Tired of waiting for spending to rebound on its own, retailers are taking matters into their own hands. Stores like Sam’s Club, Target, Toys “R” Us, Staples and Office Depot are offering unconventional promotions meant not only to attract visitors to stores, but also to get them feeling profligate.

Wal-Mart's Sam’s Club is introducing a program in which it facilitates loans for shoppers of up to $25,000, backed by the Small Business Administration.

(Billy's Thoughts>>> Here is an idea how about we embrace the values of our grandparents if we can't afford something we forget about buying it or doing something. That would be a good idea for all of us to following including those in Washington D.C. Read more of the above story  

I did  a video on the 4th of July about  how we can make America an even better nation than she is. If you like you can watch the video 7-4 Fourth of July and True Freedom   or you can read what I said  4th of July and True Freedom

 A  preacher in Sacramento who leads an organization represents 3,600 congregations says he's outraged that the California chapter of the NAACP has endorsed a November ballot initiative that would legalize recreational use of marijuana.

Pastor Ron Allen, president of the International Faith-Based Coalition based in Sacramento, is leading opposition to the measure. He says most African-American pastors are upset by the NAACP decision because of the negative impact drugs have had on the black community.

Alice Huffman, president of the California NAACP, says the group is  supporting  Proposition 19 to counter marijuana arrest rates that she believes unfairly target blacks. 

Here is a secret people who sell and use drugs are arrested. The way to stop blacks from getting arrested over pot is to get them to stop using pot. The NAACP sure has come a long ways since it's civil right days. If you like you can read more on this issue  Pastor angered that NAACP backs pot legalization.

More than 326,000 people and hundreds of churches have decided to set aside some time on Sunday, July 4 to participate in the Call2Fall prayer effort.

The Call2Fall is a cooperative initiative between the Family Research Council (FRC) and the American Family Association (AFA) to encourage Christians to respond to God's "call to fall" in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

"A Call2Fall is an appeal to pastors to lead their congregations this Sunday -- the July 4 weekend Sunday -- ...in five minutes of prayer on their knees for our country," explains AFA spokesman Bryan Fischer.

He points out that the Bible portrays praying on one's knees as an act of humility before God and a posture of appeal to heaven.

(Billy's Thoughts>> Read more of the above story  Christian groups invoking a 'Call2Fall'.)

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is going to   fight for the right to hold Good News Clubs at schools in Minneapolis by going to court.

Liberty Counsel is filing the case on behalf of CEF of Minnesota against the Minneapolis Special School District No. 1 for unfairly denying equal inclusion in its promotion of after-school programs. Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver says CEF was an approved after-school program partner for five years without incident.
 
"But in the fall of 2009, the district notified Child Evangelism Fellowship that its programming was no longer 'appropriate,'" Staver explains. "Then in March of 2010, the assistant district general counsel for the district sent a letter stating the reason for the denial saying that CEF's programming -- quote -- 'included leading the children in prayer, teaching them that Jesus Christ is their Savior, and studying biblical passages.'"

Lets look at all the bad things that are taking place in the government schools drugs, grade school kids being given condoms, and all kinds of discipline problems for teachers and this school district is upset because kids might be encouraged to pray and taught about Jesus. I don't believe any kid is forced to go to one of clubs. This is sad and an outrage that a school would try to keep kids from learning about faith in God. Also faith in God might impact how these kids behave so you think the leaders of this district would be encouraging kids  to take part in these clubs not trying to stop them from  taking place. You can read more on this issue Bible clubs seeking equal treatment.

Dozens of affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union have issued travel alerts for people heading to Arizona this Fourth of July holiday weekend -- the group's latest effort to condemn the state's new immigration law.

Arizona's measure stipulates that police can ask the residency status of people being investigated for a crime.

"Although the law is not scheduled to go into effect until July 29, the ACLU is concerned that some law enforcement officers are already beginning to act on provisions of the law," the ACLU said on its website.

"We hope the alerts provide people with some measure of protection from illegal harassment from law enforcement and inform them of their rights should they encounter it."  ( ACLU urges tourists to avoid AZ )

(Billy's Thoughts>>> This once again proves the ACLU isn't a friend to this great nation America. What has Mr. and Mrs. ACLU done to help the people of Arizona to fight crime including drugs that are brought into their state from Mexico. The ACLU doesn't care about the rights of those who have been hurt by crime their record proves it. The above news report makes me want to make a trip to this western state.)

Pope Benedict, still struggling to control the damage a sexual abuse scandal has done to the Catholic Church’s image, has bluntly told his top advisers that they should not trade accusations in public.

The Vatican issued an unusual statement on Monday in which it effectively said the pope had censured Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, who last month publicly accused another cardinal of covering up sexual abuse.

(Photo: Cardinal Schönborn, 23 June 2010/Leonhard Foeger)

“Regarding accusations against a cardinal, we remind everyone that, in the Church, only the pope has the authority to accuse a cardinal,” said the statement, a rare case of the Church making its internal bickering public.

(Billy's Thoughts>> I am  not part of  the Catholic Church  so forgive me if I step on church doctrine but  is this correct that only one man  the Pope can    accuse a spiritual leader of sexual abuse. What if the Pope is not able or won't bring the charge?  If this is correct the church needs to think about changing that. No matter what church you are in all church leaders need to answer to somebody. You can read  the rest of the above  story Vatican clarifies Cardinal Schonborn remarks, defends Cardinal Sodano.)