Free Republic

Our military sources disclose that concerns about a possible anti-air missile attack on US President George W. Bush’s aircraft and the helicopters carrying him to Jerusalem, brought his arrival forward by two hours. He will travel by road rather than helicopter. According to the amended timetable, Air Force One lands at Ben Gurion Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 11:30 a.m. Israel Time, two hours before planned. Instead of flying by helicopter to Jerusalem, the president and his party will drive in convoy from the airport to the capital. The last-minute changes were worked out by US and Israeli security officials -...

Since elected leaders declared English the city's official language last month, Spanish no longer plays on the wall of televisions overlooking the stationary bikes, treadmills and elliptical trainers at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center. In public works, new trash bags being ordered for residents will have the holiday schedule for trash pickup printed only in English. But instructions on how to load the 50-gallon paper bags will be printed in both English and Spanish, because it's a safety issue. Some temporary signs in Spanish have been removed at the public library. Fliers for park and recreation activities and library...

Former Miss Texas contestant was accused of sexual relationship with student, 18 Denton County grand jury on Thursday declined to indict a 25-year-old Hebron High School teacher and former Miss Texas contestant who made national headlines in June after she was arrested and charged with having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student. Amy McElhenney, who taught Spanish and was a cross-country coach at the Lewisville ISD school, was charged under a law that outlaws sexual relationships between educators and students even if the sex is consensual and the student is of legal age. In Texas, the age of consent...

(CBS) NEW YORK Now that Hugo Chavez has finished his anti-American rants at the U.N., he's beginning a program of rewards for America's poor. The Venezuelan president was at a Harlem church Thursday, making good on a pledge to help low-income families in New York purchase deeply discounted oil.

At airport security checkpoints in Knoxville, Tenn. this summer, scores of departing passengers were chosen to step behind a curtain, sit in a metallic oval booth and don headphones. With one hand inserted into a sensor that monitors physical responses, the travelers used the other hand to answer questions on a touch screen about their plans. A machine measured biometric responses -- blood pressure, pulse and sweat levels -- that then were analyzed by software. The idea was to ferret out U.S. officials who were carrying out carefully constructed but make-believe terrorist missions. The trial of the Israeli-developed system represents...

TAMPA - It may have been the least likely place for a man who doesn't believe in God to receive a standing ovation, but it happened Sunday morning when Joe Redner went to church. Bishop Randy White, senior pastor at Without Walls International Church, invited the strip club owner to join him in the pulpit and talk about his campaign for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat. "All right, he's not running for pastor. My job's not up," White jokingly told parishioners while introducing Redner, as their continued applause prompted Redner to stand and nod his head in thanks.

Dallas school superintendent Michael Hinojosa terminated the DISD’s credit card program Tuesday, and said that employees who abused their cards will be forced to repay the district and will face criminal prosecution. Dr. Hinojosa also said that he expects to suspend “more than a handful” of employees for their credit card use when they return to work next week. District offices have been closed since July 3......... The action comes in response to a Dallas Morning News investigation into district credit card spending. Using district records, The News examined more than 155,000 credit card transactions over two years and found...

While North Korea was gearing up to launch a long range missile and five rockets into the Sea of Japan this week, sending a grim message to the entire world, out at Saddleback Church Rick Warren was announcing that he will soon be bringing his message of purpose to North Korea where he reportedly will be addressing an audience of 15,000. “God is using Rick Warren to be a messenger of peace!” gushed one Saddleback member. There is great hope in Lake Forest that Rick Warren's message in that stadium will cause Kim Jong II to drop his nuclear purposes...

Can you imagine the rush of emotion you'd feel if your 8-year-old son, who had been kidnapped six months earlier, suddenly appeared at your door after you'd given up hope of ever seeing him again? In Pakistan just a fews days ago, I was repeatedly blessed to witness parents experience that thrill as we returned their abducted children. As the father in the above photos told us as he clung to his son, "It is a miracle." Indeed it was. Let me tell you how it happened. For those of you who haven't been following the unfolding story over the...

Two of the most prominent faces in American televangelism, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Fort Worth, preach the gospel of financial prosperity. But News Eight learned some former business associates are wondering why that gospel didn't apply to everyone in the flock. The people who ran Affordable Homes Limited said it was just about to take off when the Copelands suddenly backed out and left tens of thousands of dollars of debt. While limited partners like the Copelands have no financial obligation to pay the company's debts, the question being asked by creditors is how do the Copelands later pay...

