One signpost of the holidays has always been our loaf of bread from French Camp Academy (FCA) in Mississippi.
In 1810 Frenchman Louis Lafleur built a trading post and inn on the Natchez Trace between Natchez and Nashville. In 1855, the Mississippi Institute was established, and later, a school for boys. The schools were combined as French Camp Academy after a fire in 1915.
Among the school’s special features are the radio station WFCA, the Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium (largest in the state). There’s also the Council House Cafe and their annual Harvest Festival, both of which we’ve attended in years past.
A few of the many student activities are construction, fishing, Camp of the Rising Sun rock wall, The Children of God Pottery Studio, cutting sorghum, grounds crew program, The Ministry of Bread, photography, the trail ride, and zip line at Lake Ann. Of course, there are many religious activities besides services at French Camp Presbyterian Church.
According to Private School Review, it’s one of the “best Boarding schools in Mississippi”, serving “Young people who need a fresh start in life”, and is “Christ-centered”.
Here’s more information about Skylyr Effler, mentioned in the article.
My late mother-in-law grew up in rural Mississippi and attended FCA in the 1930’s. Her 10 brothers and sisters also attended.
During the times we traveled to Mississippi forging relationships with her family, we naturally visited FCA and decided to become a donor. FCA sends the loaf of bread, made in their bakery, as they consider Jesus as the Bread of life, as they say in the donor letter. This was started in the 1950’s under then FCA president Sam Patterson.
Disclaimer; Though we are birthright Jews, we feel free to support good works by any religious or non-religious group.
Answer to yesterday’s William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit quote puzzle: ‘I am the way,’ replied Jesus, ‘and the truth and the life! Nobody comes to the father except through me.
John 14-6
Remembering Pauline Braccio, A Fighter For Dignity — A memorial service, today, Dec. 10, for Pauline Braccio packed the Golden Boar restaurant with those seeking to pay tribute to Montgomery County’s defender of underdogs.
Pauline died unexpectedly last month. The event was organized by WWDB hosts Stan Cascio, Andy Teitelman and Don Beishl. Many of the guests were New Yorkers involved in the city’s freedom movement.
Yes, believe it or not, The Big Apple has a freedom movement.
About two dozen of them traveled two hours on this rainy day to remember Pauline. Many took to the mic to share memories and stories of her. They had gotten to know her from her daughter Olivia’s photo essays and stories of New York events.
We’d also like to plug the Golden Boar which was generous with its time and service. It’s a Ukrainian restaurant and we can attest that its food is authentic and delicious. You can find it at 2158 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006.
Cleansing And Gratitude — Once, as Jesus was passing through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem, 10 lepers met Him.
They stood far off and cried “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Jesus saw them and said: “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
So in this case, He did not touch them. Instead, He tested their faith to see whether they would obey and go to the priests to get a certificate of healing even before they had been healed.
They obeyed and were healed.
And one of them returned and with a loud voice glorified God and fell at His feet giving Him thanks. He was a Samaritan. And Jesus said: “Were there not 10 cleaned? Where are the nine? Were there not any found to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
And Jesus said to him: “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
The Samaritans accepted Christ as the Messiah and became Christians, while the Jews rejected Him.
The Fathers of the Church see a lesson in this for us. The 10 lepers signify mankind. We are all leprous, but only one in 10 give thanks to God for the salvation He has brought to us. In the same way, only some of the seed sown by God — in the Parable of the Sower — brings forth good fruit.
We can all be cleansed by Him, but if we do not return to Him in gratitude and to glorify Him, we cannot be saved.
“Conspiracy theory” no longer works as an snarky rebuttal, by the way.
We actually find ourselves having to say “just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Here’s the interview:
Ep. 46 The Alex Jones Interview
TIMESTAMPS:
2:46 Alex Jones predictions 15:07 Deplatforming 21:59 Dividing us on race 25:37 The border 28:09 Austin 32:12 New World Order 42:09 Brian Stelter demon video 50:57 Depopulation 1:07:51 Food 1:13:51 Whiskey 1:16:22 Presidential… pic.twitter.com/IsJAQDUzDc
Central Bucks President Sworn In With Sex Book — Karen Smith, a Democrat who was re-elected to the Central Bucks School Board Nov. 7, was sworn in Dec. 4 as the board’s new president.
Among the books upon which she placed her was “Flamer” by Mike Curato.
The graphic novel includes characters discussing pornography, erections, masturbation, penis size, and an illustration that depicts naked teenage boys.
