horns, the sign of a cuckold, during an exchange with a Communist deputy over miners’ jobs during a state-of-the-nation debate on Thursday. Mr Pinho’s fleeting gesture, made in a separate exchange while José Sócrates, the prime minister was addressing parliament, was shown repeatedly on television and featured prominently on the front pages of Portuguese newspapers on Friday. Insulting someone as a cuckold,...

Since posting this blog entry critical of Sarah Palin on Friday, I have been getting a lot of angry email from right-wing culture warriors. That's not particularly surprising. But what is surprising is the general tone. Many of my correspondents seem to be turning Palin into a sort of political Christ figure, who has been martyred for America's political sins. This email from one George Lyster was typical in this regard: "It's because of incessant criticism from people like you why she is quitting. Attack her, attack her children, attack her grandchildren. No individual should have been treated by the...

And this is the woman that the State media would lead you to believe has no political future or credibility? Anyone who can so effectively return fire against Senator Horseface is o.k. with me. As an addendum to my recent post on Palin’s resignation, I offer this YouTube video of the governor at her best. And not a teleprompter to be seen. In 2004, Kerry was “swiftboated.” Has the Senator from Massachusetts just been “dogsledded” by a kooky hockey mom from Alaska? You betcha. VIDEO at original article.

TEMECULA: Protesters line intersection Obama, government were the subjects of much of the criticism By CRAIG SHULTZ - Saturday, July 4, 2009 8:28 PM PDT TEMECULA ---- Some of the people lining the corners of the Rancho California and Ynez roads intersection during a tax protest Saturday afternoon said their beef isn't only with President Barack Obama. "I don't think anyone here will tell you it's a Republican versus Democrat thing. It's an American thing," said Mike Horan of Poway. "It isn't so much politically motivated. People want to make sure they're being heard." A crowd estimated by organizers to...

Charleston held a Tea Party today. I was unable to attend but would love to hear if any of the local FReepers were there and what they heard from the speakers, etc. From what I heard on the news, it was considered a bipartisan event. Someone said that Jim DeMint was there, but have not been able to confirm. This is the second Tea Party held in Charleston.

On July 4, 1776, the people of the British Colonies in America declared to the British Monarch that we no longer recognize his authority over us. We declared that we are all endowed by Our Creator with certain unalienable rights among them, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This is what we celebrate on July 4th of each year.