Free Republic

The former speaker launches an unlikely comeback. In June, after his top advisers bolted, Newt Gingrich was supposed to be finished. Four months later, after a series of sharp debates, his poll numbers are climbing and his coffers are stuffed. Behind the scenes, his aides aim to capitalize on the resurrection. “There is plenty of room,” says R. C. Hammond, the campaign spokesman. He bets that by early January, when New Hampshire and Iowa are blanketed by snow, Gingrich’s “tortoise” campaign will inch ahead. That optimism is backed up by cash, Hammond says. In the past week, the campaign has...

What happens when you die? The Bible uses the word death in different senses. Jesus said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). Also in Revelation 20:6, John speaks of a “second death,” apparently distinguishing it from the first death or the usual understanding of death. It is important to note that the only way to escape the second death and Hell is through the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 11:26). Make sure to be in on that one! Now...

My mother Della Mae Trainor loved cooking Mexican food, painting, watching reruns of Golden Girls, shopping at Target, and playing Scrabble, which by the way she was very good at. Her birthday was September 18th. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She was married to my father for 49 years. She delivered my sister and me by C-sections. She was a unique person, with a very specific set of gifts, weaknesses, fears and joys. A little over ten years ago I stood by her bed as she died. I watched with Mary, Lucas, my sister and an Episcopal priest as...

A Chronological Sequence of the Resurrection EventsBy: Msgr. Charles Pope This blog post is a follow-up from yesterday’s blog. You can read yesterday’s post by clicking HERE.When we encounter the resurrection accounts in the New Testament we face a challenge in putting all the pieces together in a way that the sequence of the events flow in logical order. This is due to the fact that no one Gospel presents all, or even most of the data. Some of the data also seems to conflict. I tried to show in yesterday’s blog that these apparent conflicts are not, usually,...

Making Sense of the Resurrection Accounts – Are there Discrepancies?By: Msgr. Charles Pope When we read the various accounts of the Resurrection in the four Gospels, Acts and Pauline Epistles we can easily be puzzled by some apparent discrepancies in the details.The Pope in his recent book, Jesus of Nazareth (Vol II) says, We have to acknowledge that this testimony [of Scripture] considered from an historical point of view, is presented to us in a particularly complex form and gives rise to many questions. (P. 242)The Pope goes on to explain what he considers to be the reason for...

Though I was bound, by sin held fast From me earth's shackles have been cast My Savior came, my winter passed Eternal spring, it sprang at last For Christ is risen, as He said No longer is He with the dead All souls believing He has led His bride to Him will soon be wed So do not tarry by a grave Seek for the One to you Who gave The open Door from death's dark cave The only LORD, with pow'r to save Together, ever, then we'll sing The glories of our God, our King Who has destroyed all...

The greatest news story in the history of humanity broke on a spring morning in A.D. 32. The news? Jesus had risen from the dead just as he had predicted. An angel told the story and entrusted it not to a theologian, not to one of the remaining disciples, not to a ruler. No, the ones who were first entrusted with the most profound and incredible story in all history were two women. Why? Some possible reasons are seen in there example. Lets consider some of the lessons they can teach us.... Now on the first day of the week,...

“United with Him in a Resurrection Like His” (Romans 6:1-11)Alleluia! Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!) Indeed! And Christ’s resurrection has great implications for our life now--and our life forever. Both of these are brought our in our text for today, from Romans chapter 6, reading as follows: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We...

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is thee single most significant event in the history of this world. So much so, that the resurrection of Jesus Christ penetrated deeply throughout human history and split it into two distinct eras (B.C./A.D.). In fact, everything that is in and has been done in this world receives a dynamic and life-filled understanding when you take into consideration what Jesus did, what Jesus taught, and the fact that he rose from the dead just as he promised he would before showing hundreds and hundreds of people his scarred hands and feet after the...

In the early Church, when one Christian would greet another, often he would say: "He is risen." And the other would respond, "He is risen, indeed!" ..snip The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest fact in human history. Yet throughout the centuries to our present time, skeptics have argued against the historical reliability of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ..snip According to Liberty University professor Dr. Gary Habermas, "The fact that women reported the empty tomb is the best reason to believe it, 'cause it's not a scenario anybody would make up." The empty tomb was a fact of...

[caption id="attachment_5697" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Hank Millstein"][/caption]   Hank Millstein is a practising Roman Catholic in San Francisco. He also serves on the National Committee and the Religion Commission of the Communist Party USA. To Hank, Easter isn't about the Resurrection, or even Easter Bunnies. Its about revolution, and "its already on its way". From the latest Peoples World Easter isn't about Easter bunnies - or even about going to church in Easter bonnets. The real message of Easter speaks powerfully to everyone, whatever their religious belief or unbelief.Easter got started when, after the revolutionary preacher Jesus was executed by the...

