Free Republic

It's been a while since I've posted a vanity (in fact there's been so much infighting here that I don't post as much as I used to), but I hope this one will be worth reading. As many of you know, tomorrow night and next day (3/7-8) is Purim, the holiday that commemorates G-d's ever-governing providence, however well hidden, behind the scenes. It also celebrates irony, since the day that set aside for the annihilation of the Jews was instead the day they destroyed their enemies. Right now I can't think of anything we need to remind ourselves of more...

Providence, RI - Rhode Island State Police say that the shooting death of a woman's Pit bull, "Champ" was an "unfortunate accident". Accident or not, a beloved family companion is dead. The tragedy happened on Wednesday morning when a fugitive task force was stationed outside of a home in Providence. Though the task force was waiting for a fugitive to emerge, they were instead greeted by two dogs who had been let out for a potty break. Moments after the dogs were let outside, shots were fired. The officer who fired the three shots told the dog's owner that the...

Let's Roll Those were Todd Beamer's last known words before meeting his Lord on Sept. 11, 2001. His last known action was helping lead a passenger revolt against a terrorist plot on a Washington, D.C., landmark, most likely the Capitol. Now almost a year after her husband's death and post-mortem fame, Lisa Beamer tells her story. Here are exclusive excerpts ... "I have a lot on my plate for the next couple of days": Todd was ready to go to work after a company-sponsored vacation to Europe. He and Lisa returned home just one day before Todd was to...

CNN) -- The firing of every teacher in the Providence public school system has set off a wave of anxiety, anger and uncertainty in the Rhode Island city, with a union leader blasting the mayor's decision as anti-union maneuvering along the lines of what's happening in the Midwest. Mayor Angel Tavares said in a online message Wednesday that he authorized the previous day's move to dismiss almost 2,000 teachers and staff to allow for greater flexibility once the budget process is complete. Tavares also said the final number of layoffs needed to balance a multimillion budget deficit will be determined...

The Providence Journal of Rhode Island reports that the Providence school district "plans to send out dismissal notices to every one of its 1,926 teachers, an unprecedented move that has union leaders up in arms." The paper continues: In a letter sent to all teachers Tuesday, Supt. Tom Brady wrote that the Providence School Board on Thursday will vote on a resolution to dismiss every teacher, effective the last day of school. In an e-mail sent to all teachers and School Department staff, Brady said, “We are forced to take this precautionary action by the March 1 deadline given the...

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28)Though we are Sons of God and heirs of a new heaven and a new earth, our time has not yet come.We await the time when our inheritance will be realized, when our true Son ship will be manifested. We are groaning with creation, for a new creation and for the final release from sin and corruption. But the present is not merely an interim time of waiting, nor is it a painful but meaningless...

PROVIDENCE — Dominic Johnson, a 10-year-old fourth-grader with a fledgling Mohawk, brandished his black, long-nosed toy gun and caressed the muzzle appreciatively. “It’s like a shotgun mixed with a rifle,’’ he said, as his mother, April, told him to stop pointing it at nearby children. Soon it would be junk. Dominic joined dozens of children yesterday at the annual Toy Gun Bash in the gymnasium of Pleasant View Elementary School. There, they lined up to toss their toy guns, from dainty purple water guns to camouflage-painted pistols, inside the Bash-O-Matic, a large black, foam creature with churning metal teeth and...

The Big East's football expansion plans leave the conference with 17 universities, including non-Football members. That's a terrible number for scheduling; the only way the basketball teams can schedule an even number of games is if they play every other team only once. 18 teams would allow three divisions of six teams each. Any team would play the other five teams in its division twice, and one half of the twelve other teams in the conference. 18 sounds like worsening the problem of too many teams, but having three divisions could actually restore some rivalries, and return the conference to...

These men in history set themselves apart because: they thought it worthwhile to have God in their thinking. Even through their unimaginable hardships and loathsome past that make many today scream “victicrat.” Hindsight shows us that these modern “victicrats” are the Progressives of today. * “A victicrat is one who blames all ills, problems, concerns, and unhappiness on others” (Larry Elder, Ten Things You Can’t Say in America, St. Martins, New York: NY [2000], p. 22-33). Thankfully, these men (and women) of history — especially Squanto — saw God’s providential hand working in their lives and considered it all joy...

