How not to apply for a grant

Last updated on: September 24, 2008 at 9:12 am By Fred Clark

I’m not usually in a position to say that I have more experience, knowledge and know-how than Ben Bernanke, but he really should’ve talked to somebody like me before heading to Capitol Hill yesterday to help Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson present a three-page memo asking for $700,000,000,000 of the public’s money. Three pages. Seriously: Under questioning by the Senate banking committee, treasury secretary Henry Paulson clashed repeatedly with congressmen as he admitted that he had only a rough idea of... Read more

Panic, therefore, panic!

Last updated on: September 23, 2008 at 11:44 am By Fred Clark

When in the course of human events a purportedly democratic official demands that the people give him $700,000,000,000 — no strings attached, by week’s end, or else — then the duly elected representatives of the people have one and only one responsible response: Say "No." Better yet, say "Hell no." $700 billion. Seven hundred billion dollars. Dollar sign, seven, 11 zeroes. Seven. Hundred. Billion. You could never count to 700,000,000,000. You could never count to 700,000,000,000 by thousands. If you... Read more

L.B.: Freeze frame, roll credits

Last updated on: August 5, 2013 at 3:48 am By Fred Clark

Left Behind, pp. 467-468 Buck Williams carefully plans the book’s final phone call: Buck couldn’t wait to talk to his friends in Illinois, but he didn’t want to call from his office or his apartment, and he didn’t know for sure whether his cellular phone was safe. He packed his stuff and took a cab to the airport, asking the cabbie to stop at a pay phone a mile outside the terminal. One last phone call, one last NY-to-Chicago flight.... Read more

Satellite to Satisfy You

Last updated on: August 5, 2013 at 3:48 am By Fred Clark

How many times have you heard someone say … “Satellite,” Echo and the Bunnymen “Satellite,” Elvis Costello “Satellite Beach,” Peter Case “Satellite of Love,” U2 “Satellite Sky,” Mark Heard “Satellites,” Rickie Lee Jones “Satellites Lost,” The Delays “Satisfaction,” Cat Power “Satisfied Mind,” Lucinda Williams “Satisfy You,” Cracker Read more

Who would Jesus torture?

Last updated on: September 17, 2008 at 9:02 pm By Fred Clark

Speaking of Dave Gushee, I’ve been trying, and failing, to come up with something encouraging or insightful or charitable to say about the results of a poll commissioned, in part, by his group, Evangelicals for Human Rights. Polls show support for torture among Southern evangelicals: <blockquote< A new poll finds that nearly six in 10 white Southern evangelicals believe torture is justified, but their views can shift when they consider the Christian principle of the golden rule. The poll released... Read more

Had it been another day

Last updated on: September 15, 2008 at 8:54 pm By Fred Clark

My old friend and one-time colleague Dave Gushee notes in USA Today that conservative evangelicals’ sudden enthusiasm for Sarah Palin is a bit difficult to square with their “theological vision that women are subservient to men”: Never have conservative evangelicals positioned themselves as staunch advocates for women’s leadership in political life — until Sarah Palin. … The nomination of Palin offers conservative Christian leaders the chance to rethink an archaic theological vision that wounds millions of devout Christian women and... Read more

Weltanschauung

Last updated on: December 2, 2013 at 8:15 pm By Fred Clark

Here is an article from Bob Jones University Press on the importance of protecting Real True Christian children from the dangers of secular textbooks: When we compare “textbook to textbook,” leaving out all of the “bells and whistles” that the secular publishers use to package their products, I am convinced that the instructional design, strong biblical integration and proven student achievement results of BJU Press textbooks give Christian schools a “no-brainer” option — to go with a product that honors... Read more

L.B.: What a world, what a world

Last updated on: August 5, 2013 at 3:48 am By Fred Clark

Left Behind, pp. 466-467 The penultimate scene begins with four sentences crying out for rewriting: By the time Stanton Bailey stormed into Buck’s office an hour later, Buck realized he was up against a force with which he could not compete. The record of his having been at that meeting had been erased, including from the minds of everyone in the room. He knew Steve wasn’t faking it. He honestly believed Buck had not been there. This force with which... Read more

Gov. Palin and the Fib from Outer Space

Last updated on: September 9, 2008 at 7:54 pm By Fred Clark

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska continues to repeat the claim that she opposed the so-called “Bridge to Nowhere” pork-barrel project. In her first public appearance as the running mate of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, Palin made this claim with gusto, saying that she “told Congress thanks, but no thanks” on that project. The truth is, frankly, the opposite of that. As a candidate for governor, and then after she was elected, Palin was a forceful advocate for pork... Read more

Church & state

Last updated on: September 8, 2008 at 9:09 pm By Fred Clark

“State paid for trip when Palin told students to pray for pipeline“ Gov. Sarah Palin used state funds in June when she traveled from Juneau to Wasilla to speak to graduating evangelical students and urge them to fan out through Alaska “to make sure God’s will be done here.” State records show that Palin submitted a travel authorization for a quick round-trip visit to attend the June 8 graduation of the Master’s Commission program at the Wasilla Assembly of God,... Read more