Texas

Texas wildfires, now numbering around 60, are scorching hundreds of homes and leaving much of the Lone Star State looking like a war zone, as some residents described.

One Steiner Ranch resident repeated "oh my God" seven times as he filmed his neighborhood burning to the ground.

"There's nothing left of these houses," the man in the video, posted on CNN, is heard saying as he names his neighbors' houses. "John's house is on fire now. Lance's house is gone. ... David and Heather's house is about half gone." more >>

High winds caused by Tropical Depression Lee have helped fuel the wildfires spreading through parts of East and Central Texas, and certain areas were under “red flag” warnings for critical fire conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

The fast-growing wildfire scorched about 300 houses near Austin, forcing people in hundreds of homes to evacuate.

Bastrop County, just east of Austin, Texas, lost 14,000 acres to the blaze, which has grown an estimated 16 miles long and threatens about 700 more houses, MSNBC reported. more >>

Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, will be starting a new sermon series on Sept. 11 titled, "Twilight's Last Gleaming," in hopes of getting the message across to Christians that "we are not going to save America."

The sermon series kicking off on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is actually based on a book of the same name to be released in January 2012 by Worthy Publishing. The book's subtitle, "How to make America's last days your best days," is actually meant to be encouraging, according to Jeffress.

Jeffress, who has authored several books and often appears on major news networks to provide a Christian perspective on various issues, spoke with The Christian Post about his new sermon series and book. more >>

Modeling its program on a prison-based seminary in Louisiana, a Texas facility has officially begun seminary instruction for inmates who want to train to become ministers.

The program, supported by Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and the Heart of Texas Foundation, enrolled its first batch of students on Monday, Aug. 29.

The seminary, held at TDCJ's Darrington Unit in Rosharon, accepted 40 inmates for the non-denominational program. more >>

Congressman Ron Paul has questioned a Fox News host for asking about a "silly" ad placed by one of his supporters seeking to dig up dirt on Texas Gov. Rick Perry's sex life. Perry's campaign, however, might not find the sex ad so silly.

Paul, a contender in the 2012 presidential race, appeared on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Aug. 19 and was asked by host Martha MacCallum to comment on Robert Morrow, an Austin resident who placed an ad seeking information on Perry's relationships with women.

Morrow, a supporter of Paul's, claims Perry is a "family values hypocrite and fraud." He has accused Republican governor of having extra-marital affairs, although there is no evidence supporting his claims. more >>

Discoveries from an undercover operation carried out by Christian activists have prompted Texas authorities to crack down on abortion providers who may be improperly disposing of the remains of aborted babies.

Pro-life groups Operation Rescue and The Survivors (of the Abortion Holocaust) teamed up in the undercover probe and discovered numerous alleged state violations in the process, including the mishandling of patient records and improper disposal of medical waste, such as human tissue.

After the activists filed complaints with the Texas Medical Board concerning twelve practitioners, nine have been cited for hearings to determine possible disciplinary actions. more >>