Faith & Values

Free BBQ and Waterslide: Sunday, July 12, and Sunday, August 9, 11:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m. Please RSVP to the Church Office: 530-241-1450 if you aren't a regular member of Westside Church of Redding and would like to attend. (This will help to ensure they cook enough hamburgers and hot dogs for the events.) The service starts at 10 a.m., and the BBQ starts at 11:30 a.m. - 8780 Swasey Dr., Redding, CA. Message from Pastor Josh and the Leadership Team: Westside Church of Redding

Hundreds of synchronized drones replaced traditional fireworks in a stunning patriotic display over Shasta Lake on July 3, drawing thousands to the iconic dam for Shasta County’s debut aerial spectacle. Shasta County marked America’s 250th anniversary with a modern twist on Independence Day celebrations. On Friday evening, July 3, approximately 200 drones took to the skies above Shasta Lake near Shasta Dam in the region’s first-ever drone light show. The roughly 15- to 20-min

Cazenovia, New York — A high-profile school board official who also performed as a drag queen and founded a local Pride organization has been arrested on serious allegations of child sex crimes. Travis Longo, performing as “Anita Buffem,” faces state and federal charges involving explicit communications with a child under 12 and possession of child pornography- Credit: localsyr.com On June 18, 2026, New York State Police arrested Travis J. Longo (also known as Travis Barr-Lon

In the winter of 1782, inside a modest Paris apartment, three American commissioners sat across from their British counterparts to negotiate the end of the Revolutionary War. John Jay, the tall, serious New Yorker, refused to accept terms that would leave the new nation weak or dependent. While others were willing to compromise, Jay insisted on full recognition of American independence, secure borders, and vital fishing rights off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. His firmness he

In the jungles of Vietnam, a Marine leader named Major James Capers faced an impossible moment during a desperate evacuation. His team had been ambushed. He was gravely wounded—shot and struck by shrapnel, with a broken leg—yet he had fought and led his men to the helicopter landing zone. When the overloaded chopper struggled to lift off under enemy fire and with no fuel remaining, Major Capers did something extraordinary: he tried to step off the aircraft. He was willing to

In a story that perfectly captures the hypocrisy of corporate "diversity" in 2026, the San Francisco Giants hosted their annual Pride Night on June 12 against the Chicago Cubs. Players were expected to don special rainbow-themed caps featuring the team's logo in Pride colors. Several pitchers—Landen Roupp (the starter), JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker—complied but added a personal touch: they wrote "Gen 9:12-16" (or similar) on their caps with a marker. Genesis 9:12-16 recounts

Texas politician and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico proudly identifies as a Presbyterian, a seminarian at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and an active member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin—a congregation aligned with the progressive wing of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PC(USA)). Talarico frequently invokes his faith to advocate for positions on abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive social causes, reflecting the denomination’s embrac

Is This the Best Democrats Can Offer Texas? As Texas Democrats pick state Rep. James Talarico as their 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, many voters are asking: Is this the best they have? Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, presents himself as a defender of real Christianity, but he often uses selected Bible verses to push progressive ideas on gender, life, borders, and faith. His words show more left-wing politics than solid biblical teaching. James Talarico - Credit: texastribu

Pictures posted by @FreddyLA7, a German football fan touring America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across the United States, a heartwarming phenomenon is unfolding on social media: European fans arriving for the matches are discovering the real America — and they can't stop raving about it. From massive college football stadiums and endless portions at Buc-ee's to Southern hospitality, BBQ, and the sheer scale of our landscapes, these visitors

Toxic Empathy by Allie Beth Stuckey: | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Recently, Elisa and I had the great fortune to interview Dr. David Thompson and his wife, Becki, about their 35 years in Africa doing medical missionary work. In his concluding remarks, he offered inspiration and said that it is so important to maintain true Godly love for people in their hearts. He was quick to point out that sometimes this love can turn toward "Toxic Empathy". These words are the basis for to

In her book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion, Allie Beth Stuckey identifies a dangerous distortion: empathy becomes toxic when it encourages us to affirm falsehoods, ignore consequences, or support policies that ultimately harm the very people they claim to help. This concept finds a clear and troubling application in American education today. Across the country—and acutely here in California—policymakers and institutions have relaxed or eliminated

Many Hundreds of People & Dogs Soak Up Great Weather, Small Town Atmosphere, at Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire In 1990, the Lewiston Community Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit set up to revitalize the Trinity County historic town of Lewiston, California, assumed the sponsorship of the Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire, two years after it had begun in 1988. Fast forward 38 years to the present day, specifically Saturday, June 6, 2026, when the Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire was held, a

In a refreshing display of courage amid relentless cultural pressure, the Texas Rangers have once again refused to bow to LGBTQ activism. While 29 other MLB teams hosted Pride Night events this June, the Rangers stood alone in skipping the ritual, opting instead for a Faith and Family Night on June 18 at Globe Life Field. Players like Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung, Cody Bradford, Jacob Latz, and Jalen Beeks shared personal testimonies about how faith shapes their lives on and off

In the heart of one of America’s most iconic cities, a shocking reality unfolds nightly: foreign drug gangs, predominantly migrants from Honduras known as the “Hondos,” have seized control of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. They operate open-air fentanyl and methamphetamine markets with brazen impunity, turning once-vibrant streets into a deadly bazaar where drugs are sold openly to anyone with a few dollars. Even former San Francisco Mayor London Breed acknowledged the

Imagine arriving in the remote jungles of Gabon in 1977 with little more than faith and determination. Dr. Thompson, a skilled surgeon, and Becky, a trained nurse, faced overwhelming odds from day one. They inherited a basic dispensary at Bongolo Hospital. They transformed it into a full-fledged hospital and surgical center capable of handling complex cases in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.

Picture the sweltering summer of 1787 inside Philadelphia’s State House. The air is thick with frustration and the scent of candle wax. Delegates from thirteen quarreling states argue, sweat, and threaten to walk out as the young republic teeters on the edge of collapse. A young James Madison was a scholar at Princeton. A slight, soft-spoken Virginian, barely five feet four inches tall and weighing less than 100 pounds, sits quietly taking meticulous notes. James Madison rare

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, communities across the nation are marking the milestone with events that blend tradition, reflection, and forward-looking spirit. In Shasta Lake, California, the Shasta Lake Chamber of Commerce is leading one of the region’s signature contributions: Freedom 250, a celebration set for July 3–4, 2026, at Shasta Dam and the surrounding shores of Shasta Lake. Shasta Dam - Credit wikipedia.com Honoring 250 Years with R

If you were fortunate—and blessed—to be able to attend the Annual Shasta County Veterans Memorial Service on (the true) Memorial Day, at Redding Civic Auditorium’s Veterans Memorial Cove, then you were treated to a patriotic, perhaps tears-inducing… program. But if you, for some reason, were not able to attend, rest assured, because at the end of this article is a link to access a full-length video of the hour-long program. Honoring the sacrifices and services of Veterans, t

Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. H. W. Longfellow - 1860 Picture a moonlit April night in 1775. The streets of Boston are quiet under British occupation. A stout, determined man in a dark coat slips out of his silversmith shop on North Square. Paul Revere mounts a borrowed horse and gallops into the darkness. Behind him,

A Testament to Remembrance, Compassion, and Enduring Gratitude: In a world often marked by division and fleeting attention, a heartfelt plea from a Gold Star wife this Memorial Day weekend served as a powerful reminder of the values that bind Americans together: faith in one another, deep respect for sacrifice, and the compassion that flows from remembering those who gave everything for our freedoms. Sharrell Anne Shaw, whose husband, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw was kil