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All Things are Possible
Recent conflict and protests in America, about statues and monuments recalling troubling events in the past, seem to be dividing a country that clearly needs uniting. Those who focus on division rather than unity seem to think that all things … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, God's Providence
Tagged books, Christ, god, Providence
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Independence: Disorder in a Democracy
In today’s day, we are confronted with disorder, almost chaos and anarchy at times. How do we bring order out of a disorderly situation? The concluding years of the American Revolution in the 1780s provides us with an example. The … Continue reading
Posted in American History, books, Christianity, God's Providence, Government
Tagged Biography, books, Constitution, god, history, Providence
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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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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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In Praise of Every[hu]man
Pre-eminent American historian Carl Becker in 1931 sounded a theme for the 1930s when he pronounced, “Everyman His Own Historian.” The great American composer Aaron Copland in 1942 composed “Fanfare for the Common Man,” a wonderful piece for horns and … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Biography, books
Tagged Biography, books, Jean Louis Berlandier, Narrative history, Passaconaway's Realm
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The American Plutarch 