Free Republic

It was roughly halfway through the War in Gaza, and shortly before killing of Sinwar, that I found myself in Israel. I went there to “see for myself” as much as I could. I spent three weeks traipsing up and down that small stretch of land (Israel is about the size of Wales): from Acre to Eilat and Jerusalem to Gaza. My time in Israel is its own piece. The Israelis deserve their Ode and that will come in time. Instead, I will focus on a brief episode: my trip to Bethlehem. I knew that when I returned to Britain,...

(Disclaimer) This chapter is an embellished story, so do not take it as inspired by GOD. I wrote this for entertainment, and thus it is but a figment of my active imagination mixed with some facts surrounding the times, the places and the characters.I ask that you allow yourself to truly see what it must have been like for a husband and his 16 year old pregnant wife as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in the week leading up to the birth of their first child. They were two humans with thoughts, feelings, and faith in the One and...

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem, with tourists shunning the Palestinian city and many residents seeking a way out as the Gaza war grinds on. Bethlehem's Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted and souvenir shops are shuttered. Once again, there are no plans to put up the traditional light-festooned Christmas Tree in the ancient settlement that is venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus and now sits in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "During these difficult times that our Palestinian cities are...

.@TuckerCarlson's interview with Munther Isaac, a Palestinian pastor from Bethlehem, could have shown the complexity of issues facing Palestinians in the West Bank & Gaza.Instead, it is full of errors & popular anti-Israel tropes.Watch @lukemoon1, who has traveled to Israel… pic.twitter.com/6p5g44qAWV— The Philos Project (@philosproject) April 11, 2024This is the truth about us Christians in Israel, @TuckerCarlsonI invite you to come meet us at our Aramaic Christian Center in the Galilee to learn the facts. pic.twitter.com/NoHQqHS4YD— Shadi khalloul שאדי ח'לול (@shadikhalloul) April 11, 2024

Instead, Palestinians will observe a "Day of Rage," P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced. Palestinian localities in Judea and Samaria will not celebrate New Year’s next week, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced on Wednesday, days after the P.A.-controlled city of Bethlehem moved to cancel its traditional Christmas festivities. Instead of marking New Year’s Eve, Palestinians will observe a “Day of Rage” ...

(Disclaimer) This is just embellished story, so please do not take it as inspired by GOD. I wrote this for entertainment, and thus it is but a figment of my active imagination mixed with some facts surrounding the times, the places and the characters.I ask that you allow yourself to truly see what it must have been like for a husband and her 16 year old pregnant wife as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in the week leading up to the birth of their first child. They were two humans with thoughts, feelings, and faith in the One and...

When you think of the first story of Christmas, it’s usually about Mary and Joseph looking down at their new born son in a manger, surrounded by barn animals and maybe a shepherd or two looking on. Angels singing praises of joy to the Lord Most High, and maybe even the star that is guiding the wise men from Babylon to the destination of the Jews Messiah. Some Facts About Mary and Joseph's Journey to Bethlehem We live at a time when children are born in sanitized hospital rooms with the best of care, before and after the mother gives...

Close to 100 voters have come to the Northampton County Republican Party with complaints alleging they were turned away from polls on Election Day or their votes weren’t registered securely, according to the county party chairman. Northampton County Republican Committee Chairman Glenn Geissinger said he’s working with attorneys at the local and state level to prevent the election results from being certified as scheduled next week. Of the 100 statements he’s received, 75 were notarized, Geissinger said. “By pursuing this, we hope that these errors will be eradicated and that we can move to a system that better represents the...

I shared this about a Month ago, but decided to share it again on Christmas Eve. This story comes from chapter 22 of my recently published book, "Sleuthing The Scripture," It's an embellished story, so do not take it as inspired by GOD. I wrote this for pure entertainment, and thus it's but a figment of my active imagination mixed with some facts surrounding the times, the places and the characters. I pray it blesses your heart this Christmas Eve.When you think of the first story of Christmas, it’s usually about Mary and Joseph looking down at their new...

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Association, announced a number of resolutions just before the weekend started. One, submitted by the Russian Federation, called for defining UNESCO’s role in safeguarding and preserving Palmyra and other Syrian World Heritage sites. Another was about “Enhancing UNESCO’s contributions to promote a culture of mutual respect and tolerance.” A third was simply entitled “Occupied Palestine” and addressed the Jerusalem Old City hotspot that Jews refer to as the Temple Mount and Muslims call Haram Al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary. Except that the Jewish link to the site, considered the holiest place for Jews,...

