Searching for Offense in a World Desperate to Find It

From the Lawton Constitution Several times recently I have written that being offended is often the price you pay for learning. If you can go through four years of college without ever having your ideas challenged, then you are not really getting an education. What I did not say is that students should not go … Continue reading Searching for Offense in a World Desperate to Find It →

The Bible, the Classroom, and the Boundaries of Scholarly Evidence

From the Southwest Ledger As the story of a University of Oklahoma student receiving a zero on an assignment for citing the Bible has become a major national headline, I wanted to weigh in as both a Christian and a professor. Let me say upfront that I have not read the student’s response, seen the … Continue reading The Bible, the Classroom, and the Boundaries of Scholarly Evidence →

The Story Behind the Stories: Unlocking Western Literature and History

From Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D.One of my all-time favorite movies, “Hoosiers,” is a perfect example of a David and Goliath movie where a small-town basketball team in Indiana makes it all the way to the 1954 State Championship to take on a big-city team. As the team is getting ready to leave the … Continue reading The Story Behind the Stories: Unlocking Western Literature and History →

The hardest part of parenting: Saying Goodbye

From Southwest Ledger Two years ago, as I sat in an airport, distraught and brokenhearted, I tried to distract myself by watching a young mother struggle with a couple of infant children. I wanted to help but knew most mothers would shy away from a guy who looks like me offering to help with her … Continue reading The hardest part of parenting: Saying Goodbye →

To Every Season Comes an End

From Southwest Ledger This week I want to break away from my normal history and political writing and talk about endings. Most associate spring with beginnings, but for those with high school seniors, especially ones in spring sports this is a season of endings. For my senior baseball player, it seems like I am counting … Continue reading To Every Season Comes an End →

Remembering Gene Hackman

With the sad and tragic story emerging of how Gene Hackman died, it is worth taking a moment to remember the joy he brought the world. To make one or two really good movies is rare, but to make as many as Hackman did is special especially when one of them is so iconic. Of … Continue reading Remembering Gene Hackman →