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The Mysterious Mr. Lee
Almost 200 years ago, in 1819, a scientist from England, Thomas Nuttall, journeyed up the Arkansas to near this spot, the Three Forks, the confluence of the Arkansas with the Verdigris and Grand rivers. Nuttall was exploring what had been … Continue reading
You Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Set You Free
This is the gist of remarks I made before students and faculty at the spring 2017 Matriculation ceremony at Bacone College. Many years ago I was a student at a university on the East coast. This university had a large … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity
Tagged books, Christ, god, Jesus, New Testament, You Shall Know the Truth and the Truth Shall Set You Free
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Superstition and Science
In July, 1819, up the Arkansas River several score miles from here, a remarkable conversation took place that could have only happened in the Old West of cowboys and Indians. The conversation involved an Indian, but not a cowboy, rather … Continue reading
The Crisis in American Politics
What the 18th century Framers of our government feared, abuse of power and corrupt politicians taking control of our system of government, has apparently come to pass, if this election season and those who are our choices for President, are … Continue reading
There are Trillions of Lives–What about Me?
There are 7.5 billion humans residing on this small Earth, which is 15% of how many people (demographers estimate) that have lived on this Earth over the course of its 4.5 billion year history. Therefore, more people are dead, have … Continue reading
Of Snakes
Ever since the serpent beguiled Eve, and God condemned the serpent to crawl on its belly in the dirt, serpents, or snakes, have seemed to most of us as disgusting, horrible creatures, little better than spiders and scorpions. That they … Continue reading
Reflections on Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath
I participate as a scholar through the Oklahoma Humanities Council Let’s Talk About It Oklahoma series. Last night I addressed an audience in Broken Arrow about John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. The gist of my comments follow: At his … Continue reading
Posted in American History, books, General Essays
Tagged books, Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
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The Answer Is: Power, Love, Self-Control
I belong to a group of men, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, most of whom are of the Anglican tradition, who meet weekly to discuss Christianity, and to share a meal as well as Eucharist or Morning Prayer from the … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, God's Providence, Great Commission, Reflections on the Psalms
Tagged books, Love, New Testament, psalms, St Paul
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In Defense of Great Books
Recently Yale University students asked their professors to stop assigning readings from English poets, as there is a preponderance of White male poets, and the White voice has been dominant for too long. I teach at a college where the … Continue reading
Posted in books, General Essays
Tagged books, Great Books, Liberal Arts, Quadrivium, Trivium
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Narrative History Rescues the Past
“Narrative History Rescues the Past”–You’re not likely to see this headlining the latest news feed, though subtle truth rarely makes the news. Moreover, narrative history is rarely sensational, rarely fantastic, and is (unfortunately) not imaginary, rather based on real people … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Biography, books
Tagged Biography, books, history, John Smith, Narrative history, The Sea Mark
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The American Plutarch 