Hope in the Time of Coronavirus
The author grapples with the realities of a pandemic Continue reading Hope in the Time of Coronavirus
Category: News
When A Baptist Church in Oklahoma City Turned Down Martin Luther King Jr. and Helped Alter the Course of History
A decade before he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. was turned down for a position at a Baptist church in Oklahoma City. The story is a reminder that a constant force is shaping our lives and preparing us for something greater. Continue reading When A Baptist Church in Oklahoma City Turned Down Martin Luther King Jr. and Helped Alter the Course of History
Marie Tillman Once Again Honors Her Husband’s Legacy and Shows Us the Definition of Strength
13 years ago, Pat Tillman gave his life for America. Today, his sacrifice is being used to shame NFL players on social media. Meanwhile, fighting for her husband’s legacy is Marie Tillman, who, since suffering unimaginable grief, has continuously showed us all what it means to be a hero. Continue reading Marie Tillman Once Again Honors Her Husband’s Legacy and Shows Us the Definition of Strength
The Death of Brandy Vela and the Epidemic of Cyberbullying
A week ago 18-year-old Brandy Vela took her own life. Her family says she was the victim of targeted cyberbullying. Her story thus has become a tragic representation of an amplifying epidemic. Continue reading The Death of Brandy Vela and the Epidemic of Cyberbullying
Young, Vibrant and Controversial: The Rise of Tomi Lahren and the End of Moderation
The sudden rise of internet news personality Tomi Lahren is also an indication of the end of moderation. Continue reading Young, Vibrant and Controversial: The Rise of Tomi Lahren and the End of Moderation
Why the Digital Assault on Leslie Jones Must Genuinely Concern Us All
This week comedian Leslie Jones was the victim of a horrific digital assault that must alarm all of us. Continue reading Why the Digital Assault on Leslie Jones Must Genuinely Concern Us All
“The Dumbest Bell That Ever Rang:” Have We Just Witnessed the Death of American Journalism?
A recent Washington Post column on the Ryan Lochte saga was a vicious attack on the swimmer and rings a sad bell toll on American journalism. Continue reading “The Dumbest Bell That Ever Rang:” Have We Just Witnessed the Death of American Journalism?
Have We All Lost Our $%&#$#% Minds? How Social Technology is Polarizing Us
The gunshots ring out, and I can’t believe how loud they are. You can hear them in perfect crispness over the speakers of my television. They were broadcast on a cable news network after being recorded by a simple device that we all now carry in our pockets. The audible pops of the gunfire were bone-chilling. The fact that they came not on the streets … Continue reading Have We All Lost Our $%&#$#% Minds? How Social Technology is Polarizing Us
In the Midst of Desperate Madness, We Are Left with Our Faith
The elementary school buzzed with the faithful preparing for a simple Sunday service near the geographical center of America. Yet, at least for me, time slowed when I heard the number: 50 dead in Orlando. Disbelief was replaced by the shock and sadness now flowing through me as I numbly walked myself through the job for which I had been tasked. My only motivation now … Continue reading In the Midst of Desperate Madness, We Are Left with Our Faith
In Loving Memory: Oklahoma’s Touching, Intense, and Ultimately Unique Remembrance of Sports Voice Bob Barry Jr.
To preface this column, a few weekends ago I spent an afternoon at the Okie Noodling Festival in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. I will keep this short, for the sake of brevity, but noodling is when very athletic, brave, and possibly certifiable men, women and, yes, children dive into various bodies of water attempting to catch enormous catfish with their bare hands. The winner of this … Continue reading In Loving Memory: Oklahoma’s Touching, Intense, and Ultimately Unique Remembrance of Sports Voice Bob Barry Jr.
A State, a Team and Tragedy: The Enduring Spirit of Oklahoma
The snow fell hard and fast. The roads quickly developed a sheet of white. Oklahoma drivers hesitantly leveled a soft foot on an anxious gas pedal as they traveled north from downtown Oklahoma City towards suburban Edmond, home from work to houses filled with exhausted spouses and excited children, because snow seems to deliver nothing but utter joy to the immature. Meanwhile, a daring few … Continue reading A State, a Team and Tragedy: The Enduring Spirit of Oklahoma
12 Years a Slave, Students of Jefferson County and the Undeniable Importance of History
Last weekend, I sat down and watched the film 12 Years a Slave. The movie is haunting. The film is based on the real life journey of Solomon Northup, who went from freedom to slavery, and the memoir he published about his captivity. Continue reading 12 Years a Slave, Students of Jefferson County and the Undeniable Importance of History
Gospel & Grace
Recent events remind us of the dangers of religious intolerance. Continue reading Gospel & Grace
Dallas Buyers Club, Grantland and the Evolving Conversation of Gender Identity in Media
Earlier this year, while Jared Leto was accepting a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, he ended his acceptance speech with the words: Continue reading Dallas Buyers Club, Grantland and the Evolving Conversation of Gender Identity in Media
Placid Press 