The Pagan Origin Of Easter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Easter is a day that is honered by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits. Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and many questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter. Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from, which have nothing to do with the resurrection of our...

Falwells Hypocrisy In his latest column for World Net Daily, Rev Jerry Falwell takes to task the leaders of the Evangelical Climate Initiative for accepting a grant from the liberal Hewlett Foundation. The Hewlett Foundation it seems also funds abortion rights groups such as Planned Parenthood and the U.N. Population Fund.  Much can be said about the wisdom of Evangelical leaders signing on to a scientifically unproven theory which has more to do with political ideology than it does actual science. But since Falwell’s criticism centers not on their environmental stand but rather their source of funding, let's take a...

On eve of fraud trial, Christian investors say they were betrayed When Gregory Setser's import empire came crashing down two years ago, little was left to pay back hundreds of investors and church groups who funded his International Product Investment Corp. with at least $160 million. Big-name evangelists and everyday churchgoers are among those who were invited to invest in a plan to import cheap, foreign-made goods for pre-arranged sales to retailers like Garden Ridge, Kmart, Michaels and Pier 1. But what remained after the Securities and Exchange Commission shut the company down serves as testament to the lavish California...

A group of Israeli rabbis have cautioned Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over his government's sudden rush to curtail Jewish life in Hebron, reminding the stand-in leader of the consequences paid by former premiers who dared to “disengage” from the Land of Israel. “All those who harm the Land of Israel declare war on God and his commands, and face the consequences,” Ynet quoted from a letter written by Rabbi Gedalia Axelrod, a former Haifa rabbinical judge, and Rabbis Shalom Wolpe and Yekutiel Rapp of SOS Israel. The rabbis brought as examples the fates of Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and...

RICHMOND, Va. - New DNA tests confirmed the guilt of a man who went to his death in Virginia's electric chair in 1992 proclaiming his innocence, the governor said Thursday. The case had been closely watched by both sides in the death penalty debate because no executed convict in the United States has ever been exonerated by scientific testing.

As I write this, Ariel Sharon is lying on an operating table in a Jerusalem hospital, fighting for his life after suffering a massive stroke and intense cerebral hemorrhaging. The news of his collapse shocked all who heard about it, sending many people to prayer for his recovery and well being. Senior officials close to Sharon have expressed pessimism about whether the prime minister will survive the night. Speculation on all the Israeli and major international news networks is rife, even frenzied, as to the impact Sharon’s illness will have on the upcoming Israeli elections in the short term and...

“Baptist leaders urged Christians to fight terrorism with dinner conversation,” a press statement from the BWA read. “Terrorism will wane when believers reach out to disenfranchised individuals in a spirit of love and peace…… Meanwhile, another top Congress speaker, Tony Campolo, told attendants that young people have the “primary responsibility” to step-up in the battle against terror, since those drawn to terrorist networks are often times disenfranchised youth. Therefore, he said, Christian youth should reach out “over pizza” to those who feel isolated…….

Last week President Bush met with Palestinian terrorist leader, excuse me, make that democratically elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. After the meeting the President announced that he was giving $50 million of our tax dollars to the terrorist organization, excuse me, make that the democratically elected governing organization known as the Palestinian Authority. In addition, Bush made the following statement ” As we make progress toward security, and in accordance with the road map, Israeli forces should withdraw to their positions on September the 28th, 2000. Any final status agreement must be reached between the two parties, and changes to...

Appearing before cheering crowds last night, Abu Mazen said that the period of the "little Jihad [holy war] had ended, and now the big Jihad is beginning." This quote led to a quaint exchange on Israel Radio's morning newsmagazine. Arabic-speaking correspondent Avi Yisacharov played the tapes of Abu Mazen's quotes, and then quickly said, "Regarding the future..." He was immediately interrupted by anchorman Aryeh Golan, who said, "Whoa, wait a second. What's this 'big Jihad' stuff?" Yisacharov gave a nervous chuckle and said, "I don't think he means a real Jihad, he just means the challenges ahead of reforms in...

NEW YORK Following all the commotion Monday night, Michael Moore may not return to Madison Square Garden for the Republican National Convention. According to editors at USA Today, which is publishing his daily column this week, Moore told them that he was choosing not to return again.