Posts by David Oliver
Illustration from History: Substitution
While Grover Cleveland is not remembered as one of America’s great presidents, there are a couple of distinctions that make him unique among the forty-five men to serve as the country’s chief executive. Most notably, Grover Cleveland is the only president to serve non-consecutive terms.1 Four years after he lost his re-election bid to Benjamin…
Read More“Reefer Madness”
Back in 1936, a church group financed a movie intended to be a morality tale warning about the dangers of smoking marijuana. The film’s acting and production quality were both so poor that today the film is occasionally shown on cable television as satire. Reefer Madness is now a vehicle for mockery for any who…
Read MoreMinistering Grace
Recently, a church member emailed me questions prompted by a discussion with a coworker. What is meant by “means of grace?” What are the means of grace? First, I explained what I am certain he already knew. Grace is unmerited favor or undeserved kindness. It is the only way a person can be forgiven or…
Read MoreThe Baptists and the Bill of Rights
In 1976, commemorations of America’s bicentennial were everywhere – in government, in education, and in entertainment. Brief cartoons appeared on Saturday mornings on children’s television telling about the history of the country, the operation of government, and most importantly, the principle of liberty. These cartoons began with questions set to music, “Hey, do you know…
Read MoreTell Mother I’ll Be There
William McKinley was president of the United States during the Spanish American War and led the nation out of an economic depression into a season of prosperity. Still, he is little remembered, except for the tragic fact that early in his second term he was assassinated by an anarchist and was then succeeded by his…
Read MoreAwards and Recognition
A few years ago, my brother and I toured Sagamore Hill on Long Island, the home of Theodore Roosevelt. We then stopped at the nearby Young’s Memorial Cemetery to pay our respects at the grave of the 26th president. A brass plaque at the foot of the grave reads, “Theodore Roosevelt, Medal of Honor, Lieut.…
Read MoreTell Mother I’ll Be There
William McKinley was president of the United States during the Spanish American War and led the nation out of an economic depression into a season of prosperity. Still, he is little remembered, except for the tragic fact that early in his second term he was assassinated by an anarchist and was then succeeded by his…
Read MoreEndurance — Partaking in the Divine Nature
The word patience, as it is usually employed, means the ability to tolerate or to suppress irritation at delay or discomfort. But this patience is not precisely the quality that the apostle Peter had in mind when he wrote in his second epistle that Christians were to add to their faith “patience.” (2 Pet. 1:5,…
Read MoreThe Evangelist on the Titanic
“Women and children first” expresses a code of conduct prioritizing the protection of women and children in a life-threatening circumstance. It is primarily associated with the sinking of a ship when space in lifeboats is limited. When a British troop ship, the HMS Birkenhead, sank in 1852, this code was famously employed. From that incident…
Read MoreWhat Are Your Prized Possessions?
The challenge in sorting through my mother’s possessions after she died was not because her possessions were so numerous. Part of the challenge was, of course, the grief that colored the process. But it was also difficult because mixed among the clothing, dishes, furniture, and a few pieces of gold jewelry, were items that seemed…
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