The Resurrection of the Body 877. What is the sense of the doctrine that our bodies will rise from the dead? Where will be the need for a material body in heaven? The sense and the need of the human body in heaven follow from the necessity of the survival of man. Man is not his soul only. He is a composite being, consisting of both body and soul, and must survive in his complete nature. Even though the soul attains happiness before its reunion with the body, it will be in an abnormal and unnatural state, its full powers...

Just as President Obama wants to change what it means to be American, controversial author Rob Bell wants to change what it means to be Christian. The cover story for the Easter Week edition of Time magazine is about Mr. Bell’s book, “Love Wins.” Mr. Bell, perhaps the most widely known of a group of young, supposedly evangelical writers who emphasize love and dismiss the traditional view of judgment/retribution (referred to in Christian circles as “hell) has prompted nationwide discussions about the very meaning of Christianity. Chris Matthews devoted a segment of his Palm Sunday show to a discussion of...

Our church got an early start on the Easter celebration. Very inspiring to see two thousand people dancing in worship. http://youtu.be/8KX2-J6uS-o Enjoy and may God bless you and your family this Easter.

The Way of the Disciple President Dieter F. UchtdorfSecond Counselor in the First Presidency  Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way. Today is the day the Christian world traditionally calls Palm Sunday. You will remember that it was on that Sunday nearly 2,000 years ago that Jesus Christ entered the city of Jerusalem during the final week of His mortal life. 1 In fulfillment of Zechariah’s ancient prophecy, 2 He rode in on a donkey, and as He did so, a great multitude came out to greet the...

Eliot Spitzer's resurrection -- from the disgraced gov ernor better known as Cli ent 9 to CNN talk-show host -- has the political class buzzing about him running for mayor in 2013. Wilder still, one of his former targets is talking about running against him. Former New York Stock Exchange chief Dick Grasso -- one of the highest-profile targets of Spitzer's uneven assault on Wall Street -- has quietly been telling friends that he's leaning toward challenging Spitzer as a Republican (particularly if Police Commissioner Ray Kelly doesn't seek the GOP nomination himself, as some speculate he will). Sure, Grasso...

For those of you who have not been following the dialogue Chris Redford and I have been having, this is the 2nd part of a series of answers Chris, an atheist, gave to questions about his beliefs. He chose to answer as he would have answered when he was a youth attending an Assembly of God church and as an atheist. The difficulty with this Sisyphean approach is the assumption that he can answer and "defend" a position he no longer holds. It is one thing to tell somebody what you believed, it is a whole other thing to...

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:(Romans 6:3-5) The very question, “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound ?”, betrays a lack of understanding as to what...

BOOK: HEAVEN by Randy Alcorn Here's some selected quotes from the first 130 pages: pp10-11 Jesus said of the devil, 'When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies' (John 8:44). Some of Satan's favorite lies are about Heaven. Revelation 13:6 tells us the satanic beast 'opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.' Our enemy slanders three things: God's person, God's people, and God's place--namely, Heaven.4 p15 The writers of Scripture present Heaven in many ways,...

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:1-3) In Romans 5, the glorious truth is declared that though we were ‘in Adam’, sharing his sin, bearing his fallen nature, and estranged from God by his transgression, now we are “in Christ”. God’s salvation brings us into vital union with Christ, His death becomes our death, his resurrection is ours also,...

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.(Romans 4:23-25) Paul has been making the case that Salvation has always been by faith, and never by meritorious works of the law. God justifies the ungodly, after all they are the only ones who need justification. The Apostle calls two witnesses to the stand, Abraham, and David. Abraham, the father...

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong...

Other than hearing rumors that around the holidays if you place a glass of milk and a plate of race cards by a constitution burning fireplace he moves in to your home, pays below market rent and doesn't tell Congress, I don't actually know all that much about Charlie Rangel. I can say that I don't understand what motivates the 80 year old to fight for a career he should have ended a generation ago so he wouldn't have to stick around long enough to get caught with 13 counts of ethics violations. "You have started and executed the...

Rome, Italy, May 7, 2010 / 03:57 pm (CNA/Europa Press).- Professor Paolo Di Lazzaro, who is head of a group of researchers from the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Development in Italy, noted this week that the latest discoveries on the Shroud of Turin “are not in contradiction with the theory of the Resurrection” of Christ. In an interview with Europa Press, Di Lazzaro explained the results of their study, which lasted four years and focused on how the image came to appear on the cloth. According to tradition, the shroud was used to wrap the body of...

