Ten months ago, Hobby Lobby heir Mart Green aroused both suspicion and relief among Oral Roberts University's faithful. The retail whiz announced that his affluent family was planning to pump $70 million into the heavily indebted, scandal-scarred liberal arts school in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In May, Green generated even more excitement on campus when he announced that student dorm rooms would be rewired. The increased amperage will allow a curling iron and a computer to be plugged in simultaneously without blowing a fuse. But Green isn't just redoing the campus electrical grid; he's rewiring ORU's body, mind, and checkbook. Currently serving as ORU board chair, Green recently said, "ORU must restore its broken trust, its battered reputation, and its beaten spirit."

Because she jumbles up so many cultural categories, because she is a feminist not in the Yale Gender Studies sense but the How Do I Reload This Thang way, because she is a woman who in style, history, moxie and femininity is exactly like a normal American feminist and not an Abstract Theory feminist; because she wears makeup and heels and eats mooseburgers and is Alaska Tough, as Time magazine put it; because she is conservative, and pro-2nd Amendment and pro-life; and because conservatives can smell this sort of thing -- who is really one of them and who is not -- and will fight to the death for one of their beleaguered own; because of all of this she is a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy. . . .

There’s something about outspoken conservative women that drives the Left mad. It’s a peculiar pathology I’ve reported on for more than 15 years, both as a witness and a target. Thus, the onset of Palin Derangement Syndrome in the media, Democrat circles, and the cesspools of the blogosphere came as no surprise. They just can’t help themselves. . . .

Sarah Palin has set off a new round of political fisticuffs in the “Mommy Wars” and in the Culture Wars. How could a newcomer and her pregnant teenage daughter do all that in a mere six days on the national scene?

In the early hours of August 23, a Hindu nationalist leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, was shot to death in Orissa, India. Five of his followers were also killed.  Although it was allegedly an act by Marxist terrorists, many people are blaming the murder on Christians. In reaction to the killings, some have retaliated by burning down churches and homes. At least three more people have been killed following the initial attack. . . .

"Franklin Graham asked him, 'Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life?'
"Sen. Obama paused and he thought. And he thought very carefully. He said, Reverend, he is my way.
"(Graham) No, no, is he THE way? Of course, the Reverend was making a point. . . .

A friend sent me a piece at Slate.com, and it is really quite explicit: “If Obama Loses,” is the title. And the subtitle: “Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him.” And explicit is good in this case, as it so often is. (To see the piece, go here.)

You might call what has been done here “laying the groundwork” – preparing for an Obama loss. If the worst should happen, and McCain wins, there will be only one explanation: racism. Everyone – at least every McCain voter – will have to wear a scarlet “R.” And so will the country at large. . . .

Don't overlook the piece referenced in Slate.com

As we've often said, the Democrats prey on ignorance. Often they know better and are being cynical; sometimes it's because they are ignorant themselves. A shocking example of the latter case was revealed yesterday when Nancy Pelosi appeared on Meet the Press. Mrs. Pelosi declared herself a major advocate of natural gas as an energy source, but then revealed that she is ignorant of the fact that natural gas is a fossil fuel. . . .

I’m always astounded as to the extent of deception in which pro-choice Catholics indulge themselves, both inwardly and outwardly, to justify their positions.  Perhaps there is no balder example of this than Nancy Pelosi attempting to spin the Catholic doctrine on human life today on Meet the Press.  Pelosi argues that the Catholic position on human life only developed in the last 50 years and that it doesn’t impact abortion in any case . . . .

The Shack's most prominent critics see troubling theological claims inherent in the story. Some argue, for example, that its Trinity is modalistic, others that the book is anti-church.

If charitably conducted, this type of conversation can be helpful. Theologians' sensibilities are fine-tuned by close listening, especially to works that don't always strike the right note. Christian orthodoxy was born of attention to small but crucial differences, yea, even jots and tittles.

Yet in order to give a work a fair hearing, we have an obligation to engage it on its own terms. A "good faith" reading of The Shack involves, among other things, attending to Young's reasons for writing, his intended audience, and its particular literary form. . . .

Read the whole thing to find out why this reviewer is willing to look past the theological critique for other redeeming features.  Christianity Today has a new Bible study for readers of The Shack. It's introduction provides the rationale for why this work of fiction should be accompanied by a Bible study:

William Young’s bestseller The Shack has riveted many readers even as his controversial characterization of the Trinity has concerned some theologians. One seminary president said “this troubling book” contains “undiluted heresy.” Exploring the mysteries of God through the crucible of pain can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. But we must always be careful to test our thoughts by the standard of Scripture.

A perilous adventure on the high seas, a star-crossed love affair, mob violence, rioting, attempted assassination—not the elements one might expect in a film about the founder of Methodism.

The director and producer of "Wesley" believes, however, that the dramatic and often surprising story of John Wesley will attract moviegoers of all faiths, as well as warm their hearts.

"I’m hoping that we’re going to hit a crossover audience, that this isn’t just going to be of interest to Methodists," said John Jackman, whose films include "Passing Moment," "Windsor Knot" and "An Uncommon Union."

The independent feature film traces the life of Wesley as an outwardly religious young man who undergoes a spiritual renewal that leads to a revolutionary ministry. It is scheduled for release as early as October. . . .

Asked to define sin, Barack Obama replied that sin is "being out of alignment with my values." Statements such as this have caused many people to wonder whether Obama has a God complex or is hopelessly arrogant. For the record, sin isn't being out of alignment with your own values (if it were, Hannibal Lecter wouldn't be a sinner because his values hold that it's OK to eat people) nor is it being out of alignment with Obama's  —  unless he really is our Savior.

There is, however, a third possibility. Obama is a postmodernist. . . .