Why Does Delco Fight Election Questions? — A hearing was heard yesterday, Dec. 6, to open ballot drop boxes and do a recount of the Nov. 7 election in 13 election districts in Delaware County, Pa.
“(It) essentially enables them to audit the vote in each precinct,” said a letter signed by Manley Parks and Nick Centrella, attorneys for the county Board of Elections.
There are 54 plaintiffs including Joy Schwartz and Bill Dennon, who were Republican candidates for County Council; Pat Bleasdale and Kathryn Buckley, who ran for Rose Tree Media School Board; and poll watchers Gregory Stenstrom and Leah Hoopes.
Most of them were representing themselves with a few being represented by attorney Renee Mazer. Stenstrom did most of the speaking for the pro se people.
It was emphasized that fraud was not being alleged nor were the results being challenged.
The issue was the county’s alleged reluctance to follow state law — which allows for by-right ballot checks — and its strange reticence for election transparency.
The plaintiffs had two hearings this week with the first being Dec. 4 with regard to the recounts.
None of the 54 showed up as the Office for Judicial Support failed to properly notify them. They only learned about it when they were asked by a Daily Times reporter why they hadn’t attended.
The Office for Judicial Support is run by the county and not the judges, noted Capuzzi.
Plaintiffs not being notified — and obviously they weren’t else at least some would have appeared — is rather problematic.
Ms. Hoopes told the court the county purposely intimidates those expressing election concerns. She noted the large number of uniformed law enforcement in the courtroom.
“This doesn’t happen in other counties,” she said. “This is why people are afraid to come forward about elections.”
Soon after she made the point most of the law enforcement personnel left.
One of the big issues concerned the status of the Wharf building in Chester where the county counts the mail-in and dropbox ballots.
Was it an election district? The county says no, as no one votes there. The plaintiffs said yes as that’s where votes are tallied.
Poll watchers and candidates may challenge votes at election districts. The county prohibits challenges at the Wharf, so poll watchers can’t check signatures or flag suspicious activity.
“Who gets to see ballots at the counting of mail-in ballots,” Mrs. Schwartz said. “Who is oversight for citizenry at the Wharf.”
Post-election challenges require a $50 bond per precinct. One would have to put down $20,000 — nonrefundable –for a recount of ballots at the Wharf as each of the county’s 428 election districts would need a $50 bond.
Which leads to another issue.
The 428 figure is what Delco officially touts. Mrs. Schwartz noted, however, that the counting center computers display 430 election districts and correspondence with Fort Orange Press of Albany, N.Y., which prints the ballots, indicates that there are 429.
Could one of the extra districts be the Wharf?
Centrella said that the extra precincts might concern machine testing. He said he wasn’t certain, though.
Mrs. Schwartz said, however, that she is a regular observer at testing and that a machine numbered 429 or 430 has never been tested. She said the county has spare machines and she has never seen these tested either.
The county is required to do 2-percent audit of votes. The mail-in ballots are not included in this, Mrs. Schwartz said.
According to the law they should, she said.
Centrella said mail- ballots can be included in recounts because they are recorded by precinct.
That principle, however, is not being applied to the 2-percent audits says Mrs. Schwartz.
The most concerning testimony came from Kathryn Buckley who noted that she won in-person vote but lost due to mail-in ballots
“Where is chain of custody,” she asked
She reiterated the point that poll watchers were not allowed to observe counting at the Wharf and told a story concerning her experience as a poll watcher in 2022.
She said arrived for a 10 a.m. to noon shift the day after the primary election and found it nearly vacant as counting had stopped at 1 a.m.
As the county ballot counters meandered in, she heard one say “I have to get ballots from my car.”
She immediately protested and was just as immediately escorted from the premise by sheriff deputies, she said.
She brought her issue before the Board of Elections and was ignored.
So she filed a complaint with the District Attorney’s office.
She called a week later and was told the matter was resolved. She was not told how.
Mrs. Buckley asked for her report and was told it had been sealed.
She said she has been trying to get her report since.
Mrs. Bleasdale noted that contrary to claims by the defendants, Delco routinely ignores right-to-know requests.
She said she had sought dropbox surveillance video from the county via right-to-know and was denied. She then appealed to state’s Office of Open Records which ruled in her favor.
Rather, that cut their losses, however, Delco appealed to Common Pleas Court which upheld the county’s claim.
Mrs. Bleasdale never got the video.
That does not help increase trust in government or elections.
Bill Dennon noted ballots appeared to be have been dumped as municipal waste at Wharf.