TURIN, Italy (AFP) - The Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, will go on public display here Saturday for the first time in a decade. Some two million people are expected to view one of the most revered relics in Christendom -- and among the most disputed -- over the next six weeks in this northern Italian city. Hundreds of journalists and photographers were offered a first chance to view the cloth as the city finalised preparations for the onslaught of visitors. A large area around the Turin cathedral has been cordoned...

Reflection on Hope and New Life After the Easter Feasts Thomas Rosica, CSBConsultor to the Pontifical Council for Social CommunicationsLessons of the Resurrection witnessesWe are still basking in the afterglow of the Resurrection and the Easter feasts we have celebrated. The Scriptural readings of this season are filled with powerful encounters and images of hope and new No matter how we look at the Easter stories, they present us a very fragile beginning for a religion that has lasted almost 2,000 years, and yet that is where so many of us continue to focus our energy: on that tomb,...

In 33 A.D. the most significant event took place that would forever change human history. This event was the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was significant in that it had multiple purposes. For one, it was the end result of a strategy that would reveal itself as the ultimate and most selfless act of love. Jesus died for us, so that we could be presented as righteous to God the father on the Day of Judgment. One day we will become like Jesus (1 John 3:2) and share in the Kingdom he is preparing for...

On this glorious day of the Resurrection, I feel not compelled to add a countervailing note to this blessed Holy Day but to try to make sense of the concept of the Resurrection and how it applies to the current American political landscape in relation to the consequences of Obama's election and his evolving radical agenda. 1)Any goal "to take back the country" must be proceeded by a dream or what Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich calls a BURNING DESIRE, and the seed of that desire is founded in one's worldview or what one conceives to be possible...

Happy Easter! Today is the day that Christians all over the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Whether one is a believer in Jesus or not, it is undeniable that all of history looks back at what happened that day. In honor of Resurrection Day, below is video of Lee Strobel - trained as a journalist and a former atheist - taking a look at the case for the Resurrection of Jesus. He also deals with many of the attacks made against the truth of the Resurrection. Have a great day!

The Christian faith in perspective...

Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. Zechariah 13:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:16 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting....

This Easter many will go through the robotic motions of celebrating Easter without any possession of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They will gather with loved ones, family and friends; color Easter eggs; have Easter egg hunts; eat baked ham and fine desserts; perhaps watch a sporting event and even attend church for the first time since Christmas. This all happens in a never-ending cycle of tradition and hypocrisy. Oh my friend, what is truly needed this Easter is a dose of the heavenly reality of Christ’s triumphant resurrection from the dead (John 4:24)....

Your going to see a beautiful door of light open unto you my children , a door of enlightenment and beauty for as I AM your Groom so you are my Bride and in this oneness of spirit I shall indwell in you my eyes of understanding to reveal the wisdom of my ways (Psalm 118) . And now this pathway is completely open to you as my messengers unscroll it before you as My Breath ( spirit ) reveals and brings to light the Jot and Tittle of my ways , for you are the fragrance of incense I...

"Come sunrise Sunday morning,that rock is gonna roll" Link "My good friend, Joe Hallman (retired Professor of Theology from St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN) had sent me an e-mail on Good Friday of '08 about being "in the Tomb with Jesus" and I casually replied, "Don't sweat it - That Rock's Gonna Roll." It got me thinking that we know that because we read the Book, but the Apostles had no such written account as they went through it in "real time." That's the reason I chose Peter to tell the story - willing, but weak without the power...

From Ma'an, March 30: A child was shot and killed east of the Yasser Arafat International Airport in Rafah on Tuesday, medics said. Muawiya Hassanein, director of ambulance and emergency services in Gaza, said Muhammad Zen Ismail Al-Farmawi, 15, was shot dead near the southeasterly border by Israeli forces, while local sources who wished to remain anonymous said the death may have been an internal matter. Hassanein said ambulances had been unable to retrieve the body because of ongoing clashes in the area, while an Israeli military spokesman said he had no knowledge of the incident. DPA adds witnesses to...

3D-face creator says Shroud proves resurrection 'Jesus was more than just a spiritual event' Ray Downing and John Jackson, a physics lecturer at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs who runs the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado (photo courtesy History Channel) "People are not going to forget the face of Jesus this Easter," says Ray Downing, creator of the 3D computer technology that produced the "real face of Jesus" from the image of the crucified man in the Shroud of Turin. The image was seen in a highly watched History Channel special broadcast Tuesday. The program will be replayed...