I wrote a book that will be published next week. All but one of the chapters will be on various theological topics except for one. This story is an embellished story I wrote about the trip Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago to be counted and pay their Roman tax. When you think of the first story of Christmas, it’s usually about Mary and Joseph looking down at their new born son in a manger, surrounded by barn animals and maybe a shepherd or two looking on. Angels singing praises of joy to the Lord Most...

Church leaders on Saturday condemned an attack on the Orthodox church in Beit Sahur, near Bethlehem, and called on the Palestinian Authority to bring the assailants to trial. During the attack, which took place on Friday night, dozens of Muslim men hurled stones at the church, injuring a number of people. The church is affiliated with the Jerusalem Patriarchate and managed by the congregation in Beit Sahur. In a statement, the church leaders said the attack came after a “quarrel between some young men.” “We condemn this attack and demand that the Palestinian Authority bring the attackers to trial as...

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The former Lehigh University student accused of threatening to come to campus and shoot a group of students is now in custody. Muhammad Diop, 20, was taken into custody in New York City without incident, university police said Wednesday. He is facing terroristic threats and harassment charges.

Sometime just over 2,000 years ago, contrary to the song, it was not a silent night. In Bethlehem, a young woman gave birth to a baby in a stable. The story went exactly as one would tell a story if one did not want the story taken seriously. The first witnesses were shepherds, men so unreliable that their testimony was inadmissible in court. Key eyewitnesses were women, also seen as unreliable. The father of the child fell out of the historic record. Eventually, Roman imperial forces would exterminate the baby's entire earthly bloodline. His brothers and sisters and their children,...

Some Facts About Mary & Joseph's Journey to BethlehemWe do not know every detail of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. We do know some of the facts as recorded in the New Testament. We know that Mary and Joseph were human beings with thoughts and feelings. We can also glean from ancient Jewish Mishnah's, and secular historical sources some information to help us understand some pertinent information not included in Scriptures about the time. Here are some of the particulars involved that may have been a factor in the events leading up to the birth of our Savior.When Caesar...

..the real reason for Christian decline in Bethlehem: the Palestinian Authority and radical Islam. It started with Yasser Arafat. Arriving from Tunis, Arafat immediately set out to suppress the Palestinian middle class across the West Bank, which he understood could be the only real opposition to his planned dictatorial authority. He nationalized most business sectors and squeezed Palestinian small businessmen out of business. Especially hard hit were middle class businessmen of Bethlehem, mainly Christian. Arafat then sidelined the long-time Christian mayor of Bethlehem, Elias Freij, and Arafat’s henchmen led a campaign of terror and intimidation against Christian institutions and families...

What is so interesting about today, March 15, in Christian history?Now I agree this is a bit of a stretch, but in the scheme of things it does makes some sense. If for no other reason than to bring it up for discussion. They say that the more you know the more you do not know, so here is a tidbit to consider. Today is "The Ides of March",which is the fateful day in 44 B.C. when Julius Caesar was assassinated. Why is it interesting to note? Well, the man who succeeded Caesar is Emperor Augustus who brought peace...

How holding Palestinian elections threatens to expose Fatah. The Palestinian attempt to appease the Biden administration by holding Palestinian elections threatens to reveal the flabbiness and collapse of Fatah, which lies at the heart of the Palestinian Authority. Recently, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threatened Fatah members who opted to run outside the Fatah list with death. This apparently occurred last week during a Fatah Revolutionary Council meeting in Ramallah. Abbas had barred members of the Fatah Central Committee, Revolutionary Council, and Consultative Council from running in the upcoming legislative elections. This ban also included current ministers, ambassadors, governors, security officials,...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the...

Shantika Briley was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating a man with a pipe when he reportedly sexually assaulted her 9-year-old daughter. The 35-year-old Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, mom said she caught the presently unnamed 39-year-old man “licking her daughter’s lips and trying to kiss her.” Briley allegedly responded with a pipe, beating the man in the head and face until he fled out the front door with Briley still in pursuit. [SNIP] Briley has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and harassment but was released after posting a $25,000 bond. As of the time of this writing, she has yet...