I am not nearly as thankful as I ought to be. The two most important days of my life I often take for granted. The First Day was the day that Christ died for my sins. Jesus took the punishment for every one of my sins, even the ones I haven’t committed yet. Dreadful thought that I would live as in ingrate! Glorious thought that he would die anyway! That one day alone should be enough to cause me to live every moment in continuous Thanksgiving. Righteous Christ died for me, the ungodly. But there was another Day. The Day...

A 10-minute historical look at one of the most enduring theological debates within the Christian religion. The scholars in the video make a case for how and why Arminianism (Free Will theology) is the root of the vast liberalism we see in the professing church today (and arguably the liberalism we see in the greater Western culture and modern world.)

"A cyclone packing winds of over 200 mph hit the southeastern coast of Bangladesh, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. According to the latest news reports, over 1000 are feared dead and thousands are homeless. "Winds tore through thatched houses, uprooted trees, and blew salty water from the ocean into the fresh water supply. . . ."

“A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature; and as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined” (David Hume). That quote, taken from the Scottish philosopher David Hume, would summarize what the average person believes about miracles. Miracles are impossible because they violate laws of nature, and the very nature of these laws dictates that they are inviolable. Certainly in discussing the Christian faith with unbelievers the Christian evangelist often encounters this...

A lot of devilment goes on on this spiritually fallen planet; but lastly every human will meet up with the Judge Christ. He is the Word. He is also the Last Word. That why the Bible pronounces Christ as the "Alpha and Omega" — the start and the finish.

What made this country truly great? Have we forgotten what is most important to us? What would our Founding Fathers think of us if they were alive today? Take a little over 3 minutes to watch this inspiring video and thank God for America and that you are an American. AMERICA: A LAND OF PROVIDENCE

Are Presidents appointed by God? Do we see His hand in the process of choosing a President? Maybe we get what we deserve, as in what we bring on ourselves. There was a 50/50 split in 2000 and the election in 2004 was very close also. Was God telling us something? There are no conservatives left in Republican nomination process but many millions of conservatives in America with no clear choice to support. God again? Who do God fearing Christians vote for now? Obama/Hillary split/division going into convention. Is this all Gods doing? Is God showing us how divided as...

<p>Imagine living in a city with the country's highest rate for violent crime and the second-highest unemployment rate. As an added kicker you need more Superfund dollars allocated to your city to clean up contaminated toxic waste sites than just about any other metro.</p>

Rush Move Sparks WPRO-A/Providence Lineup Shuffle Buddy's Back As expected and tipped yesterday on ALL ACCESS, the move of RUSH LIMBAUGH in PROVIDENCE from CITADEL Talk WPRO-A to CLEAR CHANNEL Talk WHJJ-A has opened a slot for former PROVIDENCE Mayor BUDDY CIANCI at WPRO, but it's also prompted a shuffle in assignments for a pair of existing WPRO personalities, as morning host RON ST. PIERRE joins CIANCI for 10a-2p and present middayer JOHN DEPETRO moves up to mornings 6-10a as host of the "WPRO MORNING NEWS." Afternoon host DAN YORKE moves up an hour to 2-6p. The changes take place...

It is the period of Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah—the Day of the Holocaust. In Israel, traffic comes to a halt for two minutes of respectful silence. In America, the day is observed by many Jewish communities as the dead are mourned. But for some, the Holocaust challenges faith. Anyone who believes in the God of Abraham, has only two choices when contemplating the Holocaust: (1) God was powerless to stop evil men from perpetrating the Holocaust and therefore allowed this unspeakable calamity to occur; or (2) He made it happen. Nobody with faith can adopt the first explanation....

Providence submarine museum sinks PROVIDENCE -- An old Soviet submarine used as a floating museum sank and was completely submerged in the Providence River after being battered by a powerful northeaster earlier this week.