John 20:18-20 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Jesus never hid his scars from His disciples,...

I tried to wish someone a "Happy Good Friday" today, but it just didn't sit right with me. Despite understanding His death (and resurrection) accomplished my justification, it's always struck me as a bit awkward to use the word "happy" when we commemorate the day because of Jesus' dying on the cross. Then I realized (making it even harder), Good Friday isn't just about Jesus dying on the cross; it's about His excruciating agony through the early morning. Hours of abuse, verbal and physical, pummeled him from all sides, from those He created and loved and longed to rescue. As...

Good Friday through Resurrection Sunday An Easter Thread of Friendship HE IS RISEN HE IS RISEN INDEED Matthew 27:50-53 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(NIV) "Why do...

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors." --George Washington The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, appropriately celebrated in our country each year as the dormant winter season yields to new spring growth, is the foundation of our belief that life can arise miraculously from the hard darkness of apparent death, thus bringing great hope to us even in the bleakest of winters. I live in an area of our great country where the seasons are well...

On [April 4, 2010] most churches will observe Easter, and they will dress up and have palms and communion and many special pageantries to celebrate that event that changed everything forever. However let us not forget that today is a resurrection day for all of Christ’s followers. We are not bound by a date that changes every year, and we are not bound to an observance. We have most assuredly walked out of that same tomb, and we have come forth from the coldness of spiritual death. We must be today’s representatives of today’s resurrection, you and I must be...

“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” Luke 24:2-3 (NIV) “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance?” According to the gospel of Mark, this was the question that three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, pondered as they took their spices to anoint their beloved Jesus’ body at the tomb. However, when the three arrived, they saw that the stone, “which was very large, had been rolled away.” Instead, they were greeted by an angel who said, “Do...

MICHAEL Jackson was almost brought back from the dead. Battling medics managed to restart his heart an hour after he "flat-lined" following a cardiac arrest last June, the News of the World reported yesterday. Hospital doctors triggered a weak pulse for 10 minutes but it could not be sustained. The development emerged in a lawsuit filed by the pop superstar's father Joe against Conrad Murray, Jackson's doctor. Dr Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over Jackson's death. Joe Jackson's detailed 13-page document claims Dr Murray caused his son's death by giving him drugs and not getting him to hospital...

The world will have an extraordinary opportunity to look upon an undistorted, never-before-seen, moving 3-D portrait of a man who many think is the crucified Jesus Christ. In just one week, graphic experts will bring to life an imprint on the holy relic known as the Shroud of Turin, believed by millions to be the burial shroud of Christ. The Shroud of Turin bears the full-body, back-and-front image of a crucified man that is said to closely resemble the New Testament description of the passion and death of Christ. The 14-foot cloth long has posed mysteries because of its age...

To the Editor: Well, it is that time of the year for newspapers, cable shows, other TV programs and heretical religious groups to investigate and denigrate the claims of the Christian faith concerning Christ. Topics include: Did they crucify the wrong man? Did Jesus only swoon–and then recover and escape from the tomb? Did deceived grave robbers bribe soldiers for the body of the “king of the Jews” only to leave his broken, bloody corpse to the vultures? Why are there never programs like: Buddha: Man, Mystic or Misanthrope? Confused Confucius. The Koran: God’s Word or Man’s Word? Hinduism–Sacred Bull?...

For centuries many of the world's distinguished philosophers have assaulted Christianity as being irrational, superstitious and absurd. Many have chosen simply to ignore the central issue of the resurrection. Others have tried to explain it away through various theories. But the historical evidence just can't be discounted. A student at the University of Uruguay said to me. "Professor McDowell, why can't you refute Christianity?" "For a very simple reason," I answered. "I am not able to explain away an event in history--the resurrection of Jesus Christ." After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to the...

This Easter many will go through the robotic motions of celebrating Easter without any possession of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They will gather with love ones, family and friends, color Easter eggs, have Easter egg hunts, eat baked ham and fine deserts, watch a sports event and will even attend church for the first time since Christmas. All in a never ending cycle of tradition and hypocrisy. Oh my friend, what is truly needed this Easter is a dose of the heavenly reality of Christ’s triumphant resurrection from the dead (John 4:24). The...

Immortality! It has been “brought to light” by Jesus Christ and his gospel (2 Tim. 1:10). Eternal life — an immortal existence — is offered freely to the lowest of sinners who reach out and take hold of the Savior by faith. Christ himself said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”(John 6:40). This must be underscored in the Church today; it is a point at which multitudes stumble. The eternal life given by our Lord is...