A La Carte (4/29)

5 Books to get Mom for Mother’s Day - Here are five books you may like to consider getting mom (or wife) for Mother’s Day: One (if she likes being challenged—see the other titles in this series as well), two (if she’s a note-taker), three (if she likes biographies), four (if she’s into self-examination) and five (if she’s meant to mentor). And here’s a bonus if she really likes longer biographies.

Healing - Ali has a story to tell from her work and ministry on a hospital ship.

Miss Whitebread Was Wrong - Andy Unedited: “‘Always make an outline before you start writing.’ Isn’t that what your fifth grade teacher told you? Well, I’m sorry to break this to you, but Miss Whitebread was wrong. In my continuing series of Stupid Things You Were Taught in School let me deconstruct this bad boy.”

The Death of a (Former) Atheist - Dr. Mohler looks at the life of Antony Flew. “The death this month of Antony Flew brings an end to one of the most interesting lives in twentieth century philosophy. Throughout the last half of that century, Professor Flew was recognized as one of the most significant philosophical advocates of atheism, eventually writing at least 35 works, many arguing for the non-existence of God. Then, at age 81, Antony Flew changed his mind. God, he explained, probably does exist.”

Liberty U Taps Glenn Beck - Here’s an odd one: “Liberty University has tapped radio host Glenn Beck to address its graduating class next month despite knowing that such a decision will be contested and criticized given the well-known conservative’s Mormon faith.”

Comments (10)

1
Anonymous's picture

I remember being at Biola when Antony flew came for an Intelligent Design debate. Everybody seemed so excited that he had rejected Atheism. Rejecting atheism was good, I guess, but it isn’t the end of the story. Coming to an intellectual awareness that a god exists somewhere just isn’t enough. I never viewed it as a “victory,” and hope that his life serves to remind us that the Gospel is what people need, not a bunch of arguments for the existence of God.

Just my two cents,mike

2
Anonymous's picture

I enjoy writing immensely, but I’ve never done well with outline-driven writing, and I doubt that I ever will.

Re: Anthony Flew, it might be said that there’s no such thing as a dead atheist. Flew happened to see the light (at least dimly) before he was faced with the incontrovertible proof.

3
Anonymous's picture

And then one day Anthony flew.

No surprise. Fundamentalists share anger as a common theme, not doctrine or theological distinction. Beck and Falwell are twin sides of the same coin, really.

4
Anonymous's picture

The article “Miss Whitebread Was Wrong” was stupid and scatter-brained. Maybe Andy should have written an outline to organize his thoughts before writing. Was the article tongue-in-cheek?

5
Anonymous's picture

Glenn Beck speaking at Liberty makes perfect sense. Unity in hard-right conservativism and participation in the “culture war” are clearly of tantamount importance to the folks at Liberty.

6
Anonymous's picture

I was at Liberty many years ago when Ted Kennedy spoke. It wasn’t graduation, but he was invited by Jerry Falwell.

7
Anonymous's picture

I’ve never used outlines. If one was required, I put it together after the paper was written using the finished product as a guide for the outline. But I always felt slightly naughty.

Outlines are stifling. I’d look at them and think “I can’t do this.” But if I just started writing something, out came a paper.

I taught my kids to write the same way: Just start writing and see what you get. Next, organize it and clean it up. Then, if necessary, make the outline.

8
Anonymous's picture

Mormon or not, I’d be disappointed to have to listen to Glenn Beck at my graduation, especially if it was from seminary.

9
Anonymous's picture

Ben Stein has spoken at Liberty, and I think it was at commencement.

10
Anonymous's picture

My wife is headed to work on Mercy Ships, so Ali’s blog post was really appreciated

David Rupert, Red Letter Believers, www.redletterbelievers.com, “Salt and Light”